The Paradox Of Choice

NEED ANOTHER ROD ?

Which One ?

maybe get two ?

WALLPAPER:  A WONDERFUL SELECTION

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"The paradox of choice is an observation that having too many options to choose from, rather than making people happy and ensuring they get what they want, can cause them stress and engender problematic decision-making."

PICK A ROD, ANY ROD

.. Here we are in mid winter and it's warm. Snow is coming and melting at the same time.The mind wanders to springtime fishing and what gear to get ready. We think about our hoard of rods, reels, lines, flies and other accouterments that need to be readied for the opening.
.. Aha! Selections in this day and age are greater than ever. We think that there are more types of gear than at any other time in history - certainly more than in recent memory.
.. What a wonderful world. Enormous amounts of gear and accessories. Enormous amounts of manufacturers. Enormous amounts of vendors. Enormous amounts of experts. Enormous amounts of destinations and locations. Zowie - boy we are blessed!

Autonomy and Freedom of choice are critical to our well being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy. Nonetheless, though modern Americans have more choice than any group of people ever has before, and thus, presumably, more freedom and autonomy, we don't seem to be benefiting from it psychologically, ( — quoted from Ch.5, The Paradox of Choice, 2004)

.. We see this frequently. Which one to buy. How much to spend. Maybe we should think about it for a while. We'll ask the neighbors. We'll ask the counter help. We'll search the web. We'll read a book or two. Etc., etc.

PICK A REEL, ANY REEL

.. From 'Choice Overload' to 'Buyer's Remorse' there is a range of anxieties that can result from our selection of gear. Hell, there is even the on stream penis fly rod envy. The glance askance toward the tackle in the parking lot, the walk to the stream, and other opportunities.
.. We even note the concept, (rapidly growing over the last decade,) that 'BETTER' gear makes a better fisher. To cite the photographer's insight. "Question: what camera is the best camera? Answer: the one that's in your hand!)
.. Better fishers are made by fishing. Better casters are made by casting. Long ago, (in San Diego,) we saw a famous fly fisher cast the full length of a fly line by using a plumber's friend, (that bathroom plunger we all know and love.)
.. We would suggest that all of us have all the gear that we need. We often wonder if we confuse what we need with what we want. Ah, the curse of affluence!

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NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS

.. We have mud instead of packed snow leading into the winter fishing spots. The combination of snow, rain and high mid day temperatures provides goop on the trail and slush on the roads. Of course, night time temperatures bless us with some black ice and slick roads.
.. The mid day rush to the grocery store and the Post Office is a wonder to behold. Folks are even walking around town and, of course, some kids are wearing short pants. The high country snow pack seems to be building and avalanches are frequent.

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WALLPAPER: GENTLE CARAWAY RYE

The Teutonic Connection

Ja Jörg, ES IST HIER

Not Just China

needed new iphone ?

WALLPAPER:   TEUTONIC EXCELLENCE

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.. Among the finest fly reels in the world, (precision, design, manufacturing, cost, value,) is the Vosseler. It's probably not for sale at your local feather merchant.
.. If your third car is a BMW X5 that you reserve for park and fish adventures you can find out about the reel at the Vosseler Reel website, (Link 1.) 

.. What does this have to do with an iPhone?
.. Well there is a giant European market that Apple has not been too successful with. It's the ethos infected, Eurocentric, common folk of that continent.
.. There is, at this moment, in a highly secret bunker in Berlin, a brain trust of about a couple dozen people, (give or take,) who have little time for fly fishing.
.. These folks are experts in technology, marketing, industrial manufacturing, and contemporary zeitgeist. 
.. They are busy dreaming up a few new ways to out compete Samsung with some futuristic integrated iPhone technology.

.. In the not too distant future you will need, (desperately need,) a new iPhone.
.. Why, you say? Because you will not be able to drive your new Titan without it.
.. What's that? It's an electric mass market car coming from Apple, (they have bypassed the fishing tackle & gear market.)
.. The Apple car will be here in less than two years and will be built in Germany. It will have all the ethos of a Germanic import for sale to American consumers, (while allowing some tax benefits for Apple.) Better than stinky VW's or BMW's.

Courtesy:  Sport Fishing Asia.com

.. Of course it will be pricey. Of course it will be exclusive. Of course it will appeal to fly fishers who already have $10,000.00 worth of gear on their body when they enter the water.
.. So, you don't believe it? So you only have $1,500.00 worth of gear when you fish close to home? Well you will be left out of the growing camaraderie of select fly fishers that travel to exotic places and cluster together to discuss the esoteric pastime of fly flinging.

.. By the time the car hits the streets it will be renamed the "iCar." and will be in great demand by Apple buffs from Dubai to Detroit.  We'll be interested to see who is driving the first one to enter Yellowstone National Park, (a place with no charging stations.)

.. This video provides the facts that will allow you to chase down the iCar and, give you a wader up on the neighbors.

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..We're waiting for the "iRod" and the "iReel."  We suspect that they will be manufactured in China out of synthetic, (3-D printed,) bamboo.
.. They will have "smart" features such as: intelligent drag application, compensatory taper adjustment, automatic hero-photo composition, immediate social media posting, in-built commentary such as "good fish" and "mend - mend - mend now!," selective GPS locators for precision casting, and other features to discuss with cohorts during a catered shore lunch -- -- which will be ordered from the integrated iPhone.
.. There are a few videos,released during the last month or so below. If you can resist the urge to fish today check out where Apple and the other electric cars are going to and coming from.
.. This is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. We're headed to the park to join the line at the west entrance station.

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CAN IT BE ??

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WALLPAPER:  PAN SEARED OVEN FINISHED

A Salty Pair

LOADED AND READY

Heavy Duty Tools

no cutesy clicks or artsy colors

WALLPAPER: FIN-NOR

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.. These guys have stopped little tuna, barracuda, and big sailfish. Time for giant salmon.

Strange Bedfellows

80 YEAR OLD PAYNE

Meets 8 Month Old Ballan

not quite Will's tempest

WALLPAPER: LIKE A GLOVE

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.. Some folks hang 'em on the wall. Others lock them away for future recompense. A few are in museums and some are in bank vaults. We fish ours a few times each year.
.. For this year's extravagance we've replaced the 110 year old, 3-screw,  St. George with a modern masterpiece. Even Prospero could not have conjured such a pairing, (unlike Ferdinand and Miranda.) Strange bedfellows indeed.
.. Caught a fish or two and didn't break anything. In keeping with the tempest, (the neighbors revile my cavalier attitude toward ancient tools,) and in celebration of the rightful  Duke of Milan, we dipped most of a loaf of ciabatta bread in some olive oil and balsamic vinegar  --  and ate it  --  burp. As comfortable as old slippers - more strangeness.
..  The coldness has arrived and we're contemplating a brief migration to liquid moisture.

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WALLPAPER (Loaf #1): CIABATTA BREAD

From Vosseler

Unbelievable ?

DEALS OF THE CENTURY

Save Big / Fish Some Too

click on over

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.. So you want a fine rod and reel to enhance your visit to Yellowstone Country? So you want a great deal to make the neighbors back home jealous?
.. And, you've decided that Orvis is the way to go. Well here's your chance!
.. Parks' Fly Shop has conned the good folks at Orvis into giving you a FREE REEL with the purchase of any Helios or Hydra rod. **
.. Just so you don't think this is just another come-on they have also included a coupon for 10% off any guided trip booked when you make a purchase during this promotion.
.. If you're even thinking about it - do it. The savings + the 10% = just about a free day fishing!!!
.. The sale applies to rods that will fish well in our part of the world.
.. Helios, Hydra, & TLS Power Matrix are all on sale in selected lengths and weights. See the deals HERE.

MONEY QUOTE:

TLS Power Matrix 906-2 Mid-Flex 6.5 Arguably "THE" best deal available. The idea of being able to put a $259 reel on a $335 rod for free is almost absurd.
.. This is a nice, medium-fast two piece rod for those who don't expect to fly. $335

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.. ** This is an Orvis-wide promotion available to all Orvis dealers. The 10% coupon for a guided fly trip is only available at Parks' Fly Shop.

Grotesquely Sunny

MOTHERS HIDING THEIR BABIES

Salmon Wearing Sunglasses

guides confused by lack of fog

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.. The "Chetco Effect" was absent for four days straight. Obscene sunshine permeated the conifers and they began to wilt. Neighbors saw who they were living next to for the first time in seven months.
.. Motorists discovered that Crescent City wasn't in Oregon. And, believe it or don't, there was no wind to speak of and the sky really is blue.


.. Salmon fishing slowed until yesterday afternoon, (a welcome Thanksgiving gift,) - the fog returned, it rained, the river came up, and the slugs came back to the roads.
.. There truly is a god, and the salmon sniffed their way back to the runs below the forest road. Just a mere 3 miles from Highway 101 there are 22# fish begging to be caught. We think it's worth another day or two.
.. The migratory fishers are already looking either north or south. Umpqua, Smith, and Gualala are on the lips of many. For now, and for us, it's still the Chetco River and the Coquille River. We won't tell if you don't.

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Big Fish Radio

100% INTERNET RADIO

Right Here In Montana !!

give it a listen

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.. Almost as good as iTunes radio & it's local. Click on over to BIG FISH RADIO.
.. It's a full service "radio" station on the Internet.
.. It's straight from Whitefish, Montana and it's loaded.
.. Just run it in the background and keep up to date on all the fine happenings in Whitefish, Montana.
.. It will add spice to the uneventful happenings in the Mt. Shasta region - eh Tom?

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-> Get the live stream - HERE.
-> Get news - HERE.
-> Get sports - HERE.
-> Get shows - HERE.
-> Featured events - HERE.
-> Community page - HERE.
-> Explore music - HERE.
-> Contact & comment - HERE.

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Little Rain: Little Snow - Perfect !

.. Just enough rain to keep the streams running cool, just enough snow to remind us it's fall, just enough fish to keep us happy - NOT TOO BAD.
.. The neighbors have threatened us with no grog for a week if we reveal the best fishing spots in the neighborhood. With that sentiment in mind we can only say: don't fish the following:

o Firehole River,
o Campanula Creek,
o Richards Creek,
o Gneiss Creek,
o Indian Creek,
o Spring Creek,
o Yellowstone Creek.

.. Other (not to be revealed here,) creeks and lakes in the neighborhood are providing catching as good as it gets. Attractors are working when there are no hatches: midges when there are.
.. Big nymphs and assorted rubber legs creations are just fine all day long. The holding water for lake-run fish can be probed with dark and light streamers with equal effectiveness.

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.. The residual, seasonal carcasses & gut piles have concentrated the Grizzlies on the flats. Carry in your hand, (NOT IN YOUR BACK PACK OR HOLSTER,) a large canister of bear spray and loudly sing ribald songs. The hunters won't like it, but you won't surprise the bears.
.. There are also some black bears along the South Fork of the Mdison River, and a few others scattered on the slopes around the periphery of the Hebgen Basin . . . Be alert.

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Blessed Rain & Cooler Temperatures

FINALLY, A WEEK FULL OF OVERCAST

Get Out The Poncho

photo courtesy Jason Neuswanger

.. The weather has finally given us and the Baetis a break. We're going to check out Boundary Creek and the Bechler River. The fires are still smoldering in the Cascade Corner, but the pub talk has fish jumping into waders - we'll see.
.. Baetis is the watchword for the week. They are on the Firehole River, the Madison River, the Gibbon River, Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek and even the Gallatin River - if you can find them. Get over to The Trout Nut for pictures.
.. Caddis are beginning to flutter around mile post 23 on the Gallatin River and on the Firehole River. If you're looking for the big'uns carry some drakes and hope that fish memory is as good as rumored.

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.. Over at Trouts & Seasons Of The Mountain Village, Fujioka has updated his Pfluger Medalist Page. Besides some very informative pictures of these reels, there is excellent information about the evolution of the marque. We have several of these and you probably do too. There is also a list of references for additional research.