The Freshwater Fly 2011 Year End... SALUTE!

Thanks to everyone for following The Freshwater Fly in 2011! And to all that have helped to support this blog through purchasing The Fish Fighter USA Fly Clip and other bloggers ( The Fiberglass Manifesto, Troutrageous, Yukon Goes Fishing ), publications ( The Cedar Sweeper Magazine, Midcurrent ), and others who have helped provide support through positive gear reviews about the FFUSA Fly Clip.  I hope I didn't miss anyone.  And, A big salute to Native Watercraft, Ross, and Scientific Anglers, for providing help with gear! They are some damn good people and manufacturers of the coolest gear on the planet!  Also, a big thanks to all that purchased a Fish Fighter Tee Shirt in support of providing a donation to wounded veterans at Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Thank you!

Keep on watching for more in 2012! You can also stay in touch at the The Freshwater Fly  FaceBook Fan Page!

And, I know all this talk and excitement here at T.F.F. about catching bass on a fly rod from the local lakes, mud holes, and gravel pits is not as elegant, popular, and sexy as matching the hatch for trout on some "Holy Water" blue ribbon trout stream... But, hang in there.  It's just what I do.  Besides, watch out!... bass and warmwater species are coming on strong!  Also, I will continue be adding more how-to-posts to the very popular Fly Fishing for Bass Series!, and now with a video camera in hand I will be adding some videos along the way too.  In addition, be on the lookout for a the Beaver Island MI, trip I am in the process of planning for late May, early June.  It should be fun!  I plan on doing a solo kayak angling expedition for smallmouth on the fly, in the shallows that surround Beaver Is. in Lake Michigan.  Soon... we will be adding our new graphics for some sweet apparel that celebrate Michigan and the Great Lakes Region, The Freshwater Coast "Going Coastal" and "Fishin' The Mitten" shirts.  Plus, there will be more information as usual about fishing and life here on the freshwater coast!

Stay tuned!  Till then I'll be somewhere...

Now... If I could only find the stones in 2012 to do this!


Breathe. Presented by Imago Fly Fishing. from Imago Fly Fishing on Vimeo.

Bluegills... Big Love.

"My genuine love for Bluegills is very sincere... They were the first fish I ever caught on a fly rod.  And, those damn little fish inspired a 12 year old kid standing frustrated on the end of a weathered dock not to give up!  I was really struggling trying to teach myself to cast... I was about ready to chuck that 3 weight into the drink! Then it happened... That little beautiful fish with a such passion to fight, and willingness to take a fly hammered the yellow foam spider floating just a rod length away... I grabbed the line laying in a tangled mess at my feet and stripped in the loose fly line until I felt the undulating throb of the fish all the way down through the wispy 3 weight's handle... I never have forgotten that feeling.  And now 28 years later I still crave that feeling to this day... Thank you, little bluegill!  You just might be the most important little fish that swims for most of us.  Besides... is there any other fish that can remind us of youthful summer vacations, childhood fishing buddies, and Fourth of July family picnics at the local lake better than him?... Maybe not.  And yes... I finally did teach myself to cast a fly rod."

I wrote this while dreaming of summer...

Fish Fighter USA, Hat Fly Clip... Get ya' one!

Let'em Go! Let'em Grow! Catch and Release Fishing

The Freshwater Fly is a huge supporter and fan of safe catch and release fishing.  We love all the fellow "Fish Fighters" who are out there living the Fish Fighter Lifestyle!  In the newest issue of Michigan Trout Unlimited there is a feature on a new website dedicated to teaching the best techniques for catch and release fishing. They are not opposed to keeping a few along the way.  They just want to help and insure we release them properly!  Go and see for yourself... some great info and tips to maximize fish survival rates!  Let'em Go! Let'em Grow!, www.catch-n-release.org presented by:

Au Sable Water Preservation Association
http://www.asbwpa.org/ 

You can also do what The Freshwater Fly does... Fight the good fight,   "The Fish Fighter Creed!"

FISHTOWN: Real life on "The Freshwater Coast."

Fishtown is a collection of weathered fishing shanties, smokehouses, overhanging docks, fish tugs and charter boats along the Leland River in Leland, Michigan. The heart of a commercial fishing village, Fishtown is one of the only places where we can still see and feel a connection to the long tradition of Great Lakes maritime culture.

The first time I saw this place as a kid I was mesmerized.  And it's still a really a fascinating little place every time I go there.  It really does capture the spirit of the Great Lakes and their rich history.  Fishtown is one of those magical places that's worth saving.

The shanties in Fishtown date from 1900 through the mid-1990s. White settlers came to Leland in the early 1850s, though Native Americans lived and fished here before that time. The name “Fishtown” was not used to describe the fishing area of Leland until the 1940s.

These old fishing tugs are truly some of the most recognizable symbols of Fishtown's past. They hauled tons of the world's finest freshwater fish to market.

Leland, MI from the air quietly nestled on the emerald shores of Lake Michigan.

This is cool!  Real life modern day Lake Michigan fishermen getting it done.



To learn more about Fishtown, visit Fishtown Preservation . The Fishtown Preservation Society seeks to preserve the historical integrity of Leland, Michigan’s Fishtown property and ensure that it continues as a publicly accessible and authentic connection to local and regional history, Great Lakes commercial fishing, and maritime traditions and experiences.

The Freshwater Fly

A Big Freshwater Fly Salute... $25.00 dollars to the good guys! PHWFF.

A salute to all that purchased a "Fish Fighter" t-shirt! 10% of the sales was donated today to PROJECT HEALING WATERS FLY FISHING  your support will help put our Veterans on a piece of healing water with fly rod in hand.  Thank you, Jeff




Stay tuned for your next chance to order...

Coaster Brook Trout Awareness! and an Epic Journey w/ QWEST 2012

Michigan's rare COASTER BROOK TROUT...

Coaster Brook Brout (Salvelinus fontinalis) Once abundant and widespread, they are big, colorful, highly sought after sport fish is now very rare and threatened. Historically, Isle Royale and most of Lake Superior's 3,000 miles of shoreline and tributary streams supported fishable coaster populations.

The Salmon-Trout River in the Yellow Dog Plains of northern Marquette County MI, is thought to be the only location for natural reproduction of the Lake Superior Coaster Brook Trout in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.  The following video shares the struggles ahead for this rare native fish.  This is Michigan's own version of Alaska's Pebble Mine.

This video is very well done... A beautiful glimpse of MI's U.P., and some great information about a piece of "the wild" worth saving.

For more information about the Coaster Trout...
MyNorth.com, "Saving Michigan's Coaster Trout"
USFWS Coaster Trout
Yellow Dog Watershed

"Do you want to join the cool crowd?... Do what The Freshwater Fly is doing.  Follow these guys on their fantastic journey."

QWEST 2012 "Isle Royale Coasters"  A small group of  "FISH FIGHTERS" as they pursue this magnificent fish with the fly, and raise public awareness for the fight to save it!

The Isle Royale "Coasters" 2012 Qwest project is a pure Michigan fly fishing adventure planned for late August 2012. Four guys, all dedicated and addicted fly fishermen, will be photographing, videoing, writing, wooing and pursuing the rare and legendary Coaster brook trout in one of it's last U.S. strongholds - the coastal waters of Isle Royale, Michigan!

One of the primary goals of the Isle Royale 2012 Qwest is to hook, land and release at least one of these breath-takingly beautiful fish on fly rod & reel. However, beyond the fun part, another important goal of the project is to raise awareness of the dangerous plight of this beautiful but threatened Michigan native fish.
In our view EXTINCTION IS NOT AN OPTION!

Go to the groups FaceBook Page and click "LIKE" Show them your support!