Antics | Dispatches from the Middle River

Accessorizing My Wardrobe

March 29, 2012 by Tom Sadler · 1 Comment

As a Mountain Khakis ambassador I know often it is my good looking pants rather than my rugged looks that gets attention. Since I am committed to both the brand and the lifestyle -who wouldn’t like dogs and trucks- I figured I could up my game for the spring. I mean MK has some great new tops and bottoms in the spring line up, I needed an edge. One my favorite MK photos was an inspiration but I wanted to compliment, not copy it.

Well I know I am not going to get any better looking but how can you resist this latest “accessory” to my wardrobe?!?

She can only enhance my ambassadorial prestige.

Disclosure.

Filed Under: Antics, Business, Lily · Tagged: black lab, Mountain Khakis

When Art Imitates Life

February 28, 2012 by Tom Sadler · 3 Comments

Trust me you are gonna want to click on this one > Lefty says Tenkara is a fad.

A tip of the Stormy Kromer to Roderick Hawg Brown for getting the straight scoop and putting the Lefty “tenkantraversy” to rest!

"fadtastic"

Filed Under: Antics, Fishing, Quotes, Tenkara · Tagged: controversy, fads, Lefty Crayfish, Roderick Hawg Brown, Tenkara

Playing 20 Questions on Eat More Brook Trout

November 12, 2011 by Tom Sadler · Leave a Comment

If you spend any time reading this blog then you know Chris Hunt is one of my best friends and favorite people. Our passions and points of view run along nearly identical lines.

Chris gave me the 20 question treatment yesterday on his blog, Eat More Brook Trout. His introduction was overly kind and he certainly got it right when he wrote:

in our hearts, we’re after the same thing–the protection of the places that matter, and not just to us, but to the future of our hunting and fishing heritage. The thought of our kids or our grandkids growing up without knowing what the natural world has to offer is dead-on frightening.

often present when Hunt and Sadler are together...

The questions were both thought provoking and entertaining. Much like every conversation I have with Chris, ‘cept maybe in that “interesting little establishment on Bourbon Street.”

Read my answers to the 20 questions here.

Filed Under: Antics, Conservation · Tagged: chris hunt, Conservation, drinking, Eat More Brook Trout, Fishing, tomfoolery

Friends who Write

November 4, 2011 by Tom Sadler · 2 Comments

Some days it is great to have friends. Especially friends who write so well you stop what you are doing, refill the coffee mug and enjoy the story.

This morning’s Friday Fishilicious post on Fly Fishilicious caught my eye. It was a guest post written by my good friend Chris Hunt of Eat More Brook Trout fame.

Teaser:

The brookie is, in my humble opinion, the sexiest salmonid on earth, especially when you get to see one naked in October.

See what I mean… Stops you in your tracks writing!

Grab a coffee refill and read the rest here.

caught looking at brookie porn

Jen, Nice job getting Hunt to tell the tale of the Eat More Brook Trout blog.

Filed Under: Antics, Conservation · Tagged: chris hunt, Eat More Brook Trout, Fly Fishilicious

Tenkara Fishing out West: $3 bridge, Yellowstone NP and Flat Creek

September 13, 2011 by Tom Sadler · 1 Comment

After the tenkara summit in West Yellowstone, MRS and I took off for Wyoming and some tenkara fishing in the Jackson Hole area.

Before we left West we made a trip to the Madison River and some fishing at $3 Bridge.

tenkara in the shadow of $3 bridge

Five years ago Beth and I go married at this spot and we were excited to be back.

we stood right here 5 years ago

We worked our way down through Yellowstone National Park, fishing as we went. Ok I fished, Beth took pictures…

Trying it out on the Yellowstone

MRS goes artsy on me

We wound up in Hoback, WY. for a couple of nights with the Rivers of Recovery crew. BTW: If you don’t know about RoR then click here and check it out.

Be sure to watch the two videos, start with the one on the right. If you are unmoved by them, check your pulse.

We made a foray to the headwaters of Flat Creek. It was a spectacular 4×4 drive into the backcountry.

Flat Creek headwaters

Getting set up

a pretty Flat Creek pool

Mr. Cutthroat checks in

the tug is the drug...

success!

The chance to visit the headwaters of Flat Creek and to do it in the company of good friends made the trip special.

That they have served our country with honor and distinction makes me proud to be in their company.

headed to beer 30

As they say the road goes on forever and the party never ends.

Stay tuned for more pictures in episode two. Coming soon.

Filed Under: Antics, Fishing, Tenkara, Travel · Tagged: $3 bridge, Fishing, Flat Creek, Fly Fishing, Gros Ventre, Jackson Hole, Rivers of Recovery, Tenkara, wyoming, Yellowstone National Park

Tenkara Summit

September 9, 2011 by Tom Sadler · 5 Comments

Last month I traveled to West Yellowstone, MT for the first Tenkara Summit. More than 100 hundred people showed up to hear presentations, talk tenkara and see an on-stream demonstration.

Here is part of the write up by Daniel Galhardo on the Tenkara USA blog:

Originally we had expected, optimistically, that about 70 people would show up. The conference room was setup to accomodate 100 people, but that was not enough. Over 100 people showed up yesterday. People came from 23 different states, and from 3 different countries specially for the Summit (well, they did come to fish in Montana…). I’d really like to thank all those who came and helped make this an extraordinary event; it was the best crowd ever. Thank you!

The Tenkara Summit had the presence of special guests Dr. Hisao Ishigaki, the leading authority on tenkara in Japan; Chris Stewart of tenkarabum.com; Craig Mathews of Blue Ribbon Flies who gave a very passionate presentation about tenkara in Montana and showed some great clips of large fishing being caught; Ryan Jordan of backpackinglight.com as well as ryanjordan.com; and Tom Sadler who spoke about the advantages of using tenkara as a guide and as a way to introduce new people to fly-fishing so they can continue conserving the environment in the future.

Dr. Hisao Ishigaki, "Tenkara King"

Dr. Ishigaki is known as the “Tenkara King” in Japan. His presentation was a wonderful insight into the world of tenkara. He is a warm and charming story teller lacing his presentation with witty anecdotes of his tenkara exploits.

Chris Stewart, Daniel Galhardo and Dr. Ishigaki, share a panel discussion.

Ryan Jordan of Backpacking Light

Craig Mathews talks Montana tenkara

It was a special honor to part of the summit and to learn from fellow tenkara enthusiasts!

One personal highlight was to have lunch with Craig Mathews and Yvon Chouinard. Those two were the reason I got started with tenkara so it was a special treat to spend time with them both at the summit.

Dr. Ishigaki showed his tenkara chops during an on-stream demonstration.

gearing up for some fishing

Watching Japan’s Tenkara King put a tenkara rod through it’s paces was fascinating. It was also reassuring to see that my on tenkara technique was not so bad.

Tenkara King does his thing

Double team tenkara

Filed Under: Antics, Fishing, Tenkara · Tagged: Conservation, education, Fishing, Fly Fishing, Galhardo, Ishigaki, Jordon, Mathews, Stewart, Tenkara, TenkaraUSA

Why we fish: Sparse Grey Hackle

August 23, 2011 by Tom Sadler · Leave a Comment

The true worth of fishing, as the experienced, sophisticated angler comes to realize, lies in the memorable contacts with people and other living creatures, scenes and places, and the living waters great and small which it provides. -Sparse Grey Hackle

Bad Boyz of the Madison

Hat tip to Mike’s Gone Fishin’…Again

Filed Under: Antics, Fishing, Quotes, Reflections, Why we fish · Tagged: Fishing, Fly Fishing, quotes, sparse grey hackle

Site remodeling

August 13, 2011 by Tom Sadler · Leave a Comment

By and large most of the remodeling around here involves our kitchen.

MRS has that sinking feeling

But last Sunday I reworked this site with a new look. It is still a work in progress and there will continue to be some tweaks to the design especially on the pages.

I would love to hear what you think, so comments and suggestions are encouraged!

Thanks.

For those of you who are interested the inner working of blog infrastructure I used StudioPress Genesis Theme Framework and changed from StudioPress Prose Child Theme to StudioPress News Child Theme. And yes those are affiliate links. I really like how easy StudioPress Themes for WordPress are to use.

Disclosure

Filed Under: Antics ·

What R & R looks like in Rhode Island

July 17, 2011 by Tom Sadler · Leave a Comment

There is a special place in Rhode Island that I can retreat to to recharge, regroup and catch my breath. It has been a safe haven for my family for 3 generations.

I greet and end each day with this view.

My favorite view in RI

It is an 9 hour drive from the Washington, DC madness, which has shown an incomprehensible disregard for places like this and what it takes to keep them like this.

Tomorrow I will continue the intermittent work that has intruded on this vacation, but today I will soak up the serenity that this special place offers.

Filed Under: Antics, Conservation, Reflections · Tagged: habitat

A Natural Artist

June 18, 2011 by Tom Sadler · Leave a Comment

I get some pretty cool gigs as a fly-fishing instuctor and one of my favorites is teaching the MSU Fly Gals each year. Just spending time with these wonderfully accomplished ladies is a joy in and of itself.

This year, one of my former students, Corey Higley, dazzled me with a very special gift!