Outdoors’ yearly Christmas prowl for loot to please that favorite outdoors person was physically hindered by safe COVID-19 protocol, but proper success was achieved. Three local producers lead the way for 2020.
Fitmasks by Avalon7.com: Comfortable, stylish and by far the best-fitting face masks to protect during social distancing that I’ve worn are designed and marketed by my favorite snowboarder pro and former neighbor, Rob Kingwill. Rob’s Avalon7 array of well-designed and artistically decorated outerwear includes his zany summer and winter sun masks, which are super safeguards. The soaring popularity of his easily adjustable Fitmasks designs ($19.99 to $22) is keeping The Kinger extra busy. Order them for yourself on Avalon7.com.
SnakeRiverNet.com: After receiving a gift of an ornately decorated custom wood trout fly box immaculately traced with turquoise, I promised Idaho craftsman Mike Avery’s wife I’d pay him a column/visit. Avery builds handsome fly boxes, five landing net models and other exotic hardwood creations, all commensurate with our region’s handsome salmonoids. A Black Friday engraving bonus is available through Monday, Dec. 7.
JeffCurrier.com: Almost every laptop morning I am joined by a steaming Jeff Currier gamefish-painted coffee cup (snook, peacock, largemouth, smallmouth, Snake River cutthroat). Currier’s Global Flyfishing is a super internet blog/artist/program presenter of fun and fearless international fly-fishing exploration that even after 30 years never slows down.
As Currier slaps his personalized fish art on Cliff Fly Boxes, shirts, coffee cups and frosted mugs, the new owners are drenched with treasured memories. Dear Jean surprised me with a Currier snook and smallmouth duo on my Patagonia Storm Front for Christmas. Contact Jeff for custom art quotes.
Leatherman Free P4: New last year from the Oregon multitool genius, the one-hand-opening pliers and replaceable cutters are key reasons to upgrade from a venerable Wave, which will still live in our truck. $139.99.
Patagonia Provisions smoked mussels: I’ve shared some distinctive mealtimes with Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, ranging from a Tierra del Fuego camp stove on southern ocean shores to riverside salmon cabins in Norway as well as foody-ing in Montana, Caicos, Bahamas and Belize.
“Join me in lunch,” The Chief suggested as he rested his fly rod, shooting head and streamers during a Sept. 30 mackinaw-a-thon on Jackson Lake’s last day before its month closure. What appeared next were several small bricklike tins of oil-packed mussels from Spain in lemon herb, smoked and savory sofrito flavors. Yvon has been trying to insert healthy, sustainable food products into his planet-saving company’s product lineup for years. Between long-lasting packs of mackerel, salmon and these succulent mussels, Patagonia Provisions has hit it out of the park. It’s adios to tired sardine and Vienna tins and peanut butter crackers, too!
Make Christmas a time to read: Two sensational writers who dwell on subjects I enjoy have new books that are both entertaining and educational. “Squeeze Me” is investigative reporter turned gadfly Miami Herald columnist cum premiere satirist Carl Hiaasen’s latest rampage. If you think you’re above Washington’s latest silly season, Carl’s lampoonery of recent White House/Palm Beach society/exotic Florida wildlife situations sends even the most humorless among us gasping for air between laughing fits.
Monte Burke built his extensive financial reporting bona fides via peering inside the business world’s top-rung movers and shakers for Forbes Magazine. Monte loves fly-fishing and especially for giant tarpon. So who better to reveal the inner secrets of a remote society of anglers pursuing the holy grail of IGFA record tarpon on the long rod. “Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession and the Hunt for the World Record Tarpon” is educational with Burke’s insightful analysis thrown in to further enhance an already surprisingly entertaining read.
Hypervolt: Since last year’s column selection this magical muscle- and stress-reducing electronic device by Hyperice ($349) has added two accomplices, a Hypervolt Plus ($399) and Hypervolt GO ($199). My lightweight unit recommended by an NBA team trainer travels literally everywhere with me for muscle and joint pain minimization and pre-activity motion enhancement. Lots of knockoffs are on the market, but this company remains tops in quality and performance.
Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels: Any time my Ace Hardware peddles a hefty bag of pretzels, take notice. I was hooked after the first mouthful of these tangy, twisted, toasted NoDaker twigs. In 1965 many pals laughed at the Air Force shipping me to Minuteman ICBM Missile Launch Officer duty in Minot, North Dakota. But reading Dorothy and Randy Henke’s tasty snack label, I realized we regularly wheeled through Dot’s headquarters in miniature Velva, N.D., on our way to and from the missile launch posts. Several bags of Dot’s join my every outing. So far even my pickiest health Nazi pals can’t wait to gobble another handful of Dot’s. ’Nuff said!
Tajima-Direct polarized lens replacement: Steve Rosenberg, 20-plus-years sunglass industry veteran associated with a family-owned Japanese polarized lens maker, will replace the scratched-up or dog-chewed lenses in your frames. Sarah Deeter, spouse of my boss/editor Kirk Deeter at Trout Magazine offered an interesting review of how Rosenberg’s lens swap made her polarized pair great again for lots less cash than a new pair. Tajima-Direct sends you a box to return your frames to its California offices. Lenses are made in Japan, fitted in California and shipped to you. I’m gonna try it.
Band-it Angler UV Tolerant Black Rubber Bands: Gifting pound bags of 32 and thicker size 64 rubber bands sounds funny. But I’d had it with those broken, brittle strips from the wimpy office supply bands on reel, leader and line spools. Yet the black rubber bands that White’s Tackle Store in Fort Pierce, Flordia, put on my reel spools never broke. After saving the darn things because they lasted so long, eventually I wised up and nabbed several 1-pound bags of the saltwater-friendly, UV-tolerant bands. All my stuff stays together just fine now!
Van Stall VR50 Spinning Reel: Some will ask, “Why do you need another spinning reel?” All it took was snook fishing with Larry Carroll, our Fort Pierce neighbor. After working his new “baby Van Staal” I was hooked.
Van Staal debuted in 1993 as a super surf fishing spinning reel sealed from saltwater intrusion. Designed and built by Bob Koelewyn, its various-size reels featured large spools and manual roller bails. Back then they were imposing, overbuilt and expensive. The latest VR50 is smaller, lighter (8.9 ounces) and packs 360 yards of 20-pound braid. The drag is super smooth, and casting this compact little reel is fun and effortless. It costs $510.
Surrounding the Van Staal in White’s reel case are many nifty lightweight 2500- and 3000-size reels such as the newest Shimano Vanford ($229-$239) and the latest brutally strong Daiwa BG series opening at $99.
Either of these reel marques will handle most of my finny opponents.
So why even consider the Van Staal?
It’s Christmas and always a wonderful time to dream.
And from this Outdoors writer to his patient readers, Merry Christmas 2020.
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