Kel just sent this to me, and I had to put it up. That makes two Brooke posts in a day here at FF&W, but I can’t resist the cuteness factor, especially with the fly bib addition (thanks to “uncle” Douglas for that).

When she asks for a new fly rod and a Mustang convertible, what do you think daddy is going to say? Edit: Forgot about the pony. There is always a pony. I am so done for….

After fielding a small heap of emails on the subject, I figured that I had better post a pic of my daughter, Brooke. Looking at those eyes, I think you can probably understand why I am a pile of mush in her presence. Thinking that the next J.BFF rod I release might need to be [...]

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere today is the shortest day of the year. I figured that it would be a good day to make a first post about a long project—all 106 inches of it. Designed to be at home on trout water, slinging bugs and chucking streamers. Only 20 will be [...]

Some of you may have been wondering what happened here at FF&W. One minute I’m talking about the DF&F52 project, the next minute the blog isn’t updated in a week-plus. Well, I’ll tell you what happened: Brooke Alexis Borger She came a few weeks early and very suddenly, and there was no putting her back [...]

I just heard that Al Troth passed away last week. For those readers who may not be familiar with Al’s name, if you’ve ever used an Elk Hair Caddis, you should pour a sip for him. Being the age that I am, I was in a seemingly ideal (and fortunate) place in my youth to [...]

Some readers wonder what I’ve been up to the last few months. I’ll tell you one thing: KEEPING A SECRET! That’s what. Unbelievably hard to do, but now that it’s Mother’s Day, a big reveal seems appropriate. Don’t know what Kel and I are getting yet, but it’s either a Bunyan Bug or a Parmachene Belle! [...]

“Twelve-Weight Bowl” This is on its way to me now. Turned burl, rubbed finished, Alaskan salmon teeth inlay. Flat-out beautiful. People ask me where my art background comes from. That’s an easy answer: my mother, Nancy. Yeah, this is one of hers. She is a woodturner by artistic trade, but also does some carving and metal-spinning (typically [...]

Update: Steelhead is the next DF&F52 on tap for the weekend. Drawing Fish & Flies 52 Permit. In honor of Jose Wejebe. Notes: Wanted something simple, yet evocative for this piece. Nothing more than a flagging tail, a reflection, and the hint of a waterline. This piece deliberately has no edges or visual constraints other than [...]

This little post is in honor of Sage (seen above, peering over my shoulder with his well-practiced—and very effective—”sad eyes look”). He passed away over the weekend. Sage was the beloved dog of a very close friend in Montana, and he has appeared before on this blog as part of various angling adventures. Sage, in all of [...]

A well-worn Christmas greeting, but since I’m a bit laid-up at the moment I had to dig into the archives for something pre-made. And in case you are wondering, yes, the above fish-size ratio still applied in 2011 (and yes, I still hold out hope to alter it in my favor in 2012).

Merry Christmas Eve from FF&W. “Christmas Spey” from last year’s DF52 project.

For fly-fishing veterans on this day: a red, white and blue ‘bow. One of my recent black and white photos of a Tennessee rainbow, tinted in Photoshop using red, white and blue “paint” (with some gold for the fin). Just a way to acknowledge sacrifice and to say “thanks.”