I wish you and your family the very best this 4th of July, enjoy the long weekend and get out there, explore the outdoors and catch a big one. If you do, send me a photo or enter our online photo contest at www.nitrobait.com for your chance to win a Cabelas gift card

Just published in Fish and Fly Magazine is their review on 8 wt. fly rods with W&M number one by a wide margin! Last year we won with the 5 wt. and taking top honors again this year shows our ongoing commitment to the quality we build into every W&M rod we make. And if that is not enough, every one of our fly rods comes with a lifetime warranty.

But don’t take our word for it. Take a look at the attached images straight out of Fish and Fly Magazine.

Wright and McGill rods are available in many local fly shops as well as online retailers.

Bill and Julie won this event using the Eagle Claw SF400 Starfire rods and Lazer Sharp 8/0 circle hooks.

Great Job on the first place win!

This was the second “Fly Girl”, ladies fly-fishing class I’ve held at the local Bass Pro Shop here in Denver. The classroom sessions  included topics on equipment, fly presentations and rigging, casting and even an introduction to fly tying. At each session we promised that, if they attended at least 3 of the 5 classroom sessions,  they would be invited to spend a day on the water.

Our on the water day finally arrived and just as you might expect from an early spring day in Colorado, the weather did not cooperate. We decided to head off to famous Spinney Mountain Reservoir. The weather turned really bad even for the Rocky Mountains as a huge cold front with high winds moved into the area creating less than optimal fly fishing conditions.

Even with very tough conditions, these ladies were not going to cancel this trip. Temps were in the low 20’s but the wind made it feel like a January ice fishing day. I jumped out of the truck and climbed into my waders as quickly as possible. Not only to cut the wind but to take away any doubt that we weren’t going to do this fishing thing. The wind was blowing a solid 30 mph with gusts much higher, it was just flat cold!! After a quick group shot to remember the day, we were off on the first fly-fishing adventure for most of these ladies.

The long walk in helped get he blood flowing but we were now partially protected by a small hill and the wind really wasn’t bad here. Seemed like a good place to start fishing! We had already decided to use a still fishing technique from our classroom sessions. We would suspend small emerger patterns or scuds under a strike indicator and wait for the take. We spaced everyone apart along a few hundred yards of shoreline and began fishing. These gals had learned so much in a short period of time and they were already very good casters. However, the wind was getting stronger and making it VERY difficult to get long accurate casts to where I felt the fish would be cruising. I was so impressed with their determination. There were already big macho types that were scrambling back to the warmth of their vehicles as other ladies kept working the fly lines. They wanted to catch fish SO bad! I moved up and down the bank to offer any help that I could.

Hours went by and no fish. I was so bummed but the wind was getting worse and the ladies were freezing. I finally gathered up the ladies and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. I told them how proud I was of their determination and the fact they stayed out in conditions that I would not normally fish in myself. I said, “we can keep on fishing or go to my cabin, build a big fire and have lunch”. As much as they wanted to catch fish, I only had to offer the fire and lunch one time. As we packed up and headed back to the cars, I could see the happiness on each face. They had learned something new and if they could fish in these conditions, just think how much fun they will have on a warm summer day casting to rising trout. This will all seem like a distant memory then. Cheers to my Fly Girls, I was very proud of them and I hope to see them on the water many times this summer. Great job ladies!

If you are interested in signing up, contact Wright and McGill for the next class this summer. You can reach us at info@eagleclaw.com or 720-941-8700. Ask for Al or Chris.

This story even comes with a happy ending. Anna, one of the Fly Girls, would not be stopped by a little weather. A few days later she went back up to Spinney, determined to find her first big trout on the fly. I am happy to tell you those classes paid off! What a great first fish. Based on that smile, I think she is hooked!

These bad boys are available in 3/0 thru 7/0 and you can get ‘em in a 3 pack or assortment kit with extra goodies included like a free sample of Nitro Grease.
This new technique is being used by top pros in the Bass, Walleye, and Saltwater markets across the country. The best thing about them - they catch all kinds of fish and are easy to rig and use. Our team has been testing them in the field with great results and I can tell you first hand this system works.
Give them a try - now available at Big 5, Dicks, Cabelas, and Bass Pro plus local retailers across the country.

Chris

I just talked with Betty Bauman about the latest Ladies Lets Go Fishing event in Florida; man was she excited about it!

“Ladies came from as far away as Massachusetts to learn fishing South Florida style at the 11th Annual “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminar. Almost 50 women spent their weekend learning saltwater fishing and conservation skills at the seminar, held in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The seminar offered a welcome reception, fishing classes and hands-on instruction.
The seminars utilized several “hands-on” fishing exercises on Saturday afternoon, such as spin casting, net casting, knot tying, putting bait on hooks, conservation, boat handling, backing a truck and trailer and reeling against pressure. After the half day fishing trip on Sunday, the event concluded with a fish fillet demonstration. A highlight of the trip, described as an ‘adrenaline rush’, was a 60 lb. golden amberjack caught by a team of ladies aboard Lady Pamela,” Betty told me.
Comments from participants:
“Great for women who don’t have someone to fish with!” - D. Carstensen, Parkland, FL
“Enthusiastic leaders, non-threatening, lots of info!” - D. Day, Jupiter, FL
“Great way to get your feet wet!” - M. Daily, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
“I signed up to learn and definitely did. Instructors were patient and lived up to the ‘no-yelling’ slogan.” - J. Johnson, Hollywood, FL
“Skill stations exceeded my expectations!” - I. Ricciuti, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Great job ladies. I hope to see you out on the water again soon!

Chris

Eagle Claw works with organizations all over the world helping people to get out and fish more. In this case the group is the Grace Church in Arvada, Colorado who in turn take missionary trips with the Chayahuita Indians in Northeastern Peru. The folks at Grace Church take Eagle Claw hooks to the Chayahuita every time they visit. These people do a lot of fishing and can always use some top quality equipment. When returning from the last trip, they brought back a hand carved paddle as a show of appreciation.

Eagle Claw is proud to be a part of this effort and help supply American-made fishhooks all over the world. The paddle from our new friends is proudly on display in our marketing department.

Chris

Here are the inside tips for your best chance at winning.

1. We need to be able to see the fish and angler clearly. Too dark or too washed out in bright sun won’t help your odds.
2. Make sure both the angler and the fish are in the photo. An old dead trout hanging in mid air is not a winner.
3. Take off the glasses so we can see your smiling face.
4. Keep it clean and have fun.

We pick a new winner every every month and you can enter as often as you like.
By the way what is a “Chomper”? Well to us it’s any fish worth braggin’ about. Big fish, small fish, young or old, every good fish photo has a chance to win.

At the 1st FLW tournament on Lake Toho in Florida, Chris Elliott, one of our favorite pros, weighed in the top weight on day two with 19 lbs. 1 oz. Chris finished 15th overall in the event for the Screamin’ Eagle Team and is on his way to Lake Wheeler for the next FLW tour event.

Blair Wiggins and his son Drayden fished their first ever Redfish tournament recently in Punta Gorda, Florida. Drayden was able to cash a check at his first tournament for 2nd place on biggest fish. Not bad for a rookie. Nice job showing up Dad as well! Keep up the good work.

Our Pro in Arizona, Ron Johnson, had a big day on the water as well. Ron was able to finish 1st overall and 1st in the big fish category fishing Lazer Sharp hooks in his latest tournament event out west. That is the way to start the season!

Check out the new features like the easy to find product information. Just click on the PRODUCTS section to see more.

Another new area is our STORE. You can find the latest Eagle Claw gear and logo’ed items like the Pros wear. Plus the chance to purchase select items at special online prices.

And you already found our new BLOG. Here you will find all the newest information on what’s happening with Eagle Claw and our other key brands like Lazer, Nitro and Wright & McGill.

I look forward to keeping you up-to-date on all that’s new and exciting in the world of fishing.

Chris
Fishing Fanatic and Marketing Guy