Every year like all fly fishermen I make a mental wish list of gear that I wish I had. Each year I get a few new pieces of fly fishing gear that I had been wishing for and dying to get.

2009 has been one of my better years for the amount of new gear I have had to try out. So here it is:
2009 Gear Review
Orvis Pro Guide 3 Waders: If your looking for waders that will take a beating than these are your waders. I am hard on my waders an I expect them to perform in all four seasons the Rockies have to offer. They are top of the line waders that Pro Guides use world wide. I owned the Pro Guide 2’s for two years until they finally sprang a leak in the inter leg seem. I sent them to Orvis for repair. (Under Life Time Warranty) And to my surprise they sent me a brand new pair of Pro Guide 3’s. Orvis takes care of and treats their clients better than anyone in the business, PERIOD! The 3s are everything I want in a wader. Very comfortable, breathable, lightweight and durable. The highlight of the waders is that they moved the leg seem from the inter leg where it wears from walking to directly behind the leg to stop the fix that common problem. They also added a stretchy fabric to the top part of the waders to add flexibility while casting and moving around. To top them off, the built in hand warmers are awesome in every way. So with the Orvis name you know you are getting a top quality product and company that will do anything to keep your business for life…They got me!
Price: $349
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Korkers Streamborn Wading Boots: I always thought that there was no difference in wader boots. Any kind of old shoe you didn’t like would work, right? Man was I wrong! I can’t tell you how many times my feet hurt or fell asleep due to tight boots or shoes. Or how about the way a felt sole falls off after a month of fishing 5 days a week. I can now say that after wearing my Korkers Streamborns for a month I will never go back to cheap Hodgmans again. My Korkers fit extremely comfortable(like reg boots), they have great installation for the winter and the water release holes are a great idea, especially for keeping water out of the drift boat. I like that they are tall to stop rocks from entering. But most of all you can beat the versatility of the replaceable soles to meet the needs of your environment. If your going to stand on your feet all day you might as well have comfortable boots, right?
Price: $139
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Korkers Torrent Wet Wading/Hiking Shoe: If you know me you know I love to wet wade whenever possible. Some say I am a fish cause I can stand the cold water, better than most. I found these shoes on a screaming deal and they were just what I was looking for. I haven’t used them yet, but they are going to be perfect for hiking and fishing the back country rivers and lakes, as well as summer caddis hatches and perfect for the drift boat. Like the streamborns they are versatile in the way that you can replace the soles of the environment. (they come with a rubber and felt sole, but you can even have golf and sailing soles if you want) I love the idea of only taking one shoe to hike and fish in. With the light weight design and tough look. They are the best Wet Wading Shoe/Hiking shoe on the market.
Price: $99
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Measure Nets (large): These nets are great to keep a fisherman honest. I really like the built-in measuring tape, its extremely light weight, and the ability to extend (telescopic) the net when needed. One down fall is that hooks get caught in the nets material and are a pain to get out. I wish the netting was rubber, like my drift boat net. But for a personal wading net it is hard to beat for the price and the light weight.
Price: $39


Pflueger Summit Reels 7/8 and 5/6: Best reel for the price, Period! In the past year I picked up three of these reels and I love them more than my more expensive reels. They are smooth and the disk drag is amazing. The gold color gives them a royal feel and large arbor pulls in line twice as fast. Great Reel

Price: $59-$79

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Scientific Anglers MAX 752 Waterproof Fly Box: Holds 752 flies, pre-slits hold flies without destroying the foam. Great main fly box for your favorite patterns…I use mine as my main fly box. It has all the flies I need for the Rockies and my favorite streams.
Price: $30
Scientific Anglers System X Waterproof Fly Box: Nice fly box, I like the MAX better. Not per slit. Great for the average joe or for certain situations and waters. I have two of these boxes and they beat most other boxes on the market. I use mine for a Alpine lake box and green river box.

Price: $25

Simms Fishing Shirts: Comfortable fishing shirts that can be worn in the office or on the stream. I found a great deal on these shirts, so I picked up 5. They all fit great and I love the long selves for cooler days and sun protection. I wear the more stylish ones to the office all the time.

Price: Normally $30-$60 (I got them for $13 on a super sale)
Watermark Drake Vest/Pack: Great fishing vest for the angler that has a lot of gear and fly boxes. I love the comfort of the pack. (It fits very firm) Highlights: Big back pack, water blatter compatible, lots of pockets, rod holders (2), removable front pockets. Cons: Small front pockets, heavy. I have been wearing these pack for a couple months now and I love it. I am always prepared with the gear I need and can carry. Great pack at a great price!
Price $59

Umpqua 7X & 8X Tippets: I’m usually a fluoro guy, but I like the strenght and low price of this fine lined tippets. I have notice much greater strenght with these tippets. Now I am not afraid to stick it to a midge eating brown. Plus the roles they come on are the best for a lanyard and keeping the line under control.

Price: $3.99 per tippet

Boot Dryer Rack: I got it as a present and installed it in my garage. It allows you to hang your wet boots up for quick drying. Yes, it does work. I have noticed my boots dry much quicker now then sitting in a corner some where.

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Price: $10

Gink Floatant: I have tried a couple other brands out there, but Gink has given me the best results. I like the simplicity and long gevity of the floatant.
Price: $3.99

Thingamabobbers Strike Indicators: What makes a great indicator? For me its casting ability, floatation, and movable. These things do them all and are by far the best thing that has happen to nymphing since Pheasant Tails were invented.

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Price: $5