Brodin Tailwater and Gallatin Ghost Nets review by wtotf staff
Brodin has been creating quality fishing nets for over two decades and the new Ghost Bags are no exception. With handles created of plantation grown teak and net bags made of proprietary injection molded pvc, these are some of the most fish friendly bags on the market. The clear pvc bag not only helps to protect a netted fish, but the translucent netting is also less likely to spook a fish as one of it's black bagged counterparts.
These nets were an extreme pleasure to test, especially for a group of guys that fish tandem rigs on a regular basis. The clear pvc bag makes it not only easy to find your flies after releasing a fish, but you will no longer sit on the stream trying to pry stray flies from your net bag. The clear bag truly does help in keeping fish a little less spooky when getting them to the net as the bag turns translucent as it is submerged. Made of Costa Rican Teak from plantation farms making it an easily sustainable resource. These nets are well made and stand up to lots of abuse making for a great buy.
Brodin has created a net line that would look as good on the wall as it does when netting a trout on your favorite stream and at a reasonable price, suggested retail Gallatin $99.00 and Tailwater $119.00. With a great environmental philosophy and a great product, those of who tested these nets feel they are one of the best buys on the market. For more information on these or their other landing nets please visit Brodin.com.
Brodin Tailwater Ghost Net. Photo M. Miller
Brodin Gallatin and Tailwater ghost net specifications Gallatin •24" Overall length •8"x16.5" opening •Teak handle with four-ply bow Tailwater •30" Overall length •9"x20" opening •Teakhandle with four-ply bow
Chota STL Wading Boot review by wtotf staff
Chota has always strived to produce high quality products at an extremely reasonable price, and Chota has kept to that with the STL Wading Boot. The STL's are a lightweight and heavy-duty boot that are made to stand up to the elements. With a newly designed rubber cleat base that allows the addition or removal of Chota's specifically designed case-hardened STL cleats, which sit flush with the sole of the boot. This, according to Chota, will allow you to modify your boot as stream conditions demand. The boot upper are made of a specially treated water-resistant leather which is not only durable but helps to keep the boot weight down. Also the STL's have screen micro-ports that help to drain the boot quickly of water. The STL also comes with Chota's exclusive Quick Lace system which allows for great ankle support and make the ease of putting on and taking off boots much more pleasant. Each pair of boots comes with a package of 28 STL cleats.
The Chota STL's have been a pleasure for those of us at wtotf that had the chance to check them out, and some of our staffers are still wearing them. Chota has done a tremendous job with creating a fairly lightweight boot that is not only comfortable but also keeps you strong and sturdy in even the most demanding of conditions. The leather upper will resist water but as most wading boots will do, the STL still became much heavier after a good day of wading. On the upside these boots definitely dry quickly and the micro-screen ports do remove water from the boot well. We also noted that the screened ports held up much better than other brands made in the same style. The removable cleats are easily adjustable as long as you do not hike long distances with your cleats installed. Due to wear and tear and not removing my cleats (M. Miller) for extended hikes (think Cheeseman Canyon or the Williams Fork) they became stuck and could not be removed from the cleat base. Our other testers' boots had differing amounts of wear based on their fishing habits. Chota's Quick-Lace system is very supportive and makes for gearing up and down much easier, but all three of our testers found that after three to four months of hard use the laces did get destroyed. Whether from severe use or the occasional snagging on streamside brush we all had issues with the laces. The laces are replaceable for $6.50 retail and are easy to replace, but two of our testers chose to use standard wading laces after the second pair of laces went south.
Overall the Chota STL Wading Boots provide an excellent value at an unbelievable price of $124.95 retail. Although all of testers had issues with the laces the overall performance of this boot far exceeded our expectations and is a great option if you are in the market for a new wading boot. For more information or to find the nearest dealer please visit Chota.com.
The late Sawan Nail tests the Chota STL while hooking up with some serious brown trout. Photo wtotf archives
Columbia's Bahama II Tech Shirt review by wtotf staff
Columbia is one of the country's leading manufacturers of outdoor gear and apparel so we weren't surprised to see such a great shirt from them. The Bahama II shirt is a fully loaded tech shirt that is not only fairly stylish but also well designed with the angler in mind. The Bahama II has Columbia's Omni-Shade technology fabric, rated at 30UPF, helps to keep you cool and unburned after a day on the water. In tandem with the PFG (Performance Fishing Gear) venting system you stay cool and the venting system also helps enhance your range of motion making for an unencumbered cast. With two chest pockets that are ample enough to carry a small fly box, there are also interior sleeves on the pocket that work as a tippet tender, you can easily fish light if you like. With the addition of roll up sleeves by tab and loop allowing you to use the shirt even when you would rather be in a t-shirt. The Bahama is available in S-XXL and comes in a variety of colors.
As tech shirts go, the Bahama II by Columbia is a steal, you get a high quality shirt at a very reasonable price. After testing this shirt we were pleased to see that it held up as well as it did. With a sturdy construction this shirt will last you season after season and keep you looking dapper at the same time. The pockets both held small C&F boxes easily and the velcro close pockets made them easy to get in and out of. They also have a tippet tender that does work if you choose to use them for that purpose. The venting system definitely keeps you nice and cool allowing a nice breeze and the cut allows for an easier casting motion. The venting system and the UPF protection definitely are a plus when you spend a lot of time in the sun, you stay way cooler and you have less to worry about from the affects of the sun. You also have the ability to shorten your sleeves to make an even hotter day a little bit more bearable. We had no major problems with this shirt and feel it is an excellent bargain.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced fishing shirt that also gives you tons of features the Bahama II is for you. With a suggested retail of $39.95 you can get a nice shirt that can be worn to the river as well as out to dinner afterwards. For more information about the Bahama II or to find the nearest dealer visit Columbia.com.
Mike hooks up with a nice greenback while testing the Bahama II fishing shirt.
Sawan Nail testing the Dan Bailey Lightweights near Parshall, Colorado.
Dan Bailey Lightweight Breathable Wader review by wtotf staff
Dan Bailey has been outfitting fly fishers for over 70 years and their Lightweight Breathable's (LB) will help keep business coming back for years to come. Originally introduced in 1999 the LB have long been popular with anglers but with new available technologies Dan Bailey changed these waders for the better. Made of nylon taslon, a laminate layer of Entrant HB and final tricot layer these waders hold up to the elements.These waders have been upgraded with articulated knees and a front mounted chest pocket system. Also included is a fleece lined hand warmer pocket to keep hands warm and attached gravel guards. This is one pair of waders that you won't need a belt for, the attached side straps allow for a great fit without the need of a belt.
Our testers found the Dan Bailey Lightweight Breathable Waders to be one of the best pair of waders they have tested for the price. With great design features and excellent construction the LB waders will keep you dry on the riverside and won't put a huge dent in your pocket. Speaking of pockets, Dan Bailey has designed a well thought out pocket system that allows you to keep fly boxes, tippet and other accessories close at hand. The included fleece lined warmer pocket is extraordinarily quick drying and will keep even the coldest of fingers warm on those chilly winter days on the river. The attached gravel guards have Velcro closures which help keep debris out of wading boots and work exceptionally well. However, if you fish in the winter and snow, these gravel guards must be kept clear of snow (snow clogged Velcro will not function properly) but other than that the gravel guard design is great and easy to use. The Lightweight Breathable Waders also have an adjustable suspender system that makes for a comfortable no worry day on the water and the side strap system makes these waders some of the best fitting on the market. Both of our testers enjoyed wearing these waders enough to continue wearing them after testing, maybe you should check them out too.
The Dan Bailey Lightweight Breathable Wader is an exceptional value at $199.00 and highly recommended by our staffers. If you are looking for a great fitting wader with tons of extras and without the extra price, check these babies out. For more information about Dan Bailey's Lightweight Breathable Waders or the other gear they have please visit danbailey.com.
Dan Bailey lightweight wader spcifications •Fully articulated knees and contoured booties •Two medium sized zippered fly box pockets •Fleece lined hand warmer pocket •Attached gravel guards •Built in side straps eliminating the need for a wading belt.
Sawan Nail hooks up with a brute while testing the Lightweight Breathables by Dan Bailey.
Feather-Craft: Bob's Tech Shirt review by wtotf staff
Feather-Craft is well known for providing great service and gear for anglers and Bob's Tech Shirt is certainly no exception. Made of 100% polyester nylon this shirt is comfortable, lightweight and protects against the sun with UPF 40+. The shirt has a fully ventilated back that keeps the angler cool and allows for full range of motion so your cast isn't impeded by the shirt. The two chest pockets have vertical zips and an accessory tab for streamside tools. Rounding out the features on this shirt are a hidden button collar, squared bottom hem and sleeve tabs for when the weather gets a little warm for the long sleeves.
Well the Feather-Craft guys have done it again, a super product that can stand up to the big names but with a much smaller price tag. All the guys here at wtotf who had the chance to test this shirt gave it glowing reviews. The 100% polyester nylon makes this shirt quick drying, lightweight and extremely comfortable. With a fully ventilated back this shirt never gets too hot and aids in the dispersal of moisture. The front pockets are large enough for a medium sized flybox and the vertical zips make getting things in and out of the pocket much easier than a top open pocket. Two really nice features are the hidden button collar and the squared bottom which allows even us slobs that don't tuck in our shirts to look great. This shirt looks great both on the water and out on a date with your special lady and with the several color options you can fill your closet with dual purpose shirts.
Overall the testers here at wtotf feel that Bob's Tech Shirt is one of the best values you can find when looking for a nice tech fly fishing shirt at only $39.95 retail. With so many features in a shirt that feels this comfortable how can you go wrong? To order your own or to learn more visit Feather-Craft.
wtotf's Mike Miller takes Bob's Tech Shirt by Feather Craft for a test run.
Feather Craft Bob's Tech Shirt Specifications •Made of 100% polyester nylon •UPF 40+ sun protection •Fully ventilated back and mesh interior yolk •Two large front chest pockets with vertical zipper closure •Two accessory loops and roll up sleeve tabs
Feather-Craft's Furled Leaders reveiw by m. miller
Furled leaders have become quite the rage in fly-fishing circles as the next great thing that can help add some performance to fly-fishing game. Hence the reason the staff here at wtotf was excited to when we received some of Feather-Craft's furled leaders to test. Though they have been around for a while they are certainly starting to get more and more attention with anglers looking for a leader material that doesn't have memory, is uber-strong, long lasting and resistant normal leader issues such as wind knots and kinks. Though it seems like a no brainer, even to wtotf's staffers that were excited to check these out, there was still some skepticism about how well they would hold up and perform. Feather-Craft includes a tiny corrosion proof metal connector ring that makes for easy tippet changes and less line to knot contact making for much stronger leader-line connections.
When testing these leaders our staff hit several types of water to see how they would hold up in different conditions. F-C's Furled Leaders passed our tests with flying colors. From strength and durability to flexibility and ease of casting these leaders are a top notch value. We had zero wind knot issues and the leaders allowed us all better accuracy and delicacy in our casting. I even took one of the 5wt. 6ft. leaders out to a local bass pond and had no problem getting those bruisers to the net and even in failing light I knew my casts were hitting their mark. The ease at which a fly is delivered and the long lasting nature of these leaders makes them an easy choice when looking to change your casting game. With both sinking and non-sinking leaders Feather-Craft has the gamut covered and after trying one of their furled-leaders we think you may convert as well.
Feather-Craft is well known for their catalog and selection of fly-tying materials, and we hope they will soon become well known for their furled-leaders. With prices ranging from $12.95 (non-sinking) to $16.95 (uniform-sinking) these leaders are a great value and should be given a shot. For more information about Feather-Craft's Furled Leaders or to purchase some please visit Feather-Craft.com.
Furled Leaders made easy (courtesy of F-C fly fishing)
Attach 2-4 feet of tippet to each ring with your favorite knot, Uni or Improved Clinch. Add the tippet length to the leader to get your overall leader length that you prefer
Furled leaders can also be used as "butt" sections for really really long leaders. This makes it easy to turn over big and small dry flies for spooky fish. Used the furled leader as your butt and build off of it like a traditional hand tied leader using Maxima or any other leader material
For those that do not like the convenience of the leader rings, simply tie a nail knot and a perfection loop at the end and do a "loop to loop"
The Bullwhip and Saltwater Leaders make great pike, cuda, and snook leaders... simply add 3 feet of your favorite wire of heavy fluorocarbon or wire tippet for a shock section... and don't worry about the furled leader... we've tested these leaders to hold over 25lbs.
Fishpond 360º Swivel Retractor review by m. miller
Fishpond has been one of the industry leaders when it comes to packs and vests for fly fishing and their 360º Swivel Retractor is one of those ideas that may become the new standard in it's class. This retractor was designed to allow full range of motion for your accessories making for ease of use on the water. The patented push-button locking pin mount allows the tool to swivel, as the name states, in a full circle. The one point attachment does make for ease of putting the retractor whever you need without the hassle of a standard locking pin mount. The ability for the tool to swivel does make it a little easier to use streamside tools, but this wasn't the selling point for our testers. Our testers liked the fact that this retractor is almost indestructible compared to others on the market. Made of anodized aluminum with a non-glare finish these things can take quite a beating. The retracor itself is made of UV resistant polyurethane and allows an impressive reach so your gear is easy to use regardless of where you put it. Though it does come with an expensive $18 price tag, you will more than likely never need to replace it. Our testers all felt that this product was an excellent buy even with the hefty price tag. For more information please visit fishpondusa.com.
Fishpond's 360 degree retractor has a hefty price but performs flawlessly
Flysim is in an incredibly realistic fly fishing simulation.
Flysim, an exciting flyfishing simulation review by m. miller
As you step up to the water you hear the birds singing and the water gurgles as it rushes by. You hear a trout jump upstream and you can almost smell the pine in the air, almost but you are sitting in your office playing the latest version of FlySim. FlySim is the most realistic fly fishing computer game on the market today with accurate fly casting dynamics, multiple fly-fishing destinations, ten different species of fish and realistic fish behavior.
Flysim is an accurate fly-fishing computer simulation that uses physics-based models to allow the rod and line to act as they would in the real world. Effects of current, wind, and rod motion are all integrated to make a casting simulation that is almost as good as being on the river in person. When playing the game you have to overcome all obstacles that you encounter in real world situations, from mending to roll casting, to fish that will refuse your offerings. Everything you can imagine has been put into this game to make it feel, look and sound as if you are actually on the water.
To make the game that much more realistic you also get to fish in 9 different rivers and streams throughout the U.S., each which provide their own challenges and species of fish. Many of the streams are locked and require you to complete goals to unlock the levels, but the goals are not difficult to complete and are actually fun to complete. When playing Flysim you also get to fish for ten species of fish including rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, golden and tiger trout. The fish in this game feed, swim, strike and fight just like the real thing. You can even break your tippet and lose flies when playing a fish too hard.The game also keeps track of your fishing exploits showing what you have caught, where it was caught and how large it was. Flysim is an easy to learn simulation that changes each time you play it, much like the conditions on your local trout stream. You start each session with 25 different flies (3 of each fly) including nymphs, dries, terrestrials and attractors and much like real life once you lose your flies they are gone until you start a new session. You also have six choices of tippet and three choices of weight allowing you every option to catch the big fish in the game. To help make the right fly choices you also have access to hatch charts and a magnifier which allows you to look up close at the stream and see what is floating around. It all makes for an extremely realistic fly fishing simulator that you will want to play again and again. All of the staffers here at wild trout on the fly.com that enjoy video games agree that Flysim is a must have for the digital angler, especially at the reasonable price of $24.95.
If you are interested in purchasing Flysim please click here to go to the Flysim website where you can also download a playable demo version of the game. If you enjoy fly-fishing and have a fondness of video games this is a great game, we all give it a thumbs up!
You can fish for 9 species of trout in 10 different locales.
With physics based casting dynamics, you'd swear you were actually on the water.
SIMMS G3 wader review by wtotf staff
SIMMS designs and produces some of the highest quality fly-fishing gear available on the market and the re-designed G3 is as high quality as a wader can get. The G3 has been re-designed with 5-layer and 3-layer Gore-Tex Pro Shell fabric technology which SIMMS states provides for a more durable wader that is also lightweight. The leg seams have been moved to the front and back of the legs to provide greater articulation and increased durability making for a wader that doesn't bog you down. The G3 also includes built in gravel guards that are made of light neoprene making for a debris free boot that won't tear or rip from streamside brush. The exterior chest pocket has a zippered opening which is big enough for a fly box or pair of gloves. There is a fleece lined DWR treated hand warming pocket for those cold days on the river that is quick drying. The flip out interior pocket includes a SIMMS retractor which can be used as a tippet tender pocket and is great for holding keys, wallet or even a small fly box. These waders not only hold up to the elements they are also DEET and saltwater resistant. The G3's can also be converted to waist high waders easily. Every pair of G3's are produced in Bozeman, Montana and are probably crafted by someone who loves fishing as much as you do.
While reviewing the G3 our testers found they could actually fall in love with a piece of wading equipment. Easy to get on and off the G3's are also easy to move in which makes for a wader that is extremely comfortable and allows excellent movement . The leg seams have been moved to the front and the back of the leg which not only increases your range of motion but also increases the life of your wader by decreasing fabric to wader wear. The attached gravel guards provide a snug fit and reduce the number of streamside hang-ups you get when bushwhacking small mountain streams, we felt these gravel guards are the best in the industry. Also a plus, is the DEET resistance, our testers found this to be a great attribute when visiting waters that require bug prevention like the Colorado, Williams Fork and high mountain lakes. The fleece-lined hand warmer pocket is well placed and is quick drying allowing for great comfort on chilly seasonable days without a jacket. The interior pocket flips out and is great for keeping keys or a fly box and can be used regardless of whether you are wearing them chest high or waist high. The attached retractor is also a nice touch and great for keeping tools at the ready.
Our testers pushed these waders to the limit and are still pushing, both Casey Welch and Mike Miller are still wearing the G3's they tested. From kneeling in brush or getting in and out of the drift boat the G3 took every blow like a champ, stayed comfortable and still wouldn't leak. The SIMMS G3 retails for $399.95 and is an exceptional value for those looking for a wader that will last. Both of our testers had no issues with the G3 and highly recommend this wader to others. We also liked that fact that these are the only waders on the market that are made completely in the United States. For more information about the SIMMS G3 or to find the nearest dealer please visit SIMMS.com.
The G3's stood up to everything from kneeling to bushwhacking.
SIMMS G3 Wader Specifications
5-layer and 3-layer GORE-TEX® Pro Shell fabric technology
Patented front and back leg seam construction for enhanced articulation, comfort and durability
Patented built-in Guide Model Gravel Guards
Exterior chest pocket with zippered closure holds large fly box
Fleece-lined hand warmer pocket with DWR treatment
Flip-out Tippet Tender pocket includes patented built-in retractor
Low profile belt loops accommodate 2" wading belt
Easily convert to waist highs
DEET & saltwater resistant
Nylon wading belt & repair kit included
Every pair manufactured in Bozeman, Montana
Mike checks out the G3 while getting into some trout.
