CARF Outdoors: 2019

Showing posts with label 2019. Show all posts

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Final Hops & Hoppers of 2019

Tuesday December 17th marked the last Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop Hops & Hoppers open tie night of 2019 at Lake Monster Brewing in Saint Paul. The turn out to these open fly tying events is usually good, and there's a lot of diverse fly Tyers that attend to tie flies, drink craft beer or soda, and talk about past and future fishing trips. It's also a great excuse to escape the house and shake off the cabin fever if ice fishing or winter trout fishing is not your thing.

Lucas Gluesenkamp aka Strange Bugs sits amazed that a ziplock baggie appeared on Jim's vise.

Lucas Gluesenkamp whipping up some bass bugs that are not strange.

Bobby Regan lining up some feathers

I cannot remember the last time I brought my vise to an open tie. I've learned over the years, that I never tie flies at these things, and I spend more time taking photos and talking to others. I'm okay with that. I prefer to tie my mop flies in the comfort of my own home, so, no one can steal my secret mop fly recipe.

Mike and Sam focused on their bugs.

Micah Crider tossing the whip finish on a winter trout streamer.

Micah Crider getting ready to start another fly.

All kinds of flies were being tied. Trout flies, musky flies, dry flies, and streamers. The only consistent thing I noticed on this night were the laughs. There were a lot of them. I think we all need to get out and fish.

Driftless Drew whipping up a bug the same size of a Driftless brown trout.

Armone Vang tying a chironomid that ended up in one of my fly wallets.

Looking forward to future open tie night, but more importantly, I'm looking forward to 2020.

Cheers to all of you!

Monday, November 18, 2019

Rising Travel Net Giveaway

At IFTD 2019, I was able to see all of the amazing new products that were coming out. One of my favorites had to be the Rising Travel Net. Such a brilliant idea, that was executed to perfection by the crew over at Rising. We all love to travel to fish, and while our rods, reels, and flies are easy to travel with, our beloved nets simply are not. Problem solved!

To celebrate the official release of their new Travel Net, the crew at Rising is giving one away to one lucky angler. The giveaway starts on 11/18/2019 and closes out on 11/25/2019 and a winner will be chosen at 12 PM MST.

To enter the giveaway for a chance to win this great piece of American made gear, enter here:

https://risingfish.net/product/travel-net/

Please click on the link below to enter.

>>>ENTER HERE<<<

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Ibo Island - Mozambique

Back in September of 2018, I left the country. I traveled to the country of Mozambique (That's in Africa for those that are unaware). I spent time wandering around the capital Maputo, and then traveled all the way to the Northern part of the country to Ibo Island, which is located in the Cabo Delgado Province, and is an island part of the Quirimbas in the Indian Ocean.

A celebration on the island during our visit.

Ibo is an amazingly beautiful place filled with amazing people, and I was saddened to hear that a Cyclone hit the region and caused major damage. Cyclone Kenneth had the force of a category 4 hurricane. Upon hearing the news, I contacted our host at the lodge we stayed at during our visit with hopes that everyone was safe, but did not hear back for over a week. Electricity on the island was knocked out, and so many homes were totally destroyed.

Below you'll find a link to a news article talking about and showing the damage that has occurred in the region. I have also included a link to Oikos, and a direct link to donate to support Mozambique.

Daily Standard News Article

Istituto Oikos Onlus Link

Casa Das Garcas Lodge Instagram

Donate - Help Mozambique

Casa Das Garcas - Sign outside of the lodge.

A young kid watching the morning tide roll out.

Taking in the Indian Ocean from the Casa Das Garcas pier.

Anchored on a sand flat in the Indian Ocean.

One of the many beautiful sunsets witnessed.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Ted Hansen Art

Recently, I stopped by Ted Hansen's studio to pick up some stickers and a smallmouth bass canvas print I had ordered from his Etsy shop. During my visit we had a beer, ate some Girl Scout Cookies, spun some Hank Williams and Bob Dylan on the record player, and bounce around some ideas for this summer.

Classic.

During out chat, Ted set up a blank canvas on his easel and started to paint the entire thing red. I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes of that piece since I got to see it from the start.

Blank canvas meets Ted Hansen and red paint.

At the beginning of the year, Ted has taken up a challenge other artists have done in the past to invoke some new ideas. He has been doing a daily piece - Study a Day. After he was finished painting the base layer of red on the blank canvas, he grabbed a pencil and a pad of sketch paper (I think), and began whipping up daily study #97 of 365.