Carpicide 2014 - Twin Cities, Minnesota

Announcing Carpicide 2014, hosted in the Twin Cities, Minnesota, June 20th through 21st, 2014. Details are still being finalized at this point, with more events and info to follow. Here is what the fellows at Isthmus Fly Fishing, co sponsors of the event along with CarpPro, have to say so far:

What: Carp Fly Fishing Tournament to benefit Trout Unlimited
Where? Lake Hiawatha, Lake Nokomis, Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, The Mississippi River from 8th Ave down to the 35E bridge and Minnehaha Creek. Any small ponds, tributaries, drainage ditches and other carp holding water within site of these bodies of water are also fair game.
Event Schedule:
June 20th, 7pm – Kickoff meeting – TBD
Registration and payment can be made at the kickoff, or before the start of the tournament on Saturday morning at 8am. There will be a presentation by Dan Frasier of CarpPro magazine and also a talk by Trout Unlimited on Friday night.
June 21st, 8am – Tournament Start. Anglers MUST be present at Lake Hiawatha Beach on Saturday morning in order to get their numbers and tournament packets.
June 21st 6pm – Tournament Ends. Anglers must be present at the Hexagon Bar at 6pm sharp in order for their fish to be included.
General Info:
Cost per participant is $25 (pay on Friday Night or Saturday morning, all proceeds go to Trout Unlimited)
Fly Fishing Only!
Every man, woman, and child for themselves!
Barbless Hooks Only
Boats are permitted
Each angler will get a number in their tournament packets on Saturday morning. When a fish is landed, the angler must take a picture of the fish with the number present in the picture, measure and weigh the fish.
Anglers must provide their own digital camera and scale. If a scale is not available a tape measure of the length and girth of the fish must be taken to estimate the weight of the fish.
These rules and regulations were developed very hastily and may change by June 21st 2014.
Please call Jared @ 608-335-8837 with questions.

I will be there, will you?

Carp Camp 2013 Beaver Island, MI: The Results

I'm not gonna lie, the fishing during Carp Camp was tough. Extremely tough. Like dragging a fly across a carp's nose without a reaction tough. Make no mistake, we had plenty of shots at fish, and as far as numbers go, I was happy with the amount of fish we saw for the time of year. But the fish were off and not interested in taking flies. Frustrating.



We all managed to catch some fish, and most importantly carp. Unlike the TFM trip, there were more than two carp caught total. Everyone at Carp Camp tallied at least two carp a piece, with a couple fish breaking twenty pounds. I was lucky enough to capture the big fish of the trip with a twenty-three pound post-spawn carp. If that fish had been holding eggs it definitely would have broken the thirty pound mark.




I was sweating bullets most of the trip. I was lucky to brush off the carp skunk on Day Two, but I was haunted by the lack of takes. I'm not gonna sit here and bullshit you into thinking that I was Mr. Perfect out on the flats. I'm not. I'm an average angler from my perception and feel that my only advantage is from intuitiveness and adaptation rather than pure skill and raw talent. But I was throwing down some pretty solid casts and had flawless presentations on a few. There was something more to it than just being at the right place at the right time. These fish were off, and after four solid days of fishing (and two weeks of guiding by Indigo) it was apparent that these fish were just plain stuffed. They couldn't fit another bite into their corpulent little mouths after gorging on hex and drake mayflies. It was like the equivalent of going to a Vegas all you can eat buffet after staying up all night eating cheesy poofs and bonbons, swilling them down with coke and mountain dew. These fish were full. They were in a food coma. Some of them were seemingly punch drunk, not even flinching as we're bouncing lead eyed flies right off their mustached mouths. It wasn't until I lobbed a heavy sculpin pattern out in front of a pod of carp where I saw a healthy sized fish take the leap of faith and lunge forward a couple feet to swoop down and suck in that fly. Not only did I get the approach, the presentation, and the visual of the hook up, but it was a plus twenty fish. I got the fish. Just as I was about ready to write off Beaver Island, this carp comes in and saves the trip on the last full day at Carp Camp.


Redemption.

Carp Camp 2013 Beaver Island, MI: The Delivery

Getting rigged up proper for Beaver Island can be a challenge to the average freshwater angler. Unless you fish the salt, much of the gear you have for Great Lakes carp is probably under powered for the task at hand. My last visit out to the island, I got spooled by an ornery young buck carp in the midst of the spawn. All 200 yards of my backing was out for the world to see and I didn't have anything to show for it. That was when I was fishing a Ross F1 #4, mated with a Ross RX 9 weight. This time around, I brought in the big guns, putting aside my Ross Momentum for the F1 #5. I spooled up that badboy with 300 yards of backing and a Scientific Anglers Grand Slam textured taper flyline, designed by Bruce Chard. There is no way I was gonna get spooled this time! While I sat at the house rigging up my rods and reels, I had discovered on Facebook that Chard's Gland Slam taper I just spooled up had just won the Best Saltwater Fly Line award at IFTD earlier that day. Yahtzee!



Fly selection for carp is different on Lake Michigan than anywhere else. Think big. I always bring my kit with me when traveling to fish. It is most unwise to show up at a joint unprepared. Even with research, fly selection can change like the wind and the hell if I'm gonna get caught with my pants down. Bringing my tying kit with allows me to match the current forage, see what kind of flies the guides are fishing and tying, and also provides for some entertainment during our downtime at the house. This go round, the guides were downsizing a bit, so the big beefy, burly stuff that I had tied and brought with were probably gonna be a bit super sized for this trip. See? I would have been screwed if I didn't bring my kit. I ended up tying up some large swimming nymphs as an insurance policy, in efforts to mimic the hex mayfly nymphs that were abundantly present. And it would eventually pay off.


Water temps were pushing seventy degrees near shore. That, coupled with boat time casting from the front deck, meant that it was time for wet wading. I left the waders at the house and geared up in my flats boots, neoprene booties/gaiters, and my Mountain Khaki Granite Creek pants. I've exclusively worn these MK pants when fishing for the last three years now. Not only are they comfortable and quick drying, but the SPF 50 rated material is key to keep my legs from getting burned. Some folks like to sport shorts, not I. I like pants not only for the UV protection, but from shore hazards like stinging nettles, thorns, and stinging insects. I donned my CarpPro MK Granite Creek Windshirt for an upper. This was a wise decision. I wasn't concerned with my core temp from the winds since air temps were ranging from the low 60s in the morning to mid 70s in the afternoon, so the wind proof aspect of the shirt was a crucial advantage to me on this outing. On the boat rides in and out, however, this shirt kept me dry from all the surf spray. Unlike the other campers who had to don jackets in order to stay dry, I was able maintain preparedness without having to change clothes and still maintain my level of comfort. Winning.


I was definitely equipped with the right gear; so how'd I do? Find out soon when Part 3 concludes the Carp Camp recap.

Carp Camp 2013 Beaver Island, MI: The Setup

The two hour ferry ride over to Beaver Island from Charlevoix is always a pleasant experience. It gives me an opportunity to clear my head, anticipate my arrival, as well as get myself into the right frame of mind and acclimate myself to island time. Beaver Island Boat Company provides the ferry service, and just a week or so prior to my arrival, word of a failed port engine on the Emerald Isle posted on Facebook, putting she ship out of service indefinitely. The Emerald Isle is BIBCO's flagship boat, the bigger, younger ship in the company's fleet. Service was to resume on the Beaver Islander, a ship I've yet had the pleasure of cruising on. The ferry ride over was nochalant, with little difference between the two ships apart from capacity and vending options, a true testament to the professionalism of BIBCO and their staff. Upon our entrance to St James harbor on the island, we were surprisingly greeted by a biplane, cruising around the island at a low altitude. The familiar sights of the harbor and the bright red roof of the Central Michigan University boathouse brought back pleasant memories of my last visit to the island. It was like visiting an old friend.



Upon arrival, we made our way off the dock and over to the Fisherman's House where we were to make home for the next five nights. I had caught wind of the terrible conditions that plagued Cameron's TFM hosted trip. A few of the guests from TFM's trip stayed back a bit longer and fished an unscheduled day in hopes of breaking the funk now that the weather had cleared up considerably. After meeting and chatting with a few of the carryover guests, I walked over and met Cameron at the boat landing as he was coming in on Kevin's boat. A fine day on the water, but no carp. Hard to believe that between threes boats, six anglers, and four days out, only two carp were landed. Brutal. Although brief, it was nice to chat and catch up with Cameron before he headed off to the air strip to catch his flight out.


I made my way back to the house and unpacked, settling in before all of the campers arrived. There were many thoughts running through my head, wondering about how the fishing was going to be over the next several days. We were slated to have a nice stretch of stable weather, though we were unsure how long it would hold out past three days. Conditions were certainly better than for the TFM group, but was weather the only factor at play regarding the tough carp bite? Photos of hex and large drake mayflies started popping up on social media a few weeks prior to Carp Camp. Hex popping around the end of June/early July was common so there wasn't much cause for alarm. On the boat ride over, the ship was covered with hex spinners, still wasn't worried. As I sat down to a grilled dinner with the campers, we chatted and speculated throughout the evening of what was to come of the fishing. Much anticipation.


Day one started with a great breakfast courtesy of the Dalwhinnie. We met up with the Indigo guides and constructed a game plan for the day. We were going to follow the wind and the warm water, fishing the windward sides of the islands and the cups and bays that would catch and hold the warm surface water as it blew in to shore. I had my fly selection picked out and my rods rigged and ready. We grabbed our lunches from the deli, and I saddled up with Sweet Chili Martinez for my first day. We launched the boat and made our way out of the harbor, headed to the west. What we would find when we got to the flats we did not know. The plan was to fish from the boat as much as possible, allowing us to sneak up to the fish as close as we could. This isn't always the easiest tactic. Drifting boats, the wind, weary, deep carp changing course as you cast to them, and water currents, this can all be a challenge. At one point I had done a complete 360 from a fish I was targetting from when I had started my backcast to when the fly was delivered. Disorienting to say the least.



Over the following four days we covered a lot of water and saw a lot of fish. We all hauled a lot of line, got our boots wet, and casted plenty of flies. Sometimes we found ourselves in a complete cluster of tangled line and knotted leader, other times, in a perfect zen like trance of enlightenment, fishing to a pod of fish circling in a pool of bathroom temp water. I would be hard pressed to say that we didn't fish hard. We were thorough. We were complete. We had brought our A game.


To see how the fishing went, stay tuned for Parts Two and Three.

Orvis presents Carp Central

The secret is out, Orvis loves carp!

Well maybe it's not such a secret anymore, but it is true, Orvis gets it when it comes to fishing for carp on the fly. And now they want to help you get it too, with the help of CarpPro and their Pro Staffers Carp on the Fly, Fly-Carpin, Mr. P, and many others. Carp Central is full of instructionals and how-to's when it comes to carp on the fly. Check out what The Orvis Company has been doing with carp. This is a great site to lean on, it's definitely worth the look folks.

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.

The Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing For Carp - by Kirk Deeter

Image courtesy of Stonefly Press

Coming soon, The Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing For Carp written by Kirk Deeter and published by Stonefly Press. CarpPro has hooked up a deal with Stonefly Press to take preorders now. Not only do you get from shipping buy buying direct from CarpPro, but they will throw in a free CarpPro sticker as well.

There is probably no one better suited for the task of putting together an all inclusive book on fly fishing for carp than Kirk Deeter. Aside from the technical understanding and know how of the sport that Deeter possesses (he is one of the fishiest guys I know), Deeter is able to effectively convert that knowledge and know how to text better than anyone else in the industry. How do I know that Deeter is legit, I fished side by side with him on Lake Michigan for several days and watched as he just about schooled me on everything from pinpoint distance casting into the wind to hooking up with fish. Deeter is the real deal.


Deeter lays it all out in his new book, secrets and all, in a manner that anyone can understand, whether new to the sport and genre, or a grizzled carp veteran like myself. Do yourself an honest favor and pick yourself up a copy of Deeter's book. Better yet, pre-order your copy at CarpPro now!

Great Waters Expo 2013

Great Waters was a success this year. Healthy attendance for 2013, over 1000 more folks showed up this year over last years show. It was evident that carp on the fly was a topic of interest among expo goers. Between Justin's and my talks, every seat at the stage was filled and it was standing room only with a crowd formed around the stage. Even at the fly stage, where I performed an hour long demo tying up some of my best, seats were filled and anglers huddled around the area to see what was going on. I have to say I was impressed, and totally underestimate the crowd and the interest carp would have on the fly angling populace, especially in Minnesota.


Anyone who had a chance to catch Justin's talk was in for a treat. There was some amazing fish porn, and a showcase of support for carp after the whole Moldy Chum debacle and John Montana's Slab of the Year award. Pretty funny to see the bitchy whiny trout guys complain about a carp online after you put it in perspective. The crowd had a few good laughs on that one.


Thanks to Geoff Samples, Brad Befus, and the rest of the Ross/Scentific Anglers crew for letting us showcase our talents. It was also a treat to watch Tyler and Vivian Befus tie up some dandies at the table next to me. They definitely have some talent and and it was pleasure tying alongside them. The SA/Ross fly tying table attracted plenty of visitors. Between MPLS Fly and Rip Lips custom musky flies, there were a steady stream of visitors, passerbys, and folks taking a seat to soak it all in. I filled up some fat sacks of Carp Crack for any unsuspecting customers to try on their local carp scene. If you missed your chance to grab a few packs, get some here.

Brian O'Keefe informed me that I had the best attended seminar at the whole show. Whether or not he was being a gentleman or it was the flat out truth, what was evident to me is that carp do, in fact, rule, and that there was plenty of interest in the subject. I'm already looking forward to next year's show and hoping to convert a few more followers to the dark art of carp fishing with a fly.

CarpPro Issue 2

Dudes and dudettes , you're doing yourself all a disservice if you haven't yet checked out Issue Two of the revamped CarpPro magazine. Not only is it free, but there is extensive coverage of the 2013 Fly Swap to end all fly swaps, held by CarpPro pro staffer Trevor Tanner. I'm talking serious fly porn here folks. Arguably the best fly swap on the internet hands down, all species included. And as always, tons of carp content.


Of special note is a call out to all you janky carpers out there from Will Rice. The Blue Monkey Challenge. Page 74. Do it now!

flyz

Someone's been busy...


It doesn't look like much but that's over ten dozen flies right there. That's what happens when you get 18 inches of new snow in a weekend. Time for a break before carpal tunnel sets in.

Fly-Carpin's 2013 Fly Swap

Here are my entries for Fly-Carpin's 2013 Carp Fly Swap. As always, my flies are welcome company with some of the industry's best professional and amateur carpers and fly tyers. Can't wait to get my hands on my share!

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.

Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas from the roughfisher!


Wishing everyone out there a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! If anyone wishes to catch 30 pound plus fish on the fly like like the fish seen in the photo above, put in a good word to Santa. I will be hosting a trip to the mystical flats of Beaver Island and the land of giant carp July 12-16 of 2013. Check out carptrip.com for some preliminary info. More details will follow soon after the new year.

Only Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice. Hopefully you've been good!

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!

Carp Slam 6

Yes, the rumors are true. No, I am not giving up carping to pursue the world of alien trout species... I will be competing in this year's Carp Slam on the South Platte in Colorado. And no, I didn't need to take a shot of penicillin after my last visit to Denver.


I will be participating in Carp Slam 6 this year, alongside industry pros like Barry, Reynolds, Kevin Morlock, Luke Bever, and Kirk Deeter. Pretty Humbling really, especially since I've seen firsthand what Kevin and Kirk can do with a fly rod and carp. It will also be great to hook up with buddies Will Rice and Michael Gracie (not competing this year), as well as finally get a chance to meet up with Alex Landeen, Nate Taylor, and last year's Slam Champ, Trevor Tanner, perhaps better known as McTage of Fly Carpin.


This tourney exists for one reason, and that's for Denver Trout Unlimited to raise money for the South Platte. Since stream restoration and habitat improvement are near and dear to me, and my bread and butter when the fly rods are tucked away in their cases, you can easily see why I'd get involved with such a worthy cause. So be a sport and help me raise a few dollars for the fish by donating a few of your hard earned dollars to the cause. Trust me, those dollars will be well spent!

Rough and Tumble

Just another hard-nosed carp from the backwaters of the Minnesota River.

the Chum Bucket

Another meaty morsel from the Roughfisher's meat locker, the Chum Bucket.


Featuring a heartyFun Fur yarn collar, this fly offers a stick to the ribs home cooked meal for any hungry carp. This fly is in the same size grouping as the Mustache Ride and Landing Strip, coming in at around 3 inches in length and a size 2 stainless hook. Should be served up with a side of Tums.