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.

PIG FARM INK: IRON FLY TWIN CITIES

PIG FARM INK: IRON FLY

TWIN CITIES

Saint Paul/Minneapolis

When:

Friday - March 16th

7:30 P.M. - Bitchin' (Close at Midnight)

Where:

Blackstack Brewing

755 Prior Ave N.

Saint Paul, MN 55104

BIG THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS/SUPPORTERS

Pig Farm Ink

Costa

Simms

Blackstack Brewing

Bob Mitchell's Fly Shop

Mend Provisions

Jake Keeler

Post Fly

Harmonic Goods

Rising

Whistle Pig

Wish 4 Fish

Vedavoo

Also, my homie Brooks Miller with the Minnesota Twins will be there with a few pairs of Twins tickets to give away, so, this is definitely an event you'll not want to miss!  So come on out to hang, chill, participate, learn, or whatever.  This is open to all skill levels and we HIGHLY encourage people that have never fly fished or tied a fly before to come out and join in on the fun.

ST. PAUL FLY TIERS MEET UP WITH BRAD BOHEN

B-RAD.

Special Saint Paul Fly Tiers meeting is going down tonight (Tuesday 01/30/2018).  Member or not...ALL ARE WELCOME!  So, come on down to Gulden's Restaurant & Bar tonight to see the Musky Madman himself, Brad Bohen.  He will be doing a fly tying demo and he will have a bunch of Primo Tail materials available for sale.  He will have Primo Tail Bucktail, Hang Time Hackle, and some very killer Bohen Bionic Bucktail Brushes aka B4 for sale. Brad accepts cash or PayPal.

If you can, be there! 

TUESDAY - 01/30/2018

5 - 9:00 P.M.

GULDEN'S RESTAURANT & BAR

2999 NORTH HWY 61

MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109

Brad's Links

MUSKY COUNTRY OUTFITTERS

INSTAGRAM

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 Josh.  Josh 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.

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**

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**

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