Wyoming Hopper Trip...want to come along...?

If you have followed along here, then just over a month ago you saw a three day recap from what I can only describe as an epic trip to the shadow of the Bighorns.  Want to go back with me next year…?

Yup, that’s right…I’m heading back July 20^th, 21^st, and 22^nd.  The trip will be right smack dab in the middle of another righteous hopper season and I have a couple spots open for people to come along!   We will fly in to Billings on July 19^th and fly back out on July 23^rd with three long days of hucking foam bugs to willing and vicious finned predators packed in the middle.  With multiple watersheds available to us, we will experience new water and scenery each day of the trip.  We will be hitting private water and fishing to fish that see only a handful of people a year, so they act like a wild fish should.  See food…Eat food.

This years’ trip was among the best few days I have ever spent chasing trout and I expect next year to be just as gnarly.  If you are interested in coming along then give me a call on my cell, 614.638.6727, so I can give you the details and hopefully get you on board!

-mike schmidt

www.anglerschoiceflies.com

Loonnggg weekend

Well, the long holiday weekend has come and gone, and here I sit having not gotten out on the water.  This week was the start of college football...which is to say it was like Christmas to many of us.  I however am a Michigan fan so unfortunately the outcome could have been slightly better, and by slightly I mean just a little, and by just a little I mean a hell of a lot.  I swore that I would not let football affect my mood, but after that disaster I needed to distract myself so I put my time in to knocking out some more flies and the pile grew pretty big by the end of tonight.  There are a few packages going out in the morning to find fish around the counrty and north of the border.  Maybe this week the boys will take care of business against Air Force and I will get into some fish!

I know it seems early...but show season is right around the corner.  The calendar for me still has a few holes but it is starting to shape up nicely.  The first thing I have coming up is actually next month, October 13th is the Grand Opening of the Orvis Cincinnati store and I will be in house tying up some streamers for the festivities from 11-3.  Hopefully a few of you will be around and can drop in and hang out for a bit.

Here is how the rest of the calendar is looking right now:

-Orvis Cincinnati Grand Opening, Cincinnati OH 10/13/2012

-International Fly Tying Symposium, Somerset NJ 11/17/2012 - 11/18/2012

-Indiana on the Fly, Indianapolis IN 01/05/2013

-The Fly Fishing Show, Somerset NJ 01/25/2013 - 01/27/2013

-Buckeye United Fly Show, Cincinnati OH 02/02/2013

-The Fly Fishing Show, Lancaster PA 03/02/2013 - 03/03/2013

-Swedish International Fly Fair, Jonkoping Sweden April 2013

-mike schmidt
www.anglerschoiceflies.com

Streamer weekend

Well...it is getting to that time of year.  The time of year when people reverently whisper the name; Hog Johnson, Troutzilla, Walter, maybe even Roderick...  The time of year when folks get out with heavy rods, sinking lines, and simply huck meat.  This is an order that took up the end of my week and will be sent out for exactly that purpose.  This is the start of my busy season so I should have plenty more headed out in he coming months. 

Since the wait time will likely increase before it gets better now is not a bad time to get your meat ordered up...just to be sure you have it ready to go!  If you have any questions about the flies let me know and I will get back to you within a day or so. 

-mike schmidt

www.anglerschoiceflies.com

Getting it done!

Sunday did not go quite as I had planned....had a big order come in so I spent the day at the desk chucking tails.  Should have some shots of a sizeable pile of flies in a few days.  In the meantime here is a shot of  Momma ACF getting it done on Lake St Clair last weekend!

Back in a few days...

-mike schmidt

www.anglerschoiceflies.com

Recent lull

Sorry about the lull around here over the last week.  I started off fighting off a sinus infection and cold, now mostly in the lurch, and then moved on to flies for a few book projects that are in the works.  Since posting the book flies would be a bit shady I have not had a lot of material to share.  With a birthday tomorrow I will likely spend Saturday at the vise...or some taking in the raw splendor of Expendables 2!  Sunday I hope to hit the water and chase some fish somewhere in the area.  Between those I should have some more post-worthy items for you early next week.

While I can't post any of the finished book flies I will leave you with this one as it is still in the works.  This is one of my more favored classic patterns that does not use Jungle Cock...the Allerton.   The finished product will be included in Don Bastians book, The Favorite Flies of Mary Orvis Marbury, scheduled for release later this year.  For more information on it you can check out the first time I mentioned it here on the ACF Feed back in November.

-mike schmidt

www.anglerschoiceflies.com

Goo

I have been working with Brian Carson and Clear Cure Goo for a few years now.  After having met him at a show and working with the original formula I have never looked back.  We had been meaning to get together and talk about me coming on board but free time is a luxury niether of us has an abundance of.  Finally we touched base last week and made it official...I am now on the pro-staff with Clear Cure Goo.  I am looking forward to continued use of CCG on many different types of patterns instead of epoxy.  THE GOO IS THE POO!

Here are a few flies that went out the door today.  Looking forward to a massive pile over the next few days!

-mike schmidt

www.anglerschoiceflies.com

A peak at the process

Fairly regularly I get asked how I go about tying 'a crap load' of flies.  Th simple answer is that I break it down in to smaller more manageable parts.   This particular order was for six dozen Johnny Darters, and here are a few shots of the process.

First thing is to collect all the materials for the pattern in question.  I then place the materials I will need for the first hook in front of me and prep them.  For this particulare pattern I plucked the Grizzly Marabou, separated out single strands of tan yarn, and founs the end of a ball of Polar Chenille.

Working through the back hook I will grab more materials as needed, but generally that is only needed if I lose or break one of the prep materials.  I then prep the materials for the front hook and lay them out.  For this pattern that was a Australian possum hide, three and a quarter inch rubber legs, and red bead chain eyes.

Then I finish up the flies and smile at the pile in front of me!

-mike schmidt

www.anglerschoiceflies.com