Do it yourself Goo tool

Let me start out by saying I have no idea how much a small brush tool costs, so this could be a total waste of time (not much) for many.  I don't have such a tool, so the other night I was searching for something to use to move the Goo around before curing and also something to help me brush it through the body materials.  I managed to find a household product that worked really well after a slight modification.  Check out the 3 step process below.

New to the Goo

The CCG Kit and Brushable.

I'm late to the party on this one, but I finally got a chance to bust open that USPS Priority Mail package I've been staring at all week and give the Clear Cure Goo a first try last night. I bought the kit and a bottle of the brushable (seen above).

I kept it simple with a few crystal flash shrimp and polar fiber minnows, but I got to use the Goo for building both bodies and heads. No surprise here, this stuff is sweet. It stays the same consistency that leaves the tube for a long time so you can actually move it around and get it where you want, then it cures instantly when you zap it with the light. I can say goodbye to the styrofoam cups lined with curing flies I guess.

Fishing nice with others

I used to fish alone. A lot. Almost exclusively.  But over the past few years I've branched out and fished more with others and while contemplating who to call for this weekend's outing it got me thinking about how much I've learned from other fishermen. Everyone I fish with has different strengths and weaknesses and I learn something from each of them. Ideas about fishing "together" vary too.  Some like to split up and cover lots of water. Others want to alternate pools and runs or switch off when a fish is caught. I have my own preferences, but it's all good with me.


Looking back it's pretty clear that the more I have fished with other people the better I have gotten at convincing a fish to eat my fly. It's kind of crazy how much you absorb, good and bad.

Here's a few things I try to remember to help me fish nice with others:

1) Try to actually fish together. Don't just ride together.
2) Don't make it a pissing contest. Some days you're just luckier (or less lucky) than the other guy. No need to be an asshole about it.
3) Forget what I said in #2 and talk as much trash as possible. If they do something stupid, be sure to ridicule them and don't forget to remind them about it hours later in front of friends and family.
4) When you're not up, do try to stay out of the way of the moving fly. Pay attention to what they're trying to do and stay close enough you can lend a hand with the net or snags.
5) Offer ideas (but not too many) and ask for the same.

I've made a lot of good friends out of acquaintances thanks to fly fishing. I'm sure lots of other folks out there have too.

Waders for the little guy

 

My three year old son and I both love to be outside. We especially love to be around a creek or river fishing, throwing rocks and sticks, or just generally splashing around. He's especially fond of mud.

I've been looking for a pair of toddler waders and I finally came across a pair from Oakiwear that looked like a good fit for the forest and farm. At size 4T/5T they're small enough he can use them now, while providing some room for growth. I really think we can get two summers out of them, which is probably about all you can expect from any youth gear. After that he'll have to upgrade and pass these down to little sis.

Snowy slam

After a few weeks with no fishing, I needed a good day on the water. I got that Saturday afternoon as snow showers started to push across Western NC. When said snow showers cut short a family outing in Pisgah National Forest and both kids fell asleep on the way home, I jumped at the chance to switch cars, grab the gear and get a solid 1.5 hours of fishing on the middle Davidson before dark. The scenery was great and the fishing was good. 7 or so fish in 90 minutes and a completed slam (pics below).  The browns liked the olive woolly bugger while the brook and rainbows preferred the size 16 flashback pheasant tail.

Next weekend it's back to Charleston to chase redfish again with the guys at Lowcountry Fly Shop if the weather will hold out.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The Rogue Stonefly

Any fly tying video that lasts under 3 minutes is a win in my book.  This pattern gets bonus points for being super buggy and giving me another opportunity to use the shaggy/wiggle dub.  I'll definitely be tying up some of these for use in the near future.

Nice work by The Rogue Fly.


Rogue Stonefly from The Rogue Fly on Vimeo.

Morning Escape via The Drake

After a few weeks at home with the family for the holidays, it was time to get back on the road for work yesterday.  It always seems to be more difficult in the new year.  Once the typical delays and few cups of coffee were behind me, I settled in for the two hour trip north that has become second nature.  But this flight was different.