Reflecting on the Holidays and the Coming year, I would like to share some thoughts on the past and future. I have advocated for many years that fishing, hunting and other outdoor adventures are much more than a recreational activity. Consequently, outdoors people are the only ones that share this realization and most of them only at some deep intuitive level. Growing up most people referred to my fishing as playing hooky from school or work. Any of you that hunted and fished grew up knowing that being a fisherperson was not looked at with the same respect that playing baseball or football were. If you were a fisherperson or hunter you weren’t bonified!

I believe it is time for a paradigm shift in our thinking as outdoorsman. Most of us, when we think back in time and past Holidays, can not recall the material gifts that we received but can readily recall the great fishing and hunting and camping trips we spent with our father, family, and friends. Combine those lifelong memories with the fact that fishing and hunting are the last remaining vehicles that the masses have to access and stay connected to nature, then we slowly start to comprehend , that the importance of these connections to nature transcend the ideal of “recreational activities”. Most Outdoorsmen I have ever talked to do attempt to express a greater sense of clarity of thought and connection to some greater understanding when in the woods or on the water. I have always shared the ideal that, “If God is not everywhere he is not anywhere.” Call it my excuse for spending so many of my Sundays fishing. Yet, nothing rejuvenates my spirit more than watching an incredible sunrise or watching an Osprey smash into the water or watching the sacred water transforming itself from liquid, to vapor, to ice, to dancing fog, and to rain, in its continuous journey in the circle of life.

Thanks to Jerry Mckinnis and their genius for attempting to elevate through the Bass Master Television the sport of fishing to a higher level. Thanks to Johnny Morris for creating a store that every time I walk into it makes me proud to be an outdoorsman and justifies all those days I spent playing hooky. What they have done has elevated our understanding of nature and helps preserve the last remaining vehicles society has to keep it connected to the Outdoors. I believe as an individual or a Society, if we loose access to Nature we loose all the remaining wild things and wild places and our own sanity along with it.

My challenge to you or request is in the future, instead of some material gift, attempt to give your kids and family an incredible Outdoor adventure. Nature may be the greatest teacher of all.

Rick Clunn

During Rick’s first visit to Wright and McGill we went over many new product ideas. Rick sat down with our rod and reel manager Al Noraker to discuss his line of rods. Rick knows exactly what he wants from a rod and Al is the perfect person to meet his demands. Rick talked with our TroKar manager Matt Grey on some new hook designs. After working with all of the product managers Rick went to the country store and worked as a sales man. These two guys were surprised when Rick Clunn himself came out to explain his crank bait rods.

The whole company enjoyed having Rick and his family here. He spent some time in almost every department. After a tour in the factory Rick had some extra time to sign some autographs with his kids by his side.

Day one opened with nothing to see but thick fog and more Bluefish then we knew what to do with plus a Striper or two thrown in for good measure. Bluefish in packs are a hook makers dream since these hard fighting, toothy fish can cut mono leader like butter and with the Stripers being a little leader shy we decided to stick with the mono instead of steel leaders for a shot a 40lb plus Stripe Bass. 100 hooks later and all of us plenty happy with the day we headed back to town for what else but some of Boston’s Best Seafood.

Day two dawned and the weather make us feel like we were in a completely different place. Sunshine greeted us and the Stripers seemed to be more willing to bite. We caught fish all day within site of the Boston Skyline and Fort Independence in the Harbor. What a great fishery, When you can stay at a hotel downtown in a major city, have a 15 minute car ride to the boat and be hooked up 15 minutes later – that is a fishery to get excited about!Everyone had a great time, caught plenty of Striped Bass and Bluefish, laughed, joked, and harassed both the captains for two day. Plus enjoyed the nightlife of Downtown Boston.

Thank’s a lot
Yancey Hartzer

(from left to right):Konstantin Karimulin, Sergey Jhdanov, Konstantin Kudinov

Each morning the group would get out early and start throwing real nasty colorful flies. Each fly box looked like a bag of skittles.

Most had little fly fishing experience and one person who had never picked up a fly rod. Many of them improved their casting techniques while on the water. Each day the casts had got better and less wind knots to untie. Each person caught an average of 10 fish a day. This time of year there are thousands of Kokanee that swim up this stretch of the Gunnison.

Each evening would conclude with a few games of poker, laughs, and good times.

When it came time for packing for the trip, we asked to include our rods in his carrying case. He chuckled and stated that the rods and reel that we had chosen were too small and would not stand up to the silver salmon of Alaska. At first glance of the size of his rods and reels we thought we might have come unprepared.

Upon arrival we adventured our rented boat through the Valdez Arm into Jacks Bay & Galena Bay. At first we used down riggers and the larger gear to troll pop gear and herring for the silver salmon. While we did catch a number of silver salmon it almost seemed unsporting as you couldn’t really feel the fight of the fish.

We then anchored in Jacks Bay for lunch, and unsheathed our W&M Alaska Medium Drifter rods & the Eagle Claw Endure Cast reels. We rigged a small amount of weight and a herring, and cast over side. As we were unpacking lunch my buddy shouted “the Wright McGill!” My son grabbed the rod, set the hook, and it was fish on! We had a modest set on the drag, when the salmon saw the boat it went for an immediate run stripping line off the reel. After a good fight, we netted the silver salmon, which was our largest fish caught yet. Immediately following the catch, the whining drag of the second Wright McGill sounded off, and my buddy grabbed the pole. Like a kid in a candy store, he said “now this is fishing!” as he reeled in yet another big silver. Lunch was delayed as we all took turns catching our limit with the Wright McGill fishing gear.

For the remaining days of our vacation we caught our limit using the Wright McGill fishing gear. With each catch you could feel every twitch and pull of the fish, the responsiveness could not be beat.

My friend stated that he is getting rid of the other poles and from now on will only use Wright McGill. I’m hooked, and cannot wait for our next trip!

by Eddy Frisk

DENVER, COLORADO – The Wright & McGill Co., in an effort to break new barriers in performance, power, weight reduction and value within the fly-fishing industry, is extremely proud to announce the introduction of Generation II S-Curve blank technology fly rods using CNT (Carbon Nano Tube) resins at under $100 retail!

Our design team has spent hundreds of hours developing what we think is an industry changing performance rod series that is priced to encourage recruitment into the sport of fly-fishing while making these rods available to fishermen and Fly Girls at every ability and economic level.

Generation II S-Curve rod blank technology is a derivative of the original S-Curve blank that has proven over and over that strength, sensitivity and performance does not have to be followed by lots of zeros!

We’ve taken the original S-Curve design but made it lighter and thinner by using an even higher modulus graphite core and reinforcing layer. Inside we’ve woven PBO fibers, which are two times stronger than Kevlar, with carbon yarn and T-Glass to add strength and performance to every blank. Nano resins are used as the binding agent increasing comparable strength by over 20% to standard resins.

As good as the new Generation II S-Curve blanks are, we didn’t stop there. We’ve broken new ground in the fly rod market with a handle made of high density rubber that dramatically improves the main point of contact that the angler has with the fly rod. These new handles are more comfortable than cork, last longer than cork and are not slippery when wet. Tradition may call for cork but when performance calls for improvement in materials and design, Wright & McGill always leads the way!

Every rod is beautifully finished with our unique seven layer paint process which adds a custom, one of a kind touch to your new fly rod. Add high end components like zirconium stripping guides, stainless snake foot guides, a lightweight aluminum reel seat and you have a true performance rod that you can be proud of and you didn’t have to take out a second mortgage to make the purchase. All W&M Generation II S-Curve rods are made in four pieces and include a limited lifetime warranty.

For more information about Wright & McGill Co. Essentials and Accessories products, contact us at 720-941-8700 or visit the web site at www.wright-mcgill.com. Be sure to follow us on Facebook as well.

Kids Wishn’ To Go Fishn’ Celebrates 15th Year Saturday July 9th marked the fifteenth year since this program started. With the many volunteers and Doug Houston the original creator of this event, the P.L. Wilson Detachment of the Marine Corps League, the Mobile Police Dept., the Mobile Jaycees and over twenty national and local sponsors participated in the event.

Ten adult anglers and 30 children ages 8-12 mostly from the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Alabama got a chance to experience a trip of a life time. They boarded a chartered bus provided by Kingdom Coach and were escorted with blue lights by the Mobile Police Dept. and the Marine Corps League motor cycle group Semper Fi Riders to the Dauphin Island Marina where they received a Eagle Claw rod & reel, tackle box, t-shirt and back pack loaded with goodies. They boarded the charter boat The Duke and headed out for hours of fishing in Mobile Bay.

The children caught fish after fish and the expression on a childs face when they catch their first fish will last a life time. It is a pleasure to teach a child how to fish…..said Doug Houston. Once every child had a fish in hand they headed for the docks of the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament the site of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo. They got to participate in their first fishing tournament. Each child got a certificate, hot dog, soft drink and ice cream and will receive a photo plaque from the Conde Corp.

Tom Claxton and the Marine Corps League has been a major part of this event for the last three years. Without them this event would not be possible. Once the child gets home with all the tackle they need to go fishing, we hope they will pick it up and go fishing instead of the streets….Houston exclaimed.