….I want to be part of the research and development team for Loon Outdoors.

No seriously, whoever originally pitched this idea at the Loon product meeting should get an instant induction into the fly fishing hall of fame. Something so simple, so useful, so brilliantly perfect in every way. It’s like they followed the Up’North crew on a fishing trip, reviewed the footage, and designed a product based on what they felt would make our time on the water more enjoyable. The R&D for these nippers must have been priceless, how could it not be? They probably didn’t need to test them on the water, but who would pass up that opportunity? I’ve always been a fan of Loon products, but this addition tops them all. Extra wide thumb pads, hook-eye clearing needle, and…….a bottle opener. This nifty little tool is a long time coming in my neck of the woods.

The people at Loon Outdoors undoubtedly realize that R&D doesn’t stop once your product reaches fly shop shelves. Constant testing in the harshest of environments is a necessary part of product development, and I for one would be more than willing to lend a hand in the process. What better place than northern Maine to put your gear through the necessary paces? No such place exists. Please note, I accept free samples for testing purposes. Just sayin’.

In all seriousness, this product is one of those little innovations that just seems to make sense. I commend the people at Loon Outdoors for bringing some refreshing (no pun intended) originality into the nipper department. This is sure to be a huge product for them in 2012, and is already creating a worthy buzz among industry insiders and average Joes alike. Just another “must have” tool to have handy when the Spring salmon run pops off (again, no pun intended) after ice-out.

Pray for hasty thaw!

-Ben

Sitting silent listen closely whisper windswept wilderness.

Frozen fingers each breath lingers cotton cammo woolen dress.

Warmth a mystery ancient history snow falls steady forest floor.

Miles from nowhere movement somewhere listen closely breathe no more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Densely darkened daylight dimming vast horizon fading fast

Sunshine struggles falling farther treeline silhouette is cast.

Honest hours watching waiting notice nothing clear dismay

Deadline drawing nearer precious time ticks hopelessly away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hardly hunting seldom shooting simply sitting solitude

Finding joy in failure crisp clear mind inspired pleasant mood

Empty handed hasty headed home down  back roads steady roll

Surely passing time descending purifying country soul.

Maine is a long way from the western steelhead rivers that haunt my dreams. One day I’ll live my dream and hoist chrome for the first time, mark my words. When I do head out west to knock fly fishing for steelhead off my bucket list, I want Ian Majszak of Detonation Studios there with his camera rolling. What excited me more than the fishing in this video is the sheer camaraderie surrounding this epic fishing trip. Nothing I have ever experienced on the east coast seems to hold a candle to what you will witness in Ian’s video below. To be completely honest, I’m not sure I even know enough dedicated fly fishermen in Maine willing to organize a fishing trip of this size. Almost makes me wanna pack up and head west! Almost.
 

Tribute..steelhead camp from Detonation Studios on Vimeo.

 
Seriously though, big props to Ian for this latest video. Detonation Studios is set to have a huge year in 2012, and I for one cant wait to see what the next twelve months bring. Heres to hoping we can toss a line together someday, somewhere west of my snowy Maine home. Thanks for keeping Up’North “in the know” as you continue to drop new, inspiring material for us to enjoy.
 
Tight Lines,
 
-Ben

L.L.Bean has been pouring loads of R&D into their fly fishing lineup in recent years, and the Pocket Water Fly Rod and Reel are proof that their efforts are paying off. With four different options between a 6’6″ 3wt and a 7’10″ 5wt, the Pocket Water series is a beautifully affordable addition to an already attractive lineup of quality rods. Designed for small stream or pond casts of under 40 feet, this portable four piece rod is the perfect companion on your next fishing trip in the rugged north Maine woods. Combined with the simple, functional Pocket Water reel, this outfit is a lightweight answer to your backwoods prayers. Crafted out of machined 6000-series aluminum and armed with a dependable click-and-pawl drag, this reel will be right at home in the bed of a pickup or the bottom of a boat. Available separately (rod available now, reel January 16) or together as an outfit (February 24), the Pocket Water series is at the top of my list for Spring 2012. Head over to L.L.Bean now to get your first glimpse today!

Tight Lines and Happy……Winter? Hold out for Spring by updating your arsenal!

-Ben

Some days, some hours, some moments are far too timeless to capture in a single photograph….but I can still try can’t I?

For decades, rail and water were the only way to transport goods or travel in northern Maine. Winding along the Fish River, these tracks once shouldered the weight of passenger trains shuttling citizens to and from towns across Aroostook County. I can imagine my grandparents as children, their faces plastered to the windows of the moving cars, watching with excitement as log drives of the time bulldozed the banks with timber headed to area sawmills.

Time and technological advancements have changed the logging industry as well as the way we travel, in turn changing how we use area railways and rivers. The logs now travel a similar path, loaded onto the bunks of log carriers that have replaced passenger cars on Maine’s railways. These days, most wood travels by truck from Maine’s working forests directly to area mills. Rail service is scarce now, and rarely the cheapest or most time effective method of transporting lumber. Rivers play a far different role in the logging industry during modern times; typically avoided in order to protect the natural environments and the many plant and fish species that call them home. Log drives are a distant memory that very few can say they’ve seen firsthand, though signs from this historic operation can still be seen if you know where to look. Area fishermen spend more time on the water than loggers these days, casting bulky flies and lures to landlocked salmon and native brook trout that call the Fish River home. It’s no secret that my favorite river in the area is the Fish, and I can’t help but wonder what the fishing might have been like before log drives and the industrial boom of the early 20th century. I guess pictures like this one hold more history than initially meets the eye.

Happy Castings,

-Ben

I don’t share a ton of secrets on here, so consider this a little Christmas gift from me to you. The streamer on the top is the latest rendition of my “money-maker,” a proven pattern I am continuously building on season after season. Trial and error have really done the trick for this streamer in recent years, and this version will be the end-all of this pattern.  A peek is all you get, so analyze away. The colors are simple enough, but no less than 7 different materials form the tail (a little long here, chop by half), wing, and neck. Tie it weighted if you see fit, but I never felt the need. Trout seem to be first at the table for this meal, but salmon are always a welcome dinner guest.

The soft-hackle pattern is simply braided red/green 70-denier thread with a red neck and tail. It seemed like the obvious “just for fun” wet to tie on Christmas day, but I can see it working come mid-June. Tis the season!

-Ben

So here we are again, sitting patiently at the doorstep of another Christmas. Between the weather, work, and shopping season, I’m not sure how I managed to make it this far in one piece! This last year has been full of surprises, and the Christmas season certainly has a way of putting things into perspective. More than gifts and cookies (but not much more), Christmas is a time to take stock of all that you have to be thankful for. My list is vast, encompassing everything from my first career teaching position, to that beautiful day I spent on the river during a trout frenzy in May. The road has not been without its twists and turns, but the scenery is always breathtaking.

If anything, this last year has really given me a new outlook on change. I guess I used to be somewhat naive when I returned home from college,  thinking the places and people that fill my life weren’t changing in any sense of the word. The fishing never got worst, but it never really got better. Summer days on the lake never ended on a bad note, even when I managed to have “too much fun.”  Even my dog never seemed to age, continuing in her relentless cycle of eat, sleep, eat, sleep.

Now that I once again call northern Maine home, the little details I had missed for nearly five years have found their way back to me quickly. The crowds are different now, new faces dot the landscapes of bridges, streams, tackle shops, and river banks. Best friends still remain, only as a more refined group of hardened locals. We laugh about the past, but work diligently towards the future, never really knowing what tomorrow might hold. Time still moves slowly in these parts, but with more purpose than I noticed before. The little things I miss about my past suddenly don’t seem so important anymore, proving once and for all that less truly can be more. In between work, early bedtime, and weekend errands, I’ve come to realize that my little place in the world is growing up with me. Like a finely aged wine, my life seems more refined on this night before Christmas. My mind is at ease, with fewer questions remaining unanswered than in earlier years. I know where I belong, and for that I am blessed and eternally grateful.

Up’North has followed a similar path as of late, not counting our usual lull during the holiday season. I must have the most patient readers in the world, because traffic has remained steady even in my numerous and prolonged absences. I think it’s fair to say that the focus has somewhat changed, and I’m at peace with that. People want original content in any shape or format, and I couldn’t be happier to oblige. At the end of the day, I draw inspiration from all corners of the globe when determining the direction of Maine Fly Castings. I would like to thank everyone who played a role in my success this year, be it through endorsements, inspiration, or any sort of contributing content.  The list includes, but is certainly not limited to, the Fishing Poet Mr. Matt Smythe, brother Lipton, aka the Roughfisher, all the fellas at Chi Wulff, LOTFO, and everyone at LLBean. Ian Majszak of Detonation Studios, Nick English and all the people at Simms Fly Fishing, Ben and the rest of the clan at Leland Fly Fishing Outfitters, and any other fly fishing industry figures who have opened their arms to me and my humble website.  Rhon Bell of BackwoodPlaid.com for the outstanding photography and constant support, Mr. Michael Gracie for your consistency in producing an outstanding blog that remains among my favorites, Brett Colvin and Jason Morrison for your inspiring work behind the lens, and any other blogger, writer, photographer, artist, or fishing junkie who has dropped me a line to chat, given me helpful advice, or just produced quality work that I truly enjoy.

The best part about my experience with Up’North is the people I meet and interact with along the way. If I could thank all of you in person I would, but geography can be both a blessing and a curse. I hope to chase a few fins with each and every one of you when life allows, and look forward to eventually sharing stories and drinking your beers when I visit in the near or distant future.

Merry Christmas ladies and gents, make it one for the record books.

-Ben

Trust me, I’m working. The past few weeks have seen me plugging away at my laptop, trying to revamp a design that I’m not sure needed revamping to begin with. Up’North had grown sluggish, so much so that it became a hassle to post simple photos or write simple reviews. Ads made things sluggish, links failed to function, and traffic dumped due to less-than-lightning page loads. At the end of the day, I had grown tired of driving on four blown tires.  
 

 
I can promise big changes for the new year, more so than what can be seen even today. To be honest, who knows if the recent changes will even stick. My goal in this transformation is to simplify the site, bringing a more rich and focused experience through writing and photography. Nothing is set in stone, but I do have some exciting ideas that I hope you’ll enjoy. For now, be patient and bare with me as I learn html, css, and how to remain calm when looking at large pages of letters and numbers. I never intended for this transformation to “simplicity” to be so complex, but I have faith that these changes will be for the better. In the meantime, I welcome your comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism.  
 
Happy Holidays,  
 
-Ben