MFFC - Fly Fishing with Fiberglass Fly Rods Presentation

While I'm sure we're all a little (or a lot) fatigued with work or school Zoom meetings, I'm trying something new this week with a presentation to the Metropolitan Fly Fishing Club on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 EST.  We'll talk fiberglass fly rods and why you should be using them, touch on some history, buyer's guide, what the future in glass holds, and then wrap it up with some Q&A.

I've done quite a few in-person presentations on fiberglass fly rods over the years so we'll see how the slides and discussion work out online.  Maybe I'll put together a T.F.M. swag package for a random or best chat room question.  

Want to tune in?  You do not have to be a Metropolitan Fly Fishing Club member to join in on this presentation and discussion. 

Visit this ZOOM link to attend on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 EST.

PAKMULE - The Rollout of 3 New Products

I am a huge fan of of our PAKMULE and PAKMULE Ridgeline, which we use all the time on our 4Runner, Element and golf cart, and if you've read T.F.M. for any amount of time you likely have already read the gear reviews HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.  Photographs often pop up on my Instagram too.  The PAKMULE has given us so much more room when packing for trips and always having a cooler (or two) accessible is handy as well.  

 

Over the past couple of weeks, PAKMULE has rolled out three new products to further enhance your overbuilt cargo carrier that are all worth a look.  The Decking would have come in handy yesterday as Finn and I were moving dirt and brush from our spring landscaping clean up project to the burn pile.

PAKMULE TAIL LIGHT

PAKMULE DECKING

PAKMULE STIRRUP

Considering a PAKMULE for your summer adventures?  I'm more than happy to answer questions or talk to you more about my experience for the past several years using ours a ton. 

Expensive?  Yes.  Worth it.  Undoubtedly, yes.  I'd file this under "Buy Once, Cry Once" and rock on.

All PAKMULE products are "Made in the USA", there's free shipping with orders over $150, and use code "FLYFISHING" for a free set of MULESTRAPS with your order.

T.F.M. PATCHED CAPS UPDATE - They Have Arrived!!!

Folks, my "desk area", which is really like half of the great room of our home right now, is a complete mess with two very large boxes full of T.F.M. patched caps from Asheville Promo, two boxes of Retro Fly koozies, shipping supplies, more shipping supplies, a large box full of Retro Fly golf tees, and a batch of T.F.M. decals should arrive tomorrow which will then mean that I can then start packaging up orders. 

So far, my family is being patient about this mess but that could all (quickly) change...

If you placed an order for a T.F.M. patched cap, they are here and will ship sometime later this week.  It's spring break for our children, my dad is coming down to golf with us for a few days, and I figure that I'll work through packaging orders while watching The Masters Tournament each afternoon.

All in all, not a bad week to look forward to.

I couldn't be more impressed with how these caps turned out and Asheville Promo met and exceeded all expectations even down to the woven tags that we cooked up.  Even if you ordered a Comrade cap, there's a Retro Fly tucked away on the inside tag.  I like it.  

I've received payment from nearly everyone who pre-ordered a T.F.M. cap but there are several who I haven't heard from.  Please check your spam folder and let's work out payment and shipping details as soon as possible. 

Whoever I don't hear back from by the end of the week, I'll likely cancel the order so we can move forward with the random drawing for the Orvis Superfine Glass outfit.  Look for a winner to be picked sometime next weekend.

For those who are interested in a T.F.M. patched cap, there are extras but I need to move through the pre-orders first.  If you want to get in line for one, please send an email and I'll contact you back when I am ready to take new orders.

Thanks to the support of everyone on making these caps a reality.  The pre-order exceeded expectations and it'll be fun to have these in the T.F.M. Store.

MB CUSTOM RODS - Marc Builds Himself an Easter Present

I can tell you that after years of being around and talking to rod makers, their own stash of fly rods is typically meager.  Like you'd expect a rod maker to have all sorts of fly rods that they've built for themselves but in reality they are usually talked into selling whatever they've just built to someone else. 

When Marc Beissler posted on his MB Custom Rods Facebook page this morning of his "Easter Present", I immediately asked if I could share.  First, what he said about McFarland Rod Company Spruce Creek blank is totally true and second, his build on this blank is just stunning.  Right down to his perfect script across the blank instead of along it, the color-match agate guide, and wraps that vanish into the yellow of the blank.  I like his throwback style in penmanship and it's so good to see a rod builder treat himself too.

Marc wrote...  "I treated myself with this McFarland Rods Spruce Creek 6' 8“ three-weight blank for this year's small stream fishery.  To be honest, it's one of my absolute favourite tapers from Mike.  This kid handles everything from dries over nymphs to small streamer patterns. 

Every small stream enthusiast should have one in his/her arsenal.  Go and get your eggs now."

 

Check out the MB Custom Rods website, sign up for the newsletter, and follow along on the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram. 

LAST CHANCE! Watch the Fly Fishing Film Tour This Weekend

Have you checked out the Fly Fishing Film Tour yet?  If you haven't, you should.

Steaming of this year's films ends on Sunday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. so there is still time to get in on the epic raffles and giveaways from Costa, Simms, and YETI.

Jump over to the Fly Fishing Film Tour website and get your ticket today.

NEW IN THE TFM STORE - Western Birch "Retro Fly" Golf Tees

Just in time for The Masters week to begin, a big box of Western Birch custom "Retro Fly" golf tees arrived and I'm taking orders through the weekend so that your order would arrive before tournament play next weekend. 

Do you really need a batch of 2 3/4" premium dark koa stained hardwood tees with the Retro Fly logo and striped in the Comrade colors of black, red, and yellow?  Maybe not.  But do you want to play your next round on your local muni with a few of these in your pocket?  Hopefully yes. 

 

 

The Western Birch Retro Fly tees are $15 per box and all orders come with a green Retro Fly neoprene koozie and T.F.M. decals.

And, if you think these are a little expensive, please know that $5 of the cost is wrapped up in shipping.  I'm not getting rich of these and just making back my investment.   

The next trip to the post office is Monday so send an email to place your order.  I can take PayPal, Venmo, credit card, and check as payment.

Check out the T.F.M. Store for these and other stellar offerings.

KIDS IN THE OUTDOORS - Snacks Rule the World & Other Things

If I know anything from raising two children (who are unbelievably 15 and 11 years old now...) and getting them outside, never and I mean, NEVER, forget the snacks or drinks.  Other than that, my wife and I have followed a rule of not really having any rules for outside play.  I never wanted Hadley or Finn to feel forced into doing something and we usually do it until they were ready to move on to something else.  No reason for either of them to hate something that we'd rather that they would love.

We've also tried to be teachers in what we're doing outside and get them involved.  Part of that has been outfitting our kids with their own gear that they are responsible for and that they know how to use.  Actually, as I'm typing this, there's likely a much longer article I should write on all of this.  

Spoiler alert, if you give your child a knife, they will cut themselves.  It's part of the learning process.  

Anyways, here's a video and article that you might find helpful...

WES SILER (& FRIENDS) - PLANNING SUCCESSFUL CAMPING TRIPS FOR KIDS

What are your tricks and lessons learned on getting your children outside?