CASTLE ARMS

      BOX 30070 SPRINGFIELD, MA 01103                                  413 567-8268     1-800 525 4866   

                            CASTLEARMS@COMCAST.NET

                          WHAT'S NEW

                                       JUNE 27, 2009

Fred Brand one of the finest classic fly tyers call today. Just back from the Gaspe where he had a chance to fish the Grand Cascapedia for the first time. He was thrilled and although he was skunked he saw plenty of fish. He also said that a 46# salmon was caught on the Matapedia when he was there. NOW THAT'S A FISH!  In over 60 years of salmon fishing I've never seen one that big.

From Argentina we received an email from MARCELO MALVENTANO who ties realistic flies that are amazing. Pull up his web site  www.laesenoiadelatado.com for a look at his work

Our newest Polar Pony dealer is WHITEWATER FLIES in Sussex, NJ, They will have a full selection starting next Monday. Despite bringing in all that was available we have run out of orange and red. Will advise when available.

Mixed results on salmon fishing in Canada. Most rivers have plenty of water but only scattered fish heading up stream.  The Gaspe rivers started off slowly with the "Bonnie" being among the best with fish coming in every night with good water. Rain has been plentiful here in the East and most rivers are in good shape.

Despite the economy the good lodges are either full or have very few openings. Camp Bonaventure has a few days in Sept' a great month for big fish on a dry fly. My 43 inch salmon was taken there in Sept.

Patagonia Fishing Host in Argentina where we fished in Jan. a year ago for one of our most enjoyable and exciting trips in 50 years is booking up fast and Pancho Panza, host, guide and all around major domo will give you a discount if you tell him we sent you. The fishing and lodge are the very best in South America and the guides and food are first class. Fishing starts in October, bird hunting in March. Pull up theit web site.  

We have been shipping Polar Polar all over the world  and saltwater fishing is just heating up here on the East coast. Pollack all over the place but stripers/blues scare. Need some warm weather to heat up the fishing. All we got was RAIN.

Received some nice compliments on our Cyano adhesive. Available in 1 oz size $6.00. Better than 1/2 oz of Zap at $4.00. 

Between Polar Pony, rods and exotic feathers we have been going like crazy this week. I let  8 of our bird skin buyers know that we might have a Kori bustard skin for sale soon and 7 e mailed back interested. salmon season started on the Gaspe with plenty of water and a few fish arriving.  Will keep you updated as news arrives.

Sold ALMOST 100 bottles  of our private label cyan.glue in 2 days. a taxidermist called in an order and said the stuff was great in his work for birds and animal mounts. The special price for an opening sale will being going up at the end of the month.

Japanese silk is going out fast. Over 250 tubes this month alone.

Expect a few domestic bird skins next week. Brown ear pheas. Elliot's pheas. 

Tired of spending about $4.00 plus for 1/2 oz. of zap a gap. In about a week we have our own cyanoacrylate in 1 oz sizes. Only $6.00 for twice as much. Great stuff for tying.

POLAR PONY IS HERE,12 COLORS READY TO SHIP!

Roy Steenrod, "The Father of the Catskill School of Fly Fishing ' the only person who Theodore Gordon taught to tie flies.. If neither of these names rings no bells..read no further as the following is a once in a lifetime to own Roy's favorite fly rod, 7 letters from Roy to Jim Payne, affidavit by Roy's daughter witnessed by Harry and Elsie Darbee as to the ownership.an appraisal ($3000.00) by the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum in 1985 when the  rod was on loan for 2 years, plus 2 flies. One by Steenrod and one by Darbee. 

The rod is a Payne  8-0 2pc, 2 tip (wet & dry fly) 5wt. One tip is 1 3/8 short and 1  2 3/4 short. In the letters to Payne you can read how Roy ask that rods be altered to cast better. The rod is in great shape with rich brown wraps with black tipping. Ferrules are the original "hourglass waist band" Payne used and varnish and bamboo are in excellent condition. Sliding band reel seat with the stamped Payne logo. Although the rod is ready to be fished it is much too historic for anything but a collection. Price $3750,00.

Some years ago I sold a great many items for Archie Walker's widow. Among  Walker reels was a prototype SA saltwater reel that Archie was testing. It is a 4" X 2" reel, anti reverse, pillar with looks like aluminum under the black paint. There is a sticker in Archie's writing proto salt. The reel was sold about 12 years ago and is now back in my hands. It is one of a kind as far as I know. Although some of the black paint has flaked off the reel is otherwise in great shape with a very strong drag.

Along with the reel we will include some original Walker drawings, letters from and to famous people such as Syd Glasso, old advertising and catalog sheets, bills, etc. $3000.00