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Squall Jacket Review: by Ambassador Matt Guymon

This newest addition to the line of Willy J jackets is made to trek into the wildest weather while staying comfy and dry. I put this jacket to the test on the first day. With temps in the low 20’s and blizzard like conditions I pulled up the hood, tighten the cuffs, and, zipped up for a long day on the water.

I was a little skeptical about the waterproofing of this shell with it really dumping. Almost a half day into it I was completely amazed I was still dry and warm. The wind was not cutting through and, the water was rolling off the material nicely. The fleece lined pockets did a good job at warming the hands after tying on flies, and releasing several fish. A full day and I was impressed so far, so good. I fished this jacket for the next several weeks enduring all sorts of late fall weather. The rain, snow, wind, and the occasional warmer day all felt nice, leaving little to be desired. As a whole the jacket seemed to stand up to some good abuse. The large pocket on the inside made it easy to store a box of nymphs and some tippet, making a quick jaunt to the water easy. I did how ever find that when the wind died down and the sun peaked from the clouds the hood was a little in the way. A little Velcro strap was easily secured to tie it down, not sure if it was intended for that purpose but it worked.

This jacket at $140 is by far the best way to keep the snow and wind off your neck this season. It seems I’m always putting my self into the wild weather of the West and feel comfortable that this jacket will do what is needed to keep me dry and warm. The colors are pretty nice and it fits well leaving enough room for a layer of warmth underneath. I did find that if the temps really dropped it was a little chilly without a good under layer.

At $140 though it’s hard to beat this well designed shell. I give it a thumb’s up for the Willy J crew. You will not find a better priced jacket for your hard earned dollar. So if you’re headed for the water this winter I would recommend you do it in the Squall. You won’t be disappointed and, you will still have enough cash to buy some flies and beer.

Feb 01, 2012 | Categories:Product, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Revisiting the Gunnison River

I was born and raised on the western slope of Colorado and I always considered the Black Canyon section of the Gunnison River my home water. The rugged terrain of the Black Canyon made the place somewhat intimidating to me as a child. When I was very young my uncle and grandparents would usually take me to Pleasure Park at the confluence with the North Fork but I was not allowed to cross the river to get to the Gold Metal Water section without being supervised. As I got older I was allowed to cross the North Fork and explore the lower section of the Gold Metal Water by myself. The sheer vertical walls of the canyon, solitude and giant rainbow trout made the place truly magical and I tried to spend every weekend I could seeing new sections of the river. By the time I got my drivers license I finally had the ability to explore the many sections of the river that require demanding hikes into the depths of the Black Canyon. My childhood started low in the more accessible sections of the Canyon and slowly as I got older I explored deeper up the drainage, much like the canyons famous stone fly hatch.

By the time I graduated from Telluride High School I had fished most of the river. My first year of College at Montana State University was the year that Whirling disease started devastating rainbow trout populations throughout the Western USA and the news that the Gunnison River was particularly hit hard was discomforting to say the least. Every successive year my friends were reporting less and less of the monster rainbow trout in the Gunnison.

I went on to live on the Eastern slope of Colorado for 16 years, visiting the Gunnison River occasionally but spending most of my energy chasing warm water species in the Colorado plains. This summer I took a guiding job in Telluride and returned to my old stomping grounds and am now working for Scott Fly Company in Montrose. After many years away from the Black Canyon, I have been amazed once again by this magical place. The fishery is different than I remember, with more brown trout and people, but the canyon is exactly as I remember it. As I revisiting many of my old haunts this year, I use many different Willy J packs to optimize my fishing experience in the different sections of the Gunnison. When I float the Gunnison below Pleasure Park, I use the conduit boat bag supplemented with the Current bag to walk wade. When I hike down into the canyon on an overnight trip, I like to travel light with my Exodus fishing pack. For most of my day trips and every day fishing needs, I prefer the Surge mag bag.

As winter sets in on the Black Canyon many of the best parts of the fishery shut down so I will spend the season on the lower reaches of the Gunnison with my dog until the spring sun reawakens the desolate canyon. It is nice to be home again trout fishing this wonderful River, although I will truly miss catching Carp all winter in Denver.

Dec 01, 2011 | Categories:Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »

Fall Fun Video -Paul Swint

A video by Paul Swint

Nov 17, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: fall, Fun, paul, swint, video | Leave A Comment »

The Great Lake Tributary -Lucas Caroll

The Great Lake Tributary season has begun here in Western NY, and I’m about as ready as one can get. There’s a good chance my family will be relocating in the upcoming summer so I will be taking full advantage of the huge migratory fish population this area has to offer. With the move approaching I have also decided to visit some other tributaries that I haven’t made time for in the past. The diversity of the rivers in the Great Lakes region, particularly here in Western NY is nothing less then amazing.

So far we have been sticking to the swing this fall, and landing kings with an occasional trout. Sort of a slow start I guess, but the scenery has been beautiful and the best fishing is yet to come so morale remains positive. Willy J continues to join the adventures, and this season I have had the pleasure of adding the Storm Series Surf bag to my arsenal of packs. This is primarily a waterproof bombproof boat bag, but I have utilized it on the banks of the river. Having a big waterproof bag like this has allowed me to bring (with confidence) more of my camera gear out in the typically rainy fall conditions. So far the pack has worked flawlessly, and it’s simple design makes it easy and enjoyable to use. The only issue has been getting my buddies to stop loading it up with their stuff!

Nov 01, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Leave A Comment »

Bonkers for Bucketmouths-Finpusher.com

With the current state of snowpack in the Rocky Mountain west, raging ditches force anglers to find alternate sources of entertainment. Lakes are being drained to make room for what is still to come, leaving tail waters that offer no reprieve. So we packed up the family and headed south to escape the Seattlesque weather. In search of warmth, sunshine, and a chance to fish some land locked flats far enough south to forgo the onslaught of rushing water.

Still a bit crisp in the wee hours of the morning, the sun not yet high in the sky, picking out lurking largemouths was rough. Waste deep in the cool water, I moseyed through ribbons of warmth. As my feet moved over finely textured sand, I felt like I was much farther from home. Taking in the scenic overtones I watched as an aerobatics pilot a few thousand feet above me, performed Lazy Eights and some negative-g Lamcovak’s. Soaking in the morning as the sun started its gentle arc overhead, polarization revealed targets in the clear water and the fun commenced. There were 10 half pounders to every 1 that was over two, so marking the targeted fish and those around him was important. After spooking a few fish I would love to have photos of, I finally placed my cast. The olive and yellow Hooker variation swam convincingly past the occupied bush and we had a taker! Standing in the water and watching a 4 pound bass mouth agape, tail walking toward me, brought out my inner Jethro. I hooted loudly so my uncle Cletus would know I had on a dandy, only I was alone, all alone…. I fished to some bass well over seven pounds but unfortunately someone had already shown them all three of the tricks I know. Another day I guess. Around noon the wake boarders showed up with the chop and the water clarity faded along with the action.

I sat down on the beach, sipped a yellow can and watched the boats roll by. On my way to the car I avoided a pop top so as to not blow out my flip flop.

Oct 15, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: Bass, Bonkers, Bucket mouths, Collin Carlson, Fun, http://finpusher.com/, Largemouth, Quality, william joseph | Leave A Comment »

The William Joseph Exodus Pack-FishingPoet.com

Unless I’m purposely packing light to fish out of my kayak, I always wear a backpack along with a chest pack when I’m wading or fishing out of a boat. Between a thermos of coffee, a couple water bottles, jerky, maybe a sandwich, camera, extra fly boxes and wet/cold weather gear, the chest pack alone doesn’t cut it and I’d rather hump a pack than leave it in the truck and waste time making trips back for short breaks. I do the same thing when I’m out deer or goose hunting. Being self-contained keeps you in the game…after all, that’s where the fur, feathers and fins are. The one down-side is that within a couple hours my lower back is killing me and it won’t loosen up regardless of taking breaks or stretching. I’ve found Bourbon to be the closest solution to-date, but it makes wading difficult pretty quickly.

A few days before we flew for Idaho, a package came in the mail from Paul Swint over at William Joseph. He and I had talked about the trip at the IFTD show in New Orleans a week or so earlier and he thought it worthwhile to send me one of their new packs to try out. What showed up at my door was the Exodus II pack/vest combo in sage (it’s available in blue as well). I’d been fishing a small chest pack of theirs for the last 10 years and had planned to pack my extra gear in my backpack the same way I always do. I was looking forward to changing up that routine and hopefully turning the corner on the sore back thing. Damn, I sound freaking old.

The detachable vest pockets were an immediate plus. Our flight west had two layovers, so I planned on using the back pack as a carry-on in order to keep my reels, flies, accessories, camera, some clothes and flight essentials (food/water) with me. I was able to organize all of my fly boxes and accessories in the vest, unbuckle the two components from the pack and fit them in the main compartment with everything else, essentially river-ready.

On the water, the Exodus (retail price of $169) fit me well with the wide, adjustable shoulder straps and chest buckle. I thought the size would make it heavier out of the package, but it was surprisingly light-weight. Plus, the vented back and shoulder straps allowed for plenty of air circulation, which kept me comfortable even with a few 8 – 10 hour days on the water and consistent temps in the 90′s. The contents I packed in the main compartment were not inordinately heavy, but I was able to fit a sweatshirt, shell and a pair of wading sandals along with the other items I mentioned, and the compression straps on the sides, bottom and back kept the pack low-profile and also kept the weight close to my center of gravity, which completely alleviated my back strain.

The material and stitching was durable enough not to snag, rip or pop when hiking a game trail through woods and thick brush, being dropped on the ground or gravel bar, or thrown in the back of a truck or boat at numerous points during the trip. Speaking of boats, during our two days on the South Fork, it was flawless and stowed easily out from under foot when not being pillaged for flies, tippet or jerky. Plus the rugged handle at the top was a solid, easy grab when reaching for the pack or tossing it back.

The one sticking point for me was the dangling straps at the bottom of back-pack. When wading in waist-deep water, where the line you strip bellies around behind you in the current, the line invariably gets snagged on one or more of the straps when paying out line to cast. I tried tying them up to shorten them, but still had some snags. Rolling/folding them up in rubber bands or elastic might’ve worked, I’ve seen that on other packs, but I didn’t test that hypothesis.

The vest components are very well designed with six generous pockets that hold a lot of gear: 4 fly boxes, 5 containers for my sex-dungeon collection, extra leaders, floatant, strike indicators, split-shot case, my pipe and tobacco and Kodak Play Sport video camera. The two components zip together to hold the pair securely front and center, and when unzipped, swing out of the way if you need less in front of you to, say, untangle major knots.

And they’ve paid attention to detail: the water-tight Zip-No magnetic pocket closure system makes it easy to get at fly boxes and other accessories without the one-handed zipper wrestling match; the two zippered cargo pockets it does have are armed with rubberized tabs for easy gripping; rounded, tube-covered pull tabs give you something substantial – but non line-snagging – to pull open the magnetic pockets; additional webbing straps are included for lashing your tippet dispenser or hemos; a retractable clipper clasp is built into one of the pockets; and the AirTrack suspension allows you the flexibility adjust the fit of the whole rig to wear over more layers or fewer.

Aside from the fish we caught, the pack made a huge difference in the overall trip experience – from flight to fishing. Off the water it was comfortable, spacious and convenient enough to travel with. On the water, I had everything I needed (and then some) and without the nagging lower back, I actually forgot that I had anything more than the chest pack on. I look forward to putting it through further abuse/use back up here in NY chasing salmon and steelhead and hopefully some pike and late season bass. Hell maybe the back pack will see hunting season as well.

PROS:
• More than enough pockets and room in the backpack and vest
• Water-tight Magnetic Zip-No pocket closure system
• Lightweight, well-balanced and compresses well
• Detachable vest components
• Fully adjustable for good fit in cold or warm weather
• The price is right for the over-all versatility and quality

CONS:
• Need to find a way to corral straps and avoid line snags

You can learn more about the Exodus II pack/vest combo and other William Joseph products at www.williamjoseph.net

Reviews on this site are my unpaid and unbiased opinion of gear, music, guides, books and other outdoor-related items. In some instances I may be allowed to keep what is sent to me for review, but as of right now I’m not affiliated with any company, manufacturer, publisher, or producer in any other way. I suppose there’s still hope though.

Review by - www.fishingpoet.com

Oct 01, 2011 | Categories:Product | Tags: exodus 2, exodusii, Fishing, fishing vest, fly fishing, Freshwater, poet, Reviews, Vest, willyj, zip-no | Leave A Comment »

Ballistic Bass!-Collin Carlson

With snowpack holding on and still measuring deep in the Wasatch and Uinta mountains, rivers are destined to be bound to their banks for weeks to come. Uber flows rising with the coinciding air temps ensure there is to be no reprieve in the immediate future. Even though consistent high flows have created lower reservoir temps causing a delay in the annual cycles, fish are still hungry.

Targeting new fish in new water has opened my eyes to an unfamiliar species that I have little experience with, and one in particular that is rapidly becoming a favorite. Smallies offer a high octane target in a rugged durable package.

Built for wrecking baitfish and vaporizing graphite, the little red eyed bad asses crush flies with intensity like none other. Pound for pound I have felt nothing as powerful swimming in freshwater. A one and a half pound smallie can taco most 5wt. rods leaving the angler baffled on the receiving end of the hook up. Recently I picked up a 4 pounder on foot performing what I call a “shore troll”, I was certain I had tied into a 10 pound musky until there was no aerial assault. Smallies come to hand with difficulty, eyes full of boiling blood, faces painted for war, and bodies of bronze revealing their intent.

Rip rap lurkers waiting in ambush, they guard their turf with ferocity. From top water all the way to deeply dredged flies, smallies will tear into them all. Years ago I worked at a local

gym with a kid named Willie Wardle. Willie was 5 foot-not so much, and a buck sixty soppin wet. He was ripped to the core and had a wreck your whole day attitude. His nose looked like it had been moved around a few times and I wouldn’t mess with him for all the tea in China. Smallies remind me of Willie. Having access to these type of fish in abundance that are willing to eat my fly when presented in a variety of ways, and at a variety of depths, all in the same day is, for lack of a better word, fun.

In short, targeting muskies and picking up smallies has quickly turned into targeting smallies and picking up muskies. Any fish measuring less than twenty inches that is a hand full on a 10wt. gets my vote. I hope you enjoy the imagery.

Sep 21, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors | Tags: Bass Fishing, Collin Carlson, fly fishing, Freshwater, http://finpusher.com/, william joseph | Leave A Comment »

Product Review: The William Joseph Coastal Pack-Nick

These days fly anglers have more option and better products with innovative features than we ever dreamed of when it comes to fly gear. From fly lines, rods, reels to waders we are truly spoiled with great companies and innovative products. With that being said I’ve never been much of a fan of the quintessential fishing vest. But thankfully, like I mentioned, we have a plethora of quality options and alternatives these days from some cutting edge companies like William Joseph, Fishpond and Simms. I haven’t used a vest for over 12 years and prefer a chest pack of some kind. Over the years I’ve bought and fished many different technical packs as my angling needs changed. I’m a bit of a self admitted gear whore and carry everything from extras spools to sharpie markers for coloring flies while on the water. My favorite style has to be a chest pack / back pack combo and almost always am fishing out of one. Lately I’ve been using the William Joseph Coastal backpack Mini Chest-Pack Combo and I’ve really been pleased.

Key Features included:

A full weight-bearing waste belt that also has integrated pockets for items that you may want quickly accessible like floatant or a point and shoot camera.
Two main pockets with many inner pockets with zippers and divides. Great for organizing extra leaders, sharpie markers, bug repellant and anything else that is a must have on the water.
Very light, weighing in at only 2 lbs 14 oz.
Willy J’s signature TCS (tippet control system) so you can scrap that dangling tippet T that’s always unraveling.
Anatomical shoulder straps.
Two rod tube holders that can be used to carry water bottles.
Removable and independent from chest pack. Great for wading out of a boat or when just the essentials and some fly boxes are needed.

But the most noteworthy and my favorite feature has to be Willy J’s Airtrack Suspension system. The Airtrack pulls the pack away from your back and lets air flow freely so you stay comfortable and don’t end up a sweaty mess. I’ve been fishing this backpack since last fall and so far its been great. If you’re tired of slogging around in a sweaty vest or do long day trips on foot you might want to check out this Willy J setup.

Sep 01, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors, Product | Tags: Coastal, fly fishing, Mini Chest Pack, nick granato, product review, Quality, review, Tech series, william joseph, williamjoseph, willyj | Leave A Comment »

Summer Update from Western NY

Normally I would have a ton of brown trout on dry fly photos to share, but the Spring rains messed everything up. We had record rainfall in upstate NY for the first two months of Spring which resulted in high flows, and very few rising fish. The streamer fishing was pretty good, but after a long off-season I’ve grown accustomed to fishing on the surface.

So I put trout aside and focused on bass, which thankfully Western NY has plenty of. For most of the late Spring and early Summer I fished for largemouth and smallmouth, and I tried my best to get them on topwater flies. I discovered a ton of new water, and even some urban spots that are close to home, which is always nice to save on gas. It was a different season this year, but sometimes it’s good to change things up. My William Joseph Surge and Wader Bag were with me on every adventure and really made the trips a lot easier.

Finally the coldwater creeks are back in their normal summer flows, and the fish seem to be happily rising again, so it should be good surface activity for the rest of the summer. I’m really looking forward to dry flyin for trout, but I have a feeling I’ll be throwing in a couple bass trips!

Aug 01, 2011 | Categories:Ambassadors, News | Tags: fly fishing, Lucas Carroll, New York, news, Save on Gas, surge, Urban Fishing, Wader bag, willy j, willyj | Leave A Comment »

William Joseph Waders and W20 Boot Review-STSFreaks

About a month ago we received a package in the mail that contained a pair of the “Drynamic Waders” and “W20 Wading Boots” from Paul over at William Joseph. His exact words were “use them and tell me what you don’t like about them”.

So I did just that, I took them on a trip chasing Trout to begin with, first impressions were pretty good. They were like a brand new pair of shoes and needed some time to break in. We had a photo shoot in one of the local rivers after that trip and I took the W.J. gear with me and after hiking around for a bit the boots startedto feel much better. Since receiving the gear, we have used them on several different fishing trips and 10 or so photo shoots and can proudly say that I would take them anywhere with me and feel completely comfortable that they will hold up to anything we put them through! That being said, some of the awesome features:

Drynamic Waders:

Oversized Booties:We get some cold weather here in the Northwest and not only are the booties made of 5 mil thick Neoprene, they are oversized to accommodate for bigger sock sizes. They also have traction built into the bottom to keep from sliding around in the boots. Big plus when you are hiking in to fish. Read more…

Jul 13, 2011 | Categories:Product | Tags: drynamic, product review, w20 boots, wader technology, Waders, wading boots, william joseph | Leave A Comment »

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