News On The Fly

There’s a lot going on in the industry these days.  Here are some highlights:

Shawn Combs will assume the Divisional Merchandising Manager role at Orvis, filling the position recently vacated by Steve Hemkens.  While Orvis capably filled that slot from within, it is opening a search to fill other key positions, including Director of Manufacturing, Hunting Product Development, and Rod & Reel product development.  Congratulations to Shawn, and good luck to those of you who will be chasing these jobs, which are clearly among the best positions in the industry.

Here are links to details:

Director of Rod Shop Manufacturing

Product Development Specialist – Hunting

Product Development Specialist – Rods and Reels

Dave Chouinard left and Jimmy Dobes Right

Hatch Outdoors hired Capt. Dave Chouinard and Jimmy Dobes, of Chouinard Outdoor Asscoicates, Inc. as its new sales representatives for Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina.

“We’re really excited to have Dave and Jimmy represent our products in the Southeast Region.  The territory can only benefit by their knowledge and experience, and we

Does anyone still think that tenkara is a fad?  If you do, you might want to take note of what is happening at Patagonia.  Having only recently launched a tenkara kit (rods produced by Temple Fork Outfitters), as well as a book by the dream team of Yvon Chouinard, Craig Matthews, Mauro Mazzo, James Prosek (illustrator) and Russell Chatham (foreword) called Simple Fly Fishing, the company has already moved thousands of units.

Perhaps more importantly, because tenkara is exactly that (simple), it is an ideal teaching and learning tool.  Patagonia reports that through its tenkara clinics at its retail locations, many “newbies” to fly fishing are making first contact with the sport.

Patagonia has:

-Completed over 30 clinics at its retail stores across the United States. Approximately 1400 people attended.  They have waiting lists for the next clinics.

-Noted that over half of the people attending clinics had never fly fished. A good percentage were women and kids.

–The Simple Fly Fishing book and Tenkara rod packages have brought about

Email continues to provide the most direct line of communication for conversion to sales. A new report by Econsultancy/Adestra continues to back up the claims that an effective email campaign can be a highly cost-effective way to market your products.

Email Drives Sales and has a robust ROI

I have touted the benefits of a well run email campaign for many years. One of my favorite stats is email averages a ROI of $43 for every dollar you spend. No other online marketing comes close.

The Average ROI for an email campaign is 4,300%

This new report provides additional support to the idea that email marketing should be central to any marketing campaign. According to the report respondents noted 23 percent of the their total sales came from email efforts. That is a pretty amazing number.

Email lists continue to grow

One of the biggest arguments I hear when pushing an email campaign is “I hate spam email. The last thing I want to do is spam my customers”. Avoiding spammy emails should be at the forefront of your mind when crafting an email campaign, but the truth of the matter is customers continue to subscribe to mailing lists. Nearly two-thirds of companies running email campaigns saw their list

Jim Murphy, former president of Hardy North America and founder of Redington, recently announced the founding of Douglas Outdoors, which is a new partnership with the Barclay family, prominent conservationists and owners of the Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) on the famed Salmon River in New York.  Douglas Outdoors will present two new fly rod ranges, a line of spin and casting rods, and two new fly reels at the annual ICAST/IFTD show on July 15, in Orlando, Florida. This first product offering will feature the Eclipse fly reel , the first to be made in the Douglas Outdoors factory in New York.

“We are in the process of building a new fishing rod factory here in New York State,” Murphy said. “We have hired a leading composites engineer to head the team. Tom Murphey , formerly of the Air Force buy alprazolam no prescription mastercard Research Laboratory in Albuquerque is not only a prominent scientist in the field, but he also is the holder of two current IFGA records on fly. Tom will be applying the

The great footage in this film short is a preview of a longer piece of work from Coach Chin due out in late 2014.

Created from sunglass lenses, Costa’s Fish Art has returned with new sculpture projects. The Bluefin Tuna, Bonefish, and Steelhead sculptures will be utilized in fundraising for conservation.

Read more in the press release below.

Tennis elbow is one of the most common injuries of anglers, and the new EZElbow System from Clinically Fit Inc. is a comprehensive system for rehabilitation of overuse injuries.

Read more in the press release below.  

“Spring” in Wyoming

Winters in Wyoming tend to drag on pretty long, so the arrival of sunny spring days sure gets a fisherman anxious to get on the water. Recently my good friend Shane found out his work was sending him from Seattle to Cheyenne, WY for a week. With that news we hatched a plan for me to drive from Jackson to meet up somewhere in Wyoming and go fishing.

I wanted to get some suggestions of some good spring fishing spots. So I called up my friend, Hank Hunker who lives in another part of the state. Hank and his dad George, run a well known guiding service in Wyoming called Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions. If you like to catch fish, Hank is a great person to be around. So lucky for us he wanted in on the trip, which also meant the meet-up destination became Central Wyoming.

The first day was beautiful weather t-shirt weather, although a bit of breeze made it a little chilly. We had the opportunity to fish a few of Hank’s favorite spots, which we found some beautiful fish. The second day though, it seems as if Mother Nature had a practical joke hidden up her sleeve. We woke up excited for another sunny day of fishing, only to find 6” of snow covering everything in sight. While recent warm weather optimism was the catalyst for our trip, Shane and I have a long history of getting caught outside in unfriendly conditions. So our pessimistic sides at least still packed for the worst, which we grudgingly put on as we headed out into winter like conditions anyway.

If you’re at your at home and planning a trip to your local spot. Weather like this is more likely to make you decide, to just stay inside and drink more coffee. When you’re traveling away from home though, you’re more than likely going to stick to the same plan. Just go out and face the crap conditions, because at least it’s still a chance to go fishing. As a good friend would always say, “at least it’ll make a good story later.“

Summer is almost here or rather there…I promise!

original content Scott Wood

President and CEO of Trout Unlimited, Chris Wood, addresses the importance of agricultural partnerships and new rulemaking that would restore protections for seasonal streams.

The new Douglas Outdoors will present their range of projected products at the ICAST/IFTD show in July. The first offering will be the Eclipse fly reel, made in the Douglas Outdoors factory in New York.

Read more in the press release below. 

Photo via lifewithdogs.tv

The massive floods that struck the southern Balkans in recent weeks has killed more than a dozen people and caused billions of dollars in damage. And as with all such situations, oftentimes dogs are left to fend for. . .

The post Photos and Video: Heroic People Rescue Dogs from Devastating Floods in Bosnia appeared first on Orvis News.

The Girl and the Marble

If this doesn’t make you want to go to Slovenia I have no idea what will.  Wonderful footage of these gin clear waters and a list of species for those who like to change it up a bit.  What a stunning location to wet a line.

original content Reel Girl

There are certain processes in fly fishing that seem obvious and self-evident, but then you learn that there's a better, more effective way to do it. In this video, Steve Galletta of Bighorn Angler—on the Bighorn River in. . .

The post Video Pro Tip: How to Properly Dress a Dry Fly appeared first on Orvis News.

Charlie the Beagle is billed on his Facebook page as "The smartest dog in the world ;}} ♥" Check out this great video, in which he helps his. . .

The post Video: Charlie the Dog Helps His Mom Change a Baby’s Diaper appeared first on Orvis News.

Few things make dog owners look worse than when they don't clean up after their pets, especially in public places such as parks and city streets. Stepping in dog poop will quickly turn a person anti-dog. Responsible dog owners hate their. . .

The post Video: A High-Tech Method for Getting People to Clean Up After Their Dogs appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to a new edition of the Orvis News Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival, in which we scour the Web for the best fly-fishing videos available. This week, we've got 15 great videos from around the world, with. . .

The post Friday Fly-Fishing Film Festival 05.23.14 appeared first on Orvis News.

From the excitement of new waters to the reassuring familiarity of old, this film short from Brothers on the Fly shows some great scenery and beautiful fish.

Redington has announced four new members to Team Redington, a diverse group of athlete-anglers who combine “a passion for fly fishing with adventurous outdoor lifestyles” and will help introduce fly fishing to new and nontraditional audiences.

Read more in the press release below.

From Redington:

Redington, maker of performance fly rods, reels, waders, apparel, and accessories, is excited to announce its partnership with the 2014 GoPro Mountain Games as the official fly fishing sponsor of the event.

Held annually in Vail, Colorado, the GoPro Mountain Games is the country’s premier celebration of mountain sports, lifestyle, and music, and includes everything from kayaking to mountain biking, mud runs, canine events, climbing and of course, fly fishing. This year’s Games run June 5-8 with the 2 Fly X-Stream casting competition taking place on Saturday with the finals happening on a local river Sunday morning.

Redington is committed to furthering the sport of fly fishing and by partnering with the GoPro Games, which combines outdoor enthusiasts with a wide variety of sports, the platform is a perfect fit for the brand. Attendees will find

Ted Lindner with family and friends at "Dad's Camp" along the Klamath River.
Photo via riversofalostcoast.com

We've posted before about the wonderful documentary "Rivers of a Lost Coast," which chronicles the rise and fall of Northern California's steelhead fishery and culture in the middle of the. . .

The post Video: Watch the Amazing Documentary “Rivers of a Lost Coast” in Its Entirety appeared first on Orvis News.

From TU:

A group of Senate leaders today introduced the Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act of 2014, legislation that will implement key elements of three landmark agreements between tribes, farmers and ranchers, fisheries advocates, federal and state resource agencies, and utility PacificCorp that resolve water sharing and management issues in the Klamath River basin.

Trout Unlimited, which played a role in developing the three agreements, strongly praised the Senate’s action and called for quick passage of the bill.

“Today, Senators Wyden, Merkley, Feinstein and Boxer have shown real leadership on one of the most challenging water issues in the West,” said Brian Johnson, California Director for Trout Unlimited. “This bill is good for farmers, sportsmen, and local economies. We could not be happier.”

Johnson added that the Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act of 2014 is the culmination of many years of

From Smith Optics:

With summer just around the corner, Smith Optics announced this week several new hires and staff promotions to continue to promote its diverse line of sunglasses, snow and motorsports goggles, snow and bike helmets, premium protective eyewear and ophthalmic eyewear.

Brian Cotsonas has been named Eastern Regional Sales Director for the brand, after serving as Sales Manager for the past ten years. Cotsonas’ responsibilities in his regional territory remain the same, while expanding his dedication and drive to increase sales in key markets.

Following the launch of its best-in-class e-commerce site last month, Smith Optics appointed Eric Stumpner to E-Commerce and Web Development Manager. While continuing to lead the e-commerce team and all web development projects on the hybris platform, under his new title, Stumpner will also oversee the

Written by: Capt. Aron Cascone, Constant Angler

Big bass sip worms from the surface when the hatch is really on.
Photo courtesy Capt. Aron Cascone

In Rhode Island, the cinder worm emergence--some anglers call it a "hatch"--sure took its time getting started this season. The switch finally got flipped in a big way on May13th. There are now plenty of stripers and an abundance of worms to keep. . .

The post Making the Most of the Cinder-Worm “Hatch” for Big Stripers appeared first on Orvis News.

Rocky looks like a champ!
Photo by Don't BULLY Me Rescue

Our friend Rocky wasn't always this attractive and healthy. When he arrived at Don't BULLY Me Rescue in Austin, TX he was, for want of a better term, a hot mess! The Olde English Bulldog was suffering...

The post Petfinder: Rocky’s Big Comeback appeared first on Orvis News.

Welcome to another edition of our fly-fishing trivia challenge, where we test your knowledge of all things fly fishing and where you might learn a thing or two about this sport we love. This week, we've got. . .

The post Take an All-New Phil Monahan Fly-Fishing Trivia Challenge 05.22.14 appeared first on Orvis News.

With this week's decision by Petco and PetSmart to stop stocking Chinese-made jerky treats, the issue has. . .

The post Video: <em>TIME</em> Magazine Explains the Chinese-Dog-Treat Issue appeared first on Orvis News.

Alex relaxes with her trainer, Chip Ingersoll, and volunteer Kim Gambish.
Photo via morningjournal.com

A beautiful Pit Bull named Alexandria is a certified therapy dog who works with special-needs students at Harris Elementary School, in Amherst, Ohio, which is just west of Cleveland: . . .

The post Pit Bull Wins “Top Volunteer” Award at Ohio School appeared first on Orvis News.

Here's a teaser for what looks to be kickass video of fishing the flats off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. There's plenty of action above and below the. . .

The post Video: <em>A Gift from the Sky</em> on the Yucatan Flats appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: John McKinnie, Lone Mountain Ranch

Five days of this without success can take it out of a guy.
All photos by John McKinnie

It was our final day of Steelhead fishing in British Columbia, and Josh and I walked the river banks back to the truck; not much was said and both of us were overwhelmed by frustration. After. . .

The post Photos: From Skunked in BC to an Embarassment of Riches in Montana appeared first on Orvis News.

This is an astonishing video that will make you feel contrary emotions, joy and sadness, at the same time. It shows a group of beagles who have been confined to indoor cages for their whole lives finally getting to step outside at. . .

The post Best Of OrvisNews.com: Beagles feel the grass and sun for the very first time appeared first on Orvis News.

Vaidas Uselis, from Lithuania, has produced one of the more gorgeous solo-fly-fishing videos of all time. Here's his description of it: . . .

The post Video: In Search of Silence appeared first on Orvis News.

Would I…

Would I love steelhead as much if they were around 12 months of the year?  In some places, the chance to take the rod to river with the expectation, or maybe the hope that a steelhead is around is a reality. But come inland, and we sit through a 4-5 month sabbatical and wait the yearly cycle of return to put the fish back into their natal rivers. It can seem like an eternity.

After a long season stretching from August and ending near March the next year, there’s a small feeling that you can stand a little break and your family could use you around more. Then, a month goes by and it you stare at your quiver of spey rods with lust as if they were unattached supermodels waiting for you to hit on them.

Trout are great, but they’re the appetizers to the real meal. Carp are dirty fun, and the toothy critters like Pike and Musky can hold attention for a while but let’s be honest, they’re all space fillers.

My guess is the break and breather summer steelhead provide us anglers of the Deschutes, Klickitat, Clearwater, Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers the ability to never burn out.

Vices turn year round, dam counts reviewed and analyzed, chat forums churn with battling opinions …..and when the magic number clears the myriad of dams and their knock, knock, knocking at your door…..sleep is an impossible endeavor the night before the first summer steelhead trip of the year.

original content Josh Mills

This is one photo of Tally that seems to confirm her catlike propensities.
Photo by xlinnea

Recently a person with the user name xlinnea posted a photo of her dog, Tally, in a very catlike position. It seems that Tally had been raised by cats, and xlinnea claims that the dog acts more like a cat than a. . .

The post Photos: Does This Dog Think She’s A Cat? appeared first on Orvis News.