Flies...Check, Rods...Check, Skiff...Check

I'm gearing up for another trip down to the keys and making sure nothing is left behind. This time we're going after big ocean side bones, permit, and tarpon. I've been planning this trip with a couple of buddies for almost 2 months now, tying in my spare time, and stock piling flies for the trip. My boxes are almost full! We're bringing down a few skiffs, a couple cameras, and a serious hankering for some sight fishing on the flats. This time of year can be legendary for bones with some double digit fish possible. The permit and baby poon fishing should be going off as well. We have some big tides in our favor and with some cooperation from the weather we should get some good fish to hand and on film!
I'll report back in the next couple weeks...

How big a number is 200,000?

It’s a pretty damn big number unless maybe you’re Wilt Chamberlin.
In only 9 months tv.aegmedia has racked up over 200,000 watched videos.
What started out as a beta site for uploading submissions for the Fly Fishing Film Tour and a site to house AEG clips the TV.AEG web site is morphing into a pretty sweet collection of fly fishing films, clips and teasers from fly fishing Joe’s across the globe. Clips have been uploaded from all over the world including Finland, France, Scandinavia Russia and South America to name but a few. While the site is pretty much still in the experimental phase we have some pretty good ideas for how to make the site a pretty sweet little hang out.
There are currently over 80 vids for your viewing pleasure on the site with new clips coming in every week.
If you have something you want to upload just sign up for a logon at the site and follow the steps. If you just want to watch the vids you can visit the site without signing in, although you wont be able to rate the videos which currently at this point means absolutely squat.

Canadian Fish Chicks

Its getting rougher for American North Westerners to run up to B.C. humping after those perfect silver Steelhead legally. A future possibility looms with that in a few years the number of days U.S. citizens can fish in B.C. will be limited to 8 (under a lottery). This will drive Owens to an early dry grave. After much debate and a bit of whiskey we have decided to try and marry off Owens to any legal Canadian resident fish chick to save his life.

Owens is single and for the most part, disease free. He likes long walks on the beach and Apple computer products. When not fishing or editing, Owens enjoys baking, fine wines, and knitting. The whole "send picture of boat" is applicable here. Gear chuckin girls apply around back.

Bum Report

At this moment:

Owens
Bed- Jay's couch
Status- Broke, Dreaming of steelhead and square meal
Nickname of the Month-Wishiwouldofblowens

Justin
Bed-Pete's couch
Status- Broke, Dreaming of steelhead and his girly guiding up in Alaska
Nickname of the Month-Justin VonJustin-avich

Brian
Bed- His own bed in Florida
Status- Semi broke/gonna be broker preparing for a Tarpon short that we all wish we could be there for.
Nickname of the the Month-B.J.

Thad
Bed- Pretty sure he doesn't sleep
Status- Breaking tail to find avenues to repair broke status for everyone and most likely listening to 80s music.
Nickname of the Month-Thug

Jay
Bed- Close to sleeping with the fishes which sounds kinda good and kinda bad (never start smoking kids)
Status- Broke and typing for food donations.
Nickname of the Month- No one ever gives me nicknames. Any ideas?

Brothers of the Flung Fly,

I was just thinking about the Fly Fishing Film Tour. Driving 1000s of miles, meeting 1000s of faces, drinking 100s of local refreshing beverages, and catching 10s of fishes(uhhh) got me ta thinkin. What was the biggest tour stop in 2008? With the finger agility of locksmith and a bit of hunt and peck typing I finally figured the figures. What do you think the biggest stop was?

Howsabout the closest guesser gets the new Fish Bum 1 Mongolia DVD in the mail?

Porcupines, Silvers, and a Pirate

So I just returned from two excellent weeks in fishing/working/hanging out in King Salmon, AK...it had been a while since I had last visited and I was really itching to get back. I had spent 7 summers prior in the area, commercial fishing, sport fishing, and a little dirt-bag guiding for a few summers as well, my absence was starting to wear on me. Luckily, my girlfriend had scored a job guiding at Alaska Sportsman's Bear Trail Lodge, on the Naknek River, so I was set.

I can't report any truly exciting stories, bear encounters, or airplane disaster, thankfully. I did however, get to spend a morning with my buddies dog who had gotten in a fight with a Porcupine.

Taggish with a face full of quills.

Just before my arrival, I hear the Silvers were showing up in excellent numbers. The small river near the lodge was loaded with fining fish, and numerous evenings were spent sight casting to pods of aggressive Silvers. We were near the top end of tidal influence, and every new tide would bring fresh fish from the salt.

A typical Naknek River Silver Salmon.

Kate doing battle with another chromer.

This bank was loaded with fish, with close to 20 fish hooked in a few hours.

Next stop, fillet table and vacuum packer...

On my way home, I had a message from my roommates about a note that was left on my door. They weren't sure about where it came from but I had a pretty good idea.

You see, for the last year, a dude named Jay Johnson had been working off and on for AEG. You may remember him from the Fly Fishing Film Tour as the loud mouthed bearded man who announced the shows, or the guy who you drank beers with afterwords, or the guy who slept on your couch...

I had been telling him, get us your resume, and we may be able to give you a full time 'job' (if anyone remembers what an indentured servant is from history class, you get the idea of the job I am talking about..). Well, this was Jay's resume, hand written on what looked to be a piece of a brown paper bag.

Did it pass the test? Absolutely! So consider this the official announcement that Jay Johnson will now be working with us full time. Jay will be contributing to this blog, travelling on expeditions, and you will most likely see him again on the 2009 Fly Fishing Film Tour. We have been wanting to have our own pirate on board, and I am happy to say we finally do.

Jay, its good to have you on the team.