New Gear for 2014

Every year the rollout of new products begins, most of it promising all kinds of swift technological improvements over gear that we had already deemed pretty outstanding. Testing is approached with a hearty dose of skepticism — as sooner or later, one figures, a ceiling will be reached. it can’t get any better, right?

Of course, as sure as it’s going to downpour for eight hours straight on the Naknek next September, it can and does get better, every single year. And so as soon as we’ve finished marveling over our favorite products from 2013 — much of it stuff that we’re reluctant to return to the shelves — we get the first preview of what’s coming in 2014. From an incredible array of new rainwear, featuring jackets, pants and bibs from such noteworthy outfits as REI, Helly Hansen, Frabill and Grundéns, to new fly rods, baitcasting reels, sockeye rigs, headlamps and even a couple new hooks from Lazer TroKar, it’s going to be a great year to be in the field — armed with all this great new stuff, of course.

A fish or two at the end of the day wouldn’t be too bad, either.