Winter Beads

Winter Beads

2017 On The Water

2017 On the Water

Looking back on 2017, there are times, places and fish that stand out above all the rest. 

The year marked the culmination of a 3 year long project to putt together "Summer Bugs". A project that falls close to home.

It began on the water with the scream of a single-action reel 

To share some great time with friends

And the chance to be present while good friends had great days as well

The Spring opener opener was highlighted netting a beautiful fish for another good friend 

And a gift of Gold

2017 was a little bit of everything Warm water, both stalking local banks and kicking through lily pads in the tube. 

It included a wonderful Fathers Day gift shared with my daughter

And ended with a chance to share the water with another

as well as share her first trout on a fly rod.

All-in-all, it was a year that not only brought some great moments, but it was the type of year that keeps a person looking forward to more opportunities to share future time on the water. 

Welcome 2018!

Thanks all!

For all the support over the past 4 years...

My Thanks

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Happy Holidays

From my bench to yours

Tying the Mouline Midge

The Mouline Midge

The Mouline Midge is not a new pattern design. It is in fact a very basic and time proven midge style. This pattern/video is a demonstration of a technique for using Mouline cross-stitch yarn on your tying bench. This technique creates a very inexpensive and easy to create material for many patterns, and the result provides a very effective attribute to this pattern. 

Materials shown are Copic Markers,  Mouline "Pearlescent Effects" #E746 yarn, and UV Epoxy

I begin by forming 4 eight inch loops of the yarn. I then form an over-hand loop on one end (for hanging and management).  

At the running end of the loops I cut them off, forming a loop on one end of eight 6" strands.  

Then using the point of your bodkin and beginning at the overhand knot, sweep it it down through each strand separating them into individual fibers. 

Once separated, lay them on a piece of printer paper and color the strands with the Copic marker.

A single strand forms the midge under-body.

The Mouline Midge Tying Video

Cane and Silk Glass Review

A little bit of Ice glass from Cane and Silk

Rocky Stream Series

7' 3/4wt 3-piece 

Ice glass with Chestnut wraps with Lemon tipping

So today the doorbell rings and the mail slot makes it's ceremonial metallic slam as letters hit the floor. "Mail AND a package!"

Outside I find a grey PVC tube addressed from Mike Kattner at Cane and Silk, and a chance to review another rod.  It's Christmas come early!

A Standard Build 7' 3-piece model from his "Rocky Stream Series" in "Ice Glass". At first glance it is classis Cane and Silk. Mikes builds a flawless rod. The anodized hardware and walnut spacer are clean and perfectly set. The cork is a very nice grade and tapers well-formed to the winding check. 

The chrome snake guides are spot-on straight, as is the orange agate stripping guide and the alignment dots are correct. The wraps are flawless and the lemon yellow tipping is a perfect touch.

The spigot ferrules are very nicely done, seat firm and have a nice 1/2" of spacing between sections. The rod came in a 3-section flannel rod bag and a shipping tube, but no rod tube. 

Choosing a Cortland DT4F Peach line on an Orvis new generation Battenkill II reel, the rod balanced exactly as you want it. Lawn casting was a great surprise. This little rod is no glass noodle. It is responsive, loads almost instantly with the DT 4 line, and threw 30ft loops as naturally as stirring a spoon in a cup of coffee.

Having already owned two C&S glass Dark Honey rods one each in both Standard and Eminence build, I am admittedly a fan of Mikes work. But I for one have been very  hesitant when it comes to the clear/white/ice glass rods fad. Maybe it stems form my dislike for the early Wonderrods? Nevertheless, I was a bit skeptical. However, the quality of build, smooth into-the-grip loading has won me over. The tip tracks straight, with no bounce on the end of your casting stroke that I truly dislike on many overly-soft glass rods. I think the ICE will grow on me.

Next stop....Water.

Cane and Silk
Mike Kattner

Moore's Farm

Moore's Farm

2017