Fly Magazine

I met Han Gil couple of years ago for the first time and then only a few in between.  He is possibly the most hard core dry fly fisherman I have met in Korea, chasing almost exclusively cherry trout and rainbows.  He unofficially guides people he knows and he's known to have a good pulse on the movement of fish along the rivers and creeks throughout the seasons.  He knows so because he is there a lot, often camping out for days.  Oh yes, he is also a die hard camper, and I've seen his tent up in the deep creeks more than once.  He has a site called Fly Magazine (http://flymagazine.co.kr/) and it's mainly a sharing site.  A few weeks back we went out fishing together and I told him I would help him create a logo that was missing for his site.  I created some and shared them with him and he's in the process of choosing one (to be made into stickers and patches).  I ripped off pieces of graphic here and there to create these but they are not going commercial or nothing so hopefully I will be given a pass.  Here are 4 that I likes, let me know if one (or non) of these look alright to you.  The site is in Korean but check it out sometime.  Thanks.

Carving Fisherman Stan

Yesterday, my neighbor Mitch took me to his friend Stan's house to show me his fish carving work. Stan has been doing this for 8 years as a hobby and he sure had a talent. I was really surprised how detail he was getting into. He makes the head separately in-order for him to carve inside of the mouth. I am looking forward to purchase one for myself one day.

 

I miss them

Betting Result

A good friend of mine and I had a bet on whether or not the Lucite (acrylic glass) can be drilled with a power drill. As a part of betting process, I've made the following display with a golden stonefly.

As a gloating winner, I proudly present "a fly on a drilled Lucite base".

My first bamboo rods

Please allow to me gloat over my new bamboo rods...

One on the left is one I've made at the Oyster Bamboo Rod class and one on the right is the one Bill Oyster made for me.

bamboo rod class: final day

I am having hard time trying to describe what my experience was like for the last six days. Yes, I'm super excited the fact that I have a beautiful bamboo rod which I made with my own hand but the real excitement I think came from the people i've met through this class. I will write about it in detail when i get back but for now I'm at my motel room trying to absorb all the good things that happened during my stay.

Riley burnt some midnight oil to varnish our rods.

Vanishing process, Bill Oyster Style!

Second coat of varnish and our signature had been added.

Ken's signature should read "Mac Daddy"

WAZZUP!

Graduation dinner Shannen prepared at their beautiful home. Good food, good people and good time....

bamboo rod class: day5

One thing I am learning about building fly rods is that there are no short cuts. It involves paying attention to every details and executing it with utmost care. Don't mean to be philosophical but life lessons can be taught through this experience.

Positioning of guides.

Wrapping of silk thread.

More wrapping and more wrapping...

I now have a bamboo rod ready to be Finished!

bamboo rod class: day4

This trip is turning into the experience to remember. Not only I'm learning something new to build but the whole new cultural experience as well. The people I've met through this class has something wonderful to share and it has been very exciting as well as educational for me...

Today, our canes morphed into " almost fly rods" after the painstaking works.

Binded, glued, and baked rod.

Sanding and more Sanding...

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Attaching ferrule

Ferrule is glued on.

Practicing the "separation"

Stacking up cork rings for your grip.

Shaping of grip.

My "George the Asian cowboy" cigar style handle (don't ask)

Ken the mac daddy here graciously invited us for dinner to his very intriguing and beautiful self sustainable comune and treat us with an wonderful food and fellowship.

One of artwork from Ken's house.

bamboo rod class: day3

Today was the longest and strenuous day yet very rewarding as we now have binded blanks. a lot of elbow greasing went in today's work as it was all about planing after planing.

Ready to start the day.

Steve and Randy putting a lot of elbow grease and patience

Finished strips

Ready to be glued

Two part epoxy application

Barry binding his rod

Finally, we have something that resembles fly rod.

Tom displays his battle scar and new found respect for rod building

bamboo rod class: day2

using alcohol lamp to straighten canes.

straightened strips.

Planner specifically designed for bamboo rod building

After a couple of runs through the planner, isometric triangled strip

Strips gets baked for thirty minutes at 300 degree farenheit

Calibrated the planner block for further planning for tommorrow

Finished the day with local beer