Stream Camo?

Realtree MAX-1 XT was designed for hunting
more open terrain. Photo courtesy of Realtree.

An email I received this morning delivered details about a new Realtree camo pattern. Being a fishermen, but not much of a hunter, stuff made mostly for the hunting market doesn't normally catch my eye. This one did because I immediately thought about fishing applications.

Max-1 XT was designed to blend into open more open landscapes, such as brushy areas and fields, as opposed to a deep-woods setting. Many streams I fish cut through the woods, but even when I'm working along edges, I'm rarely quite in the woods, so many traditional camo patterns would make me stand out more than they would allow me to blend into the background.

In big streams with even a hint of stream, I don't think too much about the color my clothes. For fishing clear trout and smallmouth streams, though, I try to dress in natural tones, and I definitely put a premium on stealthy movements. I work from the edges or use in-stream boulders to break my silhouette, and I try to stay low and move slowly. I don't normally go as far as dressing in camouflage, but for some extra clear streams, especially ones that don't tumble a lot or push really hard, I think the right camouflage pattern could make a substantial difference some days. And from what I see, I think the Max-1 XT might be the right camouflage.

Look for yourself at the photo above. Look at the background and the hunter and think about the streams you wade. If you agree that Realtree Max-1 XT might help you blend in better and sneak up on more fish, keep an eye out for clothes that fit your stream fishing needs that come out in this pattern.

Dreams of Bronze

Nathaniel and I had a wonderful time crashing through waves and plunging over drops on the Lower Gauley River today, but I can't deny looking longingly behind more than a few boulders and thinking about how much I wished I could work them with a popper or a little plastic craw. I've fished the same waters before, and the smallmouth fishing was spectacular, and at today's water level, I think the fish would have bitten aggressively. Not that I really could have had a rod on a regular whitewater trip. I needed my paddle and full attention on rapids. Still, some of those spots looked so, so good!

Tomorrow is all about fishing. Nathaniel and I are doing a full-day float on the New River, and catching smallmouths is the main objective. Of course we'll still enjoy sliding through some rapids and taking in the site of New Rive Gorge. We'll be in an rowed raft, though, so our hands will be free for casting. Shawn, the guide we are going with, said that the river is in really good condition and he feels like it's going to be a great day. He also said that he's going to bring a fly rod because the river is just right for the long-rod approach right now, and apparently he has a specific little fly that he believes will be the ticket.

I do have my starting line-up selected and tied on; however, I'm already debating changing one of the baits. One will remain a little gold Zell Pop. That much I know. I won't say what the other will be, just in case I change what is tied on now between now and tomorrow morning.