http://www.rioproducts.com/

http://www.simmsfishing.com/

http://www.strublemfg.com/

Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

DUSANSMETANA.COM PHOTO
Simms Rivershed Wading Jacket
RIO Max II Shooting Heads
My “go to” fishing jacket is a 12-year-old Simms Gore-Tex Guide model that has served
me well around the world—from Maine, to Patagonia to Alaska—in sleet, snow, driving salt
spray and 50 knot winds. And it’s still going strong. In fact, I have no doubt it will last me
the rest of my fishing life. It wasn’t cheap—about $300 when I bought it—but amortized
over 30 years, it’s the best value of any piece of gear I’ve ever purchased.
Priced at $279.95, Simms’ new Rivershed Wading Jacket is an even better value. Made
from waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex Paclite and Performance Shell fabrics, it weighs about
half what my old Guide jacket does and packs in a third
of the space. It features a full-height YKK waterproof
front zipper with hidden storm flap, two bellows
front chest pockets with YKK water-resistant
vertical zippers, slash handwarmer pockets, and
twin retractor garages with poly-cord retractors.
The stand-up, micro-fleece lined collar includes an
integral chin protector, and the lightweight hood is
3-way adjustable via shock cords and lockers. A similar
adjustment system is built into the bottom hem.
The cuffs combine breathable stretch-fabric
gaskets with Velcro adjusters to prevent
water from running down your casting
arm. On the back is a D-ring net hanger
and a bellows rear pouch with YKK
water-resistant horizontal zipper. The
Rivershed is a lifetime investment just
waiting to happen. See it at your fly shop,
or contact Simms Fishing Products,
Dept. FFA; Tel: (406) 585-3557; Web:
www.simmsfishing.com—Bill Battles
When you need to get WAY out there to reach whatever you’re after—albies busting on the
surface, steelhead on shallow spawning redds, salmon holding in a 6-foot deep pool, or stripers
feeding 25 feet down—nothing will get the job done better or easier (on you) than a shooting
head attached to thin-diameter, low-friction running line. One of the best options available in
heads is the newly redesigned RIOMax II.
These 30-foot shooting heads feature a unique,
new taper design that stabilizes the head in the air
and prevents “dumping” at the end of the
cast, resulting in greater distance potential.
A welded lop at the back end facilitates
quickly changing heads among the available
choices (floating, clear intermediate,
and Type 2, 3, 6 or 8 full sinking) to reach
fish holding at depths up to 30 feet or so.
RIOMax II heads are built to AFTMA
line weight standards, but are also labeled
in grain weights. Anglers relying on the
AFTMA weight designations should step
up at least one line weight (for example, an
ST9 for an 8-weight rod), and in the case of
fast-action rods, perhaps two line weights.
RIOMax II shooting heads are available
in ST6 through ST12 line weights (175
through 400 grain) in full floating, AquaLux
clear intermediate, or density-compensated Type 2,
Type 3, Type 6 or Type 8 full sinking versions, all priced at $34.95. See them
at your fly shop, or contact RIO Products International, Dept. FFA; Tel: (208) 524-
7760; Web: www.rioproducts.com—Crispin Battles
Struble Reel Seats
has the reel seat you need. Twelve nickelsilver
models are offered with your choice
of cocobolo, fiddleback maple, goncalo
alves, myrtle, rosewood, zebrawood, vera,
teak, bubinga, imbuya, vermillion,
walnut, birdseye maple, burl madrone or
amboyna wood inserts. Twenty styles of aluminum reel seats are also available
(seven with wood inserts, one with cork), anodized in clear, black, gray, blue or
green, as well as two solid titanium models (one with wood insert). And five styles
of grips in the finest Portuguese cork. And ten styles of cork/peppered cork fighting
butts, both fixed and detachable.
See the Struble line at your fly shop, or contact Glenn Struble Manufacturing Co.,
Dept. FFA; Tel: (503) 263-3003; Web: www.strublemfg.com—Chris Major
If you like tying flies, you’d enjoy building a fly rod, since the skills required and economies
realized in of both pursuits are similar. Most rod makers offer their premium models
in blank form at about half the price of a finished rod, and the rest of the hardware is readily
available from a variety of manufacturers. When it comes to reel seats, fighting butts and
cork grips, however, there’s only one name to remember: Struble.
Glenn Struble Manufacturing Co. was purchased in 2005 by Jeff Pentecost, a physician
and life-long fly angler from Missoula, Montana, whose passion for the
sport is now evidenced in the quality and artistry of Struble products.
The company now counts Sage, Scott and G. Loomis among its
principal customers.
Whether you’re building a 4-weight
cane rod or a 14-weight
billfish stick, Struble
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