By Tim Romano

It's that time of year. You've got a couple more days to open an IRA, donate a non-working car, or simply write a check to your favorite charity to get that tax write-off you could probably use come April 15th.

While simply joining a conservation group like TU at the regular membership level is always an easy yearly donation, this year if you've got some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket and want to give to a great group of fishy like minded individuals -- TU is offering an exclusive rod/reel combo from the R.L. Winston Rod Company and Waterworks-Lamson for any individual wanting to sign up for a lifetime membership.

TU sent the set up for Deeter and I to play around with, and while I've yet to actually take it on the water I have been roaming the frozen tundra that is my neighborhood, throwing a hookless fly at cats and squirrels, and can attest to cast-ability of the rod not to mention the absolutely gorgeous finish of this thing. It seems perfect for pitching delicate dries, but versatile enough to chuck meaty streamers and seems to have a very smooth medium-fast action, which I really like.

By Tim Romano

After my usual slogging of the inter-webs I thought I'd share three entertaining videos today with the fly talk faithful. The first is called "Bulls on Top" from Shallow Water Expeditions. It's a season's worth of insane top-water Louisiana redfish eats, the second is a very strange, but gorgeous video of classic salmon flies from Ukraine and the third is a humorous look in time-lapse of fly inventory day at the Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig, Montana.

Enjoy

Bulls on top

By Kirk Deeter

With Santa set to take off in only a few short days, I know many of us fly anglers are shaking in our boots. We tried to be good all year, but we might have slipped now and then. Many of us simply don't know which list we're on, "naughty," or "nice."

Well I know Santa Claus. He's a friend of mine. In fact, we fish together (we usually make a tarpon junket to the Keys in May). And he told me what to watch for:

If you threw rocks in the river (or lake) when your buddy was fishing, that was naughty. If you took at least one person fly fishing who had never done so, that's an automatic spot on the nice list. Dropping a size #22 parachute Adams on the surface of your child's goldfish tank is naughty (even if you are on a carp kick).

By Kirk Deeter

I already have my 2012 New Year's resolutions. Most are the same as they always are (lose weight, swear less, knock a few strokes off my golf handicap, etc.). But I've made one fishing-specific addition: I resolve to make 2012 the Year of the Carp. By that, I mean, for every day I spend trout fishing or bass fishing, I intend to devote at least one day in pursuit of Old Rubberlips. I am absolutely serious about that.

I can see the comments already. Deeter, you have officially lost your mind (to which I say, "You're just now figuring that out?"). But there are solid reasons behind the plan.