D-Day Minus 0 (D-0)
First days are rough. First day of school I think I cried hated it. First day in the Army- I know I hated that too. Even first days of things you like can really be rough. The first day of the Texas Hill Country Mixed Bag tourney was no exception. It blew. No literally,it blew really hard with a wind out of the south-east.
I prepped hard the night before. I looked over the map and weather info over every body of water I knew I could fish. All of them forecasted winds from 13-20mph. Despite its challenges the water was productive. Many fish did not measure up to the minimum requirements but was still fun. I tried to focus more on learning how to fish despite austere conditions and work on my cast. In my mind everyone else was playing the POG and staying away well protected away from the wind and water. The thought made me feel better anyways. I needed some form of motivation after all the fighting. Fighting the wind, fighting my line, fighting the measure baord, fighting the fish to stay on the measure baord. But this is why we fish right?
Airbonre! ATW!
AirborneAngler
Fly Fishing Film Tour F3T Swag!
You know that awkward moment when you realize you’ve geek-ed out on something hard, I’m proud to admit I’ve hit it. Point and case- I got my monkey (pimp HowlerBros logo sticker)! Last night I was in swag hog heaven. Vendor booths fly flicks- it was better than getting sick at the fair.
Howler Brothers sponsored the 2012 Austin Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) at the Paramount Theater this year. Originally scheduled for the Alamo Draft House they had to shift fire to the Paramount before it all went down. The venue did not disappoint. Learning to appreciate fly fishing I find implies learning to appreciate all things vintage. The Paramount is exactly that- vintage, and made a very suiting location. As a new fly angler I did not know events like these existed until a few months ago. As soon as I did my ticket was purchased and I was counting down the days.
Now, having grabbed every sticker I could and gorging my eyes out over awesome fly film footage; I am content enough to vomit up this sad excuse of a review. Point blank it was awesome. I meet cool people, drooled over the coolest of gear (Diablo Paddlesports yaks), and dreamed the night away on how I would be making a headline in next year’s premiered videos. Thanks for the good times.
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
D-Day Minus 3 (D-3)
The EAGLE has LANDED! I say again, the EAGLE has LANDED! No literally, you know like the United States Post Office eagle. And now my THC Mixed Bag tourney measure board is here! Note the 001 identification number. Yeah, that’s where I plan to finish. Supporters form a line on the right for high fives. Haters form a line on the left for the finger. Just kidding. This going to be fun and I wish all my fellows anglers tight lines.
Deadman’s Cast with OneBugIsFake
Welcome everyone to the first AirborneAngler series: “Deadman’s Cast” interview. The premise is simple- what if today you cast your last? My first interview is with angler and FlyStock organizer Brandon Robinson, @OneBugIsFake on the twitter.
AA (AirborneAngler): Hey Brandon, thank you for joining me today for Deadman’s Cast- your last day on the water. So, let’ s start, what is your favorite fly color and pattern?
BR (Brandon Robinson): Thanks for having me. Well, olive streamers are generally my go-to choice, but it depends on the fish. Big Guads eat small, so I fish small. Highly aggressive trout eat big, so I like to chunk articulated to them. Rainey’s Carp Tease in olive is a good search pattern though. There, we will just go with that. This was not the opening question I was expecting, seems weak. Ope, nope, I got it. I see what you did there. You’re gathering contest intel. If you are sweating it that bad, I’ll buy you a handful. Pobre niño.
AA: You’re sharp and volunteer excess information readily. We’re off to a great start. No- this is not an intel search into the Texas Hill Country Mixed Bag tourney. That implies you have intel to being with. So, a fatal wind knot loops your false cast and olive Rainey Carp Teaser straight into your eye. When you try to remove it you bleed out and die. What body of water did you die on?
BR: I wear safety glasses when fishing for that exact reason. Therefore I reject your scenario, and propose a new one. Keeping with the “Death and Fly Fishing” theme, If I knew I had a few hours left and wanted to fish: What river would I choose?
Damn, that is a tough one. It won’t be a Texas river, but I would have to say I would head for the South Toe River in Western North Carolina.
AA: Interesting. Well, while fishing the South Toe River you stub your toe are unable to walk out drowning in the water. You just die. Feeling sorry for your mishap the local fly shop erects a monument on the bank in your memory. What is it a statue of and what does the inscription say?
BR: I just die? I am not that easy to kill off, buddy. That seems like you might be projecting your own fears, Mr. Over-the-waders… Fine, I’m dead and Chris or Matt raise money to erect a monument in my memory… Due to lack of funding, they would probably just put one of those roadside wooden crosses. That would be kind of funny actually, everybody that shows up after would wonder how a car wrecked that far from the highway. I like it.
AA: Not all of your fellow anglers could make the memorial dedication but your favorite fly blogger did attend your funeral. Who was it and what did he/she say passing your eye patched corpse in closed or open casket?
BR: Now you’re just trying to get me in trouble. Doesn’t matter, my favorite bloggers don’t even know me. Wait, where did the eye-patch come from? Am I a pirate? Can I be a pirate? A kick-ass fly fishing pirate. I bet I look freaking sexy in a pair of breeches, dead sexy — get it? HA! Screw you, that was punny.
AA: Right. Well, I forgot to mention that when you stubbed your toe and fell- you still foul hooked your eye. Now it has a patch so it can be open casket. Anyways, you are a proud Air Force vet and also creator of the recent famed “FlyStock” Fly Fishing event supporting Project Healing Waters. That’s totally awesome and thank you for your service. But which branch of service would you rather have joined?
BR: I wouldn’t say FlyStock is famous, maybe next year. Thank you for your service as well. Coast Guard. Totally should have been in the brown-water navy. I’m kidding. If my Dad hadn’t of talked some sense into me, I probably would have joined the Corps. Dad made a valid point though, pick something that would provide you with a life afterwards. I chose to learn a trade and I am glad for it, no regrets. I love the Air Force and thanks to a handful of great friends, I love the Corps. I still call them all on November 10th too.
AA: That’s very patriotic of you. Well, because of your Coast Guard comment I radio St. Peter to deny you access beyond the pearly gates. He owes me for saving his bacon back in ’03 during the invasion and agrees you should be punished. Sentenced to hell you are:
a) fly fishing a skunk for eternity
b) spinner reel fishing forever
c) still fly fishing but being out classed by me
d) all of the above, or
e) other
BR: A) At least I’m fishing. B) Close, but still fishing. C) Wake up sport, you’re dreaming. D) Huh? E) Hell is a place where I catch every fish, every time; without even trying. It would be great at first, but it would lose its novelty quickly when nothing presents a challenge anymore.
AA: I can agree with that. Ok, well now you have 5 seconds to list 3 words your fellow anglers will remember you by forever, what are they?
BR: Atypical, funny, cheap. Atypical is just a nicer way of saying, “not normal” and I don’t think there is a soul that will argue that one. I like to think I am funny, at least funny enough for people to enjoy my company. Cheap, as in I didn’t always have to have the nice things.
AA: Thank you Brandon, in closing I’ve generated a final Fly Fishing Award citation for you. It reads: “Attention to orders! The Department of Fly Anglers posthumously awards the Penny-wise Atypical Humorous award to: Brandon Robinson of OneBugIsFake. Brandon has brought humor into the lives of those around him constantly displaying the fortitude to fly fish in any futile condition on to victory. Despite the number of broken fly rods at his own expense he never ceased to bring a smile. His dedication and perseverance bring great credit upon himself, the flies he flung, and the fly fishing community. Awarded this 11th Day of April, in the Great State if Texas. Signed by my hand, AirborneAngler, Fly Angler of the Texas Hill Country.”
Cue taps folks and that’s a wrap. So there you have it everyone, Deadman’s cast with Brandon Robinson. Our buddy OneBug is not gone yet but I do recommend he get some steel toed wadding boots. Keep wearing those safety glasses too. You can follow Brandon before the afterlife on Twitter at @OneBugIsFake and/or catch up with him on his blog, onebugisfake.com. Until next time- I am signing off.
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
Shady Brown
Hey there fish fans. Here is some new fish art for you straight from… from, well, uh. The drawing is from me. However, because I cannot recall or site where I obtained the photo I saved on my iPad camera roll- I’ve had to take a snapshot/screen shot to use it here on the blog. So below, is a photo of my camera roll.
If you can identify where the photo is from let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. It’s truly an amazing photo and provided some motivation to get to the sketch pad. On a side note, it was an awkward two handed movement to open, shrink, rotate and press the lock screen and main buttons to get the snapshot. Pretty much all at the same time. I am kind of proud of that. So without further ado, here is Shady Brown.
So, there you have it fish heads. I hope you like it as much as I do. If not, and you think you can do better- you should. Do it. Doooooooo it.
Until then- see you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
Ink Blots: Defining Terminal Angler Syndrome
Study the photo in this post. What do you see? Your instant answer may determine whether or not Terminal Angler Syndrome (fly shop clinically refered to as TAS) is present in your cranial housing group. In a recent observation on my drive to work one morning, I have concluded absolutely that TAS is extremely persistent in my system. This paratrooper has got it bad folks.
Terminal Angler Syndrome, or TAS, is the insistent need for brain functions to revolve around fly fishing. Having observed the groups of wild flowers on our beautiful Texas highways in full bloom- the setting appeared to me much like the ink blot cards psychiatrist use to psyco-analyze their subjects in case studies. I have documented all this for my fellow anglers to learn how to cope with the symptoms of TAS.
So, what did I see? Did you say brook trout too?!?! If so, we have TAS something fierce. The only known treatment to ease these severe symptoms involves a fish injected mono-hydro-dual-oxy solution of which to retrieve pisci organisms from and make contact with the bare hand. The mechanism to achieve this medication can only be obtained with a fly rod and fly of your choice.
Living with TAS isn’t easy. But for those of us that do, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life and lead normal lives. Treatments are available. Speak to your local flyshop to see if fly fishing is for you and what you can do to ease these symptoms. In addition to treatment support groups are available. Search twitter hash tag #fishchat Tuesdays 8-9 Central to speak with others living lives with TAS.
03/30/12 Follow Friday @sbixel
I am just shy of calling this week’s sole Follow Friday “Sensei”. He is literally, in my eyes anyways, a master of art on the iPad with Autodesk SketchBook Pro. If you’ve seen this guys work- you are likely as equally amazed as I am with what he can visually create. I’m talking about the work of Shawn Bischel, aka @sbixel on Twitter.
So why is he so special and why should you bother to follow him? Shawn has been a constant source of motivation for me to reach for pencil and sketch pad (or iPad and Sketchbook in some cases) and aim to create FlyArt or FishArt. Digitally created goodness oozes out of his blog Lines in the Dirt. Being so impressed with his work I was lucky enough to be able to connive him into making my current avatar for the AirborneAngler. Pictures do speak a thousand words so I’ll shut up here and let his work do the talking. Here’s a sample of his awesome artistic ability and latest creation, “Copper Johnson”. Thanks Shawn!
Yeah, the brother drew that on his iPad with his finger!
Follow Shawn on Twitter at @sbixel and Lines in the Dirt.
See you on the high ground, ATW!
AirborneAngler
Previous Follow Friday’s
@TXFlyGeek
@TexasRiverBum
Crayfish FlyArt
Continuing to reach for pencil and paper this week I have drawn my first fly. For the critical eye of the expert fly tier all materials involved may have better substitutes.
However, I am a true believer of the old infantryism that claims ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’. For me this crayfish pattern has worked. So while it works I will not soon fix it. (Maybe a tweak to flip the hook.)
Luckily, I still have the fly shown here- my first attempt at the vise. So much of fly fishing is becoming art for me. This little piece I would like to share with you.
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
03/23/12 Follow Friday @TXFlyGeek
One of the biggest things I like about fly fishing is the fly fishing community. Not even in the service have I seen such a pay-it-forward collection of individuals. Everyone is so helpful and willing to share- be it knowledge, techniques, flies, and of course fish tales of fish tails. This week’s Airborne Angler one Follow Friday (Twitter #FF) recommendation is Matt Bennett, @TXFlyGeek of the Hill Country’s own Living Waters Fly Fishing shop.
So, what makes Matt stand out? I’m jealous of his official fish bum status. Too many days I find myself cranking away at a keyboard in my cubical foxhole wishing I was fishing- or if not fishing at least in a fly shop. I could spend my entire day in a store- and yes I’ve worked retail before, just surrounded by all things fly and enjoy myself. Ah, the dream life… or variant of it anyways. Well, as of the last couple weeks Matt has been living that dream and working at Living Waters Fly Fishing. One day out of the twit-world blue Matt says he’s giving his two weeks and heading for the fly shop. And I’ve been jealous ever since.
Aside from all that, Matt helped me get an azimuth in the twit-world and in fly fishing. Before I had rod or reel he was giving me info and tips to help me find an outfit that best suited me and my wallet. All via twitter too! Not to mention before I had rod or reel I didn’t have any followers either! But that was short lived after following Matt. After his advice and help I promised him he’d be first to know when I caught my first bass. That’s the pic header above.
Thanks again Matt.
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
Follow Matt on twitter at @TXFlyGeek.
Previous Follow Friday
@TexasRiverBum
Sketchy Sunfish
I went old school today and instead of reaching for my iPad- I reached for a real sketch pad. Remember those? I also picked up wooden hand held communication inscriber (no.2 pencil) and began to draw. The header above is the final product- but it’s more than that to me. Today it was a way to connect with the fish and the water when I couldn’t be out fishing. I set to drawing, for the first time in years, and didn’t care what the end result would look like because I was having fun. Honestly, I don’t remember when I stopped drawing. And I’m not sure what the last thing I drew was. But I found something in me I was proud of today.
Now maybe if I can catch bigger fish, I might have better drawings. We’ll see. ATW!
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
The AirborneAngler 