Telling The Green Story

This is mission critical - As we look at the brands in the market place, one and one only stands alone when it comes to social and environmental responsibility. This story is a key component to placing and moving Patagonia in your brick and mortar store, fly shop and online ventures. For more information, please visit Better World Shopper.

For more detail on Patagonia's green initiatives, such as the the Nylon 6 SST Fishing Jacket (the first fully recyclable nylon jacket of it's kind), please visit the Patagonia Website.

This Is Fly #12 - Beautiful.

World Trout - Getting Better and Better

From our inside guru Bill Klyn. Please take a moment to look at how this great program has been expanded.

"Having seen the exciting success of our World Trout initiative that has generated over $333,000 since its inception in 2005, we have created a new process to help distribute monies generated through the sale of World Trout t-shirts. The Enviro Team has worked with us to create a new online grants program so we can solicit and receive applications from grassroots groups working to protect any fish and their habitat from around the globe. This grant application program works much the same as our regular grants program. The World Trout online grants application can be accessed through the Enviro page and also on the www.patagonia.com/flyfishing page. Click on the World Trout square at the bottom of the page and you land on the World Trout page, where you can see, at the bottom of the page, an Application Procedure for applying for a grant. . You can also go directly through www.patagonia.com/worldtrout. The bottom right menu has View our Grants Guidelines. This takes you to the Application Procedure."

If you have any questions at all, feel free to contact me via this blog. This is a fantastic and powerful tool to move important projects forward in this territory. I look forward to hearing from you.

Matt O'Connor

SST - Best In Show - Jackets!

From Midcurrent - Once again!

Patagonia emphasizes recyclability and new, distinctive fabric patterns in their 2009 apparel and vest products. The overall line, in our opinion, looks sleeker and more up-to-date. But plenty of smart design changes lurk beneath the surface. The most interesting, in our opinion, come with the redesign of the venerable SST. Gone is the bomber-jacket feel of the SST of ten years ago and even the slightly heavy look of last year's stretch-fabric version. Yvon Chouinard challenged his team to come up with a recyclable jacket that also improved on performance, and the new SST ($425) does just that. It features high-end non-corrosive waterproof zippers on the side pockets, and double-rip-stop Nylon 6 fabric — in part because of its abrasion resistance and because it doesn't wet out as fast as the stretch fabric, but also because Nylon 6 is completely recyclable. The new SST also has new cuff designs and a single-pull hood that works from the back of the head (something from their alpine design team). In addition to a new Women's Guidewater Jacket ($400) and a Shelled Insulator Jacket made of stretch-woven polyester ($275), Patagonia also has several new additions to the clothing line. Their new Guidewater shirt ($120), pants ($75) and shorts ($60) are hardier versions of the hot-weather line; the stretch-woven "dobby-weave" fabric is quite distinctive and more suitable for cooler climes. And the new Marlwalker pants ($85) and shorts ($70) are the first recycled and recyclable lightweight fishing pants in the company's line (check out the new colors, including the "Blood Knot" print). A new fabric for the Sun Mask and new form-fitting Sun Gloves round out the offering. Finally, Patagonia has subtle but clever design changes in place for their Pack Vest ($180), Double Haul ($130), and Hip Chest Pack ($70).

Autumn Special...

Fezzman Shirt? Check. Cap 1 Crew? Check. Trucker Hat? Check... Just a little billboard out there on a private lake in the foothills chucking bugs with my buddy Tom. We had a great afternoon chasing big beautiful rainbows with Platte River Specials, Autumn Splendor Buggers and then when the hatch came alive, big old Drakes. Striking colors AND striking fish. What could be better? Not much. Plenty of fish in the boat and great laughs. Good stuff.

Guidewater Waders Awarded "MidCurrent Best Of Show (FFR)"

"The Patagonia lineup for 2009 is one of the most impressive in years — not because the company did anything overly dramatic in wader product redesign, but because they continue to implement changes that are clear steps forward in utility and style. A great example is the addition of patent-pending merino wool liners in the booties of their top-of-the-line Guidewater Waders ($425), which also sport non-corrosive thermoplastic urethane (TPU) suspender connections, a waist-mounted suspender (for those who don't like zippers), and new gravel guards that are lighter and drain water better. The merino liners allowed Patagonia to reduce the thickness of the booty neoprene while increasing warmth. For the price, it's hard to find such feature-filled waders, and for that reason — and the comfy new booties — the Guidewaters get our MidCurrent Best of Show nod. Also new for spring 2009 are Patagonia's Watermaster Hip Highs, which incorporate quick-release buckle hip adjustments instead of suspenders or belt loops. Field testers say these new waders are going to be very popular for backcountry treks and float trips, where comfort is a huge factor — not to mention the fact that they will cost only $180. The company will also carry forward the improved waist-mounted suspender system and TPU connections into their full-sized '09 Watermasters. In the footwear category, the new Izaak wading sandal ($90) features super-sticky Vibram "Idrogrip" soles and synthetic uppers with a full toe guard, and the new Tideswing ($100) is a lightweight, breathable water shoe with both deep lugs and razor siping, meant to function as well on a skiff deck as when wet wading or surf fishing."

Midcurrent Reviews The Divider Series And Stormfront Pack

Posted by

Marshall Cutchin

on September 8, 2008 8:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

They call it "highly water resistant," but I'd challenge just about anyone to get water inside of one of Patagonia's Divider storage designs. I've kept a Great Divider in my skiff for years, and it's been the home of expensive video and camera gear. The only problem I've ever had with the Great Divider is that it didn't always fit in tight compartments without some squeezing, so I was very happy to hear that Patagonia is coming out with a half-size version of the product call the "Sub Divider." They've also dropped the double side handles in favor of a single, adjustable, removable, padded shoulder strap. And they've rounded the corners so that it is no longer a struggle to zip the lid shut.

If you absolutely have to have total waterproofness and think a few hundred bucks is a small price to pay for something that will keep your gear dry when it goes over some giant Amazon waterfall, be sure to check out Patagonia's redesigned Stormfront Pack. The new version features a new, easy-to-use waterproof zipper, a completely redesigned pod-to-harness attachment system, and an internal, padded, custom-fit gear case.

Just A Little Re-Cap...

So, we have returned. From an epic. To say the least.

The 2008 trip into the Wyoming backcountry will not be forgotten. How could it be? An unbelievably burly 11.5-hour horse ride in over rougher country than I have ever experienced. A horribly sprained ankle. Bush-whacking. Splitter weather. Long hikes in to breath-taking alpine lakes. The elusive Golden Trout. The voracious Cutthroat. A bear. Her cubs. A stellar assortment of surface bugs. Long casts and great takes. An 11th-hour grab by a beautiful rainbow in the last 5 minutes of fishing. Incredible food and fine wine. Could Casey, Mike, Aidan and I have asked for an easier trip? Certainly. Would we trade this one in? Absolutely not. Enjoy a few pics...

The "Heart Of Darkness..."

Uber-Grom On Point

Fish On!

Moore In Beautiful Country

Sensei - Once Again!

Slab!

Big Papi Ends With A Walk-Off Homer!

This Is Fly #11 - 'Nuff Said...

Catch Magazine Hits The "Stands"

There's a new online rag on the virtual newsstand. It's called Catch Magazine. The creators are billing it as the "Official Journal of Fly Fishing Photography and Film". Brian O'Keefe (photo editor) and Todd Moen (film editor) invite you to check out the free premier issue. Catch Magazine is scheduled to be released six times a year and will house content from a host of creative contributors. I think this product might just exceed your expectations. One word of caution from Brian "Catch is not dummied down for little, small computers and monitors. Catch needs a powerful computer, NO DIAL UP!!, a fast, high speed internet connection (especially for video) and a nice sized monitor. Send the link to your work, a neighbor’s house, etc, if you have an old clunker."

Cover photo by Brian O'Keefe

Midcurrent Reviews The SST

By Marshall Cutchin on August 29, 2008 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Patagonia may not have invented recyclable fishing gear (hard to compete with the indigenous Aleuts' seal-gut parkas), but it's been a part of their product-design mantra since long before "green" became synonymous with lower carbon emissions and oil consumption. And they are still among the first to put their foot into the water when a new recycling or low-energy-use concept presents itself. The venerable SST Jacket -- a product in which Yvon Chouinard has always taken a personal interest -- will have yet further improvements along the lines of eco-friendliness and utility in 2009.

Read more HERE.

Fly Fishing Film Tour Comes To Boulder!

That's Right! AEG Media will be coming to Boulder to show their seven short movies fly fishing around the world. Boulder Flycasters are sponsoring this special presentation right here in Boulder in conjunction with our Rogers Park/Boulder Creek Enhancement Project scheduled to begin construction in late September and October of 2008.

Tickets are $17 if purchased by September 20th and are $20 from the 20th until the presentations on September 26th and 27th. The presentation will be held at the Dairy Center, 26th Street and Walnut. Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Read more in the September issue of Reel News.

Purchase your tickets here.

Black as Night - Brown Delight!

So, one of the best things of going to Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer show this time around was getting to meet Thad Robison of the Angling Exploration Group (AEG) and the Fly Fishing Film Tour. If there was ever a better ambassador for a sport, I have not met them. Thad took myself and good friend Tim Ridings out for an evening session on the Provo River below Park City. The browns were on the hunt and we fished well after dark, literally guessing and setting the hook. Nine times out of ten it came back and hit me in the head, but not this one at left. A great way to end the evening. Thanks Thad - see you in Denver!

Ridings Gets It Done!

Tim Ridings with the first fish of the evening on the Provo with Thad Robison of AEG fame. The caddis were hatching, and TR picked this one up on a perfect drift in some pretty swift water. Nicely done!

Taylor Creek - Basalt

Ever since my brother Mike moved to Basalt a few years ago, Taylor Creek Fly Shop has been the go-to location for anything we might need. Perfectly located in downtown Basalt alongside two of the best rivers in Colorado - the Frying Pan and the Roaring Fork - this group has always provided fantastic friendly service and necessary local knowledge. Their bug selection is top notch and you can always grab a couple Patagonia items to make yourself more comfortable out on the water as well. If the Roaring Fork Valley is on your travel agenda, then this shop should be as well.

Mountain Anglers - Breckenridge

In Breckenridge? Then you need to stop by a legendary shop owned by an American fly fishing legend: Jackson Streit. Published author, prolific guide, and all-around fantastic character, Jackson has been at the forefront of the industry and Mountain Angler has been a great Patagonia dealer for many years. I bought my first rod case from Jackson when I started fishing years ago, and it's always fun to stop by and catch up. Located right on Main Street, it is a must-do when in town.

Blue River Anglers - Frisco

Zeke Hersh has done a great job with this shop. Since moving to Main Street Frisco from Breckenridge, Zeke and Blue River Anglers has become a solid Patagonia Core Dealer providing a wonderful shop experience and guide service. It was inspiring to see so many folks coming in for a day out on the rivers at 6:30am as I walked around town looking for a fresh cup of joe. Make sure to swing in and say "hey" to the gang when you're in town. Can't quite get there? Check out the online store.

Cutthroat Anglers

The second leg of this most recent road trip found me in Summit County chatting with Trapper (guiding at left) in Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne. A beautiful shop to be sure with the Blue River running right behind it, Cutthroat has everything you need for a day, week or life on the water. I got some great beta for an evening on the Blue about 10 miles north of town and it paid off. In only a couple hours I landed close somewhere around 20 fish in stellar pocket water. Thanks for the tip boys!

Straightline!

Heading to Steamboat Springs? Make a visit to Straightline Sports a priority. Located right on Main Street, these guys are the pros if you want to get into beautiful fish on exceptional water. A great shop with helpful staff always helps - make sure to browse their awesome fly collection with the top picks called out. Owner Brett Lee has been doing this for a while and it shows - Get in there!

Devil's Thumb Ranch

If you are looking for a spectacular get-away in the heart of the Rockies, the Devil's Thumb Ranch is a great way to do it. With private water on the Fraser, a fully outfitted shop and a Patagonia fleet of waders and boots for use, you can't go wrong. I think someone just said "long weekend..."

Winter Park Fly Fisher

I had the opportunity to meet with Jeff Ehlert of the Winter Park Fly Fisher last week on the road. Jeff has been a long time Patagonia partner and is running a great operation in the Fraser Valley in Colorado. I had a great time catching up with him and his staff and getting the lay of the land. Needless to say, they gave me some great beta for hitting the Fraser River that evening, which I did. It was a special treat to catch brookies on a dry fly in a beautiful setting. If you are in the area, make sure to stop by WPFF - a great resource!

South Boulder Creek Action!

So, I'm always telling folks there are nice fat rainbows to be had in SBC along with the many beautiful browns and smaller bows. Check out this vid from the Today Show - you'll see what I mean. Also, great props to the Today Show for highlighting Casting For Recovery - a wonderful program that has helped, and continues to help, many women battling cancer. Well done...

Drag: An Excellent Read

When Drag is Desirable

by Tom Rosenbauer

"IMPARTING MOVEMENT TO A DRY FLY is one of the most effective and exciting ways to fish dry flies, but it must be done under the right circumstances with special techniques that distinguish movement given to the fly by the fisherman from ordinary drag. Insects on the surface of the water move, no question, but when insects move they do it without creating a V-shaped wake that drag usually creates. When you purposely give movement to a fly, it should look like a skater gliding across the surface rather than a swimmer doing the crawl. If this is done properly, a skated fly will draw trout from six feet away, fish that might not be induced to take any other fly. It's more an active technique that you should use like a streamer fly to provoke strikes than a passive technique where you pitch a fly to a trout's suspected position and wait for him to inhale your fly."

Read more HERE.