October 24th will mark the one year anniversary of this blog. I started this site out as a means of communication with my family and as an alternative to some other social networking sites. Over the past year, it has grown and I have gained some faithful readers and friends through this site. I decided in honor of the “one year” mark I would like to do something, however small it may be, to give back to those who faithfully check in every week to see where I have been wandering. I tied up several of my favorite flies which always produce for me here in Arizona and will work just about anywhere trout are present. These flies will be enclosed in a Flambeau fly box that is fresh off the store shelf. It is not much, but I hope someone can use the flies and have the same luck I have had.
A few simple rules.
1. Leave a comment in the comment section. Let me know what you think of the blog and anything else you might like to see posted. Comment on your favorite flies, where you have been fishing, or anything fishing related.
2. Leave your name or some identifying information.
3. October 24th,I will use http://www.random.org/ and have a number generated and a winner will be declared.
4. Once a winner is selected I will get the box and flies mailed out to you ASAP.
5. I will only mail to the U.S.
The flies included in this box are the flies that brought many a fish to hand during the summer and will continue to do the same throughout the fall. As I have repeatedly stated, I am not a master fly tier but have put large amounts of love into these flies. I have included:
– Simi-Seal Buggers
– Hopper Juan Variants
– Sparkle Parachutes
– Mini Hoppers
Each of these flies has a short bio in the My Fly Box link at the header of this page.
Thank you very much to everyone who makes it a habit to stop by and leave kind comments on a regular basis. There is always an open seat in my truck if you make it out to Arizona and want to fish some small streams. Good luck to everyone and tight lines.
Ben
Really like reading your blog, and I’ve slowly been catching up on old posts. Especially love your fly tying style who ever wins that box is going to get some good stuff. Oh and I tried to copy the mini hopper, but would like to see it broken down since it has treated you so well this season.
Ray,
I have that tutorial coming very soon. I will let you know when it is up in “My Fly Box.” Thanks again.
Ben
Ben, you can enter me in your contest if you’d like, but you know I’d be commenting on your latest post anyway…
All I have to say is congrats on the year “anniversary.” Living in Pennsylvania, I just enjoy the fact that I can check in every now and then and be instantly alongside you on your fishing trips all the way on the other side of the country. Keep up the writing, it’s quite enjoyable.
Thanks again and Congrats.
Hey ben sign me up for the contest.
I already have some of my own mini hopper but i want some tied by the original creator.
I really like the blog and look forward to reading every new entry.
Nelson,
Thank you for the kind comments. If you’d like, send me an email with your info and I will make sure a few of those mini-hoppers make their way to you. Thanks again.
benjaminsmith835@gmail.com
Ben
Being new to the lower 48 I find your blog to be extremely comforting. You do an awesome job of sharing wild places with your readers. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Thank you John. I’m thankful to have readers like you who keep coming back and reading. Thanks again.
Hey Ben, I’ll bite. I’ve enjoyed reading your reports, and look forward to hearing more about the Arizona Backcountry.
Thanks Ray. Right back at you on the reports. One of these days I’ll make it out to Cali to do some fishing. Thanks again.
Ben
Ben – nice bugs! I enjoy what you’re writing and look forward to reading more. And, just maybe, we’ll get fish sometime and I can knock ARIZONA off my list!
Wolfy
Thanks Wolfy. Let me know when you are ready for AZ. Congrats on the Outdoor Network.
Ben
Hi Ben. I’ve been going through the expansive list of blogs I want to add to my blogroll and I’ve added your site under “Our Fly Fishing Friends”. I’ll be stopping by as you post and if you’d like, stop in and say Hi at Northern California Trout.
http://www.shoretroutfishing.blogspot.com/
I’m looking forward to your future posts and I really like your fly patterns. They would be excellent in the waters over here.
Mark
Thanks Mark for adding me to the list. I really like what you have going on your site as well. Tie up a few of those bugs and let me know how they work. Look forward to hearing from you.
Ben
Hey Ben. Congrats on one year! Count me in on the contest.
Having just found your blog (through your gracious comment on fishingpoet), I look forward to doing some catching up. Always a good thing to discover new perspectives on places I’ve yet to fish…
Be well.
Matt
Matt,
Really enjoyed reading through some of your work so far. Particularly good reading were the excerpts from your thesis. Very good stuff. Thank you for stopping by.
Ben
…oh yea, I’ve got Wanderings on my blogroll.
Hope some traffic finds it’s way here.
You have a great blog, and such a nice gesture to give away fly box. I have got to do more exploring on the rim, every stream I have fished up there looks nothing like what you post. If Bear Flat wasn’t so productive for me this past summer, I would have done some more looking, but I kept going back the few times I was able to sneak away and fish. Maybe next year.
Brandon,
The Rim is an amazing place. Things are going to start slowing down here pretty soon and getting kinda chilly, but we will have to fish a few times together once spring and summer come back around. Thanks for checking in. It’s nice to know someone else in Arizona appreciates the Rim. Tight lines.
Ben
Ben,
That would be great. I truly believe The Rim is one of God’s greatest creations. But until spring comes around, I guess I’ll have to try my best to enjoy fishing the Lower Salt.
Ben,
I missed your giveaway, but I think I can figure out how to tie those bugs. 🙂 Good job on your first year. I want to add you to my blog roll if that is Ok.
Juan
Thanks Juan for the kind words. I would consider it an honor if you would add me to your blog roll. I remember when I first was starting to tie, I printed out the material list for the Hopper Juan because I thought it was one of the coolest bugs I had ever seen. Took me a half dozen months before I worked up the courage to actually attempt it though. I really appreciate all the tutorials that you have on your site. Thanks again.
Ben