Melissa

Fly Fishing Show 2019

Fly Fishing Show 2019

Below are the shows that we will be attending (Denver, Edison, and Atlanta), but you can check out the full schedule here. DENVER, CO Dates: January 4, 5, & 6, 2019 TimeFriday: 10am – 6pmSaturday: 9am – 5:30pmSunday: 9am – 4:30pm Location: Denver Mart451 East 58th AvenueDenver, CO 80216-8470 A Note from the Director:You are cordially invited to the 18th Annual Denver Fly Fishing Show. We have expanded floor space yet again with additional areas and features, and presentations … now more than 10 per hour for three full days! Some of the highlights include:•New 2019 products from manufacturers.•Programs and learning opportunities for youngsters and families.•New scouting merit badge program.•Women’s Fly Fishing Showcase with a stand-alone exhibitor venue focused on the woman angler.•Casting demos and instruction with Simon Gawesworth, Gary Borger, Tom Larimer, Landon Mayer, Jeff Currier, and more!•Fly tying with Ed Engle, Dave Whitlock, Charlie Craven, Pat Dorsey and more!•Classes with the Experts where you can get one-on-one time with the pros.•The most extensive list of speakers to date.•Lodges, resorts, exotic vacation destinations offering money-saving show specials.•Live, on site, fly fishing tattoo artists.•The must see International Fly Fishing Film Festival World Premier on Friday at 6:30 featuring award-winning fly-fishing films.•New rods, reels, lines, accessories, clothing, waders, boots, books, DVDs and anything else you may want to purchase, plus our exclusive author’s booth.•Conservation organizations and opportunities to volunteer for the sport you cherish.Every day of the Denver Fly Fishing Show offers something different. You can’t see it all in one day, so plan on the weekend. Bring your friends and family for some fun at the biggest consumer fly fishing event to take place west of the Delaware River.See you there. Ben Furimsky and The Fly Fishing Show Family EDISON, NJ Dates: January 25, 26 & 27, 2019 TimeFriday: 9am – 6pmSaturday: 8:30am – 6pmSunday: 9am – 4:30pm Location: The New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center97 Sunfield Ave.Edison, NJ 08837 Fly Fishers International (FFI) is pleased to offer FREE fly fishing instruction at the Learning Center located on the main show floor.  Basic fly-casting, fly-tying, and knots, will be taught throughout the day-every day of the Fly Fishing Show. ATLANTA, GA Dates: February 1 & 2, 2019 TimeFriday: 9am – 6pmSaturday: 9am – 5:30pm Location: Infinite Energy Center (formerly Gwinnett Center)6400 Sugarloaf ParkwayDuluth, Georgia 30097 A Note from the Director:You are cordially invited to the Third Annual Atlanta Fly Fishing Show, the largest fly fishing-only extravaganza in the Southeast. See the newest rods, reels, clothing, accessories, lodges and camps along with non-stop fly-tying and casting demonstrations. Some of the highlights include:• New 2019 products from manufacturers.• Programs and learning opportunities for youngsters and families.• Casting demos and instruction with Gary Borger, Mac Brown, Kevin Howell and more!• Fly tying with Dave Whitlock, Ed Engle, Tim Flagler and more!• Classes with the Experts where you can get one-on-one timewith the Pros.• Lodges, resorts, exotic vacation destinations offering money-saving show specials and destination seminars.• The must-see International Fly Fishing Film Festival on Friday at6:30 […]

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Pebble Mine Update

Pebble Mine Update

The following five or six paragraphs are about the Pebble Mine and to summarize, we need your support now more than ever! Even if you don’t have time or desire to read the info, please take a minute and click on the link https://gifts.tu.org/bristolbay to donate to TU and be a part of protecting the last great trout and salmon fishery in the world. PLEASE! As most of you are aware,  the battle to protect our waters from the largest open pit mining plan in north America is still going.  Our current federal and state administration is less than favorable to our efforts and because of this the mining company has a window of opportunity that may never happen again. Sensing a political window of opportunity, last December the Pebble Partnership applied for a major permit needed to build their mine. The Army Corps of Engineers is advancing a rushed and weak review process for Pebble’s key permit. On top of that, Alaskans elected a new, development-friendly Governor in the midterm election, lost allies in the state legislature, and didn’t pass a ballot measure that would have made it more difficult for Pebble Mine to proceed. To make matters worse, Governor Dunleavy has since appointed a pro Pebble commissioner (yet to be confirmed) to the Department of Environmental Conservation, who will oversee the issuance of key state-level permits.    Knowing they have a limited amount of cash and political capital, Pebble is doubling down on persuading Alaskans to support the mine in advance of a critical public comment period on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) expected in the first half of 2019.  A 20-page full-color brochure from the Pebble Partnership arrived in tens of thousands of Alaskan mailboxes just days after Alaska’s new Governor Dunleavy was elected. The mailer complimented several lunch-and-learn events, trip giveaway, and a series of presentations to community groups across the state. Clearly seeking to win social license, each touted misleading information about a smaller mine, minimal impacts to fish, and dams that can withstand massive earthquakes.  We have several powerful opportunities in 2019 that will push back against Pebble’s recent public relations campaign. With your generous support, we will turn Alaskans and sportsmen and women out in opposition to Pebble Mine during the DEIS public comment period, hire scientific experts to review the DEIS, make scientific and legal cases that Pebble’s permit should not be granted, and ensure that the proposed Pebble Mine remains toxic to decision makers and investors alike. We need to raise at least $500,000 by Spring 2019 to ensure we hold the line as Pebble pushes forward.  Why TU’s Alaska Program? People like you care about the future of Bristol Bay and want to see it remain a special place. Because of past investments made by people like you, Trout Unlimited’s Alaska Program has built a powerful network of sportsmen and women who also care about Bristol Bay and its world-class fishery. TU and this network stand ready to continue to […]

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Looking forward to 2019

Looking forward to 2019

After finishing up the 2018 season at the lodge and having some time to contemplate the lessons learned from this past season and how we would like to improve going forward.  We have decided to make a couple of changes for the upcoming 2019 season. In order to offer a couple of single-occupancy rooms we will be reducing the number of guests at the lodge from 12 to 10.  This will allow us to offer two single-occupancy rooms at a rate of $12,000 and four double-occupancy rooms at a rate of $10,500.  The two single rooms will be sold on a first-come first-serve basis. On Mondays your round-trip charter flight from Anchorage to King Salmon will be with a local air taxi, Katmai Air.  We will book those flights for you and that cost is included in the weekly rate. The flight out to the lodge will depart Anchorage at 3:00pm.  You will need to check-in to the Katmai Air’s Lake Hood office (4125 Aircraft Drive) by 2:00pm.  Most hotels with an airport shuttle will bring you to Lake Hood, but you might want to confirm before booking any hotel rooms.  Our planes will meet you in King Salmon, and once at the lodge you will have time to unpack, get settled, and unwind with a cocktail and appetizers before dinner.  Guides will be available to help you set-up and evaluate your gear. The return flight to Anchorage will be the following Monday morning.  You will want to book connecting flights after 2pm to allow time for any weather delays.  Katmai Air will have a shuttle at Lake Hood to bring you to Ted Stevens International Airport, or to nearby hotels. There will also be a couple new faces on our staff this summer.  We would like to welcome Kris Robinson (pilot/Guide) and Chace Booth (Guide).  Both are valuable additions to our staff and we are excited to have them.  You can read more on our Fishing Guide page. We certainly hope that these changes will lead to an improved experience at the lodge!  If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback please feel free to call or email.

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Christmas Wish List

Christmas Wish List

Looking for Christmas ideas?  We know that the internet is full of gift giving lists right now.  So instead, here’s a list of companies where you can get some awesome products and feel good about it.  Each of these companies are giving back and supporting conservation.  If we missed any companies doing good things please let us know in the comments!

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Dubai -> Seychelles -> Zambia

Dubai -> Seychelles -> Zambia

Hosted trip 2018 DUBAI Early October I returned home from the lodge and over four months of flying and guiding. I was home five days before getting on a plane for a long ride to Dubai for a day of fishing for queenfish with my son Jack and Mark W.  Ocean Active operates a very well run fishing operation right in Dubai, very convenient for the traveler passing through or businessman with a half-day to kill. We met our guides at the pier about 7am and boarded a 32′ open fiberglass boat followed by a short ride no more than a mile off-shore. Our guide was searching for birds and quickly located a flock working bait. We got within 75 yards where we could see the queenfish savaging the bait, it looked like a large number of fish and also very fast moving. The guide used a spinning rod to launch a teaser into the school then ripped it back as fast as humanly possible. The teaser was viscous attacked several times before retreating into our 10wt casting range where we were ready with several varieties of bait fish patterns. A long, fast strip resulted in a very solid grab, if only our trout fishermen brain could remember to NOT LIFT the rod, followed by a blistering run with multiple jumps and a very impressive fight. In our half day of fishing we probably had a dozen queenfish on, landed five or six as well as a few kingfish. Ocean Active has several locations and fishing options within driving of Dubai and I’m excited for my return and next adventure with them. That evening Jack and I made our way to the Mall of the Emirates where we did some downhill skiing on the only indoor ski mountain in the middle east. It wasn’t Tahoe, or even Alyeska, but with two tow pulls and a real chair lift it was worth the effort and even the cold hands before venturing back out into the hot evening air for a couple of miles walking back to our hotel. SEYCHELLES The next day we boarded our flight to Mahe’, Seychelles where we met with the rest of our group for dinner and drinks. Mahe’ is the largest island of the Seychelles located about 1000 miles east of Africa in the Indian Ocean. This is the last big airport before boarding a chartered flight to Alphonse Island, about 250 miles to the south. Alphonse atoll is tiny, total island area is only .66 of a mile. The lodge is really the only thing on the island and all guests get around on bicycles. It’s your typical tropical paradise with lush, green jungles, white sand beaches and nothing else. The island has a resident population of giant tortoise, the largest we encountered was at least 600lbs and named George. Each guest is assigned a private ocean bungalow with outside shower, air conditioning and bicycle. Breakfast is at 6:30, after breakfast anglers loaded lunches and […]

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Cuba 2018

Cuba 2018

On February 15th-25th John and Kari hosted a trip to Cayo Largo, Cuba to participate in an environmental sustainability program.  The program was hosted by Cuban marine biologists and fishing guides focusing on the human ecological footprint, a fly fishing fish counting project and their Marine Park protection plan. They were accompanied by 9 guests from across the US.  The trip began in Havana with a city tour and sampling of local culture.  Next was a flight to Cayo Largo, a small resort island off the south coast of the northwestern part of the main island in the Caribbean Sea.  The cay is about 25 kilometers (16 mi) long and 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) wide and is the second largest island in the Canarreos Archipelago.  The fish counting program was a huge success with many species accounted for.  Several group members visited the Centro de Rescate de Tortugas Marinas, a sea turtle farm and conservation center hatchery/rehabilitation center, learning much about the ongoing protection effort. The Cuban people involved in the program were outstanding hosts and teachers and demonstrated a real understanding of the marine environment involved. It was a great group of people and good times were had by all.  Sign up for our mailing list, or follow us to reserve your space on future hosted trips.  

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What did you forget…

What did you forget…

Alaska is one of those places where you want to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything important.  There is no running to the store once you’re at the lodge, you have only what you brought.  So before you head to Alaska this summer make sure you’ve got these often overlooked things covered: Sunglasses – Sunglasses are a must for eye protection.  I can’t even imagine getting a hook in the eyeball!  When packing sunglasses make sure you grab a pair that are polarized.  When you’re sight fishing you don’t want to miss that fish of a lifetime because you can’t see it!  While you’re at it, throw a backup pair in too.  If you’re looking for high quality fishing glasses Maui Jim’s are one of our favorites.  Just make sure you choose a brown, copper, or bronze colored lens. Sunscreen – Yes, you will need sunscreen in Alaska.  Remember that midnight sun thing, that means sunshine ALL DAY.  A sunscreen stick is a good option.  They’re compact to carry, and you can avoid getting sunscreen on your flies and lines.  Not sure if it’s been scientifically proven, but a lot of people think sunscreen on your fly will actually repel fish. Not what we’re going for! Day pack – The weather changes constantly in Alaska and you always want to have layers on the ready.  So a day pack in a must.  It’s also handy for carrying your camera, extra water, snacks, phones, sunscreen, and all kind of things you might find you want to have close.  No need for a huge pack, something small and easy to carry is fine.  It’s also nice to get one that’s waterproof.  Nothing worse than reaching for those extra layers only to find that they’re already soaked. In our Pro Shop we sell DryCase Backpacks, which work great. Waterproof phone case – I can’t stress this one enough!  I have seen SO many cell phones die.  Wader pockets are not waterproof, so even if you don’t drop your phone in the river the moisture in your wader pockets can be enough to kill a phone.  I can speak to this one from personal experience.  I now own a waterproof phone.  Unless you have a waterproof phone, or plan on leaving your phone at the lodge everyday, please invest in a waterproof phone case.  Lifeproof and Otterbox are reliable choices that our guides use. Our Alaska packing guide has a full list of items so you can thoroughly prepared.  If you ever have a question about what you should bring with you, just give us a call or send an email.  We’re always happy to help!

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