Maine Fly Fish
It’s that time of year again! We’re back with our Christmas wish list in hopes we can give you some great gift ideas for the fisher in your life. Our list consists of items we own and love and items we’d love to own. It’s a diverse list this year and we hope you find some things you may not have thought of. Remember, these are tough times for our local and small business owners so think small first this year. Help keep small business owner who are passionate about what they do stay in business. And as always, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all.
Fliprocks
I found these flip flops at the NJ show this year. I had never seen flip flops quite like this before. They are extreme and made for someone like myself who is hard on my gear. This was one of the best purchases for me this year. I lived in these flip flops during guide season and absolutely love them. I am in a boat or wet wading 80% of the time and they protected my toes and kept me from slipping on rocks in addition to being super comfortable. You can chose from this flip flop style or a sandal style. They have men’s, women’s and kids. They also offer a variety of interchangeable, replacement gripping soles to meet all your adventure needs!
Kevin
Carp are Jerk
Every year I try to read a few books which is difficult with my schedule but nonetheless I squeeze them in. I came across Carp are Jerks by Mark Usyk on Instagram. I absolutely enjoyed Mark’s book. His writing style is simple and clean and I found I could relate to his stories. He also wrote Reflections of a Fly Rod, which I hope to have under my tree this year!
https://www.amazon.com/Carp-Are-Jerks-Mark-Usyk/dp/05784
Kevin
Linsenbigler
I also hope to get this book by Brian Wiprud called, The Argonaut. It’s the latest in his fun series of books. I have thoroughly enjoyed every one so far. They are about an eccentric man that loves to drink and fish. His adventures are a stretch but super fun to read. I was excited to see Brian this year at the NJ show where he was signing copies of his latest book. He’s not only a writer but a fishing enthusiast as well. Check out his latest book in the series.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B077BCSC3S
Kevin
Danforth Marine Art
Every year we travel to NJ to attend one of the biggest fly fishing shows in the country. And each year you see a lot of the same faces, companies and products. A few years ago with met an artist by the name of David Danforth, he was new to the show and his artwork was different from all of the run of the mill stuff we had been seeing. It was bright, bold and colorful. He had a different take on the same fish but it spoke to us. We ended up purchasing 2 of his pieces that show. One was a triptych of a brook trout. Of which is hung high in our kitchen for all to see. Most recently, we were looking for a bold piece for our new tiki bar and we knew just where to look. Please take a second to check out his art on Instagram.
Stac
Scott Centric Fly Rod
If you are in the market for a new fly rod, Scott Rods makes some of the best in the country. Their latest creation, The Centric, was awarded best new freshwater fly rod for 2021. Full disclosure, I have been on Scott’s pro staff for 10 years so I was able to fish the prototype for a few weeks before it hit the market. It was light in hand and cast like a dream. In the coming season I hope to add several to my arsenal! I will say you can’t go wrong with any rod you choose from Scott. Their customer service is top notch and they have the highest quality rods on the market. Made from scratch right here in the USA!
https://www.scottflyrod.com/rod-series/view/centric
Kevin
Ken’s Custom Hammered Steel
We are always on the lookout for great fishing artworks. Outside the box is out favorite style and outside the box is what we found with Ken’s Custom Hammered Steel. He offers custome metal works of art, not your standard fish mount or replication. He cuts your fish from metal and hammers out the shape and details. He finishes with a custom paint job to match your catch of a lifetime. Send him a photo and measurements of your fish and he will create an amazing piece for you or your favorite fisher.
https://kens-custom-hammered-steel.myshopify.com/
Stac
A few Maine Companies to check out
12 Weight
This spring we had the opportunity to meet with Steve from 12wt. 12wt is an outdoor apparel company that offers a variety of items for us fly fishers. They have everything from sun shirts and flannels to sun shield gloves and hats. They pride themselves on making sure you, as a customer, are satisfied. I highly recommend checking out their catalog of items. I especially love their Sea Run flannels. It is made of a very high quality fabric that rivals many higher priced competitors. It’s perfect for those cooler evenings around the campfire or even everyday wear when you need a little extra warmth.
Stay
HMH TRV Vise
We have had the pleasure of working with John and HMH vise now for a few years. We have always been pleased with the performance of his vises and thought it was great. Most recently we received their TRV vise and I have to tell you, it’s a functional piece of art! It’s a true rotary vise that is simple to use with big knobs making it easy to rotate and change out hooks. The best vise for all those complex Musky flies we like to tie. John is a great guy who is always going above and beyond to make sure we have what we need and address any issue we may have.
Kevin
Day Break Adventures Nets
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Nate Bacon to talk about his handcrafted nets. These nets are made just outside of Bangor in Nates shop where he proudly displays some family history. Nates great great grandfather built the first grand laker canoe so clearly Nate comes by it naturally. Nate is a contractor by trade but truly has a passion for net building. Please go check out his work, you won’t be sorry.
Here is a recent article I did about his nets: https://maineflyfish.com/index.php/2020/11/29/maine-made-nets/
To Order your own piece of Maine, call Nate: 207.745.1700
Kevin
Maine Fly Co
Maine Fly company is a Maine fly rod company making small batches of rods. They name their rods after rivers here in Maine which I find to be really cool. I do not own one yet but I have seen their 10ft 3wt nymphing rod called the Moose River. I could see great care was taken in their wraps and grip. Have a look at this small Maine company!
Kevin
