"Come down next Tuesday, that's when George will be in."

"Next Tuesday" happened to be the day that "George" would be previewing some of Simms' and Sage's 2009 releases.

Ever the gear junkie, I raced down to the shop during my lunch hour to find the back table stacked with all sorts of goodies from fly fishing's favorite "S" companies.

Here's a glimpse of things to come:

A completely new lineup of Sage reels. These things actually blew me away. I used to think that the old Sage reels were cool, but these guys raise the bar even higher. From small game to big and from entry level to high end, Sage's 2009 reel offerings should be hot.

Check this out, cigar fans. You may remember another company doing this a few years back and Sage has revived the idea--rod tube humidors. Available as singles or a set of four for $200, I gave these a thorough inspection and have to admit I was impressed. Expect to see me on the water with one of these next year!

Think you've got the best boots out there? Think again, the new G4 Guide boots take the solid (but heavy design) of the old G3 Guide boot and reduce the weight by 35%, and...

...will be offered with Vibram soles, complete with "stud receptacles." For those of you familiar with this material, this is a huge jump forward from Simms' Aquastealth soles.

And in the wader lineup, Simms presents the new Headwater waders, replacing both the short-lived Riversheds and better-known L2's. Check out the G3 chest pocket and reinforced lower leg panels. If you can believe it, these guys are selling for less than $300 AND also come in a pants version!

This feature may look familiar and you may associate it with a hefty price tag, but...

...fear not! Simms offers the bladder-friendly zipper option on their new Freestone waders. Here's more good news: You can have them for less than $300.

Other notable mentions:

The G4 jacket now comes in a new color.

And for those of the spey persuasion, this should turn your crank, especially if you're a Tibor fan: the Tibor spey. Built on a Gulfstream chassis, but slightly smaller and wider, this baby comes with the famous Tibor drag and a few aesthetic modifications, not to mention a sweet moss-green finish.

Anyone drooling yet? :)

If anything in this entry catches your fancy, give Puget Sound Fly Co. a call at 253-839-4119. None of it will be available until next year, but I have a feeling some of this stuff already has a waiting list forming...