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Compleat Journal
LOOKING TO UP YOUR GAME OR FIND SOME NEW IDEAS TO TAKE YOUR FISHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL? CHECK OUT OUR COMPLEAT JOURNAL FOR TIPS, TRICKS, AND INFO FROM THE FIELD.
Dispatches: False Albacore Fly Fishing During the Martha’s Vineyard Derby
New England fall -- the season of leaves, apple cider donuts, the fall migration, and the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. The Derby -- which, after 73 years is, like Bono or Cher, known simply as "The Derby" -- captivates the island, its tourists and others like me; those who are drawn to fishing by a deep, unrelenting magnetism.
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Dispatches: Cape Cod False Albacore Fishing
This weekend a few of us went to Cape Cod to fish for false albacore — and albacore we did find. The weather went from downright plague-like to beautiful, but the chew stayed fairly strong. Here’s some photos from the weekend.
Dispatches: Gaspé Peninsula Atlantic Salmon Fly Fishing
A summary of my trip Atlantic salmon fishing to the Gaspé peninsula in Canada, including the Grand Cascapedia, Matapedia, and Bonaventure.
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Gear Review: Filson Tin Cloth Fishing Bag
GoreTex. H2No. Call it what you will, modern waterproof technologies are certainly effective, but they lack a bit of soul. They keep weather out, but they don’t weather well at all. When they age, they often break or simply stop being waterproof. You buy it, use it, and replace it — you don’t hand it down. It’s temporary; a thing designed to be effective but replaced.
Gear Review: Sage Salt HD and RIO Coastal Quickshooter XP
Some combinations just sing. And so it was with the Sage Salt HD #10 and the RIO Coastal Quickshooter XP with a Sage Spectrum Max reel.
2018 Upcoming Fly Tying Saturday Workshops
Our Saturday Fly Tying Demonstrations are beginning! Come in and see/talk to some of the finest tiers in the business today.
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Dispatches: Fly Fishing for False Albacore off Cape Cod
This past weekend, I went out chasing false albacore off Cape Cod with my dad and a friend. The morning lit up with albies immediately, and stayed pretty strong all day, with only a brief pause around slack tide. I'm not always one to count, but I think we boated close to 20 albies. What a day -- and what a beautiful day!
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Gear Review: RIO InTouch Single Handed Spey Line 3D
What is the best line for Atlantic salmon? I think I now have the answer — RIO’s new InTouch Single Handed Spey Line 3D. After using it this season it is, without question, my favorite line for not only chasing but actually catching Atlantic salmon. But let’s back up a second.
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Dispatches: Cape Cod Striped Bass Fishing on the Fly
Yesterday was one of those days where everything came together: the sun was out, the bait was abundant, the fish were feeding on top, and the birds helped lead the way. Over the course of the day, three of us brought at least 40-50 fish to the boat. Many were in the 27-36″ class, but a few pushed the scales higher. Our friend in the neighboring boat caught one beast, pictured below.
Southern Maine Striped Bass Fishing Report
If my first week of Maine striper fishing is any indication of the rest of the summer, then life is going to be good this summer.........if you fish in Maine. After a tarpon trip to Florida the second weekend in May with son Ben, friend Jon Campbell and brother David Sparks (see post here) and a graduation weekend (congrats Sarah!) I finally got to hit the beach on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.
2017 Fly-Tying Demos
All Upcoming Saturday Fly tying Demos are FREE. Just show up and enjoy! Guest Tiers will be on hand from 10am to 2pm and will be available for questions and discussion.
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Compleat Angler 2016 Holiday Party!
Continuing our long-standing tradition of thanking you, our loyal customers for your continued patronage, we had our Holiday Party on Christmas Eve and invited all our customers to stop by and share some great food, drink and good spirit! Great fishing memories were shared, pictures were swapped and trophy fish were relived and exaggerated!