Some gear that might improve your fly fishing adventures this summer….
Sea Run Fly Fishing Travel Cases
Adventurous anglers soon will be taking advantage of relaxed travel restrictions, and if you’re one of them, you’ll appreciate the Sea Run Fly Fishing Travel Case. Made in Italy by Negrini, a company with a 40-year history of manufacturing travel cases for fine shotguns and rifles, Sea Run cases are secure (TSA compliant), lightweight, and compact—perfect for itinerant anglers. We’re very impressed by the quality of construction and the thoughtful interior layout. The bottom of the case contains recessed, padded compartments for storing reels, spare spools, leaders, fly line, fly boxes, and other gear. A divider wall separates the top of the case, which has space for four to five fly rods plus additional storage. We haven’t been this excited about a new piece of fly fishing luggage in years. (searuncases.com)
$499-$569
VR Reels Salar Perfection
VR Reels are uber high-quality reels made in the Ukraine by designer, areospace engineer, and angler Vladamir Rachenko. The Salar (Spanish for “salt”) is one of the finest reels we’ve ever fished. In addition to its incredible functional capabilities, the Salar boasts an impressive aesthetic that cannot be ignored. With a diameter of 5 inches, it retrieves line well, and easily holds 260 yards of 30-pound backing, a 10-12 line, and room to spare—while weighing a mere 13.7 ounces, not much for a reel of this sizer and strength. The Salar is cut from premium-grade titanium, which is stronger than aluminum and other alloys. The sealed drag has almost no start-up inertia and is buttery smooth. It doesn’t creep when casting, and the handles and knobs are comfortable and easy to manipulate, even while fighting fish. It’s a stellar reel in every sense of the word and a highly recommended addition if it’s within your budget. (vr-reels.com)
$1,800
Umpqua LT Large Baitfish Foam
The large baitfish box is a new product for this year, but it’s actually a retread from years past. Umpqua brought it back into the lineup for 2021 because it’s an excellent baitfish box that easily holds 18 to 24 large flies, and people—including us—kept asking for it. We like it for tarpon flies, especially backwater and worm-style patterns that run 2 to 2.5 inches and take up a lot of room in boxes. The layout and cut of the foam keeps flies organized and accessible—and spaced the way you want them. The best part is that, unlike many well-made sturdy boxes on the market, this one isn’t heavy. It’s lightweight, has a clear top for instant identification, and packs a highly functional foam. What’s not to like? (umpqua.com)
$29.99
IceMule Classic
A good day on the water becomes a great day when there’s a cold beverage waiting at the end, and the IceMule Classic makes it easy to enjoy an icy drink without sacrificing the space and weight that come with a traditional hard-sided box cooler. The Classic is available in four sizes—9, 10, 15, and 20 liters—and they’re all easily slung over a shoulder or stowed in an out-of-the-way place in the boat. IceMule’s proprietary technology includes a layer of lightweight insulation sandwiched between extremely durable outer and inner fabric layers. An air valve lets you create airspace between the layers for additional insulation, and when not in use, you can deflate the cooler and roll it into a tight bundle for storage—perfect for a far-flung fishing getaway where baggage space is a consideration. Its roll-top design functions like a dry bag and keeps the cold inside. We’ve put ours to the test in tropical conditions and can attest that the beer’s still cold after eight hours on the flats. (icemulecoolers.com)
$49.95-$79.95
Black Diamond Storm 400
The Storm 400 is built for all conditions, and even though it’s usually associated with hunting, camping, and climbing, there’s a place for this tool in fly fishing—like one of the nighttime striper fishing excursions featured in this issue. The Storm 400 has a robust waterproof and dustproof housing and casts 400 lumens of light. Its updated user interface includes a secondary switch for easy mode selection, allowing users to toggle between the bright light needed to navigate a darkened path to the shoreline and a dimmer setting for switching out flies and leaders. The device’s “PowerTap” technology provides access to maximum brightness by simply touching the side of the housing. Three low-light color settings—red, green, and blue—are available for those times you’d rather not attract attention. Updated optical efficiency provides brighter light and saves battery. We love the-LED battery meter on the side to keep tabs on battery life instead of guessing about the need to change the four AAA batteries.
$49.95
Sunray Competition Float Fly Line with Overhang Marker
We like the Sunray Competition Float with Overhang Marker for a number of reasons. First, the design combines the best aspects of both conventional weight-forward fly lines and integrated shooting heads. The Competition Float sports a 40-foot head backed by an ultra-thin shooting line, much thinner than conventional running line, which allows for longer shoots. Provided you can comfortably carry the entire head outside the rod tip, this line allows for your ultimate distance cast. To aid with this, the Competition Float features an Overhang Marker. Several feet of blue line at the end of the head section lets you know when the entire head is just outside the rod tip—no guessing at the sweet spot. Simply get the Marker outside the rod tip and let it fly. Perhaps most noticeable, Sunray coatings are made from special polymers—not PVC. Designer Tom Bell explains that these polymers lower the impedance of energy as it travels along the line. Analogous to a fly rod being fast, Sunray’s fly lines are fast. The head of the Competition Float is configured as a Spey taper; that is, the bulk of the weight is concentrated at the rear of the head, near the rod tip, for a smooth turnover of both large and small flies. The Competition Float will perform in fresh water or salt in temperatures from 14 degrees to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius). The line is ivory in color and gray at the tip—very visible on the water. Welded loops at each end allow for quick attachment of leaders and backing. Available in weights from 5 to 9. (sunrayflyfish.com)
$90.70
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