via Angling Trade / Southwick and Associates

Tags: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Tenkara fly-fishing from Tenkara USA on Vimeo.

Tags: Tenkara

Both Angling Trade and MidCurrent ran short pieces this past Friday covering the recent untimely death of Mako Reel founder Jack Charlton.

Both ran a quote from Charlton friend Jake Jordan -

“Jack Charlton was born on September 16, 1946 in Montebello, Ca. After a childhood in Tucson, Jack moved to Los Angeles and began working in a machine shop at the age of seventeen. His next employer specialized in machined aerospace products. In this job he demonstrated a real flare for precision machining and intricate design, these talents later manifesting themselves in the production of fly fishing reels. Jack met Judy Keen at the Scottish restaurant in Simi Valley (McDonald’s). This led to sailing in the Channel Islands and 39 years of marriage. A purchase of a getaway in British Columbia eventually initiated a move to the Pacific Northwest.

Jack liked to say because of peace breaking out, and because of a challenge, he designed and produced the first Charlton Flyreel in 1993. The first showing was in Livingston Montana, displaying Signature series 8400 and 8500 reels. In 1996 at the Fly Fishing Dealer Show in Denver Jack’s Charlton 8550 received best in the show for his revolutionary configurable reel. In 1999 Charlton Reels joined Streamworks, later being acquired by 3M. Jack continued to work for 3M until 2003. In 2005 he started Mako Reels, which has continued to set the standard for the fly fishing industry.”

Striking reels and a striking story of a machinist genius who turned the (salt water) fly reel into a thing of beauty and precision. Don’t have one of these beauties but have marveled at a couple that friends own.

Incredible piece of equipment.

And a great story of a gutsy guy pursuing his passion and taking a risk to engage in a business that brought him great pleasure and (let’s presume for his and his family’s sake) a little wealth along the way.

Jack will certainly be sorely missed by his family, friends, employees and clients.

As sad as the above news was, Charlton’s passing wasn’t what actually whacked me between the eyes like a 2×4 swung from the shadows.

It was this phrase, quoted in both stories -

Jack died of a sudden unexpected illness on June 9, 2011….

Doing the math, Charlton was a young man by today’s standards (64, he would have turned 65 this September). Despite the amazing capacities and potentials of modern medicine today, sometimes things turn south so quickly with certain infectious and disease processes the battle is over before you’ve even decided you’re at war.

In a prior life I had the pleasure of spending 25+ years studying and practicing medicine and have seen calamitous events like this first hand. On Sunday your loved one is laughing around the table or at the river and by Thursday they’re gone, leaving an emptiness that you can not imagine will ever be filled.

When I read the story on Friday I slipped back into my defensive medical world for a few moments, pondering what pathological disruption changed the Charltons’ world forever.

Then, in escapist fashion typical of we fisher folk, I found myself wondering when Jack had last fished.

It could have been a day or two, maybe three before the onset of his sudden unexpected illness. It might have been weeks or even months before; I hope for Jack’s sake it wasn’t that long ago.

Think back to your last trip out on the water – can you imagine that trip being your last one?

I can’t. I doubt Jack did either.

It’s not easy making one’s way in the world today; there are challenges aplenty and new ones lumbering up over the horizon seemingly every day. The pace of change seems to be picking up momentum.

That said, there are still guys and gals out there pursuing their passions and squeezing the most out of every day. I’d like to think Jack Charlton was one of those guys. There’s always potential for making today better than yesterday.

That said, we all should go fishing. Today. Now.

Don’t know about you, but I’m gonna fish like it might just be my last day on the water. Again and again and again, Lord willing.

Our deepest regards to Jack’s family, friends and staff.

[Back to our regularly scheduled tangential and irrelevant commentary tomorrow.]

Tags: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Via Anglers Survey

Tags: Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Christmas arrives three weeks from yesterday.

Tempus fugit.

By this time you’ve no doubt found and purchased the perfect gifts for all those in your life who deserve (and / or require) the perfect gift.  Those of you with a significant other well understand the absolute necessity of finding and purchasing the perfect gift  for her/him.

You’ve ruminated over, carefully schemed, thoughtfully purchased and artistically wrapped said gifts.

Now it’s time to think about yourself.

Fly fisher folk tend to have different tastes (when compared to normal humans) when it comes to their Christmas wish lists.   Non-fly fishers can not and will never understand our need to fish and the need to acquire the gear to do so.

In light of this, I’ve found that it’s most useful to very specifically suggest to Santa what should be under the tree or in your stocking when the holidays roll around.

Here’s one fly fisher’s wish list (version 1) for Santa…..

More redfish. Don’t matter at all to me if they’re caught on the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia or points north.  Don’t matter if they’re 12 pound leviathans or 12 inchers, they’re all going back to grow a little more.   I’d prefer to sight fish for them in less than two feet of gin clear water please.

Fishpond travel gear.  In the interest of full disclosure, Fishpond is not a sponsor of Chi Wulff or Dry Fly Media (though they may be someday….).  They just make damned nice gear.

Being too stingy and cheap for years when it came to vests, gear bags, etc., Fishpond gear didn’t grace my shelves for years.  A friend fell in love with the Dragon Fly pack when it came out as did I, and for longer hikes chasing natives in the backcountry the Shooting Star chest/backpack has been probably the most comfortable and intelligently designed fishing vest / vest replacement I’ve ever seen.

Travel this year forced the purchase of the Dakota Carry-On rod case; it has forever changed the way I pack for a trip.  No more forgotten rods or reels.

Santa should have gotten my message about the Fishpond luggage and gear bags, and even my lovely wife (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has been hinting that she needs their hanging toiletry bag (where the heck did she get that idea?).

More microbrews.  Sometimes it’s the little things in life that add the most enjoyment to our days.  Here’s to the regional micro-brewers across the world who faithfully produce some incredible tasty and prodigiously innovative beers.  We’re partial to Madison River Brewing Company’s Salmon Fly Honey Rye crafted just down the road in Belgrade.

Forget the cube of whatever cheap-ass brew is on sale and support your local brewmeister.

It doesn’t take a lot of creative thought for us to recognize that we need to sample and record for your enlightenment and general posterity great microbrews that we run across in our travels.  Suggestions and reviews for noteworthy brews are welcomed and appreciated.

Underwater digital camera.  Real underwater photography used to be the domain of well-heeled professionals who mortgaged the house to buy insanely complex underwater housings for their precious SLRs and DSLRs.   There are now a host of relatively inexpensive and decently performing underwater digital cameras; we’re in the market again given the recent (and yet unexplained) death of our Canon Powershot D10.  Research on the topic is underway and we’ll post the information about good options that we’re about to send on to Santa…..

A big Madison fall run brown in the Park (YNP).  There are no doubt places where you can catch easier fish and bigger fish in the fall.  There’s just something special about the runners that leave Hebgen and head up the Madison and eventually the Gibbon and lower Firehole in Yellowstone.    This is holy ground and one of those places that all fly fisher folk should see some overcast, drizzling October day.  We’ve caught some nice fish the past few years here but Santa owes me a really, really nice one…..

Tags: Gear

Al, we’ve just read your post on the Bitterroot this morning, and couldn’t help recalling your recently making fun of some of us in Bozeman over the past few weeks when we commented (not whined as you suggested) on the fact that it was cold and snowing over here. 

Certainly a man of your stature, expertise, and toughness shouldn’t be bothered by a little wind and rain.  However, we’ve noted as you age you’ve begun to soften a bit, and your excuses have gotten a damn sight more creative. 

To help you save face and get out there and fish, we’ve just ordered you a camo rain umbrella hat as seen in the picture above.  The customer service rep told us that if you cinch the headband down very, very tightly it shouldn’t blow off in the wind, though we ordered you a chin strap to use on windy days just to be sure you new hat stays in place.  It should be on your doorstep in two days.

Please send a picture modeling our gift.

Tags: So What?

Spring is my favorite time of year.  Everything starts to green up after a long winter, the air begins to get crisp and fresh, the sun stays out longer, and the fishing becomes really good.  Spring always seems like a fresh start to me, and it is a great time of year to upgrade some of your old fishing equipment.

Not that I have anything against old gear, just the opposite in fact.  I think that most things are not properly broken in until they have been battered, beaten and perhaps duct-taped back together.  Take my jeep for example.  But, there is always something deep inside that pushes us for the newest and the best.

Wading boots are a great thing to upgrade in the spring.  With an amazing array of models on the market such as Korker’s Predator and Patagonia’s Riverwalkers, sometimes the choice seems daunting.  Here are some things to keep in mind.  More and more fishermen are switching from felt soles to rubber.  One of the main reasons for this is stopping the spread of nusiance species.  Today, new breakthroughs in rubber technology have produced material that provide just as much, if not more, grip and traction as felt.  Of course, studs help.  Removable soles, such as those on Korkers’ boots, are a good choice, allowing you to switch given the conditions.

Walking into a fly shop, few things are more tempting than the rack of rods.  Who can resist walking over and giving them a look?  If you are like me, you have a long list of the rods you need. No matter the situation, a competent fly fisherman can come up with a need to explain a new purchase to the wife, girlfriend, or other figure who might turn their nose up at the new addition to your rod collection.  Spring is the perfect time to buy that new rod.  Perhaps you need one for chucking streamers during spawns and runoff.  Or maybe that small stream 3-weight is calling your name. 

Spring fishing can be cold.  Very cold.  The air temperatures haven’t quite reached the comfortable level and the water is still cold enough to need wader fleece.  Wader fleece or long underwear can be a life saver on long spring days.  A fleece jacket is also a good investment.  Fleece is lightweight and warm, making it perfect for the river.  However, in my circle of friends, a ratty old sweatshirt is the outerwear of choice.  A waterproof jacket is invaluable for the often unpredictable spring weather.

Fly selection in the spring around these parts consists of large, heavy nymphs and a smattering of dries to match the midge and Blue Winged Olive hatches.  As the water warms and the fish become more active, putting something big and buggy in their face, like a bead head stonefly nymph, can lead to some monster spring trout.  Streamers can also be quite productive during the spring.  Spring also brings the Skwalas, a productive hatch with big bugs.  Once you catch this hatch, you will keep coming back for it year after year.  Dont’t miss it.

Tags: Gear