FELT SOLES ON WADERS-A NEW TWIST For many years, when we got a pair of boots or waders that did not have felt soles, we would grind off the lugs to create a flat surface then glue on the felt. Got a new pair of waders a couple of months ago and proceeded to grind off the lugs. Much to my surprise (and dismay) the lugs were not molded rubber as usual but rather an open-cell foam with a thin layer of rubber encapsulating the surface. When I broke through this skin the boot foot was no longer waterproof. So I returned the waders to Cabelas taking responsibility for altering their product but also informing them that this was a radical departure in boot construction and not a very sound way of making the bootfoot. What’s going to happen when that thin rubber coating wears away? They were very understanding and replaced the waders. But how to apply the felt soles? Simple solution. Place strips of felt or rubber between the lugs to create the flat surface. Glue the felt to the flat bottom and insert sheet metal screws. Hope this saves some of you from experiencing the problem I...
Learn MoreThe SPEY FISHER’S GILLIES HAT This is the traditional hat of the Scottish Gillies that’s been around for centuries. Gillies were the River-keepers and game-keepers on the estates of Scotland. They eventually became the fishing guides of current times and are the masters of Speyfishing. This is the most practical fishing hat you will ever own. The front brim protects your face from the elements and shields your eyes from glare and provides a stable platform for mounting your magnifying glasses. The side brims protect your ears. And the rear brim protects your neck and keeps water from running down your collar. The chin strap keeps the hat firmly on your head in strong winds or when running the River in your boat. It also enables you to hang your hat behind you when you don’t want to wear it. We hand-make our hats from waxed cotton, which is waterproof and breathable. These hats are a tribute to the Speyfishing tradition and will mark you as a serious flyfisher. ...
Learn MoreCrouched under an overhanging tree, trying to cast to a Steelhead lie across the River beneath an overhanging shrub, has never been easy with Speycasting. However, with modern switch rods and lines, this has all changed. Traditionally, Speycasts have consisted of launching the forward cast in an upward trajectory to achieve distance. With a switch rod and a short, heavy switch head you can power cast your fly in a flat trajectory so that it flies like a bullet to that difficult target. This has opened up lots of opportunities that we had to pass by when fishing traditional methods. The more I experiment with the switch rods, the more techniques I’m discovering that allow me to cover the water more completely. If you haven’t tried them yet, I think you will enjoy the experimentation as well as the...
Learn MoreAfter watching an angler fall in the Hoh River, we got to talking about how to handle a River-dunking. The most important thing is not to panic. In most cases, you will be in shallow enough water to regain your footing quickly (if not your dignity). Try not to scramble because if you stand up and fall down again, you may be injured on the rocks. If you are swept away into deeper water, point your body feet-first down the River to protect your head from rocks and gradually paddle yourself toward shore. The most detailed advice on handling these situations was given by Lee Wulff and Hugh Faulkus in their books. Lee actually dove off a bridge head-first in a pair of waders to illustrate his advice. And remember: It’s more important to save your life than to save your fishing...
Learn MoreSpeycasting is a true joy to me. However, somewhere down the line I realized that I was casting too far because it was so much fun. I realized that most of my Steelhead were caught within 30 to 60 feet from my feet. Now I spend half my fishing time casting short and the other half casting long. Any thoughts on...
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