Big day on Saturday. I tie the knot. So first and foremost, I just wanted to let everyone know not to expect to hear from me for a while. As of Tuesday, I'll be in Turks & Caicos for my honeymoon. I really look forward to romantic sunset strolls, frosty pina coladas, snorkeling, and...let me see...what else? Oh yeah. Bonefish. Lots and lots of bonefish.

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So I’ve recently become a pick-up truck owner. I've only had SUVs in the past, but given the nature of my hobbies, I finally decided that a pick-up was more practical in many ways. I only had one problem: I couldn’t stand laying rods in the bed with them hanging over the tailgate. I’ve just seen too many sticks get snapped or lose guides that way. So I began to tinker.

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I'm on my way to the Everglades for a few days of high adventure, camping, kayaking and hopefully catching some snook, redfish, and/or tarpon.  Every time I go saltwater fishing, however, I bring a baitcaster along.  I'd rather catch a fish on a pinfish in dirty water, than get stuck with just a fly rod when the fly thing isn't happening.  And sometimes it doesn't happen.  

Now... in trout fishing, I actually believe that a fly floated the right way is deadlier than any old lure... and I'm just not going to bait fish for trout, no matter what.  I haven't fished garden hackle in years, and I simply can't and won't go there.

But I can turn into a downright bait-chucking, heavy metal-chucking monster in the salt, in a relative hurry.

Is this wrong?  Should I just man up and stick to the "fly or die" ideal, even in the saltwater?  Or is fishing about catching, and all is fair game?

Not that you'll change my attitude (or actions) in the next few days... but I am interested in your opinions.

Deeter  [ Read Full Post ]

Admittedly it's not for everyone, but I'm guessing most of you have dreamt up your dream rod. You know, the one you've sketched out on a napkin waiting for your buddies at the bar... The one with high tech corrosion free components, nickel silver options, burled hardwoods, and agate stripping guides.

Or perhaps you like a certain model but would rather remove the hook keeper, or just switch the size of your grip. Scott Rods new custom shop offers you choices on tons of their blanks and gives you options on grips, reel seat, spacers, fighting butt, winding check, hook keepers, stripping guide, snake guides, wrap, trim, inscription, measuring wraps, cases, etc... You can even view your rod as you're building it.

I recently had them build me a fiberglass one weight for my wife to my specifications. It was our first anniversary in September and I thought a glass 1 - wt. with a personalized inscription would be perfect for the occasion. She loved it. Now I just have to hope she isn't expecting a rod size up every year... 

What's even cooler...

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Every now and then I dabble in the dangerous editorial waters of trying to write about subjective topics like the Best Fishing Towns in America... which usually makes me a temporary chamber of commerce hero in a few places, and a full-blown idiot in others (I'm not bringing this up to remind the good folks of Cody, Wyoming, to re-start the E-mail campaign)...

So now I'm going to share the heat.  I'm interested in how the Fly Talk Nation would rank the best fly fishing STATES in America.

Oh, I have some opinions, but don't let them sway you.  Feel free to agree or disagree and mix in a few of your own (as if that's ever been an issue).

Highlighting my list would be:

Florida. Pros: Think about all the myriad species to be caught on the fly in Florida, from tarpon and snook, to bass and panfish.  Fly fishing isn't, after all, only about trout.  Cons: You cannot catch trout on a fly in Florida, and despite what I just said, the best fly fishing state should at least offer some trout fishing, yes?

Montana.  Pros: Wild, brawling rivers, beautiful fish, a strong fly-cultural tradition, and wide-open spaces made available by enlightened stream... [ Read Full Post ]

That’s a tough question, and some of the answers I’ve gotten over the years might surprise you.

There’s no question that all the media buzz around pro-bass anglers and their tournaments has made them hugely visible. Put really big bucks into a fishing contest, and the television cameras will roll. But is it the fish that count? Or is it the money?

A few weeks ago I had a long talk with Denny Brauer, a true gentleman and one of the best-known of all the pro-bass guys. I asked him about the question-and-answer sessions he sometimes gets into with regular fisherman, including young ones.

So what kind of questions does he get? “People want to know how to get sponsors,” he told, rolling his eyes a little. “Or, where do I get a shirt like that?” Notably, questions about how to fish more successfully or which lures to use under what conditions aren’t at the top of the list.

It seems to me that people are buying into the marketing. And marketing is not fishing. But what do you think? [ Read Full Post ]

I'd have caught that scum-scum sucking pig rainbow trout if...

I'd have done what jvento suggested:

"Size up to an 18 non-parachute pattern and keep the emerger on. Cast and play the waiting game. Let him find your fly instead of presenting it in front of him."

Play the waiting game.  That is the key, I think.  I've replayed the situation over and over, and have thought I cast too much... should have found a pocket of clear water, placed the fly, and waited.  I think that might have worked.

So, as the scum-sucking pig contest winner, jvento wins a Temple Fork fly rod. Not too shabby.  Hit me, jvento, at kirk@anglingtrade.com, and I'll send it out to you, but not for a couple weeks (I'm on my way from the Bahamas, to Montana, to the Everglades... more on those adventures to follow...)

Deeter [ Read Full Post ]

It's been a while since we've announced some winners for the last couple of caption contests. Sorry about that... On the line were a new Buff and a Petzl headlamp. Below are the images and captions/winners that won us over. As usual there were quite a few good ones and making the decision was tough, but here are the winners. Please email me and I'll get you prizes sent out.

The winner of the Buff was

 The Armchair Ou... wrote 2 weeks 3 days ago

Man, I know I've always said our state's game management program was in the toilet, but this is ridiculous!

The winner of the headlamp...

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Let’s talk fishing knives. Everybody has at least one; many will have several. And it’s a sure bet these knives are as varied as fishermen themselves.

The idea for this topic came up last Wednesday, when I posted about the list of things I needed to bring on board my boat. One reader suggested a serious rescue-style knife to be carried on one’s person at all times. A good idea. The Spyderco Atlantic Salt shown here is one such--the heavy duty serrated blade will cut through ropes and lines quickly anytime a tangle means imminent disaster. One-hand opening is a plus.

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From BYMnews.com:

"Not since the 1970s have we seen a single-year increase in fishing license sales like we've seen so far in 2009," said ASA President and CEO Mike Nussman.

"When the index moves by just a tenth of a point, 40,000 anglers have entered or quit sportfishing. Considering the typical angler spends $176 a year on just fishing tackle alone, and contributes over $40 annually to conservation via license dollars and excise taxes, a small change in the index represents big changes on the ground," said Nussman.

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Just yesterday, Merwin posted a blog on essential items you should never forget to bring out on a boat. I might have a new essential item if the Bheestie Bags I received the other day do what they're supposed to.

I have a terrible history of ruining electronic devices on fishing trips. I've burned I don't know how many phones, a hand-held GPS, and most recently, $2,000 worth of video and still-camera equipent when some high-salinity water found its way into my dry bag. I baked all the gear on the dashboard of a fellow angler's truck, but it didn't matter. It was trashed. That was in Texas, and I had to waste a whole fishing day driving 67 miles in the lodge truck to the closest Best Buy. What can I say? I'm dedicated to my craft and wasn't going home without a video.

Though there are all sorts of tricks for saving wet electronics (salt, bag of rice, etc.), Bheestie Bags weigh nothing, travel easily, and are loaded with beads that are supposed to draw water out like no other and hold it there without re-wetting the... [ Read Full Post ]