A Visit to the Scientific Anglers Factory

by | Jun 16, 2015 | Uncategorized

blog-June-16-2015-1-scientific-anglers-fly-linesAs you know from the blog I’m in Midland, Michigan visiting with my friend Brad Befus and the folks from Scientific Anglers (SA).  The trip started with a few days fishing then today we put down the rods for the annual sales meeting.  There were thirty-eight of us ranging from SA employees to representatives from the US, Canada and Europe.  We went through our fantastic new products line and more.  When the meeting ended I got a tour of the Scientific Anglers factory.

 

blog-June-16-2015-2-scientific-angler-fly-linesA life of fly fishing has definitely led me to wondering how fly lines are made more than once.  To me fly lines are the most important part of my equipment because it’s the line that takes my fly to the fish.  Usually my line floats because I love to dry fly fish but there are times when I need to get down a few inches, a few feet and I often find myself dredging deep in oceans and lakes.  If the line doesn’t get me to where the fish are I usually go home without a story.

 

blog-June-16-2015-3-making-fly-lines

I can’t tell you much more than fly line making was a fascinating process to see.  I viewed various fly line cores through the microscope and saw the room and tools used for testing new fly lines.  Every new fly line idea must pass numerous tests of not only casting performance but also the lines durability against temperature, weather and wear and tear from casting, stripping and overall abrasion.

 

blog-June-16-2015-4-making-fly-linesI also witnessed the process of making a production fly line.  Above you can see a mixture of goo that will be the outside coating of a standard green colored Scientific Angler fly line.  The concoction looks more like icing for a cake.  Inside the mixture is this special powder that makes a fly line float.  Just like you see the float powder here, next to this was a bucket of tungsten powder to make sinking fly lines.

 

blog-June-16-2016-5-jeff-currier-at-scientific-anglersWhile there I picked up a few new fly lines for a pike and lake trout trip to Canada that starts later this week.  The strongest connections for me are loops so I actually learned how to make the loops that Scientific Angler Fly Lines come with.  Here you can see me getting ready to put my fly line into the loop welding machine.

 

blog-June-16-2015-6-scientific-angler-linesThe machinery for making loops is only one of many that go into manufacturing a fly line.  It’s an amazing process where everything must be precise so the end result is that anglers like you and I have a good quality fly line to take our flies to the fish.  I have a long way to go to understand what the technicians at Scientific Anglers know but my first loops look good.

 

blog-June-16-2015-7-flyfishing-for-pikeWe have a few more meetings in the morning then I’ll be headed home.  Thursday I’ll be unpacking and packing at the same time.  Friday I’m off to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where I’ll meet RA Beattie Outdoor Productions and soon after head for the backcountry of Canada to film for huge pike and lake trout.  More on this trip soon. . . . .

 

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing

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I started fly fishing at age 7 in the lakes and ponds of New England cutting my teeth on various sunfish, bass, crappie and stocked trout. I went to Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin, where I graduated with a Naturalist Degree while I discovered new fishing opportunities for pike, muskellunge, walleyes and various salmonids found in Lake Superior and its tributaries.

From there I headed west to work a few years in the Yellowstone region to simply work as much as most people fish and fish as much as most people work. I did just that, only it lasted over 20 years working at the Jack Dennis Fly Shop in Jackson, WY where I departed in 2009. Now it’s time to work for "The Man", working for myself that is.

I pursue my love to paint fish, lecture on every aspect of fly fishing you can imagine and host a few trips to some of the most exotic places you can think of. My ultimate goal is to catch as many species of fish on fly possible from freshwater to saltwater, throughout the world. I presently have taken over 440 species from over 60 countries!

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