40 Rivers To Freedom

While I’ve used just about every scissor design out there, I’ve always felt the best were the iridectomy scissors sold over at John McLain’s website, FeathersMC.com.  The first time I tied with them I was certain they were the best thing ever, and I have continued to feel that way,  right up until one evening last week when an unexpected package landed on my doorstep.

I opened it up and found an improved version of my favorite scissor, courtesy of Keith Barton, that tinkerer who writes the Singlebarbed blog.

I immediately tried them on, and while I was literally on my way out the door, I stood there for a few minutes playing the fly tyer’s version of air guitar, envisioning a half completed fly in front of me, and then finishing it up.  A shit-eating-grin of epic proportions spread across my face, and though I didn’t have time to try them out on real thread and feathers, I have tied enough flies to know that Keith has come up with a winner.

You want a pair, too.  I know this.  So here are your options, you can:

A. Go on over to this page on Keith’s site and buy a pair for $20(included shipping)

or

B. You can win a pair here at 40 Rivers.  How?

1. Get the September 2009 issue of Hatches Magazine

2. Take a picture of yourself, or anyone else, using or reading the new issue of Hatches Magazine in a creative manner, in a cool place, with a celebrity, etc..

3. Email the picture to me at

40rivers@gmail.com

I’ll post the pics here on the 40 Rivers blog as they’re received, and let y’all pick the winner democratically on November 1st, or so.

Last week, two passionate fly fishermen who also happen to be passionate about introducing kids to the outdoors launched FishyKid.org.

FishyKid’s first project/contest is nothing short of brilliant.

They’ve teamed up with an all star list of some of the most talented photographers and artists in the fly fishing industry, and turned their art into a 36 page coloring book which kids can download from the site after registering.  After they’ve colored the pages, they can upload them back onto the FishKid website where they’ll be eligible to win some sweet fly fishing gear.

So, if you’ve got kids, know kids, or want to be a kid(there’s a division for adults to enter as well!), then go check out FishyKid.org.   You can also follow them on Facebook, and/or Twitter.

I’ve got a couple prizes to give away today-

Prize #1

The first is a copy of the DVD, Red Gold, courtesy of the Hatches DVD Store.  To be eligible to win this one, readers had to leave a comment here, or at the 40 Rivers Facebook Page, sharing the conservation issue that is most important to them.

The winner, chosen by random.org,  is Dave Smethurst.

My river in need in the Pigeon River in Michigan.  A private dam was mismanaged last summer.  It is heading for trial and we’ll win, but it will take years for the river to come back.  There was a massive fish kill.  It was the second time in my life the same people messed the river up with their dam.  Hopefully, this is the last time.  It’s got to come out.

Prize #2

The next prize is a copy of the DVD, Drift, also courtesy of the Hatches DVD Store.  To win, you had to leave your suggestions for the most played out words in fly fishing here.

The winner is Keith Barton, writer of the Singlebarbed blog.

If you didn’t get your name in on the these two giveaways, or if your luck sucks and you didn’t win; you can buy both of these DVDs and many more at the Hatches DVD Store.

I’ll have my official reviews of both of these DVDs posted for your viewing pleasure sometime next week, as well as 2 more prize giveaways.  Is there another fly fishing blog that gives away so much stuff to it’s readers? I don’t think so.

But…

Fishing Jones is running a nice little giveaway on his site.

Another Giveaway!

Next, I’d like to give away my review copy of the new DVD, Once in a Blue Moon!  To be eligible to win, you must be following 40Rivers on Twitter, and tweet the following message:

follow @40rivers for a chance to win the new fly fishing DVD, Once in a Blue Moon!

Sometime next week, one lucky Twitter follower who tweeted the above message will be notified via tweet and twitter direct message that they’ve won!

Hustle & Fish DVD Winner

I guess it’s time to figure out who is going to get a free copy of Hustle & Fish courtesy of the Hatches DVD Store, from last week’s Fans of 40 Rivers on Facebook Giveaway…

[using fancy schmancy random number generator thingy]

And the winner is…Bruce Smithhammer

[picking a new number]

Congratulations to Candace Edwards from sunny California!