T.F.M. Approved - Bug Slinger Fly Gear

A few weeks ago I found a link to Bug Slinger Fly Gear and knew I had to have a couple of their shirts.


I ordered the "Undercut" t-shirt and a couple of decals for the vehicle and lap top lid. I am glad I am able to rep this company since what they are doing is so damn cool.

The front man for Bug Slinger, Rob McAbee, and I conversed back and forth in a short email interview that I thought T.F.M. readers would enjoy...

TFM: What spawned the idea for Bug Slinger?

RM: I grew up in the surf industry and have participated and worked in the action sports industry for over 15 years. Within those industries, it was always easy to find cool lifestyle apparel to represent your sport / passion. I have always looked for apparel (non- technical) that had a design-edge that related to fly fishing. It just wasn't available. Historically and culturally, the fly fishing industry has remained very conservative in it's approach to addressing the cross-over (action sports to fly fishing) demographic. Bug Slinger was created to fill that vacuum.

TFM: How and who comes up with the designs?

RM: I do all the designs. My background is in graphic design. My other company is Nomad Design Co.. The designs almost always come from random influences. It could be from a bumper sticker or CD cover to a fishing experience. Like with anything creative, when the idea comes, you better jot it down. There are a bunch of really sweet designs that have yet to be seen.

TFM: Where is Bug Slinger going in the future?

RM: The future of Bug Slinger is going to rely on my customers. So far the support and feedback has been amazing. The mission of Bug Slinger now and into the future is pretty simple - to provide high-end, cool lifestyle apparel for fly fishing. We will always remain flexible in the design approach so that the designs reflect what the customers are looking for.

I can't wait to see what comes out next from the Bug Slinger factory. Check them out for yourself at www.bugslinger.com.

Christmas In October?

A couple of weeks ago Mark Liu sent a stack of his Christmas cards featuring a fine reproduction of one of his watercolor paintings.



Mark Lui, or yuhina as many of his friends know him, hosts a string of blogs that are really quite amazing. Start with FLYINTROPICAL, then YUHINA ILLUSTRATION, then BE TROUT, and finally FLYFISHING PHOTOGRAPHY. How he keeps FOUR blogs going with new material just shows what energy and talent Mark Liu has.

Thanks again Mark. I can't wait to get these cards out to friends over the holidays.

Size 22

Over the past ten years I've slowly been working on my "midge game". It started while living in Colorado fishing a tiny Miracle Midge on the Cache la Poudre River and then continued as I started fishing rivers where midges work every day of the year.


Now I keep two C&F boxes stocked with midges in various colors, styles, and sizes. Well, as long as they are size 22 and smaller. I admit that it is weird when a size 18 nymph seems to big but in some places these fish will not even look at your fly unless it is the correct size and color.

Without a doubt fishing midge patterns on light tippets is made better by using fiberglass fly rods. They cushion the light tippets with complete flex but these rods also provide the needed leverage to move a heavy trout away from an undercut or rock that would end a spirited battle.

T.F.M. Approved - Smith Optics

I've had a pair of Toaster's for the past ten years and over that time period Smith Optics has taken an already great product and made it better through new technology and design. These sunglasses are clearly not the typical fly fishing sunglasses you pick off the rack at the fly shop on your way out the door. Smith Optics are a high quality fishing tool that really will help you see the water differently.

Gabe Schroder of Smith Optics and I conversed in a few emails and it wasn't to long before I had two pairs of Trace Interlock sunglasses for Mike Carlson and I to use during the Cuttie-Thon event.

The Trace Interlock sunglasses are perfect fly fishing sunglasses since they allow you the possibility to change out lenses in a matter of seconds. The carry case provided for the sunglasses holds up to three sets of extra lenses so you always have what you need.

I'll be honest and tell you that it took a couple of days to get used to these sunglasses while fly fishing in Wyoming. I was not used to seeing through the glare like I could with these lenses and when a large cutthroat would rise through the water column to inspect our passing flies I struck early time after time. These glasses are flat out amazing.

Smith Optics are already showing off a few new styles and updates for 2009...check them out at www.smithoptics.com.

T.F.M. Spotting - Vlad in Iowa

One of my Fiberglass Flyrodders friends, Vladan Milenkovic (musicar), emailed me a few photos of a trip to Iowa that he and his wife took last week. Vlad was repping T.F.M. while fishing for brown trout with one of his stellar fiberglass builds.




Check out his blog, The Fly Fisherman's Cafe.

Guiding Friends

Some of my greatest memories fly fishing have been while "guiding friends". I don't pretend to be any kind of expert but there is a wonderful satisfaction to standing side by side in a river, seeing through the glare, and pointing out a feeding trout.

(Photo - Michael Boward)

Whether it be the first cast or an hour later trying to fly feed a fish it's all good times. The conversation that flows back and forth, the anticipation as a trout fins over to look at the passing fly, or from time to time a rise or wink and the line goes tight. Two friends are left laughing together as a trout is slid into the waiting net to soon be released.

The guide's job is complete.

T.F.M. Approved - SPOT Messenger

Throughout a week in Wyoming Mike Carlson and I used a SPOT Messenger GPS that was sent to use during the Cuttie-Thon event. I had read just a little bit about the SPOT Messenger and it wasn't until we got it "out in the field" that I became truly impressed with this little orange device.

The SPOT Messenger allows you to send three different kind of signals. First, an "I'm OK" message that is sent to your list of contacts by email or text messege. This allows your friends and family to follow your progress on a hike or fishing trip down a river by the Google Maps link that shows your exact location when the message was sent. The second message is an "I need help" message that will be sent to your emergency contact. This pre-programed message will notify your emergency contact, spouse or friend, where you are and that they need to come and get you at the location on the map link in the text or email. The third message type is a "911 or I am hurt and need a rescue team to find me". The emergency message will be sent to the emergency responders who will then send a team out to find you at the GPS coordinates sent in the message.

For the Cuttie-Thon event we used the SPOT Messenger to send messages to our wives, friends, and one of the moderators of the Fiberglass Flyrodders message board who plotted our course and kept the board informed of our location with detailed maps of our progress.

After a week of hard use in the wilds of Wyoming I can honestly say that the SPOT Messenger GPS device is really worth the initial cost of $150 and then yearly subscription fee of $99 for those anglers that travel in the backcountry to find water less traveled on a regular basis.

Check out SPOT Messenger at www.findmespot.com

Furl Girl

While on a work trip out to S.L.C. this past spring I was able to meet Joni (Fly Goddess) and her husband Alan (Mojorizing) on the run off swelled banks of the Middle Provo River. What we missed in fishing due to high raging water we made up in gear evaluations and getting to know one another. Within minutes Joni placed two carefully furled leaders into my hands to try.

Her masterful work on these leaders is clearly evident and after fishing them and a few more that I asked her to furl up I am sold. A simple treatment of running the leader through a Mucillin pad and these leaders will float for hours.

Furled leaders are a hand in hand match with fiberglass fly rods. While these might not work for all fly fishing applications, I've found that they are just a sheer pleasure to fish with dry flies. During a week in Wyoming I used Joni's furled leaders in lengths of 5' to 6', with a section of tippet tied to the small metal ring, and tossed dry flies and hoppers with complete ease.

Joni PM'ed me some information on her furled leaders which is posted below:

I have three lengths at this time. 5', 5 1/2' and 6'. I make them for 2 wt to 8 wt. Material, I use Uni 6/0, Uni Mono .004, Coats and Clarks Nylon .005, and 2lb mono or fluorocarbon. I have two size tippet rings, a 2mm and a 3mm, but I can also do a shorb loop. I also add one full strand of KEVLAR for strength and sink on requested leaders. My 5' comes in a 2 part stage which recently I added a third for more of a gradual tapper. My 5 1/2' and 6' are three stage. Colors, anything you want. I like to keep muted colors, but with the tippet I don't think it is an issue. I can also make them with the first section in a bright color for an indicator. I fish these for everything. Nymphing and dries. They hold indicators beautifully. Plus they last as long as you take care of them and remove any knots plus clean and treat.

If you are interested in having Joni furl you up a couple of leaders please contact her at flygoddess@gmail.com. You will not be disappointed.

REPRESENT T.F.M.!

A few months ago Mike Carlson and I worked with Rick Marcum of Xdzines to produce a batch of t-shirts to spread the word about The Fiberglass Manifesto website. The shirts turned out great and we've been proud to send them to friends and supporters of the site. This was a small run of t-shirts so if you didn't get one and want one from the next batch please let me know.

This post is a call for photos to all those that do have a shirt to capture a moment representing T.F.M. I'll post them in the blog when I get them...and hope to see some far out and interesting destinations.


All I am going to say about this photo is that the trout is a Booneville Cutthroat. You'll have to do the map work from there.

T.F.M. Approved - Cloudveil

Since Jackson is just up the road from Mike Carlson's house he stopped in and met the fellows at Cloudveil who decided to sponsor the team for the Cuttie-Thon with a set of the 8X Pro waders and boots. These arrived just in time for the event and Mike was really excited to give them a test drive on a long day on the Grey's River.

Thirteen miles of fly fishing, hiking, and battling riverside willows that choked the edges of the river and the waders only took on one small puncture from a beaver sharpened stick. Mike did a streamside fix with the Aquaseal that was provided with the waders and they were as good as new in minutes.

Besides a very comfortable cut these waders had a few other neat features with waterproof zippered pockets and removeable suspenders to turn the full waders into pant waders with ease.

Check out Cloudveil at www.cloudveil.com. I've seen photos of a few pieces of their 2009 line up and they look pretty impressive.

red dirt studio

Illustrator, designer, photographer, roadside foodie, and fly fisherman, Kevin Powell, has been working on a new endeavor, red dirt studio, for the past several months and all the pieces are all falling together into a stellar website.


The site covers areas of the fly fishing lifestyle that generally fall in between the cracks on most forums and has quickly become a meeting room for some of the most prominent outdoors artists in the industry right now.

Check it out at www.red-dirt.org. Tell them that Cameron sent you.

Reel Abuse Caught On Video!

I was dreaming about a new fly reel this afternoon and found this video on The Spey Company blog...



DAMN...I wonder how one of my old J. W. Young's clickers would fare after some reel abuse like this!

T.F.M. Approved - Osprey Packs

One of the tough decisions in preparing for the Cuttie-Thon event was figuring out how we were going to carry all of our gear that we would need for the day. After working through a few gear lists it was decided that we needed backpacks for the capacity instead of being limited to a fly fishing vest.

Since I own several packs and bags from Osprey Packs already they were the first phone I made to ask for sponsorship. Sam Mix of Osprey Packs was a pleasure to work with and a few days later I had two Stratos 24 backpacks waiting on my doorstep. These packs were the perfect size for the amount of gear we needed to carry and the Stratos 24 has several features that made it a very comfortable pack to carry throughout a very long day on the water.

The feature that I was most impressed with in this pack is the AirCore suspension system. There is only a mess layer touching your back and air can circulate between the taunt mesh panel and the core of the pack. This is the first time I've ever worn a backpack for an extended period of time and my shirt was dry when I took it off. This area also provided a space for a hydration bladder to be stored and I stowed an extra fly rod in there as well.

Using this pack for the event really opened my eyes to what a backpack has to offer over a vest for these type of fly fishing trips. I may look at getting another pack, the Stratos 18, for shorter day trips in the near future.

Give Osprey Packs a look next time you're in the market for a new pack, luggage, or courier type bag at www.ospreypacks.com. They are already showing off some of their 2009 gear offerings on the website and are worth a look.

"Check It Out"...

My friend Kevin McGuire (middlemac) just returned from a week down at Edisto Island and brought back this little snippet of video that makes me chuckle every time I see it...



It sounds to me like a spot on "James Lipton" voice over that was no doubt fueled by a tall Bloody Mary (or two) for breakfast.

I only wish I had been there.

Chasing Nostalgia

Last week I fished in North Carolina for the day and I was pretty excited to spend the day on the water. I hadn't been fly fishing since Wyoming...and I needed a trout fix.

In preparation for day trip I had to decide what fly rods I'd carry up the road and the rod that almost always tops the list for fishing those shrouded North Carolina waters is a Heddon Pal Pro Weight #8381 in brown fiberglass. This vintage fly rod has a few guides that are a little loose in their wraps and everything might not fit like it once did a couple of decades ago but it still holds some magic within the weave of it's fiber.

I wonder sometimes if I am chasing nostalgia in fishing fly gear that is twice my age. I've now been exclusively fishing fiberglass fly rods, both vintage and contemporary, for the past three years and the reason for this transition was that fiberglass fly rods just have an undeniable energy that can be felt all the way into the cork grip as a ink spotted brown trout head shakes as the old clicker reel sings on the run downstream.

Yes...there is magic in these old fiberglass sticks.

T.F.M. Approved - Cliff Outdoors

Upon arriving in Wyoming, Mike Carlson handed me a couple of fly boxes and a Dry Fly Rehab Center that Matt Cassel had given each of us to use during the Cuttie-Thon event. I have long been a fan of Cliff Outdoors for how they design and produce their product in Wyoming. While looking over the fly boxes I was immediately impressed with the Super Days Worth fly box which has three different areas to hold dry flies, streamers, and even a foam partitioned magnetic floor on the back side of the box that keeps all the nymphs organized. If I ever had to use just one fly box on a trip this one would top the list.

The Days Worth was great for keeping track of small dries and soft hackles I carried all week just in case the cutthroat got picky for small mayflies or worst yet stopped looking up! The Wonder Dust worked excellent to dry off soaked flies and kept those hackles from breaking the surface tension.

Thanks Cliff Outdoors. Our flies stayed organized...and they looked great too!

Check out Cliff Outdoors website to see their new items for 2009!

Sauce For Flies Swap

A few weeks ago Jon Barnes (CreationBear) and I began an PM exchange about dry flies and yellow mustard base BBQ sauce which ended in a box with several bottles of sauce finding it's way to Tennessee...and a yellow bubble envelope of flies showing up in my mail box in South Carolina.


This past weekend I organized the several dozen flies into a vacant Cliff Outdoors "Days Worth" fly box...and am looking forward to a GSMNP backcountry fly fishing trip where these flies will surely rise a brook trout from the depths of a pool for a look.


Thanks CreationBear...these flies are spectacular. Enjoy the yellow BBQ sauce. There is more where it came from.