Steelhead Alley

It's been awhile since I have added to this journal - too much going on! Fall in Michigan is a busy time - still lot's of trout to chase in Grayling, T.U. business, luncheons to relive all the summer adventures - dreams of Muddlers, Zonkers and Skunks. But now is the time to prepare -

Is that some kind of elEGGant fly(bait) or what! I should feel bad about tying that on the end of a Bamboo Fly Rod, but I dont. In a couple weeks I'll be in the middle of Steelhead Alley in Erie, PA chasing rainbows with all kinds of unusual stuff - what are you gonna do? Stay tuned for further developments.

Every Once in a While - Part III

How about that. Even your humble rodmaker gets lucky once in a while. We spent the week in Grayling and worked the Vendor Day at the Trout Unlimited 50th Anniversary celebration in Traverse City on Thursday. Met lots of T.U. folks from all over the country and had a great evening at the "Michigan Luau". But we did get a chance to float the AuSable on Wednesday morning and stumbled upon this fat fellow who was eager to try a fluffy AuSable Skunk in the bright Michigan sunshine. What a nice surprise. I've said it before - Every Once in a While . . .

Every Once in a While - Part Deux

It's Friday night around 11 pm and everyone is quietly digesting their Gumbo, Bread Pudding and Highland Park. A few of the Tin Fish Club members take a walk down to the dock for a look at the river. Not too long and I here frantic voices and dancing headlights, so I run down with the official Craftsman 30' tape and here you go!



Gene is fondling a 22 1/2" AuSable River Brown Trout that was convinced to bite a classic Gapen Muddler Minnow. You gotta love it! So I guess clean living pays off after all. An easy pick for the fish of the weekend and champion of Tin Fish 2009. Well done Gene! This big fellow now resides in the 2009 Catch and Release Trophy Club at Gates AuSable Lodge.

So you heard me say it before, Every Once in a While . . . .

Mrs. Harris Loses her Virginity

So here we are - enjoying the Montana sunshine and the new kids take a ride down to 3 Dollar Bridge for her very first foray into the Madison River. And things seemed to workout just fine! Thanks to a special Green Crystal Dip tied by her hubby, Fay drags in this very fine Madison River Rainbow Trout! The bad news is, it may be a while before she sees another trout as nice as her very first!





Stay Tuned - More to follow!

14 Days and Counting - Part 2

Here we go again, it's almost time to start packing for another Western Adventure. Still there are a whole bunch of things going on over the next couple weeks, Crosby Stills & Nash, the Mudhens and the Blue Tractor, but it'll be time to load the Jeep and hit the road before you know it. Most important is the one special box of Big Orange Bugs!

We are watching the weather and snow melt in West Yellowstone every day hoping that this year the Big Orange Bugs will meet us half way up the Madison River - somewhere around the Palisades - I'm getting excited just talking about it ! 14 days andcounting.

Every Once in a While

Trout fishing in Michigan is an interesting proposition. We firmly believe (rightfully so) that if you want a really nice trout - you need to be out in the middle of the night, slapping mice or large streamers into the banks and hoping to feel your way into a trophy. But - Every Once in a While - on a bright, sunny afternoon - lightning strikes and there you go!

They call this stretch of the AuSable the "Trophy Water" and you can see why. Drew's got a handful of Brown Trout that would be a trophy anywhere you go. The right day, the right fly - have you ever heard of the "Oil Slick Zonker" - the right sunk log, and . . .

Every Once in a While!

I Love the Smell of Varnish in the Morning

Back in the winter 0f '02 I wanted to try a project a little larger than a Bamboo Fly Rod. I got in touch with Mr. Ken Hankinson and purchased a set of plans for a wood drift boat. A pile of Mahogany Plywood, Ash, Birds Eye Maple - a bucket of Epoxy and Varnish and a huge box of Bronze screws and away we go

Now here we are 6 years later and the old girl is starting to show her age. It's finally time for a little tender loving care - a little sanding here and there, suprisingly few bare spots considering the number of miles down the AuSable and Muskegon. No major cracks or damage in spite of a couple healthy whacks on some stumps in the dark. So get out the old varnish brush - it's been waiting on the hook above the workbench - some light sanding, vac and tack and . . .

Looking pretty good so far. It's nothing elegant - we are more interested in a few nice thick coats of brushed Spar Varnish - just like in the good old days. Every brush stroke is a memory of a splashy rise in the evening, the summer cloudburst that chased us under the Cedars, the nap in the warm sun, the taste of Laphroaig - friends and rivers. I love the smell of varnish in the morning . . . it smells like history.