Theaux Le Gardeur

Sweetgrass Fly Rods Update

This shot of Glenn Brackett giving drying bamboo the once over was sent to us from Dave at Sweetgrass rods-Thanks Dave! We unpacked a Sweetgrass 8ft 5wt 3pc 2/2 Hex, and a 7′ 3″ 4/5wt 2/2 Pent over the weekend. If you haven’t heard, the “Boo Boys” have a new series, called Mantra as described on the Sweetgrass site: These 1-tip rods represent an unparalleled value in bamboo rods. With the same taper as our regular, Sweetgrass Series, the Mantra rods will delight with the same action you would expect from a Sweetgrass Rod. And at half the price, it’s a bargain in artisanal craftsmanship. …

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Winter Fly Fishing the Frying Pan, Colorado

Thanks to Fred for the great picture from a recent Winter trip to the Frying Pan River in Colorado. This big brown trout was caught while fishing 36 F water in deep depressions along the Flats of the Frying Pan on a 22 F day. The next day, a seemingly unrelated article from The Aspen Times titled; Angling for Solitude, Fryingpan, Roaring Fork Lure Wintertime Fishing Fans appeared. Great timing Fred!

A Texas Fly Fisherman Leaves the Guadalupe and Returns to Maryland, Coldwater and Wild Fish

Thanks to Daniel for the fishing report and kind words from his trip to the Gunpowder this past Saturday. Hey Theaux, I just wanted to thank you for mapping out some of the local river crossings for me earlier today. I had an awesome time out there! It was my first trip on the Gunpowder and I must say I’m in love already. It was cold and the fishing was tough. I had to dip my tip often because of ice. I managed to fool a small brown into striking a brown bugger below a log jam, just as you suggested. Its been years since …

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More Winter Weather, Leonard Rods and Cornhuskers

The Gunpowder river is flowing at 155 Cfs, is clear and river water temps are still below 40 F. The wind and cold this week has made for challenging fishing. Stoneflies are about but not many fish are willingly to commit to dries. We were paid a visit midweek by a hardy Nebraskan angler from the Cornhusker Fly-Fishers . They have a CCF CARPFEST listed on the site that looks interesting-any takers? Gunpowder regular Carl also stopped in this week with some old paper goods- a 1976 Leonard Spring Catalog and a 1969 issue of TU’s Trout magazine with a dead ringer for Curt Gowdy …

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Winter Fly Tying Classes in the Forecast

With rain, sleet and snow in the forecast, we’ve been busy marking up the shop calendar with tying classes. Our Gunpowder Guides teach these classes in Monkton, Maryland with an emphasis on fun! Here’s a sampling of sixteen upcoming fly tying classes to be scheduled for this Winter: Fly Tying For Beginners: An excellent introduction to tying Nymph Patterns: Dredging bottom anyone? Soft Hackle Patterns: Classic, simple and easy to fish. Emerger and Cripple Patterns: Picky fish beware! Parachute Patterns: Learn tricks that make tiny flies visible again! Streamer Patterns: Big fish eat little fish… Midge Lifecycle: Challenging patterns that work! Mayfly Lifecycle #1: Hendricksons …

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Maryland Trout in the Classroom Update

Here is a quick update from our trout in the Classroom schools. –all of the eggs have hatched and the alevins are hanging on. Soon they’ll be swimming around in the wide world of a 55 gallon tank. Checking tank pH and water temperature were the first orders of business upon delivery of the fertilized trout eggs. Be sure to check out the Lutherville ilab blog for a first hand look at how the trout are developing. Related Post: Trout in the Classroom