JULY 2012
Farm Store Fly Fishing
BAJA MEXICO 2012 Omak Lake
» Catch Large Lahotan Cutts on the Fly
Mono vs Fluoro
» Learn to Choose Better Tippet
Artist Interview: Tom Dean
» Carving His Own Path, One Trout at a Time
iFish
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playlist
Click to Listen
Editor’s Angle Fishing is Red Hot in July! iFish Playlist Music Currently Playing in Our Ears
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Rifishulousness Fishing Video of the Month
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Baja Mexico Roosters Crow on the Beach, Not the Farm
A Division of Big R Stores July 2012 • Volume 5, Issue 6
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Fly Shop Gear Nautilus, Bugslinger Buffs, Fish Pond and Redington!
BIG R FLY SHOP Great Falls, MT (406) 761-7918 4400 10th Ave. S Great Falls, MT 59405
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Omak Lake A Cutt Above the Rest
Keaten “Cornfed” Labrel Calvin Fuller Jerrin Uecker Dustin Bise
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Bugshot A Closer Look at This Bug’s Mug
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Fishing: A College Problem Cornfed’s Insight on College
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Hidden in Plain View We Review Extraordinary Eateries
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Killer Trout Candy Snack Time!
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Gear Showdown Tippet Tips - Mono vs. Fluoro
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Creature Feature CDC Rusty Spinner by Cornfed
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Artist Spotlight We Interview Great Falls Native Tom Dean
ON THE COVER Calvin Fuller and Justin Crump with a Baja Roosterfish Baja, Mexico Photo by Tim Pask
EDITOR PUBLISHER DESIGN & LAYOUT GENERAL INQUIRIES
BIG R FLY SHOP Ponderay, ID (208) 255-5757 477181 N Hwy 95 Ponderay, ID 83852
BIG R FLY SHOP Omak, WA (509) 422-9840 1227 Koala Dr Omak, WA 83852 Stephan Avena Greg Bennett Tom McCormack
Sam Wike Alfonso Martinez John Ewald/Rob Guevarra robg@csww.net/john.ewald@csww.net
CONTRIBUTORS Keaten Labrel, Stephan Avena, Tom Dean, Bob Warneke, Calvin Fuller, John Ewald.
To keep current in fly shop happenings and the latest fishing reports, visit us @ www.bigrflyshop.com Big R Fly Shop Magazine is a free monthly electronic publication bringing the latest perspectives, events, blogs and products related to the sport and art of fly fishing. This magazine is published online @ www.bigrflyshop.com every month. To receive email notifications when new issues are released, enter your email address HERE. All email addresses will be kept strictly confidential and will only be used for purposes connected with Big R Fly Shop. © Copyright 2012 CSWW Inc., dba Big R Stores. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher.
Calvin led the crew on an adventure down to Las Barrilles, Mexico in search of Roosterfish and Dorado. Some were found, and many escaped for next time but this issue has more on that straight from the horse’s mouth. We then traveled to the Fall and Henry’s Fork rivers for the Patagonia dealer camp and found Salmonflies, yerts, Yvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia), the spring 2013 line of Patagonia, Kaala’s (our clothing buyer) first fish on a fly, and Tenkara rod aficionados parked on the banks. And so we were fortunate enough to camp beside them for a few days. If you are a steelhead fisherman or have a difficult time wading on slippery rivers; buy the bar boot from Patagonia. I was a skeptic, and I am now a major fan.
EDITOR’S ANGLE
If you are reading this right now, then please tell me you are at work or it’s past fishable light because fishing is red hot right now. Montana, Idaho, and Washington rivers and pick-up trucks are covered in bugs. We have had an unseasonable cool and windy spring so far in Montana but winds are beginning to subside and we are starting to see some warmer temperatures.
If you are still seeing some run off, and fish streamers like it’s a religion, you must check out the new Coffee Cat we now have in the bins. I can’t take credit for this, but the re-design came from some of our fishiest staff members, Paul Bloch (now fishing his heart out down in Livingston) and Keaten “Cornfed” Labrel. The fly needed to be heavier and have a wider hook gap. Both of which the new re-design of the instantly famous Coffee’s sparkle minnow now has to offer.
EDITOR’S ANGLE
Go Carpin’ Roosters, Sam Jul 2012
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iFish
What we currently listen to. Zion I feat. Kay Flay - Coastin’ Alex Clare - Too Close Fun. - The Gambler Amos Lee - Windows Are Rolled Down Primus - My Name Is Mud The Black Keys - Tighten Up Justin Townes Earle - The Ghost Of Virginia Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move The Beautiful Girls - La Mar (The Ocean) (the Ocean) Citizen Cope - Let The Drummer Kick The Tallest Man On Earth - Pistol Dreams Gary Clark Jr. - Bright Lights Steve Earle - Willin’ Of Monsters And Men - Little Talks 4
Jul 2012
Click to Listen
[ri-phish-yuh-luhs-neyhs]
ri•fish•u•lous•ness
-noun
RIFISHULOUSNESS
rifishulousness
ridiculously fishy, causing or worthy of ridicule; absurd; preposterous; laughable, insane, full of awesomeness: That fly fishing video was so sick, it was rifishulousness!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc_B_kDDVRY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4_E7BRzc68&feature=related
The entirety of this production was created by: Travis & Zack Boughton ©Montana Wild www.montana-wild.com
Jul 2012
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BAJA MEXICO
BAJA, MEXICO Wake Up to Roosters Calling on the Beach Stories by Calvin Fuller and Bob Warneke
This year we made our annual trip to the Baja peninsula. After a short drive north from Cabo we ended up on the East Cape of the Baja Peninsula. This was my 5th time to Baja, but I was especially excited to chase the beach, as a concept that was completely new to me. Our arrival in Los Barriles brought us to the beaut Cortez Hotel. Our room had an ocean view directly above the inďŹ nity pool with a swim up bar. The sights w The sea of Cortez was magical and still, balls of bait were busting right out in front of the hotel. Excited we gear for the next day and headed down to the pool to shake off the short ight from Spokane.
BAJA MEXICO
We had 13 clients join us for the trip this year. Eight were guided and the rest, non-guided. We made it a point to be sure to rent a couple of jeeps so we could explore the many beaches in search of Roosterfish. During the first two days we were greeted with an un-seasonably north wind. This colored up the water and made any chance of sighting fish on most beaches tough. On the third day the wind switched and started to blow out of the south east allowing the water to clear up. We started seeing fish right away. Large fish were cruising up and down the beach within casting distance. We were averaging 20-30 shots a day at nice roosters….but we were having trouble getting any takers. On the 4th day Sam finally hooked into a nice fish from the beach. The fish was around 20 pounds and put up a great fight on the fly from the beach.
in Los Barriles roosters from tiful Palmas de were amazing. e rigged our © Tim Pask
Jul 2012
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BAJA MEXICO
Boat fishing was pretty tough due to the lack of Sardinas in the area. Most of the big Roosterfish were feeding on mullet. Day five and six the boat fishermen got into a few really nice schools of Dorado. 10 to 20 fish days with shots at big fish kept the anglers excitement. On the final day, I met up with some friends who have fished the area for years. They “kidnapped” me and showed me around. During the short five hours I was with them, I learned more than I had the previous six days. Baja is such a beautiful place. Gorgeous beaches, rugged landscapes, crystal clear waters, amazing food, and hearty fish. I can’t stop thinking about Baja since I have been back and I can’t wait for next years trip. Calvin Fuller
Sam Wike’s Rooster from the beach
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ola Amigos, back to reality from the sunny Baja. Traveled to Los Barriles, BCS, Mexico with B dog Flyfishing Adventures from May 26 to June 2 of fishing, relaxation, and sun. This was my first so wasn’t to sure how it would go but I was on va would be awesome no matter what. My only go Roosterfish and a Dorado.
We stayed at the Hotel Palmas de Cortez. Th I would highly recommend this resort to others. I days of beach fishing and three days guided in a p
he resort is awesome and booked the trip for three panga. My first two days
Bob Warnake’s First Rooster
were beach days. The two days were I knew immediately, when he hit the fly that he windy, like Great Falls windy. It is a was big. It was an experience! He wrapped around tough way to fish, but fun and I’d do it the shark buoy. We backed to the buoy and again in a heartbeat. unwrapped him. Then he went under the lateral line marking the buoy and we backed to the rope. Don, My third day was on a panga. I Toby, and Trino lifted the rope up and over the boat fished with Don Helms from Idaho, Baja and gear and backed under. We moved away from Flyfishing Company Guide Toby Upping- the buoy. Thanks guys, I still can’t believe we didn’t house and our boat captain, Trino. We lose him. The fight took half an hour. Dorado go motored to the area in front of the airborne and we got to see him jump numerous Hotel Punta Colorada. Toby threw out a times. While I was fighting the fish we saw a whale mullet and almost immediately a Roost- breaching several times on the horizon. It was just erfish appeared. It was amazing, the amazing. In all, Don and I caught 10 Dorado. rooster came in behind the mullet and his comb rose out of the water. He This was an amazing trip and I highly recomstarted chomping at the mullet. Toby mend everyone try it at least once. If for nothing else reeled the mullet in and I cast directly in to recharge your batteries, life is to short. Sam Wike front of the rooster. I stripped the line and Calvin Fuller did a great job of hosting it and twice and he took the fly. All I worried making sure everything was taken care of. Thanks about was whether my knot would guys for everything and the great memories. hold. I landed a 20 pound Roosterfish and I would have been content with just Bob Warneke that fish for the rest of the trip.
BAJA MEXICO
y and breezy East Cape of Big R Fly Shop and Yellow2, 2012. The week was full saltwater flyfishing trip, acation and knew the trip oal was to try to catch a
The last day of the trip, I was again on a panga with the same crew as the first day. We boated out to shark buoys about 40 minutes away. We found Dorado around the buoys and started casting to them. I hooked a small Dorado. We continued fishing and I hooked up with a 35-pound Dorado. Nice Dorado!
Jul 2012
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GEAR UP
$99
Crosswater Fly Fishing Outfit
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cs9052 692012
Just because you're a beginner, doesn't mean you shouldn't start with quality gear! The Crosswater Outfit is an easy to cast, Medium-fast Action set up that's ideal for the fly angler who is just getting his or her toes wet.
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• Medium-Fast Action • Fresh updated color and trim package • Alignment dots for easy rod set up • Durable anodized aluminum reel seat, ideal for all fresh and saltwater applications • Outfit comes with blue durable fabric rod and reel case, and a Crosswater reel pre-spooled with RIO Mainstream fly line • Available in 9’ 5wt 2pc and 4pc kits Jul 2012
Starting at
$239
99
Great Falls and Ponderay and Omak stores only.
FWX series
GEAR UP
The FWX series has become the best selling fly reel on the market today.The FWX reels differ from the FW series in that they are almost a half ounce lighter due to their new spool design, making them the lightest machined aluminum disc drag fly reels in the market. Like the NVG reels, the FWX has a Giga arbor design that promotes faster line pick up and backing drying. In addition to the advanced spool designs used in these reels, Nautilus has added a new stainless steel 1-way clutch that is housed in their proprietary TORQ-X™ clutch drive that ensures instant drag engagement with no slack, allowing the retrieve direction to be easily switched, and they have converted the new reels to be push on and click tab release. Finally, one of their newest creations to come out of the Nautilus think-tank is an industry first LaserID™ line identification system: They have laser etched a white spot on the back of each FWX spool so that you may write the line type and weight that you are using on that spool. Write it on with a permanent marker and wipe it off with alcohol when changing lines. Also good to use to write your name or phone number in case you lose the reel. No more washed out or lost line stickers! Available in 3 models: FWX 3/4, 5/6 and 7/8.
To come close to this quality of workmanship and performance you will likely have to spend twice as much as what these reels cost. Made in USA! Trout to Bonefish. Fresh Water Light, Salt Water Safe!
We reserve the right to limit quantities and correct printing errors. Prices are subject to change without notice. Some items limited to stock on hand. Prices quoted in US currency.
Jul 2012
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GEAR UP The Bug Slinger™ UV Buff® is where serious style meets serious function. Born somewhere between the Florida Keys and the Driftless area of Southwest Wisconsin, it combines the unique artistic aesthetic and attitude of angling with Buff® headwear's functionality and versatility. And because the UV Buff® is made from Coolmax® Extreme fabric, it will block 95% of UV rays and wick sweat quickly away from your skin keeping you comfortable and protected hour after hour on long, sun-filled adventures. 12
Jul 2012
Great Falls and Ponderay and Omak stores only.
$21
99
• Blocks 95% of UV rays • Soft, breathable Coolmax® Extreme fabric • 100% seamless • 12+ ways to wear • Polygiene® active odor control • Moisture wicking • Thermal Protection from cold & wind • Quick-drying • 2-way lateral stretch • One-size-fits-all adults
We reserve the right to limit quantities and correct printing errors. Prices are subject to change without notice. Some items limited to stock on hand. Prices quoted in US currency.
GEAR UP
Dragonfly Guide LTE Chest/Lumbar Pack Featuring a lightweight design, waterproof fabric, and Fishpond's signature zip-down fly bench, the Dragonfly Guide LTE Chest/Lumbar Pack is the only pack you need to for day-trips to your go-to river or lake. • Shell fabric made with a waterproof breathable membrane to shed wet weather and keep your fly-fishing kit sheltered from precipitation • Padded, contoured lumbar panel provides load control and carrying comfort • Unique design lets you convert the rear pocket into a zip-down fly bench for easy fly sorting and line rigging • Compression straps let you adjust the pack's volume to fit your load • Tabs and webbing straps provide attachment points for pliers, snips, and other tools • Bottom cinch straps let you carry an extra layer or rod tube • Front zip pocket helps keep necessities accessible • Two large water-bottle pockets help keep you hydrated with your beverage of choice (water bottles sold separately)
$59
99
dclp
Jul 2012
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OMAK LAKE
Omak Lake A Cutt Above the Rest The pod of big Omak Lake Cutthroat Trout finned along like a gang of bullies. They hunted in packs along “Beer Can” beach that morning, scanning the shallows for easy prey, moving parallel to shore. The glassy water and tailing fish forced us to keep our distance but keep enough line coiled in our hands, ready to hit the target. “Cutts” were easily seen that day and nearby anglers could be tipped to their approach. “OK yeah, got a gang of five bigguns’ headed your way, and they look ready to rumble...”
written by Stephan Avena - Big R Fly Shop of Omak
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Jul 2012
Just down the beach, my fishing partner had just hooked one too, this one on a Damsel nymph. We rode those fish down the beach and landed them together for a good photo of a double. One fish was bright and speckled like a Yellowstone Cutthroat, the other had entered spring mode and was colored with beautiful crimsons, olives and golds looking more like a “Dry Side” Steelhead. A quick high five and we got back to scanning for approaching fish.
OMAK LAKE
hen a group of three cutts appeared from the depths rather than coming down the line, I had to react quickly and put it in the zone. With a few flicks of my 6 weight, I managed to drop an orange size 4 Morlock’s Carp Breakfast close-by. “Damn, too close!” But wait, a moment later two of them wheeled around for another look; strip… strip… “Ooooh, one’s on it...” twitch, “yes!” I strip set into a nice four pounder and the fight was on.
How lucky am I that my hometown lake, only seven miles away, is my favorite piece of stillwater to fish in the state? Not to mention, the best cutthroat fishery and current state record holder!
Morlock’s Carp Breakfast
Double Cutt
spring mode Lahotan Cutthroat
Omak Lake is surrounded by wilderness and remains pristine in a modern world. Without a home-site in view, dramatic basaltic cliffs dive to the water’s edge and plunge to depths of 300 feet. This former Columbia River channel, closed off by some ancient geologic event, is over six miles long and contains 3,300 acres of cutthroat habitat dotted with islands, feeder streams and fish-prowled beaches. Indian legend claims the “Ogopogo”, also lurks here. This Loch Ness Monster sort of being has not only appeared to Native Americans here through the centuries but also, more recently, spooked a Dentist friend of mine. And no, alcohol is not allowed at Omak Lake. Monster or not, this “go to” lake is open year ‘round under selective gear regulations but, the best time to fish it is during the March 1 – May 31st catch and release season. That’s when those large Lahontan Cutthroats come into easy range of the beach going fly fisherman and readily feed on hatching insects, unwary shiners and sculpin. Sight fishing to these awesome fish can get you really excited and also really frustrated when a nice seven pounder refuses a perfect presentation. Jul 2012
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OMAK LAKE
Omak Lake is highly alkaline. Therefore, the Colville Confederated Tribes has chosen to stock the Lahontan Cutthroat for its ability to thrive in such water. This species can grow to 18 lbs. (the current Washington state record) in Omak Lake and weigh three to seven pounds on average. 5 to 7 weight rods for flinging larger streamers (sizes 2-10) in sometimes windy conditions are a good call. It’s okay to go with a brief level leader around 10lb. test to tussle with these fish using shiner patterns, buggers of all kinds or my current favorite, the Carp Breakfast. However, when the insect hatches come off, these meat-eating fish will sometimes key on them and you’ll have to switch up your game. Mostly midges will appear and sometimes a largish black caddis or even a mayfly will be seen. If your streamers don’t seem to interest them, you can bet they’re looking for bugs.
Greg Bennett and Sam Wike
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Jul 2012
Greg shows off another nice cutt
John Arterburn, Fish Biologist with the Colville Confederated Tribes monitors the creel census that anglers are asked to log after fishing Omak Lake. The “Colvilles” aim to continue the lake’s reputation for big cutts and have made fishery management a high priority, stocking judiciously and striving for size over sheer numbers. “I monitored the program at Omak Lake for 12 years or so and we seem to be in a really good cycle right now. The dominant cohort at the lake is about five or six years old and there are a lot of “Big Mouths” out there. These fish may last another couple years before the cycle turns over again”, says John. With the Colvilles in charge, you’ll likely find me fly fishing “Beer Can” again and again. If the midge hatch is on, I’ll be in my camp chair with a cold beverage watching my strike indicator drift out in an offshore breeze. I’ll know it won’t be long until “bobber down”, and I’ll be into a rumble again with a heavy Omak Lake cutt. As for getting a million dollar photo of the Ogopogo? Well, I always bring a camera. Stephan Avena of Big R Fly Shop of Omak, WA lives in Omak with his wife and two sons where he loves to fly fish.
BUGSHOT
Bugshot
Pteronarcys Californica: Salmony A salmony hatches on streamside vegetation on the banks of the Fall River, Wyoming, Idaho.
Jul 2012
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COLLEGE FISHING
Fishing: A College Problem
by Keaten Labrel - Big R Fly Shop of Great Falls
“If you enjoy the outdoors, stay in Montana; if you enjoy fashion, go to California.” - Keaten Labrel
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Jul 2012
Duck Hunt
who have the same passion for fishing as I do. Whether it’s chasing big fish on dries, beating backwater sloughs for warm-water species, or heading over the pass to fish for sea-run fish, we all have drive to be on the water as much as possible.
Drift Boating the Asphalt River
country you can go and be fishing a #8 foam bug under blue-bird skies, get off the water and enjoy a few pitchers of cold beverages with friends and the next day be fishing a blanket March Brown hatch in the rain. Going to school in Missoula, I’ve had exposure to some really nice water, really fun nightlife, and a lot of different lifestyles that had either had a positive impact on my lifestyle or reinforced who I am. That’s the thing about college; it’s a time to step outside the box and experience different things. You could say there was a little lag-time for me in becoming comfortable with my surroundings in Missoula. Coming from a small, conservative farm town in north central Montana, it took a little time for me to get use to the aroma of body odor and smoke. Once I was comfortable with my surroundings, I was able to breakout and meet a pretty neat group of guys (of course while experiencing the nightlife of the town)
COLLEGE FISHING
Going on my eighth year of college, I find myself continually questioning why I have spent so much time, money, and effort on my education. The immediate and most obvious answer is that Pharmacy school is expensive and extremely challenging, but thinking deeper into the answer I find myself coming up with answers that evolve around my hobbies; fishing and hunting. I have had multiple opportunities throughout my college career to move towards “greener pastures” as far as career choices, but for some underlying reason I continually declined. As I reach the ever-so close end to my college education, I find that the reason I chose to stay in Montana wasn’t for the education (hell I could’ve gone anywhere in the nation to pursue a degree in Pharmacy), but more so for the experiences that I’ve gained on and off the water. There is nowhere else in the
It’s hard to say whether or not I would’ve enjoyed going to school somewhere else. One thing that I do know, I’m glad that I chose to go where I did. I know for a fact that I wouldn’t have met a better group of friends. This article isn’t intended to be informative at all, but more so to shed some light on those who are thinking of leaving the state to pursue their college education. If you enjoy the outdoors, stay in Montana; if you enjoy fashion, go to California. Find the destination that suits you and go for it and live with no regrets. It is possible to pursue your career dreams while enjoying your hobbies. Enjoy it while you can.
Steel Slabs
Jul 2012
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2 K’S KAFE
2 K’s Kafe 20
Jul 2012
Street view of 2 K’s
2 K’ 5 years, i who reall daughter ress. 2 K becomes first time made to k lars who chops, ho Great Fal attempts
written by John Ewald
Locatio Phone:
2 K’S KAFE
K’s Kafe is a quaint little homestyle kitchen that sits just off the heart of downtown Great Falls. Open for business for only it has an atmosphere that feels like it has been there all along. The restuarant is run by a mother and her two daughters ly love and enjoy running a business and working together. Karen is the cook, daughter Kim works as prep cook while r Karla keeps the customers happy while bringing them great homecooking with a warm smile as the one and only waitK’s has a reputation for doing everything on the menu BIG! One look at one of their burgers or pancakes and the word big s an understatement! “My favorite thing to see are the people's faces when they order a hamburger or pancake for the e, it's priceless! You would not believe how many people take pictures of the food!” says Karla. Everything they make is keep it as homemade as possible. They make soups and pies from scratch. The burgers have become famous to the regueat at 2 K’s, but they also offer other delicious favorites and lunch specials like omelets, chicken fried steak, lasanga, pork ot turkey and hot beef sandwiches just to name a few. 2 K’s is a hidden gem that you must try if you live or are ever in the lls area. If you go for lunch, be sure to get there 10 to 15 minutes before noon as the boothes fill up quick. It took three s going in right at noon before I finally got there early enough to get a booth, but it was definitely worth the wait!
on: 406 3rd Avenue South Great Falls, MT 406.727.2053 Hours: 7am - 2pm, Mon-Fri
BIG burgers
Karla’s welcoming smile
Jul 2012
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TROUT CANDY
killer
Candy
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any trou
Grillos strike instigator op h S y l F R g i B ! e v i s u l Exc
Coffees
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Jul 2012
Coffee coffee Cat cat
Heavy Metal Worm
Blooms
Las pm
parachu
ut with this ďŹ ne selection of SAVORY
synthetic morsels.
st Chance Cripple md
ute Ant
TROUT CANDY
Tantalize
Parachute Royal Wulff
Hogans
Military Mayfly
Sally sulfer Jul 2012
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MONO VS FLUORO
Mon vs. Fluor Tippet Showdown Keaten “Cornfed” Labrel breaks it down for us What are the differences between Monfilament and Fluorocarbon tippets and how do they vary between popular brands on the market? Lets start this discussion by getting to know the general differences between mono and fluoro. There are four main differences between the two which are broken down into these catagories: Density, Strength, Visibility, Cost.
Density - Monofilament is less dense, meaning it will float. Floating line = more relaxed line (more slack in the line, less feel) - Fluorocarbon is much more dense, it sinks. Sinking line = more tension (less slack in the line, more feel)
Strength - Monofilament has more dynamic strength meaning is has stretch or give. Mono also is permeable to water over time which means it will weaken over time (this is why you don’t want to leave spools of mono out in the rain) - Fluorocarbon is more abrasion resistant than mono meaning is has little to no stretch. Limited stretch means more sensitive line (sensitive line = more feel). Fluoro also has zero water permeability
Visibility - Monofilament is larger in diameter than fluoro, therefore it is more visible in the water - Fluorocarbon is smaller in diameter…nearly invisible to fish
Cost - Fluorocarbon is more expensive than monofilament (and rightfully so…it’s better quality)
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MONO VS FLUORO
Rio: this is probably the most popular tippet material among consumers and comes in a variety of monofilaments and fluorocarbons. I will break this one down by the individual products available.
Powerflex: this is your middle of the road mono, most used tippet material on the market. It incorporates excellent knot strength, while maintaining stretch and supple characteristics. Pretty small diameter compared to pound test. RioMax Plus: this mono incorporates medium stiffness and abrasion resistance. Large in diameter compared to powerflex, but also has higher pound capabilities.
Suppleflex: this mono incorporates strength while having incredibly soft and supple characteristics. Good for dry fly fishing. Smaller in diameter as well as pound test.
Extreme: incorporates extreme strength while maintaining sensitivity. Absolutely no stretch with this mono. Extremely small diameter when compared to pound test (i.e. .008” = 20lb whereas powerflex with .008” = 8.2lb)
Fluoroflex: middle of the road fluorocarbon with medium stiffness.
Fluoroflex Plus: hands down the best fluoro on the market right now for all around use. Extremely supple with excellent knot strength. Smallest diameter compared to lb test. I have switched to this material this year and have seen a great improvement of hookup rate as well as landing bigger fish on smaller flies. Jul 2012
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MONO VS FLUORO
Maxima: the go to tippet for strength. Probably the strongest monofilament on the market. A lot of anglers use Maxima when making their own leaders because it is available in a lot of different sizes. Although is it extremely strong, it is also extremely large in diameter when compared to other brands. Not a good option for fishing dries or to finicky fish.
P-Line Shinsei: the strongest fluorocarbon available on the market today. Like Maxima, Shinsei is the go to tippet for anglers looking for superior strength while incorporating fluorocarbon into their leaders. What it adds to strength, it lacks in diameter (much larger diameter than other fluorocarbons on the market). This tippet is ideal for the streamer crowd. This is the stuff we use steelhead fishing.
Scientific Anglers: available in both fluoro and mono. The rep tells us that we will be receiving their new spools shortly which has line cutter welded onto the spool. This is your middle of the road tippet when comparing strength and diameter
Trouthunter: available in both mono and fluoro. The cool thing about this brand is it is available in “in between” sizes (3.5, 4.5, 5.5x) as well as normal diameters. Additionally this tippet material comes in spool sizes of 50m whereas others are 27m spools.
Climax: Again, available in both mono and fluoro spools. Climax prides themselves on superior knot strength capabilities when compared to other brands. While they may have this, they lack in the diameter to strength ratio.
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GEAR NIGHT
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» The bins are full of the newest winter tailwater fly patterns
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NEW WINTER FLY PATTERNS
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» Brief Bio: Who is Big R Store Manager John Teini?
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FARM BOY TO FARM STORE
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Killer Trout Candy
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» At the End of winter, in Hot Pursuit
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Chasing Skwalla
LAKE PEND OREILLE
» Find out what goes on Saturday mornings in the Big R Fly Shop
MAY 2012
A New Take on an Old Standard » New Gear Review: Hardy Reels
SATURDAY MORNING FLY OR DIE-HARDS
SLOTS STILL AVAILABLE BOOK TODAY!
Farm Store Fly Fishing
MARCH 2012
FLY FISHING OPPORTUNITIES:
M ARC
DE A
» Coming to Great Falls, MT and Sandpoint, ID
Farm Store Fly Fishing
CREATURE FEATURE
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FLY FISHING FILM TOUR
• J A NUA R Y
WE ALL HAVE OUR VISES
» We Review Renzetti and Regal Vises
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» A Brief Q&A With Friends That Came Along
FEBRUARY 2012
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Farm Store Fly Fishing
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JANUARY 2012
HONDURAS PERSPECTIVE
Farm Store Fly Fishing
We Mean Business in Omak
» Meet the Crew, The Third Big R Fly Shop is Now Open!
Freshwater Wolves
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Keaten Labrel ties up the CDC Rusty Spinner Fly Recipe: Thread: 8/0 brown MT Fly premier thread Hook: TMC 100 size 16 Tail: tailing fibers white Body: rusty spinner turkey biot Thorax: amber antron dubbing Wings: white or natural cdc puff
The rusty spinner is the true "trusty rusty" fly when referring to the PMD hatch. With the insanely large amount of PMDs that hatch during the summer months, this is an absolute must pattern to have in your arsenal while fishing during the spinner fall. This pattern incorporates CDC as the wing material, which gives the wings additional flow in the water much like a natural. You can fish it on the surface or let it sink a little into the film. A truly versatile fly that will increase your success when fishing over finicky fish. This fly will get you into the game.
Have you ever wondered how that Royal Wulff or Parachute Adams you use so much was tied or how to tie it? EMAIL US. We would be more than happy to tie up the pattern as close to the original as possible for your viewing pleasure. Describe the fly as best as possible or better yet, send along a pic of the fly and the name of it. Don’t forget to check out the fly tying section up on the Big R Fly Shop website HERE. We upload a new fly tying video weekly as our featured Fly of the Week, and the fly tying section continues to grow with some of our most popular fly patterns.
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Did you Know?! The Big R Fly Shop Website Provides Up-to-Date Info on : Area Waters, Fishing Reports and Stream Flows. UPDATE YOUR
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NOW!
You Can Also Find Other Fun and Informative Info :
Photo & Video Galleries, Fly Fishing Destinations, Quick Tip Videos, Fly Tying Videos, Fly of the Week, Bug Blog and Upcoming News and Events!
TOM DEAN
Tom Dean: Carving One Trout at a Time
His Own Path
Tom Dean is a completely self-taught artist from Great Falls, Montana. His custom, one-of–a-kind woodcarving sculptures have sold to private owners, corporations and collectors across the United States. Tom has taken his 40 year passion of fly fishing in Montana and has turned that into another passion of his; hand carving native trout, dragon fly’s, cattails/reeds, frogs, other fish species and more recently, full sized bison skulls out of exotic woods from around the world; including woods from Africa, Australia, Brazil, Central America, Hawaii and elsewhere, setting them into their natural river environments. Tom does not paint the wood nor does he use fillers. It is an amazing story to tell, about Tom Dean’s woodcarving sculptures and artistic talent. A talent he found later in life. Tom started to carve only in 2007 as a stress reliever from his previous corporate sales positions. Mike Goss, an art collector from Montana says this about Tom’s talent…”I knew Tom was born with a special talent. Through his younger years, he was fishing and hunting. Now, he has taken his talent into his hands and is sculpting so we all can enjoy it. Until you share your talent, you do not understand the impact you have on people. His talent is not something he picked up, but something he was born with.” Tom found his gift and his passion in life at the age of 45 and is now reaching new heights with every new piece he completes. His artwork, under the name of Milo Creek Carvings Fine Art 30
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has been exhibited at the esteemed CM Russell Art Auction of Western Art in Great Falls, Montana since 2008. He was also juried into the 2009 Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This event is an exclusive juried art show where artisans from across the county are juried into the show. Thousands of artists apply, but only 100 are chosen for this exhibit and sale. He has sold his work to private owners in the
TOM DEAN
exclusive Yellowstone Club in Southwest Montana as well as from collectors across the country. In his first year as a professional full time artist in 2008, Tom was nominated for the Montana Circle of American Masters, an honor that denoted his significant cultural and artistic stature on both a state and national level for traditional art.
Tom Dean’s Signature piece at Big R Stores in Great Falls, Montana (10 x 5 x 6ft) which took 18 months to complete. It weighs over 2,500 lbs. and has 11 hand-carved fish, 117 hand-carved cattails/reeds, two hand-carved dragonflies, one frog, and 1,800lbs of real river rock simulating a true river bed on a slab of Bubinga wood. Jul 2012
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TOM DEAN
Steve Burke, CEO of NBC Universal, owns two of Tom’s fish sculptures and has this to say about him…”I love to fish more than almost anything. Seeing one of Tom Dean’s carvings makes me think of fishing. He is a great artist”. Steve Holmes of St. Louis, Missouri, who is a collector and owner of many of Tom’s work wrote…”Tom Dean’s gift is so much more than carving a piece of wood into the image of a fish. Tom’s sculptures are magically different…they take me below the river, under the mystery of the river and put me in a world that looks up at the guy in a drift boat working so hard to see into my world. The pictures of the pieces in a magazine or on the website get you about half way there. To see these pieces in person is required. The craftsmanship is better than I imagined. Only in person does the emotion come at you. I got to spend the evening with Tom and his wife Patti, and came to appreciate an artist pursuing his genuine passion and insight for his art. He is the real deal and one of the few people I know who has figured out how to pursue his passion without having to compromise in any way.”
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TOM DEAN
In August of 2011, Tom exhibited his artwork at the IFTD show in New Orleans, Louisiana. The International Fly Tackle Dealer’s show is the world’s largest show dedicated to the fly fishing industry. He was able to exhibit and talk with leading fly fishing enthusiast from all over the world. Because of the international presence and saltwater enthusiast at this show, Tom has been requested to try his hand at carving saltwater fish species out of exotic woods, including Red Fish, Permit and Speckled Sea Trout. This December, Tom was humbled to be awarded one of the highest awards given in the art’s by the Montana Art’s Council and cosponsored by the National Endowment for the Art’s– Montana’s Circle of American Master’s Award. This award was given to Tom and three other recipients in 2011 for their Artistic Excellence, Craftsmanship and Technical Skill, Authenticity, and Contribution’s to the community.
Trout carved by Tom Dean in a piece for Wayne Wike called “The Posse” 34
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JE: Your carvings are largely influenced by your passion for trout and fly fishing. How long have you been fly-fishing and what are your favorite waters to fish in Montana? You do still have time to fly fish, right? TD: Fly fishing is still my passion and has been since I picked it up at the age of six in 1968. I started to fly fish with my Grandfather’s bamboo fly rod on the Smith River and the bug has never left. My favorite two places to fish for trout are the Missouri River up by Cascade and on the Smith River. We’ve had a cabin on the Smith since 1964 and it is a magical place to fish in the limestone cliffs. I don’t think anyone has enough time to fish! JE: What is your favorite species of trout to catch? To carve? TD: To be honest…either catching a big Rainbow or Brown on the end of your line is always a rush. It really doesn’t matter to me. Just being out there on the waters of Montana is a gift. As I always say…”A bad day of fishing is better than no fishing at all”. A long time ago my dad and I went fishing at Lightening Lake down by Cooke City and we caught these amazing Golden Trout. I would love to take my kids there and catch them again. Carving any trout is special to me. Each one has its own characteristics. I love to carve a big brown trout with the hump on the back and the mouth wide open in anticipation of its next meal. JE: In the June 2012 issue of Wood Carving magazine you mention a very large sculpture. Is this the one you created for Big R Stores in Great Falls?
TD: Yes. The sculpture I did for Big R is still my Signature piece. Wood Carving magazine is published out of Sussex England and is read in 57 countries around the world. I was humbled to be a contributor to this world class publication. Big R’s sculpture has now been seen and read around the world. Pretty cool. JE: How did it come to be that you would end up creating the sculpture for Big R? TD: I met Wayne Wike through some mutual friends back in 2007. Wayne shared with me that he always wanted to showcase talent right here in Great Falls and that a person didn’t need to be from a big city to have talent. A “Montana” wall if you will. He and I had many, many different discussions of how, what and where a sculpture would end up in the store. Originally, I had planned for the sculpture to be hanging from cables in a vertical manner over by the fly shop. After thinking about this in nausea… I decided that this probably wasn’t going to work because of the weight. Long story short, Wayne and I decided to place it where it currently stands. Gerald Hinton, who did all the log work in Big R, and I got together on how to structurally secure the sculpture. I decided to pitch it at 30 degrees so that I could get the “feeling” of a river environment. Gerald made a 30 degree jig for me in my garage. I ended up finding a large slab of Bubinga wood out of Portland, Oregon. For the next 1 ½ years, I worked on this piece in my garage. Let me tell you, It was quite the process to move this from my garage up to Big R. There were 12 Big R employee’s who helped lift it onto saw horses in the back of a 14 foot cargo trailer and then used a fork lift to lift and secure it in place with 26 large lag bolts. The entire sculpture weighs approximately 2,500 lbs.
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TOM DEAN
Big R marketing team member John Ewald interviews Tom Dean
JE: At what point in your carving career did you create this sculpture? TD: I owe a huge amount of gratitude to Wayne Wike for believing in my passion and my dream to create a large piece like the one at Big R. I knew what it was going to look like in my mind, but no one else did. So, huge thanks to Wayne. This sculpture was at the very beginning of my art career and literally propelled me into my new career as an artist full time. JE: Typically how long does an average sized trout take you to carve? Those trout spots must take many, many hours! TD: Depending on the exotic wood I use for a trout, it can take anywhere from one to two weeks to complete say a 15 inch trout. What takes more time, is if the trout has a lot of motion to it. In other words, if the trout has a big “S” curve or a right or left curve. Those take longer. A straight fish I can do in about a week from start to finish. The “spots” are the thing that I least like to do. It takes a lot of hand and arm strength to complete. I place the fish between my legs and press a cylinder drill bit into the wood. I start at the nose and work my way back to the tail. As far as time, it doesn’t take that long… just a lot of muscle. JE: Is there any history of artists in your family or are you the first? TD: Yes. My dad and my sisters are great artists. My oldest sister is the only other family member that has pursued art full time. I was a late “bloomer” so to speak. I had no desire, interest or “training” to become a full time artist. It just kind of happened.
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JE: You also carve cattails/reeds, dragon flies, and frogs to accompany many of your trouts’ environments. You also recently began carving beautiful bison skulls out of exotic woods. Do you plan on challenging yourself to anything new anytime soon and what might that subject matter be? TD: Carving fish, specifically trout, will always be my first love of carving. A couple of years ago, I challenged myself to see if I could carve a bison skull. I’ve always loved them, so I set out and completed one. I ended up selling my first one to the owner and founder of the video game Guitar Hero. That was pretty amazing. Since I carved one and it came out pretty good, I had to do another one to see if I could improve. I did and still have this one. My next carving I’d like to do is an elk head and attach real sheds to it. I think that would be a pretty amazing piece. I’ve seen others do that in pine, but never in exotic woods. I’d also like to carve the bust of a Big Horn Sheep all out of exotic woods. JE: Now that you have found this newly acquired passion, how much longer do you think you will continue to pursue it? TD: For the rest of my life or until I accidently cut too many fingers in the process!
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