Gates Au Sable Lodge Gear Guide 2017 471 S. Stephan Bridge Road Grayling, Mi 49738 989-348-8462 www.gatesflyshop.com From the Fly Shop... We carry a full line of products…way more than we can fit in this catalog. Our product lines include Simms, Orvis, Patagonia, Winston, Scott, Hatch, Ross, G.Loomis, Nautilus, Mystic, Hardy, Abel, Tibor, SA, Rio, Vedavoo, Renzetti, Peak, Whiting, Hareline...in other words, we carry a lot of stuff. If you don’t see it in here, or even on our online store, give us a call (our shop phone is now open until 9 p.m.) or send me an email at [email protected]. If we don’t have it in stock, I will do everything I can to get you what you want, and at a better price. We use these pages to try to show you what is new, different, or even better. So if it’s in here, we think it’s awesome, unique, or otherwise of interest. We aren’t gear junkies, but fly-fishers do tend to accessorize. It’s not the same as being on the river, but it’s a part of it. As I write this, we are halfway through our second mild, merciful winter in a row. Our winter scouting missions have been filled with trout. I would posit, with some survey data to prove it, that we are on the comeback trail from two very low years and one medium year (last year wasn’t half-bad). The Au Sable is a great river. It recovers quickly. We’re ready for hendricksons pouring from the riffles, along with a masking hatch of caddis. e’reW ready for brown trout to flash across spring’s heavy current in pursuit of a streamer. We’re ready to toast those sweet, chilly spring sunsets and listen to the whistles of the arriving woodcock. We have some great events this year, and more in the works. Check out our calendar for a list of our schools, classes, and other events to round out your season. To order…or find additional items, check out our online store: www.gatesflyshop.com. There you’ll find every product in this catalog. Give us a call. Or go old school and use the attached order form. Need help, have questions, don’t know what size waders or length of fly rod? Give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to the long days of trout fishing ahead… - Josh 2 About Gates Au Sable Lodge We’re a “somewhat” seasonal business featuring a full-service fly shop, restaurant, 17 rooms, and guide service. Founded in 1970 by Cal and Mary Gates, developed and made famous by Cal and Mary’s son Calvin “Rusty” Gates and his wife Julie, Gates Lodge has stayed true to its roots. We strive to provide helpful, humble and fun experience on the banks of the Au Sable River, whether you fly fish or not. We spin our own flies, tie our own leaders, and are out there every day of the season. We truly enjoy living and working up here, and sharing it with our customers. FLY SHOP We are a small shop that follows the Cal and Rusty model: stuff every inch of the shop with everything fly-fishing. We carry the top brands in the sport, have a huge fly-tying section that is a favorite among the state’s commercial fly tyers, and are passionate anglers. We source our flies from over 30 domestic and in-house fly-tyers, and have one of the largest made-in-America fly selections in the world. Many of our patterns are endemic to our shop, and can’t be found in an overseas fly catalog. We’re here to make your time on the river better. If you have a question about angling on the Au Sable or beyond, need advice on a product, or want something obscure, just ask! SHOP HOURS: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., April – October 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., November – March www.gatesflyshop.com 989-348-8462 [email protected] RENTALS Forget stuff? Don’t have any? We rent rods, reels, waders and boots by the day. We rent on a first come, first served basis… Our rods and reels are from Orvis, and our waders and boots are from Patagonia. Rates (from time of rental until 9 a.m. the next morning): ROD AND REEL: $10/day WADERS: $15/day BOOTS: $5/day THE FULL OUTFIT: $25/day www.gatesflyshop.com 3 WINSTON ROD CO. We offer one of the most diverse rod selections in the Midwest, and will go out of the way to help find you the right rod. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, just let us know…and we’ll get it to you! WINSTON AIR $945 We’re fawning over this new offering from Winston. Quick, full of feel, will carry around 20% more line than the BIIIX, and just so light in hand. Winston’s finest offering since the IM6. Still not the lightning rod of an Orvis or Scott Meridian. But for us, this rod is just more our speed. You buy the rod, we’ll throw in a line. Just order from the site and let us know in the comments what fly line you’d like from our online selection. Available in 3-6 wt. WINSTON BIII PLUS $875 This is Winston’s best saltwater rod they’ve produced. That’s not saying much -- they’ve released some stinkers -- but it’s saying something. But we’re not too concerned about salwater around here. What we need a big-fly rod to do is throw weighted lines and big streamers...or to turn over a size 2/0 mouse at night with a heavy weight-forward floating line. And that’s where this rod is most at home. The same could be said for the panned and now defunct Winston BIIISX. It might have been a heavy, but on a cold day in Novem- ber, with big flies and a sinking line, it was (and is) very good at what it does. The Plus, though, is better... and it’s Tank Ron approved! Includes sock and tube and lifetime warranty. 5-12 wt. WINSTON BIII LS $795 A light-line, in-tight, spooky trout fly rod with just enough guts to cover a rise at 50 feet, the LS is remines- cent of the renowned Winston IM6, but much lighter. I like these in the 8-8’6” range, and in the 4 and 5 weights. It gives them just the right oomph. Pair the LS with the Rio LT or the SA Trout or LightLine. A fly Fly Rods rod for the purist that thinks BBs are what go inside a shell, with gunpowder. Includes sock and tube, and lifetime warranty. Available in 2-5 wt. WINSTON BIII X $845 As different from the Helios 2 as can be, the BIIIX is Winston’s foray into the “fast action” rod market. But they aren’t fast. But they feel fast. And that’s what we like best about them. The BIIIX is the all-around for the angler that doesn’t want fast, that wants to feel their line move, that wants accuracy at 30-50 feet with enough speed to fight the wind, or cheat a big on the backcast. It protects tippets. It’s beautiful in hand, and feels lively in a way that only Winstons feel lively. Made in Twin Bridges, Montana. Includes sock and tube, and lifetime warranty. 3-7 wt. WINSTON NEXUS $475 The sleeper hit of 2015. Frankly I thought the Recon would outpace the Nexus. But the Nexus held its own and then some. It feels like a Winston. It looks like a Winston. And it’s made in Twin Bridges, Montana. It’s a Winston! The 7-weight is awe- some, somewhat unexpectedly. Not unexpectedly, so too are the 3, 4, 5 and 6 weights. If you want a Winston, and balk at the $800+ price tags, the Nexus is just right. It fishes great. It’s easy to cast. Very highly recommended. Includes sock and tube, and lifetime warranty. 3-7 wt. 4 SCOTT FLY RODS SCOTT MERIDIAN $865 SCOTT RADIAN $795 The Meridian has a lot of press right now, and for good The Radian is made waves in the industry, and now it’s reason. This is a fine-looking, wicked casting, big water big brother, the Meridian, is as well. The Radian can fly-rod. There’s a stability to it during the cast that is easily transition from short to long casts. This is Scott’s essential when carrying a long line. When you think of finest all-around modern fly rod, especially as more and getting a 7, 8, or 9-weight, you think about all the different more anglers like longer, faster fly rods. The customers who have fished the Raidian for several years frequently applications. Trips to faraway destinations. Or to your comment that they LOVE it. In a way, it’s the perfect trout local pike lake, or carp flat, or streamer float. The Meridian bum rod. Unsanded blank. It has inch marks on the blank is at home. That stability lends itself to an effortlessness (tactfully spaced, mind you...it’s not a yardstick!) And it that makes casting it a joy. It just cleaned house at the can do anything, go anywhere.