Seasonal Edition
Welcome to MaineFlyCastings.com, Northern Maine's only independent Fly Fishing blog! Currently the fellas and I are enjoying another productive (and always entertaining) hunting season in the North Maine Woods. Rest assure, my fly fishing obsession is still alive and kickin', but Fall is a pretty special time in my neck of the woods. The weather up here changes with the seasons, so I see no reason why MaineFlyCastings.com can't do the same! Enjoy!- Howdy,
Jay Morr is one of, if not my absolute favorite fly fishing photographer on the water to date. While popular magazines and ezines like Catch Mag. show us that the talent pool is growing fairly quickly, I can’t help but feel like Jay should have his own section in EVERY fly fishing magazine. My dream at this point is to somehow convince him to tag along on one of my fishing trips, working magic with his camera every step of the way.
Well, great photographers must fish in pairs. Recently Mr. Morr spent the day fishing with (my second favorite photographer) Brett Colvin, and as luck would have it, they brought along a camera or two. Imagine that!?
Here are a few of my favorite shots from their trip…
Jay Morr Photography: www.flyfishforum.com
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It is pictures like these that inspire me to take better photographs while on the water. To view the rest of the pictures from their day on the water, visit Jay’s site HERE. The story of their day on the water can be read on Brett’s blog, HERE.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
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Guess who’s back from the dead!?
Back in line and feelin’ fine just in time for the weekend, Up’North gets a little revival on this beautiful Friday, November 13! And what better way to get back into gear than with some new products from the fine people at Mathews Solocam.
Big things in 2010 for the people at Mathews, including…
The new Z7, Monster 7.0, DR2, and Passion are now available for your viewing pleasure over at Mathewsinc.com
Mathews Solocam Z7
For more information, check out the new Mathews Solocam website today!
-Ben
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Tired.
Well, that’s one way it could be summed up. Add in weak, worn down, and sick, and you’ve summed up my life for this week…so far! While I battle my annual shitty cold, stuffy nose and constant headaches included, my barely functioning mind takes me back to better times. Times of warmer waters, windless evenings, and fishy pockets just begging for a dry fly.
Wishin' For Fishin'
While the winter tying season is setting in nicely, it could never compare to a good day on the water. Hopefully these happy thoughts will assist me as I struggle to get back on track! But don’t worry, while my brief absence may be devastating for some of you, I assure you I only need sufficient time to re-coop. Before you know it Up’North will be back on track and rolling along at a blistering pace once again. Stay tuned!
Time for some sleep!
-Ben
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- Lady Luck is most CERTAINLY on my side. Remember the amazing score of materials I cashed in on this summer? Well, it turns out there was more….MUCH more…
- 13 Bobbins, 1 Threader
- 3 Hackle Pliers: 1 large, 2 small
- 1 Large scissor, 1 rubber gripped small scissor
- 1 classic vise
- 2 utility knives, 1 screwdriver
- 1 jar head cement
- 1 hair stacker
- 4 leaders (4lb to 6lb)
- 4 match packs of “twist on” lead weights (which ill never use)
- 1 small pocket scale
- 25+tandems (not finished)
- 100+ tandem wires, 1 large spool of tandem wire
- 50+ plain tied tandems (black, no finish)
- 6 groups of 25+ finished tandems (rear sections, ready to tie body) Including Gray Ghost,Black Nose Dace,Royal Coachmen, Black Ghost, and more..
- 18 spools Nylon 4/0 Black
- 10 spools Nylon 5/0 Black
- 30 spools Flymaster waxed 6/0 var. colors
- 2 spools Nylon 6/0 Black
- 4 spools monobond 3/0 waxed Black
- 1 gold braided mylar medium
- 1 silver braided mylar large
- 17 spools one strand floss var. colors
- 4 spools size 14 mylar tinsel
- 1 spool french silk purple
- 5 spools mylar 16/18
- 5 popper corks
- 1 dispense case, 12 spools sunrise tinsel var. colors
- 8 spools twisted tinsel var. colors
- 2 spools mylar size 10
- 6 spools mylar size 12
- 31 spools 4 strand var. colors
- 8 sheets fake jungle cock eyes (yuck)
- 7 packs of eyes, lg-med-sm, var. colors
- large amount of rubbery leg materials for terrestrials, var. colors
- 250+ Dry size 6
- 20+ Dry size 4
- 100+ Dry size 8
- 100+ Dry size 10
- 100+Wet size 2
- Treble: 200+size 2,4,6,8,10,12
- 50+ salmon size 8
- 25+popper size 1/0
- 100 larger than size 1, 3 barb (2 barbs on top of shank) offset slightly
- Various finished tandem streamers: Mickey Finn, 9-3, tri-color, Royal Coachman, Ashley Beauty, Bass poppers
- Small white hackle feathers
I am truly blessed, and I honestly have no idea where to even begin tying with all of these materials. In the picture above, what is on the shelf is my complete collection of tools, materials, etc (minus large tote of capes, feathers that can be seen HERE). The two organizers (stacked to the left on the floor) are empty, but all labeled to previously hold mostly streamers from the looks of things, from the Warden’s Worry to Gray Ghost variations. Would have been nice if it were full, but who can complain with a find like this! My best idea is that this gentleman was a commercial fly tyer, or just really enjoyed stockpiling materials. The bulk of the materials come from L.L.Bean, Danville, Shamrock, or Universal Vise out of Westfield Mass. Trust me, this was more than a steal. I almost feel guilty…almost!
Trade, barter, buy anyone???
See you at the bench!
-Ben
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- Happy Sunday Folks
It’s been an interesting weekend thus far in Orono, far more interesting than I could have ever expected. Let’s just say it would be completely possible for me to open my own fly tying store now….with a couple months of stock. In fact, I honestly hit such a jackpot of threads, tinsel, hooks, eyes, tools, etc. etc. etc. that it would take me a solid hour to organize it all for a photo, if I can arrange it to even FIT in the picture. Just WAIT until you see how extremely lucky I got, it’s amazing. Hundreds of pre-tied tandem trailing hooks anyone?
So while I let you sit and wonder (for a good part of the day, Patriots are on) take a look at some of the pictures I snapped of Mount Katahdin on my ride home last Sunday evening. Not my best photography by a long shot, but not terrible for a cheap little point and shoot! Yet another reason to LOVE this great state of Maine.
Mt. Katahdin
Happy Sunday!
-Ben
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- The underage kiddies best look away…
Gotta love how Miller Highlife and Keystone go out of their way to cater to the hunting crowds. Nothing say’s I’m redneck and proud more than a camo or flourecent orange beer can! My only complaint? Where is the love for fishing season? How about a can covered with fly art, or maybe a brook trout pattern? The possibilities are endless!
Yes, I am looking to get rich, so first come first serve. The first company to contact me gets the idea! Click HERE for contact info! Do it, you know you wanna. (Please?)
Please Drink Responsibly (after, not during the hunt!)
-Ben
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- Break out your box of colored pencils and blow the dust off, it’s colorin’ time! Fishy Kid is holding an Adult coloring contest throughout the month of November, so get crackin’! For more information and complete contest rules, visit Fishykid.org!
Adult Coloring Contest
Happy Coloring!
-Ben
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- Howdy,
Last night I sat down at the vice and entered the timeless realm of Ray Bergman trout flies. My attempted pattern? The Alexandra. When I first saw this fly in the Autumn 2009 issue of Fly Tyer, I was immediately attracted to the abundance of peacock sword and the bright red throat. The original is tied on a small wet fly hook, but I thought using a size 6 streamer hook might prove successful during the Spring salmon run in northern Maine. Time will tell!
Alexandra
The Alexandra Twins
Represent
Check back soon for a full recipe and tying instructions on the Fly Recipes page.
Happy Tyin’!
-Ben
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-Well, usually it is. Frankly, probably more than 95% of the time it is. But what about that other 5%? Well, I leave that for special occasions like this one.
Fort Kent Boys Soccer: Eastern Maine Champs.
Wednesday, November 4, the Fort Kent Community High School boys Soccer team captured the Eastern Maine Championship for the first time since lonnnngggg before I was born. My little bro and his teammates put up a glorious fight to roll over Orono 5-1 on their way to the State Championship game this Saturday. Time and time again they continue to impress, with big hearts and big wins when it matters the most. What a great way to finish the season guys, the Up’North community salutes you!
We now return to your regularly scheduled programming.
-Ben
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Have you caught the new issue of Catch Magazine yet? (Clever huh)
Once again, some of the very BEST fly fishing photography in the world on display for all to admire. What a way to sooth my aching heart as the winter months arrive in Maine. Fish porn anyone?
Issue #8
Click HERE (or the picture) for the lastest issue, and let your mind wander to a better place.
-Ben
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