Spring

Same old story, I've been too lazy to make a post. I have been out many times since my last posting, so there's really no other excuse... The fishing this Spring is good, and we hope it'll only get better daily before the Summer shutdown of hot weather. I've been tying up a lot of patterns that are new to me and have been having some success with them. (always a good thing) If I wasn't learning new techniques and aspects of fly-fishing, tying, casting, nature, photography, and entomology, I would probably be to bored to continue on in this game. It never gets old to me. Still waiting on the 17 year cicada hatch that's coming within a few hours of where I live. In the meantime, we plan to go to camp and look for this all too well known drake hatch that draws people from hundreds of miles and many other states. I was there last year, but it blew out before we could get on the water at all. Hopefully things work out better for us this year. While visiting The Feathered Hook in Coburn PA last trip to camp. Check them out at http://thefeatheredhook.com/. I saw that they had a small tank with a rock and various nymphs, and other underwater bugs. It fascinated me so much, that I went out and bought the same tank, after carefully gathering a bunch of my own bug life and transporting them home in a cleaned out whiskey bottle. It is one of the coolest things I have ever seen, and most fly-fishermen and women would agree. You can watch them do their thing, and now I've even had 1 sulphur, and 2 grey fox duns emerge into mayflies in my room! It is a very good way to study, as well as learn from these bugs that are on the dinner plates of our finned friends daily. It also makes me think of different techniques for tying flies. I think it makes an all around better angler and tyer just by watching. I have 2 product reviews as well. First of, are the split bamboo rods that are hand built by my good buddy Don Ward at Keystone Fly Rod Company http://keystoneflyrodcompany.com/. Don takes his time and custom builds each rod in house. If you are looking for a great rod at a great price, I wouldn't hesitate to get one of these bad boys. He can custom build to your preferences, and he offers a class where he teaches you step by step as you are building your own rod that you get to keep at the end. Don also makes beautiful hand made wooden nets and rod tubes to order. Get over and check out his website today! The second product that I have a review on is the Coastal chestpack backpack combo from William and Joseph Fly Fishing. http://www.williamjoseph.net/ Here is the pack. http://www.williamjoseph.net/gear.php?userChoice=Coastal It is the best pack I have ever used HANDS DOWN! It has the room in the front and side pockets to hold all of the gear that I need close to me with easy access points. The backpack part of it is absolutely huge, but at the same time can be slimmed down by pulling the straps on the sides and bottom tight. There are many pockets which makes organization a cinch. I can fit all of my extra gear, some food and drinks, and extra clothes in the backpack section which really helps out on those long days of fishing and hiking. There are rod tube holders on either side which is nice, and the strap on the back makes a great place to clip my net on. I can still reach it and take it off myself to land a fish, then simply clip it back onto the strap behind my head when finished. The chestpack and backpack can also be used separately, or combined with some of their other models. Last, but certainly not least is the comfort factor. This is the most comfortable pack I've worn for sure. There's a frame built in which makes hiking with the heaviest of gear not a big deal at all. I love the functionality and comfortability of this pack and will use it until it falls apart. If that ever happens... Here's some pictures of the sights we've seen so far this year... >