Yesterday’s float on the Bitterroot was remarkable… for how quickly the fishing plummeted from the day before. Still, a float is a float, and those are generally big fun no matter how many trout come over the gunwale.

Plus, we had a volunteer rowing the boat, and while it’s probably rude to say your host’s outdoor-guide, going to law-school daughter is a Massively Hot Babe, it’s maybe permissible to suggest [name redacted] and I fly fished in an environment offering a considerably elevated level of babeitudeness.

We have questions for Montana's under-30 male population. Like, what's wrong with you??

Enough said.

Two days ago, we waded the Bitterroot, worked rising fish, and saw lots of bugs.

Yesterday, the PMDs didn’t happen, and most of the other bugs were in hiding, and we ended up slapping streamers against the Bitterroot’s many wood piles (and a couple long banks held together by long strings of old cars), which delivered a few hustling attacks, but no hookups.

You know there's a big one in there, but he didn't come out to play.

The body count fell somewhere in the neighborhood of a dozen+ smallish trout, and though we expected bigger things, it simply was too beautiful to pretend at disappointment.

Angry clouds surrounded us all day, yet the sun shone and we barely got rained, yet the weather drama was almost unbearably primal (and beautiful).

Today we’re looming up the truck and heading for more remote areas, and you’re unlikely to hear from me for a couple days, though who knows what might happen if we get cell coverage.

Meanwhile, our wading boot test continues, though we have to say that wading Bitterroot was so easy that real testing of the sticky rubber soles isn’t all that possible, though that didn’t stop the Underground’s Crack Testing Staff from trying:

Even with a different boot on each foot, the Bitterroot waded so easy I couldn't tell the difference.

I will say this: on an easy-wading river like the Bitterroot, the new sticky rubber soles worked just fine, and if these are the kinds of rivers you fish, then maybe you don’t need to hassle with studs, felt or other stuff.

Still, we’re coming to realize that the next phase of testing (back in the Underground’s Natural Northern California Habitat) will involve studs or cleats of some kind.

More to come, Undergrounders. Next up? Some of the little streams we live and breathe for.

See you where there are way more cows than people, Tom Chandler.

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Arrived in Missoula later yesterday, and spent today exploring the Life of the Proper Country Sporting Gentleman (pinkies up, readers).

Went to the range and terrorized clay targets using the Browning Superposed 20 gauge given to me by the coolest stepfather in-law ever (it’s a proper Euro shotgun).

Then we slipped off to a short section of the Bitterroot and fished bloody proper dry flies to a handful of rising fish.

I landed my first three Montana trout of the year.

Much more to come tomorrow – perhaps even a float on the Bitterroot, where a Heinz 57 mix of bugs seem to be coming off all day.

See you amongst all the other royalty, Tom Chandler.

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See you on the road (all 14 hours of it), Tom Chandler.

In the past, “value” was often synonymous with half-assed gear, which is why – when Redington offered up a fly rod and reel for review – I was a little hesitant.

Early Redington fly rods (prior to the company’s purchase by the same corp that owns Sage and Rio) had a reputation for wildness; one taper would be brilliant, yet another would be awful.

That was a decade ago, but the downside to testing gear is that you should actually use it (at least, some of us prefer it that way). That can be a joy, but other times you’re stuck on the river, fishing a piece of crap and wondering why you’re bothering.

Happily, this test turned out largely crap-free.

First Look: The Redington RS4/Rise Reel Combo

Rod, reel, line and case - $410 MSRP

First things first; I’m happy to note the RS4 fly rod and Rise fly reel combo came fully rigged – the backing, Rio Mainstream line and leader were already knotted and on the spool.

Thank dog. (Underground pet peeve: Fly rod/reel combo sets that require a novice fly fisherman to learn four arcane knots before they start casting.)

Because Singlebarbed and I were jointly testing this combo (and I’ve got a thing for 6wt fly rods), we tumbled for the Redington RS4/Rise Reel combo in a 9′ 6wt (4-pc).

That way, I could abuse it with streamers, fish with it dries, try it on the Rogue (where steelies are always a possibility), and maybe fling some sinking lines – while Singlebarbed could fish it on his beloved brownlines.

So what happened?

The RS4 Fly Rod

Modern fly rods tend towards speed, a basic truth which means I often fish older rods.

And while I was expecting more of the same from the Redington RS4, I was pleasantly surprised.

The picture's a little off; the RS4 is an attractive olive color

After fishing it for a half-dozen trips (my first couple trips with it saw me flinging streamers, dry flies and yes – the dreaded split shot rig), my reaction was “This is nice. This is OK.”

It is relatively fast, but lacks the pool cue demeanor that has marred so many other modern fly rods.

After using it a while, I was tempted to simply declare it “a nice fly rod,” but after catching fish on everything from dries to streamers on the thing, I realized it only qualified as “nice” by the loftiest of standards.

In other words, this is a very fishable rod – one that surprised even the Tupperware-averse, bamboo-loving Dave Roberts into saying “I’m impressed. It’s a good rod. It feels pretty nice when you cast.”

Wayne Eng (another frequent Underground Lab Rat tester) found it wholly fishable on several fronts, and Wayne fishes more different fly rods than just about anyone I know).

“This is pretty sweet” he said (in his typically aw-shucks, laid-back Wayne demeanor, like he was the first Chinese person to grow up in Mayberry).

In truth, it wouldn’t be too many years ago that the RS4 would be considered a high-end rod; it was strong, yet progressive enough that it retained a lot of “feel.”

I fished it with sinking lines and big flies, and never ran headlong into that messy zone you used to hit with fast-tapered fly rods, where the tip is too light to handle the stresses, but the butt’s too stiff to allow a little feedback to make its way to your casting hand.

The RS4 kind of sneaks up on you – you’re just fishing and the right things happen, and you realize it’s a better rod than you thought it would be for the money ($250 MSRP). Here’s the Redington pitch on the RS4:

More RS4 Details:

• Moss-colored blank made with high-end 51- million modulus Toray graphite
• AAA grade Portuguese cork handle
• Pac Bay Aluminum Oxide stripping guides
• Laser engraved machined aluminum with moss colored graphite insert (Handle A) and laser engraved anodized machined aluminum on saltwater models (Handle B)
• Alignment dots with length and line designations labeled on each section above ferrule
• Three spey rod models are available with a 15″ fore-grip
• 2-piece and 4-piece outfits come with the new Moss RISE reel, prespooled with backing, knotless leader and RIO Mainstream fly line in a durable black carrying case.
• Lifetime Warranty

It also does what a reasonable 6wt should – it doesn’t fold up when you do something horrifying, yet you really can fish a #20 BWO with it without fear of gifting flies to fish on the hook set.

The reel seat and guides are strictly middle-of-the-road; the by-now-standard woven carbon fiber reel seat and reverse Western grip (which wasn’t too skinny for a change) are reliable, proven stuff.

The rod itself is an attractive olive color (we’re happy the fly rod manufacturers finally discovered color), and the whole shebang comes in a black cordura case with a bulged end (the reel can stay on the rod).

The Rise Fly Reel

If the Redington RS4 rod sneaks up on you, the Rise fly reel stands up and makes a statement right away.

The Rise - especially the burnt orange color - is a style fly reel

It’s one of the current crop of impressively high-tech machined fly reels that runs smooth and quiet.

Again, this isn’t the whiz-bang high-end stuff, but it’s still way more than we need to get the job done. Here’s Redington’s description of the reel:

This fully machined 6061 T6 aluminum Mid-arbor construction reel features a cork on Teflon center drag design, a Koyo one-way clutch and ceramic coated bearings for smoothness and durability.

Redington is running ads describing the Rise as “Rod Candy” and that could be an accurate description. The burnt orange reel is – if the L&T’s reaction to the picture is any indicator – going to sell real well, and the “moss” reel that come with the set we tested looks, well, great.

In truth, there’s not a lot to say about the reel, except that’s impressively built, extremely smooth, and yes – good looking.

Unlike so many reels, the handle was big enough to grip (though I’m always up for something a teensy bit bigger).

And while it’s a part of a combo, if I had to choose between the RS4 rod and the Rise reel, I’d probably pick the Rise as the more interesting of the two (though that’s colored by the fact I already own a lot of nice 6wt rods, but I am looking for a 6wt reel).

Wayne Eng fishes it on a coldy, rainy winter day

In fact, when I pressed the rod/reel/case combo into Singlebarbed’s beefy paws, I told him not to dissolve the reel in any of that toxic sludge he fishes; I might want to buy it.

Whether I do or not depends largely on my mood. The MSRP of the Rise is $159, which puts it in the same range as the impressively engineered Lamson Konic reel and a host of other competitors.

We could argue endlessly about which represents the better value (the machined, stylish Redington Rise or the wonderfully engineered drag of the less-sexy Konic), but it might be best to simply say you don’t have to buy a $500 fly reel to get something that works really, really well.

The Other Goodies

The case the combo comes in is nothing special; the cut-out vinyl window actually sinks to the level of cheesy, though it’s hardly a showstopper.

The Rio Mainstream fly line is the one questionable component of this kit, though it’s likely a good choice for a less-experienced angler.

It’s one of those front-loaded lines designed to make modern graphite rods and clunky split shot rigs easier to cast (it does a passable job on big flies), but like most front-loaded lines, it’s less fun when you’re trying to carry a lot of line and the last of the belly slides out past the tip.

Still, it’s part of the combo, and I sure as hell wouldn’t not buy the whole shooting match because of the line. It works. And yes, it floats and picks up nicely (as all new lines do).

The Final Word

It’s likely the Redington RS4/Rise Reel combo will find its way into a pair of distinct markets. First is the novice fly fishermen who is morally opposed to buying a starter kit of any kind.

Second would be a more experienced fly fishermen looking for a backup combo or even a 6wt to rely on when it’s too windy to fish the 4wt.

The large/mid-arbor fly reel has become the standard.

Either way, the combo is a steal for the money $410 MSRP (I found it on the Internet for well under $400), and the 4-pc 9′ 6wt rod lists for $250 – making it a good choice for the thrifty angler, and a nice travel-sized backup when you’re heading off into the places where a broken rod means you beg your friends to use their spare (not recommended).

Because the rod came to me in the winter – and I’ve been fishing more small streams than 6wt-sized water – I can’t comment on the durability of the kit (outside of the fact that you can apparently smack it against a tree, hold your breath, and not break it).

And yes, it still features Redington’s lifetime warranty – a fact much appreciated by clumsy, forgetful and drunken hard-fishing anglers.

I’m not going to pretend – even for a second – that Redington’s RS4/Rise combo is something that you absolutely have to buy.

Instead, I’m inclined to view it as either a really solid value right smack in the middle of the industry, or a sign that fly fishing gear has come a long ways in the past ten years – to the point that the difference between the great stuff and the “value” stuff isn’t nearly as dramatic as the price would indicate.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

The Simms boots were nice, all-around boots (stonefly not included)

The Underground’s Director of Wading Safety (me) and a handful of local guides who foolishly picked up the phone when we called, we’ve tested the Patagonia Riverwalkers and Simms Headwater boots a fair amount, and now we’re spliciing a new pair of Korker Guide wading boots (and several pairs of interchangable soles) to the program.

Of course, my original goal wasn’t to test the boots themselves as much as the sticky rubber soles – would the latest generation be ready for anything fly fishermen have to throw at them?

The answer – at least as it pertains to the bare rubber soles – is “not quite.”

Close, but not quite.

Local guides Wayne Eng and Steve Bertrand liked the new rubber soles in the calmer parts of the Upper Sacramento River, but after a little testing, neither wanted anything to do with the sticky rubber in the McCloud.

I recently fished the McCloud in Patagonia’s Riverwalkers, and those sticky rubber soles did well enough that I survived the experience, but I’d probably screw in some studs if I fished the McCloud all the time.

The thinking on the Simms and Riverwalkers were confirmed by comments from readers, some of whom fish a lot.

Simply put, if you’re fishing tough waters (the McCloud is a notoriously difficult river to wade, as is the Pit), adding a few screw-in studs to the new sticky rubber soles is probably necessary, and frankly, that’s hardly the end of the world.

After all, what you’d end up with is a boot that grips about as well as felt in the tough stuff, grips better in tricky out-of-the-water situations, yet lasts a zillion times longer. (They also don’t transmit invasives quite so readily, though I believe the role of felt soles in that transmission is a little overplayed.)

Our Conclusions About Boots (So Far)

The Simms Headwaters, Korker Guides & Patagonia Riverwalkers, ready for Montana.

I’m going to write a big wrap-up article after Montana, but here are my impressions so far.

Simms Headwater Wading Boot

The headwater is a nice, protective boot (hard rubber toe cap is handy), and obviously, lots of folks love the Simms fit.

Still, I’ll be honest; I’m a tiny bit less sanguine about the Simm’s hard Vibram sole than I am the softer sole of the Patagonia boots, though I reserve the right to change that thinking if the Riverwalkers wear too quickly.

The Simms vibram sole feels hard and stiff, yet gripped beautifully on the Rogue River’s rock-snot, cobble-sized testing grounds (the aggressive tread pattern might have something to do wtih that).

On the bigger, angular rocks of the McCloud, the Simms rubber soles were less thrilling, though there’s ample testimony from readers that a few metal studs (screw ‘em in yourself) would largely fix that issue.

I do believe the Simms Vibram soles would last a long, long time.

Patagonia Riverwalkers

I’ve already extensively reported on the Riverwalkers, and since that report, I’m happy to say I’ve reinforced my original thinking.

The Riverwalkers are the best choice for the blueliner; they’re extremely comfortable on the trail and the very soft, very sticky rubber works beautifully in the small stream environment.

On a small, bouldered local freestone stream, I could practically walk up the side of dry boulders – a handy feature as fly fishing small freestoners is half rock climbing anyway.

The Riverwalkers are flexible, light, go on easy, and just generally make my feet happy. They hike beautifully.

My brain was less thrilled when I wore them on a recent outing to the McCloud, where I was trying awfully hard to catch a fish for a TV crew (and failing).

The sticky rubber sole worked fairly well, but the failure mode was bad – they gripped the McCloud’s very hard-to-wade rocks until they didn’t – and the sudden loss of grip was… ahh… unpleasant.

I’ll be blunt: the Riverwalker’s bare rubber sole worked surprisingly well on the McCloud, but long-dormant survivial instincts would demand I screw in a few studs if I fished the McCloud all the time.

So far, they’ve been fine for me on the Upper Sacramento.

The New Kid: Korkers

I only fished in the Korker’s boots on a small stream, so I can’t really evaluate the effectiveness of their new “Kling-on” rubber sole (which also comes in a studded version).

I owned an early pair of Korkers that offered zero ankle support, but the new boots are supportive and seemingly well-built – and offer you the ability to quickly change soles to fit your fishing environment.

Changing the soles is not a five-second job, so hiking in/changing soles/fishing/changing soles/hiking out is mostly fantasy. In my mind, the real benefit of these boots is their ability to become the shoe you need them to become that day.

This makes them (on the surface anyway) ideal for the traveling angler, who might want a studded felt/rubber sole for most of his trip, but needs a plain felt/rubber sole to wear in a drift boat.

Or maybe you’re spending half your trip hiking & bluelining, and the other half wading the really slippery crap.

One pair of Korkers could seemingly handle all those jobs. We’ll see how they work in Montana.

Two notes.

First, the Korker’s BOA metal lacing system seems more convenient than laces. For example, I could quickly tighten or loosen the boots over the course of the day with a quick turn of the knob.

Durability is a question: break a lace, and you’ve got all sorts of options, but break the BOA’s metal wire or the locking buckle, and you might be screwed.

Second, the Korkers run a teensy bit smaller than the Patagonia and Simms wading boots. I normally wear a size 10 shoe, so a size 11 wading boot is the norm.

I made the size 11 Korkers fit, but had to wear a thin liner sock to do so. If you’re a borderline size, order up one size in the Korkers, or simply buy them where you can try them on.

More To Come

See you in Montana, Tom Chandler

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Frankly, we thought we’d take a more civilized approach to the holiday, instilling some serious patriotic fervor among the Undergrounders:

Attention!

The Underground's patriotism simply knows no bounds.

See you in the grip of a patriotic frenzy, Tom Chandler.

Now, it appears the project has landed some economic stimulus money. (Ummm, you guys need a fulltime blogger on the project – one capable of checking fish populations via fly rod methods?)

The Nature Conservancy is honored that our Shasta River/Big Springs Creek Restoration project for coho recovery in the Klamath received economic stimulus funding  from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today as part of  the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which will help restore critical salmon habitat.

The Conservancy’s efforts to restore the cold water fishery habitat on its Shasta Big Springs and Nelson Ranches, coupled with the California Department of Fish and Game’s efforts to remove fish passage barriers and to improve water use efficiencies by Shasta Valley ranchers, offers tremendous potential for re-establishing bountiful salmon populations in the Klamath River, and ultimately could help revive California’s once robust wild salmon fishery and wild, locally-caught salmon markets.

The Shasta Big Springs Ranch project will contribute to the recovery of the $60-100 million per year fishing industry in Northern California, but it will also help stimulate Siskiyou County’s struggling ranching and farming community.  According to the Siskiyou County 2005 Crop and Livestock Report, the industry contributes more than 3,000 jobs and $150 million to the regional economy, or about 10% of total sales by industry.  The restoration of the Shasta Big Springs Ranch is also important because the site could become one of the last and best strongholds for Coho and other salmon species in California that are on the brink of collapse.  By ensuring the protection of salmon in the Shasta River, the project site could serve as a natural nursery for re-establishing populations of Coho and other salmon species in the upper Klamath River.  This could be a significant lifeline for California’s salmon industry which has faced closures.

Seven other Nature Conservancy projects were selected by NOAA to lead eight coastal restoration projects in coastal U.S. states.

To view the NOAA announcement and interactive map – http://www.noaa.gov/recovery/

Now all we need is some rain and some salmon – and an important part of the one of the Klamath’s (formerly) richest spawning tributaries could start pulling its own weight.

Of course, the Nature Conservancy’s also looking to replace the $14.2 million or so they paid for the place, so send any winning lottery tickets to them.

See you rolling in stimulus money, Tom Chandler.

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There can no longer be any doubt that the Slaw Dog is good for you.

Check out all that Vitamin C! (And know that a “C-” grade is just barely below average.)

Given the rich, tasty goodness of the slaw dog, we wonder why anyone bothers to pop Vitamin C pills or drink orange juice.

See you at Sonic, Tom Chandler.

On the other hand, the guy can catch fish – and he’s willing to do what it takes to land fish (it comes about 15 seconds in):

Everybody has their own “I dived into the frothing waters” or a twisted “I landed a fish with the fly I broke off yesterday in his lip” story. It’s just that Iaconelli got his with a camera present.

Damnit. I’m going to work on my fist pumps.

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