WHERE IS MY MIND - A Quickie Session Before Home

After a couple of days spent with Captain Greg Pearson of Headshot Charters, I jumped over to the other coast to meet up with Steve Seinberg of Southern Culture on the Fly for a morning in his skiff before heading home.  If you missed the first post in this two-part series, circle back HERE.

We met before first light, ran upriver a ways blowing over a living room size flash of bioluminescence, got harassed by a couple manatees who didn't like sharing their flat, found a few happy tarpon, and talked a lot about life during COVID-19, our families, and the state of this crazy world right now. 

I've always liked Steve a lot and it was stellar to wrap up this trip with a few hours together.  He lives in a special place with all sorts of fish to chase and I really appreciated the morning that he gave up at the studio to get out on the water. 

We were back to the makeshift ramp cut into the mangrove trees around noon and I pulled into the driveway at home before dark.  This trip was a good reminder of what it's like to hang out with friends again and that Florida really isn't that far away...

SIMMS FISHING - The GTS Travel System For Anglers

"I don't need new luggage, I don't need new luggage, I REALLY don't need new luggage..."

I am repeating this over and over while watching this video but if I DID need new luggage, this is a pretty rad setup from Simms Fishing that should cover all the bases.

Check out each part of the Gear Transport System (GTS) by visiting these links...

• GTS Roller - 110L
• GTS Gear Duffel - 50L
• GTS Rod and Reel Vault 
• GTS Padded Cubes - Small & Medium
  
• GTS Packing Pouches
  

Visit the Simms Fishing website to see this system and more.

THE PEBBLE TAPES

While everyone was high-fiving a few weeks ago with the latest Army Corps decision on the Pebble Mine permitting process thinking the whole thing was all but dead, Ronald Thiessen, the CEO of Northern Dynasty Minerals, and Tom Collier, CEO of Pebble Limited Partnership, were both boasting that this was nothing more than a hiccup to who they both thought was a potential investor.  

Instead, it was EIA investigators.

These tapes are damning, and Collier has already resigned (he's a bad penny that I bet pops back up someway somehow), but Pebble Mine, and what they intend to do for the next several hundred years, is anything but over.    

Start with this introduction video and then take the time to work your way through the twelve short videos of these conversations which are a sobering look behind the curtains at Northern Dynasty Minerals and Pebble Limited Partnership.

Let's be clear, Pebble Mine is far from done.  Get involved and stay involved. 

Follow along with the latest on the Save Bristol Bay website and Facebook page.

DEAD WEIGHT FLY

It's been a little bit since I've last brought up Ryan Sharpe of Dead Weight Fly and this shortie film into his metal fish sculptures is pretty neat.  I have a bluegill sculpture that he built for me years ago in my office and someday would really like to have one of his larger pieces as well.

It's impressive with how many different mediums that Ryan is handy with and he has a style all his own.

Take a few minutes to check out the Dead Weight Fly website and follow along with the latest shop news on Facebook and Instagram.

FLOOD TIDE CO. - The Fall 2020 Equinox Edition

The crew at Flood Tide Co. is again (like they did in the spring) breaking up their seasonal release into several parts and this week, the Fall 2020 Equinox Edition dropped online with a few caps, t-shirts and solarshirts, and sunmasks all in the mix.

There are a lot of winners in this collection but don't sleep on either of the sunmasks.  Everyone is wearing them right now (#$%@'ing COVID-19) and both of these designs are fire.  I bet they both will be gone quickly.

The other big news? Look for a Flood Tide Co. storefront to open it's doors soon at 421 King Street in downtown Charleston.  This is a huge step forward or FTC and I can't wait to check it out. 

Jump over to Flood Tide Co. to check out the Fall 2020 Equinox Edition and note that orders $55 and up get free shipping.

THE NEW YORK TIMES - The Art of Crafting Fly-Fishing Rods

Fly fishing seems to be getting new looks from media outside the typical places (which is a good thing right?) and recently The New York Times took a walk behind the shop doors at Tom Morgan Rodsmiths for an online article that it worth a slow scroll through this morning.

I talked to Matt Barber of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths yesterday afternoon and we have a few things in the works that the T.F.M. readership should get a kick out of.  Standby on that for a minute...

To read this article, visit The New York Times website.

TED C. HANSEN FINE ART

I follow a lot of artists through social media and always appreciate the many different styles and perspectives that they bring to fly fishing.  This post on the work of Ted C. Hansen has been sitting in draft form for too long and I figured that this would be a nice way to start the week.  

 

Ted provided a mix of his favorite pieces done with several different mediums.  Enjoy.

Kelley Desmit - Photo Credit

The work of Ted C. Hansen is strongly rooted in the natural world.  He grew up on a small farm outside of the town of Dillon, Montana. It was here that he developed his lifelong passion for art, fly fishing and spending time in the wilderness. He now lives and works in the Arts District of northeast Minneapolis and continues to discover the wild spaces and fishing opportunities of the upper midwest. He maintains strong connections to his Montana roots and returns regularly for family, inspiration, and the incredible fishing. 

 

His body of work is an exploration of this connection to the land and the creatures that inhabit its waters.Hansen works in a wide range and media and styles and specializes in oil and acrylic painting.  While continually exploring new subjects, much of his work is focused on the subjects of landscapes and fish.  His landscapes painting is informed by an impressionistic approach and are often painted with loose, open brushstrokes to convey the artist’s emotional or spiritual connection to a specific moment and location. He also enjoys experimenting and exploring different mediums, especially when creating fish related works. His style is informed by an understanding of art history and can range from meticulous gold leaf icon paintings to wildly expressive abstractions.

You can see more of Ted C. Hansen's work on both Etsy and Instagram.