PSA #8: DIY Lanyard

Do It Yourself lanyard for a Loon Outdoors Nip N' Sip 2.0

1. Cut a six inch piece off of an old fly line. You can use the shooting head or the smaller diameter running line depending on your size preference.
2. Thread one end of the fly line through lanyard hole.
3. Make an overhand loop and cinch the knot.
4. Trim both tag ends of the fly line.
5. Liberally apply Loon Outdoors UV Wader Repair or UV Knot Sense to the knot.
6. Zap with UV Mega Light for 10 to 15 seconds or expose to sunlight.
7. Attach lanyard to vest, pack, etcetera, as desired.
8. Be awesome.

Note: for heavy duty items, you can substitute 550 Type III paracord as lanyard material

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.

Cat Game

Do I look like a cat to you, boy? Am I jumpin' around all nimbly bimbly from tree to tree?

Am I drinking milk from a saucer?

Do you see me eating mice?

Be like Mr. Larry Johnson and fish a Ross Rx and Ross F1. Then maybe you can see what it feels like to get into your backing.

MEOW!

GreenFish Announces Hands-free Camera Mount for Sustainable Fishing

New from GreenFish, a hands-free camera mount for sustainable fishing. Greenfish announces the introduction of a new camera mounting system designed for boats and kayaks, the CPR mount, designed for Catch-Photo-Release.


Available online only, the CPR Mount's patent pending Expansion Locking system secures the unit into most tube-style rod holders and rocket launchers. It also works with a Scotty Flush Mount. The CPR mount retails at $79.99, with $4 going towards fisheries conservation through our GreenFish Gives program.

GreenFish - By Anglers | For Fish
Promoting a lifestyle of sustainable fishing



www.greenfishmovement.com
About GreenFish
GreenFish is focused on building awareness of sustainable fishing practices through its
product lines, which include apparel and camera mounts. GreenFish donates five percent
of its revenues through its GreenFish Gives program to non-profits that promote the health
of world fisheries.

Beaver Island - Land of the Carp Flats

The ride in on the ferry from Charlevoix is surreal. Midnight blue water surrounds you in every direction as far as the eye can see. As you near the main island of the Archipelago, Beaver Island, those dark shades of blue transform into hues of turquoise and aquamarine, like something out of the South Pacific. Even in eighty feet of water, you can see clear through the gin clear water to the bottom. As you pull in to the main harbor on Beaver Island, Saint James Harbor, you realize that you have arrived someplace magical.


The fine folks at the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce and the Beaver Island Lodge were so kind as to put us up for the weekend. I cannot say enough about the warmth and hospitality these folks shared with us upon our arrival. I've traveled a fair amount across the globe and have to say that these guys are some of the friendliest and most gracious hosts I've ever met. You gotta love the charm of the Upper Midwest.



First glance at the archipelago and you'd think you in the Carribean. Crystal clear water encompasses the vast number of rocky shoals and reefs, lined with fine sugar sand. The only giveaways are the vegetation on shore of the larger islands, cedars, pines and spruces, and the missing taste of salt on your lips. While the majority of northern Lake Michigan is still left unspoiled, I can't hardly suspect that the ultra clear water isn't partly due to the presence of zebra mussels, unintentionally introduced to the Great Lakes from the ballast water of ocean going vessels. Untold miles of shoreline on Lake Michigan are lined with the washed up shells of dead zebra mussels. Even in paradise, the impact of man can still be observed.






The real heroes of Beaver Island are Captains Kevin Morlock and Steve Martinez of Indigo Guide Service. These guys put up with half a dozen scurvy Prima donnas from fly fishing's seedy underbelly, the media. Not only did they deal with us assembling to roll call way past reveille, and fumbling casts as some of us were still under the influence of the prior evening's activities, they managed to put us on fish under adverse conditions of a late spring. These guys must be part time saints. I'm not saying that we were all obnoxious by any means, but the pressure is on for any guide leading some of fly fishing's elite, filled with the high expectations of catching some of those Beaver Island behemoths, the common carp.



I came prepared for Beaver Island, sporting a seven weight Ross Rx with a Ross F1 reel, and a Ross Essence FW in a nine weight matched with a Ross Momentum LT for heavy duty work. The seven weight was spooled up with Scientific Anglers Coldwater Redfish Line, which casted wonderfully in the cool Michigan Tropics. The nine weight was spooled with SA's Textured GPX, a perfect fit for tough duty in stiff winds. While I was hoping to test the mettle of both setups to their breaking points, both combos fished flawlessly and had nary a hiccup in the line of duty. While I didn't get to see an F1 blow up or an Rx crack under pressure, I did get to see how easily the combo subdued a thirty pound carp, especially after getting into the backing twice on that fish. Even with over four hundred feet of line and backing out of the guides, My gear never wavered, and I was able to get the fish back to the boat to land.





I'll be back. Even though I didn't get into the quantity of fish that I thought I would, cool water temps resulting from a later spring helped subdue large numbers of fish from coming up into the shallows to feed. Perhaps a visit later in June or early July would be more favorable for high numbers of fish. Regardless, the quality of the fishery is outstanding, and the average size of carp caught had to be pushing twenty pounds. Throw away everything you know about fishing for carp, and head to Beaver Island. Beaver Island will redefine what you think about fly fishing for carp, skewing your baseline and possibly spoiling you for life. Welcome to without a doubt, some of the finest flats fishing in North America.

I'll be back allright, and next time Steve, I'll be bringing the kimchi.

Scientific Anglers to the Rescue

Check out the next batch of goodies, courtesy of Scientific Anglers.


SA's leaders and tippet are always a solid combo for that crucial fly to fly line connection. Always gotta keep stocked on these essentials; you can never have enough tippet. I'm psyched to fish their new textured line series, like their Nymph/Indicator line or GPX taper. The textured lines should be a perfect marriage of the benefits of their Sharkskin lines, like less line memory, high flotation, and higher durability, meanwhile saving your hands a bit from being chaffed from line screaming off the spool from a running fish.

Of particular interest to me is the Mastery Series Coldwater Redfish line. While I'd love to be out on the salt marshes casting this line to redfish, this line will serve duty out on the carp flats. Featuring a short front taper and a half-heavy head, this line will be perfect for getting off quick shots at tailing carp. The Coldwater version of this line is perfect for environments below 70°F, featuring a soft PVC line and braided multifilament nylon core which will help with turnover in colder water. The line also features a larger diameter running line, very helpful when fishing from a boat or wading out on the flats. This might quite possibly be the perfect carp fly line. I'll have a chance to put this line to a true test later this month. More details on that to follow.

Product Review: Rise Fishing Co. Level Series Fly Rod

I recently received a 7 weight Level Series Saltwater Fly Rod from Rise Fishing Co. to put through the paces of roughfisher branded abuse.  Here are the specs from Rise:

Model     Length     Line     Action     Sections     Price
90-7wt     9'0"           7          Fast         4                  $249.99

9’ 7wt – The 7wt rod will perform short casts with tight loops yet has enough backbone to punch flies in to the wind with accuracy. The rod also excels in throwing poppers to largemouth bass, presenting small shrimp flies to dock light snook and even nymphs to steelhead.

First Impressions:
From the moment I opened the shipping carton I was impressed. The rod was encased in a sturdy cordura covered rod tube, complete with carry strap, embroidered logo, and a nice feature: a laminated pouch to put a business or identification card. The rod was stored within a 5 piece rod sleeve, with a screen printed graphic logo, including model and line designation. The next bonus you'll notice when removing the rod sections is the included spare rod tip. It's always great to have a handy insurance policy along. The fit and finish of the rod is superb. From the hand finished cork grip and fighting butt, to the laser engraved reel seat, to the ferrule alignment marks, no detail is left out on these models. The best part is, the alignment dots on the rod sections actually lined up! I've been irked by other premium rods that I've owned where the dots weren't lined up properly, even ones that were wrapped and marked by hand! I especially like the spartan appearance of the rod: a straight up midnight blue with gloss finish and black wrapped titanium carbide guides. The blank is as dark blue as the abyss! The simplicity of this rod is the true beauty, often times, rod makers will throw all this extra junk on a blank to try to woo the eye of the angler. In my honest opinion, this makes rods looks gaudy and cheap, though their price tag may be far from it. I don't want to pay extra for stuff I don't need.



Inauguration:
Let's face it, there's not a whole lot that can be determined of a rod from the wiggle test, yet we all do it when we pick up a rod. When I picked up the Level Series rod for the first time, I figured on the rod being fast. After all it didn't "wiggle" much and the brochure said it was fast. Well after stringing up a reel and line, I can confirm that the action is indeed fast. Having predominantly cast medium-fast progressive rods for the majority of my angling career, I must admit that it took me a few casts before I got the rod to load in its sweet spot. To be fair though, I was casting a long bellied steelhead taper, whereas I should have casted a line with a more traditional shorter length head with this type of rod. Once I let a little bit more of the belly section out of the rod tip, this rod picked the line up off the water with ease. Within two false casts I already had 60 to 70 feet of line out of the guides with a single haul. That's damn good, considering that a hack like me typically relies on my roll cast and single-handed spey casts to get my fly downstream. If this rod can make me cast like a champion, then imagine what it could do for you. While I didn't put this rod through it's entire test yet, it did handle the basic overhead and rollcasts quite well. Loading the rod typically wasn't an issue, and aside from a few sloppy dump casts, the accuracy of my casts were placed right where I wanted them. Even in the wind. I like how this rod casts and feels, as it will find perfect duty out on the carp flats. However, for my primary needs as as nympher, this probably wouldn't be my first choice as I prefer a longer rod (9'6" or 10') and one with a softer tip and progressive action. But that is comparing apples to oranges; this rod is made for running and gunning. It's hard to believe that a rod of this quality is retailing at only $250.


Thinking points:
This rod did everything I asked it to. It definitely met my expectations, and for $250 retail, picking up a rod is a no brainer, whether it be a primary or back up rod. And while this rod may not make it as my daily driver, anyone looking for a fast action carp rod need look no further. This rod will hang with the big boys out on the flats, and then some.

Caveat Emptor: The Level Series rod was provided courtesy of Rise Fishing Co., in exchange for review and extensive field testing.

Product Review: Sixth Finger 5.5" Tungsten scissor

It's been nearly six month's since I laid my greasy mitts on one of Singlebarbed's “General Purpose” Sixth Finger 5.5" Tungsten scissors. I figure that's more than ample time behind the vise to give an honest review of what these tungsten laced snippers are capable of. Let's see how they fared.


I'm not gonna sit here and pimp these scissors to you; I'll let the consummate salesman Singlebarbed hock his own products. But I will give a brief rundown on the meat of these scissors. Here are the specs:

Sixth Finger 5.5" Tungsten scissor
5.5" length
Large, heavy jaw
Adjustable screw allows disassembly for blade sharpening or retightening
Tungsten carbide edges

Put into commercial service, these scissors have been put through their paces, seeing more than their fair share of abuse. Feather rachi, chenille, furry foam, latex, heavy wire, these blades have seen it all. No less than a half-thousand flies have passed before the tips of these blades over the past few months. To no surprise, these "GeneralPurpose" scissors have held up to the claim of being beefy, burly and brawny. The tungsten carbide tips have held up beautifully, cutting through 26 gauge wire without consequence. Following Singlebarbed's warning, I have refrained from cutting bead chain with these scissors, as I agree that a heavy duty shears or wire cutters is a more appropriate tool for that task. However, I did test them once to see if they would cut through bead chain, and they cut through a link of #8 bead chain with some flex of the blades. The body of these scissors has just the right amount of stiffness and flex that allows for strain-free use, especially under heavy sessions behind the vise. That's good if you want to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome like me.


The finish of these scissors is what has seen the most abuse. The blue paint that these scissors were coated in has started to chip off the metal in the high wear and exposed areas. Short of anodizing these scissors, flaking paint is difficult to remedy in scissors used heavily or commercially. It's possible that the salt residue from my hands and fingers led to the paint weakening, however, the likely culprits are damage occurring from repeatedly setting down the scissors on my tying tray/table, and the other metal tools I store these scissors with in my traveling fly tying bag bumping against each other. Regardless, the fit and function of these scissors are not the least bit affected, and this is merely a cosmetic issue.


You can pick up the General Purpose or any of the other Sixth Finger scissors over at Singlebarbed's e-commerce site. $29 will get you a pair of tungsten laced scissor goodness. Take it from me, if these scissors can pass the roughfisher test of abuse, then they will surely outperform any other scissors that you currently have at your vise.

Caveat Emptor: Singlebarbed gave me two pairs of "General Purpose" scissors for product testing, free of charge. He gave them to me not because he "likes" me, or thinks that I'm a "good guy", but rather because he knows that my penchant for burritos, malt liquor, and heavy metals will give these badboys the beatings that they deserve. The fact that these scissors were free had no effect on the outcome of this review. On the contrary, this review was completely subjective due to the fact that I had no financial investment in the product and little regard if they would have blown up at the vise.

Truth in Advertising

There's reality, and then there's actuality.

Suck it Gracie, my ARC is lighter than your S4, with six additional inches to boot.

DIY Bugger Barns: Revisited

The end result to the DIY Fly Boxes. I finally got around to putting together some of the larger Bugger Barn sized fly boxes this past weekend. Only available in case quantity, I went in with fellow bloggers Ben, Cameron, and Tony and split a case of the Flambeau 4040-2 boxes. I steered away from the traditional brown foam that I use on my boxes and made some in several different colors, including a crazy orange that will be home to my carp nasties. I even tipped the sticker to resemble a tailing fish. All that awesomeness for just under $6 a piece. Bitchin'.

I'd like to see how those other guys' boxes turned out.

I got a fever! And the only prescription...

...is more cowbell!

I recently got a scrip from the Doc saying I need to curb the gear purchases. Not good. The failing of any gear junky, I went out and picked up a "dirt cheap" waterproof camera, an Olympus Stylus 550WP. At $112, it was a tough deal to pass up, even if I wasn't an addict. 10 megapixels and submersible to 10 feet, sounds like a good investment to me. As far as models go, this was an older model, hence the blowout price. It's not the best camera on the market by far, but it's one I won't cry over if it happens to die out on the water. It still carries most of the desired features of a point and shoot, except the newer models all are capable of taking HD video. This camera still takes standard resolution video, but that's not why I bought it. I wanted a cheap, throwaway, waterproof camera I could take along on river trips and not have to worry about bricking my Canon.


This camera comes with a macro and supermacro function, which is handy for capturing images of macrophytes and other streamside macroinvertebrates. While the features are not as crisp as my Canon in low indoor light, it should be inconsequential, as the majority of the photos will be taken outside, with ample sunlight. The case is kind of a ghey teal color, but again, I didn't buy this for a fashion statement. Function over fashion. I know a few of you guys out there rock the Pentax and Panasonic waterproof cameras, and have definitely captured some nuggets on film. I preferred the operation of the Olympus, as it seems to more closely resemble the operating functions of my Canon.


I debated long and hard on opting for a camera with an HD video function; I've seen Creekaddict's video footage and it is crispy. I even looked at a few waterproof dual HD cameras like the Sanyo Xacti. In the end I decided that if I wanted to shoot HD video, I'd be better off buying a standalone HD camcorder like a GoPro or Kodak Playsport instead of a camera that can shoot HD vid or a dual camera. But it looks like I'll need to wait at least another 1 to 2 months before I can even think of acquiring more gear. Doctor's orders.....

PSA #2: DIY Fly Boxes

Part of the roughfisher spirit is doing it yourself. Some may call it cheap, some thrifty, I say if you can do a project yourself, why not make it better? Clifford makes a mighty fine box, but you can make your own custom fly box of comparable quality for easily less than half the price and with minimal effort. Here's how.


I already did the hard part for you and found a great price through a distributor for the Flambeau Precision boxes, the exact same boxes that Cliff uses for the Bugger Barns and smaller fly boxes. Check out Mouser Electronics and you can find the same box used for the Day's Worth for only $3.61. The beauty of buying through Mouser is that you don't need to buy case quantity (except for the 4040-2 [Bugger Barn size] at this time). I was even fortunate to receive a complimentary upgrade to 2 Day Air when I placed my order, how's that for service?

Head on over to the craft store and pick up a couple sheets of 6 mm craft foam, in any color you like, and some craft foam glue. If your store doesn't carry 6 mm craft foam sheets, don't worry, I've got you covered. I like to cut out a template of the inside of the box with a sheet of paper, then trace the template onto the craft foam. I used a heavy duty pair of shears to cut the foam; an exacto blade works great for cutting slits in the foam to hold your flies. I spaced mine about 1 cm apart. Apply the adhesive to the back of the foam and let dry. All you need to do is press the foam into the inside of the box and your almost ready to go.


If you're interested in making a magnetic bottom like on the Day's Worth box, pick up a package of paintable magnetic sheeting while at the craft store. Cut out a piece using a template like the foam pieces and apply adhesive to the back of the magnet and set in the box. If you're looking for those nifty little foam dividers to separate flies, take a piece of the waste foam and cut out a narrow 1/4" strip of foam and adhere on top the magnet or on top of the inner lid of the case using the foam adhesive.


Here's the easy part: Grab your favorite stickers and plaster them all over your boxes and show your pride. Pimp your awesomeness with style. Your welcome.


This Public Service Announcement was brought to you by: the roughfisher

Housekeeping

The dead of winter is always a good time to go over your gear and give it a thorough cleaning. If you're like me, you're probably a little hard on your equipment, after all, it's hard work to catch those slobbernockers and look this damn good. Time to get rid of the dirty.


My poor fly lines get abused. I try to take caution and avoid stepping on them, but I always manage to do so, though unintentionally. The rivers I fish in my watershed are often choked with ultra fine clays and silts, remnants of Glacial Lake Aggasiz. These fine particles can actually become charged ions and will stick to your fly line. This fine layer of accumulation can act like just like sandpaper, especially when subjected to bipedal abuse. In addition, fishing in the rocks can be hell on a line's coating. Your Einsteinian tip of the day: UV light, heat, and petrochemicals will degrade the surface and integrity of your fly line. Check for cracking. I use a mild soap solution to clean heavily soiled lines and then a solid rinse. I treat my lines with Rio Agent-X, though any fly line branded treatment solution will probably work. This helps keep my line supple and shooting like a breeze. Remember, don't treat your sink tips or sinking lines. There are polymers in those treatment solutions that act as a floatant to help keep your fly line riding high.


Surprisingly, my reels stay pretty clean, save for the gouge or two from encounters with rocks. I use the scapegoat excuse of an Hard Alox finish and a completely sealed bearing and conical drag system for treating my reels like shit. They often get tossed down in the sand, dirt, and snow when landing a fish. The finish on my Lamson Velocities seem to do an excellent job of repelling dirt. The sealed drag and bearing design of the Lamson allow you to submerse your entire reel underwater for cleaning without fear of rust. This is especially handy when fishing salt. I pull my bearings and inspect the rollers and race. Even through my cases of abuse, I have yet to find any grime, moisture, or other particles within the sealed drag compartments. I clean the old grease off the bearings, and then re-grease lightly. I use a reel lube that performs well in cold temperatures. Having too much grease, or one with a higher viscosity will spell danger for you in the cold. Don't over apply.


The last thing I do is go over my rods. I clean the cork grips and look for any major pitting or decay/rot. It's easier to seal up those pits and gouges right away, than to let it ride resulting a a big chunk of cork missing from your grip. I clean my rods with a damp towel, and inspect the ferrules for any cracking. I check the guides and tip tops, making sure they are still firmly fastened to the rod. One of my rods developed a loose tiptop on my last outing, likely from the constant build up of ice. I took the opportunity to re-glue the tiptop to the blank. All you need is a lighter and a glue stick and you're golden. Take caution not to overheat and weaken the blank. On a previous season's maintenance, I noticed a piece of epoxy starting to crack around the thread wraps at the end of one of the ferrules. That could have been bad; the thread wrap on the guide could have unraveled, leading to possible rod failure. I took the opportunity to remove the tiny chip and touch up the area with some cement.

I know it's not the most exciting or enjoyable part of the job, but if you're like me, you don't have sponsors breathing down your throat ready to fork over another line, rod or reel when yours start to fail. Keeping care of your gear not only saves you a few bucks for the bottle shop later, but will also help minimize any equipment catastrophes on the water due to poorly maintained gear.

Cheers!