The Gloved One

It's that time of year again...the time when people start cringing and commenting when they see my hands. Yes, I'm hideous. Look away. My fisherman's hands make sense considering the activity--cracked from wind and water, grooved from stripping, scabbed from mosquito bites, rough from grip-n-grin, hookjabbed, peeling from sunburn, claw-shaped, calloused and cramped from casting. Super sexy. You know what I'm talking about--just look at your own nasty hands. Yikes, right?! What doesn't make sense is that I wait until the end of the summer to address the issue. With my hands at their worst, I finally put on my fabulous Buff, Inc. Pro Series gloves while shooting and episode of Trout TV on the lower Big Hole River in Twin Bridges, Montana a couple of weeks ago.

They are amazing, and I always find instant relief, especially with my hand cramping, since the accordion finger grip provides more surface area which means less hand energy is lost by gripping the flyrod. However, this glove is a whole 'lotta glove. I realize that while everyone should have a pair, they might be too warm and more glove than is necessary for people proactive (smart) enough to wear gloves throughout the season for everyday fishing or watersports.

So, imagine my stoke when my coworker Sammi went to IFTD and brought me back two pair of Buff Sport Series Water Gloves to test on Trout TV.

Here's Kate from Buff high-fiving with Sammi at IFTD.

At a lower price point ($27 MRSP) Buff, Inc. says these lighter water gloves “help anglers stay protected from damaging UV rays, fatigue and general wear and tear associated with poling. Power Stretch fabric keeps hands comfortable and protected by deflecting UV rays from the sun and reflective water.”

Um, wait...so, I don't pole. But still. More research reveals it's truly made for any water sport, including paddling and rowing. Here are more features of the Buff Sport Series Water Gloves:

• UPF 50+ ultimate UNV protection
• Brethable and durable stretch fabric
• Naturally contours to your hand
• We/dry silicone grip palm
• Longer cuff for UV protection
• Easy-on wrist pull
• Easy-off finger-tip pull

I'm excited about them because while I do love the Pro Series Gloves, I feel like something lighter and more acceptable for everyday (yes, I love the solar orange color every day) is the simple ticket to protecting my hands earlier in the season and keeping my skin healthier longer. And, I am planning a trip to Andros South early December, so I'm excited to put the Buff Sport Series Water Gloves to the test on the flats. Of course, no matter how great they are, my career as a hand-model is not promising.

Dragonfly Paddle Boards

Clearing out a few more of the sights we took in during our coverage of #IFTD, we bring you a fishing accessory that can make anybody look cool on the water. Dragonfly Boatwork's new paddle boards combine fishing, surfing, and paddling to give you a stealthy approach to your quarry. MSRP $1,700 - 1,900 depending on the model. Mondo cool WWII nose art has to be extra.

Patagonia's Aluminum Bar Wading Boots

Could aluminum bars on the bottom of your boots keep you from slipping while wading? Patagonia, whose very existence goes back products forged in fire, certainly has expertise in this sort of thing. Aluminum is a soft metal, so it makes sense to me that it could work on slippery moss covered rocks. What do you think?

The crampon version in the second picture, could make for a nice addition to your recently purchased rubber soled wading boots.

Does your gear need a shower?

Waterworks-Lamson hopes so with their new portable 2.2 Gallon Gear Shower. The gear shower clips to the partially open window of your vehicle and uses gravity to feed gear cleansing water to a shower head.

The idea is that you have a ready source of H2O to clean the invasive nasties off your gear. Another application might be using it to get the salt off your reels (or you) after a day of surf fishing. Will you be ditching those old gallon milk jugs in favor of this $49.95 MSRP option? Am I the only one who can think of some Carl's Jr style web commercials that might help these things fly off the shelves at the fly shop?

Breathe Like A Fish

Breathe like a fish or at least without fogging up your glasses. Available as a hood or incorporated into a shirt. The made in NC label caught our Tarheel eye.

Best New Gift Product @IFTD

A sweet looking IPAD folder from Montana Fly Company won the award for best new gift Item.

IFTD announces 2012 show location.

It's gonna be Reno, NV. Choices included Seattle and San Francisco.

Now that's a fly box

I'm not sure how well it will fit in my fishing vest, but the MFC Boat Box from Montana Fly Company might just finally fulfill my urge to carry all my fishing flies with me. Holding up to 4000 bugs of all shapes an sizes, it works great in a boat or a truck. www.MontanaFly.com .

Found at #IFTD

Small stream anglers and travelers alike can make use of the new Hippies from Chota. Think Haight Ashbury style
minimalist waders...

Found at #IFTD

Patagonia's Stealth Atom Sling pack incorporates a waterproof pocket for your cellphone etc.

Found at #IFTD

The Thingamabobbers love child....the ThingamaBody.

IFTD No Pebble Mine Happy Hour

Drinking beer to save wild salmon. Getting business done at the Sage/sportsman's Alliance for Alaska's happy hour gathering. Scott Hed of SAA gave an update on the fight and Sage gave away a custom fly rod as a fund raiser. More on this fight later.

FlyFish Mag at IFTD--Part 1

Sure, I'm as distracted as the next gal about all the jazz, beads and feather boas glimmering at us from the future. In a year from now we'll be recovering from IFTD 2011 in New Orleans; telling our trade show tales with spent voices, squinting at blurry phone pictures to figure out who flashed us, and saying over and over, "One fish, two fish, redfish, redfish."

But today I'm still happy to be stripping in the good times and great gear found at IFTD 2010 in Denver September 9-11.

First off--here are some immediate things that caught my attention:

• An AAFTA board member asked my honest opinion on how to make fly fishing less exclusive
• Logo changes for Redington and Sage
• People introduced by their Twitter handles ie: @troutscout @kyleindenver @roughfisher @midcurrent @deneki @fbrglssmnfsto @fishykid @fethastyx @tundralove @flyfishpro @outsidehilary @iftd
  
• Ross F1 Reel Series
• Free Moose Drool (Made in Montana)
• Not even close to free internet access (Made in NEVERland--as in, I ain't never payin'! )
• Watch out fishy men--the polite, capable and informative fishy kid Tyler Befus could do your job if he was legally old enough
• Tough-guys-turned-art-aficionados standing in line to have their copy of The Drake autographed by Derek DeYoung

Here are some pics from the points above:






Tomorrow I'll be breaking down the features of some of the show's top products, including those from Ross, Sage, Redington, Buff, R.L. Winston, Big Sky Inflatables, fishpond, Smith Optics and more.
And I'll explain why the Ross F1 Series is my "Best of Show" choice.
Hilary

IFTD Coverage: Hilary Hutcheson Live from the show floor

Our favorite television star / PR guru / and FlyfishMagazine.com correspondent, Hilary Hutcheson will once again be roaming the show floor at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show, September 9-11th. She will be scoping out all the new products for our readers while attempting to take photos of industry types in compromising situations for blackmail purposes (not as hard as it sounds). Stay tuned for your personal look at this industry insider only show.