CarpPro Issue 4

Issue 4 of CarpPro magazine went live while I was on Beaver Island. Peruse it if you haven't already.

GreenFish Friday Giveaways

It's as easy as it looks, Like the GreenFish Facebook Page, check in on the page every Friday, and share the Friday Giveaway post for you chance to win some GreenFish swag.

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CarpPro Issue 3

CarpPro Issue 3 is live!


As always, tons of carp on the fly content in this issue. Check out CarpPro for all your carp fishing needs.

Life Untucked Bahamas Angler Sweepstakes

Mountain Khakis™ & Bair's Lodge Present the Life Untucked Bahamas Angler Sweepstakes

One (1) grand prize winner plus guest will win a 4-day/3-night stay at the legendary Bair's Lodge on Abaco Island, Bahamas. Known as the Bonefish Capital of the World, the winner and guest will be treated to 3 days of guided bonefishing on the flats of South Andros.

Prize Main Package Details:
Bair's Lodge, Andros Island, Bahamas: 4-day/3-night stay for 2 people including meals, 3 days guided bonefishing, and equipment as needed.
Mountain Khakis: Two (2) head-to-toe Mountain Khakis Coastal apparel outfits and coastal lifestyle accessories.
Thomas & Thomas Fine Fly Rods: Two (2) exclusive, custom T&T, 4 piece, 9' #8 saltwater fly rods.
YETI Coolers: One (1) YETI Mountain Khakis Tundra 45 and two (2) YETI Accessories Packs.
Chaco Sandals: Two (2) $110 cash cards to Chacos.com and two (2) Chaco T-shirts.
Costa Optics: Two (2) sunglasses and two (2) backpacks with C-Line retainers, clarity kits and hats.
American Expedition Vehicles (AEV): Two (2) schwag kits.


*Winner will be notified Monday, June 24th, 2013 and announced thereafter. Grand prize winner & guest responsible for all travel arrangements & costs. FL & NY residents not eligible to participate.

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!

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!

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!

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!

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 Carp-pocalypse

From Adam McNamara, Portland, Oregon Orvis Store Fishing Manager and co-owner of Castaway Guide Service:

CARPIN’ FOR A CAUSE
Last fall I started working on a little side project. I had an idea to throw a fly fishing tournament for Carp that would be a great chance for a bunch of people to get together catch some big fish, drink some awesome beer, eat some BBQ, and help the Native fish we all love. After some hard work and lots of help from from some awesome people at the Native Fish Society, Orvis, Ninkasi Brewing, Idylwilde Flies, John Montana, and others I am proud to say it has finally come together.

Today I am proud to announce the first annual Carp-pocalypse Tournament at Banks Lake in Washington. Clear water, shallow flats, lots of fish, and plenty of sun make this a perfect place for everyone to get together and have some fun while helping our native fish. This is a two day tournament with a tailgate party on Saturday night so come prepared to impress with your tailgating abilities as well as your mad flats fishing skills. All it takes to join is a minimum donation of $25.00 to the Native Fish Society. To sign up or get more information come see me at the Portland Orvis store or give me a call at 503-598-7680.

So here's your chance to meet and fish with legendary carpers like John Montana and Jim Pankiewicz and support a good cause like the Native Fish Society. Hogan Brown and Patrick Kilby will be representing Team Idylwilde, with rumors of a scruffy looking nerfherder making the voyage west to join the ranks. More details on that to be announced at a later date. Save the dates, August 11 and 12, 2012 at Banks Lake in Washington.

Targhee Fest & Fly Fishing Vacation Sweepstakes

MOUNTAIN KHAKIS® Grand Targhee Resort Present the “Targhee Fest & Fly Fishing Vacation” Sweepstakes

Winner: (1) Grand Prize Winner plus (1) Guest
Promotion Period: April 3 – April 24, 2012! * Winner will be announced April 25, 2012
Prize Package Date: July 12-16, 2012
Prize Package Value: est $4658
Prize Package Details:

• Grand Targhee Resort: (1) room for (4) nights based on double occupancy, July 12-16, 2012; (2) 3-Day “Targhee Fest” Festival
passes; (2) 5-Day Lift Passes; (2) 1-Day Mountain Bike Rentals
• Mountain Khakis®: (4) MK Pants or Shorts of Choice, (2) MK!Shirts of Choice, (2) MK Belts of Choice, (2) MK Hat or Visor of Choice & (2) MK T-Shirts of Choice
• WorldCast Anglers: (2) Private 2-Hour Casting Lessons, (2) Private Full-Day Guided Float Trip & Fly Fishing, (2) Orvis® Equipment Rentals, (2) Shore-Side Lunch
• KEEN® Footwear: (2) Pairs “Targhee II” Shoes of Choice
• Slumberjack®: (2) “Lone Pine” Sleeping Bags, (2) “Trail Tent 2”
• Osprey® Packs: (1) “Stratos 24” Pack, (1) “Sirrus 24” Pack
• Smartwool®: (2) “Head-to-Toe” Outfits
• YETI® Coolers: (1) “Tundra 45” Cooler
• Klean Kanteen®: (1) 27 oz "Reflect" Kanteen, (1) 20 oz "Insulated Kanteen" (1) 4-pack "Steel Pints"

*Winner & Guest responsible for all travel-related expenses and make their own arrangements

Full Rules and Regulations.

Sweepstakes ends at 11:59PM EST on April 24, 2012. Enter now!

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!

2012 F3T Minneapolis - They came, they saw, they partied

The 2012 F3T show in Minneapolis played to a sold out crowd. Folks were waiting at the door in hopes of extra tickets, there was even a criagslist ad asking for any miracles. Standing room only and the folks were loving it. Plenty of yipping and hollering at all the high definition fish porn showing on the big screen. This year's show was far and away the best event since the film tour starting coming to the Twin Cities 4 years ago.


There was plenty of swag to go around, and a few big winners. Plenty of goodies doled from show sponsor Scientific Anglers; glad I was there to represent!



SA stepped up huge with their VIP after party. Their impromptu tickets were baller, embossed even! Some good eats from Pepitos satisfied all of our appetites. And after a few Nordeasts brews and a shot of Makers, this was the perfect cap to an awesome evening.



It's always great recconecting with old friends, guide buddys, industry folks, and meeting new faces. Had a great time befriending the show hosts, even if one of them needed a hemorrhoid pillow haha. Already looking forward to next year's show. Bigger and better!

2012 Swap Flies

Fruits of the 2012 fly swap hosted by McTage. As you may notice, I am not sporting the full complement of flies as was offered to the participants. Rather, I opted for a handful of tasty looking snacks that should provide some perspective and inspiration behind the bench. No offense should be taken by the other participants, as I already have stashed in my fly bank several of the patterns that were offered up in the swap. I felt it redundant to receive these flies, when others haven't had a chance thumb over and drool on the offerings from John Montana, Kevin Morlock, Wendy Berrell, et al. In addition, due to the popularity of the swap, more participants had signed up than was anticipated. Since only ten flies were required per tyer and there were 22 participants, not everyone was going to receive a fly from each other. Hence, me offering up a Carp Crack to all the tyers participating so nobody had to suffer from crack fever. Also, I hoped that be me not accepting all of my entitlement, a few others could benefit from the gain. Many thanks to McTage for hosting this year's swap. Perhaps the torch shall be passed for 2013.

2012 F3T -- Minneapolis

Once again, Minneapolis is a stop on the 2012 Fly Fishing Film Tour. Swing by the Parkway Theater on Friday, March 9, 2012 to catch the latest and hottest films hitting the fly fishing scene. Plenty of free stuff to be handed out by the show sponsors! Doors open at 6:30PM, show starts at 7:00PM.

The Parkway Theater is located at 4814 Chicago Avenue South, in Minneapolis, MN. Tickets are $15 at the door, but I'd strongly recommend pre-ordering them, as the tour usually draws a full crowd, selling out in over 75% of the venues. Discount tickets can be purchased at the Fly Angler in Fridley for $12.

I'll be representing tour sponsor Scientific Anglers again this year, so be sure to show up early for some free SA swag! The show is only a month away! Don't be left out in the cold, buy your ticket today!