Line Side Big Mouth
I almost named this Fish Art post “Southern Largemouth Trout”. However, it was a misread of largemouth bass nicknames that were separated by a comma which I missed. The list that I found is located online here. Additionally, I figure it’s not fair to the sturdy holdover trout here in the Texas Hill Country that get stocked annually in the Guadalupe River. Line side and big mouth just happened to be the next two in line I liked the most. So, I decided to combine them. Who knows, maybe Southern Bigmouth Trout will stick though?
In lack of being able to fly fish the past several days- I submit this Autodesk Sketchbook Pro generated art I made as the background for the device of your choosing. Bass- Largemouth, Smallmouth, coveted Guadie, or any bass for that matter are my preferred game fish here in Tejas. Recent competition in a Hill Country tourney have me chunking flies at any and everything. But since I haven’t been doing any of that lately, my routine iPad Terminal Angler Syndrome (TAS) therapy is helping the symptoms abate. Enjoy!
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
Mr. Whiskers
Look, I know my artistic abilities are limited- but I appreciate that some people can’t draw a straight line. Stick figures can be challenging. I’m not one to judge. While I am no Picasso, I like how my iPad or iPhone can add that little extra touch to my fly fishing passions. Because my fly fishing passions can definitely use some kind of mystical/magical help. And don’t let any paratrooper out there lie to you. The Airborne is superstitious, and yes, they believe in magic. Lucky boots, lucky parachute…. whatever.
This was my first catfish caught on a fly. Because a flip-flappy bluegill at a young age gave me a bad fish handling PTSD experience, (thank you Mom for unhooking all my fish the rest of that day) I was glad my lucky friend Dave was there for the step-by-step pointers to avoid the cat’s pointers. I’ve since recovered and learned fish handling judo. Mr. Whiskers portrayed here is in a three fingered fin bar.
The Blanco River where this picture was taken has been on my mind as of late and has been good to me. It’s riffles, runs, and deep pools hold deep magic.
(Insert Bullwinkle voiceover) Hey Rocky, watch me pull a rabbitcatfish outta my hat!
(Insert Rocky voiceover) Not again!
Oh yes, again. Magic. Tah-duh!
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
Field Fish
In lieu of being able to fish for lunch- opted for the next closest thing at hand. My pen and my field book- both literally at hand. I call it field fish for two reasons. Field expedient methods are often rough as is this sketch. I also drew this in a field book- reason number two. No real science to it but it just helped bridge the gap between fishing and not fishing. What’s your bridge?
This was the first fish I caught on my first self tied fly.
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
04/20/2012 Follow Friday @RodrickHawgBrown
This week we have a special Follow Friday for you fish fans from the AirborneAngler HQ. Sun Tzu, master of warfare teaches us that, “if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.” -Sun Tzu, The Art of War.
Well, fly angling man this week you need to open up your scope and bring Roderick Hawg-Brown in your crosshairs. He has a great blog and a neat series of posts called: Letters to the Predator. So take aim and shoot him a question. Just don’t come crying to me if he happens to crush your soul- and or fly rod for that matter, just for the sake of humoring us all.
The best thing about Roderick is that is that he ‘speaks the truth’ (signature closing line and true statement). So, if you’re bashful, sensitive, don’t think your rod can handle the bend, then this Follow Friday may not be for you. For the rest of my troopers brave enough to take a peek and see the elephant- or hawg in this case, march to the sound of the guns and give a follow.
You can follow Roderick on Twitter at @RodrickHawgBrown, and check out his site at roderickhawgbrown.com
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
Previous AirborneAngler Follow Fridays
D-Day plus 3 (D+3)
After work I tracked down to Barton Creek for some sunfish action. I was able to pull this little guy out of the water with an OD green popper. Typically, such a small fry equals a non-event in the log book. However, for the tourney meeting the minimum catch size counts- and that’s something to get excited about!
Also, the Leaderboard for the contest went up today and things are looking good. Stay tuned and feel free to leave me some motivation in the comments.
ATW!
AirborneAngler
It’s the Little Things
I’ve been wanting to draw a Parachute Adams for the whole Airborne theme I’ve got going on. Surprise right? But trying to get the photo for inspiration using an iPhone to shoot the picture was almost challenging. Shifting auto focus nearly got the best of me. Almost.
After a few shots and the steadiness of hand required to lay down and arm a trip wired claymore land mine, I got the shot I wanted. Or at least a shot could deal with anyways. As tough-guy as that may sound with explosives and all, the irony is the song that was playing in my head. As I was drawing this small fly instead of U2’s, “The Sweetest Things”, the cadence remix in my head ringing over and over was ‘its the little things’. All in the same tone. I know you can hear the chorus. Real macho right?
Anyways, sometimes it is the little things in life we take for granted. The smallest things can bring us such great joy. Just like a size 18 (I’m totally guessing because it’s not the size 6-10 streamers I throw a lot of) Parachute Adams can bring in a good sized trout. Who’d’ve thunk right? And that my friends is the sweetest thing.
See you on the high ground,
AirborneAngler
PS
Don’t judge. Ooh oh oh the sweetest things.
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
The AirborneAngler 