It has pretty much rained for a year and a half straight now on the east coast. Last year seemed like it was almost a complete washout. This year at least seems like it is off to a better start. I was able to get the boat out several days already this year, and yesterday some strange yellow orb was in the sky. There have been some pretty good caddis and march brown hatches as of late, but it is pouring rain as I type this and is supposed to rain for the next couple days. The coming week looks to be a blow out, but maybe by the weekend things will start to clear. For now, here are a couple shots from this past weekend.
Spent last weekend at The Fly Fishing Show in Edison, NJ tying flies in the Fly Stones booth. It was a great 3 days. It is always good to see old friends and make new ones. Thank you to everyone who stopped by! Below is just a few snap shots. I wanted to get more photos, but it is amazing how busy it gets and how quickly it goes by. If you have never been to one of the shows, I encourage you to check them out. All the major gear manufactures are there with the latest products, as well as some of the most talented tiers and fishers around. There are many demonstrations and seminars throughout the weekend.
Loaded up to head out.
Chris and Herb getting the Fly Stones booth ready for the day.
Alice from Riverside Anglers doing her thing. If anyone is looking for a guided trip in Yellowstone or the surrounding area, I HIGHLY recommend her. You can contact her here, be sure to tell her I sent you along. I promise you will have a blast!
Every year the Women's Showcase keeps growing. Nice to see!
I always enjoy hanging out with the Simms crew. The best waders and customer service out there.
About a 1/4 of the Sage Rods that were available to try out.
TCO Outdoors, stocked to the brim with gear as always.
Little late getting these photos up. Went up to Steelhead Alley last weekend to chase some chrome. Water was lower than I expected given the never ending rain we have endured this year. We managed a few fish each day and had a blast though. The big surprise was waking up Saturday morning to 10 inches of snow! It went from fall to winter real fast! Travel was severely hampered, but we finally managed to make it to the water and catch some fish in some of the most peaceful and scenic conditions ever. Looking forward to getting back up soon.
I’ve
had a rod rack installed on the inside of my Honda Element since I bought it
about 7 years ago. It is great, but at times it can be a real pain,
literally (ask the many who have hit their head on it).
Recently, I’ve decided to construct an interior camping platform for long
trips, or those days when it is just easier to crash in the vehicle for a night
or two streamside (more to come on that build). This has necessitated the
search for an alternative rod carrying system.
Until
now, there has been relatively few options out there, you could build your own, but honestly, I want something a little sturdier than pvc pipe and an
ammo can. I’ve also watched $4,000 worth of equipment dangle along the
passenger side widow of my truck when an exterior suction cup rod mount let
loose. Until recently, the only real
viable option has been Denver Outfitters Rod Vault. I avoided ordering
one of them years ago due to the extremely long (8 months or more) wait times
that were being reported, as well as a lot of not so flattering reviews on the
company’s customer service. Customer service is a big deal to me.
To be fair, it appears they have recently dealt with their manufacturing issues
and are next day shipping now, and I can’t give much of a firsthand account of
their customer service minus a few email exchanges I recently had with them
that we will call 50/50 at best.
During
my search, a friend of mine turned me on to Riversmith and their newly released
River Quiver. Riversmith is a small company based in Boulder Co, and they describe
themselves as“a company built on the principles of engineering solutions for
the avid fly fisherman”. They are climbers, hunters, skiers, but most importantly, fly-fishers. The first obstacle they decided to attack was
rod storage. Their solution, the RiverQuiver, which recently took home
the “Best of Show” award at this year’s IFTD trade show in Orlando.
The
River Quiver is a 2 or 4 rod vault that mounts to your roof rack and looks
similar to Denver’s rod vault, but there are some very notable
exceptions. For starters, I like the tube design a lot better, as the tubes
are actually joined together, which should make it more structurally sound and quieter,
I have experienced zero wind noise. The tubes are lined to protect your
rods and guides during transport and they will accommodate rods up to 10 feet
in length. Despite the extra structure, the 4-banger is a full 13lbs
lighter than the 4 rod version of the rod vault! If you are carrying more
than just a rod rack on your roof, 13lbs is a big deal. Don’t let the light
weight (42lbs) fool you though, it is built like a tank! This thing looks
like it can take a real beating while keeping your rods safe and sound. The
4 rod version is also $100 cheaper than the 4 rod version of the rod vault, which
is reason enough to give it a look. The 2-Banger retails for $349, while the
4-banger retails for $549.
2-Banger (Photo courtesy of Riversmith)
4-Banger (Photo courtesy of Riversmith)
Assembly
and installation were a breeze, and I think it looks great, but you can judge
that for yourself. The double barrel locking mechanism on the back is
solid, and you can even get optional security bolts if you are really worried
about someone coming along and trying to remove the entire setup from your roof
rack. The River Quiver will fit almost all factory and aftermarket roof
racks, and there is an optional spacer kit for those extremely low-profile roof
racks.You should have no issues
installing this on just about any vehicle, but if you have questions (this is
where the customer service comes in), just email or call them, and they will be
more than willing to help.When looking
at the rod vault, I had a few questions regarding bracket spacing and I needed
some simple measurements, I ended up having to resort to posting my questions
on Facebook to get the info I needed.Ironically it was through that post that I learned about Riversmith, so
I guess I should be grateful haha.The
guys at Riversmith were extremely responsive and helpful when I reached out to
them through email and over the phone.Within a week, there was a 4-Banger riding on the roof of the
Element.
Optional Security Bolts (Photo courtesy of Riversmith)
Optional Space Kit (Photo courtesy of Riversmith)
Installation Video
I also had the opportunity to do a little Q&A with with the guys at Riversmith to provide everyone with a little more information on the River Quiver, as well as the company.
The
River Quiver is Riversmith’s first product for the fly fishing industry,
and you guys have hit it out of the park! I know you guys are just
getting started, but any insights on what may be coming next from
Riversmith?
We are always dreaming of ways
to make fly fishing more enjoyable and productive, so yes – more is
coming!Unfortunately, I’m sworn to
secrecy, however there are things in the works to create more versatile and
simple mounting options for the River Quiver and maybe some other rod
holding/carrying solutions for alternate forms of transportation.
Often
when I purchase a product, after using it for about 5 minutes, I wonder
sometimes if people ever actually field test stuff. Most of the time
the issues I find with products are just mild annoyances that can be lived
with, but probably could have been corrected if a little field testing had
been done. Its obvious Riversmith has put in some serious time
designing and testing the River Quiver. Can you offer any behind the
scenes insight on what truly went in to designing and testing the River
Quiver?
We started
designing the River Quiver about a year before it was launched, and spent
months prototyping, using, and abusing the products with our staff and guides/fishermen
all over the country.We were also able
to use a nearby aeronautics testing facility and capture data about extreme
environmental stresses – extreme temperature swings, vibrations, wind loads,
and other nerdy stuff like that.We
broke a lot of different pieces and learned a lot in the testing stages.Just one example, we went through 4 different
liner materials during this phase until we found one that met all of our
criteria.I could tell you stories about
every component, right down to the rivets, that went through multiple revisions
to ensure we used the highest quality components.
One of
the many things I have been impressed with when dealing with Riversmith
has been the customer service. It has been evident that you take
great pride in your products and the service you provide. To me,
this is what really sets your company apart from any others that may be
producing similar products. Would you care to comment?
Thank
you!!We have all had things break on us
while fishing, and whether it’s a shoelace on a wading boot or fly rod on a
trophy fish (or car door) it is a disappointing experience.All the staff at Riversmith really poured
their hearts into this product and take great pride in what we have made, so
the last thing we want is disappointed customers.To the best of our ability we make ourselves
available for customer feedback, good or bad, and quickly resolve any issues
people are having out there!
Other
than your website, is there a list of retailers where someone can pick up
a River Quiver?
We are
working on the “Find a Retailer” link on our website, so keep your eye on
that.For now, just call your local shop
and ask for the Riversmith River Quiver, and if they don’t have it ask them to
become a dealer!
The
River Quiver is solid! However, if something were to go wrong, what
is the warranty?
Riversmith’sLocked and Loaded Limited Lifetime Warranty covers all River Quiver products
bought from an authorized retailer for the original purchaser for the life of
the product. We will repair or replace
all products rendered unusable by defects in materials or workmanship. If damage is deemed outside the scope of the
warranty, replacement parts and repairs will be made available at discounted
rates.
Is
there anything else you would care to add?
It’s been a
dream come true being able to come back to the fly fishing industry after
spending a number of years away.The
warm welcome we have received from shops, manufacturers, and fellow fishermen
has been nothing short of amazing.There
have also been some pretty big names – some of my idols for many years – that
have helped us with product testing, partnerships, and overall networking.We are humbled to be a part of this
nationwide family of guys and gals who love being on the water.
I’ll
give an updated review next spring, after I put this thing through the ringer a
few times, but so far it has handled everything I have thrown at it. The
River Quiver also has a Limited Lifetime Warranty vs the 1 year warranty on the
rod vault. If you are in the market for a new rod rack, check them out
online (Riversmith). If you have questions,
email them or give them a call, they are more than willing to help. Last,
but certainly not least, the River Quiver is designed and hand assembled in
Colorado. If you are looking for rod storage, I think you will be happy with a River Quiver!
