Fly Fishing Info

Hey Everyone,

If you have been wondering why I havent been posting on here lately its because I have been doing a bunch of Tenkara and fly fishing. I have been really busy posting info on the guide site. So, for all of you trout bums out there check out my other blog. And for all of those other hikers out there, bear with me. I'll have some additional info about hiking gear and wild food up shortly.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Talking Tenkara

Hey Everyone,

Ive been invited to be the guest speaker at two Trout Unlimited chapter monthly meetings. I will be discussing how my passion for ultralight backpacking and fly fishing lead me to Tenkara. I will also be talking about how I view the sport and where I plan to take it. If you're in either of the areas feel free to drop by and say hey. You may already be a TU member or might even decide to join after being around all of us trout bums.

August 27th 7:00pm - triangle fly fishers

September 11th 7:00pm - nat green fly fishers


See you on the trail,
Lance

Burning Wood = Saving Forest

Hello Everyone,

I just received an email from Erin Engelson from the Kenya Stove project. Most of us backpackers are fully aware of wood gas stoves and probably own at least one. Well now that cool little stove that runs on twigs laying around the camp site, and you've been using to make coffee on is going global. If you have been following the recent issues in Africa dealing with the illegal charcoal production, you know its a growing problem and its destroying habitats for many animals most notably Gorillas. The problem is that charcoal is what is used in many of the home cook stoves and fires of the local population. Well the Kenya Stove projects has taken the idea of the wood gas stove and come up with a possible solution to that problem. I don't want to steel too much from the kenyastove site but burning wood most notably mesquite (an invasive species) in these larger stoves could reduce if not eliminate the need to make charcoal. I urge you to check out this site and help out if you can. It sure is nice to see that a piece of gear that backpackers built just to boil some water is about to help people and conserve nature in such a positive way.

See you on the trail,
Lance


http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/627536440/kenya-stove-revolutionizing-how-people-cook

Yes Im still here

Hello Everyone,

I know its been quite some time since Ive posted anything. The truth is that even though I haven't been active on here I have actually been quite active. I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm back and should be posting regularly again.  As soon as I figure out this video editing soft wear on this mac I'll be putting up some really cool videos as well. Ive been doing just about everything you can think of from gold prospecting, steel head fishing, hiking, and even catching carp on the fly. Ive caught my biggest bass ever, which happened to be on a 4wt fly rod! Ive also started a personal quest of catching 25 species of fish all on a fly rod. Of course the most interesting thing Ive been up to is watching my daughter get bigger, smarter, and much faster than I remember. Personal note: a three year old, brownies, and nature museums can be an interesting mix and a great workout. Well, I don't want to get too long winded so Ive posted a few photos for you to check out. keep checking back for updates on future fishing trips and even the status on the "25 on a fly" quest.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Gold, Sweat, and a Two Year Old

Hey Everyone.

Well Its been either hot or raining, with nothing in between. Since I don't like to hike in ninety five degree weather and the trout fishing isn't usually the best this time of year I have found a few ways to spend my summer days. I have recently taken up the hobby of gold prospecting and found that standing waist deep in a river shoveling dirt is a great way to spend a hot day. Ive been doing a little fly fishing for bass as well. Catching a small mouth bass on a four weight fly rod can be quite a challenge and a thrill, though I catch mostly small bream. This is great practice for the fall though. One of my favorite things Ive been doing is spending time with my daughter. Taking her to a museum is a great way to get out of the heat and it also gives me a chance to be dad and teach her about bugs, birds, fish, and anything else that she my ask about. Her favorite thing to say is "I want to touch it" even if its a diamond back rattle snake. I did let her pet a corn snake though. I hope you all have found a way to beat the heat and have some fun. I just keep telling myself fall is just around the corner.


See you on the trail,
Lance

A Few New Sites

Hey Everyone,

I know that it has been very quiet on here lately. Ive been busy with...well just about everything. Im helping a friend plan her ten day trip into the San Gabriel Mountains to go prospecting for a week (another thing that I have started to play with). In doing so we have been diligently goving over the meal planning. I have recently found out about some realy great sites to get the little things that you may need to have an enjoyable meal outdoors. I have put them in the "sites I visit" section of the site. One of my favorites is Just Tomatoes. I hope you all have had some time to get outside this summer. I know of quite a few folks that have some great paddling trips planned and I am pumped to hit the (bartram) trail this fall. Well I guess that's about it for now check out the new links and make some great meals.

See you on the trail,
Lance

p.s. I have some video that I may edit into some previous posts so keep and eye out. I just have to figure out the video editing program on this computer first.

No I'm Not Dead!

Hey everyone,

I bet some of you have been wondering where I have been lately. Well, lets just say I've been really busy. Between work, events, and the trip that I am currently in the middle of (NY steelhead!) I havent had a chance to get on and post anything. Not all is lost though. Im shooting new pictures and video everyday and when I get back to NC I'll have some cool stuff to post. For now I just wanted to let you know that I havent abandoned ship and I'll be returning to the blogging world shortly. I hope you all have survived the winter and I hope you have some great trips planned for the spring. For now there is a teaser photo for you!

See you on the trail,
Lance

Happy Holidays

Hey Everyone,

I apologise for the lack of activity on the blog lately. With the Holidays here, it means long days at work. The weather hasn't helped much either. I was supposed to be up on one of the rivers today, but decided against it because of the freezing rain and ice we are experiencing. I mean I love fly fishing, but I'm not opposed to a nice hot cup of coffee and a movie on the couch. A friend of mine, who is also a fly fishing guide, and I are trying to get up on the water together between Christmas and New Years. As far as hiking goes, I get the feeling that we are going to have quite the winter here in NC, I may get out for a good snowy day hike but I'm pretty sure there will be no backpacking until spring. I am however checking out some new gear and working on a couple of projects. I also may have a really cool announcement to make in the near future.
I hope everyone is having a good holiday season. I hope we all get that cool new piece of gear we wanted. Maybe we can have a blogger show and tell. Happy holidays everyone. Stay warm.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Trail Note

Hey Everyone,

I was recently informed of a really cool site that could save your life. I'm not sure about you but I usually hike alone. With hiking solo there are inherit risks that one must accept. I'm a compulsive trip planner, taking up to a year to plan out the details of a hike. However, with all the planning in the world you cannot account for a misstep or accident. What would happen if you fell while in a deep ravine and could not move to get a cell or GPS signal. For those occasions there's Trail Note . A Trail Note is a simple online form that stores your travel details. You name the trip, provide a travel description, give a start time and end time of the trip, and mark your destination on a digital map. You also enter the email or text message address of people you would like to notify in case of you do not return in time. This is a really great free service. If you do any kind of back country exploring like backpacking, fly fishing, or ATVs I suggest you check out an possibly use this site. I plan on registering and using trail note for all of my future back country trips.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Back in the Light

Hey everyone,

Im sure you all have been wondering where I have been.(yeah right) I have pretty much been working and sleeping. It was a busy month for me and although Im pretty tired of thriteen hour nights, yes nights!, I will enjoy the extra money and the cool new gear I will inevitably buy with it. With my favorite time of year for fly fishing just around the corner Im pretty pumped about this falls prospects. I also may have a fall run to NY in the works for some more steelhead fishing! I look forward to seeing the sun again and getting back to my hobbies which keep me sane. Leave me a coment and let me know whats new.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Its Raining Beer?

Hey Everyone,

I took the day off from work (honey do list) to go for a little stroll. I planned a nice eight mile hike using a combination of trails, and enjoyed hiking from one high point to the next. However, upon reaching my final summit, I heard the unmistakable sound of aluminium hitting a tree branch. Imagine my surprise when a nearly half full Miller Lite can landed with a thud at my feet! I was, for lack of a better term, pissed. I grabbed the can, emptied the remaining contents, and decided to hike it back to the top in hopes of returning it to its owner! Well, it was no surprise that upon reaching the top, and questioning about ten people, no one saw anything. I'm pretty sure I found the guy (who shied away from me as I inquired about the can), but with no proof or pointed finger, I couldn't justify handing it to him. I crushed the can and hiked it back to the parking lot. In all my years of hiking, I've been through all types of weather, but this was the first time it rained beer on me.

See you on the trail,
Lance

After the Hike.

Hey Everyone,

Sorry if you haven't seen me around for a few days. I just got back from a three day backpacking trip that my Venture boys put together. Other than the 90 degree heat, thunder storms, and relentless mosquito's it was a fun trip. I think that everyone learned a new trick on this hike, such as how to cook in a down pour! I've just finished up cleaning everything (a.k.a. my post hike ritual). I know that when I step in the door I'm dog tired, smell like, well like Ive been living in the woods, and the last thing I want to do is clean gear. However, after a nice hot shower, with lots of soap, I find the energy to pull everything out, dry what needs drying, wash what needs washing, and inspect all my gear. I'm lucky that Christi is a hiker as well, so she understands the need to take over the dinning room and hang rain flies up from the chairs, and cover the kitchen counter with drying cook sets and filters parts for a day or two. Not to mention, I moved her decorative cooking apron to hang up my hydration bladder.



What's your post hike ritual? Do you get right to it like myself, or do you prefer to kick back, relax, and do it the next day? Also, if you have a really cool way of cleaning a piece of gear let me know. I'm always interested in learning a new way to do something!

See you on the trail,
Lance

Have Tenkara, Will Travel

Hey Everyone,

Well after seeing his simple setup and talking with Jason Klass about Tenkara fly fishing, I just had to try it out. I recieved my rod the other day, and I can't wait to get it on the water. For the backpacker/fly fisher, there is no better setup. I have the Tenakara USA "Iwana" rod, which pulls out to eleven feet, and weighs in at a staggering two and a half ounces. This eleven foot telescopic rod collapses down to a mere twenty inches.
The reel you ask, there is none. This is a traditional style of fly fishing that originated in Japan about three hundred and fifty years ago, long before the invention of the reel. Your fly line, which was traditionally woven from horse hair, simply attaches to the end of the rod. The simplicity and compact design is what makes this style of fishing blend so well with ultralight backpacking. So far, the average kit I've seen, which includes rod, line, fly box with flies, tippet, and some basic tools, weighs in at around six ounces. I plan on using it almost exclusively for all my back country streams. If you have any questions or would like to try Tenkara for yourself you can checkout tenkarausa.com or stop by and chat with Jason, Myself, and other like minded folks at backpackflyfishing.com

See you on the trail,
Lance

Wow Busy!

Hey Everyone,

Im sorry for the lack of activity on the site lately. Ive been busy at work getting ready for the spring season. I havent even been fly fishing in about three weeks. Im hoping to get out here in the next few days and have something to share. I am also checking out some realy cool gear that I will be doing some videos on. Hang in there I have not abandoned you.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Fun and Excitement to Come

Hey Everyone,

Sorry for the lack of activity on the site lately. I have been out, I just haven't had much time to post. I went fly fishing last week in the cold and did quite well considering I had to break the ice out of my guides all day long. I am also in the process of planning a backpacking trip with my venture crew. I'm already getting requests for classes this coming spring and have been invited to a couple events. I think this year I'm going to play around with some ultralight tent/shelter ideas and see what I can come up with. I also plan on cooking some original meals this year on the trial. By the way...If you haven't been following Tinny lately I urge you to check out his recent tinkering. This should be a fun year and I cant wait to see what comes of it.

See you on the trail,
Lance

Outdoor Etiquette

Hey Everyone,

I spent yet another day on the stream. I know "what is this a fly fishing blog". The truth is its just easier for me to get out for the day rather than to get out for a week right now. I promise I have a backpacking trip in the works, and you can always post a question if you have one.
Back on the topic of this post...
I think we all agree that nature is very relaxing, and it's a great way to just get away from work, bills, traffic, and ,most of all, people. I had my first encounter with, whats termed as, a "hole crasher". I was fishing a nice quiet spot alone, and I was catching fish. Well, I guess this guy thought he could join in. He threw a bright green spinner into my run. He did this to me twice in two different spots. I was polite and didn't say anything, and besides, he didn't catch any fish. As he was leaving the second spot, I hooked up with another rainbow (my modest version of the middle finger). The point is that when you are out hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, or whatever, be respectful of others. They have just as much right to be there, and they want to enjoy the outdoors just like you. I like to call it outdoor etiquette. Show "outdoor etiquette" and make everyone's trip outdoors a great one.

See you on the trail (or on the water)
Lance

Fall

Hey Everyone,

Well, Fall is finally here and temperatures have started to show it. The other day, it was 31 degrees on top of Mt. Mitchell. With the recent rain and the low temperatures, the trout streams have cooled off a bit, and with today being the start of delayed harvest, the fishing should be very good. I keep day dreaming of a dry fly floating through the current as a light fog rises off the water and seeing that small ripple from a trout rising to my fly.

Fall is also one of my favorite times of the year to hike. There is nothing like waking up and smelling the cool, crisp autumn air and hiking along a high ridge or up to a summit bald to see the collage of fall colors, which is, for lack of a better term, breathtaking.

This time of year temperatures can vary widely with the daily highs and lows being very far apart. When venturing into the back country, pack some warmer items, but be sure to layer clothing so that you can strip down during the warmer part of the day.

Maybe I'll see you out there and we can discuss the hot fly of the day or what trails have the best views. If we see no one then no worries we just picked a good stream or the right trail

See you on the trail,
Lance

Baby Hiking Boots

Hey Everyone,

I'm sorry for the lack of activity on the site lately, but as some of you may know, Christi and I just had our baby girl. I have been preoccupied and put the site on hold. I will just have to post during nap time for a while. I'll also be checking Zappos for some extra small hiking boots(jk).

See you on the trail,
Lance