Nautilus X Reel Series

Nautilus X-Series Reels Shop Nautilus X Reels Here They have the same quality and attention to detail as their famous saltwater counterparts, but come in a much lighter package.  Comfortably fitting lines 3-9 weight, these reels are ideal for any fishing where repetitive casting is the name of the game. They have very large arbors for quick pickup and a great drag.  Ideally suited for freshwater and light saltwater use. 

 

Currently available at GFS in all sizes and both silver and black

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SALTWATER SPECIFIC REEL LINEUP:

Charlie's fun size tarpon. (photo credit: Kyle Zempel, Black Earth Angling Co.)

SALTWATER SPECIFIC REEL LINEUP:

DISCLAIMER: The reels mentioned here are listed in no specific order.  They are all high quality, dependable and trust worthy options for your saltwater specific needs.

SAGE REELS:

THE SAGE ENFORCER:  Sage has done a wonderful job with this reel.  Cosmetically it's very appealing to the eyes and audibly sounds wonderful to the ears.  Absolutly love the clicking sound this reel makes.  I could compare it to the sounds of a Nautilus CCF-X2, which I also love.  I also love the big One Revolution drag knob.  It makes it real easy to adjust drag tension when needed.  I hate fidling with a small drag knob personally, especially on larger reels.

The ENFORCER has plenty of power, reliability, and durability, just holding it in your hands you can feel the quality of it.  Designed for peak performance, the ENFORCER offers everything the flats angler needs in a reel, taming the explosive runs of double-digit Bonefish or maybe you need to put the brakes on Redfish and Stripers. To put it simply, this is an amazing saltwater reel for flats and heavy-duty fly-fishing applications.

Coming in at a GREAT price for what you get, dare I say that the reel is better than the price tag indicates!  Comes in all the sizes you'd need to cover most applications:

• 7/8 wt - (8 pounds of drag at the arbor)
• 9/10 wt - (15 pounds of drag at the arbor)
• 11/12 wt - (17 pounds of drag at the arbor)

 

Look at the stunning Sage ENFORCER reel. Just sexy with its rounded smooth edges and all!

Would you like to go on a saltwater fishing trip with me? Why Yes Please!

SHOP SAGE ENFORCER REELS

THE SAGE THERMO:  When you're big game on the flats or in bluewater where behemoths roam, heavy-duty is the name of the game to be successful. Your lifetime tarpon, or monster GT, or massive shark could come into sight in the blink of an eye, and for the angler hunting these big game fish, knowing your tackle can handle the fight is mega important. Think THERMO - and know that it's heavy-duty in every sense. Designed to tame any tippet-busting, finger-cutting, hard-charging fish one may encounter. With the stopping power to keep a Giant Trevally out of the reef and the smoothness and endurance to outlast a blue marlin, the THERMO’s robust heat dissipating SCS drag, rigid frame, and burly feature set will have you covered like never before.

The THERMO brings 0 to 20lbs of drag at the arbor with unparalleled consistency of drag pressure throughout the entire run of the fish. Smooth with no drop-off,  nor skipping, the THERMO handles the extremes easily, as the drag efficiently dissipates the heat across its fully sealed extra-large carbon brake discs.  There are 20 easy-to-see drag settings that sit atop a large-diameter drag knob, which I love, making it incredibly easy to grip and adjust when needed, while 39 detents allow for fine tuning adjustments for any leader and tippet combination.

The extra sturdy frame and spool are designed to hold up to the battles of boat fishing where a knock on the gunwale or bouncing while on a pounding run through breakers is not unusual. With a hefty large diameter ergonomic handle for maximum grip and control, and large arbor spool for quick pick up and 500+ yards backing capacity, the THERMO is the ultimate powerhouse of big game fishing reels.  If you need the security of lots of backing, this is your reel.

Go big or go home...Go THERMO!

SHOP SAGE THERMO REELS

NAUTILUS REELS:

THE NAUTILUS GTX:  Although the GTX from Nautilus Reels is in a class of its own, they have somewhat been hard to get ahold of.  After winning a "Best of Show" award at the AFTA show a few years ago, they have been slow to fulfill the market and those who have been patient enough to wait for them, have been well pleased with the product. This reel has been designed to be fished beyond IGFA regulations, with a maximum drag of 25+ pounds, the GTX is built to put the brakes on the fastest and strongest fish on the planet.  Think huge Tarpon, tackle busting GT's and such.  The GTX is up for the job!

The GTX is a 5-inch diameter reel with a narrow 1.1-inch wide spool that holds 500 yards of 60-pound braid.  The GTX has a wonderfully designed GripTorq sized drag knob at 1.9" making it very easy to adjust when needed.  The Nautilus GTX delivers just over 9 ounces of optimized fighting power at an MSRP of $1300.00 for the reel and $575.00 for the spool.  Available in matte black or brushed titanium anodizing.  As you can see in the photos below with all the performance specs, this is the "Beauty and the Beast" saltwater fishing tool!

Beauty and a Beast! The Nautilus GTX will get it done!

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THE NAUTILUS CCF-X2:  No stranger to the saltwater, the CCF-X2 has been a proven winner.  Saltwater anglers everywhere have come to trust and depend on this reel.  It covers a number of applications with it's four sizes:

THE CCF-X2 6/8: is a 4-inch large arbor 6-8 weight reel, that does well for light saltwater species. 

THE CCF-X2 8/10:  For more line pick up, the 8/10 is a great 8 weight with almost 12 inches of line pick up with a WF8 line per turn of the handle. The 8/10 is great for Bonefish, small Permit and Tarpon etc.

THE CCF-X2 10/12:  The 4.5-inch 8/10 and 10/12 reels share the same frame and the spools can be interchanged for a set up that covers 8 to 12 weight lines with just an extra spool.  This is a great feature and one that I have taken advantage of by also using the 10/12 as a Spey reel in addition to fishing saltwater when I have the chance.  One reel, two spools to cover 8wt through 12wt.

THE CCF-X2 SILVER KING:  The Silver King is the largest of  the CCF-X2 line up and is the world’s lightest 5-inch diameter true big game reel on the market. This reel dominates all things silver and picks up 14-inches of line per turn of the handle and will reel in your prize with trust and confidence.  Perfect for large Tarpon and such.

 

The Nautiuls CCF-X2, another beauty ready for work!

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TIBOR REELS:

Since 1995, Ted Juracsik's Tibor Reels have become a favorite of saltwater fly fisherman. With a large arbor spool significantly increasing line pick up and retrieval speed  giving the fly fishermen a greater control over species like Bonefish, Permit, Wahoo and Tuna. The impregnated cork disc drag system delivers the strongest smoothest and most reliable performance in the water.  Proof is in the World Records set by anglers over the globe while using Tibor reels...

In 2019, Tibor Reels earned 6 new world records according to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA). This brings the Tibor’s World Record count to over 950 more than any other fly fishing reel in history. Each is capable of delivering a lifetime of virtually maintenance-free fishing enjoyment for which Tibor Reels are famous.

 “The finest saltwater reels I have ever used. They are the prized possession of every fisherman who owns one."

Lefty Kreh, IGFA Hall of Fame fisherman, on Tibor Reels.

Although Tibor reels are designed and engineered for saltwater use, they are at home on freshwater as well.  I personally own the Signature Series 9/10 that serves double duty as a Spey reel for freshwater Salmon and Steelhead and of course is used when heading to the salt.

THE EVERGLADES: Designed for 7/8/9 weight rods with backing capacities very appropriate for chasing Steelhead, Salmon, Bonefish, Permit, Dorado, Bluefish, and Striped Bass. The Everglades will hold 200 yds. of 20 lb. Dacron with a  standard WF8F but will hold nearly 300 yds. of 65 lb. Gel Spun backing.

THE RIPTIDE: Created for 9/10/11 weight rods for pursuing species such as Stripers, Drum, Large Salmon, Tarpon, Dorado, and Shark.  Holding plenty of backing at 200 yds. of 30 lb. Dacron with a  standard WF10F fly line and up to 300 yds. of 65 lb. Gel Spun backing.

THE GULFSTREAM: Intended for 11 through 15 weight fly rods designed for the "Big Boys" of saltwater such as Tarpon, Sailfish, Marlin, Shark, Roosterfish, and Tuna.  This reel will hold up to 300 yds. of 30 lb. Dacron backing with a standard WF12F or up to 400+ yds. of 65 lb. Gel Spun backing.

THE PACIFIC: This is the biggest of the line up, intended for larger spieces such as Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna, and Larger Tarpon.  This is the reel used when the amount of backing is paramount.  Imagine needing 600 yds. of 40 lb. Dacron (even more if using 30#) with a WF14S fly line or 600 yds. of 80 lb. Gel Spun (even more if using 65#)!

100% Made in the U.S.A.!

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GALVAN REELS:

THE GALVAN GRIP:  Features a fully sealed drag system. The Grip offers a similar drag as its predecessor the Torque but they've added a fully sealed hub that completely seals the drag unit. Cosmetically pleaseing to the eye and yet durable in design and performance. I especially like the larger than normal handle, making it easy to find when fighting your trophy.  The Galvan Grip is sure to satisfy your saltwater specific reel needs.

It's offered in the following sizes from G-5 up to the impressive G-12 to cover a wide range of species, including doing double duty in the Spey world if desired.  Backing capacities, while not as large as some of the other reels on the list, will work great when backing is not as paramount.

• G5 - will hold up to 125 yds of 20# Dacron
• G6 - can hold up to150 yds of 20# Dacron
• G7 - up to 150 yds of 20# Dacron
• G8 - can hold up to 200 yds of 20# Dacron
• G10 - will hold up to 250 yds of 30# Dacron
• G12 - can holds 300 yds of 30# Dacron.

NOTE:  You can increase the capacities if you choose to by putting Gel Spun on the spools instead od Dacron. This is a great option when backing capacity is more important.

 

The Galvan Grip - Made in the U.S.A.

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ROSS REELS:

THE EVOLUTION R SALT:  Fishing a saltwater environment is demanding on gear to say the least. Ross has engineered the Evolution R Salt to withstand these demands.  And if you are looking for a saltwater reel that is a bit lighter in weight compared to others on this list, take a good look at the Evolution R Salt. Lightness meets power with up to 30 pounds of drag pressure. Reels made for 7wt through 12wt to cover most bases.  Backing capacity will vary depending on the type of backing and the fly line used on the reel, with that said, these reels will hold enough backing for most species you're after.

The Ross Evolution R Salt in all it's splendor.

SHOP ROSS REEL

LAST CAST:  Tis the season for gearing up for saltwater expeditions.  Having the right gear for the job is very important and enhances the enjoyment of the journey.  Knowing that your gear will perform well and in the intended manner that it was designed for, gives you that trust and peace of mind of one less thing to worry about. If you have any questions at all, we love fly fishing and we love talking about it, give us a call at 541-386-6977. Or if you prefer, drop us a line at info@gorgeflyshop.com, you can also visit the Gorge Fly Shop website: www.gorgeflyshop.com

Thanks for reading,

Gorge Fly Shop Team

John G.

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Nautilus Silver King - Built for Tarpon, Built to Last

Nautilus CCF-X2 Silver King.  Tarpon ready! Limited stock currently available.

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Spey Now - Saltwater Later

The Nautilus CCF-X2 is one of the best big game reels money can buy, and we have a good supply of them……for now! Multiple uses of this reel make it the best bang for your buck....plus on the size 8/10 and 10/12 the frame is the same so you can swap out spools to accommodate the set up you need.  Making them great option for multiple set ups - Spey to Saltwater!

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Nautilus GTX - Just in!

Got a couple of these in the other day. 

The GTX is a 5 inch diameter reel designed to tame species like tarpon and giant trevally. It can hold 500 yards of 60 pound braid plus a WF12 fly line. It can lock down 25 lbs of drag force and still come in well under 10 ounces of weight. 

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Just In - Nautilus NV-G 6/7 Brushed Titanium / Red Spool

 

In stock at time of this post. Reel is Left Hand Retrieve

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Nautilus Custom Fly Reels in Stock Now

Current situation at Nautilus is the factory is running at full capacity just to maintain standard finish fly reels. Sales are at an all time high and demand is greater than supply. As of this time Nautilus has suspended all manufacture of custom color reels.

To help put some unique stock on our shelves and have some custom shop reels for our customers we bought up what they had available. This is it guys and gals! Get them while they last. It might be a year or two before we see "normal" again.

See our selection of Custom Shop Reels In Stock Now

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Nautilus GTX Fly Reels

We first saw the prototype of Nautilus GTX Fly Reel almost 2 years ago. One thing about Nautilus is no reel will go to market until Kristen gives it the final approval. No detail no matter how big or how small will be overlooked. They will be tested, torn apart, rebuilt and tested again, and again, and again! And the best part is...Saltwater reels are tested in saltwater and tested against the actual beast they were intended to tame!

With a 5" diameter and a narrow 1.1" wide and a capacity of mega backing and a 12 weight line GTX is ready to handle any Tarpon game you want to give it.

How about 25 lbs of drag force and coming in at a super light 8.7 ounce. Good luck finding figures even close to GTX.

The GTX Pentadrag braking system is a brand new design that is best described as a hybrid NV-G/CCF-X2/X-Series drag system. The new Pentadrag features 3 cork and carbon fiber surfaces and two free floating carbon fiber surfaces that are topped with a Kevlar®/carbon fiber hybrid precision plate that ensures even pressure at all points of the drag surfaces. The cork acts as an insulation and compression material to ensure a smooth drag transition while the carbon fiber delivers the market-leading overall smoothness that Nautilus Reels is known for.

To control the drag tension, Nautilus designed the all new GripTorq drag knob. Intricately machined on 4 axes to promote light weight, strength and more grip than on any other drag knob in the industry. The GTX GripTorq drag knob measures 1.9” in diameter.

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Bonefish Gear

Choosing the right bonefish outfit

So you just booked that dream trip to tropical paradise to go bonefishing. Now what you need to know about the gear, because proper gear selection can make or break a trip. So while we go through the gear remind yourself that the saltwater flats are generally very windy, accuracy is critical and you need to make quick cast.

In choosing the right rod there are a few things you need to know and be honest about. First most bonefish are caught with cast between 30’ and 50’. I will stress that accurate cast at 30’ to 50’ will catch far more bonefish then sloppy cast at 60’. Second you need to be honest about your casting ability. If you are not you will probably get the wrong rod or line, or both. A true distance caster generally is looking for a completely different line if not rod than the average caster. I am going to figure that most reading this are in the 95% of average casters, 60’ would be a long cast for most. 

Rod 

When picking out the right rod you will need a rod that builds high line speed, but still loads easy. Line speed is what gives you accuracy and the power to pierce the wind. With that said you don’t want a rod that the taper is so stiff that you cannot feel the rod loading.

Budget is really going to dictate this more than anything. As the price of the rod goes up, generally they are built with a lighter, stronger quicker reacting graphite. This allows the manufacturer to build the rod with a little more forgiving taper making the rod easier to cast. Yet the graphite will react quicker producing higher line speed.

As the cost of the rod goes down, the manufacturer cannot use as efficient of graphite. In this case you will generally give up the ease of casting. This is due to the rod having to produced with a stiffer taper to meet the demands of saltwater. If the rod is not designed with a stiffer taper it is most likely lacking in the power that is needed for the flats.

As for the size of the rod, I would recommend a 9’ 8 weight rod. This tends to be the best all around bonefish rod. You can go lighter if you are just fishing for smaller bones and heavier if you are targeting really big bones.

My favorite bonefish rods tend to be; Sage X 890-4, G.Loomis Asquith 890-4, Winston Air Salt 890-4. All three of these tend to build really good line speed, yet load easier than most saltwater rods. 

Lines 

Bonefish live in a tropical environment so make sure you get tropical lines. If you take a coldwater line down to the tropics you are going to be disappointed. Line taper makes or breaks the performance that you are looking for out of your rod. For most bonefish conditions I like the shorter heavier tapers for bonefish. These allow me to load the rod quickly with just one or two false cast. There is no time on the flats to make 3, 4 or 5 false cast. My favorite shorter head lines are; RIO Bonefish Quickshooter, RIO Flats Pro, Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Grand Slam.

Reels 

I did list reels last, because they are important, but the rod and line should come first. Now with that said I will stress how hard saltwater is on fly reels. Also keep in mind that the fish in saltwater tend to peel line off of a reel much faster than in freshwater. There are a lot of really popular well known reels that get destroyed when fished in saltwater. There are many factors that cause reel failure. The most common is cheap guts inside the reel. Just because a reel is called sealed, water can still find its way into the drag system. This is when you find out that the couple bucks the manufacturer saved on bearings really bites you. Sometimes these failures don’t show up on your first trip to the salt, they show up after the reel has sat with saltwater in it for a year or so. Washing your reel good with freshwater every night helps, but it does not get all the salt out. Especially if the salt gets inside a supposed sealed drag.

I look for several things in a reel. I want the reel to have a large arbor, bigger the better. I want it to still be lite. I need a strong, smooth drag. Most of all I want a reel that stands up in saltwater. There are lots of really great reels out there, but here are a few of my favorites; Nautilus NVG 8/9 or 7/8, Nautilus CCFx2 6/8 or 8/10, Sage Spectrum Max 7/8.

I hope this helps a little in getting set up right for your next bonefish outing. I could easily write several pages on just rods or lines or reels, but I figured short and sweet would be better. We are always here to help you with any questions.
Trav

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Lyndsey's First Solo Fishing Experience

I’ve just returned from my first Solo Fishing trip. I was so proud of myself. You have to understand that over the years I have been lucky enough to fish with many great fishermen out there. Travis (my husband), Sam Sickles, John Garrett, Greg Darling, Tom Larimer, Russel Kleppinger and Greg Dini just to mention a few. While I have been lucky enough to not only fish a little locally but to also travel to Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Yellowstone, Montana and Idaho as well.

While I’m proud to say that I have fished with all of these guys and they have taken such good care of me that I am sad to say that I didn't even have to tie on my own flies.

Well this year I have been wanting to change that and the only way to do that is to get out there and fish!

Our son Austin, which if you follow our blog posts at all as you have seen he has really taken to fishing this past year. He is now 12 years old and earlier in the Summer we went float tubing together. It was a great day, I by far out fished him. But, he is really into his casting so I may not be fully knowledgeable I do know you will catch more fish when your fly is actually in the water…..but he was having fun and that is all that mattered.

So on Monday when my new Sage Trout LL 590-4 fly rod arrived I had to go and fish it!! So I decided it was time to make my first solo trip. After getting home from work I packed the car up with all of my gear and decided once the kids were off to school in the morning I would head out to Laurence Lake.

Once I arrived at the lake, I realized that I was the only angler out there, there were a couple of hunters but other than that I had this place all to myself. In the back of my head, thinking ...I have a whistle if something happens. But, who is going to hear it?? That was not going to stop me, everyone knew where I was and I was a pretty good swimmer. I came all this way to fish!

I pulled up and proceeded to inflate my Outcast float tube, I love this float tube as it’s so light and easy for me to pack around. Being that I am not even 5 foot tall all of this makes a difference.

I strapped Travis’s waist pack full of all of my stuff to the back of the float tube along with the net. Put my rod together, tied on my fly and proceeded to the edge of the water after putting my waders and boots on. The lake is very low at this time of year so the edge of the water is a bit muddy but I was able to find a spot to put in, get my fins on and I was ready to fish.

I had tied on the same fly that had worked for me so well last time. A wine colored woolly bugger ...Austin says it works for me because I enjoy drinking wine. Whatever the case may be, it works so I went back to it.

I proceeded to fish with it, made some casts then trolled with it for a bit. Had a light take down, then my rod buried and I missed him… So I continued to fish and paddle around for about 35 minutes with nothing. I reeled in only to realize I did not have a fly on any longer…..probably fished that whole time without a fly. At least I was getting good exercise and it was a pretty day. All of the guys said it was a rookie mistake ...might have been but it will be the last time I do that. So I chalk it up to a learning experience.

After that I re-tied on the same fly and proceeded to fish for a while missed a couple of fish. Then I could hear some thunder rolling and the wind calmed down and the lake was so flat. It was quiet and I decided I should try to dry fly fish. I then changed my fly…..but I was having trouble. The knot was not holding. Why was it not working this time? I was thinking I was doing it the same way. I could not call anyone with no cell coverage, or ask since I was the only angler on the water. So I kept at it, finally. Got it to work and proceeded to dry fly fish. I missed a few more fish. Just not quite quick enough ...guess I will have to fish more to get better at that.

So I decided I was going to go back to my wine colored woolly bugger, it was getting later in the day and I had kids to pick up. Then after a couple of casts I hook into a fish. Land it, get some pictures. Then back to fishing! Almost immediately hooked another one. Got him to the boat and he was bigger and full of beauty. I had to get another picture...which is not the easiest but had to make sure that I had proof I actually caught fish. I ended up landing a couple more and then it was time to pack up and pick up kids.

Learning to do this on my own gave me great confidence. I’m excited for this new journey and look forward to my next fishing trip!
Cheers,
Lyndsey!

Tarpon Notes for Saltwater Fans

 I don’t consider myself any kind of expert, but I’m an addicted tarpon-on-a-fly angler. I’ve had some great training from guides and casting instructors in my fly fishing career. I’ve had some great advice from the folks at the Gorge Fly Shop for much of my equipment.

 Here’s my “two cents”:

1. I was using a G.Loomis NRX 10 weight on many of these juvenile tarpon, but I also throw my favorite tarpon rod-the G.Loomis NRX 11 weight most of the time, because you never know when a 70 (or 120) pounder is going to show, especially on the ocean side, in the Keys.


2. Purchase the best quality equipment that you can afford. If you cannot afford it right now, save your money and get what you really want. Otherwise, you end up getting it, anyway, in the long run, when you find out that the “less expensive” equipment didn’t get the job done. Then the other stuff sits in the closet or in your rod rack. I happen to be a Nautilus NV fan. I’ve never had an issue with a Nautilus reel, and the drags are very sufficient and easy to adjust. If you read much on line, you’ll find out that Nautilus reels have very little “start up inertia”, which is important to protecting your class tippet. Yes, you can buy reels with 50 lbs of drag, but you’ll snap your class tippet on tarpon if your drag is set too tightly. 12-15 lbs of drag is plenty to get an adult tarpon to the boat quickly so that you can revive it and let it avoid predation by sharks. This is also why you NEED to use class tippet, or something that you can break off, if a hammerhead or bull shark is chasing the beautiful tarpon that you just fooled with your fly. Nautilus NV reels (Nautilus has had the NV-G format for some time now, which will fit the NV frames. The NV-G spools, I feel, are a distinct improvement, in terms of retrieval rates, and I’ve upgraded many of my spools to the NV-G spool).


3. Matching the line to the rod is important, to achieve proper loading. It’s not all an exact science. You NEED TO INVEST TIME, ENERGY, AND YOUR OWN EVALUATION. Many times, it’s best to use a 12 weight line on an 11 weight rod, etc. The Gorge Fly Shop can help you out with advice on this. “Fast action” rods: G.Loomis NRX, Helios 3D, Scott Meridian, etc., can handle “over-lining.” Over-lining can actually help many folks “feel the load”, and throw tighter loops, which is of the utmost important in saltwater fly angling. Not all of us are 6’ 2” with powerful forearms and wrists, so we cannot aerialize 60-65 feet of line, and shoot the remaining 30-40 feet of fly line. You need to be realistic in your own self-analysis, but you need to have “tight loops and high line speed”, i.e., correct rod tip path with double hauling. I practice fly casting year round; it’s like some folks going to the driving range and just working on their 7 iron, or their 3 iron. You practice the correct stroke, and develop the muscle memory. So when the tarpon show up, and the guide is asking for a 60’ cast at 11 o’clock, and “lead ‘em by 8 feet”, it’s an automatic thing. This is very important to getting a hook up, especially at a demanding tarpon venue, with sensitive and wary fish, such as the Florida Keys!


4. This, perhaps, should be number one: Spend some time throwing different rods. Everyone has their own casting stroke. I can throw a number of different rods and be happy. Personally, in the 11 weights, I love my G.Loomis NRX rods. In 8 through 10 weights, I like my G.Loomis NRX, but I also like the Helios 3D. I also have a Scott Meridian in 12 weight-a very light rod that is extremely powerful. Match those with a RIO Direct Core Stealth tip, or RIO Outbound short, or an SA Amplitude Tarpon line, and you’ll love it. You should be able to do a “quick cast”, from the “ready” position, to 60 feet, with one backcast, and have the fly turned over and the leader straight when the fly lands.


5. I tie most of my tarpon leaders, and I use RIO Hard Mono for the butt and sequential leader sections: 40-35-30-25-class (say, 20 lb). And RIO FluoroFlex Saltwater Tippet for the bite tippet, 50, 60, 80-whatever you prefer. Many guides will provide the leaders for you. In Costa Rica, I use 100 lb fluoro. Those Costa Rican tarpon don’t mind.


6. PRACTICE YOUR CASTING. I cannot emphasize this enough. Practice with a 12’ leader. If you are tying overhand knots in it, those are “casting knots”, not “wind knots.” YOU made them, with a tailing loop. Figure it out and correct it. On spooky fish, such as in the Keys, your guide will love you if you can turn over a fly on a 12 or 15 foot leader.


7. Hire a guide who is also a teacher, and who is an affable person. That person needs to be respectful, patient, be able to “correct your casting mistakes” in a diplomatic fashion, know the fish behavior on certain tides, wind directions, and be able to handle the boat appropriately. I am very pleased to be able to fish with a guide such as Joel Dickey, in the Keys, and guides such as Dion, Dubs, and Mark, at Turneffe Flats Resort. Henry Rodriguez and Pancho Xec at Pesca Maya resort on Ascension Bay. Cokie, with Avalon, in Cuba. On the other hand, your guide is working hard to get you into position to catch fish-perhaps “the fish of a lifetime.” So have some respect for his/her efforts, and prepare before you go on your trip. THAT MEANS PRACTICE YOUR CASTING! 

Have fun and ENJOY! There’s nothing like a big tarpon to tighten your blood knots!
Howard Stringert

Nautilus GTX - Coming Soon

We continue to pursue bigger, faster and tougher fish species so likewise we need to pursue tougher equipment to tame the giants. Nautilus Fly Reels are well proven to conquer the task and well known to push the limits of fly reel design. New for 2018, Nautilus GTX!

New for 2018, the GTX from Nautilus Reels is in a class of its own. Designed to be fished beyond IGFA regulations, this reel is equipped to go head-to-head with your terminal tackle and with a maximum drag of 25 pounds, the GTX is built to put the brakes on the fastest and strongest fish on the planet.

The GTX is a 5-inch diameter reel with a narrow 1.1 inch wide spool that can hold 500 yards of 60 pound braid. The spool is lightweight and intricately machined with our Giga spool design to promote strength, maximum line pickup, and fast line drying to prevent corrosion when stored. 

The GTX brake is a brand new design that is best described as a hybrid NV-G / CCF-X2 / X-Series drag on steroids. It features a new pressure spring that is sandwiched between two aluminum disc that rotate in unison, Which applies even pressure to the drag surfaces. 

The new dual drag surface features an over-sized carbon fiber disc on one side and a cork/Kevlar/carbon fiber hybrid on the other. The cork acts as a compression material to ensure a smooth drag transition while the carbon fiber delivers the market-leading overall smoothness that nautilus reels are known for. The new Kevlar mid layer provides additional rigidity to the drag surface and spreads the pressure more evenly across the surface, insulating and heat generated by friction and dampening vibrations for the smoothest perceived drag on the market

Specs -

Model	Line	Capacity	Weight	Diameter
GTX	10/11/12	WF12+(300yds30#)	9.1 oz	5.00"

"The Gorge"

The Gorge Fly Shop Team

541.386.6977

info@gorgeflyshop.com

www.gorgeflyshop.com

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Fishing in the U.P.

Carp'n on the Flats of Lake Michigan

Although my trip was centered around smallmouth bass on the fly, when in Rome, (Michigan) one must spend some quality time pursuing freshwater bonefish, (Carp).

Back to Bassin'

If you know anything about me you know I chase Bass! I've spent half a lifetime pursuing these freshwater pugnacious species in any body of water from farm ponds to great lakes, from creeks to rivers and every puddle in between. It's in my blood and I make no apologies for it!

In the last few years while living in trout country I've slowly slipped away from the bronze family. Trout angling has been good for me. It has broadened my skills and allowed me to build a solid respect for the coldwater species.

On a cold winter day while sifting through the hundreds of Columbia River bass photos obtained throughout the years of guiding and fishing the big water an overwhelming need to get back to the bronze kind had finally surfaced. I felt this day coming long ago. It was just a matter of time until the right opportunity surfaced.

Good Company, Good Times

I found that opportunity in an email. Schultz Outfitters' newsletter hit my inbox and while scanning the highlights there it was, the SO annual Upper Peninsula (U.P.)  Smallmouth trip and by the time I called Schultzy there was one spot remaining. You know that spot was meant for me!

I've always wanted to fish in the U.P. I don't know why I never did. I've fished all around it into Ontario and the great lakes but for some reason the U.P. was never a destination. I think the reason is, in that region, there is so much water that it takes a lifetime to explore.

The trip was everything you look for in a group event. Great fishing, scenery, lodging, guides, friends and food. Plenty of everything and best of all plenty of smallmouth. Early one morning I watched a black bear swim across the river right outside the lodge that overlooks the river. Plenty of wildlife and of course plenty of mosquitoes too! Bring your deet!

Like Topwater?

About 99% of the fishing is topwater divers, poppers and assorted foam bugs fished from drift boats with non stop casting to every undercut, tree root, boulder and grass line looking for that classic bass attack. I've got to tell you there is nothing that stirs the adrenaline like watching the water move when your bug hits the surface.

No shortage of quality fish

Equipment

20" Brute

James Cook  20" Smallie

My Sage Bass II Series of rods did the bulk of the work for me. The Largemouth size handles the big hair bugs with ease and the shorter length really helps the accuracy of putting those big bugs under the trees. My Smallmouth size was pure magic with the popping bugs and foam critters. I also used a Sage Method 890-4 for some of the subsurface minnow work. This rod can really deliver the distance. Reels are not a huge deal in this game. Once hooked up you need to be concerned with pulling the fish away from entanglement and not worry about getting it on the reel. The line of choice throughout the group is the S/A Mastery Textured Titan Taper. The Titan has a powerful head for big bug delivery and also has a long rear taper to make easy work of picking up a lot of line for a the next cast. To explain better, most presentations involve hitting a target and after settling, making 1-2 moves before recasting to a new spot. The long taper of this line all but eliminates the need to strip back to a casting point common with short head lines.


The fish here are quality. Sure you could find more trophies in the big lakes but they couldn't match the experience of these river dwellers. A 20" or over here will get strong recognition. I was fortunate to catch one of the two caught this week. Too many to count 19's" came to hand and I didn't hear a single complaint about too many dinks.

About that Carp photo at the start of this article...

Release!

As if a great week of smallie fishing with a great crew of anglers and guides in a great lodge with great food and drink and yada, yada, yada wasn't enough...the next stop just a couple hours away is the flats of lake Michigan. I've always wanted to wade in this great lake and hunt these submarine size monsters. It was everything I'd ever dreamed about. The first thing I kept marveling over is the fact that I am wading in Lake Michigan with miles of flats one can walk with crystal clear water all around. Next was learning to spot the fish which is in fact the easy part. Just look for giant dark shadows that are moving. Bring out your best cast, these critters are smart. I had many refusals before I played it cool enough to have one commit. Be sure to have a good disc drag reel. My old Nautilus FW (which I can proudly say has caught more fish than most fly reels will ever see) was just fine for the bass we were hauling in but I was a bit concerned when I locked the drag down as tight as it would go and this fish was still running deep into backing until I only had maybe 20 yards to spare when I finally got it to turn. It is my advice that if you find yourself in the great lakes region don't pass up this opportunity and if you have it penciled in on your bucket list go ahead and ink it. You won't be disappointed.

A Giant THANK YOU goes out to my friends out Schultz Outfitters. These guys eat sleep and live all the great fly fishing in this area of the country. Also want to thank the guides from Tight Lines Fly Fishing Company. These guys know their water, know their fish and work hard to ensure you a great day of fishing. And a special Thanks to Schultzy for sharing a little bit of his Great Lakes carp wisdom.

This trip won't be forgotten anytime soon and I hope to have the opportunity to do it again.

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop Internet Sales Manager | Product Specialist

Review: Sage Bass II Series Rods