A couple of weeks ago, I entered a writing contest on sustainable fisheries...and was one of the winners! This contest was through our great friends at the Outdoor Blogger Network (http://www.outdoorbloggernetwork.com/)
Through that contest, I found Greenfish. These folks are fired up about our sport and want to do all they can to make sure that my kids, and their kids, and their kids, will be able to glean the same river peace that I have found and hope to always enjoy. What Greenfish stands for is quite simple:
The Greenfish Mission:
To promote recreational fishing and improve our fisheries by encouraging responsible fishing practices such as catch and release and donating to organizations that work towards similar goals.
The Greenfish Vision:
To become the premium lifestyle-fishing brand promoting sustainable fishing practices through innovative products and technologies.
The Link:
http://www.greenfishmovement.com/scripts/default.asp
Please go check out their web site and buy some cool gear. You'll be glad you did! And if you do, tell em that The Perfect Drift sent ya. I'll be writing on them more as time goes on and hope that you guys will give them your full support.
The next order of business is the upcoming weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I will be in North Carolina fishing the Nantahala. Each day this week I will be posting the preparation-and here is day one!
Day 1- I have separated from the mounds of dirty clothes that are a constant in a family of six everything I think I will need to wear while I am gone. Warm weather, cold weather, wet weather, snow...hey, its late winter/pre spring in Appalachia. You never know what you will get! Tonight, after the four little ones are snug in their beds, and Mama has gone to sleep with the John Coletrane/Miles Davis/Nora Jones mix playing, I will slip downstairs to the fortress of solitude and tie a few flies. It isn't that I don't have enough tied already, but when you are on a trip, you gotta tie some extra....
And lastly, I am in need of some help. I am in a contest with a fellow angler to see who can get the most hats from fly shops/outfitters/guide services by June 1st. We get one point per hat and the one who gets a hat from the furthest distance gets five points added to his total. If you can help, add a comment!
Tomorrow we will be discussing the advantages of using Google Earth and Bing Maps in your fishing. Plus Day two of the trip prep!
2/26/2011
No fishing so I might as well jam
With the House of Payne being one ride down, and Mama busy doing work for the fam, fishing is not in the card till next weekend on the nantahala. Soooooooo....I thought that I would give ya'll some tunes to keep you upbeat.
Remember...next weeks posts will be about contests and big trip preparations.
Remember...next weeks posts will be about contests and big trip preparations.
2/25/2011
A few thoughts on just about everything
This has been a rough week. Car troubles, house stuff, just life itself. Sometimes it seems as though the whole world has flushed its toilet and you are at the bottom of the pipes.
I am a lover of the river, and of fly fishing, and often when troubles come I turn to those quiet places and the refuge they offer. But...sometimes that just isn't the answer.
Sometimes, we must face the troubles instead of running. Sometimes we must set our feet and stand our ground. Sometimes I think we as passionate anglers use our sport and pasttime as an escape when situations get to torid. This is not good.
I have a friend who confided in me a couple of weeks ago that he had some heart issues he was dealing with. He was worried, heck, who wouldn't be, and in my quiet times I prayed for him. For him, an escape to the river was not an option. As I said, some things you just can't run from.
The impact of our choices in this life are greater than we sometimes realize. How much have we missed because we were trying to pull ourselves away and run to the river? What amazing things lie just under the surface of our situations that pass by because we are more focused on the dance of line in the air?
I have a theory as to why, but it seems to me that two sports seem to suck you in deeper than others. Follow a Fly Angler, or a golfer around long enough and you will see just how much of their day to day lives are consumed with their sport. I...and I say this reluctantly...am the chief sinner when it comes to this.
Fly fishing is an amazing thing, and it has surely brought me more mental peace and enjoyment than any other passtime I have ever been involved with. But it isn't always the answer.
I have a large trip coming up next weekend. Three days of fishing from sunup to sundown. But between now and then a lot of things require my attention. Between now and then the world awaits. Between now and then there is quite possibly a lot of things that I might miss if I focus on the then instead of the now.
This morning on the way to work I saw a rainbow. Bright and beautiful, I could see the whole thing displayed. These were given to us as a sign, a reminder. A gift from our Creator...the ultimate Hallmark card...He thought enough to send His very best.
I don't know where you are today as you read this post. I don't know what you are going through that may be tearing your guts up when you think about it. I don't know what problems you may be shouldering. But I do know one thing. When you need it, the river will be there. When you can make it, the river will be ready. Just don't look at it as the answer...
Peace to ya'll this weekend. Monday I will be posting about a contest I won and about the cool folks who put the contest in place. Till then...think rainbows...and I ain't talkin' bout the fish!
I am a lover of the river, and of fly fishing, and often when troubles come I turn to those quiet places and the refuge they offer. But...sometimes that just isn't the answer.
Sometimes, we must face the troubles instead of running. Sometimes we must set our feet and stand our ground. Sometimes I think we as passionate anglers use our sport and pasttime as an escape when situations get to torid. This is not good.
I have a friend who confided in me a couple of weeks ago that he had some heart issues he was dealing with. He was worried, heck, who wouldn't be, and in my quiet times I prayed for him. For him, an escape to the river was not an option. As I said, some things you just can't run from.
The impact of our choices in this life are greater than we sometimes realize. How much have we missed because we were trying to pull ourselves away and run to the river? What amazing things lie just under the surface of our situations that pass by because we are more focused on the dance of line in the air?
I have a theory as to why, but it seems to me that two sports seem to suck you in deeper than others. Follow a Fly Angler, or a golfer around long enough and you will see just how much of their day to day lives are consumed with their sport. I...and I say this reluctantly...am the chief sinner when it comes to this.
Fly fishing is an amazing thing, and it has surely brought me more mental peace and enjoyment than any other passtime I have ever been involved with. But it isn't always the answer.
I have a large trip coming up next weekend. Three days of fishing from sunup to sundown. But between now and then a lot of things require my attention. Between now and then the world awaits. Between now and then there is quite possibly a lot of things that I might miss if I focus on the then instead of the now.
This morning on the way to work I saw a rainbow. Bright and beautiful, I could see the whole thing displayed. These were given to us as a sign, a reminder. A gift from our Creator...the ultimate Hallmark card...He thought enough to send His very best.
I don't know where you are today as you read this post. I don't know what you are going through that may be tearing your guts up when you think about it. I don't know what problems you may be shouldering. But I do know one thing. When you need it, the river will be there. When you can make it, the river will be ready. Just don't look at it as the answer...
Peace to ya'll this weekend. Monday I will be posting about a contest I won and about the cool folks who put the contest in place. Till then...think rainbows...and I ain't talkin' bout the fish!
2/23/2011
Fly fishing has become Baskin Robbins
31 flavors.
Yep. It has finally happened. We have Bamboo. We have Fiberglass. We have Graphite. We have Tankara. And now...
WE EVEN HAVE A ROD THAT IS BUILT TO LOOK DEFECTIVE!!!!!!!
How can this be you ask? Well.....
I was visiting the Fly Anglers Online web site (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/) and saw something that just blew my mind. They call it the Ultra Wave. Its some new rod and quite frankly, I don't know how in the world this thing works. It is shaped like a slight "S" and has these really huge guides on it. Go figure. I can't imagine it working, but evidently from what I have read about it, the thing really casts well. Now how well it fights a fish is perhaps another story.
The report I read is on Florida Fly Fishing Magazine (http://flaflyfish.com/product-reviews/534-the-ultrawave-fly-rod-revolution.html). Very nice web site by the way. Anyway, go and read it for yourself. I couldn't find any video of this latest in the fly fishing "innovations" to show you.
With so many choices, and so much slick marketing, how in the heck do you choose? Let me offer a little advise. Figure out what rod action suits you best, stick with it, and don't overextend your budget. Sure, I'd love to have a Helios, and I am sure that someone out their would love to have an Ultra Wave, but if you can't pay for it without going into debt or hot water with the significant other, it really isn't worth it. Remember...the fish don't really care how much you paid for your gear and the river doesn't care why you are there...she's just glad that you came.
2/22/2011
Jermz and Brad on the River
Todays post comes from two of my best fishing pals, Jeremy and Brad. Laid back isn't a personality trait with these two, it is an intrigal part of their spiritual makeup. Jeremy is an exceptionally gifted photographer and if you find the need...(gratuitous plug) give them a look. http://onlocationphoto247.blogspot.com/
This post also appeared on the East Tennessee Fly Fishing Forum. I have been a part of that bunch from the start and if you haven't looked at the forum it is well worth the visit. Petey and the guys do a great job in maintaining a site that is fun and informative. http://tnrockyraccoon.proboards.com/index.cgi
This is a report from Jeremy and Brads trip this past week.
Had a chance to get out not once but twice last week (good thing, my daughter was tagged by the flubug yesterday, so this weeks prospects of getting out look slim). First was hanging out with Brad hoping for some of those big fishless holdovers, but the water was high and slow to drop. Bout the time the water was looking tasty, i had to bail to go teach my class.
Having a taste of the great weather and to be on the water but no fish, I had to satiate the ol piscatorial appetite and headed to the clinch Friday. Reports were that it was slow and unproductive, but I found it to be quite the opposite. Fish were active, ldr'd more than I care to admit, lost a couple of brutes to tailwalkin' acrobatics, and brought a few to hand. A nice fat !6" modeled for a brief photo shoot and I left the water satisfied.
Hope to get out this week - problem is, we're gonna be getting into that time of year where the choice is gonna be tough where we wanna wet a line. Welcome to the buffet...
This post also appeared on the East Tennessee Fly Fishing Forum. I have been a part of that bunch from the start and if you haven't looked at the forum it is well worth the visit. Petey and the guys do a great job in maintaining a site that is fun and informative. http://tnrockyraccoon.proboards.com/index.cgi
This is a report from Jeremy and Brads trip this past week.
Had a chance to get out not once but twice last week (good thing, my daughter was tagged by the flubug yesterday, so this weeks prospects of getting out look slim). First was hanging out with Brad hoping for some of those big fishless holdovers, but the water was high and slow to drop. Bout the time the water was looking tasty, i had to bail to go teach my class.
Having a taste of the great weather and to be on the water but no fish, I had to satiate the ol piscatorial appetite and headed to the clinch Friday. Reports were that it was slow and unproductive, but I found it to be quite the opposite. Fish were active, ldr'd more than I care to admit, lost a couple of brutes to tailwalkin' acrobatics, and brought a few to hand. A nice fat !6" modeled for a brief photo shoot and I left the water satisfied.
Hope to get out this week - problem is, we're gonna be getting into that time of year where the choice is gonna be tough where we wanna wet a line. Welcome to the buffet...
Tite lines everyone and remember that Spring is on the way!!!
2/21/2011
Happy Pres. Day!!!
I'm off today and might get to wet a line this afternoon. Heres a couple of videos to tide you over till I return.
2/18/2011
Friday Flies!!!
Todays fly comes courtesy of our friends at Nomad Anglers! https://www.nomadanglers.com/estore/
Ian's Crunchy Caddis - Todd White
Hook - Daiichi 1280 10
Body: Emu Feather
Thorax: STS Caddis Green Dubbing
Head: Ostrich Hurl Black
If your river has an abundance of cased caddis, this fly should really produce!
Once again, my thanks go to Brian and the staff at Nomad Anglers for this pattern!
You can see this pattern as well as many others by visiting the Nomad anglers site.
http://nomadanglers.com/blog/
This just in!: Had a message from one of my fellow Anglers who slayed the trout on the Clinch river this morning using a V-Rib olive midge. Spring time is coming!!!!!
Hook - Daiichi 1280 10
Body: Emu Feather
Thorax: STS Caddis Green Dubbing
Head: Ostrich Hurl Black
If your river has an abundance of cased caddis, this fly should really produce!
Once again, my thanks go to Brian and the staff at Nomad Anglers for this pattern!
You can see this pattern as well as many others by visiting the Nomad anglers site.
http://nomadanglers.com/blog/
This just in!: Had a message from one of my fellow Anglers who slayed the trout on the Clinch river this morning using a V-Rib olive midge. Spring time is coming!!!!!
2/17/2011
As soon as the flowers come out
There is a place in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that will always be special to me. It isn’t out of the way, has two large parking/picnic areas, bathrooms, and in the summer an endless flotilla of inner tubes drift downstream. The river that runs along side the picnic tables and grills holds trout, and sometimes some huge browns are pulled from it about the time the leaves give up their fight and fall. It is a fairly level area and the stream runs slow and easy. This is where I take my children on their first fishing trip with Dad.
We usually go in the early summer. The new foliage still has that fresh green look that glows as the sun climbs over the mountain, and the river is full of trout that are looking for a meal. No waders are needed on these trips, just shorts, an old pair of sneakers, and a fly rod. I hold their hands as we step off the shore and slowly move into position, their imaginations running wild with what may be under the surface of the water.
The fish we catch aren’t large. Most times they are about the size of your hand, but they are wild and fight hard when hooked. These are perfect catches for kids, and they are plentiful. I tie on soft hackle stone flies, teach them to roll cast and then hold it in the current after it has drifted down stream. This is usually when they catch them and the strikes are solid, seeming much larger than the fish on the end of the line.
The trips into the water usually last no more than a couple of hours, then we throw rocks and I teach them how to hold the smooth stones so that they skip across the surface. We look at bugs, birds, and look for animal tracks left behind by raccoon, deer, and sometimes bear. I teach them to pick up any trash they find, and to leave the place as they found it.
The day always ends with a snack at one of the picnic tables, and the menu is always the same; a Rice Krispie treat, and a juice box. We sit and talk about the fish caught and evaluate who threw the better skip, and we laugh. Most of the time, they sleep in the back seat on the way home, wet and dirty, but at peace.
I take each child (I have four) one at a time. This is our time. Memories are made, and lessons are learned that will hopefully carry them along many years after I have gone. Not only have they learned about fishing with a fly rod, but they have also learned to respect and care for the place they are in. They have learned to leave things as they are supposed to be and to insure that anything they find that hinders the process of sustaining this marvelous place is thrown away.
This year will be my sons first trip with Dad. Though we are still in winter, and the end of May in the mind of a four year old is very far away, we have begun discussions on our trip and he is excited. “As soon as the flowers come out” is the phrase they learn, and a sign from nature that they look for to let them know that it is time. A new season, and a life lesson that I pray will sink deep into their souls.
This blog entry is my submission for the GreenFish and Outdoor Blogger Network Writing Prompt Giveaway”
We usually go in the early summer. The new foliage still has that fresh green look that glows as the sun climbs over the mountain, and the river is full of trout that are looking for a meal. No waders are needed on these trips, just shorts, an old pair of sneakers, and a fly rod. I hold their hands as we step off the shore and slowly move into position, their imaginations running wild with what may be under the surface of the water.
The fish we catch aren’t large. Most times they are about the size of your hand, but they are wild and fight hard when hooked. These are perfect catches for kids, and they are plentiful. I tie on soft hackle stone flies, teach them to roll cast and then hold it in the current after it has drifted down stream. This is usually when they catch them and the strikes are solid, seeming much larger than the fish on the end of the line.
The trips into the water usually last no more than a couple of hours, then we throw rocks and I teach them how to hold the smooth stones so that they skip across the surface. We look at bugs, birds, and look for animal tracks left behind by raccoon, deer, and sometimes bear. I teach them to pick up any trash they find, and to leave the place as they found it.
The day always ends with a snack at one of the picnic tables, and the menu is always the same; a Rice Krispie treat, and a juice box. We sit and talk about the fish caught and evaluate who threw the better skip, and we laugh. Most of the time, they sleep in the back seat on the way home, wet and dirty, but at peace.
I take each child (I have four) one at a time. This is our time. Memories are made, and lessons are learned that will hopefully carry them along many years after I have gone. Not only have they learned about fishing with a fly rod, but they have also learned to respect and care for the place they are in. They have learned to leave things as they are supposed to be and to insure that anything they find that hinders the process of sustaining this marvelous place is thrown away.
This year will be my sons first trip with Dad. Though we are still in winter, and the end of May in the mind of a four year old is very far away, we have begun discussions on our trip and he is excited. “As soon as the flowers come out” is the phrase they learn, and a sign from nature that they look for to let them know that it is time. A new season, and a life lesson that I pray will sink deep into their souls.
This blog entry is my submission for the GreenFish and Outdoor Blogger Network Writing Prompt Giveaway”
2/16/2011
ELK!!!!!!!!!!!
For Video Wednesday, I am gonna brag on my Dad. Here is a video he shot of the Elk that have been reintroduced here in Perfect Drift Country. This video was also used on a Local T.V. news broadcast.
Here is another he shot of the North Carolina High Country
Dad really enjoys his time with the camera and plans are in the works to drag him and his lens out to a trout stream with me very soon. If you want to see more of his shots you can go to his Youtube account and look around. http://www.youtube.com/user/ockteby
Tomorrow, we will be talking about passion, sustainability of our trout streams, and the magic of taking your kids fishing.
Here is another he shot of the North Carolina High Country
Dad really enjoys his time with the camera and plans are in the works to drag him and his lens out to a trout stream with me very soon. If you want to see more of his shots you can go to his Youtube account and look around. http://www.youtube.com/user/ockteby
Tomorrow, we will be talking about passion, sustainability of our trout streams, and the magic of taking your kids fishing.
2/15/2011
San Juan in the Smokies? Without Question!
As the weather begins to warm just a bit, I start thinking about fishing in the park (Great Smoky Mountains). Casting in small streams for brilliantly colored brook trout that for their size are down right mean is an absolute blast. One of the problems I used to have was making my way to the stream with enough gear to do the job. I never have been a huge fan of vests and fanny packs get on my nerves. Then the creative forces at Fishpond made what is to me, the number one item for a day moving through mountain laurel and navigating the steep banks of the mountains.
The Fishpond (http://www.fishpondusa.com/) San Juan chest pack is the perfect thing to take on those trips where minimalism is almost a requirement. It is super light weight, comfortable, and low profile, which is important if you are hanging from a rock to high stick a pool without being seen. It is just the right size to hold my fly box, leaders, tippet, floatant and a map of the park. It also has a cool drop down fly box in front that I keep loaded with stuff that I wouldn't use on tailwaters. Basically, I stocked this chestpack with everything I need and keep it hanging by the door in my fly room. If I am headed to the park, I just grab the San Juan and go.
Here is a photo of the pack
It has a little elastic loop for my floatant, a place to clip my hemo and a place for my nippers and knot tool to hang right in front where it is easily accessable. The measurements of this gem are 5"x4"x8.5" and sits right in the center of your chest with absolutly everything you would need for a quick trip, or in my case, a trip into the thick of the mountains. All your stuff is right there; no having to dig and hunt for what you need. The san Juan comes in several different color combos and has that trademark look that is subdued yet full of expression.
I am rough on equipment and this sucker has held up to just about any situation you can imagine.
Spring is just a few weeks away which means the streams in the park will be on fire with hungry wild ones. My San Juan is already loaded and hanging in its spot by the door. Ready to tackle the mountains at a moments notice.
Here is a direct link! (http://www.fishpondusa.com/sanjuan.cfm)
Tomorrow...Video!!!
The Fishpond (http://www.fishpondusa.com/) San Juan chest pack is the perfect thing to take on those trips where minimalism is almost a requirement. It is super light weight, comfortable, and low profile, which is important if you are hanging from a rock to high stick a pool without being seen. It is just the right size to hold my fly box, leaders, tippet, floatant and a map of the park. It also has a cool drop down fly box in front that I keep loaded with stuff that I wouldn't use on tailwaters. Basically, I stocked this chestpack with everything I need and keep it hanging by the door in my fly room. If I am headed to the park, I just grab the San Juan and go.
Here is a photo of the pack
It has a little elastic loop for my floatant, a place to clip my hemo and a place for my nippers and knot tool to hang right in front where it is easily accessable. The measurements of this gem are 5"x4"x8.5" and sits right in the center of your chest with absolutly everything you would need for a quick trip, or in my case, a trip into the thick of the mountains. All your stuff is right there; no having to dig and hunt for what you need. The san Juan comes in several different color combos and has that trademark look that is subdued yet full of expression.
I am rough on equipment and this sucker has held up to just about any situation you can imagine.
Spring is just a few weeks away which means the streams in the park will be on fire with hungry wild ones. My San Juan is already loaded and hanging in its spot by the door. Ready to tackle the mountains at a moments notice.
Here is a direct link! (http://www.fishpondusa.com/sanjuan.cfm)
Tomorrow...Video!!!
2/14/2011
Saturday trip...and much more...
I woke early Saturday and headed to the river. Cold and clear. It was nice to get my feet wet and just get out and cast. Ya know, one of the things I love most about this sport is the beauty of the cast. The elegance and peace of the line as it lays out on the water. I will be the first to admit that I am not a good caster, but I enjoy it and get the job done...most days.
I was fishing with a #24 zebra midge, which isn't much larger than the text on this post. This meant, for me at least, that catching was gonna be tough. A hook set with such a tiny fly is a calculated gamble. Only four times in six hours of fishing did the gamble pay off.
I came off the water and headed home without any fanfare, but a great deal of satisfaction both in what I had been blessed with on the water, and what I was blessed with when I got home. I am a very lucky man in that I have identified my passions and they are a part of who I am. The first is my relationship with my Creator, of which I am eternally secured and blessed by. Another is obviously fly fishing. But the one thing that keeps me going, the one thing that enhances my peace on the water is my family and how glad they are to see me when I get home. A wife who, though she doesn't totally understand fly fishing, knows how important it is to me, and children who are eager to hear about my adventures on the water.
Yep, as hard as it is for me to believe sometimes, I am loved...and that makes my time on the water so much more....
Happy Valentines Day folks!
I was fishing with a #24 zebra midge, which isn't much larger than the text on this post. This meant, for me at least, that catching was gonna be tough. A hook set with such a tiny fly is a calculated gamble. Only four times in six hours of fishing did the gamble pay off.
I came off the water and headed home without any fanfare, but a great deal of satisfaction both in what I had been blessed with on the water, and what I was blessed with when I got home. I am a very lucky man in that I have identified my passions and they are a part of who I am. The first is my relationship with my Creator, of which I am eternally secured and blessed by. Another is obviously fly fishing. But the one thing that keeps me going, the one thing that enhances my peace on the water is my family and how glad they are to see me when I get home. A wife who, though she doesn't totally understand fly fishing, knows how important it is to me, and children who are eager to hear about my adventures on the water.
Yep, as hard as it is for me to believe sometimes, I am loved...and that makes my time on the water so much more....
Happy Valentines Day folks!
 |
| The Love of my life... |
 |
| Our joy.... |
Tomorrow a look at packing light!
2/11/2011
A look at Nomad Anglers
Okay…let me state for the record that I do not like box retail of any kind. Doesn’t mean that I don’t don dark glasses and trench coat and shop at them from time to time, but as a self described conservative agrarian, I think the small businessman has really taken a beating over the past few years, and this impact has been major in the local fly shop. In my own area alone I have witnessed several just lock the door and walk away. Sad for them…sad for our sport.
But to brighten the story, a few weeks ago I found a place online that is no doubt gonna get my business. A fly shop that has survived and has really created an awesome online environment that in this anglers personal opinion is second to none. I am referring to Nomad Anglers (https://www.nomadanglers.com/). Folks, this place has an online presence that is just next level.
The first thing that caught my eye was their logo. Not your run of the mill circa 1950 drawing of a rainbow trout surrounded by the shop name. This logo is easily identified, unique, and flat out cool.
I gotta get me one of those hats!
The web site has a online shop with everything you need to get on the water, a blog that is current and full of content that is relevant (fly tying tutorials, gear reviews, trip reports), a section for potential trips, trade ins, a rewards program…these folks cover it all in one web site.
The store (located in Michigan) opened in 1989 to serve the anglers in the Lansing region of the state (for those who don’t know…Michigan State Country). Move ahead to 2005. Ownership changed when Brian Bielecki took over. The rest of the story is quite simple. The guy worked there, loved the sport, saw a golden opportunity, and dove in. Nomad Anglers was born.
Brian describes it like this:
“When attempting to find an identity that fit not only the Shop, but the customers that it represents, one thing became apparent. We as fly anglers and outdoorsmen and women are constantly searching for new ways. From the traditional trout purist, passionate fly tiers, to the new age steelhead aficionados, Nomad Anglers describes us all.”
I am not one to really wave a corporate flag. I am always cautious of a quick sales pitch and get frustrated when I meet some guy who owns a fly shop but might get on the water two or three times a year. I want to do business with someone who LIVES it. Also not one to offer ringing endorsements at the drop of a hat, I will say without question that even though Nomad Anglers is quite distant from the waters of The Perfect Drift country, Brian and his passionate staff will get my business.
Brian just had a fishin buddy added to his clan and to that I say (as a daddy to four)…CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From time to time you may see some links to their blog so stay tuned!
But to brighten the story, a few weeks ago I found a place online that is no doubt gonna get my business. A fly shop that has survived and has really created an awesome online environment that in this anglers personal opinion is second to none. I am referring to Nomad Anglers (https://www.nomadanglers.com/). Folks, this place has an online presence that is just next level.
The first thing that caught my eye was their logo. Not your run of the mill circa 1950 drawing of a rainbow trout surrounded by the shop name. This logo is easily identified, unique, and flat out cool.
I gotta get me one of those hats!
The web site has a online shop with everything you need to get on the water, a blog that is current and full of content that is relevant (fly tying tutorials, gear reviews, trip reports), a section for potential trips, trade ins, a rewards program…these folks cover it all in one web site.
The store (located in Michigan) opened in 1989 to serve the anglers in the Lansing region of the state (for those who don’t know…Michigan State Country). Move ahead to 2005. Ownership changed when Brian Bielecki took over. The rest of the story is quite simple. The guy worked there, loved the sport, saw a golden opportunity, and dove in. Nomad Anglers was born.
Brian describes it like this:
“When attempting to find an identity that fit not only the Shop, but the customers that it represents, one thing became apparent. We as fly anglers and outdoorsmen and women are constantly searching for new ways. From the traditional trout purist, passionate fly tiers, to the new age steelhead aficionados, Nomad Anglers describes us all.”
I am not one to really wave a corporate flag. I am always cautious of a quick sales pitch and get frustrated when I meet some guy who owns a fly shop but might get on the water two or three times a year. I want to do business with someone who LIVES it. Also not one to offer ringing endorsements at the drop of a hat, I will say without question that even though Nomad Anglers is quite distant from the waters of The Perfect Drift country, Brian and his passionate staff will get my business.
Brian just had a fishin buddy added to his clan and to that I say (as a daddy to four)…CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From time to time you may see some links to their blog so stay tuned!
2/10/2011
How the whole thing started (the conclusion)
I made an ungraceful but successful transition from the tiny craft that required my friend and I sit and cast to a large boat in which I could stand. This made things much easier.
I was placed in the center of the craft and after some good natured ribbing targeted at my buddy and the realization of just how rediculous we must have looked going down river in something that looked more like a bath toy than something two grown men would ride. The trolling motor was engaged and we headed back upstream and my new guide gave me some ground rules; Don't get your feet tangled in the fly line, make sure that when you land a fish, you don't lean over the side of the boat to far, and when you are casting make sure you say "casting!". This last one was of particular importance with three grown men in the boart and it did not escape my notice later on in the morning that when I said "casting!", they froze and kinda leaned away from me.
We had a brief conversation about how the day had gone so far, what fly I was using, what I had been up to since high school. Looking back on it now, I am sure that he made a quick inspection of my gear and no doubt rolled his eyes. I mean this guy has one of just about every Hardy rod known to man and here is this 40 year old greenhorn standing in his boat with a yardsale hunting vest, a Wal-Mart rod and reel combo, and this bright greenish yellow double taper fly line. I am sure I looked smoooooooooth.
These guys were laying out forty or fifty feet of line with ease and I would frail about like I was one step away from turning a cartwheel and might occasionaly get twenty feet of line out of the rod tip. These guys were also catching fish. A lot of fish. I on the other hand was slowly being induced into a hypnotic state by the orange indicator that bobbed along unhindered in the current. I watched helplessly as hookset after hookset occured on either side of me. I was amazed. All three of us were using pretty much the same fly but thus far the results had been desidedly different.
I don't know if there is any information out there to support the impact of high tension power lines and their effect on the feeding activity of aquatic life forms, but as bad as I was at this fly fishing stuff, I can only attribute what happened next to the genius of Thomas Edison and Ben Franklin. As we crossed under the power lines, the indicator I was staring at, the indicator which had indicated nothing but my ineptitude for hours...moved. It wasn't aggressive, it just slowly and steadily began sinking deeper and deeper in the water. I had hung up on rocks and tree limbs all day and was down to just two or three flies in my plastic cup so I gave a quick tug to try and pull it free.
Then, from the bottom of the Clinch River, under the shadows of the power lines, not ten feet off the side of the boat, something pulled back! A wave of nausea washed over me as I felt the strong pull of something that was fighting for its life.
"FISH ON!", I cried.
"My God, I'd say so!" came the reply.
My rod was bent midway and whatever it was, was big and had swam under the boat. I began shaking and honestly could not feel my legs. The fight seemed to go on forever and when the net was dispatched a huge rainbow trout was brought on board. The biggest fish of the day for all of us.
I would love to say that after a gratuitous grip and grin photo op, I gently placed this football with fins back in the water and watched as it settled into its natural place. But I didn't. I kept it. Not so much for the meal that it would soon provide, but for my ability to show it to my wife.
"Oh my gosh! That is a trout?", she would say a few hours later. She had the same misconception about these cold water gems as I did.
As I dressed out the fish that evening and prepared it for the oven, I caught myself planning my next trip.
Those power lines may not hold any valid effect on the fishing, but for me it is a magic place. A place where passion was born...three feet under a little orange indicator.
I was placed in the center of the craft and after some good natured ribbing targeted at my buddy and the realization of just how rediculous we must have looked going down river in something that looked more like a bath toy than something two grown men would ride. The trolling motor was engaged and we headed back upstream and my new guide gave me some ground rules; Don't get your feet tangled in the fly line, make sure that when you land a fish, you don't lean over the side of the boat to far, and when you are casting make sure you say "casting!". This last one was of particular importance with three grown men in the boart and it did not escape my notice later on in the morning that when I said "casting!", they froze and kinda leaned away from me.
We had a brief conversation about how the day had gone so far, what fly I was using, what I had been up to since high school. Looking back on it now, I am sure that he made a quick inspection of my gear and no doubt rolled his eyes. I mean this guy has one of just about every Hardy rod known to man and here is this 40 year old greenhorn standing in his boat with a yardsale hunting vest, a Wal-Mart rod and reel combo, and this bright greenish yellow double taper fly line. I am sure I looked smoooooooooth.
These guys were laying out forty or fifty feet of line with ease and I would frail about like I was one step away from turning a cartwheel and might occasionaly get twenty feet of line out of the rod tip. These guys were also catching fish. A lot of fish. I on the other hand was slowly being induced into a hypnotic state by the orange indicator that bobbed along unhindered in the current. I watched helplessly as hookset after hookset occured on either side of me. I was amazed. All three of us were using pretty much the same fly but thus far the results had been desidedly different.
I don't know if there is any information out there to support the impact of high tension power lines and their effect on the feeding activity of aquatic life forms, but as bad as I was at this fly fishing stuff, I can only attribute what happened next to the genius of Thomas Edison and Ben Franklin. As we crossed under the power lines, the indicator I was staring at, the indicator which had indicated nothing but my ineptitude for hours...moved. It wasn't aggressive, it just slowly and steadily began sinking deeper and deeper in the water. I had hung up on rocks and tree limbs all day and was down to just two or three flies in my plastic cup so I gave a quick tug to try and pull it free.
Then, from the bottom of the Clinch River, under the shadows of the power lines, not ten feet off the side of the boat, something pulled back! A wave of nausea washed over me as I felt the strong pull of something that was fighting for its life.
"FISH ON!", I cried.
"My God, I'd say so!" came the reply.
My rod was bent midway and whatever it was, was big and had swam under the boat. I began shaking and honestly could not feel my legs. The fight seemed to go on forever and when the net was dispatched a huge rainbow trout was brought on board. The biggest fish of the day for all of us.
I would love to say that after a gratuitous grip and grin photo op, I gently placed this football with fins back in the water and watched as it settled into its natural place. But I didn't. I kept it. Not so much for the meal that it would soon provide, but for my ability to show it to my wife.
"Oh my gosh! That is a trout?", she would say a few hours later. She had the same misconception about these cold water gems as I did.
As I dressed out the fish that evening and prepared it for the oven, I caught myself planning my next trip.
Those power lines may not hold any valid effect on the fishing, but for me it is a magic place. A place where passion was born...three feet under a little orange indicator.
 |
| Me and the Buddy that started it all! |
Tomorrow we go Nomad!
2/09/2011
Wednesday Videos
Happy Hump Day!!!!
The first video of the day is of some local fly fishing here in East Tennessee. My buddies at Fly Fishing Tennessee (http://www.flyfishtennessee.com/) shot this. By the way, if you enjoy The Perfect Drift you might find some of my writing there as well. Great sight.
The next video is of North Carolina fly fishing and was shot by High County Adventure.
As you can see, we here at The Perfect Drift don't have to travel very far to get a hook up!
Lastly, here is an entry from North Georgia. My buddy Owl Jones (http://southernblueridge.wordpress.com/) tenkara fishing outside Helen Georgia
Hope ya'll enjoy this!
Tomorrow, the last instalment of How It All Started as well as a few comments on fly fishing and the World Wide Web.
The first video of the day is of some local fly fishing here in East Tennessee. My buddies at Fly Fishing Tennessee (http://www.flyfishtennessee.com/) shot this. By the way, if you enjoy The Perfect Drift you might find some of my writing there as well. Great sight.
The next video is of North Carolina fly fishing and was shot by High County Adventure.
As you can see, we here at The Perfect Drift don't have to travel very far to get a hook up!
Lastly, here is an entry from North Georgia. My buddy Owl Jones (http://southernblueridge.wordpress.com/) tenkara fishing outside Helen Georgia
Hope ya'll enjoy this!
Tomorrow, the last instalment of How It All Started as well as a few comments on fly fishing and the World Wide Web.
2/08/2011
Furled leaders are the way to go!
How much do you spend each year on leaders? Just doing some quick math, I would probably invest at least $50.00 per year on them if it were not for an amazing discovery. The fine folks at Feather-Craft (http://www.feather-craft.com/) have a solution that will save you enough money to add to the other facets of your sport.
They have furled leaders that are second to none. With a myriad of lengths and designs to suit every line weight or style of fishing, you will find no other improvement to your presentation on the water that will top them. I have one for each of my setups covering everything from 3wt - 7wt, and swear by them. The coolest part of these gems is that they have a tiny metal ring at the end to tie on your tippet. The rings are unreal strong and are seamless so they will not pinch or damage your tippet whatsoever. They lift off the water without commotion and lay down the line with quiet ease.
My biggest concern with them at first was using them when fishing weighted flies under an indicator. No worries, I have yet to encounter a problem with that type of rig and they don't stretch or twist up. I can't say enough about how cool these things are!
They have a furled leader with a swivel on it to assist hard core streamer fishing and have an indicator model that is great for Czech nymphing techniques which is gaining in popularity these days. I can also see how Tenkara fishermen would find these of great use as well.
In a world where the latest and greatest is out to snatch every dollar you can throw at it, these people have developed a product that is head and shoulders above the rest. I invite you to click on the link and give them a moment of your time. Well worth the investment. Heck, I have had the same leader on my three weight for four years now...try doing that with a standard leader...betcha can't do it.
http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=category_view&target=200
Tomorrow: Video!
They have furled leaders that are second to none. With a myriad of lengths and designs to suit every line weight or style of fishing, you will find no other improvement to your presentation on the water that will top them. I have one for each of my setups covering everything from 3wt - 7wt, and swear by them. The coolest part of these gems is that they have a tiny metal ring at the end to tie on your tippet. The rings are unreal strong and are seamless so they will not pinch or damage your tippet whatsoever. They lift off the water without commotion and lay down the line with quiet ease.
My biggest concern with them at first was using them when fishing weighted flies under an indicator. No worries, I have yet to encounter a problem with that type of rig and they don't stretch or twist up. I can't say enough about how cool these things are!
They have a furled leader with a swivel on it to assist hard core streamer fishing and have an indicator model that is great for Czech nymphing techniques which is gaining in popularity these days. I can also see how Tenkara fishermen would find these of great use as well.
In a world where the latest and greatest is out to snatch every dollar you can throw at it, these people have developed a product that is head and shoulders above the rest. I invite you to click on the link and give them a moment of your time. Well worth the investment. Heck, I have had the same leader on my three weight for four years now...try doing that with a standard leader...betcha can't do it.
http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=category_view&target=200
Tomorrow: Video!
2/07/2011
Just to tide you over...
The last post in my story of the first fly fishing trip is still under construction so I thought I would add a few videos to tide you over till Wednesday.
This is a video starring some friends of mine that really gets to the heart of why and how I fly fish:
This one is also just amazing. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do:
Last but not least is a post from my Dad:
I will have the last installment of "How it started" up later this week. And praise the Lord! I will be fishing this weekend so I hope to have a report up Saturday night.
Tomorrow: Product Review!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)