Carlo's Fly Fishing Update

Well, we needed rain and we got it! That made our steelhead season a short-lived one, and all this late season snow runoff has made both shad fishing and early trout season a tough one for fly fishing.

But, now things are shaping up to be a great mid- to late-season for trout fishing throughout the state. Small creeks in the Sierra are producing well now. Backpackers should now be able to start fishing most of the High Sierra lakes in the next few weeks. Smart anglers have been picking up some of the new 3 weight 4 pc rods from Sage (the Flight Series has a 7' which is perfect for this) or the Redington CT series (Redington also makes a new 6-piece 3 weight 8' rod which is proving popular, too).

Speaking of backpacking, the other multi-piece rod which is a staff favorite is the Echo Trip - another 6 piece rod with the light action for all-around backpacking travel.

Want to catch a Golden Trout this summer? How about catching one and not have to hike? Drop by or call me at the Santa Rosa shop (707-542-4432) and I'll tell you just where this is possible!

This Saturday! Long Range / Reel Repair Seminars

Get your chores done early, because you don't want to miss the free Long Range Fishing and Reel Repair Seminars taking place this Saturday, June 26th at our San Rafael store. Whether you are already signed up for our September Shogun 5 Day Fishing Trip out of San Diego, or just have a curiosity about this wide-open saltwater fishing, drop on by and learn from the experts!

The Long Range Fishing Seminar will be led by Charter Master (and Western Sport Shop staff member) Richard Birnbaum. Starting at 1 pm, Richard will go over the schedule of the 5 Day Trip, talk about the types of techniques which will be used and the tackle needed, as well as the sheer fun of fishing for hard running fish. Then Jeff Burroughs, author of Long Range Sportfishing San Diego Style will go over some more of the necessary techniques, and the excitement of this high velocity fishery! Jeff will also be able to sign copies of his book.

In addition to that, there will be a fundraising raffle for the Friends of Rollo Fund. The Shogun has graciously donated several gift certificates, good towards payment of trip fees or for on-the-dock fish processing. It's a nice way to help a great cause and maybe even save a few bucks on the trip!


To start the day off, renowned reel repair and tuning expert Alan Tani will be leading one of his Hands-On Reel Repair Seminars. Starting at 9:30 am, Alan will be set up with several workstations and tool sets, willing to help you dig into your conventional style reel (sorry - no spinning reels at this seminar!) to get it cleaned out, tuned up and ready for the hot summer fishing season.

This popular clinic demystifies the inner workings of your reels, lets you get a better sense of how to care for them, and gives you the confidence to dig in and fix something yourself.

(Please note, you may bring more than one reel to work on during the seminar, but may be asked to rotate with others to allow everyone a chance to learn the inner workings of their reels.)

Again -
This Saturday - San Rafael

Alan Tani Hands-On Reel Repair Seminar - 9:30 am - 3 pm

Long Range Fishing Seminar with Richard Birnbaum and author Jeff Burroughs - 1 pm

San Diego / Long-Range Fishing Seminar Set - 6/26!

If you have ever wondered about the crazed, big-fish action that takes place on our September Shogun 5-Day trip out of San Diego, don't miss our San Diego/Long-Range seminar which takes place at the San Rafael store on Saturday, June 26th!



This free seminar features sessions on the various tackle and techniques used on the boat, as well as an overview of this wide-open fishing style. Learn from the experts and bring all of your questions along.

Look for an update with more information before the event, or call Richard at our San Rafael stores (on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) - 415-456-5454. Just make sure you mark your calendar for the 26th.

G. Loomis Trout Series Rods in San Rafael

G. Loomis Trout Rods, originally uploaded by Western Sport Shop.

It takes a lot for a new trout rod to stand out of the crowd, and for every ten new rods we see, there might be one which catches our attention. The G. Loomis Trout series is that one. If you are looking for a superlight, light action spinning rod for trout, this is a pretty amazing piece of gear.

According to G. Loomis, they've designed these rods are made with one objective in mind... to help serious trout anglers become more successful and enjoy their time on the water with the lightest, most sensitive rods available. The "fiber blend" models feature a combination of regular cork and composite cork for a new, unique looking rear grip with up-locking reel seats and Fuji, single-foot Alconite guides. Reviewers have stated, "These rods are like fishing with a feather!" Varying in power from ultra-light to light, rated from 1-pound test line up to 8-pound, they are surprisingly strong. You'll want to take one these rods along for all your fishing adventures.

We're stocking the most effective sizes for our areas, and everyone was seriously blown away by the kokanee rod. If you are serious about your trout fishing, take a moment to drop into the San Rafael store and check out these rods.

Shimano Voltaeus Goodies! Free with Rod Purchase!

Goodies You Can Get, originally uploaded by Western Sport Shop.

We recently received our batch of Shimano Voltaeus rods - a new series from Shimano that has us all pretty impressed. These combine a rugged rod with lightweight materials, resulting in good sensitivity and control.

The cool thing is that in order to kick off things with this new series, Shimano sent us a box of Voltaeus goodies to throw in on each new rod purchase! So, when you buy a Voltaeus rod (not the rod/reel combo - there's already a coupon for a free computer game that comes with those!), you get a Shimano Voltaeus hat, sticker and sunglass keeper.

Strictly limited to what we have on hand - come on down to either store and check out the Voltaeus!