Spring Sale
 10% Off Drift Boat Accessories



Why wait until Spring?

Now is the perfect time to accessorize your drift boat. Receive 10% off all accessory purchases until March 20, 2007.

Due to Hyde's unique modular design, most accessories can be easily installed in your existing drift boat.

We also have a variety of other accessories such as bilge pumps, coolers, life jackets and first aid kits that no drift boat should be without.

Please call (800) 444-4933 to place an order or request a catalogue.

 

 Show Season is Upon Us
 Show Schedule

We would like to thank everyone for visiting us at the recent Fly Fishing and Sportsmen's Shows. The response to the new models has exceeded our expectations. With the recent introduction of the Northwest Series, Contender and Skiff, Hyde offers a drift boat for all situations.

We invite you to visit the Hyde Staff at one of the upcoming shows. We'll be attending the Fly Fishing Show in Bellevue, WA and the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen's Show in Portland, OR this week. If you can't make it to the show, please call (800) 444-4933 to find out more about our spring specials.

You can also view our Used Boat inventory or visit a Dealer in your area.



Hyde's fleet of trucks deliver throughout the United States.

 

 Drift Boat Design
 Is there really a difference?

The Hyde Combination Drift Boat incorporates the best of both aluminum and composite construction to maximize durability, adjustability, and performance. Aluminum is more durable than fiberglass in connecting the “parts” of a drift boat. Having laminations of aluminum in the raised level flooring of a Hyde boat allows for the insertion of metal-to- metal components. The ARS (aluminum rail system) provides you with the most durable system for attaching storage boxes. Additionally, by incorporating specialized fasteners the connections are all metal-to-metal. The combination drift boat design allows for the boats to be totally “modular” in nature. The boats can literally change their function in seconds, going from a pedestal-seating configuration to a bench seat and storage configuration. This produces a high level of versatility from one boat. You can convert your craft from a three-person flyfishing boat to a 5-person family or steelheading machine.

The interior of the boat has the highest function of any drift boat in the world. By designing a revolutionary floor system that incorporates nidacore, aluminum, and fiberglass to create a lightweight and durable floor system. With true raised-level flooring for both passengers and the rower, all day comfort is possible. No more do you have to worry about sloshing around in water as you row on a rainy day or having tired legs from standing on a slippery non-level floor!

The “Combination” wouldn’t be complete without a great hull design. While the hull is entirely hand-laid fiberglass the strategic addition of aluminum provides you with the best of both worlds. The durability of metal (aluminum) and strength of fiberglass composites combine to form a perfect union providing you with a long-lasting, versatile fishing craft that won’t keep you from any fish in the river. The Hyde boat has a high level of performance that is easy to understand. First is the flat footprint of the hull in the water. This is what truly makes the boat easy to row. While virtually every drift boat is shaped more like a football, a Hyde boat has a modern flat-bottom hull design. Weight is displaced over a large area and therefore keeps the boat high on the surface of the water. The flat footprint and the rounded stern together reduce drag more than any other feature on a fiberglass drift boat, making a Hyde boat highly maneuverable and easy to row. And remember that currents are rarely “straight” and during the course of a fishing day you are typically not holding the boat perfectly parallel with the river. That is why you want to avoid parallel inverted-keels on a drift boat. They simply don’t function well on the water – where it counts.

Interested in learning more? Please call (800) 444- 4933 or email to receive a free DVD and drift boat buyers guide.

 

 Guide School & Rowing Clinics
 Learn What the Professionals Know

Hyde Drift Boats & Hyde Outfitters will once again be offering Rowing Clinics throughout the season. Participants are provided with instruction and hands on experience that will them to competently and efficiently row a drift boat. You will have an opportunity to learn and practice common rowing strokes, basic avoidance a maneuvers and anchoring. We will also discuss safety and identify hazards often encountered on the water. We will talk briefly about “Rules of the Water” and proper etiquette.

We'll also be offering the 12th annual Guide School this fall. Participants at the school are provided with comprehensive instruction that will allow them to understand the basics of becoming a competent fly fishing guide. The school is open to beginners as well as experienced guides who would like to improve their angling skills and become a better guide. Our no-nonsense curriculum is very informative, educational, and most importantly fun! Basic trout biology, aquatic entomology, river etiquette, drift boat handling and tips on building positive relationships with clients are among the many topics that will be discussed throughout the guide school. We are excited to include a two-day float down the extraordinary South Fork Canyon during the fall course. We will also be spending time on the legendary Henry’s Fork, Madison and other area waters.

Please call (800) 428-8338 or email Hyde Outfitters & Last Chance Lodge if you're interested in learning more about these opportunities.

 

 Fly Fishing Forecast
 Box Canyon

IDFG annually surveys trout population in the Box Canyon of the Henry’s Fork and various reaches of the lower river. Years of population data and overwinter survival studies show that the most important factor driving fish population below Island Park Dam is winter flows. The recent drought brought extremely low flows (75 cfs) and a noticeable decline in the Box Canyon population. The 2003 estimate of catchable size fish (over 8 inches) was about 1600 per mile compared to long term averages of almost 3000 per mile and a recent peak in 2000 of over 5500 per mile. The population began to noticeably improve in 2005, and by 2006 the number of catchable size fish was estimated at 2600 fish per mile – a 35% increase over 2005 estimates.

The good news is that since mid-winter of 2003-04, we have seen winter minimum flows maintained above 200 cfs. Even better news is that the flows during the current 2006-07 winter are the highest they’ve been since 2000. As a result we expect another large population increase in 2007. IDFG studies also show that the Box Canyon rainbows grow at a rate of between 5 and 6 inches per year! This incredible growth rate results in hardy/heavy rainbows in the 15 to 18 inch range in as little as 3 years! With 4 good winters behind us this coming season promises to be the best we’ve seen since 2000. Don’t miss out on a chance to fish this incredible trophy trout fishery.

For up to date fishing reports, lodging, guiding and shuttle services call Hyde Outfitters (800) 428- 8338.

 

 Submit Your Photographs
 Receive a Free Gift



Steve Everton and his father with a pair of steelhead caught last fall on Idaho's Clearwater.

We always look forward to receiving pictures of our customers enjoying time spent on the water.

If you have a photo you would like to share please Email Us. If we feature your photo in the newsletter or our Picture of the Week Contest, we'll send you a free gift.