Showing posts with label midwest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label midwest. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

WINTER TROUTING & ROOT RIVER ROD CO.

PART TWO
Part One - The Pink Tutu

Jim perusing the selection for the fly of The Root River Rod Co.
After fishing all morning and only coming up with 1 brown trout brought in by the illustrious Jim. We (Grant, Jim and I) decided to take a walk down Main Street.  Here we are, 3 guys in waders carrying fly fishing rods and walking the streets of a small town in rural Minnesota, and we come across a fly shop none of us had ever been to - Root River Rod Company.

Shop owner Steve Sobieniak whipping up some lunch time bugs.
The shop was clean, bright, and welcoming.  The shop owner Steve Sobieniak was very informative letting us in on what the local fish are keying in on this time of year, and was even nice enough to whip us up some fresh flies for our departure back to the river.


Jim supports local business, but also knows how to get info.
Jim just couldn't leave without making a purchase to support the local business, but also being a resident of Minnesota, you can never have too many quality gloves during winter.  Jim was also excited to see a whole section dedicate to Root River Hackle, and he proceeded to rave about the quality of the feathers.

Steve pointing us in the right direction.
Jim's purchase also bought us some extra information, in the form of a hand drawn map.  Unfortunately, after Steve completed the drawing, we all learned that we could not take the map, because, it was kind important to the shop, but that's what camera phones are for, right!?

Steve discovering the map was on something important. :)
Stoked to get back out on the water with some local intel we stepped out of Root River Rod Company, and saw a watering hole across the street.  It's lunch time, and we deserve a drink for all of the hard work we put in on the water during the cold winter morning.  

Sitting at the bar in our waders, tossing back a $3 personal pitcher of beer, and enjoying the locals at the end of the bar cheer on Godzilla (We later learned it was King Kong) as he destroys New York City was one of the better lunches I had in a while.

Jim laying out some line with precision.
After the bar we set out to wet some lines with the intel Jim acquired with his glove purchase.  After a short car ride and Grant showing us how to properly jam out to some Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey, we found our destination.

Grant sending some smooches.
The spot had some great looking water, and looked promising.  We just didn't have what the trout were after that day, and with the sun setting at 1 PM (Kidding - It just feels that way) we had to make the drive back North.

I hope you all download this for your next phone background.
Not a bad day in our books at all.  Brushed off the early shivers of cabin fever, new water was fished, 1 trout was caught, cheap beer was drunk, Godzilla (King Kong) destroyed New York, and a new fly shop was shopped. 

End of the day and into the tall grass we go.
ROOT RIVER ROD COMPANY

ROOT RIVER HACKLE

MY GEAR
5 wt Fly Rod - http://amzn.to/2CMGm2a
Wading Bootshttp://amzn.to/2qiwU5p
Sunglasses - http://amzn.to/2CM17Lr

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Thursday, December 28, 2017

YAKTRAX CONTEST

Want to win a pair of Yaktrax Pro's?

We all love contests, and this one has simple instructions.  On Instagram simply post a photo of one of your winter adventures with the hashtag #STANDUPTOWINTER and tag @yaktraxtraction - Like I said, it's simple!

The winner will be selected at the end of the month, so, get those pictures posted and tagged!

Photo Courtesy of Yaktrax


LINKS

Yaktrax Prohttp://amzn.to/2E8nV9F
Yaktrax Walkhttp://amzn.to/2BONcUJ
Yaktrax Run - http://amzn.to/2E90UDQ
Yaktrax Diamond Griphttp://amzn.to/2ChXDne
Yaktrax Summithttp://amzn.to/2Drf3Lk


**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

WINTER FISHING WITH DANK

During the Christmas weekend, I was back home in Chicago.  I had some free time, so, I hit up my homie DANK to see if he wanted to get out and fish.  There were a few issues with that...It was freezing cold, I didn't have any of my fishing gear, and I didn't have a car.  DANK replied to my text "I got you dude."


We both were just excited to be out casting a line, but our hopes to catch any fish were not very high.  I borrowed one of DANK's spin setups and I tied on a small weighted paddle tail minnow.  On my 5th cast the rod bent and I was hooked up.  A little Larry came out to play, and I was oh so thankful to him.  Quick shot, and release.

Stoked!
DANK and I proceeded to catch more than a few fish each, and it made for a excellent morning/afternoon winter fishing session.

Beauty.

If you know the spot, do the right thing and just keep it to yourself. :)
DANK hooked up with some very healthy looking Illinois bass, and it made for an excellent day out there with my homie.  Thank you, for picking me up and letting me play with your rod!

Action Shot.

Them IKE's are on point DANK.

Say ahhh
This was without a doubt my last outing in the calendar year that is 2017, and it was a great one.  Fish were caught, and I got to hang out with one of my bestest friends.  I hope one day he reads my blog :)

DANK with the biggest bass of the day.
MY GEAR
My Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD
My Favorite Lens - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS
My Other Favorite Lens - http://amzn.to/2BYop4M
My Sunglasses - http://amzn.to/2Cd3Aj6

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**


Friday, December 22, 2017

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018

"Ain't that somethin'?  She falls down a well, her eyes go cross.  She gets kicked by a mule.  They go back.  I don't know." - Cousin Eddie


What a fun time of year to see all of the creative and fun flies around on social media for all of the Christmas fly tying contests.  I've just entered one with my homies at the Fish Porn podcast who recently invited me to be a guest on their show.  Check out episode 9 to hear the guys and myself bullshit, tell bad jokes, and drink beer.

My entry for the contest is a mop fly Christmas tree.  This is a fun fly to tie.  It's super simple and according to +Mel Moore of The Bluegill Bug on Facebook, it's super effective.  I could also see trout eating these, because, it sort of resembles a big cased caddis, too.


What do you think??


To all of you out there that read this, I would like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas, and I hope you all get some time off of work.


Side note:  I posted this with the year 2018 in the title and was called out by the man, the myth, John Sherlock.  I will not update the title of this post, I sincerely hope you all have a very Merry Christmas in 2018. :)

MY GEAR
Mop Fly Materialhttp://amzn.to/2DyX8TW
Bench Basinhttp://amzn.to/2BSCHAL

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

THE PINK TUTU

PART ONE


Text from GRANTJim and I are heading South.  Leaving from BMFS at 6:30.

12 Hours later....

Reply text from ME:  I'm in.


The day was looking promising.  The weather was fantastic (for winter) and we were the first ones to arrive, and had the waters to ourselves.  Grant and I started out chucking streamers, and Jim went with the trusted nymph rig.  This was new water for the 3 of us, and I can tell you that it had some extremely fishy runs.

Grant and I both had a handful of bumps, but couldn't get any of the fish to commit.  No worries, because, here comes Jim to show us how it's done.  Drifting a fly he dubbed The Pink TuTu he hooked up with a nice brown trout.  No surprise to any of us.  Jim is just one fishy dude.

Jim doing what he does...catch fish.

Buttuh.

Jim's Pink TuTu
We continued to fish with no luck.  Jim's brown was still the lone fish on the board, but that was alright with me.  It was a pleasure to be out on the water fishing with my homies, and not freezing.

Grant working a streamer dropper rig in one of the many nice runs.
After some time with zero action for all of us, we took to the streets.  We were on the hunt for more access points to the river through the old time feel main street in this small Southern Minnesota town.

On the hunt for more river access.
On the way, we came across a pay phone and decided to contact the 1-800-BEATDOWN article that we have all read in The Flyfish Journal hoping that it wasn't only for steelhead fishermen.  None of the option really applied to us, so, I think Grant hit the # symbol for phone sex, and to hear that he looked good in his waders, but I'm not entirely sure.

Grant calling the 1-800-BEATDOWN Hotline and hitting the # symbol.
To be continued....

MY GEAR
5 wt Fly Rod - http://amzn.to/2CMGm2a
Sunglasseshttp://amzn.to/2CM17Lr


**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Friday, December 15, 2017

YAKTRAX COLD CONQUEROR AMBASSADOR TEAM

I am excited to let you all know that I am now a part of the Cold Conqueror Ambassador Team for Yaktrax.  I've used Yaktrax products in the past and can totally vouch for their effectiveness with winter weather.  One of the companies I worked for previously, made it mandatory for it's employee's to wear a pair of Yaktrax Walk if there was ever a need to go outside, because, it was proven to lessen the risk of an employee slipping and falling on ice.


I don't always run during winter, but when I do, I am sure to wear Yaktrax Run and red basketball shoes.  I don't run very far or fast, but I can tell ya that every time I do, I return back to my house unscathed, because, of my Yaktrax I am able to #StandUpToWinter #IAmNotNormal ...I'm really looking forward to getting out on the hard water and putting these to the test while ice fishing.

During the month of December Yaktrax will be running sales on some of their products.  I will list the dates and promotions at the bottom of this post. YAKTRAX RUN


The snake photographed below was not wearing Yaktrax when it was out for a slither, so, it was not prepared to #StandUpToWinter ...and now it's frozen solid.

Where are your Yaktrax, bro?

LINKS

NOW - 12/16/2017 -- YAKTRAX RUN

12/17/2017 - 12/23/2017 -- YAKTRAX WALK

MY GEAR

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

Thursday, December 14, 2017

BMFS: HOPS & HOPPERS 12/05/2017

Another fun night at Lake Monster Brewing for Hops & Hoppers hosted by Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop and Lake Monster Brewing.  I meant to tie a bunch of flies, but that didn't happen.  So enjoy a bunch of pictures.

1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month.
Bret is a rad dude with laser like focus when he's tying trout bugs.  He also in a band Too Pure To Die.

Focus.
Some times that focus affects Bret's periphreal vision, and he has trouble sensing dangers in the form of A-A-Ron looking intently for the right opportunity to pounce on him.
 
Guys who wear undersized hats always find each other.
Here we have Drew and JoshJosh is really cool, and has some mad skillz at the vise.  Drew...we just don't know about.
 
Josh on the left.  Questionable Drew on the right.
One of the guides that works out of Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop is a super fishy dude, and his name is Evan.  He has a goal to tie 1 million of these white murdich minnows by winters end.  Not even 1 month in, he's 1/3 of the way to his goal.

Evan whipping up murdich minnow # 34,120
Grant and his wife are some pretty rad individuals.  They like cooking bacon on their flattop grill, and posting ridiculous pictures of each other on social media.

Grant giving Ashley some tips on what to do when you see a camera aimed at you.

Awww so cute.
Below we have a picture of something that simply cannot be explained.  Rhea, Matt Ebbers, and myself just couldn't keep a straight face while Grant just looked over at Ashley like this was a normal occurrence.  Can you take a guess at what was happening here?

Amazing.
Eddie Rivard has a black belt in bugs.  Here is a rare shot of him sharing his knowledge to Josh, Micah, and an unknown dude for free.

Josh, Micah, and an unnamed dude listening to the expert advise of Eddie Rivard.
Do you know about The Driftless Flyer?  If you don't, simply click on the name/link and do a bit of reading, and you will.  Did you know that it was that easy to know about something?  Now you do, and you're welcome.  The Driftless Flyer is actually a 2 person team comprised of Micah and his wife Abigail.

Do you even trout, bruh?  Question for The Driftless Flyer
Mike Carina is super creative...how do I know?  Well, he has a website appropriately titled Carina Creative

Mike showing off his creativity at the vise.
Eddie Rivard is also an International Fly Super Model.  Here he is helping Carlin Samela show off some of his most recent musky flies for free.  Such a charitable man that Eddie Rivard is.

Say Cheese.
Andrew Muntz is a flure tying machine.  Some people make balloon animals, but Andrew makes fly animals.  A little kid walked up to him at the brewery and asked him to whip up a lion, and he did.  Mad Skillz.

Andrew Muntz showing off some serious vise skills.
...another fun night at Hops & Hoppers.


Wednesday, December 13, 2017

DREW & EDDIE

This is Drew.  He likes to tie flies and fish for trout.

Drew admiring a musky fly.
Drew is also a big fan of playing with my camera while I'm using it.

Drew using my camera while I was trying to use my camera.
Drew also likes to play with my camera when I'm not using it, and sneak close up pictures of peoples faces or behinds.

Drew in search of Eddie Rivards best side.
This is Eddie Rivard.  He likes to fish, tie flies, and share his stories on his blog Eddie Rivard Fly Fishing.

Eddie showing off some bucktails with the Chicago Bears colors.
...and here is the product of Drew sneaking up on Eddie Rivard with my camera.

Possible caption contest photograph for the future??