NEW FLY ROD & REEL Ships

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Shipped Fly Rod & Reel’s winter issue to the printer. Always a big relief, meaning we got ‘er done and now can concentrate on the Spring issue. I like the feeling of a clean deck and all the possibilities. So, Spring. Wondering what all of you like most about the late-winter/spring season. Trout? Getaways to the saltwater for permit, bones and tarpon? Striped bass migration or late winter steelhead? Or is it a time to concentrate on tying flies? Get that arsenal built up for summer? You know, tie enough for your clients and still have plenty left for the off-day fish-fests? I’d love some feedback on what you would run if you could pick a focus for the issue and run five feature articles. Also what you think would make great reads for our standard columns—Practical & Useful; Angle on Art; Traveling Angler; Books; New Media; Guide Flies; and Personal History.

I have my ideas already, but I thought it would be fun to put you in the editor’s seat and see what you could come up with. Give me an idea or a few and we can discuss the merits. Also, what would you run for a cover shot? Saltwater? Trout? Steel? Scenic? Stripers?Flies? Profile? Have fun with it.

Posted in Books, Culture, Industry | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Buy and Read Pulp Fly Volume Three

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Some of these authors you may have heard of, some not. But these are the contributors to Michael Gracie’s newest Pulp Fly offering, words on fly fishing from people who actually think beyond the catch—Erin Block; Alex Landeen; Pete McDonald; Miles Nolte; Tom Reed; Tom Sadler; Bruce Smithhammer; April Vokey; Bob White; Steve Zakur; Jay Zimmerman. If you want to read some fine writing download a copy today.  Following is Gracie’s post on his Web site, www.michaelgracie.com, which covers fly fishing, technology and, often, booze.

From www.michaelgracie.com: If fish didn’t have gills, they would probably inherit the Earth. Not to say they are meek. If you ever hook a marlin on a fly rod you get to watch your Continue reading →

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Big R’s Online Magazine—December

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Greg Thomas

The boys from Big R fly shop in Great Falls, Mont., run a pretty fine fly shop and they still get their hours on the water. That’s evidenced by BR’s most recent issue of their online magazine. The mag is a mix of discounted products—and there are some absolutely sweet deals to be had—and some photography and writing. Check it out, then range on over to their blog where you can easily burn up your work time looking at images of Pend Orielle rainbows and other mega-catches. If that isn’t enough, hit their fly tying section, which is full of killer patterns, all detailed by video. You’ll be inspired to get behind that vice and this is a great time of the year to do that. Good stuff here.

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Anglers May Have To Choose Between Browns or Rainbows on Idaho’s Silver Creek

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Ran across this blog post from  David Glasscock at Silver Creek Watch and thought I’d put it out here for discussion. How do all of you feel about rainbows versus browns in central Idaho’s Silver Creeek? If you haven’t fished Silver Creek and aren’t familiar with its fishery, just think of it in terms of your favorite waters. Which would you prefer if you had to choose one—rainbow or brown trout? Would love to know, and would like to know why. Thanks.

A few years back, the Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game conducted an open house in Hailey, Idaho. One of the topics was Continue reading →

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Shaun Lawson’s Mega-Flask

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Lawson displaying the “tanker.”

Spent some good hours in Bozeman a few weeks ago, in particular a few hours with the Yellowdog Fly Fishing Adventures crew and their friends. We were celebrating the release of Confluence Films’ Waypoints and we were set to see the movie premiere at the Ellen Theater just a few hours later. That’s when I noticed and old pal up to some familiar antics, antics I support of course. The perpetrator was Shaun Lawson who handles western U.S., Mexico, and Canadian promotion duties for the company. I spotted him canvassing the crowd with the biggest flask I’d ever seen, offering the cheer to anyone who cared to partake. Shot this image and thought enough of it to share it here. Mega-flask Continue reading →

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Setback For Southeast Oregon’s Lahontan Cutthroat

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Greg Thomas

It wasn’t like I was about to jump in the truck and head to southeast Oregon to fish Lahontan cutthroat trout, but I do keep my eyes on efforts to reestablish that fish to its traditional watersheds, and I have had a great time catching that fish in lakes. They are pretty fish and they are big. So this story caught my eye and it is testimony to how difficult fisheries biologists have it these days when trying to favor one fish over another, even if it’s the right thing to do and the best thing for anglers in the long run. Here’s the word:

Efforts to restore a population of native Lahontan cutthroat trout in McDermitt Creek in southeast Oregon suffered a setback earlier this month when biologists discovered a reproducing population of non-native brook and Continue reading →

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Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s Belize Flats Trip

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Greg Thomas

About this time of year I start thinking about Caribbean possibilities and this one is particularly intriguing. Fish like crazy and help a great research cause in the process. What’s not to like. Give this a read. Let me know if you sign up for the foray—if you do I’ll reach out for images and a story for our readers.

Frontiers Travel is announcing a special opportunity for just 10 anglers to team up with them and the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) to participate in cutting-edge catch-and- Continue reading →

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Legally Poached: How to Find Underfished Water and Trout Without Hookscars

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Greg Thomas

NOTE: I penned this piece for the Spring issue of Fly Rod & Reel, but with the holidays coming I thought you might want to consider putting a Watermaster or some other personal boat on your wishlist. Read on and catch the fever.

Finding underfished waters and trout without hookscars.

I was halfway through a pitch to fish two different rivers in two days, one of which flows through highly private lands, when my potential partner, Jeff Wogoman, said, “Are we going to get shot?” Continue reading →

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SIMMS’ New Vapor Boots

Posted on November 17, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Nineteen-eighty-seven. One split second. Right side of the lane, planting on my left foot. I was going to throw it down on some syrupy-slow center. Ok, I’m 6’ tall and white. I was going high to lay it in. That’s not the point. This is: my foot rolled off the top of his laces and my ankle dislocated. Tore everything off the outside of it. Later, the doctor took an X-ray of the good ankle. It moved two degrees. Then he took an X-ray of the bum wheel and it twisted 33 degrees. Said it was the worst Continue reading →

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Speaking Tonight at Missoula’s Union Club

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Greg Thomas

Thought I’d let all of you know that I’ll be presenting to the Outdoor Writer’s Association and University of Montana journalism students tonight at the Union Club in downtown Missoula. It’s all part of OWAA’s Off The Record monthly gathering where all topics are open for discussion, with a strong focus on journalism.

The presentation begins at 7 with conversation among other writers, editors, students and professors. Around 7:15 or 7:30 I’ll show some images and offer insights on how to pitch magazine stories and photos, how I got into the business and why, and how to parley this passion for writing and photography into a paid vacation. And whether that is ethically correct or not.

OWAA buys the first pitchers and you can follow up with anything else after that. Should be a lively discussion and a great way to meet like-minded people who care about fishing, hunting, writing, photography, and editing. Hope to see you there. GT

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