Southeast Alaskan Chrome

2010 (Chrome Chasers Promo) steelhead fishing in SE AK from Detonation Studios on Vimeo.



Here at Chucking Line and Chasing Tail, we endeavor to keep you apprised of some amazing opportunities in the fly fishing world.

Case in Point--Chrome Chasers has a bit of room for you.

May 6th-11th, Rick Matney and his crew have space available.  Access some of the most remote streams on SE Alaska, eat like kings, and get humbled by some bad ass chrome.

$3950 per person for the week, plus the cost of your booze, airfare and tips.

Visit the website HERE and or email Rick via  rick.chromechaser@gmail.com

Go get some!

On the Edges of a Day Afield...

4am.  Yes, really...4am

You look at the alarm clock for a second to realize this isnt joke, you've got a purpose for getting up at this crazy hour.

Creep through the house doing your damnedest to be "quite".  Rod tubes slamming on the ground from their perch on the wall arent exactly what your aiming for.  Utter a quick prayer to god that you havent woke up your 1 year old son cause if you do, you know there's hell to pay.

Strike up some fresh coffee, load up the truck, check your gear 13 times (dont worry, forgetting something is just part of the process) and hit the road.

When the streetlights are still flashing yellow on the way to pick up your fishing partner, you know you're officially on the edge of the day.

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I find that there's something really special to the routine to the beginning and end of a day out.  Everyone's got their process before the step a boot into a field or a river.   Gear set  out the night before and obsessively check for missing items.  Roll out and go pick up your fishing buddy and speak monosyllabically untill the coffee kicks in.

Finally the day is cresting into view and the conversation grows in the anticipation. 
"Remember the time when" stories build in a crescendo till you finally throw the truck in park and go about the business of assembling gear into battle mode.

Finally, you're day has begun

For every yin, there's the yang.  After the last cast begins the second edge of the day.  Rod breakdown and a collective declaration of the day's success, good or bad.  You go through the routine of the last beer and it's windshield time.  Usually, a lot of windshield time.

The where and what gut-bomb are you going to eat begin to be the big questions of the return trip.  Push the limit a bit on the speed to try and get home at a respectable hour.   Make sure to call the loved ones to let them know that it's time for the boyfriend to get out of the house by such and such time.  You know, got to keep it on the up and up with the better half right, haha.

There's nothing better than the satisfied feeling of a great day out and countless hours are spent rehashing the glory and defeat of the day.  It's the stories and pictures that will stay with us the longest.

Then most of the time your fishing partner gets quiet and starts snoring.  Lucky bastard you think to yourself.  The mind drifts to what you've left behind and what's upcoming but everything's alright because the day was awesome

Finally, you're back in the same place you left.  Starring at the windshield, a very happy person on the edge of a day afield.

Big River Swing Ups...

Today was a gift.  A winter day solo mission to The Big River.  By myself.  

Tired and happy.  That's what I am now.  Expect a full write up soon.  

As a bit of foreshadowing, let's just say there's hatchery fish marinating for dinner tomorrow.

Redington Sonic Pro Waders Review...

The big difference between wading out there and…uh, wading out there is one thing

Your waders.

We’ve all been there.  Can’t wade out there because you know when you hit that certain point, you’re going to be wet.   Wet waders especially outside of summer really make for a miserable day.

After rolling through a few sets in the past five years, I was excited to be given the opportunity to test drive the new Sonic Pro Waders by Redington.

No seams eh?  I dig the concept considering my frame has a strong tendency to blow out anything with a seam or a stitch.   I’m not kidding, from waders to work clothes I am a terror on seams.

When they arrived on my doorstep, I went right into lining up my first opportunity to test these beasts out.  Hey I’m opportunistic, don’t hate…

For me there are some key areas to think about and to offer my opinion in regards to these waders

1.  The Fit        

2.  Construction          

3.   Bells and Whistles   

4.  Cold Weather Test           

 5.  What would I change

The Fit

If you’re a big dude, you know what kind of problem you can have in finding off the shelf gear that remotely fits.  At 6’8 260, I am just flat used to ill-fitting gear.   The Sonic Pros in the XXL fit really well and allowed for a normal stride while wearing them.   There’s enough room in the legs to feel comfortable and without giving you that fun “front wedgie” that the wrong size waders give you.  Not a hot look, and thankfully these help you avoid it

Construction

Two words that feel apt descriptors of these waders.  Beefy.   Thick.

And yes, these are good things.  Dropping off a road to get to a run I skidded a bit down a bank and across some logs.  Checking the waders, everything was fine.  Multi layer construction especially throughout the legs and knees give me a notion of confidence when I am bushwhacking through the stickers and brush that I won’t have wet feet after a few minutes in the water.

Bells and Whistles

You want to know what’s nice.  Extra pockets, and lots of them.    There’s hand warming pockets.  There’s a wallet pocket.  There’s a camera pocket and if you’re into it, a pocket to put a flask for those cold winter days. 

Sometimes the smallest things also make a big impression.  The wader belt is NICE.  They didn’t skip out on this one, and also they added belt loops around your waist instead of just in the back.  Small item, but it showcases quality.

Cold Weather Test

In the Northwest the majority of the time, the water is cold.  Like sub 45 degrees cold.  People look at you funny when you say you’re going fishing in the cold.  It’s absolutely essential to have a pair of waders that assist with staying out there in the midst of freezing guides and numb finders.  With my normal winter fishing set up of fleece wading pants, I was noticeably warmer than usual.  A big thumbs up in this category.  Get on out there, kick the icebergs away and fish away.  I have a feeling you’ll be warmer in these waders.

What Would I Change…

Whether a rod, a fly or a set of waders…aren’t we all looking at our gear saying “if I could I would change it by doing (x)

There’s always something.

For me, the first thing I would do would be to swap out the material on the gravel guards from wader material to neoprene. 

Spending a lot of time chasing steelhead, I greatly appreciate the hand pockets on waders where you put your off hand.  On these waders I would include a great deal more fleece to improve the warmth of the hand pocket.

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Other than that, through 4 trips out fishing in the freezing cold of winter, these are a bomber set of waders.

There are a few remaining questions like what’s going to happen when I send them back for repair?  (Its only a matter of fishing time till it happens, I promise) but beyond that, I don’t have a problem putting on a Chucking Line Chasing Tail stamp of  approval on  them.

Want more info on these waders, here's the LINK

Now go get fishin....

When You Keep Adding Flashabou....

You end up with a big ass fly.

I gots a date with the Big River next Monday and I fully intend to put this tinsel amalgamation in the face of some Big Fish.

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Native Fish Society's Free Hats....

Yeah, well...almost.


The Native Fish Society  has a pretty sweet offer (see-limited time, hurry your ass's up) for those who join up with this great organzation

Be one of the first 50 fish crazed nuts to sign up  under the Adipossesed Membership (1 year member) and they'll send you one of these killer dome covers.

Click HERE to take advantage of this offer and join an organization that's working it's butt off for our native feesh.

Or you can just pony up and buy one by clicking HERE

I was also told that they help increase your winter steelhead juju if worn while steelheading.  At least that's the rumor...

While Cars Fly By Overhead....

OMR connects with a native Spokane River Bow.

It will always amaze me how people ask me wtih a tinge of disbelief

"You catch fish down there?'

Why yes, yes we do....

Something I Realized Today....

The loudest customer in a fly shop is probably the last guy you should go fishing with...

I dont care how many countries you've fished in...

I'm so happy for you for catching 57 bonefish in one day....

You're just a dry fly fisherman, have fun with that.

Just sayin.....

The Logo...

We're on a mission to get a little more snazzy here at Chucking Line and Chasing Tail and thanks to our friend Deanna Camp of Elusive Trout, we're getting there. 

This talented lady took my jumbled vision and turned it into a finished product that I am very, very proud of. 

I will be setting up a run of stickers here shortly, please leave a comment with contact info if you would like one.  First 20 comments will get one for free-99.

A Rare Opportunity...Olympic Penninsula Prime Time

I just got a note from Jeff Brazda saying he just had a cancellation during absolute prime time in the winter steelhead window of the Olympic Peninsula. 

March 10th-17th.  These dates are usually never open because of repeat customers

His operation is top notch, and if you are considering heading to the land of Sasquatch in search of ghosts this winter/early spring, I would call him today and snatch up those dates

His guides have the heart of teachers and work their asses off.  The respect the resource and work hard to provide the correct experience. 

Contact him HERE

In Honor of Tebow...

With Touchdown Tommy Tebow leading his galloping Denver Bronco's to a 7-1 record, I felt the only way I could honor this whitefish with dropping into a 

"Tebow"

And don't worry, this little swam away like a rocket

 

The Announcement...

Millsfy and The Silver Bow Fly Shop are teaming up to host the Spokane premier of Confluence Film's newest project "Connect" Wednesday  February 22nd at The Lincoln Center

Filmed across the world, this film looks like an absolute ripper




All money raised at this event will go to benefit the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

More info to come shortly about tickets, and if you're a business that would like to help via donation of product or service for our raffles and door prizes, please let me know.  Shoot me an email at

jmills81 at hotmail dot com

Speaking of raffles and door prizes, we have already been very fortunate to have a lot donated in the first week of gathering items.

So far, we have 2 guided trips with top level steelhead and trout guides, several rods, dvds, lines, hats, t-shirts, and lots of other misc. gear.  It's our goal to have a killer raffle so lots and lots of cheddah is raised for the WSC and  for everyone who comes to have a great shot at winning something nice. 

A couple items of note

1.  The Lincoln Center has a gazillion free parking spaces, so you cant use a lack of parking excuse

2.  If you know Sean from the Silver Bow and I, you are personally responsible for bringing 5 friends to the event

3.  If you don't come, I will personally hunt you down and give you a atomic wedgie.

So with that, I hope to see everyone who can come, come out and join us. 

Stay in tune with the ongoing developments and gear added to the raffle by viewing the Facebook Event Page HERE

Oh Yes, Major News....

We here at CLCT are about to extend on past the comfort zone and do something a little special just after the new year begins.  No, I didnt get all the blog followers a free trip to somewhere cool like Alaska West or something....but it's still big for us.

Some small details have to be ironed out in the next couple of days, but I hope to be able to Connect all the dots here very, very shortly

Stay tuned!

New Elusive Trout Offerings...Ready For Christmas

Deanna Camp, the author behind the Elusive Trout Series Calendars has produced a fantastic poster ready in time for Christmas.  While you wont find these crazy trout in the water, I bet any fisherman would sport it on the walls of their mancave.

Visit The Elusive Trout web site HERE