Cortland Line Company | Since 1915

Cortland Pro Staff Spotlight

2013-12-13T11:43:00.001-05:00

Way Yin | www.flycastinginstructor.com

Way Yin recently joined the Cortland Pro Staff, and we’re proud to have him as a leading industry representative and adviser. Way started when he was 8 years old, tying flies and fishing his home-finished fiberglass rod for bass and panfish in Maryland. Over time his interests grew to include the technical aspects of fly casting — including line design, rod design and teaching fly casting — and guiding. He designed the first modern long-belly Spey line, was instrumental in the design of many groundbreaking Spey line tapers, and has been involved in the development of two-handed and switch rods.

Way’s fascination with the mechanics of fly casting and teaching led to the first “unified” theories linking the mechanics and physics of overhead casting to Spey casting. He is an FFF Master Certified Casting Instructor, an FFF Certified Two-Handed Casting Instructor and was the first American to be awarded the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors’ Master Instructor Certification. And, he assisted the FFF in developing and administrating its Two-Handed Casting Certification program. He is a former U.K. distance casting champion, and twice placed third in the prestigious CLA Game Fair Spey casting championships.

Tell us a little about your background, I mean aside from the introduction above.
As a lifelong angler I enjoy fishing for Atlantic salmon in the rugged Kola peninsula in Russia, flats fishing for permit and tarpon in the Florida Keys, but mostly steelhead fishing in the Pacific Northwest. I am a licensed guide in Washington and Oregon, but I’m not full time. I graduated from medical school as a trained anesthesiologist and now am a practicing interventional pain management specialist. I also play guitar, have been in a couple of weekend bands, you know — blues and classic rock covers. And I am co-founder along with a Navy SEAL Team veteran of Discover Courage, a nonprofit created to help servicemen and servicewomen struggling with PTS (post-traumatic stress) issues. That being said, I still love teaching anglers how to cast or refine their mechanics.

As a self-described all-around angler, why are you so strongly identified with Spey?
A frequent misconception among the fly fishing public is that Spey casting is only associated with fishing a two-handed rod. The casts that make up the Spey repertoire can be applied to nearly all fly fishing scenarios, from spring creek fishing with a 2-weight fiberglass rod, to nymphing seams between weed beds, to swinging the biggest rivers using a 16-foot two-hander. Learning Spey casts is one of the fastest ways of becoming a better all-around angler.

When I started getting into Spey casting in the mid-1990s, it was considered an “art” and attempts to describe the fundamental mechanics of the cast were derided. So naturally, I had to do it since I like challenges. I guess one reason I’m more associated with Spey, beyond figuring out how the Spey cast works, has to do with products — developing lines, rods and some of the instructional stuff we did based on this understanding. It’s also easier to be a small fish noticed in the relatively small pond of Spey — there are so many awesome single-hand casters and instructors out there.

How would you compare Spey fishing in the U.S. to the various European markets?
Spey casting and fishing in the U.S. has seen rapid growth — and near-rabid interest — over the last 20 years, and the niche continues to grow. Of course, in the U.K. and Scandinavia two-handed approaches for Atlantic salmon have been around for a few hundred years. So by comparison, the whole Spey thing is still evolving and maturing here, which is good news for the retailers because a growing number of anglers are becoming more competent and wanting more products to feed their interests. And I think that the European markets, while selling less because this niche has fully evolved, have benefited from innovations that came from the U.S., including a new casting/fishing style (originating in the Pacific Northwest, commonly referred to as the “Skagit style”), the development of new lines (modern long-belly lines, Skagit lines), and the development of sophisticated and highly capable rods for two-handed fishing.

Is it a regional thing and if so, where has it or is it taking hold in the U.S.?
For two-handed Spey-style casting and fishing, the greatest innovations and interest started in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Using two-handed rods and lines swinging heavy flies and sink tips for winter steelhead was a real “Aha!” moment, if you previously struggled with a single-hander all day. Countless shoulders and backs have said “thank you two-handed” in the years since pioneers like John Farrar, George Cook and Dec Hogan — influenced by Scandinavians like Goran Anderson — first started playing with two-handers on the Skagit two decades ago. Since then, the two-handed style has naturally spread to other areas in the U.S. like the Great Lakes. The development of smaller, lighter rods has found a crossover for smaller rivers and styles like nymphing as well.

Is the niche so small that Spey anglers have to special order their rigs or do retailers have them covered?
Spey die-hards have always been a very detail-oriented lot. Back in the day, before specialized equipment was widely available, we would splice lines together from bits and pieces of production lines to make our own tapers. My prototypes for the original XLT, for example, were spliced from six to seven parts from different lines, one of which I had to order from the U.K.

These days, there are good lines from a number of manufacturers that fit most of the two-handed fishing applications. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement. As the fishing public matures, and gets better at casting these rods, I believe there will be migration to better line designs that will allow these anglers to fish even more effectively than they are currently.

What should retailers be stocking for the holiday season to address anglers' Spey fix?
Most two-handed anglers, especially beginners and intermediates, feel most comfortable fishing short-belly shooting-head lines, such as those commonly marketed as “Skagit” or “Scandinavian” heads. Although these lines are quite limited from a fishing standpoint, they are pretty easy to cast normal fishing distances (50-80 feet).

Do you have a favorite species to stalk?
My favorites would be big early season Atlantic Salmon in the Kola and steelhead fishing in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a lot cheaper for me to fish steelhead, so that’s mainly what I do; looking forward every year to the fall run. My next favorite is flats fishing for permit. For me, it’s like steel heading, only sicker.

I have a singular outstanding fishing memory, do you?
Not singular, but many wonderful memories vividly etched in my brain. The most recent involved fishing with Special Operations members though Discover Courage, the nonprofit organization I co-founded.

Any favorite spots to fish you wouldn't mind sharing with us?
Croix Pool on the Rynda and also Wet Spot on the Deschutes, but I’m not telling you any more!

You've also been involved with R&D from time to time. Where is technology taking the fly rod market in terms of both performance characteristics and pricing?
Advances in the rod market will likely be influenced by developments in nanotechnology in the resin side of prepreg, and continued refinement of mixing different modulus materials to achieve the best balance between energy release and dampening. I don’t think there are going to be major changes in the use of graphite fibers for a long time.

On the line side, tapers for most applications have largely demonstrated convergent evolution. Until there are significant changes on the rod side, tapers will continue to be refined and performance differences will be incremental. I believe there are huge “out of the box” material combinations in fly lines that may jump performance significantly — and I am excited to be looking at some of these ideas with Cortland.

How important is the Internet to anglers and to Spey fishermen in particular?
The Internet is an awesome thing. You can get access to terabytes of data and an answer to any question nearly immediately. Unfortunately, that answer might not be the right one; this is the down side of instant and easy access. The old saying of “caveat emptor” (buyer beware) has never been more important than in the Internet age. When personal responsibility (and therefore credibility) becomes anonymized some crazy stuff gets posted, which is unfortunate because there really is a lot of great stuff out there.

The Spey market, being relatively small but composed of a lot of real-compulsive gearheads, is uniquely susceptible to pedagogy. As the legion of two-handed fishers matures, however, I believe that the disproportionate influences from a few market “thought leaders” will dilute, and more folks will get the best gear for their needs in hand.

Do you see any change in their buying habits?
Hmmmm. Have to think on this more.

Cortland is about to celebrate 100 years in business, what do you think about that?
Awesome. Definitely want to help add to Cortland’s legacy of product innovation and quality to ensure it lasts through the next 100 years.

Which Cortland products stand out in your mind?
The 444 and Micron.

How do you see technology impacting the fishing line market?
I think novel applications of existing technologies will exceed novel materials’ technology in the short to moderate term. If a real-game-changing material comes out I’m guessing it won’t be for a number of years.

Do you do any sport fishing?
I grew up chucking bait and gear, but my interests (and time) now are pretty much focused on fly fishing.

Your thoughts and hopes for the "new Cortland"?
Cortland has always been known as a line company. I hope the future focus will be back to making the absolute best lines for specific applications in the fly and the sport markets, and driving market innovation in this space.

Any other parting thoughts?
A drunk stumbles out of a bar. Surprised on the street by a nun, he punches her in the face and knocks her to the ground. Tottering over her, he says, “Take THAT Batman!”

Wow, I didn’t see that one coming, thanks.

December 2013 News

2013-12-10T19:07:00.000-05:00

Dealer Spotlight: The Hook Up | Cortland Pro Staff: Way Yin | Upcoming Events | Product Highlight From HQ | Current Deals

New Product Packaging for 2014

At Cortland, we’re continually working to improve our manufacturing process, products and the way we do business. As part of that ongoing effort, our 2014 fly and sport fishing products will feature new packaging design, layout and color scheme. Our new packaging not only conveys essentials like line weight or test, but also technical specs, relevant species and casting type. All in an effort to provide clarity while catching the consumer’s eye.

But we didn’t stop there. We also wanted to create distinctive packaging that was environmentally sound and that honored the heritage of Cortland; enter: the new Cortland Tin. Initially available for our Precision fly line series, the packaging is built around silver tins that feature a tarpon for saltwater and a trout for freshwater. Inside, the fly line is stored on a spool made of 100 percent recycled material (wood, rice hulls and flax fiber). Tins come in recycled cardboard sleeves ready for shelf or Pegboard display.

“During a planning session, we noted the trend toward heightened environmental awareness through the use of recycled materials and minimalist packaging,” recalls CEO Randy Brown. “And in the same discussion it was suggested we try to pay tribute to our illustrious past as we prepare to celebrate 100 years as a leading fishing line company. The new packaging, inspired by our circa 1950s tins, accomplishes both.”

Another advantage to the new packaging is that the tins are reusable. They’re ideal for storing flies, tying materials, tippet spools, leaders, spare coins, river snacks, you name it.

Says Brown, “Personally, I was looking for a way to elevate our products with retailers and anglers while announcing that Cortland is back. The new packaging does that in a big way.”

Please keep a lookout for all the “new” packaging from Cortland coming soon!

Cortland Pro Staff Spotlight

Way Yin | www.flycastinginstructor.com

Way Yin recently joined the Cortland Pro Staff, and we’re proud to have him as a leading industry representative and adviser. Way started when he was 8 years old, tying flies and fishing his home-finished fiberglass rod for bass and panfish in Maryland. Over time his interests grew to include the technical aspects of fly casting — including line design, rod design and teaching fly casting — and guiding. He designed the first modern long-belly Spey line, was instrumental in the design of many groundbreaking Spey line tapers, and has been involved in the development of two-handed and switch rods.

Way’s fascination with the mechanics of fly casting and teaching led to the first “unified” theories linking the mechanics and physics of overhead casting to Spey casting. He is an FFF Master Certified Casting Instructor, an FFF Certified Two-Handed Casting Instructor and was the first American to be awarded the Association of Advanced Professional Game Angling Instructors’ Master Instructor Certification. And, he assisted the FFF in developing and administrating its Two-Handed Casting Certification program. He is a former U.K. distance casting champion, and twice placed third in the prestigious CLA Game Fair Spey casting championships.

Tell us a little about your background, I mean aside from the introduction above.
As a lifelong angler I enjoy fishing for Atlantic salmon in the rugged Kola peninsula in Russia, flats fishing for permit and tarpon in the Florida Keys, but mostly steelhead fishing in the Pacific Northwest. I am a licensed guide in Washington and Oregon, but I’m not full time. I graduated from medical school as a trained anesthesiologist and now am a practicing interventional pain management specialist. I also play guitar, have been in a couple of weekend bands, you know — blues and classic rock covers. And I am co-founder along with a Navy SEAL Team veteran of Discover Courage, a nonprofit created to help servicemen and servicewomen struggling with PTS (post-traumatic stress) issues. That being said, I still love teaching anglers how to cast or refine their mechanics.

As a self-described all-around angler, why are you so strongly identified with Spey?
A frequent misconception among the fly fishing public is that Spey casting is only associated with fishing a two-handed rod. The casts that make up the Spey repertoire can be applied to nearly all fly fishing scenarios, from spring creek fishing with a 2-weight fiberglass rod, to nymphing seams between weed beds, to swinging the biggest rivers using a 16-foot two-hander. Learning Spey casts is one of the fastest ways of becoming a better all-around angler.

When I started getting into Spey casting in the mid-1990s, it was considered an “art” and attempts to describe the fundamental mechanics of the cast were derided. So naturally, I had to do it since I like challenges. I guess one reason I’m more associated with Spey, beyond figuring out how the Spey cast works, has to do with products — developing lines, rods and some of the instructional stuff we did based on this understanding. It’s also easier to be a small fish noticed in the relatively small pond of Spey — there are so many awesome single-hand casters and instructors out there.

How would you compare Spey fishing in the U.S. to the various European markets?
Spey casting and fishing in the U.S. has seen rapid growth — and near-rabid interest — over the last 20 years, and the niche continues to grow. Of course, in the U.K. and Scandinavia two-handed approaches for Atlantic salmon have been around for a few hundred years. So by comparison, the whole Spey thing is still evolving and maturing here, which is good news for the retailers because a growing number of anglers are becoming more competent and wanting more products to feed their interests. And I think that the European markets, while selling less because this niche has fully evolved, have benefited from innovations that came from the U.S., including a new casting/fishing style (originating in the Pacific Northwest, commonly referred to as the “Skagit style”), the development of new lines (modern long-belly lines, Skagit lines), and the development of sophisticated and highly capable rods for two-handed fishing.

Is it a regional thing and if so, where has it or is it taking hold in the U.S.?
For two-handed Spey-style casting and fishing, the greatest innovations and interest started in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Using two-handed rods and lines swinging heavy flies and sink tips for winter steelhead was a real “Aha!” moment, if you previously struggled with a single-hander all day. Countless shoulders and backs have said “thank you two-handed” in the years since pioneers like John Farrar, George Cook and Dec Hogan — influenced by Scandinavians like Goran Anderson — first started playing with two-handers on the Skagit two decades ago. Since then, the two-handed style has naturally spread to other areas in the U.S. like the Great Lakes. The development of smaller, lighter rods has found a crossover for smaller rivers and styles like nymphing as well.

Is the niche so small that Spey anglers have to special order their rigs or do retailers have them covered?
Spey die-hards have always been a very detail-oriented lot. Back in the day, before specialized equipment was widely available, we would splice lines together from bits and pieces of production lines to make our own tapers. My prototypes for the original XLT, for example, were spliced from six to seven parts from different lines, one of which I had to order from the U.K.

These days, there are good lines from a number of manufacturers that fit most of the two-handed fishing applications. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement. As the fishing public matures, and gets better at casting these rods, I believe there will be migration to better line designs that will allow these anglers to fish even more effectively than they are currently.

What should retailers be stocking for the holiday season to address anglers' Spey fix?
Most two-handed anglers, especially beginners and intermediates, feel most comfortable fishing short-belly shooting-head lines, such as those commonly marketed as “Skagit” or “Scandinavian” heads. Although these lines are quite limited from a fishing standpoint, they are pretty easy to cast normal fishing distances (50-80 feet).

Do you have a favorite species to stalk?
My favorites would be big early season Atlantic Salmon in the Kola and steelhead fishing in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a lot cheaper for me to fish steelhead, so that’s mainly what I do; looking forward every year to the fall run. My next favorite is flats fishing for permit. For me, it’s like steel heading, only sicker.

I have a singular outstanding fishing memory, do you?
Not singular, but many wonderful memories vividly etched in my brain. The most recent involved fishing with Special Operations members though Discover Courage, the nonprofit organization I co-founded.

Any favorite spots to fish you wouldn't mind sharing with us?
Croix Pool on the Rynda and also Wet Spot on the Deschutes, but I’m not telling you any more!

You've also been involved with R&D from time to time. Where is technology taking the fly rod market in terms of both performance characteristics and pricing?
Advances in the rod market will likely be influenced by developments in nanotechnology in the resin side of prepreg, and continued refinement of mixing different modulus materials to achieve the best balance between energy release and dampening. I don’t think there are going to be major changes in the use of graphite fibers for a long time.

On the line side, tapers for most applications have largely demonstrated convergent evolution. Until there are significant changes on the rod side, tapers will continue to be refined and performance differences will be incremental. I believe there are huge “out of the box” material combinations in fly lines that may jump performance significantly — and I am excited to be looking at some of these ideas with Cortland.

How important is the Internet to anglers and to Spey fishermen in particular?
The Internet is an awesome thing. You can get access to terabytes of data and an answer to any question nearly immediately. Unfortunately, that answer might not be the right one; this is the down side of instant and easy access. The old saying of “caveat emptor” (buyer beware) has never been more important than in the Internet age. When personal responsibility (and therefore credibility) becomes anonymized some crazy stuff gets posted, which is unfortunate because there really is a lot of great stuff out there.

The Spey market, being relatively small but composed of a lot of real-compulsive gearheads, is uniquely susceptible to pedagogy. As the legion of two-handed fishers matures, however, I believe that the disproportionate influences from a few market “thought leaders” will dilute, and more folks will get the best gear for their needs in hand.

Do you see any change in their buying habits?
Hmmmm. Have to think on this more.

Cortland is about to celebrate 100 years in business, what do you think about that?
Awesome. Definitely want to help add to Cortland’s legacy of product innovation and quality to ensure it lasts through the next 100 years.

Which Cortland products stand out in your mind?
The 444 and Micron.

How do you see technology impacting the fishing line market?
I think novel applications of existing technologies will exceed novel materials’ technology in the short to moderate term. If a real-game-changing material comes out I’m guessing it won’t be for a number of years.

Do you do any sport fishing?
I grew up chucking bait and gear, but my interests (and time) now are pretty much focused on fly fishing.

Your thoughts and hopes for the "new Cortland"?
Cortland has always been known as a line company. I hope the future focus will be back to making the absolute best lines for specific applications in the fly and the sport markets, and driving market innovation in this space.

Any other parting thoughts?
A drunk stumbles out of a bar. Surprised on the street by a nun, he punches her in the face and knocks her to the ground. Tottering over her, he says, “Take THAT Batman!”

Wow, I didn’t see that one coming, thanks.

	Attending one of these shows? Stop by and say hello.
Denver Fly Fishing Show – January 3-5, 2014 – Denver, Colo.
ISE Show Denver – January 16-19, 2014 – Denver, Colo.
Marlborough Fly Fishing Show – January 17-19, 2014 – Marlborough, Mass.
Somerset Fly Fishing Show – January 24-26, 2014 – Somerset, N.J.
Lynnwood Fly Fishing Show – February 15-16, 2014 – Seattle, Wash.

Precision Spey Series — Guide Tested, Angler Approved
As many beginning anglers have learned by struggling with a line marked as the same weight as their Spey rod, it isn’t that simple to get the right match between a Spey line and rod. You also need to account for rod length and action. So, while it helps to use grain weight windows provided by Spey rod manufacturers, Cortland has gone a step further — providing a rod length guide for our Spey lines.

As rod length increases the ideal head length for anchoring casts increases; our new rating system will ensure you can match your rod to the proper Precision Spey line head length window and grain weight range. Once you have the right line for your rod, look out!

Cortland’s new Spey line series is built around our patented, ultra-slick PST coatings: the heads are supple with super-slick coating for controlled casts, and the running lines are coated with our harder, stiffer formula that help mend — even with a ridiculous length of line. The series also features redesigned tapers, vibrant two-color options that look great on your reel and track easily on the water, and a tip loop for easily attaching sinking tips or looping straight onto a tapered leader.

Top 3 Insights for Catching Fall Muskies

2013-11-12T10:08:00.001-05:00

The fall season is rapidly concluding for most of us living within the musky range. Additionally the open seasons for muskellunge fishing in some parts of the country are drawing to an end as well. But for anglers who still have time to catch their fish of a lifetime, or have plans to fish again next fall and brave the physically and mentally demanding challenges this great sport of ours brings, I have some insights to share with Cortland Line readers which I hope will lead to a more memorable and successful experience on the water.

1 - Time on the Water
It’s been a strange, but successful, 2013 season. I fished a lot and caught a lot, but not nearly enough to meet my high standards or early season goals; I’m still a numbers guy, and fell about 10 fish short of my personal catch & release quota. But I accomplished much more.

Thanks to time on the water, I’m approaching on setting a personal milestone of spending 100 days on the water up north this year, which is a first…… and I’m not even a guide! Along the way, I’ve spent an estimated 600 hours in my boats fishing for muskies. That’s a lot of time, and without it, I wouldn’t be able to achieve such a milestone, or catch many fish.

I believe that spending hours upon hours of time on your favorite bodies of water will lead to the most successful days of fishing. You don’t have to literally live out of your boats like I sometimes do, but investing more than one full day, or even up to a full week on your favorite waterbodies will make you a more successful musky angler. Time not only helps you pattern musky locations and movements, but to better understand the physiology of the underwater ecosystem and how to best approach muskies, define presentations, and refine your angling techniques and mechanics.

As the daylight hours decrease in autumn, understanding fish location and minimizing unproductive water is critical. Additionally, knowing witch baits to throw and when to throw them can be figured out also. For this, time on the water is an essential tool that comes handy in fall. Make the most of every opportunity you get.

2 - Moon Phases and Feeding Windows

I’m a science guy when it comes to understanding the success behind my fishing and theorizing why certain things happen, how they happen, and how muskies are triggered to bite. I like to analyze a lot. Patterning feeding windows and paying attention to the moon phases definitely helps me catch more fish. In order to do so, and to have a great shot at big fish, maximize your fall fishing opportunities by planning your fishing around the moon phases and feeding windows. I know that personal schedules and vacation time dictates fishing opportunities for most anglers, but take it to the next level by scheduling your trips around these two events.

I had a pretty good month of October…… other than a week that was loaded with bad luck with losing rods overboard and not seeing a single fish for a week. Hey, it happens to everyone at some point, right? Getting to the point of catching fish, my first week of the month in Northern Wisconsin was exceptionally good as my success was greatly attributed to the new moon period and morning moon-rise periods. In a period of four days, I put ten muskies into the Frabill net, won my first career tournament with friend and fishing partner Steve Peterson, and saw a lot of fish in such a short period of time. These four days of fishing was the best I’ve had it on our inland waters of Wisconsin the entire year!

I’ve always been a believer in the moon game. I have observed that musky activity levels and the number of fish boated correlate with the clockwork of the moon. I’ll let you guys ask Steve what he thinks about the moon as I even turned him into a believer. When we won our tournament by blindly fishing on a new lake to us (without any pre-fishing whatsoever!), we encountered a ferocious early morning feeding window in which Steve lost an unimaginable four muskies within the first 45 minutes at the first spot we fished. Want to know the reasoning behind this flurry of action? Looking on the map, I knew the spot was good, but the 8am moon-rise period took place at the same time. It’s no excuse, but a factor. The moon positively influences musky activity levels and feeding moods.

Enjoying the tournament winner

Besides the moon phase, plan your fall fishing around feeding windows…… and if you want to go even further than that, pound the water during the annual fall cisco spawn in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario and Great Lakes.

This year I've had the opportunity to extend my fishing season well into November. You know what takes place in November on many of my best and trophy muskellunge fisheries when water temperatures fall to 41-43 degrees? The cisco spawn. As of late, our angling success has been a result of patterning muskies around the spawning cycle of ciscos (open water pelagic bait fish species. This time of year isn't for catching numbers, but rather seeking giants. In my opinion late fall is the best time of the year for anyone to musky fish….. Period….. I don’t care how cold the weather is or uncomfortable the conditions may be. What may be caught this late in the season is usually worth the extra effort and aftermath of frozen hands.

Steve Peterson with a girthy Wisconsin fish that was caught from cisco waters.

3 – Use the Right Equipment

Musky anglers have numerous high quality fishing lines available to them at their local fishing tackle retailers. In comparison to maybe a decade ago, there are several more line options offered now than ever before. It is up for you to decide which line and type best suits your needs, and preferred style of fishing.

Having the proper equipment for the right type of fishing is the last critical concept I want to shed light on. For me, Cortland Line is the “Cadillac” of all musky fishing braids and superlines.

Good line will make an angler through smooth daily casting and boated fish, while bad line will break an angler through mishaps, misfortune, break-offs and lost fish. I’ve seen it happen, it has happened, and it’s a very sour experience. Because I want to be at the top of my game my rods and reels are always spooled with the freshest Masterbraid and Spectron lines. My reels are spooled with diversity to tackle any and all musky fishing objectives: With 50 pound line to handle small applications; 65 pound line for bucktails and blades; 80 pound line for just about everything else, and 100 pound for super-size techniques and livebait fishing.

Throughout the fall season, I predominantly fish with 80 and 100 pound lines because they best handle big jerkbaits, gliders, rubbers, crankbaits and pull baits. Additionally, where live bait fishing is allowed and is popular in Wisconsin, they handle the quick-strike rigged sucker with ease. Fishing with the right baits in autumn (as dictated by the fish and conditions), with the proper lines, will allow you to tangle with the mighty musky.

Taking these insights and applying them into your angling plan of attack for the remainder of this fall and next year can help you put more fish into the boat. Take advantage of today’s technology offered by Cortland Line Company to help you boat more muskies right now.

For more fishing tips and information on how you can boat more muskie follow Cortland Line Pro, Andrew Ragas:

www.fishing-headquarters.com

www.fishing-headquarters.com/forums/

www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/

www.ragasmedia.com

www.ragasfishing.com

New Opaque White Indicator Mono

2013-10-24T08:54:00.002-04:00

Cortland’s Opaque White Indicator Mono is a very unique new offering that anglers are going to want in their arsenal. The opaque white mono maintains strong visibility in many light conditions, but white mono sitting on the surface and held off the water allows an angler to target spooky fish in clear water. Our Opaque White mono is a solid white with no dyes or residue and the white color won’t fade in the sun.

Use our Opaque White Indicator Mono just as you would a bi-color or other bright sighter material. The material comes in three sizes, so you can match the size to your fly size and conditions, or use multiple sizes to create a tapered sighter. For a nice compromise between stealth and strike detection, try building a two part sighter with our Super Yellow Indicator Mono on top of the opaque white – a combination that helped fool some big wild browns this fall.

Q&A with Cortland Line Pro Staffer, Bob Jacklin

2013-10-10T07:44:00.000-04:00

Bob Jacklin, of Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana has been a member of the Cortland Pro-Staff for over 39 years. Bob has been passing on his knowledge of fly fishing and fly tying to thousands of fly fishing enthusiasts around the world for five decades. We asked Bob a few questions to help you get to know this Fly Fishing Hall of Famer a little better.

Q: Bob, give us a little background of where you first started fishing.
A: I'm a self-taught and very dedicated fly fisher and fly tier. I grew up in the Elizabeth, New Jersey area and was very much taken with trout fishing. Naturally I started fishing with worms and salmon eggs for stocked trout and soon became very interested in fly fishing and tying my own flies for native brook trout in many of the head water streams of northern New Jersey. I have been selling flies since I was 17 years old. I started supplying flies on a limited basis to three sporting goods stores in the Elizabeth, N.J area through my last years in high school and through my three years in the military.

Q: How did you end up opening up a fly shop in West Yellowstone?
My first trip to the Yellowstone area was in 1967 just after completing my three years of military duty and was totally captivated with the rivers, streams, fishing, and general beauty of the area. I joined a new organization that summer in Bud Lilly's Trout Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana and became a charter member of the Federation of Fly Fishers with a continuous memberships and a life membership with that organization. I was offered a full time job in the fall of 1969 with the Bud Lilly Trout Shop in West Yellowstone, Montana teaching Bud's Fly Fishing School, guiding fishermen, and working in the trout shop. After several years of working for Bud Lilly, I was offered a job with the Fenwick Corporation teaching their new fly fishing school in West Yellowstone. I have worked with Fenwick, Sage, and now St. Croix Rod company as a Pro-Staff member. I eventually opened my own fly shop in West Yellowstone, Montana in the spring of 1974 and have been in buisness ever since. The key aspects that made my business successful is very hard work, and being very tenacious.

Q:Bob, in your opinion what types of changes in fly line technology have stood out over the years?
A: I have seen many changes in fly lines over my almost 50 years of fly fishing. First, the new plastic coating over a braided core used by Cortland in the 333 series. The second change in technology was Cortland's developing the use of a Mono Core in the construction and taper of a fly line as used in the Clear Camo Intermediate and other lines. I have always enjoyed casting and fishing Cortland Lines. When selling a line all that is needed, is to open the package and let the customer feel the smoothness and the extra polishing process each Cortland line goes through.

Q:During your early years in the industry did you ever imagine you would be inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame?
A:In the year 2004 I was inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. That was sure a special day. After almost 40 years in the fishing industry at that time it was sure nice to be recognized with such a nice dinner and many friends. My family members also my sister and other family members attended. I have always had a warm spot in my heart for the Catskills and the Beaverkill River where I had fished as a young man and learned to appreciate the history of the rivers and the people in that area. I have been a longtime member and supporter of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and to be inducted into the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame was a very special part of my life.
Q:Over the years, who are some of the greatest people you worked with in the industry?
A: Over the many years I have met so many wonderful people through fly fishing it is almost impossible to name them all or even come close. I would need to start first with a great organization the Federation of Fly Fishers. The early conclaves and the on going Fly Fishing fairs allow the visiting public a very unique opportunity to visit with and interact with the top people in our sport and way of life. Those early conclaves allowed me as a kid of 22 years old a chance to meet and get to know many of the top people in the fly fishing community. People and companies like Leon Chandler and Cortland Line, Frank and Gladys Gray, and Jim Green of the Fenwick Company. I was able to meet and become life-long friends with Lee and Joan Wulff and so many others like Lefty Kreh. I give a special thanks to Mr. Bud Lilly for allowing me the chance to work for him and learn from one of the best retailers in the Yellowstone area.

Q:With all the changes over the last year what excites you most about the future of Cortland Line?
A: What excites me most about Cortland Line and the future of Cortland's fly lines is now working with a full staff at Cortland all dedicated to improving the quality of the product, teaching and carrying on the sport of fishing with the artificial fly and keeping the warm and personal relationship that Leon Chandler passed on to us through the Cortland Line Company.

Youth angler starts fly fishing passion with 444 Outfit.

2013-09-30T17:13:00.000-04:00

About a month ago we received a photo of Jacob, a young Florida angler who recently began fly fishing with his new 444 Outfit. We wanted to share his excitement with you as he embarks on this angling journey. While family and school comes first, we'll let the pictures do the talking for how Jacob now spends his free time.

We knew Jacob would love the new 444 Outfit but what we didn't know was how quickly he would find success. In just a few weeks the action shots started to come back and we knew we'd created a monster! Chasing Florida Large-mouths was Jacob's first experience with the new outfit and from the looks of his line control and strip sets we think he's progressing quite well.

There's no telling how far Jacob's passion for fly fishing will take him but from what we can see the sky is the limit. As fishermen we all know how hard it is to find a balance between school or work, while still relieving that itch to get out on the water. We want to thank Jacob for sharing his story with us and congratulate him on his hard work in school and on the water.

Do you know a young angler like Jacob that has recently started fishing? Would you like us to highlight their progress on our blog and kick you some free stuff? Send an email to Info@Cortlandline.com with your story and photos and if we choose it we'll send you a free goody bag of new Cortland Line apparel!

Q&A with Cortland Line Pro-Staffer, Charles Card

2013-09-26T15:50:00.002-04:00

Cortland Line takes an in-depth look at Utah native and fly fishing fanatic Charles Card's past, present and future. Fresh or saltwater, Charles has had countless trophy fish in his hands, so lets find out what this family man and conservationist is all about in our Q&A.

Charlie, what started your passion for fishing?

I am the first USA born of three older brothers, followed by one younger brother. I am from Utah, and was introduced to bait fishing by my father and family. After swearing off anything but fishing with my self-made flies at age 11, the chickens around the yard and the muskrats in the swamp nearby became much more worried. Since then, I have become even more addicted to the pursuit of any handy fish species, and the less willing of these, the more fun it becomes. Trout are the staple, but I don’t mind trying to outwit a wily and highly evolved carp now and then.

Who has been your biggest influence in fly fishing?

There are a few. First of all, the local fly shop owner in Vernal Utah, was named Lori Batty, who is a master at fly tying and rod building. She hired me on the spot around 13-14 years of age after seeing a few of my flies. I would walk to the fly shop after school and run Big Foot until my father finished his work day. Lori helped my fly tying in a production and quality standpoint more than anyone. Second, I bought a drift boat when I was 14-15 years old from Dennis Breer. He owned Trout Creek Flies guide service on the Green river. He gave me work as a swamper when I was too young to guide, which gave me an excuse to live in the pygmy forests above the Red Canyon rim in my parents tent trailer for the summers between high school. Setting up camps and cooking/cleaning for the Denny’s guides gave me a chance to learn from working anglers. He used to employ around 20 guides those days, so it was always a smorgasbord of intel, and I tried hard to soak it up. Third, and probably the first in my fly fishing progression, was the local library. Vernal Utah had an amazing selection of fly fishing books for the actual fly fishing populous. Since no family member or friends knew fly fishing, I had to read about how it was done. I feel it was a blessing to learn the sport from those good enough to have books published on the topic. Most times, I didn’t comprehend what was being written about, but later onstream, I would have those light bulb moments frequently. My absolute favorite author was Dave Whitlock. I really enjoyed the simplicity of his writing and the colorful and masterful artwork that accompanied most of his work. At age 17 and then at 18, I had the privilege to guide Dave and Emily on the Green River. One of the best compliments I have ever received as an angler was tying flies with Dave one night, and him turning to me, asking to trade one of his deer hair matuka sculpins fresh off the vise for a stonefly pattern I had just tied. He looked over the fly and then said to me, “Charlie, I’d swap flies with you anyday.” Others I considered great were Ernest Schwiebert, Vincent Marinaro, Gary Borger, Joe Brooks and Joe Humphries.

How have you been involved with Trout Unlimited?

I remember getting the occasional letter in the mail from Trout Unlimited, and I always enjoyed that it came from Wolley Bugger, WV. Once as a teenager, I had enough money to buy a membership, and got the sticker and calendar. There was not a chapter in my area, so I didn’t really understand what TU was all about, but just through my reading, I was semi-educated on conservation work. I remember that it was a ritualistic event with a couple of my fishing buddies to stop fishing in the heat of the day, every time out, and build a fish fun park as we used to call it. We would take a bland stretch of stream and start piling rocks from the streambed into a series of pools, making one spot deeper, and urging flows to push against that deep bank, or create a current break here and there. I know now that it was probably illegal to be altering the streambeds without the proper permits, but the next time we would fish those spots, they always held a few fish, and because we designed and made them, we knew where the sweet spots were. Maybe that’s not so much conservation work, but we felt we were making fish happy habitat in our local creeks. It wasn’t until I was asked by Trout Unlimited to work for them in 2011, that I really understood how encompassing Trout Unlimited is as an organization. The leadership in TU is really focused on keeping the good torut streams what they are, and improving and restoring the ones degraded and ruined as trout streams. I think it’s a remarkable and valiant effort, but could not be done without the army of volunteers that is the heart and soul of Trout Unlimited. These local connections are the eyes, ears, persuasion, muscle power and will of getting things accomplished for the betterment of great fishing opportunities in this country. I think that this also benefits the industry surrounding fishing. Without places good enough to have good fishing experiences, the shops and sales will suffer. Most days, I wonder why Trout Unlimited wanted me to be on their national staff. The quality of the other staffers I meet are far superior to my nimble self, but I very much enjoy working with and being part of this great organization.

Give us a little background on what you're fishing for most of the time?
What's you favorite species to target?

Living where I do, I usually drop into the water of a very high profile trout stream known for its outstanding trout population density after work a few times a week. The Green river is only over a mile as the crow flies from my home in Dutch John, Utah. The biologists say there are over 20,000 fish per mile in the river right now. The river has a growing population of Pike, and I have enjoyed fishing streamers for these toothy critters. I love to fish stillwater lakes and reservoirs, both cold and warmwater, and learned much of my angling on small trout streams flowing off the Uinta mountains which hold small Brook, Rainbow, brown, and the native Colorado Cutthroat Trout. My father who had a hobby of sailing, would take me to the San Juan Islands and the shoreline of British Columbia as a kid, where I fished for many different species of bottomfish, salmonids, and other saltwater fishes. I really enjoy steelheading in the northwest, and have spent many month long treks in their pursuit with spey rods. I have also had the lower Laguna Madre be my home for a couple of winters where the species of fish you can catch may far outnumber the Mexican restaurants in that area. I recall a fishing trip to the Yucatan peninsula over the 4th of July with some guiding friends from Utah, where we set a new lodge record for the most grand slams caught in one day (4 slams on the 4th) and then my good friend Tee Clarkson landed the first fly caught sailfish with Boca Paila Lodge. It was funny that the day before I landed that first grand slam, I saw my first Bonefish, cast to, hooked and landed it, kind of yawned as I asked what next, and then the next day, I had a Tarpon and Permit under my belt by 10:am, and then proceeded to spook nearly every bonefish out of the territory! Day in and day out, it’s all about trout, but if I had more resources and time, I’d fish a bit more in the brine.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for the future?

A tough question. Looking ahead, I really hope to enjoy more great fishing trips with my family and friends, wherever it may be. I am still at the point where I long for a great take, whether it’s an inconspicuous slurp of a wily trout to the dry or an explosive slash and burn ripper from snook in the jungle, and the ensuing strong tug that is the drug of fishing, and hope this current step in the progression to the complete angler doesn’t wane quickly to the next step, but I am already feeling the complacent satisfaction of just being where great fishing is found and don’t necessarily have to be the one with the soggiest line all day…Who am I kidding? Yes, I still do! I just hope that I can be an asset to the angling world and overall be instrumental in introducing the next generation of anglers into the sport and educate them on the importance of being an active part of ensuring that there are opportunities for great angling experiences for generations to come in this great nation.

Thanks for your time, Charlie!

Thank you very much. I am very fortunate to have this opportunity, and I hope that I can contribute something valuable to Cortland Line Company.

Cam Chioffi, 2013 Youth World Fly Fishing Championship individual gold medal winner

2013-09-11T08:25:00.001-04:00

Who is Cam Chioffi?

"Taught by his dad and grandfather, Cam has loved fishing since he was two. At age eight, he was introduced to fly fishing and has since become a student of the sport, reading and observing every bit of information available. The first competitive clinic Cam attended was in May 2010 in Pennsylvania. During that clinic, he learned the basics of competition he uses today. After that clinic, he was hooked and attended several more around the country with the aim of learning and improving his technique. In 2013 Cam won the individual gold and team gold at the Youth World Fly Fishing Championships in Ireland. In other recent competitions, he placed 4th (Youth Nationals 2012 in NC) and 7th (America Cup 2012 in CO). Cam lives in the Boston area and is a member of Greater Boston Trout Unlimited. His local fishing is done on rivers like the Swift, Farmington, and the Assabet. He also enjoys fishing Central Vermont for native trout, and Cape Cod for stripers and bluefish. Cam is a junior at Weston High School where he plays varsity ice hockey and continues to teach fly fishing to his friends and in his community". (http://www.usyouthflyfishingteam.com/)

In Cam's own words...

World Championship
During preparation for the World Championships in Ireland, two USA Youth Team members (Hunter Hoffler and Gabriel Wittosch) took a trip to the Dundalk area to pre-fish the venues that would later be fished in the competition. This was in May, and the championships would take place in late July. During their trip, the River Fane consistently produced numbers around 70-100 fish a day, per person. The Quiggery River was much more technical with slower moving water and picky rising fish, however they were still able to pull 20-30 fish a day. The lakes all produced very high numbers of hard fighting stocked rainbows and wild brown trout. Things were looking up heading into the competition but upon arrival to the first practice venue it was very clear we were in for a change in conditions. Kells Backwater River was the first practice river venue. Not many places were more than ankle deep and the deepest parts were only about shin deep. Ireland had had 2 straight weeks of sunshine, no rain at all, which is very uncharacteristic for this country otherwise known for its foul weather. Looking over the bridge into the clear shallow water we all saw loads of fish scatter at the first sight of a shadow. Needless to say we all went back and added about 10 more feet of tippet to our leaders. We were in for a challenge. Beats on the Quiggery produced many blanks throughout the whole competition, in fact you were lucky if you got a good enough beat to even have 1 or 2 fish take your fly the whole session. The good beats on Fane produced 12-13 fish sessions at most, with a majority of beats producing 3-6 fish and some blanking. The fish populations were there, it was just the brutal clarity, low water, and high sun that had the fish hiding and seeking the deepest fastest water they could find which was few and far between. Knee pads were essential on the rivers, I don’t think I stood upright for more than 5 minutes during my Quiggery session. As for the lakes the fish were in the deepest parts you could find. On Esgragh I didn't catch a fish with any line less than a type 6. I caught a majority of my fish on a type 8 which is an extreme depth line. As for McRory Lough or more commonly known as the death lake for its brutally low numbers, I caught the one fish that basically won the championship on a type 6. The fish were deep plain and simple. All in all the conditions were definitely the most challenging I have ever faced, and certainly the most challenging for any world championships ever held.

Competition Nymph Line
When fishing these extreme conditions on the rivers, the fish were on high alert. Any splash, shadow, and even loud noise would spook fish, and when one fish spooked, he spooked another and a chain reaction of spooked fish continued upstream. I fished a long fine 20’ leader with about 6-7 feet of 7x tippet. The long leader combined with the ultra fine Comp Nymph Line allowed me to present my dry dropper rig at long distances without having to splash down on the water and spook fish. The supple, thin, and light build of the Comp Nymph Line fished a dry fly like a dream. I could control my casts at long distances and mend it over micro currents that would otherwise drag my fly and ruin any chance for that one Quiggery Fish. The light taper and supple design of the line really made the difference in giving me the ultimate stealth advantage to my presentation when having to fish behind some of the worlds finest youth anglers in the toughest conditions I have ever faced. When you might only get one shot at a fish, and that fish could mean the difference between two gold medals or no golds at all, you don’t want an inferior piece of equipment to decide your fate. That's why I trusted my Cortland fly lines to whatever Ireland had to throw at me.

Winning Gold!
Going into the last day I had been nearly perfect through out the competition, taking 2 first place finishes the first day and a third place finish on the second day. My two venues for the day were Esgragh Lough and McRory Lough. I had good recon on both lakes as my team mates had done well on them in previous sessions. However both lakes were still putting up very low numbers, as low as 5 fish per session, total being caught. I went out on Esgragh and used the intel that the fish were very deep to my advantage. I started off on a type 6 line and caught a fish about 5 minutes in. Nothing was happening for a while so I switched to a type 7 sweep line and caught another fish right away. Once again nothing happening for quite some time so I switched lines again to a type 8 and began counting down to 30 and 40 seconds, I knew my flies had to be almost right on the bottom so I began giving them short strips and jigs back up vertically to the surface and this proved to be the most effective way to catch fish. I caught 5 more the biggest measuring 47.5 centimeters. This put me at first place for the session. My team mate Hunter Enloe had Esgragh after me so I left the type 8 and flies with my parents to hand off to him at that venue as I made my way to McRory. Knowing that I took a first place and that held a solid lead going into the last day, I was confident that if I could catch just one fish on McRory lough I would take a first place overall. Reports said from last session that only three fish total were caught on McRory lough in the last session. As we waited for the session to start, a massive thunder storm moved in and the skies opened up. It poured rain for about 2 hours and let up just as we got in the boats to start the session. I was in the boat with my fellow competitor from Canada, Colin Huff. We decided to follow the Irish as they had been doing well with McRory’s tough conditions. This session came down to the wire. I saw three other people catch fish throughout the session, including the second place Irish team competitor, as I watched my individual and team gold slowly slip away. With about 20 minutes to go in the final session we decided to motor over to the far, deep corner of the lake where I saw a Spanish competitor catch a fish early on. First cast with a type 6 I got a hit and stripped the fish furiously to the boat, only to find out it was a perch. I figured this was a sign we were too shallow still so we moved out to about 40 feet of water. With about 15 minutes to go I bombed out a 90 foot cast and began counting down. As I reached 15 seconds I began to retrieve the flies back with short quick strips and then boom… my rod doubled over and line burned out of my hand. I knew it definitely was not a perch. Stripping in the fish carefully, my heart was pounding, I got it to the boat and as I raised the silvery pink head of the rainbow out of the water to slide it into the net, I could taste victory. There it was, the gold medal fish. It measured 38 centimeters and was caught with 12 minutes left in the final session of the competition. This gave me a second place for the session behind the Czech Republics 39 centimeter rainbow. With some critical blanks saved by my team mates on the rivers, we were able to win a team medal to accompany my gold medal. Greatest finish in USA competitive fly fishing history in my opinion. An awesome experience and overall the best trip of my life.

Cortland Competition Nymph Rod Review - Housatonic River Outfitters

2013-09-05T09:58:00.000-04:00

When Cortland recently came out with their series of Competition Nymph fly rods, I was pleasantly surprised at just how damn good they actually are. At $219.95

(includes a rod tube), you cannot find a comparable specialized nymphing rod at this price point, and in fact they easily compete with rods costing 3 plus times more. They are designed to catch fish, with actions that are specifically tweaked for the deadly technique of Euro Nymphing, enabling you to turn over longer leaders & lightweight flies if necessary, while still giving you tippet protection. They also make fantastic wet fly/soft-hackle rods, due to their extra length & softer tips. These rods are all designed to balance nicely and be light in the hand to minimize fatigue. The #2 and #3 rods are ideally suited to Euro Nymphing, while the #4's crossover into both Euro & Indicator nymphing. To really maximize your rods performance for Euro Nymphing, consider matching it up with a Cortland Competition Nymph line and make a sighter out of Cortland’s brightly colored Inidcator Mono.

Some other cool features:

-5 models ranging from a 9.5’ #2 up to a 10.5’ #4 cover a wide range of nymphing scenarios

-Longer lengths (up to 10.5’) gives you tremendous control over your drift, better hook-setting, and better fish playing

-Supple tip help prevent hooks from pulling out during the fight, while powerful mid/butt sections give you casting & fish-playing power

-Very low swing weight

-Thin blank for light weight & minimal wind resistance

-Great roll-casting rods

-Stealthy matte finish & black guides means no glare to spook fish

-Short fighting butt on all models

-Oversize guides help shoot more line

These rods came out just in time for my girlfriend Mandy’s birthday, so I got her one as a present. We've both fished her 10.5’ #3 rod (quite possibly the pentultimate Euro nymphing rod IMHO) for a while now, and we love it. She commented on how easily it throws weighted nymphs on a long leader, and also how well it plays even big fish- the beauty you see pictured was landed on her maiden voyage with the rod. The supple tip has also upped the landing ratio on small to average fish, as it functions as a shock absorber that makes it harder for hooks to pop out of their mouths when they shake their heads. I've never seen a longer rod that balances better in the hand, and from talking to Joe Goodspeed, one of the main people who helped develop this series, that was something they spent some time perfecting. This lower swing weight also makes them less fatiguing to fish than other longer rods. The level of sensitivity of the rod is quite impressive, both Mandy & I noticed how well the slightest sensation was transmitted directly through the cork grip right to your hand. Normally I Euro nymph with my index finger just beyond the end of the grip, right on the butt of the rod blank to detect subtle takes, but this is not necessary with these rods. I was also impressed with the extremely high quality of the cork on the rod handle- it rivaled and even exceeded most of the premium $600-800 rods we carry in our store.

Housatonic River Outfitters is a full-service fly shop located in the Litchfield Hills of scenic northwest Connecticut. We are located on the 10 mile long catch & release section of the storied Housatonic River. The “Housy”, as she is lovingly called, teams with wildlife and is famous for prolific hatches, natural beauty, and quality trout fishing. The river also boasts one of the most famous and photographed covered bridges in the United States. In the spring & fall our primary focus is trout, and in the summer our main quarry is warmer water species such as smallmouth bass & pike. The summertime smallmouth fishery is both superb and underrated, with a prolific bass population rivaling the most famous fisheries, and the Housy is big enough to float all summer long. We stock almost everything for the flyfisher, as well as offering guided fishing trips (both wade & float/drift) on the Housatonic River and other areas fisheries for trout, bass, pike & carp. We have an extensive selection of DVD’s and new & used books (literally thousands). Check out our website & web store at www.dryflies.com, call us at 860-672-1010, or email us at hflyshop@aol.com.

Lake of the Woods musky trip with Cortland Pro, Andrew Ragas

2013-08-27T13:59:00.001-04:00

After last year's somewhat unproductive fishing trip to Lake of the Woods, there was some skepticism on how this years trip would go. As Andrew Ragas describes, "Musky fishing is 10 percent catching and 90 percent mental." The pictures we received over the course of his stay may tell you otherwise!

In seven and a half days of fishing, Andrew and his fishing partner Brian Malack, boated six musky in the 46 to 50 in range. After a mid-week cold front had blown through during their stay, fishing conditions became harder and the musky were unwilling to eat. Going over previously productive areas and fishing upwards of 30-40 spots a day eventually turned the fishing around to end on a positive note.

Foreseeing the combination of long days and the necessity for epic amounts of casting, Andrew and Brian spooled up reels with a range of Spectron and Masterbraid from 65 to 100 LB test. Sometimes taking up to a full day to connect with large adult musky, the smooth casting Spectron and Masterbraid can help make that full day on the water more enjoyable.

For the full story of Andrew's trip to Lake of the Woods, North America's top musky fishing destination, check out http://www.ragasfishing.com/lake-of-the-woods-muskellunge-mystique/

Q&A with Cortland Line's Product Advisor and Pro Staff Member, Frank Catino

2013-08-27T12:11:00.005-04:00

Frank thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. With all of the new changes happening at Cortland Line, could you give us a little information on your new position with the company.

Well after years of being a regional sales representative for Cortland Line in the south eastern US and Florida, I have taken a new position as a Product Adviser and Pro Staff Member. I'm looking forward to the new position and plan to focus on improving and developing specific products.

Lets talk about how you first starting fishing. Where, When, Mentors?

My family moved to Florida around the time I was three years old. Shortly after that I began tagging along with my father. Back then Florida was a pristine fishery with unlimited access to the water. There were very few houses, developments and private property at the time. This was the area of east central Florida, Indian River lagoon system right by Kennedy Space Center. We would fish everywhere, from shore, jetties and inlets. One of the well known local guys would take me fishing all the time. His name was Gary Schroeder and he was the local "do-it-yourself” angler. He didn't have a boat, but always had the best tackle. Original graphite rods, Sea Master reels, just everything. He would also go to the Keys and fish down there as well. He taught me a lot.
When I was older I had the opportunity to fish big game off shore which I did for some time, along with running a shop and building custom rods. This was in the early seventies when saltwater fly fishing was getting really popular. I also started to build my own fly reels as well. At that time, there wasn't a lot of competition.
This was also the time that I met Rick Ruoff. Rick taught me the side of fishing that I did not know, the biology behind fisheries, technical aspects of fishing and guiding among other things.

What are some of your go-to Cortland products while on the water either fishing or guiding?
The amount of time I’m on the water is incredible and I'm out there more now than I ever have been. I have to say that the Cortland Tropic Plus fly lines for tarpon and redfish are my favorite. The Tropic Plus clear ghost tip for getting just below the surface is ideal and the Liquid Crystal is great for sight fishing tarpon in clear water. It’s not a line for everything but has great advantages for sight fishing.

Through all your travels, tell us a little about some of your favorite places and species to fish.
I fish extensively throughout the Bahamas, Florida Keys, Cuba, Panama, Montana, and Wyoming. As for my favorite species, wow, that’s a tough one, but I would say I enjoy site fishing for bonefish in South Caicos, and trout fishing in Montana.

Thanks, Frank. We look forward to working with you throughout the future of the New Cortland line. Do you have anything else you would like to add, word on the street is you have a new air boat being built?
You're welcome guys and yes, I have a few trips coming up but the air boat is starting to take shape and I'm looking forward to fishing some very secluded places. I wanted to be able to do something that very few anglers are doing. Explore the headwaters and marshes of the St. John’s River. Fish for big bass in areas that have little to no access and that is possible, only with an air boat.

Cortland Line Pro-Staff: Greg Myerson

2013-07-15T15:14:00.000-04:00

While we were attending the 2013 ICAST/IFTD show in Las Vegas, Cortland Line Pro-Staffer, Greg Myerson, was busy putting our 50lb Masterbraid to the test with a 73.54-lb striped bass. on July 11, Greg and his cousin won the boat division of the weekly Striper Cup Tournament on the Long Island Sound. Greg's monster striper came just 8-pounds shy of breaking the striped bass world record he set back in 2011 of 81.88-lb. Here's Greg's version of how it all went down:

“I was out with my cousin Mike Emmerich testing some soon-to-be patented bucktails with rattles and stinger hooks that Fish Call Co. is coming out with, a new company owned by myself and Guidessecret Tackleowner Capt. Frank Crescitelli. My cousin talked me into fishing on his boat, which I never do because I feel naked without my instruments and spots to refer to. We were three waying 1 1/4 ounce rattle bucktails with rattling sinkers. Mike hooked a good fish and was fighting it, so I went to reel up and get the net when I got slammed by this monster bass. The fish ran almost 200 yards and was spooling me. My stomach turned when I felt the knot that held my new Cortland 50lb camo braid to the backing slide under my thumb and ting on every eyelet on my Lamiglas rod that I just designed for them. Mike got his fish in alone and then said what do you want me to do for you? I yelled to the 2 boats next to us to tell them my fish was under their boats so they reeled up. We started the boat and ran down the fish. Great night!”

Greg Myerson: The All Tackle World Record Striped Bass 81.88-lb.

Check out Greg's website http://www.worldrecordstriper.com/

Cortland Line is proud to have Greg Myerson as a member of the Pro-Staff and would like to congratulate him on this great accomplishment.

Progression

2013-06-07T15:39:00.000-04:00

Blog Post By: Loren Williams
Website: http://www.lorenwflyfishes.com/welcome

I have witnessed many progressions in the sport of fly fishing in my 35-years as an active participant. I started fishing about the time graphite fly rods were coming into the norm and I recall substantial rebuttal from the veterans of the day. It’s par for the course, and I offer that it is healthy for the sport as anglers, retailers, and manufacturers all benefit-yet we will always have a “comfort zone” where anyone can remain or fall back to should they so choose.

My tenure with Fly Fishing Team USA made me aware of many fishing, tying, and cultural aspects that I may had not been privy to otherwise. They've made me a better angler, less in a box, and my enjoyment has escalated as a result.

In an earlier blog you can read the words of Joe Goodspeed about the virtues of the Cortland Competition Nymph line as it relates to his methods of nymphing. In this blog I’d like to offer a slightly different view of the line.

I consider myself as a versatile fly fisherman. I enjoy seeking products and techniques that allow me to put in with one rod, line and leader and fish a broad variety of techniques to efficiently attack the water. Since working with the CNL I have been able to fine-tune that search, and I have become gratified with my growth.

While I fish small weighted nymphs with a long leader and visible sighter much of the time, I do enjoy dry fly, wet fly, and streamer fishing where it makes sense. For the vast majority of my fishing I employ the 140-grain CNL on a 10’ #3 or #4 line. My leader compliments the line and I am set to devour the water in front of me.

LW's March Brown F-Plus

I will offer that the CNL is about the finest medium to small dry fly line I have ever cast. Improvements in the jacket have resulted in a slick line that is a great deal stiffer which shoots better than the original offering. With a slight adjustment in the casting stroke, this line will easily and accurately cast #10 and smaller dries. Furthermore the long, fine front taper lands gently and the overall sleekness of the line is less susceptible to micro drag from wind and current.

LW’s Brown Drop-Shot Bugger

When fishing streamers, contact with the fly is as important as with nymphs. Again, the long taper and thin diameter of the CNL are key. I will opt for this line when exploring small streams and when attacking specific structure since the line works when propelling either large or small weighted meat. I can move the fly around structure, with precision, using my rod tip. When covering pools or runs I will simply allow the big flies to sink the delicate tip which provides substantial “bite” to the system as I work them. The line is thick enough to build a belly, but the belly is much less of that of a WFF or DT line so the cross-current and downstream progression of the streamer is well controlled.

Bloody Butcher

I like to fish wet flies as a way to prod expanses of riffles and choppy pools that lack obvious holding water. The line is just powerful enough to cast a brace or trio of widely spaced wets, yet thin so that wind effect is minimized and distance is maintained. The mass plus resistance of the flies anchors the flies in a drift, just as with nymph fishing. The mass of the CNL is typically less than that of the mass plus resistance of the flies, so contact is achieved without pulling the flies out of drift.

These are exciting times for progressive anglers and it is terrific news that we have companies like Cortland available and willing to look outside the box, creating new products, and seeking input from anglers! New products maximize my time on the water and I'm certain they will yours!

Cortland Brook Series Competition Nymph Rod

2013-06-04T10:53:00.000-04:00

Blog Post By: Joe Goodspeed

We are very excited to finally announce the availability of the Competition Nymph rod lineup that has been in the works here at Cortland for more than two years. The 4 piece rods are offered in five different configurations, 9'6'' 2 wt, 10' 3wt, 10' 4wt, 10'6'' 3 wt and 10'6'' 4wt. We recommend pairing one of these new rods with our Competition Nymph Line in both 140gn and 160gn, giving you the ultimate balance to handle various nymphing techniques. We went through waves of prototypes that saw changes in rod actions, handle design, guides, blank finish, weight distribution/counterbalancing, and other subtle factors…and more importantly spent hundreds of hours testing and tweaking those prototype rods to ensure that each of the 5 rods are the perfect fishing tool for their intended application.

The rods are balanced with the weight toward the back end, so your wrist will do less work to hold the rod at a fishing angle. The crisp action blanks have a dull matte finish, with slightly oversize matte black single foot guides for easily leader knot transfers and a serious stealth factor. The handles have a thin, elongated taper heading toward the blank that allows an angler to touch his finger against the blank for added feel. All sizes have a fighting butt with a hard cork bottom layer that helps to counterbalance and also serves as a great resting spot to bury a hook point, although the rod has a matte black hook-keeper as well.

Fishing with these prototype rods was the most enjoyable aspect of the development. Our prototype rods were fished hard through all four seasons, on waters ranging from tiny spring fed creeks to brawling freestones and the most technical tailwaters. The rods were subjected to many different styles of fishing, focusing on the precise contact-based methods that the most effective nymph anglers often prefer, but also fished very successfully with floating indicators over the winter, streamer/attractor flies in the spring, and even stepped up to the plate for some dry fly action a couple times.

While these rods are very versatile, the design and final action is tailored to precise nymph fishing. We wanted to achieve an action that flexed and loaded easily when casting small weighted flies on long tapered leaders, yet recovered very quickly in the tip so that contact could be achieved immediately when the flies hit the water – a critical aspect to success which allows the angler to feel the “reaction bites” that often happen just after the flies hit the water, while the angler’s rod is still dampening the vibration from the cast.

Another advantage of the rod’s fast dampening tip sections is the ability to send very minor twitches and vibrations down to your flies through subtle wrist movements, without the rod over-amplifying the movement and jerking the flies around. Having a rod that can give your fly tiny twitches, while recovering fast enough to feel or see the bites that happen IMMEDIATELY afterward can be the difference between a great day and a slow day on difficult wild fish.

Wiggle these rods and pick out the model that best suits the waters you fish. We suggest the 2 and 3 weight models when you don’t expect to be hooking many large fish, and the 4 weight models for larger waters and bigger fish.

Q&A with Cortland Pro Staffer Andrew Ragas

2013-05-14T09:47:00.000-04:00

Andrew Ragas

Cortland Pro Staff

Fishing Headquarters and Ragas Fishing

Websites: http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/

http://www.ragasfishing.com/

http://www.ragasmedia.com

Blog: http://www.fishing-headquarters.com/fishcast/

Phone: 708-256-2201

E-mail: andrew@fishing-headquarters.com

Andrew, tell me a little about what you're fishing for most of the time? What's you favorite species to target?

I fish for most freshwater species I have access to. But most of the time I am fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass, and muskies - these are undoubtedly my favorites and my specialties. I tend to dedicate the bulk of my spring and summer months to bass while early summer through late fall go to muskies.

I fish for other species as well which includes walleyes, northern pike, panfish, river redhorse and other cool looking assorted sucker species. To best describe my angling mentality, I am a multi-species angler and couldn't imagine it any other way. Occasionally I will dabble with coldwater fishes such as trout and salmon throughout the Great Lakes region whether it's on the lakes or their feeder tributaries.

With three websites, you must have to spend a lot of time out on the water to get enough content - does fishing ever feel like a job to you?

When there isn't any ice on the lakes, I spend a lot of time on the water, probably more than I normally should. May through October I put in close to 70-80 days on the water primarily in Northern Wisconsin where I fish most often. If not up north, another 20 to 40 days are added throughout the Great Lakes and rivers of the Northern Illinois region.

The two websites I have are Fishing-Headquarters.com and Ragasfishing.com. Fishing-Headquarters started out as my personal homepage in 2005 that quickly drew a large following with fan base. We've since grown into an online fishing publication (bi-monthly/seasonal magazine) that caters to multi-species fishing. I do web and graphic design to make a living therefore I am allowed to combine my talents and skills which then translates into my passion for fishing. We typically run 5 to 6 issues per calendar year. Besides the magazine, we have a web format site with videos, articles, product reviews, blogs, angling promotions and other informational content. Luckily this site isn't a one-man show as I have a great group of friends who help and contribute content to the cause.

Meanwhile, my personal site Ragasfishing.com is used to showcase myself, my accomplishments, and what I do within the industry. I use it as an influential platform to highlight and promote my sponsors and supporters, write about products I use, and archive my published articles, photos, and other fishing related media.

Nowadays, fishing and everything I do within it feels like a secondary day job. Some nights I'm up late writing articles, trying to meet publisher and personal deadlines. Then I have to fit in time on the water to field test products and hopefully catch fish for my own personal enjoyment. Even though fishing doesn't fully pay the bills yet, I'd say fishing is more of a personal responsibility rather than a job. Luckily my real day job of being a designer helps support my fishing addiction, and gives me the luxury of being able to travel to wherever and fish almost whenever I want.

I'm sure you've experienced some crazy things out on the water...what is the craziest thing that has happened to you while fishing?

The craziest things I encounter is while slinging musky baits. Throughout Wisconsin I frequently have Loons follow my baits back to boatside, and literally follow me around the lake. Those birds are annoying opportunistic feeders for sure, and unafraid. Their aggression has, on occasion, driven me off the lake and forced me to fish elsewhere.

When did you start using Cortland Products? What is the Cortland product that you use the most?

I began using Cortland products in 2009. As I grew more into musky fishing, Spectron was the primary line I started to use. I loved it. Since then I've expanded to Masterbraid. I love it even more.

Now a days I primarily use Masterbraid for my muskies and pike. For my bass fishing, I use Camo most often and for walleyes and panfish, I fish with Endurance.

Of all my rods and reels (I have too many to count), about half are spooled with Masterbraid while most of the others are with Camo.

How do you feel about Cortland's new direction and trying to reestablish themselves as a top line manufacturer?

As a website and graphic designer, I think it's fantastic the company is trying to build a stronger presence on the web through social media and the pending new website. These tools will increase sales, help promote product and bring traffic into the company. I am excited for the new website and cannot wait to see it. However, don't be surprised to hear some designer critiques from me!

When the ownership group changed during summer 2012, I thought that was a great positive step towards the future and success of the company. Being a part of the Cortland family and this transition towards the future, I hope to contribute significantly through my media, communication, and fishing skills.

Thanks, Andrew. Cortland loves having you on board as one of the Pro Staff members. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Thanks!

For the future, I would like to see Cortland expand its line of monofilaments and copolymers like certain other companies are with their introduction of hybrid lines, sun lines, and specialty tech. advanced lines.... P-Line is one such example, as is Seaguar and Berkley.

Another thing would be the introduction of Cortland Fluorocarbon. Fluoro is extremely important for all things fishing, and is a huge player nowadays for walleyes and bass. Spools of quality fluorocarbon in varying test strengths would benefit all freshwater fishermen and be useful tools for people using braid, fishing fluoro as-is, or using it for leader materials and live bait snells.

Cortland Line is Here for You!

2013-04-11T15:15:00.001-04:00

Blog post by Brooks Robinson

Have you ever had complex questions about your fly line that you couldn't answer yourself? Maybe you just wanted to know more about your lines performance or what leader to build off of it? Take it from me, as someone who hounded their fellow co-workers for tips everyday, the employees of Cortland Line are your source for answers. Honestly, what better way is there to learn about fly fishing than from the employees at Cortland Line? After all, these are the same people who make and fish the Cortland products you buy!

It's guys like Nate Dablock, Joe Goodspeed, Artie Loomis, and Chris Rotchford, who give you a resource for any questions you may have. My first interactions with Cortland were from a customer standpoint. Now that I am an employee of Cortland Line, I can tell you first hand that there is no better source to learn about your product than these guys. Having fished for tarpon to trout, and everything in between, the knowledge and teaching ability of these employees can help anglers at any level.

For me, being able to come and work with some of the most open minded and knowledgeable guys in this sport has helped mold me into the fisherman I am today. Like I said, I have been a long time customer and now am a current employee who will always use these guys as my fly fishing resource. As an employee, I urge you as customers to take advantage of knowledge they have as I have done. It’s not everyday you buy a product that’s made, tested, and fished by hardcore anglers like yourself!

If you ever have any questions regarding your fly line, leaders, tippet, or just want to chat about fishing, email us at Info@Cortlandline.com.

Everybody's Talking About Trout BOSS™

2013-03-21T15:45:00.000-04:00

Our new Trout BOSS is one of the most talked about lines here at Cortland Line. Some of us think it is the best trout line we have ever made...I am with that bunch! The Trout BOSS allows strong, accurate, smooth casts at distances that other fly lines can't handle. Dry fly fisherman, look no where else for your next Trout Line.

The 62' head has a few different advantages for the dry fly group. First, the 30' body and 25' back taper make mending extremely easy. Since the taper is so long, you're not trying to mend against the entire weight of the WF taper like you would with a traditional 30-40' head, but rather with it. With the Trout BOSS I can easily mend more line, give the fish a better presentation, and make my drifts longer for that Brown that is sipping under that tree on the far bank. The second advantage to the 62' head on the Trout BOSS is distance. Being able to air out more line than the guy next to you is a valuable tool to have in your casting arsenal. The Trout BOSS jacket material maintains peak performance throughout casting, so when this is combined with the distance taper, it shoots through the guides exactly how you think a distance line should.

The front taper is aggressive enough (7' front taper) to turn over the longest leaders and biggest dries. I'm usually tossing 12-15' leaders tapered down to 4X-6X looking for the biggest rising fish I can find. The Trout BOSS has no problem tossing delicate Sulphur dries to fish on the West Branch of the Delaware River, or chucking Salmonfly imitations around the Madison for a day.

Another thing I like about the Trout BOSS is its ability to fish well at short to medium range distances. Yes, it is a distance taper, but with 30-35' of line out of the guides, its going to feel like you're fishing a DT line; it'll be extremely accurate and very smooth. Pair this line up with our proprietary high floating Dyna-Tip technology and dual super fused loops, the Trout BOSS becomes the ultimate dry fly line for trout!

Tight Lines,

Artie Loomis

Competition Nymph Line

2013-03-07T13:39:00.000-05:00

Blog post by Joe Goodspeed

The Competition Nymph line is a specialty product designed to meet the demands that nymph fishing with the tight line methods European fly anglers have refined. Although there are distinct names for some of these methods – Spanish, French, and Czech Nymphing for example, there is often a considerable overlap between each of these methods, and they all revolve around making natural drifts with flies, usually weighted nymphs, and being able to detect the quick and subtle strikes from trout or grayling in moving water.

When you put the Competition Nymph lines on the water, an important difference from a standard WF or DT line you will notice right away is going to be the thin tip. The taper of the Competition Nymph line does the work that the butt of a long tapered leader would do for you, with increased precision and control…HOWEVER you can negate the Competition Nymph line advantages by attaching a thick tapered leader to the end of it. To achieve the highest level of performance from these lines, you will want to build your nymphing leader with a butt section that has a similar stiffness to the Competition Nymph line. I have had my greatest success building leaders that start around .017’’ diameter stiff monofilament to match with the .028’’ tip on the 160gn CN line, or with approximately .015’’ stiff mono to match the tip stiffness on the 140gn Competition Nymph line, and stepping down to the diameter of the indicator mono with a hand built leader adjusted to reflect the conditions.

Nymphing leaders are often subject to personal preference – two very effective nymph anglers might be able to cover the same piece of water with similar flies and achieve similar levels of success with vastly different leader configurations – success is often a result of being comfortable with the design you are using more so than having the perfect leader configuration. That having been said, accurate strike detection often separates the best nymph anglers from the pack. Strike detection is often a series of compromises, due to the best methods of strike detection either limiting maximum effective distance, fish being spooked by the indicator method, or numerous other factors that can come into play. Bright, opaque “indicator monofilament”, like the product available through Cortland and other companies, is often knotted into a leader in a strategic location to provide a depth indicator/visual movement indicator in the competitive fishing competitions where floating indicators are not allowed, and many anglers have honed their skill with the European methods to the point where they can take fish far more effectively than can be achieved with buoyant floating indicators.

Personally, I have found other applications for these types of techniques – adapting them toward the big wild trout and difficult tailwater fisheries that I often fish. Employing tight line nymphing tactics has opened up successful new ways of approaching familiar fishing scenarios for me, and there is a broad horizon of possibilities for these techniques – developed to catch fish on difficult European rivers that often see heavy angling pressure – on the diverse and prolific trout streams that are available to us here in the United States. While the competition fishing circuit often dictates the use of attractor nymphs to catch the highest number of measurable sized fish from a given stretch of water, being able to make natural drifts and achieve good strike detection always empowers the angler to take more fish.

Cortland Line on Ebay

2013-02-20T15:01:00.000-05:00

Everyone here at Cortland Line knows our own Christian Rotchford is kind of a big deal. What you might not know is what Christian does for work is an even bigger deal for you!

Hey everyone my name is Christian Rotchford. If you haven't checked out our Cortland Line products on Ebay you are missing out! We have great deals on fly lines, rods and reels. Our prices will pleasantly surprise you and our friendly customer service team will gladly help you with your purchase.

We have a large variety of discontinued fly lines including a full line up of shooting heads. Our reels are all STH products that can fulfill almost any style you fish. We also carry a variety of Diamondback rods ranging from 3-6 wt.

As I sit here typing we have rods, reels and fly lines going out the door fast. There are plenty of products left and many more to list but this is your chance to "Buy It Now"! I hope everyone takes advantage of this great opportunity because 50-75% off premium rods, reels and fly lines can't last forever.

Tight lines,
CR

Cortland Line's New Compact Switch

2013-02-12T13:51:00.000-05:00

This past weekend I had a chance to cast our new Compact Switch line. I lined it up on Cortland's Sterling Reel and was using Diamondback's Swinger Switch Rod to swing flies for Steelhead. Not only does this line rip, but the 25' lime green skagit-style head looks unreal as it turns over big flies and heavy sink tips towards the opposite bank.

The Compact Switch line (4 - 8wt.) features an aggressive front taper for maximum energy transfer to any sink tip or leader. Head weights for the Compact Switch line are (4) 240gn, (5) 300gn, (6) 375gn, (7)425gn, and (8) 485gn. I paired the (7) weight 425gn with our 11' 6'' 7 weight Swinger rod and model III Sterling reel. Using two different sink tips totaling 490gn and 510gn, the Compact Switch line was a perfect match for swinging big flies!

The super fused loops make sink tip change outs smooth, quick and simple. The Compact Switch also features a precise color change indicating its "launch point", which helps you turn over cast after cast with ease and consistency.

The Compact Switch's thin running line diameter played the biggest part in my ability to successfully bomb casts across the river. The Ivory colored running line has a thin diameter and specialized HDT (Heat Dissipation Technology) coating to reduce coiling while enhancing shooting ability. Without a doubt, stripping in line to form your next D loop to send across the water will never be easier. Also the highly visible 25' lime green head helps identify your drift when casts exceed distances your eyes cant handle!

Big changes are taking place here at Cortland Line and we are extremely excited for the Spring season!

Tight Lines,
BR

Montana

2012-07-23T16:08:00.000-04:00

This blog has been looking pretty stale from the lack of updates, and there is no better way to give it a fresh look than to post some pictures from my recent trip to Montana!


Sunset over the Missouri River.

We planned our trip for 9 days, splitting our time between the Missouri, Gallatin, and Madison Rivers. We caught the Missouri just right, nailing fish on dries, droppers, and nymphing. We took a lot of fish form the Might Mo once we figured them out and had a blast playing with the cookie cutter 16-18'' Rainbows.

The biggest fish of the trip - a 22'' Missouri River Rainbow taken on a PMD emerger.

The Madison was a blast, but we were only able to fish it for one day. We found some Salmon flies around the upper stretches and were able to get some fish to play on top, and nymphing some big ugly nymphs produced fish as well.

Yum!

The Madison gave up a good number of fish for one day of fishing, with the best being an 18'' Rainbow. Even though these huge Salmon flies were abundant, swinging caddis pupa was by far the most effective method of catching fish.


Between the Lakes on the Madison River.

The Gallatin was gorgeous and I recommend fishing there. The fish weren't huge, but there were enough to keep you occupied and the scenery was beautiful. The best fish was a 17'' Rainbow that jumped about 5 or 6 times before I brought it to the net.


17'' of Gallatin River Rainbow.

Overall, the trip was a great success. I wish that I was still out there! The fishing was awesome and right on cue, the Montana folk were extremely nice.

Keep checking back....some big changes coming soon!

Tight Lines,
Artie

Trout BOSS Fly Line

2012-04-19T10:53:00.000-04:00

For the past month or so, we have been putting our New Trout BOSS Fly Line to the test. Here are some results.....

Tight Lines,
Artie

Spring is Right Around the Corner!

2012-03-09T15:27:00.000-05:00

It may not seem like it, but Spring really is right around the corner!

A prime example is the 18'' Brown Trout below, that was caught on a Dry Fly on March 7th!! The fish was rising consistently to stoneflies around 5PM. My first few casts were short and it took me a cast or two to get the right drift. Once I found the sweet-spot, it took about 3 or 4 drifts over the fish until I got him to eat.

It isn't the best picture - I was using the camera on my phone. The fish fought well, took some drag, and jumped once. Of course, I was using our new Trout BOSS Line so I kept trying to think of some funny things to say, like....

"I just BOSSed that fish around."

"I just gave that fish a new BOSS!"

"BOSSed 'em!"

Tight Lines,

Artie

Cortland Line Company New Fly Lines: Switch Line

2012-02-20T10:20:00.000-05:00

The last (but not least) of our new lines that I will write about is our Precision Switch Line. This line quickly became a favorite of mine last fall while targeting Steelhead on Lake Ontario Tributaries because of its versatility.

The new Switch Lines from Cortland performs 3 major functions to help you get maximum performance from your switch rod - Overhead casting for tossing streamers or bulky flies, spey style roll casts for swinging flies, and indicator nymphing with ease, at impressive distances. Cortland's Switch Line is 100' total, a color change at 45' with a 12' rear taper extension for supporting long mends and roll casts. Tip diameters are oversized to turn over bulky flies, indicator rigs, or connect a polyleader to the Cortland Super Fused Loop.

This Steelhead out of Lake Ontario was taken using Cortland's New Precision Switch Line.

The Switch Line has a pastel blue head, with ivory running line and is available in sizes 4-8 with grain weights as follows...

WF 4F 240 gr

WF 5F 300 gr

WF 6F 375 gr

WF 7F 425 gr

WF 8F 485 gr

You can purchase one of our new Switch Lines at your local Cortland Pro Shop! If you would like the location of the closest Cortland Pro Shop to you, check out our "Store Locator".

Tight lines,
Artie

Cortland's Camo Monofilament Review

2012-02-07T13:19:00.000-05:00

Click here to read a review of our Camo Monofilament by Andrew Ragas (Fishing Headquarters).

These are results that no one can argue with!

Thanks for the review, Andrew!

Tight Lines,
Artie