NEW T.F.M. DECALS!

I am excited to announce a new series of T.F.M. decals that I'll be offering in the T.F.M. GEAR page of the blog.

These high quality decals are produced by Boneyard Fly Gear and are priced at $5 each or three for $12 with free shipping for those in the United States.  I'll figure out reasonable shipping for international orders.

I am currently taking pre-orders for these T.F.M. decals to determine which ones are the most popular and should have them in stock later in August.  To place an order please send an email to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com.

For more information check out the T.F.M. GEAR page.

T.F.M. Spotting - Rob On Dawn Patrol

Recently Rob McAbee recently moved the Bug Slinger Headquarters back to Florida and now he's on the beach, chasing fins, and masterminding new ideas for his clothing lines.

(Photo by John Meskauskas)

Rob sent this line with his T.F.M. Spotting Contest Photo of his morning session on the beach...

"Contemplation before a stellar dawn patrol (nice little summer swell with the added bonus of a few rolling tarpon and even a free-jumper)."

Rob treated himself to a new Nah Skwell 9'6" All Around SUP for carving the waves and it should get a lot of use over the coming months.  Rob...can you fly cast from that board?

T.F.M. Sun Protection Gear Review

If there is something I've never been able to do it's catch a tan.  I burn bright red any time I am in the sun for extended periods of time without proper covering or sunscreen.  Add to that having several friends with skin cancer scares and it's been a real wake up call for religious sunscreen use while finding clothing that is both comfortable and protects from the sun without fail while on the water.

With most of us entering into the hottest weeks of summer I thought it might be insightful to pass along a list of the items that I have found to work best for keeping myself sun burn free.

My assembled "armor" for sun protection is a head to toe approach with UV shirts, wide brim hats, sunglasses, sun gloves, face covers, and of course sun screen.

I started wearing the Bug Slinger Vapor Shirts last summer and have found them to be excellent to wear on long days on the beach, underneath my PFD while in the kayak, and even to toss on for an afternoon in the pool.  The fabric is extremely sheer, moisture wicking, and lightweight.  Bug Slinger is currently offering two different Vapor shirts with the Sea King Vapor and Ace Vapor which retail for $40 a piece.
    

When the large square box arrived from Peter Grimm with a couple hats from their "Resort" line I knew I had finally found the ultimate in wide brim hats.  Ranging in price from $12 to $30 these reasonably priced hats take up some serious real estate on your head but are extremely lightweight and comfortable with a soft elastic band around the inside head space.  If these hats look to large for your noggin then check out the kid sized Grom model which is still a good sized hat and should fit most adults as well.  

I've been smitten (and been working on a review all their own) with a pair of Costa Zane with the 580 lens that I was sent this past spring to demo.  The optical quality of the glass 580 lenses is unmatched by anything I've ever worn.  No lie.  Simply put these offer excellent sun protection as well as eye protection when casting a fly.

I've been using various Buff's for the last four summers and now have a folded stack of them in the gear bag so it's near impossible to leave the house without one.  Part of my routine as I ready for a day on the water is to put a Buff around my neck so it's there when I need it.  Though wearing them you end up looking a little bit "gangsta" there really is nothing better to have to keep the sun off your face and neck.

These tattered and torn Simms Sungloves have seen use on trout water, salt marshes, and warmwater ponds and are still working years after I bought them.  Couple them with a long sleeve or vapor shirt and you're only leaving the ends of your digits exposed.  These are designed to leave you with full use of your fingers and the palm area is open as well so you end up forgetting that you even have them on your hands.  Priced at $15 and when you've got them all covered in fish stench toss them in the washing machine and they're clean for the next trip.

Finally, don't forget the sunscreen.  Sunscreens have come a long way from being an oily mess.  I've been keen on Bull Frog Sunblock for some time but there are a lot of choices out there.  

This round up isn't the end all be all but certainly a good start.  I'm wondering what you use to stay burn free while spending long periods of time in the sun?

Twintail Clothing Company

Matt Jones is starting to spread the word through a long list of online means that the Twintail Clothing Company catalog is ready for a look.

Matt has been working on the start of his clothing business for quite some time and it's great to see that he's getting ever closer to offering his unique designs to the angling public. 


Though Matt does not have product in stock yet he's asking those that are interested to subscribe to the Twintail Clothing Company email list.  By subscribing you are not making any promise to purchase but it let's Matt know how much interest there is for a certain item.

Give the Twintail Clothing Company catalog a look and let Matt know what you think.

Carolina Fly's "T.F.M. Popper"

Last week I posted about Carolina Fly and the bass poppers that Thomas Harvey has started producing.  Late last week someone on the T.F.M. Facebook page mentioned that Thomas should do a T.F.M. inspired popper.  Thomas took the challenge and a day later posted a series of photos of the T.F.M. popper all tied up.

The T.F.M. popper arrived yesterday and it looks great. This one isn't touching the water ever but going into the small but growing collection of fly fishing treasures.  I just may need to have a small shadow box built to display this stunning fly.

Keep up with what Thomas is doing at Carolina Fly on it's Facebook page.  Thomas is giving away poppers as the page grows in Fans so it's worth clicking "LIKE" while you're there. 

Thanks Thomas.  I am more than impressed with your work and looking forward to seeing what you'll do next.

In Through The Front Door

Writer and artist James Deloria recently returned from a trip to "Voelker's Pond" with Adam Tsaloff and brought back a wonderful piece of copy and photos to share with T.F.M..  If you look close at the slide show there is a T.F.M. Spotting photo that is really neat with a T.F.M. decal on Adam's vehicle parked in front of cabin.  

"Anyone who has read Trout Madness, Trout Magic, Anatomy of a Fisherman, or any of dozens of articles on things piscatorial written by Robert Traver (pen name for John Voelker who was a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice) knows of “Frenchman’s Pond”. Although I am roundly corrected whenever I refer to it by that name (by John’s grandson Adam Tsaloff) I will always think of it by that name. Perhaps because I hail from four generations of French-Canadian Yooper ancestors and I love the vague connection or simply perhaps because, like John and Adam, I am a stubborn old curmudgeon of a fly fisherman.

When Adam posted some winter pics of the pond on The Fiberglass Manifesto earlier this year, I commented and told the story of having met my fly-fishing-folk-hero at the N.M.U. library and how some friends and I “found” the pond through sleuthing methods long forgotten that did not include the then non-existent “inter wide webs."

"When I joined Adam at a fish camp on the Au Sable last year he gave me “absolution” for what I know now the family refers to as “coming in the back door”. My absolution became complete this June when Adam and I made a weekend trip to the pond and I communed with the spirit of Justice Voelker, caught a few of his impossibly beautiful lovelies, and in a rare moment of becoming teachable, improved vastly on my roll cast by re-learning it from Adam who was, of course, taught by the cribbage (and roll cast) champion of the U.P.

We shared a serene and peaceful couple of days fishing the pond and a couple of rivers whose names escape me now. One of the most important, but not the only lesson I learned from Mr. Traver (that’s Traver like braver, not Traver like Traverse, as I mistakenly thought for years) was to keep your spots to yourself. Others will find them soon enough.

Two things from Adam stand out in my mind. One was as we payed respects at his grandpa’s grave site, that John’s brother’s name was--Robert Traver. He was killed in World War I. I had often wondered why John had adopted a pen name. I had thought that it was just the inherent nature of a secretive fisherman. That probably had a little to do with it, but honoring his brother was foremost. This warmed the cockles of my heart. Secondly, as we relocated positions on the pond for the third or fourth time, Adam called back at me, “He bought the place because he COULDN’T figure it out!" And again, anyone who has read the stories knows this is so, but I always questioned whether there really was a place so mysterious. There is. I saw no insects that I recognized! We caught trout on a little soft hackled creation tied by our mutual friend, the notorious curmudgeon, John Sheets of Petoskey. Furthermore, the catching entailed a cast and twitch method, that for still water seemed rather incongruous to me.  Works though.

If my little tale has a point, and thankfully as yet fly fishing doesn’t need one, it is this; live long enough and the circles in your life, like the rings of a rise, can become complete."

T.F.M. Spotting - USCARPPRO Magazine

The other day I was leafing through the latest issue of the online magazine USCARPPRO while on the phone at work (please don't tell the boss) and came across an article written by Jean-Paul Lipton a.k.a. Mr. Roughfisher on his recent trip to the Pacific Northwest in search of gaint carp.

Imagine my surprise to flip the page to see JP's smiling mug holding a beautiful (can carp be beautiful?) carp and sporting his T.F.M. t-shirt proudly on a two page spread.

So he's in the T.F.M. Spotting photo contest and stepped up the bar for how many people outside the readership of the blog might see his t-shirt.  Thank  you Sir! 

Make sure you check out USCARPRPO magazine and roughfisher.com and see what our brownwater peeps are up to.  It's pretty interesting indeed.

The F3T Interview That Wasn't To Be

A few months ago I mentioned that an interview was in the works with Marc Crapo, Thad Robison, and Jay Johnson of the Fly Fishing Film Tour.  The interview was smashed from the start with a digital recorder that was better at picking up what was going on in the kitchen of the sushi joint we were at than what the F3T boys were saying.  My camera battery died couple clicks in.  Not a stellar way to start an interview.   

So...the F3T interview was not to be like I had hoped and next time I'll be better prepared.  At least I had a few notes and iPhone photos to post.  The conversation and sushi we had were excellent and we covered all aspects of the film tour, the quality of film submissions, and what life is like on the road for weeks at a time.  Running the film tour from spot to spot by vehicle and by plane is no joke.  How many of us could take the better part of six months off to live on a limited travel budget, make full day drives in a rental from city to city, sleep on the floor of seedy motels, and still make each night a party for those that show up to the tour?

It was great to put a handshake with each of the faces of the F3T boys.  I've known Marc for a couple of years and it's easy to see why his nickname is "Rowdy".   He fills up the room with his persona.  Jay is an interesting fellow and within minutes of sitting down he picked up my iPhone, leafed through the pages on the screen to check out what apps I was sporting.  He gave it an overall grade of a B+ (B for the apps and a A- for organization).  He's got a thing for iPhone's.  Thad is quiet and a bit serious.  It's easy to see why they call him "Dad" and why he gets the big bed nearly every night on the road.  This is his baby and he's going to make sure everything goes as planned. 

There was an interesting moment in the conversation when Thad, Marc, and Jay did the math and realized that they might be making far less than minimum wage for their time on the road.  Jay shrugged it off and said that there was no where else he'd want to be working right now.  Clearly this is a labor of love and not just an excuse for fish bums to experience the thrill of a long and weird road trip.  Something that came out from each of the three while talking over dinner was their interest in promoting fly fishing.  This sport is pretty niche even with all the companies, websites, and blogs out there and they look at the Fly Fishing Film Tour as a way to expand the reach of fly fishing. 

At the end of the interview we walked down to the theater to find a long line already forming outside and an anticipation of a good time to be had on a week night out at the movies.  The Fly Fishing Film Tour is good for the industry, the film makers pushing the envelope, the fly shops who are bringing the show to town, and great for the anglers that get to see stellar film footage from all over the world.  Each year the film tour is growing in attendance and the number of shows being put together.  Fly fishing as an industry needs this and clearly anglers benefit from it as well.  I hear there are larger venues for some sold out venues, day long fly fishing festivals in the works in some locations, and a growing list of film makers filming and editing their summer away.  I am already looking forward to showing up at a few of the events planned for 2011.

Carolina Fly Bass Poppers

Recently I met fly shop fellow and fly tier Thomas Harvey through the T.F.M. Facebook page and he asked if he could send a few of his balsa wood poppers for me to fish on the family pond. The flies arrived last week and they look pretty sharp. There is something pretty wonderful about hand painted bass flies that commercially done flies just can't touch.

Thomas Harvey has set up a Facebook page for Carolina Fly as a way to show off patterns he's tying and the success that people have fishing them.  Thomas is going to give away a few flies to a random winner once the page hits 100 Fans.  Click "LIKE" to be part of the contest.

Want to purchase a few of your own Carolina Fly bass poppers?  The cost for these flies is $6.00 each and Thomas can be reached at harveyt09@students.ecu.edu.

T.F.M. Spotting - The Holga Master

Brian Schiele a.k.a. "The Holga Master" has recently released some new material on his website and along with it sent along a very cool T.F.M. Spotting contest photo taken on the banks of the Provo River.  

I still am very interested in Holga photography and need to spend a weekend with the camera that I picked up early this year. This photo might be the inspiration I needed.

T.F.M. Reminders for July

We're just past the halfway point through July so I thought I'd pass along a short list of happenings on the T.F.M. blog that you might want to participate in this month.

Korkers "Where Do You Wade?" Photo Contest

Never has there been an easier contest on T.F.M. to be a part of.  You can submit your photograph for the "Where Do You Wade?" contest by email, Facebook, or Twitter.  At the end of the month we'll chose a random winner from all the submissions and that person will receive a pair of Korkers Guide Wading Boots.   


Backwater Paddle Company 25% OFF Discount

Through the month of July you can use code "TFM710" to receive 25% off your hand paddle purchase on the Backwater Paddle Company website. 

Vote...Vote...VOTE!
The T.F.M. Spotting photo contest finalists for June are organized into a poll on the right side of the page.  Please place your vote for the best T.F.M. Spotting photo for the month.


T.F.M. T-shirt Order

I am currently taking orders for T.F.M. t-shirts through the month of July.  T.F.M. t-shirts are available in dark brown or black in both short and long sleeve.  If interested please send an email to place your order.  REPRESENT T.F.M.!

T.F.M. Spotting - Ross in Idaho

Recently Ross Slayton and his family made a move from California to Idaho and with that he's taken some time to hang around the local fly shops to feel out his new digs.

On a day of checking in at the local fly shops Ross wore his T.F.M. t-shirt to both the Premier Fly Shop in Ashton and Henry's Fork Anglers in Last Chance and wanted to submit the photos for the T.F.M. Spotting Photo Contest. 

While in Henry Fork Anglers Ross bumped into one of T.F.M.'s favorite artists A.D. Maddox as she was showing off some of her work at the shop. 

Honestly...I'm a little jealous of the move but now I have yet another "local contact" to tap for knowledge on future trips.

First Float On The Versa Board

This past weekend we had the opportunity to get out on the family pond for a couple hours and give the Versa Board a thorough testing.

When I say "we" I guess I really should say Mrs. Manifesto instead since every time she would offer to let me have a turn on the Versa Board she'd be quickly paddling away from Finn and I in the Ultimate.  Oh well...great to see her excited about "her" kayak.

A few photos from the float...

No worries since I have a few trips already in the works to give the Versa Board my own workout and of course of a fly rod will be involved.

T.F.M. Spotting - The Crew on River X

Well...the Scandalous Fly Fishing Brothers and friends were back on "River X" and though I've narrowed down what state this river flows I still don't know much more.  Don't want to know.  Some places are best kept secret. 

Rich Schaaff posted up a stack of photos on his facebook page complete with a couple T.F.M. Spotting photographs of Stephen Vance of Scandalous Sticks representing.

I copied fifty of my favorites from the set for the slideshow.  Enjoy...

180 Degrees South

This past week I watched a movie called 180 Degrees South by Woodshed Films which in the end had me contemplating a several month trip to Patagonia with the Element loaded down with gear and a couple trout bum friends in tow. Of course I can't just drop everything and steal away but this film was nothing short of inspiring.

180 Degrees South is a journey to Patagonia by way of following the footsteps of another journey decades before. Dirtbag surfer and climber Jeff Johnson and his crew of friends head south to Patagonia and meet up with Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins who years before, with their group of friends, had surfed new breaks, climbed new routes, and began to uncover the secrets of Patagonia.

This film is stunningly filmed and really worth a watch. Check it out on Netflix or on DVD.

The 180 Degrees South website is quite interactive with many clips and trailers to watch so spend a few minutes there as well.

T.F.M. T-Shirt Order and New Color

I wanted to remind everyone that I am taking orders for T.F.M. t-shirts through the end of the month.  I've also decided to add a second color choice of black since the artwork really looks great on the darker t-shirt as well as the dark brown.

If you're interested in a T.F.M. t-shirt or two please check out the T.F.M. GEAR section of the blog and send an email to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com with your order.

Mama's Got A New Water Ride

Well...it only seems fair that since I have a Native Ultimate that Mrs. Manifesto deserved a kayak to call her own as well.  Since our weekend demo of the Liquidlogic Versa Board a couple months ago she's been talking about it almost daily and it quickly moved up the short list of purchases to make this summer. 

I called Jesse at River Runners yesterday morning and he confirmed that the Versa Board was in from the factory and ready for pick up.  I packed up the children and made a quick run downtown to toss the Versa Board on the roof rack and bring it home before the children went down for their afternoon naps. 

I had been on the fence about what color I liked best (though it was hardly my decision) but the mango color really is sharp and I am glad that Mrs. Manifesto chose it.   

Along with the Versa Board purchase I also added a Werner Advantage Stand Up Paddle to the bill.  Though pricey, I live by the thought process of buying something once and be completely happy with it.  So the wallet took the hit but I won't be returning this paddle later to upgrade.

I also plan on using this paddle in the Native Ultimate as well since I stand up a large portion of the time when I am fly fishing.

So, look for future fly fishing and paddle posts about the Versa Board.  Mrs. Manifesto is thinking core exercise and fun and I'm thinking of taking this board to a growing list of rivers, ponds, and salt marshes with a fly rod in hand.

T.F.M. Spotting - Outlaw Alan

 T.F.M. friend Alan Tomich, a.k.a. "Mojorizing", posted up a few photos of his North Fork Outfitters Outlaw pontoon on his facebook page which were complete with a few T.F.M. Spotting photos in the mix as well.

I figured a slideshow would be the best way to show off Alan's Outlaw which is expertly rigged out with rod holders, motor, fish finder, fly boxes, and everything else he'd need for a day on the water.

Look for Alan and his Outlaw on big fish stillwaters out west.