Pole, Pack and Paddle 36th Edition

Fly Fishing, Backpacking, Canoes & Kayaks

Carolina Mountain Sports…since 1998 April 15, 2007 Newsletter

123 W. Broad St. Statesville, NC 28677 704 871-1444 www.carolinamountainsports.com

Tues-Fri 11-7, Thurs until 9pm , Sat 9-4

Theft from your Vehicles… not too unusual. Our advice...don’t leave anything of significant value (or hassle to replace) in your car when hiking and fishing. It’s better to have a wallet wet…than stolen. (and it’s easy to keep dry) Customers have left wallets “hidden” in their car… to return and find it gone. Others have left their handgun “hidden” in the car (which they are apparently carrying for protection when in the vehicle, but not when outside…) …only to return and find it gone. (or worse, find someone with the gun…waiting on you to return.) Thefts occur in all areas…at all times…be careful.

Canoes for versatility…You can’t beat a canoe for versatility. They’ve been fast wilderness “workhorse” watercraft for hundreds (thousands?) of years. Cruising, camping, fishing…canoes are excellent and we’ve used them up and down the east coast, saltwater and fresh, and in Canada. The Bell Canoe Company’s Northwind, Morning Star and Yellowstone are perhaps the best canoes made today with the most efficient hull designs. Yep, even better than most by that well-known company in Maine (and I have one of those also). Looking for a great canoe that will serve well for years and years…look at Bell. Stop in…check them out…ask questions… “Nothing paddles like a Bell…”

NEW!...Packable/Portable Spinning Rods…We’ve expanded our line of 3-piece spinning rods from Temple Fork Outfitters. Comments from customers are excellent and we’ve got rods from ultralight to heavy. Great for backpacking, in cars and stowing in boat lockers….

SALES 60% off on Winter coats, gloves and hats… special is for Newletter subscribers ONLY…and lasts until the end of April. Mention the newsletter and save!

Rent a Canoe or Kayak…One of the best (maybe the best) places to rent from and float the New River State Park is Riverside Canoe and Tube Rental. Great folks to deal with and quality equipment from some of the best companies in the paddlesports industry. And, they are happy to shuttle fishermen... Call at 336 982-9439 or check their web site riversidecanoeing.com. They also offer rental cabins, camping and bike rentals.

RACK and Roll…need to cartop a boat, lumber or ladders? Want to haul more luggage and gear, or a few bikes. Check out the carriers (cartop and hitch) from Thule (tooly). We stock some and others are easy and quick to order. Thule is the leader in racks and offers the most variety…. (we have a used Barrecrafters rack for SALE that will fit a variety of vehicles with factory racks…$85…and haul two canoes, kayaks etc. )

New River Map for Paddlers and Fishermen… Planning an adventure on the New River in NC??? We’ve got a FREE Map that’s very useful. Put-ins, take-outs, rental companies, campgrounds, river miles etc.

NEW!...Rental Cabins/Houses on Helton and Mitchell…These are NICE. Check out mitchellriverhouse.com and zydecomoon.com on Helton. Lodging worth knowing about!

Guided FishingTrips… We book with the best guides in the SE for trout, smallmouth and muskie fishing. They specialize in float trips in drift boats or rafts on rivers like New, Nolichucky, Watauga and S. Holston. (you don’t have to go west to get big water fishing)

National Forest Info…The Nat. Forest Service (very different from the National Park Service with very different jobs and objectives) has a nice visitor’s center right off I-40 in Nebo, NC. (exit 90 between Morganton and Marion) Not only do they have some exhibits, they have a bunch of literature (free) and books and maps on the National Forests and their recreation areas etc. Worth a stop if traveling that way.

Fishing Classes …

Intro to Fly Fishing…Richard Griggs….May 2 (7-9pm)….casting May 4. …$35

(equipment, lines, knots, flies, accessories, techniques, locations etc.)

(classroom in the store and casting outside on the grass)

Casting Tuneup…$15/hr need a refresher; struggling with false casting; need tighter loops; want to learn the double haul etc. We’ll schedule most evenings at 7pm (Tues, Wed, and Friday) Just let us know; we’ll check the calendar and work it in.

NEW! Fly Tying 1,2, 3…. A basic introduction to fly tying that we’ll schedule every other week for 1, 2 or 3 evenings at $15/hr. No equipment needed. If you just want to sample tying and see if it’s for you…try this.

NEW!....On-Stream Fly Fishing Clinic… Offered most Sundays and Mondays with advance reservations_ rigging, reading water, deep nymphing, dry flies, wading, casting, droppers, streamers, landing and releasing fish and more…4 hrs. $75. On Helton Creek in Ashe County 1:45 from Statesville 9am-1pm approx. 1-3 people is the max.

Please remember, advance registration is important due date changes, weather, etc.

Rental Gear…We rent tents, sleeping bags, Thermarest sleeping pads, backpacks and a few other accessories like stoves and filters. We even rent fly rods… Prices vary…and if you purchase a similar item within 30 days…we deduct the rental fee …

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Thanks for shopping local… with the proliferation of chain stores and internet shopping, we sincerely appreciate our customers who seek specialty equipment, local knowledge, first-hand experience and service. Your business is important to us.