Click the image to go to the current issue of This Is Fly. Brad's feature can be found on page 20.
Stay up to date with Brad's muskie adventures at his Musky Country Outfitters Facebook page.
**
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
CCG Pro Staffer Brad Bohen in This Is Fly
Musky master and Clear Cure Goo Pro Staffer Brad Bohen has a feature in the February/March issue of the awesome e-zine, This is Fly. Check out that cover shot!
Click the image to go to the current issue of This Is Fly. Brad's feature can be found on page 20.
Stay up to date with Brad's muskie adventures at his Musky Country Outfitters Facebook page.
**
Click the image to go to the current issue of This Is Fly. Brad's feature can be found on page 20.
Stay up to date with Brad's muskie adventures at his Musky Country Outfitters Facebook page.
**
Sunday, February 3, 2013
CCG Pro Staff Check-In: Mike Schmidt
We recently checked in with Clear Cure Goo Pro Tyer Mike Schmidt to see what he's up to.
Mike chats about the Red Wings, commercial tying and hitting up the trade show circuit.
Clear Cure Blog: Hey Mike, what's up? How's winter treating you so far?
Mike Schmidt: Hey brother, it has been a fantastic winter interrupted only by being taken out of the game for two weeks with a nasty case of the flu. The fly business has been off the charts and when I have hit the water there have been fish willing to play…tough to ask for more!
CCB: How was Florida? It looked fishy, but rumour has it you were using spinning gear there.
MS: Florida was a fantastic time. It was the first time that Liz and I have left town to do something fun for New Years Eve; we headed down after work Friday to relax for a few days. Of course there was no way I could be down there and not hit the water at least once so I set up a day with my guide buddy Mike Mann, from Fat Fish Guide, and then counted down the days.
We met up with him the day before to hang out a bit and plot our morning, then proceeded to be a little over-served before racking out for the night. When we woke up the one-day cold front, which of course hit the day I had scheduled to fish, was in full effect. We were facing 37 degrees with a steady 30 knot north wind, so after a brutal few miles run north (so think 60mph wind chill) we got in to the creeks and decided there was no way that the fly gear would cut it.
I felt a little dirty picking up the spinning gear, and couldn’t tell you the last time that happened, but that feeling went away pretty fast as I proceeded to just tear it up jigging Gulp shrimp and swimming paddletails.
In one spot Mike told me to be ready as he slowly poled us around a point; there was a oyster bed along a trough that should hold some fish. Sure enough I proceeded to land five keeper reds on five casts. Add to that the Speckled Trout that went over four and a half pounds and I would say it was an epic day. I will still go exclusively fly every time I am down there if there is any choice in the matter, but if the conditions are super windy like that again I may not feel as bad about using the ‘other kind’ of rod…
CCB: When we first met, I noticed you have a Salt Life sticker on your fish wagon. Just how Salt Life are you? Scotty D from Lowcountry Fly Shop told me every time someone buys a Salt Life sticker, a school of permit dies. How do you feel about killing a school of permit, Mike?
MS: It is kind of like clubbing a baby seal but without the warm hat at the end of the tunnel…
I feel a little like the guy that got that script tattoo done in another language because it looked cool only to later find out what it meant...and it wasn’t good. I am currently looking for my tattoo cover-up in the form of another sick deek to place over the offending item and restore karmic balance to the ride.
CCB: I take it you're happy the NHL lockout is over. How are the Wings looking this year? How will they handle losing Lidstrom & Holstrom to retirement in the same year?
MS: Dude…I was furious when they went to lockout and that position was only further cemented when the Winter Classic to be held at Michigan Stadium between the Wings and the Leafs was cancelled. I wanted so badly to stay mad about it, but I got no time for hate. Ignoring it does nothing to the owners, meaning that I would just be pissing into the wind and missing the sport I love.
Coming in to the season the Wings were supposed to be fine on offence but thin on defense, and the first few games have shown they are actually struggling a bit on both fronts. Right now they are a M.A.S.H. unit with guys like Bertuzzi, Mursak, Colaiacovo, Kindl, and White on IR.
I think if they can get to full strength then they will be a playoff contender, but they need to get to that point without falling too far behind and 0-15 on the power play will not get you where you want to be. So far the only bright spot has been the super sick toe drag goal scored in the shoot out by Brunner to win game two.
Losing Lidstrom, Homer, and Stuart in the offseason really hurts so they will need the young guys to step up and fill that void. I believe that Hank will be a solid captain and the guys will rally; they will make it 22 straight years in the playoffs!
CCB: Do you have any NHL advice for someone who, say, lost their favourite childhood team based in Quebec City, might have a strong dislike of Gary Bettman, and has given up on the sport?
MS: I do not think there is a deep enough hole for Bettman to crawl in to and disappear.
You’re in a tough spot, man. It is easy to say hate the player not the game, but in practice you can’t exactly switch allegiances on a whim. I suppose I would have to try and pick my favourite player and try to follow them, then hope that small seed of fandom sticks and grows over time. That, or just pick the team that beats on Crosby the most and root for them…
CCB: How was the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset last weekend?
MS: Somerset was fantastic this year. Thursday night I rolled in around dinner time and was lucky enough to have Joe Humphreys come over and hang out for a few minutes; it is hard to beat enjoying a few moments with a true legend of the sport.
The show itself was solid for everyone that I talked to, thanks to some serious traffic throughout the weekend. It seems that people are striving to get back to normal in the wake of Sandy. They welcomed the chance to get out to talk some fishing and pick up a few ‘needed’ items.
I sat between Pat Cohen, deer hair guru and warmwater aficionado (and fellow CCG Pro Staff), and Mike Heck, spring creek expert, so there was never a shortage of laughs throughout the day and in the evenings the wheels were turning on possible collaborations that could be rolled out this year.
I did hear about a few stellar books that are being wrapped up as well and should be out this year, so looking forward to some new reading material!
CCB: You seem to hit up quite a few shows & symposiums; what's your favourite part of them?
MS: Short and easy answer…the camaraderie and people.
Every show has a different vibe, new stuff to both teach and learn, and is a chance to be around other people that are passionate about the sport even though they may come at it from a completely foreign angle than you are used to.
Shows are a place that all sorts of patterns and ideas are being discussed and thrown around, so it helps to me thinking about the next thing to try in the vise or technique to adapt and/or adopt. I like doing shows in different regions as the fly patterns and techniques can be very distinct from one to another; it keeps things fresh.
CCB: As a commercial tyer, do the shows help fill the order books for the season, especially with the 'non-online' crowd and those who haven't seen your flies in-person before? Or have the commercial side of things shifted more exclusively online?
MS: In the ADD world we live in I see a lot of the ‘gotta have it now’ mentality, so the commercial side of the business is almost entirely online these days unless you have the stock on the table right in front of them.
It has been my experience that in the short term you have to make the sale on the spot or the sale will not happen. Some of that business does come back farther down the line though, usually when a trip is being planned and the customer remembers a fly you tied up, but to what extent that occurs is extremely hard to quantify. The shows are a great way to connect with shops and guides though, so those connections can be built through the shows and do help to span some of the slower time.
The funny thing about fisherman though is they are willing to go to some serious lengths to get their fix on the water, so with travel as an option the commercial fly tyer sees fewer and fewer slow times. For commercial tyers it is increasingly becoming a 24-7-365 fly cycle.
CCB: Any shenanigans to speak of for the weekend? Huge chicken wing & beer tabs? Did anyone we know get blamed for a bar fight that they had nothing to do with, like at the Symposium in November? I mean, just because someone their opponents' shirt over their head, hockey-style, doesn't mean they're Canadian...
MS: This one was actually pretty reserved on the shenanigans front: no $1000 tabs, fisticuffs, or disrobed hallway awakenings that I am aware of.
The TK's time vortex was in full effect though; I would be hard-pressed to name a bar that can be harder to get out of in a timely manner than that place when it is full of fly fisherman talking shop.
CCB: Your fly patterns, methods & tying style has more than a few fans in the fly fishing world. How would you describe your tying style?
MS: Meaty and progressive…is that a valid style?
I try to change things up and add techniques and patterns all the time but I always have streamers, and more specifically articulated streamers, on my mind. I love tying protein imitations to fool fish regardless of species, and find different combinations of materials to give the fly great movement.
CCB: Who would you say had the biggest impact or influence on your tying style?
MS: Oh man…that is nearly impossible to answer as there have been so many influences. Starting off I would say it was my Dad even though he did not tie flies or really even fly fish. He encouraged my brothers and I to go all in on the things that we were interested and to do them to the best of our ability every time. I try to apply that ethic to every fly every time I am at the vise.
In the late nineties I went to visit my brother in Traverse City MI and stopped in at the Troutsman. Kelly was not in the first time I went through, but Russ Maddin was and he was all about talking streamer techniques and tying. I think I was in the shop for two hours and left with my idea of big flies and how to fish them turned upside down in my head; it was a world changer for me.
The explosion of social media has made it far easier to connect with other like-minded tyers so there is a larger pool from which to draw inspiration. The list spans the species…musky guys, trout guys, smallie guys, salt guys…
These days I would say my largest influence is Rich Strolis. Most every day sees pattern ideas, techniques, and fly pictures popping back and forth between our phones as we try to dial in whatever project we are working on with one eye on the next project.
CCB: Let's talk fish. Pop quiz: One fish, one location, and with whom? Go!
MS: The easy sentimental answer would be one more time out with my Dad on the Driggs River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for brookies.
For possible things there are so many options. I do not know Jono Shales outside of Facebook contact, but I am fascinated by sight-fishing giant Queenfish with him off Exmouth in NW Australia.
CCB: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat, Mike! What's on tap for you for 2013? Any adventures lined up?
MS: My pleasure, man. Based on the first few weeks it looks like I am in for another busy year between production and a few projects that are coming together.
To end the show season this year I am going a little farther than normal: Sweden. Super stoked about heading over there as it will be my first time and we will have a chance to hit some water before the show over the weekend. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they have Atlantics in early, but if not then I will dig whatever adventure we get ourselves in to!
Thanks to Mike for taking time to let us know what's going on in his life...and with the Red Wings.
Be sure to check out Mike's website at anglerschoiceflies.com, where you can also keep up to date with his news feed.
Mike can also be reached via the Angler's Choice Flies Facebook page, and on Twitter, @ACflies.
**
Mike chats about the Red Wings, commercial tying and hitting up the trade show circuit.
Mike Schmidt: Hey brother, it has been a fantastic winter interrupted only by being taken out of the game for two weeks with a nasty case of the flu. The fly business has been off the charts and when I have hit the water there have been fish willing to play…tough to ask for more!
CCB: How was Florida? It looked fishy, but rumour has it you were using spinning gear there.
MS: Florida was a fantastic time. It was the first time that Liz and I have left town to do something fun for New Years Eve; we headed down after work Friday to relax for a few days. Of course there was no way I could be down there and not hit the water at least once so I set up a day with my guide buddy Mike Mann, from Fat Fish Guide, and then counted down the days.We met up with him the day before to hang out a bit and plot our morning, then proceeded to be a little over-served before racking out for the night. When we woke up the one-day cold front, which of course hit the day I had scheduled to fish, was in full effect. We were facing 37 degrees with a steady 30 knot north wind, so after a brutal few miles run north (so think 60mph wind chill) we got in to the creeks and decided there was no way that the fly gear would cut it.
I felt a little dirty picking up the spinning gear, and couldn’t tell you the last time that happened, but that feeling went away pretty fast as I proceeded to just tear it up jigging Gulp shrimp and swimming paddletails.
In one spot Mike told me to be ready as he slowly poled us around a point; there was a oyster bed along a trough that should hold some fish. Sure enough I proceeded to land five keeper reds on five casts. Add to that the Speckled Trout that went over four and a half pounds and I would say it was an epic day. I will still go exclusively fly every time I am down there if there is any choice in the matter, but if the conditions are super windy like that again I may not feel as bad about using the ‘other kind’ of rod…
CCB: When we first met, I noticed you have a Salt Life sticker on your fish wagon. Just how Salt Life are you? Scotty D from Lowcountry Fly Shop told me every time someone buys a Salt Life sticker, a school of permit dies. How do you feel about killing a school of permit, Mike?
MS: It is kind of like clubbing a baby seal but without the warm hat at the end of the tunnel…
I feel a little like the guy that got that script tattoo done in another language because it looked cool only to later find out what it meant...and it wasn’t good. I am currently looking for my tattoo cover-up in the form of another sick deek to place over the offending item and restore karmic balance to the ride.
CCB: I take it you're happy the NHL lockout is over. How are the Wings looking this year? How will they handle losing Lidstrom & Holstrom to retirement in the same year?
MS: Dude…I was furious when they went to lockout and that position was only further cemented when the Winter Classic to be held at Michigan Stadium between the Wings and the Leafs was cancelled. I wanted so badly to stay mad about it, but I got no time for hate. Ignoring it does nothing to the owners, meaning that I would just be pissing into the wind and missing the sport I love.
Coming in to the season the Wings were supposed to be fine on offence but thin on defense, and the first few games have shown they are actually struggling a bit on both fronts. Right now they are a M.A.S.H. unit with guys like Bertuzzi, Mursak, Colaiacovo, Kindl, and White on IR.
I think if they can get to full strength then they will be a playoff contender, but they need to get to that point without falling too far behind and 0-15 on the power play will not get you where you want to be. So far the only bright spot has been the super sick toe drag goal scored in the shoot out by Brunner to win game two.
Losing Lidstrom, Homer, and Stuart in the offseason really hurts so they will need the young guys to step up and fill that void. I believe that Hank will be a solid captain and the guys will rally; they will make it 22 straight years in the playoffs!
CCB: Do you have any NHL advice for someone who, say, lost their favourite childhood team based in Quebec City, might have a strong dislike of Gary Bettman, and has given up on the sport?
MS: I do not think there is a deep enough hole for Bettman to crawl in to and disappear.
You’re in a tough spot, man. It is easy to say hate the player not the game, but in practice you can’t exactly switch allegiances on a whim. I suppose I would have to try and pick my favourite player and try to follow them, then hope that small seed of fandom sticks and grows over time. That, or just pick the team that beats on Crosby the most and root for them…
CCB: How was the Fly Fishing Show in Somerset last weekend?
MS: Somerset was fantastic this year. Thursday night I rolled in around dinner time and was lucky enough to have Joe Humphreys come over and hang out for a few minutes; it is hard to beat enjoying a few moments with a true legend of the sport.
The show itself was solid for everyone that I talked to, thanks to some serious traffic throughout the weekend. It seems that people are striving to get back to normal in the wake of Sandy. They welcomed the chance to get out to talk some fishing and pick up a few ‘needed’ items.
I sat between Pat Cohen, deer hair guru and warmwater aficionado (and fellow CCG Pro Staff), and Mike Heck, spring creek expert, so there was never a shortage of laughs throughout the day and in the evenings the wheels were turning on possible collaborations that could be rolled out this year.
I did hear about a few stellar books that are being wrapped up as well and should be out this year, so looking forward to some new reading material!
CCB: You seem to hit up quite a few shows & symposiums; what's your favourite part of them?
MS: Short and easy answer…the camaraderie and people.
Every show has a different vibe, new stuff to both teach and learn, and is a chance to be around other people that are passionate about the sport even though they may come at it from a completely foreign angle than you are used to.
Shows are a place that all sorts of patterns and ideas are being discussed and thrown around, so it helps to me thinking about the next thing to try in the vise or technique to adapt and/or adopt. I like doing shows in different regions as the fly patterns and techniques can be very distinct from one to another; it keeps things fresh.
CCB: As a commercial tyer, do the shows help fill the order books for the season, especially with the 'non-online' crowd and those who haven't seen your flies in-person before? Or have the commercial side of things shifted more exclusively online?
MS: In the ADD world we live in I see a lot of the ‘gotta have it now’ mentality, so the commercial side of the business is almost entirely online these days unless you have the stock on the table right in front of them.
It has been my experience that in the short term you have to make the sale on the spot or the sale will not happen. Some of that business does come back farther down the line though, usually when a trip is being planned and the customer remembers a fly you tied up, but to what extent that occurs is extremely hard to quantify. The shows are a great way to connect with shops and guides though, so those connections can be built through the shows and do help to span some of the slower time.
The funny thing about fisherman though is they are willing to go to some serious lengths to get their fix on the water, so with travel as an option the commercial fly tyer sees fewer and fewer slow times. For commercial tyers it is increasingly becoming a 24-7-365 fly cycle.
CCB: Any shenanigans to speak of for the weekend? Huge chicken wing & beer tabs? Did anyone we know get blamed for a bar fight that they had nothing to do with, like at the Symposium in November? I mean, just because someone their opponents' shirt over their head, hockey-style, doesn't mean they're Canadian...
MS: This one was actually pretty reserved on the shenanigans front: no $1000 tabs, fisticuffs, or disrobed hallway awakenings that I am aware of.
The TK's time vortex was in full effect though; I would be hard-pressed to name a bar that can be harder to get out of in a timely manner than that place when it is full of fly fisherman talking shop.
CCB: Your fly patterns, methods & tying style has more than a few fans in the fly fishing world. How would you describe your tying style?
MS: Meaty and progressive…is that a valid style?
I try to change things up and add techniques and patterns all the time but I always have streamers, and more specifically articulated streamers, on my mind. I love tying protein imitations to fool fish regardless of species, and find different combinations of materials to give the fly great movement.
CCB: Who would you say had the biggest impact or influence on your tying style?
MS: Oh man…that is nearly impossible to answer as there have been so many influences. Starting off I would say it was my Dad even though he did not tie flies or really even fly fish. He encouraged my brothers and I to go all in on the things that we were interested and to do them to the best of our ability every time. I try to apply that ethic to every fly every time I am at the vise.
In the late nineties I went to visit my brother in Traverse City MI and stopped in at the Troutsman. Kelly was not in the first time I went through, but Russ Maddin was and he was all about talking streamer techniques and tying. I think I was in the shop for two hours and left with my idea of big flies and how to fish them turned upside down in my head; it was a world changer for me.
The explosion of social media has made it far easier to connect with other like-minded tyers so there is a larger pool from which to draw inspiration. The list spans the species…musky guys, trout guys, smallie guys, salt guys…
These days I would say my largest influence is Rich Strolis. Most every day sees pattern ideas, techniques, and fly pictures popping back and forth between our phones as we try to dial in whatever project we are working on with one eye on the next project.
CCB: Let's talk fish. Pop quiz: One fish, one location, and with whom? Go!
MS: The easy sentimental answer would be one more time out with my Dad on the Driggs River in Michigan's Upper Peninsula for brookies.
For possible things there are so many options. I do not know Jono Shales outside of Facebook contact, but I am fascinated by sight-fishing giant Queenfish with him off Exmouth in NW Australia.
CCB: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat, Mike! What's on tap for you for 2013? Any adventures lined up?
MS: My pleasure, man. Based on the first few weeks it looks like I am in for another busy year between production and a few projects that are coming together.
To end the show season this year I am going a little farther than normal: Sweden. Super stoked about heading over there as it will be my first time and we will have a chance to hit some water before the show over the weekend. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they have Atlantics in early, but if not then I will dig whatever adventure we get ourselves in to!
* * *
Thanks to Mike for taking time to let us know what's going on in his life...and with the Red Wings.
Be sure to check out Mike's website at anglerschoiceflies.com, where you can also keep up to date with his news feed.
Mike can also be reached via the Angler's Choice Flies Facebook page, and on Twitter, @ACflies.
**
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