Happy New Year

New Year's Resolution: Fish & Tye A Lot.

Connecticut Fishing License Fees Sky Rocket

A little ranting and raving is in order. I just found out that Connecticut Non-Resident Fishing License prices have gone viral. Wow, $80 for inland and $60 for marine fishing. A "generous" discount is offered for a combo inland/marine which weighs in for a C-note. Good move to keep tourism low. I'll knock Connecticut off my list of places to fish in 2010.

Meal Worm Fly

This fly, made only of a bit of crystal flash and some tan chenille, is a killer on trout. I kid you not. So easy a cave man could tye it and catch trout with it. I got the pattern about 8 or 9 years ago from an old timer who really knew his flies.

Ambassadors of Fly Fishing

The Japanese are true ambassadors of fly fishing.

Shout Out

Received this Christmas ecard from Pat and Carol Oglesby. A big howdy from Boston to Colorado. I want to be in that boat right now.

North Pole Post

The card says it all. Art work by James Roszel.

Big Bad Bug

Was looking back over some old pictures. Snapped this fella in Spain. Don't know who the tyer is, but it is a rather stunning fly.

Home Made Vise

Innovative vise. Not sure how the pliers stay closed when there is a hook in it.

Gartside's Soft Hackle Streamer

A brilliantly simple fly for fresh or salt water, the Soft Hackle Streamer consists of a bit of flash, a blood marabou feather and some mallard flank.

Chia Fish

I saw the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Fish on another blog and could not resist giving it more air time. This came from www.moldychum.com. Love that blog. Those guys take irreverence to new heights.

Rusty Gates

Rusty Gates, the leader in the fight to preserve the Au Sable River system in Michigan died yesterday. He was 54 and will be sadly missed.

Rubber Legs

I have tried many brands of rubber and silicone legs for flies. The best in terms of strength and good looks are: Spirit River's Tarantu-Leggs and Montana Fly's Centipede Legs. Both brands are available in different diameters so you can find just the right size for your flies.

New Gear

Check it out...the latest gear for the new year. Also, I predict long rods will be hot.

Crescent Moon

Glass Rattles

For a little something extra in your flies, add glass rattles. The addition of sound drives the fish crazy.

Squidmeister

Another yellow-bellied varmint.

Shrimp Cocktail

Shrimp chillin' by the sauce.

Spider Rally

Teranarsus Terror

Back by popular demand and currently in stock. These little (well, actually large) stonefly critters are trout candy. I am making a limited quantity and will have some available at The Fly Fishing Show in January (Marlboro, Somerset, Charlotte).

Jack Gartside Remembered

The outpouring of remembrances, affection and sadness with the passing of Jack Gartside has been tremendous, literally spanning the world. From Europe, Theo "Bead-Head" Bakelaar wrote:

Dear All,

One of our best friends has gone………….Jack Gartside.
The smile, the fun, the jokes, the Lover of Life.
This bad news hurts me very hard.
The sunshine in our life is gone………but I bet you that he has ordered us all to have fun in our life and to see the daily beauty of it.
He always had a special place in my life and it will stay there for ever.
I know he will watch us from Striper heaven.

Thanks Jack for everything and God bless you.

Cheers,
Theo Bakelaar

Jack Gartside Dies

Sadly, I report that Jack Gartside passed away last night at the West Roxbury (MA) VA Hospital. Jack had been ill with cancer for the past 14 months. He died peacefully with his companion, Katie, at his side. I have many fond and humorous memories. The first time I had ever seen some one tye a fly, it was Jack at the vise. With a heavy heart, I say goodbye to a good friend and one of the luminaries of fly tying and angling.

Crabby Amy

Cool crab.

Fly By Cholo

Check out Cholo's work at www.moscasorbigo.com.

Aquatic Nuisance Species in Connecticut

Zebra muscles have been found in the Housatonic River (Connecticut) as far North as Stockbridge, MA. According to reports prepared after field work investigation between September 8 and October 23, "the mussels likely entered the river via two sources -- Laurel Brook and the broken water pipe that runs from Laurel Lake to the Eagle Mill. Adult zebra mussels were found along a half-mile reach downstream of Laurel Brook, a location 0.9 miles downstream of Laurel Brook, and a location in Stockbridge 6.96 miles downstream from the Brook," wrote Trevor Jones in today's Berkshire Eagle.