Troutrageous!

Wednesday Nibbles - Keeping Up With The Blogs Edition

2012-02-22T03:00:00.000-05:00

Wednesday. Nibbles. Going to keep it very blog-centric this week, 'cuz there's lot's going on in the world of fishing blogs. Okay? Let's go!

To start, who had a better weekend than Matt, aka Functioning Fishaholics (or Func Fish)? Seriously.

First off, he goes to the local outdoors show and gets interviewed about Twitter...I think. I was somewhat distracted by the ~~doofus~~ interviewer continuing to emphasize the point that he is technologically handicapped. C'mon dude, really...? That bit of noise aside, how cool is this!?! Okay, maybe not interview with your morning coffee cool, but at least Peter Piper's Pickles cool. Just don't call him "Fun C. Fish."

Then, to follow that up, Mr. newlyfound celebrity goes out (with some help from a trout brother from another mother) and catches his first trout on a dry fly. To clarify, not his first trout, just the first one from up top. And on a fly he tied to boot. Damn. Nice job Matt. Just think, I knew this kid when...

Okay, did that really say Whac-A-Mussel. Huh? Yeah, it said Whac-A-Mussel.

I can't make this up

Blatantly stolen from the Recycled Fish blog:

It’s no fun when invasive species like zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, or Asian Carp show up in a new body of water. But beating them back is a blast with the new game, “Whac-A-Mussel,” which launches February 24-26 at the BASSMASTER Classic Expo presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The game plays just like the arcade classic Whac-A-Mole, but fiberglass zebra mussel caricatures pop up the holes and people “mash the mussels” to demonstrate their disdain for the mollusk invaders. At the same time, anglers learn lessons about how they can Inspect – Clean – Dry to stop the spread of not just invasive mussels, but all sorts of aquatic nuisance species.

“Invasive species education is critical,” said Teeg Stouffer, Recycled Fish Executive Director. “But it can be kind of dry and boring. Just say the words ‘Invasive Species Education’ to people and watch their eyes glaze over. This is a learning tool that is fun, dynamic, engaging and interactive – it cuts through the clutter. We’re excited to introduce Whac-A-Mussel at the BASSMASTER Classic!”

(Read the entire article HERE)

Oh, did you see the huge news last week in the fly fishing retail scene? No, I'm not talking about Simms deciding to change their business model and begin selling direct online (as inflexible, old school fly shops cry everywhere). Rather I'm talking about Nick from Foul Hook opening up a furled leader shop!

A value at $8

Yeah, you got to check these out. I've been testing out his prototype leaders for both my 3-wt and 5-wt for pretty much the last year and these things are awesome. The 3-wt model got a big time workout, not only catching a ton of fish, but also withstanding my frequent encounters with tree limbs. And it's still going strong! Furled leader curious? Check out Foul Hook.

Some blog changes of note. The URL 411number3.net is no more. It's now mattrevors.com. But the good thing is it appears you don't have to update your blogrolls and bookmarks, as they seem to magically redirect. Anyway, enjoy Mat's newly found ~~tramp stamp~~ vanity plate.

Also, one of my oldest blog friends (not that he's elderly, we've just been blog buddies for a while) has up and changed the name of his latest blog. If you've followed Casey over the years, this will come as no surprise as he is a constant tinkerer (and feral fungus finder). So what once was Snapping Twigs, is now The Countryside Round, but the URL remains the same. At least for this week.

To close, this week's blog love goes to a Troutrageous! favorite. I'm trying not to tear up over here...but man...hold yourself together...I'm gonna miss you and your snarkiness Lunker Hunt!

If you haven't already, please pop over to Clif's blog and say farewell (at least for now) before the Chinese governmental firewalls prevent him from reading your best wishes. Take care Clif, see you in 18 months.

Trout - Both Real & Fabricated

2012-02-20T03:00:00.000-05:00

Saturday was a pretty nice day in southeastern Pennsylvania. The temps were in the low to mid 50s and the sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds all afternoon. Having anything above 35-40 degrees in mid February basically being the equivalent of playing with house money, why not push my luck? Not having fished since January, it was time to wet a line, if only for a two hour "escape."

Blinded by the light...

I'm not one to spin a long story about the majesty of the outdoors, the symphony of the stream, or the Holiness of the trout. Let a more talented writer string those superlatives together. I went fishing. I caught a few. Even despite a frustrating case of the LDRs on the first two I hooked. (Long Distance Release - for the the acronymically-challenged). Here's a few pictures of the day.

A rare anglerless view. Fellow fly fishermen were out in force on this day taking advantage of the weather.

My second LDR of the day was by a jumper about 4 feet to the right of that rock on the left.
Since when did 12" brownies jump 2 feet clear out of the water to kick a fly?

Camera misfire, but a nice shot of the Vedavoo chest pack

A close up of the day's meal ticket - Mr. Copper John

Hey look...a trout. It's been a while, but you've seen them here before

What's that white thing in the tree?...

...a fake trout someone left behind. Yeah, I caught that one too.

Free Rapala = More streamside loot. Now where's my spinning rod?

Gear Review - Fishpond Buckskin Boot Bag

2012-02-15T03:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I wrote this post in jest. It was a "first impressions" post of the Buckskin Bootbag from Fishpond. Both the post and the product drew some mixed reaction, but after using the bag for about two months, I figured it would be a good time to provide a follow up "official" review.

Before I start, here are the deets, courtesy of the Fishpond website:

Aspen Green...my favorite flavor

MSRP: $39.95
Fully lined nylon interior
Tough abrasion-resistant molded bottom for structure
Rubberized mesh upper panel for faster drying
Two side grip handles and one jacquard top handle
14” x 13” x 4”

THE REVIEW

CONSTRUCTION

Not being a prior Fishpond customer, I really didn't have any exposure to the build of their products. I will immediately say I was impressed with the quality throughout this bag. Durable materials (including zippers and side handles), solid stitching all around, and a bulletproof bottom - this thing is built to last, and I had no concerns tossing it around and abusing it to and from fishing trips. The only bummer...it's not made of, nor does it resemble "buckskin." Now I really wasn't expecting it to be buckskin, I guess "Buckskin Boot Bag" just sounds better than "Nylon Boot Bag" when it comes to marketing.

Now THIS is buckskin...and f'n awesome might I add...

SIZE:

My first concern when I got the bag in the mail was that my wading boots weren't going to fit. I don't have Sasquatch feet (size 11 wide), but the bag just looked "small," or maybe more appropriate, it didn't look deep enough to be able to handle the boots. I mean everyone knows wading boots are kinda big and clunky. Well, once I actually put them inside, it was a tight fit, but the bag did close and fully zip as advertised. Would a size 13 or 14 fit? I don't know.

Cram those dogs in there...

See...they fit.

FUNCTION:

It's a bag. It holds your boots. No magic tricks here. It works fine.

One highlight was it's ability to keep the post-wade mess contained. One of the days I went fishing was after a rainstorm so it was particularly muddy. The bag kept the mud inside and away from the rest of my gear. Even better, it also "hoses off" pretty good as I've cleaned it out once or twice after it got pretty darn filthy. While it doesn't dry quickly, it dries about on par with your wading boots. Ready to go again when you are.

Post Wade Mess

While I 'd recommend taking your boots out of the bag to dry out between fishing trips, the Buckskin Boot Bag does have a large rubberized mesh side to allow for air flow. I left wet boots in the bag for a week just to see if they'd dry. They did. Although I won't lie, I didn't check daily to see how quickly they dried. One day, two days, three days, etc... I simply went fishing on a Sunday, and then the following Saturday I opened the bag and they were dry.

OTHER USES:

While this is called a boot bag, I actually think this makes just as good as a gear bag, especially if you're a traveling fly fisherman. You can load this thing up with reels, fly boxes, fly tying materials, you name it. It holds a lot of smallish things, and does it well. Just make sure they aren't extra fragile. This bag is meant to hold boots, so it really isn't padded or have segmented compartments.

CONCLUSION:

As far as a boot bag goes, this thing's top notch. It's solidly built, and simply put, does what it's supposed to do. You're not going to lose by purchasing this bag. I do have some concern for those with larger feet as I couldn't test this with say a size 14 boot.

The bullet-proof bottom

As with any of the gear that fly fisherfolk use, the end recommendation all comes down to a value proposition. $40 for a bag that holds your boots? Some will find that as a value, some will find that as a waste. That's a personal mindset I probably can't much influence with this review. Just note, no matter which camp you fall into, the bag does as advertised. It holds your boots and keeps funk away from the rest of your stuff.

DISCLAIMER:
The Fishpond Buckskin Boot Bag featured in this product review was provided to me at no cost by a representative from Backbone Media , but holds a retail value of $39.95 per the manufacturer's website. I currently hold no association with Fishpond or Far Bank Enterprises, however I am a little bit sorry that the "mom jokes" in my "First Impressions" post didn't go over well. ...C'est la vie... As with all independent gear reviews at Troutrageous!, I try my best to keep my reviews honest and unbiased. If something is good, it deserves applause; if it sucks, I'll let you know that too. It ain't in my interest to steer you wrong, so why waste the time in doing so?

Happy Valentine's Day To My Girls

2012-02-14T03:00:00.001-05:00

Fishing can take a backseat today.

Cheap Glass

2012-02-13T03:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to a sale on Cabela's and some old unused gift cards, the under $30 (to me) 50th Anniversary C.G.R. fly rod ended up on my doorstep this weekend. She's all rigged and ready to get her wiggle on. Waiting out this work week is going to be tough. The revolution will not be televised.

Guest Post - A Great In-vest-ment: Personal Flotation!

2012-02-10T03:00:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I didn't write this post.

I get offers from time to time from people representing brands, retailers, or whatever to write guest posts. I always used to draw a line and pretty much say no, but I made an exception for Lee from Savvyboater.com. Considering that Pennsylvania is going to enact mandatory personal flotation device regulations later this year, I thought the content was timely and worth sharing.

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So you're heading out for a big day of fishing. You've got your rod, reel, tackle box, creel and your lunch is all packed. You're ready to roll! But don't forget your most important piece of gear - a life jacket (or PFD - personal flotation device).

So if you're thinking "PFD! I don't need no stinking PFD!" well, think again. Nine out of 10 drownings occur in inland waters, most within a few feet of safety. Weather and water conditions can change at a moment's notice, and even strong swimmers, when injured can drown. The majority of drowning victims actually had access to a PFD, but they didn't wear it! A life jacket can save your life – but only if you put it on! And, in most states, a USCG approved PFD is required.

But fortunately, there is a selection of good fishing vests out there designed specifically to meet the unique requirements of anglers, providing not only safety, but comfort and functionality. The Evolution Camouflage Fishin g a nd Sportsman Vest is a great fishing vest for the active sportsman.

Its lightweight construction contours to your body and won't hinder mobility. It features durable foam flotation, two large pockets (plenty of storage space) with D-ring attachment, three adjustable belts and a stylin' camouflage design. A USCG approved Type III vest, it's a great value at $32.95.

Evolution also offers a Deluxe Mesh Sport Fishing Ves t, a Type III vest that features mesh shoulders, back and sides to keep you cool and comfortable for all-day fishing (49.95).

For the fisherman needing maximum flexibility, a full range of motion and all day comfort, the First W atch AV-40 0 Recreationa l Mesh V e st is just what the angler ordered.

Featuring a cool, lightweight mesh top, a soft neoprene collar and wide cut armholes, this vest is so comfortable you barely know you're wearing it! This Type III vest has a rugged, durable ripstop nylon shell, two large cargo pockets, (with hand warmer compartments), zipper closure with adjustable buckles (for a secure fit) and form fitting soft flotation foam. All this for only $59.95!

While these vests are good options for anglers fishing in calm, inland waters where there is a good chance for quick rescue, they are not intended for non-swimmers, survival in rough water or open sea, and they will not turn an unconscious wearer to a face-up position. Depending on your needs, you may want to consider an inflatable life vest as an alternative to a conventional fishing vest. While still allowing freedom of movement, they're available in USCG Type III and V should you be fishing in rougher water. For more info on what is the right PFD for you, check out these handy Life Jacket Resources.

So play it smart and safe. Any of these great fishing vests can help make your next outing a safe and comfortable one. As far as productive, well that's up to you.

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DISCLAIMER:
As noted above, this post was written by Lee at SavvyBoater.com. I currently hold no affiliation with Lee or SavvyBoater, and was not compensated for this post. As with all guest posts on Troutrageous! the opinions expressed are solely those of the guest author as you should all know by now that I'm generally too lazy to come up with opinions of my own.

Wednesday Nibbles - The Shirtless Shark Bite Edition

2012-02-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

Hey, look, it's Wednesday. "Hump Day" to some, a phrase that even today still makes me chuckle like a 3rd grader. ....he said Hump Day... Anyway, thought I'd toss out some pre-packaged pop culture and hermetically sealed fishing randomness today, you know, to help move Wednesday along a bit.

Let's start with a bit of fishing...well sort of...yeah, we still talk about that here...sometimes...

Did you happen to see the new "flash sale" site called Wide Open Spaces that opened for business last week? It's similar to Groupon or Woot in that it offers deeply discounted products for a short period of time, like a day or two. It's not just fishing, it's hunting and general outdoors, so the opportunity to find a deal you might like is pretty good.

It's interesting to see how these outdoor deal sites are spreading like wildfire...Deals on the Fly, The Clymb, TightLinz, just to name a few. (Yes, a few of those are referral links, I'm not ashamed). I've personally bought a handful of Simms products from DOTF and some Redington gear from The Clymb, so as far as I'm concerned, competition is a good thing and means more deals for us.

Okay, changing gears, I really wanted this shark video to be funnier than it is, but still...I give credit to fake Che Guevara for not spilling his beer mid attack...or totally punting that fish 35 yards following...

Moving on...ever notice how each time of those online fly fishing magazines drops a new issue, seemingly every fishing blogger out there drops a post (and/or a tweet or Facebook link) announcing its presence? Talk about inexpensive marketing. Those Catch Magazine guys have it made (until they start charging for issues of course), because once their latest goes live a legion of Paul Reveres instantly mobilize...

Anyway, while I never quite understood that phenomenon, I did kinda enjoy the article/interview with bamboo rod builder Jared Makowski in this month's This is Fly and thought I'd highlight it here...makes me wonder if an interview with a snowbound Erin Block is far behind?

This.is.fly...

How'd you all spend your Super Bowl Sunday? Heck, even if you don't care for football, I hope you used the occasion to totally dominate via a HUGE caloric intake. Pizza, nachos, wings, whatever...Super Bowl Sunday may even top Thanksgiving in terms of an excuse to eat....and eat...and eat...

Here in Philadelphia, we have an event the Friday prior to the Super Bowl called the Wing Bowl where contestants (complete with a harem of Wingettes) battle in a massive chicken wing eating competition. It's so big it's held in the Wells Fargo Center (the same place the 76ers and Flyers play), and just celebrated its 20th year.

The winner? Takeru Kobayashi of Nathan's Hot Dog eating fame. He downed a record 337 wings in his first year in the contest, demolishing the old record of 255. Quite impressive. I'd tap out at about 50. Maybe 60.

To close, time for some blog love. This week's version of blog love comes from Connecticut, and goes to a blog that I don't even think is in my blogroll (I can't keep track anymore), The Weary Angler.

I enjoy Steve's blog because while it's well written, it's also done with a touch of a conversational flair...you know, writing in the same fashion you might talk...kinda like how I write....save the excessive use of periods...not that I talk with periods...but I do write with them... Go check it out, I think you'll dig it. A little bit of everything. I did notice a few familiar faces in the Google Members widget thingy, but I think we can add more this week...right? Thanks in advance.

Tenkara Tuesday - The 2012 Vedavoo Chest Pack

2012-02-07T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Tenkara Tuesday.

I thought I'd take the opportunity today to highlight a piece of equipment that I've recently added to my tenkara arsenal. I'm a bit of a fishing bag junkie, so it's probably not going to be a surprise that it is a bag (of sorts).

Ever since Vedavoo's fly fishing product line first caught my eye thanks to a Facebook post from Cam at The Fiberglass Manifesto last summer, I couldn't help but think the small chest pack in their offering would be perfect for tenkara, noting my excitement in a Wednesday Nibbles post. Although I didn't act on the impulse to buy right away, I stored Vedavoo and its "Made in the America" products in the back of my head - and when they recently launched the 2012 version of their chest pack, I just had to pull the trigger. Willpower is not my strength.

Screen grab from Vedavoo product page

Bag in hand, and now taken out for a spin on the water a few times, I have to admit that this mini chest pack is pretty slick. Efficiently streamlined, it crams a ton of bells and whistles into a very compact 8 inch by 10 inch package.

Starting with the front, you'll find a "not quite" neoprene pouch that has a little bit of give in it. I don't know what the fabric is... I toss a small camera in there and it stays put without worry. A small fly box or cell phone would probably fit too.

Also loops at bottom, I tossed my fishing license on one.

There's vertical daisy chain webbing to clip widgets and gizmos to - hemostats and nippers are clipped in this pic, but I didn't even use half of the available loops. You'll also find a drawstring with a plastic toggle at the top to conveniently hold some tippet spools, in this case streamside "lost and found."

Flip it over and there's a large compartment for a fly box (or even better, a flask), as well as a smaller zippered pocket to hold valuables, like car keys or Starburst. I happen to keep my extra tenkara spools in there. No nonsense, very clean.

Fly box, spools, good to go.

The chest pack can be worn several ways - around your neck, with included removable neck strap...or on your belt, by replacing the neck strap with included removable belt loops...or as part of an interchangeable system with the larger Tightlines shoulder pack. The only thing I wish is that the neck strap was either adjustable to be longer, or that it came with an extra section of "add on length" so the pack could also be worn as a ~~man purse~~ satchel.

In short, the Vedavoo chest pack provides a great alternative to fishing out of your pockets for light fishing trips, making for in my opinion, a great tenkara companion.

While this really wasn't supposed to be a gear review, I realize a lot of it does border on such, so to keep things above board I will state that I purchased this chest pack from Vedavoo at full $49 retail, less a 15% off discount code. Heck, if you want to do the same, just enter T! as a coupon code at checkout and watch the savings pile up.

I'm getting nothing for writing this post other than the satisfaction of passing along a suggestion about something I think is cool. (Although Scott Hunter, if you're out there reading this, one of your Sakasa Kebari tee shirts would be rad - hint, hint).

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Are you a Western tenkara angler? Do you have a story, pictures, video, fly recipe, or simply a fishing report from one of your recent tenkara adventures? If so, Troutrageous! wants to hear from you for a future Tenkara Tuesday post! Feel free to send an email HERE, or check out this previous post for more information.

Weekends Past & Future

2012-02-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

I didn't go fishing last weekend, but intend to change that this upcoming weekend.

See, a lot of things contributed to the weekend off.

1) I'm nursing a bum leg, don't know how I hurt it, but it actually started to swell and hurt so bad for no apparent reason that I got a little concerned. (It's a story for another time but I was hospitalized with a blood clot in my lung about a month before Lilly was born - K.C. loved that.) Anyway, I went and got an ultrasound on it on Thursday. Don't worry, it wasn't pregnant, just muscular.

If amputation required a prosthetic, I'd so be rockin' this look.

2) I received an extortion letter from "FishPorn Quarterly" on Thursday. Actually since I don't care much for cats, this was no biggie, but worth mentioning.

Oh well...

3) We added a mutt to the family on Saturday. Actually a pug/chihuahua mix named Pugsley. We rescued him from Peaceable Kingdom in Allentown and he's really fitting in well. He's playful in spurts, but also likes to sleep a lot. Much like me. At least the money we dumped at PETCO on a bunch of doggie goodies and new bed was well spent.

Deservedly spoiled already

4) I work in sports. While yesterday was the Puppy Bowl, it was also the Super Bowl, so I was working (in standby mode all day) through the late evening. Go buy a t-shirt & hat. Cool?

So with all that said, I not only should, but deserve to go fishing next weekend. Yeah, I could do the safe thing and go over to Valley, but I'd prefer to fish somewhere besides there for a change. Somewhere relatively new, but within a 2 hour driving radius might be nice.

I live where that little "A" is on the map. Not actually inside the little "A", but that's the ballpark.

I'm open to suggestions....

Tenkara Tuesday - A New Controversy?

2012-01-31T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Tenkara Tuesday.

As many of you may already be aware, I was lucky enough to meet a lot of tenkara-minded folks at the Fly Fishing Show last weekend. It was a tenkara summit of sorts, albeit in Somerset rather than Salt Lake City...or at least a tenkara blogger summit, which in my opinion is just as good.

Now Daniel from Tenkara USA has already mentioned this little meetup on his blog, but in reading his post and looking at the pictures, there's just one thing that seems a little off. It appears that for whatever the reason, Daniel doctored the group picture. I guess it's probably because he wants to lay low following his week of tenkontroversy, but I figured I should probably publish the actual photo, you know, just to keep things real:

From Left to Right:
Lou from Fly & Fin, Chewbacca from Kashyyyk, Chris "TenkaraBum" Stewart, Daniel Galhardo,
Bart "The Jersey Angler", Matt "The Functioning Fishaholic", Yours Truly,
& wookie allergic "Tenkara Guide" Tom Sadler

Sorry Daniel, your secret is out, wookies prefer tenkara too.

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The Art of VK Steelworks

2012-01-30T03:00:00.000-05:00

Stumbling into the vast sea of "stuff" that is the Somerset, NJ Fly Fishing Show yesterday, one of the first things that immediately caught my eye was a stunning wall sculpture of a wet fly made of steel, looking aggressively medieval. Actually, I think my reaction was, "damn, that's crazy..." as I went in for a closer look.

the Blackmore.610.VKS

Once in the booth, Matt (aka Functioning Fishaholic, who made the trip to NJ with me) & I were greeted by Val Kropiwnicki of VK Steelworks, who eagerly showed off this beautiful piece of art, in addition to many other smaller flies that were pretty much beyond anything I had seen before. I'm not exactly sure what you'd call them, perhaps fly tying with a touch of fantasy...but do I know you would not want to get stuck by the "Circus Circus" during an errant backcast!!!

the Circus Circus.710.NP
(would love to see Val's interpretation of a Sakasa Kebari)

Honestly, I could go on, but anything I write will not really give this work justice. It's so visual in nature, I'm going to stop with the adjectives now. Instead, please click HERE and then click on the "Play Slideshow" link in the middle of the page. Believe me, it's worth the few minutes it takes to view.

And if that piques your interest, please also check out the full VK Steelworks website.

In a show filled with amazing fly tiers, $3,000+ bamboo fly rods, and beautifully machined reels, Val's work really stood out from the rest as something distinctively unique. It was my honor to see these flies in person, and a great way to start the day at the Fly Fishing Show.

Gear Review - The Dead Drift DVD

2012-01-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

Anybody who knows me also knows that my tenkara rod fully telescopes every time I think about fishing in New Zealand. So when Steve from Stealth Films dropped me a note about a month ago offering up a copy of his DVD "The Dead Drift," there was no way I was going to turn that down. I mean that would just be crazy talk.

Not really knowing what "The Dead Drift" was all about, I settled in to watch it last weekend, eagerly anticipating beautiful landscapes and big ass NZ trout.

Well it didn't disappoint.

Hosted by Dean Bell, of Blue Ribbon Wilderness Guides, "The Dead Drift" is basically a 60+ minute long video on how to spot trout, read water, and manipulate your flies properly in several different real-world fishing situations as he takes us into the Wilderness Waters of Fiordland, South Island, New Zealand.

Now for those of you that prefer your fly fishing movies to be more entertainment than instructional, this one probably isn't for you. Just being honest. This ain't Eastern Rises...or heck, it also isn't Once In A Blue Moon. There's no fly in or fly over footage, no bearded trout bums, and no product placements.

However what you will watch is some technical and tactical fishing analysis on some of the most beautiful gin clear water you'll ever see. Don't worry, there is no shortage of fish porn, as Dean plucks pig after pig out of just about every nook and cranny of these streams with ridiculous regularity. He just happens to do it in a relatively calm and straightforward fashion, explaining what he is doing as he goes along, as opposed to being accompanied by a death metal soundtrack coupled with a warm can of celebratory PBR.

So is this DVD worth watching? For general entertainment, maybe, maybe not. If you like stories and narratives, go watch Hatch or Low & Clear instead. However if you want to learn something that might help you catch more fish, then yes, by all means pick up a copy of "The Dead Drift" and watch as your head swells with all sort of newly acquired knowledge.

Don't believe me? Check out some prior reviews of this DVD from different bloggers here, here or here. And if so inclined, you can also buy your own copy here or here.

DISCLAIMER:
The Dead Drift DVD viewed in this product review was provided to me at no cost, but holds a retail value of $32.90 (US) per the manufacturer's website. I currently hold no association with Stealth Films, Steve Couper, Dean Bell, or Blue Ribbon Wilderness Guides whatsoever, however should I ever attack my bucket list and get down to New Zealand, I know who I'm getting a hold of. As with all independent gear reviews at Troutrageous!, I try my best to keep my reviews honest and unbiased. If something is good, it deserves applause; if it sucks, I'll let you know that too. It ain't in my interest to steer you wrong, so why waste the time in doing so?

Social Media - Yet Another Reason Why Klout Is Stupid

2012-01-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

If you squinted hard enough to read that first Klout "Notification," no, that wasn't Photoshopped.
To quote:

"Klout believes you are influential in Congress."

Let that soak in for a minute.

(Putting Klout's ridiculously erratic scoring method aside), if that is true, America has far more to worry about than we thought...

+Ks & T! stickers for everyone!

Postscript:
Have no idea what Klout is or why I'm doling out +Ks? No, it has nothing to do with cereal or Marts, and don't worry, most people haven't heard about it either. Just uber dorks like me. If you want to learn more about it, click here, but be forewarned, you're probably better off not getting involved in such shenanigans and tomfoolery.

Enough 'Tenkara Is A Fad' Already...

2012-01-26T13:36:00.003-05:00

Okay, this "Tenkara Is A Fad" thing has gotten a little out of control. Daniel Galhardo, (aka Mr. Tenkara USA) tweeted - and then later wrote a blog post - about a recent run in with Lefty Kreh and bloggers start writing up a storm, both pro & con. We got this guy, this guy, this guy, and this guy just as examples. There are a lot more, but I choose not to bore you by piling on. Just Google "Tenkara is a fad" and you'll get more reading than you could possibly handle on such a meaningless topic.

Is tenkara a fad? Other than Daniel, who has a business interest in tenkara, who really cares? It might be a fad, but then again "authorities" on particular subjects have been wrong in the past...

Babe Ruth - He'll never become a good hitter, right?

"This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us."
-- Western Union internal memo, 1876.

"Taking the best left-handed pitcher in baseball and converting him into a right fielder is one of the dumbest things I ever heard."
-- Tris Speaker, baseball expert, talking about Babe Ruth, 1919

"Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?"
-- H. M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927.

"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."
-- Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.

"Television won't last because people will soon get tired of staring at a plywood box every night."
-- Darryl Zanuck, movie producer, 20th Century Fox, 1946

"You ain't going nowhere, son. You ought to go back to driving a truck."
-- Jim Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, in firing Elvis Presley after a performance, 1954

"Groups are out. Four-piece groups with guitars particularly are finished."
-- Dick Rowe, Decca Recording Company executive, 1962 (turning down The Beatles)

"With over 50 foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn't likely to carve out a big slice of the U.S. market."
-- Business Week, August 2, 1968.

Is it a big leap to put tenkara in the class of television, Elvis Presley, & Babe Ruth? Probably, but I'm sure you can also see my point. Experts know a lot about their particular field, that's how they become experts, and their views are right a lot of the time. However, sometimes experts are wrong. It happens.

Lefty might be right. Who knows. Who cares. He is but one voice in a sea of fisherfolk. Is it really even worthy of debate?

Another Week, Another Airport

2012-01-23T07:34:00.001-05:00

The drive to and from the airport has been far too familiar the past few weeks. I'll be pretty quiet through probably Wednesday. In the meantime, enjoy the peace and quiet...

A Random Product from the Cabela's Fishing Catalog

2012-01-20T03:00:00.000-05:00

I received the 2012 Cabela's fishing catalog the other day. I used to really look forward to getting this bad boy every year (along with the competition's version from Bass Pro Shops), but when I sort of made the move from spin fishing to fly/tenkara fishing...well...it just isn't the same. They've got different catalogs for that.

However, since I'm a gear junkie at heart, I still do enjoy going through the pages and soaking in all that's new for this year. A few quick flips show that we've got all the latest & greatest stuff you don't really need, including micro guide baitcast rods, trolling reels with computer screens, enough new lures to fill 20 Alabama rigs, and of course some of the most "old mannish" looking footwear I've ever laid eyes upon. Almost as bad as those velcro shoes you can sometimes see next to the elastic waist slacks in the coupon section of the Sunday newspaper.

These are so bad they're cool

Anyway, I thought I'd play a game today. There are 336 pages in this year's Cabela's fishing catalog (back cover included)...let's pick a page at random, then pick a product at random, and blog about it (aka give it a free commercial). Yes, I'm in need of inspiration, and I unwisely used my Bieber card yesterday. Plus the great Google monster that lives in the clouds seems to like to send people to my site when I write gear posts.

Sooo....Random.org picked page 149.

And there are 7 products on page 149...and Random.org picked item 5.

Survey says...

Berkley Havoc "Skeet's Wide Load"

Heh heh, it says wide load...shut up Beavis...

Evidently Skeet Reese (you know, the yellow guy that fishes with Roy Halladay and saves naked jungle people from rabid anacondas) designed this "wild-action" bait for flipping and casting to big bass. Whatever. That story sounds as good as any other. I'm sure he designed it. Honestly, I'd be lookin' to see what KVD is designing, but that's just me.

It's available in a rainbow of colors, ironically yellow not being one of them. My favorite is #030 Lime Purple Passion, which sounds like something that would be served in an umbrella adorned coconut...but at 6 for $2.99, what a bargain! At least I think. Everything in the fly fishing world is at least 8 times more expensive than it should be, so I can't tell a bargain on a normal fishing item if it walked up and slapped me in the face.

What's the point? Beats me. I was truly hoping the fates would let me write about one of those rods made out of carrots, the latest design in brass swivels, or the full assortment of planer boards. At the very least, this post was somewhat fun to write, although I'm certain reading it had a decidedly different effect. Sorry about that. At least today is Friday.

Tenkara Thursday - Salvation In Tenkara?

2012-01-19T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Tenkara ~~Tuesday~~ Thursday.

I was checking my twitter stream the other day and came across this:

It actually wasn't hard to spot, as I not only follow Tenkara USA, but also a few of the re-tweeters.

Now I love tenkara, but a statement as bold as "salvation for the dying fly fishing industry" is something that I thing requires full context that a 140 character tweet can't capture. I mean (Patagonia founder) Yvon Chouinard probably has a reason for stating the above, right?

So I went to go check out the article, located on page 14 of the 2012 Blue Ribbon Flies catalog. (Please go read the article, it's quite good, far better than this post). The quote is neatly summarized in the last paragraph by the following:

"I say it could be the savior of the sport of fly fishing because it is simple, inexpensive, and can be taught to an eight year old in minutes."

Well I guess the reasoning makes sense...tenkara is pretty easy to pick up, and you can catch fish on it. A dummy like me is proof of that. I suppose the "inexpensive" is a relative term, but I get that point too. Rod, line, fly, simplicity, blah, blah, blah... However, something tells me that the word "could" probably needs to be in bold font and underlined about five or six times. If not the ~~tenakara zealots~~ readers will latch on to the words "savior" or "salvation," turning the proposition into a definitive statement.

See, there's a lot of things that "could" be the salvation for the dying fly fishing industry...tenkara being one, but also the continued dominance of the squirmy wormie, Tim Tebow in waders, properly addressing the growing female demographic...or even a remake of a now 20 year old fly fishing film that helped inspire the industry's last period of significant growth...(oh, and I've got a director in mind)....

Skerritt, Bieber, and that dude from Twilight

Okay, on second thought, maybe Mr. Chouinard has it right after all...

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STOP SOPA

2012-01-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

A lot of prominent websites will be going "black" today in protest of SOPA. While I won't be going black since I don't control Blogger or Google, in lieu of a post, I ask you to please watch the video below and visit the link HERE for more infomation. This is a serious issue, and a slippery slope for future internet use, blogs included.

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Normal posting will resume tomorrow.

Social Media - What The F#@k Is Pinterest Anyway...

2012-01-16T03:00:00.000-05:00

From time to time I actually attempt to write a helpful or informative post around here. It's not very often, but today's as good as any. I'll warn you in advance, this is kinda long...albeit with pretty pictures...

The topic of social media...it's everywhere these days. And many of you readers being fellow bloggers probably think it's the responsible thing to do to extend your blog's reach to the popular social networks at your disposal. You probably have a Facebook Fan Page, a Twitter account, and maybe even find yourself on Google+ from time to time. The ultra ambitious may StumbleUpon, Digg, or find themselves having Klout.

At this point, you've probably heard of another one as well, Pinterest. But what to make of this Pinterest thing that is lurking on the edges and growing like wildfire, despite still being in "invitation only" mode? To find out for myself, I signed up to be on the Pinterest waiting list, and three days later I was in. This is what I discovered, and of course my opinion if you should really give a damn about giving it a try for yourself.

To start, the concept of Pinterest is pretty simple, it's a picture and video sharing network. You share interesting pictures with others, much like you would on Facebook or Twitter, perhaps also inserting a short comment about why you like or shared the photo.

A screen shot of a bunch of pins...pictures & comments. Kind of like your Facebook Feed or Google+ Stream

Photos can come from anywhere, but they primarily come from web pages you are reading. See an awesome picture of a hook jawed brown trout on a website you are reading and want to show off it's awesomeness? Just paste the URL into Pinterest and you can share it easily, while automatically including the link back to where you found it. If you use Google Chrome, you can even install a "Pin It" button into your browser for even easier sharing (or pinning, what Pinterest calls it).

The "Pinning" interface, I had to pin this great pic from Dry Files and Fat Tires

Creates something that looks like this...

The social aspect of Pinterest is also like any of the other social networks, you follow or are followed by others, and you can like, comment on, or re-pin (share) anything you might find of interest. Nothing groundbreaking yet, right?

The social life of Russell Schnitzer's photo
I commented on it, a person liked it, and another person repinned (shared) it

What does makes Pinterest unique is that when you share/pin something, you put it on a Board. You know...a pinboard. Boards are usually set up by topic and help organize similar items, kind of like a Twitter hash tag (#) might, but in a much more visual format. I have boards set up for Tenkara, Fly Fishing, Great Blog Posts, Fly Tying, Pop Culture, etc...

My Boards

What is really cool is that when you decide to "follow" someone, you can choose to only follow boards they've created that interest you, not necessarily everything from them. For example, you can choose to follow me (which then automatically sets you up to see pins from all of my boards), or you can just choose to follow my Fly Fishing pinboard, because you don't give a crap about Tenkara or Pop Culture.

I'm only following 3 of Graham's 9 boards

As far as a tool for self/blog promotion...Pinterest kinda frowns on that. If you plan to use social media as a place to just post links to your latest blog post, this isn't the outlet for you. Plus, since it's picture based, unless your blog post has a kiler picture in it, people will probably never click on it in the first place.

That said, if you are a fly tier or a outdoor photographer, this really could be a useful tool...not only to organize a portfolio of your work, but also to make it easy for others to find and re-share. Personally, I think I'll mostly use it as a holding tank for all the randomness that usually ends up in Wednesday Nibbles. If I see something cool, I'll just pin it for later consumption. If others enjoy looking at it too, that's just a cool side effect.

Some other things worth mentioning about Pinterest is that it is both Facebook and Twitter integrated out of the box (sorry Google+). So when you pin something cool, you can simultaneously post or tweet it on those two networks. The one drawback to that is that I haven't figured out how to make the Facebook posts go to my Troutrageous! Fan Page, rather than my personal Facebook page. Boo.

Pinterest also has a search box and a browse by category feature that allows you to explore and somewhat easily find and review other people's pins and pinboards, even if you do not follow them (yet).

Go ahead and find some sother stuff...

Finally, when you pin something, you can assign it a $ value, for example to call out that new fly rod you covet costs $700. The price then automatically gets indexed in the search engine as well.

Adding a "price tag" to a pin. Notice the banner in the upper left?

So as an outdoor blogger is Pinterest worth your social media time? Probably not. Well...at least as one of your primary forms of extending your reach right now. Unless of course you're also a Mommy Blogger or a Photographer on the side - I know many of you may maintain multiple blogs.

See, I hate to say this, but it seems like the main demographic present in the Pinterest universe at the moment is female. Normally, I'd have no problem with that (I mean I'm particularly fond of women), but there's a disproprtionately high amount of pinning of fancy food recipes and fashion "looks" - like shoes, dresses, and accessories - which doesn't exactly fit neatly alongside the babblings from the "hooks & bullets" crowd.

Yes, let's have more evening dresses...

That said, Pinterest is somewhat amusing to play around with and just different enough when compared to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+ to make it worth a look. I guess we'll never be able replace Crock Pot casserole recipes with Parachute Adams tying recipes if we don't at least try to play along...

If you want an invite, hit me up, I've got a couple to burn.

Gear Review - Margaritaville Polarized Sunglasses

2012-01-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

I think I may have inadvertently become some sort of sunglasses reviewer guru or something. I've done a review on these and these, so when Margaritaville Eyewear approached me a few months ago about doing a review on their sunglasses...I mean how could I say no? Especially as one that is known to have gone searching for his fair share of lost salt shakers in the past.

Ahh...the younger days of Parrotheaded tailgating...

OKAY FOOL, WHATS IN THE BOX?
The folks at Margartiaville Eyewear sent me a pair of Tortola polarized sunglasses. When I cracked open the package, there was a pair of sunglasses (duh), presented with a very nice case, a tan nylon with sort of an antiqued brass hardware. Accompanying the case was a little pull-string microfiber glasses bag that doubles as a lens cleaner, as well as a glasses leash made from like a shoelace type material (as opposed to neoprene). Top rate packaging, and they almost too good of a first impression. I don't know where they were gonna go from here.

AND WHAT ARE THE GLASSES LIKE?
The first thing I noticed is that nothing really jumps out as "cheap" when you examine these sunglasses closely. The frames are "polymer" (aka plastic), but really solid. Not that inexpensive squeaky plastic you might find elsewhere. The hinges are metal spring hinges to prevent breaking from over-flexing, and there are soft rubber pads at the touch points on your nose and behind your ears, all of which make for a very comfortable and lightweight wear.

The leash can be attached to each "arm" through a small hole in the back. I don't wear leashes on my sunglasses, so I really didn't try that out. I really didn't need to anyway, the rubber pads kept them put. No need to change my latitude.

On the fashion front, I have to say of all the glasses I've reviewed to date, these Margaritaville sunglasses are probably the most stylish. They are my first choice to wear out and about. But then again, I wear Owl Jones t-shirts out and about too, and have always wanted to grow a pencil thin moustache, so what does that say for my fashion sense?

UMMM, IDIOT, YOU FORGOT THE LENSES?
I'm not very picky when it comes to polarized lenses. Typically, unless you are buying fishing sunglasses from the bargain bin, they are going to work just fine to cut glare and sight fish in most situations. Heck, sometimes even glasses from the bargain bin work fine too. And you don't have to get 'em drunk to take them home.

Margaritaville boasts that these sunglasses feature Margaritaville Polarized Technology, or MPT® (man, is that name original or what?), which are "the highest quality available and filter out 99.9 % of blinding glare" while exceeding "all existing eyewear industry standards for optical quality, value and durability." I guess that's just a ton of awesomeness rolled into a small package Kinda like a Cheeseburger in Paradise. If not, it's certainly a lot of marketing hype.

Either way, these Margaritaville sunglasses more than did the job on the water. While I was down in Florida I used them to sight fish bass and bluegill, and back at home they've been great on Valley Creek to spot holding trout. Basically, they let me see fins to the left, and fins to the right...with ease. I've used them consistently now for about 2 months of fishing (not to mention my daily battle with sun glare on the ride in to work in the mornings) and will continue to use them after this "review" is over.

TO CONCLUDE...
There's nothing really bad to complain about when it comes to these glasses. They're solidly constructed, do what they're supposed to in terms of cutting glare, and even look good on a big nosed goof like myself. As for this review, consider it over. I'm thirsty, and it's 5 o'clock somewhere...

DISCLAIMER:
The Margaritaville Eyewear sunglasses tested in this product review were provided to me at no cost, but hold a retail value of $159.95 per the manufacturer's website. (Note: they now appear to be on clearance at $79.97) I currently hold no association with Margaritaville eyewear whatsoever, but if they want to go out and share some drinks sometime, I'll never say no. Especially boat drinks. As with all independent gear reviews at Troutrageous!, I try my best to keep my reviews honest and unbiased. If something is good, it deserves applause; if it sucks, I'll let you know that too. It ain't in my interest to steer you wrong, so why waste the time in doing so?

Two Nights In Vegas With Tenkara Talk

2012-01-12T03:00:00.000-05:00

Tenkara Talk and I had a fun time in Vegas...it even let me take some pictures...you know to enter that contest...

The flight out was uneventful. Wish the plane had WiFi though...

Feet on the ground, we hit the ground running...

I think this is my "official entry." If only there were 3.

Me too...

Things only went downhill from here...

I'd show more pictures, but to be honest, it's better that Jason not see them... See Tenkara Talk got a little out of control.

The first misstep was when it insisted on buying one of those foot long frozen margaritas...then it started acting belligerent to a group of baitcasters. Called them a bunch of "word for cats." Luckily they laughed it off.

After stumbling around it somehow picked up a Ross Reel from a bachelorette party and tried to take it back to the room. Hated to do it, but I had to step in as a c#ckblock, I wasn't sleeping on the floor...we almost came to blows over the whole situation. It was an ugly scene, but I guess that's Vegas.

If all goes well, we're headed home today. Hopefully Tenkara Talk's new piercings get through airport security...

Damn Las Vegas Card Flickers...

2012-01-11T03:00:00.000-05:00

...if you've ever been to Vegas, you know what I'm talking about...

Tenkara Tuesday - What Happens In Vegas...

2012-01-10T03:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Tenkara Tuesday.

Tenkara Tuesday alum Jason Klass of Tenkara Talk fame recently posted a free sticker offer in conjunction with a tenkara gear giveaway he was holding to promote his blog. Unfortunately, as I once learned the hard way, whenever you promote something as "free," even something as small as a sticker, the crazies come out of the woodwork and ruin the fun for everyone.

Luckily, I was one of the fortunate folks that got a Tenkara Talk sticker before the freakshow started.

Image blatantly stolen from TenkaraTalk.com

This week, my work is putting me on a plane again. Instead of South, now we're talkin' West. Las Vegas, Nevada to be exact. While it will be 3 days full of ~~drinking~~ convention and trade show activities (no, I won't be here...and I'll miss this one by a week...), I thought it might be fun to bring the Tenkara Talk sticker with me so I can craft my entry into Jason's contest in some of my down time.

Where will Tenkara Talk show up? You'll have to wait and see...

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Spin Fishing Valley Creek with Troutnspoons

2012-01-09T03:00:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of fishing with Spurky (aka troutnspoons) this past Saturday. When not posting pictures of bikini clad fishing women to my Facebook wall, he had been persistently texting & facebooking me about fishing Valley Creek again, and last week he basically told me, "Valley on Saturday. Be there at 7 AM. What exit do I take again?" I guess he was telling, not asking, so I didn't have a choice...not that I'd say no anyway...

Meeting in one of the larger parking lots we geared up and headed down to the stream, walking in a bit before starting to fish at around 7:20 AM. And let me tell you...it was freezing. Literally. You know, frozen guides type of fishing. We both started the morning fishing spinning tackle and managed a couple follows and "love taps" from the resident trout, but no hookups. In addition to the cold, the water was on the low side and very clear. I always like Valley a little high and dirty (just like my wome....ah, forget it).

Catching up on all kinds of things, it was a pretty enjoyable morning despite not catching anything to that point. Spurky likes to talk, and is a pretty good storyteller, so I was entertained by all kinds of dirt on the locals (local to him - I don't know these people), and time flew as the sun finally decided come out to warm us up a bit.

As we doubled back to where we parked the cars, I wanted to stop for two reasons. The first was to switch out my spinning rod for a tenkara rod. Spurky had never seen me use it, and asked if I'd give it a whirl. The second was to find a freakin' band aid in the car. I had acquired a nice slice in my left pointer finger from the fishing line...don't ask how, it just sort of appeared...and even though it didn't hurt, it was bleeding like a S.O.B. and wouldn't stop. I usually keep band aids in my pack, but Lilly knows this little bit of information and gets into them and sticks them all on her stuffed animals. Anyway, bloodletting crisis avoided, we moved on.

Well, the smell of blood must have been in the air because as we settled into fish the next section of water, out of nowhere, I got buzzed by a bat like 3 times. Spurky had moved upstream a bit, so he wasn't there to see it, but it freaked me out a bit. It wasn't a big bat or anything but I don't like anything flying around my dome. After it calmed down and took a break on a nearby tree, I snapped a picture of it. The zoom on my camera sucks, so this picture does too.

We fished a little bit more, but by now we started to run into some legit creek traffic. It was now 10ish and it seems that all the late risers decided to show up at once, so we had to play leapfrog a bit to get to some of the better water. While I played around with tenkara wet flies in the shallows, Spurky hit some deeper water about 30 yards ahead of me. It was in that spot where he finally brought in a fish, his first at Valley, mercifully putting our fishless morning to an end. I wish I had a picture (he was supposed to send one to me that he took on his cell phone, but I never got it), so we'll put this in it's place for now.

I wish I could say the floodgates opened from there, but they didn't. We both ended up going fishless the rest of the morning as we continued to weave in and out of other anglers, before packing it up and calling it quits around noon. Spurky had a two-ish hour drive ahead of him and there was no sense sticking around for this nonsense. Even without catching our limits, fishing with Spurky is always a good time, I look forward to heading up his way for brookies the next go round.

Lost & Found

2012-01-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

To the character that left $30 of Flourocarbon tippet on a rock at Valley Creek recently...

Thanks.

Seriously, I could return these to your possession if needed. It'd be good karma, and I believe in that kind of stuff. Just remember, lying to me would be bad karma back onto you. No reversies. Don't f#ck with karma.

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2010-11-05T00:00:00-07:00

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