Little Inspiration

She was a little girl who was in a lot of pain & touched an entire nation.  The story of Lacey Holsworth to me is damn inspiring, everyday I find myself thinking of her.   Most likely probably because I am a father & I can't imagine the pain of losing my daughter.  But what I have found so inspirational about Lacey is that she taught grown adults to stop complaining & enjoy life.

Surprisingly this week I guided one of Lacey's hospital roommates who he himself was recovering from cancer.  He had childhood leukemia which has now resurfaced years later, doing good now & enjoying time doing what's important to him.

Be happy, respect those who deserve it, don't screw over people, karma is real, don't complain, never be bored, family first, money doesn't equal happiness, the grass isn't always greener & smile a lot

 Repeat this list as often as possible & if you are having a rough day just think of Lacey :)

Revelation

In my years of doing this past time of fishing I have fielded many questions about this fun sport. One of which that frequently is asked by non anglers is, "Why do you fish so much & do you ever get sick of it"?

So many years of my life I didn't have an answer for this, just thought "what the hell, why wouldn't anybody enjoy this"?  I can't remember when the answer finally hit me, but it finally made perfect sense.

When I fish, I forget about everything else other than the fishing.......

Free your mind once in a while, it feels good

Sumpthang Productive....

Well, it has been a long damn time since I have posted anything on this blog.  So, I figured I could contribute something worth while- a fly recipe.  Constantly I have people emailing or asking me if I have any patterns I could share?  Sure, I have a bunch.  Many of which I don't need Joe Copycat hustling on, this kinda pathetic shit is happening way to frequently across the board these days.  This pattern below is a take on another pattern which is called the "Orange Blossom", I have no idea who tied that pattern- but it was a good idea & im not taking credit for inventing this one.  The pattern below is demonstrated in a step by step photo sequence.  This pattern can be tied in whatever size you feel inclines to tie- fishes well for Trout, warm water species & migratory species.

First off- I am using a Daichii 2220 streamer hook, any heavy long streamer hook works. No need for heavy thread here, use 6/0 Uni.  Place large gold cone on hook as well.  Secure just in front of hook bend.

Next, take some brown Marabou and secure in front of bend of hook.  Then add some copper flashabou. Any color flash can be used here as well as Krystal Flash. We are looking for something to gather light w the flash.

Add your hackle next in the same area. I am using a new product by spirt river which incorporates more UV properties to this fly.  I like the schlappen verses saddle hackle for this, longer fibers which gives more profile & breathing action to this pattern. Tie the feather in by the tip

Now add your black estaz, this will form the body & is going to be eventually palmering forward in back of cone.

Now bring thread forward & tie in your rubber legs.  I am using yellow legs, you can use whatever color your heart desires.  I use a figure eight method to secure the legs to the hook.  Bring thread up in back of cone now.

Alright, now the black estaz has been palmered up through the legs to the front of the hook.  This isnt too easy, take your time going through the rubber legs as they can get tangled up & then the fly will look like crap.

Now palmer the schlappen up towars the front- go through the rubber legs palmering the whole way up.  I like to add extra rotations just behind the cone to give the fly the nice uniform look w the logest fibers in back of the cone.

Congrats-all done!  Now go fishing :)

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Operation-Conservation Brook Trout

Conservation of our natural landscapes/wildlife.  This is currently happening across the United States at a unprecedented level currently. It is wonderful to see concerned citizens of this great country taking care of the environment so that future generations can enjoy spending time in beautiful natural places.  Here in the Upper Peninsula we are truly blessed to be surrounded by such beauty everywhere you look.

One of the most beautifully wild creatures that calls the U.P. home is currently under siege, our native Brook Trout.  Yoopers have chased this believed icon of the icy streams with rod & reel for centuries.  Their creels have been full with these beautiful fish and they have provided great recreation for many.  Historically their population has flourished, as it still is this very day.  A short time ago regulations were passed to lower the daily creel limit from 10 Trout per day to 5 Trout.  This raised quite the stir as many complained about the DNR taking away their rights as anglers.  In reality what the DNR was doing was trying to conserve populations of wild fish in a day that natural habitat was being degraded by numerous factors.  I believe its been around 10 years since this limit reduction has been enacted, I can truthfully say that this has resulted in better overall Brook Trout fishing here in the U.P..

Well, now there is a push to get these regulations changed back to the old "10" per day limit.  This is exactly what this is "the old way", regulations are changed to meet the current needs of our Trout streams.  In all reality, its probably doesn't matter if the limit is 10 or 50 Trout; people are going to violate & keep more than their limit.  But this increase in limit is absolutely a step in the wrong direction.  Conservation of our native Brook Trout is paramount & our State of Michigan needs to strive to preserve this gem-not promote the taking of such a gross number of Trout.  I know of many rivers that if an angler was to keep 10 Brook Trout per day it would absolutely devastate the population.  This is not sound "science" to allow such an absurdly large number of Brook Trout in your creel.

The reason this whole debate/proposition is on the table is due to special interest groups lobbying our Natural Resource Commission members.  Namely our U.P. NRC Comminsioners & some U.P. sportsmans clubs aren't thinking in the best interest of the people of Michigan  These people believe this is a feasible change to our regulations, but it is not up to these people.  They are pushing for this change quite aggressively and this is currently on the fast track.  Seriously, this is thinking that would happen in like 1935, its embarrassing for the state of Michigan & proposals like this need to be scrutinized this day in age. It looks as if this could possibly be passed prior to April! It rests in the anglers of Michigan as a whole and the biologists of MI DNR. 

First off, people need to contact their Natural Resource Commission member.  It may be pointless to contact either of the NRC members from here in the U.P. as they are already promoting this increase.  But on the flipside the U.P. Commissioners may state that they didn't hear from any Yoopers against this prop, so it may be beneficial to contact them for this fact alone. Below are the members of the NRC & their contact info. Please contact the commissioners from lower Michigan, the U.P. Commissioners are the ones pushing for the issue to pass. Please call or email these people & let them know you oppose the new increase in Brook Trout limit. 

Conserving our wild Brook Trout population is of udder importance.

Here is the info for NRC Commissioners-Contact them ASAP!
http://michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-39002_11862-26986--,00.html

Every stream needs to be looked at on a case by case basis to determine the overall population of Brook Trout present, only then should new limits be enacted in my opinion. An overall general increase in limit on all rivers that do not have existing special regulations would be absolutely terrible.  The killing of 10 native Brook Trout is a complete waste of a natural resource and once they are gone there is no bringing them back.

More precious than Gold

Well, its been a while since I've posted anything.  Life has a way of getting busier as you get older-spare time is worth its weight in gold pretty much these days as work consumes my being & family is the most important thing in my life these days.  It has been a very busy year, possibly the most rewarding year of my life.  But there are some things happening in this fine placed called the U.P. of Michigan that are just plain alarming to me. Something needs to be done.

Organic, earth first, green, healthy living-we hear these words or terms every day now & they encompass many of our lives.  Manufacturers use these words for marketing mainly, trying to convince consumers that their product is superior & no animals or plants were hurt when making it.  Whatever. Everyone these days realizes how vital it is to take of mother earth, it has been shit on for so long that it is about time we actually give a damn about how we live our lives impacts the environment.  So people are doing their best to try to help out each other as well as their surroundings.

So is it alarming that everywhere else in the USA that state/local governments are fighting tooth & nail against invasive mining and or damming of natural rivers?  We have taken a real kick in the nuts lately here in the Northern U.P. in this department.  First off the city of Marquette & Marquette Board of Light/Power decided to re dam the Dead River system.  This decision was made to re-create Tourist Park Lake, prolly because land owners wanted their property values back-God knows this dam cant be worth the investment to create such nominal power.  Yes, there prolly wasnt much for Steelhead, Salmon or Trout that made it above those falls-but c'mon, this makes the environmental friendly city of Marquette look damn stupid.  What a waste of money & to turn back a natural river is not cool.

Secondly, this mining push has got to stop.  The blasting has started up on the Yelllow Dog Plains & the writing is on the wall.  I fear the worst as one of the most wild & beautiful places I have ever been may be ruined for future generations-I pray that my baby daughter can someday cast for Coaster Brook Trout with me while we watch Bald Eagles & Falcons soar above.

Now the "Back 40" mine on the Menominee river in the Southern U.P.-this is one of the finest fisheries in the United States.  This is a border State & I hope the anglers of Wisconsin can help stop this bullshit.  This is a gold mine & it is as bad or worse than what is happening up on the Yellow Dog Plains.  Kinda hard to stop these mines when our state government wants them to happen because our economy is so piss poor.

Join the fight.  Just tell anyone how much you think this sucks.  Doesn't matter who, just tell someone.  The more people who know about this & don't like it the better.  Only you can decide what is important. My rant........

Outbound & Downtown

Exploring.  This is something that every person has done in their life, to me it just never seems to get old.  I remember as a kid riding my bicycle so much with my waders on I would wear holes on the inside of the wader's legs from rubbing on the bike frame. As an angler, I very much so still relish the opportunity to fish new water for just about any type of fish.  I've traveled across the U.S. & several countries fishing, the increased pulse rate & downright sheer excitement of when you step into a new piece of water is exhilarating.  One can hardly expect to catch fish when fishing someplace new, you have to earn this right.   Putting together the pieces of the puzzle to find choice water & then figuring out your plan of attack is a work of art. Learning is such an important part of fishing and life in general.  One does not become an expert at fishing after a year or two at this sport, anyone who says they are is full of shit. Actually, anyone who declares themselves an "expert" is a pompous ass-once you stop learning your game is over. Catching fish in a  place or two is the norm, but take that game to locales across the board & get ready to be very humbled. Rarely do these quests pan out into much, but every so often you find yourself a gem.  Over the years one of my fishing partners & I have logged way too many miles on both of our vehicles in search of the holy grail.  Our wives think we are idiots as many days we just drive across the U.P. spending loot on pricey fuel and we don't even get a cast in with the fly rod. But dammit, when you have one of those days where the stars align and one of these places you have researched actaully has some sweet trophy fish-it feels damn good.

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http://www.riversnorth.net

Cold Summers

Yes, cold weather sucks ass.  I hate it, I bitch about it all damn Winter long.  Then comes Summer here in the U.P.,  I look forward to the long warm Summer days all of the dark months.  This year, not much for the warm days. In fact, it's been rather downright shitty for the most part.  Heck, today a girl who was fishing on my guide trip was wearing winter gloves & it is July pretty much.  What gives! Yeah, we had some days in the upper 80's which was nice but that has been about it.  But as a Trout & cold water angler I kinda appreciate the cooler temps, they keep our finned friends in hospitable water temps and provide for some great opportunities in the fishing dept..  So i'm left in a classic catch 22 standpoint.  These cold Summers will prolong fishing seasons & make for better fishing seasons in the future. So what the hell, bring on the cold I guess as complaining & whining is no longer tolerated!  :)

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