greg mitchell
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I’m new to Lamson reels. I just got a Konic that I absolutely love. I did look at both lines you are talking about. I know functionality and durability are the most important thing – BUT I sure prefer the look of the Velocity line. The ULA force is a little too radical (different) looking for me.
Greg
My heart sure goes out to everyone in the fly fishing industry. I think maybe we have a few too many companies and products out there but there are just so many wonderful products and people in the industry. I hate to think of anyone losing their job or any company going under (like Teton recently did).
On a personal note – I’m in the healthcare field. Even in that normally recession proof industry we are feeling it. My health care system has a freeze on new hiring and a freeze on all travel and new capital expenditures. I recently lost 2 employees and was not allowed to replace them.
Interesting to hear from you guys overseas.
Greg
I bought one last weekend and used it on Sunday. Seems like a great reel. Balances my Sage perfectly and looks good doing it. And hands down the best drag I’ve ever used or even seen. I think Lamson’s conical drag is not just hype.
So my old Teton is going to be relegated to backup status.
Thanks for all the input.
Greg
Thanks for the input all. Ben you hit it on the head for me – I’m worried about it being cast too. I have ruined one cast reel by dropping it yet I’ve dropped my Teton (machined) reel a couple of times (on pavement) over the years and it was barely scratched. I was hoping that the Konic being “pressure cast” and machine finished meant it was close to as tough as a fully machined reel? But maybe not.
Interesting report. Trout on a fly in Vegas – who would have guessed? Matt I was in Vegas a couple of years ago for a week on business. After that it was officially my least favorite place too.
Greg
I really don’t get why Teton reels haven’t dominated, but that’s not the point of your question…
Teton going under is very sad. IMHO one of the best reels made and at a fair price too.
Greg
Has anyone tried or does anyone use the Anvil Atlas? That thing looks like it would survive Shock and Awe. Also seems like it provides lots of access and a place to rest your hand like the HMH vises.
http://www.anvilusa.com/The_Atlas_Vise.htmI don’t have an atlas. But I do own the other vise that anvil makes – the apex. It is a fine vise. I own several vises but it is probably currently my favorite even over a couple that cost much more. I think the atlas shares the same general build and jaws as the anvil. But the atlas is true rotary whereas mine is not. I would bet it is a very fine vise.
Greg
Pulsar (made by Seiko) makes a really good watch for a good price. About 10 years ago at Sam’s Club they were selling assorted pulsar watches for $15 to $25. I picked up 2 that never need a battery replacement. One is kinetic and the other is solar powered.
I’ve worn one or the other of these watches for the last 10 years everyday. They have survived many, many dunkings over the years as well as temps from over 100 degrees down to well below freezing.
Both still look and work fine.
Greg
I used the Rio fluoro for several years. But switched to the orvis fluoro a couple of years ago. It’s less expensive and seems a little more supple to me.
Greg
This is a really interesting thread about something I’ve thought about before – even though I generally tie most of my own flies and don’t purchase many at all. It’s a complicated subject though. For instance it appears that flies made overseas in some areas are of lower quality with poor working conditions such as Africa compared to Thailand. But would that be true across the board? Was that initial picture from Africa? If so those women appear happy and that doesn’t appear to be a sweatshop. I don’t think anyone knows for sure.
Also if no one buys flies made in Africa anymore even though the working conditions and wages may be poor – what are we doing to those unfortunate people who for them any job however poor may be infinitely better than not having a job at all? It is just a very complex subject with no easy answers.
Along the same lines I would be extremely interested to see the working conditions in China where so much of our fly fishing tackle (rods especially) is now manufactured. I wonder if for instance TFO would be willing to show pics of their overseas factory?
An article would be a great idea. But it may never happen for the reasons Zach mentioned – $$.
Greg
It was an interesting article and it opened my eyes about door to door sales. But unless I missed something (I didn’t read the whole article) I don’t see what is wrong with internet sales of these magazines.
I’ve purchased magazine subscriptions) from ebay for years. Generally at a fraction of the cover price. With this economy and these gas prices I’ll continue to do so unless someone shows me conclusively that there is something wrong with that practice.
Greg
I know they are not as well thought of in serious camping circles but my wife and I have had really good luck with our Coleman tents. We have 2. An older (10+ yrs) 7 x 7 dome tent and a bigger 12 x 10 dome tent. They were both pretty cheap($30 and $70) and have lasted well for us. I sealed the seams initially on both and neither leak at all. The entire roof is mesh on the bigger tent so there is a lot of ventilation. On the smaller tent there is not as much mesh so it does get hotter in the summer. The newer models have more mesh though.
About 8 years ago I took that smaller tent on a cross state bicycle ride – the ragbrai cross Iowa ride 500+ miles. On several nights there were absolutely horrific storms. All around me other bikers/campers tents were blowing down or their tents were leaking terribly. My cheap little $30 tent held up fine and literally didn’t leak a drop.
If you go on Consumer reports website they have some good reviews of tents rating construction quality, weatherproofing, etc. They rate the Coleman sundome series as a “best buy”. They also like several of the Eureka tents and an LL Bean tent stating they are somewhat better constructed than the Coleman but higher priced.
Greg
I live in the vicinity and fish Taneycomo and the White pretty often. If you are wading the fishing is very, very tough. A boat is almost essential right now due to the high water. Both the tablerock and bull shoals dam are generating water almost non-stop.
Greg
I’ve actually owned both vises. I liked the spartan. But love the Peak vise. As far as hook sizes for the peak – I have the standard jaw (not the midge) and I tie mainly trout flies #8 to #22 and I have yet to have a hook slip. I’m not really into rotary tying but it does come in really handy being able to turn the fly over.
Why do I like it better than the spartan? For me the spartan was difficult to get larger trout sized hooks locked in – it took a lot of force to get it locked down for size #8 and #10 hooks and even then the hook would sometimes slip. The peak also has a “positive stop” on the cam which I also prefer.
The spartan is a very nice vise – one of the best. But the Peak just works better for me.
Greg
I love SA lines. But I don’t care for this one. I don’t like that noise although I’m sure you would eventually get used to it. But the main thing is if you are stripping in line or shooting line – you can definitely get a burn or even draw blood.
SA’s response is to wear “finger protection” or to alter your casting or fishing style. No thanks. Standard lines are good enough for me and about $40 cheaper.
Greg
I live in SW MO and I consider the White, Norfork, and especially Taneycomo my home waters. It is just incredible the amount of rain we have gotten in the last few weeks. Doesn’t seem like it is ever going to stop. There is a lot of concern on Taneycomo if more rain is received that the hatchery will possibly be flooded along with some other damage. Downstream they evacuated a lot of folks that live along upper Taney. Just hope no one gets hurt.
I too was told that there will be 24X7 generation for weeks to come. I was down at Taneycomo 2 weeks ago and the floodgates were opened and have been open constantly these last 2 weeks. No tailwater trout fishing in MO or Arkansas for me for several weeks (or months) :'( The entire whitewater system is still somewhat fishable by boat – but it’s really tough to wade and fly fish.
Greg
That’s a shame that you can’t fish on the Disney property without a guide anymore. I have been to Disney many times (mostly when my kids were younger). On one of the trips roughly 15 years ago we stayed at Fort Wilderness and I fished a bit in the lake and the canals. I took some decent bass without trying too hard.
Greg
