It’s been a long six years since my last visit to Alaska. It was twice a temporary home while guiding for a few remote fly fishing camps. I hadn’t spent much time at sea there but I made it a point to do so, this time out of Homer – Kachemak Bay. Not much of an opportunity for the fly in 120 feet of water but we did have the rare pleasure of seeing Orcas. Below are images of black sea bass, ling cod, and halibut. A second leg of our trip brought us to the Lower Alagnak River where we caught sea-bright chum salmon on top water. The guides were short on buoyant pink provisions so we improvised by using chartreuse ear plugs in front of fuchsia bunny leaches. It worked like a charm.

Chip Evans, the talented deer hair fly tyer, takes his new G. Loomis Escape Series (6′ 3″, 2-6 lb. line) and vintage Penn 716 Spinfisher out for a test drive. He sight casts and lands a dozen small redfish. Not bad for a matinee (no, not manatee. I mean not bad for an afternoon).

 An outing intended for fish photography turned into admiring the Texas Gulf Coast and ponder its uncertain future. This stranger on a horse was kind enough to chat with us and share her feelings about the ongoing disaster in the gulf.

Those were some fantastic fish and photos from Catain Kenny Smith. I wish I had been down there with Mike, Johnny, and him. Perhaps soon. I did take advantage of the weather by making a one day trip to Port Aransas. Harison Nash and I found plenty of willing fish on the low tide. However, I didn’t take as many photos as I had planned. Next time.

April 9 & 10, 2010; New Braunfels, Texas. It was hard to gauge the overall turnout at this event. I just didn’t see the “standing room only” crowd I had expected. However, the vendors I knew, including Austin Canoe & Kayak, did pretty good moving product. Everything was discounted to some degree. I would venture to say that the economy is still lacking confidence. I was just happy to see all the familiar faces that make up the central Texas fly fishing community. (From top to bottom) Our friend Clint Jackson gave fly tying instruction, Epic Angling and Adventure’s booth drew a good crowd, and we spent a good amount of time with the guys from TFO. I convinced myself that the Finesse series 6wt would make a good light-saltwater rod. We’ll see when I build one up.

Guadalupe River in New Braunfels, Texas.

One of our good customers bought this gorgeous Shimano Calcutta 250DC and wanted a custom rod to match its quality. We’re doing our best to meet that high expectation. I just completed sanding the handle on the lathe, and this is what it looks like so far. This is about as fancy as we get with inlays and multiple materials. Any more fluff, and we would be missing out on some much valued R&D!

I really enjoy throwing deer hair at redfish.  Watching those bottom feeders charge the surface gets my blood pumping. Unfortunately our Texas weather has been less cooperative than in previous years, fewer sunny days and colder winter water. I usually make throwing these hair-bugs a year round business. Gracias El Nino! (Fly tied for me by my good friend Chip Evans)