For our extended fishing trips we finally broke the code on the best car top tent out there. We found a great supplier in Seattle WA.( https://adventure-ready.com/product-category/rooftop-tents/) for the Kane Klassics car top tent. Tom, the owner is very knowledgeable in all awnings, tents and other gear, all top quality. We selected the Nomad 160 by James Baroud Company. Tom’s a distributor for the west coast. We Drove over 800 miles at highway 65 to 75 mph in solid rain and snow and no leaks under the cover!
The Nomad is the easiest deploying and folding tent system with the added advantage of being able to bring in side the ladder for added security.
We have done some mods that are low cost and unique for gear stowage.
The first mods were net stowage system. The one over the tents inside is for clothing, junk, snacks etc that would other wise clutter out the tent. The net over the ladder entrance are for your shoes, wet rain jacket etc keeping the inside dry and clean. The other user issue is when your camped on a hard surface. As you enter the tent when your weight is off the ladder it will sometimes slide in under the tent. So for road trips I found a shop rubber rug matt keeps that ladder extended. You can find the nets at Walmart for $9.00 and secure with
with any number of hooks and climbing hooks all from, again Walmart! Any questions contact Tom or Kane Klassics.
We have always lead the fly rod industry in Bamboo pack & Graphite pack fly rods that travel. Sporting magazines and books have given us many kind accolade over the last
26 years for our pack rods that cast equal or better then standard rods. The pack rods allow you to travel to normal destinations and still have a fly rod available for
a quick afternoon or week of fishing. We recently traveled to Kauai, Hawaii and fished for some fantastic fish from the north island flats to inter island sugar cane lakes.
Hawaiian waters have a good population of saltwater Bone Fish in the 4 to 20 lb. size ranges. The sugar cane lakes have small and large mouth Bass, Talapia and Peacock Bass. While the family does the beach gig, you can be fishing some impressive and unique fisheries.
Pack rods are easily carried aboard airlines today as well. Just dont have knives and pliers in with your rods.
Our guide, Nigel did a fine job sighting and showing us the best flats for the Bone Fish. Contact him at 1-808-652-9038, or at flyfishkauai@hotmail.com.
He can take you fly fishing all over Kauai including trout fishing. Kauai is a little known great fishing destination which lets the family do their thing while you do yours! See the web site for more details on the varied and highly capable pack rods both in Bamboo pack & Graphite pack fly rods that travel. www.kaneklassics.com
This week this writer fished the American River around Auburn California on a limited access 8 mile section which had not been fished for at least four days before. Always try to think like a fish, ask the question, Trout flies, why are trout fussy? What makes them attack with lust or move away from your presentation. When approaching new water where wild trout have not been disturbed, they are often quiet selective in what offering they will want.
Always start exploring with a mid sinking line with a leach or wooly bugger mid size, 12 or 10. If no grabs you must rethink your offering. The solution is to go smaller and slower in your presentation. As the mid range depth is fished with now grabs, try the top layer, still no garbs.. you are facing fussy fish that are actually intimidated by your larger size offering. Try small nymphs and fish them in the same manner of depth slowly, still no grabs, go smaller still. Start with a 12 and 14 trailing nymph, blood midge, hares ear your just searching. Still not luck, go 16 and 18.
That was the secret for success and 15 native trout from 12 to 17 inches taker over a mid day four hour period. Fish either swinging the tiny nymphs or under an indicator. The largest fish an aggressive 17 rainbow took in a fast riffle, an 18 hares ear bead head.
The other observation when you begin searching is to watch and look. That day no fish were feeding anywhere on the surface and it just felt like a shy day for the population. This was proven when the tiny flies worked. This writer has observed this condition many times over 30 years of fly fishing. Trout flies, why are trout fussy… trout are in a sense weary of larger offerings.
On even selective trout fish a hares ear, prince nymph or Pt nymph slowly. Its the size and dead drift that will save your day and up set theirs!
Hares ears nymphs, both bead head and standard 12-18
PT nymphs, both bead head and standard 12-18
Prince nymphs, both bead head and standard 12-18
For a great selection of the small size nymphs at a very reasonable $1.00 each, see the flies at : https://kaneklassics.com/shop/
Our Folding bike, micro bike 20 inch mountain bike tire upgrade has been tested and improves the usage of the micro bike to the level of normal size mountain bikes with 26 inch tires.
Our experience with off airport landings and remote landing strips has shown us the need for a mountain bike tire to ride on dirt and gravel back country roads that your micro bike will encounter. This option allows
the ride comfort and control of a normal sized mountain bike 26 inch or larger tire gives you.
In the picture comparing the 20 inch to the 26 inch tire you can see the 2.125 inch width of both tires is the same. You get the comfort of a full size bike with the smaller micro bike size which fits more compactly into the aircraft , RV or auto.
You can see the web site for more details and ordering. https://kaneklassics.com/montague-bikes/folding-bike-micro-bike-fits-airplane-rv-car/
TO VIEW SPECS – DOUBLE CLICK THE POSTER
Douglas Kulick of Kane Klassics took ten years to build the Kitfox Model IV Aircraft. He has flown it for now over 11 years. The aircraft is fully instrumented and has a parachute for the whole aircraft. The auto pilot is interconnected to the panel mounted GPS and for fly rod storage, an internal fly rod holder secures any rods needed for a trip. All of the Folding Mountain Bikes of Kane Klassics are able to fit into the Kitfox as well.
The Kane Klassics Aircraft – Kitfox STOL (short take off and landing) Model IV has a 40 lb gear carrying capable belly pod ensuring all equipment for a fishing trip is on board. The aircraft is further equipped with survival kits depending on mountain or desert flight over those varied terrain types.
The primary use of the aircraft is finding fish structure and habitat by viewing a birds eye view of rivers and lakes prior to client trips.
For trip transportation on the ground, all Kane klassics folding bikes with or without electric pedal assist systems, get you to your stream or destination free of a rental car.
For more information on the Kitfox Aircraft contact:
With over 60 mile pedal assisted range with and electric pedal assist systme, this bike covers more then enough distance from landing field to stream side/destination.
How to care for Bamboo fly rod is very easy and is no more consuming then the care you would give to a fine Graphite rod. Ill take you through the steps:
Female Ferrule care:
Use a clear Q-tip, I recommend the wooden stick ones as they are much stronger then the fiber stick. Use a minor amount of Paint Thinner. If you ooze out excess thinner it wont mare the bamboo coating in back of the ferrule or up on the ferrule. This will remove dirt and grease making your male ferrule insert and tighten into the female correctly. Once clear and clean the female is renewed and no more effort is needed:
Male Ferrule:
The male ferrule needs a light polishing with #0000 steel wool once or twice a year. this polishes any burrs and cleans the male.
Once clean use canning clear wax you would use in canning fruit to lightly lube the male. NEVER USE NOSE OIL. The use of the old fisherman tail of lubing ferrules with your nose oil will corrode and collect dirt in the female ferrule. In How to care for your bamboo fly rods, this alone will save you untold ferrule sticking and damage. By sliding the male ferrule over the wax coats and lubes it correctly. Any excess will be pushed aside as you insert it into the female.
Bamboo fly rod Field sense:
When you break for lunch never lean your bamboo fly rods or graphite fly rods with the tip leaning against a barn, RV or tree in the sun. Over your lunch break, either material can set up with a bend. Always assure you rest the rod with no load on it. you can set against an upright object, just dont induce a load bending the rod. The best method is to lay atop bushes or trees out of the sun with, again no load on the rod. This also keeps the rod elevated for others not step on your bamboo fly rod or graphite rod.
Bamboo Fly Rods and Graphite Rods, a caring return:
Once home simple wipe down drying the rods sections, you can use some furniture wax on an old clean t-shirt to shine and protect the rods coatings. Then leave the rod case open on the dinning room diner table for 24 hours. This is usually a wide open and safe area to let the rod and case return to a dry condition to store the rod . Doing this allows you the time
after a trip to inspect each section assuring the guides and ferrules as well as the reel seat are all in serviceable condition. Fail to do this and ill be hearing from you for a repair or premature restoration. So now you know how to care for bamboo fly rods and the same care is fine for graphite rods. See my link below for help if your rod needs it.
https://kaneklassics.com/custom-bamboo-fly-rods/
You read correctly! Fishing bamboo fly rods with my friend and outstanding Clear Lake Catfishing Guide, Tom Wheeler http://www.gutbucketsclearlakecatfishn.com showed that with the proper design Catfish up to 18lbs were nicely caught on Clear Lake. The Clear Lake Channel Catfish is a hardy aggressive fish and very much a predator. So with that in mind we set out to see if bamboo fly rods would hold true or be splintered by Mr. Catfish!
With Toms years of knowledge chasing Cats on Clear lake, that was half the battle. Once into these large and hardy fish, the rods performed superbly. Tom’s expertise getting us into these fish proved that the rods worked as designed.
With Tom’s Clear Lake knowledge he helped us cover excellent water. I have never caught any Catfish under 10 lbs and up to 18lbs. Very impressive indeed.
Sometimes we don’t as fly fishing warriors ever consider other fish, other then Trout and Bass. Don’t under estimate the aggressive and power of a 10 plus pound catfish ripping line off your reel!
For a exciting day seeking a giant Catfish, contact Tom: http://www.gutbucketsclearlakecatfishn.com
For bamboo fly rods and Spinning rods, contact Kane Klassics and Doug Kulick: https://kaneklassics.com
Doug Kulick with his shop manager, Ken Poole recently tested a new line of bamboo bait casting and bamboo spinning rods in Clear Lake, California north of the San Francisco Bay a few hours. Clear lake is known for its large and aggressive Large Mouth Bass.
Ken has worked for over 12 years at Kane Klassics and for the last few years as the Shop Manager. Ken’s attention to detail and keen craftsmanship has set high standards in the shop. An avid fisherman both fly and spin, Ken often assists in Kane Klassics testing of new designs. That was the case on Clear Lake.
Kane Klassics provides bamboo spinning rods and bait casting rods in various lengths, line weights and sections. See the picture… proof of a successful test at Clear Lake. To order a custom bamboo spinning rod or bait casting rod, here is the link: https://kaneklassics.com
Douglas Kulick, Maker and owner of Kane Klassics Bamboo Fly Rods, has been asked to recommend his top Five favorite trout fishing flies. When we spoke to Doug on his favorites his comment was that all the flies offered by Kane Klassics are picked for versatility and a broad range of imitation offerings for trout all over the world. We keep at him and finally he said that the following five he packed aboard the company plane’s emergency survival kit. So with that answer what could we say! If you had to survive, on five flies we’d certainly takes Doug Lead.
The Maker’s Top Five Trout Flies:
Parachute Adams https://kaneklassics.com/product/parachute-adams
Royal Coachman https://kaneklassics.com/product/royal-coachman/
Caddis Dry Fly https://kaneklassics.com/product/elk-hair-caddis-tan/
Bead Heard Hares Ear Nymph https://kaneklassics.com/product/bead-head-hares-ear-light/
Bead Head Prince Nymph https://kaneklassics.com/product/bead-head-prince-nymph/
Bamboo Fly Rod Maker’s Recommended Top Five Trout Flies and all Kane Klassics Flies are available on this link: https://kaneklassics.com/shop/
Kane Klassics advanced “Side Drifting” Bamboo Fly Rod and Graphite rod recently under went very successful testing. I experienced some outstanding fishing for large Steelhead with my Friend and Guide, Mike Assink: fish_boy72@yahoo.com , Phone: 541-863-1568. The Umpqua River in Oregon is fantastic for these rods and the following techniques described onward.
Over the course of several trips, together with Mike, we developed an indicator fishing technique, which equaled or did better then the spinning method of side bouncing egg patterns. The rods I designed are 10 1/2′, providing lots of mending and critical hook setting quickness followed by superb fish fighting shock absorbing action. The graphite rod is a 4 pc rod with fighting butt and the Bamboo Fly Rod is a 3 pc with fighting butt. Available in 7 – 12 wt line sizes.
The length of the rods assured easy casting and long leaders to meet the critical depth to put the drifted egg imitation or nymph in the fishes face. Other trips and testing showed these
longer rods excelling at other Steelhead fishing techniques as well. Swung flies, using spay casting and just dead drifted indicator fishing has shown exceptional control. A longer rod is a tremendous help in fighting a large Steelhead. I’ve often said its like a burr in a hound dogs fur, the fly is stuck and you can effectively fight the fish using the rods superior shock absorber action over its length protecting tips and knots.
Many times over a long fight I have mentally counted how many knots are being worked and will they hold. The proof is in the pictures.
To order any of these capable fly rods see Kane Klassics Bamboo Fly Rod and Graphite link: https://kaneklassics.com
