Thank you SE Mass TU!

Sep13

I had a lot of fun last night. What a good crowd to present to — not only did you laugh at all my jokes, you laughed a lot at all my jokes. That’s a sure way to get me to come back.

This summer I began upgrading my presentations: more video elements, animation, and better transitions. Last night was the first go of the new and improved “Little Things,” and I was very happy with the result.

Speaking of presentations, “Trout Fishing For Striped Bass” is almost done. That will make its debut at the Cape Cod Fly Rodders, Thursday, October 19, Hearth and Kettle, Rt 28, Yarmouth, MA, 6:30pm. I understand that’s a members only meeting, so if you’re a CCFR member I’ll see you there.

As soon as I hear from the DEEP, I’ll update you on the 2017 broodstock collection.

Kicking off the 2017/18 presentation season (and other items of interest)

Sep4

It’s been a weird weather summer (we’ll take it over last year!) but I hope you got your licks in as much as I did. Housy smallmouth, some striped bass on the Cape and Block, and a ton of night fishing for big browns kept my boots wet and my body clock shattered.

I’m excited about the fall trout season, not to mention stripers and of course steelhead. Hard to believe that my presentation schedule begins next week.

“The Little Things” at SE Mass Trout Unlimited, Middleborough, MA, Tuesday, September 12 at 7pm. This is the original The Little Things presentation. The meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit the SEMASS Trout Unlimited website.

“The Little Things” (with a touch of Farmington River info) at The Fly Casters, Boston, MA, Thursday, October 12. The Fly Casters are a private club, but if you know a member you can wrangle an invite as a guest.

“Trout Fishing for Striped Bass” at the Cape Cod Fly Rodders, Thursday, October 19, Hearth and Kettle, Rt 28, Yarmouth, MA, 6:30pm. It’s a brand new presentation! I’m still putting it together, but the more I work on it, the more excited I’m getting about sharing it. Come learn how to apply trout and salmon fly fishing tactics to striped bass fishing — and start catching the stripers that everyone can’t catch.

Arts of the Angler Show, Saturday/Sunday November 4/5, at Ethan Allen Inn, Danbury, CT. I’m hoping to present at least one of the days. Sadly, fly tying looks like it’s not going to be possible. Details to come once we figure them out. For more information, visit the cffcm website.

The Fly Fishing Show, January 2018. No specifics yet, but I am hoping to present again in Marlborough, MA, and to add Edison, NJ to the schedule.

Articles: Look for Streamer Kings in the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of American Angler. I interviewed George Daniel, Chad Johnson, and Tommy Lynch for this piece, and the result is a treasure trove of information on streamer fishing for big browns. Of course, there are several other articles in the wordsmithing pipeline. I’ll let you know about them as they near publication.

Guiding: Weekends this fall are going to be non-starters, so if you want to hit the Farmington with me, pick a weekday. The river fishes well year-round.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to say hello on the water, and of course thank you for reading and following currentseams.

Coming to a fishing club near you this fall.

TroutFishingStripers

Flirting with 500 followers, spring appearances

Mar5

We’re winding down the spring 2017 appearance schedule:

“The Little Things 2.0,” Thursday, March 16, Farmington Valley TU, Unionville, CT. Doors open at 6:30pm. Meeting is open to the public. For more information, visit the FVTU website.

“The Little Things,” Monday, April 3, FCFGPA. This is a members only gig.

“The Little Things,” Thursday, May 4, Housatonic Fly Fishermen’s Association, Wallingford, CT. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 65 North Main St, 7pm. Everyone welcome. For more information, visit the HFFA Facebook page.

Whew! Then we can all just go fishing.

On to the fantastic 500. One day we’re at 502 followers. The next, 499. So it goes in the razor-edge, cutthroat world of website subscribers won and lost. Once we stabilize over the 500 mark, we’ll have our usual currentseams follower appreciation giveaway. You, being a loyal reader, never let your subscription expire. Right?

Ooh. Ahh. Ohh. Striper swag from a previous giveaway.

Striper Soft-Hackles

Thank you, CVTU (and a couple more small items)

Jan12

Many thanks to the Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited chapter for being most excellent hosts last night. The presentation was “The Little Things,” and I couldn’t have asked for a better audience (especially the gentleman in the front row who laughed at all my jokes). Thanks also for the pizza — a fed presenter is a happy presenter — and I’m looking forward to “The Little Things 2.0” with you all in the future.

I have a really fun job. Much better than desk work.

Next up: “The Little Things,” Tuesday, January 17, 7pm, at Thames Valley TU, Bozrah, CT. Like above, this is the original Little Things. From the TVTU website: Fly tying starts at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and there is no charge so come and join us. For directions and stuff, visit thamesvalleytu.org.

And I see currentseams.com is edging its way toward 500 followers. We will, of course, be giving away some goodies to celebrate!

Winter 2017 Appearances and Presentations

Jan1

There’s still fishing, but winter is prime presentation season. Hope to see you on the river, at a club meeting, fly shop, or a show. There may be more additions to this list, so stay tuned. (Like right now. I’m adding a date on January 17th.)

“The Little Things,” Wednesday, January 11, 7pm, at Candlewood Valley TU, Bethel, CT. This is the original Little Things (there are currently two with a third on the way) presentation. From the CVTU website: Our meetings are free and open to members, guests and the general public. They are held at Stony Hill Fire Department, 59 Stony Hill Road, Bethel and start at 7:30 p.m. but doors open at 7 p.m. for pizza, soda and some good conversation with fellow anglers. For more information, visit cvtu.org.

“The Little Things,” Tuesday, January 17, 7pm, at Thames Valley TU, Bozrah, CT. Like above, this is the original Little Things. From the TVTU website: Fly tying starts at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and there is no charge so come and join us. For directions and stuff, visit thamesvalleytu.org.

“Wet Flies 101,” at the Fly Fishing Show, Marlborough, MA, Friday, January 20, 1pm, Catch Room. We’re in the big room for this one, so come out and support your friendly local fly fishing writer guy! I may be tying after the presentation. I’ll let you know if that’s so. For more information, visit the Fly Fishing Show website.

“Wet Flies 101,” at the Fly Fishing Show, Marlborough, MA, Saturday, January 21, 10am, Destination Theater, Room A. Smaller room, same energy and information. Ditto maybe tying after the presentation. For more information, visit the Fly Fishing Show website.

Tying at the CFFA Fly Fishing Expo & Banquet, Saturday, February 4, Maneely’s, South Windsor, CT. Come see why the Expo is the best little fly fishing show going. I’ll be there from the morning thru early afternoon. For more information, click here.

“The West Branch of the Farmington River,” Wednesday, February 8, at East Jersey TU, Rochelle Park, NJ. Have Farmington River enthusiasm, will travel. For more information, visit the EJTU website.

“Farmington River Favorites” Tying Demo, Saturday, February 11, 10am-2pm at The Compleat Angler, Darien, CT. At this demo, I’ll be tying some of my favorite patterns for the Farmington River. There will be a little bit of everything: wets, dries, nymphs, and streamers, from traditional classics to new designs. These are all high-confidence, proven patterns, and I’ll also discuss how and when I like to fish them. For directions and stuff, visit the CA website.

“The Little Things 2.0,” Thursday, March 16, 6:30pm, at Farmington Valley TU, New Britain, CT. This is the followup to the original Little Things, and it’s currently one of my most popular presentations. For more information, visit the fvtu website.

Whew! That should keep me busy. I’m still trying to finalize some tying classes/demos as scheduling permits. Thanks for your support, and as always, if you come out to see me, please be sure to say hi.

Moving up to the big room in Marlborough, Friday, January 20, at 1pm.

Wet Flies 101

Read “The Little Things” on the American Angler site

Apr22

I wrote “The Little Things” a couple years ago in support of a new presentation I was creating. Since then, it’s become one of my most popular talks. The concept behind “The Little Things” is as simple as it is effective: sweat the small stuff, and you’ll become a better angler. You can read the original piece by clicking here.

AALittleThings 2

Look for “The Little Things 2.0” this summer in American Angler.

Presenting “The Little Things” at the FRAA Meeting, Wednesday, November 19

Nov15

IF YOU WANT TO CATCH MORE FISH, PAY ATTENTION TO the little things. That’s the title of my newest presentation, and I’ll be delivering it this upcoming Wednesday, November 19 at the FRAA monthly meeting.

They say that 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. If that’s true, it’s not because those 10% are supernaturally gifted angling demigods. It’s not because they are lucky. It’s because they do a lot of little things that other anglers don’t. As a guide, I have the opportunity to observe how people fish. I see their mistakes as well as their triumphs. When I’m fishing, I am constantly making adjustments and trying new approaches. That’s what The Little Things is all about – seemingly minor factors that can make a big difference in your fishing.

The meeting starts at 7pm, and it’s held at the Farmington Senior Center, 321 New Britain Avenue, Unionville, CT. For more information, visit fraa.org. Hope to see you there.