Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Luck be a lady tonight

Not to come off as braggardly, but I've been pretty luck this past week or so. I've won not one but two contests on various blogs and and working on reaping the rewards of my hard not-work.

First off, Howard the Cofisher (not to be confused with Howard the Duck) over at Windknots and Tangled Lines had a contest on who can come up with a good ol' fishing app for the ipod-a-pad-a-phone. I threw something together and low and behold, I was one of the winners along with Luke and Owl Jones.  I won the Freshwater Flyfishing Tips by the Pros app and last I heard, Luke and Owl were having a bear shaving contest on who would get one of the other prizes, either a print by A Year on the Fly or a Wheatley Style English fly box. 


Then I was checking some emails and saw one from Brian Davis over at the Fishing Journal letting me know that I'd won 2 dozen flies. I shot off a thank you and my address (actually, I inadvertently deleted the email, posted on his blog,  he re-emailed me and then I shot it off.) If you've never been to Brian's site, stop on by and say hello. 


So in the coming weeks keep an eye out. I plan on doing a review of the app and a posting of the flies once received. 





Get a Hook Out - the British Way

Stumbled on this video on how to remove a barbed hook on someone else. Not sure how well it will work if your doing it on yourself, but it's worth a go.

Oh, an you may need to crank the volume in order to here what he's saying overtop of the crazy getup he's wearing.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Happy Memorial Day

While we're all chowing down on burgers and dogs today, let's take a moment to remember what this holiday is about, honoring out servicemen and women. We had this conversation at work yesterday on the meaning of different holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc) because some of the young-uns didn't know. Apparently these aren't the things that are taught in schools much now.

A few of us tried to explain that it's to honor those that sacrifice for our everyday freedoms. The service members that died in the Middle East over the past decade. Those in Korea and Viet Nam have disappeared with a trace. And, long a go, those that fought and died to create this nation in the first place.

My uncle service in the Marines and my great-grandfather was in the navy during WWII. My ex-es brother is currently in the Marines and I have a few buddies from high school that are currently serving as well. Thank you.

Feel free to thank anyone you know serving in the comments below. Stay safe today.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Night fishing, a couple firsts and Swamp Thing on a fly(with crappy photos!)

 I was up to late and up to early this morning(I guess technically it would be yesterday morning. Saturday. Whatever.) I worked a solid 8 hours, standing, in 90 degree temps. So on my way home what is it that I'm thinking of? Some night fishing at the lake, of course.

After getting home, getting showered so that I'm clean to get dirty, and driving past a guy wearing purple pants and on stilts (The roof of his car didn't even reach his waist!!!) I finally get to the lake at 10:15PM. I was a little worried that there might be a crowd, with the holiday weekend, but I only saw a handful of lights around the lake. I rig up at the van and head out.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Fly Fishing App

The wonderful Mr. Howard is having a contest over on his blog in correlation with Fishing our way across Colorado 50 days 2 writers. For the contest, you must post about what kind of fishing app you would create for an iPod/iPad. 


Before we get started, I will say that I do not own an iPod and I've used iPad and wouldn't waste my money. But to each his own. 


For the app...... I would design a Hatch Matcher. Actually, you would need two versions. With the earlier generation of iPad/iPods you would have an app that contains a database of images of insects in all stages of life. You could then compare an insect that you found streamside with one in the database to get a match. There would also be suggestions on what fly to use to match it. 


But, for the later generations of the iPod/iPad's that contain a camera, you could take a picture of the bug and, using image recognition technology, the  machine would be able to detect traits and chose which insect (or insects) that closely resemble the one that you took a picture of. And it would have the fly suggestions. 

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Tenkara fishing and the Magical Shrinking rod

When it rains it pours. And for once I'm not talking about the weather.  PA seems to be done with it's biblical flooding, at least for now. I'm talking about the kick to the ribs while your down that life gives us all every once in a while.

I will spare all from the boring details but I will mention the cherry on top; last night my wallet went MIA. My bank cards, my license, my permit to carry weapons, my Social Security card..... all the way of the dodo.

So I took off work and spent all day today canceling this card and getting another of that license and by then end my brain was swollen. And since I had an impromptu day off, I decided to spend the rest of it cursing at fish.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Fly of the Week: the Spotted Popper

Yes! The camera has been found sneaking around in my pack and we are back in business. This week I'm doing a popper. Now before you start ragging, yes I know it's not the best popper. It's probably not even mediocre. but it's my first one, so bugger off (I'm still not counting that one I tried to make from the wine cork. Man did that get ugly....) It is most defintely not on the par with this guys, but I'm pretty sure he's half cyborg to begin with.

Some Red Truck super deals

In the past year or so, Red Truck Fly Fishing seems to have shot from relative obscurity to a well known name in the fly fishing world. Lots of good gear with lots of good prices.

And those prices are, for a time, a lot better. Right now Red Truck is having their End of Summer Sale. Now I know what your thinking, "Who the f@#^% has an end of summer sale in May?!?" Apparently these guys do.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Super secret ninja things.

I've been hand picked (by myself via signing up on facebook) to be in a focus group for Montana Fly Company. We've been reviewing some top secret stuff and I'm excited to see some of the stuff that they're throwing out there.

I can't go into to much detail, on pain of death, but I can say that I would keep an eye on these guys.

On a personal note, you may have noticed that things have been a bit quiet in the Flyfishinado camp (or you haven't. That's cool too, I guess....) Well, I've had the good misfortune of picking up a part time job. While that's good news for Mr. Bankaccount, it's really digging into my time for Mr. Blog.

I'll post what I can, when I can, but if you don't hear from me for a few days on end, don't worry. I still got love for ya'lls. And I'm still looking for that damn camera.......

Tight lines, and I'm glad to see you on this side of Armageddon.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Fly of the Week ---postponed for technical difficulties.

Due to technical difficulties (i.e. losing my digital camera. It's within the house......somewhere)  I'm having to postpone the Fly of the Week.

In the interim, check out the fly library over at the North American Fly Fishing Forum. It's ridiculously extensive and a great place to get some fly candy.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Alpha II release

Those guys over at Allen Fly Fishing have been working on the Alpha II: "The Next Generation" (quotes are my own) for a couple of months. Well, the wait is finally over.

The Alpha II becomes available next Monday. I have two of the Allen reels and I can't say enough good things about them, especially in the price point that their products are at.

Maybe Justin will throw a few my way to be reviewed (yeah, breath being held) but until then, I will wait with the world to get a look at the new additions.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Fly of the Week postponed

I'm going to have to postpone the Fly of the Week for this week. This is the last week before finals and it's getting pretty "crunch time"-ish. I was going to quickly throw something together, but in all honesty it would be a very obvious half-ass patch effort. So instead of putting out some crap, I'll plow through this week and come back alive and kicking next week with some thoughtful and laborious badly tied flies.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

For all those Ohio fishers

The Ohio DNR Division of Wildlife is conduction a survey for the Mad River so that they can find a better magic wand to manage the trout population.

Whenever you fish the Mad, just head over to the link down yonder and fill out a report.


www.mvff.us



Saturday, May 7, 2011

Support Project Healing Waters via the Cofisher

Howard Johnson of the restaurant and hotel fame, aka Cofisher, posted a blog regarding helping out Project Healing Waters with a "custom order rod, built exclusively for Fly Fishing Crazy, by the TL Johnson Rod Company. "


This is a very good cause, but I will with hold repeating the same info and just send you over to the posting


And while there, I recommend the pancakes. 

Recycled Fish Membership

I blogged a week or two ago about the Sportsman's Stewardship Pledge  from Recycled Fish and signing up for this non-for profit organization. You can also become a member with varying degrees of membership correlated to the amount of money you donate.

I opted for the $25 membership that included the membership kit as well as a free T-shirt. I received my kit in the mail yesterday and, after making sure that I wasn't the target of a bin Laden retribution move from Al Qaeda, I opened it up and gazed at my plunder.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Swinging big rods.

Yea, I know. The title of the post could go in several directions, each more low-brow than the last. But thankfully we're talking about fly rods.

I took the 11' Cabela's rod I scooped up over the weekend out for a trial cast at one of our local lakes, Blue Marsh. Blue Marsh was created by the Army Corp of Engineers in the 70's as a way to stop the flooding of the Tulpehocken (not really sure how to spell that one, we call it the Tully.) And how do you stop the flooding of a stream? You flood a valley, of course!

MidCurrent Fly - a new look.

MidCurrent Fly Fishing just launched the redesign of their site. It's a nice clean and simple design that works well with the style of the site. I really like the slideshow on the photography page, I might have to go and swipe that for a "client."

If you've never checked them out, click the link below and head on over. And don't forget to subscribe, nothing better than info that will track you down so it can be seen.

MidCurrent Fly Fishing


Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Fly of the Week: the Purple Plopper

Wow, did Wednesday sneak up on me. Here is a flymph that I came up with. You can treat it up and float it like a dry or you can add a little weight to the leader and fish it under the surface as an emerger. If using as a dry, it's pretty big so it will "plop" into the water, getting those trouts attention (and if done right, not spook them.)

Oh, and sorry about the bad photo. This one was the least worse and I decided to quit while I was ahead.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

God Bless the Big Box

I made a trip up to Cabela's today to nose around and grab some popper bodies. For some reason I have it in my head to start tying poppers. I don't think I've ever fished a popper before, but I want to tie up a few for panfish and some bass. Spread my horizons and all that junk.

Casting for recovery - fly donations

I'm going to repeat a posting that I found on Fishing Journal because I think it's such a great cause.

Ever hear of Casting for Recovery? If not, they are a non-profit organization that teaches women that are recovering from cancer how to fly fish. Like most non-profits, they fund themselves with donations. What is unique about CfR is that they take not just monetary donations but donations of the fly variety. They have a list of flies that they are looking for to distribute to the women that the help.

So if your a tier, why not send them a dozen or so flies? I know that I am.