Did You See This New Tacky Fly Box?

The International Fly Tackle Dealer Show was held in Orlando a few days ago, and if you're into learning about the "latest & greatest" in gear a few months before it hits the market, checking out many of the social media outlets last week would have been a great place to get that head start.

In the past, I've used this blog (believe it or not) to get "media" credentials for the show, but I wasn't able to attend this year. The timing just didn't work out with my real job, which is a shame because this is the last year the show will be in Orlando. (It's returning west to Denver in 2019).

Of all the videos I watched, pictures I looked at, and posts I read, the one item that really caught my interest was the new waterproof Tacky Flydrophobic SD fly box. See, I'm a Tacky fly box junkie. I supported their initial Kickstarter way back when, and have religiously used one of their products (if not multiples) on each and every one of my fishing trips since. For something generally so overlooked as a fly box from the "tech" standpoint, that silicone insert was really quite the innovation.

If the print in that image is a little too small to read what's going on, this video from Field & Stream's Joe Cermele probably does the best job in explaining it.


So that's a pretty slick concept that solves the "wet fly" problem in which other waterproof fly boxes suffer. Depending on your level of disposable income, it may be a bit pricey, but I will say that I've never been let down by a Tacky box in the past.

I'll probably snag one of these when they hit stores... because I'm a sucker for cool stuff like this. Especially when it has a brook trout pattern on the lid.  Ha!

Artful Profiles of Trout, Char, and Salmon, and the Classic Flies That Catch Them

This past Friday was kind of a pretty awesome mail day. I've been patiently waiting for my copy of Dave & Emily Whitlock's "Artful Profiles of Trout, Char, and Salmon" to arrive at my doorstep, and guess what greeted me once I got home from work...

I'm sure many of you are familiar with Dave Whitlock's overall body of work... it sure would be hard not to if you're even a casual fly angler. Well, with an initial paging through this latest book, the contents far exceed my expectations. Such wonderful illustrations within, I can't wait to get some downtime this upcoming week and really soak in the pictures and complete text.

And the best part... and I know I'm not special or anything because this is pretty standard for Mr. Whitlock... I've been on a kick recently where if I have the opportunity to have the fishing books that I purchase signed by the authors, I try my best to take advantage. Well, this one is no exception. And just like when he signs his prints, Dave always adds a little something extra to each signature. Love it!

Chums...

No, not these...

Image Courtesy: The Columbian

Although those chums or "dog" salmon are pretty interesting to look at. Total sidenote, if you dig salmon, the Meateater podcast on the various Alaskan species back in April was a great listen...

Anyway, when I'm talking Chums, I really mean the accessories company. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you can find their website HERE.

See, almost a decade ago, I bought a nylon wallet they used to make during one of my long meanders through a Bass Pro Shops. I still use that wallet today... as it pretty much looks the same as when I bought it, with nary a fray or loose thread.

This is in stark contrast to all the brandless billfolds I used to pretty much destroy every year or two toting too much randomness in my back pocket just like George Constanza.


Okay, so let's bring this full circle. Looking at my wallet the other night, I randomly thought I'd pay the Chums website a visit... and I was rather surprised to find so much cool, fishy stuff, I thought I'd share.

First off, should I ever decide to replace my wallet, they've got an artist Andy Earl inspired "surfshort wallet" that would certainly the talk of any fly shop checkout line.

I mean how cool is that thing? And it's actually part of a whole collection of products...

But even more interesting is all of the waterproof stuff an angler might use, called their "Storm Series". Two rolltop pouches for cell phone/valuables, and two rolltop packs that can be worn as shoulder or waist packs. The stuff looks serious...

Oh, and they'll keep your snacks dry too!


I should probably make it clear, Chums didn't contact me to write this post. I've received no free gear or other compensation. I'm just geeking out that I didn't realize that the company that made my bombproof wallet years ago, also makes all these other cool accessories I could use on the stream.

Anyway, may be worth checking out if you're in the market for any of this stuff... And as a bag junkie, they've definitely piqued my interest in the Storm Series...

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Fishing Fitness Footnotes:

• Date: 6/6/2018
• Current weight: 205 lbs ( -11 since start)
• Current waist size: Bought a pair of size 36 jeans and they don't suck. (Orig 38)
• Today: Walked around the neighborhood after dinner with K.C.
• Misc: Did a 14-mile light bike ride last Saturday, and a 6-mile walk last Sunday

Discover Keiryu Rod Co.

Hmmm, now this is something... as you know I have a fondness for obscure Japanese fishing methods.

Looks like somebody took the Tenkara USA model of "introducing a Japanese form of fishing to America" up a notch by launching the Keiryu Rod Co.

(Hope my friends in Idaho don't take offense by the name selection).

For those not in the know, "keiryu" means mountain stream in Japanese. The particular rods this company is selling is for a style of fixed-line fishing that also uses long, telescopic rods, but instead of being engineered to cast flies, they employ bait. As so much, it's not fly fishing, and certainly not tenkara, but to the casual observer, they may look very similar from afar.

Chris Stewart over at TenkaraBum has been selling keiryu "stuff" for a while now; his site has a breakdown of what I'm trying to describe if you're interested in learning more. Obviously, there's more to it, but his link will at least point you in the right direction.

I've actually only seen keiryu bait gear in person once. There was a gentleman (Craig) I became friends with on tenkara fishing forums & Facebook a few years back who invested in the system and brought it out to the Midwest Tenkara Fest back in 2015. He even put on a short presentation on how he builds & fishes his rigs.

Craig fishing Coon Creek in Wisconsin

Anyway, will be interesting to see if this catches on, fades away, or even becomes a thing. I only found out about it stumbling across a newly uploaded video on Vimeo (there's actually a few there), so my guess is there will probably be some sort of marketing push in the not too distant future. Guess we'll see...



Oh, and if you're interested in picking up one of these rods, looks like they're selling them for $170 through Amazon. "Prime" it, and you'll have it in time for the long weekend!

Fear & Loathing In Packing For Fishing

I hate packing for fishing trips.

Headed to Wisconsin this weekend to do a little Driftless trout fishing, and I figured that I probably should try to get some stuff together for the trip. Did I mention I hate packing for fishing trips? F'n blows.

Most of the stuff in the bin "needs" to go in the suitcase, oh, and four days of clothes too...

In the summer, it's not so bad. Wet wading is rad, and cuts down the number of things that take up space in your bag, suitcase, whatever...  However this early in the year... in the upper Midwest... well, waders and the such are coming along.

But actually, that's the easy part. I only own one pair of waders, so I know what to bring. But they do take up space, along with that jacket, hoodie, or whatever else I need to bring to keep my thin Florida blood from freezing cheese curd semi-solid. I hate being cold more than I hate packing.

Maybe Tenkara Gandalf will let me borrow his robe when I get there...
One less thing to pack!

But really, it's all the other stuff that gets to me. See... I'll admit it, I like a hot shower, I like to feel clean, and wear clean clothes. And while it would make my packing more economical, I don't really want to dirtbag it and wear the same fishing clothes three days in a row... and I especially do not want to wear any when I'm not fishing... because I'm a sweaty, stinky, dude. Pirate baths are only so effective...

So. Ugh. Back to packing. Usually, my trick to cutting down what I bring is to make sure all the clothes are at least fishing appropriate - performance fabrics, no cotton - and wear the clean stuff I wore the day prior when I go fishing the following morning. One outfit, 1.5 days.

When I'm done, I shower, change into clean clothes for the evening, then wear that outfit the next day fishing. And so on, and so on...

Doing so, I figure I eliminate the need for at least one set of clothes... or maybe it's a half set, never was good at math... and then multipurpose top layers (like the aforementioned hoodie) over multiple days. But then I always make sure to pack extra socks and underwear, because my Mom told me to do that when I was younger and good boys always listen to their mothers. And wet socks suck.

A few years ago I went rogue and decided not to pack ANY socks or underwear on a trip to Utah, figuring I'd save space in my pack and buy cheap (read: disposable) substitutes at a local Walmart once I got to my destination. That sorta worked... until the paper-thin boxers like evaporated in my toxic crack (ok, that's my problem) and the sandpaper-cheap cotton socks gave me blisters. So, no, I'm not gonna do that again.

Oh, and all that doesn't even address the gear "situation." I will say that when I travel to primarily go fishing with a tenkara rod, I don't end up bringing quite as much stuff, which I guess is a positive. Yay, tenkara. But I still bring too much. Do I need multiple fly boxes? Aren't I supposed to fish with one fly like the Japanese Samurai? Are three spools of tippet necessary... maybe I need four, never know when I'll need 7X...?  Crap, are they even full spools?

Cam always does a great job of taking those perfect laid out gear photos...
my version of the same would look like elephant diarrhea.
(Photo courtesy of TFM)

And don't even start when I take my rod and reel... despite all the Excel spreadsheets I set up ahead of time to try and mathematically equate what I need to bring, it still ends up an utter disaster once I physically begin the packing deed. Articulated streamers, yup. Extra leaders in multiple sizes, toss em in there. Thingamabobbers, a must have! And the VHS camcorder to document it all! When I get back I find I only end up using about a 1/3 of the stuff I thought was essential. Why did I bring those tarpon flies to Tennessee again?

Anyway, this ramble I'm writing tonight (which you're likely reading tomorrow) is only being written to prolong the inevitable. Cramming all that crap in my fishing duffel... and keeping it under 50 pounds so it can be checked on the plane without an additional luggage fine. Those bastards laugh when they take that extra money from you. Believe me, I know.

Now... where is my semi-collapsible wading staff?

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So what am I doing wrong? Yes, part of the above is embellished for the sake of the blog, but what tips or tricks have you learned over the years when it comes to packing for fishing travel? I'd love to further my educaton in the comments below!

Vintage DIY Fly Box

The concept of a Do It Yourself (DIY) fly box is nothing new. Often, you'll see repurposed Altoids tins, or even random plastic containers such as pill boxes serve as the base... but it's not often you find them fashioned from an antique tobacco tin. As such, when reader Mark White sent his project in, I really wanted to share:

"There are numerous manufacturers of fly boxes on the market. All very well made along the spectrum of cost. I was searching for some a little more unique.

One weekend while browsing the local antique store I came across a “tin” that used to hold pipe tobacco. Due to the character and printing on the container, the DIY wheels began to turn.

I cut a piece of foam the size of the container and hot glued it to the bottom the tin to keep it secure and a place to hold the flies. I prefer one with an attached lid so there’s one less thing to deal with on the stream. It measures approximately 1 x 3 x 4 inches and fits nicely in a shirt pocket.

Not only does this make a good fly box but, should you have one that belonged to your grandfather, a place to hold memories."

Cool Stuff: Art of Jeremy Shellhorn

There are so many creative types out in the fly fishing community. Whether it is fly tyers, rod designers, photographers, videographers, authors, you name it, it seems as if those who enjoy pursuing fish with feathers also love to flex their creative brain muscles.

One of the favorite items I left with from the recent Tenkara Jam in Boone, North Carolina (full post upcoming) was a mini "zine" created by Jeremy Shellhorn. You may know Jeremy as the designer of most of Tenkara USA's artwork and graphic treatments, as he is mentioned frequently on their blog and social media. Jeremy also happens to be an Associate Professor of Graphic Design at my wife's alma mater, the University of Kansas - so Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Jeremy (right), manning the Tenkara USA table at the Tenkara Jam

I thought I'd share a few photos of the Tenkara zine. The magazine itself is only a few pages, so I don't want to photograph the whole thing cover to cover.

I've always enjoyed the aesthetic of Jeremy's work, and if you do too, you can see more examples of it over at Tenkara USA, or his tumblr site Getting the Drift.

Dr. Goodwin's Artisan Sporting Buckles and Belts

From time to time I receive email "press releases" from folks in the fishing and sporting goods industry. If you write a fishing blog, or perhaps ever attended a trade show like IFTD or ICAST, you may receive them too. While they're nothing more than specially crafted advertisements, sometimes one of them catches my eye. So today here's a press release I received from Dr. Mark Goodwin, perhaps it interests you as well:

"Mark Goodwin is an internationally recognized award winning small metal sculpture and fabrication artist. An avid outdoorsman who loves to fish and hunt, he also has a passion to create wearable art in the form of belt buckles and belts. Mark says, “I hand make very affordable artisan belt buckles that can be worn on any occasion, 365 days a year. They are perfect gifts either for yourself, family, groomsmen and, bridesmaids or to corporate clients to commemorate outings.”

He makes each buckle, one at a time, in his Apalachicola, Florida studio on the Forgotten Coast. He only uses hand tools and traditional methods. Up to 5 different recycled USA metals are joined together- bronze, copper, brass, nickel, and pewter. His designs often include gemstones and other materials. No two creations are identical- each is unique.

In addition to his casual and dress buckles, Mark makes his perfect GatorGrip© Belt. “I got tired of belts with buckles that slipped during an active day in the field and on the water.” So, he designed and built his GatorGrip© buckle so that it cannot slip. Ever. And because it is made of cartridge brass, it will not rust. The 100% nylon web belt is comfortable, handsome, and strong. “See why I say: My toothy grip will never slip! This will be your favorite belt, guaranteed. And while it makes the perfect stocking stuffer gift, there is no reason to wait until Christmas to get one for yourself or someone else.”

All of the metals exhibit their natural colors. He rubs the metal against stainless steel shot to make it shine, and then he hand rubs it with a warm mixture or turpentine and beeswax. No paint or lacquer is used.”Paint, lacquer, and synthetic coatings are bright for a while. But they will eventually yellow, crack, chip, and wear away. Wax finishes give off a soft glow and are fairly durable. Of course, wax can be re-applied (or not) on occasion, according to the desire of the owner.”

Buckles and belts can be purchased in select sporting art galleries, or from his webstore www.tygerforge.com. Price ranges from $60 to $249."

Links…
www.tygerforge.com
www.facebook.com/tygerforge
Pinterest @tygerforge
Instagram #tygerforge

DISCLAIMER:
As mentioned in the intro, I received this press release via email. I have no personal or professional relationship with Mark Goodwin and received no compensation for this post. I just happened to find his creations interesting and thought you might too. Plus, "copy & paste" makes for an easy blog post when you've got nothing novel to write...

Tenkara Tuesday: Eye Catching New Rods

Welcome to Tenkara Tuesday...

Just happened to notice some really striking new tenkara rods being teased on Facebook the past week or so. While they say "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," it's certainly interesting to see some unique looks being produced.

The following photos have been lifted from Facebook, I don't think the owners of the contributing pages will mind... I mean the posts were set to "public" for a reason...

Riverworks ZX360

"Built to be one of the most ELITE Fixed Line Nymphing Rods on the planet!! Our Hardware Package was machined and anodized right here in the USA!! All our grips are lathed and constructed right here in SE Tennessee. Each Rod is meticulously assembled one at a time by the guy who designed the rods."

- Riverworks Company USA

Images courtesy: Riverworks Company USA Facebook Page

Alps Tanuki Special XL

"Alps Tanuki Special designed in Italy by Italian. it is a collaboration work between US, Italian, and Chinese rod Engineers. When it comes to design, it is hard to beat Italian. The AlpsTanukiSpecial action is not the same Tanuki XL. It is designed for a full rod casting, it means you hold on the lower section of the grip. The action is a little slower and flies land gently on the water. It is a Tanuki XL family which designed for more Traditional Japanese fly manipulation both dry and kebari does not mean you can't use double October Caddis."

-Tenkara Tanuki

Images courtesy: Tenkara Tanuki Rods Facebook Page

Those are definitely some eye-catching rods. Very different from the norm.

I guess the next question is, "but how do they catch fish?"

5 Landing Net Options For The Tenkara Angler

With fish mortality and catch & release being an omnipresent topic, (particularly as it relates to trout), thought it might be an opportune time to discuss landing nets.

While not essential to the fishing experience, landing nets certainly can come in handy for those that want to land a fish quickly and efficiently, as well as perhaps snap a fast photo of their catch. A skilled netting allows the angler to keep the fish corralled (and wet), while they reach for their camera, smartphone, etc... and minimizes the overall handling time during the photography and/or release process. Heck, it can even serve as a nice backdrop for the photo itself.

Truthfully, this post could easily be called "5 Landing Net Options For The Small Stream Angler," but since most of these nets are associated with tenkara due to their shape and stylistic origin, I'm going to run with the original post title noted above.


Tenkara USA Net

This tamo may be one of the most popular and recognizable of all of the tenkara nets offered. It's almost as synonymous with tenkara as a reverse hackle kebari fly. Made of wood with a mesh netting, this round basket-style net is lightweight, easily stored in a wading belt when not in use, and the curved handle allows for ergonomic catch and release. Plus, it's just plain pretty. Don't underrate that aspect of this net. (I own and use this net)


Daiwa One Touch Folding Damo

Similar in shape to the Tenkara USA net, the Daiwa One Touch damo (net) is different in the fact that it folds into a compact shape when not in use. The spring form hoop collapses in a fashion similar to those quick pitch, pop up tents or sports goals. Shimano also made a folding net, however, it is now discontinued. (Interestingly, Dragontail Tenkara has introduced their own private-label damo at a price significantly lower than that of Daiwa). 


Measure Net (Small)

As mentioned prior, while I own the Tenkara USA net, the Measure Net is the net I use most of the time, especially when traveling to fish. This small, inexpensive teardrop style net has a sturdy metal frame, comfy EVA foam handle, and the added bonus of a measuring tape screen-printed to the bottom of the net bag. When I bought my measure net it only came with a nylon mesh bag option, but they also offer rubber bagged versions now as well. Flat in profile, it's super easy to toss in the bottom of a carry-on bag or suitcase when traveling. (I own and use this net)


Tenkara Rod Co. Landing Net

Ok, these nets aren't necessarily small stream nets, but since they're made by a tenkara company, I figured they were worth mentioning in this rundown. Made of carbon fiber frames, these nets somewhat resemble a performance tennis racquet in appearance and come in colors that key back to some of the Tenkara Rod Co's best selling rod models. A larger basket than most others on this list, these nets will accommodate that surprise "king of the stream" with ease.


Lacina Small Hoop Tenkara Style Wooden Landing Net

Finally, thought I'd close out with a net made by craftsman Sam Lacina. His "tenkara-style" nets are small works of art you can bring on stream with you. This is by far the most expensive option on this list (almost 10x the retail price of some of the others), but you get what you pay for with some exquisite woodwork. Mr. Lacina's nets are of heirloom quality and are as functional as they are beautiful; for example, the longer handle in the model highlighted allows for extra reach when landing fish. Mr. Lacina does custom work, so if these specs are not what you prefer, he can try to meet your needs accordingly.

So that's the tenkara net roundup. I didn't come close to noting all of the options out there, these were simply nets either I've personally used, or have noticed others use in the several years I've been fishing tenkara. I know there are plenty of other net models that both tenkara and other fly anglers use... from inexpensive to pricey, from wood to aluminum, from brand name to generic. Heck, many even put their DIY hat on and choose to craft their own from Y-shaped tree branches. Maniacs!

If you'd like to highlight a net brand you personally prefer, please feel free to do so in the comments below, (but no blatant advertising, please).

Five Below Fly Box

There's been more than a few fly box posts here on the blog as of late, so perhaps I have fly boxes on the brain. In any event, Lilly & K.C. drug me into a Five Below store yesterday where among the shelves of pre-teen treasures, I stumbled upon an interesting find.

For those of you not familiar with Five Below, it's sort of a trendy "dollar store" chain that sells cheap stuff with a pop-culture slant like candy, toys, books, clothing, electronic accessories, etc... The goods aren't really of the highest quality, but the inventory rotates fairly regularly, so you never know exactly what you're going to find. Near the checkout, I found this for $2.

If you're familiar with the popular, pocket-sized Meiho compartment fly boxes that retail for about $8-10, this is strikingly similar and has many of the same features.

I've been happily using the Meiho boxes for about 2 or 3 seasons now. They hold a lot of flies, and the different compartments don't crush delicate dry flies. It's just the right size to also hold the smaller streamers I prefer for tenkara. If you like small streamers or even foam poppers, this clone might be more functional, as the one side is one large compartment.

Now I'd be lying if I claimed the quality was identical. The Meiho boxes are made in Japan of much sturdier plastic while this "Five Below special" is made in China and isn't quite as solid. However, the compartments and the box itself seem to close up nice and tight, so at face value it's a more than acceptable option when compared to other low-cost or DIY fly boxes like an Altoids tin.

I'll put this thing into the rotation and see how long it lasts. Just picked up some flies from Mel, so if nothing else, they've got a new home.

Alternative Fly Box

Saw this pretty cool fly storage/organization solution on Nick Cobler's Instagram over the weekend, and he allowed me to share it here. 

If you've spent all winter tying flies, I think this is a pretty awesome way to manage your backstock, while also selecting a few of the divided plastic cups to use as a "grab and go" mixed stock fly box.

While it's really a travel tote for organizing craft beads called the JamPac, seems like a killer solution to get your flies sorted and under control. Plus, the black case screams, "Put fishing stickers on me!" 

This storage solution including the 20 storage cups, can be found on Amazon (of course) for $20, with Prime shipping.

Realtree Fishing

There are a lot of fishing lifestyle brands out there making hats, tees, and all kinds of stuff for anglers to display their love of the water. Not to be outdone, I received this press release from Realtree the other day, highlighting their new fishing branding and upcoming product lines.

I'll just repost the whole thing for you below. They're not compensating me for this, I just kind of find these branding plays interesting, figured you may too. Not sure if I'm personally the Realtree Fishing customer, although I do kind of think the way they changed their familiar antlers logo into fishing hooks was pretty well executed...

Realtree Launches New Fishing Lifestyle Brand

Columbus, Ga., Jan. 24, 2017 -- While the early success of Realtree was rooted in the hunting industry, three decades later the company's influence now reaches into virtually every corner of the sporting world. It is the preferred brand of sportsmen, sportswomen and every person who loves the outdoor lifestyle.

It just makes sense then that anglers would have an affinity for the lifestyle represented by America's No. 1 camo pattern. Already, dozens of Realtree's more than 2,000 licensing and retail partners manufacture or market primarily to outdoor enthusiasts who rank fishing at or near the top of their preferred sporting ventures.

Having built this fantastic brand recognition that crosses so many active lifestyles, it's time to make it official: Introducing the newest brand in the Realtree family: REALTREE FISHING!

"It's not a stretch to understand that the same sportsmen and women who trade their bows and guns for fishing rods during the summer months are drawn to the Realtree brand," said Brad Schorr, SVP, Licensing & Retail of Realtree. "But Realtree Fishing gives them an additional connection to the iconic brand they know and respect."

Marketing efforts behind the Realtree Fishing logo are ramping up to impact the marketplace in a big way next year, turning heads on clothing, swimwear, and fishing products and accessories. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce new product lines or expand new ones with a marketing slant that captures the attention of year-round sportsmen and women.