Great Christmas Gift

Unicoi Outfitters has put together a great introductory outfit for the new angler in your life. We've taken what we think are the best rod and best reel values available today, added a great line, backing and leader so all they have to do is tie on a fly and start fishing. These combos come with a Redington Crosswater rod and Ross Flystart reel and are priced at $130.95. Not only are they a great entry level rod but they're also more than adequate as your backup rod you keep in your vehicle just in case something happens to your primary rod. It may be just what Santa was looking for for the angler in your home.

We have 7.5' 4-weight and 8.5' 5-weight available.

"Go Fishing With A Friend" and Get a Winston Ascent Fly Rod for only $65!

Winston Fly Rods "Go Fishing With A Friend" Rod Promotion

I just got off the telephone with the folks out at Winston, and they've got a great deal - just in time for Christmas - or the fall fishing season!

They're calling it the "Go Fishing With A Friend" program - the idea is that you can help get a friend or family member into fly fishing a lot easier if you have a spare rod they can use....we won't tell anyone, but it would also make a great back-up rod for you!

The deal is: From 10/1/2009 to 12/15/2009, anyone who purchases a Winston Premium Rod may also purchase an Ascent Fly Rod (valued $225 to $230) and case for $65. This price includes UPS Ground shipping directly from Winston so that they have a rod with which to "Go Fishing with a Friend".

Purchaser must send premium rod purchase receipt, warranty card, and method of payment for $65 to Winston to order their Ascent Fly Rod. Must be redeemed by 12/31/2009.
 
This is a great deal, and you can choose any of the Ascent rods you wish.  And it's easy to redeem:  just send in the warranty card, copy of receipt, payment of $65, and your choice of Ascent rod to the Winston HQ - no additional forms necessary.

This is a limited-time offer, so take advantage of it while it's here - we've got a selection of premium Winston rods in both our Blue Ridge and Helen shops.  And to get in the spirit of things, during this promotion period, Unicoi Outfitters will include a half-day unguided access to Nacoochee Bend for you and your friend with the purchase of a premium Winston rod!

St. Croix, Lamson & Scientific Anglers Day @ Blue Ridge

At Unicoi Outfitters in Blue Ridge on Saturday, April 4th:

Come cast a St. Croix rod and receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win an St. Croix Imperial Fly Rod, Lamson Guru reel, or a Scientific Anglers fly line. We will be giving out hats too.

Unicoi Fly Tying Instructor/Guide Chad Peters will be demonstrating tying flies on a Norvise during the day.

Unicoi Guide John Mauldin will be available to talk with folks interested in fishing in Last Chance Idaho on the Henry's Fork, Madison and South Fork.

FFF Master Casting Instructor Eric Cook will be available for fly casting instruction.

Becky and I will be answering questions about the new products in the shop such as the Simms Vibram Boots, Native Watercraft, and St. Croix Imperial Fly Rods. As always, we will be glad to give you any advice you might need fishing the local streams.

Free food and drinks from 11am to 1pm.

We hope to see you. Please call us at 706-632-1880 for questions.

The Good Old Days

Recently my friend Milt Smith handed me a box of old "Fly Fisherman" magazines from the 70's and 80's that he wanted donated to the Foothills TU Hoot On The Hooch banquet coming up in March. He figured there may be some interest in them for a bucket raffle item and, besides, his wife told him to get them out of the house. Now, how many of us would consider the late 70's the good old days? It was 30 years ago but for some of us it seems only yesterday and it was about the time I decided to learn how to flyfish. So I took the collection home with me for safe keeping and one evening began leafing through some of the older issues. What a blast! I couldn't put them down. It was like I had been transported back in time as I thumbed through the mostly black and white pages. Nothing slick about these; not many steps above typing paper. But how interesting it is to read the advertisements. Two of the largest gear ads are for Pflueger and Martin reels. Rod manufacturers are just beginning to advertise graphite but they still off bamboo and fiberglass. Except for a two page ad touting "graphite's the standard now!" from Lew's Speed Stick fly rods.

There is no Sage Manufacturing but you can order a Winston graphite trout rod directly from the factory for $175.00. They mention that they are so small (only four rod builders: Al Wilson, Glenn Brackett, Chris Warner and Tom Morgan all pictured sitting around the shop) that they can't service the fly shop market so you have to buy them from Winston.

Fly lines were made by Gudebrod, Gladding and Sunset. You could buy a Hardy Princess for $47.35, and there were as many adds for bamboo fly rods as graphite; Payne, Leonard (who also made a graphite rod), Uslan, Weir & Son, and Phillipson. A letter to the editor was from a guy complaining about the high cost of waders at $45.00 a pair and you could only get one year out of them. And the thing that most made me wish I could turn back the clock: Land on the Yellowstone River in Paradise Valley for $1500.00 per acre! Aaarrgh!

Click Ad for Larger View