Before I begin to review Hatch Finatic Fly Reel, I would like to say I was a long time Ross Evolution user, and really loved them.
I believed the drag was one of the best on the market and the reel was super smooth. However, after switching to Hatch, I have realized that although Evo's are great, but in my opinion there is NO reel on the market that begins to surpass Hatch. I've used all the expensive reels on the market for serious Trout & Big Game anglers.
The design of a Hatch reel has exceeded the expectations of the industry. To start off, the reel is one solid piece of aluminum, and the reel seat isn't screwed in. This provides a super solid and quite indestructible reel!
Switching the retrieve from left to right is simply unscrewing an allen screw and turning over a small gear.
There are no places for sand, dirt or grime to get into the reel anywhere. But the real reason to drool over this fly reel is the drag. Hatches have the most amazing drag ever designed. There is zero start of friction, so as soon as you pull line off, the drag starts.
Other manufactures have not refined the "play." The spool spins backwards momentarily without any resistance before the drag kicks in. This start up friction can/will break small tippet as I've seen it done many times. I won't bore you with drag specifics, you can go on the website listed below if you want to see how it works. The drag is the smoothest on the market and you can put so much more pressure on fish in the toughest of situations. When a fish shakes their head, the drag will gives so much smoother than other reels and it protects tippet like a champ!
Steelhead & Salmon anglers have also jumped on the Hatch bandwagon because they need a drag that will perform in all temperatures with feisty drag screaming Trophy Fish. Hatch makes a reel for every sized rod manufactured, so you can get the perfect fit for your stick of choice. If you're not happy with your reel, or you're just curious about Hatch, write us, call us or stop in our shop to learn more, you won't regret it!
For all of you Upper Delaware nymphomaniacs out there, the Iso-Horny is your wet dream. I designed this fly in size 10 for fishing the fast riffles packed with rainbows. The mylar is flashy enough to get their attention in fast moving water, and the white stripe on the top along with the soft hackle on the wing case provides an impressionistic and realistic nymph that fools fish left and right. Also, Isonychias are very fast swimmers that swim in bursts. These nymphs usually swim to the bank to emerge on the bank, but they can hatch in a normal fashion by rising to the surface in the middle of the river if the water is high. At the end of your drift, don't be afraid to give the flies a strip or two towards the bank, and if the water is high, you can hold your line tight and let the fly swing to the surface.
This is a fly for all you Croton Watershed anglers that can't get those finicky risers to take your fly. I tie this fly usually in size 24, but anywhere from 18-26 will work. The swiss straw wings sit low in the water and fish really seem to love it.
February was an interesting month to say the least. The tri-state area has seen unseasonably warm temperatures as of late. From about February 20th on the Anglers Den team witnessed rising trout on some of the areas local rivers.
First we saw browns and bows sipping midges down in Brewster on the Croton watershed. This early year gift was the result of consecutive days of warm weather and controlled flows let out of the areas local reservoirs. The Den and fly fishermen alike seized the opportunity to shake off some rust and toss some dry flies considerably early in the year.
Later in the month some Anglers Den team members went around strategically collecting bug samples from other local rivers. On a short drive to Amenia, located in Dutchess County NY, similar scenarios from our Brewster trip occurred. We were examining the Ten Mile River one late afternoon to collect early season river data for shop purposes. Upon arrival to some secluded spots, it was evident that the stone fly hatch was well underway. Adult stone flies were sputtering around at a pretty decent rate, and more importantly the fish were taking them when available. We noticed that downed trees provided the perfect barrier from the current as trout would hold up just down stream from the fallen timber, eating ever so often.
We stepped out of the car a little after 1p.m. to a brisk 30 degree day, sun shining and hopes high. The water was clear and on the warmer side for this time of year, with the flow running at 115 CFS.
We started at Phoebe's pool south of the Sodom Road Bridge and worked our way back up river throughout the afternoon. We were nymphing, working an upstream drift with no indicator just keeping the slightest tension on the line. Also we tried effective methods of shoot mending a flash-black bugger along the deeper runs on the far bank.
The hares ear nymph produced a few quick "takes" as well as the flashy black bugger.
As we worked are way back to the Sodom Bridge we noticed feeding trout below the bridge, the only problem was getting a solid presentation on them as there was not much current.
All and all it was a great day of fishing had by all. We spent a few hours on the river, however time seemed to drift by rather quickly. It was soon time to go and we made our way back to the shop to thaw out.
The Anglers Den, Home of English Angling Trappings will be hosting weekly fly tying nights. Held every Thursday evening from 7pm-10pm until April 1st. These Events are Open to the General public.
Coffee will be served and as always feel free to bring your own delights.
If you have a vise and a few basic tools bring them along. If not we will be able to provide them. Hope to see you there.
We will be tying all types of patterns for fly Fishing. Dry Fly's, floating nymphs, Czech Nymphs, Caddis Pupa, Traditional Catskill patterns, Steelhead and Salmon patterns. Streamers, terrestrials, flies for the salt. Do you have a specific goal to reach? We will help you get there!
Fishing at night (one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise) is
prohibited, except in the Black River (Jefferson County) from Lake Ontario upstream
to the Route 180 bridge in Dexter, where fishing is permitted at all times, and inthe Salmon River in Oswego County, where fishing at night is permitted from LakeOntario to the Route 3 bridge from April 1 through August 14Fly Fishing only sectionTwo stream sections between CountyRoute 52 Bridge in Altmar and the Lighthouse Hill Reservoir.fishing hours, season dates & boundaries• Angling Permitted: From one-half hourbefore sunrise to one-half hour aftersunset. Trespassing prohibited at night.• Lower Fly Section: September 15through May 15. From County Route52 bridge in Altmar upstream 0.25 mileto the marked boundary at BeaverdamBrook.• Upper Fly Section: April 1 throughNovember 30. From a marked boundary upstream of the New York StateSalmon River Fish Hatchery propertyto marked boundary approximately 0.6mile upstream at the Lighthouse HillReservoir tail-race.
Regulations:• Catch & Release: All fish must bereleased without unnecessary injury.• Tackle Restrictions: Tackle is restrictedto a traditional flyrod, flyreel and flyline.For these areas, a traditional flylinemay be a floating or sinking flyline orshooting head.Hooks
• Hooks attached to any lure, except an artificial fly, must be free-swinging.• Hooks may have a gap (distance between the shank and the point) of no morethan one half inch.• Use of hooks with added weight is prohibited, except that artificial flies with nomore than one-eighth ounce of added weight may be used. For the purposes ofthis regulation, the method by which weight is added to a hook does not affectclassification as an “artificial fly” provided the conditions of the definition of an“artificial fly” (page 12) are otherwise met.• Only one hook with a single hook point is permitted, except on floating lures, asoutlined below.Fishing HoursFishing at night (one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise) isprohibited, except in the Black River (Jefferson County) from Lake Ontarioupstreamto the Route 180 bridge in Dexter, where fishing is permitted at all times, and inthe Salmon River in Oswego County, where fishing at night is permitted from LakeOntario to the Route 3 bridge from April 1 through August 14Leaders and Weights• The distance between the hook, artificial fly or lure and any weight attached tothe line or leader, whether fixed or sliding, shall not exceed four feet.• In addition, when the above special tributary regulations are in effect for LakeOntario tributaries in Oswego and Cayuga counties, and the Genesee River(MonroeCounty) from the Driving Park Bridge upstream to the Lower Falls: weight shallnot be added to the line, leader, swivels, artificial fly or lure in any manner suchthat the weight hangs lower than the attached hook, artificial fly or lure when theline or leader is suspended vertically from the rod.
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prohibited, except in the Black River (Jefferson County) from Lake Ontario upstream
to the Route 180 bridge in Dexter, where fishing is permitted at all times, and in
the Salmon River in Oswego County, where fishing at night is permitted from Lake
Ontario to the Route 3 bridge from April 1 through August 14
The Anglers Den Team spent (2) days Fishing the heck out of the Salmon River. We had a very successful trip! This was a tremendous learning experience and thrilling time, we recommended trip for anyone looking for heart pounding, drag screaming excitement! We focused our time in the catch & release fly section in Altmar Ny. See some of our pictures below:
Fly of The Day - 6/2/12
Fly of The Day
