WALTER

It's a fish that goes by many names. Gator, Piggy, Walter, River Unicorn, Hog Johnson.... Regardless of your chosen name it is the fish of a lifetime, and Kelly Neuman of Streamside Custom Rod and Guide Service brought one to hand today. Fishing his stomping grounds on Michigan's beautiful Au Sable river he convinced this 30.5" resident brown that that ACF Firetiger Double Deceiver he was chucking was indeed a meal worth moving for. Needless to say that is one hell of a fish. Congratulations Kelly!!

I got the text from Kelly this morning about this fish and had a smile going all day thinking about it, and picturing it in my head. It is pretty much the epitome of vicarious fishing.

This batch of flies just happened to hit the mail headed north to Kelly this morning just before I got the text. Conrad Sculpins, Double Deceivers, Fin Clips and Red Rockets all ready to chase the next fish of a lifetime! This was the last order I am filling before hitting the road after work to drive south. Looking forward to spending a week relaxing on the beach before the craziness of show season kicks in. Hopefully I will come back with a few more fish pictures from the salt...

-mike schmidt
www.anglerschoiceflies.com

The boys are back in town...White River fish porn!

There are a lot of ACF streamers probing the White River this year. Just back in town from what seems to have been a pretty solid trip is the crew from northern Michigan's 'Streamside Custom Rod and Guide Service' (http://www.michiganstreamside.com/). Kelly, Erik, and Adam headed out and made it through some hellish driving conditions to basically make it straight to the river and get the party started. Targetting the big fish was the game, and these guys were swinging for the fences throwing big streamers.



Erik with a 26 inch White River brown that devoured a 6 inch glow in the dark Double Deceiver.

Same 26 inch fish fish down in the water. Thick!

Adam holding up a brown that went for a custom 7 inch Double Deceiver that was basically in brown trout colors, but had a bit of orange in it.

Kelly with a brown that went 'nom nom nom' on a Fin Clip.

Erik holding up a slab male sporting an 8 inch Cotton Candy Rainbow in it's maw.

To say I am jealous of this trip is not necessary...I think that goes without saying. By all accounts the White River is an amazing fishery, and is high on my list of must do trips in the short term. Glad the guys had a good time despite the weather and looking forward to catching up with them up on the Au Sable this spring.

I posted these and a few other shots on the ACF Photography page.

-mike schmidt

http://www.anglerschoiceflies.com/