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Ummmm.... Wow.  I can't believe they could get that close, I can barely seem to hook them, keep them hooked, or land one as it is.

During the summer most kids get into the lemonade business, but 13-year old Jacob Bernhardt has taken a different approach to summertime entrepreneurship, and he knows what it takes to "lure" in customers.

Jacob has been making and selling his own trout flies at the Great Falls Farmer's Market for the last few years; he started out making about 10 different varieties and now has more than 20.

He has had to learn everything about running his own business, from purchasing supplies to scouting out the competition to pricing his merchandise right. An avid fly fisher himself, he's able to recommend the flies for the right conditions, and now, what started out a simple hobby has grown into a successful summer business.

Jacob said, "Someone we know gave me a little kit, I started like that and kind of taught myself. And then we thought maybe I should try this and it just sort of took off from there."

His mother Kathleen noted, "He's had to learn how to relate to the customers, visit with the customers; he's kind of shy so he doesn't like to talk to people all that much, so he's had to learn to do that, and visit with them and ask them what they're interested in and where they're fishing and whatnot. So it's really helped his communication skills a lot."

Customers say they come back to Jacob's stand because they like to help support young entrepreneurs and local businesses.

Jacob says he makes about $50 every week and is putting the money toward college and saving up for a fish-finder for ice fishing.

 Great Falls teen knows how to "lure" fly-fishing customers
By Alex Grubb (KRTV-Great Falls)

Solitude Fly Company's Sculpzilla has been a huge hit.  Streamers are like fads these days, however, some are here to stay.  The Sculpzilla has even founds it's way to its homeland in Japan.

 Can't wait to head down there!  KK, Dan, Sam, Howard, Rich, and Steve (la Manzana) are headed to Campeche next week.

Here is a press release that shows off some of the work of our Great Falls and Montana conservation groups.  A lot of the fund raising money is behind the scenes and often seems untangible but here is a great example of what they get done for all of us.

My old man and Jennifer were carp fishing last weekend (at a location they're keeping from me) and had a little excitement with a few fish other than carp.  The fish on the left is a catfish and the fish on the right is a drum, both caught on the fly.  No carp on their excursion, but I don't think they really cared much after landing these fish.  They also landed another smaller catfish. 

 Carp Rodeo is August 14th.  Sign up sheets will be in the shops this week.  Posters and detailed information will be posted this week.  Get your teams together.  The buckles for the winning carp rodeo team are looking sweet and you will want one.  

Here's a Simms video to get you pumped.

Check this out.  A 44 year-old man named O'Sullivan purchased a carp five months ago that has developed a "human-like" face.  It has developed features that resemble a nose, mouth, and eyes.  O'Sullivan thought that he was hallucinating due to heat exhaustion, but came to find that the hallucinations were not hallucinations at all.  I wonder if this would count for bonus points in the carp rodeo this year?  Weird stuff.

Check out what was on the Moldy today:
Patagonia is joining Save Our Wild Salmon in urging the Obama Administration to change course and remove the four lower Snake River dams.  This has only strengthened collective resolve to protect salmon habitat. As Washington farmer Bryan Jones explains in a recent essay protecting salmon habitat can be synonymous with protecting family farms and reducing their bottom-line.  For more check out
http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=53787

While we happily watch the Missouri water levels drop fa fa fa finally, as well as hearing good fishing reports from Belt Creek, Smith River, and the Sun, here is an interesting story to follow.  Follow these guys through the Cook Islands as they find some gigantic Pacific bones.  If they think the one in this picture is on the small side ...then I am looking forward to reading their future posts.



Follow their blog here.