Sunday, February 28, 2010

Blogger Needed...

Want to help a great blogger grow?! Check out Chicago Trout Bum's latest quest to find a partner in crime...

David is a great guy/angler/blogger. Be sure to check out the blog, and if you're qualified to join the team, be sure to apply...

LINK TO POST AND HOW TO APPLY...

#32's

Finally got the balls to throw one in the vice...

Hook...

Baetis...variation anyways...

#32 Midge next to a #16 caddis...

***Sorry for the crap shots...was too lazy to pull out the tri-pod for a camera that doesn't have a macro-lense yet...in the works hopefully...

Steelhead Season 2009 - Week 22

Well another week of non fishing…though things maybe changing here shortly…

Some water opened up for a short period of time earlier in the week…and CRO (Link to their report) was able to get out for a few fish…but things quickly deteriorated with some high water…

Regular temps near the 40 mark should end the week…and hopefully the rain will follow with some swollen rivers. There should be some scouting hopefully in the next week or so…Until then, we pull out the vice and wish…

Thursday, February 25, 2010

If Your Life Is As Boring As Mine...

Build a Rod...

"It's ironic that technology has taken us, as a society, away from much of the hunter/gatherer skills needed to survive, but at the same time it has given us the tools to pursue those skills as a casual recreation."
















FULL LINK

From Seacoast Online (RJ Mere)

Olympic Spokesman

Congrats to Johnny Spillane for his 3rd Silver Medal of the games…you’ve done the sport well...though we can't help but hope that fly fishing is your true passion...













LINK - NBC

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

What If...Fly Fishing Olympics...

Courtesy of Field & Stream Blog (Deeter?)..."Who Would Win Fly Fishing Olympic Gold?"...

"Of course, it wouldn't be an Olympics unless there were several sports on the schedule that only Americans really do, so we can pad our medal total (e.g. snowboarding). So let's just say the Yanks sweep the medals in bass plug popping, wet-wading a river obstacle course in Keen sandals, and saying "dude... nice fish... pretty colors" most often in the free-fish long program, which counts for 3/4 of the total score. But watch out, the South Koreans and Chinese will create stringent training programs with respective crops of 17,000 four-year-olds and dominate these events in 16 years."

Full link...little interesting...

Monday, February 22, 2010

Some East Coast Action...

May not be in the lime light...but a must see none the less...

Trials and tribulations of fishing the East Coast...by Grey Ghost Productions...



While the site is under production...be sure to keep checking into http://greyghostproductions.com/

Steelhead Season 2009 - Week 21

Temps have steadily increased…opening up some faster water…

Though today’s rains should help…

Weeks coming up are looking to bring in fresh fish, and open things up…


In the meantime, Finn appreciated some "tying" this weekend...braid makes excellent "recovery" thread...me repairing "baby"...(no doubt dubbed by Amy...)...


Ok...my blog officially blows...

Thursday, February 18, 2010

With Love...

While we all endure the cold…and rank of being the most miserable city in the country (Slide #2)…that’s right, click through and we’re #1…

Anyways, Mike just got the picture back from one of his customers…someone who had something to say about his articulated rainbow pattern…
















8lbs of piggy love from Arkansas…

Picture courtesy of Streamside Custom Rod & Guide Service out of MI. Check out the site for some other pictures of pigs from both AK and MI...

He does love the custom patterns, but check our some of his stocked flies on the site...Anglers Choice Flies...

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Floating Colorado...

A bill that could make alot of Colorado's rivers and streams inaccessable to non-land owners...

"He said Lewis Shaw, the private property owner on the Taylor River who is trying to develop an exclusive residential fly-fishing enclave — free of rafts on the river — has hired two powerful lobbyists to try to kill the bill."


from Aspen Dail News...and Brent Gardner-Smith...

Donny Beaver anyone?

FULL LINK

More Sick Footage...

From RA Beattie's OFF THE GRID...found on http://www.busterwantstofish.com/...


chasing hatches from RA Beattie on Vimeo.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Fly Fishing...Olympics...

Human Interest Story via Field and Stream's Blog...

"Nordic combined matches the grace and skill of ski jumping (perhaps the original winter "extreme" sport), with the gut-wrenching stamina of cross-country skiing. A medal finish in Nordic combined had, through 20 Winter Olympics, remained one of the last unfilled achievements in our nation's vaunted Olympic tradition. And unlike in other sports where high-dollar endorsement deals and relaxed rules on professional participation (e.g. hockey), Nordic combined athletes have to scratch and claw by various means to support their training. In Johnny's case, that included working as a fly fishing guide on the Yampa River and other waters in northern Colorado. Taught to fish by his father, Jim, Johnny (29) lists fly fishing among his favorite summertime pursuits, and he is an aficionado and collector of fly rods. Apparently, now he is into collecting Olympic hardware also."

FULL LINK

Want to book a trip with Johnny?! Book through Steam Boat Fly Fisher...

Johnny is a patient, fun and tremendously knowledgeable guide. He catches fish in areas where most wouldn't even try, as he is a creatie and thorough angler. A Steamboat native, Johnny is very familiar with the vast fishing options in Northwestern Colorado. When not on the river or bow hunting in the woods, you'll find Johnny training for his "day job", leading the Nordic Combined US Ski Team. Soon to be a four time Olympian and a past World Champion, Johnny is a driven athlete with a passion for the outdoors.


















Link to his bio (along with others) from Steam Boat Fly Fisher...

Bristol Bay Update...

Straight from the Chum...stated perfectly...

"The companies seeking to develop the massive Pebble mine prospect in Southwest Alaska have agreed to pay a $45,000 fine to the state for unauthorized use of water at their drilling sites.

LINK (Via:The Anchorage Daily News)

During a recent public debate in Dillingham about the proposed mine, Pebble Partnership CEO John Shively announnced they would not be applying for permitting in 2010. Prior statements by mine management indicated that they would apply for permitting late in 2010. Shively also stated that he is, "not convinced that they have a project that environmentally works."

Alaska Public Radio has a report on the debate. LINK


Thanks to Moldy Chum For The Update...FULL LINK TO CHUM'S POST...


Steelhead Season 2009 - Week 20

Ice blows…or at least we hope it blows out soon…

Nada in the way of reports…and with Schmidt’s first weekend off from shows…things aren’t looking good…

Anyways, this is how tough the time off the water has been…I’ve cleaned some of the most sacred areas in my house…



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WAY TOO CLEAN...

Hopefully this shit ends soon…REAL SOON…

Now it’s time to go enjoy the Olympics…

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Trout Hall Of Fame...

And Dave Whitlock is the first angler to be inducted...

FULL ARTICLE (Baxter Bulletin, by: Deb Peterson)

“The National Trout Hall of Fame is to be housed in the new 6,500 square-foot Trout Nature Center, still in idea-development stage, at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center at Arkansas State University Mountain Home.”

RIP

Having enjoyed the show "Deadliest Catch" through my college years, it’s hard not to be saddened by the passing of Captain Phil Harris. A regular captain on the show, he was always showing his hard ass, take no shit kind of attitude. We’re sad to see him go, and hope that his legend lives on…


God Bless…

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Hatches Magazine...Schmidt's Article

What doesn't this guy do...

Make sure to check our Mike's new article in Hatches Magazine "Wet Fly Heads by Mike Schmidt" (LINK). it covers how to easily tie in a wet fly head (although you can manipulate it for various other flies as well). Some great macro shots are included to help give a visual...















Don't forget to check out his link on the sidebar...ANGLERS CHOICE FLIES

Monday, February 8, 2010

Steelhead Season 2009 - Week 19

Well another fishless week for this sorry bastard...

It's killing me. Not that it shows much...I’ve been neglecting the habit like I’m trying to drop it but honestly I’m not…

More details of this neglect will be coming in the future months…and it should make some sense…I promise…

OK…enough with the philosophical shit...

Fishing this week picked up over the weekdays (as usual), though it was nothing more then some fish found within some open pockets and holding water. Justin was able to nymph up a few takers earlier in the week. Things were good till Friday night when temps dropped, and open water took cover below the icy surface. A bit of snow helped ensure that any water that maybe open would slush over…

None the less, it’s good to hear that the fish are still being found in the rivers. More cold temps and snow storms this week may mean no fishing days…but we’re hopeful Punxsutawney Phil was dead wrong…and that spring is right around the corner…

Anyways, with work being a HUGE PRICK this week…we will hope for better days…

To end the boring report, we bring you more videos…funny...

Montana: Big Sky, Big Fish, & Big Winds. from Gabe Lopez on Vimeo.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Large Stripe On A Trout Rod...

"'Catching a 21-pound striper on a 5-weight rod is quite an accomplishment in my book,' Bridgess said."

LINK

Huh?

Monday, February 1, 2010

Steelhead Season 2009 - Week 18

We had our various HIGHS (water), and LOWS (temps) this week. Sunday's typhoon broke up all of the ice...finally...

But before anything fished, we were back in a deep freeze...

Check out CRO's BLOG for some updated pics from the last week. Dan was able to find a few hours of fishable water Thursday...

Anyways, we're in the deep freeze again, so it looks like it's back to cleaning paint brushes, and patching holes in walls...

Nothing is looking up either, so we'll work on some ties this week...

You Tube surfing coughed up this beauty tonight...

Sleeping In The Dirt Rag #1...SCORE!!!


3 words...

A-MAZE-ING...wait...what?