Money Buys Happiness
Ok, maybe money doesn’t buy happiness directly, but money does buy flowers. Flowers, on the other hand……well, flowers buy trout. Again, not directly, but they do buy time on the water. And time on the water equals trout. Not always, but most of the time. Lets just say the odds are in your favor, trust me.
Remember fellas, many-a-days on the water are earned on THIS day. Make it count! Happy Valentines day from your friends at Up’North Maine Fly Castings, where our one TRUE love will ALWAYS be fly fishing.
Sunny Daze
I love taking pictures. No particular rhyme or reason as to why, I just enjoy being behind the lens. For some people I guess taking pictures could be about showing off, and I can see that. Living in a beautiful place is nothing to be ashamed of, and even I have been known to snap the occasional “look where I live” photos when the opportunity presents itself. Photography is like fly fishing for me in that I am constantly learning and growing every time I’m in the field. Each outing I appreciate the process a little more, and every new photograph feels more polished and refined than the last.
Every photographer has a signature style or element that is readily apparent in all of their work. For me, that element has always been clouds. Adding clouds to any backdrop introduces a highly manipulative element that can give photos personality and depth. I live for partly sunny days when the cloud cover is sparse and well-defined, stretching endlessly across a deep blue sky in dancing streams of white and gray. But above all, I love shooting clouds during the final moments of daylight. The special relationship between cloud cover and the fading sun is one that I’ve grown to appreciate deeply in recent years. Sunset backgrounds cycle and disappear often, only allowing precious moments to get that prime shot. I feel blessed to live in a place where the sun always sets against a stunningly beautiful, natural background. I do my best to capture those pristine moments before they slip away, and over the years have managed to photograph more than my fair share of sunsets in what I regard as some of the most relaxing and remote locations in the world.
The photos below are some of my favorites, and the moments they were taken are moments I will never forget. Over the next few days Up’North will roll out 12 never before seen sunset photographs taken from 2009 to 2011. Some are completely natural, never altered or touched up in any way. Others have alterations in contrast, saturation, and exposure. I take great pride in these shots, and appreciate any and all reader comments or constructive criticism.
As always, thank you for visiting Up’North Maine Fly Castings. Check back soon for new updates, and be sure to check out the gallery for my complete collection of outdoor photographs and landscapes.
Tight Lines,
-Ben
“When I Grow Up”
….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.
- Click to purchase the Loon Outdoors “Nip N Sip” tool!
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
This Is (Indeed) Fly
The fellas at This Is Fly continue to impress! Immerse yourself in this monstrous collection of fly fishing greatness (and relax with this months playlist) while I revamp and come at you live on Sunday with fresh photos, fresh color schemes and banners, and some interesting happenings from the new base in southern Maine.
Click me to read me, you know that you need me!
Hasta Luego!
Ben’icillin.
2011 L.L.Bean Spring Fishing Expo
This just in!
For Immediate Release
March 8, 2011
A fly fishing film festival, Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock and Tim Rajeff highlight
L.L.Bean’s Spring Fishing Weekend, March 18-20, 2011
Fishing legends, unique fly-fishing short films, demos, clinics, hands-on activities and seminars headline L.L.Bean’s 21st annual celebration of all things fishing
FREEPORT, Maine—Some of the biggest names in fishing will be at L.L.Bean on March 18-20 for L.L.Bean’s annual Spring Fishing Weekend. Lefty Kreh, Dave Whitlock, Emily Whitlock, Tim Rajeff, Dave Klausmeyer and others will be available at the store from 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday to visit with customers, share stories, sign autographs, books and more. And new this year, L.L.Bean will be showing the best short fly-fishing films from The Drake Magazine’s renowned Fly-Fishing Film Awards, which are shown to audiences exclusively at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show each year in Denver.
“We have put together an incredible menu of activities,” said Mac McKeever, senior public relations representative. “Regardless of your level of skill or interest, whether you’re young, old, a beginner or an expert, we have a whole host of activities, with plenty of great things to do for families and kids, and best of all, it’s free. There’s definitely something for everyone.”
Featured celebrity fly tyers include David Klausmeyer, Don Bastian and Sam Kenney, who at only 12 years old has already become a renowned tyer. Other weekend highlights include free fly-casting lessons, kids’ activities, and a variety of demonstrations, clinics and seminars including presentations by the Maine Professional Guide Association, as well as several L.L.Bean experts.
Biologists from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will also be conducting a special presentation on a very unique brook trout project they have been working on.
From March 18 through 20, special promotions include 20 percent off all Bean Brand fishing gear and apparel and 20% off all flies. And as a way to mitigate the transmission of invasive aquatic species, from March 18 through 20, customers who trade in their felt-soled wading boots will get an additional 10% off Bean Brand rubber-soled wading boots at the store. All event activities are free. For more information, visit www.llbean.com/freeport, or call 800-559-0747, ext. 37222.
Complete schedule will go live right here tonight, once I get on a computer that actually works.
-Ben
Finally!
-Happy Friday ladies and gents!
Months in the making (though not necessarily that time consuming or difficult to assemble) the Up’North Photo Gallery is now live and available for your viewing pleasure. A continuous work in progress, check the photography page on a regular basis for new updates and additional information about the demographics of each picture. Also, find out how your favorite shots can now become your desktop background! All that and more on the Up’North Photography page!
A sneak peak of what you can expect inside…..
Photography by Benjamin Rioux
Photography by Benjamin Rioux
Photography by Benjamin Rioux
Make your way over to the Photography page to view the complete collection!
Enjoy!
-Ben
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Fly Recipe Update!
ALAS! Two spankin’ new streamer patterns for your winter tying enjoyment! Head on over to the Fly Recipes Page for more details!
From my bench to yours, The Dr. Burke….
Some mistakes have happy endings! I give you the “OOPS” Ghost. Sense of humor not included…!
Happy Tying,
-Ben
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Up'North Needs a Logo!
-On account of my recent “strugglefest” trying to come up with a logo, I’ve decided to turn to the Up’North Faithful for help. I’ve started a few prelim designs using Photoshop, and will continue to work diligently with it until I get something I’m satisfied with. At the same time, I know that some of you crafty ladies and gents are probably Jedi Masters in the world of graphic design, so by all means step up to the plate. Here’s how it works.
Below I’ll post a few pictures and general Ideas about what I’m looking for in a Logo. All you have to do is use ANY combination of the pictures/ideas to create a Logo for Up’North that knocks my socks off. I will be selecting TWO different designs to create stickers at first, and eventually t-shirts and hats depending on how much interest I see. The winner of the contest will be given a larger than life Up’North pat on the back, and free items of whatever I get make using their logo. In other words, you get loads of free stickers and clothing for your time. I’ll post any submissions as they come in, and If I get enough I might even have a vote to see which two the readers like the most!
Here is the criteria for the logo!
My first idea for a logo has to deal with Fly Rods. I’d like a long, die-cut decal of a Fly Rod with WWW.MAINEFLYCASTINGS.COM running down the cork or the rod itself. Get creative, use filters, whatever. I’d like something resembling an Outline or drawing of the rod, not too detailed, but not too bland either. Colors are also negotiable, though I would prefer Black, White, A Navy Blue, or a dark green. Also, replacing the Double L. on the drag knob with “Up’North” is something I want as well. Good Luck!
My Next Idea centered largely around Streamers. I’d like the Streamer as the center of the Logo drawn/painted/pastel/charcoal/ REALLY artistic looking. With or without the vice will work. For this design, WWW.MAINEFLYCASTINGS.COM would preferably run along the bottom of the Decal. Feel free to put it directly on the streamer body if you can make that work. Above the Streamer you could add one of two things. The First Option is “Up’North” in big, Gothic Style Lettering (Or a similar font). The Second option would be U.M.F.C. (For Up’North Maine Fly Castings) Again, a Gothic or a Graffiti style is preferred here.
***In Both designs, remember to keep it simple, but not overly simple. I don’t want the die cuts to rip when people are trying to put them on because they are too intricate! If you plan on submitting a Logo for the contest, please do so in a timely fashion, preferrably within the next two weeks.
Email all submissions to MAINEFLYBOI@MAINEFLYCASTINGS.COM
Good Luck!
-Ben
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