Portland Syrups

Like many great companies, Portland Syrups began in a kitchen in 2012, when two friends came together to produce mocktail mixers. A decade later, Portland Syrups produces more than a dozen simple syrups for mocktails, cocktails, and cooking. Notable flavors include Meyer Lemon and Mango Habanero. Portland Syrups are made with whole ingredients and are naturally low in sugar. Read this issue’s “Magnificent Manhattan” libations feature to learn how to use their cola and root beer simple syrups to take the classic whiskey cocktail to the next level.

$14 (beveragemixers.com)

Ti Arto EDC Pen

Big Idea Design’s Ti Arto EDC Pen is the best idea in pens to come along in quite a while. Sure, it’s machined from solid titanium—which means you’ll be passing it on to your heirs—but that’s not the best part. The Ti Arto EDC accepts over 880 refills—from the high-end refills made for the likes of Mont Blanc and Waterman to the ubiquitous Japanese refills found in cheapo plastic click pens (and most refills in between). Do you like the way your Pilot G2 writes but wish it would complement your Charles Tyrwhitt shirt? Simply insert the G2 refill into your Ti Arto. Refills insert from the back. A twisting action activates four clasps that hold the point in place without slippage or wiggle. The only refills we haven’t gotten to work are those that we can’t remove from their disposable plastic bodies. The back of the pen adjusts in length to accommodate the length of the refill. Threading at the back of the barrel allows you to post the screw-on cap securely for writing. The pocket clip is made from grade-4 titanium for proper tension. Available in three finishes: machined raw, stonewashed, and midnight black. Lifetime guarantee.

$90 (bigidesign.com)

Charles Tyrwhitt Button-Down Collar Non-Iron Hound Print Shirt

Be your own ice-breaker with this hound print shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt. From the company’s flagship store on Jermyn Street in London comes this 100-percent cotton, button-down collar shirt that is as elegant as it is whimsical. Equally at home in the casual office, the fancy cocktail bar, or at your club’s dinner. Wherever you are, you will be paid attention. Since 1986, Charles Tyrwhitt has been steadily developing a world-class range of men’s clothing—top-quality, stylish, timeless, and comfortable. Nobody these days wants to have to use an iron—particularly when they travel. Machine wash this shirt, place it on a hanger to dry, and it will be ready to wear. Comes in classic or slim fit with back pleats. Unlike many European shirts, this one sports a left chest pocket. Charles Tyrwhitt guarantees all clothing for six months—any condition, no questions asked. Believe us when we tell you that you won’t find a better value for your dollar in London.

$39.95 (charlestyrwhitt.com)

Hobie Mirage Outback Fishing Kayak

Hobie’s Mirage Outback checks most of the boxes for desirable traits for a fishing kayak. Its kick-up paddle fins allow you to cover a lot of water, and they automatically retract upon impact from unseen obstacles. The extra-wide standing deck offers an improved stable casting platform that allows for superior vision from above. The adjustable seat provides extra width and lumbar support for long days on the water. It has several high-capacity storage compartments that offer customization and organization in accessory mounting. Compared to its competitors, it proves to be fast, quiet, and exceedingly maneuverable. Its Kick-Up Rudder system with dual steering capabilities combats unwanted drift and allows quick directional adjustments. 

$3,649 (hobie.com)

Omnispool Complete Switchbox Kit

Omnispool’s line-management system offers a complete suite of products to quickly and easily change, clean, and store all your fly lines. The Switchbox system includes a plastic reel that mounts on the box and a detachable crank that allows quick transfers of fly line to reel or from reel to a storage spool. The Line Care Box contains a foam pad ready for line-dressing application. Lines can then be drawn through the cleaning apparatus while winding them onto a Switchbox spool.

$29.95 (omnispool.com)

Skwala Fishing Carbon Jacket

Designed as a warm-weather exterior shell, the Carbon jacket is ideal for anglers who demand flexibility and dexterity but aren’t willing to sacrifice comfort. It’s fully waterproof, truly breathable, and easily packable. It is lightweight and features a four-way stretch, hard-shell outer layer that moves unlike anything we’ve ever worn. It features a low-profile storm hood and oversized chest pockets with integrated drain holes and articulated sleeves with Velcro adjustable cuffs and stretch fabric that won’t compromise your casting stroke. Truly impressive.

$399 (skwalafishing.com)

Zilker Stitched Gaucho Belt

Zilker is an Austin, Texas company that’s bringing high-quality stitched Argentinian gaucho belts to the US. We’ve been wearing the “Cowboy” belt for several months now, and it has earned a strong spot in our belt rotation. It’s made of quality materials with solid workmanship. The leather has worn in nicely, and the stitched portion of the belt has held together without any fraying. It looks great with slacks or jeans.

$115-$125 (zilkerbelts.com)

Jake Hoback OneSam Knife

Jake Hoback is known for custom blades, but they’re also selling some great manufactured knives these days. We’ve tested the OneSam Titanium with DLC Black Stonewall Finish for the past six months or so, and it’s now almost always in our pocket. The blade stays sharp, the opening and closing mechanism is smooth and flawless, and the handle material feels great in our hand. The OneSam flips open easily, in one motion, and we always prefer a knife with a belt clip. It’s a bit pricey for a knife made overseas, but we’ve found the quality to be exceptional.

$425 (jakehobackknives.com)

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The post Fly Fishing Gear Guide – September 2023 first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Fly Fishing Gear Guide – September 2023 appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

Designing a fly rod that’s better than its predecessor is always difficult. What makes one rod “better” than another is often subjective, but there are aspects of rod design that can change the debate from Pepsi-versus-Coke and result in tangible attributes that make one rod superior to others in terms of function. The product development team at Thomas & Thomas asked us to put their new Sextant through the rigors of destination angling. I put this rod to the test in Florida, Belize, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and here’s what I have to say.

When comparing the Sextant with its predecessor, the Exocett (as well as several other comparable rods), I identified a few aspects that I consider significant upgrades.

The first time you cast the Sextant, you’ll feel that the rod is faster than the Exocett. This is because the Sextant’s midsection and butt are a bit stiffer. The supple tip on a more sturdy body allows for a fast rod to shoot line quickly at fish moving on a flat. Compared with the Exocett (and other rods), the Sextant offers the opportunity to unroll the line and present the fly very quickly. You’ll probably need to spend some time with this rod to get used to it, as the Sextant definitely has a unique feel. It can carry 30 to 50 feet of line easily which tees up my next point.

The biggest improvement of the Sextant over its predecessors, I believe, is its lifting power. One of my pet peeves is a fast-action rod that lacks the backbone to control or lift a large fish. It’s especially bad for a fish if it takes more than 20-30 minutes to land. If you’re an experienced angler, you’ll immediately notice notice how easily the Sextant handles the toughest gamefish. This is no surprise, as the decision-makers at T&T—as well as many of its advisors, ambassadors, and pro staff—are experienced anglers who are from or frequent South Africa who are used to slugging it out with hard fighting species.

One would expect he Sextant’s increased lifting power to come at a cost, however the more powerful blank of the 9-weight Sextant comes in at just under 4 ounces, slightly less than the Exocett.

Thomas & Thomas makes the most of this powerful blank by splining it.

If you’re not familiar with the term, the spline (or spine) is the slightly thicker section of a rod blank that results when the flag of carbon fiber is wrapped around the mandrel. In short, the spline is the blank’s “power sector.” Unlike many manufacturers, Thomas & Thomas splines all of their rods—that is, they wrap the rod guides in line with the spline, making the most of the blank’s inherent strength. An advanced fly caster who’s familiar with a particular rod blank can can notice a decrease in power if the rod has been wrapped off-spline. Likewise, you’ll also notice the difference when you try to lift a large fish from the depths.

The rod’s aesthetics keep with the tradition of T&T’s 50-year history. The blue blank and wraps mesh beautifully with ceramic inlays and high-grade cork handle. The double up- locking reel seat with engraved logo adds to the Sextant’s regal look.

In a word, the Sextant is the embodiment of design with a purpose: a rod made for fishing as well as casting. For not every angler will need to throw 100 feet, but at some point, every angler will need to land a sizable fish.

This is an  unsolicited, unbiased review written by Joseph Ballarini, Editor-in-Chief of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Gear Reviews: Fly Rod Review first appeared on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.

The post Gear Reviews: Fly Rod Review appeared first on Tail Fly Fishing Magazine.