TRAGEDY

I would just like to let all of you know, that it is possible for nightmares to become reality.  While in the Boundary Waters 2 weekends ago, tragedy struck.  While on a mile hike to a lake to see if any walleye were biting, I had to crouch under a tree, but I forgot that I had my beloved white sunglasses in the pocket of my rain jacket.  As I went under the downed tree, I heard a crack.  I knew then and there that it was my sunglasses.

We had a good run.

RIP Summer 2009 - May 28, 2017

BMFS GRANDER SLAM

Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop in Saint Paul Minnesota just dropped some big news for all Minnesota fly fisher peoples.  You can for sure count me in on this, although I'll be out of town in Sioux Falls South Dakota from June 19-23rd for a work training course, so, I'll be at a huge disadvantage missing the majority of the week.  Oh well, it's going to be awesome.  Peep the details below!

Details from the original post.

In this land of 10,000 lakes, 70,000 miles of rivers and streams and 162 species of fish (according to Wikipedia) we have fishing diversity that is second to none. This summer let's celebrate what we have with the 2017 GRANDER SLAM TOURNAMENT. Starting June 16th and spanning 10 days to June 25th, the fly angler who catches the most species of fish wins. So clear your calendar, and get ready to use up some over due PTO. Be ready to explore new waters and techniques. You're going to need to get out of your comfort zone to win this one. Registration will open 6/2. More details to come. #GranderSlam2017 #mnflyshop

BOB MITCHELL'S FLY SHOP

BOB MITCHELL'S FLY SHOP FACEBOOK

HOPS AND HOPPERS

Now that Winter and Spring have gone, the open tie nights at Lake Monster Brewing hosted by Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop have come to a close.  For those of us that don't ice fish or do any winter fishing, it's a great excuse to get out of the house, drink a beer, talk fishing, and shake off that little bit of cabin fever.

My first open tie night back in February when I first moved to Minnesota.

The last open tie night was back in April, so, I know this is a very late post, but I still wanted to share.  These open tie nights, were super beneficial to me while being new up here.  It allowed me to get out and make some friends, and have some fun at the same time.

Articulated streamer on some very sharp Partridge of Redditch hooks.

I've tied a few flies, but mostly socialized at these gatherings.  It was a great way to put some faces to quite a few people I have interacted with through social media.

2 flies tied....and then given away.

What a cool pair of scissors....can you see what it is??

Rhea Hawkins working the crowd, per usual.

Good times had by all.

The picture below is a funny one - I was told the moon was out, and it did look out, but something was a bit fishy about it.  I didn't have my glasses and don't see very well at night for distance, so, I was almost fooled.  Almost, Rhea.

They were almost fooled, too. Almost.

Fish.

BIG THANKS GOES OUT TO:

BOB MITCHELL'S FLY SHOP

LAKE MONSTER BREWING

MEND IT.

This is a super late post, but back in March...or was it April.  I have no idea.  Sometime this early Spring I went fishing.  It was fun, and I was given some trout fishing lessons from Joel Ebbers, Matt Ebbers, and Aaron Przybylski of Scavenger Fly as they sat on the bank of a juicy run and watched me fish.

The words of advice I received from all of them.

"Mend It.  Mend It.  Mend It.  Mend It."

Joel working a run while Aaron watches intently.

Aaron and I started out with streamers, but switched over to nymphs and the fishing really turned on for everyone but me, but that's expected, because, I have no idea what I'm doing.

Aaron hooked up with a brown trout...

...almost got it...

...and fish.

Matt working a nymph in the distance.

Aaron showing me how to "MEND IT"

Matt working one of his finely tied streamers through a really nice run that should have produced a few trout more than it did.

Almost forgot Mr. Jim Aronson was there at the start of the day, but left early....and of course he did what he always does - catch fish.

Brown trout caught by Jim.

Driftless brown trout caught by Jim.

Big thanks to the guys for showing me the ways of trout, and how important it is to mend your line.  An extra big thanks goes out to Joel and Matt for picking up my net that fell off of me while making my way back to the car.  Oh, and a nice to meet you goes out to Jake White who we came across on the walk back.

Until next time.

Light Box

Last summer I purchased a light box, and I am just now starting to fool around with it.  I'm really happy with the purchase, and I'm looking forward to utilizing it more for flies.  If you don't have a light box, there are many ways to DIY one.  I know my buddy Dave has made one in the past that constisted of a black t-shirt, and some aluminum foil.

Before editing.

Here we have a very delicious beer from a pretty awesome brewery in the Chicagoland area.  Mikerphone Brewing.  Such a fun and cool concept as far as label art, and beer names, because, they're all some sort of musical reference.  Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit..if you don't get the reference, it a Nirvana album, and instead of a naked baby swimming in a pool chasing some money...it's a coffee bean baby chasing Vermont maple syrup.  Great beer by the way!!!

After editing.

If you don't recognize the fly below, you must be new to following me.  Haha.  It's one of my favorite patterns for northern pike, bass, and even had a few musky take a swipe at it.

Another great beer from Mikerphone Brewing.  Mikerphone Check 1. 2.  I added a little prop in the glass to make the photograph a little more fun.

Lastly, we have a predator sized top water fly from my homie Dave.  I love how the colors pop on this one.  The rubber legs look electric!

Winner Winner...no chicken dinner!

The winner of my little caption contest is none other than the subject himself - +Howard Levett of Windknots & Tangled Lines.  The contest was not rigged, I promise.  I had my lovely new GF go through the comments and decide who was her favorite.  Prize - Hat, Flies, and Stickers.  I'll let you know when those fresh trouty bugs are all tied up, Howard.

Be on the look out for another contest.

Big Trout Flies

Since moving to Minnesota, I have been trout fishing more in the past 3 months than I have the past 4 years when I lived back in Illinois.  I have also learned that trout don't shy away from big flies, either.  Usually, the big trout flies are streamers of some sort, and tied by Aaron Przybylski of Scavenger Fly or Matt Ebbers.  I've decided to mix it up and tie up some very effective small flies, bigger.... 

What do you think?

Don't forget the little caption contest I'm hosting - CAPTION CONTEST.  The winner will be chosen tomorrow afternoon.

Let's Have Some Fun

Alrighty - I promised you guys a contest back in January, I believe.  I am now ready to follow through with that.  I've also decided to make it a string of contests, so, consider this the first of quite a few.  Exciting right?!?!

I'm all for jokes and laughing, and favorite comments to scroll through are found on "CAPTION THIS" contests that you would see on the Book of Face, and IG.  With that said, I give you...

CAPTION THIS

Below you'll find a picture of our beloved Blogging friend +Howard Levett from WINDKNOTS AND TANGLED LINES.  I will have one of my coworkers choose the best comment next Wednesday 04/26.  There are prizes for the winner.  I will disclose the prize once the winner is chosen.  Oh, and Howard is allowed to participate.

Now...ENTERTAIN ME! 

There is no cap on how many comments you make.  I do ask 1 favor, but it's not required - Subscribe to my CARF Outdoors YouTube Channel.  It's not required to participate, but it'd be cooler if you did.  I have some things in the works for that, that I believe you all will enjoy.  :)

RUSH

Rush... Rush River - It's not known for slappin' da bass, and if it is, I'm sorry for misinforming you all.  What I can tell you is that it rocks as a fishery!

With me being a "FIB" - I am ever so grateful of everyone that's invited me out fishing with them since I've moved up here to Minnesota.  There's truly some really awesome people up here, especially within the fly fishing community.

On this particular outing I was invited out by Jim, and his friend Ted.  The morning was cold, and it got even colder with the wind.

Suns out.

The area was scenic, and that kind of made you forget about the cold winds - That's BS.  Those cold winds were winning the battle, and letting you know each and every breeze that it was there.  The fishing was extremely slow, but I always manage to hook into rocks or fish sticks.

Snag City.

Long hikes to even more scenic areas yielded no trout.  Determined to hook up with trout the way that we wanted to, on a streamer, both Jim and I were stubborn to change flies.  It was also way too cold to be tying knots haha.

Can you believe that nothing came out of the brush pile.

Ted had been using a nymph rig all day, and I'm not quite sure the number of fish he caught, but I can certainly say that he was catching fish.  That was a positive sign.

On to a new location on the Rush, and I was still tossing a streamer.  I finally hooked up with 1, but shortly lost it as I was jumping in the water off the bank.  Jim switched to a nymph rig, and was able to entice a decent little brown from out of a pool that should have produced more.

Ted showing us where all the fish are.

Jim hooked up in his honey hole.

These brown trout of the Driftless really have a particular beauty to them.

Butter in the net.

A big THANKS goes out to Jim, and Ted for having me out with them on the Rush, and showing me where to grab a damn good burger on the way home!

The trek back with Jim and Ted's excellent adventure.

THE RUSH.

IT ROCKS.

Kinnickinnic River

The Kinni (Kinnickinnic) River - I've fished it once last year when I was up here with my homie Dave for the River Falls Fly Fishing Expo hosted by Brian from Lunds Fly Shop.

• FISH, FILMS AND FUN IN RIVER FALLS
• RIVER FALLS FLY FISHING EXPO PART: 2

I was invited out to fish the Kinni by John and there would be 3 others with the group - Robert of Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop, Charlie Forbes, and Jigger Jim.

The day started early.  It was cold, slightly windy, and as the day progressed the warmth of the sun was seeked.  The guides on our rods were freezing up, and there were no fish being caught, but damn was it nice to be out.

The difference in temperature between the shaded and sun hit area was fun.  We all much preferred the sun.

John and Charlie discussing flies and Jim working a very nice pool in the distance.

Theme of the day.

Robert trying his hand at a pool Jim just finished working.  The rest of us were working on our tans.

While Jim and Robert were working the pool above, Charlie, started to rig up a nymphing rig.  We were all tossing streamers all day and the only person who hooked up was Jim.  Once rigged up, Charlie worked the pool and caught a few little browns.  He then suggested and insisted that he rig me up with a nymph, and I agreed...first cast and drift I had a fish on, and I didn't even know it.  Haha

Thanks, for the picture, Jim!

On the trek back John found a deer carcass frozen in some shallow water along the bank.  Interested to see if it had a rack, he started to kick some of the ice, and that unsettled some very potent smells, which lead to some laughs and the end the day.

Kick and Sniff.

Done.

A big thank you goes out to John, Robert, Charlie, and Jim, for inviting me out and showing me some new water.  Much appreciated guys!

The Kinni.

The Windknots Christmas Contest

If you like contests, fly fishing, and coming up with snarky/funny/crude statements for pictures, then the below information is just for you!

+Howard over at Windknots and Tangled Lines is hosting a caption contest, and the winner is going to receive some sweet prizes!  Click the link below.

WINDKNOTS CHRISTMAS CONTEST

It's Colder Up North

A decision has been made, and I have decided that I will be doing a multi-state road trip.  After work on Thursday (Today), I will be headed in my favorite direction for adventure...North.  I am planning on doing some exploring in Northern Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I'm going to be doing quite a bit of hiking to seek out new rivers, lakes, access points, and sights I'm not used to seeing in the summer months.

I will most certainly be wetting a line, as well.  Hoping to find some rivers with shore/wading access way up North that come from Lake Superior, and maybe, just maybe, there will be some willing salmon or trout that will want to party.  

A few other things I'm sure I'll encounter on my adventure.

• Cheese Curds
• New Glarus Beer
• Friday Fish Fry
• Peace
• Quiet

Thank you, all, for your suggestions!  
Hope everyone has a great weekend!