From the River: Of dogs, water and life

12 years ago this past weekend I drove over to Cambridge Narrows to pick up a pup for $650.00. I had just finished up university, my wife and I were house hunting and I decided it was time to rectify the situation that apartment living had created. I picked up a 7 week old Lab from a litter in Manitoba. Her original name was Candles in the Wind which I shortened to Evening or “Evie.” That day we traveled up to Brûlé to start the season and as Evie and I get ready to do so again next week, I can’t help but think it was the best money I’ve ever spent.

I worked with Evie and various wings to train her for bird work, she travelled in the canoe with me and as she grew and eventually found her way from the top of my kit bag to the front of the boat. More than just ballast, she became my bowman.

I’m pretty sure she saved my life a few years back on a drive up to the camp as well. We were heading along a twisty old two-laner when Evie got uncharacteristically agitated. Normally a great driving partner (she sleeps the whole way), Evie started pawing at the seats and whining, so I pulled onto the shoulder to let her out. Pulling over also let a soft-top LeBaron that had been riding my tail race by. Thinking she’d just go for a pee I was surprised when she bolted into the woods. It took me a good 10-15 minutes to get her back in the truck. With Evie finally back in the passenger seat and settled, I was pretty shocked to come across an accident about 15 minutes down the road. A transport had cut into the oncoming path of that LeBaron. It was pretty gruesome. Evie didn’t even notice as she had already drifted back to sleep.

There are very few, if any, pictures of my canoe without Evie. Over the years, she has identified all the angler activities on the river as potential for excitement. Just the mention of trout will get her on point, and a fish on the line will bring her instantly to the gunnels of the canoe. Tying on a dry fly gets her zoned right in and she also eyeballs the fly as it drifts. Evie demands an opportunity to approve any fish brought to the net and inspects them as we get set for their release. She has become a fish licker extraordinaire.

Evie’s been around for the birth of both of our kids — the oldest called her Snee — and has helped to raise and protect them. Maternal instincts I suspect she never had a chance to employ with loss of her own litter the one time I bred her, an event that still makes me furious when I think about it (a story for another occasion). I rarely go anywhere without her, and feel guilty when I do. She’s been a fair and consistent common denominator in my life the last 12 years.

I’m looking forward to hitting the river once again with Evie this year. We might also be picking up another pup in the not-so-distant future — a new partner on the water and in the field for Evie to help learn the ropes.

The first 800

May 14, 2012 T&T 11 comments

A couple weeks ago, we mentioned the fact that the first time Thomas & Thomas offered a catalog, Tom Dorsey and Tom Maxwell received 800 requests almost immediately. A groundswell like that feels more like something you’d get in response to a social media campaign today—instead of a single print ad in 1969.

Well, in the spirit of that auspicious event, and our deeper dive into the realm of digital and social media, we’re holding our very first Thomas & Thomas fly rod giveaway.

When we reach 800 likes on Facebook, 800 follows on Twitter and 800 subscribers to our monthly newsletter, we will draw one lucky winner from that pool. That winner will be able to select one rod from any line that is presently in the T&T catalog—except for bamboo. Our apologies to the T&T bamboo faithful.

One rod from any line, in any weight and any length. Helix, Horizon II, NS5, SSS, TNT, Spey, Switch and even Heirloom glass lines are all fair game. From big salt to small stream, the choice is yours.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to own one. Maybe you already do. Either way, this is your chance to own one of the finest, hand-crafted, American made fly rods on the market today—and all you have to do to be eligible is be one of the first 800 to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Let’s see if we can get any faster of a response today than The Toms did in ’69.

Spread the word…and good luck!

Guest post: Spring in Scotland

May 7, 2012 T&T Reply

Ally Gowans, Perthshire, Scotland

Its mid April and the first martins arrived for their summer breeding season a couple of days ago. The daylight hours are visibly stretching day by day. At close to 57N my home in the highlands of Scotland is roughly parallel with Churchill, Canada, but we don’t have any polar bears. We do however enjoy some of the longest Atlantic salmon fishing seasons anywhere — local rivers are open from January 15 to October 31 each year. The first salmon to arrive in what we laughingly call springtime (which is actually the deepest part of winter during January and February) are mostly 3SW (three sea winter) fish. With good feeding at sea, it is not unusual for these brutes to weigh over 20lbs. The majority on my home River Tummel are deep, heavy fish over 15lbs, carrying sufficient reserves in their flesh to sustain them until the November spawn. Amazingly, some of them even manage to survive and return to sea early the following year, only to repeat their remarkable sojourn. Fly fishing for “springers” as we call them, involves casting large tube flies on sinking lines, presenting the fly as close to fisheye level as possible. Like our steelhead fishing brothers, the reward for persevering many hours in cold water is a close encounter with one of nature’s most beautiful creatures. 15ft is the chosen rod length of most anglers. The new range of T&T double handed, 4 piece rods that fit this bill is eagerly awaited.

Martins are also an indicator that another fly fishing opportunity has arrived. As they follow the warmth northwards, spring develops and flies start to hatch from the rivers and lochs. When the flies hatch the brown trout rise and fantastic sport can result. The first flies to emerge from our fast flowing rivers are the Olives and March Browns and the trout fatten and grow quickly on this high energy diet after winter’s famine.

Our brown trout are beautiful creatures. Never two the same and with spots of all hues from blue to red and black and a butter-yellow belly that gives them the alternative name “Yellow Trout” in some regions. These fish began inhabiting Scottish rivers as the Ice Age receded over 10,000 years ago and despite man’s predation, they survive and flourish in almost all fresh water habitats in Scotland today. The beauty of spring in Scotland.