TFM does the Island

The Carp and Smallmouth fishing around Beaver Island is Crazy good in July and The Fiberglass Manifesto is hosting a outing over on the Island in July. Coincidental?  I dont think so. Grab your Spot with TFM because spots are filling Quick.

Sculpins...It's whats for Dinner

Of all creatures that live in and around rivers and lakes Sculpins seem to be a pretty solid food base for most fish.Around beaver Island in Northern Michigan,lake sculpins are a great target for smallmouth and carp,along with The round goby.This pattern is just he ticket when it comes to any fish that will eat goby s or sculpins, for carp and smallmouth I would tie this with very little or no flash at all, for steelhead I will add 6 or so strands of copper flashabou and swing it. I call it the Frankenstein Sculpin,because of the features of different sculpin patterns wrapped into one.

Bluegrass and steelhead

Ethan Smith over at Fiddle and Creel, has a great write up on our day spent earlier this year on the Pere Marquette. Ethan is a cool dude and turns out some top notch gear at Smith fly. Give it a read .

I came across this while reading the TU blog the other day, Now I'm looking for his book to read. Aldo Leopold- A sand county almanac. Sounds like a great read.

Happy Birthday Aldo Leopold

Simple Times

I was going through my picture files the other day and came across these little gems.Funny how much simpler fishing was back then. My dad and i would fish every chance that we could, which was basically everyday, when i would get out of school pops had the boat ready and we were off.. He worked alot providing a great childhood for my sister and I, but one thing was for sure, he never left me on the porch when it was time to fish. Seeing these pictures makes me realize one thing........MAN! I miss the simple times ...and my Hair!

The river

Weather-awesome

Water color- slight stain,perfect

Water temp- 34 degrees with slight rise

Fish numbers- good, the whole river system has fish

Tactics- fly rod or spin cast

Baits-Egg flys stone flys and hex nymphs

Get out there and fish this weekend, great fish numbers and slight traffic makes this January thaw a perfect chance.

Carpa Grande

In only Six short months I will be cruising the flats of Beaver Island, hunting  for its giant carp and Smallmouth and though I seldom get ready for any season earlier than a few day before, some unwanted free time has allowed me to really start getting stocked up on flys. With all my steelhead flys tied I figured I would start my carp and smallmouth boxes.Here is one that i am really excited about its mottled look and sculpin head this will certainly take it to the carp and smallies up on the Island.

carpa grande 

Hook-Mustad c52s

Head-Small sculpin helmet

Tail- two different colored marabou

Body- two different Ice dub and mallard flank 

Forward fin-Small mallard flank

When tying this pattern after tying in tail start with 2 small clumps of dubbing then Palmer mallard flank then add another 2 clumps of off colored or darker dubbing then more mallard this will add to the mottled look of this fly, making dubbing clumps larger as you go further.

Steelhead Jigs

Kevin and I had the pleasure to fish with Gabe Hillebrand from HillBrand tackle and Matt Straw from In-Fisherman earlier this year for steelhead. Here is the small write up from the In-Fisherman blog for your enjoyment. Steel on hair

 and so it begins

What a life

Last few days sure were a lot of fun. Steelhead fishing almost all week and then a weekend trip down to Indianapolis for Flymasters cabin fever show. Great turn out and I got to see some Clients,old and new.More fun than one person should have. Big thanks to Ian from Flymasters for the invite down to show. Dave Hosler from Pile Cast...Dude, Great choice of spirits, thanks!I owe you one, and of course Scott and Barb for putting us up for a couple days, always a blast.

Smith Fly gear

Smith Fly has built a gear bag  that in my opinion is above and beyond the best on the market, I own these bags and work the hell out of them day after day and i just cant kill it! the zippers have yet to fail ,the webbing on these bags are strong and solid and the rubberized bottom means I can throw this bag in the floor of my boat and not worry .Not only are these bags tough there made in the USA. You can find these bags around the Midwest at select shops or you can just go here http://www.smithfly.net