Articles

Living and Writing the Outdoor Life

Weekend Writing Workshop with Jim McLennan
When: Aug. 21-23, 2020
Where: York Creek B & B, Crowsnest Pass, AB
What: A weekend for new or aspiring writers, discussing what you need to know to write for magazines, blogs, websites, brochures, v-logs. We’ll talk about both the why and the how of writing. Some topics will include how to start, how to stop, writing an effective query letter, understanding your market,
the importance of re-writing, the importance of authenticity, and additional resources to use.
For Whom? This weekend will be for people of any age who are interested in writing, and learning more about it. Time will be spent in the group, talking, discussing and learning from Jim. There will also be time allotted to the solitary aspect of writing, which is – well, writing. We’ll critique, edit and
re-write some words together.
Cost: $855 plus GST, (double occupancy)
What’s Included: two night’s accommodation, meals from Friday evening to Sunday lunch, all instructional materials
What’s not included: travel, gratuities, alcohol
 
visit mclennanflyfishing.com for more information
Jim has been active as an outdoor writer for over 
40 years. He writes the Water Marks column in Fly Fusion and is the author of four books on 
fly fishing.
“Not many writers can achieve Jim’s level of authenticity. Fly fish a mountain stream with him and you’ll hear the same voice that comes through in his writing. He is as skilled with the pen as he is with the fly rod.” 
Derek Bird – Founding Editor of Fly Fusion Magazine.
 
“Students who take this workshop will learn from one of the best. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the writer within while honing the skills you need to effectively tell your stories.” 
Bruce Masterman – Author and Journalist

The Health Collection: Surface

Sometimes, the way a situation presents itself isn’t obvious at first—in both fly fishing and in life. There are challenges, obstacles, and a fair amount of frustration. Occasionally, however, the dark curtains open up to reveal something so unexpected and rewarding that we’re simply left in awe.

Next in our Health Collection lineup: Blown Away, by Fly Fusion Films.

“Surface” is a film about extraordinary adventures that create life-long memories. Derek Bird of Fly Fusion Magazine and Ross Purnell of Fly Fisherman Magazine team up to search for large native rainbows on a remote stream in British Columbia’s Cariboo region. After a floatplane trip through the rugged and towering Cariboo Mountains, the anglers float down a nearly inaccessible glacial stream. What they experience along the way is nothing short of unforgettable.

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The Health Collection: Blown Away

Sometimes, the way a situation presents itself isn’t obvious at first—in both fly fishing and in life. There are challenges, obstacles, and a fair amount of frustration. Occasionally, however, the dark curtains open up to reveal something so unexpected and rewarding that we’re simply left in awe.

Next in our Health Collection lineup: Blown Away, by Fly Fusion Films.

“Blown Away” sees the Fly Fusion hosts show up on a favorite stretch of river just as major windstorm blows down the valley. They set up the rods in hopes that the wind will push terrestrials onto the water. When the wind finally dies down, their persistence is rewarded with a number of spectacular trout.

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The Health Collection: Laplanders

As the world continues to evolve amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we here at Fly Fusion and the International Fly-Fishing Film Festival just want to share some good vibes. And for us, that means taking our minds off of everything else and focusing on fly fishing. At least for a little while.

For the next installment of the Health Collection, we share a story about anglers in northern Sweden: “Laplanders” by Hooké.

“Laplanders” traces the portrait of those who live by the rivers of Lapland in Northern Sweden. Their quest for the Baltic Salmon is one every fisherman can relate to: an ever-going search for the next fish, and the only certitude is the efforts that will be needed to reach it. This film is an immersion into the life of those who chase, document and protect the salmon in the land of the midnight sun.

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The Health Collection: Secrets

Straight from our archives, this is one of our favorites from the Fly Fusion Series. Sit back, enjoy, and be sure to practice social distancing as much as possible as we present the next installment of the Health Collection: Secrets, by Fly Fusion Films.

With over 7 billion people on the planet, it’s difficult to find places where the water runs cold and clear and where the human footprint is nearly non-existent. Jim McLennan, Derek Bird, and Paula Shearer helicopter into one of these places, and what they find far exceeds their expectations. In fact, the fly fishing is so good they can’t help but keep it a secret.

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Editor’s Choice Awards | Best Buy

Best Buy: Blue Coolers 50L Ice Vault Cooler

If there’s one thing we’ve seen an influx of the last several years across the outdoors industry, it’s heavily engineered, nearly indestructible coolers. What we haven’t seen is one as affordable as Blue Coolers’ 50L Ice Vault. With all the features and functions of the higher-priced models—roto-molded construction, lockable lids, non-slip feet, insulated walls, just to name a few—at a fraction of the price, Blue Coolers may just be on to something here. The performance alone makes this cooler worth hundreds more than its MSRP, and it’s refreshing to find a high-end cooler that doesn’t cost as much as a car payment.

Check out all cooler and accessories available at Blue Coolers today!  www.bluecoolers.com

Featured Video: How to Fish an Attractor Pattern

In this episode of RIO’s “How To” series, RIO ambassador Phil Rowley talks about how to fish attractor patterns in a lake using sinking lines. Attractor patterns (called “lures” in Europe) are flies that irritate and annoy trout; triggering bites from non-feeding fish. There are plenty of times an angler will get to a stillwater and find fish are not visually, or obviously, feeding, and on days like this, knowing how to fish such attractor flies can turn a bad trip into a very successful day on the water.

Phil talks about why and when you would fish attractor patterns, which retrieves to work with, what gear to use and explains about key fishing tactics like “Fishing The Hang” and “The Washing Line” – two deadly lake fishing techniques.

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Bruce’s DDP Stone

Bruce’s DDP Stone | Justin Bruce @justinbruceflies

As seen in the Winter 2019 issue of Fly Fusion Magazine

Sitting at the vise, I thought, I want a heavy, buggy, leggy, stonefly that uses my Houdini-weave and lays the smack down like Diamond Dallas Page. Blame it on the Dark Side of the Moon soundtrack playing in the background, but what came off the vise was a DDP stone. Some people swear by natural imitations, but I’ve always been a sucker for wild colours and flash. Green legs have been the ticket on North Georgias Toccoa River tailwater lately.

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Editor’s Choice Awards | Transport System

Best Transport System: Yakima Double Haul

Roof top rod carriers have become common place in many areas of the US. An easy identifier for fly fisherman no matter where you go. In recent months a number of new rooftop rod carriers have come out and the Yakima Double Haul is the latest, and quite possibly the best. A 4-rod roof top carrier that I will be the first to say, finally looks good on your vehicle. The Double Haul’s tough appearance comes from a solid black, full welded construction with a molded black reel compartment. Unpacking the Double Haul, the first thing you will notice is the same quality you have come to expect from Yakima, with high end components like weather resistant locks, full aluminum construction with stout connections between the tubes and the cross bar mounts. It can also be shortened to hold rods broken down into two sections 5’ or less. A plus from this engineering is the lack of road vibration that can eventually create wear spots on rod blanks. Assembly and installation took about 30 minutes and was easily a one person job. The best surprise was on the inside. Each of the tubes is lined with a soft plastic tube to protect rods against blank rubbing. The reel compartment is lined in carpet and reels are cradled on their side, rather than hanging, which saves fly lines and protects those high end reels. The system is also a breeze to take on and off with large hand-tightened bolts clamping to a variety of sizes of roof racks, and a single lock to prevent theft. At $699 the Double Haul is not the cheapest system but when protecting up to 4 high end fly fishing outfits that could easily be worth over $5,000, it seems like a solid investment.

yakima.com

Featured Video | Dry Fly Fishing in Cranbrook, BC

We live and work in one of the most beautiful little corners of the world and are blessed to call these waters home.  Special thanks to Fishing BC and Kelly & Karen Laatsch for perfectly showcasing the dry-fly fishery located right in our own backyard!

“We can run our business on the premise that we are dry-fly specialists”, Kelly evokes a level of certainty when he describes the fact that Westslope Cutthroat will often dodge other sub-surface insects to attack a dry fly.

“People travel the world, they come to this river to see the beautiful nature, the Rockies, we are so lucky to have it in our backyard; It’s one of a kind.”

@stmarysflyshop @fishingbc

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