VEDAVOO UPGRADE

Looking for some new gear to use for the 2018 year.  Vedavoo is offering 20% off their products until April 17th.  That's a helluva deal for some high quality American made products.  While you're on their website filling up your shopping cart, don't forget to read up and donate to the Reel Service Project to donate to an extremely worthy cause...oh and your donation gets you a raffle ticket to win a one of a kind custom messenger bag.

VEDAVOO

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

VEDAVOO: REEL SERVICE PROJECT IV

The Vedavoo Reel Service Project IV has kicked off.  If you don't know about the Vedavoo Reel Service Project, then you should.  I've copied and pasted the verbiage from the Vedavoo website below.  Entering is free, and donations are welcomed and encouraged! 

Photo from the Vedavoo website.

Here's a blurb from the Vedavoo website.

Behind the creation of each of these beautiful and unique bags is a effort to get you to donate to Project Healing Waters.

In partnership with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. the REEL SERVICE PROJECT was initiated in 2013 to help raise funds for veteran-focused causes in the Fly Fishing community. That initial effort, which included a series of VEDAVOO packs made out of fabric provided by Patrick over at Recycled Waders featuring original artwork by Jeff Currier set the stage for events to follow.

Proceeds from Reel Service III were enough to pay for nearly 28 YEARS WORTH of FLY TYING COURSES AND MATERIALS for wounded veterans through the efficient use of funds by Project Healing Waters.

Having had the opportunity to receive each artist’s commitment – we are truly humbled and inspired by how quickly and passionately each has stepped up for the cause.  As before, VEDAVOO will lead the effort by providing the materials and labor to build the bags and each artist will provide their time and vision painting their signature aesthetic to each finished piece. This year’s event promises to be the best to date. Enter to win one of these very special bags. No Purchase Necessary.

Photo from the Vedavoo website

This years Artist lineup includes:

Jorge Martinez - Website - Instagram

Derek DeYoung - Website - Instagram

Josh Udesen - Website - Instagram

Andrea Larko - Website - Instagram

Ryan Keene - Website - Instagram

Matthew Stockton - Website - Instagram

Alex Poland - Website - Instagram

Jake Keeler - Website - Instagram

Paul Puckett - Website - Instagram

Borbay - Website - Instagram

Sarah Landstrom - Website - Instagram

Ty Hallock - Website - Instagram

Jeff Kennedy - Website - Instagram

Kendra Leeks - Website - Instagram

If you would like to donate to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing the Vedavoo: Reel Service Project IV click on the link below.

---->> CLICK HERE TO DONATE<<----

VEDAVOO

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

VISE TIME

It's great to be at the vise and whipping up some bugs.  Recently at work there was a silent auction and all proceeds would benefit our core charities.  I donated 8 bass flies that would be tied to the winner of my auctions liking.  I was happy with the auction, and quite surprised that there were a few bids on my service to tie flies.  It was also great to learn that there are other fly fisher people here at work.

Panfish poppers all tied with some of my favorite hooks from Partridge of Redditch.

EP Fiber bait fish and my favorire Rising Fish Stellar Scissors.

I have a lot of tying to do, but I am looking forward to all of the vise time, because, I know I won't be doing much else during the long winter here in the Great White North.

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! 

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

PIG FARM INK: IRON FLY @ MIDWEST GOLDEN BONES FLY TOURNAMENT

PIG FARM INK PRESENTS:

IRON FLY at THE MIDWEST GOLDEN BONES FLY TOURNAMENT

I will be hosting the PIG FARM INK: IRON FLY at the 2nd annual Midwest Golden Bones Fly Tournament.  The kick off party will be Friday - August 4th, and will start at Noon with Towee Boats Crew showcasing their versatile boats on the Fox River, and then at 8 PM the IRON FLY will commence.  

Come on out!  Tie some flies, drink some beer, eat some food, talk fish, and have a bitchin' time.

If you have and questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at carfoutdoors@gmail.com

PIG FARM INK

COSTA

POST FLY

MIDWEST GOLDEN BONES FLY TOURNAMENT

MIDWEST WATERS ANGLING CO.

Ice Jigs for FSA Custom Rods

My homie +Ed Schmitt of FSA Custom Rods reached out to me, and asked if I would be interested in decorating some ice jigs he plans on pairing up with some custom ice rods he's building for some Veterans.  Without hesitation, I agreed to the job.

About 2 weeks later, my GF was going through our mail, and asked what I ordered from the "Used Anal Bead Emporium.  Wait...what did you say?!?!  I got something from the WHAT? HAHA!!!!  Luckily the contents of the envelope contained zero anal beads - used or new, and only some tungsten ice fishing jigs, stickers, and a note from my buddy Ed.  Oh, what a funny guy you are!  Haha  I got a really good laugh out of that.

Now what the heck to do with these jigs.  Very different than what I'm used to, but a hook is a hook, and after much thought, I had an idea.

I painted them all orange.  In retrospect, I should have only done half in orange, and the other half in another color or left them the original color, but oh well.  I'll just blame it on the beer that I'm pretty sure I was drinking that night.

A little flash, Senyo Fusion dub, and viola, ice jigs completed.  Hopefully, these will go great with the ice rods that Ed is building, but more importantly I hope they catch some fish for those Veterans that need some fish action through some hard water.

Ed is a Veteran of the Marine Corps, a very talented rod builder, and obviously a funny guy who is a fan of used anal beads.  He's built rods for quite a few of us here in the Chicagoland area.  He can do any type of rod; casting, spinning, fly, or ice.  Some others that can attest to the quality of his work are Brookfield Angler, and The Impractical Fisherman.  

So, if you're in the market for a new rod, shoot Ed an email at - ed@fourseasonsangler.com and be sure to like his Facebook page FSA Custom Rods.

Secret Spots

Don't ya just love seeing photos like this!

Taken sometime this summer, as you can tell by the fluttering butterfly.

I caught this walleye on a spinnerbait rigged with a Stankx Bait Company swim bait. I caught another one a few casts later. Such a beautiful fish! I was really shocked when I caught it. I haven't caught a wally in probably over 3 years. It's a fish I rarely target. If you couldn't tell, this walleye was caught on Planet Earth, and more specifically, North America.

Where's your secret spot? You can tell me :)

Abel Nippers

$50 for a pair of nippers…. You must be out of your damn mind!

That was my initial reaction when I saw the price tag on the Abel nippers. In fact that is still my reaction to the price tag on the nippers. One day I was just browsing around and found the nippers for $25. That still seemed overpriced to me for something that is just going to cut line, but I caved and bought them for the discounted price to find out what all of the hype was about.

I have been using them for 11 months now, and I must say…I absolutely love them! I like to think of them as the Lamborgini/Ferarri of the nipper world, because, of their performance. They cut line of any test with ease. It’s like you’re cutting line with a mini light saber. The teeth/blades on the nippers are replaceable, so, if they ever do get dull, you can try to sharpen them yourself or order a replacement set from Abel (Cost unknown to me).

Another great use for the nippers is cleaning the eyes of hook or small jigs. There is a place on the nippers that was made for this. Come in handy when you forgot to clean the eyehole of a fly you just tied, and got a little carried away with the head cement or Clear Cure Goo.

There have been a few days where I have forgotten them in my truck on an outing, and I needed to use my spare $5 Orvis clippers…let’s just say I was not a happy camper. Not that it would ruin, rather one of those thoughts in your head that you just can’t let go of – “Damn it, I forgot my clippers.”

Sounds absurd, right? Well it is…. They’re clippers for crying out loud!! What the hell is wrong with me? Haha

If you’re ever presented the chance to purchase them for $25, I’d say do it. I guarantee that you will enjoy them. Hell - if you don’t care about money, do it, and buy me an extra pair while you’re at it! :)

I don't even want to get in to how much the custom painted ones. Sheesh! They sure do look pretty though.

Project Healing Waters Fly Donation

With the holidays upon us, I thought it was a perfect time to donate some flies to Project Healing Waters, and help them support the disabled men and women who have served our great country.

If you're not familiar with Project Healing Waters, I highly recommend you pay their site a visit, and see what they're all about.

I will be donating a total of 51 flies to the Midwest. There are some flies for trout, panfish, and bass. I just hope that they help!

To all of the disabled men and women who have served or are still presently serving in our military, I just want to say, thank you and wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!