December 2009 Newsletter
December is upon us. How did that happen? Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwaanza or some other holiday tradition, they all seem to include, in addition to their core beliefs, feelings of friendship, taking stock of the past year, and thinking about the year to come. As we at the Laughing Grizzly look back on 2009, we're glad to have each of you as customers, and we look forward to a great 2010 together. So, to all of you we wish a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and a Bountiful Kwaanza.
Winter Fishing
Many anglers put away their gear until warmer weather makes its appearance in late March. What's that all about? With today's fabrics, you can be roasty-toasty on even the coldest of days. A few trips to the car for some hot coffee, a Thermos full of hot soup, and you're set. Here are some clothing basics that make great gifts:
Base Layer
Simms Waderwick tops and bottoms: $29.95 ea
These lightweight wicking garments transport perspiration away from your skin, helping keep you warm. They are also odor resistant and quick drying.
Middle Layer
Simms Waderwick Fleece Pants and Tops: $49.95 ea
Plushy microfleece without a lot of bulk- another part of the wicking technology that preserves warmth. The pants have pockets and non-ride up ankle cuffs.
Redington Slough Creek fleece pullover and I/O Fleece Pant: $39.95 ea
Wicking fleece. The pants feature side pockets, a zippered back pocket, a zip fly and stirrup bottoms. The pullover has a half-zip neck. Great products at a great price.
Outer Layer
Bottoms- your favorite breathable waders.
Tops- Many choices here from Redington's RedStorm Jacket (wind- and waterproof) at $99.95 to Simms many choices of shells, jackets and fleece.
Feet, Hands and Head
Many anglers like to wear two pairs of socks in the winter. It's usually best to wear a thin pair under a thicker pair. Two thick pairs may restrict your feet's ability to move, leading to reduced circulation and really cold feet. Standing in one place in the river for long periods leads to cold feet too; get out of the water now and then and walk around to keep the circulation going. We carry nice functional socks from Simms from $16.95-24.95.
Wear gloves and keep them dry! Carry an extra pair. Most of us like the fingerless gloves, but many opt for flip up mittens or neoprene gloves. Dick had a recent bad experience with wet gloves on the Frying Pan that left him with some painful after-effects. We've got great gloves from Glacier Glove and Simms (that will do the trick. $17.99-39.95
A baseball cap is usually not enough protection in cold weather. You need to keep your ears covered, Glacier Glove make a nice stretchy beanie ($14.99) that you can wear on its own or under or over another cap.
Other great gift ideas for the fly fisher (you might want to refer your spouse or kids to this page):
Laughing Grizzly Videos
We've begun YouTube-ing. We posted our first demo and fishing videos this past week, and we'll continue to do more of it. We've made it easy for you to find them by creating a Links page. Just choose Links in the menu on any page, and you can select the video you'd like to watch. Cool stuff.
Kids Learn to Fly Fish Program
This popular program, co-sponsored by the Laughing Grizzly and the St. Vrain Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited, will be launched on February 13, 2010. There will be six Saturday morning sessions from 8:00am - 12:00pm as follows:
Session 1 (February 13, 2010)- Fly Tying
Session 2 (February 27, 2010)- Fly Tying
Session 3 (March 13, 2010)- Fly Tying
Session 4 (March 27, 2010)- Trout and related species in Colorado, trout foods, and fish and habitat conservation and preservation
Session 5 (April 10, 2010)- Bug sampling on the St. Vrain River
Session 6 (April 24, 2010)- Casting and fishing
Boys and girls between ages 8 and 13 as of the first class session are eligible. While the class is free, there is a $50 refundable deposit required for participation, though this can be waived in cases of financial hardship by talking to Dick Shinton.
There is a limit of 12 participants. In past years, some kids have signed up only to miss the majority of the sessions because of conflicting activities. Because participation is limited, and applications always outstrip availability, if your child signs up, we expect him or her to attend every session, barring unforeseen circumstances, of course. A lot of work goes into preparation for the sessions, and a lot of volunteers make time to help; it's unfair to them and to the kids who were turned away. Contact the shop via email (laughing.grizzly@gmail.com) or in person in the shop to register.
Chile Ole'
Join the Laughing Grizzly in Chile at the Rio Salvaje Lodge in late March 2010. This beautiful lodge sits on the western edge of the Andes near Homopiren Park, dominated by glacier carved peaks, active volcanoes and temperate rain forest. Fish species include rainbow and brown trout, and many saltwater fish in nearby fjords on the coast. Accommodations a first class, and the food and Chilean wines and beers are prepared and served by world class chefs. All guides are fully experienced in local waters and will ensure that you have a trip of a lifetime. Check the details on our website at http://www.laughinggrizzlyflyshop.com/chile.html.
Saturday Tying Clinics Santa Claus List Tying Stuff Cold Weather Wear Fishpond
Saturday Clinics will continue through the winter until at least mid-April. All clinics, with one exception, are from 10:00 to 12:00 every Saturday except for 12/26/09. We always have coffee and Great Harvest pastries, so you don't even need to get up early and make it to breakfast. We've got a great lineup of tyers including Rick Takahashi, Charlie Craven, Pat Dorsey, Steve Schweitzer, Jay Zimmerman, Rob Kolanda and a host of others. You can find the complete Clinic schedule on our website at http://www.laughinggrizzlyflyshop.com/Crntevnts.html.
Have you been good boys and girls this year? Santa knows, and we help him out by maintaining a list fo your most desired Christmas gifts to make it easy for your friends and family to shop for you. Every year, wives and girfriends (and husbands and boyfriends) come into the shop looking for gifts for their spouses and significant others. We end up selling lots of gift certificates. Make it easy for them (and for us) by sending your Christmas Wish List to the Laughing Grizzly. We'll pass it on to Santa. Just email us at laughinggrizzly@comcast.net with Christmas Wish List in the subject line. Make sure you include your name, as your email address may not tell us who you are.
Fly Boxes
We have found some very nice new flyboxes a t a budget price. There are three double-sided styles with room for 182 flies (midges or wets), 230 flies (any style) or 276 flies (any style). These boxes are waterproof and feature clear sides for only $3=25.95 A fourth style is all black and holds up to 322 flies and would be suitable for larger fly sizes and is waterproof as well- a bargain at $19.99.
Hard as Hull head cement, while petroleum based, is one of the best we've seen, It dried quickly with a very high gloss. $4.99
Glacier Glove fingerless gloves are made of windproof fleece and will keep your hands toasty for $17.99. Ditto the mittens at $17.99. Their fleece beanie will heep your head and ears plenty warm for only $14.99.
We have a great selection of Fishpond luggage, packs and vests. Check them out.
The Laughing Grizzly Staff