The Middle River Group, LLC

fly fishing, conservation and politics.

tenkara, conservation, communications, politics

Key grip and trout wrangler at the Middle River Group, LLC. Playing Doc Holliday to the Wyatt Earps of the fish and wildlife conservation world. Deputy Director, Marine Fish Conservation Network. Guide and instructor, Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. Freelance outdoor writer.

Losing a friend

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This is one of those times when words are never enough. For more then twenty years I have had a lab as a side kick. That came to an end yesterday when we lost the last one, Ashby, to cancer.

Each of them were memorable. Clarendon and Berkeley, yellow litter mates were first. We lost Clarendon to Lyme disease when she was three. We lost Berkeley to old age, she was sixteen, three years ago.

Ashby was special if only because she was always the puppy of the bunch. Though we shared semi retirement and aging together she had the puppy charm to the end.

Now there are only empty spaces and wonderful memories.

Ashby

Happy trails old girl, you will live forever in our hearts…

Best tenkara quote of the day

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Ok so the review, Stuff We Like: Simms Harbor GORE-TEX Shoes, was about fancy new kicks but it was Kirk’s observation on why shops should sell them that caught my attention:

Reason 1:  Small stream fishing is the new vogue.  Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.  I can tell you, from a media/writer’s perspective, small streams–places where you can wet-wade, use Tenkara and fiberglass rods, and catch wild fish (on dry flies)–will be the subject matter of many stories in the next 12-18 months.

Looks like that tenkara thing might just be catching on…

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New from Emmy Lou Harris

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I am a huge Emmy Lou Harris fan. So this is a special treat!

The folks at Garden and Gun are up with an exclusive video of  Emmy Lou Harris performing “Six White Cadillacs” from her new album Hard Bargain scheduled for release tomorrow.

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Llama kissing avoided!

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For those of you following the Stormy Kromer cap saga, the good news is the llama has been spared.

Just another reason we love our SK caps.

More details as they become available. Stay tuned!

In the meantime check out this episode of Under the Radar Michigan. The Stormy Kromer caps story starts at about the 11 minute mark

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Chris Hunt shouldn’t have to kiss a Llama…

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My good friend Chris Hunt who writes the very entertaining and informative Eat More Brook Trout has prostrated himself before the hat gods.

He read about my Waxed Cotton Cap like this one:

Waxed Cotton Stormy Kromer Cap

But what he really wants is a Hunter Green Original Wool Stormy Kromer Cap like this one:

Original Stormy Kromer Wool Cap

I feel for him…

they are pretty sweet brain toppers…

So I am taking up a collection of sorts for Mr. Hunt. So he no longer suffers from lid envy and keeps his creative noggin warm.

Drop a line to Stormy Kromer Mercantile and tell them you think Chris deserves a hat. Include this link – http://www.eatmorebrooktrout.com/2011/04/coveting-thy-lid.html – to his blog post so they know what the hell is going on.

It is the least we can do for the poor boy.

 

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Thinking About – Fish Hatcheries

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Been thinking about hatcheries lately.

The next year’s budget for federal fish hatcheries got hit with the budget axe and there are some folks who are pretty sore about it. The “whys” and “wherefores” are complicated. You are gonna have to take my word on that part. That is not something frankly I feel much like writing about.

Uncomfortable questions got me thinking

Read more after the jump > [Read more…] about Thinking About – Fish Hatcheries