Pole,
Pack and Paddle 45th Edition
Fly
Fishing, Backpacking, Canoes & Kayaks
Tues-Fri
11-7, Thurs until
Winter Clothing is here… The first North Face and
Loomis Rod
Fall is
great for Hiking and Backpacking-get ready…
Check out your gear now. That way you can avoid that last-minute
crunch when you want to head outdoors.
Now’s the time to round up your gear, check it out and relocate some
clothing for cooler and cold weather…especially if backpacking.
Ultralight Backpacking
Tips: duct tape is handy but only take a small portion…wrap a little around
your hiking poles or a plastic bottle; eliminate the ground cloth that folks
typically put under the tent…don’t worry about your tent floor; eliminate a stove…instead try a small
alcohol burner or fuel tablets;
Platypus 1 liter water bladders are
4 oz. lighter than the same size Nalgene bottle; use the smallest LED headlamp you can find…or
only take an LED key-ring light; cut off all excess lengths of draw cords,
nylon pack straps etc. Remember saving
an ounce or two here and there adds up to pounds reduced.
Sleeping Pads…Believe it or not, there
are several brands of excellent pads on the market and some are lighter and
more compact than you may think. We’ve
just brought in some of the Pacific Outdoors Ether pads…a Backpacker Editor’s
Choice award winner. Weight is only
22oz! Thickness is 2.5 inches…and it’s
insulated… at less than 1.5 pounds and smaller than a football…. Very nice indeed and priced right at $69
Ten Weights…a 10 weight is a good
choice for a heavy bass rod to throw big bugs and streamers…and it’s an
excellent choice for fall fishing at the coast for reds, Spanish, and the
really hot false albacore fishing. We
have several options in 10 wts from $139 up to $249…both
Used 12 weight outfit…This is a good deal on a
practically new outfit: TFO 12wt TiCrx,
Ross Canyon Big Game reel; 200+ yards of backing; Rio saltwater line…about $900 retail for only
$650 (or present a reasonable
offer). Naturally this is a great Tarpon
and big fish outfit, and for
throwing sinking lines…but it works
really well for false albacore. I
used almost the same outfit 2 years ago and thought it was a great choice for
albies…especially when the action is hot and you’re trying to get the fish in
so you can hook another….
New Fly Fishing Books…The library has been expanded with several new titles: Go-to
Flies…101 patterns the pros use
by Tony Lolli; Barr Flies..tie and fish the Copper John, Barr emerger and dozens
of others by John Barr; Fishing Knots (w/DVD)…brand new by
Lefty Kreh; Midge Magic..by Holbrook
and Koch; Fly Fishing Guide to the
Smokies by Don Kirk…and there’s more
Helton Creek Lodging…Zydeco Moon Organic Farms
has two brand new rental cabins…up on the ridge above Helton. The cabins are excellent and located along a
great stretch of stream about 2.5 miles from highway 16.
New Ross Rods!... These are the most
popular lengths and weights and the prices start at only $99 for a 4-piece rod.
We expect to have demos for casting
any day. The rods are quite nice and
look and feel good.
Fall Color paddling…This is a great time to be
on the water and the fall color makes for some great scenery on the water,
whether it’s a float on the
Fly Tying Classes…begin on October 11th,
and run for the next 6-7 weeks. This is
the best way to learn tying…from veteran instructor Mickey Reavis. Cost will be approximately $65-75. Loaner equipment is available.
Fishing Classes …
Intro to Fly Fishing… Oct. 10th (
On-Stream Fly Fishing
Clinic… Sun. or Mon. only; with reservations_ rigging, reading water,
deep nymphing, dry flies, wading, casting,
droppers, streamers, landing and
releasing fish and more…4 hrs.
$75.
Two more of the best
campgrounds in NC-- says John Molloy in his book The Best in Tent Camping the Carolinas--are West Morris Mountain in Uwharrie National
Forest; and Hanging Rock State Park. For more info see www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc, or www.ncparks.net
, or pick up a copy of Molloy’s book.
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shopping (and ordering) local…Your business is important to everybody.