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Mother's Day is right around the corner, and finding that perfect gift is always tough, especially for the Moms in our lives that seemingly have it all. 

Whether Mom is super fishy, a fashionista, or beach queen, here are a few gift ideas to make her special day even brighter.

Simms Women's Challenger Bibbs

Mom will embrace any fishing conditions and outshine the elements with the versatile, waterproof-breathable bib that features a women's specific fit and intuitive fishing features throughout.

Buy HERE

Redington Women's Escape Waders

The Women's ESCAPE Waders were designed to provide all-day wading comfort, that will keep Mom dry season after season. This durable 3-layer upper and a 4-layer lower material wader was built with a specific fit for accommodating women. The 4-layer lower offers extra durability where you need it and the 3-layer upper offers greater mobility and comfort. The Women's ESCAPE Waders offer Mom everything she needs for a comfortable and dry day on the water.

Buy HERE

Redington Women's Aurora Wading Boots

The Women's AURORA Wading Boots are the perfect compliment to the ESCAPE Wader. Featuring durable abrasion-resistant material in high wear areas, deep draw lace hooks, and extra ankle support. The Women's AURORA Wading Boots will keep Mom wading comfortably, from her first cast of the day to the walk back to the car.

Buy HERE

Patagonia Wavefarer 5" Boardshorts

The Wavefarer® Boardshorts are the ultimate go-anywhere, do-anything surf and fish trunks. They're made of quick-drying NetPlus® 100% postconsumer recycled nylon faille made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean plastic pollution, with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish made without perfluorinated chemicals.

Patagonia Tropic Comfort Tights

These versatile, lightweight, performance-oriented, fully featured tights are made for every activity Mom enjoys—from running to fly fishing to hiking to yoga. 

Buy HERE

Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel

If Mom is a travel the Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel is a must have! A highly weather-resistant 100-liter gear hauler with sturdy wheels and a telescoping handle. Made with 100% recycled body fabric, lining and webbing.

PATAGONIA BLACK HOLE TOTE 25L

This tough, lightweight 1-liter hip pack carries the bare essentials and stows into its own pocket when not in use. Built from 100% recycled body fabric, lining and webbing.

Buy HERE

THE OYSTER BAG

Another great everyday bag for when Mom needs just a little more space.  Perfect for her gym gear, yoga mat, or a grocery bag alternative.  A larger sized handbag made from aquaculture equipment built to last for the toughest of lifestyles and environments. The Oyster Bag has an internal drawstring pouch to hold phone, keys and personal objects.

Buy HERE 

EDGARTOWN COORDINATES WINE GLASS

Mom's happy hour just got happier with Edgartown coordinates. She'll sit back, relax and enjoy her favorite wine while repping her favorite place on Earth.

Buy HERE

Toadfish Clam Knife

If Mom is into claming this is a must have! The only clam knife that cleans coastal waters by restoring clam and oyster habitats. The Toadfish 2.75’’ clam knife is perfect for shucking a variety of clams. The blade is made of high-quality rust-resistant stainless steel that is the perfect balance of stiffness, sharpness, and flexibility. 

Buy HERE

Kismet Outfitters Gift Card

Still unsure of what to get Mom? A KO giftcard is the perfect Mother's Day gift! Not only will she be able to use it towards any retail item, but any service Kismet offers: Guided fly fishing trips, casting lessons, paddle board excursions and rentals, and more! 

Buy HERE

Our store is currently stocked and ready to go for the 2024 season. We have the largest selection of high-end fly fishing gear, locally tied flies, apparel, and travel goods on the Island. As always, give us a buzz at 774-549-5921, and we'd be happy to answer any questions.

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Kismet Outfitters recently hosted a trip to Soul Fly Lodge in the Berry Islands, Bahamas. Soul Fly is a relatively new fly fishing operation that has garnered quite the reputation for producing large bonefish and being one of the best permit fisheries in the Bahamas. We’ve had the privilege of fly fishing and hosting trips globally, but Soul Fly stands out for the fishing, excellent accommodations, and world-class hospitality. There’s a reason most of the clients we bring down return the following year. If you are interested in our next hosted trip to the Berry Islands and want to know more about what makes Soul Fly unique, read on!

Location

You may ask, “Where the heck are the Berry Islands?” This is fair since they’re not among the more famous and traveled Bahmian chains. Their off-the-beaten-path location on the northwestern edge of the Bahamas’ Out Islands is part of the allure. 

Lodge, Food, & Amenities 

If you’ve spent time at fly fishing lodges in tropical locals, you know many can be somewhat rustic and barebones with plain average food. That isn’t to say they’re horrible, but fishing is the main draw, and the non-fishy members of the party would be rather unimpressed. This couldn’t be further from Soul Fly, and the lodge, dining, bar, and amenities are nearly as impressive as the fishing (which is no easy task).

Renowned Bahamian Chef Valentina Adderley served up diners that even the most gastronomically inclined would find alluring without being too Haute. Using locally sourced meat, seafood, vegetables, and herbs ensures freshness and reduces carbon emissions. I’m from Georgia, and the shrimp and grits and fried chicken were easily among the best I’ve had. 

After fishing, the covered outside cabanas were a focal point to rewind and recap our adventures, throwback a few adult beverages, and share delicious appetizers. I took advantage of the open bar, and I’m still walking off the obscene numbers of Kaliks I crushed. Whether you prefer beer, spirits, or wine, the bar is as well-stocked as your favorite watering hole. Another cool thing about Soul Fly is the guides generally kick back at the lodge to share a few beverages and give casting advice on the casting deck. 

While everyone in our group fished hard every day, for those thinking of bringing a plus one not interested in fishing, the immaculate 20 x 50 pool overlooks the Atlantic, and a short path separates Soul Fly from a quiet, scenic beach. Plenty of side quests exist for those looking to expand beyond epic fly fishing, including snorkeling and diving, deep-sea fishing, swimming in Hoffman’s Cay Blue Hole, and many more!

The rooms were cozy and comfortable, and the maid service, like the rest of the staff, went out of the way to ensure the utmost satisfaction. Returning to an immaculately tidied space with plush beds, quality pillows, and sheets is a luxury compared to the many fly fishing lodges that resemble a Boy Scout’s camp more than an actual lodge. With Soul Fly’s commitment to kicking plastic, all rooms have multiple YETI water bottles, yet another thoughtful touch. 

The Fishing

Our fishing days began around 6:30 am over coffee and made-to-order breakfast of morning favorites. Again, the grits were on point all week. The boat launch was a short truck ride from the lodge. After getting gear loaded in high-end Maverick HPX-V skiffs, we departed to our fishing arenas for the day with our guide and fishing partner, organized by Kevin and Michelle, the Lodge Managers. During your stay at Soul Fly, expect to rotate guides and fishing partners from your party daily. 

Soul Fly is in the heart of some of the Bahamas’ most pristine bonefish flats, offering anglers unparalleled opportunities to sight-fish to bones in crystal-clear waters. The flats around Soul Fly are vast and varied, ranging from shallow sand flats to mangrove-lined channels. Unlike many overpressured fisheries in the Bahamas, Soul Fly is the only operation guiding out of Great Harbour Key! 

The bonefish action remained hot and consistent throughout our week, with 3-4 pounds being the average, but some larger ones were also taken! If you’ve fished for bones in places like Belize and Mexico, expect more technical fishing and generally bigger fish. The smallest bonefish I caught during this trip was on par with the best bone from my recent trip to Mexico!

The bonefish is a source of great pride to Bahamians and is intertwined with the region's culture. Generations of fly anglers have been coming to the island nation for decades to test their skills against the grey ghost of the flats. While the Berry Islands are a bonefish hotbed, the permit fishing has recently garnered Soul Fly and the Berry Islands much-deserved hype. 

The guides have quickly gained the reputation of being among the best permit guides in the world and are putting anglers on the best permit in the Bahamas and perhaps anywhere! Bones and permit are the main draw, but angers can expect to find mutton snapper, barracuda, triggerfish, and more.

Conclusion 

Soul Fly remains our favorite destination for the fantastic fishing, scenery, facilities, amenities, and overall hospitality. Soul Fly is a well-oiled machine where the management, guides, and staff go beyond their responsibilities to ensure each guest has the destination flats fishing experience of a lifetime. I’m a little starry-eyed writing this and reminiscing about our journey, but thankfully, Kismet Outfitters is returning, and we want you to join us! We love this place so much that multiple weeks are reserved for this year.

The first trip is planned for November 10th through 17th, 2024, which should be ideal for permit with perfectly timed low tides and generally some of the best weather of the season.

Our second planned trip is from March 5th to March 11th, 2025. Again, the low tides are perfectly timed with more moderate exchanges and should be great for bones and resident permits.

If you’d like to lock in your dates, call us at 774-549-5921 or email at abbie@kismetoutfitters.com. Remember, many clients return each year, so these will book fast!

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After unboxing our first shipment of Cheeky's brand new Spray Reel this past November, we immediately noticed the improved looks and components over the Spray’s predecessor, the Limitless. Unfortunately, Cheeky’s new flagship saltwater reel arrived after our fishy friend’s southbound migration, so we’d have to wait to test its capabilities. Thankfully, I had the opportunity to put the Spray to task in Mexico and the Bahamas before New England’s spring run. Read on to see the results.

Background

The Limitless was used and abused by Kismet’s guides for years; It was our dependable workhorse. We know countless anglers relied on it for both New England striper pursuits and DIY missions abroad. However, all good things must come to an end, and when Cheeky announced its replacement was in the works, we were optimistic the North Adams, Massachusetts crew would deliver a worthy successor.

Before we could get our hands on the new Spray, it had already made shockwaves by winning ICast’s Best New Fly Reel category. ICast is the largest angling trade show open solely to industry insiders: Retailers, wholesalers, guides, reps, media, and manufacturers. When those in the know say a product is the ‘best of the best,’ it means something. 

First Impressions

The Spray looks how a modern, high-performance, premium fly reel should and is a major cosmetic upgrade over the Limitless. Electric Blue/Gold and Burn/Steel are attractive options that match most fly rods. The anodized aluminum machining is on par with reels double the Spray 400’s $450 price point.

The Spray feels incredibly light in hand; the 400, rated for lines 7-9wt, weighs 6.8 ounces! Perfect for balancing today’s scant eight-weight rods. The drag knob is easy to grip, and I was able to access its max drag after two rotations, the perfect amount of drag adjustability. The reel handle feels comfortable and is fully anodized! There are no cheap, plastic, corrosion-prone parts anywhere on the reel!

Another nice feature is the integrated hook keeper slot on the reel seat, which is perfect since many rod makers are doing away with hook keepers. The Spray is as ergonomically solid as it is aesthetically pleasing. 

Performance

Cheeky designed the Spray’s drag to tame the hardest charging saltwater gamefish on the planet. The drag should be as smooth as it is powerful, which is rather contradictory since stopping power requires friction. The Spray boasts little startup inertia, meaning it starts and stops smoothly. 

I put the Spray’s drag to work on tough running bonefish in the Bahamas. A smooth drag is paramount when battling fish that can reach speeds of 40 mph, stop abruptly, and then make several screeching runs into the backing. This especially rings true when fishing the lightweight tippet often required for bonefishing. The Spray easily kept its end of the bargain by effortlessly subduing line-peeling bones taken on ten-pound tippet. 

Quickly retrieving line is critical when fighting fast-as-lightning fish. The Spray’s large 4” diameter helps pick up 12.6” of fly line per rotation! The Spray holds a whooping 300 yards of 20lb Dacron backing with an 8wt line, so getting spooled isn’t a problem. The fully sealed drag seems bombproof, and I had zero issues with debris accumulation in two weeks of flats fishing.

Final Thoughts

Purchase HERE

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