While we all have wonderful fishing holes, rivers and lakes in our hometown states, but sometimes it’s nice to get out and see what else is out there. And we can tell you, there is a whole lot.  Ben Smith of Arizona Wanderings helps you prep for an out-of-state fishing trip with the buddies. Safe travel!

Last summer, I had a great opportunity to head up out of the Arizona heat to the float the Deschutes River in Oregon, with my good friend, Eric. Since this was a do-it-yourself fly fishing trip, it was absolutely important that I show up with all the gear that I needed. Here is the list that I drew up that served me very well on our 4-day float down the river.

Fishing gear - I had a good idea of the type of fishing I was going to be doing, and with a little help from my contact there, I was able to pack accordingly.

• 2 Rods
• 2 Reels
• 3 Fly boxes (dries/streamers/nymphs)
• Leaders
• Tippet
• Forceps
• Gink
• Indicators
• Split-shot
• Camera
• Sunglasses
• Flashlight/headlamp

Clothing - We were planning on being on the river for 4 day and I would have access to a washing machine at the end of the trip.

• Waders
• Wading boots
• 1 pair of fleece wading pants
• Hiking boots
• Flip-flops (camp shoes)
• Goretex jacket
• Beanie
• Ball cap
• 2-3 handkerchiefs
• 1 jeans
• 1 shorts
• 6 t-shirts
• fleece
• 2 sets of thermals
• boxers and socks

 

Miscellaneous – These items were easier to get/borrow once I was at my location.

• License
• Sunscreen
• Bugspray
• Sleeping gear
• Food
• Dry bag (for river travel)

 

What would you add to this list?

 

Judith O’Keefe took on Washington D.C. with the Save Bristol Bay crew. She is a supporter of the cause and so are we, we’re proud of the efforts made by fellow sportsmen at The U.S. Capitol!

Did I hesitate when Trout Unlimited’s regional director of the Save Bristol Bay project called asking me to join thirty-nine fellow anglers and hunters from across the nation? Not for one second!  We were being asked to join the Bristol Bay Sportsmen’s Summit, and descend on our nation’s capitol in an effort to prevail on the powers that be to support the EPA in it’s effort to utilize the Clean Water Act to save this pristine watershed from a proposed massive open-pit mine.

I’ve always had an interest in government.  Working for candidates running for various state offices in the nineties introduced me to the world of politics . . . the good, bad and the ugly.  The most surprising lesson was that an individual can, actually make a difference.  Combined with my love of the natural environment, ecology, fish and Alaska, this project was tailor made to suit me.  Yes, of course I was going.  I was a little nervous about what was expected of me:  Did I need to arm myself with the latest scientific data, the facts and figures relating to the economic impact the proposed Pebble Mine would have on Alaska, the Northwest and the world? Well, no matter, I would do what was necessary.  This topic needed to be addressed in a big way, and as soon as possible.

The proposed Pebble Mine would generate up to 10 billion tons of toxic mine waste that would have to be treated in-perpetuity. Mine waste disposal in the Bristol Bay watershed is a direct threat to the tremendous wild salmon habitat that supports the Bristol Bay fishery and supplies the world with a healthy and sustainable source of wild salmon. The salmon fishery is the economic engine of the region, generating an estimated $450 million in revenue each year and providing some 12,000 jobs.

I was up at o-dark-thirty on April 14^th, headed to Washington DC, as part of the sportsmen’s summit.  Our group met that evening in a downtown hotel for introductions and a training session.  To say I was awed and inspired by the individuals that made up this coalition would be a gross understatement; commercial fisherman, sportsmen and women, business owners, scientists and representatives from the Bristol Bay Native Corporation – an unlikely group of bed-fellows.  Under typical circumstances, these folks would be on opposite sides of the fence.  One of the unique aspects of the Save Bristol Bay project is that those who would usually support the “development of our natural resources” are staunchly opposed to the Pebble Mine.  Also, I was relieved to hear that in my upcoming appointments on Capitol Hill, folks who had the facts, figures, and the day-to-day experience of living in Bristol Bay would accompany me.

My three days meeting with White House staff, the EPA, and the Oregon delegation on “The Hill” were interesting, exciting and most importantly, productive.  It may be an anomaly, but in the saga of Bristol Bay v/s a multi-national mining corporation, I believe that the good guys have a fighting chance.  After the events April’s Sportsmen’s Summit for Bristol Bay, our decision makers have been reminded again how important this issue is for the people of Bristol Bay and all who treasure it. To find out more about Bristol Bay and how you can make a difference, go to: www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/about.html orwww.savebristolbay.org

 

 

Filson Life guest blogger Dennis Lynch, knows  good horses when he sees them. If you’re planning on throwing some cash down this Saturday on the Kentucky Derby or just want to be able to “talk shop” at a Derby Party, take some advice from Dennis. We’re going with, Bodemister! Let the races begin and best of luck.

International intrigue, rivalries, princesses and paupers all come together this Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky in hopes of grabbing the most sought after prize in thoroughbred racing… The Kentucky Derby.

They spring the latch at 6:24 pm and the hopes and dreams of hundreds will be sailing past the stands along with the horses. The winner gets $1,459,600 out of the total pot of $2,196,500 but that’s not the real prize everyone is after. “Just win, baby” is what it’s all about!

Following are snippets on the 20 horses scheduled to start this Saturday, hopefully enough to increase your appetite for the sport, intrigue and of course the chance at financial gain.

In post position order:

#1 Daddy Long Legs- Aidan O’Brien , Ireland’s leading trainer brings this guy across the Atlantic, only one race on dirt—busto- probably not

#2 Optimizer-  79 yr. old 4 time Derby winning trainer D.W. Lukas tries to become the oldest to ever train a Derby winner- I hope he tries next year at 80

#3 Take Charge Indy - Cajun jockey Calvin “ on the rail”, Borel guides this regally bred colt who is a live longshot- don’t overlook this one

#4 Union Rags- Mrs Phyliss Weyth a du Pont heiress and JFK intern, who sold this colt once for $145,000 only to find him and buy him back for $390,000 has a true love story going with this colt-Don’t miss this story and he’s going to run “Off the screen”

#5 Dullahan – Louisville homie, Dale Romans wants this race bad and he has the most “fun loving” group of owners in the field—this one is LIVE

#6 Bodemeister - This once removed name sake of skier Bode Miller, Trainer Bob Baffert named his son after Bode and the horse was named after his son—owned by Asia’s largest non-alcohol beer distributor- big chance here and probable favorite

#7 Rousing Sermon- California connections headed to Louisville will need a sermon Sunday morning to pick their heads up

#8 Creative Cause -Beat “Bode” last time –shows up every race- use him!

#9 Trinniberg- Father/son combo team up as trainer/owner respectively, named after their native land of Trinnidad-great story but this guy will be looking for a cab at the head of stretch

#10 Daddy Knows Best- Top trainer and jock, this is a real sneaky longshot –listen to your Daddy

#11 Alpha- Great trainer owner by one of the world’s richest men-money can’t buy everything-looks too skinny

#12 Prospective- Florida bred trainer brings this one in from the Sunshine State-possible

#13 Went the Day Well- Sounds like a British movie starring Anthony Hopkins- owned and trained by last year’s winning owner and trainer-lightning won’t strike twice

#14- Hansen-Last years champion, owner tried dying this white horses tail before last race-racing officials said no—they will feel blue after the race

#15 Gemologist-Top trainer Todd Pletcher brings this undefeated colt into Louisville – he ain’t done nothing wrong!

#16 El Padrino- Another Todd Pletcher trainee- going the wrong way

#17 Done Talking- Kinda Cinderella story but this guy is Done Talking and Done Running

#18 Sabercat-Top trainer in Steve Asmussen but looks overmatched here

#19 I’ll have Another- Outside post but his guy always shows up-might be bellying up to the bar saying “Ill have another “ after the race

#20 Liaison- Bob Baffert or not- stick a fork in him he’s done

Top pick- Union Rags

Best of rest- Take Charge Indy, Bodemeister, Creative Cause, Daddy Knows Best, Gemologist, I’ll have Another

*these picks are worth exactly what it cost to read them

Have fun, enjoy the spectacle and the beauty of these wonderful animals!

 

The Kentucky Derby is a day for fine and talented horses, good company, mint juleps, lucky spirits and of course a handsome outfit. We pulled aside some daper and gentleman Filson looks, for those of you headed to the actual event and even those who have RSVP’d to a friends annual derby party. Have fun and good luck!

Tin Cloth Blazer:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whipcord Pants:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage Plaid Shirt :

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clip Suspenders:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spinnaker Slip-on:

 

John Townes Van Zandt returns home to Texas after a successful film festival tour with the fishing documentary “Low and Clear” and picks up where he left off in building the pristine “Sea Dart” fishing boat.

What a wonderful and exciting experience it has been to take our movie “Low and Clear” to multiple film festivals over the last couple of months. So far the movie has shown at Camden Film Festival, True/ False, SXSW, Dallas International Film Festival and will continue to show in Toronto, Telluride and other prestigious festivals. It has been very rewarding for everyone involved with the project and a huge validation for the film makers themselves who saw the promise in the story of my friend Xenie Hall and I with the dramatic contrast in our personalities, our love for fishing and the need to be outdoors. I would very much enjoy to follow the film to other festivals, but for me, I must get back to my wife and baby in Austin as well as my passion for woodworking. I manage the cabinetry and millwork division for Escobedo Construction which is a general contracting company made unique by our self performance of all trades in the construction process. Our company utilizes modern machinery and software, employs highly skilled craftsmen and is capable of innovating and building anything made of stone, steel or wood. One example of our capabilities is the “Sea Dart” which is the wooden watercraft that I fish from in the Texas marsh shown in the movie. We are now in the process of building 4 of these boats for customers and having been distracted by the film tour, I need to get busy completing these boats for the June deadline.

Boat building is a meditative process that requires much care and discipline. It is an ancient craft that summons man’s greatest capabilities. I say craft rather than art because the term artist has become over used and self proclaimed by too many these days as a shortcut to becoming a true craftsman. It is the responsibility of society to determine what art is. Van Gogh considered himself a painter, not an artist. The discipline of learning a craft requires years of tedious repetition until the exercise is second nature and becomes woven into the fabric of an individual. This is true for a multitude of professions: woodworking, welding, sewing, painting, film making, cooking etc… My thought on the decline of modern society is that few are willing to dedicate to this level of discipline opting for the easier route and thus trades are lost and quality is forgotten.

Quality is a commitment, involves respect and is an obligation to the resources that comprise the creation of any man made object. To slight that which could have been of quality is to throw away something valuable and is a true sin against the natural world. To intentionally design something of lesser quality in order to increase profitability is a perversion, is non sustainable and is certainly wrong. Sustainability has become a huge topic lately as the world’s natural resources rapidly diminish but in the beginning when man naturally created things to last, sustainability was a given. True sustainability is a result of creating quality goods that last and do not need to be replaced. This is my goal as a student of the craft of woodworking, it is the commitment of Escobedo Construction and it is the reason that we love, use and respect Filson products.

If you are looking for more fishing stories check out some of our other guest blogs.

 

Filson Life guest blogger Dennis Lynch is one traveling man. He’s been on the road for the last 8 weeks scoping out the finest thoroughbreds for the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky horse sales this summer.  Ever wonder what a man like himself packs for these long hauls? A whole lot of Filson gear, Dennis takes us in his suitcase and on the road with him through this incredible journey.

1 wheeled carry-on

1 travel Kit

1 twill travel bag

1 20 pocket travel vest

4 lightweight chambray shirts

1 antique tin cloth blazer

2 heavy weight pique polo shirts

2 pair lightweight travel pants

1 Filson orange ball cap

2 pairs of Filson shorts

 

Armed with the above list of Filson products I have spent the last eight weeks on the

road. The main objective was trying to locate and identify promising Thoroughbred

yearlings and recruit them for sale at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky and Saratoga New

York sales in July and August, respectively.

 

 

The 25th of February found me boarding a flight to Detroit connecting through

Amsterdam and landing in Doha, Qatar. (A later blog will detail an interesting Filson

happening in the airport in Amsterdam.) The Qatar trip was to make contacts in the

rapidly expanding Thoroughbred business there. Thoroughbreds were the main

attraction, but camels, falcons, and Saluki hounds also played a role.

 

The first week of March we were inspecting horses in South Carolina and Georgia.

Some wonderful low-country fare was enjoyed there. The second week was a flight to

Oklahoma City with driving stops at ranches through Oklahoma, Louisiana, and ending

up outside of Houston, Texas. Wonderful Cajun cuisine was enjoyed outside of

Lafayette, Louisiana. Back to Lexington and Niece Shannon’s St. Patrick’s day

wedding. (No Filson gear was used, nor any damaged at this event.) Palm Beach

Florida followed up the wedding for the 2-year-old in training sale. Prominent use of

Filson shorts and polo shirts.  Lexington for a day and then a flight to Baltimore for Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware,

and New Jersey inspections. Everywhere it is SPRINGTIME! We have been fortunate

to be following the bloom of the daffodils and forsythia, redbuds and dogwoods moving

North from Florida, Louisiana the Carolinas, Georgia, and Mid-Atlantic regions. Not

much floral display in Qatar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Miles and miles of beautiful farmland being plowed earlier due to the early spring in

most parts of the country. April began in San Diego driving north with stops in

Temecula, Chino, Lake Piru, Santa Ynez, Colinga, Pleasanton, and all through the San

Joaquin Valley, certainly one of the most fertile growing regions in all the world. Groves

of pistachios, almonds, kiwis, oranges, avocados, fields of cotton and strawberries.

Flew out of San Francisco after a beautiful, delicious dinner on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Back to Kentucky and then to Ocala Florida one day later. 35 farms stops in 2 1/2 days.

Next week will include upstate New York and then home to start on the Kentucky

inspections. Through all this, plane flights, rental cars, hotel check ins and outs, miles

and miles of countryside, all make and manner or horses, dogs, cattle, chickens, row

crops and blooming flora my Filson gear was always rough and always ready. The one

day stops at home always included washing and drying the clothes, and then back in

the carry on.

 

It’s hectic, but I feel like I’m the luckiest guy in the world with the best job. I couldn’t ask

for better or more practical gear then Filson to keep me on track.

 

 

Ben Smith of Arizona Wanderings is gearing up for the opening of Arizona Turkey season on April 27th. It’s much more than packing up the truck and the buddies and heading out on the hunt. Ben helps us all prepare for the season with these expert packing tips so we can take home the prize winner.

With turkey season right around the corner here in Arizona, I’ve begun the process of pouring over maps, doing a bit of scouting, and organizing gear for opening weekend. As I started to gather some essentials, here are five key pieces of gear that are critical for success during turkey season.

A well-patterned shotgun:

Arguably the most important piece of equipment is your shotgun. Knowing where your gun shoots and its range can be the difference between success and failure in the field. Many turkey hunters make the mistake of heading into the field without patterning their shotgun.  Taking a Saturday morning at the gun range to pattern your gun is the first step in being a successful turkey hunter.

A turkey vest:

One of the best purchases I ever made was a designated turkey vest with a drop down seat and plenty of pockets. When running and gunning in the ponderosa pines of Arizona, it is important to be able to set up quickly, quietly, and comfortably. Having all your different calls organized so that you can easily switch styles of calls is very important when trying to fool a tough tom.

Locator Calls:

Finding turkeys can be a real trick sometimes. In order to locate birds, it is common to use a locator call, either a crow call or an owl call. The loud call, echoing through the woods can sometimes illicit a turkey to gobble and give away his position. This gives the hunter a chance to set up and try to call the turkey to him.

Turkey Calls:

One of the great things about hunting spring gobblers is that the hunt is auditory. Calling to a turkey and having him react to your clucks and purrs can be one of the most exhilarating and addicting experiences. Typically, when organizing my vest, I like to take at least one box call, two or three slate calls, and several more mouth calls. Overkill? Maybe. Truthfully, it may only take one call to make that gobbler come to you, or you may call through your whole arsenal before he’s willing to wander over for a look.

Orange:

Safety is extremely important and with more hunters in the field, you can never be too careful. I always like to tuck a blaze orange hat or beanie in my game pouch for after the hunt. If I get lucky and am able to tag out, I want to be walking through the woods with a turkey over my shoulder wearing plenty of orange

 

 

 

The Filson Padded Computer Bag, is the perfect companion for the businessman on the go. The following are the core essentials that fit nicely into the routine. What’s in your Filson bag?

1. Filson wallet

2. Filson dog leash: For those with a four-legged buddy it’s easy to throw in a leash for a quick lunchtime walk.

3. Journal: You never know when a solid idea is going to come to mind, whether in a meeting, at an event or going about your everyday chores. Having a notebook handy is a trade of a savvy businessman.

4. A solid read: For the commute, the 15 minute midday break or while sitting at the airport gate having reading material keeps you fresh and gives your mind a break from your email inbox.

5. Flask: Just in case…For a rainy day.

6.  Packer Hat: Every man need a head topper.

7. Glasses

 

Judith O’Keefe is ready for summer! Because with summer comes her favorite fishing trip in Montana at Five Rivers lodge. After reading this, you just may be looking up flights and calling your fishing buddies, too.

July is a long way off, but I’m already dreaming about Montana . . . fishing in Montana that is.   As many of you know firsthand, the wild and scenic landscape, amazing wildlife, and friendly folks are just the beginning.  The fishing is almost always wonderful and at times . . . spectacular.

Home base is the beautiful Five Rivers Lodge.  The lodge is situated in the Beaverhead Valley, just outside of the town of Dillon.  This location provides easy access to the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Ruby, Madison and Jefferson rivers, not to mention some incredible private water.  Innkeepers, Jay Burgin and Mary Jacques, are the perfect hosts, serving up some of the best food and drink this side of the Mississippi.  Many of the Five Rivers guides are native Montanans who’ve grown up fishing these rivers.  They’re professionals and they know their stuff.

When I think about those yearly sojourns, my minds fills with memories of the floats and the fish and that pair of moose we came across while hiking into the Big Hole River last September.  But if I had to choose just one experience to relive, it would be floating the Beaverhead in late July.  For me, there is nothing better than casting a streamer pattern to the bank, knowing sooner than later, I’m going to entice a big brown trout to bite.

In my humble opinion, the Beaverhead is one of the premier brown trout rivers in the west. It produces more large trout than any other river in Montana. Beginning at Clark Canyon Dam, near Dillon, it flows for 80 miles to the confluence with the Jefferson River.  The upper stretch of river is known primarily for its nymph fishing. Some claim the bulk of large fish are caught on nymphs and streamers.

While streamer fishing is near the top of my list, I also love fishing big, dry flies.  Who doesn’t?  The Beaverhead River has solid hatches throughout the year, and is especially known for its caddis hatch.  Typically, early mornings and evenings are the best time to use dry flies. Bright, sunny weather may provide a little more of a challenge in mid-day, as the fish generally stay down deep and under cover.  When the fish are coming to the surface to feed, I like the popular staple, the Elk Hair Caddis, size 16 – 18.  The Sparkle Dun and the X-Caddis also work well.  Later in the summer the hopper fishing can be great and my fly box is filled with patterns like the Idylwilde Red Legged Hopper or Morrish’s Hopper, size 8 – 10.

Those long summer days are nearly perfect, filled with warm sunshine, clear, cold water and lots of fish.  Once the drift boat is secure on the trailer and the gear stowed, it’s then time to head down to the Metlen Hotel Bar for the official drink of summer, the Moscow Mule.  Hmmm, Montana.

Moscow Mule

2 oz. vodka

8 oz. Cock & Bull Ginger Beer

Squeeze of fresh lime juice

Mix and serve in a true copper mug.

 

On the weekend of March 30-31, I, Wyatt Roetcisoender, participated in my very first shooting competition in the freezing rain and hail. I missed most of the thrown clay pigeons, but Bill Simmons helped me get the 71-72/200 of the doubles that changed every day of the competition. He supported me when I missed and I supported him when he (Rarely) missed. I started hunting two years ago when I was eleven years old with my Dad and Grandpa.  We love to go duck and deer hunting. My father and I both practice by shooting hand thrown clay pigeons at our Dairy farm, so seeing how fast the targets moved at the competition was very surprising.  We both had a blast (Literally) and we hope to do this again.

I’d like to start off with thanking Filson (Outdoor Clothing) for the warm and water-proof clothing that was given to me. Amy Terai helped me pick the right clothes out at Filson. They all fit me well and (as promised) were, indeed, water-proof, very warm, and comfortable. The carrier that hooked on to my belt was really convenient in the competition.  In Seattle, I watched Filson make the clothes (not the exact ones that I wore in the competition) and It was a very cool experience. Even in that freezing rain, I felt prouder than heck to be wearing Filson clothing, the warmest, most dry, and comfortable clothing for shooting and hunting.

I must thank Bill Simmons, my shooting Ambassador/Partner, for all of the help and advice that I hope that I used wisely while I shot at the clay pigeons. When golf carts full of people asked questions, Bill would finish talking to me or any other person he was talking to before he’d leave. If I wasn’t having trouble, he’d congratulate me and leave me alone. If another person was having more trouble than me, he would go and help them. Bill was always positive even if he missed, and he kept everyone up in the spirits (happy). Bill told me a trick, imagine the clay pigeon in the middle of a clock and shoot in front of where it was heading (If the pigeon goes left, shoot 9:00). If it wasn’t for Bill Simmons, I wouldn’t have gotten my 42/100 on the second day of the tournament. I really appreciate being partnered up with Bill for my first shooting tournament.

I would also like to thank TruckVault. TruckVault paid my entrance fee for the tournament and I really appreciate that. The competition was hard, but because of TruckVault, I did not have to worry about paying the entry fee and I could concentrate on having fun and doing my best. What TruckVault makes is a mechanism that comes out of the back of the truck (In the Truck bed) and it slides out so you don’t have to get up and get the heavy equipment out by hand.  I can see that it would make it very nice to haul all your hunting gear using this equipment.

Since my father and I love to bird hunt, we like to throw trap up and then shoot them. We have always wanted to be involved in a shooting competition. The course at the Seattle Skeet and Trap Club (SST) was really challenging. Instead of my dads’ hand thrown, the skeet were going what seemed like 90 mph left, right, up, and down. The place where the competition was being held offered golf carts to drive around the 15-course-track. I could tell that everyone was there to have a good time and not just to win and get the prizes and the cool trophy. The Seattle Skeet and Trap Club offered the best deals for boxes of shells, and the course was really cool. Instead of the usual 13-single skeet, they had doubles that changed every day of the competition.

I would also like to thank the Outdoor line talk show for buying my shells. Second to my shotgun, that was the biggest thing that I needed for shooting the clay pigeons. They even talked about me on their radio channel (710 am Kiro). Therefore, I must thank Rob Endsley for all of the needed shells.

Finally, I want to thank Filson, Bill Simmons, Amy Terai, Outdoor Line Talk Show, Rob Endsley and Truckvault for everything I needed for the shooting Competition. I appreciate the opportunity to represent all of your companies; it was an honor and a very exciting experience for my first shooting competition.

Sincerely,

Wyatt James Roetcisoender

Age 13