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2010 Holiday Gift IdeasBy Robert Kovich Rivers Of A Lost Coast DVD: Several months ago we were able to get a sneak peek of this film and all of us were floored by this DVD. This is certainly one of the best fly-fishing movies ever created. The movie documents the demise of the California steelhead fishery within a matter of a few years. People like Russell Chatham, Lani Waller, Mel Leven and others discuss what once was a prolific fishery now turned degraded and desolate. The Myth of the man Russell Chatham calls the greatest fisherman of all time is unveiled. Bill Schaadt was obsessed with the sport, hiding all of his secrets from everyone but a select few. He even employed a razor blade fly to cut other anglers lines fishing around him. You’ll have to see the DVD to believe it! The tale of Schaadt's nemesis Ted Lindner and their rivalry documented here is especially entertaining. Jimmy Green, Jack Horner, Bob Nauheim, E.C. Powell, and other legends of the lost coast are also documented throughout the film. This is one of the classic films that fly anglers will be talking about for years to come. Price: $29.95 Yellowstone Angler Fly Selections By hosting fly fishing trips throughout the world for the past twenty-five years to both fresh and saltwater destinations, and doing a lot of fishing ourselves, we have come up with what we feel are the he best fly patterns for our favorite destinations. . From Argentina to Alaska, Central America, the Caribbean and even New Zealand, one of us here in the shop has been there at some point and we know exactly what fly patterns you’ll need to make your trip more successful. If you or a loved one is planning the fly-fishing trip of a lifetime in this coming year just tell us the destination and we’ll be happy to put together a custom fly selection for you. Or you would like to choose from some of our most popular selections available that we have put together for countless individuals over the years. For specific contents of these selections please see our Online Catalog.
Lee Wulff Master Collection DVD Set If you have never seen any of the classic Lee Wulff films from the 1970’s and 80’s you are doing yourself an injustice. This is without a doubt in my mind the best series of fish catching prowess ever documented on film. Imagine landing a 650lb Bluefin Tuna in a 16 foot Boston Whaler? Or how about fishing the virgin waters of Labrador with Curt Gowdy before anyone in the fishing world even knew where Labrador was? There is even a segment with Lee fishing an incredible Pale Morning Dun hatch on Armstrong’s Spring Creek right here in Paradise Valley. This is a two DVD set with 5 hours of footage. Fourteen films are included in this selection of Lee Wulff greatness. Price: $39.95
Richard Wheatley Wood Fly Boxes, made in England These fly boxes from Richard Wheatley are the finest quality, large size wooden fly boxes available today. These mahogany boxes have a flat hand rubbed look with flat foam on the inside that can be replaced when needed. These are large boxes designed to hold a lot of flies. The practicality of these boxes is remarkable for anglers that want to pack a lot of flies along with them, especially in a boat or skiff, and have easy access to them. One of these boxes loaded with flies certainly has an awe-inspiring look when you open it up, and the foam holds the flies very securely so that they don’t get blown out in the wind. These also make great boxes to display a collection of flies like Atlantic Salmon or Steelhead flies acquired over the years. The single tier boxes open up and you put flies on both the right and left inside foam sides. The Double tier boxes have a large inside leaf with foam front and back and effectively doubles the amount of room for flies. A variety of sizes are available to fit any angler’s needs. These are versatile and great looking large fly boxes for any angler. Have a fly fisher in mind that you think has every piece of gear imaginable? We bet they don’t have one of these.
Stocking Stuffers Photography On The Fly Gift Cards By James Anderson: These brand new gift cards are just in time for the Christmas season. James has taken some of his most popular photos and created these new sets of greeting cards. James has worked here in the shop and guided for us for several years and these are just another example of how talented he really is. Any angler would enjoy these cards to collect and display James fine work, let alone send them to your most cherished angling friends during the holidays. These are blank on the inside and can be used for any occasion. They come in a box of 6 and there are 10 different sets to choose from. These sets can be viewed at James web site. Price: $19.95.
Sage Humidor: Brand new out this year is the Sage Humidor. It is shaped to resemble their classic rod tubes but instead of keeping your rods safe, this bombproof entrapment protects your precious cigars. These are actually made out of the Sage rod tubes the company is famed for. These humidors are cedar lined, waterproof, and very packable. Color is the new Xi3 Blue. Price: $40.00 Simms Derek Deyoung Water Bottles: These have been a big hit throughout the summer here in Montana. Local Livingston artist Derek Deyoung has worked with Simms to produce a series of water bottles with his famous Abstract Fish Art. Available in either Brown or Rainbow Trout. Price: $24.95 Fully Loaded Lanyard: Rick Wollum has created the ultimate fly-fishing lanyard complete with all the necessary accessories one would need on the water. The EK Lanyard with snap swivels includes Rising Ultralight Pliers, Rising Snips, Gus’s MT Float Pak, Aquel Floatant, and Simms Lip Balm. This is a Yellowstone Angler exclusive that can be found nowhere else but in our shop. Price: $59.95 Rio Cranky: This convenient tool makes the pesky task of changing fly lines so much easier. The Cranky is a handle that slots into the center hole of RIO’s empty fly line spools and converts them into a spooling system to help you easily change or store spare fly lines. This makes easy work of spooling up all those loose fly lines you have laying around. Price: $9.95 C & F Magnetic Hook Trays: These magnetic boxes work great for storing your fly tying hooks but we have found them to be wonderful for your midge fly patters that are so difficult to organize. Never again will you have to through the trouble of fitting those tiny flies into foam slots one by one. Nor will you risk the inevitable accident of pouring all your collection of bugs into the stream when you accidentally tip over your standard compartment boxes. You always knew there had to be a better way to store your small flies and here it finally is. Available in three sizes: Standard, Midge, and Streamer. Price: $19.95 C & F 201 Midge “Threader” Fly box This 5” x 3 ¾” x 1” fly box is our most popular “Threader” box and a lifesaver out on the stream if you have trouble threading those small flies. These C&F boxes with exceptional Japanese craftsmanship are considered by many to be the best small plastic fly boxes in the world. When you open this box, in the middle there are six removable wire threaders that allow you to sit at home and stack up to a dozen small flies onto each doubled over flexible thin wire. There is a very wide diamond shaped space opens up at the top of each wire and you simply slip your tippet through this space in the wire and slide off a fly – then it is already threaded to your leader and all that’s left is to finish tying the knot. This is an ingenious way to quickly and easily thread your tippet through the eye of your fly. On one side of the box there are six rows of slotted foam to carry many smaller flies, both drys or nymphs. On the opposite side of the box there is room for six more loaded threaders that slip onto a bar in the middle leaf of the box. The midge size threaders that come with the box are perfect for flies size 16-22, and we have both larger and smaller threaders available. All the people we sell this box to have raved about it! Price: $52.95 Maui-Jim “Maui Readers” Polarized Sunglasses For those of us that need some magnification to tie on those small flies, these stylish sunglasses with small magnifiers near the bottom of the lenses are wonderful. Once you try these you’ll never fumble around with reading glasses or other kinds of magnifiers again! Two styles, the Makaha for smaller faces and the most popular Ho’okipa come in three different magnification powers - +1.50, +2.00 and +2.50. You have a choice of Tortoise or Gloss Black frames. The best color lens, especially for fishing, is their polarized bronze HCL, although they are also available in polarized gray. These Maui-Jim “Readers” are definitely one of the best gifts you can give any flyfisherman, not just older anglers. Many guides are starting to wear these glasses because it makes their job easier and stresses out their eyes less, letting them scout hard all day, all season. Price: $199.95
Best Rod and Reel for the money: St Croix Imperial Rods $160-$210 Waterworks Lamson Konic $119-149 When we saw St. Croix’s Imperial 9 foot #5 rod this year we were all impressed. It looks and casts like a $400 rod but it’s only $180.00! And it’s made North America! The craftsmanship is excellent but it’s performance is what blew us away. It is a 4-piece rod making it easy to pack and carry on your trips. Then we added the best inexpensive reel we’ve found yet, the Lamson Konic 2. Then we’ll add SA’s GPX line. Since the price is so low on this outfit already, we can’t give you a free GPX line but we’ll throw this in for $30, less than half price. This is not only a wonderful starter outfit but also one you’ll use for years to come! The Lamson Konic is our pick for the best economical reel on the market. This reel incorporates the same fully sealed drag and stainless steel roller clutches as their high end reels. Lamson cut down the cost of this reel by casting it rather than machining it. However, this is no normal cast reel. Lamson Pressure Casts each one with molten ALDC12 aluminum alloy, injected at 1,080 kgs of pressure, making it stronger and more consistent than standard gravity casts. The drag parts are still machined - giving you the best of both worlds - a great reel at a great price.
1. St. Croix Imperial 9'#5 (4pc).........................$190.00 If you are looking to get a rod for a beginning angler, in my opinion, the best choice is would be a 4 piece, 9 foot 5 weight with a Konic 2. Out the door with 200 yards of backing, a Scientific Angler's GPX line, plus one of our custom hand tied leaders, this package would sell for $334.90. However, if you order before Christmas we'll throw in the line for free, that's a savings of $69.95! |
Robert Kovich
Robert grew up fishing in Waterford, Michigan. Coming from the land of big lake run browns and steelhead, Robert knows a few things about streamer fishing. Watching him launch an 80 foot cast and retrieve his articulated, tricked-out fly is like watching a Walter Payton tribute clip - they are relentlessly unstoppable. Robert can also get 'er done with a spey rod in his hands, not to mention his enthusiasm for competition style casting. He's been known to launch a line farther than George and Rick on the casting lawn adjacent to the shop. When Robert isn't on the water he's at his fly tying bench, whipping out his latest creation for fooling big fish, and not just freshwater species. Robert has gone on several saltwater fishing trips, targeting tarpon, permit, bonefish, snook, and whatever else that swims. Robert is not afraid to put some miles on the car (or trail) to get into some good fishing. He likes high mountain lakes and off the beaten path kind of places that only those who live out here seem to find. He also enjoys the technical aspects of with tiny dries on the Paradise Valley spring creeks and Montana's blue ribbon tailwaters. Robert now manages the retail aspect of Yellowstone Angler. |
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