With the removal of the Edwards Dam on the Kennebec River two years ago, stripers are now migrating deep into Central Maine, so shops like Fly Fishing Only in Fairfield are now stocking tidewater gear. On the flip side, intensive recent stockings of brown trout in tidal rivers have encouraged coastal enterprises like York's Eldredge Brothers Fly Shop to enlarge freshwater offerings. At Fly Fishing Only, owner Mike Holt observes continued growth in the sport. 6-weight ultra legend fly rod made with titanium guides and reel seat for fresh and salt water. This rod can be used for all around fresh and salt water for light to medium use.
Gear continues to improve in performance and drop in weight and price.
The result is increased strength, less heft and lower cost. Eastman notes that several of the new generation of fly rods and spinning rods are priced 20 to 50 percent less than similar products only three years ago. And increasingly they're succeeding. This one is going to be explosive. Among new fly fishing paraphernalia, Holt anticipates brisk 2001 sales of an Orvis product introduced last year, the multi-tip fly line system.