Introducing...

Last month I told you guys that I lost my job. It's been tough not waking up and doing the same thing I had been for nearly 17 years. But, I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason.

I've always worked for someone else while wishing the whole time I could be the guy running things; you know, the guy that signs the paychecks. A year ago, I was presented with the opportunity to buy a custom frame and embroidery logo business but, I couldn't make myself walk away from the security my job gave me at the time. I never took the chance.

It took a little while to sink in but I finally realized that losing my job wasn't an ending. I had been working all my life to get to this point. The door had been opened a year ago. Getting de-jobbed was just the nudge/push/shove I needed to step through it. A few weeks ago, I began the process of purchasing the frame shop. Today, I received confirmation from the bank that everything is a go and all that's left to do is finalize the paperwork. So, on March 10th, I'll unlock and open the doors of DF Frame & Logo.


I plan on incorporating my fly fishing gear as soon as possible. The banker, much to my surprise, agreed that it's a good idea. So, designing my own line of fly rods and ultimately rolling my own blanks will still happen. Looks like I'm finally gonna get to be the guy that signs the paychecks...

D

It's Time to Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Alright folks, I suppose it's time to update you all on my plans to develop a line of fly rods. A couple weeks ago I became a victim of the economy when I lost my job. I've got something simmering on the back burner so I'm not destitute. But, I'm having to put the fly rod development on hold for the time being. This is doubly unfortunate because I had just received the first batch of prototype blanks. I'll build them up to give me a baseline and good starting point.

In the meantime, if any of you would like a custom built fly rod, let me know.

D

The Great Ice Storm of 2010

Well, here it is the last weekend of January and I still haven't gotten to go fishing. This past Thursday night and all day Friday, mother nature decided to give us her idea of a winter wonderland. We got pounded by an ice storm that left us with broken trees, downed power lines, lots of time in front of the fireplace, and a possible population explosion sometime around Halloween.

I woke up this morning to clear skies and temps in the bone chilling range. It did afford me a pretty nice photo op. Here are a few shots that I thought you might like.

D - whose Caddo trip can't get here fast enough...

A Little Slice of Heaven

I made a post a while back about how I'm still a little kid when it comes to fishing and hunting trips. I am now a little over three weeks out from a pilgrimage to the absolute pinnacle of warm water fishing in Texas and I'm having trouble getting to sleep. The little slice of Heaven I'm referring to is Caddo Lake.

Five or Six of us hairy legged fly fishermen make a point to meet there at least twice a year to cool our jets, make fun of each other and fly fish until we can't. Nobody washes their pits; nobody shaves, and everybody snores. We fry all our food and eat like Vikings. This goes on for several days until we've all heard each others jokes a dozen times and somebody breaks down and takes a shower. The next morning we break camp, say our goodbyes and scatter to the four winds. As I said, a little slice of Heaven.

Do any of you guys take trips like this? I'd love to hear about them. And, don't worry I'll post plenty of pictures when I get back...

D

Brrrr!

Here it is the second week of the newly hatched year and we’re still in the deep freeze down here in Texas. It’s only been since just before Christmas but I’m about to go stir crazy. I’ve got several things I could or should be working on but I just can’t seem to get motivated. I want to be outside. I want to go FISHING.

The other night, me and a friend of mine were doing much of what I’m doing here; whining about being cooped up in the house because of freezing temps and stiff water. The conversation veered toward all the poor souls that love to fly fish and have to suffer the winters in the Northern tier of the United States.

I’m spoiled by living here where 9 winters out of 10 are warm enough to fish nearly everyday. Being so spoiled, I have a hard time seeing how fly fishermen that live in areas with a colder climate cope. I love to tie flies but don’t think I could sit down and tie for 3 or 4 months straight.

With that being said; I have a couple questions to ask the readers that are snowbound. How do you do it, & What do you do?

Non New Year's Resolutions

I’m in a foul mood. It’s New Year’s Day 2010. It’s 25 degrees out, the wind is blowing, and I didn’t get to go fishing. I had promised myself that I’d start the new year with at least a quick excursion to the park lake for a couple ice cold bluegill. It wasn’t a resolution, I don’t make those.

Lots of fly fishermen I’ve talked to in the last month or so have told me they were making resolutions to fish more this new year. I used to be like that. My work is notorious for taking my well laid fishing plans and tossing them out the proverbial window. Now, when a buddy wants to make plans to go, I never commit until a week before. I’m sure it drives them crazy but it drives me crazier when I’ve been building up to a trip and work gets in the way.

Another resolution I don’t make is to lose weight. Face it, I’m a Fat Kid. I’m alright with it, everybody else might as well be too. I will try. But I won’t make a resolution to do so.

One last resolution I won’t make is to quit using tobacco. I might try to quit but I’m not making myself resolute to do so.

These are just a few resolutions that I won’t be making this year. They are a waste of time and most people are just setting themselves up for failure. What resolutions did you or did you not make?

D