Dave Blackburn of Kootenai Anglers at Unicoi Outfitters on January 30th. 


We are excited to have Dave Blackburn at the shop on the evening of January 30th to discuss "Trout Fishing Opportunities in Northern Montana". Dave will begin his presentation around 6 pm, but we encourage all to come early to join in fellowship with other anglers. This is sure to be a great evening, as Dave has a vast knowledge of fishing Montana, and is also an excellent banjo player. The event is free, but we do ask you to R.S.V.P with us so we can plan accordingly. If you would like to join, please feel free to reach us at 706-878-3083. There is even talk that Dave, and our very own Lee Hiers, will be breaking out their instruments and doing a little picking after the event! Below is how Dave and Unicoi's own, Lee Hiers met:


" I first met Dave Blackburn at the Atlanta Fly Fishing Show.  He was on the bill as a speaker and....banjo player!  Since I'm a bluegrasser from 'way back, that got my attention.  So, I reached out to Dave to learn more.  As it turns out, Dave travels around the country going to all the major fly fishing shows to promote Kootenai Anglers, with his banjo in tow.  He will usually do an hour or so of picking each day of the show around lunchtime and is the featured opening act at the International Fly Fishing Film Festival.  For the past several years, Dave has let me join him in his Atlanta Fly Fishing Show appearances. 
 
" Dave has been both fly fishing and picking for a long time, has a Montana-based bluegrass band, the Sheldon Mountain Boys, and even hosts a small music festival at Kootenai Anglers every year - he's found a way to balance the two interests in one of the prettiest spots in the Rockies. "     



 
More about Dave: 
 
Dave Blackburn started tying flies and fly fishing at the age of 10 when his sixth grade teacher introduced him to the sport. Having grown up in Pennsylvania he was schooled on many of the classic limestone streams of the east. He graduated from West Virginia University with a BS in Forest Resource Management with an emphasis on water quality and aquatic ecology. He traveled westward chasing wild trout tales; and gained employment as a wilderness ranger in the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. In 1981, he ended up in Montana on the banks of the Kootenai where he now resides with his wife, Tammy, and three children. He is on the board of directors of the Kootenai Valley Trout Club. He has been a past director of Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana and the Montana Council of Trout Unlimited. Dave chaired the Upper Kootenai River Preservation Society, which was instrumental in defeating the Jennings Rapids Dam project. Dave is a FFF-certified casting instructor and a past contract tyer for Umpqua Feather Merchants. He
teaches fly tying and fly fishing at Flathead Community College . His photos and articles have appeared in Flyfisherman, Fly Rod and Reel, and The Flyfisher magazines. Dave founded the Kootenai River's first fly fishing guide service in 1982, Kootenai Angler.   Dave is also an accomplished bluegrass musician and entertainer with the Fly Fishing Show. He also travels throughout the country and gives presentations combining fly fishing and bluegrass music. His bluegrass band, Sheldon Mountain Boys, recently released its first album, " Thirty Years on the Mountain".

 





The Fly Fishing Show in Atlanta



Our favorite event of the year is just around the corner, and we are hoping to see each one of you at The Fly Fishing Show in Atlanta on February 1st and 2nd. We have a great lineup of "Show Specials", along with some new products as well. We are not sure of the exact date or time, but during the show, George Daniel will be hanging out in the both autographing his newest book, "Nymph Fishing: New Angles, Tactics, and Techniques". It's going to be a great time, and we are looking forward to hanging out with all of you! Below are some of highlighted deals and items of our booth this year:



  • Scientific Angler $20 Off: This has become a show staple for us! Get a great deal on a new fly line from the best manufacturer in the industry. Stop by during show hours and receive $20 off retail price on any Amplitude, Amplitude Smooth, Mastery, or Sonar lines. While supplies last.











  • Umpqua Fly Box Special: Purchase any two Umpqua UPG boxes, and receive a third one Free! The free box will be a UPG LT High Box, which can be claimed at the Umpqua booth. Also, all Umpqua show special purchasers will be entered into a drawing for a loaded fly box which Umpqua will be giving away. These boxes are awesome, and are great at protecting your flies. They feature both a waterproof seal, and silicone inserts which holds the flies where they belong and protects them from becoming damaged.






  • New Orvis Clearwater Rod: This new Clearwater rod is changing the game for price point rods! The performance of the rod has drastically increased, but the price has remained the same. The new Clearwater Rod Series is a complete overhaul from the ground up. Each rod is designed with a purpose-built profile and action to handle the fishing the rod would be traditionally used for, from medium-action small stream rods to medium-fast freshwater rods and fast-action big game rods. Designed in Vermont for anglers worldwide.





  • Orvis Pro Wading Boot: I have worn rubber soles since rubber soles started to show up in major companies products, but I have never worn rubber soles like these. They are comfortable, extremely sticky, and offer a great feel while wading around slippery rocks.  Built on an outsole compound specifically designed for fly fishing, this revolutionary new sole design is an industry disrupting advance in wet rubber traction. The Michelin Outdoor Extreme outsole offers 25% better abrasion resistance and a resounding 43% improvement in wet rubber traction. 




  • New Ross Animas Fly Reel: The 2019 Animas takes the time-proven features that made the original Animas a guide favorite and incorporates new machined features that bring it into the modern era of Ross. A fully-redesigned frame and spool are highlights of the new Animas. The spool shows off the cutting-edge manufacturing techniques Ross Reels has developed, delivering a design that is incredibly strong and visually stunning. The Animas also re-joins the family by incorporating an ultra-light canvas phenolic handle which gets tackier when wet. A new trouble-free spool release yields zero-maintenance performance, allowing the Animas to be ready for any fresh or saltwater excursion. 





  • New Fishpond Packs and Gear: Fishpond continues to be the industry leader in packs and bags. This year, they have come awesome new packs as well as a few cool accessories. One of which is the new Switchback wading belt system. This system allows you to design your layout, but also has some very neat features for all day comfort. Be sure to stop by and check some of the Fishpond products out. 






  • ClearShield-HD: We are currently the ONLY fly shop in the country with this innovative resin! ClearShield-HD is an exciting new finish for popper builders. The vast majority of epoxies that are available on the open market are not designed as coatings. Most are designed as adhesives or as laminating resins. Neither one was formulated for direct exposure to the elements...mainly UV exposure. The chemistry of Clearshield is similar in viscosity to that of a laminating resin,  but with UV inhibitors that prolong the breakdown under exposure to UV/heat. 

    The main difference in this formula is that its actually designed as a "clear coat" to be exposed to the elements, rather than an adhesive or laminating resin designed to be painted over or hidden in a glue joint. It handles very much like an oil based paint,, and can be applied in very thin coats unlike many of the other formulas on the market.
    ClearShield-HD is a two part finish that is mixed in a 2:1 ratio, and each kit includes syringes for accurate measurement.




  • Free Nacoochee Bend Half Day Drawing: That's right! We will be raffling a "Half Day of Unguided Fishing for Two Anglers on our Nacoochee Bend Trophy Stretch of the Chattahoochee River" each day of the show. No purchase necessary to enter. Simply stop by the booth either day during show hours and register to hopefully win a trip for you and your fishing partner. A winner will be drawn each day after show hours are completed.









Thank You!


We are really looking forward to another great show, and look forward to visiting with you all! As always, feel free to stop by the booth for advice, get up to date fishing information, or just to visit. We are grateful for your patronage to us all of these years, and are looking forward to those to come!  


As always, we are grateful for your friendship and your patronage. If you ever need current fishing information or specifications and recommendations on gear, please call us at (706) 878-3083.

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Unicoi Outfitters | flyfish@unicoioutfitters.com | 706-878-3083
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