The "Be Kind to the River" jar raised enough money to buy 10 new lines for the local chapter of Trout Unlimited for use in their kids camp.   Thanks to all who tossed in. 

You can check ou the Mason-Griffith Chapter's website @ http://www.masongriffithtu.org/ .  If you aren't a member of a chapter and would like to join ours, just go to the Board of Directors page and click the link for Mark Hendricks.

Keep an eye on this chapter's website.  They've really stepped up with some great projects.  The chapter will be launching a brand new site soon . . .

Kindred Spirits

Here's a great e-mail I recieved the other day from one of our favorite clients. 
To: andy@oldausable.com
Subject: Kindred Spirits
Hey-
There I was this morning, making my daily run along I-69 between my home in

Lapeer and my office in Flint, when a good looking lady in a small SUV

pulled up alongside my truck, smiled & waved, then headed on down the road.


For a minute I thought that it was just my inherent good looks that had

struck her silly, but then I saw the OAFS sticker on her back window that

matched the one on mine, and a license plate that read SAGE----. It was like

belonging to a secret society that's not such a big secret anymore. OAFS is

everywhere!


Anyhow, imo you folks have the best shop in the state. I always enjoy my

time in there, and wish I could spend more. Have a Merry Christmas & a Happy

New Year. Good Lord willing, I'll see you in April!


Burt Kellogg

Thanks Burt, we do our best to be the best and it's nice to have a little pat on the back from time to time.  We may not be there yet, but I promise it's our goal.  For the rest of you folks, sticker up and who knows where you'll get a wave.
Andy

Needle Nail Knot

Learn this knot.  The needle nail knot is easily my favorite fly line to leader connection.  It's stronger and it slips through the guides better than the standard nail knot connection.  The needle nail and the double nail knot are the only knots I use on my personal  trout fishing gear for attaching fly lines to butt sections.  

It takes a little longer to tie and you need to be OSHA approved for the use of pointed tools (you will poke yourself once or twice when you're learning), but it's worth the extra effort.  Not only do you get a stronger, smoother connection, you also plug the end of the fly line with the mono and eliminate any chance of wicking water.  So, less problem with sinking line tips.  

Plus, it just looks cool.  When you buy new lines give us a shout and ask for this knot--we'll set you up just right.  Guarantee the box stores can't tie this one. 

Knots are literally "tied" to the sport of fly fishing, so do yourself a favor and spend some time this winter becoming a knotsmith.  Here's a couple of good links. Have fun.

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php

http://www.rioproducts.com/photos/file/c2974c9203c91d170f3fffe97733597.pdf

Old AuSable Christmas Tree

Old Au Sable Fly Shop won the annual Christmas Tree competition here in Grayling, MI.  The secret was these cool Christmas Tree bulbs with flies inside.  They're here for sale if you need a little of yourself on the family tree. 

Never Too Cold to get in Waders

Who says it's too cold to get in waders?  Well, me for one.  But not the USGS.  These folks pulled on yellow jackets and camo waders and jumped right on in the Au Sable River behind the shop.  Don't worry there wern't any problems, these workers were just measuring the river flow, etc . . .   The USGS is a pretty cool organization and I use their info all the time.  If you want to know more about the USGS just click here.  

 

Take Advantage of Relative Warm-ups in the Winter

Here's a nice fish Alex caught while nymphing earlier today on one of our Northern Michigan steelhead streams.

Good fly fishermen (all outdoorsfolk really) become psuedo scientist in a number of different fields.  Of course, you should know as much about your quarry as possible.  But that snowballs quickly into what the critters eat, where they live, when they move etc . . .  It's all important.  For winter fishing and hunting, we study the weather.  It's the most dominant force for the the next few months and the key to everything.

Pushing 32 degrees, today was the second day of a relatively warm spell with bad weather rolling in over the next 24 hours.  Those are good days.

 

Switch Blades and Bamboo Rods

Want a really cool gift idea for Christmas?  We just brought in Benchmade Knives.  All the knives we carry are open assist and have Benchmade's LifeSharp guarantee.  Well not all the knives . . . some are automatic but we can only sell those to police officers, paramedics, military personnel, etc . . .  But are those cool.  Stop by and check 'em out.  And just because, they're in the case next to the fine, vintage bamboo.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas is in the air at the Old AuSable Fly Shop.  We've put up the tree and everything!  There's a little snow on the ground and we're looking forward to a white Christmas.  If you need any last minute stocking stuffers for a fly fisherman in your life, give us a shout and we'll ship your goodies for free.  Hope all is well and everyone has a great holiday.

A Little Fun From Trout Unlimited

Here's a neat little quiz from Trout Unlimited.  Careful . . . I got it wrong.  Good Luck.  Follow the link.

Tying Season . . . Who Can Admit They've Done This?

Hard to pass on a good squirrel tail--plus it's kinda fun having other drivers think your crazy.

I guess attending the FFF Fly Tying Expo in Holt last weekend really put me in the mood for tying season.  That show always serves as a sort of unofficial kick-off.  Lots of fly tyers from around the region were in attendance and it was great to talk everyone.  It's a very social show and that's why I go.

Anyway, it got the juices flowing in my tying fingers.  I dusted off the vice and tied Quigleys until 3am last night.  I'm a little rusty after the long break, so I didn't get many tied for the amount of time I spent behind the wheel.  But, hey, winter has started and I've already started passing the time.  We've also posted the schedule for tying classes @ http://www.oldausable.com/services-154.html 

Here's Something Cool

Living up North is definitely cool.  Joey and I were pretending to work about ten minutes ago when I looked out the window and spotted this.

You see it?  Just above the grass in the bottom left hand corner.

Look closer.

That's a gray fox that came out of the culvert just across the river from the shop.  I haven't seen many in my life.  Pretty cool.  Pretty good place to work.



First Snow

Woke up yesterday to the first snow of the year.  It's absolutely beautiful when we get that intitial, thin covering.  That all becomes less true in January . . . but, anyway, here we go.  It's winter in Northern Michigan's AuSable River Valley.