Idylwilde Delivery of Flies Currently Compromised for 2013 Season

On May 17th, 2013 by

Dear Friends,

 

1997 first flies tied by first five Idylwilde Tiers. Trained by Zach Mertens

1997 first flies tied by first five Idylwilde Tiers. Trained by Zach Mertens

This letter is to inform you that Idylwilde’s fly production in the Philippines has been suspended indefinitely, and that we are in the process of updating all of our customers as to the status of their fly orders for 2013. Our manufacturer notified us last week that it is refusing to ship us any further product at this time. The Company is holding our April fly order, which includes the bulk of our pre-season product for 2013. We believe Idylwilde has met every obligation under our agreement, and the sudden and unilateral actions by the manufacturer are improper and a breach of our agreement. For the first time in our 15 years of business, Idylwilde is being forced to ship out pre-season orders with embarrassing fill rates. Barring some unforeseen resolution, our fill percentages will fall further as the season progresses.

 

Idywlilde: A mountain bike, a backpack, materials, vices and an idea

Idywlilde: A mountain bike, a backpack, materials, vices and an idea

Please know that our primary concern is the success of our customers. We intend to seek every avenue to get this resolved, including through legal action if necessary. By the end of May our Portland staff will update you on the status of all outstanding pre-season orders so you know what flies you will have to sell this season. We will leave backorders open in the hope that our April shipment does eventually arrive. We will continue to ship pre-seasons according to the set schedule, and you can trust that the flies we have already set aside for your order will be saved for you. If you would like us to ship an order early, call us or let your rep know, and we will ship ASAP.

 

So, in the short term you can expect a call from our Portland staff with an update on the status of your order(s). We will also be conducting an inventory of our stock, so that our sales reps and staff know what flies are available for sale through the remainder of the season. And of course, we will notify you immediately if we have better news about the status of 2013 production.

 

Zach & Juliet at 1st workshop site.

Zach & Juliet at 1st workshop site.

Personally, I am doing everything in my power to get your fly orders released. We booked pre-season orders for 2013 because we had assurance that those orders would be produced by our manufacturer and your orders would be fulfilled, We want to make good on that commitment. We will communicate openly, deliver the product we have on hand, and prepare for future seasons. Rest assured we will be re-tooled with new production facilities in time to make a 2014 offering. New production facilities will allow us to improve on many levels. And we will do everything we can to rebuild your faith in Idylwilde.

 

Thank you for your business, and for your patience through this challenging time. We look forward to rebuilding your trust, and helping your business grow in the future.

 

 

Sincerely,

Zach Mertens

Idylwilde Flies President and Founder

 

 

6 Comments ››

Sales Reps Are Born Into the Profession Similar to Pimping

On May 15th, 2013 by

 

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Superstitious? Fishing Guides…

On May 13th, 2013 by

Hey Zach,

Thanks for sending me a new cap!

Wore this one for about a year and a half as my main hat. Now it’s my good luck cap!  When things get desperate on the water, I reach for old faithful to turn things around.

Growing up playing sports I was the superstitious guy who never changed his socks or shirt during a winning streak. In college I ended up with a bad skin infection for wearing the same shirt for practice and games over a 2 month period to keep a 13 game winning streak in La Crosse alive.  Needless to say college buddies got some mileage out of my system of beliefs.

Mike

 

This hat doesn't go near bananas!

This hat doesn’t go near bananas!

 

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3 Reasons fo Fish Five O’Clock Shadow!

On May 10th, 2013 by

Three reasons you might want to fish the Five O’ Clock shadow in Ak this season.

Pay close attention to the lip placement folks…

 

Uno

Uno

 

Dos

Dos

 

Tres

Tres

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Hot Spots and Space Helmets: Evolution of the MW Scud

On May 6th, 2013 by

MW_Scud

A story today from the front lines of flyfishing research, deep in the heart of the Driftless. Here, amidst a dizzying maze of perfect trout streams, a new bug is born. Mat Wagner of the Driftless Angler in Viroqua, Wisconsin explains the origins of the MW Scud:

“I was tired of the ‘space helmet’ look of commercially tied scuds,” Mat says. “They always seemed a little off to me.” He makes a gesture to indicate a scud wearing a space helmet, trying to swim around. His point is made.

At the same time, Mat was paying close attention to Czech-style nymphs that were dominating competitive flyfishing circuits. In particular, he was drawn to the “hot spot” concept of Czech nymph design.

“So I was looking at the nymphs these competitive guys were using, how they all have a bright spot of color somewhere in the body, and I had been thinking about ways to integrate a tungsten bead into the fly, and the light went on.”

Mat located a source for florescent painted tungsten “Bomb Beads,” and built them into the center of a scud. They kicked SERIOUS ass.

“The MW Scud kinda serves double duty,” Matt says. “It’s a nice heavy scud, but it could also be an egg. Our trout eat a lot of drifting roe depending on the season, and that’s a strong urge.”

And so another great Idylwilde fly is born, all thanks to a thinking man, who’s also a “doing” man. It’s guys like Mat that help the rest of us look like rock stars. Thanks, Mat!

2 Comments ››

Roman Polanski Production?

On May 1st, 2013 by

Whoa!!! Heavy!! The symbolism in the teddy bear scene eludes me? Do you get it? Not sure I am comfortable watching it a 2nd time.

 

 

5 Comments ››

KP Shares Alaska Guides Top 10 Rules!

On April 29th, 2013 by

Guiding in Alaska is 1 flight in, at the beginning of the season, and 1 flight out, at the end of the season.  Don’t get it wrong!

 

KP’s Occupy Alaska – Top 10 Rules:

 

Rule 1  Coffee and Wet one’s. It’s like Sonny and Cher or Starskey and Hutch…it just kinda goes together.

AKmusts1

 

 

Rule #2  A good camera. Cause you never know what you might see?

AKmusts2

 

 

Rule 3 Good pair of Glasses. Cause you never know who you might have to fish with.

AKmusts3

 

 

Rule 4  Alcohol, it’s kinda a barter system up in dem parts.

AKmusts4

 

 

Rule 5  A slow client…Bears live there!

AKmusts5

 

 

Rule 6  A net…dude’s live there.

AKmusts6

 

 

Rule 7  Kill or be killed instinct, it’s a must!

AKmusts7

 

Rule 8  Carpentry skills, furniture from Ikea is not really an option.

AKmusts8

 

Rule 9  A good selection of flies…beads work too.

AKmusts9

Rule 10  A good plan B at all times, for when plan A doesn’t pan out!

AKmusts10

3 Comments ››

March of the Stonefly – Coming to a River Near You

On April 25th, 2013 by

Zach & Crew

 

A couple pics from last Sunday on the Deschutes.  The stones were next to the bank, and the Jimmy KILLED it over there! Jimmy likes redsides! Jimmy likes Jason!– Jason

March of the stonefly nymphs

March of the stonefly nymphs

 

Jimmy knows nymphing Elaine

Jimmy knows nymphing Elaine! Does Elaine want to know Jimmy?

 

 

 

Northwest Flyfishing Outfitters

503-252-1529

 

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Take Action to Preserve YOUR Public Land!

On April 22nd, 2013 by

Our greatest single asset is our public land! My friend Mia Sheppard works as the Oregon representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, whose mission is to “guarantee you a place to hunt and fish.” Mia is calling on all of us to contact the BLM and let them know how much you value using “your/our” land for outdoor recreational opportunities.

Specncer Schrieber said it best in a previous post about fishing on public land in New Mexico: “Historical Appreciation Lesson. Here goes:  Every time one of us steps into a national forest we ought to get down on our knees, face roughly in the direction of Oyster Bay, NY and thank Theodore Roosevelt for his vision, courage and down right bullishness.  He saved the forests and the rivers that run through them. Without Teddy, well… let’s not even think about it.”

Help keep your land managed for your benefit by going to the  TRCP Action Center and send a prepared message directly to the BLM. Or send a direct email to pwhitman@blm.gov or steve.grasty@co.harney.or.us  to make your voice as a recreational sportsman heard.

 

1 Comment ››

Weedless v Non-Weedless

On April 18th, 2013 by

From the casting deck of KP:

Yo,

I got’s me some new flies out there for Bass this season! The only place that has them for sale this season is The Fly Shop in Redding, California. The design is something totally new, if I may say so. I like to call it “Super Weedless,” and comes in a size 2 wide-gape hook…primo for pinning big bass on top. Here’s a look at the weedless design, and the results of recent testing. I also included a pic of what a non-weedless design looks like from a local competitor, just in case ur wonderin’.

WEEDLESS

weedless1

 

PRICE’S ENDANGERED FROG & BABY BLACKBIRD — WEEDLESS!!!

weedless2

 

BASS CAUGHT – WEEDLESS

weedless3

 

NOT REALLY WEEDLESS –  This ain’t rocket science folks!

weedless4

Non-Weedless Competitor. AKA Competitor in the weeds.

 

 

3 Comments ››

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