Finding Old Video: A look at what my then 5 year old had to say about 911

After the 911 tragedy in 2001 I was watching the news like everyone else and my son walked into my office and said to me: "Daddy, why did all those people have to die?" What do you say to a 5 year old? So I explained the best that I could about helping those people who got hurt and he sprang up and into action! He said he wanted to help make a video for people to help donate to the Red Cross. It was so touching that I thought I lost this clip but now I have found it and want to share it here;

It makes me Proud to be American!

Then about a week later he saw the President on TV and said to me: "Dad, here's my dollar to help those children in Afghanistan! Hey let's make a movie like the last one for the Fighter Fighters in NY!" So I turned on my web cam and he said this! Wow, they sure don't stay young forever!

God Bless America and our Veterans

Fall Fishing Northeast Ohio Photo Montage!

Another Fun Filled Day on Steelhead Alley!

One Fish, ORVIS Store with SAO, then out with good friends at Bogey’s Comedy Club. Pretty much a rewarding day I would say. When I arrived at my location at 7:30 am it was looking to be a long slow day. Low and clear water, was what I was faced with along with that nice tea stain from all the leaves! Weather was beautiful with lot’s of sunshine and other guy’s out fishing, but other than that, it was a great day to be out, and the water temp was about 48 degrees.

My first few drifts at a favorite spot produced nothing for me, and after a couple more casts I changed the flies (my point and dropper), and made a few other small adjustments (removed the lead), and then I did it all over again with a Senyo bead head woolly bugger. After a little walking and scouting, I soon found a perfect little narrow piece of water that had a nice deep cut along the shale ledge, and so I started making passes right away, knowing Steelhead will hang along the ledge. Several more drifts and nothing again, so then I switched to a larger sculpin pattern from SAO and on my first pass with the new fly, just at the beginning of my first swing, and BAM! Fish On! Nice fat hen brought to hand. When I looked at my watch it was 10:15am and that was enough work and play, and a hell of a fix for an old Chrome addict like me so I called it a day!

Getting home I had to do the normal list of mundane "Honey Do’s" and today’s was (leaf duty) then it was off to the New ORVIS Store for another Photo opportunity, this time however I did not bring my credit card or cash, because I had no intentions of buying more stuff (yeah right), I was there strictly with Greg Senyo of Steelhead Alley Outfitters and Patrick Robinson doing a nice little Steelhead Alley presentation for those attending. This was another fine event to showcase Ohio’s only ORVIS Endorsed Guide, Steelhead Alley Outfitters, and the 2008 Fly Tier of the Year recipient Greg Senyo.

These guys are the real deal folks, not just on the water but off the water as well! They are the kind of guy’s you would gladly welcome into your home on any occasion, and I’m proud to be associated with them both as an angler, and on the web. They put on a great SlideShow and demonstration featuring the many opportunities of huge fish their clients and guides are catching! Gear selection while fishing Fall and Winter on Ohio’s tributaries, awesome fly patterns and selections, plus a host of other valuable information for any new or experienced angler. I can honestly say that anyone attending these Seminars will walk away from that experience a better Steelheader, not only from the information you can glean from speaking with them personally, but also see and maybe get some of the Hottest fly patterns around! See my SAO FLY Review here>

After what I considered to be a successful day on and off the water, my wife surprised me with another offer of a date for 8pm that evening. Of course I gladly accepted, (like I had any say in the matter), and soon we were off with friends to Bogey’s Comedy Club in Willoughby Hills. Being the Steelhead comic that I am here on and off the Alley, of course I was looking forward to a nice cold one, some great company, and of course a good laugh or two sounded like the perfect ending to a productive day.

Well my friends I had a good day on Saturday, and I hope you did as good if not better than me! Even though the water conditions are extremely low and clear, there are fish to be caught. Just remember to cover as much water as you can, switch up patterns and sizes, and make some changes to your presentation and who knows, maybe you’ll be able to keep that stink off your back side on your next outing. We really need rain for a fresh push of fish and until then, stay safe out there and as always,

Fish On! ><)))’>

Chagrin River ORVIS Store! The Only Shop on the Chagrin River for Steelhead Gear!

ORVIS on the Chagrin! There is a God after all!

Candy little fishy?

Drooling like Homer here! DOH!

This is where I started losing it!

ORVIS Waders and Boots!

Starting to part with Ben!

This Store has it all!

View from the back!

Looking back and waving goodbye!

Jim Lampros w/Rainbow!

I don’t have to tell you about ORVIS. If you’re an avid fly fisherman like myself then you know the name. Feeling a bit down like the flow on the Chagrin River, I decided to swing by the new ORVIS store right here in Northeast Ohio! Why on earth would you shop at some other outfitter on the Chagrin, when ORVIS is located just a stones throw away? Unless you like paying some other guy his markup and overhead, go for it! As for me and my friends, we’ll gladly pay ORVIS directly, and get some of the sweetest flies on the planet!

As soon as I pulled into the parking lot along Chagrin Blvd. I knew it was going to be a madhouse! Well I was right! I almost had to park across the street, but after a few minutes I finally got a spot then headed into my demise.

Everything was hectic to say the least, people all over and a big long line at the register! Wow! I knew I was in for a treat, and there it was right in front of me! A beautiful wall mural of a brown trout slipping below the surface, and the rods! Like Homer Simpson, I started to drool and mumble unintelligible musings looking around at all the "Candy" that lay before me, and I want more! Any angler could really do some damage in there, damage to the right rear pocket that is! While browsing, I was fortunate enough to meet the new Fishing Manager there Jim Lampros.

Jim seems like a great guy, and from what I hear, a pretty good fly angler as well. Born and raised on the East side of Cleveland, Jim has extensive experience fishing "Steelhead Alley" and even started his own curriculum of "Beginning Fly Fishing" at the Miami University of Ohio, plus he led outdoor fishing excursions for the Universities Outdoor Pursuit Center. Kudo’s to you Jim, all that experience from WorldCast Anglers in Idaho, and also a graduate of The Western Rivers Professional Guide School! Very nice credentials indeed, but we still need to hit the Chagrin and wet a line together. Congratulations on your new Managerial Position at ORVIS and I sincerely wish you all the best!

The new store was everything you can rely upon and expect from Orvis, quality on every level, with a pleasant staff of friendly people ready to assist you at all times. They have just about everything else a Fly Angler needs for fishing, and some very experienced angling employee’s like Jim Lampros and Blair Cameron to guide you, why go anywhere else! There is no place else, I would spend my money. It’s the only Shop I would recommend on the Chagrin River, that’s just the way it is!

I had a small window of opportunity to see how the Chagrin looked, after losing some weight at ORVIS, and it is low and clear. The Grand is dropping as well, but the good news is, there are fish to be caught! I snapped a few pic’s of my excursion to ORVIS, and the Grand so enjoy! I’ll be on the water this week-end with my new friend and the editor of KYPE Magazine George Douglas! Tight lines to all, and remember to always Fish On!

BIG BEAT 2009 Part 2

Hank Hess was on hand to help Rock the Beat!
Hank Hess and Indians Drummer John Adams!

Hank Hess Playing around!

Billy Coakley Video

My last post regarding this event was quick and put together in about 5 minutes, and the reason for it being a multi part post. No it’s not always about fishing here on SteelHQ, this is my blog and I call it as I see it! Family first, fishing second, community third, like it or leave it!

This event again was sponsored by Stebal Drums in Willowick Ohio, and I don’t mean to reiterate some of my previous rhetoric, but this is more of a fill in with a few more photo’s and all the other groovy details for all you kids, parents, and anglers out there interested in music.

First of all, this was a charitable event co-sponsored by the Mr. Hollands Opus Foundation ( http://mhopus.org/ ) to help raise money and buy drums for our local schools, to replace funds that have been affected by government cuts, and bureaucratic red tape, otherwise known by you and me, as bullshit! This goal to attempt to break a world record for drummers is in my mind, a fantastic idea! With the sole purpose to keep music education a part of our children's education, and to keep music in their lives! Music does make kids smarter, it teaches them the beauty of commitment, rewards, inspires and enriches their lives forever! We’ve all heard of that saying; "Music makes the world go round!" It is after all a Global language!

Last year Stebal Drums raised $4,700.00 dollars which was used to purchase a complete Marching set of percussion instruments for Cleveland’s All-City Arts Drumline Program, and this year they showed up with those drums to demonstrate their appreciation! Very cool indeed, and I’m proud to have been a part of that with my son. More about this later, when I edit the HD video!

Fish On

Laguna Station Holds 1st Annual Steelhead Contest in Mentor Ohio!

1st Annual Steelhead Contest! Laguna Station in Mentor!
Good selection of rods and reels and more!

Tie your own spawn sacks? John has plenty Of material here!

Need Jigs? Laguna has them in every size and style!

Live Bait, snacks, and fishing gear?

My friend John! I know you said no pictures! :)

My longtime friend John Bucks over at Laguna Station (formerly The Minnow Bucket) gave me a shout about his New Steelhead Contest he's hosting this season, since Grand River Bait and Tackle, has not sponsored their Steelhead Tournament this year, and so John decided to start this Annual event for Steelheaders all across Northeast Ohio.

John has been a staple of the Mentor Community for a long time, and his new location across from the Mentor Lagoons has served anglers and boaters for many years. He has a small Deli with beer and wine, snacks, and fresh produce, along with many other items you will find handy for an enjoyable day on the water.

The contest is pretty much the same as Most Area Tournaments;

$15.00 entry fee, contest runs October 23rd to March 31st. 2010 and the TOP 10 Fish are awarded 100% payout! Anything over 28" inches to qualify and the point system is; 16 points per inch, and 10 points per pound.

Full Rules and Entry forms are available at Laguna Station. For those not familiar with Mentor, it's right on the corner of Lakeshore Blvd. and Hopkins Rd. (Or across from Mentor Lagoons)

8320 Lakeshore Blvd. Mentor, Ohio 44060 440-257-7046

The Chagrin is dropping very fast and most fish have really spread out since this last bit of rain last Friday! I will be out in the next few days to see what's what, and to wet a line since I have that urge to get hooked up with a chrome fix! I'm a Steelhead junkie, and I know it! Nothing better than a Silver Bullet on the end of my line, coursing through my veins and into my heart! I can almost feel the russssshhhhZZZZZZZZzzzzzz

Stay safe out there and remember to Fish On!

BIG BEAT attempt to break Guinness World Record for Drummers! Part 1

Cleveland ALL-CITY DRUMLINE demonstrates
5 year old drummer "Rocks-the-House"

Jim Bonfanti of The Rasberries plays along!

Drummers line up for the BIG BEAT!

Billy Coakley leads the group!

My Sons Passion!

Dave Brewer poses with my son Dominic!

Dave Brewer leads the way!

my flash did not go off but this shot was cool looking!

Dominic plays along for the World Record!

Back Shot!

My Son plays with his drums for the BIG BEAT!

Getting up on Sunday I was really looking forward to a day of fishing when my son told me matter-of-fact "Today is the BIG BEAT Dad!" Well of course I knew that, so the waders and fish will get that rest after all!

When I bought my son a drum set for Christmas 3 years ago, little did I know that he would become the drummer that he is today! He really does march to a different drummer! I mean come on, as addicted to fly fishing as I am, I just thought he would follow in my footsteps? Well even though his old man can pound those skins pretty good, I had no idea just how good he really is!

When Dave Brewer asked me how long has he been playing? I replied about 3 years. He said he was very good for just 13 years old and posed for a few pictures. This event was sponsored by Stebal Drums in Willowick Ohio, and this was the second BIG BEAT calling all drummers! This was a great outing for me as I watched my son drum along with about another 100 or so drummers attempting to Break a Guinness World Record for the most people drumming the same Beat!

To make this simple and to the point; Even though I didn't get to 'wet a line' I did however swell with pride after spending some quality time with my son doing what he likes to do! I support him in all his endeavours even if it means we only get to fish on some rare occasions! Rock on my son!

FISH ON! (or maybe; Rock On!)

more on this story comming soon with HD video!