I was introduced to Clutch by a good buddy of mine in Chicago this past summer. It’s a band, that if I had sampled in iTunes, probably wouldn’t have stayed on my radar. After seeing them live I totally understand their appeal. In my humble opinion, they are the best heard live – the seed will be planted and the cult reverence can grow.

Each Clutch album is marked by a distinct and cohesive sound. The musical style of the band has migrated from heavy metal and hardcore punk to hard rock. The band has also integrated funk influences into their rock sound. Strong blues influences have also become prominent in the releases of the later years as vocalist/guitarist Neil Fallon notes: “We’ve been really conscious of the blues over the last couple of years, and you have to admit that the blues really is the source of all rock and roll. I think it’s important to go to the source to find that inspiration.”

Clutch discography

• Transnational Speedway League (1993)
• Clutch (1995)
• The Elephant Riders (1998)
• Jam Room (1999)
• Pure Rock Fury (2001)
• Blast Tyrant (2004)
• Robot Hive/Exodus (2005)
• From Beale Street to Oblivion (2007)
• Strange Cousins from the West (2009)

Please check out the full story on John’s blog: http://stuartflyfishing.blogspot.com/ – it’s well worth the read.
Photography © John Meskauskas
stuartflyfishing.com

From the Ska Brewing web site –

” It’s Old-Man bitter

A mix of citrus and pine that will remind you of the time you went on a vision quest with your native American cousin and woke up in a pine-grove full of grapefruit trees.

An American-style IPA with a deep golden-orange color. Bitter and hoppy, with a surprisingly smooth finish.”

– I couldn’t have said it better myself – really, I couldn’t, and I’m lazy. An amazing beer (and it comes in cans – even better are you kidding). My new favorite.

Believe me, I was on the hate-Oakley band wagon. Having lived through the “Thermo-Nuclear Protection” and “Test Factory Pilot” days, I looked high and low for any other eye wear company to support.

At the Fly Tackle Retailer show 2 years ago, I checked out Oakley’s “Rolling O Lab” and was shown some pretty convincing tests. I am a skeptical guy by nature, and this was no exception. Still not sold.

Last year while fishing for permit in deep water, our guide John Meskauskas casually pointed to, what he said, was a massive school of permit swimming about 15-20 feet below our boat. Nick, Nicole and I looked down and had the same look of “what f’n permit” on our faces. All of you guides out there know the frustration of the “virgin” eyes. Since this particular school of permit were comfortable in their surroundings they stayed around long enough for us to experiment. John finally said, “here try these” — Oakley Hijinx with VR28 lenses. Oh! Those permit! It wasn’t like the rest of us had on crappy polarization, but the difference was amazing. I was sold.

I will say, I do have another pair of their polarized shades and they don’t compare to the VR28s. Check em out at oakley.com

:: Rolling O Lab ::

The Black Keys are a modern blues style rock band that provides a gritty deliverance. The 2 man band from Akron OH, released their debut record “The Big Come Up” in 2002 and has achieved increasing critical acclaim and recognition.

If you are looking for some great road tunes add these guys to the mix!

The Black Keys discography — Studio Albums

• The Big Come Up (2002)
• Thickfreakness (2003)
• The Moan (2004)
• Rubber Factory (2004)
• Chulahoma (2006)
• Magic Potion (2006)
• Attack & Release (2008)

Here we will look at life through the eyes of fly anglers. Of course, there will be stories of beautiful places, colorful characters and fish. However, we all know there is more to it, the stuff that fills the gaps between trips: beer, music, gear, travel, books – you name it. We aren’t here to shamelessly promote Bug Slinger products (click here to shop) but to offer a view of the lifestyle that either we live or aspire to live.

Please feel free to comment and suggest. Thanks for checking us out.

peace. R

I started reading John Galligan’s books a few years ago at the recommendation of fly shop guru Jon Uhlenhop.
It was refreshing to find an incredibly talented writer which could blend contemporary murder mystery with local flavor and fly fishing. A flawed but cool main antihero – “the Dog” is driven by a pure passion for fly fishing and a curse for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I just saw that the fourth book in the series is planned to be available March 2011. I’m stoked. Thanks for continuing the adventures John!
To check out other books and find out more about John check his site: www.johngalligan.com/

Here are some insights into the series …

The Nail Knot

The first in the Fly Fishing mystery series.

The going has gotten tough, and Ned “Dog” Oglivie has gone fishing. Fly fishing. For trout. All across America. At least until his money runs out … the Dog is nearly at the end of his tether when he rolls into little Black Earth, Wisconsin, intending to fish the yellow sally stonefly hatch . . . and finds a body instead.

The Blood Knot

The second book in the Fly Fishing mystery series.

The last thing The Dog wanted was to find another body.
But there was Annie Adams—the barn lady—floating dead at his feet, her easel and paints set up on the bridge above his head. Standing defiantly beside them, a frightened and stubborn nine-year-old—The Avalanche Kid—shotgun in hand, dares the Dog, “You saw me hit her. Now go ahead and tell somebody.”

The Clinch Knot

The third book in the Fly Fishing mystery series.

The Dog is in Livingston, Montana, daydreaming about fishing the ‘Stone and, as usual, subsisting on Swisher Sweets, vodka-Tang, and the hope that pretending to forget will be enough.

He’s again finds himself intwined in a local drama between two young lovers and the possible set-up for murder.

If only the Dog could run from his life without ending up in the tangle and snarl of the lives of others. A man who wants to lose himself in the current must be careful of his backcast; it’ll always keep him tethered to a life he’s trying to forget.

The Wind Knot

The fourth (coming March 2011) book in the Fly Fishing mystery series.

After five years of self-imposed exile on the rivers of America, trout bum Ned “Dog” Oglivie has burned his waders and hat, given away his rod, and turned his Cruise Master RV away from the famous Hemingway water in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, bound for home and reconciliation with his past. But when in passing through Chicago Dog discovers the corpse of a famous fishing guide on board the Cruise Master, he makes the ruinous decision to return to the U.P. and off-load the body for local processing. What follows is a new kind of running game for the Dog. Abetted by the dazzling and quirky pilot of the local bookmobile, he flees into the hostile bush, wanted for murder, tracked by bear dogs, devoured by mosquitoes, and tormented by the prospect of love.

The Fly Fishing Film Tour is hitting the road again in 2010. The films are sick and the merchandise ain’t so bad either. We have teamed up with the Tour to design their merchandise (except the Buffs). You can purchase the goods at any of the “official” tour stops as well as online at www.flyfishingfilmtour.com.

Also new for this year will be the ability to use your tour ticket for discounts from select vendors (including Bug Slinger) and fly shops. Check the tour web site for more info.

The Fly Fishing Film Tour focuses on action adventure excitement humor and lifestyle. The films will take you on the journey to see what it takes to be truly committed, or insane, by those who are capturing the new revolution of fly fishing adventure on film. With 70 cities on the schedule, chances are the tour will make a stop near you.

On the list of official tour films is “Fly Nation” from Fly Max Films. Check our video section for a sneak peak.

This footage was shot last year in Stuart Florida with guide John Meskauskas / StuartFlyFishing.com, Nick Pujic and Nicole Parks / Fly Max Films and Rob McAbee / Bug Slinger.

All the stars aligned for this trip back to my hometown of Stuart Florida. John and I had discussed how sweet it would be to film in Stuart and capture what an insane fishery we grew up in. When Nick and Nicole from Fly Max Films and the Canadian Fly Fisher magazine contacted me and asked if I knew of a good place to fish in Florida, I knew it was on.

The plan was to hook up in Stuart during the month of April for the tarpon migration. Thanks to River Palm cottages, we had a great place to call home base. The next 5 days, we were up at 4:30 every morning and on the water until 6:00 pm. Early mornings and long hours on the water certainly paid off in spades. As if the draw of tarpon weren’t enough, permit, snook, jacks, cobia and little tunnies were all brought to the boat as well (all on fly). Too much.

The trip, of course, had to end with everyone already penciling in a follow up this year. Look out jack(s). Some more great video to follow.

The extended version of this video can be seen on the 2010 Fly Fishing Film Tour coming to a town near you.

When I first moved to the mid-west, a buddy of mine introduced me to Two-Hearted on my first trip to fish the Great Lakes salmon run (a story for another time). Needless to say, 3 years and 4 winters later, Two-Hearted is by far one of the best IPA’s I’ve ever had. It’s not crazy hopped like a 90 minute, but it has plenty of hoppiness with a slight fruit undertone (not in a fruity way).

Of course, like many products, I’ll choose something off the shelf due to good packaging. Sometimes a good choice, sometimes bad. Bell’s Two-Hearted delivers with a kick-ass brook trout watercolor on the sixer and definitely delivers as a great IPA.

From the Bell’s site: http://www.bellsbeer.com/brands/info/2 : India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma.