It's All About the Quest

That's what my guide said to me as we pulled up in 40 mph winds, but I'll get back to that part. Last week, about 4 days before my much awaited Redfish trip, my guide calls and says, the weather isnt looking to good. Great, after 2 other failed attempts this year to catch a Redfish, the whole trip I planned was shot. We went anyway, after day one, I was moping around, and Elizabeth said, "lets to to the fly shop, see if there is anywhere for you to fish.", "ok lets go, I need a hat anyway". Now all I can do is thank her for that.

I was talking to the guy at the shop, he gave me a few local places to catch bass, if I just wanted to catch something. So I did, it was about 3 inches long, on an 8wt. But he also gave me the name of a guide they use down in Grand Isle, said it might be worth going down there, call Capt. Danny, he will set you up. So I called, he said it wouldn't be the "outdoors channel", but he thought he could find me a fish or two.

Alarm went off at 4am, and Elizabeth and I were south bound, and I was starting to get excited. The winds and rain only got worse as we got closer to Grand Isle, white capes, and 4 foot waves destroyed the bay, there was no way poling around the flats was at all possible. We pulled up and Danny said "its all about the quest!", haha yup lets do this. So he took us to a location called 1000 mile, he only took us there because we lived over 1000 miles away. We were not taking the flats boat or bay boat, instead we launched the kayaks, and away we paddled. First cast E had one, first cast I had one, no trophies, but we had constant action the whole time. I have to thanks Uptown Angler , and Capt. Danny of Calm Water Charters for their awesome service and expertise, getting me into some redfish. If it wasn't for Elizabeth, this would have never happened, so thank you!

Redfish, freaking awesome fish!

 

Featured Fly - Todd's Wiggle Minnow

Here is a fly that has been passed around my saltwater boxes, into my smallmouth boxes. I was given a couple of these years ago, it was always the fly I just "Had" in my box. That is, until Gavin came in and grabbed the materials to tie them last year for smallmouth. A few days later we had a 2 boat trip, and he dominated on this little guy. Fast forward about a year, here I am getting ready for a striper redfish trip with Casey, I need a few popper for breaking fish. So I tied some up, super fast, simple, and fun to color.

Materials:

Hook: TMC 811S or TMC 8089

Tail: Craft Fur or Frosty Fish Fiber 

Tail Support: 20lb Mono Loop

Body: 3/8" Foam Cylinders - White, Black, Chart.

Eyes: CCG Eyes 

Step 1: Make a mono loop at the bend of the hook.

Step 2: Take a small clump of flash blend out.

Step 3: Tie in a small clump, you want this to be the same color as the bottom of the fly.

Step 4: Tie in another clump of Flash Blend, the color of the top of the fly.

Step 5: Wrap your thread forward, whip finish and cut off.

Step 6:  Take a razor and trip the front of the cylinder, cut about a 45 degree angle.

Step 7: Cut a slit in the center of the bottom.

Step 8: Slide the cylinder over the hook. Super glue it together, forming a slight curve in the body.

Step 9: Glue on the eyes, then take either magic markers or Prisma marker and color.

Finished Fly:

 

 

Happenings Around the Shop

Well the week is almost over, and tomorrow I head out on a 3 day hiking trip, but its been a busy week at the shop for Casey and I. No fishing involved, but hours at the vise... yup lots of those. For whatever reason we decided it was a good time to skip tying all our trout flies of the up and coming season, and well start on some Redfish flies for our trip in September. Yeah I don't know but its been a fun time so far. We have tied over 3 dozen flies and haven't booked a plane tickets, many have come from 2 sites Kyle showed us, Skinny Water Culture  and 239 Flies. So the Plan is that Kyle, Casey, and I, will head down to the gulf side of FL in September, here's what we have so far.

And this is what we are looking for:

Check out Brian's Blog, for the rest of his stories from Florida!

On top of that I want to thank everyone who came out to the State College store, and watched the Fly Fishing Film Tour yesterday. It was a great success, and the turn out was awesome. And besides, there is nothing like having a few beers (and maybe some Bourbon) with your buddies that you don't see very often.

Other than that not much else going on, just getting ready for the Fly Fishing Show in Lancaster. Not doing anything next weekend come on down to the Lancaster convention center and say hi.