6 Good Reads

A few of these articles have been sitting in a draft post for several weeks but still worth a read.  One article has been a real spark this week with a lot of comments and attention.

THE BOREALIST - PRIORITIES
Come for the words, stay for the images.  Always good.

S.C.O.F. ON TROUT UNLIMITED
In the past, I've had my own axe to grind with T.U. and Christian (along with a few in the comments) cover all the high points in this blog post which is getting the attention of the organization all the way to the top.

GINK & GASOLINE - ON DESTINATION FLY FISHING
Louis covers a lot of ground a in this post that is filled with solid information on destination travel.  Or make it all easy and jump in on a hosted trip with the G&G crew.

MIDCURRENT ON HUNTING PERMIT
Fly fishing in Belize (recap HERE, HERE and HERE) gave me a newfound respect and obsession with permit.  I could have used this article from Marshall Cutchin a couple of months ago as I prepared for the trip.

THE GROWLER - THE FIRST CAST
Give Tom Hazelton some space and he'll impress you with both words and images.  Enjoy this one from the north woods.

FISHINGPOET.COM - THE NEXT SEVEN
Happy Blog Birthday to the Fishingpoet website who posted this and then quickly posted follow up posts HERE, HERE, and HERE.

And somewhat unrelated but still worth your time, check out Matt's poem made into a short film on trail running HERE.

What's on your reading list for the week?

HATCH MAGAZINE - 2016 Fly Fishing Photo Contest

I don't know how this wasn't on my radar before now but there are just a couple days left to get in on the Hatch Magazine 2016 Fly Fishing Photo Contest. 

There's a lot of worthy swag involved for those who win, including a six day fly fishing tour of the Everglades and Florida Keys

Visit the Hatch Magazine Photography page for some excellent photography from years past submissions.

Check out the Hatch Magazine website for the full breakdown of this contest and get your entries in pronto.

PROJECT HEALING WATERS - 2nd Annual Gear Drive

Last year Winged Reel and Pig Farm Ink collaborated together to organize an innovative gear drive for Project Healing Waters and in the end over $50,000 of used, but in great shape, fly fishing gear was collected which was then given to veterans across the United States.

The 2nd Annual Gear Drive went live today and donations can be dropped off at participating fly shops or can by sent through the mail directly to Pig Farm Ink in Buford, Georgia.

This is a great idea and in the next couple of weeks I'll be putting together a big box of fly fishing gear that will find a better home in the hands of veterans. 

Visit the Winged Reel website for more information and make sure that your donation is made prior to January 15th, 2017.

XPLOR: Andros - Chapter 4

It's been a couple weeks since the C1Films Xplor was highlighted on T.F.M. but the series posts continue today with "Capture".  Enjoy.

Visit the C1 Films website and Vimeo page for more goodness.

6 Holiday Shopping Suggestions

Can you believe that the festivities of Christmas are again upon us?  Where did 2016 go?  I guess it's time to do a bit of shopping for family and friends and if you're anything like me, your inbox is bulging with emails from Black Friday to Cyber Monday sales.  Needless to say, there's been a lot of deleting going on from my iPhone the past couple of days.  

In years past I've put a post together with a long list of discount codes and heads up on particular sales but that just sounded way too exhausting for me to attempt this year, so here's a few suggestions to consider as you sit down to shop for those on your list.

1.  SHOP SMALL - Your local fly shop, artisans, gear makers, rod builders, fly tiers, and others locally are a great source for excellent gifts.  Help fuel your local economy.

2.  SHOP THE ENVIRONMENT - There are a lot of companies within the fly fishing and outdoor industry that have figured out creative ways to give back to the environment and the many worthy groups and organizations who need donations to forward their mission.

3.  FIND THE UNIQUE - There are so many ways to find gifts that both fit the budget but are something different than you'll find at the mall.   I always seem to find the best ideas, artisans, and craftsmen on Instagram.

4. CONSIDER THOSE WHO SUPPORT T.F.M. - I have a really great time writing this website but most of what happens wouldn't be possible without the support of the companies listed on the sidebars who advertise here.  They are each a great place to start as you're looking for deals and ideas.

5.  GIVE THE GIFT OF GLASS - There may be no better time to give a fiberglass fly rod to someone than now with choices from $25 to $1,500 depending on what you're looking for.

The Fiberglass Rod Shops page is updated and a good place to start if looking for a rod builder, fly rod company, and source for a fiberglass fly rod blank to build your own.

6.  NEED SOME SUGGESTIONS?  I am only an email away and have a good time pointing people in the right direction on different fiberglass fly rods, click and pawl fly reels, and those special gift ideas.  Oh yeah, and check out the T.F.M. Store and T.F.M. Decals pages as I've handpicked some stellar suggestions on there as well.

Enjoy the holidays with your family and friends.  Gift giving is one small part of it.

BUFFALO BROTHERS

There's something special about wild and scenic waters that hold smallmouth bass.  I could totally get down on a trip like this. Who wants to go?



Check out the Dally's Ozark Fly Fisher for more information and book a date for next summer.

The B.I. Chronicles - Tailgate Gear Review

Well, after a summer of seemingly being on a go to everywhere, I'm am more or less home bound for the next several months.  Not like I don't have a lot of other things going on with work, home, and the holidays but it is kind of sad to not have a trip on the books until after the new year.

What I do have is a little bit of time to circle back and hit the high points of fly fishing gear used on a several of the significant trips that really made the difference.  I have been doing a Beaver island trip with Indigo Guide Service for seven years in a row and over time have really whittled down what I need and don't need for a week there.  After years of carrying too much, I really just worry about the essentials now.

This summer's trip to Beaver Island (high points HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE) was a great mix of friends and good times.  It's always fun to have a full week at the Fisherman's House, with six or seven days on the water with the guides at Indigo Guide Service, to poke around looking for a few carp (smallmouth and pike as bonus), relax and take it all in.

Here's seven pieces of gear that made the difference on this trip.

SMITH CREEK MIDDLE FORK FLY PATCH
Over the years my "uniform" when fly fishing has gone from overladen fly vest to overstocked lanyard with seemingly a zillion  tools hanging off it to now a simple cord lanyard, nipper, and a Smith Creek Middle Fork Fly Patch.  It's all I need.  The fly patch is so handy to have since I can load up with Beaver Island favorites before a wade in the grass or have a place to dry flies out before going back in the box.  After a week at Beaver Island typically both sides are jammed full of crayfish and goby patterns in a mix of colors and sizes.

Whether you wear it on your lanyard, attach to your vest, or find another spot for it, you need one (or several of these) around.  Each Middle Fork Fly Patch comes with a quality zinger and cable to attach just about anywhere.  The double sided foam is ribbed so that hooks stay put and I've had several for years now that show little wear.  

SMITH OPTICS TECHLITE POLARIZED LOW LIGHT IGNITOR
If there is one thing to count on at Beaver Island, the weather is unpredictable and it's unlikely you're going to see a full week of sun and cloudless days.  What's more likely is a weather day (or two) and a few days that start off cloudy or with fog that burns off as the day goes on.  With that, an essential piece of gear for this trip has been a pair of Smith Optics sunglasses with the Techlite Polarized Low Light Ignitor lens to light up the flats and help visualize what is going on under the water even under gray skies.   

This polarized yellow lens works better in low light and cloudy conditions than any other that I've used and I continue to be impressed with the quality and clarity of Smith Optics ChromaPop when everything lights up with the sun.

On all fly fishing trips now I carry two pairs of Smith Optics with one pair being the Techlite Low Light Ignitor lens and the other in ChromaPop to over all levels of light through a day on the water.

12WT.  WORKwt. GLOVE
There are a lot of choices when it comes to sun gloves and though I've worn a lot of them, I always circle back to the 12wt. WORKwt. Glove.  These form fitting poly fabric gloves have film laminate in just the right places for grip and and protection when stripping fly line through your fingers.  With five sizes from extra small to extra large, there are sure to be the perfect size available for your hands.

These gloves easily do double, and even triple duty, going from the dude at the bow with the fly rod to the guy on the platform push poling to also working great for kayak anglers with paddle and fly rod as well.

It's always good have a pair around or spring for the WORKwt. Glove Three Pack to save a few dollars on each pair.

SWIFT FLY FISHING EPIC BANDIT
For whatever reason it took me a few years to get it but when the guides at Indigo Guide Service said they were all fishing ten weights on Beaver Island, I still thought that I needed to fish eight weights.  I guess I'm a slow learner, but the past several trips I've been using the Bandit almost exclusively and it's hands down the perfect fiberglass fly rod for the carp flats around Beaver Island.   

Fly fishing for carp around Beaver Island demands everything from a fly rod that can be used to pick lazy tailers off in the grass to making long accurate casts to cruising carp along the edge of an island.

The Bandit excels in so many situations and handles quite a few different fly lines depending on the needs of the angling situation.  I've used everything from Scientific Anglers GPX and Anadro to Airflo Grand Slam to RIO Products Redfish with all positive results.   

This ten weight feels surprisingly lightweight in hand and that's likely due to it's sub eight foot length.  It balances great with several different large arbor fly reels and I continue to grab it for anything and everything from carp to stripers to redfish to even, in a pinch, sharks.

Need to make long casts?  No problem.  Need to turn over big flies?  No problem.  Need to turn the head of a big fish?  Also, no problem.  This is the do all heavy line weight fiberglass fly rod that I think everyone needs one of.  And maybe another as a backup. 

ORVIS HYDROS SL FLY REEL
For as much as I am a sucker for click and pawl fly reels, there are just some situations that require the slow down and stopping power of a sealed drag fly reel and for over a year now I've been using the Orvis Hydros SL fly reel with great results.  In fact, there have been quite a few guides that I've fished with that have been similarly impressed with this fly reel as well.

The Hydros SL fly reels feature fully sealed drag-clutch bearing, increased line retrieval from a super large arbor spool, and super tight tolerances.  Smooth operation, durable construction, and priced from just under $200 to $259 make this an easy choice for new fly reel needs.

Want to learn more?  Check out this post on the Orvis News blog post on the design and making of this fly reel and this video where Tom Rosenbauer goes feature by feature on this great fly reel.

SCIENTIFIC ANGLERS ANADRO FLY LINE
For years I've been looking for the perfect fly line for Beaver Island and it's admittedly been a lot of trial and error with taking a stack of fly lines along for the trip and switching them out with different fly rods to see what works best.

This summer I found the perfect match for the Epic Bandit with the SharkWave Anadro.  This fly line taper turns over the larger flies used for carp around Beaver Island and still allows for long accurate casts as well.   

I have been using several of the SharkWave fly lines and like the multi texturing to assist with casting but the Anadro has won out for warmwater angling of all sorts.  This fly line pairs great with several different fiberglass fly rods and I've used it on six weights on up.

One word of note that this fly line likes to stay clean for ultimate performance.  I learned by lesson this summer that after a full day of being fully impressed that on day two (without the line being cleaned) I was having all sorts of casting and distance issues that were all fixed again with a through cleaning of the line.  Keep it clean and you'll be happy as can be.

FISHPOND WESTWATER BOAT BAG
I am in out and of boats and kayaks so much that a solid gear bag is a must have for everything fly fishing related and typically a DSLR camera and a couple lenses as well.  I've used quite a few different gear bags and always seem to come back to the Westwater Boat Bag from Fishpond.

The Westwater Boat Bag is up for all kinds of different duties depending on the trip.  Some trips the divided three spaces are full of large fly boxes and other trips are used for camera gear, spare fly reels, sunglasses, and anything else that might be needed for the day.   

The Westwater Boat Bag falls right into that sweet spot of durability meets extreme water resistance meets being the perfect size for all the boat gear needs.  The TPU welded fabric construction (the latest model with Cyclepond fabric) with water resistant zipper keeps moisture out and gear inside dry no matter the condition.  I've long lost the two small clear zip pockets but the large flip pocket on the top of the boat bag holds everything from tools to wallet to sun gloves and masks to mobile phones.  Lastly, the two dividers are adjustable with Velcro stripping all around the interior and can be removed or moved around as needs require to fine tune how your gear needs to be stowed.

While finishing this review this morning I remembered that I had previously posted a T.F.M. review three years ago on the Westwater Boat Bag.  This is a gear bag that is still ticking and in great shape after almost four years of continued use.

That's it for this trip.  Look for upcoming Tailgate Gear Reviews covering the trips to Wyoming/Montana and Belize in the coming weeks.

DISCLAIMER - Items for this post were either purchased at full retail price, on an industry discount, or provided free of charge to demo and review by the respective company.  It should be known that any product that is reviewed on this website is one that I have used and would recommend for others to use as well. 

YETI Stories Twofer

The two more recent YETI Stories films have nothing to do with fly fishing but that certainly doesn't mean that they aren't worth checking out. 





I know that you can find a cheaper cooler (and that doesn't mean it's better) elsewhere, but if funding stories like this is where profits are going, then I'm in.

Visit the YETI website for coolers and gear and take some time to check out the YETI Stories pages as well for a deep rabbit hole of great films to check out.

Rep Your Water #glassisnotdead Knit Hats - Version 2.0 Coming

With the first batch of Rep Your Water #glassisnotdead Knit Hats all gone, we went back to the drawing board with a new colorway choice for this winter in browns, greens, and oranges.

The prototype images arrived in my inbox yesterday and I am stoked with how this new hat came out.  I should have several hundred of these knit hats ready to sell soon in the T.F.M. Store.   

Once I have an arrival date, I'll likely do preorders which may arrive in time for Christmas.  No promises on that quite yet.  Stand by for an announcement.

In the meantime, check out the T.F.M. Store for some other ideas that are in stock now for your holiday gift giving or gift yourself.  I'm sure that you deserve it.

If placing an order on the Rep Your Water website, remember to use "SHIPTFM" for free shipping.

VICTOR AXE + TOOL: The Charcoal Collection

 What started out as a serious case of "gear envy" several years ago has lead to a growing collection of Victor Axe + Tool items for myself and children.  I was gifted a Hudson Bay Axe several years ago for Christmas from my family and the next year I gifted Manitou Half Hatchets to each of our children.  Add to that a Waxed Canvas Tool Roll for keeping the outdoor tools close at hand and I guess you could say that I appreciate the hard work and craftsmanship of Victor Sultana as his small Michigan shop continues to grow.

This Friday Victor Axe + Tool will release "The Charcoal Collection" with six favorite pieces in this new colorway that are worth a look.

From the Victor Axe + Tool presser...
The strikingly, subtle Charcoal Collection re-releases six Victor tools and soft goods in an all-black color palette, with the intent to stimulate interest in sustainable, maintainable and enduring goods. Preorders will begin on Black Friday, November 25.

The soft goods are handcrafted in Grand Rapids, Michigan from black 9 oz. full-grain leather, 18 oz. waxed twill canvas, and brass hardware. The collection’s soft goods include the Waxed Canvas Tool Roll, Tool Duffel, and Log Tote. 

The USA-made axes and hatchet are finished with a matte-black stain and pure Linseed Oil, allowing for ongoing care and maintenance. Once finished, each tool is paired with handmade, brass-riveted leather head cover. The Charcoal Collection tools includes the Bolton 13” Half Hatchet, Seneca 23” Hudson Bay Axe and Emerson 28” Boy’s Axe. 

Charcoal Collection Product Details 
Waxed Canvas Tool Roll - This handmade, waxed canvas and leather tool roll organizes, protects and mobilizes your most versatile tools. Perfect for axe maintenance tools, art supplies and more. 

Waxed Canvas Tool Duffel - Your little beast of a companion for the tools you need at hand. Large enough to fit a standard-length hammer, one of our Half Hatchets, or even your auto emergency kit but still very compact and made from pliable materials with a low height profile to maintain packability. 

Waxed Canvas Log Tote - You could carry wood cradled in your arms, struggling to open doors on your way back to the fireplace while the creatures who've made those logs their home start crawling up your sleeve. Or instead, you could use the robust Victor Log Tote, carrying more in each trip. 

Bolton Half Hatchet - A 13" American Hickory handled Half Hatchet that features a generous cutting edge and a solid smooth-faced hammer. These tools are bred from a line of 'no nonsense' tools, built to get the job done.

Seneca 23” Hudson Bay Axe - A 23" fawn footed Hudson Bay axe that is the collective effort between Victor and Council Tool. Generally known as the sportsman’s axe, the Hudson Bay is an axe historically used by hunters and trappers. Compact for travel, with enough punch to get through most jobs. 

Emerson 28” Boy’s Axe - Like the Hudson Bay, this 28” axe is a right sized tool for everything from light log splitting, trailer work and felling. Drop forged in North Carolina and finished in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Visit the Victor Axe + Tool website for more information and be ready to place an order early on Friday if you want in on this new collection. 

The Sporting Art of Paul Puckett

With so much going on with Flood Tide Co. it's kind of easy to forget that Paul Puckett is first and foremost an accomplished sporting artist as well.  He recently completed several pieces for a art show in Charleston that starts this weekend that both are well worth sharing.

I got a peek at this mangrove piece while snooping around the office earlier this summer.

Please visit Paul Puckett's website for more examples of his excellent work and consider following along on Instagram too.

A Day On The Water With Flycraft

Flycraft pros George Daniel and Lance Egan, along with George's six year old son, spent a day on the water and this video shows off the features of these great rafts.



Check out the T.F.M. review on the Flycraft Stealth raft.

Visit the Flycraft website for more information.

Win the "Whole Kit and Kaboodle" with April Vokey

Have you been considering an Epic Ready To Wrap Fly Rod Kit as a winter project?  Swift Fly Fishing has made it easier to pull the trigger with a free Epic fly line with each kit purchase and a chance to win a fly rod that April Vokey is building over the course of this month. 

This promotion ends on November 30th and the winner of April's fly rod will be announced on December 10th.

Visit the Swift Fly Fishing website for details and to make your purchase.

Kamchatka Kandy

I have a long life list of places that I need to see and Kamchatka is certainly on it.



Glass fly rods hucking long casts look like they would fit right in there just right.

Cabela's CGR Fiberglass Fly Rods Holiday Sale

Just a heads up that Cabela's is already heavy into the holiday spirit and deep slashed the price of the CGR Fiberglass Fly Rod series to $49.99 each.  You need one of these great fly rods in your life and at this price you might as well get several.

Can't decide which one?  Check out this previous T.F.M. gear review on this fly rod series.

This sale will continue until Christmas but I wouldn't delay too long since these fly rods frequently go on back order due to demand.

Also, take note of free shipping on all orders over $99.  Again, might as well get two...or three CGR fly rods.

Check out the Cabela's website for more information and to get your order in.

STREAMER CHRONICLES: Kelly Galloup

Kelly Galloup of Galloup's Slide Inn is next up on the Streamer Chronicles video series with Brian Wise of Fly Fishing The Ozarks.  The Godfather of streamers covers a lot of ground in this video.  Enjoy.



Visit the Fly Fishing The Ozarks YouTube page for a deep rabbit hole of fly tying videos to get lost in.

Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo Coming Soon

There are a handful of mental rulers in my life and the upcoming Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo is a good reminder that the year is winding down.  Are we really just a couple weeks away from Dcember?

This year's expo will begin on the afternoon of Friday, December 2nd and continue all day Saturday, December 3rd.

The Western North Fly Fishing Expo is always a great time and worth boxing off a day or two to come to Asheville and hang out.  This year's program is highlighted with Mr. Hank Patterson.  SNAP IT.

Visit the Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo website for more information.

Southern Culture On The Fly - No. 21

All the newly published goodness of Southern Culture On The Fly ready for your Monday morning screw off session at the office.  Enjoy.

CHECK IT.

GOOD EATS - Mountain Apple Dump Cake

The past couple weekends found us in western North Carolina camping and an essential part of our camp kitchen involves a few choice pieces of cast iron cookware with a skillet, dutch oven, and griddle.  Cast iron cooking in the woods just feels right.

Something else that says fall are fresh mountain apples from the nearby orchards and on one of our nights at camp we decided to take a few Pink Ladies and Arkansas Black apples to make a quick and simple apple dump cake for dessert.

MOUNTAIN APPLE DUMP CAKE
Four or Five Thin Sliced Apples
Butter
Brown Sugar
Apple Pie Spice
Yellow Cake Mix
More Butter

Melt several tablespoons of butter in the cast iron skillet over low heat.  Add apple slices and saute on low heat.  Add a couple heaping tablespoons of brown sugar and several dashes of apple pie spice.  Continue to saute apples until they still firm but cooked.  Next, sprinkle a yellow cake mix over the sauteed apples and then place small pats of butter over the top of the cake mix.  Cover with a cast iron lid and continue to cook on low heat until done.

Let rest a few minutes and then enjoy around the fire.  Hopefully the photographs will show the process step by step for those who may want to try this simple dump cake this fall.

This recipe also works in the oven.  Pre-heat to 350 degrees, place the cast iron skillet in the oven, and let it bake.  Consider it done when the top lightly browns and the butter has melted over the entire crust area.

Recently we have been doing a lot of cooking with the Smithey Ironware Co. Skillet, both at home and at camp.  The Smithey Skillet is made down the road in Charleston, South Carolina and features a polished surface and the perfect size for cooking of all sorts.  This skillet takes little heat to come to temperature and the seasoned but smooth polished surface is wonderful for cooking or baking.

You'll see more cast iron cooking posts in the future as it's really all we cook with anymore.

BLUE HALO - Everything Now In Stock

This is just a quick heads up that the Blue Halo website is fully stocked with blanks in all colors and line weights.  They are also offering backing, rod socks and rod tubes, and reel seats if you're rolling your own.

My opinion for what it's worth, I like the three and five weight but the seven weight is really something special and a lot of fun for warmwater fly fishing.

Visit the Blue Halo website to take a look around.

ALEX LANDEEN - From Beaver Island With Love

Alex Landeen (photographer, writer, barroom crooner, jokester, and all around good dude) gets Beaver Island.  In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he ended up there for a summer or maybe stay for a whole year, or two.  Alex was along on this year's trip with Indigo Guide Service and he rounded out a really great crew of friends.  After the trip he rolled out a series of posts that are all worth a click through for some stellar photography and words.

Enjoy.

THE BEAV PREV - DAY ONE

A GOOD SITUATION

THE STEAMING PIXELY PILE OF BEAVER GOODNESS

THE BLOODY TRUTH

"I'M GOING TO PUT IT BACK FOR THE NEXT GUY"

PERSPECTIVE

TEXAS WATER, VERMONT GLASS

The last post was kind of a bonus since Alex won that fly rod twice with an early in the week bruiser smallmouth only to tackle a larger brute later in the week to seal the deal on the Superfine Glass six weight.

Want to experience Beaver Island for yourself?  Visit the Indigo Guide Service website for more information and consider jumping in on one of the hosted trips listed on the Beaver Island Carp Trip website.  2017 dates are already posted with all the info you need to know.

TOWEE BOATS - Introducing The Seminole

For the past several years I've been thinking about buying a skiff of some sort.  I've gone back and forth on what I want, how much I can spend, just how much I'll get to use it, and a list of other questions that have all kept me from pulling the trigger.  Not sure when the right time to do it is but at some point, I'll have my own skiff.   

Towee Boats announced the Seminole this week and it's scratching me where I itch for sure.

From the Towee Boats website...

"Towee Boats is pleased to announce the release of the newest member of their Rivermaster series – The Seminole.  In 2010, Towee introduced the Rivermaster Calusa, the technical skiff that invented the term “Crossover Skiff”. Equally outstanding at poling the flats and marshes as it is power drifting rocky rivers with a prop or jet – the Calusa set a new standard for performance, quality, stability, durability and utility while winning a place in the stables of guides and anglers from Alaska to Key West and Canada to Cost Rica.
The Seminole joins the Rivermaster family as the answer to literally hundreds of calls that we have received from anglers who have asked for a value priced skiff without having to sacrifice quality. The Seminole borrows the same hull design as the Calusa yet is laminated with more traditional materials than those used in the Calusa. An open , clean interior features a huge rear casting deck with a large storage tunnel underneath. A simple hull bottom floor gives way to a massive forward casting deck with an even larger storage tunnel underneath for stowing bulky gear. These storage tunnels eliminate the cost of hatches while providing a place to keep you gear out of the way."

The Seminole skiff and trailer is base priced at $4999 with a long list of upgrades available to build out your perfect skinny water skiff.

Visit the Towee Boats website for more information.