what's hot in climbing and camping

La Sportiva Speedster Climbing Shoe

The Speedster was introduced in 2008 and has since become one of the most popular minimalist climbing slippers on the market. The feature that sets this shoe apart is its low profile sole. At only 3mm, it allows for superior sensitivity and a more natural fit and feel. Yet through an innovative upper design, the shoe maintains its original shape and fit over time despite it's ultralight sole.

Osprey Exos 46 Backpack

Winner of an Outside Magazine 2009 Editor's Choice Award, the Exos 46 (2800 cu. in., 2lbs 5oz) is an ultralight pack with a frame and harness system that provides a level of load carrying comfort not typically associated with ultralight design. The super light, ventiliated high density foam shoulder and hip harnesses keep weight down yet provide bulk and stability to carry heavy loads comfortably. They also stretch, allowing for a high level of comfort and precise fit.

The Exos 46 also offers Osprey's Stow-On-The-Go trekking pole system which allows you to stow trekking poles quickly and comfortably while walking in order to free up your hands to take a drink, eat a snack, or crawl over boulders or logs.

Granite Gear Virga Backpack

Taking the ultralight philosophy to the extreme, the Virga is a minimalist's ideal pack, weighing in at a paltry 1lb 3oz yet able to carry an ultralight 20lb load comfortably (3200 cu. in.). The superlight weight stems primarily from the fact that the Virga does not have a frame, relying on your sleeping pad to provide rigidity from the inside. The cushionless hip belt is certainly no-frills, contributing almost nothing to the packs superlight weight.

The Virga is a great compliment to Granite Gear's slightly heavier, more comfortable, ultralight packs the Vapor and Ki, previously reviewed here.

almost live, from the south island

Russ sends us this awesome picture of him in front of Mount Rolleston (7462') in Arthur's Pass National Park on New Zealand's south island on Nov. 9th. Thanks for shopping with us Russ. We appreciate it.

We'll give you your very own JL Waters banner for your trip. Please, send us a picture. We love pictures.

special flows on the Cumberland

Troy from Cumberland Trout Guide writes with the following-

"I have just been informed by the Fisheries Biologist for the Cumberland Dave Dreves that they will be conducting a night time fish survey. The Corps will lower the discharge rate to 1 generator (3500cfs). This is a good fishing level and will start at 6am Sunday morning and go on till 2am Tuesday. So I will be booking for Sunday and Monday. If you would like to get out and fish on one of those days call as soon as possible. It may be the last chance to fish the Cumberland river before the cold weather sets in."

Give Troy a call if you want to take advantage of these special flows- (859) 494-4489

fishing report for November 2nd

Well, it got cold again. The smallmouth were getting active last week and then it rained a bunch and got cold. Clear Creek should be fishing OK this afternoon and tomorrow but cold nights mean the fish will be sluggish in the morning. Mid to late afternoon will be the best times to fish. Fish low and slow. I got out last Thursday and picked up a single decent fish in the afternoon. Water temp was 58 degrees F, which is probably a good bit higher than it is today and will be tomorrow. I picked this fish up on a big lead eyed olive Wooly Bugger tied very bulky and retrieved slowly.

Lake Monroe has come up a bit with the rain but is still fishable from shore at the Dam and Fairfax, though ideal levels should come later this week assuming we don't get any more rain. Fishing is hit or miss for the wiper. They haven't been in either the dam area or Fairfax consistently in any numbers. You have about a 50/50 chance of putting your fly in front of a fish. It's all a numbers game at this point unless something changes dramatically. If you have a boat, you have a huge advantage in covering and getting access to more water.

It is steelhead season people. In both Indiana and Michigan and all over the great lakes region. I'm planning a trip up to Michigan in a few weeks to hit the Pere Marquette and perhaps the Muskegon on the way back down. Indiana has some great steelhead fishing on the St. Joe river, Trail Creek, Salt Creek, and the East Fork of Calumet Creek. Egg sucking leeches, wooly buggers, nymphs, and egg patterns should do the trick. As with the wiper, these fish aren't super picky, but they can be hard to find and hard to approach without spooking, especially in the smaller Indiana creeks.

fishing report for October 14th

On Monday afternoon Clear Creek was about perfect. It was high, but with good water clarity, just a hint of stain, the emerald and aquamarine of a limestone creek running clear but full to the brim. The low, late afternoon sunlight ripped through the newly colored leaves down the slope and made me quite happy to have this place only 15 minutes from my house.

The fishing wasn't so hot. I picked up one average fish on a big chartreuse and white clouser and missed three others, one on a super flashy chartreuse Murdich minnow variation, over about 1.5 hours of fishing. I saw one of them put the whole fly in their mouth then instantly spit it back out. I was way too slow on the hookset. The second was a nice 15" fish that flashed the fly right at my feet. The third grabbed the fly and held on for two seconds. Either these fish are "flashing" the fly out of aggression or they simply aren't holding on. Or, perhaps, I am slow. On the fish I caught I almost pulled him out of the water on the hookset.

The fish aren't very active right now, the cold weather has slowed them down a good bit I think. Afternoons on warmer days will probably have the best fishing. But with the higher water you don't have to fish low and slow directly on the bottom, in fact, it's hard to fish on the bottom when the water is moving like it is. But slow, purposeful swimming retrieves seem to draw the strikes. Make a hard, popping strip about 10" long, then let the fly settle for a second or two, then pop it again. Fish the deeper, slower water methodically. Large, heavily weighted, bright flies seemed to be the ticket, large Clouser, Meat Wagon, bunny leech, etc.

Before and during the rain late last week the Wipers on Lake Monroe were intermittently hot. If we had some cloud cover and wind over 10mph, seemed like they were on the flats and eating. The lake only came up about 2 feet, so the flats are still fishable. Like I've said before, an intermediate line and stripping basket really make a big difference. I've been bombing 80-90ft casts into the wind with only two false casts. Most intermediate lines are heavier than their floating counterparts, but not as awkward or "hingey" as a sink tip, and they are smaller in diameter. Sure, they are a bit tangly, but my god when you execute a good cast they really fly.

And oh yeah, check out the pig smallmouth I picked up on Sunday from a creek to remain unnamed, but stop in the shop, maybe I'll share.