Tube Flies on numero yksi!

One product line up that has gotten tons of interest at all the winter shows is Eumer. This company from Finland, brings tube flies up to a whole new level and is just completing their first year of distribution into North America. Tube flies are definitely generating a lot of interest and excitement in the fly tying arena. Eumer has just launched a new website, http://www.eumertube.com/, that has all sorts of info about products plus great video clips showing how to tie a number of different tube fly patterns. The site is being updated constantly, so there is always fresh content. Check it out! Tube Flies on numero yksi! (Tube Flies are number one!)

New Beer Label

Pam & Chris McKimm, our friends at the Brewkettle in Strongsville, OH, have the top-rated brew pub in the U.S.! It is a great place to sample a multitude of beers and brew your own on site. Oh yeah, the food is awesome, too!

Dog friend and steelhead junkie, John Rhoades, brewed there recently and this is the label for his latest batch. John- save me a bottle.

Guidewater Grip & Grin!

Well-known Michigan guide and dog friend, Kevin Feenstra, does the grip & grin with a Muskegon River steelie. Kevin sent a few comments on his Guidewater Jacket that are worth sharing.

"The Midwest has one of the harshest climates to fly fish for migratory fish. The Guidewater Jacket is a great shell for this environment. It provides an excellent wind and weather break. The handwarmer pockets do not interfere with rowing and the vertical pockets keep your fly boxes and cell phone high and dry. The hood tucks away neatly when not in use. This is the best fishing jacket I have used in years".

Kevin spends 200 plus days a year behind the oars. He knows of what he speaks!

Live The Dream!

Came across a fun segment on local PBS TV yesterday. There was a discussion of a movie about the Cleveland surfing scene. I didn't even know there was a Cleveland surf scene! The movie is called Out of Place and it is worth checking out the site info and trailer- http://www.outofplacemovie.com/. Looks like most of the footage is from Edgewater Beach in the Cleveland Lakefront State Park. Bottom line is the guy who made the film says that being in Cleveland allows him to do the kind of work he loves, live the way he wants, and still enjoy his sport. It would be hard for him to do this elsewhere.

It kind of reminds of the the group of dedicated two-hand rod, swung fly steelhead gang around here these days.

You need to utilize the resources of the area you live in to the fullest!

Mileage Milestone!

JD's 2003 Honda Element, the official Fishdog Mobile, turned 200,000 miles yesterday! After countless miles through rain, snow, sleet, ice, mud, ice, and hitting deer and orange barrels on the turnpike, while being hit by 2x4's in the windshield, it keeps on truckin'.

The Element has hauled a driftboat over Teton Pass to Idaho, moved daughter Leah to North Carolina, hauled clients on dozens of guide trips, and covered most of the Great Lakes area loaded with samples to show and fishing gear to use.

Am happy to report, no major mechanical problems so far (knock on wood)!