Seminar Update-Boise Bound for Confessions Seminar

My hectic seminar schedule continues.  I have been crisscrossing the continent with stops in Abbotsford, B.C. and last weekend in Ottawa, Ontario where Brian Chan and I provided a one day stillwater seminar.  Over 70 enthusiastic participants were on hand.

Next weekend, March 25-27, I will one of the presenters along with friends Pete Erickson and Jeff Currier Boise Idaho for a weekend fly fishing seminar entitled confessions.   It will be held at the Boise Hotel and Conference Center, 3300 South Vista Avenue, 8:45-4:30 each day.  Two day or daily tickets can be booked ahead of time or purchased at the door.  We are offering discounts for early booking.

Our goal is to provide a comprehensive educational seminar covering a range of fly fishing topics.  We will touch on a variety of subjects including river and stream tactics, stillwater strategies, warm water and salt water techniques.  Although aimed at the intermediate fly fisher this effect should offer something for every fly fisher.  We will also be providing presentations on some of our favourite destinations such as one of my personal favourites, Fortress Lake, home of some of the world’s largest brook trout.  Pete will be providing a session detailing some of his European travels while with the U.S. Fly Fishing Team.  Jeff, our world traveller, will tempt our dreams with his Trout Bumming the World presentation.

From an educational perspective here is a sampling of our some agenda subjects:

• Advanced Nymphing Techniques
• Improve Your Fly Fishing Photography
• Advanced Chironomid Tactics
• Tactical Casting Techniques
• Saltwater Fly Fishing-Bonefish to Billfish
• Top 10 Habits for Stillwater Success
• Warm water Fly Fishing-Bass, Pike, Carp and many More
• Loch Style Techniques
• Terminal Solutions, Favourite Knots

Each student will be provided with ‘goody bags’ and we will be raffling off a number of great prizes from our sponsors including Rio, Echo, Superfly International, Loon Outdoors, Outcast Boats and The New Fly Fisher.

If you are in the Boise area see if your schedule allows time to drop by, Pete Jeff and I look forward to seeing you there!  Don’t hesitate to drop me an email at flycraft@shaw.ca if you wish to know more.

Winter Whirlwind!

Wow, what a whirlwind it has been since my last blog entry.  Show season is all around and I have been coming and going every weekend for the past month! 

Somerset at a quieter moment

After the Marlborough MA show I headed to New Jersey for the Somerset Fly Fishing Show.  It was my first time there and was thoroughly impressed.  As with the Marlborough MA show I was there with the New Fly Fisher TV show I co-host in support of the episodes we filmed in Newfoundland and Labrador.  Response to our show was overwhelming.  Living in the west you are never sure if people are seeing the show.  I was pleasantly surprised as countless people recognized the show and complimented us on the educational format we follow.  Fellow co-host Bill Spicer and I had one young fan drop by the booth that knew every episode and the featured flies.  He was a delight to talk too as he was so keen about the sort.  It seems people can never get enough learning in the fly fishing diets.  A good thing as it is my web site motto too! 

Bill Spicer and I with a young fan of The New Fly Fisher

Show attendance was up and on Saturday it was difficult to navigate the aisles.  They were completely clogged at times.  In addition to fielding questions about the great fly fishing Newfoundland and Labrador has to offer there were lots of questions regarding stillwaters.  Questions I was only too happy to answer. I saw enough pictures of some of the large brown trout inhabiting some of the local lakes to get me interested.
While at the show I had a chance to catch up with many friends and colleagues in the industry including Simon Gawesworth, Jeff Currier, and Bob Clouser to name a few.  I particularly enjoy catching with Simon.  Like me, Simon is a die-hard Liverpool fan.

After Somerset ended I drove back to Ottawa with the booth arriving back around 1:30am.  We unloaded the vehicle and I was asleep by 3am.  I awoke again at 6am, gassed up the rental car, dropped it off at the airport, checked in and boarded my flight back to Edmonton.  I think I was asleep before they pushed back the plane!

The following weekend I was down in Calgary attending the IF4 Film Festival and the Fly Fishing Events Show in Calgary.  This year I had no on the floor speaking commitments other than two tying demonstrations.  I did put on two workshops, Fly Fishing Alberta’s Stillwaters and Demystifying Bugs.  Both were complete sell outs.  When I wasn’t tying flies or teaching a workshop I divided my time between the Rio, Trout Unlimited Canada and Superfly booths.  Brian was in town and like myself did not have any speaking commitments.  Brian was tying up a storm of sorts in the Superfly booth promoting the Stillwater Solutions line of products he and I developed in partnership with Superfly. 

Simon was there once again and we had some ups and downs over the weekend as Liverpool signed Luis Suarez only to learn a few hours later that Fernando Torres, Liverpool’s premier striker put in a transfer request.  We couldn’t believe it,   ahh the ups and downs of Premier League Soccer during the January transfer window.

Talking to the the Central Alberta Tying Club about big flies

On Saturday February 5th I provided my annual tying clinic to the Central Alberta Tying Club.  This year over 20 students enjoyed tying ‘Big Flies for Big Fish’.

'Big Flies for Big Fish' tying seminar

We spent the day tying nothing but flies intended for fish that like their food large.  Students tied Pike Bunny’s, Articulated Popsicle Leeches, Intruders, tube flies, Shaving Brush poppers, Gurglers and Double Bunny’s.  I don’t think any fly was less than three inches in length!  We are already making plans for next year’s seminar.  At this year we will be exploring the ‘Fun with Foam’.

Cross section of big fly patterns

My whirlwind show, seminar and presentation adventure ended earlier this week when I provided a tying demonstration and evening presentation to the Spokane Fly Fishers.  During the day 20 tyers joined me as I toured them through six of my favourite stillwater patterns.  Thanks to Superfly for providing the materials so everyone had the right stuff on hand.  Later that evening I provided my ‘Tactics for Tough Days’ presentation to what I estimated to be over 90 club members and guests.  This was a fun trip and I enjoyed my visit and I look forward to returning in the not too distant future.  Thanks to Judy, Mike and the rest of the Spokane Fly Fishers.

My next trip is not until early March when I will be speaking at the BC Boat and Sportsman’s Show in Abbotsford.  In the meantime I will be busy catching up on a host of article deadlines.

Keep your calendars open in late March too.  If you are going to be near Boise Idaho why not spend the weekend with Jeff Currier, Pete Erickson and me as we provide a comprehensive weekend seminar on wide array of subjects such as river and stream techniques, stillwater tricks and tactics, warm water fly fishing, salt water, casting tricks to name a few.  If you are interested in attending please drop me an email at flycraft@shaw.ca.  Additional seminar details will be available shortly both through my blog and Facebook pages.  

Please don’t forget to check out my Calendar page on my site too for additional shows and seminars such as my Fortress Lake and Learning with the Pros seminars.  2011 is shaping up to be another crazy educational year.

2011 Show Season is Officially Underway!

Well the 2011 show season is officially underway, well for me at least.  This past weekend found me at the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show.  I was there manning The New Fly Fisher booth in support of the Newfoundland & Labrador Outfitters Association (NLOA) as part of the episodes we filmed there in the summer of 2010.

The Marlborough Booth Just Prior to Show Opening

Our adventure began on Wednesday January 12 as James Sidney, one of our cameramen, and I travelled from Ottawa to Marlborough.  The weather was less than friendly and we were driving straight into the Boston area for what would appear to be just in time for a major snow storm.  We didn’t have to travel far to find snow as it began in earnest just down highway 416 from Ottawa.  By the time we crossed the border and travelled down the secondary highways along the west slope of the Adirondacks winter was in full force!  James and I began to wonder if we might have to pull over and spend the night to ride out the storm.  Looking back the snow coming down on the rural farms was beautiful and scenic, almost postcard like.  I should have taken some pictures but we didn’t want to stop and both hands were on the wheel to allow for any ‘drive by’ images.

As we passed through Utica, New York the clouds lifted and things looked brighter.  The roads were clear and we began to make up lost time.  We ran into a few other snow squalls that made for an interesting drive.  Snowflakes’ coming at you in full force at night reminds me of the jump to hyper-space in Star Wars! 
Snow ploughs were out in full force and by the time we arrived in Marlborough at around 8pm Streets were clear and with the exception of the snow banks along the road you would never had known there had been a major snow fall.  Luck was on our side as we were travelling just behind the leading edge of the front.  The Boston area received over 20 inches of snow and we were fortunate to miss it.  The rest of the weekend featured beautiful blue banner skies and crisp temperatures.

During the show I presented a couple of destination seminars on the Atlantic salmon opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador along with a presentation on the trophy brook trout Labrador is famous for.  Saturday’s programs were particularly well attended.  Feedback from show attendees was unbelievably positive.  It seems The New Fly Fisher is well known through our WFN and NESN broadcasts.  
I managed to catch up with a few friends at the show such as Jeff Currier and make a few new ones in the process.

James is a great caster and our location adjacent to the casting pond was perfect for him.  During his breaks he managed to get up there on one occasion showing everyone his soon to be famous Sidney Shoot!

James Demonstrates His Soon To Be Famous 'Sidney Shoot'!

This weekend coming up finds me at the Somerset show, the world’s largest fly fishing show.  It is a show I have always wanted to visit.  We will be there once again in support of NLOA and the shows we filmed.  If you are in the neighbourhood please drop by.

Pause and Reflection-Thoughts on 2010 & 2011

As the holiday season winds down and 2011 begins it is time to pause and reflect on 2010 and look forward to what 2011 offers.

2010 was one of my busiest years.  A situation I enjoyed and one I want to build on for 2011.  My travels took me all over North America, from coast to coast.  Over the course of the year my role as one of the co-hosts of the New Fly Fisher T.V. show took me to Nanaimo B.C. to film with long time friend Brian Chan, Red Deer and Edmonton Alberta, Labrador, Newfoundland and Montana.  I managed my first Atlantic salmon on the fly.  Topping it off with a 39” 15 pound nickel bright salmon on a 7 weight, definitively a fish I was not expecting!   While filming in Red Deer we landed right in the middle of the Hexagenia or ‘Hex’ emergence.  Large browns sipping huge duns and spinners were a sight to behold. As the light faded to a level too low to film we, including James our cameraman, transformed into excited kids as though it was Christmas morning as we cast to huge browns slurping and gulping well into the evening.

Big browns and 'Hex's' in central Alberta

My trip to Montana was one I had wanted to make my entire life.  Chasing gulpers on Hebgen Lake was a dream come true.  A definite ‘bucket list’ event!  I can’t wait to return.  Not only to fish the region’s lakes but to continue exploring some of its blue ribbon rivers and streams too!  

Fishing with Bob Jacklin in Montana was a pleasure

In addition to my New Fly Fisher filming I also appeared as a guest on the fledgling BC Outdoors Sports Fishing show, currently airing on W.F.N.  Together with editor and host Mike Mitchell I filmed a total of three episodes and look forward to filming more in 2011. 

2010 also saw an increase in the number of seminars and club presentations.  Amongst the highlights included a fall stillwater school in California , a stillwater school on scenic Fortress Lake and two hosted trips to the Parklands region of south-western Manitoba.  Please see some of my previous blog entries for complete reports on these trips.  The trips and seminars proved successful and rewarding for both me and my students.  I will be returning to these regions again with an expanded presence while introducing you to additional regions as well.  Instructional guiding on the lakes around north central Alberta will also continue in 2010 so if you are in the area and your plans allow contact me.

2011 is already booking fast and a number of months, such as June, are already full of seminars and trips.  I will be heading back to the Parklands region once again hosting both a weekend and week-long trip.  The week-long event is already full just through word of mouth!  I will be providing additional details regarding the weekend event shortly.  Limited to a maximum of 12 anglers, my Prowling the Parklands hosted trips include food, accommodation, seminars and one on one instructional time with me.  At this time the Parklands region offers arguably the finest stillwater fly fishing in North America.  You have the chance to trade blows with large fat rambunctious rainbows, browns and tiger trout in an unbelievably un-crowded setting.

Big browns, rainbows and tiger trout await in the Parklands region of S.W. Manitoba

As a result of the positive feedback we received in 2010 I will be joining Jeff Currier and Pete Erickson in March as we provide another weekend fly fishing seminar in Boise, Idaho.   Our seminar will provide detailed comprehensive instruction on a variety of subjects including warm  and salt water fly fishing, Euro nymphing, advanced stillwater techniques, hands on knot tying, casting instruction and much more.  Additional details are forth coming shortly.

I will once again be providing seminars at Fortress Lake Retreat, a weekend event in July and a week-long session in September.   The September session will have a specific focus on sight fishing for Fortress Lake’s trophy brook trout.  The sight of a huge brookie pouncing on your fly right before your eyes burns into your psyche forever, please join me if you can!

Join me at Fortress Lake Retreat in 2011!-Photo Courstesy of Dave Jensen

In May I will be travelling south to California once again for another stillwater school.  As with my fall 2010 session I will be working with Bill Forward from Forward Bound Guide Service.  I am looking forward to this event as chironomids, Callibaetis and damsels should all be beginning to stir.

I will also be working with Brian Chan and Mike Mitchell from B.C. Outdoors Sports Fishing magazine providing the popular Learning with the Pro’s stillwater seminars.  This year we will be at Ruddock’s Ranch in early June and Roche Lake Resort in September.  Our September event, as was the case in 2010, will have a definite advanced flavour to it.

Please visit my Calendar page on my site and stay tuned for specific blog and Facebook entries regarding each seminar.  I hope to have these completed shortly.

Response to my on-line store proved positive in 2010.  The addition of my latest book, Stillwater Selections and DVD filmed with Brian Chan, Learning with the Pros-Stillwater Fly Tying-Volume I was well received.  A number of you picked up autographed copies as Christmas gifts.  There will be another planned expansion in 2011 offering access to additional specific stillwater products so please stay tuned for these announcements as soon as they are firm.  I am hopeful for an announcement on the first level of expansion as soon as late January or early February.  A few additional details are awaiting to be finalized.

I wish everyone all the best for 2011 and hope you manage to squeeze an extra day or week on the water.  Explore a different region or chase a different species if you can.  The lessons learned often transfer back to what you are familiar with making you a better angler in the process.  Hopefully I will see you on my travels in 2011 and perhaps we can spend some time on the water together!

Season's Greetings

It’s hard to believe another year has almost past.  Man, as I get older the years fly by faster.

White and bright!

We have lots of cold weather and snow here in north central Alberta.  We will definitely have a white Christmas.  Right now it is -16C outside but the beautiful blue skies and sun lights everything up.  It’s weird having to wear sunglasses when I go out in sub-zero conditions.  Our dog sure seems to love it.  Ploughing through the snow is a favourite sport with her. 

No fishing for a while yet!

Tessa is now nearly a year old.  She is full of energy and loves to get into everything she can.  I am already looking forward to her joining in the boat with me next season.  Hopefully she stays in and doesn’t use it for a diving board like she did on her first trip out earlier this year.

2011 promises to be as busy as 2010, maybe even busier, no complaints though! I am just putting the finishing touches on my school and seminar schedule.  My travels will once again take me across North America.

Based upon your feedback and requests there will also be some new additions to my on-line store. As soon as things are concrete I will let everyone know.

Right now I am busy catching up on some writing assignments with a number of others pending.  I am looking forward to kicking back and relaxing between Christmas and New Year’s, watching Premier League Soccer and the World Junior hockey championships. 

I wish everyone who follows my Blog or through my Facebook page the very best over the holiday season.  Thanks once again for your emails, kind words of support and best of all your stories.

Best of the season!

New Additions to Fly Craft Store!

As probably most of you are aware, this past year I updated my website.   It was time for some changes and a facelift.   Based upon the number of requests I had received for my books, DVD’s and Quick Release Indicators a component of this facelift included a Store page.  My Store page seems to be a positive addition as indicated by the positive feedback it has received.

Plans are in the works to add a variety of other products to this page so stay tuned.

The first step in my planned expansion is the addition of my latest book, Stillwater Selections and DVD, Learning with the Pros-Tying Stillwater Flies Volume I.  As with the book, Stillwater Solutions Recipes my latest DVD is a joint venture with good friend Brian Chan.  Both of these items are now available via my site both individually and as a combo.  The combo packages offer a savings of over 10% as compared to the individual prices of each item within the combo package.  You can watch a short ‘teaser’ of the Learning with the Pros DVD below.

I have also added combo packages for my first book Fly Patterns for Stillwaters and DVD Tying Fly Patterns for Stillwaters along with my second book Stillwater Solutions Recipes-Volume I and DVD Tying and Fishing Stillwater Flies.  Each DVD contains in part many of the patterns featured in each of the books they are partnered with.

Please visit my on line store for more information on both my new book and DVD along with my previous titles.

The Perils of Social Media

Social media has become part of our everyday lives.  Facebook, Twitter and blogs are just some of the avenues we have at our disposal.  The world now communicates and markets itself in a totally new way.  I have become a fan of Facebook and the benefits it offers and of course I enjoy communicating through my blog.  But for the pros of social media there are also a few cons. 

One of my good friends chose not to have a personal Facebook page.  Someone however, decided he should.  As part of bet with friends this person set up an erroneous page.  The goal of the bet was to see who could have the most friends by the end of a set period.  I was first alerted to this when my friend asked me to become his friend via Facebook page.  I did not accept, feeling something wasn’t right as through prior discussions my friend had stated that he wasn’t interested in having a Facebook presence.  After a quick phone call it was clear my friend was being misrepresented.  His page was gathering lots of friends who were asking questions of him.  In some instances these questions were answered!  I, along with a few other mutual friends reported the site to Facebook via the report/block feature at the bottom of the page.  Another friend went on the page and posted that the page was false.  His posts were removed by the originator of the page!  Despite these efforts the page remained and his list of friends continued to swell.

Finally, the originator of the page contacted my friend via email advising him of what he had done and why.  Hoping that my friend would approve!  This person even suggested to my friend that he continue with the page and what he had set up.  My friends response was swift and to the point.  His privacy, integrity and reputation were placed at risk and my friend asked him to terminate the Facebook page immediately.  My friend also asked for him to contact of the ‘friends’ to let them know that the page was false prior to shutting it down.  Fortunately my friend’s request was granted and the page has since been shut down. The issue resolved to my friend's satisfaction.

So despite the benefits of social media there are still a few out there who have their own unique version of how things should work.  Be wary. If you see or experience something like this yourself take the steps to make sure it stops and if possible so it can’t happen again.  Make sure your privacy settings on Facebook for example are set for what you want the world to see or not see.  Learn all you can it pays to be educated.