Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Lance Marshall Boen's Permit

It's been awhile since I last profiled the artwork of Lance Marshall Boen on T.F.M. but a recent email arrived in my inbox of his latest permit commission that really shows off his talent of not only capturing a the uniqueness of a certain fish but then the details sculpted within the piece tell countless stories. 




Please take a few minutes and click around the Lance Marshall Boen website and be sure to follow him on Instagram to follow along with his latest projects.

In Search of Tenkara

Click PLAY and enjoy two minutes and 48 seconds of streamside sketching and tenkara fishing with artist and designer Jeremy Shellhorn.



Visit the Tenkara USA website to check out their line up of gear and resources on all things tenkara.  Subscribe to the Tenkara USA YouTube page for instruction, how-to, fly tying and more on the experience of fishing with the tenkara method.

Tuesday, August 28, 2018

VEDAVOO Reel Service V for Anglers of the Au Sable Ending Soon

Hopefully you remember the T.F.M. post from early in July which explained in detail Vedavoo's annual Reel Service project while also presenting the Messenger Bag with the work of artist Jeff Kennedy to raise money for Anglers of the Au Sable.

The fundraising for this Reel Service Messenger Bag is ending at midnight on August 31, 2018 and the goal of raising $1,000 has almost been met.  Your donation could help make this goal.


Scott Hunter of Vedavoo sent along this image from the studio of Jeff Kennedy showing the artwork in process prior to being sewn into the Messenger Bag.


Visit the Reel Service V website for more information and know that every $10 donated gets closer to the goal of raising over $1,000 for Anglers of the Au Sable

BeAlive - Jeff Currier

Jeff Currier has a career within the fly fishing industry unlike almost any other and this short film from BeAlive does a really stellar job of telling his story.



If you aren't already, be sure that you are following on with the Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing Blog as it's updated often from points all over the world.

Monday, August 27, 2018

LOON OUTDOORS - 50% Off Summer Sale

The wind down of summer has begun and that means Loon Outdoors has slashed prices on a page full swag on their website.  Don't forget to poke around on the website as they've just released the new Rogue Quickdraw Mitten Clamps to join the Rogue Quickdraw Forceps which are already a T.F.M. favorite.  Lastly, the new Tin Drops in Camo and Black are not to be missed either.


SHOP NOW.

GINK & GASOLINE - Louis and Jim on the New Scott F Series

Gink & Gasoline have begun rolling out their new product videos from the recent IFTD show in Orlando, Florida last month and in this video, Louis Cahill speaks with fly rod guru Jim Bartschi of the Scott Fly Rod Company to talk shop about the new Scott Fibertouch series of fly rods.



Visit Gink & Gasoline for more goodness of all sorts, subscribe to their YouTube channel and take another look at the Scott F on the website as well.


As a side note, the FS 6224 arrived the other day to demo for a bit and this little two weight is all kinds of sweetness that packs down in a small tube that you could take just about anywhere.

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Bob White: Painter, Outdoorsman

Bob White sits atop the "Good Guy" list of people in the outdoor industry that I've been friends with online for years but I've yet to meet in person.  Hopefully our paths will cross someday and fingers crossed, it's on water.

Take a few minutes and enjoy this short film from T.C. Worley that capture's Bob's life.



Take a few minutes and visit the BobWhite Studio website.  Sign up for the newsletter as it's a great way to see what Bob's been working on, heads up on hosted trips and studio sales as well.

FINADDICT GEAR - DON'T TREAD ON REDDS

Instagram continues to be a treasure trove of all things new and cool within the fly fishing and outdoor industry and I came across FinAddict Gear the other day and really liked this take on Gadsden flag with these "DON'T TREAD ON REDDS" series of decals.

The other cool thing?  Cardo of FinAddict Gear gives 50% of decal sales to conservation.


Cardo wrote...  "Thanks again for spreading the word.  I donate 50% of all sticker profit (not just these) to organizations that help fish.  Sometimes local.  Sometimes salt.  
 
In my experience anglers, fly anglers in particular, appreciate a good sticker and if the message and donations help the fish, all the better.  Personally I don’t get much from it at all aside from seed money which I got back, the whole thing has been self sustaining. 
 
It’s not an official business and am not sure it ever will be—just a way to express some creative angst and do some good. The twist on the original Gadsden Flag seemed fitting.  I hadn’t seen it done.  I think adding a fish tail helped dial up the message. 

The "Don't Tread on Redds" decals are 5.5”x4” and are priced at $5 each.

All orders can be done through the FinAddict Gear Facebook page with payment via PayPal (family and friends preferred).  Each purchase includes shipping.  The PayPal email is finaddictgear@gmail.com 

Look for me on the FinAddict Gear Instagram page too."







Want to order a couple?  Hit up Cardo on the FinAddict Gear Facebook and Instagram pages and be sure to check out his other designs as well.

Friday, August 24, 2018

YETI Presents | Hungry Life: Lanai

The last episode of the Hungry Life series lands Eduardo Garcia and friends on the Hawaiian island of Lanai for an Axis Deer hunt and spearfishing adventure.  And of course one last feast.



This post wraps up this series but follow along for future stories on the YETI website and subscribe to the YouTube channel for their latest films.

Mail Day Surpirse & Sam's One Bug

One of the downsides of mobile phones being so damn camera capable these days is that I end up taking photographs of something and then apt to forget about it since they don't show up the next time I download the media card from my Nikon. 

The other day I was thumbing through the photo album on my iPhone and came across a set of photographs that I took of a package that Wade Blevins, fly tier and artist, sent with a dozen flies fashioned after his father's warmwater favorite, the Sam's One Bug earlier in the spring.


Prior to this box arriving, Wade and I had traded messages on Instagram and there is a really interesting story to tell about the Sam's One Bug fly pattern that I hope will happen in the future, either on T.F.M. or elsewhere.  In the meantime, take a look a look at the detail in Wade's shipping box sketch which includes the smallmouth eye reflection of the Comrade logo. 





Wade Blevins is low drag without a website to care after but he's a good follow on Instagram to keep up with the latest flies from his vise and sketches.

Thursday, August 23, 2018

YETI Presents | Hungry Life: Laguna Madre

The Hungry Life continues on the Laguna Madre with guide (boat maker, musician, philosopher, among other things) JT Van Zandt and Eduardo Garcia taking in everything that is the Texas Gulf Coast. 



Visit the YETI website to learn more about the Hungry Life and look for one more film from this series to be shared on T.F.M. in the coming days.

HOWLER BROTHERS - FALL 2018 COLLECTION

The friends at Howler Brothers have gone deep with their largest launch yet (with other interesting offerings to come) with the Fall 2018 Collection

New shirts, hats, pants, and jackets (including the 2018 IFTD award winning Aguacero Rain Jacket) of all sorts, print and plaid are all in the mix.



Visit the Howler Brothers website to check out the new collection and remember to use the T.F.M. discount code of "TFM2018" for 20% off your order.

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

YETI Presents | Hungry Life: Big Sky Country

A hard hunt and an unforgettable meal at 9,700 feet in the Montana backcountry is the focus of this Hungry Life episode.



Visit the YETI website to learn more about the Hungry Life Series and look for two more films in this series to be shared on T.F.M. in the coming days.

Lost Coast Outfitters on the Redington Butter Stick

When you're a small fly shop in downtown San Fransisco, you have to be really choosy on what's on the shelves, hangers, under glass and on the rod racks.  Lost Coast Outfitters recently put together a handpicked list with a rundown of their favorite New Fly Fishing Gear for 2019 and have then been following that post up with a series of videos to further explain each pick.

The Redington Butter Stick gets the treatment in this video shortie.



I've spent quite a bit of time with the Butter Stick prototype six weight and with the final version of the eight weight and hope to touch a couple of the "trout weight" fly rods soon. This is a great casting fly rod series with the distinctive looks to match. 

Visit the Lost Coast Outfitters and Redington websites for more information on the second coming of the Butter Stick.

Monday, August 20, 2018

YETI Presents | Hungry Life: Southern Yucatan

It's Monday.  Maybe you don't want to be at work.  Maybe you'd rather be on the flats of the Southern Yucatan standing on the front of a panga with a fly rod in hand.  I do. Push PLAY and escape for a couple of minutes.



Visit the YETI website to learn more about the Hungry Life Series and look for each film to be shared on T.F.M. in the coming days.

THIS AMERICAN LIFE - The Feather Heist

The Feather Thief has been on my "I really want to read that at some point." list since I first heard that it was being published and a recent This American Life episode dives deep into this story with it's author, Kirk W. Johnson.  

I've always enjoyed the style of This American Life and this is a neat way to hear about this book and it's background through a series of acts.  Enjoy.  


LISTEN

Sunday, August 19, 2018

YETI Presents | Hungry Life: Yellowstone River

The YETI film series Hungry Life begins with Eduardo Garcia on the Yellowstone River with fellow chef Ranga Perera.  Press PLAY and enjoy.



Jump ahead and watch the rest of the Hungry Life Series or wait for each film to be shared one by one on T.F.M. in the coming days.

TIGHTLOOP FLY RODS - George Builds "Another Yomogi"

It's been some time since I've last shared the work of George Minculete of Tightloop Fly Rods and this latest Ijuin Rods Yomogi blank build that popped up on my social media feed this week was a stunning reminder of his talent which is always shown of perfectly by his excellent photography skills.

I've long thought that custom fly rod builders who are also better than your average photogs (or have a spouse or good friend that is) always seem to be have the most interest in their work.  George nails it every time with both white light studio images like these or natural light outdoors in the elements images.

Lastly before you scroll down, I have a short list of three weights and this 7' Yomogi is just wonderful in every way.  Parabolic and special and if you don't have one, you should figure out how you can.


George wrote...  "The Yomogi Series 7033 (UD Glass) is a popular blank and a very sweet parabolic action from Kazutomo Ijuin from Ijuin Rods in Japan. It is always a pleasure to build and fish this particular one.  There is also another 7'3" 4wt. that I've cast at the London Fair that felt very sweet as well. The translucent lime green color is very fresh and many just love it.

Tomo has another parabolic taper called the E-glass Special Series, or the Hard Para wich are faster actions. These are 7'2" and 7'5"  in 4wt. and 4/5wt. blanks. They are a beautiful translucent black  color with spiral finish and black spigot ferrules. I call them fast-parabolics and I am looking forward to building a first one soon for a friend in Norway and then another one for Mark at Alternative Tackle. And then finally one for me!

I will try to stock some of these blanks soon but the best way to get one is to put in an order now and have them finished over the winter.

Builds like this are special and require time and effort. The special Bellinger & Goldenwitch hardware are not easy nor fast to get.  Bellinger makes these beautiful reel seats on special orders and they will try to match my requirements but the woods are not always the same as on a particular build. They are by far the best in reel seat quality and so far they have been great. Their varnished or stabilized woods are simply stunning.

Here are some pictures of the latest build I've done for Alternative Tackle. This is wrapped in classic chestnut Gossamer silk (my last spool) and has a beautiful stabilized maple burl insert that complements the wraps. Thanks for looking!"








To see more of George's work, please visit the Tightloop Fly Rods website and follow along for the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.

Saturday, August 18, 2018

BAD AXE DESIGN - Japanese Amago Pen Study

It's been awhile since we've last checked in on Jonathan Marquardt of Bad Axe Design and though he's scaled back his art quite a bit over the past several years, he's ratcheted up travel with his ongoing work with YETI as Head of International Sales.

While his global travel doesn't always equate to chances to go fly fishing, while in Japan recently he had the opportunity to pursue Amago and created this notebook sketch to memorialize his first experience with these special fish.



The Bad Axe Design Etsy store is still alive with stacks of linocuts and paintings.  Take a few minutes to check it out and follow along with him on Instagram.

YETI Presents - Hungry Life

This week YETI kicked off a five part series of short films dubbed the Hungry Life and follows chef, hunter, angler and foods forger Eduardo Garcia and friends in creating stories of food and adventure.



Visit the YETI website for more on the Hungry Life Series and look for each film to be shared on T.F.M. in the coming days.

Friday, August 17, 2018

LEIDERMAN RODS - On Making Bamboo Reel Seats

Matt Leiderman of Leiderman Rods is a school teacher and if you follow along with him on social media, he's spent his summer at the family lake house, on a quickie road trip to Colorado and of course, in the rod shop working on a few builds.  He'll be back in the classroom soon enough but until then he's going to keep tinkering away on building a few more fly rods.

The other day Matt posted a few step by step images of how he creates custom bamboo reel seats and I thought the process was worthy of sharing, especially since it really gives you the understanding of the immense amount of work that goes into each of these reel seats.  The other side of this is that Matt started off with two stacked bamboo reel seats in the works and ended up with just one in the end as there was an explosion during mortising. 









To see more of Matt Leiderman's work, please visit the Leiderman Rods website and consider following along on Facebook and Instagram for the latest shop news.

V-STICK CUSTOM FLYRODS - Swift Fly Fishing Epic Packlite

It goes without saying that Vitalini Renato of V-Stick Custom Flyrods is the "King of Color" and his use of vibrant colored fly rod blanks matched with incredibly unique cork work and hardware makes for one of a kind fly rod builds each and every time.  I've yet to see two fly rods built identically that have come from his shop and his work looks to be nothing but top notch.

One of several latest builds that Vitalini has done is a five peice Swift Fly Fishing Packlite 7'6" four weight which is small enough to stow away in your gear bag to always have a fly rod close at hand.  The Packlite is one of my favorite four weights and capable of just about anything that you'd need a four weight to do.












At last check, this fly rod was available for the reduced price of $800 and includes a rod sock and rod tube.  Please contact V-Stick Custom Flyrods to inquire or if you have any questions.

Follow the latest news and see a steady stream of custom fly rod builds on both Facebook and Instagram.

Monday, August 13, 2018

SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE FLY - No. 28

The latest issue of Southern Culture On The Fly is live and the drumbeat of "Doubling Down on Bad Decisions" has S.C.O.F. Editor-In-Chief Dave Grossman written all over it as we've all likely seen him in various highs, next morning sober(ish), showered or not, clothed, costumed or (if you're really unlikely) donning a surprise Speedo.  You'll get that and a lot more in this issue.   


CHECK IT.