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!

 

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.

Chesapeake Weekend

Spent the weekend down in MD visiting the family, the good thing is a visit with the family almost always means a fishing trip too. Monday the commercial fishing season was closed,  but dad had to go out and send Spot pots (baitfish) for the next 2 days when the season reopened. In exchange for my help, he said he would drive me around looking for breaking fish... DEAL! Well that was all we did was look, not a single bird or splash for about 2 hours. When we were about 100 yards from the slip I looked up to a happy sight, birds, ducks, and stripers all over the place. We spent the next hour or so fishing clouser minnows and bob's bangers for 12 - 20 Stripers. It was awesome, we caught a bunch, nothing huge but they are such cool looking fish!

Smaller Striper, but ill take it

Got this guy in the mix

A Redfish my dad caught about a week ago