church....

I attended church yesterday. one of my choosing another out of respect for some close friends, the Kalmon Family of Hudson WI. The service was to honor the passing of a terrific man, great father, grandfather and and fellow angler, Dennis Kalmon. Dennis had been battling cancer for 5 years, but the aggressive nature of the disease finally took him last weekend. His sons are all good fishing buddies and close friends, and the service was almost an impromptu class reunion in itself. Had a great opportunity to visit with some of my closest friends and fellow anglers, and even caught up on a hot bite or two....He'll be missed on opening day, in the hudson channel drifting nightcrawlers for opening day eye's....

After the ceremony and quick lunch, I attended MY church, the willow river in Hudson. feeling the need to examine my own mortality, the mortality of my father who also struggles with cancer and just life changing so fast these days a couple hours at the alter seemed appropriate. As usual the river rarely lets me down. despite the less than stellar temps, frozen guides and cold feet, I managed to bank one nice brown of about 17" on a deep dredged strip leech...Having admired him for a moment, I thought of Dennis Kalmon, his journey and ties to the natural world..I wished my little brown buddy a good day and headed home to warm feet and a cold PBR...godspeed Dennis.

gear drift.....

Tis the spring time ritual, rounding up the gear from last fall's "rode hard, put away wet routine"...at least this year I managed to hang up the waders proper although I believe the neoprenes left me wet on the last trip to the Brule last fall, more aquaseal and bike patches. I'm not sure about you, but I dont trust a fella who's gear is 100% in place, right and tight. no sir, part of the fun is in the hunt..

Elsie and I did get out yesterday for a couple hours. I wet a line, however I find my first couple days out, on any water, are more about the hike, scouting new structure and reacquainting myself with the water and the walk. Chatted with a couple other anglers, Dustin and his bro from Hastings, younger fellas, slinging fire tiger raps, looking strangely like my buddies & I growing up near the river...The river looked about the same, not much color and with all the snow, still a little chilly. lots of interesting ice on overhangs and snags and more cars than I think I have ever seen in the general area, for any opener. It's 27 degrees @ 11 am, heading to 35? Might head back out and give another, or try to get a handle on the gear drift issue...

early season opener is here

Well the early season opens today in WI, to a chilly reception however....As of 9am it's 13 degree's but at least it's nice and sunny. Brad of the Brule is sipping coffee downstairs and conjuring up some wicked early season streamers, my request of a couple chartruece double muddlers, possibly the deadliest big brown streamers I've used. Not quite time to toss them yet but I'm guessing we'll head out today at some point to walk the stream and reaquaint ourselves with moving water again....

We had a terrific meeting with Paige of the Kinni and Brian our wizard designer to discuss the TGFL strategy for the upcoming season. First up will be a TGFL newsletter which we'll have available at the upcoming show in Mpls in a couple weeks. Send me off an email if you'd like to get on the mailing list. This morning we are off to meet with Tom Helgeson from Midwest Fly Fishing magazine to talk a little more about the direction and what we can and will present at the Show. My discussions with my industry connections have been nothing but positive and momentum is building for our movement. This should be a very exciting season, check back later for a quick stream view report and images of the ohh so deadly Double Muddler.....