A brief look at the most innovative and noteworthy fly fishing products landing on retailers’ shelves this year, and reasons why you should consider a few tackle upgrades.
[by Ben Romans]
At the risk of stereotyping, I think most fly anglers are pure gear junkies. We simply love our equipment and paraphernalia (especially when it gets the job done), almost as much as we love the sport itself. But what if there was something that was more efficient to cast, more attractive to fish, or made it easier to organize and carry tools and boxes? Well, there is. There always is. That’s why every July the entire fly fishing industry (manufacturers, retailers, media, and a select few outfitters and guides), assembles in Orlando, Florida, for three days to see, touch, and test the latest products from the sport’s leading creators. Rod designers reworked tapers and materials to make blanks more efficient and less expensive, engineers built stronger and lighter reels, and chemists created lines that are slicker and stronger than ever. It’s a sight to behold. To help you visualize what’s coming down the fly fishing–gear pipeline, here are a few highlights.
