Simms sold
No doubt many of you have read the new about Simms being bought by Vista. Here’s a presentation that many of you may find the details quite intriguing: Vista Outdoor Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Simms Fishing Products.
Several folks have asked what I think. My first Gore-Tex waders were Simms and I still have them, and I consider KC Walsh a friend. I don’t know the leadership of Vista; I hope they can maintain the cache and reliability of the brand. The best answer I can give is, time will tell.
Technique Slam
TU’s Kirk Deeter posted an interesting challenge, “If you really want to test your angling skills and achieve a “slam” of a different sort, set out to catch your fish with three different types of flies. Catch at least one on a dry, at least one on a streamer, and at least one on a nymph.”
Since most of my fishing is for brook trout where a “slam” inevitably means hooking branches, bushes or grass, Deeter’s challenge appeals to me.
Read more in For a change, try the ‘Technique Slam’.
Thumbing Around
While I was on TU’s website, I came across this tip. “Can you see your thumb?”
If I had a dollar for every time I told a student or client, “you’re taking the rod to far back,” I’d be a rich man. I follow up with “stop the rod sooner,” which is correct but doesn’t tell them how. Deeter’s tip about keeping your thumb in your peripheral vision on the back cast is a great tip, one I’ll be using in the future.
Rolling Along
Recently I was guiding some beginners, and the roll cast intrigued them. After showing them how to do it and when to use it, they were stoked to have it in their casting repertoire. Here are three well done explainer videos that all do a great job explaining the cast.
The first is from Rio’s Simon Gawesworth. I really like this video because Gawesworth points out one of the most common problem folks have with the roll cast. I see it a lot when I’m teaching or guiding and Gawesworth does a terrific job of explaining why it is and, most importantly, how to fix it.
Watch the video:
Here’s Orvis’ Pete Kutzer version on making a roll cast. Kutzer points out some common mistakes and how to fix them.
Watch the video:
I also enjoyed this one from Epic, the fly rod maker in New Zealand. I had a little trouble with his accent, but after watching twice, I figured it out.
Watch the video:
There are common tips in all three videos that will help dial in your roll cast.
Tales End
As the subheading said, I’m trying to stay cool and hanging out at my desk most of the time. My little friend below helped me prepare this edition and is a very entertaining assistant.