Travis the chimp ignores veganism (bites the hands that fed him; chimp’s ass capped by police)

The Late Travis (the Neighbor Eater)

Update 2/20/09: Victim removed to Cleveland Clinic…preliminary assessment of Facial Transplant by some is premature. A total reconstruction is likely and as a last resort a Facial Transplant could be in the works, given Cleveland Clinic is noted for such procedures. The PTSD will require years of therapy. Poor lady.   

There is something creepy about chimps. Once met two lesbians in a rural area that had two chimps (and other exotics) and could not control them. Neighbors were terrified…the gals were seemingly oblivious to the dangers. They finally had to get rid of the critters when one attacked a neighbor…these were not 200 pound chimps like the late Travis….mind you, a chimp is upto 7 times stronger than a similarly sized human male.

A 200-pound domesticated chimpanzee who once starred in TV commercials for Old Navy and Coca-Cola was shot dead by police after a violent rampage that left a friend of its owner badly mauled. 

“There was no provocation that we know of. One thing that we’re looking into is that we understand the chimpanzee has Lyme disease and has been ill from that, so maybe from the medications he was out of sorts. We really don’t know,”

the chimpanzee was toilet trained, dressed himself, took his own bath, ate at the table and drank wine from a stemmed glass. He also brushed his teeth using a Water Pik, logged onto the computer to look at pictures, and watched television using the remote control, police said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/17/travis-the-chimp-shot-dea_n_167527.html

Yep, and ol’ Travis ate the hands off the lady like hot wings  with Jamaican rub. Where in the hell is PETA when you actually need them? Stop worry about Sea Kittens and nix the domesticated chimp….creepy I say.

‘Tattooed Angler’ (Somewhere, New Jersey)

Tattooed Angler

Tattooed Angler

http://www.njflyfishing.com/vBulletin/f121-new-jersey-fly-fishing-forum/t15477-fishing-tattoos-3.html#post122814

Came across these sketches/signs for the ‘Tattooed Angler’ on a NJ Fishing Blog. Unfortunately, the TA never put out the name of his shop to further check his work with fish or flies. Perhaps someone knows the Tattooed Angler?  

2T Mini Bugger

This is a very straight forward pattern that I tied several years ago. It is a size 12 , slightly curved shank hook. The two notable factors I want to mention are the tail and the hot reddish orange feather fibers atop the tail like the B.C. Little Fort Leech. The tail is a multi-colored marabou tail from a boa I bought at a craft store. The boa was about five feet long and comprised of black, grey, tan and white marabou hackles. I simply pinched a tail size portion from the boa’s core and cut it flush to the core, then tie it on the shank as usual. Then I affix the hackle fibers from the hot orange  hackle atop the marabou tail. The body is black with dark blue highlights sparkle chenille. A small hackle is palmered up the body and tied off behind the bead head. A Starling feather was used just behind the bead head. The 2T is similar to many such patterns…I note it because of the boa as a tying material.  

I have most success with this pattern in shoals and at the edge of the drop. I use an Intermediate Line (Clear). I go bigger for deeper water.  

2T Mini Bugger ~ G. Muncy

The Snatcher (stillwater emerger in the surface or deeper)

I found this pattern in a two year old copy of Trout and Salmon (September 2007 by Stan Headley) from the UK (excellent publication). The Pictures of The Snatcher were most appealing. I found some pictures online (not from the article) and have included them here. It is in someways like other flies, but in other ways it seems a refreshing pattern for here in the US and beyond (it is apparently well known to UK fly fishers on reservoirs/lochs). It would be easy enough to overdress this pattern with hackle wraps and dubbing. I like the looks of this pattern. The article mentions fishing this pattern in a size 10 or bigger for buzzers. I can see this pattern in size 8 to size 14, fishing nicely on NW lakes and B.C. stillwaters (of course, it would be just fine on streams too). Also, in the article the pictures of the flies showed them tied on a ‘goldish’ or shiny brass Tiemco TMC 2487  scud-pupa hook…very nice. When overdressed it has the classic wet fly look..still productive I am sure, but the pictures of the pattern in the article were much sparser (is that a word?) and suggestive of more movement and life.

Snatcher

Snatcher

Snatcher (As Depicted in Article...more sparse)

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to/video/how-to-tie-the-claret-snatcher-for-competition-fly-fishing-169754/   (Excellent Tutorial)

http://flytyer.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/shadow-snatcher/

http://www.flyforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3269           by Andrew P.

Nose Art and Tattoo’s Merge History

I have posted before about WWII Nose Art, the adornment of bombers with either provocative hot babes or fearsome images…this practice advanced up to present times, but has diminished through PC Idiocy, surely not through a lack of artists or new technology. I was researching area ink artists when I came across this work by Jason Leisge at Oddball Studios, Portland, Oregon. It reminded me of the WWII artists, who sketched and then painted sexy babes on the sides of bombers and fighters destined to deliver young men into combat. The ink artists of today are often extraordinary artists. The ink art can betray the details one sees in their pencil drawn templates or sketches of concepts they have milling around in their heads. Now, I wouldn’t personally opt for the sleeve, but the wearer of the art has an interest in WWII history equal to the Nose Art aficionado, for sure. 

WWII Sleeve by Jason Leisge

http://www.tattoosinflight.com/index.php 

http://www.oddballstudios.com/artists/

 

There are some fine sites out there re Nose Art and Wartime Tattoo’s; I need to keep looking for what my next fly fishing tat might be and who will do it…  

Mongolian Fly Fishing (or perhaps a little Eagle Hunting for Dinner)

Eagle Hunter & Guide (You Carry the Club?)

 CLASSIC EAGLEHUNTING 2009-2010

“Eaglehunting is a Altai Kazakh tradition dating back about 2000 years (Marco Polo mentions it). Kazakh people use female eagles as they are one-third heavier than the males and far more aggressive.The eagles are trained to hunt hares,wild cat, ibex, foxes and wolves(eagles have eight times more acute eyesight than humans), and release them to the hunter, who clubs the prey to death.”  http://www.bluewolftravel.com/toursmore.php?cid=80

 

or perhaps:

Taimen, Much Like Steelhead or Sea Trout

I don’t for a second pretend to know much about Mongolian or Russian Fly Fishing. I do find it a fascinating adventure because of the remoteness and the surrounding culture. Unfortunately for me, the price tag is beyond my means and probably my fitness level in a few years. If I am quibbling over a mid price spey rod and reel, then as Clint said..”a man has to know his limitations”. I did Christmas Island last year, well 2007. Maybe I will get to do another exotic trip in the next few years….otherwise, perhaps the next life? The Mongolian trips, the Nomad trips in Chile, the Slovenian or Dolomite’s all are probably not going to happen. But, those adventurers that stage these trips and set up the excursions for well healed types are probably worth a good story. Yes, the pic of the guy holding the 20+ pound Taimen is interesting. But, more interesting to me are the guys that put him there…into the raft, into the drift, into the fish.

Adventure in Mongolia~http://www.fishmongolia.com

 

 Hello to the folks in Ulaanbaatar and beyond.

A Woman With A Fly Rod (sabrina shares the love)

Sabrina@She Loves Fly Fishing

http://www.shelovesflyfishing.com/fly-fishing-blog.html

http://www.shelovesflyfishing.com/index.html

Sabrina shares the basics, “how to’s” of fly fishing on a stream or lake.  

Callibaetis Loop Wing Emerger

Callibaetis Loop Wing Emerger

Saw this cool pattern on Flyfishusa.com (Welches, Oregon). This would be a simple pattern to tie, save the loops of multiple dry fly style hackle. The dun hackle or ostrich tail would be life like animation for the shuck.   

Two Hander Upgrade (less strain w/ a mid-level investment)

Last week, I lamented the ‘pole’ I was waving about in a futile attempt to load and shoot. I was fatigued after  a few hours fishing. So, I sprung for an Echo rod and a Lamson reel….priced in the mid $$$ range. I did this because friend Matt McCrary had tried the rod and judged it to be a worthy, affordable rod. The Lamson was also a good, solid reel. I used it for five hours today without a fraction of the fatigue I had encountered with the Redington ’pole’. I could have sprung for the Z Axis 7136 and  Ross Momentum, but I know myself, I would have felt guilty if I didn’t use it often. That is not likely to happen, given my predilection for stillwaters and other interruptions.  So, I will be comfortable to have the Echo rod and Lamson reel and will not feel so bad if it is only used a couple dozen times a year, or so.

Echo Rod/Lamson Reel

The feeling of a few shop owner/employees was the Echo rods might be too good for the price…there by stalling or reducing those that move upward into a Winston or Sage or ?? from the cheaper rods (e.g. Temple Fork).  This is a nice rod for the money. Don’t get me wrong $300+ is a chunk right now, but still a lot better than $750-900. The Lamson Reel…not my fist choice but didn’t have $375 to $475 to plop down, so the $250 was still a chunk but again cheaper and more palatable. Throw in a 510 grain Skagit and I was out the door practicing mind control, compartmentalization techniques.  It loaded beautifully and felt perfect in the hand. I am a sucker for green…the matte finish is in keeping with the utilitarian feel of the rod. I won’t look back; happy I sprung for the lighter outfit….now to use it more often.

April Vokey’s Spey Casting Demo (what’s up with that?)

Awhile arago, April was demonstrating how to spey cast and it  was recorded and released. All manner of comments have resulted and some were not flattering. It reminds me that on these pages, other forums and discussion groups, that if not careful, one can sound like an arrogant twit. There are no more arrogant twits, than on certain fly fishing forums where when a new participant comes along, they are savaged for their ignorance or naivete re some facet of the sport. These same twits wax on about the horrible state of the environment, the need to do something etc. yet drive away with ‘beat down’ rudeness those that could add something to the process to organize or address problems.

Hence, the film of April casting and the resultant critiques and sniping from experts is particularly aggravating. I am admittedly not a great technician with a two hander. I have tried and will continue to try. I have been in the presence of a great two hander, Matt McCrary, the equal of the NW two hander notables (reps, shop owners, guides, published authors) and despite my incompetence, Matt instilled in me not only the history, fun and advantages of waving a two hander about, but also, the patience to practice so much until the mental imagery is so established…it just happens…like riding a bike etc. Why the carping at April?

Has she invaded the manly domain of the spey nation? A pretty face pretending/posing and not worthy of acknowledgement by the spey elite? The arrogance of some fly fishers is the Achilles heel of this sport. Fortunately, there are those that recognize April’s legitamacy and the value of all women entering the sport. April’s must want to say that old lament..”don’t hate me because I am beautiful” but she is too humble and positive for such self promotion. We idolizers will ogle and speak re her looks. But bottom line, she is more than a cutie. Enough to say, she will only improve like all of us in this never ending learning experience. April commented to Spey Pages January 2009:

  —————————- 

I was waiting for this…..

---

Oh my. When this video showed its ugly head on You Tube, I almost choked on my food.
I think ‘horrified’ best describes it actually. I have fought with myself long and hard about replying to this thread, but I finally had to say something.

Yes, it’s an awful demonstration. It’s a dated video (note the short, blonde hair and chubby cheeks) , but it is what it is.
It was an unplanned, “thought I was just taking them fishing for the day”, train wreck of a casting day.

I spend most seven days a week on the water (haven’t been able to work since my accident in May, so I truly have nothing but time to fish). With this time spent, I learn more every day.
Every single day.
That girl casting is not how this girl casts today, and though I am miles away from being perfect, I am trying so, so hard to be as good as I can be.
That’s the beautiful thing about it…..There’s always more to learn.

I understand that we are part of an industry where not everyone gets along, and that people are talked about regularly (in many ways I have dug my own grave for this). But I also understand that we come from a world where positive thinking brings us to great places.
Can you imagine if more people fished? If more people cared about fish farming and commercial netting and conservation? How about a world where more women fished, gaining inner independence and strength? What about young girls seeing that there is more to life than skinny jeans and pop music? God knows, fishing kept me out of trouble…..
People fishing = people helping to make a difference (not to mention helping those of you who own, often times, struggling tackle shops and guiding outfits, by bringing much needed business.)
That’s all I want, and is all I have ever wanted, regardless of the cracks about how I look or how young I am.
So while some may like to think it’s my hair and nails that keep me in this industry, I like to think it’s my enthusiasm. God knows that’s all I have sometimes…

I know I’m not perfect, and I certainly know I’m an easy target, but at the end of the day, all I want is for people to find as much joy in fishing as it has brought me. It has been my saviour and I can only hope that I can be blessed enough to have the opportunity to share it with as many people who will allow me.

And yes, I will make sure that the next casting video leaked is much, much better

I respect all of these comments, both the good and the bad, and thank everyone of you for them, as they help me to grow as both a person and as an angler.

Sincerely,
An embarrassed, yet somewhat thankful,
April Vokey

   ——————————

As  one intelligent commenter noted in the Spey Pages, the repetition of casting will improve her skills and more importantly the repetition of guiding, dealing with clients, rowing, thinking how to produce results. instruction, giving verbal prompts to those paying clients, all of that repetition will hone her skills. I am sure April realizes, like all of us would, that were foisted or self promoted into a role of prominence, that we would need to quickly  improve our skill sets. Ms. Vokey is the real deal…she will improve and without the arrogance of some.

  http://www.speypages.com/speyclave/showthread.php?s=da5f98c3db067413b0a5615abbf29866&t=31785&page=3