So it is now July and Pennsylvania is in quite a heat wave. It’s been in the 90s for the last few days. Streams are low and warm. Trout are stressed. I’m stressed. We need rain. I need to make it rain. So I’ve been tying up some bugs and revamped my website and portfolio…
Category: flyfishing
Alchemy by Jim Hoey
Alchemy: the ancient belief that gold can be transmuted from the baser elements. Apparently it’s been done too, on a very small scale, but requiring unjustifiable amounts of money/energy, and that doesn’t even count the cost of the nuclear reactor.By accident I found a much simpler way of observing the process, even though the whole…
The Old Couple by Jim Hoey
I’m going to try a new concept for the site and occasionally have some guest bloggers submit some work. Kicking it off is a good friend – Jim Hoey. So here’s a great piece by the former Pennsylvania native – and proprietor of the Hoey Fly Shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He penned this little piece…
Troutrageous! + Tenkara Angler
A quick plug for Michael Agneta’s blogs. If you haven’t checked them out, go do it. Very cool content and newsletter that he provides. I’m partial to the TA logo – as I worked on it for Michael a while ago and I’m very proud of the results. Looks so darn good! Thanks Mike! You…
Fly Collection
It turns out some people are showing interest in my collection of flies and how I store those little treasures. I started collecting from others and putting them into little bottles with cork stoppers. I add a small cardstock label with their name and other info. All get stored in a cigar box that sits…
Quarantine Update: Day 10
This morning I was up before my alarm by a half hour. So at 4:30 am instead of trying to fall back to sleep, I put on some coffee, let the dog out into the darkness and started the day. Screw it. I’m gonna make the most of the day. I hit the tying bench…
Angler Spotlight: Oliver Edwards
I’ve been a big fan of Oliver Edwards. I remember stumbling onto one of his YouTube videos a few years ago and was instantly hooked. He had a unique way of demonstrating patterns and techniques – with wit and history sprinkled in. The history part is what I really enjoy. And seeing materials that I’m…
A New Year and New Happenings.
We are well into 2020 and it has been a busy few months for this guy. Firstly, I’ve continued to go the freelance design route and see if I can pull it off for another year. With that said, I have had some interest shown from a few companies — but not enough to pull…
Drifter 7 Turns 46: Part 1
I decided to head north for my birthday, as I have done for the last few years. I departed on Sunday at 4:30 am from Pittsburgh, packed to the gills in the Subaru. The dog and I, both rather sleepy, got our fill of coffee and treats on the way and enjoyed a great sunrise…
New Designs in the Shop
Yea, that’s right. New designs are up on my Threadless shop. Go check ’em out and support an artist, and a fisherman! The link is: https://drifter7design.threadless.com/ Thanks! ~Drifter07
Fall is in the Air
I am really excited for fall fishing this year. For the first time in 3 years, I’ll be able to hit the water on the weekends. Especially since I’ve resigned as an LL Bean Fly Casting instructor. It just wasn’t in the cards to continue to fill up my Saturdays during this fantastic time of…
Bugs, Beer and Bikes
Today is the start (well at noon for me) of the Labor Day weekend. I’m closing up shop and will be in rest and relaxation mode for three or four days. And that means tying up more bugs, drinking beer with buddies and getting a few bike rides in. And I’m pretty stoked already. This…
The Fly Fishing Show
Mark your calendars for March 7 and 8, 2020. The Fly Fishing Show will take place in Lancaster, PA at the Lancaster County Convention Center. It’s always a great way to get pumped for the season, see the new stuff and see friends old and new. https://flyfishingshow.com/lancaster-pa/ My Dad and I are booked at the…
The End of Summer
I woke up this morning after an excellent night of rest. Mostly because the windows were open and a nice breeze kept me comfortable all night. I love falling asleep to the sounds of nature outside my windows. And this time of year is my absolute favorite. Maybe because I was born in Fall, or…
Cruising the Land
A few weeks ago, my buddy Todd and I headed south after I picked him up in the Subi early Thursday morning. We had that thing loaded up with hiking, fly fishing and biking gear and were prepared to do everything over the next four days. And it was going to be a scorcher outside….
Memorial Day Week(end) Part 2a: Tioga
Left Tionesta early for the 3 hour trip to Leonard Harrison State Park. First stop was in Wellsboro to pick up some groceries. The day was superb, but the waters were high. PA had been pounded with rain over the last few weeks which meant high streams, well-fed fish and pissed of anglers. But I…
Memorial Day Week(end) Part 1: Tionesta
Arrived in Tionesta on Friday, May 24 around 4 pm and opened up the C-5 camp with the Trail Dog. The trip there took longer than expected due to various accidents along the way. Glacier wasn’t happy (as you can see in his look.) It was a beautiful, sunny day for a drive though and…
2019 Tionesta to Tioga to Sinnemahoning Drift
Well, I’m taking a little break from wrapping up projects for the next week and figured I’d put up a post. Right this moment, as of 4:45 pm no one has signed up for LL Bean Fly Casting this Saturday. That means there is an opportunity for me to start my fly fishing trip earlier…
2019 Camp Fortunate Trip
Well another Drifter Camp Fortunate trip is in the books. It began with the trail dog and I closing the shop at noon and heading north to Tionesta. It rained the entire way to camp and the yard was nothing but mud. Wasn’t the nicest of days for sure, but at least I was in…
Water in the Works
So I started fine tuning the bones for a commissioned watercolor painting I have in the works. It is scheduled to be delivered at the end of May so I’ve got to dedicate some time to it. I have a reference photo that was provided by the client, however I need to make some adjustments….
Squatcha Lookin’ At?
I started a new sticker design of a Sasquatch holding a big brown trout. I think it might look good as a sticker or even a t-shirt. I normally would ink first, scan or snap a pic, and then work on digitally to fine tune it. But I’m trying to just go with digital and…
PA Fly Fishing Pride
Now you too can sport some Pennsylvania pride by wearing some Drifter swag. I recently added a new design to my Threadless.com storefront. If you get a chance, take a look and support an artist by purchasing something you can be proud wearing around the campfire. Lots of options and price points available. Enjoy! ~Drifter07
Headin’ North
Last weekend I had the opportunity to check out some new water that I hadn’t experienced before up north. Ryan M. and met up and hiked in about a mile to some nice wilderness water feeding into a main river close to Pittsburgh. It was a great day to be back out in the woods…
Nick’s Fly Shop Now Open
Well, not quite. But I did pick up this sweet watchmaker’s cabinet from my friends over at Salvaged PGH. They recently sourced a bunch of these things and man, are they cool. Each tray has a bunch of little paper boxes that once held watch parts. Perfect place to store fly patterns as you tie…
Buggin’ Out
Looks like I may be hitting the stream this weekend with a fellow Drifter if all goes well. My Saturdays are pretty well spoken for through July with instructing. So I better get organized for the season. And that means sifting through my boxes and figuring out a better system. First up – my nymph…
A Heck of a Pattern
I’ve had the pleasure of having Mike Heck guide me and some buddies on central PA waters. I was reading through my copy of his Spring Creek Strategies book and came across one of his patterns – that Drifter Pete McCartney says slays ’em! (He tends to get pumped up.) So I thought I’d give…
Geppert Brothers Fly Fishing Foundation
Just got approvals on some sticker designs for the fine folks over at Geppert Brothers Fly Fishing Foundation. Four versions will accompany subscription boxes in the upcoming months. Be sure to check out their website to learn about this worthy cause. I’m hoping I can continue to add some swag to the subscription boxes. And…
LL Bean Spring Fishing Event
Well this year’s session has come and gone – and I’m chalking it up as a success. We had many fly tiers crowded around the tables, feathers flying and knowledge being shared among the group. I think everyone ended up learning new techniques, patterns and tricks. I had the opportunity to show some folks some…
Tying Another On
Another Fly Fishing Show in the books for the Original Drifter and I. And this was probably the best trip we’ve had going there. We left Friday morning at 6 am and listened to Orvis podcasts along the way. We stopped at the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing Museum – which should be on any fly fisherperson’s…
Cabin Fever
Make plans to attend the Penn’s Woods West 2019 Cabin Fever Show on Sunday, March 3, 2019. Show starts at 9 am and runs until 4 pm. DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Cranberry900 Sheraton DriveMars, PA 16046 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 9:00 am – Show opens10:00 am – 11:00 am Josh Miller– How to catch more fish than…
Brushes with Brookies & Beer 