BLOG.FISHINGSUPPLYCO.COM

It's a girl's world...

Fishing Supply Co. — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 19:43:00 GMT

Has anyone noticed the shortage of feathers lately? The change in clientale? The appearance of feathers in the social and style magazines?

The world of fly fishing feathers has changed! It no longer belongs exclusively to the sport of fly fishing! I can tell you that in the last six months I have sent as much material to women as I do to men. When I noticed the change in my customer base, I started asking my female customers where all the "pretty" feathers were going. They started giving me the names of sites such as Etsy and other craft and handmade sales sites that feature items made with feathers.

I have been amazed! The feathers that we find so appealing for fishing flies are now being made into earrings, hair extensions, brooches, hats and wedding bouquets! Apparently, the "feather phenomenon" started on the fashion pages of magazines and women were paying attention. My daughters tell me that a girl pop star named Kesha routinely wears feather earrings, along with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Biel and others - and the trend caught on. I wouldn't know Kesha if she walked in my front door but she sure has broadened my customer base!

So, if your own feather stock is dwindling at home and you don't know why - check with your wife and daughters - they may be wearing them from their ears!

Great Feedback - Thanks Everyone!

Fishing Supply Co. — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:45:00 GMT

We have been getting really great feedback on the store and blog so I wanted to share, and say "THANK YOU" to everyone who has taken an interest in our project. My dad works very hard to make sure both product and customer service are top-notch.

Some of our favorites:

Fishing Supply Co is a great store. They are very quick at shipping and exactly what I wanted. Shipping price was very reasonable. I will shop here again very soon.They even gave away a free product, which was unexpected but very appreciated. Thank you again.

Thanks for a great product and great service.

Great bunch of feathers for tying wooly buggers.

I placed my first order with your company through ebay and was absolutely thrilled with the quality of the feathers that were sent to me. They were perfect for fly tying and packed well. I am very happy to have found your store and will be shopping frequently with you. Thank you for enclosing information to find your website and blog. It is informative and I look forward to reading it regularly.

Thanks for the large selection of rabbit fur. It will make wonderful Zonker strips. Great colors.

Thanks again!
Shannon

Derek Deyoung - Fish Painter

Fishing Supply Co. — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 01:13:00 GMT

I was looking through the latest issue of American Angler, when I was pleasantly surprised to find a painting by Derek Deyoung. These are amazingly beautiful depictions of fish and lure. Nicely done - a true inspiration for my next art project.

Tarpon Red Streamer

Bass Popper

Thanks for reading,
Shannon

Bass Fishing Trip & Tips

Fishing Supply Co. — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:49:00 GMT

When my girls can't go fishing with me, I borrow some family
friends and we have a great time!

Just a couple top-of-mind bass fishing tips:

Bass are actually most active during the hot summer months; their metabolism speeds up as the temperature climbs, so they are more active and must feed regularly.
After the cast, it's all about the rhythm of jerks and pauses. The colder the water, the longer the pauses; the warmer the water, the shorter the pauses.
Shiners are most effective when fishing for small and large mouth bass in ponds or lakes (moderately still water).
Live worms are most effective when fishing for small mouth bass in rivers and streams.
In clear water, feel free to downsize the lure and line. In muddy water, it's best to go with bright colors and larger baits.
Lure pattern should match the natural environment. For example, if fishing in a northern lake with perch or bluegills, choose colors similar to greens and oranges.
Bass are object oriented, so expect a rock, tree stump, drop-off or even tree shadow to hold fish.

There's nothing like seeing someone smile after a great catch;
although most of the time, I "catch" the fish, and the kids reel it in!

Thanks for reading,
Randy

NEW Products Coming Soon!

Fishing Supply Co. — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:27:00 GMT

We are very excited to announce that we will be adding new product to the store from the following suppliers:

Spirit River has provided quality, innovative fly tying products since 1990. They lead the way in new product ideas, which never disappoint and always result in the most eye-catching, successful flies. One particular product of interest is the Poly Bear Fiber, perfect for big saltwater fish, such as marlin and tuna. This fly tying material is the perfect balance of power - strong enough to withstand the rigor of extreme ocean conditions, but light enough to allow a great cast. The length of hair is perfect for the larger fly patterns.

Millstream has held a strong presence in the fly tying industry for 30 years. And they are proud of their "Made in the USA" heritage. Some particular products of interest are the BestWay Outdoors Neer Hair, which is a synthetic substitute for bucktail much easier to work with than traditional hair. There are 22 great colors available at approximately 20" long.

There is also the BestWay Outdoors Super Hair, a tough, translucent material excellent for saltwater patterns. This can also substitute for bucktail, comes in 27 colors and is approximately 10"long.

HMH offers a full line of top quality tubes and accessories for any tube fly application. Tube fly tying techniques and patterns are only gaining in popularity, as they are great in both fresh and saltwater situations. I really enjoyed reading their Tube Fly Guide .

If you have comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to let us know!

Thank you,
Randy

Oh boy. First time shooting!

Fishing Supply Co. — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:47:00 GMT

Time for a little fishing breather, as I have another experience to share - my first trip to the shooting range!

Up until these past few weeks, I think I have been around a gun once. And this included my dad deciding to clean his shotgun (which had never even been used in my lifetime) when my date picked me up for my very first high school dance. So you can imagine the hesitation, excitement, etc, that came with my new job and being thrown into this new world of firearms, ammunition, etc.

But this last Friday, I attended a F.A.S.T. Start class, in which the morning was spent in the classroom learning the basics, and the afternoon was spent at the range for some much-needed, hands-on training. This started with skeet and a couple different Remington and Marlin shotguns. I personally tried a youth (Model 700?), Model 1100 and double-barrel (to me, this was a beast!).

And surprisingly, I was good at it! I hit 7 out of 10 clays and got the first after only my third try!

We then moved on to target practice with .22 rifles, again from Remington and Marlin. I tried two different semi-automatics, as well as a bolt-action. I have to admit I thought this was going to be a cinch, as we got to sit down, use a scope and stabilizer, but I was very, very wrong. My protective glasses got in the way, I couldn't steady the gun, the shells were flying out at me! It was insanely frustrating!

But I kept at it (even after the others quit) and came within millimeters of the bulls-eye TWICE! Not bad.

But my confidence was soon shattered with mission impossible, as we moved back to shotguns and skeet. But this time, the clays were not predictable and went flying in all directions. The instructor told me to keep the gun low, locate the skeet, raise the gun, aim and shoot. Well let me tell you, it still takes me 30+ seconds to get the gun into a correct, comfortable position and the clays had no intention of waiting for me. I think I hit 1 out of 7. I still have some work to do!

But all-in-all, it was a great experience, and I have every intention of going back. If I am going to be surrounded by firearms, etc, on a daily basis, I better do my best to be both knowledgeable and comfortable. But it's bound to get interesting, and so I will be sure to share any and all stories!

Wish me luck!
Shannon

Success on Nothing Yet!

Fishing Supply Co. — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:22:00 GMT

WHERE: Lake Huron (in 100ft of water).
TECHNIQUE: Bounced a cannon ball off the lake bottom with cow bells and a howie fly.
CATCH: Beautiful lake trout.

LESSON: The name on the boat meant nothing!

We don't always come home with such a feast, but enjoy when we do! I found some really great lake trout recipes, which include such things as Asian Honey Lake Trout and Grilled Lemon Lake Trout. If you have any great recipes, please feel free to share!

Thank you!
Randy

Fishing for Bluegill!

Fishing Supply Co. — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:44:00 GMT

Sometimes the best fishing trips are those in a hidden pond...after bluegill. The kids have a great time, and honestly, what is better than the excitement in their eyes when they reel in fish after fish!

Her expression cracks me up! She keeps me busy putting
worms on the hook, taking fish off the line...there's never any time
for me to actually fish!

And as we continued exploring, look what we found hiding in the weeds...

Thanks for reading!
Randy

PS. My dad obviously forgot to point out the photography is all his own, and he was very proud! Please notice the strategically-placed rod and reel in the background of some pictures! I only wish I was there to share in the fun...(Shannon)

River of Plenty by Eric Sharp

Fishing Supply Co. — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 02:14:00 GMT

We are back after a temporary distraction due to a new job and big move! Thank goodness my parents are good to me and offered unwavering support, as well as help during the entire process. Therefore, I want to start out my first blog back highlighting an article chosen by my dad - River of Plenty by Eric Sharp.

He writes a beautifully simple description of a day spent on the St. Mary's River in Sault Ste Marie fishing for steelhead. Not only does he mention the area is perfectly deserted during the week, which allows for a peaceful experience and plenty of fish, but he so generously provides other tid-bits of information:

Many people focus on steelhead and salmon, but don't forget the resident rainbow trout attracted by dry flies.
Steelhead have excellent vision so avoid getting too close as it only scares them away. You could even stay back from the water or hide among rocks. And leave those bright red hats at home! Chose neutral colors and blend into the natural landscape.
The fresh Atlantics normally make an appearance in the first or second week of June.
Consider fly rods when fish reside in the shallows and spinning rods with spoons/spawns when they venture into deeper pools.

I really enjoyed his description of a bottom-bouncing spawn rig "tick-tick-ticking across the bottom as the current sweeps the bait downstream." He then moves on to recommend casting, reeling to eliminate slack and then following the lure with the tip of the rod; you should feel a subtle tug, lift the tip and "you'll feel a handshake" sure to mean success and a great fish!

Thank you Eric for a great read!

Until next time,
Shannon

Fishing Links Worth Sharing

Fishing Supply Co. — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:57:00 GMT

We honestly believe it is so important to support other outdoor enthusiasts who have taken their passion online to share with others. Therefore, we will continue to update our list of recommended blogs/sites. All are definitely worth a look as each offer amazing things sure to entertain and educate. Please don't hesitate to make suggestions, as we are always looking for something new!

LINKS:
The Outdooress: The perfect combination of fly fishing and writing. A must-read!
The Weekly Fly : Free fly tying videos every week, as well as HD downloads and DVDs.
Tyler Befus : Great fly fishing site for kids!

Memorial Weekend Family & Fishing Adventures

Fishing Supply Co. — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 22:40:00 GMT

It seems like the summer months are always crazy busy, but I finally found time to recap my weekend home…in which my family went camping and fishing on Lake Huron.

Our retro camper, which was the smallest in the park!

View of the Grindstone/Lake Huron...

Around noon on that Sunday, which was BEAUTIFUL, my dad and I headed to Grindstone City and waded out into the water, hoping to catch a bass. I hate to admit that we witnessed many pairs swimming among our feet, but no one seemed to be having any luck. It just so happened that we were after fish, who were obviously spawning, with crawfish lures…right after a caddisfly hatch. Needless to say, the cards were stacked against us!

But we did a little digging and found the following tidbits of information:

Caddisfly hatch is prime time to fly fish with the popular fly pattern known as the elk hair caddis. Our store has some high quality Hareline Dubbin, Inc Elk Fly Tying Hair perfect for this!
Although people were not catching bass, some were finding luck with walleye at dusk. Although we were back at the campsite by then to visit with grandparents, cousins, etc, and will have to remember this for next time. My time home is spread thin as I have a lot to fit in!

Caddisflies were everywhere - in the car, on me, etc!

Not all was lost because of the caddisflies, as we moved on to garage sales. If you can’t catch a fish, you might as well shop around for fishing supplies! And those we did find. My dad found a great deal on some downrigger weights and line clips, as well as some random lures to add to our arsenal of fishing supplies. I also found a little treasure – Hook, Line & Seeker – to read in my free time. If I come across anything of interest, I will definitely share!

Since I live in NC, I think I might start exploring and fishing the lakes here. But one thing is for certain, I need to get a pair of waders that fit – no more wearing my dad’s!

Out in Lake Huron in my big ol' waders!

My dad and me!

Thanks for reading and until next time,
Shannon

My Youngest Fisher...girl!

Fishing Supply Co. — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:33:00 GMT

I just had to show off my granddaughters introduction to fishing. Saying I find this exciting might be an understatement - one of my first presents to her was a life jacket that should fit her at the age of 10! She is just a great girl...always curious!

LJ - meet worm, who will help us catch your first fish.

Hello fish!

I don't think a grandfather could be more proud!

Until next time,
Randy

Put Nutria To Good Use

Fishing Supply Co. — Tue, 18 May 2010 22:27:00 GMT

So I recently found out we are adding new raccoon, buffalo and nutria pelts to the store. Well, I had absolutely no idea what a nutria was, so I did a little online research and came across a very interesting article called Fur Flies: Activists Hope To Spark Nutria Sales by Marketing Daily.

Apparently, these little rodents are destroying the Louisiana grasslands and so trappers are being offered $5 per nutria they destroy, but the pelts are often discarded. And so Righteous Fur, a grassroots movement, is encouraging people to put these to good use, in such things as clothing. But I have to admit, I interpreted the article's title a little differently - why not encourage the use in fly tying?!

Apparently the nutria hair is durable and can be dyed; it is also perfect for things such as nymph fly tails or muddler wings. So check the store within the week to get your very own nutria pelt!

Nutria image courtesy of John & Karen, USFWS

Thanks for reading,
Shannon

BLOG-TASTIC!

Fishing Supply Co. — Fri, 14 May 2010 14:26:00 GMT

To our awesome customers who received a flyer with purchase - please post your comments below and then visit the Bargain Bin . We look forward to hearing from you!

Welcome to my new adventure!

Fishing Supply Co. — Sat, 01 May 2010 17:09:19 GMT

I really enjoy going to garage sales and working with local taxidermists to find great fishing supplies/materials. For the past 12 years, I have successfully used eBay to share my “treasures” with others, but I have decided to take it one step further by 1) becoming a blogger and 2) partnering with fly fishing suppliers, like Whiting Farms and Hareline Dubbin, Inc, to open an online store.

What makes me even more happy is that this is a family adventure. My girls are growing up and all have their very different interests, but this is one project we can work on together. (side-note from my daughter: my dad, does in fact, call me every morning at 8:45am and the emails and phone calls continue throughout the day! I fear our new hobby might turn into a full-time job!) I like to think I am passionate, but they might have other words to describe me!

I really want this blog to be fun, but also a hub for relevant information. I have been brainstorming various topics, but would love to also get your opinion – what is missing from the fishing/fly tying community? What would you like to read about and discuss?

Potential topics:

Fly fishing material descriptions and patterns
Fishing hot spots
Trends and new products
Recipes
Garage sale adventures
Family fishing trips
Conservationist/fly tier profiles
Great reads
Maybe a little art to satisfy my older daughter!

Thanks for visiting & until next time,
Randy