GFP 2012 Announced! 5 Year Anniversary!

100 days from this post we'll have the 5th annual Guys, Flies & Pies fly tying event!

The next event is on February 18th 2012

I'll wait while you mark your calendars and tell your significant other to plan on your absence for the night!

In the coming weeks and months I'll keep you updated on the progress. I hope to have another great year full of products to check out and to raffle off. While you are waiting for updates, visit the sponsors links* below...without their support we'd just be another bunch of smelly guys hanging out.

* - some sponsor links are missing the image...that should be fixed soon. 

Journal Of Fly Tying

The Journal Of Fly Tying by John P. Newbury is just too cool to not tell you about. When it comes to fly tying and photographing those flies, John does a fantastic job!

John's DT Orange Crush - Bead Thorax Soft Hackle

I recently connected with John through Google+, but it wasn't until this weekend that I checked out his profile and found his website. What a find! He's got a lot of awesome flies that were photographed way better than I'll ever be able to do. A few videos are tucked away in the Tutorials section, and are nice distraction for your day at work.

Have a look, it's worth your time!

LINK

Recycled Fish Online Fly Shop

I got a press release from a friend the other day announcing the Recycled Fish Online Fly Shop. This is a pretty nice setup where Recycled Fish has teamed up with West-Fly to provide a source of inexpensive flies, where 30% of the proceeds got to "conservation efforts to help make strong fisheries with healthy fish populations."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Announcing the Recycled Fish Online Fly Shop powered by West-Fly
New online fly shop delivers high quality flies at low prices, delivers money to conservation.

To catch a fish, an angler needs three things: the know-how, the equipment – and the fish have to be there. The new Recycled Fish Online Fly Shop powered by West-Fly helps accomplish two out of the three. It offers high quality flies at low prices to put the right tools in anglers’ hands, and funnels no less than 30% of every sale to conservation efforts to help make strong fisheries with healthy fish populations.

“We don’t ever want to be a fishing products company,” said Teeg Stouffer, Recycled Fish Executive Director. “We are a non-profit organization. That’s why we’ve partnered with West-Fly, who produces, markets and distributes quality flies. They have created something to help our cause in a new and interesting way.”

So does the Recycled Fish Online Fly Shop powered by West-Fly replace standard bricks and mortar fly shops? “Not at all,” says Stouffer. “Fly fishing needs locally owned shops – they’re part of the culture of the sport. What we’re doing complements traditional shops, it doesn’t compete with them. We won’t, don’t, and can’t offer casting lessons or fly tying classes, guide services, or boots and waders. We can’t tell you what the stream flows look like, or what the fish are eating. But once you figure that stuff out with the help of a local shop (probably after buying an assortment of flies from them), you can order a couple dozen of your favorite patterns from us, or prepare for a destination trip by loading up a fly box with the flies for a faraway water.”

The Recycled Fish Online Fly Shop is available at www.RecycledFish.org/FlyShop or by visiting Recycled Fish and clicking on “Fly Shop.” West-Fly makes a quarterly donation to Recycled Fish based upon proceeds from the sales. All purchases through the site qualify for donations to Recycled Fish.

About Recycled Fish:

Recycled Fish is the national non-profit organization of “anglers living a lifestyle of stewardship both on and off the water, because our lifestyle runs downstream.” The Recycled Fish “Sportsman’s Stewardship Pledge” invites anglers to embrace the Stewardship Ethic and join the organization, free of charge. The SAFE Angling Program — Sustaining Angling, Fish and Ecosystems — is a way to help anglers embrace a lifestyle of stewardship on the water. It involves catch and release fishing, including the use of single barbless hooks, biodegradable lures, and non-toxic lead-free weights. Recycled Fish also educates anglers about invasive species, habitat loss, waterway litter and pollution prevention, urban fisheries, and increase participation in recreational fishing for both adults and children. For more information on the 501(c)3 group go to: www.recycledfish.org

So, if you find yourself with a trip of a lifetime booked...for bluegill...and need a few dozen flies in a hurry, consider Recycled Fish, because not only will you get what you need, but you'll be helping to make things better!

Dear Les Claypool

Mr. Claypool,

My name is Mike and I am a hack fly fisherman. In just 2 days you'll be jamming in my home town, a town that I still live in! You'll be minutes from my home...and minutes from some awesome fly fishing water. Water that flows into the wonderful Lake Ontario. About this time every year huge salmon, steelhead, brown trout, and other similar fish leave the relative safety of the deep lake and travel up into the shallow waters of the rivers. The females get in early and lay their beds because "She knew what she wanted. She was lookin'
for that stud bull........SAAAY BAAABY!!!"

....Sorry, you know all about what fish do and why. Forget all that biology lesson I was getting into above.

The point I'm trying to make Mr. Claypool is that you'll be MINUTES from this fishing! So, here's what I'm offering.

I don't have the $38+ bones to give up to come see your show (long story, but trying to not end up living in a box), so I'm going to give you a free guided trip to some of the best water Rochester has to offer! That's right, I'm not even going to charge you $38 to hang out with the coolest dad (in my house) in Rochester! That's a deal you can't pass up!

What? Want more? Well, call now and you wont receive one awesome knife but TWO awesome knives! Wait, informercial flashback. What I meant to say was, I'll even throw in a free fly tying session! That's right Les (can I call you Les?), if you can't swing a few hours to go fishing, or if you are allergic to water, you can come over to my fly tying house of horrors (I have 5 kids, that qualifies for all kinds of horror) for some fly tying! You'll be able to go back home and tell all your trout bum buddies "I tied flies with Mike...the guy who started Guys, Flies & Pies!!!" And then after they stare at you like they have no idea what you are talking about, and no idea why they should care, you can say "...well, he's not that famous anyway, so, um, never mind!"

So, if this is something you'd be interested in, please send me an email at guysfliesandpies [at] gmail.com and we can set up a time! Hey, I'll even come to the show and tie with you backstage...but I still can't swing the $38, so maybe that's not going to happen.

I hope to hear from you soon! Thanks and have a wonderful trip and good luck at the show!!!

Sincerely,

MIKE

And for you that are NOT Mr. Claypool, and have no real good reason to be reading this very personal and private letter, enjoy the following video...THEN PASS ON MY LETTER TO ANYONE THAT CAN GET ME IN CONTACT WITH LES!!!

R U Super Fly?

I've talked about Pat Cohen on the blog before because of his awesome Punk Rockers! He's an amazing deer hair fly tier that is easily gaining much deserved recognition around the world.

Just yesterday he posted up a new website to make purchasing his amazing flies easier. Whether you are looking for a fly to fish, or one of his amazing punk rockers to display at your tying desk for inspiration, he's got got you covered!

Click here for his new website!

My Desk Has Been Hijacked

That's right....when your desk is the only one that's got space left on it, it attracts other people. My wife has 2 5 foot tables in the craft fly tying room, and since they were all covered in her stuff, she used my desk. Sure, I was a bit upset, but I was there to monitor her use, and to make sure it didn't get out of control. I have to walk a fine line because I have a few sewing projects lined up for her (some fishing related) so I don't want to get on her sewing bad side.

Sew wrong

And then this morning, my 18 month old son found his way onto my chair and started to blow on my unfinished poppers. Yes, these flies are hot!

Caution: Contents are HOT!!!

Thankfully with the new setup tying flies can be done one or two at a time. The vises are quickly accessible, but away from the little guy. Materials will soon be added to the wall for easy grabbing. And with a clean (for now) space, it's easy to sit down and not be overwhelmed by a mess that should be cleaned.

I even got some time to tie last night. Nothing great, and I didn't even photograph it for proof...so you're going to have to believe me.

A New Fly Tying Desk

For a few years I've had an old sewing machine desk that I've been tying at. Well, I decided it was time for a change.

The old desk

It's hard to see in the crappy photo above, but the old desk was made for small American seamstresses....and I outgrew that category long ago. The leg room under the desk left a lot to be desired. I loved how it folded up, and I converted it to hold materials on a board that secured to the back and kept materials out of tiny grabby hands....which seem to be very prevalent in my house.

The new desk, while the same size as the old one when the old one was opened, is 20 inches deep and 5 feet wide! It's got a lot of room. It's mounted to the wall with 10 anchors that I'm told can hold 250lbs each (that's a combined total of 2500lbs of support).....now that's some comforting support when cranking down on glow bugs or deer hair!

Ché working his magic

Of course, the desk came at a great price......FREE!  Well, not completely since I hooked my friend up with a few drinks. Got to keep the free labor well hydrated.

Before it gets all messed up

It's supported by tracks on the wall, so it can be raised or lowered if I ever need it to be. It's currently a few inches taller than a standard table, and that seems to be comfortable so far.

Got the molding cut and put back

Added some more tying stuff

I have not yet tied on the desk, but I've used it for a few other simple projects.....like testing out my new tying desk accent lights! I reclaimed the inside of a light saber when it was destroyed, and I'll have the coolest tricked out desk in town....or at least in the house!

Bling

DISCLAIMER: I had this new desk put in while my wife was out of town. She knew a new desk was coming, but I have yet to know her true feelings on this awesome setup! Will it be too large? Will it be too permanent? Will it be too awesome? She gets home any minute now so I guess I'll soon find out!

JP Ross Fly Rods

Guys, Flies & Pies sponsor JP Ross Fly Rods has posted a new video. In this video JP talks about the components he uses and various ways your rod can be customized. I really enjoy the rod tubes they have, and how they can laser engrave the cap. Also, you can get the reel seat engraved and the butt cap. All these options, along with choice of wood for the insert and style of reel seat allow you to really have a nicely customized rod.

And, if you have a business and are looking for a nice gift for your employees, give JP a call and talk about getting matching rods for the gang. And, if you are doing this please consider putting me on the books before the rods get handed out! I can always use another rod!



LINK: JP Ross Fly Rods

The First Trunk Loop

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm having my wife sew me up some trunk loops to make tying down my kayak easier.

Test fit, ready to be sewn

Loading up a bobbin of a different kind

Sewing it together

Check out those cute hands!

The finished product

Late night test run

It works!!!

Just hanging out

I'm excited that this worked well. However, after inspecting my trunk a bit closer, I think I might make these with a rivet instead of the hose, then screw the strap directly to the trunk so they are fixed to the trunk. This would mean they'd be in place all the time and I'd just have to flip them out when needed. This weekend I'll make up a riveted strap and see how well it works.

A Short Float

This past Tuesday night, my wife and I made a deal, a deal in which she promised I could kayak EVERY day for the next week and a half. Well, I took the deal, not necessarily because of that, but because I knew I had to. But, I wasn't going to let a chance to go fishing from my "yellow banana" pass by. So yesterday after work I quickly loaded up the kayak and headed out for 2 hours. I got to fish for about an hour and a half. A short trip, because like most every other night in the next week and a half, there was something already on the calendar. So, there's a chance a week and a half of kayaking "every day" will turn into 2, maybe 3, trips. I'll take what I can get.

I started off by exploring a very tiny opening in the weeds which was barley 5 feet across in some parts. I got pretty close to a great blue heron and he flew away. I determined with limited time, and the slow speed I had to use to navigate in such a tight area, I'd turn back to the main part of the pond.

The wind was pretty strong and consistent so I kept close to the reeds to keep from getting swept away from the water I was fishing. In the end, I missed all the strikes and caught nothing. It was still nice to get out in the wind and learn that I could be successful in the kayak.

Ready to go

I got home from fishing and found a package waiting. Getting fishing related mail is great!

It was my 24 yard roll of webbing/strapping.

While out at the store I picked up a few more supplies.

I'm going to use this stuff to have my wife sew me up a "soft rack" for the kayak and some trunk loops. Here are pictures of what I've found online, what I'm trying to make myself. I think we'll be successful in making it work, and it will make strapping the kayak to the car easier and quicker.

If you don't tell anyone, I'll let you in on a secret.....I wish I knew how to sew. Last night I wanted to get the stuff made, but my wife had more important things to do. Hopefully in the next week we'll be able to get at least the trunk loops made, since I'm still trying to find a place that has pool noodles (for the soft rack) still in stock this late in the summer.