Yeti Sighting! - Northern Minnesota

As the snowpack is finally diminishing here in northern Minnesota there have been some strange sightings as of late. Most recently has been a confirmed sighting of a YETI in Detroit Lakes. I intially spotted the YETI out of the corner of my eye. I was unsure of what exactly I saw, wondering if my eyes had been playing tricks on me. It's not uncommon for mirages to appear over snow, much like the apparition of water in a desert. But a YETI? Something came tumbling out of the woods, right at my truck. I came to a screeching halt as my front tire made contact with the object. What was it? I hopped out of the truck to see just exactly what it was.


I couldn't believe I was seeing this with my own eyes, a YETI in Detroit Lakes! A perfectly unscathed specimen too! Wow, the press will have a field day with this one! I quickly looked over the YETI for any signs of injuries and none were to be found. I quickly secured the YETI in the cab of my truck and made haste back to the Roughfisher Command Post.


After a closer inspection back at home base, I identified the YETI as a 50 quart specimen from the Tundra. A beautiful specimen indeed! There was so much potential with this YETI! I was practically giddy with excitement, dreaming of all the possibilities for good times I can share with the YETI! Think of all the fishing and camping trips we can go on! I can't wait to dress up my YETI. I'll be sure to post stories of my new YETI's adventures. Stay tuned!


Thanks YETI!

The Midnight Meat Train

Some meaty morsels for Beaver Island. I have a feeling that the carp of Lake Michigan will enjoy feasting on these slabs of meat. Pass the bbq and hot sauce.




Still some room left for Carp Camp on Beaver Island. Rock Bottom Pricing: $1300 (Referral deal not eligible). Visit the Carp Camp page and use the contact form to book. Hard to believe it's only a couple weeks away.

Last Call - Carp Camp 2013

Just recently, a couple of spots have opened back up for Carp Camp 2013, due to a scheduling conflict with some of the guests' prior obligations. Believe me when I say this, I think it was harder for those folks to have to give up their spot at Carp Camp than it was for me to have to put these spots back up for sale.

Their loss is your gain. As easy as it would have been to give these spots over to some good 'ol boys behind the scenes and have the trip immediately booked up full again, that is counter to what Carp Camp is all about. I am going to do what's fair and put these spots back up for sale to the general public, specifically the viewers and fans of the Roughfish Nation. I don't want Carp Camp 2013 to be filled up with a bunch of pros. While that would be fun in its own right, I want to give the average angler a shot at the big time and see what it's like to fish to monster trophy carp, and see what it's like to "live the life" for a week. So all you folks out there will get first pick at one of these coveted spots. I can guarantee you that these remaining spots will book up quick, so act fast!


Just in case you are on the fence and not quite sure what all entails the camper at Carp Camp, here are a few of the details:


Carp Camp 2013 runs from July 11th through 16th, 2013, on Beaver Island, Michigan.
Camp barbeque provided by your host and guides on the evening of your arrival.
Five nights lodging at The Fisherman's House, fully equipped with a modern kitchen, washer/dryer, TV, enclosed porch, and open deck with grill.
Four and a half days of guided fly fishing provided by Indigo Guide Service, sight fishing to monster carp in crystal clear water on the flats of the Beaver Island archipelago.
Breakfast and lunch are provided by the Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli daily, dinners are on your own after the first night.
Roughfisher Fly Fishing will be providing all guests with a custom assortment or flies tied specifically for Beaver Island, including patterns like the Mustache Ride and Landing Strip. Feather Craft will be providing a Meat Locker to house all that meaty goodness!
Countless of other swag and goodies to be handed out to each camper, graciously donated by my sponsors. I don't want to let the cat out of the bag just yet, but the goodies alone being handed out during camp retail at over $300.


Carp Camp 2013 hosted by roughfisher.com is priced at $1499 per person with a $500 deposit to be paid at the time of reservation. Balance is due upon arrival on Beaver Island. If you have any questions or would like to be part of this trip please fill out the form below:

For more information about Carp Camp 2013, please check out the Carp Camp 2013 page.

Carp Camp 2013

Please join me and four other guests July 11th through 16th, 2013, on a hosted trip to Beaver Island, Michigan, home of carpzilla. Located offshore of Lake Michigan approximately 32 miles northeast of Charlevoix, Beaver Island is only accessible by air or sea. Air service to Beaver Island is provided by local carriers from Charlevoix or Traverse City, as well as daily ferry service departing from Charlevoix.

Get welcomed to Carp Camp 2013 your first night on the island with a Meet and Greet barbecue with all of the guests and guides, food and beverage provided by your host. Kick back and relax in the evenings, sitting in on fly tying demos with your guides and host, picking their brains for advice and tactics, or enjoying a pint on one of the island's several pubs. Enjoy five nights lodging at The Fisherman's House, a fully restored turn of the century home, fully equipped with a modern kitchen, washer/dryer, TV, enclosed porch, and open deck with grill.

Spend the days exploring the endless flats of Lake Michigan and the Beaver Island archipelago, sight fishing to monster carp in crystal clear water, with four and a half days of guided fly fishing provided by Indigo Guide Service. Fly rods, reels, leaders, tippet, and flies are provided by the guides, of course, you are more than welcome to bring your own. Roughfisher Fly Fishing will be providing all guests with a custom assortment or flies tied specifically for Beaver Island, including patterns like the Mustache Ride and Landing Strip. Don’t be afraid to stock up and bring along your favorite patterns though!

Breakfast and lunch are provided by the Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli each day, as well as bottled water provided by the guides while on the water. Dinners are on your own after the first night. You are more than welcome to join the guides and me for dinner, visit one of the island's restaurants, or cook at the house. McDonough's Market should have just about anything you need while on the island. Enjoy your last day on the island with a half day of fishing before packing up in the afternoon and travelling back to the mainland.

The guides and myself know you will enjoy yourself and have an amazing time on Beaver Island. If the sheer numbers of mammoth carp and smallmouth don't impress you, the raw beauty of the emerald green and blue water and never ending flats will. Be prepared to be blown away.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Five nights lodging at The Fisherman's House
• Four and one half days of guided fly fishing with Indigo Guide Service
• Breakfast each morning at Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli
• Lunch from Dalwhinnie Bakery & Deli
• Bottled water provided by the guides
• Day 1 ‘Meet and Greet BBQ’ with all participants and guides
• Evening fly tying demos with your guides and host
• Unlimited pre-trip advice and individual assistance on the island
• Fly rod, reels, leader, tippet , flies (guides have it all, but bring your own if you prefer)
• Roughfisher Fly Fishing will be providing all guests with a Beaver Island custom fly assortment (don’t be afraid to stock up and bring along your favorite patterns though!)

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Transportation to and from Beaver Island, Michigan
• Michigan fishing license
• Waders and boots
• Rain gear
• Polarized sunglasses (a MUST for sight fishing!)
• Gratuities
• Alcoholic beverages
• Dinners (except for Day 1)

Carp Camp 2013 hosted by roughfisher.com is priced at $1499 per person with a $500 deposit to be paid at the time of reservation. Balance is due upon arrival on Beaver Island. If you have any questions or would like to be part of this trip please fill out the form below:

MORE INFORMATION
For a further taste of the Beaver Island experience check out these posts from roughfisher.com:

Beaver Island Land of the Carp Flats

The Badasses of Beaver Island

Flats of the Third Coast (video)

Lake Michigan feature article, Money Shot, CarpPro magazine Issue 1


BEAVER ISLAND INFO:
Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce

Transportation options to and from Beaver Island:
Beaver Island Boat Company

Fresh Air Aviation

Island Airways

2013 TFM Beaver Island Carp Trip

Announcing the 2013 TFM hosted trip to Beaver Island, Michigan.


Our friend Cameron of The Fiberglass Manifesto fame is hosting a trip to Beaver Island, MI this summer, home of monster smallmouth and carpzilla! The trip includes 3 full guided days of fishing provided by Kevin, Steve, and Austin of Indigo Guide Service, 4 nights lodging, and breakfast and lunch included. The trip runs July 7-11 and is priced at $900; spots are filling fast so if you're interested in attending act fast! Visit the TFM page or Carptrip.com for more information about this trip.


Details about my upcoming hosted trip to Beaver Island this July are coming soon. Stay tuned!

Meal Ticket

Here's the Meal Ticket to your next carp outing.

Product Review: Mountain Khakis Granite Creek Pant

Remember how badass those Mountain Khakis Alpine Utility Pants are I told you about? I'd like to introduce you to their flats friendly brother, the Mountain Khakis Granite Creek Pant. When I'm not in my waders when fishing, I'm in these pants, no exceptions. I've put several pairs of these pants through their paces over the past two seasons and all I can say is wow.


Highlights of the pant include the UV 50+ rating for fighting the sun, the quick drying material preventing you from feeling soggy with jungle rot, key pocket placement and enough of them to stash your tippet and flies so that you can fish minimalist if you want, and of course the reinforced heel cuff, nothing is more important on a pair of fishing pants than protecting your cuffs from getting fragged and frayed out in the aquatic arena.

The nitty gritty:
Retail $82.95
6.3oz 100% Brushed Nylon
ScotchgardTM Treatment
UVA-UVB 50+
6 Pockets with Mesh Pocket Bags
3 Zip Security Pockets
Cargo Pocket
Quick-dry, Lightweight & Packable
Diamond-Shaped Action Gusset
YKK®Zippers
Reinforced Heel Cuffs
Triple-Stitched Seams
Mid-Rise, Relaxed Fit

I've blasted these pants out on the Great Lakes flats, the concrete and rebar battlefied of the South Platte in downtown Denver, my homewaters out on the prairie, and everywhere in between. These pants are also right at home for those hot, humid July evenings in the country, at the lake, or for grabbing a few cocktails out on the town. Best of all, after all that abuse, these pants still look like they're brand new. I couldn't ask for a better of pants for the summer.


Images property and courtesy of Mountain Khakis

CarpPro ISSUE 1

The premier issue of CarpPro has gone live, and no better way to start off the newly revised format than to kick it off with fly fishing only content.

Be sure to give this issue a read; it is the only fly fishing magazine issue devoted solely to carp on the fly. Lots of excellent content from contributors like Kirk Deeter, Barry Reynolds, Kevin Morlock, Mr. P, John Montana, McTage, and many others. Oh yeah, and I managed to squeeze in a little piece about fishing Lake Michigan and finally unveiled the secret recipe for the Mustache Ride and Landing Strip fly patterns.

Must Read Now!

Carp Crack: It's an Epidemic

If you haven't checked out the Fall issue of the Drake yet, you're doing yourself a great disservice. Among the accustomed fine photography and literary work is a Scuddlebutt piece by Pete McDonald of fishing jones fame, featuring yours truly.


This is not a an egotistical pandering for your kudos. As per the usual, Pete naturally captures what we ponder and perceive on ink and paper, an arduous task for any writer in a sport as panoramic yet enveloped as fly fishing is. His frustration during his endeavours with pursuing the wily carp are poignantly captured in this anecdote. Read the piece to see how his journey ends against the carp.


On a recent trip to Denver, I had to make pilgrimage to one of the finest fly shops in the nation, Trout's Fly Shop. Aside from the obligatory bullshit sessions with shop celebs Will Rice and Michael Gracie, every staffer in the shop from owner Tucker Ladd down to the shop dog, knows their stuff and they most definitely know how to run a fly shop. It's always a trip seeing your own signature fly patterns in the fly bin, even better when you see customers riffling through the bins and picking out your flies among the other fine offerings Trout's has to offer. Humbling to say the least.


In commemoration of the success of my Carp Crack pattern, I will be offering a special bonus with any Crack Pack order during the month of November from my online store. Simply purchase a 12 Pack of the Crack Pack and enter the promo code: DRAKE (or mention it in the order comment section) during checkout and I'll throw in a free Ruffian, as seen in the photo above. Order the 24 Pack and I'll throw three Ruffians!
This hot fly pattern is not yet available in stores.

The Ruffian is the baby brother to the Carp Crack, and has been my go to pattern this season. Effective in burnt orange, tan, olive, and black, this fly has been deadly on everything from smallies to carp. Burnt orange, however remains my favorite. Order your Crack Pack today and get hooked up!

Lake Sturgeon - Acipenser fulvescens

Finally, I have added the Lake Sturgeon to my lifelist. Sturgeon fishing is always something that I have always wanted to at least try. While the fish itself fascinates me, the method does not, basically a 1 oz weight or larger and octopus hook rigged up on a cat fishing pole, and a hunking gob of Canadian night crawlers. These fish feed primarily based on smell and hold deep, so a fly is not the ideal method for angling. Regardless, my first one is on the books at 33".


Acipenser fulvescens are a wonderful species, hailing from the era of the dinosaur. Closely related to sharks, these fish are cartilaginous and their skin rough to the touch. What makes these fish unique are their armour; these fish are the true badasses of the fish world and juveniles possess razor sharp scoots that will cut you like a surgical knife if not handled properly (I found out the hard way). These fish are long lived and can reach ages in excess of 100 years. Of particular concern is these fishes duration to reach sexual maturity, often into their thirties. This allows for a long turnover between spawning stock, a problem which plagued these fish and their recovery after being fished to near extinction in the late 1800's. In addition, habitat fragmentation due to the construction of dams and pollution have contributed to the major decline of nearly all sturgeons across the globe. The sturgeon Family Acipenseridae is the most threatened Family of all fishes with nearly all species threatened or near extinction.


If you give a damn about these fish, consider joining the North American Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society. In addition to all of the research and conservation work this organization does, they also have possibly the coolest tees on the planet. Respect the sturgeon!

Battle of the Bug Tyers

Introducing, The Battle of the Bug Tiers - Morlock (Rainy's Flies) vs. Lipton (Idylwilde Flies).

Come join Trout’s Fly Fishing and two world class signature fly tiers on Friday, August 24 (2:00-5:00pm) at the shop for a FREE tying demonstration. Kevin Morlock of Indigo Guide Service will be tying up his deadly effective Rock Hopper. I'll be featuring the venerable Carp Crack, as featured in the Fall 2012 Issue of the Drake Magazine. Who will emerge from the ring victorious?


Make the jump for patterns specifications and details of the event: Trout's Fly Fishing Battle of the Bug Tiers


When you stop by the shop on Friday, don’t forget to take advantage of Trout's happy hour specials. Hope to see you there!

Product Review: Mountain Khakis Alpine Utility Pant

As you may have noticed by now I don't often kick around praise and kudos to those undeserving. It's unbecoming and frankly seems a bit of a heavy handed offering to those who feed you, simply giving accolade in return for more free product or continued sponsorship. You see it on most pay as you go media, sponsored solely by those providing, it's easy to see why the reviewed product is featured as the next snake oil, with nary a negative comment or an honest critique to be seen. Enter Mountain Khakis and their Alpine Utility Pant. Just how tough are these pants? Let's not beat around the bush and get right down to the nitty gritty.


The Alpine Utility Pant is a wolf in sheep's clothing. At first glance, it may look like your dime a dozen canvas utility pant. Other big time players in this league are Dickies, Carhartt, Wrangler, and even Patagonia. These brands range all across the board in terms of quality and price. The Alpine Utility Pants rank right at the top for price coming in at $89.95 retail. So how do they rank up in fit, feature and function? Nearly all the competitors share common features like triple stitching, YKK zippers, utility pockets, etc. What sets the Alpine Utility Pants apart?

The Pros: Heavy duty cotton canvas, double front knees and seat, gusseted crotch, reinforced heel cuffs, double front right pocket.

I spend a lot of time in the field, whether for work or play, I'm out in all of the four seasons Northern Minnesota has to offer. I've worn just about every cotton duck dungaree-type pant on the market and after the last field season and a half, I can honestly say that the Mountain Khakis Alpine Utility Pant is the toughest pair of pants that I own. These aren't designed just for your weekend warrior. I ran of pair of AUPs through the gauntlet last year, wearing a single pair week after week throughout an entire 9 month field season. That one pair of pants never gave up and are still in regular rotation alongside a couple of other pairs of AUPs for this season. These pants are no worse for wear, with only slight fading and wear, mainly due to the wash cycle. These pants have seen it all, from behind the operators seat of heavy equipment and dump trucks, to survey work out in the field, to boots on the ground hand labor. Anyone familiar with natural resource management and stream habitat improvement and restoration work knows that it is a hard, dirty job. There is no room for gear that it is not up to the task. The Alpine Utility Pants have never failed me yet. The gusseted crotch is a huge plus, adding mobility crucial for laborious tasks. It's a no brainer that the double knees and seat are an integral part of these pants toughness, however the reinforced heel is money. Typically every pair of work pants I have ever owned get beet up right around the back of the heel, right where the cuff meets the back of my steel toed boots. The Alpine Utility Pants have hardly even frayed, which can save you from taking a fall if you ever have gotten the frayed cuff of your pants caught under the heel of a boot. The double front pocket is a nice add on, keeping a deep hold of your wallet and separating it from what every else you need to carry in the front, like spare nuts and bolts, or a couple of wrenches. Probably the best feature is the canvas material used for the pants; MK has found the perfect blend of toughness and comfortness. These pants are smooth against the skin, unlike the brash feel of Carhartts, making them a joy to wear on those 10 hours work shifts. They are no less rugged and durable however, far outlasting the wearability of previous pairs of Carhartt work dungarees. I would say that the only possible con of these pants is the hefty price tag. After further consideration, however, the longevity of these pants far surpass those of the competition, making them more cost effective in the long run.

The Bottom Line is these pants are tough as nails. Savvy enough for street and casual wear, yet sturdy enough for even the toughest of jobs. Hands down these are the best pair of pants I've ever owned, and the first pair of pants I reach for when work calls.

Caveat Emptor: The Alpine Utility Pants were provided for rigourous field testing, courtesy of Mountain Khakis, as part of the "Bad Ass" Ambassador Team Program.

The Air Cav

Bring in the Air Cav!


Introducing Colonel Kilgore and his cavalrymen. Decked out in Vietnam era olive drab and yellow cavalry accouterments. Airmobile!

The smell, that gasoline smell... I love the smell of rabbit strip in the morning. Reminds me of...victory.
-- Dan Frasier

Ride of the Valkyries

Everything you need for Beaver Island and then some. Mustache Rides and Landing Strips.


Carp beware! Charlie don't surf.

Flats of the Third Coast

Flats of the Third Coast from FP Media on Vimeo.

Check out the new Beaver Island video from Caleb of fishpornfix.com. You might even catch my ugly mug if you look close. Makes me want to go back and cruise the flats again.

Pimpin' Ain't Easy

I love it when goodies arrive in the mail. Check out the new tee from Musky Hustler, courtesy of Geoff Samples. Like it on Facebook!


It's even better when Geoff tosses in a few "extras"!


Hell yeah! I'm sexy and I know it! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle yeah!

PSA #7: Free Advertising

Step One: Schlep your wares on your innocent, unsuspecting kids. Note daughter's gangsta pose.
Step Two: Release them out into the public.
Step Three: Wait for the sales to roll in so you can support your Hurricane High Gravity habit.

Critter Gitter

Introducing the Critter Gitter.


If there ever was a carp fly to personify Marc "Rowdy" Crapo's bodacious beard, this would be it. This fly has scruffy written all over it. I know the carp will be kosher with it because let's face it, they are no strangers to beard and mustache culture, rocking their Fu Manchus.


So what's hiding underneath the beard?

"You know they say that Chuck Norris is so though, there is no chin under his beard?
There is only another fist"

What next? I'm thinking I should tie up a darker rust colored variation in honor of Matt Dunn's mantastic beard. Perhaps my best work yet....

Stuff We All Get

Everybody loves SWAG, Stuff We All Get, and fly fisherman are no exception. Go to any consumer or trade show and folks stuff as much as possible into their pockets with the free promo goods from the manufacturers. Hell, I've even seen a few folks sporting packs at shows just to load up on all the booty they can get their grubby little mitts on. I love swag as much as the next guy, but I typically only collect a few things and only from the manufacturers I dig or represent. The hoarders, on the other hand, just take whatever's free.


A box showed up on my doorstep last week, I had a heads up it was coming, but I had no idea what the entire contents were. I knew there were gonna be a few hats and stickers, but I didn't expect the quantity. Or the quality. Survey a bunch of random people at a fly show and you'll find that there is a split consensus as to who calls all this free stuff swag or schwag. I guess both terms are mutually accepted in social circles, but I still think of schwag as an imposter term. Anyone in the know, knows what schwag really means, low-grade marijuana. How the two terms got intertwined I have no idea but I do know that schwag, to put it lightly, is not good. Perhaps that is why schwag got lumped in with swag, because I've seen some of the low grade shit manufacturers (in general, not necessarily in the fly industry) pass off as freebies. Frankly, I'd rather they just skimp out and pass on the free stuff instead of doling out third-rate soft goods that would make me blush in embarrassment if they were mine. So I guess I can see why some folks at these fly shows might opt for the term schwag instead of swag.


My goodie box from Scientific Anglers and Ross Reels is definitely in the swag category. I'll be proud to pop any of those lids on my melon, or stickers on my rig to represent the SA/Ross Nation. Of course, my package was privy to a few exclusive extras only issued to Pro Staffers, and they are sick! Oh, and Jefe? I chuckled at your note... Maybe next go round you'll order up some coolies big enough to cover up a few 40 ouncers for us fly gangstas. But just so you know, those coolies cover up the bottom of my Hurricane High Gravities just fine! And that's how I roll.

Reader Mail

Dear Roughfisher,

We haven't met, but I received your card with fulfillment of an initial order for your Carp Crack ties - which are nice by the way. Thanks for getting them out to me. They work on NC carps.

That particular eat was exceptionally cool. On Lake Norman (NASCAR country) on a rocky shoreline 50 yrds from Matt Kenseth's dock (a driver), the fish was a cruiser and I laid the fly about 10ft off its bow, gave it a twitch when he was at 5ft and he rifled in and pounced with a clockwise swirl of green, gold, and orange. Visually, as cool as any gamefish eat......

Thanks again for the sweet ties.
Phil