Appearances near and far, Ask About Fly Fishing podcast — and perhaps some fishing?

Sep14

I now, I know, I’ve got a little broken-record syndrome with these posts, but I don’t want you to miss out. (It seems like every week, I get an email that says something like, “I wish I knew you were going to be there…”) So let’s get to it.

Tuesday night. 9/15, I’m at Thames Valley TU. Doors open at 6pm. I go on around 7:15pm. All are welcome. The subject will be the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, and I will have books for purchase and signing. Of course, you want to know where it is: the North Franklin Fire Dept., 5 Tyler Drive, North Franklin CT. This is an all-new Farmington River presentation, so unless you were at the SEMass TU meeting last week, you haven’t seen it!

Wednesday night is the much anticipated Ask About Fly Fishing Podcast. It goes live at 9pm ET. Here’s their promo description: “On our upcoming broadcast “Fly Fishing the Farmington River: Trout, Hatches & Tactics” with Steve Culton we will give away a one-year membership to Fly Fishers International, a one-year membership to Trout Unlimited, and a copy of his latest book Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River (you have to be listening to the live show to win this). To qualify for the drawings, you need to register. Use this link to visit our registration page, complete the form, then send us your information, and you’ll be included in the drawing.” I hope you get a chance to listen in, and please ask lots of questions!

Last but not least, I’m road tripping to Philadelphia to speak to the Main Line Fly Tyers on Thursday night, 9/17. It will be held at the Greater Plymouth Community Center in Plymouth Meeting, PA. Doors open at 6:30pm. As with the TVTU gig, the subject will be the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, and I will have books for purchase and signing.

And maybe…just maybe…I’ll get out to do some fishing at some point. Stripers beckon. Wild brook trout beckon. The Farmington River beckons…

Another year, another late announcement: Time to tie up some September Nights!

Sep10

I fell in love with Ken Abrames’ September Night the moment I saw it. That love deepened when I tied it, and it became a forever love once I fished it. The pattern is intended to imitate finger mullet, and it’s one of Ken’s heavier fly dressings. You can tie it short (3″-4″), long (6″-8″), play around with colors (one year I tied it with a ginger marabou color, and the stripers said yes!) — it’s a supremely versatile fly. I have fond memories of, ironically, and October night in Weekapaug breachway on an outgoing tide when I took bass after bass on the September Night using a greased line swing. I know, you’re heading to your vise right now — so here’s the September Night recipe.

**Ooh. Ahh. Ohh. Love this fly and its color accents (black, purple, blue, black). Stripers love it, too.**

Kicking off a very busy fall, Ask About Fly Fishing Podcast Sept 16 at 9pmET

Sep8

Happy day-after-Labor Day. I actually fished this weekend, on the Cape no less, and was rewarded with two hours of blissful solitude under the stars, an outstanding cigar (Olmec Grande Maduro), and…not a touch. Can you believe that it’s September 8th and I still haven’t caught a striper this year? Only 7 outings, but hey, come on now. Not to worry. It’s going to happen soon.

Also happening soon is my speaking engagement with SE Mass TU — tonight, in fact — in Middleborough, MA. It’s the first of many gigs this fall that center around the book, Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River. The meeting starts at 7pm at the Mitchell Memorial Club, and walk-ins are welcome. I’ll have books for sale and signing. Next week, Sept. 15, 7pm, I’m at Thames Valley TU in CT. Thursday, Sept. 17, I visit the Main Line Fly Tyers in Philadelphia. Ditto ditto books for sale and signing.

If you can’t make any of those dates, you can catch me from the comfort of your home on Wednesday, Sept 16. I’m honored to be the guest of the Ask About Fly Fishing Podcast, which will be broadcast live at 9pm ET. If you can’t make it, you can still listen to it at a later date. You can ask questions, and I’ll answer them live on the air — or is it ether? They also do a free drawing — I’m not sure what the prize is — which you need to register for. It’s going to be fun, and I’m really looking forward to it. See you around!

Stuff I Use: iLIVE WeatherX Bluetooth Lantern and Powerbank

Sep3

When the PR people came to me with the idea that I should test a battery-powered lantern that doubles as a phone charger — with the target being people who go camping — I thought I’d pass. No camping for me, at least not in a very long time.

But I did a little ruminating and decided: this would be great in the truck for fishing after dark. Who the hell cares if I don’t camp? They sent me the lantern, and I’ve used it on every evening fishing trip since. I hang it in the truck while I’m gearing down in the dark; if the truck’s dome light shuts off, I’m still illuminated. What’s more, the top of the device is magnetic, so you can attach it to the magnetic metal exterior of your vehicle. Cool beans!

**The iLIVE WeatherX Bluetooth Lantern and Powerbank in action! Find a hook, slip the handle over it, and you’re illuminated.**

From the PR Company: The iLIVE WeatherX Bluetooth Lantern and Powerbank’s rugged design can handle drops, rain, and mud. It has a carabineer for hanging that doubles as a carry handle, and magnets so it can even be attached to the side of a vehicle. The light has low, medium, high, strobe, and SOS modes, a 70-hour battery life, and 5,000 mAh battery that can be used to charge cell phones and other devices. It’s available from retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods online for $24.99.

Thank you, Compleat Angler, a very busy fall, and other odds & ends

Aug31

Happy Monday! Despite the weather — Saturday was one of the ten best weather days of the summer — we had a strong turnout at the book signing event at The Compleat Angler in Darien. We had one customer buy three books, and three more buy two books. I love it! As I did with UpCountry Sportfishing, I signed dozens of copies for them to have on hand, so it’s not too late for you to get a signed copy at either location. If you’re looking to order a signed, dedicated-to-you book directly from me, you can still do that, too.

Or, you can see me at one of the many stops I’ll be making this fall and winter at shows and club meetings throughout the northeast. I’ll be bringing a box o’ books, and you can get a signed copy from me at any of the clubs. (You should plan on buying at the bookstore at the Symposium and Fly Fishing Shows.) There will be more dates added as they come in!

**I’m truly grateful for all the positive feedback I’m getting from you about the book. What a thrill to know that you’re liking what you’re reading.**

A reminder that the DEEP will be drawing down the Farmington River in early September for their annual fish census and broodstock collection for the Survivor Strain program. I don’t have the date yet, but I suspect it will come after Labor Day.

I hate to see summer go, but I’m looking forward to some serious fall fishing. Brook trout, stripers, Farmington River trout, steelhead…man, I’m just about salivating.

The Roundhouse Ultimate Campout Kit — emergency meals when you need them

Aug26

We all gotta eat. In an emergency situation, you might have to make do with what you have on hand — or, if you’re prepared, stashed away for just such a situation. Enter the Roundhouse Ultimate Campout Kit. Whether you’re camping in the wilderness or sheltering at home due to a disaster, this kit will help you stay nourished. (It has a shelf life of over two decades.)

The kit, as its website says, is “packed with nutrient-rich emergency ration bars, a refreshing hydration drink, convenient drink travel packs, and a 3-day emergency meal kit.” I don’t do any camping, but I thought this was worthy of review. I do a lot of on-the-go-eating, and I am an avid user of nutritional supplements. So I had one sent to me to try out on myself and the family, which includes #2 Son Cam, a 2nd Lt. in the USMC. If anyone should know from MRE-style food, it’s Cam! I suppose you can’t be picky about what you eat in an emergency, but the food should — hopefully — taste good. Or at least good enough. So, let’s eat!

The 3-Day Emergency Meal Kit offers you breakfast (oatmeal with brown sugar), lunch (cheesy broccoli rice) and dinner (creamy chicken flavored rice). I wasn’t crazy about the fact that each of these meals comes in one large pouch; once you open the pouch, though, you’re not getting twenty years of freshness between servings. It would have been better if each meal came in smaller, more manageable sizes. You also need to add boiling water to rehydrate these meals, so if portable water is in short supply, you’re out of luck. But let’s dig in. How does it taste? We opened the oatmeal and the family consensus was that yes, it’s good. I’m an oatmeal snob, and I thought it smelled better than it tasted, but we finished the entire pouch over the course of a few days, so that’s a thumbs up. Nutritionally, it’s right in line with most other instant oatmeals.

The Hydration Punch is loaded with electrolytes. While it wasn’t my cup of tea taste-wise, Cam loved it. In fact, he took the remainder of the tub off to his first duty station. The Morning Kick drink contains fiber, a greens blend, and a probiotic blend. I had this twice before a fasting morning cardio workout; I didn’t notice any difference in my workout, but it certainly did me no harm. Cam was also a big fan, and made off with my remaining supply.

Finally, we have the Survival Mode Emergency Ration Bar. I’m a big bar fan. I take bars all the time on fishing trips. Most of the bars I use are protein-heavy, very low carbs, and half the 410 calories packed in this bar. But when you’re hungry and you need protein, fat, and carbs, you get 410 calories. I was dubious about the taste. In the packaging, these are more brick than bar. And “buttery lemon shortbread cookie flavor”? I’m a chocolate kind of guy. Not to worry. These bars deliver in the flavor department, and the taste profile is spot on with the packaging description. Dense and delicious.

At $189.80 ($146.80 if you create an online account) the kit is not cheap. But, you’re paying for peace-of-mind. It’s insurance, right? And if, like me, you get really grouchy when you’re hungry, this is one of those items that you’re going to rejoice over when disaster strikes and you gotta eat.

Thank you, UpCountry Sportfishing, and on to Compleat Angler this weekend!

Aug24

Many thanks to UpCountry Sportfishing for hosting the book signing event on Saturday — and many thanks to everyone who showed up to buy a copy of my book, Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, or have me sign their already-purchased copy. I was truly delighted by your enthusiasm for the book, and that the writing resonated with so many of you. It’s a little surreal and a bit humbling seeing people waiting in a line to have you sign their copy of your book, but of course it’s all good. Again, my most sincere thank yous!

If you missed the UpCountry signing, or if you live downstate or in the NYC/Westchester area, I’ll be at The Compleat Angler this Saturday, August 29, from 11am-2pm. Same deal: you can buy a book there, or you can bring in your already-purchased copy. Hope to see you there, and stay tuned for more signing events.

But wait, there’s more. I’ll also be making the rounds this fall and winter to fly fishing clubs throughout the northeast to talk about the book and the river. Plus, the IFTS in November and The Fly Fishing Show, and the CFFA Expo. If you’re in charge of booking speakers for your club, I’m a professional speaker and I’d love to present to your group. Contact me and we’ll set up a date.

Reminder: Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River book signing this Saturday at UpCountry Sportfishing

Aug18

My apologies for not having a more fun or substantive post for today, but I am being relentlessly harassed by the Time-Space Continuum. I’m sure you understand. So for today, a reminder that I will be doing a book signing on Saturday, August 22 at UpCountry Sportfishing in New Hartford from 11am-2pm. You’ll be able to bring a book you’ve already bought for signing, or UpCountry will have books available for purchase. Also, one week later, Saturday, August 29, I’ll be at The Compleat Angler in Darien, CT from 11am-2pm. Hope to see you there, and I hope you’re enjoying the river, the summer, and the book.

**We got books and pens and we’re ready to sign.**

New article in Surfcaster’s Journal #95

Aug13

Hot off the electronics — this is, after all, an online magazine — I have a new article out in the current issue of Surfcaster’s Journal. #95, to be exact. If you’re not a subscriber, it’s less than $25 bucks a year, and you can get there using the link above.

It’s a question that you could debate for an evening and still not come up with a final definitive answer. Thankfully, I have the answer, and you can read about it in this article. Many thanks to Dennis Zambrotta, Alan Caolo, and *surfcaster extraordinaire* Toby Lapinski for their input.

Book signing events at UpCountry Sportfishing 8/22 & Compleat Angler 8/29

Aug10

Hot on the heels of the release of my new book, the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, I will be doing two book signings at Connecticut fly shops. On Saturday, August 22, I’ll be at UpCountry Sportfishing in New Hartford from 11am-2pm. You’ll be able to bring a book you’ve already bought for signing, or UpCountry will have books available for purchase. One week later, Saturday, August 29, I’ll be at The Compleat Angler in Darien, CT from 11am-2pm. Ditto bringing your book or buying one there. Support your local fly shop (and of course your local author). Hope to see you there!

There have been discussions with other area fly shops for book signing events — no firm dates yet — but naturally you can read all about them here as they are posted. I’ll also be making the rounds at many northeastern TU and other fly fishing clubs. If you’re looking for a speaker, here I am!