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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Enjoy.....

the end of the world tomorrow everyone.