Jeff Wagner Named President and CEO of Mayfly Outdoors
We couldn’t be more excited for our friend and casting editor, Jeff Wagner, on his recent appointment to the role of President and CEO of Mayfly Outdoors, parent company of Abel Reels, Ross Reels, and Airflo. Wagner, formerly of VF Corporation at brands Smartwool and Icebreaker, is a graduate of Colorado State University with an MBA and undergraduate degree. He brings extensive operational and executive leadership experience from past roles, previously serving as the general manager of R.L. Winston Rod Company and at Cabela’s where he served for over 14 years. Wagner is a regular contributor to the fly-fishing industry as a field editor for Fly Fusion and Flyfisher magazines. He is a Master Certified Fly Casting Instructor with Fly Fishers International, where he also served as Co-Chair of the Board.
“It is a privilege to be joining an outstanding team and working for such iconic brands as Ross, Abel and Airflo. This position combines years of experience and fly-fishing passion and I am looking forward to serving the business and fly-fishing community and helping each grow.” Wagner said.
“We are very happy to welcome Jeff, his wife Kat, and his two daughters to Montrose,” said company founder David Dragoo. “Jeff brings a new level of expertise and leadership to our business, and we believe he will do a great job.”
Wagner takes over as the company seeks to expand and acquire new businesses. The company, well known for its conservation efforts, began with 17 people in Montrose, and currently employs about 130 people across California, Colorado, and the United Kingdom.
About Mayfly Outdoors: Mayfly Outdoors is a Colorado-based outdoor products company founded and Certified B® Corporation. Mayfly subsidiaries operate under various brand names including Abel, Ross Reels, and Airflo. Combined, these businesses are the recipients of more industry “Awards in Excellence” for innovation, dependability and performance than any other fly-fishing tackle manufacturers in the world. More information can be found at mayflyoutdoors.com
Just Like Mac | Stimmies Top-10 Finalist
Uncle Mac left a deep imprint on Tommy. Join us as we retrace Tommy’s steps – from Alabama farm ponds to tarpon flats – to understand why. Just Like Mac, is a finalist in the 2022 Stimmies Film Awards. Angler’s Choice vote is now open!
Thoughts of a Fly Fisher | Stimmies Top-10 Finalist
On this day filmmaker, Simon Kay, hardly fished. He simply appreciated and tried to capture the beauty he was surrounded by.The Thoughts of a Fly Fisher has been selected as a Stimmies Awards finalist – watch and vote today!
Unbelizeable! | Stimmies Top-10 Finalist
A group of friends and photographers make their way into some amazing DIY flats fishing in Northern Belize! Don’t miss watching Unbelizeable!, or the other Top-10 Stimmies Awards films. It is your vote that will determine the winner on July 31!
Abel ROVE Series of Reels Named Best of Show
Every fly fishing product from wading boots to sunglasses came under the scrutiny of anglers who actually have the opportunity to use, wear, and test the items for the 2022 Consumer Choice Awards, announced the co-sponsors: The Fly Fishing Show, Fly Fusion Magazine and the industry publication Angling Trade.
The Abel ROVE won both fresh and saltwater fly reel categories resulting in Best of Show honors.
The nominations were open to all Fly Fishing Show Exhibitors with 32 “Best-of” categories.
“The team from The Fly Fishing Show, Fly Fusion Magazine, and Angling Trade is extremely happy with the results and voter participation in this inaugural year. This is the only industry award that is open to participation by the consumer,” said The Fly Fishing Show’s President and CEO, Ben Furimsky.
The Best on Show award-winning Abel ROVE model reels feature a structurally integral machining design to withstand the demands of the traveling angler; caged frame to prevent any possibility of line being caught between the frame and spool; double pawl engagement on all sizes; quick change spool; user-convertible drag system; and high capacity, large arbor spool for single or two handed rods among other features.
2022 Consumer Choice Awards results are:
Project Permit
Narrated by Flip Pallot, A Pathway for Permit, tells the story of the collaborative efforts of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Costa Sunglasses, and fishing guides to conserve and protect the Florida Keys’ iconic permit fishery, and provide the information resource managers need to better manage the fishery.
Native Waters | Stimmies Top-10 Finalist
Journey to the Andes with a group of friends trying to catch the spirt of a soul lost to the river. Visit IF4 Online today to watch Native Waters, a Stimmies Awards Top-10 finalist and vote for your top film today!
A Gift for Dad!
Looking for a great way to beat the heat this summer? Snap up a new subscription and we will send you a Free fishy Wingo Can Cooler along with some bonus issues of your favourite Mag!
Consumer Choice Awards
Let’s find out what the angling public really thinks are the best fly-fishing products on the market today. Fly Fusion has been working with Angling Trade and the Fly Fishing Show to set up the “Consumer Choice Awards,” which comprises the largest number of products from the largest pool of manufacturers. It’s still a subjective exercise… everyone has an opinion. But that’s exactly the point—we’re hoping to get a different cross section of responses, and instead of industry insiders, or media, we want as many everyday anglers (people who actually buy stuff) to chime in and vote.
The voting is now officially open.
Go HERE to cast your lots in a full range of product categories, from rods and reels to waders and accessories.
Most important, we hope you will share this with your customers… your readers… your followers… anyone who fly fishes is welcome.
We will of course keep you updated as the tallies come in.
Thursday Night Live
Thursday Night Live Fly Tying started four years ago, when Fly Fishing Bow River Outfitters wanted to combine their love of craft beer and fly tying into a single event. Since it is impossible for everyone to attend in person the event evolved into a live weekly streaming production – free, relaxed and welcome to all! Why can’t every day be Thursday?
Thanks to Tim Hepworth and Dana Lattery for sending us a few of their favourite patterns from season 4. You can check out the recipes for the Foam is Home Stone, Complex Twist Bugger, Chubby Chernobyl and Foamulator in the all new Summer issue. Here are a couple bonus patterns to try in the mean-time! Check out more Thursday Night Live Fly Tying HERE!
No Pebble Devil's Canyon Wading Boot
Korkers Teams Up with Trout Unlimited to Advance Permanent Protections for Bristol Bay, Alaska Korkers has designed a limited edition pair of Devil’s Canyon fishing boots with Trout Unlimited to raise awareness and support the permanent protections for Bristol Bay. A portion of profit will be donated to Trout Unlimited’s efforts to raise awareness among anglers around the threat to world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery.
For the last two decades, anglers have been part of the hardfought effort to stop the formerly proposed Pebble mine. The proposed open pit copper and gold mine was slated for the headwaters of Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the world largest sockeye salmon fishery and a crown jewel in the sportfishing and hunting industry.
In 2020, the key federal permit for the proposed mine was denied to the Pebble Limited Partnership as the proposal failed to meet Clean Water Act standards and was “contrary to public interest.” Now local fishing business owners, tribes and commercial fishermen are calling for permanent protections for the region to ensure Pebble- or another mining company- can’t come back in the future.
The national fly fishing industry as well as outdoor industry leaders, companies have stood behind local sportfishing leaders in Bristol Bay during the fight against Pebble and now in the effort to advance permanent safeguards for the fishery and the industries who depend on it.
Each pair of Special Edition Devil’s Canyon boots will feature:
● Vibram Sole Configuration
● Bristol Bay Informational Insert
● Free 1-Year TU Membership
● No Pebble Sticker
● No Pebble Koozie
Echo LIFT | Rod Review by Raymond Poff
Bitterroot, Clark Fork, and Blackfoot – Hearing these Montana river names may elicit vivid memories of fishing experiences or re-ignite future dreams on a bucket list. These amazing fisheries are home to several species from the trout family, Salmonidae, such as: rainbow, Westslope cutthroat, cutbow (naturally occurring hybrid), brown, brook, bull, and the mountain whitefish (it really is part of the trout family)*. During a trip to Missoula last September, I spent four days giving the ECHO LIFT fly rod a workout on these three rivers. Here’s my take.
