Pole, Pack and Paddle  63rd  Edition

          Fly Fishing, Backpacking, Canoes & Kayaks

 

Carolina Mountain Sports…since 1998                July 18 , 2008

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

Tues-Fri  11-7pm,       Thurs until 9pm ,        Sat 9-3

 

Our next “One Night Stand”  fly tying class  (one night only) will be on Tuesday evening July 22 and will feature some excellent patterns for smallmouth bass, that have not been taught here before.    Call to register…Deadline is Saturday noon.  This class will run longer…probably until 9:30…and will start at 6:45pm.  Bring your tying tools.  Materials will be furnished.  Cost is $10

 

New Flies…several of our popular dry fly  patterns were sold out…but re-stocks in several patterns have just arrived: Elk Wing Caddis,  Royal Wulff, Light Cahill, yellow Stimulators etc.   But, there has also  been a substantial increase in bass flies and those bins are still well stocked with standards and some new patterns like Murray’s Hellgramite, Schenks Minnow, deer hair bugs, white foam sliders and others.  The Boogle Bug continues to be our best selling popper and also the toughest, longest lasting popper on the market…the Boogle Poppers and the bullet head sliders in #4 have been  good producers on smallmouth.

 

Hiking Light but Right…Nobody likes to carry a heavy load in their pack and there are many options for reducing pack weight.  Some options work based on selecting lighter equipment.  Other options work based on changing your attitude about comfort and what’s really necessary.  Two books offer good guidance.  One is Backpacker’s Hiking Light Handbook by Berger The other is The Ultralight Backpacker by Kestenbaum.  Both are good sellers and worth your investment, especially if you are trying to go lighter.  

 

Intro to Fly Fishing Class…Our next class is July 30th 7-9:30 pm, in the store. It covers the basics of equipment; flies and selection; fishing and casting techniques.  Casting  is held on a subsequent evening or Sat. morning.  If interested email or call to register.

 

Loomis Xperience…new this year and just in stock from G. Loomis is this high value/high performance  9’ 5wt. Xperience.   Made with the same higher modulus graphite found in more expensive rods the new Xperience has a light feel and is considered medium fast action.   It’s  a very nice casting 4 pc rod with sock and case...Loomis quality and workmanship for only $285.  Loomis has a unique warranty in their Xpeditor program:  if you break your rod, call Loomis and they will ship a replacement to you immediately for $50.  Place the broken rod in the mailer and return it to Loomis…no questions asked.  For $65 they will send the new rod 2nd-day delivery anywhere in the US, Alaska or Hawaii.

 

Tie Yak…Protect your boat with this high security steel cable locking system.   Secure your kayak (or canoe) on top of your vehicle or next to a tree, post, etc.  No drilling required and the cables are vinyl coated.  Check ‘em out at www.TieYak.com  or come in and check them out in the store…$39.50.  (You provide your own lock.)

 

It’s a Blast…If you want a small, compact, short flashlight…but one that is ridiculously bright…you want a Princeton Tec Blast.  Nothing new and fancy but a good, solid, dependable performer.  2 AAA batteries and a Xenon bulb throw a 150 foot beam, 14 lumens bright and it’s waterproof.  All this in a 2.5” flashlight.   And, it’s only $13.50

 

Magnetic Rod Guard…These are handy widgets designed to hold your rod securely when you lean it against your car or truck.  Rod guards make rigging easier and protect your fly rod from potential damage.  And, if like me and driving a small car (Wrangler) when fishing, these magnetic widgets allow the rod to be carried outside the vehicle… when moving from spot to spot along a stream. 

 

Furled Leaders…So, you’ve been hearing about these “furled leaders” and how great they cast etc. …but you don’t want to tackle furling your own.  No problem.  We are again stocking the Blue Sky Furled Leaders.  Handmade in Wisconsin, they come with instructions for rigging and tying tippet etc.  Cost is $12.99..but you only replace the tippet so you rarely ever have to change to a new leader.   We’re stocking the model for 3-5 weight line.  For more info check BlueSkyFly.com

 

Current Designs Kayak in stock…The Current Designs Kestrel is a nice all-purpose kayak…roto-molded for toughness…and tricked out with water tight rear compartment, padded seat and thigh area; deck mounted bungee cord storage; grab lines and more.  At 12 feet in length it has the capacity for extended paddling and maybe overnight use…It’s a Recreational/Touring kayak….much nicer and better performance than the cheaper and shorter plastic kayaks in chain stores.   This one is a light granite color, attractive and cooler than  darker boats.    Weight is about 50 pounds and the price is $749.  These are impressive … excellent quality and finish.  If you are seeking a boat to last and perform  in a variety of environments…the Kestrel is certainly one to consider. 

 

Pack Duffel…it’s a duffel back to put your backpack in when traveling.  Now a lot of folks just toss their bag aboard commercial carriers when checking them as luggage.  But, there’s a better way.  If placed inside a $30-35 duffel, your expensive backpack then becomes “contents” of your cheap luggage and is a reimbursable item in the event of loss or damage.  But, a pack duffel also protects your contents should they “spill” out of the pack…and it keeps pack straps from getting snagged or caught in conveyor belts.  Feedback from travelers is positive…  Think about a pack duffel if you are traveling this summer.

 

 

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