End of February

Ah the last day of February;Thank God.Its been a long month around Northern Michigan.Been working with the Mason Grifith Chapter of Trout Unlimited with fly tying classes.which has been a fun thing to do by giving back something to the sport of fly fishing.I was also demonstrating/teaching at the Miller/Van Winkle chapter of Trout Unlimited in Petosky.I did more traveling this month than what I should have been doing.
I did get to go for driftboat parts to Tracey's boats in Newaygo one day.Figured the driftboat needs some tender loving care this year.It will soon be set up with a pedestal seat up front.Figured why not while I am at it add a second seat to the bench seat in front for those days that we have a family outing with the kids.
I look forward to this summer with Hendrickson's and Black Caddis dry fly action on the Au Sable.Its only 2 months away and I can't wait!

Finally I got a 1/2 day of Fishing

Well Folks I finally got a 1/2 day of fishing in on the Big Man. It wasn't my best day out on the river,but fun in everyway.The game plan for the day was to chase after steelhead looking in deep holes and runs.With the recent warm up that we,ve had here in Michiganthoughts of steelhead were in my mind.When we arrived at the put in spot I quickly set up the boat and rods.Motoring up stream I noticed nobody were in the favorite holes on the streach we were fishing which made me fell lucky to be out for the day.During this trip we would be hitting the holes using the chuck and duck method and indicator fishing.Our first hole produce no strikes from any fish on this cloudy dizzly day.Knowing the next two hles should produce a fish we motored the boat to a hole that has produced fish.There we ran into our first strke of the day.Using the chuck and duck method might be because of the long down time from fishing that my partner has had this winter.Thinking to myself this should be the mother of all days to be steelheading and hooking fish we motored up into the next hole.With the weather getting what felt like colder and the drizzle turning into more like rain my guest finally hooked into a frist fish on the day.This fiesty brown took a green caddis.It was a much need warm up for both me and Peter and a nice way to end the day as we had to leave so that Peter could be at a Trout unlimited board meeting.It won't belong and I will be heading back to chase Steel again and I will be looking forward from taking a break from the tying bench and fishing again with friends and clients.

It's not a bobber;Its a strike indicator

It's not a bobber;It's a strike indicator is what Steve Vorkapich tells me when i see him.I met Steve a few years back while I was working at the Fly Factory in Grayling,Michigan.Steve is the owner of Float Master Products and trust me this is a product that works.I was never a really big fan of indicators until recently.Yes I've used the old pinch on type.I've tried Loon outdoors Bio Strike which always seemed to me to leave a sticky residue on my leader.There are others like fish pimp and thill which I had problems with because of using hand tied leaders and not being able to get a blood knot through the hole.But after seeing Steve's product I found these to be my liking.Steve's indicators have a large enough hole so blood knot will go through and are simple to use and adjust.

The type I like best is his Tear Drop which comes in 3/8 to 1 inch size with different color schemes.He also has a round version which I have yet to try.Using this product is as simple as pie.Double your leader up,moisten the latex tube and insert it in the loop of your doubled leader,pull down on leader till you get about 1/4 inch of tubing sticking up and your set.Resetting is just pulling out the tubing and adjusting your leader.

For more info on Floatmaster products go to WWW.floatmasterco.net there you can find all color schemes and styles of Steve products or you can E-mail him at info@floatmaster.net

New Year New Adventures

Well folk's alot has been going on here so far in 2011.Tying flies,getting rid of some unused stuff.All makes for a hecktick day.In all reality there just not enough time in the day.Today my wife Dorothy filed the paper work to do business as Lovells Fly Tyer.Hopefully by summers end we will have our website up and running.Tomorrow we look forward to saying goodbye to an old friend.Thats right tomorrow my old fly tying vise will be up for sale.I have made the switch from Renzetti vises to Dyna King vises.I look forward to doing more business with Dyna King in the near future.I also felt the need for a new dog to go with me on unguided floats.I like having this crazy pup.You will later find out what kind of a dog she is but she has been spending time at the vise with me lately which is good.
January we have a tying table at the 6th annual Huron River Fly Tier's Symposium
in Canton Michigan (http://www.huronriver.org/symposium.html) which I'am looking forward to doing again.Its nice to see the many faces that come to these events.If your new to flyfishing or tying these are the events to attend.Tyers and guides that attend these events are willing to answer any of your questions.Everyone can learn something at these events thats how I got alot of help in my younger days.If your able to make it please stop by and say Hello.

Maybe I am wrong or Not

Have you read the philosophy of Trout Unlimited?

The TU mission is to conserve, protect and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds.

We believe that trout and salmon fishing isn’t just fishing for trout and salmon. It’s fishing for sport ...rather than food, where the true enjoyment of the sport lies in the challenge, the lore, the battle of wits, not necessarily the full creel. It’s the feeling of satisfaction that comes from limiting your kill instead of killing your limit. It’s communing with nature where the chief reward is a refreshed body and a contented soul, where the license is a permit to use not abuse, to enjoy not destroy our coldwater fishery. It’s subscribing to the proposition that what’s good for trout and salmon is good for the fisherman and that managing trout and salmon for themselves rather than the fisherman is fundamental to the solution of our trout and salmon problems. It’s appreciating our fishery resource, respecting fellow anglers and giving serious thought to tomorrow.

It had me going when I see on a popular Michigan website that people should boycott all Flyfishing guides,Fly shops,and TU(Trout Unlimited).Now the first question I had to ask myself of these people is have they ever read the Philosophy of Trout Unlimited.In my mind I said probley Not.Have they ever worded on a streambank improvement.Probley not will they ever of coarse not.Will they ever donate their time to help some understand what can be done to improve and maintain our water ways.No!!! These poor souls have no clue.
When these people tell you boycott fly shops do they realize that fly shops donate gifts to local chapters to support coldwater projects.No the probley don't.The local guide that donates a trip on his stretch of water isn't just doing it for publisty.He's doing it to help out the resource.
People if it were not for organizations Like Trout Unlimited,Federation of Flyfishers,Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association,Anglers of the Au Sable,and many more we as fishing people would be in Trouble.These folks try to improve our life on the stream for years to come and future generation of fishers to come.With the New Year fast approaching I hope you find some time in your heart to help out your favorite Oraginazation to a sport we all love.If you can't give money there are other ways to help.Get involved by donating a day helping on a river clean-up or improvement project.There are plenty of activities to help with and it's a great way to meet new people and explore new waters.

My most memorable day of 2010

My most memorable day of 2010 was spent guiding Tom Tomosky. I first met Tom while he worked at the Fly Factory in Grayling Michigan. At that time I was sub-contracting doing hand tied leaders for the shop.Soon I would be working with Tom behind the counter in sales. We never really got to fish together because of time constraint Tom working mornings,and me working the closing shift. Seemed like everyone was always promising to take Tom on a float trip but it just never worked out. I have to admit I was one of those that said I would but never did.Even after four years of working together we still had not fished together. Well April 2010 came and I received a call from Tom stating he would be up at his cabin in near by Higgins like. I said grab that rod lets go fishing the hendricksons are on.

I had decided the South Branch of the Au Sable would be the spot to take Tom as I had done a Trip a few days earlier on it. So we had decided at a ten o'clock tee off time.Meeting at Smith Bridge we parked Tom's truck and drop the boat in at Chase Bridge and float back to Smith Bridge. With blue sky's above us We departed the launch with Tom saying its going to be a beautiful day even if I don't catch anything.Me and Tom talked during the day about working in the shop as he fished.Things we missed and things we didn't. Tom had told me this was his first time dryfly fishing out of a drift boat but I think Tom was pulling My leg as his cast were as accurate as a guide could ask for. It wasn't long in the day Tom was hooking fish on Hendricksons Drys with his comment of this fly you tied sure is working good and holding up well.
Tom fished the day hard, hard as anyone I've ever fished with. His efforts paid off big with fish caught on drys. When we arrived at the take out spot. I asked Tom well what did you think? Well my man he said! I enjoyed it really enjoyed it.I had heard about this section of river.Never really fished it before now I have.Really enjoyed seeing it from the boat you did an excellent job and I would recommend you to anyone who needs a guide.With that being said I helped Tom load up his truck and shook his hand.I said to Tom we'll do it again my friend we will do it again.It was my honor.
Thanks Tom.

Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association

The Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association is a group of anglers led by Tom Buhr. These guys have things rocking and rolling on the big water of the Au Sable here in Michigan and it a great thing for Anglers. Not to many organization offer to go to sites after a Holiday weekend ,or clean-up a viewing site from the Weyerhaeuser canoe marathon after the big race ; but this one does. Their the type of organization which every stream should have as a friend.
This last year the group held a raffle which led to the planting of over two hundred Brown Trout to the trophy waters of the Au Sable. Besides the planting of trout they also focused their thoughts of giving anglers the oppertunity of being able to fish below Mio during the winter months starting in April 2011.
The group has also endorsed the 70 degree pledge (see website posted at the end) to protect the fish of this water. When asked by Mr. Buhr should I stop fishing the river cause the water temps. are above 70 degress the answer you will mostly get is " No " we just ask you to consider the fish.
This year the group is at it again with there Yellow card raffle with great prizes all which goes to helping the Trophy Water of the Au Sable. This is a " Win Win " deal for everyone. For more info on the ASBWPA please go to their webite http://www.asbwpa.org/Home_Page.html and check it out. I am sure you will see the good things this group is doing.