PANOPTX to Launch New Logo / Brand

From a recent press release from Flip Pallot and the folks at PANOPTX:

PLEASANTON, Calif. (October 31, 2007) -- Panoptx, a leader in high performance eyewear for outdoor, boating, fishing, general sports and snowsports enthusiasts announced today that, effective January 2008, it will launch a new logo, a stylized numeral 7 tied to a new brand 7EYE. Along with the new name comes an emphasis on targeting the next generation of consumers looking for performance combined with style that easily transitions from the rigors of outdoor activity to stylish everyday use. Products bearing the new logo will be available at retail beginning this January.








Explaining the rationale behind the new name, Panoptx President and CEO Bob Hall noted, “We wanted a name with instant recognition, a logo that would stand out, a domain name that people could spell, a name with youthful energy and attitude. We found that combination with the logo and brand.” To the question, “Why 7?,” Hall replied , “At 7EYE, we create eyewear that helps consumers see all seven colors in the spectrum of visible light. By helping people see the world in all its colors, we give them the freedom to do whatever they want to do better and in greater comfort. We loved the 7EYE logo the moment we saw it,” Hall added.

I am currently in the process of field testing a pair of their sunglasses and have so far been very impressed with their quality, comfort, and performance (a review is in the works).


PANOPTX first started making high quality sunglasses for motorcycle enthusiasts. Their glasses are designed with integrated eye cups and air dams that help prevent dry eyes and limit light leakage from the sides. This unique technology is something that easily translated into the world of the boater and fly fisher.


I can imagine that the spelling of their name without the assumed "i" in Optix has caused them substantial issues in the internet age in which we live.


Additional Info from the release:


The first Panoptx frames bearing the 7EYE logo are already being introduced as Seven Eye by Panoptx Limited Edition III series to the motorcycle market, where Panoptx is a leading brand. “The reception by dealers and consumers in this market has been exceptional, indicating that the future looks bright for 7EYE,” continued Hall.

“The introduction of 7EYE is the beginning of a new platform for product development,” notes Hall. “We have new eyecup technology and new frame designs due to roll out in 2008 that will clearly separate us in a very competitive market from the wanna-bes. We are creating a solid foundation for brand expansion and sales growth, and with new styles and new technology in the pipeline, 7EYE by Panoptx will fuel that growth.”


Link to the PANOPTX website.


Link to our previous coverage of this brand.

Blue water bacon on the fly?

Break out the 10 weights folks, the hogs are running off the coast of Hawaii:

As the small fishing boat headed for shore at Kahana Bay, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. However, on closer inspection, the catch of the day was not seafood. It was pork.
"We just hooked up with a fish. As soon as we got it off, I looked over and Aaron was, I thought he was yelling 'fish, fish!' When I looked to my right, it was 'pig, pig!' There was a pig just swimming straight out to sea," fisherman Tyson Pualoa said.

Of course this leads us to wonder what kind of fight one might expect from Porky on the fly? In our humble opinion, a hook up with Bacon would be a shoe in for slab of the month from our pals at Moldy Chum.

Send An Email - Save River Access

Our pal Tom Chandler over at the Trout Underground blog, urgently needs your help in his battle to protect access rights on his home water. He is fighting a county government body that wants to declare his home water non-navigable. This means that anglers would lose their right to wade the river between the high water marks.

The vote on this matter is set for next Tuesday and at present it appears that the measure will pass. Tom is asking that you take 90 seconds to copy and paste an email to the parties involved to let them know how you feel about the subject of taking away stream access.

Here is a link to Tom's post with the contact info. Don't think this sort of thing couldn't happen on rivers all across the country including your favorite fishing hole.

In the interest of getting the word out we are also posting a copy of Tom's request:

Here’s What’s Gotta Happen

I need as little as 90 seconds of your time. My only admonition? Be polite! You’ll see why below.
You’re simply going to email three of the supervisors and also “cc” the county clerk (and copy me).

Why the clerk? To make sure these emails become part of the official record, which may not have happened to your earlier emails. (How’s that make you feel?)

Michael Kobseff (mkobseff@co.siskiyou.ca.us)
Bill Overman (bandm@nctv.com)
LaVada Erickson (erickson5031@sbcglobal.net)
Colleen Setzer, County Clerk (csetzer@co.siskiyou.ca.us)
Trout Underground (tom.chandler@gmail.com)

Here’s What We Need to Say

We’re going to stick to the basics. No need to clutter your e-mail with anything beyond your name and the issues that matter. If you’ve only got 45 seconds, then simply cut and paste my bullet points, add your name and a closing line, and mail away.

If you’ve got a couple minutes, rewrite my stuff so the supervisors can’t devalue your effort by calling it a “form letter campaign.”

Still, what counts here is volume. If we can send the fisher-friendly supervisor into that meeting room with 100 emails — if we can jam the Supervisor’s packets with a triple-digit outpouring of “the public is watching you” — we might be able to turn this thing.

Maybe.

Here are the bullet points:

The Proposed Natural Resources Plan and Committee damages Siskiyou County’s sustainable, renewable tourist economy. Fishermen won’t come here, even if just the Scott and Shasta Rivers are declared non-navigable (though the plan clearly includes “all” rivers in the county). When half the County’s tourist-related businesses start suffering, what will the Board of Supervisors do?

The Proposed Natural Resources Plan and Committee Ordinance avoids public comment. Modoc County invested eight months writing their plan, and held a half-dozen public meetings. Siskiyou County’s draft policy document shuns public input, and was apparently written by one person — who somehow retains the “right” to accept or decline public comment. How is that good public process?

The Proposed Natural Resources Plan practically guarantees expensive, wasteful legal challenges. Despite one supervisor’s protestations to the contrary, a half hour of research makes it clear the Scott, Shasta, Upper Sacramento and McCloud Rivers qualify as “navigable” under Federal and State definitions. It’s also clear that all rivers not designated non-navigable are to be considered navigable (not vice versa). Why are we essentially asking for lawsuits — which the county will lose?

Any suggestions the navigability of rivers “was frozen at statehood” ignores the Fall River decision (and others), where attempts to impede public access to navigable rivers were thrown back by lawsuits.


Don’t use abusive or accusatory language (two of the names on the list above are our friends). One supervisor’s been whining about the small number of nasty emails (the same guy who cryptically accuses Trout Underground e-mail writers of being “misinformed” — and repeatedly characterized your public input as “bizarre and irrational”).

The only whining they get to do comes after they’ve lost their attempt to run you off “their” rivers.

Otherwise, Supervisor Marcia Armstrong — who’s already trying to pack the Natural Resources Committee with her hand-picked cronies; who is already deciding which public comments are acceptable; and who wrote this ridiculous, illegal natural resource policy — will win.

And we lose.

Also, if you know any business owners up here who depend on fishermen to make a living, then drop them an email. Let them know that their own Board of Supervisors are willing to sacrifice south county businesses so extractive industries can prosper.

That’s the action plan. From here on down is just more fuel for the fire.


FlyfishMagazine.com sent their emails today!. If you need more information about this subject please see Tom's previous postings.

Sierra Trading Post - Free Shipping Coupon

The Christmas shopping season is here and Sierra Trading Post has stepped up with free shipping on orders of $75 or more. Sierra always has some of the best prices on the net so free shipping is a bonus that will make your gift giving dollars go farther. Click the banner above to take advantage of this offer.

On the way...

To the Jacksonville airport I stopped to do some shopping for a wedding anniversary gift.
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You know I bet him

And won!
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Wed night in Jax Fla

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Meth Heads Active on The Davidson?

As a warning to our fellow anglers, we have reports are that meth heads have been breaking into cars in the area around the Davidson River and the Pisgah National Forest.

As is their custom, they tend to target the SUV's of folks practicing hobbies requiring expensive equipment. Anglers are advised to leave the excess equipment at home and remove the Winston rod decals from their rear windows.

We are in no way recommending the use of poisonous guard snakes to protect your vehicle.

This is a test....This is only a test...

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

As if one were not enough...

Don't you just hate it when you are about to go out on a fly fishing excersion from your super yacht and you realize that that scamp of a teenager of yours has taken the Bell 407 Chopper without asking? Well never fear, the Nomad of the Seas Extreme Fly Fishing Program has added a 2nd Bell 407 so there will be plenty of remote stream access for the entire family. Just be sure you purchase plenty of carbon offsets.

Nomads of the Seas extreme fly fishing program is adding a few surprises for its second season. Among them are new air – water transportation equipments that will enhance the casting experience.Nomads is on the verge of acquiring a brand new helicopter that will second our existing Bell 407. The aircraft will add more flight hours to the fly fishing program and will allow adventurers to reach deep into Patagonian lands where they will be able to catch immaculate and vigorous trouts.

Afraid of flying? Maybe you should stick to drift boats. The just bought another one to bring their total to a paltry 36.

This sounds like the ideal place to host our annual Fly Fishing Blogger "On Water" Symposium.

South Florida Ditch Fishing

On my recent business trip to South Florida I finally got to make use of the 5 weight travel rod by spending a few minutes at a super secret South Florida urban fishing hole.



It took a few minutes and several missed fish before I got the retrieve just right, but finally I managed a hook up.


My first Peacock bass on the fly.


Me catching hell from some locals who couldn't understand why I was getting my picture made with a such a small fish in front of a drug store. Being dressed business casual while wearing my Reel Pure hat and field testing Panoptx polarized glasses only made matters worse.


Due to a tight schedule I was only able fish for about 20 minutes before it was off to the airport for the flight back to the Carolinas. During that time I caught my first three peacock bass on the fly. I was pretty amazed at how hard they hit the clouser I was fishing. If I wouldn't have had a hard time explaining missing my plane, I would have loved to try some top water poppers on these super aggressive little fish.

Photos: Mark Whitaker
Local Knowledge: The blogger who shall remain nameless.

Zombie Fishing Contest Winner Announced

You might recall that this past Halloween we asked our readers to complete the statement: "You might be fly fishing with a zombie if...."

We received many excellent entries which were judged by the only person at FlyFishMagazine.com who has more authority than the Editor: His beautiful wife.

The winner is Jason Fleming of Hickory, NC. Jason will receive a copy of the excellent Fish Eye Fly Fishing Video Magazine. The caption that caught the wife's lovely blue eyes?

"You might be fly fishing with a Zombie if all he ever wants to fish for are cutthroats."

There were far to many sick and twisted runner ups to mention.

Photo via the Worth1000.com photo shop contest.

We got as far as the lobby
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Excitement followed by disappointment

I stopped by the IGFA Hall of Fame only to find it has been taken over by an itinerant group of Senators and Congressmen for the evening. Only the department of homeland security kept us from talking our way inside.

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Temptation

To ditch work and hit this water hole behind my Ft. Lauderdale hotel. 30 MPH winds from a tropical storm are keeping me honest.
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