Barry and Cathy Beck Blog

   We still have a few spots left in our departure for the Pyrenees, Spain. Join us at Salvelinus La Ribagorza Lodge in Lleida, 1-1/2 hours from Barcelona as we explore the extensive trout fishing opportunities for brown, rainbow and brook trout. October 12-20, 2013. 7 nights/7 days, $4,950 pp. (A great buy in international travel). For complete details, itinerary, and photos look here. Call us soon. Time is running out.

  Also don't forget our photo contest.  We've gotten some great entries already but we'd love to hear from you!  Details here

We've shared many of our favorite photos with you over the past few months, but now we want to hear from you. 

Here are the guidelines: We're running a photo contest from today through September 18th.  Send us your favorite fishing photo by emailing it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 1 entry per person so choose wisely!  We will share all entries in a weekly blog and our office staff will choose the winners by September 25th.  1st Place Winner gets a Sage 2050 (5/6) Fly Reel, RIO Hat, and a 2014 Angler's Calendar. 2nd Place gets a RIO Grand Fly Line of their choice, RIO Hat, and a 2014 Angler's Calendar. 3rd Place gets a RIO hat and a 2014 Angler's Calendar.

If you don't have a favorite, get out on the water this weekend and snap one!  We're excited to see your best photos & hope to hear from all our readers.  Good luck!

July found us back in Iceland for our second trip. This year we had more clouds and rain, but the fishing was just as good. Once again it was almost all dry fly fishing for big brown trout averaging 4-7 pounds. We used big foam beetles, parachute Adams, and Wulffs. Sometimes we trailed a small nymph but often it was a single dry fly. The river flows north to Husavik where it enters the ocean, just under the Arctic circle. We're already planning to return in late June, 2014. 

Kids are back to school, the weather is changing, and Fall is on the way.  This means steelhead fishing is just around the corner.  Check out the new September/October Issue of American Angler which is in stores now for some great tips including egg flies that work!  And don't miss our cover photo of a beautiful steelhead closeup. These fish are truely amazing!

Just learned from Tom Keer this morning that we are featured in USA Today's Hunt & Fish Magazine, along with a couple other notable fly fishing and hunting schools. Summer fall 2013, $5.99, on newstands now. Thanks Tom. Take a look.

Our friend Art was with us in Africa & photographed this hopper on the front porch of his tent in the Masai Mara.  It measured 2 3/4 inches long!  Makes us anxious to get to the Bighorn next week for some hopper fishing.  Thanks Art for sharing this photo!

Thought some of you might like this....  Have a great weekend!

   Barry and Cathy have been traveling to Alaska to fish for years now, and many of you have joined them.  One of the most well known and best places to fish for salmon, Alaska has been a favorite on our trip schedule.  Please join with us in fighting to save this wonderful fish and wildlife resource that is in jeopardy.  Go to savebristolbay.org to read more about it.  You can also view another great article about the Jewelers support HERE. 

   The Becks have plans to return to Alaska in 2014. We're still working out the details but the dates will be July 26-August 2.  If you're interested feel free to call or email us here at the office and we'll get you more information.  We're looking forward to a great trip as always!

We have a few things that we wanted to let all our friends & followers know about and thought that a simple "informational" blog would be most effective.

First on our list, we have a very exciting announcement to make. 

As promised, here are a few photos from the IFTD show in Las Vegas this week.  The word from the Becks is that it has been a success & everyone seems to be enjoying themselves!   Fly fishing in Vegas-- who knew?!

  I'm also including some photos I grabbed from Barry's computer of their recent trip to Africa.  We haven't finished editing and sorting all of his 3,000 photos, but I couldn't wait to share a few with you.  Wow! Talk about a bucket-list destination!  Barry's photos are phenomenal.  Africa is a biennial trip, so if you're thinking about a safari, plan to join us in 2015!  Enjoy!

   Barry and Cathy are on their way to the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (IFTD) in Las Vegas this week.  At the show Sage will introduce their new rod models like the Motive and the Method.  We can't wait for you to try them out!  You can read more about them HERE. Photos of the show to come....

It's no secret that Tibor Reels have a well-earned reputation for quality and endurance.  In 2011, Tibor recieved first place honors from the IGFA for the most world records set on their reels- more than any other reel in history.  While most of us are familiar with the quality products that the Tibor Reel Company produces, what most people don't know is the man behind the reel.  His story is even more impressive than his award winning reels. 

  Are you looking for an adventure this fall?  Do you need a break from the chaos of everyday life?  Would you like to go somewhere even Barry & Cathy haven't been yet?  If so, than our upcoming exploratory trip to Spain is for you.  The Becks will be traveling to the Pyrenees, in northeastern Spain in search of big trout.  We just firmed up our dates which will be October 12-20th and still have space available.  You can check out our website for more information and details but please feel free to call us at the office (877-278-5638) if you have any questions.  We hope you'll join Barry & Cathy on this unique opportunity. 

For those of you who enjoyed our last "hatch" video, here's another one, this time a Mayfly hatch in Hungary.  It's very interesting and the amazing part is that it all takes place  in under 2 hours! 

Hareline is the USA Distributor for Omnispool Products  -  Click here to see all their new products

Omnispool Switchbox Kit
The Omnispool Switchbox makes your life a lot easier when you need to change, clean, organize, or just mess around with your fly lines! Smartly designed to interlock together to store different fly lines when they are not on the reel, they also have a cleaning pad that attaches to the front of the Omni Spool. Lines are buffed, cleaned stored or fished in seconds! A video tutorial is up and running on our Youtube channel, take a look at what these Omni Spools can do. You will not be disappointed! In stock and ready for your customers.
OKIT- Complete Switchbox Kit OSB - Switchbox

OLC - LinCarebox OCH - Extra Crank Handle

Hareline Amadou Dryers
Not to be confused with Xanadu--you younger guys can Google that-- There are two sizes and styles of Dryers: Foam covers, and "Rich Corinthian Leather" covers--again young people will need to use Google. Bring us your soggy, slimed, waterlogged flies, and Voila! Those dries are ready for the next round of drifts. The Hareline Amadou Pad is the perfect size to display smartly on the vest and works just as hard at sopping up those sad soaked dryfly patterns to present to those selective feeding spotted devils. Handy leather strap included at no cost.
SLA - Small Leather Amadou Dryer SFA - Small Foam Amadou Dryer

LLA - Large Leather Amadou Dryer LFA - Large Foam Amadou Dryer

AP - Amadou Patch

New J:son Short Shank Dry Fly Hooks
Better than Lefsa! The designs of these hooks are awesome! J:son's Ultimate Dry Fly Hook not only have an oversized eye, very handy, but matches with perfect proportion those realistic bugs we are tying using J:son products, also very handy. Wide gapped and micro barbed to keep'em pinned and released with ease, and a straight eye that keeps everything looking good. The Ultimate Short Shank Dry Fly Hook has all the qualities with less shank. Extended bodied flies have the perfect place to call home. Every bug, in any size you need to tie, has an Ultimate Hook matched to fit your pattern.
JUD - J:son Ultimate Dry Fly Hook available sizes 6-20

JSS - J:son Short Shank Ultimate Dry Fly Hook available sizes 8-24

Glue Sticks and New High Temp Gun are Back
After numerous consumer and dealer requests, we have added the top six selling colors of our mini glue sticks back into our lineup. We have also added a new high temp gun to go with them.
STK - 53 Champagne, 54 Chartreuse, 60 Clear, 99 Dark Roe, 271 Orange Roe, 272 Oregon Cheese, 289 Pink Lady and 327 Salmon

Tapered Slip Strike Indicators
The season is in full swing, boats, float tubes, and pontoon boats are getting word from the lakes-"Get out...Go Fishing!" These Slip Strike Indicators are made for those l-o-n-g leaders you need in lake fishing or deep rivers. No matter the length of the leader these slip indicators hold firm during casting and retrieving until the hook is set. The design of these indicators then release and slide down the leader letting you bring the fish to the net instead of 15 or 20 feet from it. What a concept!! The Slip Strike Indicators are tapered for less wind resistance. They are available in 3 sizes and 5 different colors to choose from. Also there are multi-colored packs available in all sizes.
TIS - Small 3/4" Tapered Slip Indicator TISC - 5 Color Combo pack Small 3/4"

TIM - Medium 7/8" Tapered Slip Indicator TIMC - 5 Color Combo pack Medium 7/8"

TILS - Large 1" Tapered Slip Indicator TILC - 5 Color Combo pack Large 1"

All three sizes available in the folowing colors

127 FL Chartreuse, 137 Fl Orange, 138 Fl Pink, 139 Fl Red and 142 Fl Yellow

Out of all the trips the Beck's take to tropical islands, remote mountain vistas and far away places, this trip is my most coveted & dreamed of.  Barry & Cathy are on their way to Africa as I type this.  They will arrive at the Kilimanjaro Airport tonight in time for dinner.  I have spoken to several of our clients that have traveled with the Becks and they are always excited to tell me stories of their adventures in Africa.  It proves to be a memorable experience.

 The photos that Barry has brought home are phenomenal.  They are my go to files if I need some inspiration, or if an editor is asking for our "best" work.  Maybe I'm just biased because I have Africa envy, but these photos are amazing!   I can sit at my computer scrolling through them and almost imagine that I'm there.  However, I can't help but wonder how exhilerating and scary it must be to come so close to some of the greatest, largest, and wildest animals in the world and have only a jeep or truck between you and them... I truely cannot wait to hear this year's stories and see what Barry will capture with his camera lens this week.  In the meantime, I'll include a few photos from their last trip for you to enjoy.

Simms just released this incredible short video on the salmonfly hatch.  Enjoy!

  Rio Products, manufacturer of fly lines, leaders and tippet material, announces the addition of four new tippet materials to it's comprehensive range. 

 They include the Flouroflex Freshwater, Flouroflex Saltwater, the new Rio Saltwater & new Rio Steelhead/Salmon Tippet.  You can read all the details by clicking Here.

   If New Zealand is on your dream list, come with us February 9-18 to Owen River Lodge on the South Island.  ORL, New Zealand's premier fly fishing destination, is highly recommended and awarded, and is strategically located to take advantage of some of the best fishing on the South Island.  Owner & manager Felix Borenstein is an angler himself and also a wonderfully accomodating host.  We have visited here many times and always look forward to returning.  I'm including a few photos from our last trip but don't take our word for it, come  and see for yourself!  Details on our website.

As you can see from the photos, our guides and clients have had some great days on Fishing Creek so far this spring. We still have a few openings in June. Give us a call and come & see for yourself! Details on our website.