fly fishing, conservation and politics.
In 2014 my very clever wife made this very special Christmas gift.
The two small horns are Lily’s puppy teeth.
It graces our home as a reminder of the magic that is Christmas.
The simple things really are the best!
Here’s hoping this finds you safe, happy and in the company of those you love.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Peacefully smoking a cigar is one of life’s great pleasure. Here are three articles from Cigar Aficionado that I’ve clipped and saved to improve the experience.
10 Things Every Cigar Smoker Should Know | Cigar Aficionado
From seed to shelf, from filler to binder to wrapper, these are the 10 things every cigar aficionado needs to know when cutting, lighting and smoking his favorite cigar. | Cigar Aficionado
Source: 10 Things Every Cigar Smoker Should Know | Cigar Aficionado
How To Cut A Cigar | Cigar Aficionado
An improper cut can ruin a good smoke. Follow along with this primer to learn the best method to cut your cigar. | Cigar Aficionado
Source: How To Cut A Cigar | Cigar Aficionado
How To Light A Cigar With A Cedar Spill | Cigar Aficionado
A timeless, and elegant, method to light a cigar is to use a cedar spill. While it may appear difficult, the steps to lighting a cigar with a cedar spill are actually easy to learn. | Cigar Aficionado
Source: How To Light A Cigar With A Cedar Spill | Cigar Aficionado
Last month one of my dreams became reality when I picked up a side hustle as Mountain Journal’s (affectionately know as MoJo) National City Correspondent. For those not familiar with MoJo (affectionately know as MoJo,) it’s a non-profit public interest publication at the intersection of people and nature in Americ’s wildest, most iconic ecosystem, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Here’s MoJo’s Editor’s note:
With his introductory essay below, Mountain Journal introduces Tom Sadler who brings decades of experience as a writer and veteran of navigating Washington DC policy issues—issues that require thinking and working across political divides. Sadler also has been a business entrepreneur, a fly-fishing guide and conservationist dealing with freshwater and saltwater fisheries policy. He understands the importance of clean water as much as anyone.
Here’s my inaugural article: Meet Tom Sadler, MoJo’s Correspondent In The US Capital City
Monitoring what’s happening in Washington DC has never been more important. for policies shaping greater Yellowstone and the West.
Links to future article will appear after they are published on MoJo
Please subscribe to the newsletter and support the cause in the sidebar of the MoJo website.
* sorry, I couldn’t resist, the headline wrote itself…
In the last few years, trips to my doctor have had a way of shining a glaring spotlight on my mortality. This most recent visit was no exception. The blood pressure numbers were nothing to right home about.
I’m medicine adverse so, after a bit of back and forth with my doc, we decided to see if a life style change might work. I’ve got 90 days to see.
So it is back to meditation and very concerted effort to remove unnecessary stress.
Abbey’s words resonate in my mind
One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am – a reluctant enthusiast….a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here. So get out there and hunt and fish and mess around with your friends, ramble out yonder and explore the forests, climb the mountains, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and lucid air, sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness, the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourselves, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive, and I promise you this much; I promise you this one sweet victory over our enemies, over those desk-bound men and women with their hearts in a safe deposit box, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators. I promise you this; You will outlive the bastards.”
I intend to do what I can to outlive the bastards.
Rising browns and rainbows on a spring creek can really get your heart rate up. Add the pressure of laying in a delicate cast with a small dry fly and things get technical real quick. At times like these having a rod in your hand, designed to deliver, can make the day one to remember.
What rod do you reach for?
Here is how Scott describes the G Series rod:
“These rods advance medium action fly rods with two innovations. We’ve reinvented the hollow internal ferrule to make it more flexible, stronger, and more than 20% lighter. We’ve also combined our cutting edge fiber and resin systems in the most advanced multi-modulus layups we’ve ever created. New multi-slope tapers were designed to take full advantage of the new materials layups.
The results are rods that help solve one of the toughest challenges in medium action fly rod design – how to create a rod that both bends deeply and remains stable. New G Series rods balance lighter in hand, have much more stability through the middle of the rod for better tracking, and generate higher line speeds. They do all this while retaining the classic flex of your favorite medium action rods. We’re bringing together presentation and power, so now you can pull hard on 7X tippet AND fish in the wind. The all new G Series. Like no other.”
If you don’t have a smooth casting, medium action rod in your arsenal; it may be time to try one out. You will be rewarded with a rod that moves with you, adjusting to your rhythm and style as you step onto the fishing dance floor and start the show.
If you love the feel and grace of a well cast line, the in your hand feedback as the rod loads, then the G Series rod is just the ticket.
Scott G Series fly rods feature breakthrough technology seamlessly integrated with the finest components and workmanship. All this to make sure your fishing is better.
The Scott G series is available for line weights 2 through 6. Order from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing’s online store HERE.
Spring time in the Valley. One of the most exciting times for trout fishing. You have survived the winter doldrums, tied flies, organized gear and looked at the maps to refresh your memory. You hear the stories filter in, bugs are hatching and fish are looking up. Time to get out there.
Did you look at your fly line? I mean more then a cursory look to see if it was dirty or cracked. Are you using a plan vanilla weight forward line that is “fine” for every day use? Think you are good to go?
Of course, you can use whatever it takes to get the fly to the fish. But, what if the next time you are out you can give yourself an edge with those spooky bug sippers, would you take it?
Fly lines are tools as much as rods and reels are. If you think “good enough” is good enough then you are handicapping yourself. The wrong size screwdriver may be “good enough.” But if you have ever stripped the head on a screw because you didn’t use the right sized screwdriver, you know what I mean.
Just like there is the right screwdriver for the screw, there is the right line for the fishing you are going to do.
Are you using the right one?
Here is how Rio describes the line:
The line features a long, fine front taper for the lightest of presentations and delicacy and is the ideal choice of line when fishing dry flies, nymphs, soft hackles and emergers to tricky eaters at distance. The line has a long head and back taper to increase loop control when carrying long lengths, and for making precise casts to rising fish, while the weight distribution makes it easy to turn over long leaders for technical feeders at range. The ultra-low stretch ConnectCore provides incredible levels of sensitivity when casting and fishing.
Now put yourself on the bank of Mossy Creek or Dry River and visualize the rise form you see on the water. You have the right fly, you know where you want to put it and you know the rod can make the cast. But how about your line? Will it do what the one described above will do? If not, you just made fishing harder than it needs to be.
The InTouch Technical Trout line is available in WF3F through WF6F. Order one from Mossy Creek Fly Fishing’s online store HERE.