From a professional fly tyer and licensed fly fishing guide's point of view...

The Caney Forks are a rugged design for supreme traction. They are not the cheapest kid on the block running about $150 bucks, but I have literally put 350 plus days of hard fishing wearing them and they're still ticking. Ankle support is supurb and I can't speak enough of the quick lace system. The boot sports two inner soles that are removable for a more custom fit. They are relatively lightweight, tipping the scale at only 3 - 3.9 lbs depending on the boot size, up to twelve.
I have only one complaint that was rectified early on. The green rubber lug designed for inserting the studs was allowing them to work free of the sole leaving you studless. Chota solved the problem after finding the first run of boots used too soft of a rubber for the cleats to hold firmly and simply wiggled their way loose.
The newly designed cleats are sweet! They have taken the old tungsten cleat and added a nipple on top making them very aggressive. The way they grip rocks is unmatched by far any other cleat I've ever used. They offer replacement studs which are a little steep in price shaking the wallet free of $20 bucks. You can substitute sheet metal screws, but if you are spending a decent amount of time in them you will be changing those sheet metal screws out a lot, the Chota replacement cleats will last a long time and are worth every penny.

- Mark DeFrank

Ahhhh who doesn't hate working with epoxy? An alternative has hit the market called Liquid Fusion. Use as you would on any pattern calling for using epoxy but without the smell, time spent mixing, rushing to use before it is no longer pliable and the mess. Yes there are other products that are great alternatives, however they are not as strong as epoxy but Liquid Fusion fills that gap. Liquid Fusion is a clear non toxic urethane glue and it's water proof with a price tag around $7.50... approximately the cost of epoxy. It dries fast, usually within a half hour to the touch depending on how heavy the application, will not turn yellow. It has a long shelf life and the bottle tip cleans up with ease by wiping a cloth over it and any spillage can be cleaned up with water as long as the Liquid Fushion is still wet. Copper Johns, Poxy Back Nymphs...is a great application. I do suggest using a fly dryer if a heavy amount is used for forming a head on a minnow pattern and such, giving an hour or so to turn for the head to form evenly without sagging and allow a full day to totally cure.

-Mark DeFrank

Finn Raccoon is a premium fur used in the production of high quality jackets and coats. It was "discovered" several years ago by European salmon fly tyers who found it an ideal material for use on tube flies. The material later became popular among North American salmon and steelhead anglers who use it on a variety of streamer patterns. Although popular on these patterns, its uses certainly are not limited to salmon and steelhead flies. Finn Raccoon hair is extremely soft and lively (almostt airy). It has a longer length than other similar hairs like Artic Fox. This makes it a great material for tying "souped up" Clouser minnows, striper flies, and bonefish flies. It is also a great material for tying trout streamers and the hair can be substituted in place of bucktail, marabou, and craft fur with ease. An added benefit of the material is that the under-fur is fine and soft and can be used for dubbing. It's available in 19 colors, giving the tyer a good bit of freedom to exercise their creativity. I personally plan on adding some new and innovative patterns incorporating Finn Raccoon into the recipe.

Frogg Toggs® Hellbender™ Stockingfoot Chest Waders are waterproof, have puncture-resistant reinforced knees and shins and durable 3.5mm neoprene booties. Exclusive DriPore C3 waterproof, breathable four-ply technology seals out water and an ultratough nylon microfiber outer shell maximizes durability. No-Sand attached gravel guards with no-slip grips and lace hooks. Adjustable H-Back suspenders with quick-release buckles. Zippered flip-out security pocket with adjustable chest drawcord. Custom triple-entry chest pocket with fleece-lined handwarmer pocket, expandable fly box pocket and zippered accessories pocket. Durable 3.5mm neoprene double-taped booties.
For $120.00 these waders are simply the best wader for the price that I have worn. Most of all I was impressed with the comfort and breathability, no clammy feeling at the end of a long day. I put in at least 250 hours of hard fishing time in before any wear started to show, and I do a lot of foot work in them, not just float trips. Frogg Togg jackets are next on the list for me to check out. Stay tuned for the upcoming review.

-Mark DeFrank

What a great concept. Not always do we need such a detailed pattern to be successful, but if you want to add a touch of class and some unique features to a fly pattern the Fish Skull may be your answer. I believe that certain times call for extra measures to fool the most finicky fish. The Fish Skulls come in 7 great colors, with 3D realistic eyes and 3 sizes, small, medium and large.

Use the small for hook sizes 10 - 4 streamer hook; medium for hook sizes 4 - 1/0; and large for hook sizes 1/0 - 4/0.

It sports a keel shape so if the Skull is inverted the hook will also ride inverted as a Clouser Minnow would. The head just slips over the eye of the hook to finish off your favorite minnow pattern to create a very life like appearance while adding additional weight to the pattern. I do wish they made it in one size smaller for just a bit more hook range so I could add it to more patterns. For more info on tying with the Fish Skulls check out my tying tutorial videos page.

 

Introduced to the market in 2007, Nymph Heads tungsten fly-tying beads have 3D “nymph eyes” that help create a realistic insect profile. The beads are available in 10 different colors, 6 sizes and are 15-20% (depending upon the head size) heavier than other tungsten beads on the market today.
Another great feature of the Nymph Head is the tyers ability to add color to the eyes using a paint marker or permanent marker. These beads are great for adding realism to your nymph patterns to help fool the most wary fish out there!

Over the years I have used many types and brands of tying threads. Each has its own characteristics and pros and cons. Some threads have an advantage over others for a specific application. Generally speaking, I have chosen Uni Thread as my all purpose thread and GSP (gell spun polyethylene) when I need the power and low bulk to spin hair or similar aps. Uni Thread will not fray easily (6/0 denier of 135, 8/0 Denier 72), it is made of continuous polyester filaments (with plenty of colors to choose from) slightly bonded, but not twisted and lays virtually flat to help maintain low bulk.
- Mark DeFrank

Redington CPX 10' 8wt (The 8wt of Hate)

Most product reviews will discuss technology features that no one understands and that no one really cares to understand. Not this review. This review focuses on what could be the finest Steelhead Alley fly rod built today. The Redington CPX line is Redington's upper end fly rod, but don't think the upper end means that they are expensive. The CPX series comes with a lifetime warranty and rod tube. These rods are built to be fast and light. The 10' 8wt combines length, stiffness, and an easy on the arm light weight to form the perfect rod for either rolling heavy nymphs and indicators, or sending a long bomb from the lake shore out to a school of cruising steelhead. The beauty of this rod lies in the fight of the fish. The CPX is strong and can take the abuse that a 10lb+ fresh steelhead gives it, plus it has the power to turn a large fresh fish in mid run. The 10' length adds extra leverage for easier beaching or for that extra couple of inches of lift needed to bring the fish to the net. The 10' 8wt CPX can take the extreme torque and pressure of a chrome steelhead, while giving the angler a comfortable fight. Pair this rod with a good disc drag large arbor reel and either an indicator line for nymphing or a shooting line for streaming and get ready to own the waterways of steelhead alley. If you are serious about bringing maximum hate to steelhead then this is your only option (see BTH article).

- Eric Null

The Redington Rise Reel is a light weight, beautifully machined, durable addition to any hard core fly fisherman’s tool box. The cork Teflon drag provides enough stopping power for large fish, while the one way clutch bearing maintains a smooth effortless startup for tippet protection. All Rise reels come with a lifetime warranty. These reels are available in four sizes to cover everything from three weight to ten weight. The color selections of charcoal, burnt orange, and moss will add bling to any rod. I have used these reels extensively for steelhead, large brown trout, bass, and carp without any complaints. They have stood up to punishing cold and heat. The sealed drag prevents fowling from mud, sand and ice. The 6061-T-6 aluminum that they are machined from is strong enough to take even the worst punishment that a day of run and gun steelheading can throw at them. If you are looking for a reliable reel for everything from brook trout to stripers and you want to add some bling to your fly fishing arsenal without emptying your wallet consider a Rise.

- Eric Null

The super fast action rods of today do not cast Grandpa’s Double Taper or even Dad’s little weight forward fly lines well. Conventional fly lines do not have an aggressive, heavy enough head to load a fast action rod quick enough. Enter Rio Grand. Rio’s Grand line is built for the fastest rods on the market. The 38ft aggressive head loads fast sticks quick to make the long bombs through the wind that are needed when fishing lakes and large rivers. The head turns over weight and large flies easier on a fast action rod than conventional weight forward lines. The line is built of a braided monofilament core to ensure that it will not kink in cold water. Grand is available in 3-9wt lines. It is the line I choose when throwing large dry flies on large eastern tailwaters and western rivers. Grand provides the power to my hopper on the opposite bank where the big browns lay.

- Eric Null