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

Latergrams - Week 4

The carp demon tied using the translucent belly hair fibers of a coyote. This fly may find its way into the salt box headed for Hawaii next month. #carpfood #flytying #flyfarming #carponthefly #carppro #artisanflies #carpdemon

A photo posted by Jean-Paul Lipton (@roughfisher) on Jan 25, 2015 at 2:35pm PST

The 'yote is finally ready for deployment for the @thelaughingfly fly farming materials swap. Should be an interesting mix of materials exchanged! #flytying #flyfarming #coyote #rollyourown #carpfood #artisanflies

A photo posted by Jean-Paul Lipton (@roughfisher) on Jan 25, 2015 at 1:06pm PST

Prepping some coyote hides for tying #therealcoyoteugly #carpfood #flytying #flyfarming #carppro #rollyourown #artisanflies

A photo posted by Jean-Paul Lipton (@roughfisher) on Jan 24, 2015 at 12:37pm PST

Do It Yourself

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"DIY dubbing #flytying #dubbing #harvest #rollyourown #igmilitia #squirrel"

Sausage Haus

So the roughfisher has been slacking a bit in both the fishing and blogging department. I apologize folks. But I have been busy in the background grinding up some fresh meats in the seedy underground laboratory at the Roughfisher Command Post. In addition to making some 8 quarts of napa cabbage, daikon radish, and cucumber kimchis, I've managed to stuff about forty-five pounds of beef, pork and venison, transforming plain old protein into the delectable charcuterie known as sausage.



I ended up with six varieties of sausage, a Wisconsin-style bratwurst, Italian sausage, a smoked Italian, smoked jalapeño cheddar, smoked bulgogi inspired snack sticks, and a fresh salsa verde pork sausage.




There was lots of fun behind the grill. My favorite experiment was the chile verde pork sausage. Crafted on a whim, I ground pork shoulder, onion, garlic, jalapeños, cilantro, and tomatillos, stuffed it into a hog casing, and cooked it on the grill. I served it on a brat-style hard roll and garnished it with fresh onion, cilantro and salsa verde. Most definitely a winner!


Thankfully I saved a few sausages for the freezer to nourish me through the winter...

Soft Hackle Heaven

Whether you call it a partridge, thunderbird, thunder chicken, or a ruffed grouse, Bonasa umbellus is among the tastiest of all upland birds and game. It is also prized for its hackle in my fly tying stash. Fortunately, living in Minnesota provides me with the nation's premier grouse habitat and population, with over half a million birds harvested annually, making it Minnesota's top game bird. Life is good in the Great White North.


The rump feathers, while used to determine the sex of a ruffed grouse, are also a vital component of the venerable Carp Crack pattern. The ruff feathers, located on the sides of the necks of both genders, are used to form the collar on the Mustache Ride and Landing Strip patterns, as they are long and wispy, providing lots of movement in the water. They are the ultimate soft hackle for those larger streamer fly patterns.



Regardless of how you obtain a ruffed grouse skin, whether it be a a retail acquisition, roadkill salvage, harvested bird, or a donation from a fellow hunter, consider yourself blessed. The ruffed grouse is the pinnacle prize of keen fly tyers.

Carnitas Michoacan

Pork tenderloin tips and Mojo marinade, slow cooked for four hours. Fried finish, traditional garnish of onion, cilantro, radish, and lime. Served on corn tortillas with guac and fire roasted salsa verde.

¡Estos pinche tacos estan lo más chingón! ¡Estan divina del coño! Cause that's how we roll...

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming....

It's been awhile since we've featured some fly tying content so here's a little somethin' somethin' to get you started. Starting off with some hare and squirrel dub in the flavor of DSP grey. A little bump was added to the UV blend to make it sparkletastic.

Knock knock
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?
Knock knock
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say banana?

Seriously though, this is some more smooth rollin' dub of the orange variety. Another rendition of the KB "Kinds Buds" blend, just a bit more orangetastic. And for the chem-free folks, some Bro is what the doctor ordered, Orange Julius style.




Always a winner in my circle, Yerba Buena is not the least bit harsh, even if it may resemble some mexi-brick schwag. Smooth.

No stems no seeds that you don't need, Acapulco Gold is...

Peacock Power. This blend is indispensable. 'Nuff said.


Aww jeah!

Sir Dubz-Alot

More alchemy at the blender. Presenting the Prime Time players Brownstain, Olivine, TanTalize, and Melon Baller. Featuring a proprietary blend of Mohair, rabbit, squirrel, acrylic, rayon, nylon, and polyacrylamide fibers, Showcased in both flash and natural lighting conditions.












My best work yet. Muahahahahaha!

The Seven Year Itch

Got crabs clams? My boy MG is finally taking a cue from the roughfisher and getting his tippet wet with some bearded clams. Seems he's been spotted peepin' on a bunch of caprs hoovering up clams like they were going out of style. He's nasty! Being the master voyeur that I am, I handed over a few top tips to Señor Chrome Dome on how to lead the donkey through the barn door. Ol' Gracie prefers his clams Brazilian style: nicely shorn and sparkly. Wait until you see them wet.


Here's a refresher in case your bitch ass forgot how bitchin' my Darth Clam And Zebra mussel patterns are. Photo courtesy of my foot in your ass.


The Darth Clam 2.0, specially modified for the DSP. Putrid piss green shell and an arsenic tan colored siphon. Radioactive sparkle courtesy of glitter flavored Hard as Nails. Optional foot played out by olive glimmer flash chenille. All on a nasty strong curved carp hook. Included are a few variations to keep them caprs on their fins.


Y'all ain't got nuttin' on me.

How about a clam sandwich?

A Better Blend

I've been busy at the blender playing with the new yarns and fibers I acquired. Mohair, mystery fiber, STS, rabbit, squirrel, floss, the list goes on. All are spectral blends. All enhance your awesomeness.


The highlights in this blend reminded me of those foggy days of campus life and the journeys to fantasyland we used to take. KB for kind buds. Reds, purples, oranges, yellows, if you've seen the primo stuff you'll understand. You've been thunderfucked!


A mohair and seal substitute blend. This dub has got the stuff.


An improved version of Wet Seal called Sealy Dan.



The Paton's Classic Wool in Cognac Heather is the bomb. An easy yarn to work with and great spectral highlights. UV is also an option.


Supersonic. This blend will rock the scud underworld.

Oh yeah, did I mention that it tie likes like a charm and looks the shiznit?! Yeeeaaah boooy!

Building a bigger ball of twine

More yarns to add to the already growing ball of twine. No, I'm not in direct competition with the World's Largest Twine Ball over in Darwin, but my collection of threaded fibers are beginning to overtake my kitchen. I would be a bit more concerned, but the King of Yarn and Fiber has got a far bigger obsession than I and enough materials to stuff a school bus. I think I'm still good, for now. Here are some tasty yarns that I scored recently:


Paton's Classic Wool, a 100% Wool yarn at 3.5 oz per 23 yd skein. Comes in such delectable shades as Cognac Heather and Moss Green. A fine spectral blend of young wool fibers.





Lion Brand Fun Yarn, a 100% Acrylic yarn at 1.75 oz. per 85 yd skein. Comes in vibrant classic colors, this yarn is a solid choice for rug or sparkle yarn substitutes. At $1 per skein, you can't go wrong for the money.





Vanna's Glamour Yarn by Lion Brand Yarn, 96% Acrylic, 4% Metallic Polyester, 1.75 oz. per 202 yd skein. I don't much care for the metallic polyester strand through the yearn, but it is easily removed. What's left is a fine fiber yarn that resembles antron/zelon. I love the crimped, reflective properties of a trilobal fiber.




Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn, 80% acrylic, 20% wool, 3 oz. per 197 yd per skein. This is a worsted weight yarn with many color varieties including heather and other spectral shades. This is a great do it all yarn; plenty of bulk, body, and highlights. How can you go wrong with flavors like Avocado or Chili? Freaking delicious!



A twelve step program may soon be in order....