What's New?
There's always something new at Country Pleasures. Check out the latest new products and services by clicking the links below.
You can also check out our newest product specials listed to the right.
The New Sharkskin Lines - NOW IN STOCK
What is Sharkskin?
By modifying the surface of the fly line with a micro-repeating structure, you can achieve surface interface
properties that mimic nature such as the ability of insects to walk on water, the shedding and self-cleaning ability
of Lotus leaves, or the adhesion that allows a gecko to walk up vertical surfaces.
Scientific Anglers Sharkskin technology is a precise texturing process that embosses the surface of the fly line
coating with a repeating geometric micro-pattern. The finished surface is no longer smooth, no longer exhibits
unwanted line flash, and can be optimized via the engineered shape, depth, and frequency of the pattern to yield
greatly improved line-to-water floatation, casting performance, and overall line suppleness and durability.
What is the specific benefit for a floating fly line?
The Sharkskin technology is a radical modification of typical smooth-surfaced fly lines.introducing a micropattern
around the entire circumference of the line. One of the pattern's key features is that it changes the
meniscus force balance that up until now, holds all other floating fly lines at close to a neutral buoyancy within the
line-water interface.essentially ˝ the line is above the surface and ˝ the line is below the surface. The micro
texture greatly increases the upward meniscus force through a combination of the water's interaction with the new
surface and the trapping of air into the valleys of the texture. The result is an over 200% improvement in
resistance of the line to be forced into the water..effectively improving "floatation" of the line significantly beyond
anything that can be achieved through the addition of glass bubbles or surface chemistries. The line sits higher in
the water - less drag, easier mending, easier roll casting, easier pick-ups, less water spray.
What are the benefits of Sharkskin on casting?
Simply reducing running line diameters on weight forward (WF) lines has long been utilized as a way to reduce line
friction in rod guides. However, reducing line diameter also reduces line durability, and increases the propensity
for a line to tangle. Simple texturing of a fly line reduces the surface contact with rod guides during casting.
Scientific Anglers introduced the Bonefish taper and other key distance-casting lines that utilize a braided
monofilament core - modifying the surface of the running line, reducing the frictional interface during casting and
resulting in the ability to shoot farther but with few tangles. The Sharkskin technology takes this a step further,
allowing lines not made on stiff braided monofilament to have this shooting and casting advantage and the
advantage extends to the belly and tip of the line, not just the running line.
Because friction in the guides is reduced significantly, even when the line belly is in the guides, shoot distance is
increased allowing longer, easier casts. Casters who also double haul find haul resistance reduced which results
in easier, smoother hauls, even on hot days or when the line is dirty. This, along with reduced shoot friction, has
resulted in increased test casting distance when compared to the exact same line without the Sharkskin texture.
Distance increases compared to competitive lines without the advantages of AST, Sharkskin, and our new taper,
will be significantly greater. Although these new lines excel at distance, the features that allow that distance make
shorter casts even easier.
What other features are improved with Sharkskin?
Another advantage of this new technology is complete elimination of line "flash".
Most other lines have slick, glossy surfaces that reflect light and can "flash" in
the air scaring spooky fish. The micro-texturing process virtually eliminates
surface glare, the finish is completely flat. When conditions are such that line
flash is an issue, Sharkskin lines have an additional advantage over other lines.
One would expect this radical change to the line to diminish the coating integrity
and resistance to cracking. Actually, the opposite occurs. The engineered
micro-repeating pattern effectively introduces flex points that increase the
suppleness of the line and in lab testing, the durability and resistance to
cracking is up to 3X greater. A good analogy is how a bicycle chain, although
made of metal, bends due to flex points in the links.
The ultimate technologies from the angling scientists at 3M
Aren't you glad someone was paying attention in Science Class?
Bugger Beast Fly Storage Systems
The Bugger Beast Fly Box is a must for anyone who is a major streamer fisherman, saltwater fisherman, guide, or anyone who wants a base fly box to work out of. This box will holds both small flies to the saltwater blue water streamer, please note the photo with streamers, bass bugs, saltwater flies big and small. When you decide to fish big flies (meat) to catch big fish, this is the box you will want by your side. The Bugger Beast will float and will earn you the envy of all your fishing buddies. Made in Wyoming by anglers for anglers. Flies shown in picture are not included with box.
ChasingSilver - Andy’s Return
A great followup to the original ChasingSilver, and a must- have to tarpon enthusiasts.
Simms Currier Signature Image t-Shirts
These beautiful shirts feature high quality materials (95% cotton, 5% Lycra blend fabric), original Jeff Currier artwork and a no scratch interior neck label.
Soulfish DVD
NEW DVD: "SOULFISH; A Fly fishing Adventure" - SOULFISH is an adventure to the farthermost corners of the globe in search of the soul of fly fishing. Explore the minds and travel habits of some of the most dedicated anglers on the planet. Witness some of the most explosive and breathtaking footage of fly fishing ever caught on film. Includes Taimen in Mongolia, peacock bass in the Amazon, search for the coveted super grand slam off the coast of Belize, Florida Keys flats fishing, poppers for redfish on the Gulf Coast, wade the famous flats of Christmas Island in the South Pacific, fish native trout in Utah and California and much more. Plus, a bit about the rich history of fly fishing from some of the pioneers, including Lefty Kreh, Brian O'Keefe and Jack Dennis. This is a fun filled movie that you won't want to miss! 90 minute DVD with 40 minutes of extras.
Fish Bum 1 – Mongolia coming end of March
Orvis ZG Helios Fly Rod
"Even Lighter and significantly better casting than the ZG." Available November 15th, 4 through 10 weights.
Orvis ZG Helios By Tom Rosenbauer
Two years ago, we set out to make the lightest fly rod in the industry. Part of the problem was that graphite fiber technology, at least the fiber that can be used in a premium fly rod, just has not changed much in the past few years.
But we have a number of new rod designers in our rod shop, young guys who look at things differently than older, more traditional designers. They knew that all the action in composite design is not in fiber technology but in the prepreg and scrim technology-in other words, the stuff that holds the graphite fibers together and the material that gives a finished rod hoop strength, or resistance to crushing. If you can lessen the amount of graphite fiber you need by using improved resin systems, and if you can use a lighter scrim and less of it, you can design a fly rod with less weight.
And this is exactly what they did. Now scrim is pretty un-sexy stuff. All it does is to keep the hollow graphite tube used to construct a rod from collapsing under the pressure of a long cast or a big fish. Unidirectional graphite fiber can't do that by itself. In ordinary graphite fly rods the scrim is made from fiberglass, which is heavier, less expensive, and not as stiff as graphite. In Zero Gravity fly rods, the fiberglass scrim was replaced by graphite scrim with an epoxy binder, which allowed us to use less material and thus make a much lighter rod.
New Technology from the Space Satellite Industry
Building upon our Zero Gravity's exclusive thermoplastic resin technology, which is stronger and lighter than the epoxy resins used to make traditional fly rods, the designers found an exciting new scrim in the space satellite industry. This unidirectional graphite scrim with a thermoplastic binder gives us the same strength in our rods, but uses much less material. We reduced the weight on our new Helios The New Zero Gravity and Helios Constructionblanks by 25% less than our already lightweight Zero Gravity blanks. Then the rod team designed, from scratch, new reel seats that would keep the 25% weight reduction throughout the entire rod.
So, they came up with the lightest rod we've ever designed. I was pretty excited. Lighter rods are more fun and less tiring, but could this really make someone cast better or put a fly someplace they never could before?
New Design Coupled with New Technology.
Then I got a chance to cast one of these rods. "Whoa," I thought. "This is an amazingly light rod and it wiggles nice, but this thing feels really different." And it wasn't just the weight. When I asked Andy Stone and Frank Hoard, the new designers, and Jim Logan, VP and head engineer in our rod shop, I found out why. The new material had given them the opportunity to take advantage of a new taper, a steeper and faster taper that was not stiffer, just more responsive and powerful.
Accuracy and Control for Freshwater Casting
So these Helios rods were fun on the casting pond.
What would they feel like in real fishing conditions? I took a 4-weight to the Delaware River for trout fishing and tried it over some of the snottiest brown trout I've ever tangled with. That rod would put the fly just where I wanted it to go, almost like ESP. I took a 9-foot, 5-weight to Idaho's South Fork, and the most amazing aspect of the rod's performance was that I could switch from pounding the banks with size 8 Chernobyl Ants and then switch to tossing PMDs over finicky cutthroats on 6X with the same rod-and it still maintained the same control and accuracy in both cases.
Power for Casting Large Flies for Saltwater
Then I took a 10-weight striper fishing for big June fish on Cape Cod. It handled big stripers and big poppers in the wind like nothing I'd ever used, and after 10 hours of casting, my arm was not the slightest bit tired. The 10-weight then came along with me to Rhode Island in search of small bluefin tuna in August. The bluefins were not around, but the rod helped me make some quick, precise long casts into the wind for some nice bonito that were blowing up the surface but only gave you a few seconds to make a presentation before they steamed away.
Our testers have had the rods on trout all over the world, tarpon, snook, bonefish, redfish, and many other species. The universal reaction is that for hardcore anglers who fish on the edge and demand the most out of their equipment, Helios sets the standard for the next generation of graphite fly rods. Personally, I think they'll make plain old backyard trout fishing a lot more fun as well.
Sage ZXL Fly Rods
The new ZXL rods are significantly lighter, stronger and easier to cast for everyone who enjoys the relaxed casting rhythm of a smooth progressive taper. Through the miracle of our G5 process, we were able to remove every gram of unnecessary material from each blank and replace traditional glass hoop fibers with lighter, more responsive graphite.
Ready to experience life on the smooth side?
Sage Destination X Luggage
Sage's Destination X luggage are much more than just good looks. Like all Sage products they are strong and light and designed for efficiency and performance.
Sage Special Edition 2500 Series Reel
The highly popular 2500 series reel in a Z-Axis matching finish. The perfect addition to your favorite fly rod. Very limited quantities.
Simms G3 Wader
An updated version of their top selling wader now with GORE-TEX® Pro Shell fabric and at a great new price.
Simms G4 Pro Jacket
Not exactly as shown in photo. Available March 2008.
Location X is now in at Country Pleasures
The second installment of the Chasing Silver DVD series, Location X, is now in at Country Pleasures.
As good as Chasing Silver is, this DVD has even better footage. There are more great eats than we have ever
seen on film. Extremely hard to get, we have the first copies available here at the shop. Also, you may wish
to take a look at "Running Down The Man", a DVD chronicling the adventures of a group of fly anglers
chasing the elusive Roosterfish from the beaches of Baja.
Also Coming Soon: Chasing Silver: the Final Journey.
Please feel free to contact us by phone (403) 271-1016 or by e-mail if you have any questions.
