Saturday Shoutout / Fall Run
THIS FILM BY TODD MOEN IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FLY FISHING FILMS EVER.
Anyone who has ever fished for steelhead will feel their heart pounding in the first few minutes of this film. The amazing shots of fish and water alone are enough to have you punching the replay button but just wait. The final scene is one of the craziest battles ever witnessed between man and fish!
G&G contributor and great friend Jeff Hickman shows some serious skills in bringing wild steelhead to hand. If you don’t have a steelhead trip planned for this season, you will soon.
CHECK OUT FALL RUN
Read More »Groovy Gear From Flood Tide Co
FLOOD TIDE IS AS MUCH A MOVEMENT AS A CLOTHING COMPANY.
It’s been so much fun over the last year to see my good friend, and G&G contributor, Paul Puckett become the fastest rising star in the world of fly fishing art. It’s well deserved. Paul’s rise to fame has been a real grass roots phenomenon. Fueled largely by his philosophy of bringing art to the people and it sparked the creation of The Flood Tide Company.
Paul’s large scale fine art paintings are remarkable, but it has been his funny and often sarcastic Lampoons of pop-culture icons that have launched him into to public eye. Once he and his co-conspirators Will Abbott and Anheuser-Busch came up with the idea of putting those sketches on T-shirts and technical clothing they were unstoppable.
This year Flood Tide is branching out with new designs, new artists and some non-wearable products. It’s all great stuff and all art for the people.
Check out this video where Will walks us through some of the new products from Flood Tide Company.
Read More »Fly Fishing Karma
The feeling of losing a big trout can be heart breaking, especially when it’s a fish of a life time, but it happens to all of us, some just more than others. Most of the time fish are lost because of angler error during the fight, but every once in a while, there’s really no clear identifiable explanation, and all we can do to move forward with a positive attitude, is believe some fish just aren’t meant to be caught. Recently, I had a day on the water where the fly fishing was absolutely epic but no matter how hard my client and I tried, we kept unbuttoning our best fish right before I could get a net on them. At the end of the day, when all the cards had been laid out, I had an epiphany. Below is a break down of the day and my new theory on why certain fish are lost and others are landed.
Read More »Is Carrying A Gun On The Water Ever The Right Thing To Do?
I HONESTLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT A HOT BUTTON ISSUE THIS WAS.
Until I posted a link on Facebook the other day to the new Fishpond sling pack and commented that it was designed to carry a pistol. Man, did that post ever light up. The discussion got pretty heated with anglers on both sides of the issue having very strong opinions. It made me think a little harder about my own views and I thought it was worth opening the topic here.
I’m not looking to start a gun control debate. Let’s save that conversation for another forum. I just want to address the idea of carrying a gun while fishing. In the interest of disclosure, I will say that I own a fair number of guns. Handguns, shotguns and rifles. I strongly believe in the right to own them and I believe that the vast majority of gun owners are quite responsible. I also do not carry a weapon, other than to and from shooting it.
The reason I don’t carry a gun is simple. I don’t want to shoot anyone. I don’t want it on my conscience and I don’t want to deal with the ramifications. I generally don’t believe in the unnecessary taking of life. By leaving my guns at home I greatly reduce the chances of having to make hard decisions under pressure. Come in my house uninvited while my wife and I are in bed and we’ll have a very different discussion.
I should also say that these are my personal decisions and I do not judge others who make different choices. I just ask, very politely, that they not shoot me or my loved ones and I try not to give them reason.
These choices are in no way academic or untested. I’ll not go into the stories here but I have found myself looking down the barrel of a gun on almost a half dozen occasions, knowing that the person on the other end had no problem, or every intention of pulling the trigger. So far I have a pretty good track record with crisis management.
I have, on two occasions however, carried a gun when fishing.
Once was for protection from animals. I am an animal attack magnet. I’ve been attacked by just about everything with fur and one day while fishing a favorite stream I was attacked by an
Read More »Sunday Classic / 10 Tips to Keep You Catching Fish During Your Fly Fishing Travels
It’s easy to get out of your game when you’re traveling and fly fishing a new piece of water. It has happened to me plenty of times, where I find myself fly fishing and going against all my fishing catching principles. Stick to what works for you on your home water and keep your confidence, and you’ll be landing beautiful fish in no time. Below are ten principles that I always make sure I live by when I’m fly fishing abroad on unfamiliar waters. 1. Spend your time fishing productive water, don’t waist your time fishing subpar water. 2. Look for the 3 C’s (Cover, Current, Cusine) to locate the hotspots. 3. Always position yourself where you can get your best presentation and drift. 4. Have your fly rig setup correctly for the water you’re fishing (nymph rig set correctly, long enough leader for spooky risers, correct tippet size, ect). 5. Take the time to figure out the food source the fish are keying in on. Take regular bug samplings throughout the day and keep an eye out for aquatic insects on the water. 6. Always fish with confidence and fish hard. Persistence usually pays off. 7. Don’t be afraid to move on if the water your fishing is slow. Even pack up and change watersheds if fishing conditions are bad enough. Its saved me on many fishing trips. 8. Do your research before you leave on your fishing trip. Don’t be afraid to hire a guide the first day so you can get dialed-in and understand how to fish the water correctly. 9. Pack your fly tying materials and vise with you. You never know when you’ll run out of the hot fly pattern or need to tie up a pattern you don’t have in your fly box. 10. … Continue reading
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Deeter on Competitive Fly Fishing
KIRK DEETER IS THE MAN!
I don’t know of anyone who gets more universal respect in the fly fishing world than Kirk Deeter. Not only is Kirk one of the smartest and most knowledgeable folks to ever hold a rod, his head and his heart are in the right place as well. When Kirk Deeter talks, everyone listens. Especially me.
That’s why I’m glad that Kirk has taken on the topic of competitive fly fishing. This piece he has written for Fly Talk is spot on. It’s not a condemnation of competitive fly fishing, nor is it some airy fairy ethical argument based on ascetics. It’s a very honest look at some real problems with the idea of competitive fly fishing for trout.
Kirks ideas are worth your time whether or not you ever intend to compete.
CHECK OUT
“WHY I’M NOT SURE COMPETITIVE (TROUT) FLY FISHING WILL EVER WORK”
Read More »New Technical Outerwear From Simms
A BOLD NEW LOOK BORROWED FROM THE MILITARY.
Simms really stepped up their outerwear line this year. The new G4 pro jacket begs the question, “How much farther can you go?” The features of this jacket are amazing. The fit is outstanding and the design is inspired. I’ve had a couple of Simms jackets and this one is my favorite by far. Simms worked with US military contractors on the design and it’s bad to the bone. The new black model has the look to back it up.
In addition the new Kinetic Jacket is a well thought out update of one of my favorite Simms insulating pieces. A great combination of PrimaLoft and Polartec Wind Pro fleece that’s both warm and durable. These two pieces together will keep you warm and dry no matter how bad the weather gets.
Check out this video and Rich Hohne will walk you through all the features of the new Simms outer ware.
Read More »Sunday Classic / Better Bonefish Retrieve
So you’ve found yourself a bonefish and you’ve made that big cast into the wind, now what?
The propped retrieve is key to success. There are several things keep in mind. The speed and length of the strip, keeping slack out of the system. And what if the fish follows but doesn’t eat? Bruce Chard is back to help you get it all right and hook that fish!
Read More »Saturday Shoutout / Midcurrent Talks To Keaton
I ALWAYS ENJOY MARSHAL CUTCHIN’S INTERVIEWS.
They’re personal and pertinent, warm and wise. You just feel like you’re there in the room. Marshal’s recent interview with actor Michael Keaton is no different.
They discuss fly fishing, acting, bird hunting, mortality and the joy of bing lost in ones own focus, both on the river and in work. The interview is available in both audio and text.
Michael Keaton stars in the new film “Birdman” directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, a work that required “unbelievable patience.” ”Birdman” arrives in theaters on October 17, 2014.
INTERVIEW: MICHAEL KEATON ON ACTING AND FLY FISHING
Read More »Airflo Gets Good and Salty
AIRFLO HAS BEEN KNOCKING IT OUT OF THE PARK LATELY.
Their Super Dri line, which came out earlier this year is one of the best trout lines I’ve ever cast. You can read more about that line HERE. Now Airflo is stepping up their saltwater game by adding Bruce Chard to their list of expert line designers.
It’s easy to see how this is a game changer. Airflo is an industry leader in materials and technologies and I don’t know,two,guys who know more about fly casting than Tim Rajeff and Bruce Chard.
The new Airflow, Bruce Chard line will feature the Airflo Ridge Technology and well as a low stretch core and the new Airflo Zone Technology. I’ve cast the prototype and let me tell you, it’s dynamite.
Check out this video where Bruce and Tim walk you through the features of the new line.
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