Latest Blog Posts

Sage Launches New Blog, Features Exotic Destinations and Video

by Chad Shmukler - Tuesday, Aug 23rd, 2011

After the long overdue recent relaunch of their main web site, Sage is introducing a new blog and features section called "The Current". The site will be a source for gear-heads to get news on what Sage is currently up to from a gear perspective, but will also offer viewers quality content in the form of features on destinations as well as Sage-sponsored films.

The destinations are exotic, designed to make most fisherman salivate. While some are what you'd expect, such as Patagonia, others aren't. There is a current article on the Monami River in the Japan Alps as well as trip features from South Africa, Australia and the Indian Himalayas planned for this year. The photographs presented with each feature offer an often stunning view of these destinations, and the articles themselves offer insight into fishing and life in truly exotic locations that Sage calls some of the "world's best."

A Look Inside Scott Fly Rods

by Chad Shmukler - Wednesday, Jul 27th, 2011

While digging up some information for a recent post on how I can't stop watching Felt Soul Media's Eastern Rises, I came across a recent video about Scott Fly Rods. Felt Soul produced this video, what they're calling a "marketing documentary", for Scott fly rods to give outsiders a glimpse into the company's workings and ideals. Though I'd call "marketing documentary" a euphemism for "really good commercial", the video is -- unsurprisingly -- very well done, offers a glimpse inside a great American rod making operation and is a pleasure to watch. Complete with a couple token Frank Smethurst appearances.

Scott Fly Rod Co. | Behind the Scenes from felt soul media on Vimeo.

Single Mom Makes $5,000 a Week Selling Hackle from Home

by George C Costa - Monday, Jul 25th, 2011

Just in case you’ve been stuck in a cave for the past six months and haven’t heard, the price of genetic hackle has gone through the roof. As you likely know, the fairer sex (and Steven Tyler) have taken to weaving our prized hackle into their hair as a fashion craze. If you're anything like I was, you're sitting on the sidelines pissing and moaning about how you either can't find the hackle you need or aren't willing to pay the going rates. If you are, wake up and get in the game, before it's too late.

OMG! Don't I look totally beautiful???

Can't. Stop. Watching. Eastern Rises.

by Chad Shmukler - Saturday, Jul 23rd, 2011

Eastern Rises is old news. It wasn't Felt Soul Media's first film. I can't say if it was their best (I haven't seen them all). In the months that followed its release at last year's Telluride Mountain Film Festival, in May, it was all the rage. But it was released over a year ago, so why talk about it now?

For one thing, that rage was well deserved. Eastern Rises is a trip-diary of sorts, detailing the excursion of a group of fly fisherman as they travel across Russia to chase trout on the Kamchatka peninsula. Not only does the film offer up an amazing view of what are inarguably the world's best trout fishing rivers, it is simply a great film. The cinematography is excellent, the characters are interesting and often quite funny, and Ben Knight's witty narration never gets old. Showing someone who doesn't understand fanatical fly fishing Eastern Rises is so much more effective than stumbling while trying to find the words to describe our shared obsession.

Back to Largemouth Heaven

by Chad Shmukler - Thursday, Jul 21st, 2011

Even strong proponents of public access to fishing waters will protect their hidden gems or find justifications for the occasional visits to waters not available to the less privileged. All private water isn't created equally (to say the very least), and some pieces of guarded water are truly special. In some cases, private water offers those of who don't have the budgets to travel to Alaska or Kamchatka the next closest thing to unspoiled wilderness.

Regardless of how often I wince when previously public waterways go private, due to weak or unclear laws protecting public access to water, I never miss a chance to fish my favorite private trout stream -- a remarkable little spring creek in central Pennsylvania, kept in family hands for generations and fished by less than 30 people per year. No matter how quickly I'll jump at a chance to shit on money-minded investors that snatch up land surrounding public fisheries in order to privatize historic streams with healthy wild trout populations, fill them with pellet fed hogs, and serve wine stream-side all in the name of "conservation" and $30k per year membership dues (Donny Beaver), I don't share the location of or encourage public access to my favorite bass pond, also family controlled and family protected for generations.