Fly Fishing has always been the sport of the common man. Domestic beers, aptly priced watercraft, humility, and a clean cut appearance. It’s a welcoming environment that does not shame those who do not partake. Nor does it discriminate on the price of your equipment or whether your equipment is good for the Earth.
To match the inlays of your Safari gun, you can now showcase the most exotic commodity while casting a size 16 caddis. Ivory has burst onto the very humble scene of Fly Fishing. A sport with modestly priced gear and even more modest purveyors.
Orvis has released hooks made of ivory (barbless of course) and they are on the wish-list of every big city lawyer or accountant in an unhappy marriage. Paired with the natural water resistance of seal fur; the perfect dry fly comes in at $179.99 per 6. Which is worth it considering how difficult it is to export poached animal parts these days.
Materials matter in fly fishing; the fly-fishing specific monofilament is leaps and bounds ahead of the bulk spool of 2lb test from Cabela’s. Fiberglass is ok for boats but not for rods. And for the love of God, do not use felt-soled wading boots.
To help our readers navigate fly fishing culture we have prepared a list of gear that every fly-fisherman should have
Monofilament – Orvis Tippet Flurocarbon ($14.99/$0.17 per foot)
Fly Line – Rio Elite Technical Trout – $129.99
Reel – Orvis Mirage (5wt) – $649
Rod – Sage R8 Core – $1,050
Storage – Thule RodVault – $449.95
Watercraft – Clackacraft 16′ Fiberglass Drift Boat (oars included) – $15,000
Transportation – Lockheed Martin F35 Lightning II (base model) – $110MM
(Air-to-Air refueling costs – Market Price)
Now you and Kurtz will have something to talk about when you fish your way up the Congo River to meet him.
-publius
The Huck 