bcubed

Thought i'd post this, as i don't really post at all anymore, and have had the steelhead blues lately, they truely haunt you... A video clip from the Babine river in Late October (no sound, and youtube tortured the quality), and an article i wrote about it.. enjoy Landing a big fish with a double handed rod is very awkward the first couple times you do it, by the end of the week i certaintly had it down better. No need for any rod angle above 45 degrees to the horizon.. http://www.countrypleasures.com/staff_infl...elhead_trip.htm

gonna be even more boats on the river this year!! wowza!

I had no problem getting mine inspected in a quick walk around and everything passed, it was however a clacka trailer (an Adams boat trailer). There is no designated spot for a licence plate on the clacka trailer

no duty, it's american made I imported one in august. 200 or so RIV fee, GST for boat and trailer. Need to get it inspected (canadian tire does it, part of your fee)..pretty easy

Have fun in Carmen, should be a ball, and catch your fill... (now i don't want to brag but guess whos going to mongolia for a month in 2 months?!?!?!)

The G4 from Simms is about as good as it gets. Better then Patagonia i've found for breathability and waterproofing (and yes, i've had both)...arm pit vents and goretex, couldn't ask for better..

Terrance, check your pm's. I'll let you borrow my bottle

Max is correct. Chain anchors have been outlawed on some rivers in the world, as it's the equivalent of doing the 'san juan shuffle' and chumming fish below you, AND ruining the river bottom, destroying redds.... boat control is what oars is for aka, bad idea

Perhaps i'm not the one that needs a reading lesson, and i can tell you i certainly don't need a "constructing literate sentence's while using proper vocabulary and spelling" lesson, like someone. Why no reply to the part about the reel being beyond sticky...seems that can't be changed with an allen key, since the drag is pooched. And if you really think that i didn't use the manual, you are truely beyond stupidly ignorant. You're telling me, that if those AEG guys were offered more money by a different company for the sponsorship and advertisement, they wouldn't take it? That's just being plain silly.. Ohh, and from what i've heard from people that have actually fished with the AEG guys, they're complete hacks anyway. Btw, Danielsson was the innovator of the Large Arbour, not loop...

Shack nasties multiply rapidly while sitting in an airport....2 more days till i'm on that certain river

The Hatch 9+ is an ounce heavier then the Van Staal 11-12 weight reel...2 Oz's more then the 9-10 weight

Way to keep repping Loop when you have no idea what you're talking about.. I do own a Evotec HD 8/10, and have had problems from the day i've had it, it has been used ONCE and it was CRAP. The drag is SHOT, i can reel against the drag at the highest setting, just as fast as i can reel without any drag on. It also is super sticky, the word smoothness is not in it's vocabulary.. They're poorly designed with a reel cap just waiting to be lost when you're switching spools, the drag is worse then a lot of the TFO midges. I talked to Loop in AUGUST about getting this fixed, and they STILL have not done anything for me. It took literally 2 months, and a rather viscious email to finally get them to ask me to send it to them the day before i go to BC, for a $60 dollar charge just to look at it. This reel was supposed to be coming with me as my skagit reel for BC, and i've been put in a position by loop that has left me scrambling for reels. Any other reel company would have replaced it or fixed it and have RETURNED it by that time, twice over!. A company that does not treat it's customers is not worth it, when there are many other companies that will go out of their way to make it right. Maybe you should advertise the fact that you get commision towards free or cheaper gear on loop products that get sold due to you pushing someone that way before you make a post about how great they are. How many multi's did you "break on big browns" which were really bottom in that week span of the worm hatch? And you called TFO's too ****ing oftens. Loop = european TFO Personally, i do not believe there is a better reel readily available then the Van Staal C-Vex. Until you've picked one up, spun it, or fished with one you'll just be going off words.. Just like anything else Jayhad, it's your money, so use it wisely and go around and figure out what you like, take our recommendations, but don't live off them. Go spin some reels, figure out what you like in looks, drag, weight, warranty, and go from there ps. If anyone wants a one time used Loop Evotec HD 8/10 (a perfect spey reel) i'll be glad to let it go for $200

dear shack nasties. I leave in 28 hours for a week on the best steelheading river in the world...Life is a real bitch some times, can't believe i'm missing halloween, and the weather is supposed to be pretty chilly there..... love, me

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I'll be the first to disagree with the Evotecs..nothing but problems from the ones i've seen honestly, if you're willing to spend 400-1000 bucks on a reel, it's very hard to go wrong..every manufacture has their top end reel, so go take a look and give them a spin. See what works for you

been up for about a week

I fish a Van Staal C-Vex 9/12 on my 9 weight 14'3 Z-axis..Not a better reel for drag, durabilty and lightness in my mind. I have never seen a better drag system then a VS, period. Balances the stick bang on. Could turn around and use it for tarpon without thinking about it.. The price is up there though. Hardy and Loop reels are being built in Korea....I wouldn't drop the money on a Zane because it's a hardy..no longer british made, not worth it. Well overpriced for having a name tag on the reel, you could buy a Saracione for that money. Hatch's are very pretty and great drags, but on the heavier side

it is considerably darker, more of a brown color similar to the old Graphite III's. Kinda like they mixed the paint of the FLi and the GIII. Very pretty rod....cast nicely too... Sage's 09 lineup is very, very strong have to say my new 4550 is a hell of a reel too, very, very sweet looking and the drag is outstanding

clean your line, the bow is notorious for making new lines sink

The sharkskin really impressed me all summer, used it from april and on. Was an absolute delight on my Z-Axis, from tossing size 20 dries to pushing big hoppers with a dropper behind them...Was also very nice on 8" 4 weight SLT, absolutely perfect for a slower rod too (which i wasn't suspecting). I still think people complaining about the noise and "cutting" are just looking for something to complain about. I've found all you have to do is warm up some water with a few drops of soap in it. Strip your line into the water, let it sit for a while...go back and clean it with a pad. They recommend not using any cleaners other then that. I line dress mine, but i've heard they recommend not to..i just like having things being dressed so they shoot better

The TCX is an absolute cannon. I had the privilege of being one of the first people to use it on the bow tossing streamers for a few days. Used a 6 weight, 9'0 with a 200 grain Streamer Express from my boat, and 80 to 100 foot casts were easily manageable with a 5" lead-eyed clouser to bunny strip flies (in the Carseland/Jansen region, with wind..). From what i've heard from reports from recent trips to Mongolia, the TCX 8 and 10 weights were the weapons of choice to be tossing 6-10" squirel poppers into the wind. There is not another rod on the market that i will recommend over the TCX for fishing big streamers, Permit, Bonefish, Taimen, Baby Tarpon and pushing big bugs into the wind.... I will hopefully be getting a chance to play around with the TCX 9140 spey next week on the Babine for steelhead, i'm sure it will live up to its shorter brothers The TCR was extremely touchy for the average caster, most people did not have good enough timing to get the rod to do what it could. The TCX is a lot more maneagable, as you can feel the rod load much better. The upgrade to Generation 5 tech has a big influence on the way you can feel the rod load, letting a caster know when the rod is ready to fire. I think it's a more fishing friendly rod for the average fisherman, and easier on the caster after a long day on the river with mass being lowered... Brewingup. The TCX is a rod made for a lot more for power then presentation that your average 3 weight offers. It is offered in a 4 weight. I'd also assume that Sage does not want to compete with itself by offering every weight in every series. I'd look at getting a Z-axis in a 3 weight (only offered in 9 foot model in a 3 wt) if you're looking for a faster action rod. If you want a bit slower, the ZXL is offered down to a 2 weight. Also, the Orvis Helios is probably the single nicest 3 weight you'll ever find.

all i said is that I'd hold off...aka, if it was my choice, i'd wait, due to the fact of how good i've heard it to be.. Same concept as the sharkskin WF line, less friction = better shooting and higher floating for easier long distance mending. Just my opinion.

haven't personally tried it, but from what i've heard from reps and people that were at the show, is that it's pretty damn cool

sharkskin running line is being released to the public very soon, i'd hold off getting anything else...

Simms offers a Womens Gortex Wader...