The Fly Fishing Enthusiast

The 2012 Show Season Starts this weekend!!!

2012-01-16T09:32:00.000-05:00

The 2012 Fishing Show Season officially opens this weekend in Doswell, Virginia with the annual NC Boat Show event. We'll be there in a full capacity with our regular gear and some new gear for 2012. Steve Moore (Switch Fisher) will be there with his new Maryland Fly Fishing Book as well as his speaking engagement at the event. Come join us for some excellent angling and fly fishing fun! We were right next to the trout pond last year with the VGIF.

Casting for Recovery Lapel Pins

2011-12-01T16:44:00.008-05:00

Casting for Recovery Lapel/Hat Pin & CFR logo'd Water-Tight Boxes

This is the Casting for Recovery (CFR) Lapel/Hat Pin. It was made by Fly Fishing Benefactors for the express purpose of supporting Casting for Recovery. The pin is made of soft-metal and sports the CFR logo and has a clutch clasp in the rear to hold the pin on your lapel or hat. For every pin sold, Fly Fishing Benefactors will donate $5 to Casting for Recovery. So, please support Casting for Recovery by purchasing and wearing the CFR Lapel/Hat Pin. Everyone knows what the logo symbolizes and if they don't, you can explain what CFR is and what they do and hopefully, you'll have someone else that wants to support CFR. Wear your pin prudly and help support CFR!

This is a handy fly fishing accessory. It is a small, light-weight, water-tight box. It sports the Casting for Recovery logo and has a lanyard attached as well. The box measures 4.75 inches by 3.75 inches by 1.5 inches and weighs about 1.25 ounces. 33% of the proceeds from the sales of this box will be donated to Casting for Recovery. The box can be used to keep your license, car keys, or even your cell phone dry and protected while on the water fishing. This box is a great way to protect your gear, support CFR and proudly display the CFR logo while fly fishing. Get one now, they are in stock!

You can buy your CFR Lapel/Hat Pin and CFR logo'd Water-Tight Box here:

http://www.flyfishingbenefactors.com/casting-for-recovery/casting-for-recovery-lapel-pin/

http://www.flyfishingbenefactors.com/casting-for-recovery/cfr-water-tight-box/

FFB goes live on the Social Media front

2011-11-30T21:54:00.000-05:00

Well, it took us long enough but we finally joined the social media front with Facebook! Our Pinnacle Cart system ties in with Facebook and allows you to shop while checking your wall posts and history. Now if I can figure out how to use my smartphone, I'll really be cooking in the social media circles!

We are looking forward to some new gear for 2012. This marks the 8th year FFB has been operating and we are looking forward to some exciting developments in the Casting for Recovery front. We will be making some pink fly line, Pink Limited Edition CFR fly reels and Casting for Recovery water-tight boxes and lapel pins to raise funds for the local chapter. Keep an eye out here and on our website and Facebook page.

Let us know if we can help you out with some Christmas stocking stuffers and of course, keep us in mind for gift certificates and gear for your favorite fly fisher!

OK - We are done with One Stop Merchant Services

2011-06-25T13:31:00.000-04:00

If you have already visited the old site and seen the "This account suspended" banner, then you'll be happy to know we are finally rid of One Stop Merchant Services in Rhode Island. Our new site is cleaner and better in many ways. It now offers real-time shipping quotes and alternative payment options. In addition to these features, the site has real-time social media connectivity, equipment reviews and a buyer testimonials page, built into the website. Be on the look out for a new sale that involves some of our best-selling gear!

On a side note, my "fly fishing distraction" turned 14 months old the other day. She has some pretty good coordination for a little one and I think she has the tempo already to throw a mid-flex rod, albeit a very short one!

Looking forward to our annual Oregon Trek and fishing the Deschutes, Metolius and the Crooked River. I'll post some good pics from those expeditions on the blog-site this year. Speaking of pics, the new Fly Fishing Benefactors site has a pictorial page that we are posting pics of catches and gear. So, please send in your best catches and we'll post them there.

WE ARE LIVE AT THE NEW (OLD) URL!

2011-06-07T20:49:00.002-04:00

OK! We are finally cooking with gas! At the new site with all the new features and an e-mail blast sent out tonight as well. The old (estore) site will stay running for a few weeks just to point to the new site (http://www.flyfishingbenefactors.com). We hope you'll look around and check out the new features at the new site, including; the live shipping system; the Insure Ship option; the new social media buttons; and comment sections. We have also added PayPal as a payment option and we offer electronic gift certificates as well. There is a place for you to review the gear on our site that you have purchased. We now have a 256-bit encryption SSL certificate at this site. Neat stuff for the new site!

Fly Fishing Benefactors web site

2011-06-06T09:07:00.000-04:00

As soon as we get the US Postal Service Real-Time shipment APIs up and running, we'll go live on the website. The UPS APIs are working fine but they are very pricey on shipping something under a pound, where USPS reins king for price. I had a few orders come in at the old e-store site and they seem to be working fine, so I will leave that alone until we go live at the new (old) site. I will also send out an email blast when the site goes live. Stay tuned!

The "NEW" Fly Fishing Benefactors Website

2011-06-02T15:54:00.000-04:00

OK, the countdown continues for us to go "Live" at the new (old) site. The current site running there will still generate orders but will go through our old system. I cannot vouch for how that will go through right now. No one has tested it for us! lol I figure by the weekend, we'll have all the "bugs" out and go live with the new cart system (3.7.8). Our e-commerce site is up and you'll be able to use PayPal to pay for your purchases as well. We have "Live" shipping for UPS but are still behind the power curve for USPS. Also, we have an automated insurance system for your purchases should you elect to insure your shipment. There is a new "Gift Certificate" system installed on this new cart as well. We also got a new SSL-256k bit encryption security system on the new site. Keep us bookmarked and when we go live, you'll know because of the difference in the site look.

OK - We're up and running at the new host!

2011-05-28T21:21:00.002-04:00

Glad to be back home at the http://www.flyfishingbenefactors.com URL - Good riddance One-Stop-Merchant-Service in Rhode Island! As soon as our new e-commerce merchant service is up and running, we'll have new payment options on our site, including PayPal.

Book mark the new site and stay tuned for more news!

Fly Fishing Benefactors Web Site is Moving!

2011-05-25T22:52:00.001-04:00

Hello gang. The Fly Fishing Benefactors (FFB) web site will be moving in the next 5 days. You should be able to access the site from the original URL at http://www.flyfishingbenefactors.com

Our new site will have a better band-width and an updated shopping cart will real-time shipping and PayPal payment options as well. We are excited to be moving and getting away from the One-Stop-Shopping Merchant who has been abysmal in service and customer support for us.

Stay tuned for the move and you'll see the announcement on the website when we have finally moved!

Web site has been down for ages

2011-05-23T09:35:00.000-04:00

Folks, my apologies for the web site. The host has been doing the usual, nothing, and my site is languishing in the world wide web. I am hoping to get the site back up with the current host so I can make changes to a new host. I am filing a Better Business Bureau complaint, as I have had a bunch of emails from other companies that host with this company, that they cannot use their webpage either.

I am looking for a complete overhaul of the website and have already been offered services form current customers and followers. I hope to have this resolved very soon. In the mean time, if you have any needs, just email us at the alternate email address: ls1ss169@hotmail.com or call us on the toll-free number 877-DO-TROUT (368-7688) or direct at 678-633-0591. Thanks for being patient.

Domain names and Server Hosts - What a Nightmare

2011-04-29T22:27:00.002-04:00

As I have mentioned before, I am so tired of lousy service and little or no customer service and once again, I am bitten by the unfortunate truth of "farming out the tech department to a foreign land!" I have had no less than a dozen emails to tech departments in the last week to individuals with foreign names and accents that can't speak or write the English language who constantly double-talk and make excuses why things can't be done or have to be done a certain way. I lost my email server, now I am forced to transfer my domain name because the tech department at my host cannot handle the situation. They were glad to sit back and take my money for years and when I ask them to do something, now they are panicked and switch gears. What does it all add up to you say? Loss of service, loss of revenue, loss of communications, customers, and my patience. I will shortly be leaving my E-Commerce representative and my web hosting service as they both $%&*! Remember, this is a G-rated site! You really get what you pay for these days. Can anyone recommend a good web host and E-Commerce company? Hopefully the disruption at Fly Fishing Benefactors will be short lived but who knows anymore. Just trying to communicate my needs for the last three days was more painful than a root-canal without Novocaine.

If you need something from our website and we are not up for the reasons stated above, call us on our toll-free number 877-DO-TROUT (368-7688) or write us at the back-up email address ls1ss169@hotmail.com .

Virginia Fly Fishing Festival

2011-04-22T11:25:00.004-04:00

Well, despite not bringing scuba gear for the first day of the event, we had a great time down in Waynesboro again this year! The weather was horrid on Saturday but we saw more people "wading" through the tent then on Sunday when it was beautiful! Funny, I think fly fishers don't mind bad weather (as long as there is no lightning or tornadoes) and will venture out in bad weather more often than others.

Met some new friends and saw a lot of our regular customers. Lefty was on hand to please the crowd and the regulars that support the event like Rick Pope from TFO and King Montgomery made an appearance and mingled with the crowd. All in all, it was a great weekend, weather or not!

Looking forward to the Project Healing Waters 2-Fly event in a couple of weeks and then we'll pack it up for the show season. Best show season on record for Fly Fishing Benefactors!

Fredericksburg Outdoor Show

2011-03-27T13:00:00.001-04:00

One in a while, we have to take a gamble and try a new venue to see what the customer interest is in a specific geographic area. The Fredericksburg Outdoor Show was exactly such a venue. Despite being visited by numerous existing customers and meeting new friends and making new customers, the foot traffic was dismal at the event. The gun show going on next door was absolutely packing them in there like sardines but hardly any overflow traffic rolled over into the Outdoor Show venue. Even though your entry ticket allowed you to visit both sides of the hall, we seldom saw a gun show visitor on our side of the convention center. So, looks like we won't be returning to the Fredericksburg Outdoor Show next year unless there are some drastic changes in the way the venue is operated or advertised. Thanks to all our old and new friends for visiting us in the booth and we hope to see you at the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival next month in Waynesboro.

The Trials and Tribulations of Customer Service

2011-03-14T21:56:00.003-04:00

We have been operating for seven years at Fly Fishing Benefactors and over the course of those seven years, we have had to switch web hosts and merchant service accounts many times. The sad part about those web hosting sites and merchant services accounts is that they absolutely don't care what kind of service they provide you once they have your money and sign-up for a contract. Now, since I try real hard to do the expenses as cheaply as I can (to maximize my donations), I obviously felt I would have to expect some lackluster service for the price I pay but lately, it is amazing what these people have done. I am soon to be leaving my merchant services account, as soon as the show season is over. I hate to have to do this because it causes me much grief to have to "start over" again somewhere else but these guys take the cake. Before anyone signs up for One Stop Merchant Services in Rhode Island, please call me. I'll tell you how they have lied to me, cheated me, plain didn't care about my website or services, yet insist on me paying them for absolutely the worst service I have ever received since I started this company. As a retired federal law enforcement officer (married to an attorney), I have never seen an organization so pathetic in all my years and so absolutely worth a letter campaign to the Better Business Bureau and Interstate Commerce Commission. Since this is a "G" Rated blog site, I cannot use the language I would like to use to describe the customer service I have yet to receive from this company. So, stay tuned to where I land and I will let you know when I turn the switch. At Fly Fishing Benefactors, we will try and do everything these guys don't do. That is a promise from me. I may not be able to transact business as well and efficiently as I would like but I will ALWAYS give my customers the customer service they deserve!

Middleburg Fly Fishing Show

2011-03-09T14:34:00.002-05:00

Wow! Once again the Rapidan Chapter put on a great show! Thanks Fred for a great job! Lots of turn out and the new venue at the Faquier High School allows for a lot more breathing room for both the vendors and the attendees. We got a chance to show off the new Jim Hicks Fly Rod and Steve Moore did well with his new Rappahannock Wading Book! The next show is the NCC-TU show at Georgetown Prep on March 12, 2011. Hope to see you there!

Richmond Fishing Expo

2011-01-31T11:08:00.005-05:00

The Richmond Fishing Expo was a new stop on the Fly Fishing Benefactors Show Schedule for 2011. The unexpected and un-announced termination of the Sportsman Show at the Dulles Expo Center prompted us to consider a new show for the January slot in 2011. We are glad we decided to go to Doswell and the Expo. Working right next to the troops from Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and across from the "Trout Pond", we met new friends and enjoyed the company of old friends as well. My little "Billboard" was at the show and assisted her daddy in sales and advertisement as well!

Steve Moore, a.k.a. "SwitchFisher" was in attendance and sold and autographed his latest addition to the "Catch Guide" Series of guide books. The sub-teen temperatures made for difficult maneuvering in the parking lot of the Expo but seemed to drive customers indoors to the event.

Our next event is the Middleburg Fly Fishing Show done by the Rapidan TU Club. This year, the venue has been moved from the traditional Main Hall in Middleburg to the Faquier High School in Warrenton. See you there on the 26th of February.

Jim Hicks Signature Fly Rod

2011-01-11T13:53:00.010-05:00

To introduce our newest fly rod at Fly Fishing Benefactors, you first have to understand the basis of our decision to build this rod. We typically name all our equipment after our favorite streams we have fished around the world but in this case, we named the rod after a person. The new Fly Fishing Benefactors Jim Hicks Signature Series Fly Rod will be debuted in January of 2011. Jim Hicks was a very good family friend and the consummate fisherman and sportsman. There wasn’t anything that could fly, swim or run; that this guy couldn’t shoot or catch! He was an incredible marksman and an incredibly patient fisherman too. I learned a lot from Jim and that is why I named this rod after him. I called it a signature rod and since Jim left this world a few years back, his actual signature won’t be on the rod but I had it built to a specification that only Jim Hicks would have approved. So, I am sure if he were still with us, he’d proudly sign his name on this rod!

James (Jim) Hicks was born in Macon Georgia on May 18th, 1929. A southern gentleman and a more sincere and friendly man you could not find anywhere else. Jim enlisted in the US Army in 1945 and served his country as an enlisted soldier and an officer (after receiving a battlefield commission) until his retirement in 1969. Though quiet and friendly, Jim was a professionally trained soldier and could execute the mission with little thought to danger or personal harm. He served honorably and was a highly decorated veteran.

He never lost his passion for fishing and hunting and you could routinely find him out on a hunt or on his boat fishing. I fished with him on many occasions and could never put more fish in the boat or on the stringer than he could. An avid “Catch-and-Release” fisherman, Jim never kept any fish he couldn’t let go for others to enjoy in the future. His casting ability and his precise and delicate touch with a fly rod brought many a slab bream or bass to the shoreline or the boat. Despite his adventurous trips hunting and fishing, he found comfort and pleasure fishing from the bank of the lake in his backyard. It was there, I really got to know the man that was a combat veteran, a deadly accurate rifleman, an incredible sportsman and wonderful husband and father. I looked up to him as I looked up to my own father and I respected his observations and his opinions. I also learned that when he gave advice on the aspects of fishing, it was best to pay heed and take notes. He was never wrong but would never say “I told you so” either.

He had humorous insight and though comical in his delivery, he was serious about the message. His adage about plastic worms in bait casting was, “I don’t care what color your worm is, as long as it is purple”, lead to an incredible amount of violet to deep indigo colored plastic worms in my tackle box. I was never “skunked” bass fishing with a purple plastic worm. His suggestion to, “…cross his-eyes” always meant to set the hook with deliberate force, as not to miss the opportunity of a “trophy bass.” Telling me to make the fly presentation so delicate, “as to entice the fish out of the water prematurely to take the fly in the air” was another suggestion I think about, every time I toss a dry at a fish today. He has been gone for a while but his memories and his lessons live on in every cast of my fly rod. He was so resolute in his effort to teach you the proper grip and the proper arm and hand movement as to make the loop tight in your line and your cast accurate and true, every time you brought the fly rod to bear. His patience, his demeanor and his ability to teach, gave me the idea to build this rod and put his name on it.

For me, the culmination of a 2-year project is complete. I have spent many hours designing and developing this rod to meet with the satisfaction of Jim. Jim was always opinionated about the construction of a fly rod. He explained what he thought was valuable in a build and what was not. I tried to exemplify his thoughts of the “perfect” fly rod when I built this rod. I put the effort and the time and money in the places Jim thought were important on the rod; quality materials, technology at its best, and a “feel” as if you were holding something valuable. Additionally, I ensured that the rod was affordable and also had “value-added” performance by offering an additional tip and an aluminum rod tube. I spent the bulk of the design on the rod barrel itself, the grip and the eyes. The best composite materials available, the best cork around and the best hardware are the absolute basics needed for a good, comfortable and performing fly rod. Every thing else was “gimmicky”, according to Jim. The last and final tribute to Jim is the instructional tip for the rod. His thought was how could someone help you better your casting by watching your casting skills. His thoughts on how a rod could be used to teach others lead me to make the statement, “a picture paints a thousand words.” It was Jim’s suggestion that gave me the idea to create this feature. I think he would have liked it!

Jim is pictured above with his beloved "Max", a beautiful Brittany Spaniel. Max spent many a summer day sleeping at our feet or on "Snapping Turtle" patrol along the lake's bank. I am sure Jim and Max are off chasing turkeys, fishing for Bass or scaring and shooting a covy of quail somewhere. I hope Jim will send me a message on my first cast with his fly rod by rewarding me with a great fish! I also hope that what I have built in this rod, will also earn his favor, that I served him well and built the best rod I could build and only when I had it right, would I put his name on it. I think you will agree with Jim, this is my best undertaking to date and I am proud to make it available to you.

The Jim Hicks Signature Series Fly Rod is constructed of incredible IM-12 carbon. It is a 4-piece, 9 foot, 5-Weight gem! It has AAA Portuguese cork, snake guides and an aluminum reel seat with lock ups. The rod comes with an additional tip and an aluminum rod tube at no extra charge. The rod can also be fitted with a high-visibility “instructional tip” that can help you determine your casting plane and help you develop the “perfect” casting technique. Whether chasing your favorite species on the stream or in a lake or instructing on the virtues of the “perfect” casting technique, the Jim Hicks Signature Fly Rod is the rod for you. It is definitely the rod for me!

James (Jim) Hicks passed away on May 9, 2005, a few weeks short of his 76th birthday. He was much younger at heart and far wiser for his age. Jim is survived by his wife Sue, a son Michael and daughter Pat, all living in the Dallas area.

Evie Turns 5 Months

2010-10-05T11:24:00.004-04:00

My little "distraction" from fly fishing, turned 5 months old on the 22nd of September and she is halfway to having another birthday (6th month). Evie is growing like a weed and is truly an outdoor sports person. She watches intently when golf, baseball or football comes on the television but she really kicks her feet and wrings her hands ( a sign she is excited), when there is fishing on the tube!

She is balancing and sitting up on her own and she actually started "school" today! She started eating solid food over the weekend and she is geared up for fall weather already. Can't wait till she can go fly fishing with me!

Daddy loves his little "distraction" from fly fishing!

Fly Fishing Fishing in Oregon

2010-09-08T17:13:00.007-04:00

Fishing at 4,500 feel Mean Sea Level already presents some problems for a few folks. Add a humidity of 15% and the air is becoming a little strain on your otherwise normal respiratory system. Add the 102 degree outside air temperature and the 48 degree water you are standing in and you have come up with the "Ideal fishing in Oregon scenario." And, so it is in central Oregon in August. In this already extreme fly fishing situation, there was an additional issue that had cropped up - a massive forest fire to the west, that was causing more particulant matter in the air but never-the-less, it was still a pristine fly fishing opportunity.

Make sure you have a great guide along to help out too. It matters when you are guided by a professional in an area you don't know and Rodger Carbone of Carbone's Fly Fishing Guide Service came to the rescue.

While we were fishing for smaller rainbows, I had never fished the Crooked River before and it turned out to be a very worthwhile trip. Rodger knows the lay of the land out there and he also inspired my father-in-law to take some great pictures too. Here are a few of the Crooked River basin near Prineville Oregon.

Fishing just above the dam on the Crooked River, in stained water, which was moving at better than the average cubic feet per minute, made for some tougher fishing but the scenery and the company made up for the lack of cooperating fish!

No matter where we stopped and waded in, you had to take a few minutes and look around to take in the beauty and the scenery. Almost forgot a few times while I was there, what I was doing there!

I think next year, we'll build a new fly reel and name it after the Crooked River. Seriously, the place merits a reel named after it and I am gonna see to it that it happens! Stay tuned!

Switching Spools at Fly Fishing Benefactors

2010-07-27T16:14:00.012-04:00

As we evolve in the fly fishing manufacturing business, we find an even more demanding clientel watching our every web page. Like a Phoenix, we are born out of the ashes and have changed the face of the company. We sport a new attitude along with a new logo and a new motto.

Everyone expects a better product for a lower price these days and they will work hard to find a bargain. In July of 2010, Fly Fishing Benefactors will switch spools and put on the heavier line for the heavier haul. In 4+ years of business, we have yet to raise prices on any of our equipment. We actually lowered the price of some of our equipment, while other manufacturers raised their pricing. All the while, we have maintained a constant and ever present customer service base. We are proud to announce a new line of rods and reels for 2010, making this the 4th year in a row where we introduced an new piece of gear. We want to fish our way into our 4th year with much fanfare and excitement. We hope you'll join us.

We are making every effort to continue our support for fly fishing organizations that mutually support our target goals each year. I am sorry to say that we will no longer be a Trout Unlimited Guide and Outfitter and we will no longer be a Federation of Fly Fishers Sponsor. Our mutual interests are not tuned well enough to continue down the paths we have ventured in the past. We will continue to support the Virginia and Georgia TU Trout Camps.

Our primary focus for 2010 and beyond is continued support to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Incorporated, the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival and with any luck this year, Casting for Recovery.

We look forward to supporting each of these programs with cash contributions and proceeds from sales of gear we brand and manufacture for these organizations. At the same time, we offer a committment to excellence and customer support to our current and future customers. We work on a reputation and we want to be your fly fishing manufacturing company. We build to satisfy the customer and to support our benefit organizations. Fly Fishing Benefactors - Benefiting the sport of Fly Fishing. We are having our biggest SALE ever at the web store now. Come visit us.

Things that make you forget about fly fishing

2010-06-10T10:54:00.014-04:00

As I wrote the title of this blog entry, I had to sit down and think about the statement. Depending on your place in life, the list could be very short or in my case, getting longer. It isn't a question about keeping the list shorter because you love to fly fish, it is but a life problem sorting your priorities and deciding what you do have time for and what you don't have time for. My new addition to the list weighs in at about 11 pounds and is 7-weeks old today. Her name is Evelyn and she is my daughter. To be lucky enough to have been blessed with children is a wonderful thing and yes, my first two boys (who are now men at 22 and 25 years of age) made me forget about fly fishing until they got interested in doing it with me. I look forward to the day when "Evie" (that is what my wife and I call her) asks me how to roll cast in a tight stream and we can both enjoy the experiences of catching limbs, getting bitten by bugs, falling down, getting wet, breaking equipment and all the other wonderful things about fly fishing.

This is Evie giving us her "Serious" look. It is usually a pre-cursor to the first squawk of the "I am fixing to get hungry" look.

This is Evie's "My tummy is full" look. Quite content and also a very sweet and cheerful look.

This is the "Mom and Dad are so happy" look. Evie sleeping peacefully.

When looking at Evie in any one of these poses, it is easy to forget about fly fishing. As it should be! Fly Fishing is one of my most favorite passions and yet, there are a few things that can make me forget about it for a while at least, little Evie is obviously the newest addition to my list but hopefully, she will become the master of the double-haul before her 10th birthday and we can, together, find something that might make us forget about fly fishing for a while, like taking the training wheels off the bike. Is that perhaps too early? Not in my mind at least! : )

PHWFF 2-Fly - The Aftermath

2010-05-03T13:43:00.003-04:00

Gosh, I just want to grow up to be Douglas Dear! What a fabulous day at the Rose River Farms. Douglas puts on quite the effort to make the 2-Fly successful and this year, surprise, PHWFF set a new record for fund-raising at the event. They eclipsed the 6-digit mark by raising over $100,000 for the PHWFF program at this year's 2-Fly event! The Rose River Farm is quite a wonderful place and if you have never been there, you absolutley have to book a rod permit for a day and check out the action. Go here to book a engagement at the Rose River Farms. I'll post some pics as soon as I can but the action at the Tournament was fast and furious.

The weather cooperated for the most part and I came home with a "Racoon" sunburn because of my sunglasses. The raffles and the silent raffles were amazing as many wonderful artists and supporters of PHWFF donated items to be raffled off to raise money for the program. After all that to report, the most important thing to talk about is that we were all successful in allowing our wounded veterans to enjoy a day of fly fishing and friendship. Ed Nicholson and crew once again, patched the wounds and allowed for a bit of enjoyment and excitement to come into the world of the participating wounded veterans. One troop at a time, one event at a time, PHWFF is making things a better place for all the vets. Support Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing with a donation or buy the FFB gear that generates a donation to the PHWFF program at our webstore!

PHWFF 2-Fly Tournament

2010-04-29T11:09:00.003-04:00

The most satisfying event of the season approaches this weekend. Douglas Dear plays host to the Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) annual "2-Fly" Tournament at his fabulous Rose River Farm. Fly Fishing Benefactors will be there to supply the troops with essential gear and support, along with having our PHWFF gear to sell to the public at the event. There are a host of volunteers there to help with scoring and "officiating" the event, including Steve Moore from SwitchFisher. Please support PHWFF by purchasing our PHWFF gear, including; the Limited Edition PHWFF Fly reel (only 3 left), our three different PHWFF aluminum Fly Boxes, and of course, Rick Pope's TFO PHWFF fly rods. Rick Pope and TFO donate $25 to PHWFF for every TFO PHWFF Fly Rod sold and likewise, we at Fly Fishing Benefactors donate $25 for every TFO PHWFF fly rod we sell, thus doubling the donation to PHWFF.

Virginia Fly Fishing Festival - The Aftermath

2010-04-19T13:39:00.002-04:00

Well, the big show of the season is over. The weather was highly cooperative except for the wind but that didn't seem to bother the crowd. The turn-out was great for the 10th anniversary of the festival in Waynesboro with some 1,100 visitors on Saturday. The crowd was substantially smaller on Sunday but no less enthusiastic than the big crowd on Saturday. Steve Englund (Headed Out) came over from Blacksburg for the Saturday schedule and he was running the cash register and selling gear in a matter of minutes. We were glad that he was able to come out and enjoy the festival and hang with us for the event. We met some new friends and were able to visit with the old and a good time was had by all! I think the festival is on the right track and with a little tweeking here and there, will be the showcase fly fishing festival on the East Coast for years to come. We are honoring all the specials from the show on the website for the next week so if you were a little hesitant to get that gear from us you really wanted but were afraid to pull the trigger, come visit us at the FFB Website and partake in the goods now. Soon to have ALL HD videos on our site and then some more soon! So, be on the lookout for those new videos.

Virginia Fly Fishing Festival

2010-03-18T13:07:00.003-04:00

The peak of the spring show season brings us to Waynesboro Virginia. Waynesboro is a quiet and beautiful little town, tucked in the corners of the Shenandoah mountain skyline and it plays host to the annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival. This year is the 10th anniversary of the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival and we celebrate in earnest on the weekend of the 17th and 18th of April 2010. Fly Fishing Benefactors (FFB) is a Gold-Level Sponsor for the Festival this year and we are proud to be a part of the festival and the 10th anniversary celebration. Come see us in the vendor tent for all the Festival merchandise, including; Great T-Shirts with prints from the Festival Artist over the years; mugs with the festival logo and the new Virginia Fly Fishing Festival aluminum fly boxes made by FFB. Along with the festival gear and merchandise, FFB will bring all our wares to show and demonstrate as well. We always have specials at the Festival and this year we will have a record number of "Good Deals" at the festival and on the web site for those that can't make the festival in person. We are looking for some volunteers to help us at the festival this year so drop us a line if you are interested in hanging with us that weekend.

NCC-TU - The Aftermath

2010-03-15T14:35:00.004-04:00

What a great show in Bethesda this weekend! I commend George Gaines and the staff for putting on a such a wonderful show. We got to meet a few of our newest on-line customers, made a few new friends and customers, and we still got to enjoy the scenery and gear available. Some great raffle prizes and silent auction items were scrambled for most of the day, as well as the premium prizes like kayaks and float boats. Venue for the show is outstanding and even the weather cooperated (rainy) for an indoor event. : )

Now we switch gears as the biggest show of the season approaches. The Virginia Fly Fishing Festival is in about a month (17 & 18 April) down in Waynesboro. I hope to see a lot of you there. If anyone is interested in volunteering for the show to help out, please drop us a line, we could use the help.

NCC - TU Show - Bethesda Maryland March 13, 2010

2010-03-10T18:47:00.003-05:00

Hi all! Fly Fishing Benefactors will brave the inner-loop of I-495 early Saturday morning, the 13th of March, to attend the NCC-TU Annual Fly Fishing Show in Bethesda Maryland. We will bring all our usual stuff and the new gear for 2009/2010. We hope to see you there. George Gaines and staff put on one of the best shows around, so make an effort and get out there to see the guests, and fondle the gear!

What does it take to make a gear sale?

2010-03-03T12:23:00.005-05:00

Almost every marketing plan has a hopeful outcome. From selling multi-million dollar helicopters (like I do 9-5), to selling $15 fly boxes and $79 fly reels, there is a plan established to be successful. Obviously, the consumer wants the "bestest" for the "leastest." A good marketing plan will no doubt tout that premise. However, what if you find many good products for a very good price? The selection process become complicated again. The real difficult part of making a final choice on a product for a price, is the after sale performance of the item. Now that you decided you'll spend X dollars for this product, will you be happy after the sale?

Consumer Reports (CR) does a wonderful job of exemplifying that "post purchase performance." CR is un-biased and accepts no advertisements from industry. This allows them to play the straight and narrow when it comes to evaluating products. The truth is, they just report on a consumer's "after purchase" satisfaction level.

Generally speaking, these after purchase comments are done by us, the average "Joe Citizen." Not necessarily technically correct or accurate, they are mostly subjective and rarely objective evaluations of a post purchase performance level. This means that some of us consumers do not give an accurate evaluation because of our inability to be objective. For instance, I recently read a review of a HD camcorder on Best Buy, where the consumer pointed out his obvious ignorance, by complaining about the product and giving it a rating of Zero out of 5 rating, because the software was too complicated for him to operate. The camera probably worked flawlessly but the knucklehead making the evaluation gave the camera a zero out of 5 because the software was too hard for him to operate. I would like to guess that the camera probably performed at a 5 and the operator performed at a Zero because of their ignorance. Is that a fair evaluation of the camera? No it is not! CR, does wonders to ensure this problem does not happen when the ratings are published.

CR also does a good job by ensuring that certain evaluation criteria have pertinence to the rating process. Like weight of a camera or camcorder is obviously important if you are looking for being light and portable. Not likely you would care as much if they only made the camera in grey or black. Likewise, if a fly reel was light and carried a lot of extra backing, some people would find that a plus. Balancing the fly reel on your rod plays another important evaluation criteria. However, that the reel is blue, green, or red matters probably little. True, some people don't like shiny with a glint, as it may spook the fish. Aesthetics matter little but are always noteworthy pluses when all the mechanical and practical requirements are satisfactory. It could make the difference on your decision to buy or not to buy the product. We try to make it work great first, then we work on how nice it will look.

At Fly Fishing Benefactors (FFB), we pledge to manufacture a quality product, that will be functional and precise. The product will offer value for the price, and a company promise to work as advertised. Additionally, you won't have to spend a lot of money to get the best value for your dollar. And the best part, after you buy the product, we think you will be extremely satisfied with the performance of our products, thus reinforcing your good choice to buy it. Because , we will not only make the product right, we will make it look good and perform well too! You should have no regrets when you buy a product and we have found that many that have chosen us become repeat customers!

Take a look at our gear reviews and testimonials. The proof IS in the pudding and we are happy to say we have lots of different pudding at FFB! Give our gear a try, we think you'll be very satisfied and come back for more.

VIMEO Account

2010-02-22T09:04:00.004-05:00

We are excited here at Fly Fishing Benefactors about the recent "discovery" we made about the site called VIMEO. Our buddy Steve Englund, from "Headed Out" told us how we could upload HD video for our customers to view our equipment and post it on the website or embed the files in our blog. Well, we kinda went crazy in doing so but we have a video for almost every piece of equipment we build and sell now on our website and at our VIMEO site.

Not only can you get a great description of the equipment from the verbiage that is already present to describe the gear, you can also download and save a clear video, that gives you a better idea of the precision, quality, and functionality of our gear. Please make use of this opportunity and let us know what you think and better still, what you'd like to see.

We have a wonderful HD video camera and we are willing to create the necessary videos to ensure our customers get what they need! I don't think the Academy will be worried about us for a while yet. To the right, you can see two of our videos. Now, don't make fun of us yet, we are trying hard to get this right. Until then, let's have some fun with this!

The 2010 Fly Fishing Year

2010-02-19T13:02:00.002-05:00

I am thinking that it has been a long time since I even thought about the blog but it seems that some things remain constant. That would be the flat economy. It seems that the economy should have had a great infusion from all the pork and programs to help America but I haven't seen a great impact on the fly fishing business. No matter your political genetics, fly fishing is still an expensive sport that requires pristine water and lots of conservation efforts to keep it that way. We are going to do something different this year on our blog. We will start running some videos and other digital information mainlining so we can try and fit into the 21st Century. We are going to support new programs this year too. The first being the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival. We are a Gold-Level Sponsor for this year's event down in Waynesboro. Please visit the site and also plan on visiting Waynesboro in April for the Festival. We have stepped up our support to Project Healing Waters too. We have a new line of fly boxes for 2009/2010 and they we still give the proceeds to PHW form ever box sale. Additionally, we give $25 dollars to PHW for every TFO PHW Fly Rod we sell. This is in addition to Rick Pope's generous donation of $25 to PHW for every rod sold. So, there is no place else that we know of, where you buy a TFO PHW Fly Rod and PHW gets a $50 donation. Go directly to our PHW Web Page to get more details. OK, let's see if we can get this year started off with a Bang!

The 2009 Fly Fishing Year

2009-01-20T09:44:00.002-05:00

As the new year reveals itself on this historic day in Washington DC, we look forward with great anticipation to the new administration and the new government the electoral college has placed into power. That being said, we look forward to a new prosperity and also a new year of challenges, both on the economic and financial front and also on the fly fishing front! We are starting our new 2009 campaign at Fly Fishing Benefactors with the Sportsman's Out Door Show the 23rd, 24th and 25th of January at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly Virginia. Please come visit us at booth #721. We will have our wares available and you can also see the 2009 prototypes for the coming year's new products. Come meet our staff and examine the quality of our gear. You can also learn about our support programs and how we provide financial support to many fly fishing groups including: Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Federation of Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, Virginia Fly Fish, and 1% for the Planet. We look forward to seeing you there!

The economic down-turn

2008-10-22T14:51:00.002-04:00

As most people know, when the economy takes a dive, our discretionary spending goes out the window. We eat out less, we don't buy the name-brand products and start buying the generics, and worst of all, we stop buying our "toys." I recently had a fellow write a wonderful testimonial on my Fly Fishing Benefactors website about "buying smart." Don't stop buying, buy smart. Look for bargains and try those name brands that are not the top of the line, you may be pleasantly surprised! There are many companies out there making quality fly fishing gear for a "not-so quality" price! You should at least try them out. I am happy to report that we build a quality line of equipment at Fly Fishing Benefactors and we have the testimonials and gear reviews to prove it. If you'd like to test or review our gear, please drop us a line.

What is your favorite Fly Fishing Organization?

2008-09-30T17:06:00.002-04:00

I have been fly fishing for almost 40 years and I have been associated with many fly fishing organizations. Not only am I a Trout Unlimited "Life Member", I am also a Outfitters and Guides Member too. I am also a Federation of Fly Fishers Sponsor Member. I support Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing , and Virginia Fly Fish. Each of these organizations are on the web and you can join all of them as a member or a volunteer. Each one of the organizations has specific theme but all support fly fishing, through education, association, conservation, and other means. All are worthwhile programs to become involved with. The membership varies from Free to about $50/year and each provides local expertise and most provide a wonderful color publication that helps guide you through the wonders of fly fishing. I recommend you look into all of these programs as most offer regional help and expertise too. Sound off, let me know what you think of these and other great programs that support the sport of fly fishing!

The Truth about F.E.T. Taxes on Sporting Gear

2008-08-19T13:14:00.002-04:00

Most people don't know that when you buy fishing (fly fishing too) gear, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) gets a percentage of the sales price of each item in that little know tax arena of Federal Excise Tax (F.E.T.). FET was created in the 1930's to "gather" some revenue from new technologies and capabilities that were growing in popularity. One you might be familiar with was the FET taxes on your telephone calls that were recently repealed. The truth is, the taxes on this gear are for a worthwhile cause and most manufacturers build the tax into their price structure. So, for those of you that are interested, any fly fishing tackle is taxed at 10% of the retail or wholesale price of the item. On fly rods, the tax is limited to $10.00 per item, so that $1,000 Sage is still only $10.00 in FET tax. Ha, doesn't seem fair to the lower end rod guys who still pay $10.00 in tax on their $100.00 fly rod. Fly boxes are 3% of the retail/wholesale price of the item. So, when you buy a $300 fly rod, a $149 reel, a line kit with line, backing, leaders and tippet for $50 and a $25 fly box with a $12 price on a dozen flies, the manufacturer (or importer) has to pay $10.00 for the rod, $14.90 for the reel, $5.00 for the line kit, only .75 cents on the fly box but $1.20 for the flies. Grand total? $31.85 in FET taxes. Where do these taxes go? They go to support federal wildlife programs and fisheries research and funding. I think we all understand the necessity of taxes for services but I don't think everyone knows about the FET taxes. Weigh in with your thoughts. Fair or Foul? You make the call.

Showing courtesy and conservation, even when no one is watching!

2008-08-15T11:42:00.003-04:00

In today's society, we have come to a place very unfamiliar to me in my worldly travels. I don't know when it happened or how it happened but something definitely changed in our society. We started locking our doors, breaking our promises, not showing courtesy, showing disrespect, bad-mouthing, and whining about almost everything. I'm not saying we all do it but just take one day in your week and try and remember when someone did something nice for you. Did that last driver motion you in front of him in the grid-lock traffic or did he show you his middle finger? At the bank, did the person in front of you let you go ahead because they didn't have their deposit slip already prepared like you? Does the lady let you buy the loaf of bread and a gallon of milk you have in your hands before she empties two shopping carts onto the conveyor belt in front of you? When I go home (the south), I marvel at total strangers waving to me on back roads. I appreciate it when in a foreign country, the locals will try and help you when you look lost. When you lose something here, why even bother to look in the lost and found? In Japan, your lost item would be left right where you lost it! In plain view of hundreds, so you could return and reclaim it. Our society has changed and I am not sure why.

When I am fishing a stream, nothing spells inconsiderate better than finding beer cans and food wrappers strewn across the banks. Better still, you are fishing your favorite spot and someone else comes up and starts fishing close enough to concern you about your return lane while casting! The Federation of Fly Fishers (FFF), Trout Unlimited (TU) and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) not only teaches you about fly fishing but also encourages courtesy and manners in doing so. Fish are a natural resource and even though they replenish themselves (despite humans messing with their environment), they should be viewed as precious and we should strive to protect them and their environment.

I have done a few stream reclamation projects and have been amazed at what we will throw into the water without a second thought. I have also been more amazed at what the stream looks like and the fish population in them a few years later. If we all do our part, however small, it will help us to preserve these natural resources for our enjoyment, our children and their children's enjoyment. So, show your courtesy and conservation, even when there is no one watching.

Motivational Reading

2008-07-22T10:07:00.004-04:00

A number of years ago, I happened upon a book in a book store about the 100 Best Trout Streams in America. I wondered what someone else would pick for the 100 best trout streams in America. So, I found what John Ross, the author, thought the 100 best were. I was so intrigued by the book that I have made a pact with myself to try and fish all 100 streams. This will be quite an endeavor as the streams span the country east and west as well as north and south. John Ross is a very matter-of-fact kind of guy with a heart as big as Texas. He gives a lot to Trout Unlimited (TU) as he is the Virginia TU Council Chairman. Besides running the Virginia Trout Camp each year down in Syria, he also manages and leads some 55 state chapters of TU towards their annual goals. I have fished 23 of the streams in John's book to date and without exception, find his observations of those streams to be dead-on with mine. So far, I think that the streams I have fished from John's book definitely rate in the top 100 streams in America. So, if you are interested in finding some keen observations and anecdotal information on some local or regional streams (as well as others far away on your wish list), I suggest you give this book a read. You won't be disappointed, I promise. I have to warn you that you might encounter the same problems that I did once I read the book. You WILL want to find out more about these streams and maybe, just maybe, you'll want to try and fish them all too!

Virginia Fly Fish - A helping hand indeed!

2008-07-10T14:40:00.007-04:00

When I moved to Virginia for the second time in 2000, I made a promise to myself that I would take in more fly fishing, especially for the elusive "Brookie." I bought some books, went to some fly shops (sadly all gone now), and finally, did some surfing on the net. I was in search of a good guide, a "helping hand" to determine information not normally found in your guide books or reference articles on fly fishing. I found Virginia Fly Fish dot com. Stephen Sklarew, founder, is a Virginia Tech grad and an avid fly fisherman, to say the least. His approach to the site was to give everyone who was interested, ample and up-to-date information on streams, fishing conditions, parking, and public access of almost every good stream in the state of Virginia. I found myself printing off the maps from the website, looking into the stream reports, checking the stocking schedules, and searching through the multitude of forums, that all brought me closer and more prepared to fly fish in Virginia, than anyplace I have ever been! Virginia Fly Fish is perhaps the best "helping hand" that anyone could ever use to fly fish in Virginia. If you have not visited the site, you are really missing out on some good information and reliable fishing expertise you will not find anywhere, for FREE! Please visit the site and send them a contribution, so that Stephen can keep up the good work and keep us all up to speed on where to fly fish in Virginia!

Teaching the new dogs old tricks

2008-07-09T08:45:00.004-04:00

Contrary to the old adage, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", you CAN teach a new dog old tricks! Trout Unlimited has created an incredible learning opportunity for the younger generation to learn how to fly fish. John Ross , author of the "must have" fly fishing enthusiast book, The 100 Best Trout Streams in America is the State Chairman for the Trout Unlimited Virginia chapters. He also runs the Virginia Trout Camp, which by all accounts, is the birthplace for 24 new fly fishing enthusiasts each year. The week-long event, taught by Trout Unlimited volunteers, encompasses all the important aspects of fly fishing. Entomology, fly-tying, fly fishing equipment, fly casting, presentation techniques, and environmental respect are just a few of the lessons given to these new, young fly fishing fledglings. Similarly, Charlie Breithaupt, the Georgia Chapter Chairman for Trout Unlimited, runs a Trout Camp in Georgia. With all these trout camp graduates, we have plenty of new fresh blood in the ranks, eager to promote the sport and conserve our resources, because we have a great line of dedicated volunteers at Trout Unlimited that teach and support fly fishing and conservation! For more information about the camps and how you can start/support a camp in your state, contact Trout Unlimited through the link above.

Helping our wounded warriors

2008-07-09T08:09:00.002-04:00

As a retired Air Force Officer and Pilot and the son of a retired military veteran, I am very supportive of our military. I am also a disabled veteran, having been severely injured in an F-4 Phantom mishap in 1980 while conducting a training mission. When I heard about Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing (PHWFF) I knew I had to get involved with this program! Ed Nicholson, a retired Navy Captain, came up with this brilliant plan to help our wounded warriors rehabilitate from their combat and active duty injuries by learning fly fishing. The veterans are learning the gear, casting, fly tying, the whole nine yards! And, as I always imagined, there were many who came forward to volunteer their time to help these veterans by creating local and regional chapters. Folks like Ken Morrow and John Bass, who I have met and admire, help these soldiers, sailors and airmen learn the art of fly fishing. I have seen many new fly fishers born from this organization, including their spouses! Yet another Fly Fishing Enthusiast is born! To learn more about the program and how you can help, contact Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing through the link above. They will appreciate your kind and generous offer of a donation of time, money, or better still, both!

Welcome to the Fly Fishing Enthusiast

2008-07-08T17:24:00.000-04:00

In an effort to promote the art of fly fishing, I have dedicated this blog to those who are willing to share their passion for the sport and also articulate their thoughts on the economic, environmental and emotional status of fly fishing in general.

I learned to fly fish as a young boy in Japan with a bamboo fly rod. I always lived somewhere where I could fish but felt that fly fishing was a cold water sport. I felt rather inhibited by tight quarters and out-of-the-way places I have fished around the world and since the quarry was a warm-water species, felt bait casting or spin-casting was more appropriate.

As I grew older and more experienced with fishing, I found that the enjoyment of fly-fishing transcended the temperature of the water and the species and that it was "OK" to fly-fish for anything, anywhere, provided you had the skills, equipment and space to "fly" a line. My bamboo rod has given way to complex 45-ton modulus carbon, my reels are machined but to a completely different standard, and the terminal tackle has made advancements beyond anything I had imagined in the bait-casting environment.

I also found myself wading in warm azure waters seeking species that would have swamped my john boat in Mississippi. As delicate as a 5-inch Brooke Trout to a Bone or a Permit, I have learned that the 2-weight and the 8-weight have the same principles, just different presentations and different considerations for personal refreshment and gear/apparel. I used to wear cut-off jeans and a T-Shirt and there was a cooler always close while bait-casting. I also never bait-casted with snow on the ground and waded with thermal underwear doing so either!

Over the years I was able to overcome the differences in the gear (specifically pricing) and the philosophical differences and application of the artificial lures used in the sport. When I was bait fishing for large-mouth Bass for instance, a long-time friend and mentor always told me, "color of the worm doesn't matter, as long as it is purple!" Fly fishing presented other complexities in not only fly selection but presentation and a better than a rudimentary understanding of entomology.

I also recognized a drastic shift in the geography when I fly fished. I was in rather out of the way places, the streams were gin clear, and the license and stamps to fish there were far more expensive than I was ever used to paying while bait-casting. Emotionally, I was happy to fish either way but somehow, I felt more secure and confident with a fly-rod than I ever did with a bait casting rig.

So, I think that Karl Pearson would have been proud of me to understand correlations and multiple-regression to the level I associated with fly fishing. I associated the three "Es" to my fishing experiences and understood the spectrum of fishing better. Economically, I could fish cheaper as a bait-caster. Fly Fishing gear is far more expensive for a basic and more experienced gear set-up than bait-casting. Environmentally, I could fish almost anywhere as a bait-caster. Meaning, the water didn't have to be clear and flowing in a mountain stream or be the clear wide flats of salt-water fishing. Emotionally, I was more excited about the location and the species as a fly fisher than I was a bait-caster. Not that catching slab bream or bass on a fly rod is not as exciting and enjoyable as catching a beautiful brown or a rainbow form a remote mountain stream. I can catch fish right off the dock of my lake home in Georgia with a fly rod and do it all the time. However, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy driving up to the mountains and getting the fresh air, hiking into a remote stream and catching some beautiful trout either. I just know that a jet ski is not going to get caught in my #12 Mr. Rapidan on the mountain stream like it has in my back yard!

I am happy with my fishing arrangements. I am happy I can choose between the modes of fishing. I do realize that fly fishing presents different hurdles economically, environmentally and emotionally and I accept all those challenges. I prefer to fly fish if given the opportunity to choose. I also chose to bow-hunt over hunting with a rifle. Like bow-hunting, fly fishing takes a little more skill and finesse to get your quarry. I liked the challenge and also accepted the failures far better fly fishing than I did bait-casting. I have thrown everything in my fly box to a Brooke trout that never took and I have caught the same bass over and over again with a plastic worm, a floating plug or a spinner bait in a 30-minute time frame.

I remember the first time I fly fished for Peacock Bass in Panama, the locals thought I was crazy rocking back and forth in the boat with line going in every direction. But, when the sun set each night, I had more fish than anyone and they always marveled at the mode that made me successful on those trips. I even had some locals mock my movements for years as they tried to replicate my casting of the fly, all the while laughing and appreciating the art of fly fishing.

I have fly fished in North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. I am planning a trip to Australia and if there is anything in Antarctica that will take a fly, I will go there just to say I have fly-fished on every continent! My enthusiasm for fly fishing is well founded. How about you?