Flyfishmagazine

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...

2009-11-13T16:47:00.004-05:00

We are not sure if they are still available but our striper fishing friend to the North, Jason Puris of TheFin.com fame, is giving away some hats from the folks at Nat Geo. Even if they have all been snagged, you should take time to read his post...

"They said "great" we'll send you some hats. Since I really like the Hooked logo I was psyched to get some Hooked baseball hats to give out to some of our users. Then, the package arrived and this is what I got.

Friday Wall Hangers: The 19' Tall Trout

2009-11-12T23:06:00.004-05:00

For the angler who has everything: a 19 foot tall trout statue from Direct Manufacturing. On sale now for $11,780 and ships in 4 to 6 weeks.

"This Trout is a great way to add decoration to your wild life display and fishing supply store. Also great for displays at sea food restaurants!"

Forward March

2009-11-11T21:11:00.002-05:00

Thank You Veterans

2009-11-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

Words from song writer Sam Tate and images from the folks at Project Healing Waters seem appropriate as we say thanks to all those who serve or have served.

Deals: 15% Off from Joe's Sports 1 day only

2009-11-11T00:09:00.004-05:00

Veteran's Day Sale! Receive 15% Off Your Order at JoesSports.com. Exclusions Apply. 11.11.09 Only.

Hells Bay Skate-skinny,sexy and affordable

2009-11-09T08:14:00.003-05:00

The Skate; a small, rugged shallow water performer
At 12 ft. - 9 inches in length with a 45 inch beam, the Skate, Hell's Bay's smallest craft is made with tough Kevlar and weighs just 250 lbs. Its draft is a mere 3 ½ inches with engine and six gallons of fuel. Hell's Bay recommends a 9.9 or 15 hp two stroke tiller-steered outboard for power.

"It's light and it's versatile," said Hell's Bay boat designer and sales director Tom Gordon. "Beyond using it as a fishing tender on a yacht it can also be used for extreme shallow water fishing and as a hunting boat.

"The Skate can even be loaded into the back of a pickup truck if needed. It can also be useful in restricted no combustion motor zones where an electric trolling motor is allowed. Duck hunters will love it," added Gordon.

This is on my Xmas list. Should work well for carp, small ponds and skinny water found anywhere. I have always been a fan of these premier boats. Check it out at www.hellsbayboatworks.com Capt. Paul

Redfish dude goes albie fishing

2009-11-08T19:50:00.004-05:00

I get to go albie fishing once or twice a year these days. Today was that day. The above pic is a "taste". The rest is just to rub it in for Murdock:

http://captgordon.wordpress.com/2009/11/08/albie-fishing/

Buff now with 100% Merino Wool

2009-11-08T05:51:00.000-05:00

Buff now with 100% Soft Merino Wool. Think cool in summer, warm in winter, and it doesn't get stinky because it is naturally anti-microbial. We will be field testing this in Colorado very shortly.

Check out all their great designs at the Buff website.

FTC disclaimer - Yes they sent these to me. Yes I am keeping it. A bald guy can never have enough Buffs.

Road trip

2009-11-06T09:13:00.000-05:00

Photogs: Alex Landeen

2009-11-05T08:27:00.002-05:00

Normally you wouldn't refer to a guy who loves to take pictures of automatic weapons as a "Fat Guy" and sleep well at night. However, since Alex Landeen is part of Fat Guy Fly Fishing we hope we can get away with it. His work really catches your eye and points out the difference between the hacks and the pros. Check out the Landeen Photography blog to see his work and get some great photography tips.

New on the digital newsstand: Fish Can't Read

2009-11-02T10:21:00.002-05:00

I ran across the debut issue of "Fish Can't Read" a bit late since it came out in September. I open it up and find that this publication has some excellent contributors (K. Barton and Alex Landeen etc.), shocking photos (is that Gracie sans hat?), and some great fish photos. This one we will read.

RIP: Russ Blessing Inventor of the Wooly Bugger

2009-11-01T18:17:00.004-05:00

If you tie flies, most likely the first fly you ever learned to tie was the Wooly Bugger. If you fly fish for trout there is also a very good chance that your first trout was on a Wooly Bugger. According to an article from Examiner.com, Russ Blessing, inventor of the Wooly Bugger passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Mr. Blessings simple and prolific contribution to the sport of fly fishing most certainly will live on in angler's fly boxes and tyers vises.

Here there be monsters...

2009-10-31T20:39:00.006-05:00

Swamp Thing

Bigfoot

Count Dracula

The Living Dead

NC Fly Fishing Team Member in the News

2009-10-30T07:38:00.003-05:00

There is a nifty quote on CentreDaily.com about NC Fly Fishing Team co-founder, Chris Lee. The quote comes from their article about the United States Fly Fishing Championships that were held recently.

These are skilled anglers,” Ford said. “These are the best in the country.”
They qualified at open tryouts held in different states, including Montana, North Carolina, Colorado, Oregon and Michigan. Even when they came up empty-handed Sunday, their prowess was apparent. Sampsell liked how Chris Lee, from North Carolina, quickly freed his line with a flick of his wrist.
“You notice these guys: They don’t get hung up,” Sampsell said. “These guys are good.”

Here is a link to the results from the US event.

Friday Deals: 15-20% off at Sierra Trading Post

2009-10-30T07:30:00.005-05:00

Just a quick post to remind you that you only have a few more days to take advantage of an additional 15-20% off at Sierra Trading Post. Use the code ALOCTOBER9 at check out and save yourself some green. Think of it as Trick or Treet for anglers without having to worry about someone egging your house.

It all comes to a halt on 11/04/09 so be sure to check out their deals via the banner above.

Try knocking 20% off of one of these for bargain so good we can't tell you the price here in the open:

Water Skeeter River Lite Pontoon Boat

Orvis Photo Contest: Fame & Fortune for Pics

2009-10-27T21:28:00.006-05:00

Submit your best fly fishing photos to the Orvis Fly Fishing Photo Contest for a shot at a Helios fly rod outfit or a $1000 Orvis gift card. In addition to the loot, your shot will grace the cover of a future Orvis fly fishing catalog, the angling equivalent of being on the cover of The Rolling Stone. Send your best stuff because I fully intend to "buy five copies for my Mother" if my submission gets picked.

Seven Sins of Fly Fishing

2009-10-27T19:22:00.005-05:00

I am a huge reader of fly fishing articles,magazines and books not to mention the best sellers list. I must admit print has more junk than ever, with great blog sites and the Internet taking the lead. I was not a follower of the The Drake magazine until recently. Picking up a few old issues at the local shop, I found a rare toilet bowl keeper. Sometimes up to a few weeks, a true test of any magazine. One article in the recent fall/winter issues you must read is titled the "Seven sins of fly fishing". If you guide, hire guides, enjoy our sport or even the outdoors it is an enlightening piece. Check it out and let me know your thoughts. Got any back issues for sale? Let me know as they are quite hard to find.

Capt. Paul

Gear: Ross Balance

2009-10-26T20:28:00.004-05:00

Most fly anglers strive for balance both in life and in their fishing gear setups. While you will most probably have to figure your life out on your own, the folks at Ross can help with your fishing gear. Match the perfect reel to your rod and you end up with a smoother, more effortless cast. The Ross Balance adjustable reel arm allows you to fine tune your set up by adjusting your reel forward or back to find the perfect sweet spot for your particular tastes.

The beauty of the Balance adjustable arm is that it can be used with any fly reel. Attachment is no different than locking your reel into a rod seat. No tools are required and no modifications must to be made to your reel. And since each person’s definition of Perfect Balance is different, you can easily adjust the reel to a position that feels balanced for you!

Weighing in at 1.6 ounces and priced at $139 available from Ross Reels.

Yuppie 911

2009-10-25T20:25:00.005-05:00

The ever vigilant Editorial Trophy Wife found this MSNBC and the Associated Press article about a new symptom of the proliferation of cheap personal locators and other gps based alert electronics: Yuppie 911. Basically people who have no business in the outdoors, getting themselves in a tight spot that they never should have been in and then relying on the government to save their sorry hindquarters.

"Technology has made calling for help instantaneous even in the most remote places. Because would-be adventurers can send GPS coordinates to rescuers with the touch of a button, some are exploring terrain they do not have the experience, knowledge or endurance to tackle."

Some of the examples from the article really make you scratch your head in awe and wonderment:

They include hikers who pressed the button when they ran out of water on the trail. They refused rescue because they managed to find a creek but later pressed the button again because the water was salty. The third time they pressed the button during the same trip, the rescuers forced them into the helicopter and then cited the group leader for endangering the rescuers. Another example has a lady pressing the button when she got scared during a thunder storm.

"In the past, people who got in trouble self-rescued; they got on their hands and knees and crawled out," says John Amrhein, the county's emergency coordinator. "We saw the increase in non-emergencies with cell phones: people called saying 'I'm cold and damp. Come get me out.' These take it to another level."

What's next? Feeling tired and have a blister on your next back country hike? Press a button, pop a smoke grenade, and wait for your ride. People, the fine folks at search and rescue are not your personal taxi service. I do not want to think that you are calling them to bring you some Evian while I am in the woods somewhere sawing my leg off with a swiss army knife!

Editor's note: Even though it was cold and windy and there was very obviously an active volcano behind me, I did not press the button on my SPOT Messenger. I was however fully prepared should an emergency arise.

Because sometimes fly fishing is tactical

Things I Really Like Week: Headgear

2009-10-22T21:33:00.007-05:00

Today's selection for "Things I Really Like Week" is something that almost every angler has but few think about, unless of course you forget yours on a hot sunny day. For a follically challenged angler like myself there are a few things I can do without on the water, but a good hat isn't one of them.

Aside from keeping my scalp from shedding its skin like a dried out serpent, a good hat is essential for keeping you cool or warm depending on the season. A good piece of head wear keeps the glare out of your eyes and allows your sunglasses to work better. The bill of a ball cap can even save you from the occasional fly embedded in the nose.

A good piece of head wear can make a break an angler's cred in the eyes his fellow fishers. For instance, I might wear a Indiana Jones style fedora on the water if the Editorial Trophy Wife would allow it, but she tells me the ball cap suits me better. I am a definitely a low profile guy and a few of my favorites on and off the water are my well worn Reel Pure glare proof lid and my UNC Tarheels cap. Both garner a lot of comments now that we have moved North of the Mason Dixon Line. The UNC logo says I can't wait for round ball season and the solo fly logo on the Reel Pure lid marks me as an unrepentant fly angler.

As you can tell from the stacks of them that I own. Fishing hats are one of the many things I really like.

South Jersey Reflection

2009-10-22T19:52:00.006-05:00

Photo by the Editorial Trophy Wife. Click for a larger view.

Things I Really Like Week: Personal Pontoon Boats

2009-10-21T15:42:00.010-05:00

For my second post of "Things I Really Like Week" I have chosen the personal pontoon boat. Mine is a Waterskeeter (and no the pontoons are not pink as some have suggested) but rather are burgundy. I spent less than $400 on this boat that basically fits into a duffel bag (a very large one mind you) and allows me to fish everything from tail races to still water.

The boat can go from fully disassembled to ready to fish in 15 minutes. It comes with two storage packs that hook and loop to the tubes, a rod holder, an adequate anchor system and a place for a small cooler. Once assembled, I can hoist the whole thing onto my back and carry it down to the river.

The boat handles like a dream in both still and moving water. Mine is more of a low water boat but I once got caught on a tail water with the several generators open and inadvertently took her through, what in my mind was, at least a class three rapid. I distinctly remember the view I had during the ride, water, sky, water, rock wall, sky etc.... I wouldn't recommend it because I have seen one of these boats flipped, but I managed.

The ease of assembly, the small size, and the fun of having a stable watercraft that I can take just about anywhere makes my personal pontoon boat one of the "Things I Really Like."

Lawsuit being brought against NC Division of Marine Fisheries

2009-10-21T05:18:00.002-05:00

It's finally happening. The Coastal Fisheries Reform Group is kicking butt and taking names. No more silly politics. They are filing suit against the NC DMF to finally get them to do something about the gill net rape travesty in our state.

http://captgordon.wordpress.com/2009/10/21/lawsuit-being-brought-against-ncdmf/

Things I Really Like: Orvis Helios Fly Rod

2009-10-19T21:34:00.005-05:00

I have decided to dub this week, "Things I Really Like Week" here at FlyfishMagazine.com. As the name suggests, my posts this week will be all about fly fishing related gear (and other things) that I really like. By way of disclosure, most of this we purchased on our own. Some, like the subject today, were most excellent Birthday gifts from the Editorial Trophy Wife. Some of these things came in the form of schwag. Trust me when I say that an item's inclusion in "Things I like Week" has nothing to do with origins and everything to do with performance.

My Orvis Helios 9' 5 Wt fly rod is probably is hands down the most versatile fly rod that I own. I have used it to cast everything from size 22 midges to the three inch long dragon fly over a dropper that you see me casting in the picture above. It is light as a feather which means you can cast it all day without wearing your arms out. It has caught everything from bluegill and bass to trout. It came close to catching a massive carp once but the tippet failed me. It has bluelined, brownlined, and just about any other kind of "line" I could get it near.

My own casting issues aside, this rod casts like a dream and I have found that it really excels when trying to punch the fly into tight spaces under the cover of bushes or between boulders on a mountain stream. Owning a high end fly rod is something that I thought (almost swore) I would never do. However, since I got the chance to put the Helios through it's paces, I have found it difficult to pick up any of my other rods. The Helios has quickly become my go to rod for 5 weight quarry.

We all have our favorite things and as the title "Things I Really Like" implies, these are a few of mine. Feel free to share your own in the comments section. More of mine will be posted as "Things I Really Like Week" continues.

Jobs working on the river that even we wouldn't take:

2009-10-18T21:48:00.003-05:00

Found on Craigslist:

A couple of friends and I built an airplane out on the pier. We think we have enough runway to get off the ground before the river. Need pilot to land in Camden. Previous experience in experimental aircraft a plus.

Let's dissect this further:

First warning sign: "A couple of friends and I built an airplane..."

Second warning sign: "...out on a pier"

You have to love the optimism in the phrase "We think we have enough runway..."

Camden? Nobody goes to Camden!

Experience a plus??? Even these guys won't hire a recent college grad.