Michael Phillippe
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I used the Nikwax products for years with good success. Recently however, I got on to Granger’s Performance Wash and Granger’s Waterproofer (to replace the DWR). The folks at Patagonia recommended them for some gear. I can’t say that I notice any difference between brands, but it’s another option.
I’ve come to believe that your washer is critical. I know that top-loading, agitator washers destroy merino wool base layers and probably abuse fleece as well. It simply can’t be good for waders to be all twisted around. I successfully washed my old Simms waders in our agitator washer, but I now I go to my daughter’s and borrow her new front-loading machine. I can’ convince my wife that we need a new washer just for my Simms and Patagonia gear (although if she knew how much I spent on it, she might change her mind!).
Actually the core of the horn is true bone. It is an extension of the skull and thus not shed each year.
I’ve owned – and still own – far too much gear. But if I had to choose a favorite it would have to be my drift boat. In the middle of the building process, I was diagnosed with leukemia and had to take six months off for treatment. When I began recovering, I started working on the boat again. It was my therapy. So, while it’s not quite a piece of gear, it has to be my favorite fishing ‘tool’.
Zach, A call back cage is definitely the way to go. They work very well, and are especially effective if you can leave them in the same spot/area for awhile.
I understand what you’re saying, Zach. In my pre-retirement life I worked for an international company with offices in China. We had Chinese companies going so far as to copy screen layouts after they had already stolen the code behind the system!
As I said in a different post, I’m now trying to buy only US-made goods. And not just fishing gear. I’ve been paying some premium prices the past few years for clothing made in US but at least I feel good wearing it! Unfortunately, there will always be folks who want to buy cheap so the foreign knockoffs will always have a market.
Chris, I understand your frustration but I wonder if anything can be done about it. Fly patterns have always been openly shared – first in books and now on the Internet. My son occasionally has patterned picked up by Montana Fly Company. I’m always amazed to see them in catalogs and in stores that do not buy from MFC. But how are you going to “protect” a Comparadun? No doubt Al Caucci would like to have a nickel for every one sold in the past twenty years.
Equipment is an entirely different matter. The engineering and investment that people like Simms, Scott, and others put into product design, manufacturing, and just as importantly quality control should be protected. I hope Tenkara USA is success in their litagation.
Zach, This is most interesting. I couldn’t agree more with your position on knockoffs and their impact on domestic production and innovation. In fact, I’ve pretty much refused to by foreign goos if their is a US-made alternative. The main exception being Patagonia clothing. I know I pay a premium price for Scott rods or Simms waders, but I simply feel better knowing I’m supporting folks’ jobs in Montana and Colorado.
I assume the Denver-based store used ‘Tenkara USA’ in their advertising? I assume that ‘Tenkara’ alone is not a treadmarkable term any more than ‘fly rod’ would be? I also question the accuracy of the article where it states that Mr. Galhardo ‘singlehandedly’ introduced Tenkara to the US. The guy in New York, aka Tenkara Bum, may argue with that! Certainly Tenkara USA is going a fine of marketing and public relations for the technique and their products and I admire this. However, one can buy a myriad of tenkara rods from all the big Japanese manufacturers and many at $100 or less. Just look at AllFishing.com (http://www.allfishingbuy.com/Tenkara-Gear.htm) The selection and information on tenkara is so extensive that it’s confusing.
My tenkara rods are from Tenkara USA and I think they are good products. But, I wonder if Mr. Galhardo isn’t a bit egotistical to think that he introduced tenkara to the US? Afterall, Yvon Chouinard has been fishing tenkara since before Daniel immigrated to the US.
When I said “older literature” I was thinking pre-1992. I wanted to make sure my memory wasn’t completely shot, so I did a quick review of Fly Fisherman in the years before “The Movie” was released in the autumn of 1992. I went back to 1974 and found the following articles on YNP.
1. “Salvation on the Yellowstone”, Gary LaFontaine. Talks about Gibbon River and the Yellowstone at Buffalo Ford. There is an interesting photo of Gary standing at Buffalo Ford with a caption noting that he was the solitary angler! (Mid Season 1974)
2. “Fishing the Firehole in Fall”, Ray Bergman (Late Season 1975)
3. “The Anatomy of a Spring Creek”, Ernest Schwiebert. Mentions the Gibbon River. (Early Season 1977)
4. “Western Spring Creeks in Autumn”, Charles F Waterman, Talks about the Firehole River. (Winter 1979)
5. “The Living River”, Charles Brooks. Detailed descripion and maps of the Madison River in the Park. (Season Opener 1980)
6. Great Waters: Yellowstone Park (Spring 19810
a. Ernest Schwiebert, “Queen of the Yellowstone”, Article about the Firehole.
b. Charles Brooks, “A Yellowstone Sampler,” Brief descriptions of the Gallatin, Duck Creek, Gibbon River, Yellowstone River and Slough Creek .
7. Yellowstone Stillwaters, Mike Lawson. Reviews a few lakes in the YNP along with outside the park. (September 1984)
8. Discovdry in Yellowstone, Rene Harrop, Detailed article on the Firehole. (June 1988)
9. Planning for the Rockies, A Special Report. Briefly describes the Yellowstone, Firehole, Madison, Pelican Creek, and Sough Creek. There are a about six sentences on Slough Creek including the recommendation that one get a guide! An interesting quote, “ The Yellowstone River from above LeHardy Rapids to below Buffalo Ford is the best fishng for cutthroat trout in the world.” (May 1992)My son and I first hiked to the first meadow on Slough Creek in July 1995. We saw no other anglers all day. Needless to say, I fell in love with the place.
Zach, I’m not sure what the problem is this spring. We’re about 6-7 inches behind normal rainfall. It’s been over a month since I’ve been able to float the West Branch of the Delaware. The main stem is floatable but with that being the only show in town and the spring hatches at peak, every guide in the East is floating the same seven miles! So, I tend to wade around the less crowded areas of the East Branch.
The Delaware is certainly noted for dry fly fishing. But it can be extremely fickle. Some days there are bugs and risers, and some days it’s devoid of all aquatic life. It’s real claim to fame is that BIG fish eat dry flies. During the Hendrickson and March Brown hatches, it’s common to see several 20+ inch fish eating on top. As the summer progresses this tends to become a half-past-dark-thirty thing when the air cools down and there’s sulphur hatches and spinner falls.
You should have no trouble floating the West, East or Main in your shallow draft boat. You should plan on a May trip sometime.
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Send some up north. The Delaware system is approaching drought conditions this spring. I haven’t been able to get my boat down the West Branch in over a month.
Certainly Slough Creek has become one of the most popular – and overcrowded – streams in the park. And I think for Zach’s generation it is possibly the most famous today. But if you look at older literature, the writing is about the Firehole, the Madison and the Yellowstone. In the 1970’s, no one hiked to the second meadow to fish – they didn’t need to because there were many fewer fishermen.
I don’t think it makes any difference which stream is most famous. The important thing is to go experience the magic of Yellowstone National Park. It will change your life.
I wrote Lifeproof about the issue of opening the case more than six times. Here is the response I got:
“Not true at all, the edges to begin to wear if your case has been opened many times but we can offer a replacement for that we ask that you repeate the water test at least twice a month to make sure it is working correctly. Please let me know if any other assistance is needed.”
Kb – I think it depends on how you define the ‘pedestal’ for the rower seat. If you’re talking about bolting a metal pedestal to the floor, think you’d have an issue. But, if you are distributing the stress over say a dry box with the seat on top, or perhaps the Yeti anchored to a false floor you’d be OK. Take a look at how Jason Cajune designs the pedestal seating in his skiff at http://www.cajuneboats.com/boats/big-recurve-skiff/.
The recommendations on the Echo are right on as well. My son spends many days on western rivers with one and it preforms well. He also fishes a Beulah switch rod. I used it in Alaska and on the Klickitat in WA and it’s a really sweet rod. A bit more expensive, and I think they are made in Medford, OR.
Neat looking skiff. I like the basic layout including integration of the Yeti under the rower’s seat. Good use of space for dry boxes and open storage on sides. But it has the same issue that my boat has: the casting braces preclude walking around and switching positions, and there is no rod storage or place to mount the spare oar.
I would echo everything that Brian says. I’ve fished YSNP at least 15 times in the past 20 years and it is truly a magical place. More recently I’ve become obsessed with the Firehole (not a lace to take your wife except to sightsee), but the northeast corner is best for beginners. There are cabins at The Canyon area that are OK and closer to that area.
As Brian says, it’s a couple hours from Jackson just to the loop and then you could be 2-3 more hours from fishing. Stay in park if you can. The hotels are expensive but far nicer than anything you will find outside the park (unless you want to pay $400 a night in Jackson). At least try to find lodging in West Yellowstone or Cooke City. I would definitely avoid the FFF convention week!!!
And don’t neglect the Jackson Hole fishing. Flat Creek and Snake are great fisheries. Even the little tribs to the Snake hold lots of fine spotted cutthroats.
