Patagonia Teams up with MLW

Okay, I can see how that title might be misleading.  Patagonia really has no affiliation with me, but I did "borrow" their fish logo after reading about their generous donation on this web page which he got from this web page which came from here.

I decided I would make a Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountain version of their trout emblem. I based the image off of the photo below.....

Thanks Family Vacationist!

Now it is time to see the evolution of the Patagonia Blue Ridge Mountain Trout Design.

The Original

I see a little trout; I want it painted black.

Rounding out the Blue Ridges.

Creating depth.

Adding some highlights.

Brighten up that cloudy morning sky.

Here comes the sun.

key ingredient to a fishy day

Heading out to the eastern shore as we speak. I'm hoping for big things.

It is already a joy just to be sitting in the car waiting to drive across the bridge. It just goes to show, I love the "going" part of going fishing. It has its own place in the list of things I enjoy about fishing.

They key difference between today and the last few outings? I've replenished the stores of my fishy snacks. Here's to tight lines and split fingers.

Specks in Hand

A day off spent on the water. 


The speckled trout will be leaving us soon making way for the striped bass. 

One thing that made yesterday unique was the company. I fished with a buddy from the local fly fishers club. He works in conservation and participates in the Virginia's fish tagging program. We made sure to measure, record, and tag several specks including one nice 16.5" fish at the end. 

I practiced a bit more with the camera experimenting with release shots. Fortunately, the fish cooperated as there were plenty of specks in hand. 

Music is by The Flaming Lips, "Fight Test."

Enjoy the music. Enjoy the fish. Happy Friday. 

My name is mud.

I "worked form home" yesterday morning. Or rather, I had the morning off to blast through a few obligations, enjoy some free time, and sprint to a nearby inlet I'd been meaning to explore.

The channel weaves its way back through nearby neighborhoods and we'd seen it on our afternoon runs. In fact, I usually force a pause in our pace when we jog by. I swerve towards the water like an orbiting moon stone, craning my neck to spot bait fish and egrets, crossing my fingers to see a tailing beast.

Kakis beneath my waders, I practically sprinted to the water. Checked my watch. 11:36.

"Okay, so I should be at work by 12:45.  I need to be at work by 1:00.... That gives me a good 40 minutes if I get changed quickly."

 A quickly as I approached the water's edge, I pulled back on my reigns. Whoa, David. I was sliding and sinking like a, well, foot in the mud.

The water was warm and low. Damn those tides. The bait fish were abundant, but I saw no sign of hungry fish eager to put up a fight.

The muddy water was peaceful, but she was not going to give her secrets to me today. Rather, it seemed she wanted to swallow my boots as the cost of my intrusion.

As cooler weather returns, I hope the speckled trout move up the inlet. If I dare venture back into the water, I'll need a fish to help pull me out.

Along the backs I did get a glimpse at a nice hornet's nest. Maybe wasps... Jay, can a brotha get a little entomology help?


The bigger fish may not call this habitat home right now, but it is definitely a nursery and sanctuary for birds, fiddler crabs, young and/or small fish, and mollusks galore. The shores were lined with exposed mussels.

Digging down into the mud, I think they were awaiting the return of high tide just as much as me.

My Leaky Waders are Heading to Virginia this Summer!

Well, gentle-ladies and gentle-men, the decision has been made. I matched yesterday into the field of my choice! Ophthalmology. I submitted a list of the programs I interviewed at ranking them from top to bottom, and a computer matched me with Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia!

Now I need to learn about fishing out there. I know they have a lot of water. There must be fish, right? I've found one guy on OBN, The Grey Sulphur, who is a fly fisherman in western Virginia (not West Virginia). Maybe I'll snoop around his page a bit. Or just ask him what the deal-ee-o is.

Sara and I won't be heading out there until June/July, but once there, it will be 4 years. So I have all that time to figure out the fly fishing in Virginia. If anyone has any tips, pointers, hints, suggestions, food for thought, grievances, and so on regarding fly fishing in Virginia, please, let me know! I'd love to hear what you have to say :)