Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure

Guerilla gear review: end of season combat effectiveness evaluation – BY TRAVIS DEBOER

It is the end of what has turned out to be one of best steelhead seasons in as long as I can remember, and as I sit at home licking my wounds and thinking about the thousand plus steelhead we have battled this season. I can’t help but dread the gear maintenance and storage chores that lay ahead of me. Not to mention the broken gear, parts that must be ordered, as well as the stuff that must be simply thrown out. The thought of dealing with a vast array of gear companies, some with their own unique idea of what customer service should be like, makes me think that it is a perhaps perfect time for a gear review piece. (unbeknownst to them)

A couple of reasons that I think my opinions should matter to the “average Joe avid angler” are as follows.1) I spend a lot of days on the water (78 days just this steelhead season, not including personal fishing days). 2) I am very clumsy so I get to experience the customer service first hand and often. 3) As mentioned above we battle a lot of fish. (We better right, it is, after all, our job) 4)A lot of the fish caught are by people who, as great as they are, may be a little less than advanced with regard to their fishing skills and gear handling. 5)Going back to my days as an Army Ranger to my current profession, I have spent a lot of my life punishing and destroying gear. 6)I am not rich so I need, for my profit margin’s sake, to get the best bang for my buck. 7)(this is a big one) I do not give a “rat’s booty” about a company’s feelings. I believe a company’s products as well as service should speak for it’s self, period. I understand that it is you people that truly matter. It is your hard earned dollars that keep me as well as these company’s working and doing what we are supposed to be passionate about. (Thank you for that!) Try to remember your dollars are “votes” use them wisely and expect the most for them. Most likely they did not come easy, so don’t let them be taken any easier.

For the purposes of this review these products will be scored on the only two things that matter to a Guerilla, Combat effectiveness which will stand for how well a product works as well as its durability under grueling conditions and Logistical support which will stand for a company’s customer service and sense of urgency when problems arise. In the interest of being completely honest, I will also indicate which products I receive a discount on and which ones I would or do purchase without a discount. I really hope this review will help you when you are gearing up for what is hopefully a great season ahead.

-Below are my honest opinions and interpretations of my experiences with these products and companies.-

Gear Rods – Model Abused – Combat Effective – Logistical Support-
Shimano- Clarus yes good
Convergence yes
(Comments: We purchase these rods without a discount and love them. Great value!)
Discount/no

Redington- CPX yes sluggish
(Comments: Very Nice stick)
Discount/yes
Purchase without Discount? Probably not because of logistics.

Fly rods – Model Abused – Combat Effective – Logistical Support-
TFO Deer Creek extremely good
Pro Series yes
(Comments: Very good value)
Discount/yes
Purchase without Discount? yes

ECHO SR yes outstanding
TR extremely
ED extremely
(Comments: With Echo I feel like I have a team of monkeys working behind the scenes to make me a better guide and fisherman! Not just any monkeys, the kind of monkeys you would trust with a space shuttle. In my opinion these guys are the best of the best.)
Discount/yes
Purchase without discount? No doubt!

St. Croix Avid /Spey no sluggish
Legend Ultra/Spey no
(Comments: Rods spent more time in shop being fixed than on river catching fish. Keeping in mind that as I said before, I am very hard on things.)
Discount/yes, but I have not used it and probably won’t.

Spinning Reels – Model Abused – Combat Effective – Logistical Support-
Pflueger Medalist yes good
President XT yes
Comments: Great Reels for the money. I purchase these without discount.
Discount/no

Shimano Sedona no not great in this matter

(Comments: These reels cost my clients numerous fish because of a design flaw. The line hangs up on molded piece where the bail meets line roller, tearing up line and causing my clients not to connect with fish, unless they manually place line on roller. (who has time for that?) Needless to say they where removed from the roster.)
Discount/no

Penn Sargus yes has been good in the past

(Comments: These reels seem to be very sturdy. I will buy more even without discount. (these where added to roster late but have many steelies to there credit and have held up very well so far))
Discount/no

Fly Reels – Model Abused – Combat Effective – Logistical Support-
Ross CLA yes good
(Comments: built to take it! Very good reel.)
Discount/yes
Purchase without discount? No doubt!

TFO Prism MLA yes good
(Comments: I love this little reel! Great value and sturdy as heck! Just keeps on taking everything we throw at it.)
Discount/yes
Purchase without discount? I’d buy all of them if I could!

Okuma Helios no good

(Comments: smooth reel but weak construction one good drop or whack and the spool crimps on to frame taking it completely out of commission.)
Discount/yes
Purchase without discount? Not even with discount!

G-Loomis Venture yes good
(Comments: Very good reel for the money. It should in my opinion have a life time warranty.)
Discount/haven’t used it
Purchase without discount? For sure, if it had a life time warranty.

Waders – Model Abused – Combat Effective – Logistical Support-
Pro-line Summit 42002 extremely haven’t needed it
(Comments: Most durable waders I have ever owned, they are worth three times what they retail at!)
Discount/no
Purchase without discount? As long as they keep making them!

Redington CPX no sluggish
Chena no
(Comments: CPX leaked out of the box and I got soaked. Redington said they got some bad neoprene and switched them out. I understand that things happen but what’s the deal with the pantyhose front pocket? On the Chena waders the lace hook broke second day out. Probably not a big deal but a little soon to be breaking anything. Not a good first impression with Redington waders.)
Discount/yes for now, but probably not after they see this review.
Purchase without discount? only under threat of bodily harm!

Wading jackets- -Model abused- -Combat Effective – Logistical Support-
Columbia Rain Destroyer yes very good

(Comments: Great Jacket! Side note: Pro line is the maker of Columbia waders. Good call Columbia!)

Discount/yes, but I have been using there gear with great satisfaction long before they gave it to me.
Purchase without discount: In a minute!