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?

Fly Fishing for Roughfish on the Ottertail River

Join me and Doug Harthan of Front 20 Outfitters, LLC to learn some of the finer points of Fly Fishing the Ottertail River. We are offering a guided fly fishing trip on July 26 for 6 anglers. We will be fishing the Ottertail River for rough fish and anything else that may come our way. That is a great opportunity and price for an opportunity to learn some techniques for fishing for our abundant rough fish, these fish are great fun on a fly rod and challenging as well. The Ottertail River is a great fishery and is definitely underutilized by fly anglers. Don't miss out, give Doug a call or email or use the contact form to reserve your spot! We have 6 spots and the cost is only $50.00 per angler for a day of fishing & learning.

Cost: $50.00 per Angler
Date(s): July 26, 2013

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.

F3T Destination Minneapolis

I know it's a week late, but sometimes for us old timers it take a little extra time to recovery from a grand old party ;-). I just want to thank everyone who braved the snow and made it out to the F3T showing in Minneapolis.


An unexpected 4 inches of snow eerily calmed down a usually rambunctious and raucous crowd in Minneapolis. Dare I say they were almost civilized? As was the case the past several years, the film tour stop in Minneapolis easily sold out of all of the available tickets, and patrons packed the Parkway Theater. Standing room only. Perhaps this may be the call for adding another night to the tour in Minneapolis? Anyone?



Probably the most refreshing sight to take in at the tour this year was the high number of women attending the show. This is the most notable amount of women I have seen at the F3T since they started coming to the Minneapolis, and I wasn't the only one who observed this. The highlight of the evening came when the father of a 9 week old won the Rock Grip Wading boots from Patagonia. The film goer was pumped since he "never wins anything", I was more pumped that his wife and the 9 week old were both in attendance as well. Got to start 'em young!


As usual, it was great reconnecting with old friends, seeing some new faces, and BSing with the film tour crew. Until next year....

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!

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!

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.

GreenFish News Release

July 19, 2011


GreenFish Ambassador Team and GreenFish Gives Expansion
GreenFish, the first apparel brand completely dedicated to promoting a lifestyle of sustainable fishing, today announced a significant expansion to its Ambassador team , adding over 20 new ambassadors with multiple backgrounds and from all over the globe.

Since its launch in 2010, GreenFish has received tremendous support from the fishing community regarding its cause. The GreenFish Ambassador team is made up of freshwater and saltwater professional anglers and guides, TV personalities, marine biologists, artists, photographers and leaders of the non-profit community.

GreenFish founder Bryan Godber explains, "We now have a team of over 50 high profile individuals in the industry, all helping to promote our brand and sustainable fishing message on a volunteer basis. These individuals should be seen as role models to the fishing community not only for their career achievements as industry icons, but also for their efforts to promote a lifestyle of sustainable fishing for future generations to enjoy. It's a great to know how many high profile individuals out there want to help push our brand and our mission forward and represent our clothing brand."


Also - GreenFish has recently added the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust to its GreenFish Gives program, so our customers can select BTT when shopping on www.greenfishmovement.com and we will donate 5% of their purchase to BTT. We are very excited to have them join our program of 501c3 organizations helping promote a cause that is aligned with our mission.



About GreenFish
GreenFish is the first brand promoting a lifestyle of sustainable fishing. Through its line of apparel, the company's goal is to build awareness and shift attitudes toward sustainable fishing and promote the sport for future generations to enjoy. GreenFish recently launched a new program called "GreenFish Gives," in which GreenFish donates 5% of all revenues to a handful of non-profit organizations they work with to promote sustainable fishing practices. To learn more about GreenFish, the GreenFish Gives Program, their ambassador team and their new line of apparel - visit www.greenfishmovement.com.

It's Official: The roughfisher just got Awesomer

It's been a long time coming, but I finally sealed the deal and signed on with Idylwilde as a "Signature Tier". What does this mean for you? It means that some of my gnarly patterns will soon be found in a fly shop near you. Of course, I'll still be kicking around some new patterns on here and hawking them for sale in my store. One thing I do know, however, is that I'm going to have to eat my words and make good on a a promise I made to a couple folks at IFTD. Whitey, Samples, looks like I just became a Ross Reels man....


And with the stroke of a pen, my flies just got awesomer.

Project Healing Waters 2-Fly Tournament

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF), in conjunction with Eastern Blue Ridge Fly Fishers, is hosting the 4th Annual 2-Fly Tournament Fundraiser to benefit PHWFF. PHWFF is a nonprofit organization that has been utilizing fly fishing and fly tying in the rehabilitation of wounded servicemen and women at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the past two years.

PHWFF is expanding and has begun to offer its program to other Military Medical Centers and VA Hospitals nationwide. Please support this worthy effort by joining all of us at the Rose River Farm (www.roseriverfarm.com) on the 2nd of May for a fun filled day featuring a 2-fly tournament with the wounded Vets of PHWFF. Teams will compete on over a mile and a half of the Rose River that runs through Rose River Farm near Syria, Virginia. The fish will be plentiful the action hot, so take in the beauty of Spring in the Blue Ridge mountains while supporting those who have sacrificed for us.


When our friend Douglas Dear from the Rose River Farm asked us to help out with the 2-Fly tourney, it was a no-brainer. Normally, I'm not a tournament kind of guy, but for a cause like this, I happily made an exception. Last year the PHW2Fly Tourney started a super raffle/auction with boxes of flys tied by great fly tiers like Bob Popovics, raising over $100,000 for PHW. This year's contributors include fly tying Jedis Bob Clouser, Russ Forney, Steve Silverio, Jim Finn, Captain Chris Newsome, and the venerable Singlebarbed. Not bad company to keep.


More information can be found over at the Project Healing Waters 2-Fly Tournament blog.

The roughfisher speaks

Check out the latest issue of USCARPPRO Magazine; the roughfisher debuts his new fly tying column.

That's right beotches, some poor fool let me put my words in print. Good thing a subscription is free or he'd want his money back. Nooch.

Fishy Kid

I'm pleased to announce that Roughfisher Fly Fishing is Fishy Kid's newest sponsor.

Fishy Kid, along with their partners and sponsors within the fly fishing community, aim to bring innovative projects for children and families to enjoy. Their mission serves to promote and educate conservation of the outdoors while inspiring young anglers along the way.

Get the kiddies over to Fishy Kid and start coloring. The ol' roughfisher is even throwing in a few goodies to those tykes that can paint like Picasso. There's some nice schwag being given away, time to bust out those crayons!

Team Ramrod

The joint mission of the Global War On Cyprinids conducted classified operations at points within Rice Co. Winona Fly Fishing and Wendy Berrell joined forces with the roughfisher for an urban assault on a cyprinid infested area. Conditions warranted stealth and a bottle of disinfectant.



Flows were low and the fish hung tight to the bottom. The catch of the day: a common shiner. Some bottom feeding mutant decided to hit that, and got stuck with a hook in its fat upper lip. Fucking walleye.



Operations moved on to several locations. Some were infested with snakes, others with treacherous and highly voracious rockfish. Caution was heeded to prevent any casualties. Unfortunately, a few good men were brought down, victim of stinging nettles. Sumbitch.



The offensive was a bust, but this was a good joint exercise between friendly nations. The next rendezvous is yet to be determined, but all teams remain on full alert until further notice.

End transmission.