Category Archives: product

Backorder is out of the Question

With the government’s intent to pursue the assets of the Madoff clan, it would suggest that Abel Reels might be inching closer to receivership. News announced yesterday states the government’s intent to freeze the assets of both Ruth Madoff and her two sons, and their interest in “20 other entities.”

Could "Poppa Behind Bars" be the last in the line of fancy finishes?

That would suggest the Abel Reels might have their production curtailed, as both Andrew and Mark Madoff are co-owners of Abel Holdings LLC, the firm that owns the company. If you’ve considered owning some of their product, I’d think you’d move smartly.

Details are sketchy and rumors are flying, and forum chatter suggests a connection to the venerable Thomas & Thomas Rod Co, and Sharpe’s of Aberdeen.

Rumors should be taken with a large dose of salt, other than their ownership of Abel, nothing else has been confirmed. Abel Holdings LLC may have bid on other enterprises or expressed interest – I can find nothing that suggests either company is owned by Abel Holdings LLC.

From the Abel Press release (of November 2007):

Andrew Madoff, Abel Holdings LLC lead investor, said, “Abel’s 20-year legacy of unparalleled quality and performance makes it an attractive investment. As I’ve gotten to know the company through this process it has become clear that its most important assets are the people that create these excellent products. We’re thrilled to lend our expertise and join them in building this business and the Abel brand.

“We will work with existing management to help refine all operations of the business, reposition it for growth, and maintain the manufacturing processes that allows Abel to produce the finest fly reels in the world.”

Swanson, with Abel in various capacities since 1994, will continue to run the company day-to-day and assumes the title of president and chief operating officer. Representing Abel Holdings LLC, Madoff will be the CEO.

With the legacy of Poppa Madoff, backorder is out of the question.

Update: The tie in between Sharpe’s of Aberdeen and Thomas & Thomas rods does not involve the Madoff’s or Abel Holdings LLC. Sharpe’s attempted to purchase Thomas & Thomas in 2007, an agreement was reached for the sale of the company, but Sharpe’s became insolvent and was run by the Bank of Scotland.

While making the initial payment for T&T (in the amount of $100,000) Sharpe’s failed to make any other payments nor surrender 10% of their stock to the owners of T&T.

T&T sued them in Ohio courts, but the Articles of Incorporation show T&T’s president remains (as of 11/2008) John Metcalf, who was appointed by Sharpe’s, so the deal has apparently completed. Part of the court record is available including the terms of the purchase and subsequent suit.

How to broach the "fly fishing" subject to the significant other without undue suffering

Before sharing with your clients, make sure SWMBO has a case You too can enjoy the official vineyard of the Federation of Fly Fishermen.

Program Objectives
The purpose of the StoneFly Vineyards customer and partner loyalty program is to help our fellow members of the angling and fly fishing trade boost their businesses by increasing customer loyalty and strengthening relationships with valued partners. At StoneFly we also appreciate the opportunity to get the word out about our winery and fine wine products.

How it works:

Your spouse or gal friend finds out you can score really fine wines from Napa Valley at a 33% discount, and you’re rendered insolvent by her sudden demand for aged grape juice.

… at least that’s how it would work at my house.

My mistake was moving my lips while I read the advert, her radar is so finely attuned that before I could voice the thought – I saw the “arms folded on chest – stony stare” posture and quickly crumpled the application.

“YouAintSendingNothing2NobodyUntilYouTakeMeThereFirst.”

At least I got her interested in fly fishing …

Fly fishing is chemical resistant, even when it may be a boon

Who you gonna call? While the rest of you debate whether it adheres to the spirit of things I’ll be quietly mixing it into my head cement.  I’m preprogrammed to break ranks with the crowd at the first opportunity, exploit fish horribly, then asks forgiveness in a cataclysm of guilt.

My theory is fly fishermen are the last rung on the outdoorsman ladder, if you’ve tried everything else and failed – ours is a sport that celebrates its lack of scent, there’s no stigma if you don’t wash your hands.

Real outdoor types pull guts out of deer, blow daylight through a duck’s arse, or add cherry-flavored salmon eggs to a hook – and resume eating their sandwich. They regard our mincing gait and “ew-ew-ew” sounds with mild scorn – and we fancy them boorish cavemen without the good sense to bring either silverware or napkins.

We’ve always recoiled in disgust at chemical use; we curl lip at a fly tinted with magic marker, get enraged at spritzing our flies with anything other than floatant, and backpedal at the sight of things that sink or scent our flies.

I don’t, as I’m a reformed killer. I lack all those social graces and spurn proper behavior; I dipped my anchovies in dish detergent when trolling for salmon, spritzed whatever was necessary to kill more than the other fellow, and was amused by Pautzke’s fingerprints on my Velveeta sandwich, then wolfed it quickly so I wouldn’t be forced to share.

When I see something that violates all them lofty principles, it’s twice as compelling.

Vision Baits has introduced a substance called “Ecto-Plasm” – a brownish gel when wiped on lures flies gives them the same eerie green gelatinous color we’ve admired in all the horror movies.

… once it is in the water it gives off a luminescent green glow that lasts up to eight hours.

I keep thinking of the Stripers we chased from the breakwaters of the Marina at night, and how nine inches of conehead equipped bucktail, would be vastly improved with a generous dollop of the above.

Saltwater flies have similar issues with visibility as brownlining, it’s a lot of water to cover – plenty of seaweed to obscure movement, and a short lived tide controlling your destiny, why wouldn’t vision enhancement be anything other than a boon?

The gel is activated by contact with water, so you’ll need to be cognizant of the dog walkers and joggers – if they’re pointing and laughing – you may want to wipe your nose.

You can’t beat the fully enclosed propeller

It’s not just streams suffering overcrowding, lakes can host flotillas of boorish fly fishermen equipped with expensive tackle. Those of you looking for that last bolt in your offensive quiver might consider the Flat Water Dominator, shown below:

 Ram the opposition and board with impugnity

Nothing will prepare the opposition for the watery salvo across his bow, followed by a “D-cell” equipped motor capable of Ramming Speed…

A little camo would assist a stealthy approach, but harsh language and an RPG was enough for the Somali Irregular Navy, whose endorsement of the Dominator is liable to secure you all the Sage tackle you can carry.

Batteries ransomed separately.

Too much information to entrust to a four legged former pal whose loyalties shift with the sound of crinkled cellophane

He'd rat you out for a treat It might be the perfect campsite companion, she cuts off your air supply wrapping the GPS waterproof cell phone around your neck, and can reel you in when dinner’s ready.

The PetsCELL™ is the first voice enabled waterproof GPS cell phone optimized for animals. It will be available for commercial distribution early in 2008 and consumer distribution in mid 2008.

The possibilities are limitless, but the original concept leaves me puzzled.

Combining industry leading GPS technology with the ability of 2-way communication.

What are you supposed to do when you hear, “Grrr, arf Arf, ARF” on your end? Small dogs are known conversationalists, but your big lumpy Labrador or Golden Retriever is suddenly able to tell you where them quail went?

I don’t get it.

I figure most dogs could master text messaging in seconds, but there’s no mention of voice or data plans, what they cost, or whether you can screen 900 numbers from “Meathead’s” call list, and if he chews it are you responsible for the charges when he accidentally calls the Pentagon?

A two way waterproof cell phone with voice activation might be pretty snazzy for anglers, but only if it can filter the white noise of rapids and won’t embarrass you with a simulcast to either spouse or fishing pals.

This cell phone costs quite a bit more than the iPhone 3G, however, at $400 plus a monthly service fee.

Fish and Game would love you to wear them, it’s likely a shared data source hosted by somebody. They’ll dial into the Upper Sacramento and figure which bank they need to visit and how often.

… and is he still “man’s best friend” when your pals downlink the record of where you fished, how long, and that brief stop at … Safeway?

Nothing like a passive transponder to reveal all the secrets of your favorite creek, and the source of that enormous salmon fillet. You’ve got more to worry about than simply removing the price tag…

Hardy and Grey’s reintroduces the glass – carbon composite

Hardy glass fly rods Not to be outdone by the Retro Movement, the venerable Hardy and Grey’s dips its toe in the fiberglass market along with Sage.

Four rod models are available; Aln, 5′ for #2, Brook, 6′ for #3, Stream, 7′ for #3, Test, 7’6″ for #4, and Trout Fisher, 8′ for #5, retailing for $300 to $400 each.

These are composite rods using a mixture of 90% glass and 10% carbon fiber, akin to the many hybrids of the 1980’s, when carbon was first introduced.

The companies website and it’s international sites are down for renovation so very little technical detail is available.

I smell a push into American markets, solidified by their opening of a 14,000 foot distribution center and retail outlet in Lancaster, PA., last month, and creation of the wholly owned subsidiary, Hardy North America – suggests a larger strategy to come.

If they can weather the economics, they’ve certainly got the brand.

Things that make you go, huh?

The Moffitt fly fishing system The “system” word always scares hell out of me. I’ve always assumed it’s the rugged individualist that gets squeamish at the thought of tailoring his fishing to someone else’s system; it doesn’t mean it’s bad – we just know our opportunity for freestyle points evaporates.

Circle hooks have really made an impact in saltwater – and most of the big game market has converted to their use. Moffitt Angling has adapted Circle hooks to their hookless fly fishing system.

My reaction is like everyone else, “Huh? Eww…” But that’s based on years of conventional fly fishing – and like they say, only a baby likes change…

Hookless soft cored flies attached to a leader via looped connection, with the leader tipped with a Circle hook. Fish eats fly, angler sets hook, and hook makes contact with outer jaw only.

The theory is sound.

The hideous flaw is angler ego, now that bug and hook are separate they can be differing sizes, and ego will dictate the #24 Trico will be used in the retelling , even though the Circle hook was a #14.

Despite the ease of release and the claim that fish no longer need to handled – they’ve forgotten the need to immortalize the event, so the fish is yanked out of the water and manhandled for the lens…

The Science appears sound, it’s us that may need changing.

It’s always interesting to see something that doesn’t fit the traditional mold, you may want to visit and watch their video on how it all works.

The white dinner jacket is optional

Waders have always served well in the water and can be bestial on long treks from the parking lot. Rather than take a chance on the viability of the Big Three automakers, perhaps you can convince the spouse to kill two birds with a single stone…

It's greener than green

Three onboard electric motors coupled with zero emissions and biodegradable lubricants yields a 13mph underwater speed; fast enough to get into the holding water before the competition realizes their foot’s missing.

Not many of us can pull off the white dinner jacket, “Olive, Pale Olive” line of Hollywood legend, but herding steelhead would be fun for a change – and if you live near the coast, DUI’s may be a thing of the past. One good wrench of the wheel and the arresting officer is calling an ambulance – while you weave your way through the yacht traffic..

Rod company layoffs continue

More economic upheaval for rod companies First Winston Rod and now Orvis. MidCurrent reports that Orvis has laid off 27 salaried employees from the Manchester office, and an additional 12 positions from the rod shop.

Luxury items are the first to go, and with everyone tightening their belt, this is expected.

Luxury bellweather Tiffany’s reported a 30% drop in US sales, and nine hundred dollar fishing rods have little place given the current economic climate. My expectation is there’ll be a lot more layoffs announced by rod companies this year.

Orvis is especially vulnerable – a combination of high end clothier and rod merchant, with a penchant for undercutting their own margins via “warehouse” sales resold on eBay.

Getting a $600 rod for $49 bucks ensures us newly cost conscious anglers defer to the electronic marketplace.

The “fun” is just getting started, tighten your belts and hang on.

Mustad to discontinue the classic standard fly hooks

Hook Anatomy Mustad is discontinuing their line of classic fly tying hooks in favor of their Signature Series.

That means the classic 94840 (std. dry fly) , 94845 (Barbless Dry), 94833 (3x fine dry), 3906B (std. nymph 1X long), 9671 (2x long), 9672 (3X long), 79580 (4x Long), 3665A (6X long), 3399A (std wet) – are out of production as of January 1st, 2009.

Cabela’s web site seems to corroborate the news as they’re listing multiple standard Mustad hooks as, “Sold out Sorry, Cannot back order.”

J. Stockard’s catalog references the same issue:

Below are our best deals on some Mustad Standard hooks that are discontinued. Most of these hook styles are being replaced by equivalent hooks with chemically sharpened points in the Signature series.

Many tiers prefer the Tiemco, Gamakatsu, and Daiichi wire and  switched from the Norwegian iron many moons ago. Mustad is replacing the hooks with their “Signature series”, they’re twice the price of their standard hooks and compete directly with the Japanese product lines.

There’s no mention of the change on the Mustad web site.

Those of you still wedded to one or more of the above styles should perk up and inquire of your dealer, you may want to lay in a stash of them while they’re still available.

Then again, there’s always the “Bernie Madoff” option, slurp as many as you can and double your money on us old guys on ebay …

Thanks, Bernie..