Pulp Fly: Volume Three

Short stories by some of our favorite fly fishers. Pulp Fly's authors have cred on both the water and the page and it shows up in the stories they tell. Volumes one and two accompanied me on countless coast to Colorado business trips. Number three is required reading for those of us who might not get on the water as much as we would like. Think MacLean meets Hunter S. and you have the idea.

"Landed": Starring April Vokey

"Landed" (Trailer) - Official Selection, IF4 2014 from IF4 on Vimeo

If my recollection is accurate, I originally met up with April Vokey in 2009 when she was putting together a fund raiser known as Flies for Fins.  Since that time she has built amazing personal and business brands and is well known as a knowledgeable and conservation minded steelhead guide. 

What does a Yeti wear under its kilt?

I haven't seen one of these up close and personal but Smith Fly's new Cooler Kilt, launching in late November, makes sense to me. Especially in light of limited space in the boat, pickup truck, or campsite.

From their press release: By snapping directly to a cooler, the Cooler Kilt keeps gear consolidated, out of the way, and easily accessible. It was designed for people fishing on small watercraft, including stand up paddleboards, kayaks, and micro skiffs, as well as spin-and-bait casting fisherman and hunters.

Many anglers keep coolers on board of their watercraft to carry water, lunch, snacks, and beverages. They also carry cumbersome bags that are intended for wading. SmithFly owner and fisherman Ethan Smith set out to design a product that easily enables people to attach their gear directly to the front of their coolers.

“There wasn’t a good solution for carrying fly boxes and tackle on the water while fishing from smaller, more nimble boats,” said Smith. “Now you can haul your gear and your beer in one trip from the truck to the boat. The Cooler Kilt lets you put your stuff right where you can access it, without any hassle.”

Cooler Kilts are made in the U.S.A. and will be available in five sizes accommodating cooler sizes from 25 to 65 quarts. They’re constructed of 1000D Cordura, and feature multiple rows of Mil-Spec nylon webbing with one-inch tactical bar tacks. The back of each kilt has snaps that attach to coolers. The snaps are available as stainless steel self-tapping screws similar to those of boat covers, or as pressure sensitive adhesive pads with snap heads.

Preorder for the Cooler Kilt, which starts at $45 (including shipping), is available beginning on October 28. For more information and to place a preorder, visit smithfly.net/2013/09/21/cooler-kilt.

Brownline Innovation: 1955's Patented Cigarette Butt Fly

Filed March 1, 1955 United States Patent FLY ROD LURE Erastus Corning 2nd, Albany, N. Y.
Application March 1, 1955, Serial No. 491,266 

Claims. (Cl. 43-4232) My invention relates to fishing and particularly to a fish lure of a novel type which is especially adapted for casting with a fly rod.
Fish strike at a cigarette butt which has been thrown from a boat and is floating either in fresh or salt water.
The principal object of my invention is to provide a fly rod lure which will simulate a cigarette butt in its appearance. A further object is to provide such a lure which will float when cast in the water.

Before you knock Erastus Corning's idea, how many patents do you have?  

Atlantic Salmon on the dry fly

Breaking the surface :: Loop Tackle Design from Loop Tackle on Vimeo.



This video from the folks at Loop is especially for all of the #dryordie folks among us.   I once caught a sockeye on a mouse fly but I'm pretty sure it was an accident.  Hooked him in the mouth though.

Throwback Thursday: Sneaking into Orvis Edition

Wherein we remember the time we snuck into the corporate offices of Orvis to see if they really wear tweed and drink 12 year old scotch with lunch.

Our next stop was the Orvis commissary. Due to the remoteness of their offices, the company provides dining facilities. The employees do not eat for free nor does the menu consist entirely of venison and roast pheasant. In a definitive nod to conservation, no wild brook trout were on the menu the day of our visit.

Read the whole sordid story here.

Gear: Spyderco Knife with the Emerson Opening System

No matter if you find yourself in a dark urban alleyway, tangled in your personal pontoon boat's anchor line, or hanging from your parachute behind enemy lines, (I have done two of these three things) you might find it handy to have quick access to good steel.

During a recent visit to the Spyderco factory outside of Golden, Colorado, I noticed that, in addition to their signature hawk eyed opening hole, some knives had a hook like protrusion facing forward, above the blade. When I asked what this was for, the clerk advised that it was the Emerson Opening system.  What a wonderful idea, I immediately thought, a bottle opener built right into the blade of your knife.

It turns out that while it could possibly used to open a cold brew, the Emerson Opening System is actually a remarkably simple one hand opening mechanism built into the knife.  Clipped inside your pants pocket with the blade facing toward the rear, the bottle opener hook thing is perfectly aligned with the lip of the pocket so that upon drawing the blade rearward, in one smooth motion you end up holding an open knife. Since the knife opens completely when drawn, it is open and usable much quicker than even the fastest assisted opening knife.

YouTube user rwb1500 has a video that demonstrates how it works.

Your mileage may vary - don't blame us if you inadvertently remove any vital appendages during the use of this fine product.

Spyderco Endura 4 Wave Plain Edge Folding Knife

San Diego Stripha

This might just make all those guys freezing their hindparts off while fishing Montauk consider relocating West.  A nice San Diego surf caught striped bass courtesy David Schonzeit.  More info about his catch via UT San Diego.

*warning: slight f-bomb droppage as the great beast approaches the shore.

Taming of the shrew

This my fellow anglers is why you learn to tie mouse flies. This relatively small Alaskan trout was found to contain 20 shrew's. Check out the story at at Livescience.com. Photo credit Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

Florida Keys Guides told to stay home

...or at least out of National Park waters.  The Miami Herald is reporting that Florida Bay and Biscayne National Park have both been declared off limits to professional guides, due to the Federal government shutdown. Apparently you need the government in order to go into the ocean.

Capt. Barry Hoffman, of Hoffman's Guide Service in Tavernier, said he doesn't rely on National Park Service personnel and rangers when he fishes the bay, so he doesn't see why he can't go there.  "It seems pretty senseless to me because they don't provide a service for us when we're out there," said Hoffman, who has been fishing the backcountry for more than 23 years.

 Read more in the Miami Herald article.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/10/03/3667165/federal-shutdown-shuts-downs-keys.html#storylink=cpy

"Flow": @AddiBerry, making the world a better place through video

Flow from Addi Berry on Vimeo.
 
Mad skills on the fly rod,vise, and also behind the lens.   Like us @AddieBerry is a Carolina expat, now residing in the land of craft beer, mountains, and trout (Colorado).   Be sure to follow him on Twitter. 

ebay watch: The $10,000 Sage Fly Rod

So if you win the Rumble in the Rhododendron and need something on which to spend your winnings, you might want to consider a Sage fly rod.  No explanation is given other than "only one of its kind on the planet!!!" but ebay seller scrappyhappyscraper will part with this Sage fly rod for the buy it now price of $10,0000 or best offer.  To date 9 offers have been declined.  Clever marketing?