TYING UP SOME MEAT

With Winters arrival up here in the Great White North, I have been getting back in the fly tying saddle.  It had been a long while since I've tied anything but baitfish for bass since the move up to Minnesota.  I'm slowly getting back in to the swing of things, and I must say, it's just like riding a bike.

There's ice on the lakes, so, this fly most likely won't see water until next June....unless I plan a winter trip somewhere warm that has big fish willing to eat an 8/0 Partridge Universal Predator X that trails behind a huge foam head.

It's always #SHARKWEEK

Who know the Great White North had Great White Mini Sharks.

MY GEAR

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS

Rising Stellar Scissors - http://amzn.to/2yCE7wM

Vedavoo Bench Basin - http://amzn.to/2zGBU78

Rite Bobbin Half Hitch - http://amzn.to/2hzxKab

Peak Vise - http://amzn.to/2zXEBCd

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Lots of travel on the menu for me come the 17th, I am flying out of Minneapolis headed for Detroit to visit my homie out in Toledo, Ohio.  On Thanksgiving morning I am flying from Detroit to Chicago to spend the holiday with my family, and then I will be traveling back to Minneapolis.

I do plan on packing a fly rod and at least attempting to wet a line in Ohio, and in some of my old honey holes back in Illinois.  I just hope the fish don't remember me, and bite my offerings.

I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.  Eat lots of food, and get outside or enjoy some family time on the dreaded Black Friday.

RIFFS & TUGS: The Art of Jake Keeler

Ever wanted to see the art of Jake Keeler in person?  Well, you're in luck, because, it's on display at Bad Weather Brewing Company.  You're also in luck if you wanted to tie flies while you visit the brewery to see Jake's art, because, on Friday, November 17th from 6 PM to Bitchin' you can bring your vise and tie some flies.

If you have never tied a fly before and want to learn, come on down!!!  Pig Farm Ink and Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop have provided vises, tools, and materials so those who want to try it out, can!

Tie some flies, drink some beers, and view some arts!

Spread the good word!

Jake Keeler Website - www.20acrecarcass.com/

Jake Keeler FaceBook - www.facebook.com/JakeKeelerArt/

Jake Keeler Shop - www.etsy.com/shop/JakeKeeler

If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to contact either myself or Jake Keeler.

WINTER IS HERE

Winter has definitely arrived, and fast.  The weather I've been experiencing up here in Minnesota is usually what I expect toward the end of December and January.  My vise is out and fly tying is in full swing here at CARF Headquarters.

With winters arrival comes ice, and up here in Minnesota a whole new season of fishing begins.  Hard Ice season aka Ice Fishing but my homie Jay "Lord Boogie" Johnson calls it "Man Fishing."  I have a sonar, but nothing else.  I'm in the market for a rod, auger, jigs, and some homies that want to get out and hit the hard water here in Minnesota.

A whole new world of gear for me.  I'm kind of a sucker for gear, too.  I've been eyeballing the 13 Fishing Descent and Free Fall Ghost Reels.  I've never used them.  They visually make me happy, and I know that's not a good way to shop for gear.  Suggestions for rods, reels, and line welcome!!

Frozen shoreline on the Rum River.

BMFS: HOPS AND HOPPERS 11/07/2017

Drinking beer, tying flies, and telling lies.  Another fun night spent at Lake Monster Brewing in Saint Paul Minnesota for Hops & Hoppers hosted by Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop.  I typically tie 1 fly at these gatherings, and spend the rest of my time hanging out and talking with the homies.

Hops & Hoppers

It's always interesting to see what others are whipping up at the vise.  On this night there were quite a few trout buggers being tied, along with some big musky, bass, and salmon flies.

Bret at the end admiring the work of Sherlock.

Grant Meyer with his laser like focus.

I forgot this man's name, but he's only been tying a week.  He tied his first woolly bugger on this night, and it was nicer than any woolly bugger that has ever left my vise.

First woolly bugger lookin' woolly buggery.

Micah Crider loves black hats and driftless trout.  He and his wife have a pretty sweet blog with some great photography and stories.  You should take a minute and check it out - The Driftless Flyer.

Michah Crider workin' it.

Just because it's an open fly tying night, doesn't necessarily mean you have to tie flies.  I like to consider fly tying an art, and while Mr. Sherlock was skillfully creating steelhead flies with a hook and vise, Charlie Forbes was right next to him showcasing his skillz with paint and a brush.

Sherlock and Charlie doing thangs.

...and not long after the above photograph, Sherlock was showcasing the powers of super glue.

Sherlock.  Nuff said.

Sherlock.

Charlie does some amazing work, and I am a fan.  If you haven't, you should really check out his Instagram page for more of his work.  It was a really great to see him meticulously paint his works at the open tie night.  I think he should do it more often.

Charlie Forbes creating something magnificent, per usual.

Before he goes to sleep each night, Bobby Nacho's tosses back a few musky flies to keep his musky game strong.  

Bobby Nacho's

Looking forward to the next open tie night I am able to attend.  My goal is to tie more than 1 fly next time.  I'm shooting for 2....Baby steps.

MY GEAR

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

DENVER - LOOKOUT

Denver - I'm coming for you!  I've got a plan ticket booked for October 21st through the 28th.  No real agenda other than to explore, hike, fish, and camp every single day.  Sounds like a good plan, right?  Of course it does.  I have been relying on the interwebs to provide me lists of places to go/see and things to do, but now I am asking for help from whoever I know that is there in Denver or the surrounding area to provide me with your hot spots.

I'm kidding.  I'd never ask anyone for their hot spots, but if you would be so kind as to tell me cool places to hike that have some epic views near camping and fishing, that would be killer!  I've never been to Denver or the state of Colorado, and this will definitely be my first time exploring the Rocky Mountains.  I am super stoked for the trip.

One thing I do have on my list of things to do is eat at The Buckhorn Exchange and have some Rocky Mountain Oysters.  Crazy to think that one would be excited to willingly put Bull testicles in his/her mouth, but I'm game.

Any other recommendations for places to go hike, camp, fish, must do's, and maybe your favorite brunch place.  All information is much appreciated!

Maybe I'll even get to visit with +Howard Levett! 

MUSKY HUNT WITH VOYAGEUR PURSUITS

Since moving up here to Minnesota, I had visions of hooking up with monster musky - regularly.  That's definitely not the case, and you're probably thinking to yourself, who the hell does this guy think he is that he's going to catch musky all the time.  Trust me, I think that same thing, but what can I say, I'm a dreamer.

My homie Tom Hazleton of Voyageur Pursuits heard I was on the hunt for my first Minnesota musky, so, he invited me out.  The conditions seemed almost too perfect.  It was the evening, and there had been gray skies all day.  I had such a great feeling that today was going to be the day I caught my first Minnesota Musky.

Well, the evening did not go as planned, but it was a great time none the less.  There were no musky caught, but we had a few beers, and brought a few pike to the boat before calling it a night.  Huge thanks to Tom for inviting me out and showing me that musky really don't exist in Minnesota.

Catching Northern Pike on the Great Wall of China.
Photograph: Tom Hazelton

Voyageur Pursuits

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Update - I'm back from the Bitchin' Tour

Recently, the PIG FARM INK crew borrowed a van from punk rock band Teenage Bottlerocket and set out across the Midwest and up to the Northeast to spread the good word that fly fishing is rad, and that we should all care about our environment.  

Being a Pig Farmer, I jumped aboard after the event we hosted here in Minneapolis - American Flydol (Fly tying and Karaoke), and originally I had planned to stay for 4 days, but I ended up staying for roughly 15...and yes, I still have a job.

I have a lot of catching up to do, and photos and video to sift through.  I just wanted to check in with all of you, and let you know that I'm still here, and that I am looking forward to sharing all of my stories of good times, and the people we met along the way that made this trip such an amazing experience.

Here's a taste.

Get Trashed

Delaware River Club

Starlight, Pennsylvania

Low riding on the Delaware River.

71 tires were collected!  That's not including the other trash that was picked up and out of the great Delaware River.  Everyone came back with a drift boat chalk full of garbage.  I mean how freakin' awesome is that!  71 tires!  There were so many left behind, too.  There was simply just not enough room in the boats to transport them back.

We're not stuck...or are we...

PIG FARM INK: AMERICAN FLYDOL MINNEAPOLIS

PIG FARM INK PRESENTS:  BITCHIN TOUR

Come on out to tie flies and belt out some jams with the Pig Farm Ink Tour crew at Otter's Saloon for AMERICAN FLYDOL! Bring your vice, tie some flies, or just come on out and party.  Jay Johnson, Nick Halm, Jonathan Jones, Casey Anderson, and myself will be there.

WEDNESDAY - AUGUST 16TH @ 8 PM

OTTER'S SALOON

617 CENTRAL AVE SE

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55414

PIG FARM INK

OUT FOR A ROW

Alright - There's no doubt about it, that I have been slacking on my blog.  I don't want you all to think that I'm going to let this die off, because, I won't allow that.  Now that I'm pretty settled in up here in Minnesota, and have spent so much of my free time exploring and learning the lay of the land, trying to make new friends, fishing, and learning an entirely new job, I am starting to find my groove.

Good things are on the Horizon - Possibly another contest where the winner will receive their prize 1 year later...How does that sound, +Howard Levett ? :)

In the meantime while I figure that contest out.  Here's a VLOG of an outing I had with my new Flycraft Stealth.

Jake Keeler musky art on a gose style beer from Fulton Brewing.  Yes Please!

The Carf Outdoors #icatchsmallfish tour still in full effect!

Pretending to look like I know what I'm doing.  The reality is, I have no freakin' clue what I'm doing.  Just trying to look cool.

JAKE KEELER ART

FULTON BREWING

FLYCRAFT

PIG FARM INK

FLOATING THE ST. CROIX

READY TO ROCK N ROLL

Got out for a float with my homie Aaron of Scavenger Fly on the St. Croix River.  The plan was to row up river and drift back down in search of musky, pike, and smallmouth.  Our friend Ted surprised us when he said that he was on the river, too.  He met up with us, and generously offered to tow us up river.  THANKS TED!  You da man!!

Ted with the clutch tow.

Aaron...Focusing in on his precision casting.

Overall it was a great float and we all hooked into some fish.  No musky, but that quite alright.  There's always next time, right?!?!

Teeth in the net.

Backhanded casting. Photo by:  Aaron

Check out the short video I made of the outing.  I'm still working on brushing up my recording and editing skills, so, please be kind. :) 

If you liked the video, give it a THUMBS UP!  Oh, and don't forget to subscribe.

Looking forward to the next float on the St. Croix.

Check out the link below.

SCAVENGER FLY - Website

SCAVENGER FLY - Instagram

I BOUGHT SOMETHING BIG

I bought a Flycraft Stealth boat/raft...whatever you want to call it.  I can't seem to make up my mind, so, I've been referring to it as both.  Big purchase for me, but I am stoked to own it, and get it on the water.  I know what most of you all are probably thinking, that's an expensive raft, but the way I see it is...

1. I don't need a trailer.
2. I don't need a garage or driveway to store trailer or an actual boat. (Wish I did, though.)

I can put this thing away in a closet in my bedroom....or I can leave it inflated and use it as a couch in my living room.  I don't think my roommates would mind.  Hahaha

Here's a video of me unboxing it and setting it up (not the full installation)

Big round of applause for my roommate Ben for posing for this picture...for America...and my entertainment. Haha

Don't forget to subscribe to my 

CARF OUTDOORS YouTube Channel

(Click the link above to be sent to the channel)

I Still Fish

Just a little reminder to all of you, and me, that I still fish.  In fact, I have become a master of catching small fish.  #icatchsmallfish - It's my new thing.

In the picture below, my white sunglasses are still alive and well.  You will all be happy to learn they will soon be making a return.  Superglue is a wonderful thing.

Casting for small fish with my 5 wt.

...and below is a random picture of a water tower near my place in Saint Paul.  It has a moon attached to it.  I believe I shared a picture of this water tower, but it was at night.  Well, here it is during the day.

GRANDERSLAM 2017 IS A GO

Let the 2017 Grander Slam games begin!

The week long contest kicked off on Friday the 16th at 6 PM with a run down of the rules at Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop.  The rules will clear and simple - Don't be a dick.

Wasting no time this weekend, I did quite a bit of fishing.  I am traveling to Sioux Falls, South Dakota for a work training thing, and I'll be gone until Friday the 23rd...the day the contest ends. **UPDATE** I am not a smart man.  I was kindly reminded the contest ends Sunday 6/25.  That gives me more time to fish. :) Thanks, Rhea!

It's Monday morning now, and I am pretty much done fishing until this coming Friday when I return.  I'll have a few hours before the final buzzer and I'm hoping to knock off a few more fish, but we'll see.  For now, below you'll find what I've caught.  I'm positive that this will not be enough to win it, but whatever, it was fun!

Species: Bluegill

Length: 7.25 inches

Species: White Crappie

Length: 6.25 inches

Species: Green Sunfish

Length: 4.25 inches

Species: Pumpkinseed

Length: 5.75 inches

Species: Largemouth Bass

Length: 15 inches

Species: Blue Floss Fish

Length: 2.75 inches

To keep up with all of the 2017 Grander Slam action search the hashtag on social media (Facebook, Instagram etc.) 

#GRANDERSLAM2017