Fetha Styx at International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) Show in Denver

Fetha Styx new media guru, Evan Davies, will be participating in the IFTD Social Media Lounge at this year’s American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) IFTD Show on September 9-11. He will be there representing Fetha Styx and discussing the role of social media marketing in the fishing industry for both those new to the concept and those looking to increase their social media presence.

Evan, along with other influential members of the fly-fishing social media community, will also participate in a panel discussion on social media strategy and the fly-fishing industry that is sure to be enlightening. Says Kyle Perkins of Compleat Thought, “The goal is to introduce fly-fishing industry leaders to this strategy, and also have a place for us that are already involved to meet and discuss.”

The IFTD Social Media Lounge will be at booth 1010, near the Guide Lounge.

Stay tuned to Fetha Styx facebook and twitter accounts for updates from the show. Of course, be sure to check the Fetha Styx blog for more of Evan’s reports from the IFTD Show.  If you want to get hold of him before you go, you can always reach him at evan@fethastyxblog.com.

For more information, check out the Fly Fishing Expo website.

Finding Passion on the Fly

We already know that fishing teaches us lessons about our selves and the world around us that transcend the mere accomplishment of landing fish. Fishing can provide more than just a positive ‘work/life balance’ — it can teach us the virtues necessary to find happiness both on and off the water. The blog post “Finding Passion on the Fly” (from Think Brilliant Media Studios) takes a moment to analyze the parallels between fly-fishing lessons and a satisfying professional life.

The key is passion.

Nothing’s worth our time unless we’re enjoying ourselves, right? Perhaps that’s a tad extreme, but passion, patience and an open mind are a few of the fundamental characteristics that lead to triumph in any activity. The lessons put forth in the article are logical, yet incredibly poignant. It’s worth taking a step back to appreciate the values instilled through fishing — and the successes they’re capable of leading to.

Also, we would be remiss for not pointing out the fabulous photo the article uses was taken by our friend Rich Schaaff.

Read “Passion on the Fly” here.

Photo by Richard Schaaff (eastforkfly.com)

Fly-Fishing the Deschutes River

Those of you who live in the NW know that we haven’t seen too much sun in these early days of summer. Fortunately, the last two weekends have been beautiful and I took full advantage by dragging my raft down from Portland for some fly-fishing on the world-renowned Deschutes River in Central Oregon. Read more »

Snake River Fishing Report June 19-20

After what seemed like years of rain, wind, and spring snow the sun finally came out and said hello in the Jackson Hole valley.  Subsequently, I got on the river.  Will and I floated both the 19th and the 20th.  Although the river is running super high with a chocolate milk looking substance, we brought our fishing rods anyway.  Fishing was hectic to say the least, between afternoon, down-bursting thunderstorms and the entire forest residing always somewhere in the middle of the river, basically, we got skunked.  Wooly buggers, big, bright streamers, and the always hopeful dry fly all came to no avail.

Next week, if plans don’t change, I want to float the south fork of the Snake and see how things are there.  I imagine with all this sun the river will finally start falling and it’ll be time to slay.  Stay tuned and wish me luck!

Clearwater Steelhead

I have never been much of a writer, but as I sit after a long weekend of fishing the Clearwater River in Idaho reviewing the pictures of the weekend’s events, I knew I wanted to write about something that was beyond just a normal fishing report Read more »

March Clearwater River Steelhead Fishing

Always down for a last minute steelheading adventure, I grabbed my Fetha Styx fishing rods, packed a cooler with beer and hopped in my car for a trip inland to fish the Clearwater River in Idaho with some old friends. As the hatchery fish seemed to move up river and numbers reported in the rivers down, the crew didn’t let that deter them from fishing hard and having a great time. While we didn’t boat a large number of fish, collectively we landed some beauties. Take a look and let me know what you think of the video.

A big shout out to my good friend Chris Orwig (in my opinion one the best Montana fly fishing guides) for making the trip and dropping some local and steelheading knowledge on me.  I always learn a bunch when I hit the river with this crew, and this trip was no different.

Check out some of the Fly-Fishing Rods and Steelhead gear rods I brought along with me.  Stay tuned for the next series of posts with a full write up and a new project I was inspired to do after the trip.

Thanks to EYEini for helping put the final touches on this.

Fetha Styx Blog Home

Ed Burgass Interview – Flyfishmap.com

Ed Burgass is the owner and founder of FlyFishMap.com and his main goal is to put Fly Fishing into a Global perspective through the use of social map technologies.
Read more »

South Florida 2010 Fish Kill: Tons Of Hope, One Of My Best Days Fishing EVER!

by Dave Teper
WorldANGLING

A lot of people have heard, some haven’t, some care, and others don’t give a shit. A couple weeks ago we had an unusual weather event that cooled our water down to levels that were too low for certain fish like snook, tarpon, and bonefish to survive. I was unable to go out and witness the carnage first hand because I was in the rat hole finishing up our video for the fly fishing film tour this year. Most of my friends (guides) were ultra-depressed and all doom and gloom about the scenario, but everyone was aware that this kind of thing happens. Thousands of fish died. Big hit to the fishery.

Or is it? What percentage of our winter resident snook and tarpon actually died? It seems like nobody really knows. Over the last few days we have heard that some biologists and scientist types have been booking up days with Everglades fishing guides to assess the damage. It looks like it was a serious enough event to require professional interaction. I can’t wait to find out.

In the meantime all we can do is come to our own conclusions. Most of the initial talk on the internet is very negative. Things like “we didn’t find any life” or “all we saw was a lot of dead fish.” Now don’t get me wrong there has been a bunch of good things posted, but none really good enough to really offset the bad vibe. Until now…

I’m not going to get into the details of it, but five days after I finished editing a part of our new movie about the best snook (fish) of my life, I go out fishing once, when the fishing is supposedly as bad as it has ever been, and catch a snook that was better than the one I just spent all this time trying to tell about. The fish was a bit longer, and probably weighed about the same, but none of that is what it is even about. It’s got nothing to do with even catching the fish. What it is about is hope. Now granted these fish are down, beaten up (some to death) and very vulnerable (a perfect time to actually stand a chance with a fly rod), and I will honestly say that I went out looking to kick something big while it was down. But in the process of catching and releasing her, great respect was paid not to wear her down too bad and to make sure she swam off exactly how we found her. And she did. It was at that moment that Jeff and I realized how symbolic it was. At a time when many lost all hope, there was still a trophy out there willing to eat my stupid little fly and prove to all of us that it is FAR FROM OVER!

We’re at the Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Puyallup, WA All Weekend!

Stop by for a chat and to check out our 2010 product — we’d love to see you! For more information, visit the show’s website here.

Washington Sportsmen's Show logo

“North Bound” — Spin-a Story First Place

North Bound
By: Jason Morrison

I looked up at the clock to see it was just a few minutes past midnight. I put my scissors down and tucked the vise back into the corner of the roll top desk. I admired the row of size 24 Baetis I had just got done tying. Carefully, I pulled each one out of the pink foam and placed them into my fly box.

Turning off the light to my fly dungeon I let out a large yawn and a sigh of relief. I knew that in just a few short hours I would be on the road, heading north bound. With everything already packed I open the front door of the house and step out into the cool autumn air. Loading the fly rods and gear into the back of the truck is therapeutic.

I lay restless in bed. Everything fills my head. The last few months have been rough taxing my soul. Rolling over I find myself cracking a grin and forgetting. Tomorrow I will be in good company and sticking fish!

I am greeted by Jason & Kenny early who are both eager to hit the road. After a moment or two of admiration for the “woodie” attached to the back of the truck we are off. The wooden drift boat behind the truck looks sexy and boasts jealousy to anyone already work bound in the early morning hours.

Every year a crew of us hit “Bobs Cabin” in Idaho. We head up from Utah and fish the waters that surround the famous Henry’s Fork. It is always a challenge to see how much water we can cover over an extended weekend. The evening hours are filled with high stakes.

Chris & Norm meet up with the “Clacka”. The snow begins to fall as we launch the boats on a section of the “Fork”. The wind is hissing and the water is low. “It doesn’t matter”.

Posting up on the deeper seams we managed to land a few fish. Jason makes two pumps with a large Sex Dungeon and the water erupts with a nice rainbow crashing the surface. With my camera bag in between my feet I pull out the “700” and begin firing off shots on the “wide”.

Kenny is standing in the back of the boat and switching up his fly selection. Turning around with the camera I take a few seconds to capture the action.

“Bling This Jay!” Kenny holds up the goods and lets out a laugh.

The afternoon wind and snow doesn’t stop any of us from having a great time. I rowed through a couple tail outs to catch up with Chris, Norm and Bob. We anchor up next to the Clacka and watch Norm throw to some risers taking small Baetis on top.

Not a bad way to end an afternoon of fishing.

The evenings back at Bob’s cabin are something to look forward to at the end of each day on the water. The laughter is loud, the steaks are cooked to perfection and the poker is out of control. Norm manages to clean my wallet out by beating my Straight to Ace with his Full House.

With it being 14 degrees in the morning we are late getting out of bed. Launching the “Woodie” mid morning gives us a short window to hit Henry’s Lake. It doesn’t take long for the wind to blow everyone off the water and have us re-think our game plan for the day.

Hitting the road we drive into Montana to visit Kelly Galloup. After sharing a few stories and talking with Kelly we decide it is time to pay the “Madi” a quick visit. As Kenny and Jason head out to the river I hold back for the shots. My evening is spent observing on the bank.

The past few years have taught me a thing or two. I have learned to not be in such a hurry. I now wield a camera more than a fly rod. I love seeing everything unfold behind the lens. I catch things that were once missed and I appreciate the small details that were passed up. The laughter and excitement of the take, the cries from the misses, and the magnificence of that which surrounds us. I fly fish through a camera lens and love it!

Here is to another year “North Bound.”