John's Gift Guide: 5 Picks I Actually Fish (2025/2026)

It’s easy to talk about the things you love, and every item in this lineup has earned a permanent spot in my own kit. From high-octane saltwater rods to smooth, reliable reels, minimalist packs, bomber flats boots, and purpose-built fly lines, these are the pieces of gear I actually fish, trust, and recommend, no fluff, just honest truth.

1) Winston Air 2 Max 

"Fast Action, Easy Casting, Super High Performance"

"The new standard of what a saltwater rod should feel like. The best of both worlds, flex and feel with quick tip recovery equaling high line speed and accuracy. Easily place your fly accurately on shorter cast and yet, have the power to pick up for a quick re-cast with distance if necessary. Casting for distance is no problem, the Air 2 Max performs cast of 70 - 80' with nearly no effort. Has plenty of reserve power for greater distances and casting in windy conditions where high line speed is a must. Whether you're blind casting trying to cover as much water as possible or if you are tactfully sight fishing and only cast a dozen time in a day, the Air 2 Max will keep you fresh and ready to fish the next day."

NOTE: the Air 2 Max 6wt is an OUTSTANDING streamer rod!

Why It's Gift Worthy:

• Winston Flex & Feel in a true Saltwater taper.
• Rods range from 6wt (streamer, light saltwater) to 12 (big guns).
• Light in hand and an absolute pleasure to cast.

Who's it for: Any Streamer Junkie (6 or 7wt) to the tournament Silver Kings (Tarpon) fisherman and anything in between. There's an appropriate rod for what you love to fish for.

Purchase Now

2) Galvan Grip G-8

"Exceptionally Made, Fully Sealed Drag, Little Maintenance, Great Price."

"Not a "New" reel, but a great reel. Value for the money is refreshing. When it comes to saltwater reels specifically, quality and prices can vary. You could lose your mind buying a saltwater reel. They can be as expensive as your rod. The Galvan Grip combines very high quality with very nice price point for what you get. For me, my reel is a tool and it needs to do its job. The Galvan Grip has never let me down. The silky smooth sealed drag is powerful to boot. Big fish, whether on the flats or your favorite steelhead or salmon stream, require a smooth drag system. I also love the XL Drag knob for additional torque when needed and it just makes it easier to find the handle in the heat of the battle."

Why It's Gift Worthy:

• Made in the U.S.A. - Galvan's long track record of producing proven products.
• Powerful, Smooth Sealed Drag System.
• Large Arbor Spool Design Allows for greater line pickup.
• XL Handle for ease of finding and additional torque when needed.

Who's it for: BIG DREAMS shouldn't necessarily come with BIG PRICE TAGS. Anyone in need of a quality reel that won't empty their savings account is a prime candidate for a Galvan Grip reel. A lot to love here!

Purchase Now

3) Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Lumbar - Small

"Ultimate Waterproof Hip Pack, Light & Compact, Built for Comfort."

"If you're like me, the bigger the pack the more I tend to carry, even if I don't need it. I bought a smaller hip pack for "Force" me to downsize and carry on the essential items for the moment. The Fishpond Thunderhead Submersible Lumbar Small pack has been "Perfect" for me. I added the Fishpond Water Bottle holder to the belt to keep me hydrated, which is important and absolutely necessary! I can fit several fly boxes, an assortment of leaders and tippet material, small tube of sunscreen, lip balm, sun glasses cleaner, fly line cleaner, my cell phone, and more in this little gem. By thinking and condensing and only taking the absolute essentials with me I have been able to cut the weight of my pack considerably. This is a great thing when you are on the flats all day."

Why It's Gift Worthy:

• 100% Waterproof with its self-healing TRU-Zip Zipper. You can't squeeze the air out of the pack when it's fully zipped!
• Accessory attachment points allowing you to "Add On".  Think, Water Bottle Holder, Pliers, Tippet Holders...
• Light padded shoulder strap with tool attachment points.

Who's it for: Anyone fishing the flats anywhere in the world. It's for the minimalist fisherman who only wants to carry the essentials.

Purchase Now

4) Korkers Salt Sneaker Wading Boot

"Ultimate Comfort, Quick Drying, Durable."

The Korkers Salt Sneaker has been a very popular flats boot since it was introduced late 2024 early 2025 and in it's short history has proven itself. A very comfortable boot that you can easily spend all day in. It's grippy traction is also a plus. Made of  Abrasion Resistant and Hydrophobic materials that are durable and quick to dry. Probably the most comfortable flats boot on the market today.

Why It's Gift Worthy:

• Amazing Comfort
• Quick Drying to help prevent spread of invasive species
• Durable

Who's it for: The flats aficionado that travels the world or the first time flats fisher. Although I have not yet tried them while carp fishing, my expectations are that they would work well unless your in thick mud.

Purchase Now

5) Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Bonefish Plus

"Extended Head Length, Half Size Heavy, Cast Long Leaders With Ease."

Fishing the flats for Bonefish is challenging. You're almost always dealing with some kind of wind or any number of other variants. Having a line half sized heavier allows you to cast better in those windy conditions. It's very important to present your fly well, especially over spooky fish. Imagine if you will, you're on a flat, you see some Bones working your way, the wind is howling and you have one shot to cast well in front of them so as not to spook them. The wind is coming right at you off your strong hand side, your cast will most likely be a cack handed one. To keep your fly on target, you'll need a line that loads your rod quickly and cast better in the wind.  You'll need to have tight loops to help penetrate that wind. A good double haul is helpful and comes into play as well to help with your line speed. Success, you got the job done and the Bonefish ate. Fish on! Anyone who has ever fished a flat for Bones in windy conditions understands the value of a intentionally designed fly line to help the angler seize the moment. That combined with a good cast, mission accomplished.

Why It's Gift Worthy:

• Intentionally designed with a long head for use with longer leaders, yet delivers the fly delicately.
• Features AST Plus Slickness Additive which increases shooting ability and makes the line more durable.
• Designed specifically for tropical situations with a stiff core for castability.

Who's it for: Anyone heading to flats where Bonefish like to feed. Cast with confidence. Although specifically designed for tropical Bonefish, I believe that it would work well in warmer climates for species like carp.

Purchase Now

"It's easy to talk about the things you love. Every product listed below is in my personal arsenal. I use them and I love them. No fluff, just honest truth." - John

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - November 15, 2025

Deschutes Steelhead

We've been pretty darn lucky with the late fall weather.  It could be flat out cold by now and it's not.  We've had some rain but it hasn't been enough to do anything crazy to the Lower Deschutes.  Conditions for the tail end of the season couldn't be much better.  Flows have been fairly steady and water temps have held up well.  Pretty ideal situation to round out the season!        

The fishing has changed a bit in the last couple weeks.  It seems like a lot of the strays that were piled up down low have dropped out.  There are certainly plenty of fish around down there, but noticeably fewer than there were a few weeks ago.  It's a great time to spend a day higher up in the system.

As for the fishing, think about getting down a bit.  You could definitely still get one on a floating line if you push the issue, but their willingness to move up in the water column and chase has definitely gone way down.  Sink tip fishing will be the most effective method from here on out with smaller tip flies being the most productive.  Best of luck to everyone out there trying for another fish, or two!

Deschutes Trout

For those of us that have put in a long season chasing steelhead, it's been pretty hard not to notice the increase in trout activity as of late!  Things are pretty much perfect for that.  All the dark and warmish weather has been kicking mid-day BWO activity into high gear.  If you try for trout out there, be fully prepared to represent all stages of that bug.  Nymph fishing will be effective right out of the gate in the morning.  Be sure to have something imitating a BWO nymph going.  A great two-fly combo is a stonefly or bigger Hare's Ear with a size 18-20 Pheasant Tail trailed behind.  The bugs have been actively hatching sometime between noon and 2:00 spurring some good surface activity.  

The streamer bite cannot be ignored, either.  Dark weather is very conducive and the trout love bigger meals in the fall.  It's not a particularly common practice on the Deschutes, but don't be afraid to mix in a bigger streamer if the standard smaller sculpins and leeches aren't working.  You may not move as many fish, but you will see some real bruisers if you commit to if for a while.   

   

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Charlie’s Gift Guide: 5 Picks I Actually Fish (2025/2026)

These aren’t catalog blurbs—I’ve fished or lived in this gear. If you’re shopping for someone who swings flies, hikes banks, or sneaks trout after work, start here. — Charlie

1) Winston AIR 2 TH (Spey Rods)

“Spectacular feel, feather-light, huge range”

“Winston has been knocking it out of the park the last few years. They have the best lineup of rods they've ever built, and the addition of Air 2 TH is a HUGE cherry on top. I've had the pleasure of fishing these rods a ton this fall and they are absolutely spectacular! Ultralight with unparalleled hand-to-line feel. Slim grips. Great size run to cover everything from smaller one salt steelhead on up to chinook. This may very well end up being one of the best series of Spey rods ever built.”

Why it’s gift-worthy:

• Modern Winston feel with true two-hand finesse.

• Sizes to cover summer steelhead up to Chinook.

• Light swing weight = less fatigue, more fishing.

Who it’s for: Spey anglers who appreciate feel and feedback (not broomsticks).

Charlie’s quick tip: Match with a balanced Scandi for summer, Skagit + T-11/T-14 for winter.

 

Purchase Now

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2) Grundéns Boundary Zip Stockingfoot Waders 

“Articulate better than anything”

“I've been running these waders hard for a few years now and love 'em! I'm not a Deschutes wet wader as I like something protecting my legs out in the ledges and walking through the blackberries. These waders manage to keep me as cool as possible in the summer heat. Plus, they articulate better than anything on the market making climbing out of boats and over logs a breeze.”

Why it’s gift-worthy:

• Front zip = easy on/off and quick ‘nature break’.

• Great articulation for step-overs and steep banks.

• Cool enough for summer, tough enough for brush.

Who it’s for: Boat hoppers, bank scramblers, and anyone who values a zip front.

Charlie’s quick tip: Size for girth/boot first; length is forgiving.

 

Purchase Now

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3) Fishpond Thunderhead Chest Pack (Eco Shale) 

“Finally the right size”

“Sometimes you need something small to carry the bare essentials. Historically speaking, I've had a love/hate relationship with chest packs. They were either too small to hold anything or so big they're always in the way. The Thunderhead Chest Pack is the ideal size to carry what you need yet stay out of the way when casting. This is a great option on the flats when you jump out of a boat to wade a spot for an hour or two and want to have enough spare flies and terminal tackle. Also good for all types of road fishing when your rig is never too far away.”

Why it’s gift-worthy:

• Submersible main pocket keeps essentials dry.

• Minimal bulk; still fits a couple boxes + leaders.

• Crosses over from trout to flats.

Who it’s for: Wade-light anglers and travel/road-fishing folks.

Charlie’s quick tip: Add Fishpond’s bottle holder or rod holder to the lash points for a tidy kit.

 

Purchase Now

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4) Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Infinity 

“My personal favorite”

“You can't keep a good line down! S.A.'s Amplitude Smooth Infinity is right at the top of the list for the best all-around trout line and happens to be my personal favorite. A shiny new line always makes the angler in your life smile!”

Why it’s gift-worthy:

• Half-size heavy taper loads fast, carries long.

• Real “one line does most things” for trout.

• New line = instant rod upgrade.

Who it’s for: Any trout angler with a 4–6 wt who fishes a bit of everything.

Charlie’s quick tip: Pair with a 9–12 ft 4X–6X leader; wipe the line clean every few trips for max slickness.

 

Purchase Now

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5) RIO Elite Skagit Pickpocket 

“Slow that swing to a crawl”

“I love these heads for winter Steelhead. At 20', they cast very well on shorter rods and really slow your swing down to a crawl. And do not be afraid of the Sink 3/Sink 5/Sink 7 dredger. When you really need to get down and stay down, this head does the job. It casts surprisingly well for how heavy it is.....just don't let your anchor settle too long before you go!”

Why it’s gift-worthy:

• Compact 20' head = easy load on modern, shorter speys.

• Multi-density options keep flies down and in the lane.

• Winter steelhead confidence booster.

Who it’s for: Two-hand anglers facing cold flows, ledges, and pushy seams.

Charlie’s quick tip: Don’t let the anchor marinate—lift and go; start with 10' T-11 and adjust.

 

Purchase Now

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Need sizing or line pairing?

Call us at (541) 386-6977 or email—tell us the rod, water, and flies, and we’ll rig it right. We can even spool backing/line and ship ready to fish! 

 

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Friday's Featured Fly

Cooler fall weather has our minds wandering to the Caribbean. Salt season is upon us! Here’s one of Andros Island’s unofficial official bonefish flies.  The beefy RIO's Gotcha Clouser in size 2.  Simple and deadly!

It's getting deeper into fall, and many of the rivers in the northwest are filling up with coho.  If you're looking for a fly to strip on a single-hander or jig throughout the swing, check out the Starlight Leech Pink.  Heavy eyes to get down and work the twitch that love.

Happy Halloween - Here we are again, folks.  It's Klamath Intruder Season!  A favorite on the John Day, this one has proven to be very successful on summer steelhead fisheries near and far. 

Looking for spooktacular deals on gear? 

Check out our Closeouts selection.  New Price drops and new additions!

Buggy dry line flies work extremely well later in the summer steelhead season.  Smaller sizes, natural colors, and little to no flash.  Great for searching and almost essential as a comeback fly.  The tried and true Brindle Bug by Aqua Flies checks all the boxes!

Time to get Salty - Here's RIO's take on the classic Permit Crab.  Available in olive, brown, and tan, this one has caught Permit everywhere they swim!

It's Streamer Season! RIO's Brown Town is a fantastic, Articulated Streamer. This fly will hunt in any water that has big, aggressive trout.

Columbia Gorge Fishing Report - November 1st, 2025

Deschutes Steelhead

Fall is setting in in full force out on the Deschutes.  Not much in the line of extreme cold or icy morning commutes yet, but that could certainly be the case any day now.  There has yet to be any kind of major fall shake-up on the river as far as flow is concerned.  There can be a pretty significant bump in flow associated with the end of the irrigation season in mid-October, but that never materialized.  The White River never really blew out the Deschutes this time around either, and it should be pretty well locked up for the duration.  The return of Fall Chinook was certainly noticeable, but it seemed to be a bit smaller than the last few years.  At least it didn't seem to throw off the steelhead bite as badly as it can some years.      

The only notable change to conditions has been the falling water temps.  Even that has been steady and fairly mild to this point.  We're probably just a few days away from the Moody gauge going below 50 degrees for the first time this fall.  All things considered, conditions have been great.

With water temps nearing sub-50, it is high time for some tactical changes.  Lots of anglers have recently been asking if there is still a dry line bite to be had.  There is, but it's becoming pretty situational and much better in the afternoon when the water temps are peaking.  Look for dry line biters to be in shallower spots with structure and softer current.  The best opportunities will be in places that you can present a fly on a broadside swing at a slow pace. Switching over to a slow sink Polyleader also helps the cause.  It will get your fly down just a little more and also helps to slow the swing speed a hair.  

Other than that, it's a sink tip game from here on out.  A cold steelhead is much more apt to move up a foot in the column to grab a fly than it is to move up three feet.  The fly doesn't have to be big and gaudy.  It just has to be down a little deeper.  As for sink tips, it's pretty hard to beat the versatility of 10' of T-11.  You can fish it through most shallower water with an unweighted fly and little or no mend.  Conversely, you can adjust your angle slightly upstream and get deep with a weighted fly if you need to.  Beyond that one, a 2.5' Intermediate/7.5' T-11 tip comes in very handy in spots with structure.  Great options from RIO and Airflo there.   These tips tend to weave there way through rocks and ledges much better than longer level tips.

Deschutes Trout

The fall feedbag is a real event in the trout world and it's particularly evident on the Deschutes.  The fish have packed on so much weight in the last month!  The Redsides don't miss any opportunities to eat salmon eggs.  The fall hatches have also been strong with ample BWOs, October Caddis and a daily smattering of other bugs.  All methods apply at some point during the day.  You could easily go from indicator to trout spey to dry and back again in the same day!  The trout fishing is just flat-out good right now however you prefer to do it.  Even on the lowest reaches of the river, big trout have been gobbling BWOs.  This is an ideal time to target trout as they have been largely unbothered while everyone looks for a steelhead.   

Mt. Hood Lakes

Stillwater season is winding down locally.  Many of the lakes close today and it's gotten rather cold at higher elevations.  That said, a few of the stillwaters in the greater Hood River area remain open.  If you're looking to get a little more lake fishing in, pick a warmer day if you can.  That will spur some chironomid activity and give you a shot at some dry fly fishing. Aside from that, think low and slow.  Creeping a leech along with a sinking line or suspending flies under an indicator will work well.  The bite can still be very good, but the willingness to aggressively chase things is on the fade.    

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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New Arrival! Fine-Tune Your Swing with Scientific Anglers Skagit Sink Tips & Kits

The Kit comes with everything you need for MOST situations in a handy
Sink tip wallet.  Stay organized and ready!

Gorge Fly Shop's family of sink tips just grew bigger with the addition of Scientific Angler's Skagit Sink Tips. If I were to tell you that we sell more sink tips than leaders you may not believe it, but it's fact!  Tips are a very popular item and we are happy to let you know that we now have the SA Skagit Tips in stock! These tips are not hot off the press, but they are new to us here at the Gorge Fly Shop.

Q: What stands out about Scientific Angler Skagit Sink tips?

A: First off these tips are textured, which reduces friction, making it a tad easier to pick up off water and secondly, they're tapered, thirdly they are density compensated, so they'll turn over your flies smoother and make your presentations better.  Tips can be bought separately or in a complete kits.

As a side note to the introduction:

Most manufactures of Skagit and Scandi lines have their own versions of sink and floating tips that marry well with their products and this can be convenient, but that doesn't mean you couldn't mix and match with other manufactures tips.

For example, if I'm using an Scientific Anglers Skagit Head, I can use a RIO M.O.W. tip for sure.  The beauty of this is that different makers of sink tips offer different lengths and sink rates to cover absolutely every fishing situation you find yourself in.

The Scientific Anglers Skagit Sink Tips have you covered in situations where you need a 1 inch per second sink rate up to a 6-7 inch per second sink rate.  In comparison the the sink 6-7 inch per second would be equivalent to RIO'S M.O.W. Light Tip (T-8), which also sinks at about 6-7 inch per second.

Overwhelming would be an understatement when considering all the options we have in sink tips.  There have been plenty of articles written on the subject over the years and it's all good...once you grasp it, it becomes much easier and makes sense.  If you are interested in learning more about tips, click link below and read on.

READ MORE ON THE EVOLUTION OF SINK TIPS BY CLICKING HERE.

If you have any questions or are interested in the SA Skagit Sink Tips, you can visit our website at gorgeflyshop.com.

Prefer to talk it through? Call 541-386-6977 and we’ll set up your head + tip + leader, then place the order for you.

We are eager and always happy to help.

GFS Team

John G.

Parting Shot: Deschutes River Steelhead love them a Marabou Tube fly!

Superb choice when fishing with sink tips.

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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#Spey #TroutSpey #WinterSteelhead #ScientificAnglers #GorgeFlyShop

Time to Get Salty - Limited Edition Sage Salt R8 and Enforcer!

These things are hot, folks!  In stock now, the limited edition Grand Slam Series of Salt R8 rods and Enforcer reels.  Rods available in 9' 8, 9 and 11 weight.  Enforcer reels in 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12.  Get them individually or dial up a fully-custom outfit!  The staff at Gorge Fly Shop has a lot of experience with these products.  Here's the rundown:

Salt R8 Rods

"Easy-Casting" and "Saltwater Rod" are two things you don't often here together, but the Salt R8 broke the mold there!  Let's face it.  Most of us get to go on a flats trip once a year or less.  It's always super windy and you will likely have to make some casts that are a bit out of your comfort zone.  So many failed shots occur because it's difficult to deliver the fly in these demanding conditions.  The Salt R8 truly excels by the fact that it's caster-friendly, but not wimpy.  It will not turn an average angler into a super hero, but it does let most folks deliver in the wind.  It has the low-end power you need, but is not so stout it barely bends.  It casts well in close, but has the punch to send a long one.  It's a great saltwater option for flats anglers of any experience level.    

Enforcer Reels

This reel has been wildly successful for Sage.  It's a sturdy build that can take a beating in a skiff or panga.  They have a minutely adjustable drag system and ample backing capacity.  For those that fish salt and do some spey fishing, the Enforcer balances out Spey rods extremely well.  Many of these reels owned by the GFS staff have gone from the flats right onto Spey rods and back again!  They nailed the aesthetic on the Grand Slam series.  The details are great, but they're not gaudy.  Very tastefully done! 

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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Hot Off the Press: Winston AIR 2 TH Is Here

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of the brand new Winston Air 2 TH Series of Spey Rods from R.L. Winston.  Just in time for the tail end of summer steelhead season!  Air 2 TH hits close to home as the entire series was designed and fine-tuned by local legendary guide, Brian Silvey.  These rods were dialed in with the line systems we use on the Northwest steelhead rivers we all know and love.  Winston's Air TH series was excellent and has a huge following, but the new version is a completely different animal!  The Gorge Fly Shop Staff was fortunate enough to spend some time on the water with these rods prior to their release.  Here's a rundown of the major upgrades:

Line-Friendly

This might be the most important upgrade to the series.  Initial feedback from the GFS staff and the Northwest Winston rep, Eric Neufeld, is that Air 2 TH likes a lot of different lines!  Our staff fished the 7129 for a few days on the Deschutes recently and tried several different Scandi and Skagit heads.  Historically speaking, when a Spey rod is available in a longer and shorter 7 weight, the longer option tends to be more all-purpose.  They usually fish well with Scandis and Skagits, alike.  Conversely, the shorter 7's tend to be faster.  They're excellent for heavy metal sink tip fishing, but can be tough to find an ideal dry line for.  That was the real shocker about this 7129.  It fished a 450-480 grain Scandi extremely well with excellent line speed.  That begged the question.....will it have enough under the hood for a heavy sink tip and fly.  And it does!  No problem whatsoever with 10' of T-14 and a weighted fly.  When talking with Eric about the various other configurations he fished, the data was conclusive.  These rods like a lot of different lines and have a fairly broad grain weight window.  This is going to make the series incredibly versatile across the board.       

Grip

Nothing dampens the feel of a great blank like too much cork....and Winston took note of that.  Air 2 TH has a very slim upper and lower grip providing for excellent hand-to-line feel when casting.  This was a huge upgrade from its predecessor.  

Weight

These things feel crazy light in hand.  The 7's feel like a lot of other brands' 6's.  That does not, however, come at the expense of sacrificed power.  They have ample low-end stiffness to accommodate heavy tips and flies and XL fish.  

Additional Configurations

Winston added a few new length/weight combos this time around.  Two that stand out are the 5123 and 8126.  The older Air TH 5120 has a cult following among summer steelhead dry line addicts.  It may very well have been the best casting rod of that series.  That said, it was a hair short.  The additional length will be a very welcome upgrade here.  Then there's the 8126.  A shorter/stouter 8 weight for winter steelhead in tight quarters.  This one is going to be a quick front runner on the coast this winter!

"The Gorge"

Gorge Fly Shop Team - 541.386.6977

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