It’s always easier to wax eloquent when the gear is new, but what happens after six months of heavy usage?

I figured to follow up on my September post on the Hodgeman Wadewell II hip waders, as I finally managed to poke a small hole in them. Calling them “waders” is almost a misnomer, as they’ve really served as an aquatic hiking boot.

That’s exceptional considering the miles I have on them – wearing little more than standard socks. I’d guess eight or nine miles of fishing and walking would have something rubbing on something tender, but that hasn’t happened.

They’re the most comfortable and best fitting cleat foot boot I’ve worn, and I’d be hard pressed to repeat that performance in full neoprene waders and traditional wading shoes. The lack of seams in the foot area is likely the reason, coupled with a nicely molded and supportive interior.

The light Gore-tex uppers sprung a small leak last week on the Little Stinking. It may have been part of the scramble for cover on the prior adventure, as it was in an unlikely place on the back of the leg near the knee.

That could be a polite way of saying, “my backcast dropped a tad too much.” – but with my propensity to impale myself, I’d be bragging about it.

Plenty of interior wear to show for them miles, both the heel and arch areas have the liner scraped off. I’m content with the damage as I’ve athletic shoes that show far worse.

No visible signs of chemical contamination from the heavy metal, Selenium laced water of my home creek. I wondered whether I might see some degradation associated with all the warning signs posted about the fish. Nothing so far.

I figure nearly 40 trips and 150 miles of hiking equates to a couple of years for the average angler. I’m most pleased with the $45.00 investment.

Sunglasses are one of those items I remember just after a gust of wind brings the weighted 2/0 Muddler on a collision course for my nose. I wear them, but at this late stage of my physical decline, the glasses that let me see the fly take precedence.

For the angling fashionista, sunglasses are a way to leave $500 on the roof of a car, and determines your place among the preening dilettantes at the parking area.

I’d call it an “angling pocket protector” as it’s liable to make you a source of envy and ensure you’re banned from any Apres-fishing social scene.

Hell no it’s not useful, and might ensure you float head down in your waders, but imagine the raw power that comes of knowing you could replace a timing chain or perform dental surgery while wading.

Heady stuff, you let me know how them “rose tinted glasses” make out..

Technorati Tags: fashionista, uber shades, kinda gross

The eBay delivery arrived this morning, and the 10′ Orvis T3 was unlimbered in an orgy of torn paper and impatient swearing. Per the prior post – I purchased a “cosmetic second” rod from Redwoodloft, who’s busy pumping Orvis clothing and tackle onto eBay.

Outside of the vendor selling the item, I’ve always assumed cosmetic seconds are minimal risk, as each rod is inspected before it’s wrapped and structural problems are rejected at the blank stage – not wrapped, finished, dried, and discarded once the rod is completed.

My cursory examination could not find any defect other than a visual blemish in the graphite near the ferrule. I slapped a Princess together with a WF7F Cortland line and retired to the back yard to try this beast.

This is a brawler rod, not like the older Orvis “noodle” rods they were famous for in the 80’s and 90’s, this is a “tip flex” Winston-style taper that you could trim a hedge with without endangering the tip.

It’s not a 7 weight at all, it’s an 8 weight, and that may be the defect. This model is no longer offered which may why it was sold to the jobber as a second.

Works fine for me as this was intended to replace my Bass rod, flinging hair bugs or waterlogged 6 inch minnows into the breeze, long enough and with enough backbone to keep them big hooks away from me and the thin skin of my float tube.

My personal preference is to have the balance point on the rod under my casting thumb, it minimizes fatigue as your hand doesn’t have to fight the weight of the rod to turn the tip over on the forward cast. You can see the balance point in the above photo – the rod outweighs the fully equipped Princess, so I’ll bump the line weight and reel model enough to get the pivot point moved toward the reel (by about 3 inches).

I added a System 9 reel with a WF8F loaded and shifted the balance back to where I need it. The extra ounce or two will be offset by the ease of pivot on the forward cast, allowing me to fish all day without suffering.

This rod was labeled a “mid-flex 7.5” – it’ll bend to the centerline with 100 feet of 7 weight in the air, but acts better with the WF8 line – it can throw the entire 110 feet without undue effort, due to its length. I think them Orvis designers filmed the Winston practice  – as this is a “beat you to death” Western taper, not some gossamer small stream rod.

Nicely equipped and furnished – gold tinted stripping and snake guides, gold thread wraps, and a solid full metal reel seat – a positive uplocking style reminiscent of older Powell rods.

At $162.50 I’m feeling like I got a really nice deal, that’s because of my unwillingness to part with the $500 + dollars to land this year’s model. It’s required of old guys, we’ve got to be a curmudgeon at something..

It’s scheduled to rain again next weekend, but if it doesn’t I’ll be attempting to get blood on it…

Technorati Tags: Orvis T3 rod, fly rods, eBay, curmudgeon, graphite