GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE - PRICELESS !

Thank You

O.K. this is a quick post about customer service.  I recently had a problem with my rod tip section on my ST.CROIX AVID SERIES 7' 3 WT.  My guides had worn through and ended up cutting my fly line.  Yes, I should have probably paid attention to my rod's condition a little better, but I was still sad to see my fly line float away into the depths of the stream.  This pole has seen a lot of action and has been through a lot.  This tip section was actually one of the third replacement tips.  The other two went down to automatic seatbelt and one got rolled up in the window.  So I decided to contact ST.CROIX and see if they could help me out with this problem.  I contacted Jeff Little of ST.CROIX and explained what happened and if there was anything they could do to help me out.  I received an email back almost immediately.  It said that if I sent my tip section in they would send a brand new one to me as soon as it arrived.  So I sent it into them and mailed it priority.  I received another email saying that they had received my rod and they were sending the new one out.  About 2 days later after returning home, there it was.  Leaning up against my door was a cardboard tube, heaven to the eyes.  Sure enough there was my new rod tip.  AWESOME.  FREE of charge!!!  No questions asked.  All I had to pay was about $5.oo on shipping and I was back on track.  Needless to say, I hit the water as quick as I could.

I don't know what kind of fly rod everyone else uses, but I myself will always fish ST.CROIX.  The prices on the rod's are pretty much one of the best deals when it comes to rods.  The way my avid is able to toss flies into spots no bigger than 10" is just great.  Your rod of choice is something personal, and what works for you is what works for you.  New technology comes and goes, something new every year it seems.  The one thing that I think is most important is the Customer Service that comes along with what you spend your hard earned money on.  Any rod can be used to catch a fish, but if that rod breaks and your left fishing with a broken stump of a pole. because you can't afford to replace it, than what good is it.  

I just wanted to give a big thanks to Jeff Little and the rest of the ST.CROIX team for your great customer service.  You got a customer for LIFE!!   

Tight Lines forever...!

Disclaimer:  This is my opinion only.  I was not payed or given anything for this statement.  Just some great customer service. 

TAKE KIDS FLY FISHING - THANK YOU !!

A while back Take Kids Fly Fishing had a great coloring contest going on for kids.  Both of my kids were super excited to participate and each sent in a colored picture.  52 kids ended up joining in on the fun.  The prizes were anything from a sweet pair of chest waders, different fishing vests, some really nice full set up fly rods, books, Trout Unlimited junior memberships, fly boxes full of flies, just a bunch of really great stuff.  The best part about it is that it was geared towards children under 12 years old.   My son Oceans name was drawn and he won a sweet fishing vest from  J.M. Cremps.  It fits him perfectly.  My daughter likes to wear it too.  It's a little big on her but does the trick.

 Here are a few tips when taking a kid fly fishing.  These will help the child to want to stay on the creek longer and come back more often.  I hope this helps. This is my daughter Sephora who just turned 5 years old in June.  Still pretty young but just old enough to get started.

Make sure they have boots that allow them to get into the water.

Let them pick out the fly they want to use.  If they are beginner casters you may want to clip off the hook part prior to letting them cast it.

Make sure to encourage them and explain the 10 and 2 method of casting.  Stand to the side :)

Help them with snags.  If they insist on getting them out themselves, let them.  Careful if they have the hook still.

Let them reel in your fish for you.  Kids love fish whether it's a chub or a trout.

When they decide to build a sandcastle instead of fishing, grab a stick and lend a hand.

Let them toss other things in the stream other than flies if they want to.  This huge branch would find it's way back into this hole 3 different times.  Getting splashed with water each time was a highlight for her.

Always wait for the two thumbs up before leaving for the next hole.  They will find something exciting at each hole.

Always remember they are kids.  They may not be as obsessed about the fishing part as much as you and I.  But as time goes by they probably will be :)

Last but definitely not least, when they say they are ready to go home, it's time to head home!

Take Kids Fly Fishing is an all around great organization altogether.  Being a father of 2(3 soon), I think it is of utmost importance to focus on our youth.  T.K.F.F. has a bunch of great information on all things fly fishing for the youngest of kids.  Around where I live, it would be impossible to track down a small pair of waders, a vest and a fly rod that actually fits a kid the age of 8 and anything else needed by someone that small.  Thanks to T.K.F.F. all this info is right there for you to see.  Links to each place and great pics of kids doing what every kid should be doing.  FLY FISHING!!  They also have great information on fly fishing camps for kids, and different ideas of how to get your kids into fly fishing.  I myself am a huge fan of youth fly fishing.  I hope to be able to head out fly fishing with my kids until the day I die.  What better way to form a bond between you and your precious kids.

So thank you Sarah Lonigro & Kirk Werner over at Take Kids Fly Fishing and everyone else who was involved with this great contest and effort to get those kids fly fishing.  Keep up the great work and dedication.  This is a great thing for kids, especially in this crazy world where kids are doing drugs and are out of shape before they even hit junior high.  So give those kids brains something to feast on, like what's hatching and which weight fly rod they should bring for the next trip.  Thanks again and Tight Lines.

LIGHTNING - CAMERA - ACTION !!

Here are a few pictures of some of the things that took place this weekend.  A few short trips and whole lot of memories.  More about the events later this week.  I hope you enjoy the photo's.

THE END !!

Until Next Time.......Tight Lines to all !!!!!!!  

EARLY MORNING MAGIC !!!

While most people around America are sleeping, as usual I have fishing on the brain.  The days are hot and the nights aren't much better.  Bird is a sleep and the kids are tucked away and are in dreamland, somewhere happy I hope.  On this night it is supposed to get down to 75 degrees as a low.  I figured this was my narrow window for a semi cool opportunity to chase some trout.  I had a creek in mind that has nice high banks on it so the holes would stay shaded a little longer than some.  So I set the plan in motion and set the alarm.  I ended up waking up about 3:45 a.m.  After showering and stumbling around the house in search of a belt, I set off for the creek.  It was about 4:00 a.m. at this point.  I came to the end of my street and went to turn onto the main highway.  This deer was out and about munching on some spilled corn.  It stood there and pretended as if I didn't even exist.

   

I took a few more pics and set off on my journey.  It was still pretty dark out, with more signs of the moon hanging around, than signs of the sun coming up anytime soon.  Since it was so dark I decided to stop at a hole on the way and fish.  I was hoping to latch into a Monster Brown that got away on a previous venture into this area.  When I got out and looked around the stars were high in the sky and the moon was shining bright.  Unfortunately it wasn't quite bright enough to see my fly line at all.  I wasn't being bothered by the gnats at all, but the mosquitoes were out in full force.  Apparently they didn't get the message to take the night off.  Luckily I had my gloves in my jacket pocket and on they went.  Those little bastards still managed to poke through a few times and now my hands are itching as I type.  I fished this hole for about a half hour without so much as a single bite.  At least if there was a bite I couldn't see it.  I ended up taking pictures for a little while until the sun started to show itself.

 

I soon realized that I could have probably slept for an hour or two longer, but then I would have missed out on all of the beauty that the early a.m. has to offer.  With more mosquito bites than fish bites, I couldn't help but kind of feel like a some what of a doofer. 

Picture Courtesy of South Park creators.

I packed up the rod and made the decision to take off to my original destination of choice.  A couple of minutes later and I was there.  The birds were chirping and cars started to appear on the roads more and more with each passing minute.  A lot of them probably heading to work to get an early jump on the excessive heat that was about 3 hours away from arrival.  I too was off to work early for the exact same reason.  I was really hoping that the fish would be willing to take some new tied bombers.  I was super excited to see how they would work.  I had all my gear and was on the stream as fast as my legs could carry me.  I had a good feeling about this stream and was even more excited to see some of it was pastured.  It had been at least 7 years since I last fished this stretch and I was happy to be back.

I hopped the fence and proceeded to my first hole.  It was a lot different than the last time I was here.  That of course is to be expected.  After all it had been 7 years and we all know how much streams change each year that goes by.  Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.  In this case it was for the better.  I could see the fish rising so I tied on a bomber pattern and tossed it in.  Just as quick as it hit the water, a nice Brookie was more than willing to try it out.  Thanks again BrkTrt.  You weren't kidding.  I really do love these flies.  My wrists are starting to hurt so I will let the pictures and captions tell the rest of the story. 

Took this pic before I left.  If you look closely on the barbed wire you can see my flies hanging on it.  :)

Beauty little Brook Trout eating breakfast

Don't worry little Brown, there's plenty to go around.

Tied this on after losing the other to the barbed wire.  Elk hair tail.

Drifted it in for this guy.  It literally inhaled it. 

Thought I was dreaming when I saw this sweet hole.

Changed my fly again and they just couldn't resist.

This Brown fell for the same fly in the same exact hole.

These high banked holes were completely shaded and you could see the sun peeking through up above them.

Luckily this was a low branch and I was able to fetch the fly out of it.

The hole above gave up this Brookie on the second time fished on the way back upstream.

Can you guess where I caught the trout out of this hole.  It too was shaded even when I was leaving.

Nice beautiful healthy brown. Caught......

.....and Released to swim another fine day.

THE END

Considering that I fished this stream from 5:30 to 7:15 it was a fairly productive outing.  I am super stoked to get back here as soon as possible and see if I can lure some more brookies out of it.  Hopefully next time I will be able to stay a little longer.  It was one of those mornings that seemed almost magical at times.  One of those days that you wish you could stay forever.......

Until Next time.............Tight Lines to all !!!!