torch VOLUME 2: MARCH 2015
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TORCH VOLUME 2: MARCH 2015
in this issue... INSTAGRAM EPIC SHARES THE HOOKUP
TORCHBEARER SPOTLIGHTS : TY HALLOCK
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BENCHMADE SPOTLIGHT 16 : Mike Schmidt’s Grumpy Muppet MUST HAVE GEAR 26 : For the Tying Bench PEBBLE MINE : The Battle Is Not Over
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THE BLOODKNOT 48 : CUDA: Underrated, Unregulated The TORCHBEARER INTERVIEW 54 : JOEL LAMARCO 2014 SHOP of the YEAR
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COVER IMAGES by JOEL LAMARCO (LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY) ALL CONTENT & IMAGES COPYRIGHT 2015 - VEDAVOO
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#glassisnotdead vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 5
INSTAGRAM E
A few of the many epic shots submitted and TOP ROW (L-R): 1LAST_CAST, BARDCORE86, BOTTOM ROW (L-R): WVANGLERDOTCOM, PZAGORSKI10
thanks for tagging! #VEDAVOO #VEDAV 6 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
EPIC SHARES
tagged by Torchbearers through Instagram... S_CLEMENS/STEELIESFUKENEH, & 508FLYBOW 020, PIGFARMINK_NOR_EASTAH, & CASTINGLIFEAWAY
VOOTORCHBEARERS #BETTERAMERICANGEAR vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 7
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THE HOOKUP TORCHBEARER ONLY SPECIAL
$30 Off AND free patch OLIVE, TAN, or BLACK Tightlines Sling Packs
Torchbearer Andy “Dufrain” Fictel with his Torchbearer Tightlines Sling... and a Brute Steelhead
use coupon code
TORCH0315
at checkout to score your deal THROUGH THE END OF MARCH vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 11
TORCHBEARER
SPOTLIGHT TY HALLOCK tyoutdoors.com
This past fall, I had the opportunity to take my dad on a float of Gray Reef outside my hometown of Casper, Wyoming. The guys at Ugly Bug / Crazy Rainbow Lodge hooked us up, and truthfully, despite brutal conditions, we had an incredible, memorable trips. A big part of that was our guide, Ty Hallock, who worked harder than I’ve ever seen a guide work before, busting back up runs all day as if zombies awaited us at the takeout. Near the float’s end, I hollered from the back for him to put the brakes on as I connected with a brute Cutt-Bow on a MONEY crayfish pattern stripped fast (cheers Ish). After a few quick snapshots, Ty turned and said “That one’s going on a box!” Though it didn’t make much sense at the time, I’ve come to appreciate exactly what he meant. If you visited us on the show tour, you’ve seen his work first hand. From Cliff Boxes to Yeti’s (and soon Vedavoo Packs), he hand “paints” every piece. I could say a lot more here about how impressed I am with his work - but I’ll let it speak for itself. Keep up the good work, Ty, and thanks for bearing our torch! Scott 12 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
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ANGLERS CHOICE FLIES
MIKE SCHMIDT
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THE GRUMPY MUPPET
Big Flies Catch Big Fish this pattern proves it. Whether fished in flowing or still waters, the Muppet is a fantastic baitfish imitator that produces consistently. Drifted or Stripped, the action on this articulated beast is fantastic - and it is a MUST HAVE for any streamer junkie. Mike Schmidt of Anglers Choice Flies provides a photo driven step by step for our torchbearers. We just want to see the photos of what it yields for you in return ;) Hook Up and Tag Up! #grumpymuppet vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 17
SCHMIDT GRUMPY MUPPET REQUIRED MATERIALS Hook1: Gamakatsu B10S size 2 Hook2: Gamakatsu SP11-3L3H size 1 Body1: Polar Chenille Body2: Extra Select Craft Fur Flash: Mirage Flashabou Legs: Rubber Sili Legs Cheeks: Mallard Flank Head: Senyo Laser Dub Eyes: Lead Barbell, medium Connection: Beadalon .018� 19 strand Bead: ProEye 3D
Step 1: Place the Gama B10S size 2 hook in the vise. Start your thread about halfway on the shank and tie in craft fur approximately two hook lengths off the back of the shank. Tie secure to the rear tie in point which is where your thread hangs halfway between the hook point and hook barb. Step 2: Use a marker to bar the Craft Fur. place four thick vertical bars. 18 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
I like to
Step 3: Tie in Polar Chenille at the rear tie in point then palmer it forward to the eye of the hook. Be careful when advancing it that you stroke the fibers back each time around the hook shank so you get the best distribution and change hands when wrapping so you do not introduce twist. Step 4: Tie in two rubber legs on each side of the shank reaching approximately to the bend of the hook.
Step 5: (optional) Tie in a couple strands of Mirage Flashabou over the top of the tail then whip finish. Step 6: Place the Gama SP11-3L3H size 1 in the vise. Make the attachment using 4� of 19 strand Beadalon .018� and a bead to keep the wire together and reduce fouling. Make sure the attachment is made using tight crossing wraps for the best connection all the way back to the rear tie in point which on this hook is right above the hook barb. vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 19
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Step 7: At the rear tie in point secure Polar Chenille then wrap five side by side wraps forward, ending approximately over the hook point. Step 8: Tie in Craft Fur over the top of the material bump and extending about to the bend of the rear hook. When tying it in take your index finger and thumb to push the material down each side of the hook shank before securing it in with tight wraps of thread over the clipped end of the Craft Fur.
Step 9: Use marker to add thick vertical barring to the Craft Fur. Step 10: Repeat steps 7-9 to add a second wing, with the rear end tapering slightly forward. The front of the second wing should leave approximately a half inch of space behind the eye of the hook. 22 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
Step 11: Add two more rubber legs down each side of the front hook, extending about to the eye of the rear hook. Step 12: Tie in a Mallard Flank feather on each side of the hook shank with the tips extending to about the midpoint of the rear hook.
Step 13: Prep Rusty Bronze Laser Dub by pulling and stacking to align the fibers and length. Holding the Laser Dub by the midpoint then flower out the material, push the material over the eye of the hook, switch to holding it with your left hand and tie it in with a couple center wraps. Reverse the material back over itself while carefully working the thread through to form some gill coloration. Repeat with 2X as much Laser Dub to Form the Bulk of the Fly’s Head. vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 23
Step 15: In front of the Laser Dub head and directly behind the eye of the hook figure eight in medium lead barbell eyes on the bottom side of the shank. Whip finish between the Laser Dub and the lead eyes, then hit the thread with Krazy Glue to help ensure a more lasting finish with the exposed thread.
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FISHING THE MUPPET...
The Grumpy Muppet is a versatile fly with some serious shimmy regardless of water flow. It is a pattern that makes use of layered synthetic materials to achieve this motion and give tiers/anglers an option when natural materials are harder to come by. The fly is lightly weighted and I have found that it is best fished on a full sinking line to achieve your desired depth. For maximum movement I use short quick strips to an abrupt stop, making sure to alter the length of both the strip and pause to get an unpredictable cadence. The bulk in the head forces the water wide before crashing back together on the tail and forcing it to move around even when fished at slow speeds. It is a suggestive pattern, so rather than being a specific imitation it looks a bit like a multiple potential food sources. With the construction of the fly, allowing for either a vertical serpent style jig or a side to side swim, you can hit any prime lie from multiple angles with multiple retrieves to cover the water as best as possible. Despite its’ size this is a pattern that is very castable, so whether a seasoned streamer veteran or someone new to the streamer game, this is a fly that can be tied on and fished with confidence. -Michael Schmidt, AnglersChoiceFlies.com vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 25
BENCH BASIN
POP OPEN, CATCH TRIMMINGS, FOLD, PACK, AND REUSE LATER
$24 | $27 with Patch 26 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
MUST HAVE GEAR
WRAP ALL YOUR TOOLS AND GO $39 | $42 with Torchbearer Patch
FOR EVERY TYING BENCH
MAGNUM WALLET
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VEDAVOO TL BEAST SLING
AMERICAN ANGLER GEAR OF THE YEAR
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the battle is NOT over “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.” – Mark Twain While one of America’s most famous authors may have uttered those words, it also applies to one of sporting conservation’s most infamous threats – the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The fight to protect the world’s most productive wild salmon fishery and one of the planet’s finest sport fishing destinations has been a long and largely successful one. The sporting community has linked arms and stood side-by-side with Alaska Natives, commercial fishing interests, and other conservationists in an unprecedented alliance to protect 14,000 jobs and a $1.5 billion industry that has driven proponents of the world’s largest proposed mining projects to the brink of defeat. Indeed, 65% of Alaskans recently voted for a ballot measure that would require additional scrutiny for projects like the Pebble Mine. But, we can’t rest now, for while the Pebble Mine may be down, it is not out. 34 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
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In July 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a set of common-sense restrictions on any future development of large mining projects within the watersheds of the Nushagak and Kvichak Rivers. These are two of Bristol Bay’s major salmon factories and they also house some incredible sport fishing and hunting opportunities within their reaches. EPA’s proposals laid out a set of impacts that will not be allowed should a developer wish to bring forward an application to mine in Bristol Bay. EPA is letting developers know the high standards to which they will be held up front, which ought to be appreciated by those who have designs on building a large mine in the headwaters of Bristol Bay. If the mine cannot be built with total assurance that this unrivaled wild salmon fishery will suffer no harm, then it should not be done. Understanding the immense challenge of meeting these standards, it’s unsurprising that the major mining companies who had backed Pebble decided their money would be more wisely spent elsewhere, in one case walking away after investing over $500 million in the project, and in another case simply donating shares in the project to a pair of charitable organizations. So, that leaves the Pebble Limited Partnership with only one “partner” – Northern Dynasty Minerals, a junior mining firm out of British Columbia whose only asset is Pebble. The only mining that NDM has ever done is in the stock market, and that’s been going rather poorly for them. With not much money in the bank, Pebble’s backers are desperate, even going so far as to cede 15% of the company to a shady hedge vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 37
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fund based in the Cayman Islands in order to fund its advocacy activity. Like an animal backed into a corner, Pebble’s still dangerous. Pebble filed several lawsuits against the EPA in hopes of delaying the agency’s work. Most of the allegations have been dismissed, but in late November 2014 a judge in Alaska issued a temporary injunction that halted EPA’s work – a decision viewed by all involved as procedural in nature.. Until this suit is resolved, Pebble is doing all it can save a dying project, including continuing its legal strategy, waging a multi-faceted PR campaign, and an effort to gut the Clean Water Act. Of course, none of these new activities involved mining, which is odd for a mining company. Most recently, S. 234 was introduced by Senators David Vitter (LA) and Joe Manchin (WV). Senator Vitter has specifically pointed to EPA’s work in Bristol Bay as a reason he wants to take away the agency’s ability to use a part of the Clean Water Act as is currently allowed. In February 2015 Representative Bob Gibbs (OH) introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. Both bills would severely curtail EPA’s ability to use the Clean Water Act “whenever” unacceptable adverse impacts arise; the very criteria by which the law should be applied. Another threat to EPA being able to conclude their Bristol Bay work exists through the federal budget and appropriations process. If EPA were to have its funding restricted in such a way that prevented the agency from spending money on the Bristol Bay process, vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 39
which also would stop us short of our goal. Pebble’s strategy is simple, really: delay, delay, delay and hope for a more favorable administration or for the opposition to lose interest. Knowing these facts, now is not the time for the incredible alliance that has been formed to protect Bristol Bay to take our collective foot off the gas pedal. While the EPA process has moved favorably, there remain a few steps that the agency must complete to finalize the proposed restrictions on disposal of mine waste in Bristol Bay. Until these restrictions are finalized, Bristol Bay remains at risk. Pebble opposition to to become becomecomplacomplaPebbleis is counting counting on on its opposition cent. cent. WeWecannot cannotallow allowthat thattotohappen. happen. We’ve come too far and fought for too long to be denied victory. Please continue to write your Members of Congress, and tell your friends in the sportsman community to do the same. This is a fight we can win – but we can’t win if we don’t fight. Scott Hed, who penned this message, is the Director of the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska. To learn more about their front-lines efforts for Bristol Bay, visit: www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org 40 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
UNTIL THE BATTLE IS WON, WE’LL KEEP BUILDING STREAMSIDE BILLBOARDS...
Vedavoo.com/No-Pebble
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Pick up your own SCOF gear - Built by Vedavoo at:
www.southerncultureonthefly.com
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CUDA
underrated, unregulated BY VEDAVOO TORCHBEARER CHRIS HART 48 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
when heading to the Keys, I (like most anglers) have three things on my mind: Tarpon, Permit, and Bones. The big three – the fish every angler dreams of hooking up with. For some reason, every time I head that far south, I am either too early in the year or the conditions simply aren’t right on the given day I am set to fish. This trip was more of the same. A week earlier a cold front went through so water temps were still too cold to target tarpon. The day I finally got out with my guide, Steve Hancock, another front came through bringing 20 mph winds that blew in the wrong direction. The result was jacked up water visibility on the flats and generally tough conditions. I did have a shot at a few baby poons but they weren’t having it and held tight in the safety of the mangroves. Fortunately for me, Steve worked hard to get me on fish. Even with the poor visibility, the conditions were ripe for a predator I had never experienced before – the Barracuda. We spent the second half of the day targeting cudas. Early on I had a few extraordinarily violent strikes, but couldn’t hook up. A few times I had fish follow me to the boat, but I ran out of runway. I finally get a few little guys to the boat but not the fish I am looking for. We moved on to the ocean side to see if the water visibility was better. Running out of time, Steve had a few more spots in mind. There was no shortage of sharks but I wasn’t able to hook up with any of the bigger ones. I did get a two and a half foot bonnethead to the boat and also managed to land a few more small cudas but no exceptional fights. vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 49
Nearing our final hour, I saw a big, violent explosion in the water and I was hooked up with a good barracuda. Watching how aggressively this fish attacked left me in awe. The thrashing, the jumping, and the screaming drag – it was pure awesome! It took all day, but it the wait was well worth it. I could not have been happier with the experience. In talking with Steve, I got to learn more about the barracuda. It was clear he and other guides in the Keys share a similar passion for these predatory fish. In truth, they are underrated as pure catch-and-release game fish – especially after experiencing the rush of fighting a good one. THE PROBLEM – There are currently no catch regulations on the barracuda and Florida Keys guides and fishery analysts are beginning to notice a decline in numbers, especially when it comes to the bigger fish. As humans, we have a tendency to take and take until we realize it is too late - unregulated barracuda harvests could lead to a similar outcome. You don’t hear much about people eating barracuda in the US, but it is popular in the Caribbean where it is being purchased for roughly $1 per pound wholesale and sold at much higher prices. Ultimately, regulations need to be established now to avoid bigger problems in the future. Be aware, use your voice, and save the barracuda! - CHRIS HART, VEDAVOO TORCHBEARER FAVE FLATS GEAR: VEDAVOO TIGHTLINES SLING DELUXE Check out Captain Steve Hancock – great guide, great guy www.keywestflyandspinfishing.com 50 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
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THE TORCHBEARER INTERVIEW JOEL LAMARCO, LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY Where do you call home? - Harrisburg Pennsylvania Aside from fishing and photography, what’s your hobby? - Volkswagens. Fly tying and cooking. I’m a classically trained chef. Been a professional chef for the past 8 years. What got you into fly fishing? When? - I got really bored with spin fishing. It got to the point that fishing wasn’t really fun, or challenging anymore. I was in the age neighborhood of 12-14. So I got my first fly rod from Dicks Sporting Goods. A Berkley 7’6” 4-5wt, ‘Cherrywood’. Taught myself to cast and tie flies. The rest is history. I haven’t even held a spin rod in years. If I can’t catch it with a fly rod. I don’t need to catch it. JOEL HAS BEEN A TEAM PHOTOGRAPHER FOR VEDAVOO SINCE 2012 54 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
PHOTOS BY JOEL LAMARCO (LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY)
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PHOTOS BY JOEL LAMARCO (LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY) 56 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
Favorite fish to chase (Fresh and Salt)? - Trout & Redfish What got you into photography? When? - I’m not really sure LOL. I always liked photography and took classes in high school. But I really started to ‘get’ into it about 3-4 years ago. Now it’s an obsession, I don’t go anywhere without at least one camera, and a few lenses. What drives you in photography and fly fishing? - My drive comes from unattainable goals - to capture as many memories as I can, and to fish as many places and catch as many different species of fish as I can. Where do you wish you go to shoot or fish right now? - Tough one. Couple different places I’d like to go. But if I have to just pick one. It would prolly be Patagonia. The scenery, the fishing. Nothing like it in the world. Maybe one day I’ll wet a line or snap a few photos down that way.
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PHOTO BY JOEL LAMARCO (LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY) vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 59
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PHOTOS BY JOEL LAMARCO (LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY)
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PHOTO BY JOEL LAMARCO (LAMARCO PHOTOGRAPHY) 62 | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | vedavoo.com
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JOEL’S WORK, VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/LAMARCOPHOTO vedavoo.com | TORCH | VOLUME 2: SPRING 2015 | 63
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Let Them Color Fish!
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Visit VEDAVOO.COM/Coloring-Contest to print kid Canvases!
We’re taking entries through the end of March. Judges choice work will win Vedavoo Kids Gear like our Little Bugger Sling For more about Andrea’s Work:
ANDREALARKO.COM
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Torchbearers, With another great season in the field ahead, I wanted to send a personal thank you for all you have done, do, and will do to help us share the good news about our work. After this brutal winter - and many hours spent in the workshop, I’m dying to get out there again soon myself! But I hope this publication has given you a way to get even more excited about what lies ahead. Good luck this year - and as always - please let us know if we can do anything to support you better, or build something to help make your time more enjoyable out there.
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