Kype in he yukon !

Since I'm a fan of Kype magazine and I dig most of Marc Crapos videos. Here is a little ditty from them. Check it out people http://vimeo.com/51230653

Some of you may have seen Pat Cohens flies ,they are works of art. Stacked deerhair bass bug style. Yet he turns them into birds and fish with a flair.He has a new video out and here is a link to his page. http://www.rusuperfly.com/ If your interested in seeing how he woeks his magic go to his page.

New Fly Tying How To

Check out the newest issue of Kype Magazine. It features fellow REGAL VISE Pro Staffers Steve Silverio and Mike McAuliffe, as well as my how to for the "Afternoon Delight!"

Communism in Fly Fishing Oh hell NO!

Ok before you read this let me just say that this is my personal opinion! In no way does this reflect the views of any sponsors or other blogs I'm involved with on here! I'm usually not political in Nature here I hope this to be the last time.I have said my piece on this on facebook  I have my reasons.If I lose sponsors or "friends" because I voiced my Opinion, then I wanted nothing to do with you in the first place and I'm glad your gone!  

Lately I have seen something that bothers me. I'm not here to bitch about it; I want to say something about it. The growing trend toward Communism in this country and the use of its symbolism. Now I get having an edge or cornering something to make a few bucks. Yet people seem to have forgotten history like it flew out the window.

We all know Communism doesn’t work and Socialism is a far cry from being the right idea! Let me say that Capitalism isn't the greatest idea but it works better than the other two! This has been proven over time to a degree.

I have been watching the government try to pass laws to take away rights! Your right to be a small farmer and sell produce is being threatened; your right to bear arms and protect yourself is being threatened. Women's rights are being threatened all the time. I for one am sick of it! When was the last time they came up with something that gave us more rights? Do I have you thinking now ?

Communism and the use of it's symbols is no laughing matter. It is a form of Government that doesn't allow you to have rights like the freedom of religion, or the freedom of free speech! The right to bear arms and protect your family! You are told what you will and wont do! Some of these things are basic rights in this country being threatened by people in our own Government. It is only natural for the Government to try to do this.If you havent read Animal farm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Farm please do! It explains alot of what is happening today and it applies to our past history. Have you ever heard history repeats itself? 

That brings me to a certain blog that has cornered a bit of the fiberglass fly rod market. I'm sorry I'm going to have to be blunt here about this. I will probably be shunned by the fiberglass geeks for attacking their hero. I love to fish fiberglass by the way, and I'm way into Old school fly fishing. I'm speaking of the Fiberglass Manifesto. The word manifesto is someone’s creed or religious belief. So the name is super catchy. So this little blog has brought about fiberglass rejuvenation so to speak. I am way cool with that as I grew up fishing glass.

The owner of this blog may be showing his true colors with this new Comrade shirt. This has upset me more then I can say. Mostly because I liked his old shirts. I no longer want to wear any of them because I don't want to support a communist. He contacted me saying I don't know him .As far as I'm concerned I don't need to know him when he has a red fist and a shirt and stickers saying comrade on them! His new “comrade” shirt is highly offensive to me and many others I have spoken too. Communism is no laughing matter and the fact that someone would even have the audacity to come up with a shirt like this makes me sick!'

We have come to a point in this country where the working man is being pushed out for machines; our hands are no longer worth anything. When we do make things here by hand now we charge an arm and a leg anymore. That is the problem here in America, it is called greed! Not Capitalism! What is happening in our Government today is an outrage.

Jobs all the way down to fly tying have been outsourced to China and Malaysia. Some like to think this is how Capitalism is supposed to work. The only one getting rich is the head of the company. Some may pay the tiers a small fee for their creations but in the end it is the owner of the company getting rich using slave labor in communist run countries. That my friend is communism!

Has America lost its soul, I think so! Our soul was sold out the door to foreign countries. I buy as much as I can in fly fishing that is made here,'or that has Americans running the company and supporting some workers here. Face it this country is reliant on outsourcing I know that won't change. There are some real American companies out there who are doing it for the love of doing it! One fly reel company here makes the reels using his brain. They don't mass produce and they are selling a product worth its price, almost cheaper then what they are truly worth .What they are making is a life time investment for you to fish with and it is made by an American! I’m not going to mention the company name here because am blasting someone on here and I don't want them to be associated with my blasting the Fiber glass manifesto! I can't say that I don't support companies that outsource to make a living here because I do! It is almost unavoidable. Being a working class Joe my budget only allows me one or two goodies a year. Fly fishing isn't cheap!

I still want to say how dare you make a communist shirt though! I mean to walk around with a shirt designed after the fist, I mean why not just put the hammer and sickle on your shirt and be done with. ???? I got into it with this blog owner over a company from the states charging way too much for a mass produced "custom” rod.He said to me well you being " American as you are I thought you would undersatnd " Again the amount we charge for some things here is insane anymore. It is like let me steal your money from you but you can have this product for a mere 600 bucks. These rods don’t cost the company more then 50 to 75 dollars to produce! I understand over head and the cost of living ,but ripping people off is a whole other matter of greed.

So where do you stand in a matter like this?  I do know this as an American I will no longer support that blog or its owner!

I say the shirt  is a copy of this symbol above click the link and tell me if it looks familiar!  http://thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com/p/tfm-apparel.html  I IN NO WAY DO I SUPPORT COMMUNISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe I seem like I'm ranting about something small to you. This is how they get support by giving you under handed little things like a shirt with a fist on it.When I grew up we were taught to believe the red the white and the blue were not evil. There was a concept behind it the Red for the bloodshed and the valor, the White for purity ,and the Blue for honor and justice ,the Stars for the states.

This is how much I believe in my flag and my country. I have a demon tattooed on my forearm grasping our flag. It is my idea of our government stealing my country! If you haven't heard of the dumb- ing down of America yet well by wearing this “comrade " shirt you are part of the dumber side as far as I'm concerned . 

So if you want to wear that shirt know I'm not your friend and nor will I associate with you! You may think hey I'm going to stand up for Cameron and wear his shirt because his blog is cool. You have that right but know to me you are a communist supporter. That might sound corny because it is just fly fishing but if you’re a real American you won’t walk around with a shirt like that! Don’t lose your country and soul ,and fight for your rights because soon if things stay on the track they are I won’t have the right to speak my mind without being jailed or the right to practice a religion Of my choice whether you agree with it or not! In this country you have the right to worship peaches if you want to! So think about your freedom and your rights and don't support anything remotely communist! As for the people who delete me ,or are pissed at me because I'm standing up for what I believe good riddance to you! Hopefully I have exposed the wolf so he doesn't pull the wool over any other sheep's eyes!  

fly tying and crusty old buzzards

The past few months ,I have been going to fly tying shows. It has been interesting to say the least. There are a number of things that go on at fly shows. Tiers sit back and sling their wears. You see and meet all types at these shows.It brings out the cabin fever weary angler. They are kind of like ground hogs on ground hogs day.They come out into the light of day but really would rather not be there. Nervous little creatures they are. They want to see new materials and different flies. Some people have been sipping spirits which livens up the party.( Some even touch your girlfriends ass with a death wish! )  Now the tiers on the floor range in every type of human known to man. You have to be a bit of a strange bird to tie flies. I should know I do it. Some guys are famous and others want to be famous. Others are just tiers that are amazing. It is those tiers that I most gravitate to. I have a very discerning eye when it comes to flies. I know good flies when I see them ,I also know hack flies when I see them . Dont be surprised if some of the people on that mighty floor have no idea what they are doing or maybe teaching you something wrong. Flies have a creative side to them where you can get away with certain things. True masters of the fly however follow a strict code when it comes to making great flies. This doesnt happen over night mind you. Master fly tiers are perfectionist and have an eye for detail like no other. Weather this comes with great practice or just as a skill ,these great fly tiers are few and far between. Last year we lost one of the Greats in my opinion his name was Dick Talluer. In one manner he was my mentor as a fly tier and teacher his books have taken me very far as a tier.
Since I returned to the mighty NJ as luck would have it I have been introduced to a few  tiers here that are just incredible! I will be talking a bit about a few  of them in my blog this year. New Jersey is an odd hub for fly tiers ,we seem to produce them like  jersey city rats !We are an odd lot we jersey folk ! I mean we are like the jersey shore crew but tie flies. Well not really, North Jersey fly fishermen and tiers are more like dirty scoundrels from a rough landscape of concrete and woods. This area has tons of history in fly fishing and tying.

One of these scoundrels I know well his name is John Kavanaugh I happened upon this fellow when he invited me to come fishing on the upper Delaware. John has been fishing there since his teens. I was very fortunate to run into this scallywag of a fly tier. He knows these waters well and he knows the bug life on this river system as only a few do ! John is a very modest man as he doesn't sit there and talk out loud about his flies or how great they are. He would rather talk out loud with the guys having a round of drinks then boast about his flies. I have to say his flies are amazing and very well thought out.I have sat with John at a few of these shows and picked his brain about the flies he ties. His flies are time tested and have little tricks to them you would never be able to see with out asking him about his flies. John isn't seeking fame or fortune tying flies he does it because he likes to catch trout !

I got the pleasure of fishing with him last year at the infamous bug week and had a blast! He is one joke after the next and they seem to roll off his tongue like the devil telling lies ! His flies catch fish and I thought it was high time some of you got a chance to see a few.Im not showing all of his flies as some are somewhat secret but here are some of his wears . If you get lucky you might find John teaching classes as that is what he would love to be doing to help others learn .

As of this moment Im still working on a blog fighting communism in the fly fishing industry and my country ,be on the look out for that up coming post as the buzzard picks the eyes out of the country and the fly fishing world

New year and a greasy slick

Ok so 2011 is out of here and I have to say last year was interesting and alot happened. I moved back to Jersey and met up with a bunch of pretty cool fly fishing people. I came back to open arms and have been accepted by a large crowd. It is nice to meet so many interesting people.
Fishing has been a bit tough due to a year of rain and floods and high water. I did manage some trips though. I caught a few fish and I think that is all you can ask for as a fisherman. I say this because I've seen so many things on the river this year.
It seems as of late at least to me people have lost the idea of what fishing is about. Fishing is supposed to be fun plain and simple. Sure there is a lot involved with it. We all seem to get caught up in what the other guy is doing and why they are doing it. Sure when something illegal is going on it is good to be concerned. What I'm referring to is the lack of trying to enjoy the outdoors. People seem to get hooked on hooking fish. For me if I hook a fish it is a bonus. I fish in one of the hardest ways possible and I catch less fish then other people because I do. I fish this way because I enjoy being out there casting and swinging a fly and hoping a steelhead hits my fly. I try to be polite to others as that is how I would like to be treated. The problem is no matter where you go you are going to run into pains in the ass. I have been sworn at before for standing in a run, cut off and low holed. I have now come to expect it that at some point while fishing I will have some odd thing happen in the day. Well this year I will be turning over a new leaf and trying to brush it off. Why you ask? Because I want to enjoy being outside and going fishing and stop worrying about why the other guy needs to be first or the better guy. I just want to fish and enjoy myself. I just returned from a trip.
I met a few real nice people on the river. This was a welcome change because the last few trips I'd run into some really rude people.
 Vern of http://www.facebook.com/pages/Custom-Flies-By-VERN-O/78806691921 Vern-O custom flies was fishing a run and messing with a  new skagit head and I asked if he would mind if I fished behind him and he said go right ahead and let me fish through. That is the kind of people I like to meet on the river. People willing to share and be polite. It makes being out there so much more of a pleasure when you run into someone nice. The next day two guys came up and even asked me if they could cross the river below me. I thought they were coming to ask if they could fish the run with me. I would have gladly let them in. Instead they asked if they could cross below me and I was fine with it because where they wanted to cross was fine. It was so nice to meet some polite people on the river. I later found out they were from out of state. Wondering if maybe some of the guides on the Salmon river could take a lesson from the out of state people being polite!

 As I enter the morning air its crisp bite hits my lungs. The chill wakens my senses, the smell of pine trees brings hints of memories from days on the river past. It is winter and the grey of the woods blend into the background of the sky. The river comes into view, the water looks as dark as a grease slick. It churns and bubbles soothing my soul. In its depths live a silver ghost, secret in nature, and hunting to live. I hunt the silver ghost not knowing if he is present or not. I enter the slick of darkness and it grabs my legs and eases me into the run. As my boots grip the stones and boulders I move through the water casting into the slick which grabs my line and swings my fly into the depths of its own wilderness. I can only imagine what is happening at the end of my line, moving my rod as I try to control the drift of the fly. Cast after cast waiting for the tug or the grab of the silver ghost.
So head for the river with open eyes and an open heart. Fish will come and go as the days come and go but Nature captures your heart and soul. The river is a wayward Drift peace in 2012. Let your reels scream !