The Fly Fishin' Christian

First Fishing Trip

flyfishinchristian — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 03:13:38 +0000

This past weekend, I visited the “up north” as we call it. Really it is the Grayling and Mio area of Michigan, which my map calls the Northern Highlands.

I got to do some fishing, but I think I had more fun this year with teaching my daughter to fish. Prior to heading up north, I found a web site that sells toddler waders called Oaki Wear. The had a pair of 3T waders on clearance, so I couldn’t pass it up.

Additionally, I had spent the last few weeks building a pink fly rod for my daughter as well. I took her to a busy access point that I knew was shallow enough for her to walk in. I helped her get ready for her first steps into the river.

It just so happened that Camp Barakel had a bus parked there waiting for their campers to finish a canoe float down the main branch of the Au Sable. My wife snapped a quick photo of my daughter standing in front of the bus, and I had a quick conversation with Paul who was driving the bus and patiently waiting the arrival of the campers.

I took my daughter out into the river, and I could tell she was having fun. She waved her hands in the water to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, and she remarked at how many rocks there were. I scooped her up, and waded out a bit to try and catch a fish with her new fly rod.

We didn’t catch any fish, but she had fun, and I think she will want to try fishing again.

One of the other non-fishing activities that I enjoyed doing was visiting two of the local Amish businesses. First we stopped at “The Bakery” which is just out side of Mio. We bought bread, an apple pie, cinnamon roles, and I even got a jar of blackberry jam and all for a very reasonable price. We then visited an Amish bulk food store only about a mile from the baker, and here I bought a large jar of honey and maple syrup. I will definitely be visiting these shops again in the future.

Got some good coffee this week

flyfishinchristian — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 02:04:15 +0000

I haven’t posted in a while on this blog, as I’ve been focusing my fishing efforts over at my new blog. However, I went on a short trip over to the west side of Michigan. I got to visit a couple coffee shops and picked up some good coffee.

In Saugatuck, I picked up some Ethiopian Yirgacheffe from Uncommon Grounds in Saugatuck (http://uncommongroundscafe.com), and another batch of coffee from Ethiopia from a cafe in Holland, MI called Lemonjellos (http://lemonjellos.com).

Even better I was able to get pour over coffee in both locations as well. It was some amazingly good coffee, and I wish there were some cafes like these in the metro Detroit area.

Also, right next-store to LemonJello’s in Holland, is a cool music shop called The Full Circle. Owner loves what he does, and provides a good selection of used CDs, a better selection of vinyl, and a promise to get you almost any other music you may want very quickly. I was able to pick up a copy The Elms, Truth, Soul, Rock and Roll. Good stuff.

And now for something…

flyfishinchristian — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:32:17 +0000

Moving on up… or at least over.

http://www.1saj.com

Today is the MFFC Fly Fishing Expo

flyfishinchristian — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 14:09:56 +0000

It’s been busy these last few months with a new addition to the family. But to any fellow fly fishers out there, just wanted to post a reminder that today is the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in Warren, MI.

http://midwestflyfishingexpo.com

Resolutions

flyfishinchristian — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 16:41:38 +0000

But Daniel made up his mind…
-Daniel 1:8

“made up”
שומה – to put

appoint, care, change, charge, commit, consider, determine … do.

Chemex Coffee Brewer: A Christmas Present

flyfishinchristian — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:11:56 +0000

I got two big presents for Christmas this year. First, I got a pair of OEM Motorola S9 Stereo Bluetooth headphones (from Newegg), and I’ve been using those to listen to my tunage wirelessly.

Secondly, I got a Chemex Coffee maker (www.chemexcoffeemaker.com). It is a nice sturdy pour-over coffee maker that replaces my Melitta that was broken last year.

Check this out for a tutorial on making up some coffee in a Chemex:

http://player.vimeo.com/video/6161817?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

The Fisherman

flyfishinchristian — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:36:27 +0000

I saw this posted over at MidCurrent and thought I would share. I think the best fishing videos, writings, etc are not about the fish.

The Fisherman from Jeff Marsh on Vimeo.

What do I do in the winter?

flyfishinchristian — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 01:56:57 +0000

So what is an angler to do in the winter? There are still some fishing related activities to participate in during the cold months, and even some that go hand-in-hand with what an angler does to keep busy.

We have a two-year-old and another baby on the way, and between responsibilities at home and at work, sometimes I need to stop and smell the roses. My wife is giving me a break on this Saturday evening, so I decided to ponder about some of the things I like to do…

Angling Literature:
There are always some books on my shelf to read. I am always scouring someone the “deal” locations on the web to acquire some of the current and classic literature in relation to the sport of fishing. I just recently finished Thomas McGuane’s “The Longest Silence”, and as of late, I have picked up the following books:

“How to Fish From Top to Bottom” by Sid Gordon

“I Go A-Fishing” by W.C. Prime

“Along New England Roads” by W.C. Prime

“Little Rivers” by Henry Van Dyke

Tight Lines: Ten Years of the Yale Anglers’ Journal

Also, if you are interested in the Fly Fishing themed literature, a new web site has been born at RiseForms.com. It is an online magazine for Anglers interested in prose and poetry related to fly fishing.

Fly Tying:
I really need to start tying up some flies for next year. My nymph box is greatly lacking, and I gained a better understanding of fishing streamers in the fall last year. With that said, I know what I need to tie, but just need to make some time to do so.

Food:
There is nothing like a good cup of coffee sitting next to you as you tie a fly, and it is always nice to look forward to a tasty meal when you wake up or at the end of the day. I purchased a smoker this year, and have made smoked turkey and pulled pork. Maybe it is time to move to the next level and try to make a brisket. Also, I just purchased a new dutch oven, this time a small 6-inch 1 quart.

Coffee is quickly becoming a new favorite past-time for me. I have stumbled onto some web sites that provide insight on how to make the best cup of coffee possible, and have asked for a Chemex coffee maker for Christmas. I have done research on how and where to get “real” coffee beans, and have discovered that coffee beans originating from Africa seem to have complex flavors that I like. Ethiopian Sidamo and Yigracheffe coffees have been my favorite so far.

Music:
Lastly, I almost always have some music going. Whether I’m tying up flies, working on something, or baking a batch of granola. Right now there seems to be a large group of artists that are putting out some amazing music lately. Topping my favorite list is a new duo that goes by the name “The Civil Wars.” They have been giving away some free tracks over the last few months and have a new album due out in early 2011. If you want to check out what I am talking about, take a look at this link to an amazing series of live performances. Click here for the live concert footage.

Well, I do have some Charlie Parker playing in the background, but I really should be tying some flies now… there is always something to do, even after the snow begins to fly.

Old School Fly Fishing Info

flyfishinchristian — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:35:54 +0000

I was browsing the Google Books archive, and stumbled onto this Popular Mechanics article from 1915 that gives a basic rundown of the equipment that one would need to begin fly fishing.
Popular Mechanics May 1915

There are some good quotes in here, like:
“A good reel that is smoothing-running like a watch will cost around $10…”

“The leader for trout is preferably of single gut…”

“The question may arise, Is a split-bamboo rod necessary?”

Happy Thanksgiving

flyfishinchristian — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:48:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. – Psalm 28:7

Hopefully, I will have some time over the long weekend to posting about my last trip of the season, which happened back in mid-October.