What’s in the Bag

I was thinking about what I wanted to put in my blog and lots of things keep coming through my mind and then I saw one of my old golf magazines. That made me think a bit about what I really enjoyed in those magazines and it is the “What’s in the Bag” pages. So I thought that I would put together a post about what is in my bag in a fishing sense.

I am going to start with my waders. I have had and used the same pair of waders for the last 11 or so years. They are the Simms Guide weight original breathables. I got them at a fly shop on an afterhour’s sale and they have been one of the best purchases ever. I am very loyal to Simms because they have lasted me so well. They have actually outlasted 2 pairs of wading boots. I am currently in the market for another pair of waders and will surely go with the new updated Simms G3’s.

Wading boots I wear Korker’s Riverborn boots. They are great but I got them about 2 months before they became outdated and Korker’s released their new version of the sole. I was able to purchase an extra pair of studded felt and two rubber soles cheep so they will last me a while. The boots are great with great ankle support and have lasted well for the last 3 years.

My fishing bag is a Simms hip pack that I picked up last year. It is very large and carries everything that I need.

Now for the fun part the meat of my gear. My rod is a Winston IM6 9’ 5wt three piece that I love. I have been using it since 2000 and it is still the nicest feeling rod I have ever used. It is paired with a Lamson Guru 2.0 that is also fantastic to use. My other rod that I use regularly is a St. Croix Legend Elite that I picked up on a pro discount. It is a 9’ 4wt that I got to fish Silver Creek and small dry flies, but has really become my Euro nymph rod. I like it a lot but it just isn’t my Winston. The St. Croix is paired with a Ross CLA 1.5 that is a very nice reel also.

Lines, leaders and Tippets are all pretty much Rio. They get traded out pretty regularly so I won’t go into the details. My leaders are usually hand tied by me with a butt section of Maxima and rest being Rio Fluorocarbon. My thoughts on leaders are a post for another day.
So that is the gear that I usually have with me on the river when I go.

As far as my wish list right now there are really only two things that I want. As mentioned previously the G3 waders and I would really like to get my hands on a St. Croix “High Stick Drifter”. I have really been trying to learn to “High Stick” the way Kelly Galloup describes and teaches in his videos and his “Ask about Fly Fishing” pod cast.
I hope that after a few more posts of getting to know me I will be able to get more meat in the posts of how I fish and what works and so on.

First Post

This blog is going to be my introduction to the fly fishing world.  I wanted to put a blog out there that is not done by Fly Fishing Professionals.  I am a working man with a family and I have the struggles that go along with that.   I want a blog that focuses on a "Hobby" that can and often does become an obsession.  I want to share with readers, what I have found and continue to find, to help me  balance between fishing, family, religion, work and all the other things in our lives.

Fishing is a passion of mine and I set goals every year to get better.  I fly fish with a purpose every time I am able to hit the water.  I try and fish at least 40 days a year and I always am looking to improve my skills and abilities.  This blog is going to be a place that I will be able to share the things that help me be a better fisherman, and I want a place to share some of my writing too.

This blog was born when I was searching the web for some awesome videos, (fly fishing related) and found a video with John Gierach promoting his new book All Fishermen Are Liars


 As I watched and listened to what he had to say I couldn't help but feel like he was missing something.  For so long I was jealous of the life styles that many of the guides and fishing industry professionals have him especially, and then I realized as I was thinking and  wishing that I had more fishing time. I really have something that he can never have and "money can't buy" and all the time in the world cant give him.  I can go fishing with my sons and see them catch a fish and see the joy that that brings to them.  That is when I realized I am "Living the Dream" it is just a different dream, than most people think about when they think about "living the dream."  This dream that I am living wouldn't be possible if I wasn't working and decided to "Just go fishing".  I have responsibilities and with those comes some grind, but also with and because of those responsibilities comes the greatest things in life and it isn't catching the next fish.  It is seeing my sons grow and become men and seeing them catch that fish.

And by the way, John Gierach is still my favorite author and I highly recommend all of his books and I would love to sit and talk to him or even better I would love to fish with him someday.  He just has something I don't have, and I have something he doesn't have.