Glass Is Not Dead

#glassisnotdead - The Fiberglass Manifesto

Picked up a new/used Cabelas CGR fiberglass rod (5'9" - 3 wt) at a recent gear swap at Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop.  It had a broken tip, but that was an easy fix.  My homie Drew was building himself a new rod, and he was putting together an order, so, I had him add a new tip top guide to shopping list.  The new tip top fit like a glove, and my new glass rod had a new life.

Perfect for the #icatchsmallfishtour

Since I already own a 3 wt rod set up I got years ago, I didn't need to purchase a new line or reel for the glass rod.  I'll just use the reel for both rods, and that is A-okay with me.  It actually fits the rod perfectly, and I was able to take it out right away to test it out on a local lake before all of the heavy weeds grew in.

So many bluegill were caught.

Bunch of crappie this size.

Rod bends in to the evening.

It was a fun time out there with this rod, and I'm looking forward to using it more and more this summer.  It's crazy how much bend there is!  It's the perfect rod for the #icatchsmallfishtour

Vedavoo: Reel Service Project VI

VEDAVOO started the REEL SERVICE PROJECT as a means to raise funds for worthy causes and in this case, Captains for Clean Water.  VEDAVOO messenger bags featuring the original artwork of marquis artists Paul Puckett and Jorge Martinez were built as prizes for those who support these efforts.  100% of the proceeds from will directly benefit the featured charity.  All construction, materials, artwork and administrative expenses have been donated.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by VEDAVOO | Better American Gear (@vedavoogear) on May 21, 2019 at 2:09pm PDT

CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER

Artwork by Jorge Martinez

Artwork by Paul Puckett

The Vedavoo Reel Service Project VI ends on June 1st

ENTER HERE

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.

LEM Boulevard Bike Helmet

This Summer I plan on riding my bike a lot more.  With the more bike riding, I got a new bike helmet from LEM Helmets.  One of my plans for this Summer is ride around the Twin Cities, spot fish a bunch of places, and stop at some breweries.  My homie Grant of the Brown Trout and Bridge Beers Podcast is an avid rider of bikes, and he's down.  Should be a lot of fun!

Fun colors on the box

Lots of air holes to keep my head cool

Safety and style

Slapped a CARF Creative sticker on the new helmet, because, that's what I do.  I have stickers, and they need to be stuck.  Here's a short video of me working on my magic skills.  Let me know what you think! 

View this post on Instagram

Worked on my magic skills to make a new @lemhelmets bike helmet appear on my table. Going to be riding a whole bunch this summer. Anyone else down to join @meyer.grant.d and I for a bike, fish, and brew tour around the Twin Cities one of these days? 🚲 🎣 🍺 • • • #LEMhelmets #lem #helmet #safety #cycling #mountainbiking #commuterlife #fishing #beer #brewery #magic #magicthegathering #abracadabra #minnesota #midwest #beer

A post shared by Justin C A R F A G N I N I (@justincarf) on May 6, 2019 at 7:28am PDT

Gear Swap at BMFS

Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop in Saint Paul had a gear swap.  There was a lot of cool stuff there.  There were also a bunch of cool people.  Here are some photos I took while I was there.

Outside of the shop.

Outside of the shop Patagonia was showing off their new wading boots, and then under the BMFS tent the grill was going and there were hot dogs and chips for all.

Steelhead Talk

There was a lot of fish talk going on, and in the photo above Mr. Sherlock was talking about steelhead, per usual.  He likes to toss an egg pattern first before using a streamer - I'm kidding.  That's how you get him "triggered" haha :). 

Hot dogs and chips.

Sam trying to get Aaron to give him all of the goods for free.

There was a lot of old gear that found new homes, and will find new fish.  There were so many fly rods this year! So many!

Inside the shop

The Legend - Wilderness Bill

The Man, The Myth, The Legend - Wilderness Bill made an appearance to the gear swap.  He's known to wrestle Canadian gators in his sleep, and chug bottles of maple syrup by the gallons, and destroy Costco sized pizzas with 1 bite.

Wilderness Bill scores!

Wilderness Bill is also good at hunting down some seriously good deals!

Big thanks to Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop for the hot dogs, and hosting a fun event!

FYI - I don't know what is going on with my Google account and blogger, but it won't let me traditionally reply to your comments.  I have to instead create a complete separate comment to reply back.

TenCARFa

We're getting to have a Spring here in Minnesota, and I have been able to get out and enjoy it.  Other than the trout in the State Parks of Minnesota, the only fish I am able to get out and target are currently panfish.  With it being Spring and all, I went out for a walk around a local lake, and decided to bring my Tenkara rod.

With a beaded San Juan Worm tied on the end of my Tenkara USA Hane rod recommended to me by The Tenkara Master Blaster himself, Troutrageous (Tenkara Angler Magazine), I went out and dominated the sunfish!

#icatchsmallfishtour

During the walk I stopped at the Como Park Zoo & Conservatory.  Within the conservatory there was a Japanese garden and there were so many Bonsai Trees.  I was thoroughly impressed, because, I have never seen one in person.  Since FOREVER I thought a Bonsai Tree was a specific species, but I was completely wrong.  I had no idea that it was an actual art form of growing much larger trees, but stunting them to be mini.  I was amazed, and conducted 30 minutes of research when I got home, and purchased a Bonsai Tree seed kit for Colorado Blue Spruces.  Soon, I will be a master of Bonsai.

I hope I possess the skills to Bonsai.

Also, I must give a shot out to Cheech of Fly Fish Food, because, he dubbed my style of Tenkara as TenCARFa, and I think it's RAD.  Thanks!

All the cool kids are raving about TenCARFa.

VIMEO

YOUTUBE

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.

Working on daily study #97.

Ted Hansen is incredibly talented artist, and all around rad dude.  You should totally check out his art, and give him a follow on the socials.

Ted Hansen Socials/Website

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Etsy Store

Minnesota Fly Fishing Artists

Instagram

Facebook

Brown Trout & Bridge Beers

I sat down with the guys from the Brown Trout & Bridge Beers Podcast to talk brown trout.  Per usual with me, it went off subject rather quickly and we found ourselves chatting and laughing.  The conversation went from talking brown trout fishing, to whales, dolphins, mop flies, marabou, and I gave some tips on how to succeed out on the water.

Give it a listen to below.

Would love to hear some feedback.

Where you can find the guys of Brown Trout & Bridge Beers:

Soundcloud

Instagram

Facebook

Grant IG

Matt IG

Vedavoo Torchbearer Spotlight

Hello all of you beautiful people out there who still visit.  I am still alive, and I assure you that I have no intentions of ever throwing in the towel here.  Like Stella, I just need to get my groove back.  While I haven't been writing/sharing over here, I have been writing/sharing.  I had a short Q&A session with Matthew over at Vedavoo not long ago, and the interview has been posted.

Click on the link to be brought over to the Vedavoo Workshop Journal to read the interview.

>>>>>  VEDAVOO TORCHBEARER SPOTLIGHT <<<<<

LAKE FLOAT (JUNE)

Back in June I came across some free time, and decided to get out in the raft for a Twin Cities Metro musky hunt.  The homie Travis met me at the boat launch and right when we were about to launch another small water craft pulled up and it was my other homie Lucas.  He was about to call it a day, but decided to stay out on the water and float around with us and fish.

It was a good day on the water, because, Lucas and I raced our watercraft against one another...and I won.  Lucas does have plans to add flames to his watercraft, which in theory give him a few extra ponies, but I still think I'll be able to take him.  We shall see.  Oh, and Travis caught his personal best northern pike on the fly!!  Well, at the time it was his personal best.  He has since caught bigger, and he's totally getting addicted to the warm water game.

Here's a short video from the day.

Travis Instagram - @The_Ravvit

Lucas Instagram - @Strangeflies

Lucas also does art and here's the link to his website -> CLICK HERE

FLAG DAY RIVER FLOAT

Took the Flycraft Stealth out on the Rum River in search of smallies, and gators on a glorious Flag Day.  I tested out how my trolling motor faired against the current of a river, fished some new fly patterns, had a good time, and finally saw some Minnesota beaver.

What'd you all think...I'm pretty smooth when releasing fish, aren't I?!   :)

MY GEAR

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens #1 - https://amzn.to/2LzJ1B0

GoPro 5 Black - https://amzn.to/2JrjSHY

GoPro 6 Black - https://amzn.to/2LuA8IO

Microphone - http://amzn.to/2oGSMEq

Trolling Motor - https://amzn.to/2sVNrKB

*The above links are Amazon Associate links**

*

45 POUNDS OF THRUST

The CARF #icatchsmallfishtour2018 just received a power boost.  A boost in the form of an electric trolling motor for my Flycraft Stealth.  Little fish beware, I am now able to find you faster!

Minn Kota C2 45

The maiden voyage for the new trolling motor was a local lake.  The sun was shining, and I was armed with a 7 and 10 wt rod, a Ziplock bag full of flies, a fully charge marine battery and a new trolling motor.  The table was set for me to dominate, and dominate I did.  These small fish never had a chance.

Pig Farm Pinkie holding up a 10 lb Larry

The trolling motor worked great, and I was able to get out to the spots I know that hold small fish so much faster than before.  They never saw me coming.  I was tossing a small black woolly bugger-esk fly with a conehead, and I SLAYED.  I even slayed while LIVE on Instagram.  If you don't follow me, you should.  There will be more live fishing outings in the future.

5 lbs of crappie

There was a point in time where I was hooking up with a crappie almost every cast.  I must have caught like 347.5 crappie of all different sizes.  If I had a bucket, I might have taken a few home for some table fare.  They were much bigger than the 5lb crappie I am holding in the picture above, but I decided that I'd let them see another day.  I have their address, so, I'll be revisiting them in the future.

The CARF Fish Slaying Water Craft

The trolling motor works great, and is more than capable to scoot the Flycraft around the lake.  Looking forward to getting it out on a river to test it's ability against some current.

MY GEAR

Trolling Motor - https://amzn.to/2sVNrKB

Net - https://amzn.to/2Jz54He

Camera - http://amzn.to/2hnMwkD

Lens #1 - http://amzn.to/2hhdHJS

Lens #2 - http://amzn.to/2CLhwQZ

**The above links are Amazon Associate links**

BOW & ARROW BROOK TROUT

One of my friends saw that I was on the Carf #icatchsmallfishtour2018 and invited me along to go fish some of his favorite brook trout waters.  In typical CARF fashion I forgot the reels to my 3 and 5 wt rods, so, I had to borrow Cody's spare 5 wt reel.  It seems I'm always forgetting things.  This one time my friend Jim flew up from Chicago for work a day early to fish, and when I picked him up from the airport we immediately went to the trout streams.  I told Jim not to bring anything but his waders and boots.  Well, I should have told him to bring his fly box, because, I forgot all of my flies at home on my desk.  Ha!

Enjoy the short video, and be on the look out for a longer version of the video by subscribing to my Youtube channel.

LINK - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2tl6hO4GM4

Let me know what you think of the video in the comments on the Youtube page, and don't forget to give it a "thumbs up" because it really does help in letting me know if it was good or not.

FIND YOUR SIGHT LINE

There's no doubt that I love showing my love for fly fishing and fishing in general.  I have so many stickers that showcase this stuck to my car, coolers, water bottles, fly boxes, etc.  I have plenty of shirts that also showcase the sport.  I now have a bracelet from Sight Line Provisions that showcases my absolute favorite fish - The Bass (Small and Largemouth).  I love fishing for pike, and musky...but  fishing for bass is where this passion really began.

Before fly fishing, my favorite method to fish was with my casting rod and a hollow rubber frog.  Nothing got me more stoked than tossing one of those frogs in the thick of the Lilly pads or weeds, anticipating the explosion of a bass bursting through the surface to destroy that frog.  Then came along a fly rod and a size 4 sneaky Pete fly in yellow.  Tossing that little fly along the edge of the weeds, Lilly pads, or over the top of some submerged vegetation to see that little fly get annihilated by some bass.  Endless fun.

Now I can really showcase my love for those fish...in style!  At first, I wasn't so sure about the purchase, because, I didn't really know how I was going to like wearing a bracelet.  I've been super happy with the purchase, and it has been the start of quite a few conversations about fishing.  I think I see a musky or pike bracelet being added to my Christmas list for Santa.

SIGHT LINE PROVISIONS

BASS POPPER ADV STEP BY STEP

It's warm water season, and the bass are going to want to eat some bigger bugs off the surface.  Top water bass fishing is no doubt my favorite type of fishing.  5 - 7 wt rods with a floating line while fishing lakes or rivers.  It's a blast!

Below you'll find some advanced instructions on how to achieve a popper that will get the job done, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comment sections or shoot me a message.

Step 1 - Take your Partridge of Redditch popper hook and place it in your vise.

Step 2 - Tie in a clump of Lund's Fly Shop Misfit Wampa Hair for a tail.

Step 3 - Tie in a small amount of flash over the top of the Wampa Hair.

Step 4 - Tie in 2 small hackles from your Whitings Farms bugger pack.

Step 5 - Tie in your Polar Chenille to make a hot spot in the middle of the fly.

Step 6 - Put some superglue down on the thread that the body will be pushed on, and push on the body.

Step 7 (optional) - Poke through some rubber legs on the side to add some extra wiggle.

Step 8 - Super glue some eye on the popper body.

***Some of the below links are Amazon Affiliate Links***

Body
Flymen Fishing Double Barrel Popper Body - Medium Sized - https://amzn.to/2skN38d

Hook
Partridge of Redditch Popper Hook - Size 2 for the Medium body - https://amzn.to/2sfpeiU

Tail
Lund's Fly Shop Misfit Fly Wampa Hair - http://www.lundsflyshop.com/Wampa_Hair_p/mwh.htm

Flash
Crystal Flash - https://amzn.to/2xo3qGL

Feathers
Whiting Farms Bugger Pack - https://amzn.to/2IZVVY1

Hot Spot
Hareline Polar Chenille - https://amzn.to/2Jas42t

Eyes
Hareline Eyes - 4 mm eyes for the Medium popper body - https://amzn.to/2shbRi1