T.F.M. Spotting - Riki Sultan Hunting

 Riki Rahman is not surprisingly back again with another well done T.F.M. Spotting Photo Contest entry with a Sultan caught on his McFarland Spruce Creek which as he writes it's taken him some time to understand the "semi-parabolic" feel.  It ooks like it's worked itself out with practice, a few fly line changes, and time on the water.

When I first introduced to the eight foot "Semi-Parabolic" five weight Spruce Creek by Mike McFarland two years back I really didn't have any idea what it was. All I wanted was simply a rod that can cast like my seven foot Phillipson Master but built by Mike.  I am a huge fan of his rods and work.  Being the religiously thrill-seeking person I am, I opted for it and told Mike to work on it.  I just wanna see whats this "semi-parabolic" is all about.

Fast forward two years and I was still whining over this one.  It was a "moody" rod and I aptly named it "The Widow".  Casting it was not a breeze and the leader would never open up like a dream.  I had tried lines from all premium makes and models and I even went to the extent of matching up several reels with it but to no avail. This rod was superior in accuracy in close-counter presentation but sucked at further ones.  I was never able to properly cast a fly further than fifty feet.  If I forced it I'll be rewarded with a bundled up leader or a string of irreversible wind knots.  As far as I'm concerned, this "semi-para" was a catastrophe and I've yet to reach a proper level of a casting prowess.  Any other way, this rod has become my least favorite - hence the insignificant catch list under its belt.

But in other ways it is a magnificent rod.  Anyone who has ever seen Mike's work wouldn't disagree with me. And despite all the issues, I do love the rod. A lite-red blank with a color-matched agate stripper, plus the birdseye reel seat and this is one beautiful girl.  So I need to work harder to make it work on my hands.  I redid the grip making it tad smaller.  Then changed the originally matched Tibor Tailwater reel to Abel Super 3N.  Next, I installed the only line I hadn't tried on it, a five weight Aquanova High Floating Series 99.  Why? Because many friends said this was the most friendliest of all fly lines and once everything was setup off we went to a familiar pond.

True to the words, the rod somehow reformed.  I'm sure the reel and grip selection contributed to the success but what I do know, the line made it all happen.  It performs exceptionally well with the 'semi-para' and it is really a "friendly" line.  It really does help the rod and my casting quite a lot.  Now I can present a dry as far as ninety feet without any effort at all.  The casting is much easier and more fun.  The bigger Sultans who prowl eighty feet away and right under the tree branches is not an impossible task anymore.  The day ended with me cuddling a six pound beast who almost spooled me and stole twenty minutes of my lifetime.

Given the time-frame it is an epic discovery and a great one at that.  True love does come in a package of a cheaper fly line.  Now the "semi-para" is in my Top Three Stillwater Rods for dry fly fishing.  So far it has never disappointed.  Now I have a bunch of friends saying that there is another line that is even more "friendly" than the Aquanova.  Well...next up is the Scientific Anglers Headstart weight forward five weight line.  Wish me luck guys.  Cheers...

Mark's Vintage Gear Adventure In Alaska

Mark Baker, a.k.a turtledoc, is a fiend for vintage Bogdan reels and Hardy sticks. He recently posted up a thread on the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum of his yearly Alaska trip and I figured that the T.F.M. readership would enjoy this stellar journey as well.

The photos of the silver, chum, and pink (humpy) salmon were all taken on creeks within the Susitna Valley in South Central Alaska. The rod used was an early Pre-JET Hardy 8 1/2 foot six weight that still had the plastic on the grip. It rained a lot during the trip and you’ll notice in the photos that you can almost tell what order they were taken by how much area of the cork has water under the plastic.

The reels in those photos are all mid 1960's to early 1970's single action Bogdan Model 00 and a special Hermann Sea Trout that is #1 of five reels that Paul made of this model as the last five salmon reels he finished before retiring from reel making.

The photo of the Rainbow and the shot of me with the Dolly Varden was with the Bogdan 00 SA and a 1960's vintage Hardy nine foot three inch Richard Walker Superlite which is rated as a 7/8 weight.

These photos were taken on a stream within the Kenai Peninsula. I had hoped to use an Experimental/Prototype Bogdan Steelhead reel that I have from the early 1960's on this water but that reels is “dragless” with just a fixed click drag. The water was so high and fast that after using it for a half day I concluded I wasn’t being responsible and I switched back to the 00 with the double brake shoe drag so I could land and release the fish quickly before they were exhausted. There were countless Dollies caught in the 18 to 20 inch range with a handful going up to 23 inches and enough nice Rainbows scattered in to keep things interesting.

I really like vintage Hardy glass for salmon and big trout and though this vein, I like how they look with the Bogdan and Hermann reels I enjoy using.

Check out Mark's profile to view an amazing written history and photos of the Bodgan reels that he's collected over the years.   Truly impressive.

T.F.M. Spotting - Bruce On The Tribs

Bruce Nuss gets out quite a bit and great to see him repping T.F.M. when he's on his homewater streams with this beautiful T.F.M. Spotting Contest Photo.

This from Bruce's email...  "The stream was up since it had rained for about three days.  This was the last of the "high" water days and the stream was 63 degrees.  The stream is a tributary of Kettle Creek, which curious enough is named Little Kettle Creek.  This is a marvelous freestone stream in north central Pennsylvania.  I was using a four piece 7' 9" four weight I had just finished on a FH Paddock butterscotch blank.  I love this rod and it's the only trout rod I am taking tomorrow as well." 

Looks like a great time on the water and I bet that smallmouth was a blast on that four weight glass rod!

FISHY KID DECALS!

This past week I decided it was time that we move forward on stocking some Fishy Kid gear and thought we'd start with a batch of Fishy Kid decals.  We are working with Matt Zudweg of Boneyard Fly Gear to produce a high quality shaped decal that will be three inches by three inches in size.

(CLICK IMAGE TO SEE OUTLINE)

Matt Zudweg is helping us out on the price of these Fishy Kid decals which will allow the proceeds to go towards seeding other gear projects and most importantly to cover shipping costs for monthly giveaways and prizes.

So...SUPPORT FISHY KID!  Buy one Fishy Kid decal for $5 or three for $12.  The Fishy Kid decals will ship out on September 14th. 

Send me an email at thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com to place an order.

Szofi Working On Her "Fish Karma"

Young Szofi, daughter of Kenneth and Rita Lokensgard, appears to be well on her way to good "Fish Karma" through meditation and making sure her fly gear is correct.  Which of course it is since she was gifted a Hardy Glass fly rod and Lightweight reel in her first year.  Talk about fortunate and forever ruined all at the same time.  

I am looking forward to following the adventures of Szofi as she tags along on her father's trout trips to all points.

Blood Knot Magazine

I don't think I've linked Blood Knot Magazine on T.F.M. before but this issue is filled with excellent content from a lot of peeps that I truly appreciate.  There is even a sly T.F.M. Spotting photo in the mix as well thanks to Sir Roughfisher.   

So...two online magazine posts on T.F.M. today to keep you entertained in your cubicle on a Friday.  Sorry boss.

Sleeping In The Dirt - Issue 4

Aaron Otto has released yet another stellar online issue of Sleeping In The Dirt for us all to enjoy.

I am especially excited about Issue 4 since it is all about fishing with kids.  Mrs. Manifesto and I were honored to contribute a bit of copy and photos for the "Meet The Mortenson's" article.
 

Great work Aaron and the crew yet again.  Thanks for letting us be a part of it.  Without a doubt children are the future of fly fishing.  

Mike Boward The Travel Agent

Long time friends Mike Boward, Dave Lofthouse, and I plan a trip every couple of  years together to some place trouty.  We've done Colorado, Wyoming, and for the past two trips Montana.  We've got friends there and the idea of fishing those rivers in the middle of October sounded like an excellent way to enjoy the western fall.

Dave and I very much enjoy the process of planning these trips with figuring out where we'll fish, what flies, where to stay, along with what we'll eat and drink.  Essentially the nuts and bolts of the trip.  Mike on the other hand would rather we just wing it with a couple granola bars tucked in our vest pocket and see what happens.

I was a little surprised when Dave emailed Mike and asked if he would look around at his flight options since he's begun his travel season early and was out of country on a work junket.

Mike scoffed at the idea of organizing travel plans for Dave but after securing his own direct D.I.A. to Bozeman flight he took a few minutes to put together an itinerary that I am still surprised that Dave passed on.

The itinerary copied from Mike's email to Dave...

Dave, I did some more searching and found another flight that might you might enjoy.  A very low price but quite a few connections.  Here are the details.

DEPART:  Compton Municipal Airport (New Airport)
Aircraft type:  Antonov AN-124 (Cargo Seat Section)

CONNECTION:  Holdrege Nebraska Municipal Airport
After arrival in Holdrege, take 1996 Chevy bus to Olafe, Kansas Airport

DEPART: Olafe, Kansas to next connecting airport, Bagdad, Iraq (Missle Defense Permitting)
Aircraft Type:  Tupolev TU-144 (A rare treat, as this is the only one left of the type intact)

CONNECTION:  Travel by camel (new model) to Lashkar Gah Afghanistan Airport

DEPART:  Travel to Kohler Wisconsin
 Aircraft Type:  De Havilland Comet

DEPART:  Leave Wisconsin, travel by cab to Chicago.  Take the El from State Street to Michigan Avenue, then rental car to Bismark, South Dakota

DEPART:  Bismark, SD to connection in Jaurez, Mexico
Aircraft Type:  Beechcraft Starship

DEPART:  Jaurez, Mexico to Great Falls, Montana
Aircraft Type:  Cessna 152
Travel via Rickshaw to Bozeman Airport

Travel Time:  23 and a half hours.

Look for more Montana trip posts in the coming weeks since the trip is only 46 days away.  Not that we're counting or anything.

Fishy Kid Contest Winding Down

Where did this summer go?  I can't believe that it's almost September and wanted to remind everyone that the Fishy Kid "Three Months of Summer" contest is winding down at the end of the month.  We've had some great submissions so far and I'm looking forward to sending out twenty great prizes early next month.

There is still time to submit photos of your Fishy Kid holding whatever fish they've caught this summer.  We've got  you covered no matter what they've caught with a gallery for Coldwater, Warmwater, Saltwater, and even Brownwater!  They don't even have to be caught on a fly.

Just a reminder that we're playing for prizes from these very supportive gear partners...

Mountain Khakis
Osprey Packs
Hook & Hackle
Montana Fly Company
Scientific Anglers
Backwater Paddle Company
Patagonia
Fishpond USA
Rainys Flies
Temple Fork Outfitters
Finactic Designs
ECHO
Charleston Angler
Idylwilde Flies
Cliff Outdoors
Roughfisher.com
William Joseph
South Fork Rod Company

Have questions?  Email Kevin and I at gofish@fishykid.org.  

T.F.M. Spotting - HOT NEWS Edition

Ah...so relaxing to see someone enjoying a lazy morning on the patio, drinking coffee, and reading the HOT NEWS edition of his local paper.  What could be better...right?

Spencer Ballard sent along his humorous submission for the T.F.M. Spotting Photo Contest and tells the story below on  how the HOT NEWS Facebook page came about.

"The story behind this picture is I was up fishing on the Au Sable River representing with my T.F.M. t-shirt and hoping for a nice shot to post for the contest. Nothing happened as planned and later in the evening I was joking around the fire with a buddy of mine. I was getting the fire going and a story in the newspaper caught my eye after I had already started it on fire. My fishing partner thought it was funny and snapped a picture and posted it to his facebook account (I was unaware). By the time I got back home the picture had received a lot of attention. I was surprised to see a similar picture posted by somebody in Colorado that I had never met. As more pictures started popping up I decided to start a facebook page named "HOT NEWS". The shot that started it all can be viewed on the "HOT NEWS" facebook page as well as others. It might take a certain sense of humor to find this kind of thing funny. Feel free to join in on the fun and next time you go camping be sure to post a "HOT NEWS" photo. On a fiberglass fly rod side note I fished my Steffen 5/6 weight glass rod on this trip and it performed flawlessly."

Check out the HOT NEWS Facebook page.  It is definitely worth a look.

The Fiberglass Flyrodders "CO Clave"

Along with attending IFTD in Denver next month while in Colorado, I am also helping fellow moderator Howard Levett, of the website Wind Knots and Tangled Lines, to plan the much anticipated Colorado Clave for the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum.

Over the last few years there have been regional gatherings associated with the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum but this is shaping up to be the largest one yet.

The Colorado Clave will be based out of Howard, Colorado and held on the Arkansas River on the weekend of September 10th through 12th. There are many lodging options and the spirited thread on the forum is worth checking out for more information. 

ArkAnglers in Salida will be the supporting fly shop and a great location to pick up flies, licenses, or anything else you might need for the weekend.

I have been working with a growing list of rod companies and builders to have demos sent for attendees of the Colorado Clave to test cast over the course of the weekend. Demos from the following companies will be available:

Cabela's
FH Paddock
Hardy
Great Bay Fly Rods
Kabuto Rods
Scott Fly Rod Company
South Fork Rod Company
Thomas & Thomas
T.L. Johnson Rod Company

Saturday night should be quite a party and we are going to have a dinner catered by Bandera's Bunkhouse of beef brisket and sides for $13 per person.  We are also putting together a raffle with prizes being provided from the following companies.

Castaway Fly Fishing Shop
Cliff Outdoors
D.F. Frame & Logo
Goertzen Adventure Equipment
Hardy
Lemke Concepts
MonoMASTER
Recycled Waders
Scott Fly Rod Company
South Fork Rod Company
Steffen Brothers Fly Rods
The Fiberglass Manifesto
T.L. Johnson Rod Company
Trufflepig Films
William Joseph

So...do you want to cast A LOT of quality glass?  Do you want to hang out and fish with some true glass geeks?  Then send an email to Howard Levett to let him know that you're planning to attend.  It should be a really excellent time.

T.F.M. Spotting - Sam and Dad in Alaska

Sam Snyder of the Headwaters of History blog and his father recently spent a few days fishing together in Alaska where Sam was showing him around his new "home waters".

Sam also managed to get a beautiful T.F.M. Spotting contest photo taken of him while he was smoking a cigar and fighting a bruiser of a pink salmon fresh in from the ocean at the same time.  Talk about multi tasking.
 

Sam's blog posts about fishing with his father have got me thinking that I need to get away for a week with my father too in the near future. Alaska is looking like a pretty excellent place to go.

Bug Slinger Takes It To TV!

Rob McAbee of Bug Slinger posted their television commercial on facebook yesterday which will air on episodes of Fly Max TV on the World Fishing Network. 



Congrats to Rob for taking Bug Slinger's marketing to the next level.  Props to Nick Pujic of Fly Max Films for his work on this ad spot.  I think it turned out really excellent.    

Bones Under Glass

Bruce Nuss of Nuss Custom Rods sent along these photos and narrative after spending a week looking for bonefish in the Bahamas...and on glass no less!  Enjoy...

Every couple of years my friend and I travel to Long Island, Bahamas for a week of chasing bonefish on the flats.  All trips up to this point have been solely carbon fiber, supported by the usual bonefish tackle of Gotchas, Charlies, Clousers, and various fly assortments for cuda, tarpon and whatever swims within casting distance flies.

My recent introduction to the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum illuminated an interesting new wrinkle to my thirty years of building fishing rods...internal spigot ferrules. What a revelation. No more do I have to install nickel silver ferrules which add weight and a significant stiff spot to the rod, especially given the fact I wanted a four piece rod for traveling convenience. It was like Christmas in March building a four piece nine foot eight weight glass rod to haul to the Bahamas.

Being blessed with an assortment of Lamiglas and Reed one piece glass blanks the search was on for the ideal one. I settled on an ancient Lamiglas FB-109-9S which is a slow but very powerful unsanded blank that just felt "right". There is no other way to describe the decision than that. I found all the components in my stash of “stuff” and construction began. I measured and cut the blank at what seemed to me to be the correct lengths. I always struggled with algebra, however geometry was always kind to me. I ended up with a rod of differing section lengths but a rod that cast like a rocket launcher which is a term I usually reserve for the silly tip flex carbon monstrosities. I lined it with a Flip Pallot weight forward eight weight floating bonefish line which is intended for close in fishing. I believe the heavier front end of the line really helped load this rod as it was intended for a nine weight way back when.

Anyways now we're in the Bahamas and it was hot but the tides were good for daytime fishing. The weather was sunny, clear, but a tropical depression was sweeping through the southern Caribbean so the winds were 20 to 30 knots. Great if you are casting downwind, but oh my, casting into these winds was, well, interesting to say the least. We fished some sheltered coves and inlets, per the tides, which was perfect for my introduction to fishing glass for bones.

There was no doubt that the Lamiglas would throw a fly as far as the caster was capable of casting but when you add in the anxiety of wanting to make the perfect cast, hit the spot, and not spook the fish. When I finally did hook up, it was both a relief and a thrill. I tend to romanticize too much but my mentor never had the opportunity to fish for bonefish. He opened his shop in 1923 and to think that a blank from his shop was living and thriving in these conditions made me appreciate this situation even more. I hooked over a dozen fish, landed seven, before the unthinkable happened.

In my overzealous attempt to build this rod, I used ferrule stock that was simply not capable of withstanding the stress at the tip section joint, and while landing a five pound plus bonefish the ferrule broke. I watched as the tip section sat on the nose of this gorgeous bonefish. Surprisingly enough I smiled as the other occupants of the boat exhibited shock worthy of witnessing a car wreck. Fifty-five years old and I learned a valuable lesson. Just another reason for loving this sport is that you can always learn more. When I had the time to actually study the failure it became too obvious that I had not considered the structural strength of the ferrule stock in relation to the blank. Again, lesson learned. I now double build most internal spigot ferrules. Thanks to the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum and generous rod builder Fred Paddock, I now have a much better understanding of the physics of internal ferruling.

The experience of hooking, fighting, and landing the ghost of the flats on a glass rod was like fishing for bonefish for the first time. I learned that the start up drag of my trusty Pflueger 1495.5 was too much for my tippet on the first hook up. I learned that the forgiving action of glass was capable of subduing a fish in less time than my graphite because the rod didn’t overpower the tippet as the fish pulled harder or ran farther. I learned that no matter how much you think you know that you never know it all. I try to carry this thought with me everyday in every aspect of my life. Talk less, listen more, and smile so much that folks wonder what you are up to.

I have a feeling that Bruce will be taking more than one glass rod with him for the trip next year.

T.F.M. Spotting - FinFollower At The Lake

Recently Leigh Smith from FinFollower.com sent along a couple T.F.M. Spotting images from his family vacation to Keuka Lake in the Finger Lakes region.  Family vacations are the best and family vacation where you get to go fly fishing are even better.

Looks like Leigh caught some dandies! 

Check out FinFollower.com for more posts on the Keuka Lakes trip and other interesting posts as well.  I am especially digging the short interview with Matt from Blood Knot Magazine.

Brian Ebert's Bass Fly Creations

Some time back Brian Ebert of the Relax The Cast blog sent an email and asked if he could send a few of his new bass fly patterns to see what I thought.  I figured I'd soon find an envelope in the mailbox with a couple flies in it to try on the pond. 

Imagine my surprise last week when I found a good sized parcel sitting on my doorstep and inside was a fly box stuffed full with an assortment of amazing bass patterns.

I am so excited about these flies and especially geeked about the rubber tailed creations.

Brian's stacked hair flies are really well done and the cork models have a wonderful vintage quality to them.  I could fish the family pond for a whole summer just out of this box.

Soon Brian will be adding pages to Relax The Cast or creating a separate website for those that would like to purchase his flies.  His prices are very reasonable and these patterns are quite thought forward. 

Brian can be contacted by email at fourstringgod@yahoo.com if you'd like to discuss a custom bass fly order.

LOOP Opti Dry Fly Arrives!

Idaho Joe of Castaway Fly Fishing Shop has the 2010 LOOP line up in stock and sent the long anticipated Opti Dry Fly reel which I've been looking forward to pair with the Gypsy Rod Works Steffen 8 1/2 foot five weight blank build.

It is looking like this rod will get wet for the first time on an upcoming week in October of streamer chucking in Montana. I can't wait!

An Evening On The Pond

Last night I was able to push off into the family pond for a couple hours on the Versa Board, with an eight foot Featherlight, and a couple fly boxes full of poppers of all sorts.

All loaded down and ready to find a few top water eaters.  I'm finding that the William Joseph Conduit gear bag works nicely on the back of the Versa Board.  I just need to figure out a way to secure it to the deck of the kayak for trips outside of the pond.

While changing flies I noticed a flurry of boils and cast a popper from Carolina Fly into the mix.  One miss and then connection on the next cast with this nice bass.

Switched up and fished the Idylwilde Price's Warmwater Whammy for the last hour and had a smash after dark that really put a bend in the rod.  He was smaller than the first bass but you wouldn't have known it by the fight.

The more time I spend on the family pond the more I am impressed with it.  It certainly does not hold pushover bass but it is a beautiful spot to spend a few hours trying.

T.F.M. Gear Order Over Soon

I want to remind everyone that orders for the T.F.M. t-shirts and the new T.F.M. decals are winding down.  I will be sending off both group orders early next week and will have them sent out by the end of the month.  I appreciate everyone's patience that have been waiting for their shirts for a couple extra weeks.

 To see the T.F.M. t-shirts and new T.F.M. decals offered please check out the T.F.M. GEAR page of the blog.

I am also adding a second T.F.M. shirt to the line up with this order with the GLASS IS NOT DEAD artwork on the back.  The shirt will be offered in black and in both short sleeve or long sleeve.  The front of these shirts will have the T.F.M. logo across the front. 

The cost for a short sleeve is $20 and a long sleeve is $24. 

To place an order of if you have questions please send an email to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com. 

Scott Announces The F2 Series For 2011

I am excited (and honored) to have been asked by Jim Bartschi of Scott Fly Rod to make the formal announcement of their new fiberglass series for 2011.  This new series has been named the F2 series as it is the new generation of their ever popular Fibertouch line up.

Scott has taken innovations in fiberglass along with tweaking their tapers to offer a smoother casting and lighter fly rod.  Going back to the retro yellow colored blank is certainly a nice touch as well.  
 

Scott sent this press release on the new Fibertouch series...

This year we’re introducing a full new line up of glass rods that both improve performance and pay homage to our long history with the material.

Scott has been handcrafting high performance rods made from fiberglass longer than any other company. We’re approaching our 40^th year designing and building fly rods with fiberglass.

We feel that glass is uniquely suited to fishing applications that call for close range casts, and offer more fun and enjoyment when targeting small fish.

This series of rods incorporate a new S-glass fabric weave with a highly biased fiber distribution and combine that with a new epoxy resin system. The blanks are joined using Scott hollow internal ferrules.

These design features allowed us to significantly decrease the perceived weight of the rods, and get a smoother deeper bending rod curve that recovers more quickly than previous glass rods.

This means the rods can be very light with out sacrificing accuracy or losing control of the cast.

As a tribute to our innovative designs in glass rods during the early ‘70s, we’ve gone back to our traditional yellow/honey colored glass, light brown wraps and touches like finish cork on the grips and cork insert reel seats.

Models come in the following sizes and are priced at $595.00:


6’0” 2 Weight/3 Pieces
6’6” 3 Weight/3 Pieces
7’0” 3 Weight/3 Pieces
7’7” 4 Weight/3 Pieces
8’2” 5 Weight/4 Pieces 

First the Fiberhammer and now a full redesign of the Fibertouch series.  It is excellent to see a fly rod company continue to invest time and research into the development of new ideas in fiberglass to offer to anglers the world over.

T.F.M. Going To IFTD

With a plane ticket set, a car rental in the works, and all sorts plans being made, I am getting very excited about the upcoming trip to attend the AFFTA International Fly Tackle Dealer show in Denver, Colorado.

The IFTD show will be September 9th through 11th and I was somehow able to secure a media badge for the event.  I am really looking forward to this networking opportunity and will be dropping reports on T.F.M. from the IFTD floor of the new gear that will be finding it's way into fly shops early in 2011.

I'm also hoping to put a bug in a couple rod companies ears that they should consider bringing back a fiberglass line to their rod offerings.  There is some incredible vintage glass that started a few rod shops that are now known only for their graphite and bamboo lines.  It would be neat to see these companies bring back even a limited offering of fiberglass again.

I'll be trying to cover everything that is cool and different at the IFTD show...so stay tuned!         

T.F.M. Spotting - T-Motion on Location

Todd Moen recently sent in this photo for the T.F.M. Spotting Photo Contest where he was on location working on another T-Motion video feature for the next issue of Catch Magazine.  Todd is producing another chapter of T-Motion videos on the Circle 3 Spring Creek near Dillon, Montana.

This is just one of the hats that he wears since he also produces and and designs each issue of Catch Magazine, The Official Journal of Fly Fishing Photography & Film.

With browns like that eating, Circle 3 Spring Creek looks like a place I'd like to visit sometime...

SKATE the FLY TV

Do you like a laidback look at our fly fishing lifestyle?  Have forty minutes to kill?  Get weirded out by two guys that sit to close on a couch together?  Then Skate The Fly TV is for you.  

Enjoy the first episode with an interview of Greg Thomas from Angler's Tonic...


Skate the Fly TV - Episode 2 Greg Thomas from Dylan Rose on Vimeo.

T.F.M. Review - Costa Zane 580's

As a person that has what a good friend of mine calls an affliction for "junky old rods and reels" there is one thing that is still important to have on the water and that's a solid pair of polorized glasses.  While fly tackle from fifty years ago is still quite enjoyable to fish they certainly didn't know to as much about polarized sunglasses back then as they do now.

Earlier in the year Costa sent a pair of Zane 580's to demo and needless to say I have been quite impressed.  This was my first experience with Costa and the 580 lenses are a huge step forward from anything that I have ever used on the water.  All the hype on the 580 lenses is well deserved.

Over the past six months I've used the Zane 580's on lakes, rivers, ponds, and oceans and have been astounded over and over by the optical clarity that these glasses have.  The glass 580 lenses give these shades a nice heft and the heavy duty plastic frames are a great shape and comfortable to wear for long periods of time on the water.    

When the Zane 580's first arrived I set them aside to use only on fly fishing trips but lately have found myself wearing them on a daily basis.  These Zane 580's are just a great pair of glasses and I am wearing them off the water as much as on.    

If you are going to make an investment into a high end pair of polarized sunglasses, and surely dropping a couple bills on a pair of shades is just that, then you should give the Costa line up a definite look.  There is a style for most everyone and the Costa website gives you the ability to chose frame style and lens to your liking.

Finally, don't discount researching what lens color will work best for the water that you're on most.  Trout anglers fishing freestone streams may want a different color lens than someone fishing tidal marshes or bluewater.  Costa offers something for everyone and the water they fish most.

Look for future Costa related reviews on T.F.M. since Mrs. Manifesto has recently started wearing a pair of Bonita 580's and I'll be demoing a pair of glasses with the soon to be released 580P lenses soon as well. 

NSA Volume 2 - How We Do

It's been some time since I've tossed up a "Sunday Cinema" post but the soon to be released No Sports Allowed Volume 2 DVD trailer is certainly worthy.

NSA vol. 2 how we do... from Marc Crapo on Vimeo

Rowdy is sweetening the pre order deal by offering Volume 1 and Volume 2 together for $19.95 or Volume 2 alone for $15.95 shipped. Get yours!

T.F.M. Interviews Vic Johnson, Jr.

It really is amazing the people that I have been able to connect with while writing this blog and more times than not ends up with enriching the content that I am able to offer.

Recently I was introduced to Victor R. Johnson, Jr., author of several books pertinent to the fiberglass angler.  He and his late father wrote what is considered to be nothing short of a tome on glass rods called Fiberglass Fly Rods: The Evolution of the Modern Fly Rod From Bamboo to Graphite.    Victor was gracious enough trade a few emails and complete an interview which I am excited to post on the blog this weekend.   

What is your fly fishing history and who were some of your mentors in the sport?

Fishing has always been part of my life. I grew up in the late 1940's and 1950's in Western Michigan. My Dad was a chemist and my Mother was a school teacher. They always felt “cooped up” working inside all day so virtually all of my family’s free time was involved in hunting, fishing and camping. Dad loved to fish, and my brother and I started going fishing with him from the time we were big enough to cast a rod. We fished for all types of fish-bluegills, bass, perch, pickerel, pike and trout. We even did ice fishing in the winter!

Michigan has a lot of lakes. As I got older, I could walk or ride my bike to a number of reasonably good fishing spots. Like other kids of this era, I primarily used spinning rods with worms, minnows and lures. My favorite lure was a small, red and white Daredevil which worked well on most species.

My family moved to northwest Arkansas in 1961 which has wonderful bass and trout fishing. The White River in Northern Arkansas is one of the best brown trout fisheries in the U.S and maybe the World. Starting in high school and through my college years at the University of Arkansas, I was able to fish the White River numerous times each year. I got married midway through college and my new wife, Sarah, also began to actively fish. For college students on a tight budget, fishing was a fun and inexpensive form of recreation.

In 1967, I graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering and came to the San Francisco Bay Area. My first job was as a Construction and Maintenance Engineer with Exxon. My territory was Northern California from Fresno to the Oregon border. While on the road, I would spend my evenings finding good fishing and camping spots. I would then take my wife and two young daughters to these spots on our vacations. Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite was one of our favorite spots to camp and fly fish. I gradually changed from primarily doing spin fishing to fly fishing during this time.

What is it about fiberglass fly rods that you enjoy so much?

There are a lot of things about fiberglass rods that I like. First of all, they are tough and can take a bump against a rock or a little bouncing around in the bottom of a boat. I like to fish in hard to get to places and my rods take a certain amount of "beating" as part of this process. I can not tell you how many expensive graphite rods I have seen break due to a minor bump into a rock, etc. Secondly, I like the fact that they are not overly expensive. Somehow the idea of having to spend $500 on a graphite rod does not make a lot of sense to me. I can not see where the extra value is between a quality fiberglass fly rod that costs maybe $100 and a $500 graphite rod. Finally, I like the somewhat slower action of glass rods in contrast to the very stiff graphite rods.

I will admit that casting a fiberglass fly rod is harder for new fishermen than graphite rods, but once you get your timing worked out, this really is not a problem.

What do you think about the resurgence of fiberglass fly rods over the past several years and in your opinion why do you think it is occurring?

I think a lot of new fishermen have "sticker shock" when the see the cost of getting into fly fishing today and simple economics argue for the less expensive fiberglass rods.  For a person on a tight budget, you can buy a used fiberglass fly rod made by Fenwick and other similar manufacturers and/or a new fiberglass rod for a fraction of what a new graphite rod costs. Once you add in the toughness advantage of fiberglass, the choice gets even clearer. People are rediscovering that you do not have to have $1000 or more in basic equipment to have a great time (and a successful time) fly fishing.

Looking back to when you and your father authored Fiberglass Fly Rods: The Evolution of the Modern Fly Rod From Bamboo to Graphite are there any rod makers or companies that you wish you would have included in that book or would include now if a second edition was printed?

It is surprising but I seldom get a question about a rod maker that we did not cover in the book. If a second edition is developed, I probably will include more information on foreign rod makers of fiberglass rods.

What do you think the advantages are of fiberglass as a material offers over graphite or even bamboo to those that build and fish these rods?

I have already discussed the toughness advantage of fiberglass, which I think is very important. I also have found that a person actually lands more big fish on fiberglass rods than on graphite rods. We have been fishing in Mexico for the last 10 years or so for large saltwater fish (sailfish, roosterfish, tuna, dorado, etc.). When these large fish get close to the boat, they normally make a powerful last run that puts enormous strain on a fly rod. Graphite rods are normally very stiff and often break right above the grip at this critical time. The softer action of fiberglass allows a cushioning effect in the same situation and the fish actually gets landed.

Note: again for the sake of completeness, I think a person actually hooks more big fish on graphite rods (due to their greater sensitivity), with the trade off being that graphite rod fishermen have a harder time actually landing big fish.

What are some of your favorite and most cherished fiberglass fly rods in your collection? Are there certain ones that seem to get fished more than others and where do you like to take them? 

My favorite fly rods are the Sila-Flex rods made pre-Browning, Fenwick rods, and Scott rods. I use Fenwick fiberglass fly rods for all my Mexico saltwater fishing. Scott and Sila-Flex generally did not make a lot of heavier fiberglass rods, but I am sure the ones they did make would work equally well. I like to use this antique tackle and also older reels (Pfluegar, Fin Nor, etc) as it reminds me of my youth and does just as good of a job as the newer equipment. The money I save by using older equipment, allows me to buy more older equipment (which if truth was known, I probably do not need). A person can not have too many fly rods!

My favorite river is the Trinity River in northern California. I especially like the stretch of the river at Lewiston, California. My wife, family, and friends have fished there countless times. As I said earlier, we also like salt water fly fishing at Punta Colorada in Mexico and go there once a least once a year.

Finally, any water that my two grandsons (ages 4 and 2) and I fish on is also great (they like to fish with worms, which is also fine).

For more information on Victor R. Johnson, Jr. and his books please have a look at his website, Engineering Pathways.

Olive The Woolly Bugger Decals!

A couple weeks ago Kirk Werner, blogger and creator of the Olive the Woolly Bugger character and book series, began offering an Olive decal which $1.50 from each decal sold goes to the worthy cause Casting 4 A Cure.

I sent Kirk a $10 check and last week received a few Olive decals in the mail which Hadley and I split up.  These are a high quality decal and Casting 4 A Cure needs your support.

To order your Olive the Woolly Bugger decals check out MyFlies.com.

Great idea Kirk and our badged out Honda Element is already repping Olive the Woolly Bugger!

T.F.M. Spotting - Sable's Online

Michael Schmidt of Angler's Choice Flies caught his cat Sable catching up on the latest blog posts on T.F.M. 

I didn't know that T.F.M. was so popular with the feline set.

Mike...you might want to check what's on the rest of her internet history too.  HA...