T.F.M. Year In Review

In short, 2010 was nothing short of a blur. Today I went through T.F.M. page by page pulling photographs for this slideshow and it was neat to walk through the posts and remember a lot of great memories on the water.

It was a great year and 2011 is looking good already.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Happy New Year and hope everyone has a safe holiday.

T.F.M. Spotting - Rich Schaaff

Several weeks ago Julie Schaaff and I traded emails and I asked if she would mind sending any photos of Rich T.F.M. Spotting that he might not have had a chance to send along.  A couple days later an email arrived with these neat images.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

I've had a hard time putting this post up and I guess it is fitting that it's the last T.F.M. Spotting post of 2010.

Rich was a good friend to many and he is still missed.

T.F.M.'s Fly Fishing Films Of The Year

Thinking back over this year to the fly fishing films that I watched over and over there are three that I can fully recommend and are worth adding to your collection.

EASTERN RISES
The boys at Felt Soul Media got it right (again) with stellar content and deft editing to produce their trip to Kamchatka and share with the masses.  Recently Eastern Rises won Best Film On Mountain Sports at the Banff Mountain Festival which is much deserved.  Eastern Rises is worth the price of admission and at the end you'll be wanting more though there is something to be said for only getting the sharpest cuts and not dull out in the end with a film twice as long.

Eastern Rises - Mountainfilm World Premiere from Mountainfilm in Telluride on Vimeo.

FISH BUM II: METALHEAD
The final chapter to the Fish Bum series is a rowdy road trip to secret and remote places in search for wild steelhead.  The AEG crew chronicle another epic trip on film with the highs and lows and the big fish and the no fish days.  Metalhead is great insight into exploration angling and what all it entails.

Fish Bum II: Metalhead from Terry Wolvert on Vimeo.

THE LOST WORLD OF MR. HARDY
This film tells the story of the heralded Hardy brand from it's start to the company's current status and is complete with interviews, vintage footage, and gives those that watch it a real understanding of it's history and the people that have made the company known worldwide.  This film was masterfully put together and it's evident of the time spent developing this artful endeavor.  

Besides being able to purchase a DVD of this film, it can also be viewed online for a cost of $2.99 for a 48 hour rental.


The Lost World of Mr Hardy (trailer) from Trufflepig Films on Vimeo.

What fly fishing films have impressed you this year?

The DryCASE Review

Can you remember back when there were no cell phones?  Then it wasn't to many years ago that it wasn't expected that you'd have your cell phone with you at all times.  Now it seems that Mrs. Manifesto or the bosses at work expect to be able to ring me up and get an answer no matter where I'm at.  

To remedy this and keep my iPhone dry at all times I have been using a DryCASE through this summer  and fall on fly fishing, kayak, and pool trips and have been completely impressed.  The case is a cinch to use since all you do is place the device into the it, twist the clasps to lock it, and then pump out the air within the case with the included hand pump.

The design allows worry free use of your electronics and is especially great to use with an iPhone, iPod Touch, or other touch screen device since you still have full access to the screen to navigate.

For $40 it's cheap insurance and keeps your expensive electronic device safe all while still allowing you to be able to use it too.  The case even has a audio jack so that you can listen to your music and podcasts.  Genius.

To order or for more information check out DryCASE online.

SKATE the FLY TV - Episode 4

Amid the holidays and expanding the Skate the Fly blog to a full fledged online fly shop, Dylan and Dave still took the time to drop Episode 4 online with an entertaining interview of Brian O'Keefe of Catch Magazine.


Skate the Fly Episode 4 - Brian Okeefe from Dylan Rose on Vimeo.

Great show and T.F.M. even gets a "mention" in the beginning of the show.  Crack on the boys about sitting on each other's lap in Episode 1 and they get all defensive.  HA...

Snow (Melt) Day

Outside T.F.M. Headquarters it's a melting mess of snow and mud this afternoon but the children and I went out this morning before it started getting to wet.  It's fun to bundle up Hadley and Finn and play in the snow.  It certainly makes us wish that it snowed more often.

Today starts a week of Mr. Mom days and working a few nights.  I'll be taking advantage of afternoon nap time each day and we'll have fun playing with all the new Christmas presents that Santa left us.

It's hard for me to believe that 2011 is just around the corner.  Where did 2010 go?

T.F.M./OtterBox Photo Contest Ending

I am sure that a few of the T.F.M. readership scored an Apple iPad from Santa for Christmas and I wanted to remind everyone that the "T.F.M. On Your iPad Photo Contest" is winding down this week.  The winner of the contest wins an OtterBox Defender Series Case worth $90.

Give the rules a look and send your photograph in pronto. The contest ends at midnight on December 31st.

The OtterBox Defender Series Case is extremely well built and certainly worth spending a bit of time coming up with a imaginative photograph to submit.

Email submissions to thefiberglassmanifesto@gmail.com.

Snow Falling In South Carolina

It's the day after Christmas and large fluffy snowflakes are falling outside. This is the perfect ending to a wonderful Christmas holiday and quite a treat for South Carolina.

I hope that the T.F.M. readership has had a wonderful Christmas holiday with your family and friends.  Cheers...

Christmas Eve Present

Yesterday morning I was able to start my Christmas Eve on the Saluda River for an hour or so before running a few errands around town.  I started and ended the year on this river and I really should spend more time on it.  It's a great river as long as you keep track of the generation schedule.

The Spanish Moss hangs heavy in the trees over the river.  This hardly looks like your typical trout stream but they are in there.  The Saluda River is stocked each fall and there are a few holdovers that make it through the summer heat and periods of low flows.

With not much time to be on the water I tied together a double stonefly (One large and one small.  One drab and one flashy.) and began working a couple of the deeper runs and drop offs.

As I was winding down my quick Christmas Eve session the line went tight and I quickly realized that I wasn't playing with a stocker.  Several minutes later this seventeen inch present finally came to the net.

It was enjoyable to take the Scott Rod Company F2 825/4 out one more time before I'll pack up the demos and send them back to Colorado next week.  It was nice to finally put a heavy fish on this rod to see how it handled it.

This buggy looking stonefly, tied by MK Flies, looked like breakfast.

So...one hour on the water and then off to pick up a gift for Mrs. Manifesto certainly wasn't a bad way to start the Christmas weekend.  My Christmas Eve was complete and I felt like a kid that got to tear open a present early.  Good times.

Sleeping In The Dirt - Issue 5

Still at the office today? Or do you just need a break from the in-laws...already?

Escape for a few minutes in Issue 5 of Sleeping In The Dirt. This issue is special since it highlights the photography of T.F.M. friend Rich Schaaff who passed last month. This issue is a wonderful tribute to Rich and his work.

Fishpond Tundra Tech Pack Review

A couple weeks before leaving on a trip to Montana this past October I was able to borrow a demo Tundra Tech Pack from Fishpond.  I figured a week away and on the water would be a good assessment of this pack system.

My criteria for a fly fishing backpack isn't that it will just be good on the water but it also has to pass the test of the airline carry on, be road trip worthy, and last minute trip ready as well.  Over the couple months that I had this pack it passed all the tests.  It is comfortable and has tremendous capacity for the backcountry angler.

The rigid internal frame of the pack is smartly designed with foam padding in all the right places for comfortable wearing and has a squared off bottom which maximizes interior space.  It was just as easy to pack the laptop and a stack of magazines for the flight to Montana as it was a pair of wading boots for the hike into backcountry in the large main compartment of the pack.

Measuring in at over 1,500 cubic inches and with a price tag of $240.00 the Tundra Tech Pack might be to much for a routine day on the water for most but for those that put a few miles between their vehicle and where they first cast a fly should seriously consider this pack.

On our day into the backcountry the pack was loaded down with two fly rods and reels, waders and boots, four fly boxes, a gallon size zip lock bag of accessories, a full size DSLR, small video camera, hat, gloves, large water bottle, wading staff, and a few other items as well.  It was a tight fit (the waders and boots took up a lot of the real estate) but the pack was comfortable to wear on the trail and then the entire afternoon on the river as well.

One of the highlight features of the pack is the rod tube system that allows the secure carry of two travel rods in their socks or tubes.  The slits are held together by magnetic closure.  Inside the pack wall there are two fabric sleeves which hold the fly rods in place and keep them protected from the other gear within the main compartment of the pack.

Another feature that impressed me is that all the plastic connections are recessed into the pack so that if you were not using the included Deep Creek Chest Pack then the connections are tucked into their place and there is no worry about catching your fly line on them.  I also noticed that anywhere a length of nylon compression strap would be hanging off the pack that there was an elastic band to fold the extra length into to keeping it from grabbing fly line as well.  This all creates a cleaner looking pack and you don't have straps and plastic pieces dangling off every side of the pack.  

The carry handle which is sewn in on top of each side of the pack is comfortable in your hand and distributes the weight of the pack evenly.  There is also a good sized fleece lined pocket on the top of the pack which was great for keys, cell phone, and other small items.

On the outside of the pack there is a large stretchy pocket that worked great as a catch all. The pocket was big enough to carry a rolled up pair of waders but also handy later in the day for fly boxes or to stash my DSLR camera when not in use. The same stretchy material is used in the two large side pockets which held a large Nalgene bottle without issue.

A lot of thought has gone into where straps and loops are on this pack and I was surprised to find that consideration was also given that not everyone likes to have the waist straps around them all the time. The waist straps can be pulled around the pack and snapped together through the loop on the back of the pack which keeps them out of the way.

The Deep Creek Chest Pack, which is full of pockets large and small, can be worn on the front of the Tundra Tech Pack or snapped to the back of the pack as well to keep it out of the way while hiking.

Deep Creek Chest Pack has two large internal pockets with one containing a replaceable and removable foam fly patch.  A secondary carry strap is also included to allow an angler to wear the Deep Creek Chest Pack alone without the pack.

Anglers that regularly trip into the backcountry will find the Tundra Tech Pack system to their liking. I had a hard time sending them one back after the demo since it really worked well in all respects, is sharply designed, and looks good too. This pack easily transitioned from airline carry on, to fly fishing use, and even came in handy on a couple weekend road trips as well.

Check out the Fishpond website for more information.

FH Paddock's New Old Lathe

This past weekend Fred Paddock posted up photos on the FH Paddock Facebook page of the South Bend lathe that he recently purchased.  This seventy year old lathe will now allow Fred to begin producing the various pieces of hardware that he will use on his fly rod builds as well as a plan to make his own fly reel.

Fred's ambitious plans will further create distinction in each of the FH Paddock fly rod series and I look forward to seeing the results of his hard work.

Goertzen Custom Fly Fishing Lanyard

This past summer I talked to Joe of Goertzen Adventure Equipment and gave him the dimensions of my waterproof point and shoot camera.  I asked if he would make a custom Fly Fishing Lanyard since I don't really use a fly patch all that much and having my camera easily accessible would be a benefit while on the water.

While in Montana this past fall I had a chance to wear the new lanyard for several days and am very impressed. The leather was molded around the camera perfectly and it is really handy to be able to access it by just undoing a single button instead of trying to fish it out of the pack.

I continue to be impressed with Joe's leather work and consider the Fly Fishing Lanyard to be quite reasonably priced at $49.99.  Joe expertly crafts each piece with a very individual look and feel from the differences in the leathers that he uses.

Though it might be a little late for a Christmas order it's still worth sending Joe Goertzen an email to discuss a custom Fly Fishing Lanyard to your liking.

The Unity With The Universe Rod

There is an interesting fiberglass fly rod on ebay right now and the proceeds benefit a great cause. This Winston 8'6" fiberglass seven weight, which Tom Morgan dubbed "The Unity with the Universe Rod", and considers it one of the greatest fly rods ever made at the Winston rod shop in any material.  That is quite an endorsement.

The auction proceeds will be given to the Five Valley Land Trust which is a conservation organization based in Missoula, Montana.

So...if you have some deep pockets and want to play Santa on yourself then toss a bid into the mix.  Can I borrow it if you win?

EBAY LINK

Santa Swings For P.M. Steel

Recently the boys from Indigo Guide Service and Third Coast Fly hosted Santa Claus on a trip swinging for Pere Marquette steelhead.


The Fly Fishing Santa from Third Coast Fly on Vimeo

It's obvious...Santa's got skills with the two hander.

Yellow Glass and Prototype Ferrules

The Graywolf Products rod shop has certainly been busy as of late with glass, bamboo, and graphite fly rods going out worldwide.

Shane's recent fiberglass builds have been a yellow 7'6" 3/4 weight two piece E-Glass blank build and an interesting bamboo spigot ferrule prototype on a black two piece 7'9" five weight unsanded S-Glass blank.

7'6" 3/4 Weight E-Glass Build

 7'9" Five Weight S-Glass Build

As the year is winding down Shane is looking to transition from graphite and glass rod building to a couple dedicated months of bamboo.  These two fiberglass fly rods may be the last of what you'll see for a while coming out Graywolf Products.

 

Scanout Magazine Launched

For quite some time I've been following the expeditions and photo work by the gurus at Scanout and on their Facebook page as well.  The places they go and the images they take are very well done. 

Last week they launched the Scanout Magazine iPad app on iTunes and it's certainly worth a look.

The first issue is a journey into Cascapedia through photos, video, and narrative.  Make sure you give this app time to load for the best viewing experience.       

I traded emails with Paul Lackner of Scanout over the weekend and they plan to release eight content rich issues of the online magazine in 2011.

Download the Scanout Magazine app and check it out. 

Cortland Diamondback Glass Is Back

The rumors and limited information have been floating around the internet for a couple months now but it's getting closer for the Cortland Diamondback Glass fly rods to start showing up in shops across the country in early 2011.

It's great to see a company go back to the drawing board and bring back a beloved glass fly rod line that many had thought to be forever gone. 

The blanks for the Diamondback Glass series are sourced out of country but finished by a notable  rod builder (Cortland is keeping this a secret) stateside.

The models for the series break down to the following...  

6’ 2 wt. 2 pc. (2.5 oz.)
6’6” 3 wt. 2 pc. (3.0 oz.)
7’ 3 wt. 3 pc. (3.4 oz.)
7’6” 3 wt. 3 pc. (3.7 oz.)
8’ 4 wt. 3 pc. (3.9 oz.)
8’6” 4 wt. 3 pc. (4.0 oz.)

The biggest question that many are asking is how the new Diamondback Glass series will compare to the last generation?  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.   

T.F.M. Spotting - Cast & Blast

Last weekend the fellows at The Headhunter blog tossed up a great post about T.F.M. along with a neat T.F.M. Spotting photo from a successful day spent with both the fly rod and shotgun in the drifter on the Missouri River.  Cast and blast at it's finest it looks like. 

I am honored to have T.F.M. mentioned on their excellent blog and look forward to getting back out to Craig, Montana at some point soon. 

LOOP Christmas Deals

Idaho Joe of Castaway Fly Fishing Shop sent along a short LOOP Christmas Deals list and even though there aren't any fly rods or reels listed it's still worth a look for a few soft goods items.

Opti Summer Trousers - $41.09
Opti LW Trousers - $57.89
Waffel Underware Set - $35.93
Limegreen Softshell Jacket - $51.43
Opti Checked Wading Jacket - $154.82

These are limited quantity items and prices are good through December 23rd.

Give the staff at Castaway Fly Fishing Shop a call with your order at 1-800-410-3133.

The Case of the "Stalker"

Recently Tom Anderson, a.k.a. "Duff" from the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum, purchased a vintage 6'6" three weight Winston "Stalker" that arrived with a bit of a mystery to it since the label on the fly rod said it was made in San Francisco while the original rod tube said it was made in Twin Bridges.  This all had Duff scratching his head but luckily Tom Morgan stepped in to clear up the case...and provided a history lesson along the way as well.

Tom Morgan wrote...  "First, it definitely is a Stalker from Montana designed by me. I designed all the Stalker rods when I was in San Francisco. Prior to buying Winston in 1973, Doug Merrick was making some 7 1/2' #4-weight rods but I thought they were rather stiff because they were on mandrels that were too big in diameter. There definitely were not any #3-weight rods. I developed the #3 & #4 Stalker rods based on a slightly slower taper mandrel that allowed for greater wall thickness and a greater latitude in making the lighter line size rods. We produced quite a few of these rods in San Francisco but the bulk of them were made after we moved to Montana. They all used Hexcel fiberglass fabric with colored phenolic resin that was essentially the same color in each batch. There may have been some very slight color variation but certainly not much. One thing that does happen over time is rod color will change by sun bleaching out the color. One thing you can see on this rod is just above the grip there are some light spots. These come from sanding too deep into the blank to remove the snakeskin finish caused by the cellophane tape during the curing process. The blank does seem to be lighter in this area than towards the tip but it could also be the lighting."

"We would sometimes make custom rods so that may be the reason it only says 6 1/2' #3 on it. We weren't always consistent at that time about what was written on the rods. The writing is mine.

When we first moved to Montana we didn't have any Montana rod decals so I still used the San Francisco ones for a while. I don't remember how long. We had the Montana tube labels made before we had the rod labels made. To my knowledge we always used the same thread color from when I purchased until we quit making fiberglass rods. We bought the thread in 1/4 pound spools and directly from Gudebrod in large amounts so all the thread came from the same dye lot. This particular rod would have been made a few years after moving to Montana because it has nickel silver fittings that I made in Montana. I had to order a substantial amount of nickel silver tubing which took a while to get. Then I machined the parts on a South Bend turret lathe and we buffed the parts in house. The hoods we punched out of tubing using a die I made in a hydraulic punch die unit made by Al Talbot."

"I don't know that I would agree with Jim Adams about the Claudio rod color although Jim may have seen some I haven't. Ferd and I were friends and I was very familiar with his rods. In fact, he gave me one. He had Fisher purchase special cloth that they rolled his blanks out of.  They were a very light brown color from the beginning.  It is possible that he had different fabric but all I ever saw were light ones.

The wrap color variation comes from the varnish or other coatings turning color over the years.  A good method of helping to determine how much the color has changed  is to remember the decals were ALWAYS silver."

To read the Winston "Stalker" thread in it's entirety check out the Fiberglass Flyrodders forum.    

T.F.M. Spotting - Howard and A.K. Best

Last weekend Howard Levett, of Wind Knots & Tangled Lines, stopped in at Rocky Mountain Anglers in Boulder, Colorado for a fly tying demonstration by A.K. Best.  Howard was representing his T.F.M. t-shirt and a friend was able to snap a photo of the two of them together.

Howard was also able to get A.K. to scribble his signature across his copy of A.K.'s Fly Box as well.

To read more about Howard's visit with A.K. check out his post on Wind Knots & Tangled Lines.

Fishy Kid Whistles Ready To Ship!

Last Friday 150 Fishy Kid whistles arrived from Whistles For Life.  I am shipping off Fishy Kid whistles and decals to those that ordered but can send off packages to anyone else that is interested in a whistle or two as well.

Cost for a single whistle and two Fishy Kid decals is $10.  Whistles are available in red, blue, dark green, lime green, bright pink, yellow, and orange.

I am discounting multi whistle orders and can have them to you by Christmas if sent this week.  If you'd like to place an order or have questions please send an email.

CRKT Guppie Tool

Recently I tossed my name in the hat on the Outdoor Blogger Network website to demo and review the CRKT Guppie carabiner tool.  As luck would have it I was chosen and last week a small box arrived from CRKT with a brand new Guppie inside.

The Guppie is full of features with a knife, bottle opener, wrench, screwdriver port with multiple bits, a small LED light, and a carabiner type latch for attaching this tool to a gear bag or loop. Sadly some multi tools can come across a little cheap and not well thought out but the Guppie's is well built and feels comfortable in the hand.

I've got some outdoor plans for the Guppie but it's true test may come Christmas morning as I will be tasked with putting toys together of all sorts for Hadley and Finn.  I can already for see that the Guppie will be a big help.

Thanks again to the Outdoor Blogger Network and CRKT for the Guppie.  Look for a full review in the coming weeks.

The Eclectic Angler Reel Kits

With an interactive forum on reelsmithing and Reel Materials Kits to build a reel from scratch, The Eclectic Angler has also begun offering Reel Kits as well.  

Through a series of steps you can take these prepared materials and turn them into a useable fly reel such as one of these below.

For the remainder of this month The Eclectic Angler is giving 15% OFF any item for those that use the code "DecemberSpecial" during the online checkout. 

One of the Reel Kits look like a great winter evening project...or a fitting Christmas present for someone that already has everything fly gear related.  

T.F.M. December Gear Discounts

This is just a quick reminder on the discounts on all T.F.M. t-shirts and decals through the end of this month.  I am taking orders for T.F.M. t-shirts in the three different designs shown below and offering a short sleeve and long sleeve shirt for $40 with free shipping to all orders within the U.S.  I will discount international shipping as well.

I am also discounting the "premium" T.F.M. from $5 each to three for $10.  Each of the decal designs shown below is explained on the T.F.M. GEAR page.

To place an order for T.F.M. t-shirts or decals please send an email.  T.F.M. t-shirts going out in the mail the middle of next month.

T.F.M. Spotting - Lucas At The Vise

It's starting to cool down in New York and this is giving Lucas Carroll more time at the vise tying up marabou spey flies for the Great Lakes Tributaries.  Lucas sent along a T.F.M. Spotting photo of himself at the vise and I'm thinking that fly sure looks steelhead tasty.

Later this month Lucas and I are meeting up with Mad Mike for a day looking for redfish (will I touch my first one?) in Charleston.  Lucas has been filling up his redfish box with patterns including Mike's Copperhead Crab.

Check out Lucas's excellent photography and fly tying websites for more of his excellent work.   

Graywolf Rods Steffen Builds

A couple months ago Shane Gray of Graywolf Rods and I got connected through email and then a few phone calls.  Shane's excellent build work covers graphite, bamboo, and then quite a few fiberglass builds as well on very notable blanks. 

Shane had offered to build a Steffen 7'6" four weight to send as a demo to T.F.M. but then a new blank from another rod maker became available and our plans changed.  Shane ended up selling the four weight Steffen build before I could even post it on T.F.M. but thought that I would post a few photos of the recently finished Steffen 8' 5/6 weight build that he photographed with the four weight Steffen build.  Stunning work start to finish.

Check out the Graywolf Rods website for more photographs and information.

If you are interested in discussing a future build please contact  Shane by email.   

JP Ross Fly Rods/S.F.R.C. 25% Off Ending

This is just a reminder that the 25% OFF discounts on fly rod orders with JP Ross Fly Rods & Co. and South Fork Rod Company are both ending tomorrow. 

The JP Ross Fly Rods & Co. discount applies to all Reuben Wood orders and the South Fork Rod Company discount covers all of their fly rod series including the Classic Series and South Fork Glass Series.

To take advantage of the JP Ross Fly Rods & Co. 25% OFF discount use the code "GLASSISNOTDEAD" during your online checkout.

When placing an order by email for a South Fork Rod Company fly rod just mention the T.F.M. 25% OFF discount with your order.

All orders placed by December 10th should be completed and under the tree by Christmas. 

Kabuto 8053 At The G.G.A.C.C.

Recently I sent the Kabuto 8053 to a few friends in San Fransisco to demo and Nelson Ishiyama carried it along to the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club for evaluation. 

I especially enjoy this post for several reasons.  First, the photos give us a glimpse into the G.G.A.C.C. with the casting pools, the clubhouse, and a place were countless hours have been spent casting and discussing fly rods and their merits.  Secondly, it is a very high compliment that a builder such as Yasuyuki Kabuto would have his fly rods compared to some of the finest glass rods out there.   

Nelson wrote...  "I took the Kabuto 8053 to the Golden Gate Angling & Casting Club ponds on Saturday for some fiberglass fans to try.  It was a rainy day, so not as many people as usual were there, but all the guys who cast the rod are very good casters, and we had some other nice rods to compare side-by-side with the Kabuto."

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

"All of us, except one, thought the rod is an excellent caster, able to make short and long casts with nice loops.  The one who didn't agree thought the rod was just okay.  The rest of us found the fine tip to be great for making nice loops on very short casts and the strong butt good for the longer casts.  I think the fine tip is fine for small to medium sized flies, but maybe not as good for large or heavy flies.  Also, I think you have to be aware of the fine tip to avoid throwing tailing loops when trying to extend the line from short to long.  Otherwise, it was a very easy rod to cast and would be a great all-around rod for most of the trout fishing we do.  We found it hard to say whether we liked the Winston(s), Scott, Claudio, Kenney, or Kabuto best - they are all great-casting rods.

Of course, we all thought everything about the finish was very thoughtful and beautiful, with many nice touches like agate stripper, stacked bamboo reel seat, Snake Brand guides, fiberglass wrapped rod tube and others.  The thread, cork and finish work is terrific.  The only thing that surprised us was that the rod weighs about four ounces, or almost a full ounce more than a Kenney 8'3" five weight.  We did not notice the weight in casting - the rod feels light."

I am very impressed with the work of Yasuyuki Kabuto and neat to see it seconded by a group of very accomplished casters such as Nelson and his friends.

Kabuto Rods is taking orders for both builds and blanks and can be reached by email to discuss any questions you might have or to place an order.   

South Fork Rod Company Representing!

A few weeks David Redington of South Fork Rod Company sent along a photograph of their fly rod display at the recent Federation of Fly Fishers show in Orlando, Florida.  I am honored that they would put a couple T.F.M. decals on their display.

This post is also a reminder that the 25% OFF discount on all South Fork Rod Company fly rod series ends on December 10th and all orders should be completed and to your door before Christmas as long as the blanks are in stock.  Check out this T.F.M. post for details.

T.F.M. 1,500 Facebook Fans Winners!

Over two dozen people took the time to answer all the questions correctly in the T.F.M. 1,500 Fans Scavenger Hunt and this afternoon I chose the winners using an online random number generator.

The winner of the Grand Prize is Greg Feder and the winners of a T.F.M. t-shirt and decals are Josh Radlein and Michael Gillen. Congrats!

I appreciate everyone that took the time to participate and for the sponsors (Cliff Outdoors, Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters, Nature Boy Designs, Paul Puckett, and The Flyfish Journal) providing some excellent prizes.

Next stop is 2,000 Facebook Fans!

T.F.M. Spotting - The Newest Ballard

I don't know what it is T.F.M. Spotting photos and newborn babies.  Maybe it's a comfort thing.  Maybe it's the only clean t-shirt.  I don't know.  Either way the Ballard family is excited to welcome their newly born daughter into the fold.

Spencer wrote...  "I suppose after going through the process of having a baby a couple of times already I have lost the jittery nervousness that comes with labor.  When the process started and the wife started having contractions early in the morning I calmly walked to my dresser and pulled out my T.F.M. shirt, got dressed, and headed for hospital.  Caroline was born several hours later."  

"I am hoping some of the mojo on this shirt transferred over to the new baby and we end up with another glass fan.  The soft high quality cotton of this shirt put the baby at ease after an arduous journey down the birth canal and by the end of the day it was covered with spit up and drool."

Congrats Spencer and family.  I hope everyone is getting some sleep.

Monday Morning Diversions

It seems like we all need a weekend from our weekends, eh?  Here are a couple online diversions to start you off on your Monday morning.

FLY FISHERS INC.

RISE FORMS

Pour yourself another cup of coffee and enjoy.

T.F.M. Holiday Gift Guide - Part 2

It's only 22 days until Christmas and you might be scratching your head on what to ask for, what to buy, and what to surprise someone with.  Listed below are the big ticket items costing $100 and up that I like and either have or wish that I could have someday.  I've got a wish list too (hint, hint).

Some of these are items need a BIG bow and tree to put them under for Christmas morning.

FLY GEAR
Costa Sunglasses - I've been wearing a pair of Costa Zane 580's for almost a year now and they are by far the most impressive pair of sunglasses that I have worn.  The 580 lenses are worth the cost but if that's still to much bank or glass is just to heavy to wear all day then look at the new 580P lenses which are polycarbonate, way lighter, and still give you a great advantage on the water.
 
Fiberglass Fly Rod - The focus of T.F.M. from the start was to highlight the growing number of excellent custom builders and companies that build glass fly rods.  Two years later the links listed under the "T.F.M. Approved Rod Shops" has easily doubled if not tripled.  These builders and companies have offerings that cover the all the price points from $30 to over $1,000 per fly rod and build on blanks they've designed or sourced from other talented blank makers as well.  A custom or factory fiberglass fly rod is certainly something special to consider for a gift.

Fishpond Tundra Tech Pack - There is a T.F.M. review coming on this pack but if you're looking for a large capacity backpack that is loaded with features then give the Tundra Tech Pack a look.  It's a sharp and complete package for $239.00 with backpack and chest pack together. 

JP Ross Fly Rods & Co. - My interest is certainly perked with the Reuben Wood fiberglass rod offered by JP Ross since a short five weight can get a lot of work done on the water.  For the holidays JP Ross is discounting all Reuben Wood orders 25% OFF between now and December 10th for those that use the code "GLASSISNOTDEAD" when placing your online order.  JP Ross will have these orders to you by Christmas.

Leather Fly Wallets - I've known Marc Crapo for a couple years now and find the work that he does with leather to be inspired.  He's again offering his holiday discount of 25% OFF custom leather fly wallet orders and a really great time to pick yourself or someone else up a one of a kind place to keep their "meat", nymphs, and salmon flies.

Phoenix Classics - I've yet to use a silk fly line but have always been interested in it and on the "To Do" list for 2011.  Phoenix Classics offers both Tapered and Parallel silk fly lines to cover different types of water fished by anglers.  They also produce braided and furled leaders as well.
   
South Fork Rod Company - David and Margot Redington have been great friends of T.F.M. from the start and are again offering 25% OFF on all fly rod series through December 10th when you mention the T.F.M. discount.  S.F.R.C. has two lines of fiberglass with the Classic Series and the South Fork Glass Series.  The South Fork Glass Series fly rods are a tad faster than the Classic Series and I especially like the seven foot two weight and the eight foot five weight.  I've got my eye on the seven foot 4/5 weight too since that is just a great length/line weight for the streams that I fish up in North Carolina. 
 
The Spey Company - After being somewhat quiet on the online front for months The Spey Company is back with upgraded various spey reel offerings and the long awaited Single Spey trout reels are available for order as well.  I want a couple of these fly reels.
 
William Joseph - Didn't I mention in the Part 1 of the Holiday Gift Guide that the William Joseph MAG Series is money?  The highlight of the series is the Conduit Gear Bag.  Yes...a gear bag pushing the three bill mark isn't cheap but this bag is great in the kayak or drift boat with a rubber bottom to keep things dry and the various magnetic closures of all the lid and pocket makes it easy to access everything you need on the water.

Z-Reels - I came across the two series of Z-Reels (Natural and Revolution) earlier this year and soon after picked up a Natural 5 which I really like a lot.  Smooth gearing and a attached leather pad to the frame which can be pushed against the spool to slow a hat fish down.  I hope to fish this reel more in the coming year.  Z-Reels is still listing "Introductory Prices" for U.S. sales and worth taking advantage of. 

KAYAK GEAR
Diablo Paddlesports - The crew at Diablo Paddlesports have a great SUP kayak and I  hope to demo one soon for a T.F.M. review.  Great features makes this worth a look if you're contemplating a fishing kayak that you can stand up in for all types of water.  There are two models in their line up with the Adios and the Chupacabra. 

Versa Board - Looking for a SUP that you can fly fish, paddle, and play on?  Look no further than the LiquidLogic/Native Watercraft Versa Board.  We demoed on this past spring and had such a great time on it that we ended up buying one a month or so later.  Want to keep it "clean" without many accessories then you might got the LiquidLogic route.  Want to fully outfit it for fly fishing then the options from Native Watercraft might fit your needs better.  This is a great multi purpose paddleboard/kayak pure and simple.

Native Watercraft Ultimate - I've owned my 14.5 Tandem Ultimate for about a year and a half and couldn't be happier with it.  It is as comfortable in solo as it is in tandem and we've put it through it's paces on ponds, lakes, rivers, and creeks where it is great to paddle and fish from.  Nothing comes cheap from Native Watercraft but splurge for the rudder kit on the initial purchase since it is great to have and all other accessories after that seem a lot more reasonable to add on.

Well...that's about it for my suggestions.  Let me know what "Santa" brings you for Christmas.

VOTE OCTOBER'S FINALIST!

I am a little surprised that there were only four submissions for the T.F.M. Spotting Photo Contest for November but still it doesn't change the fact that everyone needs to vote for their favorite finalist.  .

For a better look at each of the finalists photographs please check out these T.F.M. posts...

MICHAEL SCHMIDT
MICHAEL SIMMONS
MARK BAKER
JEFF RAINEY

Thanks for voting for this month's finalist.

2011 T.F.M. T-Shirt Unveiled

I am excited to "unveil" the 2011 T.F.M. t-shirt featuring the artwork of Jeff Kennedy.  Jeff has kindly allowed me to use his "Retro Fly" image on the back of next year's t-shirt which I greatly appreciate.

The 2011 T.F.M. t-shirt is available in both short sleeve and long sleeve in the color black and in sizes up to 5XL.  I plan to add another color t-shirt early next year as well.    

I came across the "Retro Fly" in Jeff's book Drawing Flies 365 last year and thought that the artwork would look great on the next T.F.M. t-shirt.  I am really stoked that it worked out.

Prices for T.F.M. t-shirts are $20 for a short sleeve and $24 for a long sleeve.  For the month of December I am offering free shipping with each order sent within the U.S. and will work on discounted international shipping as well.  Also, for those that are interested in a short sleeve and long sleeve of any of the three offered T.F.M. t-shirts I will discount the cost to $40 with free shipping.  To place an order send me an email.