Rambling Review: Fall River Bamboo Fly Rod "South Fork" Why: The opportunity to fish the Fall River South Fork Rod, along with the Montana Fly Company reel and Rio line, came through the Outdoor Blogger Network. I am the first of 18 "hosts" for this rod and reel and over the next several months, the South Fork rod will travel across the ...

Rambling Review – Smith Creek Net Holder Why: I have cussed out my net more times than I would like to remember when it was clipped onto my vest and bouncing around on my back. Having the net get hung up in a load of branches is a common occurrence when it dangled from my vest or pack.  I found that I ...

Rambling Review – Ex Officio Nio Amphi Pants   Why: Living in Arizona and being slightly obsessed with the small streams that flow from the mountains, wet wading is a way of life from early spring until the November cold forces me to break out my waders. Typically, I roll in a pair of cargo shorts that keeps me moving quick and freely ...

I was recently contacted by Orvis to check out their new Orvis Fly Fishing App for the iPad. After a quick and easy download, I sequestered my wife's iPad for the next couple of hours and got lost in the many features of this really well thought out app. The Orvis Fly Fishing App has some amazing features, and what makes ...

I have written in the past about how much I really like my Dyna-King Kingfisher vice. It is a solid American made vice that has held thousands of hooks in its jaws. Getting ready for my San Juan trip last spring, I was tying many flies in the 20-24 inch range and although the #20 hooks were solid, the #22s ...

Rambling Review – Cortland Precision Platinum Salmon Line Why: Gearing up for my summer trip to the Northwest, I was looking to pair some quality line with my Lamson Konic and 6 weight BVK rod for the big water of the Deschutes River. After shopping around and talking to a couple different folks over at Cortland, they turned me on to their ...

I know it is a little early in the year to be thinking about this, but in a couple of months, everyone is going to be scrambling and trying to get those last minute items for Christmas. Shopping for the outdoorsman, wether a fisherman, hunter, hiker, biker or whatever, can be very difficult because usually those are the type of ...

Rambling Review – Fisknat Landing Nets by Bob Nelson Why: A landing net becomes an intricate part of a fly fisherman's tools, especially when there is lunker on the other end of the line. Having a quality net as part of your gear is a necessity and Bob Nelson has a great line-up of handcrafted landing nets to choose from. After a ...

Rambling Review – Temple Fork Outfitters BVK 9’ 6Weight Fly Rod Why: Bigger water and bigger fish. I love fishing my TFO Finesse 3 weight, but when targeting bigger fish like the urban carp of Phoenix or the big redsides of the Deschutes River, I opted to try Temple Fork Outfitters new rod, the BVK. First impressions: The Look – Between the compression cork ...

Rambling Review – Sierra Nets by Greg Madrigal Why: As important as the rod and reel are to the fly fisherman, the landing net becomes an extension of the arm when bringing a fish to hand. Greg Madrigal is an artist and constructs beautiful one of a kind nets. Greg has melded his love of woodworking and his passion for fly fishing ...

Rambling Review – Korkers Hyjack Wading Shoes Why: Living in Arizona, I start wet wading as soon as the snow is gone. Generally that means by the end of April or early May, I am lucky enough to leave the bulky, smelly waders at home and don a pair of cargo shorts to hike the small streams in our high country. Typically, ...

Rambling Review – Garmin Etrex H GPS Unit Why: In short, I don’t like getting lost. When I moved to Arizona the new big country was very daunting and I always had a sick feeling in my stomach as I watched the truck get smaller and smaller the farther I walk away.  Specifically, quail hunting makes me nervous because as I wander around ...

Rambling Review – Orvis Battenkill Bar Stock II Reel Why: When I have the free Saturday to head where I want to, I point the truck towards the small streams that run cold and clear from the Mogollon Rim. This water is perfect for my TFO Finesse 3 weight and its delicate presentation. When I first bought this rod, I coupled it ...

Rambling Review – Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses Why: This answer is pretty easy. First I live in Arizona and the sun is hot, brutal, and unforgiving. God only gave me one set of eyes so protecting them from the harmful UV rays is extremely important.  Secondly, while fly fishing, it is essential to protect my eyes from the tiny razor sharp ...

When I first happened upon the fly fishing scene, I read every book, watched every YouTube, and listened to every podcast. I wanted to know everything and have exactly the right gear for what I was going to do.  An intricate part of the fly fishing get-up is the fly box. The fly box can tell a lot about the ...

Rambling Review – Dyna-King Kingfisher Vice Why: If you have fly fished for any length of time, you can understand why I wanted to buy a vice.  After catching the fly fishing bug it was only a short while before I started seeing all of the possibilities and fun everyone else was having tying their own flies. The search began and I ...

Rambling Review – Jetboil: Flash Java Kit Cooking System Why? With all my outdoor wanderings, many nights can find me trying to stay warm in a tent or the bed of my truck. I can do without a lot of civilized amenities when fishing or hunting comes into the equation. Unfortunately, one necessity I take very seriously is my coffee. Most ...

Rambling Review – Temple Fork Outfitters Lefty Kreh Finesse Series 7’9” 3 weight Why? I first fell into fly fishing through a bubble and a fly, but shortly after, I inherited my grandfather’s old 5 weight Fenwick. After 6 months or so on Arizona’s small streams, I started looking for a small stream rod that would be up to the task of ...

Rambling Review - The Orvis River Guard™ Ultralight Wading Boot with EcoTraX Soles

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Rambling Review – Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light Why: Can an outdoorsman have too many quality flashlight/headlamps? Probably not. The Crooked Horn Outfitters Trail Light is a pretty ingenious system that offers another illuminating option for the hunter, fisherman, or hiker. First impressions: The Dual Multidirectional LEDs - The Crooked Horn team really nailed it with the multidirectional LED system that they included in ...

Rambling Review – Ex Officio Nio Amphi Pants   Why: Living in Arizona and being slightly obsessed with the small streams that flow from the mountains, wet wading is a way of life from early spring until the November cold forces me to break out my waders. Typically, I roll in a pair of cargo shorts that keeps me moving quick and freely ...

Rambling Review – Garmin Etrex H GPS Unit Why: In short, I don’t like getting lost. When I moved to Arizona the new big country was very daunting and I always had a sick feeling in my stomach as I watched the truck get smaller and smaller the farther I walk away.  Specifically, quail hunting makes me nervous because as I wander around ...

Rambling Review – Jetboil: Flash Java Kit Cooking System Why? With all my outdoor wanderings, many nights can find me trying to stay warm in a tent or the bed of my truck. I can do without a lot of civilized amenities when fishing or hunting comes into the equation. Unfortunately, one necessity I take very seriously is my coffee. Most ...

Rambling Review - Natural Gear Windproof Fleece Why: Staying warm and quiet while hunting in the cold is extremely important. Certain synthetic fabrics and denim today often do not do the trick when the temperatures start to drop. Remaining comfortable and warm on the stand is key for those long days waiting for deer to move through the woods. On my recent ...

Rambling Review – RedRam Merino Thermal Underwear Why: I moved out of the Adirondacks after college and spent about a year in Hawaii before moving to Arizona. Whatever thick blood I had developed growing up, is long gone. A quality pair of thermals is a necessity if the hunter wants to be successful on the stand during colder weather. Gearing up for ...

Rambling Review – Turtleskin Snake Chaps Why: Arizona + Hunting = Rattlesnakes. I have stepped over a few in my wanderings around Arizona and all have elevated my heart rate and made me walk on air. Another reason to wear a set of chaps here in Arizona is that pretty much everything that grows in the desert is trying to stick you. ...

Rambling Review – Ex Officio Nio Amphi Pants   Why: Living in Arizona and being slightly obsessed with the small streams that flow from the mountains, wet wading is a way of life from early spring until the November cold forces me to break out my waders. Typically, I roll in a pair of cargo shorts that keeps me moving quick and freely ...

Rambling Review –  Superfeet Insoles Why: I never gave much thought to my feet while I was growing up. Wearing flip-flops and flat, non supportive shoes became a way of life until about 3 years ago. After a couple of very long days in the field, the arches of my feet were killing me. I would get the same burning and aching ...

Rambling Review – Browning Pursuit Jacket Why: Even though Arizona is a desert, we still get some fairly serious weather that rolls through the mesas and canyons in our later season hunts. Mornings can start below freezing and the wind can make it feel so much colder. As I started my search for the right jacket, I wanted to find something that ...

Rambling Review – Flying Fisherman Pago Sunglasses Why: This answer is pretty easy. First I live in Arizona and the sun is hot, brutal, and unforgiving. God only gave me one set of eyes so protecting them from the harmful UV rays is extremely important.  Secondly, while fly fishing, it is essential to protect my eyes from the tiny razor sharp ...

Rambling Review – Cabela’s Upland II Vest Why? I have been hunting quail in Arizona for quite a few years now and when I first started I would chase after these birds with a small backpack that contained some water and a GPS. This backpack served me well until I started being successful and actually bringing a few birds down. At first ...

Rambling Review – Cabela’s Outfitter’s Wooltimate Windshear Vest Why? Hunting in Arizona exposes the hunter to a wide range of temperatures. On a cool morning, temps can be hovering near the freezing mark and by noon be back up into the 50’s and 60’s. In my opinion, a quality vest is essential for layering in the mornings and as a ventilated top ...