Second, don’t mess with fishing.  I don’t care if the ESPN story is true or false.  I don’t want anybody messing with fishing and I do think that the current administration is crazy enough to try.  It seems we are doing everything by executive order and that my friends is a very dangerous path to be going down.  Nobody seems to understand that the founders saw all of this coming; that is why the designed the system the way that they did.

OK enough about the current threats to my steak and my fishing.

The Cedar Sweeper marches on.  I will soon be in the throws of putting together the short fiction issue.  I am still looking for submissions.  A great little tale of 2500 words should do the trick so don’t forget to get in those submissions.

I will be making some updates to the site shortly:

• I need to fix the poll on the Michigan Fishing Facts Top 5.

• I will be adding an updated advertising sheet with buy now buttons for the various size ads.

• I will add a page for retailer, fly shops and the like, in case they want to carry TCS in their shops.

Lastly, I was able to catch the much anticipated (at least by me) debut of Justified on FX.  It was worth the wait and I officially declare Raylan Givens a bad-ass and real man.  I breath of fresh man in an increasingly man-less world.  He likes guns, drinks homebrew, and doesn’t take any shit.  He is flawed sure … but aren’t we all.

Thanks for dropping by.

We sold some copies and a few subscriptions and had some real interest in the magazine and in ads that were a little larger than I had anticipated.  That is a good thing though and a good problem to have. 

I had a chance to walk around the show and saw some pretty neat trinkets for the fly fisherman.  There were rods, boots, outerwear, gadgets, shirts, decals, boats, and generally all the truck that goes along with fly fishing. 

We got to meet Jim DuFresne of Twelve Classic Trout Streams in Michigan Fame.  Jim is a really nice guy and the classic trout streams book is a good one.  Thanks to Jim for being such a nice, down to earth guy.  We also had the honor of meeting the great Dave Hughes.  Dave has written numerous books and they were lined up early and long to secure his signature and chat with him.  He took a moment just before the show ended to read through and issue of The Cedar Sweeper and talk to us about the magazine.  Joel snagged a couple of shots of Dave and Chris Therssen together that we will get up at the site very soon.  Again, another good guy who came all of the way in from Oregon and took the time to chat with us young upstarts.  Thanks Dave.  We were able to hello to a few other authors like Joe Humphreys, Ron Barch, and Ron Reinhold. 

We had the pleasure of meeting some folks from various fly shops like Jeff Gardner over at Old Au Sable.  And the usual suspects like Wayne Snyder and Shawn Chalker from over at White River dropped by.  We were also able to meet some folks like “Bear” Andrews.  I also shouldn’t forget John from The Fly Fishing Christian, he gave us a great plug in his blog that you can check out here.  It was great to finally meet John and he is a very good guy.  These were all super nice people and it was a real pleasure to meet them.  Again, thanks to everybody for dropping by.

Now we start the work of doing some follow ups from the show and diving right into the fishing season and the first special issue.  By the way we are still seeking some submissions for the first ever short fiction issue.  We would probably need about two more pieces to help round things out. 

The weather is warm here and will remain that way for the rest of the week.  It turns colder this coming Sunday and Monday though and we will get a little taste of real springtime in Michigan. 

Thanks again to everybody who stopped by the booth, bought an issue, subscribed, or just said hello.  It means the world to us and it will help The Cedar Sweeper to continue for the foreseeable future. 

I will be migrating over to White River tomorrow to see Wayne and the guys there and hope to drop off a few copies of the latest issue.  So, be sure to keep your eyes open the next time you are in the shop and ask for Michigan’s Premier Fly Fishing Magazine by name  … just say, “Cedar Sweeper Me ASAP!”.  It is sort of like asking for an ice cold PBR. 

We can’t wait for what this season holds!

We have a new, wonderful, low subscription price ……. $19.00 !!!

Now, you may be wondering; “What has changed”?  Well, thanks to a great bulk discount from the printer and very frequent sale prices for publishers we were able to make an adjustment.  We are doing are part though as well by picking up all of the mailing cost.  The net result is $11.00 off the old subscription price and almost 50% off of what you would pay if you bought 8 issues at the cover price. 

We know that times have been tough and money tight.  We are just a bunch of working and fishing stiffs too and we hope that this will make a difference.  We want you to make The Cedar Sweeper your choice for Michigan fly fishing information and entertainment. 

We are gearing up for the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo.  We will have single issue copies of The Cedar Sweeper available for just $2.40, 37% off the cover price.  We will have the lap top running if you would like to subscribe at the site for the great new rate of $19.00, we will have a one page media and advertising kit available with our simple advertising plan and new great rates, and you can always pick up one of our decals while supplies last. 

We can’t wait to get to the show and spend some time talking fly fishing with everyone. 

Don’t forget about the upcoming special issue, Short Fiction and Photography.

I am also playing with the site to see if video might be possible in the very near future. 

Thanks for dropping by. 

The March/April issue is complete and available at the MagCloud site.  The updates at the TCS site will follow very soon.  I have ordered copies for the upcoming Midwest Fly Fishing Expo and we are now in full expo mode at TCS.

Here is what to look for:

• Site updates are lagging a little because I am working on getting as much cost as I can out of the subscription price.  The printer has made some changes and with the increased interest in the magazine, I think that we can bring the price down significantly.  Stay tuned to the site and here at the blog for details.

• We will also offer a mailer (postcard) with the same subscription rate for those that wish to subscribe via traditional US mail.

• We will have a limited number of copies available, for sale at the expo at a discounted rate for the show.  We will not be giving copies away as we have done at the precious events we participated in.

• There will be a TCS media kit available for potential advertisers.  We will outline the numbers and the advantages of the simple ad plan that we offer and a discounted advertising rate for the show.

• We will have a limited number of TCS decals to hand out so be sure to ask for one when you stop by the booth at the show.

• The show organizers have confirmed that WiFi will be available.  We will have a laptop up cycling some TCS images (mostly Joel Tomaszewski’s work) and the TCS site buy now button should be available for electronic subscriptions.

• We will have the tying vise set up and will put Chris Therssen to work on Sunday.

• Our friends at White River Fly Shop (Wayne Snyder) have provided a limited number of White River Fly Shop Newsletters.  So, be sure to grab one so that you can get updated on the activities at the shop.

And most importantly  …. be sure to stop in and say hello at our booth.  We look forward to seeing and talking to each and everyone of you!! 

I also want to take a moment and remind everyone about the upcoming special issue.  Fly Fishing Short Fiction and Photography.  We are looking for submissions for this issue that should be out sometime in late April or early May.  If you have a story to tell The Cedar Sweeper is the place to tell it.

Thanks for dropping by and we look forward to hearing from you here or at the site and seeing everyone at the show.

Question #1 -  If you were just starting out how would you approach the sport to determine if you liked it?

Well, I wouldn’t spend a lot of money.  I would borrow gear from somebody or go fishing with somebody that was willing to take you fly fishing.  If I had to go it alone I would buy one of the nice ready to use outfits that are available now days and go to a lake with some poppers.  You can practice your casting and find out what it feels like to fight a fish on a fly rod.  You might even get into a nice bass on top and there should be plenty of action to keep you busy if you go during the right time of the year.  If I liked it I would then spring for more equipment and even some more expensive equipment if I could afford it.  However, I use middle priced gear and find that it serves my purpose just find.  If I fished more I would probably upgrade as usage is a big factor and the gear would need to hold up to more fishing trips over a shorter range of time.  If you talk to guys like Wayne and Shawn over at White River they will probably tell you the same thing.

Question #2 - What about the Clinton  … does it really hold steelhead what about fly line?

The Clinton really is a great steelhead river and would see a better return of fish if they didn’t have to run the gauntlet out in Lake St. Clair and Erie.  The stretch between Ryan Rd. and Yates is classic water with gravel mixed with deeper holes and lumber.  So, the fish have a place to spawn and to stage for that activity.

Line selection really depends on the rig you are going to fish.  Duck and Chuck rigs require a running or shooting line (amnesia or zip) this will reduce the belly and get the fly down quicker.  An indicator rig will require a floating line.  I would go with a double taper as our casts are nice and short in Michigan and you can turn it around when it gets worn out on one end.

Question #3 - Who handles printing of The Cedar Sweeper.

We utilize Magcloud (an HP beta project) to help minimize cost and unused copies.  I have done some further research and found that nobody can beat the cost.  The down side is that it is printed in California and that adds to the lead time.  The upside is we get a great magazine at a fantastic cost.  A nice gentleman let me know that HP is using Indigo technology to print the copies and I must say the Indigo is doing a fine job.  If you couple the print quality with the upgraded paper you get some bathroom reading material.

We got a few more questions then we did last time around and all in all we did a better job of answering them.  We can’t wait to get out and see everybody at the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo!

Thanks for dropping by.

Shawn talks Clinton River Steelhead with the guys.

The Cedar Sweeper table at the seminar.  We provided the cookies and Wayne and the guys brewed some coffee.

Shawn with a stuffed fish and an audience.

The Cedar Sweeper table; all five color issues, the seminar program, and tools of Joel’s trade. 

Thanks for dropping by.

We made it out onto the ice yesterday for what is probably our last ice fishing trip of the year.  We loaded up our gear and the dog (Wesson the best fish dog in the world) and headed to a buddies place to access a lake.  Well, we forgot the bait and got lost and ended up on White Lake.  Chris Therssen missed a great opportunity at a really big fish and I landed two very small perch.  This ice fishing season has been a bust for us but damned if we didn’t have a great time each time out.  We will not be cheated!

The next issue of The Cedar Sweeper is coming along very nicely and we should have that in place for the upcoming midwest fly fishing expo.  I can’t wait.  

We just got dumped on with some snow but we did get a report of fresh steel in the Clinton; so I look to kick off my fly rod season very shortly.  I have a vacation day to burn and things are looking up.  The Tigers got Damon, the weather is starting to turn, and there will be fishing. 

Thanks for dropping by. 

We’ll have some munchies on hand and some hot coffee to sip on while we talk steelhead, fly fishing, the magazine, photography and anything else that tickles you.  Joel will be along if you want to chat him up about his mad photo skills.

I am hard at work putting together the Mar/Apr issue.  It should be done for he upcoming midwest fly fishing expo on March 13 and 14.  We are going to bring a little attitude to the table this time around; not much but just enough to let you know we are serious.  I can’t wait to show everybody the magazine at the expo and talk with all the great fly fishermen in our area.  We have had so much fun meeting and talking with everyone to this point!

There is the outside chance that we will hit the ice on Sunday.  I will post a short report about it if we do.

It seems like winter is loosening its grip.  The Tiger pitchers and catchers reported today and spring is surely in the air.  That means that great fishing can’t be far behind.  Now, I am looking forward to that first shirt sleeve day when I can ride to the water with the windows down and the Tigers on the radio.  I can unlimber a rod, make a respectable cast, and catch a fish.  I can smell the woods and the water as I write this and if I am lucky; I will be able to smell fish on my hands.

Thanks for dropping by.

The January/February issue is now available and we will have some copies for our upcoming visit to White River Fly shop this coming Saturday February 20th.  We will also leave a few with Wayne at the shop if you can’t pull yourself away to drop in and say hi during the fly fishing for steelhead seminar.  The guys from the shop will being sharing their expertise and I have it from an inside source that there will be homemade cookies and hot coffee on hand.

I mentioned to my wife the other day that I could feel spring in the air.  I don’t know what it is but I have felt it and been able to feel it since I was a kid.  I think it is a moderation and stillness in the air that translates to the body and soul.  It ignites a wonder lust in me that has me looking around nervously for my waders and a fly rod.  I know its coming and a little flame inside of me starts to grow that tells me I need to be free of walls, quilts, and furnaces.  I need to be outside amongst the wild things searching for the next great adventure.

My frustration with winter manifested itself during an ice fishing outing just a few weekends ago.  The wind was howling, bowing in the inside of the tent shelter and buckets were gliding across the ice as we shut things down for the night.  I lost a great jumbo perch at the hole and we just didn’t really set the world on fire.  The beer, what was left of it, decided to do its best blades of glory imitation at the end of the day as well.  I felt slighted by the weather, the fish, and what I sometimes perceive to be this shit hole state.  The old no jobs, no fish, no deer rant.  I stepped on my rods while I was loading the van and it sent me over the edge.

I have since apologized to my buddies and promised to stay focused on enjoying my family, friends, and setting.  It is a self attitude adjustment that I need to make before I pick up my fly rod and set off in search of steel and trout.  I can’t have the god-damned fish getting in the way of a good time.

Thanks for dropping by.

We have some upcoming events scheduled.

Bass Pro Shops White River Fly Shop

Auburn Hills, Michigan

Saturday February 20th  2-4 PM

Fly Fishing For Steelhead

Stop in and soak up the knowledge that the guys at White River have to offer.  We’ll be around off to the side to talk fishing and the magazine before and after the event.

Midwest Fly Fishing Expo

Sat and Sun March 13th and 14th

Macomb Community College South Campus

Warren, Michigan

We will have a booth at the show this year.  You can pick up a copy of the magazine or subscribe at a special rate exclusive to the show.  Be sure to stop by and say hello.

I have to say that this is a tough business.  We had our event with White River on January 28th and the name recognition seems to be growing.  However, the subscriptions just aren’t there.  I recently responded to a post at one of my favorite fly fishing forums; somebody was asking what magazine to subscribe to.  Well, I kindly suggested something local, The Cedar Sweeper.  There was one reply and it simply said, “Drake Magazine”.  These are words that are quickly beginning to piss me off but I have not decided if getting mad at the competition is worth it.

We will keep doing what we are doing and trying to improve The Cedar Sweeper with every issue.  We welcome all the great feedback as a source for helping to improve.  We also welcome single issue purchases and subscriptions.  We are not going anywhere, anytime soon.

Thanks for dropping by.