And The Rivers Look Like...

Chocolate Milk...

Even though it doesn't look like were wetting a line this week, the water levels are up and the temps are down...

It's like Christmas...YAY!

MV Derby...

With the start behind us, we keep checking in on the Derby results...looking for familiar names...


LEADERS PAGE IS HERE



Amazing artwork from the vinyard by Dimitry Schidlovsky...His website can be found HERE

FINALLY - STEELHEAD

As you can see...the low lying rivers now have some rain...

And it looks like there's more on the way. With any luck, we should be out swinging some evening this week...

Here's to all us crazy lunatics who crave the cold slush brushing up against our legs in January...

'Tis The Season...

GAME ON!

Quote Of The Week...

"Jesus caught, killed, cooked, and served fish to his disciples after the resurrection. I can't tell you how at peace this leaves me about my fishing."

-David James Duncan

Originally Found in this Moldy Chum Post

Which came from THIS GRIST ARTICLE

New Following...

New Find...

Up’North Maine Fly Castings

Digging the blog...makes us all Jealous...Defintely worth a look...

Mining Strikes Again...

First noted by the local TU Chapter...

"It's disgusting to see that much life wiped out," said Ed Presley, who owns property along the creek at the Lower Brave Dam."To see the quality and beauty of that stream and then to see what happened to it, well, it really tears at you. I'm not really a tree-hugger but to see natural things destroyed and wasted like this, it's just dead wrong."

FULL ARTICLE

Pebble News

Found on Moldy Chum...

“We are not going to risk our subsistence way of life, which has sustained our families for generations, on the Pebble Mine,” said Lydia Olympic, an Igiugig native who joined the group that met with top company officials in London in April. “Mining is not the answer."

LINK

We're glad to hear of the overwhelming opposition...

Japanese Fly Fishing Mag...

Some of the Salesmen from work made the trip to Japan over the last few weeks, and presented TMT with some good literature....Japanese litereature...



As you can see, it's some pretty hardcore shit. I have a hard time pronouncing the foods on menu's at sushi restaurants, so understanding ANY of these articles is impossible, BUT the pictures are super intense, and detailed oriented. There's fly tying recipies, lists of patterns, and just great details, or so it seemed...

One of the more interesting parts of the Mag were the English parts...Obviously the brands like "Patagonia", and "G-Loomis" were written in English, but every once in a while, whether it was a title, or an article, there was an English word mixed in...

Overall it seems like great magazine with some great literature written. It almost makes one want to go learn a new language...so that you can get inspired by new and different ways of swinging the long rod...

We're in the works to get more international fly flinging mags...hopefully more reviews to come...

Japan seems like a great culture to enjoy the sport!

Salmon Crazy 2009 Pictures

Pictures galore...here's a little taste of the hundreds taken...

Rigging at 5:30 in the AM for first light...

One of Schmidt's Monster's...Story Of The Trip...

And Another...

And Another...Only TMT Was There With The Foreceps...



Boy's Sharing In The Moment...TMT/Schmidt/Berkshire!!!

Jester Working His Magic...

Schmidt's Reaction After Realizing...

He Had Landed The First Chromer Of The Year...

And TMT Doing What He Does Best...TROUT!

Overall a great trip. Conditions made fishing tough, but we all enjoyed...

Great times, good guys, and tremendous food from Debbie's...Thanks for the memories boys!

Michgan...

Alas...we're home...

Bags are still packed, but we'll worry about that later. Mike's working on gathering all pictures from 4 cameras, and then we'll be posting...Hang Tight!

We forgot quote of the week last week...surprise....

So...

"Michigan is two radically different places - the North and the South which makes for good drama and contrast."

-Jim Harrison

Salmon Dance Anyone?!

OK...well since tomorrow I'll be stuck at work late, and busy packing once I'm home...I thought I'd say my farewells tonight...

We've got almost everything in the fly tying room...Finn in background...


And the boxes are mostly stocked. I'm spending a few more hours tonight, but for the most part we're geared in...


We've got a little of everything on the pack list...

There was some talk about taking floating Lake Michigan for some fresh fish, so Conklin's float tube is on it's way...and I even packed the 5 weight for some trout that maybe gorging on eggs...

I shall return Sunday, and should have pictures up by Monday...

Here we go boys...

SALMON CRAZY 2009

---
In other Salmon News...

Today marked the beginning of the season on the lower Salmon River in NY...STORY

And of course our "Get In The Mood" Music...

The chemical brothers - Salmon dance

Dinner From The Weekend...

I know I'm not the foodie that my wife is...however I feel compelled to share some TMT's cooking photo's...

Sushi Tuna

Sushi Tuna in a special Soy Mixture

Fresh Mako...in a tine foil "boat" prior to grilling...

Mako after the Grill...

Dinner Is Served...

Now that the "Petite Filet" is home...Dinner's are great again! However, we're happy to report that TMT was in charge of this FEAST....

Michigan = 3 Days!

NEW TOOL...

After going to see the IMAX film "Grand Canyon Adventure: River At Risk" (A Must See)...

we visited the Great Lakes Science Center Store, only to find the newest tool to our fly tying bench...

Called "Little Helper Magnifying Glass"

By Kikkerland

Looks great for holding flies and copying patterns...

Quote Of The Week...

"Honey...What would you like for dinner when you get home..."

-Amy gets quote of the week, as she made tremendous meals for TMT all week...


We love you babe...Here's to TMT fattening for the winter steelhead season!

World Record Brown Trout...

Working on getting more details...

Full Article from Detroit Free Press

Caught yesterday on Manistee yesterday...Fishing Shad Rap's for Kings...

Thanks to Mike for the scoop!

Steelhead Flies

I just stopped in at Chagrin River Outfitters too catch up with Dan who I haven't seen in a while...

Make sure to check out their reports/blogs in the coming weeks for weekly fly patterns and updates on the run's here in NE Ohio...

This Week's Pattern:

High Water Worm

Too Good For Words..

Found on MOLDYCHUM, I can't help but be embarrassed by our local news reporters...

One More...

THIS ARTICLE (again out of Seattle), covers the subject of best fly fishing destinations. While Forbes List (can be found in the article) listed off some rather nice stretches of water, the author is correct in assuming that 10 places just isn't enough...and never mind the "just trout" thing...

Aside from the article, it's a question I've never thought much about. I'm not a huge traveler with a fly rod since I'm still "green" of sorts, but it begs the question...what are your top 10 fly fishing destinations and why?

I'm gonna spend some time over the week making my list...and we'd love to hear your top ten list. E-mails work, or you can just reply to the post...

Specifics of course aren't needed...but just a feeler of the places we all call paradise...

Update on my list coming this week...

Major League Fly Fishing...

"Wakamatsu's big catch also got the attention of players in the clubhouse.

Ken Griffey Jr. wisecracked to reporters that they should ask Wakamatsu about the fish Griffey said the manager caught at Pike Place Market.

'I think I saw the price tag on it,' Griffey said."

Pretty cool article from a Seattle Paper...LINK HERE

Quote of the Week...LATE AGAIN

"Fly-fishers are usually brain-workers in society. Along the banks of purling streams, beneath the shadows of umbrageous trees, or in the secluded nooks of charming lakes, they have ever been found, drinking deep of the invigorating forces of nature - giving rest and tone to over-taxed brains and wearied nerves - while gracefully wielding the supple rod, the invisible leader, and the fairy-like fly."

~by James A. Hensall, MD, 1855~


With Amy getting home and settled...cough cough...over the last few days, I've been a bit...tied up...with other things...

So here's to more blogging and fly tying this week...possibly a fishing trip mixed in for good measure...

MICHIGAN IS 11 DAYS AWAY!!!

SIM FISHING

SCORE!

"FlySim is a full 3D, physics-based fly fishing game featuring accurate fly casting dynamics, multiple destinations, different types of fish, and realistic fish behavior. Practice overhead casting, roll casting, mending, dry and nymph fishing, and other fly fishing techniques. And if you catch the biggest fish, you will get your name on our trophy page."

LINK

Justin's Famous...

As they prepare for the derby, we pay close attention to the fishing reports from the MV...

And we see familiar faces...check out the link below to see more pics of Justin and others...

http://fishingthevineyard.blogspot.com/

originally seen @ chagrinriveroutfitters.blogspot.com

TIF

NEW EDITION