Dear Readers, all 7 of you, 8 if we count my dear mother,
I've been doing some readin', writin' and arhythmaddict.
I've been on the road. I've been ridin' the interstates across the United States. I've been interviewing boat builders. I've been trying to interview a famous fly fishermen that did some stunt casting in the movie A River Runs Through It for future articles.
Continue reading: Readin' Writin' & Rhythm
Finding wooden drift boat plans was easy! There are plenty out there to choose from. So many in fact, that a person, namely me, could go on drooling over them for 10 years easy but I've decided I don't have that kind of time. I've narrowed the list down to three potential sources for wooden drift boat plans.
I plan to build a home made wooden drift boat this spring. I first admitted publicly to this deep seated desire of mine a couple of articles ago. You can find it here, on the post about Building A Wooden Boat. My wife calls it wood boat lust. Whatever. I say the couple that mahoganies a boat together, manogomies a life together. She rolled her eyes and mumbled something about wishing the same could be said about mahogany furniture shopping. Personally, I think the dining room table we have now is just fine. Don't lean too hard on that far corner, I still need to fix that broken leg.
Since posting that piece, I've been searching out some plans and boat designs. I have been in contact with several plan providers and boat builders. I've narrowed the list down to three potential sources for my plans. They have all given me permission to use photos and quotes from their websites. All nice folks. You'll get to know a little more about them in just a minute.
Continue reading: Finding Wooden Drift Boat Plans
Free Trout Fishing Flies, Well, Almost!
At full retail, you could expect to pay Orvis at least $2.00/fly. Not today. Today you can have this entire assortment for only $9.95. I'm not trying to sound like an infomercial here but these are great flies for only 50 cents each and you get free shipping too! It's a SWEET deal!
I have bought flies from Orvis in the past. They have always been well tied flies using good materials. I also bought one of my favorite fly reels, the Orvis Battenkill Mid Arbor, from them. Love that reel.
Orvis is a great source for fly fishing tackle.
If you have never been to The Orvis Website , you should give it a try. If you have been there or are already a customer there, you know what I mean. Not only can you find just about anything you need as far as flyfishing tackle goes, but they also have some great informational pages. For example, the story on Rosenbauer's Rabbit's Foot Emerger and Parachute.
Another thing about Orvis - They spend a great deal of money every year to help with environmental issues, stream rehabilitation projects and outdoors education. I like that about them. Check out their Conservation Efforts Page and see for yourself.
Continue reading: Orvis 20 Most Popular Trout Flies Cheap!
Home Built Wooden Boat Plans
Building a wooden boat is something I have been day dreaming of doing for a long, long time. I have decided it's time to build my own boat. I've owned several boats, but I've always wanted to build my own. I am going to do it, and I am going to share the process here. I hope.
I mean I intend to build one. Not just any boat. I'm going to build a wooden drift boat. For fly fishing. If nothing goes wrong, I will build it.
If I build it, it will come, to these pages. Here's a photo of the type of wooden boat I'm interested in building. This shot comes from the pages of Montana Boatbuilders website. Aren't they beautiful?
Continue reading: Building A Wooden Boat
This make it yourself fly rod rack is very simple, very effective and very inexpensive. Check it out.
I was out on the back deck, stringing up a new rod for a client when I heard that familiar sound of a fly rod sliding down the wall that it had been leaned up against. I turned around just in time to see it fall to the ground as the cringing owner was making a lunge for it. Too late.
Didn't appear to hurt the rod any this time, but if it had fallen on the edge of a rock or caught the corner of a window frame, it could easily have been damaged to the point of needing repair before using again.
I once saw a graphite rod slide down a wall like that and then get stepped on by it's owner as he was trying to catch it during the fall. I decided I needed to come up with some kind of a rod rack that would keep assembled flyrods out of harm's way out on the back deck. I know there are a huge number of fishing rod racks available out there but I couldn't find one to suit me.
I didn't want a free standing rack because that would take up too much room on the deck. I didn't have a good place for a wall mounted rack, too many windows and doors. I started looking at the deck rail.
Yeah, I needed something that I could put on the rail, out of the way, that would keep the rods standing up. Several ideas came and went before I settled on a concept. I could use the deck railing to hold the reel end of each rod, but still needed something to put the tips into up higher.
Continue reading: Fly Rod Rack Project
I love to give gifts. I hate to go shopping.
I don't like to go shopping for gifts. I like to go buying. What I mean is, I hate to go to a store and wander around aisle after aisle without something specific in mind. Every time I do that, I find myself walking in circles like an adventurer with a broken compass. It seems as if every aisle starts to look the same, just like trees in the forest. Searching, hoping something will catch my eye and shout "Hey, you! Mr. clueless lost man! Buy me! I'm the perfect thing. BUY MEEEeeee!!!!" Nope, I hate that part. I like to have a pretty good idea of what I want to buy for someone long before I go to a store. Once I know what I want, I'll go to a store, inspect the item up close and if it suits my expectations, I make the purchase. Hopefully they gift wrap because that is another thing I'm not fond of doing.
Seeing as how Valentine's Day is just around the corner, I'm taking some advice from a blogger friend of mine. Her name is Meridith and her family likes to fly fish. She sometimes writes about it on her website about Brentwood, TN. Check it out. She gave me the idea about putting together a list of Valentine's Day gift ideas for fly fishermen/women. That got me to thinking about fly fishing oriented gifts I have been given. Some good, some well intentioned but not so good. The beautiful and the ugly. Here's a list of 10 ideas that cover both ends of the map. In this list you'll find fly fishing gifts under $10 to over $1000. To my fellow shopping haters, quit walking in circles with that dazed look in your eyes. Here, my gift-seeking adventurers, is your compass.
These is a list of 7 products I really like and 3 that I could have lived without. I hope you find it useful.
Continue reading: Interesting Fly Fishing Gifts
"Ron, I'm no expert but if you want me to, I think I can help you with your cast." he said. He put it as politely as anyone could have. It was the first day I had met the man face to face and he has become one of my finest friends. Everybody calls him Dan, so I do too.
I first met Dan on a fly fishing website where folks would post fishing reports and share tips and techniques. We wrote back and forth several times and eventually planned a day's fishing together. We met on the banks of the Caney Fork river, strung up our rods and waded into the river to a spot he knew well. He'd been catching lots of rainbow and brown trout in the area and said it should be a good day. I was pumped. I was also a little nervous. It was my first time fly fishing.
Fast-forward about two hours into the morning. I watched him catch and release at least a half dozen fish as I struggled to get my fly in front of a feeding trout. I'd whip my rod back and forth a few times and let my fly splash down. Usually way too short of the target, usually with a big splash that would spook any trout within 20 yards. It was often in a tangled mess, more often amidst a tangled mess of expletives mumbled barely under my breath. I was standing waist deep in a river of frustration and he could tell it was getting to me. He let me struggle a while trying to figure it out on my own then offered his assistance in a quiet, unassuming way that belies his skill and expertise.
Continue reading: First Fly Casting Lesson
You are just about ready to go fishing...
Aside from a few practice casts, all you need now is to tie on a fly.
Continue reading: Fly Fishing Flies - How To Determine Which Ones You Need
You've got your rod and reel and fly line. Next you need to have a leader tied to the end of your fly line.
What Is A Leader?
A leader is usually more like regular old fishing line you may be familiar with. It's usually clear and tapered. Thick at the butt end, which is the end you connect to the fly line and much thinner at the terminal, or tippet end. They are tapered to help transfer the casting energy and present the fly properly. They call it turning over the fly.
The terminal end is where you tie either a fly or some tippet material depending on the type of fishing you will be doing and the type of water you will be working. You can buy leaders in many lengths. The most common two are probably 9 feet and 7 1/2 feet. I use longer leaders in waters that run more clear and with smaller flies. Leaders run from simple single strand mono-filament to multi stranded affairs called furled leaders. I've never used a furled leader, but some folks swear by them. I'll find one and try it and report back. Now then, let's talk about tippet.
Continue reading: Fly Fishing Tippet And Leader
Now you've got a rod and reel, it's time to string it up! You're going to need some fly line and some backing.
Read on and get ready to rig up!
Continue reading: Choosing Fly Line
Salmon Fly Fishing Tips