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Hatches: New & Notable Fly-Fishing Gear

Rods for small bugs, MLB reels, PFAS-free pullovers, stretchy/breathable jackets, fast-and-light backpacks, new lens color, and more!

Hatches: New & Notable Fly-Fishing Gear

$975 | tridentflyfishing.com

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St. Croix Technica Fly Rod

Every rod manufacturer in the country has a deflection board that shows the bend profile of a rod when loaded with a specific weight. Most of these charts show the deflection of all the rod series within in a brand, some others visually display how one brand compares to others. It’s a very common and graphic way to show how rods bend. Rods that bend mostly in the top third are generally referred to as “fast action” rods because that short tip section snaps back to the straight position more quickly. These rods depend on the stiffness of the lower portion to provide power for driving large flies, long casts, or powerful casts into a headwind.

Rods with “moderate” or “medium” actions bend deeper into the middle section under the same static weight. Rods that bend this way have a more classic casting feel, they are more sensitive because there is less less dense material between you and the fish, and they tend to be more accurate at short and medium distances because the rods load deeper at these distances, and track in a straight line with just the right amount of power for the distance and the size of fly.  Being overpowered is akin to bringing the driver onto the putting green.

But here’s the surprising reveal with the new Technica series of rods from St. Croix—when you plot them on a deflection board they have that deeper flexing profile you desire for a series of rods created just to deal with small flies and demanding hatches on spring creeks and tailwaters. These are places and situations where the trout are hyper-selectively feeding on Blue-winged Olives, Tricos, or midges.  You start with 6X tippet, keep the 7X in reserve, and you want a deep-flexing rod like this to keep that #20 hook lodged in the corner of a big trout’s jaw.

Where Technica rods are different than other rods in the same deflection category is their surprising recovery speed. Like the previous award-winning St. Croix Evos series, Technica rods have a microscopic thin layer of MITO Graphene. The strength of that single layer of carbon atoms gives rod designers the ability to create lighter, deep-flexing rods that recover (snaps back to the straight position) much faster than most other moderate-action rods. The result is a rod that has the feel, accuracy, and the tippet protection of a medium-action rod, with just a little extra boost of casting power. When your leader gets longer or the wind picks up, the Technica has a crisp recovery that you wouldn’t expect in a rod that flexes this way.

Technica rods are available in 3-, 4-, and 5-weight models in lengths from 7'9" to 9'.

$975 | tridentflyfishing.com


Patagonia R2 Techface Pullover

Studio photo of a man wearing Patagonia clothes
$199 | als.com

Have you heard of chemical compounds called per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)? They are also known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in our water, in the fish, in our bodies, and they have been linked to health hazards such as liver damage, asthma, and cancer. Patagonia has been busy replacing products that contain PFAS, and reported that as of spring 2024, “about 96 percent of Patagonia’s materials by weight with water-repellent chemistries are made without PFAS.” Their goal is to be completely rid of PFAS in all products (except waders) by 2025.

The latest PFAS-free design is the new R2 TechFace Pullover with a soft, grid-fleece interior and a smooth, abrasion-resistant exterior. The R2 is light and surprisingly warm—perfect for under waders in the spring and fall when the weather is highly variable and you can expect to see large temperature swings through the day. The soft shell is also stretchy and comfortable in active situations like rowing, casting, or hiking. The R2 has a giant pass-through kangaroo pocket in the front, a half-zip at the front, and a single zippered chest pocket that can hold a large fly box. It has Patagonia’s new durable water repellent (DWR) treatment to shed water, but does not contain any of those nasty PFAS.

$199 | als.com


Abel MLB Reels

Studio photo of eight Abel MLB logoed reels and one nipper.
$1,750 | abelreels.com

When I first saw these licensed Major League Baseball designs I thought I’d write something punny like “Abel hit a home run with these reels” or something more team specific like “even with these amazing Abel reels, the Boston Red Sox still suck.”

But when I take a step back and consider these Abel Nippers and Abel SDF 5/6 or SDS 7/8 reels licensed by the MLB, with eight teams available (and more coming), I realize that these Colorado-crafted treasures are about more than just your favorite baseball team. The story here is Abel’s decades-long leadership in customizing and personalizing the most durable, inheritable pieces of tackle in all of fly fishing.

Recommended


These reels are the latest in a long series of artistic designs that set Abel apart from other fly-fishing companies. Consider fly rods or fly lines—to the naked eye the products are marginally different. The performance differences are often subtle, or perceptible only to experts. Not so with most Abel reels. When you die and your fly-fishing gear is passed along to your grandchildren, the lines will go in the trash, the old rods will be sold in a yard sale, but an Abel reel with your state flag, or Derek DeYoung brook trout design, a Casey Underwood etching, or Grateful Deal Steal Your Face artwork will be kept and cherished forever because it has your stamp on it. It says something about who you are and how your other passions intersect with fly fishing. If you are a New York Yankees fan, this will speak volumes both on the river today and decades from now. I know my AC/DC Super Series 5/6 will be passed along . . . but first there are about a thousand more trout to rock and roll!

The MLB reels are available as a set with Abel Nippers for $1,750. The MLB Nippers can be purchased individually for $265. The series launched in early 2024 with the Colorado Rockies and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and in the summer Abel added six more teams: Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, and Atlanta Braves. More are on the way.

—Ross Purnell

$1,750 | abelreels.com


Skwala Backeddy Jacket

Studio photo of Skwala jacket.
$349 | skwalafishing.com

If you want one jacket that works in a wide range of conditions—a multi-purpose shell you can leave in your truck or in the boat to handle 90% of the weather you might find through the year—the Skwala Backeddy might be the answer.

While many shells are designed to do just one thing and do it very well—rain shells, wind shells, packable shells to name a few—this jack of all trades can do all kinds of work.

The Backeddy is a 3-layer, laminated, grid-fleece-lined soft shell that offers insulation on cool days, slams the door on wind with a breathable microporous laminate, and most of all it’s comfortable. It stretches, breathes, and lets you move without the restrictions of a hard shell. It’s also tough enough to handle everyday abuse, while many other rain-specific shells can be a little fragile.

The seams are taped, the nylon stretch-woven textile is naturally water-resistant, it has YKK Aquaguard Zippers, and it’s coated with a durable water repellent treatment so it sheds water to withstand almost any passing shower. If you’re going to be out in firehose rain all day, or it’s below zero you might need another jacket, but for most days you actually want to be out there fishing, this is it.

To haul your stuff, it has one angled, zippered chest pocket for large items such as fly boxes, and two zippered and fleece-lined handwarming pockets. It also has a zippered internal pocket for keys, a wallet, or other valuables.

It’s available in four sizes, medium to XXL and two colors: Earth and Oak. The Backeddy Vest ($229) has the same fabrics and many of the same  features without a hood or sleeves and is available in three colors: Earth, Oak, and Eclipse.

$349 | skwalafishing.com


Costa Gold Mirror Lens

Studio photo of Costa sunglasses with gold mirror lenses.
$284 | scheels.com

High-performance lenses help you see more fish and catch more fish in high-pressure situations like saltwater flats fishing or stalking trout in New Zealand. But just as there is no one fly rod for all species and all situations, there is no one perfect lens that covers all the lighting conditions you may encounter on the water—but these ones hit a sweet spot.

The new Gold Mirror lenses from Costa let in more light than the Costa Copper Mirror, but less light that the Silver Sunrise Mirror lenses. The glass scratch-resistant rose-base lens with a multi-layer 580 Gold Mirror has a visible light transmission (VLT) rating of 14% while Copper has 12% and Sunrise Silver Mirror has 25%. Costa’s Green Mirror in comparison has a VLT of 10%.

The Green Mirror passes a lot of light and is best for clear skies on the deep ocean. In comparison, these new Gold Mirror lenses are better for common fishing conditions with variable light. Passing clouds, tree shade, and a dark or cobbled bottom require more light to pass through, and a boost in contrast. When the weather is not dependable, go for the Gold. The lenses are available in more than 20 styles in Costa’s three frame categories—PRO, hybrid, and lifestyle. The Reefton PRO is shown here.

$284 | scheels.com


Simms Flyweight Backpack

Studio photo of Simms Flyweight backpack
$189.95 | simmsfishing.com

“Fast and light” might mean just a box of flies in your shirt pocket if you are only a half mile from your vehicle on a summer day. For longer, all-day excursions and places with picky trout, you’ll require a nimble storage system that allows you to haul flies and gear into alpine lakes, mountain streams and tailwater stretches, and deal with any kind of weather. The 25L Simms Flyweight Backpack is built from durable, water-resistant 150-denier Robic nylon fabric with HDPE yarns for extra strength, chemical resistance, and flexibility. In other words, it’s tough, light, and comfortable.

It has a padded, breathable, and adjustable front harness with a fly patch and tool docking station. Dual mesh pockets on the back provide storage for your choice of rod tubes or water bottles and a stowable stuffit pocket can be deployed from the bottom zippered pocket and used as a net holster or gear carrier. This is handy when you want to haul your wet rain jacket on the outside of the pack. There are also zigzag elastic cords on both sides for exterior storage.

You can reach into the main compartment two ways—using the two front zippers or the top access zipper, which has a fold-over security buckle. There’s an interior sleeve that fits hydration bladders up to 2L. Here’s the best news: the whole pack only weighs 1.6 pounds.

$189.95 | simmsfishing.com


Duck Camp Original Camo Bamboo Hoodie

Ross Purnell holding a large brown trout in a rocky river wearing a camo hoodie.
$69 | duckcamp.com

In New Zealand, the guides won’t let you leave the lodge wearing anything that is bright or unnatural. They insist on muted earth tones, and if possible some kind of camouflage. The Duck Camp Original Camo Bamboo Hoodie () comes in three patterns—Midland, Wetland, and Woodland—and in six sizes from small to 3XL. Fly Fisherman editor/publisher Ross Purnell in this photo is wearing the Woodland pattern while hunting brown trout with Owen River Lodge guide Chris Williams on the West Coast of the South Island. The sun shirt has the soft, comfortable feel of bamboo cellulose fibers and has a drawstring so you can clinch the hood around your face for extra sun protection. The drawstring was also critical to keep out sand flies when the wind was calm. The thumbholes are not standard. Purnell punched those holes with a Benchmade knife (below) to provide extra back-of-hand sun and insect protection without the loss of finger dexterity that comes with gloves.

$69 | duckcamp.com


Benchmade Intersect Knife

Studio photo of Benchmade Intersect knife.

$200 | scheels.com

Fifty years ago, no one went fishing without a knife, but it has become something of a lost art. Too many people go into the woods and on the water without this most basic necessity. Catch-and-release fishermen don’t need a fillet knife, but a good blade is a life-saving tool that also makes everyday life in the outdoors just a little easier.

My friend Barry Beck told me once of scouting for trout in New Zealand. He was high on a riverbank and leaned against a tree. The tree roots broke loose from the gravel and Barry and the tree tumbled together down the riverbank into the water. When they came to a stop, Barry was underwater and his backpack—buckled at the waist and the chest—was tangled in the tree branches. The guide tried to pull him free but couldn’t. In desperation, the guide used his knife to cut the backpack straps, freeing Barry and certainly saving his life. If he didn’t carry a knife, the outcome would be different.

A knife can cut anchor ropes, boot laces, fly lines, and all kinds of nylon straps. You can also cut cheese and salami for lunch, whittle a wading staff, or cut off a squirrel tail for fly tying.

The Benchmade Water Collection is made just for fishing, and the Intersect is an everyday carry 2.75" drop-point blade that is forged from CPM-MagnaCut steel. The handle design and spine jimping give you secure control in wet conditions. It’s purposefully compact and comes in a hard protective sheath you can clip to your wader belt, shoulder straps, or pack harness. You’ll forget you have it until you really need it.

—Ross Purnell

$200 | scheels.com





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