7 Extraordinary Fly Fishing Artists
By Carter Lyles
ART AND FLY FISHING SEEM TO BE JOINED AT THE HIP. HERE ARE 7 ARTISTS WE LOVE AND THINK YOU WILL TOO.
PAUL PUCKETT
Honestly I don’t know where you have been if you haven’t yet heard of the work that Paul Puckett puts out. But it’s okay if you haven’t, because I am telling you now. Famous for his renderings of celebrities with fish, Paul, the owner of Flood Tide Co, has been behind the brush longer than he has a fly rod. Just check out what he did for us over here at Gink and Gasoline. I think it speaks for itself. http://paulpuckettart.com/
DEREK DEYOUNG
Derek brings his own unique twist to fly fishing art, which is why he, and his company, has been so successful. Derek is not satisfied with attempting to make fish look realistic as possible, but rather bringing something new to the table captivates him. http://www.derekdeyoung.com/
VAUGHN COCHRAN
This guy is the man. Vaughn, the owner of Black Fly Outfitters, Restaurant, and Lodge was a fly fishing guide in just about every saltwater destination south of Georgia that you can think of. His art is immediately recognizable due to the wide variety of colors used to portray saltwater fish. Another interesting fact about Vaughn is that he was apart of the original Jimmy Buffett Coral Reefers Band. Damn cool guy. http://www.vaughncochranart.com/
Rising Tools, Innovation and Quality at a Remarkable Price
By Louis Cahill
THERE’S GOOD STUFF COMING OUT OF SALT LAKE CITY.
Every now and then I run across an innovative piece of equipment that changes the way I do things. To find a single product like that from any company is a home run but I found three amazing tools from Rising, that have not only changed my habits but done it at a price that’s hard to believe.
The first thing you notice about Rising tools is their innovative design. They don’t look like fishing tools, certainly not the old school tools I grew up with. These things look like some kind of surgical implements. And I’m not talking about hemostats. These tools are heavy duty, precise and beautifully finished. Absolutely the nicest fishing tools I’ve ever used.
You’d expect that kind of quality in a pair of saltwater pliers that you dropped a couple of hundred bucks on but not when you spent twenty. That’s right, $20 for the Rising Rancher, which has quickly become my favorite fly fishing accessory ever. I honestly don’t know how they make a dime at that price. So I called them up and asked.
I spoke to Dylan Rothwell, the man behind Rising Tools. It was an interesting conversation. Dylan is clearly a super smart guy with a lot of fishing days under his belt who isn’t afraid to make a living using his hands. He told me his original vision was to make all of the products there in Salt Lake but he was quickly priced out of the market. So he came up with a solution that’s pretty clever and is working very well.
Some of Risings products are made in America. Others are made in Asia and finished in the shop in Salt Lake. That means that they are fitted, polished and sharpened by the man who put his name on them. What you get is a remarkable product at an amazing price. So you can buy another company’s made-in-America nippers for $50-$100 and they’ll be pretty good, or you can buy another company’s Asian knock-off of those nippers for $30 and they’ll be so-so, or you can buy Rising’s Big Nippa for $12 and they’ll out-perform the $100 pair. I’m not kidding.
SO HERE ARE THE THREE RISING FISHING TOOLS THAT I USE AND LOVE EVERY DAY ON THE WATER.
THE BIG NIPPA $12
Read More »A G&G Exclusive Interview With Hank Patterson
By Carter Lyles
This is an exclusive interview with the top fly fishing guide in all of the land, Patterson. Hank Patterson. Hank’s legendary status is unmatched, and he has often been referred to as the “Tim Tebow” and the “Chuck Norris” of fly-fishing. Known for dropping a 700lb grizzly bear with his signature move, “The Chode Paralyzer,” as well as having consistent multi-hookups on his famous hopper hopper dropper hopper dropper dropper hopper dropper rig, native cutty rainbrowns have come to fear his presence. Oh, by the way, he is also the rightful owner to “A River Runs Through It” on Blu-ray, so you could say he knows a thing or two about fly-fishing!
Carter: Hank, if you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be and why?
Hank: I have absolutely no idea what American Idol is. That said, on a recent road trip to Picabo, Idaho, I found myself humming Elton John’s “Daniel.” Having no idea what the actual words are, I made up my own… If you know the tune, feel free to sing along… Hank Patterson’s traveling tonight on a boat, He just tied a caddis on and he’s watching it flo-o-o-oat… Oh and… I can see Hank, he casts like a God… Looks like he hooked a RainBrown! A fifteen-pound hog on a five-weight rod….
Carter: What would you do during a Zombie Apocalypse? Grab a cub?
Hank: First thing I’d do is get a good, tight fitting helmet with a chin strap that locks. Zombie’s love brains. Second thing I’d do is start hanging around with people who are a lot clumsier and slower than I am. If a pack of Zombies comes around, you don’t have to be the fastest guy in the group, you just can’t be the slowest. Third thing I’d do is go pillage a few fly shops, grab some sweet gear, a lifetime of flies and head for the mountains.
Carter: If G & G were a high school kid, what kind of person would they be?
Read More »Sunday Classic / Anchor Placement When Space Is Tight
You could write a book about anchor placement in Spey casting.
In fact, I feel sure several have been written. Rightfully so, since anchor placement is the foundation on which a good Spey cast is built. For those who are not aware, the anchor is where the fly is placed in the water as the Spey cast begins. The rule of thumb is this. Your anchor should be placed a rod length away and forty-five degrees to one side or the other of the direction you intend to cast.
Simple enough but that’s a little like the ten and two rule. It’s not quite the whole story. First off, the forty-five degree mark is where your anchor should be when you hit your forward stroke. This means that you have to take current speed and direction into account when you place the fly. There are other real world factors that come into play as well. One of them is frequently brush or rocks that interfere with your D-loop.
There are some simple ways around this but rather than try to explain it in text, I’m going to let my buddy Jeff Hickman show you how to get the cast off when space is tight, in this video.
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / S.C.O.F. Lucky # 13
IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE FLY IS THREE.
And, to quote Editor Dave Grossman, “Like most three year olds we think that the words pee and poop are hysterical.” But if you’re a S.C.O.F. fan you knew that already.
Issue number thirteen is full of great photos, art and videos as well as the famous S.C.O.F sense of humor and some actual fly fishing info. Always the best E-zine in the business.
HIGHTAIL IT OFER TO SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE FLY RIGHT NOW.
Read More »New Products From Fishpond for 2015
ALWAYS INNOVATIVE, ALWAYS STYLISH, ALWAYS QUALITY.
Fishpond set the standard in the fly fishing industry for packs and luggage with innovative designs, rugged materials and a unique visual aesthetic. Their offering for 2015 are no exception, but there’s more coming down the pipe from Fishpond than we’re used to.
New packs and bags focus on waterproof closures, recycled fishnet fabrics and improved ergonomics. You’d expect that, but how about a sling pack that incorporates a pistol holster? Did you see that coming?
The line of already awesome Nomad nets expands for next year as does the entire accessory line. Fishpond is clearly not content to leave the bar where it’s set. Check out the video to see some of the awesomeness from Fishpond for 2015.
Read More »3 Ways to Improve Your Fly Casting on the Flats
About ten years ago, I embarked on my first international saltwater fly fishing trip, with a couple Texas boys I’d previously met while chasing peacock bass in the Amazon. The saltwater trip took place down in Mexico, specifically the Ascension Bay area. Our primary target fish were bonefish but we kept a constant lookout for permit and tarpon. The two born and raised Texas boys had grown up fly fishing in the salt, and they both had more than enough testosterone, ego and skill to handle the demanding fishing conditions. I on the other hand, had never experienced first hand the difficulties that saltwater fly fishing brings. I really struggled with spotting fish in an unfamiliar environment and managing my presentations in 25 mph winds. I’ll never forget the humbling feeling of defeat after our first day of fly fishing on the flats. My counterparts landed a dozen bonefish a piece while I only managed to catch one. Just about the entire trip I was plagued with the feeling of being under-gunned on the water. The wind totally kicked my butt and I missed numerous opportunities because I couldn’t cast far enough to consistently get my fly to the targets my guide was calling out.
Read More »Sunday Classic / RS2 – One of My Favorite Picky Trout Fly Patterns
THERE’S DAYS WHEN TROUT FISHING IS SO SLOW, IT SEEMS LIKE CONDITIONS COULDN’T POSSIBLY GET ANY WORSE.
You may find yourself questioning if any trout in the stream are willing to feed at all. At other times, you’ll have no problem locating pods of steady risers, but everything you throw at them is rejected. My buddy Brad in this situation usually volunteers to row the boat, opting for cold beer within arms distance and gazing at picturesque landscapes. The dude always has a Plan B ready to be put into action, ensuring he always has a good time on the water whether he catches fish or just a buzz, and I respect that.
The RS2 fly pattern time and time again never fails to produce for me during tough fishing situations. And it really has the ability to catch fish just about any way you fish it. Fish it solo on fine tippet to wary sippers and you’ll fool a couple guaranteed. Drop it off the back of a larger and more visible dry fly if you’re having problems seeing it, and it will ride in the film, usually fooling fish on even the most technical trout water. I even have great luck fishing an RS2 as my dropper fly in a
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / STS And The Wolf At The Backdoor
MATT COPELAND AND STEVEN BRUTGER HAVE CREATED MY FAVORITE SITE IN FLY FISHING.
Stalking The Seam seemed to come out of nowhere just a little over a year ago. It’s now reliably some of the best content in the fly fishing media. You can count on STS for a fresh outlook, some honest talk and great images every time you visit. I’ve linked to this site before and I’m sure I will again.
This recent article by Matt Copeland caught my eye. Matt is never afraid to take on a tough or controversial topic and he usually puts it in a personal context that brings the matter home. His writing is earnest and authentic and always makes me think. I’m flat out jealous.
In this piece Matt takes on the subject of wolves at his back door. It’s worth your time.
Read More »The New Zealand Strike Indicator
IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT A PRODUCT COMES ALONG WHICH CHANGES THE WAY I FISH.
I don’t always fish an indicator, but when I do, it’s this one. I absolutely love it. It’s sensitive, stealthy, versatile and super easy to use. Long story short, it puts more fish in my net. What’s not to love about that?
When I talk to folks about the New Zealand Indicator, I’m surprised how many of them don’t understand it. Most people think of it as a yarn indicator. It’s not at all. It’s so much more. That’s why I was exited to catch up with Barry Dombro at IFTD and shoot,a video that shows how cool it is.
Check out the video and give this baby a try.