Memorial Day 2013

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

 

Wherever you find yourself on this Monday in May, do not forget to honor those who have given all for the freedoms we so often take for granted.

Catchin' Any?

Ryan Schaefer is...

Hello, I just wanted to shoot you over some pictures of my trip to the North Fork Ranch near Bailey, Colorado. I wasn’t sure if you all would be interested in seeing some pictures of some fish from the area but the 1^st pic looks pretty amazing, especially after it is blown up!

Of course we are interested! Especially since we recently moved the Flyfishmagazine compound West. Email us and Let us know if you're "catchin' any".

 

Orvis to Acquire the Scientific Anglers and Ross Reels Businesses from 3M

Text of press release follows:

Manchester, VT (May 1, 2013) — The Orvis Company, Inc. of Manchester, Vermont today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Scientific Anglers and Ross Reels businesses from 3M (NYSE:MMM). Upon completion of the transaction, Orvis plans to continue to operate the Midland, MI based business independently under the Scientific Anglers brand. Ross Reels will also continue to operate independently under its brand name from its Montrose, CO headquarters. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"We think both businesses have incredible opportunities to drive fly-fishing innovation well into the future," said David Perkins, Orvis Executive Vice Chairman. "Jim Lepage will move to Midland and from there he will be dedicated to running both S.A. and Ross. He and the excellent teams already in place will build these strong brands for the future. Neither consumers nor the trade will likely notice much of a difference in the branding of these businesses under Orvis ownership. What they will notice is renewed marketing energy, well-supported sales and service staff and an even higher level of new product innovation."

Ross Reels is well-known for an excellent line of mid-priced fly reels highly regarded by fly fishers. Scientific Anglers, founded in 1945, developed the first fly line to utilize a tapered plastic coating, the first modern floating fly line that could be fished without constant applications of messy line dressing, and the use of glass bubbles or micro balloons in floating fly lines, revolutionizing floating fly lines and still the major technology in floating lines today.

"Our goal is for Scientific Anglers to be the world leader in fly lines, leaders and tippet, and for Ross to be the leading innovator in American-made fly reels," said Jim Lepage, newly appointed President of both businesses. "We plan to maintain strong investment in R&D at both businesses and we intend to bolster their sales and distribution resources here in the U.S. and build both brands internationally."

Lepage, trained as an aerospace engineer, is a consummate outdoorsman and fly fisher, equally adept at hunting wild turkeys and trophy whitetails as he is with a fly rod. He holds a world record for Atlantic bonito on the fly rod and has fly fished from his home in Vermont to the spring creeks of New Zealand and most places in between. His proficiency in the field is matched by his business sense and his significant skills in managing complex manufacturing operations.

Joining Lepage and bolstering the new product innovations will be Bruce Richards, a 33-year veteran of Scientific Anglers responsible for many past new product breakthroughs. Richards had retired from Scientific Anglers in June 2009 but he says:

"When Jim Lepage called me to tell me that Orvis had acquired SA and wanted me involved again I was excited! I've known Jim for many years and have worked closely with him developing fly lines for Orvis. We see things the same way when it comes to fly fishing and fly lines and both have a passion for fly fishing and the outdoors in general. Jim is one of the most innovative product developers I know, it will be fun to work with him again. It will be great to work with the staff at the SA factory too, that was a hard place to leave."

Both businesses will maintain their current operations, facilities, employees and independent sales representation. Lepage will relinquish his responsibilities as Vice President of Rod & Tackle with Orvis to be fully committed to his new role as President of both companies. Lepage is relocating to Midland, where he says he will consolidate R&D for both S.A. and Ross.

"There is no plan for Orvis to carry Scientific Anglers-brand fly lines in its catalog, stores or website, nor are there plans to more widely distribute Orvis products through S.A.'s established wholesale accounts. Each brand must remain focused on being the leading innovator in their respective product categories and distribution channels," Lepage said. "Maintaining that clarity will be the key to our success."

About The Orvis Company
Founded in 1856, Orvis pioneered fly fishing and the mail order industry in the United States. A leading corporate steward for the environment, Orvis contributes 5% of pre-tax profits every year to protect nature. Learn more at www.orvis.com.

F3T Benefiting Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing's Denver chapter will be hosting the Fly Fishing Film tour Saturday, April 13th.  Rumor has it that if you make a big donation to this excellent cause, the tax man will treat you nicer this year.

The Fly Fishing Film Tour is brought to Denver by Project Healing Waters of Denver.  All proceeds from this event will benefit Project Healing Waters.
Tickets($20) are available locally in advance at local Fly Shops.  They are also available through F3T online for $20 and at the door on the night of the event for $20.
Doors open at 6.00 pm, so if you have time join us for a social gathering before the films start to catch up with your angler buddies and meet and thank a few of the folks that have sacrificed so much for you and I.  The film starts promptly at 7.00 pm.
For more information please contact David Brittain, 303-907-9678 or dpbrittain.phwff@gmail.com.

I wonder if the Credit card is good?

Still no word from the Nigerian Prince and I never did get that money Mr. Gates promised me. Received recently at the Flyfishmagazine Corporate Compound:

Hello

Greetings to you and the company.My name is Benjamin Clarke and am looking to order some (Pontoon Boats) I will like to know if you do have some in stock, custom made/stock for sale.I will like to know the types,sizes and cost of each.Let me know the lead time to the order and also if you do accept credit card as a form of payment.Looking forward to read back from you.Thank you.


Benjamin Clarke
Benjamin & Wife Venture"s
33-45 94st apt.6h

For Sale: Hardy and Greys

Fly fishing outfitter to royalty, Hardy and Greys is reportedly up for sale.   A recent article published at NeBuisiness.co.uk reports:

"The Alnwick-based company, which has held 10 Royal Warrants over the last century and numbers the Prince of Wales among its customers, has identified major investment in export markets as key to its survival. However, its current owners Harris & Sheldon is stripping itself of the manufacturing businesses under its control and has instructed business advisers Grant Thornton to look for a potential buyer."

The article also states that the 140 year old company lost £446,000 in 2010 and reduced its staff by 20 "redundancies."  No word if the iconic Hardy Girl is out of a job.

More on the story is available via Midcurrent.
http://midcurrent.com/2012/10/23/hardy-greys-brand-for-sale-but-its-business-as-usual/

Ever Caught a Greenback Cutthroat? Maybe not....

The Denver Post says those Greenback's you've been catching might not be the real thing. Our old friend DNA says that only those from Bear Creek are Greenback's.  

"We've known for some time that the trout in Bear Creek were unique," said Doug Krieger, senior aquatic biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "But we didn't realize they were the only surviving greenback population."

Sorry Rocky Mt. National Park....

Read more: Pure greenback cutthroat trout confirmed in remote Colorado stream - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/environment/ci_21622897/pure-greenback-cutthroat-trout-confirmed-remote-colorado-stream#ixzz27VO2FDnN
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

It's an origami kayak

 

 

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Our new favorite hockey team

If for the logo alone. The Denver Cutthroats Minor league hockey. #awesome

IFTD and ICAST Agree To Join Forces

From AFFTA's press release:

Alexandria, VA and Westminster, CO – September 14, 2012 – Today, the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) announced a partnership in which they would co-locate their trade shows in one venue in 2013. Both the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, and the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show, known as IFTD, will be held July 10-12, 2013, at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev.

Vegas baby! Elvis officiated the wedding. Let's see if the marriage sticks....

 

How to get on the terrorist watch list.

According to an Associated Press article, a North Carolina activist found out he was on the terrorist watch list. He wasn't sure how he made the list but a check of his criminal record clearly shows why:

Tyson was found guilty in 2007 of fishing trout out of season, for which he was fined $145, according to police records.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/North-Carolina-man-I-m-activist-not-terrorist-3839879.php#ixzz25kDqxJD4

Take that poachers!

(hat tip to Stew Rat for pointing this one out)

 

Low holed by the 2nd most powerful man in the free world?

 

According to an AP article, when fishing in Jackson Hole, WY, you might be well served to complain about interest rates to that guy just downstream.  Jackson Hole is the site of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's annual conference.   Why?.   Because former Fed Chairman, Paul Volcker enjoyed fly fishing.   No word yet as to the current Chairman being among the afflicted. 

Read the article at the Washington Post.

 

Do you have what it takes to be Top Hooker

We almost dismissed this as spam when it hit the @Flyfishmagazine twitter feed but it appears the producers of television's TopShot are looking to crown a Top Hooker. From their website:

The producers of Top Shot, Dirty Jobs and The Ultimate Fighter are seeking America’s best and boldest fishermen to take on Animal Planet’s extreme fishing competition, Top Hooker.

On this brand new TV show, you and a handful of daring fishing enthusiasts will tackle exciting and intense challenges on America’s rivers, lakes, streams and even the open ocean. Are you ready for adventure?

We are looking for COMPETITIVE, OUTGOING and SKILLED anglers, spear fishermen, game fishermen, fly fishermen, trawlers and trappers from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter if your experience is commercial, sport or recreational. As long as you’re skilled, adaptable and confident enough to take on anything we throw at you, you could win A BIG GRAND PRIZE and the title of Animal Planet’s first Top Hooker.

This will be TV’s biggest, wildest fishing competition.

Email a pic sans sunglasses and hat to Tophookercasting@gmail.com if you think you have what it takes. Tell them Flyfishmagazine sent you.

 

Hiking staff Flyrod Combo

More things with fly rods in them. The Fikkes Fly Hiker.