LAST DAY - Fly Vines Giveaway/Code

Just a reminder that today is the last day to leave a comment on the Fly Vines Giveaway/Discount Code post for your chance to win one of six Fly Vines Lanyards that I have to send out next week to random winners.  I will name winners in a post on Monday. 

Also, if you are placing an order today on the Fly Vines website use the code "TFM0411" in order to double your order.  Order one lanyard and get two instead.

Comment HERE.  Use discount code HERE.

Simms GORE-TEX Shoes Contest

Simms Fishing Products has linked up with Deneki Outdoors and put together a contest to promote their sharp looking GORE-TEX shoe line up.  (I am seriously digging the Harbor GORE-TEX shoe myself.)

The rules for the contest are simple. Visit the Simms Fishing Products Facebook Contest Page, upload a photo, and answer the question...

"If only I had my Simms GORE-TEX shoes when..."

Winners of the contest will be chose by popular vote on the Simms Fishing Products Facebook Contest Page.

First prize for this contest is a week valued at $5,000 at Deneki Outdoors Alaska West Lodge on the Kanetok River along with two pairs of Simms GORE-TEX shoes as well.  There will be second and third place winners for this contest who will receive Simms gear for their submissions.

Photos and stories can be submitted through June 6th and voting will take place from June 7th through 20th.  The winners will be announced on June 21st.

Let the stories be told!  A week at Alaska West Lodge is well worth a few minutes of creative writing. 

T.F.M. Spotting - PA Creek Brookie

Mike Schmidt of Angler's Choice Flies took a long weekend away from the vise and headed east to New York and Pennsylvania.

After the steelhead itch was scratched, Mike headed over to a small private creek that he has access to and caught brown trout and brookies for a couple days before heading home. 

Mike sent this photo in for the T.F.M. Spotting Photo Contest of him representing with decent sized brookie that was caught on a articulated streamer tied on size 12 and size 14 nymph hooks.

To read and see more about this long and excellent weekend make sure you check out the Angler's Choice Flies Blog.

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Last night my wife, photographer Tamera Talbert, and I made a night of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival which was sponsored by Columbia Green Fair, Half-Moon Outfitters, Conservation Voters of South Carolina, and Sustainable Midlands.

For the price of a $10 ticket we thoroughly enjoyed an evening of films along with excellent eats and drink provided by LowCo BBQ and 116 State.

The night included seven films which were hand picked by event sponsors and each hit the mark. 

I was particularly impressed with these three films.

1% OF THE STORY

[one percent] of the story from 1% for the Planet on Vimeo.

BETTER BONES AND GARDENS
Better Bones and Gardens Trailer from Natalie Edler on Vimeo.

THE STORY OF BOTTLED WATER

The Story of Bottled Water with Annie Leonard from kompozit on Vimeo.

Over the course of the night I was made more aware of local conservation organizations with energized approaches which look to greatly impact for the positive our rivers, green spaces, and the foods we eat.        

This was the first such event in Columbia and I would expect next year's film festival to draw a larger crowd.  It was a great night out and it left us with a lot to consider.

Gear Review - Nanuk 905 Case

Over the past few months I've been using the Nanuk 905 case for our Nikon DSLR and have been really impressed.  The Nanuk Protective Cases are made from a hard resin and employ some neat features which keep our photo gear safe on the water and off. 

The two highlights I've found so far in the Nanuk over other hard cases is that every model can be ordered empty, with scored foam, or with padded dividers.  Also, the Powerclaw Latching System is a sure way of keeping the box closed when it needs to be and is also easy to open to access as well.    

The Nanuk 905 case with padded dividers is just right for fitting our Nikon D70s with lens attached and a second lens tucked into the free space.  This is my go to case for carrying photo gear in the kayak now.

For those interested I can place orders through Nanuk Protective Cases at 50% off MSRP.

For reference the Nanuk 905 with padded dividers is priced at $65 plus shipping costs from the full retail price of $130.  I can provide quotes on all Nanuk models in any configuration including accessories such as carry straps or locks.

Please send an email if interested in a quote or more information about Nanuk Protective Cases.  

One Hour. One Bass.

Yesterday morning I took advantage of the one hour that I had which was wedged between getting the children ready for the day and mowing the lawn before going into work in the early afternoon.

It took just a few minutes to assemble a bit of warmwater gear, put the kayak in the back of the truck, and then head down to the family pond. 

This fly came out of the box of bass creations sent to me from innovative fly mastermind Brian Ebert of Relax The Cast.

This pattern in particular looks especially tasty in the water and that rubber tail flutters just like it should. 

It didn't take to long and I caught this decent bass off some underwater structure. 

I was able to finally flex the Cabela's C.G.R. 7/8 weight which is really perfect to use in the kayak.  It's short, accurate, and can still bust out a long cast when needed.

The Fly Vines Lanyard works great for a an impromptu kayak fly fishing session since it holds just what it needs to...a couple spools of tippet and nippers.

At nine o'clock it was time to head back to the house and saddled up on the mower.

One hour on the water is better than no hour at all.

T.F.M. Spotting - New Jersey Trifecta

Recently Bart Lombardo of The Jersey Angler pulled off an impressive fish trifecta plus one on his local water while repping his T.F.M. t-shirt for the year long photo contest. 

Check out Bart's post on The Jersey Angler to read more about his day on the water.

Bart...nice work.  I'm thinking there is some good mojo in that T.F.M. t-shirt.

Graywolf Build Wraps And Tipping Done

Shane Gray of Graywold Rods continues to be completing glass builds at a steady pace and sent along a few photographs of the TFM build with the silk tread wraps and tipping complete.

I am starting to get really excited to see this build done.

Check out the Graywolf Rods Blog for photos and information on the most current completed builds.

LO FI FLY

One part photo. One part video. One part word.  All parts original.

LO FI FLY has been around for a month but this website has staying power...and maybe unicorns.

Visit.  Bookmark.  LO FI FLY.  

(Follow on Facebook and Twitter as well.)

T.F.M. Spotting - N.Z. Spring Creek

As soon as Deb Thompson realized how much fun that her husband and guide Joel Thompson was having in New Zealand, she booked a flight and spent her spring break plus a week "trout raging" with the boys.

One the last day of the trip Deb wore her T.F.M. t-shirt on a stunning spring creek and capped off her trip with a great brown trout.

Joel wrote...  "Debbie was stalking some very spooky spring creek fish sporting her hot pink T.F.M. t-shirt.  Unfortunately the pink t-shirt proved to be a little too bright and had to be covered up in order to fool these fish.  Below is the last fish caught on this trip and the best part about it is it ate a dry fly.  Deb went all "Chuck Norris" on this fish making a perfect cast to an impossible lie.  As soon as the fish was netted the cover up shirt was off to rep the T.F.M. t-shirt underneath.  A great finish to an incredible trip to New Zealand."

Deb...well done and I would expect nothing less with your carefully honed "Chuck Norris" skills.

New L. Kenney Models And Update

Larry Kenney is one of several custom fiberglass fly rod builders that more or less stay busy enough on customer builds to be happy with the work flow but he's not one to let rod building to get in the way of his own fly fishing or hunting depending on the season or what he's feeling like doing that particular day.  He'll also be the first to tell you that he's taking each build one at a time and there might be a wait.  Fair enough.

I did want to pass along to the T.F.M. readership that Larry Kenney is offering three added models for 2011 in six and seven line weights as well as an update that he wrote on the other fly rods in his fiberglass series. 

The three new models for 2011 are the following:

Model 836 8’3” Three Piece #6 line 3.4 ounces
Model 866 8’6” Three Piece #6 line 3.6 ounces
Model 887 8’8” Three Piece #7 line 4.0 ounces

 

Long fiberglass rods and those for heavier line weights present something of a puzzle. As glass gets much past eight feet in length, it moves into an area where lighter graphite becomes a pretty sensible choice.  But I love the way glass feels and fishes, and being sensible doesn’t stop me from fishing older glass rods for lines as beefy as a 9’3” ten weight.  The good ones (Winstons, Fishers, Claudios, a few Fenwicks and Scotts) heavy though they are, cast a truly sweet line.  Moreover, glass seems to give me more “touch” than graphite when connected to a large fish.  I don’t envision building any ten weight, or even eight or nine weight glass models, but six and seven weights, at eight and a half feet or so, are another story.  That’s still glass country so far as I’m concerned, and after a year or so of testing new tapers and glass patterns, I have to say I’m extremely happy with the three rods listed above.  So have been the picky casters who’ve handled the prototypes.

At 3.4 to 4.0 ounces in weight, my new 836, 866, and 887 models weigh more than most graphite rods but are quite a bit lighter than comparable bamboo rods.  They’re supple yet substantial in feel, and all three possess that hard-to-describe feeling of controlled flex that’s a particular virtue of good glass.  Their progressive actions have responsive enough tips to handle short line presentations, and let you put more of the rod into play as you extend liner.  Eighty feet is no barrier to the competent caster.

The 836 and 866 are both fine choices for large dries, nymphs and streamers.  The 836 is somewhat faster than the more deliberate, very slightly more supple 866.  Choosing between them is just splitting hairs. They’re both sweet, and I’m listing both because I couldn’t decide which one NOT to offer were I to build just one six weight.

Model 887 is a stable, smooth, powerful rod for seven weight lines or #8 shooting heads.  It’s got the beef to bull bass out of structure, will handle long casts with large flies, isn’t too light or too short for many steelhead streams, and flat asks to be tested on fish that pull back.  I love this rod and plan to fish it in a few places that are probably completely inappropriate.

As with my lighter line models, models 836, 866, and 887 have unsanded latte colored blanks, Carbaloy stripping guides, black nickel snakes and top, and chestnut wraps with modest tan spirals at grip, ferrules and tip . Grips are my rather flat Wells and the reel seat is an uplocking model with walnut spacer.  They can be built with either a one-half inch cork butt extension or with a flush fitting Delrin butt plug.

Wood Uplock Reel Seats
In response to a number of requests, I’m now offering a walnut uplock reel seat option on models 794 and 835.  The spacers on these seats are nicely figured black walnut with a satin finish.

Prices for Rods Delivered in 2011
Model 733 7’3” #3 Line. Three Piece.  2.0 ounces. 
Built only with cork slide band reel seat - $550

Model 794 7’9” #4 Line Three Piece. 2.4 to 2.8 ounces. 
Cork slide band reel seat - $560
Walnut spacer uplock reel seat - $570
Cork spacer uplock reel seat - $580

Model 813 8’1” #3 Line Three Piece.  2. 6 ounces. 
Built only with cork slide band reel seat - $580

Model 835 8’3” DT4/WF5 Three Piece.  3.0 to 3.4 ounces. 
Cork slide band reel seat - $590
Walnut spacer uplock reel seat - $600
Cork spacer uplock reel seat - $610

Model 836 8’3” #6 Line Three Piece.  3.4 ounces.
Walnut spacer uplock reel seat - $620

Model 866 8’6” #6 Line Three Piece.  3.6 ounces. 
Walnut spacer uplock reel seat - $620

Model 887 8’8” #7 Line Three Piece.  4.0 ounces. 
Walnut spacer uplock reel seat - $620

• Prices quoted are for rods delivered in 2011. Modest increases are possible if my own costs increase.

• All rods come with partitioned cloth liner and aluminum rod case.

• Add $20 for shipping in the Continental USA via USPS Priority Mail, insured, with delivery confirmation. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii may be higher. Shipments outside the USA will be by USPS Priority International, with rates quoted on request.

Note: Back order times are currently about six months from date of order, which irritates me as much as it does you. I could build more rods, or build them faster, but that would leave me too little time to fish.  Not going to happen.

A Huskey/Maddox Collaboration

Sometimes it's hard to see the difference between the brushwork of an artist or the image capture of a photographer.

Photog and filmmaker Bryan Huskey and artist A.D. Maddox recently joined forces and an image became a painting.

You've likely seen Bryan's image on the backside of the 2011 Scott Fly Rod Company catalog.

A.D. Maddox has titled her painting "Game Face" which seems quite fitting.

In my way of thinking collaborations like this should happen more often.

Trout Unlimited 2011 Photo Contest

Aspiring photogs take note...  Trout Unlimited is taking submissions for their 2011 Photo Contest which is sponsored with gear prizes from R.L. Winston Rod Co., Ross Reels, and Costa Del Mar. 

(Photographer - Cari Crezee)

Trout Unlimited is looking for trout and salmon images and photographers may send up to five images for this contest which can be submitted through the photo contest page.

The winning photograph will be included in the next Trout Unlimited wall calendar. 

All photo submissions must be received by Sunday, May 1st, 2011 for consideration.

S.C.O.F. - Issue 0.5

The Spring Preview Issue of the latest online magazine Southern Culture On The Fly dropped a couple days ago and I'm excited to see it come together.

Is there really a need for yet another online fly fishing magazine?  Honestly no, but there is space on the interwebs to explore the southern side of the fly fishing lifestyle, which has yet to be done.

David Grossman and Steve Seinburg have a unique vision for S.C.O.F. and the 0.5 Issue certainly gives a glimpse of that. 

F2% - Food Is Love

If you've read T.F.M. for any length of time you know that I am an unapologetic foodie.  From roadside joints, to blowing our grocery budget for the week on a high end dinner experience, to honing our own kitchen and grill skills at home.  We enjoy excellent food and drink.

Justin Ide of F2% is exploring the culinary arts through his website which highlights his photography, writing, the places he eats, and what's going on in the "back of the house".

Can't figure out what F2% means?  Be sure to check out the Origin of F2% for the answer.

F2% can be followed through subscription as well as Facebook and Twitter.

T.F.M. Spotting - Mr. IMAGO At Fly Fair

John Zerihoun, President of IMAGO Fly Fishing, recently attended the German Fly Fair and wore his T.F.M. t-shirt on one of his days there. 

John is a "secret" fiberglass fan and I keep pushing him to consider a glass rod in the IMAGO Fly Fishing line up.  

While relaxing for a moment at Fly Fair John and his friend got a kick out of his name tag placement which looked like the website is "www.TheFiberglassJohnZerihoun.com". 

Snap that domain up!  HA... 

Bug Slinger - Spring/Summer Designs

The Bug Slinger website refreshed this week with a few new designs for Spring/Summer posted up to order and pre-order. 

I've long been a fan of the design work that Rob McAbee is doing at Bug Slinger and it's been neat to see his style evolve with Bug Slinger over a relatively short period of time with his clothing line.

 

The Stikem and Cross Sticks II shirts top my wish list and I ordered them both yesterday so I wouldn't have to worry about them going out of stock. 

Detonation Studios ICE OUT Wrap Up

I don't remember hearing or seeing much if anything on last years Simms ICE OUT event.  It appears that they did a much better job of thinking outside the box and creating something that had buzz to it before, during, and after the event with social media, blogs, and websites awash with photos, videos, and reports of the weekend. 

Ian Majszak of Detonation Studios put together a mix up of his ICE OUT footage which gives you a pretty good idea what all happened. 


SIMMS ice-out events reel... from Detonation Studios on Vimeo.

It should be noted that Ian and Bryan Gregson did all filming for the weekend on a Canon DSLR. 

I am impressed and looking forward to seeing more from Detonation Studios.  

T.F.M. Spotting - Up In The Mountains

Michael Heitman sent along a couple of snaps from a recent trip to a high country stream which was complete with frigid temps, fresh snow on the ground, and repping a T.F.M. Retro Fly decal on his fishmobile.

Micheal...nice work with the camera and thanks for representing T.F.M. in the rocky mountain west.

We Fish With Crickets...Sometimes

Yesterday Hadley and I spent the morning together on a friend's private pond looking for a few bluegills to bring home for dinner. 

This small pond has more bluegill, some quite large, than I've ever seen in one place and it can certainly stand having a few culled for the frying pan.

Who would have guessed that the lowly cricket would be such a delectable delight to bluegill?  Each cricket placed on the hook didn't stand a chance and as soon as it hit the water it was slurped up.

Hadley happily fished with her Pioneer Anglers custom three weight Lamiglas Fly/Spin build.  This may be the perfect pond bluegill fly rod/spinning rod since it's easy to cast short to medium distances and really makes game of bluegills of any size.

A typical bluegill from the pond though several that were caught were quite a bit larger.

Hadley and I worked out a process of her catching a cricket, me putting said cricket on the hook and casting it into the pond, giving her the rod, setting the hook, playing the fish, and me taking the bluegill off the hook.  Then repeat and repeat and repeat about fifty times over two hours. 

Hadley into yet another feisty bluegill.

I think she's got the "grip and grin" down pat and she felt like quite an angler with her Fishpond Elk River Youth Vest on.

A few of the larger bluegills that we caught were put on ice.  Twice this many were put back in the pond since we only keep what we can eat.

Last night we had dinner of fried bluegill fillets, slow cooked grits, and green beans with a sweet onion.  Quite a feast and Hadley was pretty smug with herself that she was able to bring home dinner for the family.

All in all part of a great day.  

2011 Simms SHOOT OUT

This past weekend throngs of fly fishing guides converged in Bozeman, Montana for Simms Fishing Products ICE OUT event to relax, learn, network, and I'm sure to kill the liver a bit as well.

This year Simms added the SHOOT OUT event to the weekend's festivities and invited four filmmakers to ICE OUT.  They gave each filmmaker two days to film and one day to edit, and each entry had to include the Simms shot glass some way some how.

All submissions had to be ready for Saturday night and the winner was determined by the ICE OUT attendees.

The filmmakers invited to the event were Beattie Outdoor Productions, 406 Productions, Fishbite Media, and Detonation Studios.   

Rumor has it that RA Beattie won the event by a single vote and took home $1,000 and a free pair of Simms waders for his effort.

BEATTIE OUTDOOR PRODUCTIONS
Fly Fishing Mystery Theater from RA Beattie on Vimeo.

406 PRODUCTIONS
Simms Shootout 406 productions from 406 productions LLC on Vimeo.

FISHBITE MEDIA
Ice Out/Shoot Out from bryan huskey on Vimeo.

DETONATION STUDIO
SIMMS shoot-out submission. from Detonation Studios on Vimeo.

Which film would you have voted for?

Thinkfish Bold Giveaway

For all those that spend a bit of time on the social network, consider visiting the Thinkfish Facebook Page and clicking "LIKE".

When the Thinkfish Facebook Page reaches 500 "LIKES" they are giving away a Thinkfish Bold fly reel to one very fortunate follower.

Simple as that.

Tenkara Masters

Last week Danial Galardo of Tenkara USA sent out an email blast with this excellent video on casting techniques as taught by tenkara masters, Dr. Hisao Ishigaki and Sakakibara Masami.  This film was made while Daniel was in Japan for two weeks last year.  


Tenkara Masters - Lessons with Dr. Ishigaki and Sakakibara Masami from Tenkara USA on Vimeo.

I am still itching to get out on the water with my new 11' Iwana and Tenkara Net which I hope will happen sooner than later.

Check out the Tenkara USA for this video and others.

The Graywolf Rods Build Continues

Shane Gray of Graywolf Rods sent an update of the eight foot four weight McFarland Rods yellow glass blank build that he is working on for T.F.M. with the cork done and the hardware and reel seat set.  Two words.  I like.

Shane's been hard at work on a dozen or more glass builds and still has blanks stacked up ready to build once these fly rods are all out the door to customers in the next week or so.

It's great to see Shane busy with customer builds since this economy hasn't been so kind to custom fly rod builders the past few years.

Shane has recently revamped his website and it's full of information regarding his background, blanks available, and prices for a completed custom build. 

Shane also keeps the Graywolf Rods Blog up to date with information on his builds as they are completed and photographed.

Nerds On The Loose

In a seemingly natural follow up to yesterday's T.F.M. post on The Love Letter I happened across a new blog this morning called getting-lost.com.

The premise seems much simpler then I am sure it was but these two sold their house, quit their jobs, packed up their Subaru, and started driving west to spend the rest of the year working their way through the mountain states.  

With just three blog posts up on getting-lost.com so far the adventure has just started for these two.

I think it's going to be pretty neat to follow along.