Reviewed this week

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EP (Enrico Puglisi)

Trout flies

Enrico Puglisi hooked his first trout, and was driven to understand exactly why fish take artificial flies. That led him to experiment with durable synthetic materials to create flies that eventually became part of the current EP catalog. His fly designs have proven themselves time and again, garnering him a loyal and ever-growing customer base.

I’ve used some of the EP pre-packaged Baetis, Quill Gordon, Hendrickson and BWO selections – all of which are attention getters, but there’s far more to these flies than that - some trout aficionados have remarked that EP flies are extremely durable: the top-tier materials and craftsmanship do what they’re intended to.

Another reason these flies are so popular is because they’re superstars when it comes to flotation: the synthetic materials absorb far less water than traditional materials, so they ride the surface higher and much longer than competing fur-and-feather patterns. You’ll be spending less time drying out your flies and more time fishing.

I purchased my first EP flies nearly ten ago and I’ve learned that they’re among the most durable flies available (this includes salt water patterns as well, which will be covered in a future write-up).

Trout season has finally arrived, and I highly recommend that anyone looking to net a few try out these great EP patterns.

Sold separately or as pre-packaged, target-specific selections.

ICEBREAKER

Merino Wearables

Where I live, warm weather isn’t here quite yet, but it’s definitely on the way. It’s a time of year that can often be hard to gage when trying to figure out what to wear when fishing. We want warmth, but not too much warmth, and we need wearables that breath, especially when temperatures can easily and unexpectedly creep up a couple of notches – usually by mid-to-late morning. Fortunately, there are mid-weight tops to address that – they’ll keep you warm but without excessive heat retention, and that’s where Merino wool wins out over just about anything else. Heat management and breathability is built into each fiber, and Icebreaker offers a wide range of tops (and bottoms) made with 100% Merino wool.

We tested a mid-weight shirt and a light-weight hoodie. Both provided protection over a wide temperature range. Throw in a weatherproof shell to shed elements, and the 3 items add up to a minimalist kit that will address almost anything mother nature has in the cards. Merino is the key element that allows you to accomplish this.

Other things to know about Merino wool:

It doesn’t itch.

It has anti-microbial properties: odour-resistance is built-in.

It wicks away moisture every bit as well or better than synthetic fabrics.

It retains it’s shape better than standard wool items.

It has a bit of stretch, so it won’t cramp your casting style.

It can be woven tightly in order to provide protection from UV rays (and yes, the lighter blends can be worn on tropical flats).

Icebreaker doesn’t skimp on quality when it comes to assembly: all stitching is meticulous. Note that much of the Icebreaker catalog features garments tailored to an athletic fit.

Items tested: Mid-weight Merino Dawnder Long Sleeve Flannel Shirt and light-weight Merino 260 Vertex hoodie.

Highly recommended.

airflo

Superflo tactical taper fly line

Trout are wily, so if you’re targeting them, it’s wise to equip yourself with the best gear you can get your hands on, and your most important piece of gear is your fly line.

Most notable about airflo Superflo tactical taper fly lines is the material they use to coat their line cores: it’s polyurethane (PU) as opposed to polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used for most fly lines.

A few things to note about polyurethane:

At a glance, there might not seem much difference between the two, but there are properties that can give each material advantages over the other.

PU has higher abrasion resistance, particularly with applications that involve extreme temperatures.

PVC can lose its flexibility in extreme cold, while PU is able to maintain it.

PU tends to have a higher resistance to chemicals, oils and solvents. Think about all those times that your fly line comes into contact with sunscreen and whatever compounds may be found in the water.

PU is better able to retain its shape over the long run.

PVC lines contain plasticizers that make them flexible. With frequent use, this property can wear away over time, making PVC more prone to cracks.

I recently fished airflo’s Superflo tactical taper fly line. It loads smoothly and consistently, and partners very well with long leaders for accurate, delicate presentations. If your casting basics are in order, this line will allow you to lay out 40 to 50-foot roll casts with a good degree precision (this can be accomplished with dry flies as well as small streamers). The line is also designed to mend with ease.

Other things we like: line ID, low jacket memory when fished in cold waters. Overall, it shoots well, lays out straight and exhibits very little stretch (just enough to allow for those ultra-soft presentations, when needed).

Other key features: welded loops (both ends), line ID, fishes well across a broad temperature range.

I tested the line using a traditional (softer) rod and new-school rod and found that it synced up best with the newer rod model.

One problem with gear reviews in general is that they rarely address product durability, so I snipped off a section of running line and performed an admittedly unscientific abrasion test, which includes wrapping the line around rough (but not sharp) rocks and ‘flossing’: this line can handle more than a little abuse and still remain fishable.

Summary: A durable jacket that balances suppleness with minimal stretch and an ultra-thin running line that permits you to shoot far.

Superflo tactical taper fly lines are available in 3 to 9 weight.