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CommentsReaders' Choice 2009
We want you to pick the year's best fly-fishing products. (And win a hat!)
Send us your vote—let your fly-fishing voice be heard!
Three contributors will be picked at random to receive an official Fly Rod & Reel ball cap. Yeah, payola!
Send an email with the subject line Readers' Favorites, with your gear votes, to:
editors@flyrodreel.com
It's an election year, which means you have a god-given right to participate in fly-fishing democracy. Let us know which rod, reel, line, leader, float tube, kick-boat, waders, outwear, underwear, sunglasses…well, you get the point…is your absolute favorite of the year. We'll tally up all the totals and let you, and the fly-fishing industry, know what the majority thought. Doesn't have to be a new product—just something you found particularly useful or memorable throughout 2008.
Guidelines: Simply think about the gear you used or tested this year, and let us know what worked best for you. Please include your full name with your email. Voting closes on September 1.
Reader Comments:
Without a doubt the best piece of equipment I have fished in the last year, or for that matter ever, is my Ross Evolotioun. I dont know if it's possible to combine simplicity with with cutting edge design any better then Ross has. On the river I know that ill catch more fish because of it. So simply put, of all my gear, this is the one thing that allows me to be a better fishermen. Only special gear can do that.
Often, it is not only how well the product stands up in the midst of battle, but more importantly, how well the company stands behind their product. My Trusty Steelhead Large Arbor Orvis Mach IV is only a few years old, but has seen many trying days on Michigan's migratory Rivers. This past spring I had an issue onstream that 'felt' like the reel was tight. After breaking a cardinal rule, something fell out of my reel as I was mid-stream and decided to take a closer look. I pulled out my reel info and sent it in with a check for $40. A new clutch & cover and within a week, I had it back with a refund check for $30. The level of service and customer satisfaction far surpass how many clams I shelled out for a quality reel. Thank-you Orvis for getting me back in the season in time to chase more Chrome.
Brian Kozminski
President Miller Van Winkle Chapter TU
My Sage TXL 4 wt 7 footer is an ideal small stream instrument. Combined with a Sage 3200 reel, I have a great set up for fishing the small streams and creeks of Northern Arizona. This setup is incredibly light and has that great Sage smoothness.
The most valuable tool for me this year has been the online content of assorted angling blogs. They feature the traditional "where to go, what to do" material, but also offer a lot of insight not available anywhere else.
Often the content is less than 12 hours old, which can be especially useful if bugs are hatching, or some temporary condition exists that requires fast response.
Add Google Earth into the mix, and you really have a useful set of tools that allows the enterprising angler to trod new water with timely intel.
It's certainly changed my fishing dramatically,changed my catching too.
I've really enjoyed the echo 5wt I've been using this year. It's an amazingly good casting rod for the money.