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Perfect Trout Spey Outfit
January 23, 2012
Fred Telleen
Nautilus FWX 7/8

In the Big R Fly Shop in Great Falls, Montana, we carry Nautilus Reels.  It was there I saw the FWX 7/8 for the first time.  Every few days, I’d open the case and play with it.  That’s pretty much how I choose a reel.  After I hold it a few times, I can tell if its the one.  I figured I’d play with the Nautilus until sometime this spring.  When I could stand it no longer without a fly line, I would likely get one.  Then low and behold, I received a package in the mail this past week.  In the package was the perfect trout spey reel along with a card from Paul and Johne.  Paul and Johne are two of my long time guests in Alaska and we’ve shared some memorable days on the Kenai River.  They must have decided I needed a nudge to continue putting them on fish or maybe they felt bad about the gifted Ross Canyon 3 that I’d had stolen a few years ago.  In any event, thanks very much guys. You were Spot On!

I set up the reel in the shop last week. For backing, I loaded the spool with 125 yards of 50# Spider Wire Stealth Braid.  Its super slick, super strong and packs down tightly on the spool.  It will also slice through the water easily if a big fish should run it out there.  To my backing braid, I looped a 33 meter shot of 30# Loop LTS flat nylon Shooting Line.  The LTS shoots incredibly well and adds little bulk to the reel.  It also slices through the water easily, which is great when a fish is already towing a skagit head and heavy tip.  I tie a non slip loop knot at both ends of my LTS.  To the terminal side, I added an Airflo Skagit Compact 390  grain head with a length of 22.5′.  To the Skagit head, I loop any of the tips in the Medium MOW series from Rio.  The 10′ tip with 7.5′ of T11 is my favorite for most trout spey conditions.  To my MOW tip, I loop on 3-4′ of 12# Sunline FC Super Sniper.  Then I tie on the fly du jour with a non slip mono loop.

On Sunday, I put this outfit to the test.  The Nautilus FWX 7/8 is incredibly light in the hand and a pleasure to fish. With my backing/running line set up, there is plenty of spacing for a skagit head on the spool. I had a chance to get the drag pulled, and it was buttery smooth. This was the first time I’d tried the Skagit Compact 390 and it worked perfectly on my Sage TCX 6119.

If you need help setting up your perfect trout spey, stop on by.  We have lots of options in the store and can special order just about anything you need so you can get your spey on.
 

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Meet Barry Hook
January 19, 2012
Fred Telleen
Barry Hook Fly Fisher from Montana

Meet Barry Hook. He thrives in winter fishing conditions. Barry knows that Simms and Patagonia help make winter fishing fun. Today he’s outfitted top to bottom in gear that keeps him content. Barry starts with a base layer utilizing Patagonia’s Capilene midweight crew and bottoms. Next he layers up with the Patagonia Regulator R1 Fleece pullover. Then he slides into his Simms guide fleece bibs, covering his feet with the Simms Extreme Boot Socks. Next he pulls on the Patagonia Micro Puff Hooded Jacket before sliding into his Simms G3 Waders. On his feet, he quickly locks into his Korkers Metalhead boots. The boa lace system on his Korkers makes it easy to get his boots on. Later he’ll be thankful to avoid the hassle of frozen laces.
 
Barry knows that a warm head helps to keep the entire body happy and the mental processes ticking. He tops off with a Simms Gore Tex Extreme Hat. To keep his face happy, he wears a Polar Buff. He can pull the Buff up or down as conditions demand and besides, it makes him look hard core. Barry also knows that top notch eyewear is important. Not only are good glasses sunscreen for the eyes, polarized lenses cut glare and allow Barry to enter the world of the trout without getting wet. He’s rockin Costas with a Copper Lens.
 
Barry is a details guy. He carries his terminal gear in a William Joseph Catalyst waist pack. Among other key features, the two outer magnetic closure compartments allow him easy access to gear without messing with zippers. The side pockets are perfect for transporting 12-18oz Hydro Flasks. He uses one flask for hot liquid and one for cool liquid refreshment.
On his hands, Barry wears the Glacier “Miltac” Glove. Waterproof, fleece lined and ergonomically shaped, these gloves actually work. Of course, some tasks require bare fingers. Barry likes to bring along an external heat source.  His Mr. Heater Little Buddy is easy to carry and provides quick warmth. 
 
If you have any questions, stop by the Big R Fly Shop and ask Barry. He’s kind of quiet, but his fly shop staff is happy to interpret. We've got all the items that keep Barry so content for winter fly fishing forays. Stay tuned to learn more about his fly rod set up and for an introduction to Barry’s girlfriend.
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January Gear Deals!
January 16, 2012
Big R Fly Shop
Get down to the Big R Fly Shop and get your hands on January’s gear deals. There are great deals on sunglasses, shoes, angler’s books and dvds, fly tying materials, fly rod/reel combos and much, much more!  Don’t miss out on any of these deals as they will only last through the rest of January.  You can also view these deals in our January eMagazine here.



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Affordable Advanced-Starter Rod Set Up
December 30, 2011
Paul Bloch
Cornfed just got back from the dam, and boy did he put a hurt on those planters.  How did he manage?  Well, a little patience, the right flies, some advice from the boys down at Great Falls Big R, and a handy new rod, reel, and line combo from Loop.  The best part about it is, Cornfed had this rod put in his hand for only $250.  If you are looking to upgrade from that old 6 ½ foot fiberglass rod you found in your grandpa's garage, this combo is set at a great price, and performs just fine.  I am currently fishing this rod, and am having lots of fun with its forgiving feel and med/light action.  The cork wears to your grip over time, and the poly reel is less likely to freeze up. Come check one out, and get hooked up like Cornfed did!
 
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Patagonia in our house!
December 23, 2011
Paul Bloch

I know I like, and I know you like.  Patagonia mixes fresh design and comfort in these new solar shirts at Big R Fly shop.  Weather you are hunting for Tarpon or wading to a pod on the Mo, this knit is perfect.  Not only will you look good in action, but you will feel good.  All you have to do is try one on, and you will know what i'm talking about.  Match this hot buy up with a brim, some sun gloves, a pair of Costa frames, and your next salt guide might be asking you where the fish are. 

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Two Handing for Trout in Winter
December 22, 2011
Sam Wike
For the average guy there are 2 ways to trick trout with both hands on the rod. One is on the swing, and the other nymphing. There are plenty of opinions out there on using two handed rods to nymph with an indicator, and if it’s not your thing…it’s not your thing. I personally would rather swing, but if my buddy is bent consistently for hours, and I’m coming up empty I will admit I like to catch fish…especially when it’s cold (when it’s warm you can say you are “just enjoying the weather,” or you are “experimenting with new fly patterns,”and in the winter you start to think you should have just stayed home). However, nymphing for trout on the Missouri is extremely effective due to high winds and big water, and if you are a wade fisherman this may be one of the best tools ever invented for wade fishing and nymphing. So if you are already cool with nymphing with a single hand, might as well use both hands and enjoy the ease of using a double handed rod. 
Probably the most critical part of the set up is getting the correct line. On the Missouri we think it is best to use a 4-6 weight 10 ½ to 11 ½ ft rod. What’s the best rod to start with? That depends on what you want to spend. There are reasonable switch rods that start at about $200 and of course you can spend as much as you want up from there. The Beulah 11ft 7in Platinum Series comes with high recommendations from a number of our staff members, and we love that rod but that being said there are a lot of choices out there today, and we offer a number of them at the shop. Once you know which rod you are going to go with it is pretty easy to decide on a line. The two lines we recommend for nymphing with a spey rod are the Rio Switch line and the Airflo Speydicator line. Both of these lines have an extended belly section so that you can mend the head of the line unlike non integrated Scandi and Skagit lines. These two lines won’t be as fun to swing with but they are “true” switch lines that you can throw nymphs, dries, or swing streamers with… and they are especially good to nymph the Missouri with. With these lines you can just use the same style leader you would use with your single hand rod for nymphing so you don’t need any tips or anything special; just line, leader, and backing like a standard single hand set up.
I was pretty skeptical myself about nymphing with a two handed rod a couple years ago. I was stubborn and assumed I wasn’t missing out on anything. Fred Telleen from Mystic Waters Alaska insisted I try his Beulah set up down near the Dearborn run. After just a few casts I could stand in one spot, double my range, mend twice as far, and have very little issues with wind or tangling due to the power the head of the line turned the flies over with. Since then Fred has made this a go-to set up with clients in Alaska because of how easy it is to move heavy nymph set ups and the fighting power and torque the longer rod offers when fighting larger fish.  
I wouldn’t compare it to swinging for steelhead… or even swinging for trout….it’s a totally separate category. However, it is a very effective way to land more fish without strenuous single hand casting or wind knots while at the same time covering more water, and has better mending capabilities. All of the guys in both Ponderay and Great Falls fly shops are educated on this technique and would be glad to offer advice any time on spey casting and gear; whether you like to swing, nymph, or you do both makes no difference to us as long as your fishing.
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STAY STOCKED WITH BEST GEAR ALL YEAR!
December 11, 2011
Paul Bloch

Its beautiful out today, and there is nowhere I would rather be than on the river.  Unfortunatly I will only be able to do that for about an hour, but there is always tomorrow when the weather will be perfect.  Quiet, calm, cool weather with snow falling straight down.  These are the winter fishing days you should be dreaming about.  It might be smart to gear up today to beat the crowds at your favorite haunts tomorrow.  You will either want bobbers, nymphs, midge drys, tapered 4-5x, two handers (which we carry,) great spey flies that work, streamer sticks, sink tips, leader material, stuff to keep ya warm, or all of the above.  I dug up some perfect winter fishing gloves elsewear in the store for those of you who hate to fish in gloves (me.)  We will see you out there today, tomorrow, or the next day.  YES!

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Like sales?
November 25, 2011
Paul Bloch
15% off everything in the fly shop today.  Good stuff is going fast already today.  Don't miss out on great deals while they last.  Fishing will be here tomorrow, but 15% off everything in the store will not.

We watched a lot of good stuff leave the shelves today.  Its great to see someone light up after buying their first fly rod and reel, or even the one they have been saving for.  Let us know how your new fishing purchaces have worked out for you.  We are curious to hear our customers feedback.  Thanks to everyone for supporting our fly shop.

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FREE FLY SHOP JUNK
November 23, 2011
Paul Bloch
BIG R FLYSHOP TRIVIA!!!

Who ever names this state park first is going to be the proud owner of a Big R Flyshop reel cover, a Scott boat decal, a grip of flies of our selection, a Big R Fly Shop decal, and a free cup of coffee.  I will anounce the winner on Friday morning.  WAYNE WINS.  Not by much.  What is Tower Rock...duh. 
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St. Croix Imperial
November 22, 2011
Sam Wike
With lots of options now available in sub-$200 fly rods out there it can get really confusing on which rod to buy in this category for the consumer and for us as retail stores.  However, we have been asked a lot on why we don't carry certain brands in this price range and truly the reason is because we haven't found one that beats the St. Croix Imperial.  St. Croix had planned on moving the production of this rod to their new facility in Mexico which mimics their Park Falls, WI facility.  However, in a recent press release St. Croix announced they are going to continue building the rods in Wisconsin.  Although, lots of good product is coming from foreign manufacturers isn't it great to know you can buy one built right here in the good ol' USA? 














NOTES ON THE IMPERIAL FLY RODS:

From Greg Bricker, Bozeman, Montana-based Guide:
 
"From Montana to Chile, Argentina, and the Keys; the Imperial Series never fails to impress. Big wind and big flies, spring creeks and tiny dries: St. Croix's American-made Imperial rods are a joy to cast. . . they throw easy, smooth, tight loops.
The Imperials are high-performance, fast-action fly rods, that are very light in the hand. All of the quality we have come to expect from the rod building team at St. Croix, and at $200, they are the only rods in their class that are made right here in the States. Made in the USA!  If you can buy performance, at this price, made in the States, why would you buy anything else?"
 
 
 
TO ALL ST. CROIX SALES REPS FROM JEFF SCHLUTER, ST. CROIX RODS:
 
You may know we have continued manufacturing the Imperial fly rods in Park Falls, USA. This week we decided to maintain production in Park Falls permanently. I wanted you to know this as I'm sure it will be well received by our customers. Imperials are technical blank designs and ultimately we felt they should stay in Park Falls.

We just updated our website to reflect the Park Falls Origin. Rod labels have been redesigned to reflect this change, but it will take some time before you will see "Made in USA" on the rod label in the field. The last part of the change will be the 2013 catalogs.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jeff Schluter
V.P. - Sales & Marketing
St. Croix Rod

STC Made in USA Stamp Image 

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