Pictures that slipped by editor!

Our magazines are great, but some times these photo's slip by.

Add for wire tipped toothy critter leader. Fish in picture was caught on straight mono.

Picture used in story for site fishing. Hook is right up by the fish's eye.

Tonight's fishing....

Kinda chilly, but got out for a couple of hours. One bump... followed by a drag screaming run, but ending in a back-snagged carp. Was fun for 15 minutes of excitement though.

Great Waters Show April 1-3

Getting packed for another show this weekend in Minnesota. See you when I get back.
http://www.greatwatersflyfishingexpo.com/Home.html
Tom Helgeson's

GREAT WATERS FLY FISHING EXPO 2011
April 1-3
Blaine Sports Center, Blaine, MN

Great news! Tom Helgeson’s Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo will continue this year on April 1, 2 and 3 at a wonderful new location -- The National Sports Center in Blaine.

As you may have heard, Great Waters founder Tom Helgeson died in November after a brief battle with cancer. His absence left a huge hole in the Midwest fly fishing community.

Thanks to the help and encouragement of his countless friends, we are thrilled to announce that we are continuing Tom Helgeson’s Great Waters Fly Fishing Expo in the Twin Cities.

In addition to the great line-up of programs and vendors that Expo-goers have come to expect, Gary Borger, a legend in the Midwest and around the world and a columnist for Midwest Fly Fishing magazine, is back to anchor our show.

My new Knight Rider GPS

Mio Knight Rider GPS has voice of KITT Inside

When we were first contacted by Mio about their Knight Rider device, we couldn't till the day that we could finally tell you. An officially licensed GPS unit with the original voice of KITT behind it, how could you lose?

One of the great unique features with this concept, is that KITT will address the driver by their first name. Simply set your name from the pre-recorded list of hundreds, and off you go. You can be Michael if you want to be a purist, but if your name is Aaron, Joe or David, you can have that personalized experience. (Unfortunately Devon, Bonnie, Wilton are missing from the list, but Mio hopes to address this error)

They've also taken several design cues from the Knight 2000. The device has dual nose type designs on the left and right, complete with a red type of scanner insert. However, the actual use of this scanners LEDs is to be KITTs voice box. It's a pretty neat effect, and initially we were bummed that it wasn't more accurate to the voice box to the series, but in the end the effect still felt the same.

New shirts

Had a couple of new shirts made for the show next week.

Saturday Fishing

Went fishing Saturday with Ray, Dave and Stan. Put in the first picture for you locals to know where we went.

The water at the dam is really nice looking. Funny, it is very close to me and I have never actually fished it. Recently they put in a foot bridge which made it accessible if you didn't have a boat. The water is really nice. Lots of back pools and rip, but pretty shallow for this time of the year. I can tell you I will be spending more time there this summer.

Took a couple of new items out to try. Got a Simm's guide jacket, man is it nice. Never was willing to spend the money so I just wore a fleece most of the time. This thing has an outer membrane and a thin polar tech lining. Weather was about 45 and only needed the jacket and a t-shirt. I am very impressed. Also used my new Striper intermediate sink line. This thing will bomb the flies and runs them about three feet deep. That is about perfect for the local dams. I could feel the fly bumping bottom once in a while but didn't have a lot of snags.

Unfortunately only a few small walleyes were caught.

Got the Blues

Finished a shoal of blue minnows last night.

Leader connection to the fly line

I have always used a chunk of looped fluorocarbon nail-knotted to the fly line for a connection, if the line didnt come looped. Well I tried one of those braided loops you slide on the line. It seemed pretty tight until I got a snag. POP. There went the braided loop, the fly and a twelve dollar furled leader.

Tying Thread

I use only one type of tying thread, called flat waxed mono 210. Danville and UTC among others make it. This thread has been my choice for a couple of years now. I have tried others but this is always my favorite.
Gel spun is strong, but cuts through the deer hair instead of compacting it. I also have trouble with the heads wanting to spin on the hook shank.
Kevlar and others are good when spinning hair, but they don't stretch and I have trouble keeping even tension on my flies.
There is another called Big fly or something like that. Larry Dalberg talked about it at the show last week, but I have not tried it yet.

Tying for the Great Waters Show in Minneapolis April 2

This has been a great show season for me this year. As of right now, the only show left is the Great Waters in Minneapolis in April. At this point I am down to less than 25 flies. Normally I like to bring 150 to each show. Remember that any flies i don't sell will carry me through the summer of fishing.
http://www.greatwatersflyfishingexpo.com/Announcements/Announcements.html

Shark finning

This was in the latest Saltwater Fly Fishing. I try to be open to other cultures but sometimes it is very difficult; especially in the face of such blatant stupidity and waste. Let's don't even get me started on the continued whaling in the Arctic Ocean for commercial sales. Keeping fish for eating in a controlled situation is one thing, but this is nothing more than senseless killing for $$$.

Cigar Tube

Got this cool little cigar tube to hold smokes while going fishing. It has a built hydrometer and gauge. About eighgt inches tall and three inches in diameter.