Articles

Sage Intros New, Wallet-friendly MOTIVE Saltwater Fly Rods

by Ben Kryzinski - Friday, Jun 14th, 2013

Sage's new budget-friendly MOTIVE series of saltwater rods.

Yesterday, Sage announced two new series of fly rods. The first was the new ultra-fast METHOD series. The second was an entirely new series of saltwater fly rods designed, according to Sage, to make salt-specific fly gear more accessible to the growing ranks of fly fishermen looking to chase saltwater fish.

Sage's new budget-friendly MOTIVE series of saltwater rods.

The MOTIVE series features an all new taper designed to deliver fast line speeds and, perhaps more importantly, load quickly -- often a must when sight fishing for saltwater species where expending precious time picking up line and false casting is a no-no.

Faster, Pussycat: Sage Intros New METHOD Fly Rod Series

by Ben Kryzinski - Thursday, Jun 13th, 2013

The new Sage METHOD series.

If you've recently found yourself out on the water casting one of the fast action fly rods in Sage's ONE series, musing to yourself about how you wish it were even faster, muse no more. Sage announced today its new METHOD fly rod series, which it describes as a blend of "ultra-fast action" and technology.

The new METHOD series, like the ONE series and other rods throughout Sage's lineup, is built on Sage's Konnetic technology. According to Sage, the new METHOD series produces "high line speeds and tight loops for extreme distance and wind-cutting casts all while maintaining critical accuracy and feel."

Florida Bonefish, Tarpon to Become Catch and Release Only

by Colin K. Breck - Thursday, Jun 13th, 2013

Bonefish like this one bring millions of tourist and recreation dollars to the Flordia economy each year.

Over the past week, individuals and organizations across the US have been asking bonefish and tarpon advocates to make their voices heard to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission which was scheduled to meet yesterday to consider new regulations that would place tarpon and bonefish under strict catch and release only protections. The efforts of those who took the time to contact the commission to advocate for those protections have paid dividends, as FWC officials approved yesterday new rules preventing the harvesting of tarpon and bonefish.

The new regulations also introduce new protections regarding the handling of both tarpon and bonefish. The rules now require that tarpon over 40" not be removed from the water at any time. Weighing, measurement, scientific sampling and photography of these large tarpon must be completed with the fish still in the water. Tarpon under 40" may be temporarily possessed out of the water for these activities, but must subsequently be returned to the water unharmed. Bonefish will see increased protection from the removal of a tournament exception that previously allowed bonefish to be possessed by tournament anglers for transport to a tournament scale.

Hundreds of Scientists Urge Congress to Protect the Tongass

by Anonymous - Tuesday, Jun 11th, 2013

Fly fishing in the Tongass National Forest (photo: Chris Hunt).

A letter signed by over 230 scientists was delivered to the US Congress yesterday, urging lawmakers to support the Tongass 77, the comprehensive legislative proposal that would preserve 1.9 million acres of threatened salmon and trout habitat through the identification and protection of what researchers have determined are the 77 highest value watersheds within the Tongass. Scientists who signed the letter span the fields of biology, biochemistry, ecology, zoology, natural resources, environmental science, cultural anthropology, geology, wildlife and marine biology and many more.

The Tongass National Forest's vitality and breadth are globally unique but are endangered. Supporting the harvest of over 50 million salmon each year, the Tongass plays an important role in the economy and ecology of southeast Alaska as well regions far beyond its borders.

The McCloud River: Enough is Enough

by Colin K. Breck - Monday, Jun 10th, 2013

The McCloud River, as seen in 'Enough is Enough'.

Chances are you've caught a McCloud River rainbow, even though you've likely never fished the McCloud. The McCloud River, in Northern California, was one of the greatest salmon and steelhead rivers in the United States before a series of dams wiped out anadromous fish populations beginning in the 1940s. Part of the Sacramento River watershed, the McCloud is primarily fed by springs at its headwaters southeast of Mount Shasta.

The McCloud is also home to one of the first rainbow trout hatcheries. Beginning after the establishment of a McCloud River rainbow trout hatchery in 1877, McCloud rainbows were exported all over the world: to the eastern United States, New Zealand, Europe and South America.