DUN 2018 Holiday Edition

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 1

CAN YOU CHANGE AS FAST AS THE W E AT H ER ?

Our fishing-specific insulation is part of a versatile layering system that lets you easily adapt to shifting conditions.

Through long days of fishing, the only constant is change. But with the right layers in your kit, you can keep your own thermostat steady. Built for warmth and freedom of movement across a wide range of temperatures, our Tough Puff Hoody features a stretch-woven, highly abrasion-resistant face that holds off light precipitation and is durable enough to push through tangled cover. Stretchy and breathable insulation keeps the comfort level high, and streamlined cuffs with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish shed water on the release.

Jenn Love bat tles a sea-run cut throat and small-craf t advisories on a Pacific Nor thwest winter day. Puget Sound, Washington.

RICH CROWDER Š 2018 Patagonia, Inc.

Women’s Tough Puff Hoody

Table of Contents

Features

Confluence

Gift Guides

Stripers

Joining forces to support women in fly fishing

Experience Martha's Vineyard

Tight Loops

Experience Rockport, TX

8

One couple's quest to search out elusive fish species 46

32

Redfish 34

Trout

Experience Casper, WY 38

Smallmouth

Experience Asheville, NC 40

Twenty Under $20 Twenty gifts for $20 or less 44

Jen's Favorites

12 things Jen can't live without 52

Munchkins

Help the kids get outside in 2019 54

JEN RIPPLE Founder & Editor-In-Chief Jen@DUNmagazine.com Janell Fannin Managing Editor Grace Erin Associate Editor Hope Halla Copy Editor Meg Humphries Editorial Assistant

T. Daniel Frost Associate Editor Mēgan Berns Editor at Large Rachael McClendon Special Assignment Editor

Brandon Miller Staff Photographer

Got kids?

Know some kids?

ADVERTISING ads@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

SUBMISSIONS submissions@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

GENERAL INQUIRIES editor@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES editor@DUNmagazine.com 224.532.9160

CONTRIBUTORS

Just a kid yourself?

Get hooked on Olive the Woolly Bugger!

Aimee Bartee Kacee Bones Kaitlin Boyer Cole DeNormanie Rand Harcz Zach Hart Galen Kipar

 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/DUNmagazine

Ask for ALL 3 books at your local fly shop or find them online!

olivethewoollybugger.com

Andrew Lowe Mike Ripple John Schmidt Robin Schmidt Abbie Schuster David Sikes Bob Tayler

PUBLISHER Fly Squared Media 316 Hidden Valley Road Dover, TN 37058 p.224.532.9160 EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE DUN Magazine 316 Hidden Valley Road Dover, TN 37058 DUNmagazine.com editor@DUNmagazine.com

i Green-Zine

DUN Magazine ISSN #2573-3184 is published by Fly Squared Media, LLC, 316 Hidden Valley Road, Dover, TN 37058. The cover and contents of DUN Magazine are fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. All rights reserved in all countries. DUN Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Submissions cannot be returned without a self-addressed envelope. ©2018 Fly Squared Media.

Painting by Debby Stewart

One of my best friends is a very talented artist. Her paintings have been sold to art collectors, in art galleries, and even on greeting cards.

If you’ve seen a beautiful painting of a lighthouse, it’s probably hers. I stand back in awe at her talent, and yet I’m amazed how she dismisses her talent as “not that good.” Her talent is rare and beautiful, and everyone knows it but her.

And so it is with you, my fellow angler. You have rare and beautiful talents to offer the world. But, if you’re anything like me, sometimes the fear of not being good enough holds us back. How many of us have passed the opportunity to take someone fishing because we’re “not that good”? We get so caught up in making the perfect loop that we forget this is a sport. Something we don’t have to be perfect at to enjoy. Let me put it in holiday terms. I’m a terrible baker, and yet every year I attempt to make Christmas cookies.

Do they look like Martha Stewart’s? They absolutely do not. Do my kids and grandkids care? They absolutely do not.

The enjoyment in eating the cookies is not diminished because they’re imperfect.

If we wait until we think we’re good enough to get others involved, we will miss the opportunities all around us to grow our community of fly anglers. Who cares if you make a terrible cast? More times than not I make a crappy cast.

Who cares if you get your fly caught in a tree? I sometimes fall out of the boat while trying to untangle myself from said tree. Those times, my friends, the ones that are imperfect, are the ones that memories are made of.

And is this not the season for making memories? Our pages in this special edition are filled with our favorite gift ideas over the background of an experience. Because after all, it’s the experience that we remember. It’s the time well spent with friends and family.

When you invest in the lives of others, those you invest in could care less if you’re perfect, just that you cared enough to share.

As the year ends, I encourage you all to share your special gift with those around you.

Take a loved one fishing.

Introduce a stranger or a friend to the sport you love and take the time to create memories. After all, our time and memories are the most precious gifts we can give.

Wishing you all the best holidays ever.

Jen@DUNmagazine.com @Jen_Ripple

6

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 7

Confluen

by Robin Schmidt and Kaitlin Boyer

8

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

nce

photo by Kaitlin Boyer

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 9

I avoid the temptation to predict where I will end up on a journey in life. It seems the path forward is very much dependent on what I discover and learn along the way and, most importantly, who I meet. There is force and momentum more powerful than my own plans for the future that are brought forth when the desires of hearts flow together on a common path.

10

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by Kaitlin Boyer

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 11

Waypoints

Every good journey in life begins with taking a risk. I’ve written about that (“Taking the Leap”, DUN Magazine, Summer 2018) but, honestly, I hate that part. It’s scary; making myself vulnerable, exposing what I don’t know, and the matter of when, not if, someone will try to eat my lunch. If it didn’t all pay off in the end, every single time that I have faced fear in my life, I’d quit doing that.

I battled internally for over 30 years in my career as a software engineer. My love of the outdoors and sense of responsibility were constantly at odds. Then, one morning, I woke up and thought, why the heck am I not holding a fly rod?

That was the day I discovered the six-week long Colorado Mountain College (CMC) certificate program, “Professional Fly Fishing Guide”, in Leadville, Colorado. By the end of that week, I had applied for the 2018 session. Within the next two weeks, I became a member of Colorado Women Flyfishers and

12

DUNmagazine.com

accepted a position as CWF Trips Co-Director, started casting lessons, attended the Denver Fly Fishing Show, met Jen Ripple, and began writing about my decision to jump, feet first, into the deep end of fly fishing.

You know when you are headed in the right direction when the path suddenly and mysteriously unfolds on its own. In the blink of an eye, I was transported to my new life.

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by Robin Schmidt

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 13

14

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by Kaitlin Boyer

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 15

16

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by Zach Hart

Realization

Who knew you could go to college for fly fishing? I have two degrees, a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts, but the prospect of going back to college for fly fishing was way more than I could resist! I took the bait. I was the fifth female student to complete the certificate since the program started in 2014.

Cyndie Saffel, of Winter Park, Colorado, graduated from the CMC Professional Fly Fishing Guide program in 2014. In 2015, she opened her business, Damsels On The Fly, bringing adventure experiences, fly fishing education, and guided fly fishing trips to women.

Cyndie shared with me that the small business management course, required to earn the certificate, was very instrumental in helping her to develop her business plan. She also wrote to me, “I feel the program at CMC is really complete and should receive more recognition from the fly fishing community.”

Michele White, a 2015 graduate, is the owner of Tumbling Trouts Outfitters and Fly Shop in Lake George, Colorado. Her shop is affectionately described on her website as, “A weird little fly shop nestled half-way between the Dream Stream and Reality.”

She completed the CMC program prior to opening her business in 2016. She gave me great confidence that I had made the right choice, writing, “Give yourself a pat on the back for making this happen.” She added, “I LOVED every minute!”

Rebekah Barrington’s retirement dream was to fully pursue her passion for fly fishing. She took a different route for completing the CMC certificate.

She took some of the coursework during the 2016 and 2017 summer sessions in Leadville, and the rest she completed during regular semesters at other CMC campuses offering the requirements. Rebekah believes the program is unique and brings accountability into the industry through its accreditation, ensuring high standards for skill and knowledge for fly fishing guides.

Kaitlin Boyer, 2017 graduate of the CMC program, is a professional fly fishing guide in the Colorado Springs area. She also affirmed that I would not regret the experience.

Kaitlin helped me to make my final decision to attend CMC. When she offered to come visit while I was in Leadville, I felt incredibly supported and inspired.

Dreams became reality for all of these amazing ladies and that sends a very powerful confirmation.

There was no putting down of this dream for me either—I was all in.

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 17

Summer of ’18

On May 6, 2018, I rolled into Leadville without a place yet to call home for the next six weeks.

The residence halls were available to the program attendees, but I opted to live in my RV. One problem—the campground hadn’t opened yet. Too much snow. I checked into a hotel for one week until my space was ready.

I went into the rigor of this program with my eyes wide open. Still, I wasn’t sure I’d seen the schedule properly when I first added up the hours that I would spend in classes each day.

My eyes did not lie. Twelve hours a day, Monday through Thursday, and eight hours on Friday. I remember thinking, What?

I will spend twelve hours a day in fly fishing school?

Perfect! Sign me up.

The CMC program is necessarily challenging and demanding due to its accredited status.

This is, after all, college.

Students have options as to how they complete 13 college credits and earn a certificate of completion.

18

DUNmagazine.com

Coursework includes fly fishing and guiding skills, entomology, small business management, outdoor leadership, and fly tying. If the passion is fly fishing and the dream is to become a guide, or to work in the industry in some other way, or just to immerse one’s self in the passion, the education is first-rate and as unforgettable as college days can be.

I was one of six people to complete the certificate in 2018 and the only woman. Now, go ahead, imagine the scene. Our male instructors, six or seven 20-somethingyear-old guys and a 56-year-old grandma, together twelve hours a day, many of which were spent crammed into a van traveling to and from fishing spots, and on very long bug collecting missions. Enough said?

I found a lot of humor in the scene. The little tune, “One of These Things is Not Like the Others”, was stuck in my head for weeks.

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by John Schmidt

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 19

20

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

Why should it be that any of us would bring such a difference to this picture? It shouldn’t be. Beyond that, the support that women bring to each other in challenging circumstances would have been invaluable to my time at CMC. The program is tough—I won’t lie. Still, I absolutely loved it and will never regret challenging myself to this level. My advice? Bring a friend who has similar goals. If you can’t find someone to join, go anyway. Smile, hum the tune, and join our little band of gals who have completed this program under the same circumstances.

This must change.

Next Stop, Joy!

Three days after returning home from my experience at CMC, I took myself on a fly fishing/hot springs safari.

One morning, I sat with my coffee on the bank of the Colorado River. I watched a bug show, including the final, dying act of the ephemeral mayfly. I plucked stonefly shucks from the rocks that warmed my bare toes. I was enthralled and thinly aware that, once again, I had “moved”. I was in an all new place in life and things would never be quite the same. Finally, I reflected on the massive flow of the river as it passed by my campsite. It occurred to me that all that power is the result of the flowing together of the Colorado and other streams and rivers into one, ever-growing and ever-strengthening current. photo by Kaitlin Boyer

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 21

Momentum Like Robin, my fondness of the outdoors and affection for fly fishing has always been a bit of a distraction to my occupational life. I spent years plugging away at nursing school, which was sheer torture to my prevalent right brain, in addition to waiting tables on the side to make ends meet. After learning fly fishing basics from my dad in 2010, I started to take the hobby more seriously a few years later. Study sessions were being skipped, and my attendance at school was no long a priority, and so, for the love of fishing, I quit school.

One of the distinct parts of my personality is committal stubbornness, in the sense that if I say I’m going to do something, by gosh I’m going do it. So, dropping out of school was a huge blow to my selfesteem, yet, this new found Kaitlin felt more at home.

After fly shop owner, guide and CMC grad, Michele White, proposed that I consider becoming a fly fishing guide, sparks flew in my brain and I immersed myself in all

22

DUNmagazine.com

the options to make this happen. As a college dropout, I had just a few credits left to finish my degree, and the program at CMC was 13 college credits. The all-ornothing part of myself was completely obsessed with attending this program, whether I had to quit my job or pay for 6 weeks of childcare, I was going to do it.

Traveling time, now a graduate of the guiding program at CMC, the thing I say to most people who inquire is, “I wish I could go back and do it again every year.”

There isn’t one defining thing that made the experience so memorable however, I believe the coalescence of people, mountains, rivers, and time imprinted something in my brain that will never furlough.

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by Andrew Lowe

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 23

After I completed the progra as a guide right away. Thoug rookie guide, in my second s niche of specializing in guid Despite being content in my me still yearns for somethin trips out to Leadville to fish a my former instructors. I go b fished during the program an I’m flooded with good memo however, and even though th everything I wanted it to be shared the experience with a

The guys in my program wer and kind. I was lucky to call through it all. Thankfully, th photo by Andrew Lowe

24

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

am, I was hired at a fly shop gh I still consider myself a season I have nestled in my ding women and children. y new career path, part of ng else. I often take little and visit CMC and see back to all the spots we nd on the weekends, and ories. One thing lingers he CMC guide program was and more, I wish I could’ve another woman.

re friendly, respectful, a few of them my friends here were some women

in a few of my classes, either finishing up the guide program courses (in two semesters instead of one), or needing to fill credits for other degree programs. These women really filled the gaps for me when I was needing less testosterone around me. Being the only full-time female in the guide program began to wear me down.

Meeting Robin Schmidt in May of 2018 was an opportunity to fill a void that was lingering since my experience at the CMC guide program. When a staff member at CMC had connected us, we arranged to talk about her upcoming journey to Leadville for the program. Needless to say, our chat ended up being two hours long and we came to two conclusions. One, we were fascinated by Orvis’ 50/50 On The Water Campaign, and two, how we can join this campaign to get more women to enroll at CMC’s guide program.

Shortly after this discussion, I came to visit Robin in Leadville during her first week of school. It was during this meet up I knew our paths had crossed for all the right reasons. Between stuffing our faces with delicious food and wine, and showing her all my favorite fishing spots, we developed a friendship and plan that is a mighty force to be reckoned with.

It’s no secret that women are the fastest growing demographic in fly fishing these days, so Robin and I questioned why there is such low female enrollment in guide programs. As a female guide, I personally have taken notice that the majority of my clients requested a female guide. I am one of four women out of 30 plus guides at the shop I’m contracted at, and there are few to none at the other local shops. With such a rapid increase of female anglers and a high demand for female guides, guide programs like CMC’s should be seeing higher female enrollment numbers to better accommodate the growing industry. With Orvis’ 50/50 On The Water Campaign blazing trails for women in fly fishing, Robin and I felt compelled to bring the initiative to CMC and let 2018 be the last graduating guide class with just one full-time female student.

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 25

26

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

photo by Kaitlin Boyer

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 27

28

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

Joy Poses, Everyone!

So, very thankfully, Kaitlin and I are not the only ones who think our initiative to bring more women into the fly fishing industry is a great idea for getting more women onto the water!

“Colorado Mountain College stands with the Orvis 50/50 on the water movement and is committed to providing opportunities for women to enter the outdoor industry as fly fishing professionals. Orvis has generously provided in-kind fly fishing products to help two women scholarship recipients, who are enrolled in the professional fly fishing guide program summer 2019 session, the opportunity to get them geared up on the water. Financial scholarships are being created so more details to come.” Colorado Mountain College Foundation

photo by Bob Tayler

Whenever we converge on a path with a common purpose, there is movement. The momentum forward is like the mighty Colorado and all the adjoining flows that cannot know the final destination. Still, the current grows stronger. It is not halting or unsure of its purpose. This is how women, in an amazing community of lady anglers out there, support one another—and this is exactly how I feel I’ve been supported on my own journey. Rooted here is the answer to the mystery of how a path can suddenly and possibly unfold on its own. It doesn’t. ❄ Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 29

30

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 31

Stripers on Martha's Vi

Those who have fished for s this species can be. This 90 coast of Massachusetts is k places to catch striped bass Vineyard combines great fis shopping, and night life. Wh

Hire: Abbie Schuster with Kism Stay: Edgartown Inn

Eat: Lobster Rolls at Larsen's F

Drink: Cappuccino at Rosewate

The O

The wind and the waves can m fishing for stripers. Do your lightweight setup to help yo

Rod: Scott Meridian - $865.00 Reel: Nautilus CCFX2 - $545.00 Line: RIO Intouch Striper- $99.00

32

DUNmagazine.com

Abbie Schuster â?„ Holiday Edition Guide 2018 enjoys a sunset photo by Cole DeNormanie

striper know how addictive 0 square mile island off the known to be one of the best s in the country. Martha's shing with amazing food, hat more do you need?

Shield Yourself

Nothing ruins a perfect day like freezing your patootie off.

Down and water usually don’t mix. This jacket adds a layer of wind and water protection making sure you stay warm even with salt spray in the air.



ineyard

by DUN Staff

Mammut Convey - $199.00

met Outfitters

Kick it into High Gear



Fish Market

er

Available in a number of fun patterns designed by two young fishermen, these kicks have become a cult staple.

There is no better looking way to keep your feet dry.

XTRATUF Salmon Sisters 15 Legacy - $135.00

Outfit

Accessorize

make casting a challenge when self a solid and pick up this ou deliver the fly with ease.

Add a few of our favorite smaller items to your holiday wish list.



Danco Premio 5.5” Ti Pliers - $99.99

Patagonia Vintage Town Beanie - $45.00

 The New Hot Pants

These pants, which include a drop seat and are wind and waterproof, will make an offshore trip for stripers much more comfortable.

Hatch Knot Tension Tool - $40

Helly Hansen W Newport Pant - $200.00

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 33

Red Fishing in Rockport

Redfish are all the rage and catch them is the Texas coa fish over grass, sand, mud, a redfish are here year round, the cold head on down.

Hire: Kacee Bones Stay: Casa Pequeña Lodge Eat: Mom's Shrimp at GLOW

Drink: Lone Star - The National

The O

In the sometimes muddy water quickly with a short line when

Rod: Sage Salt HD - $950.00 Reel: Ross Reels Evolution R Salt - $595.00 Line: SA Amplitude Smooth Grand Slam - $99.95

34

DUNmagazine.com

Guide Kacee Bones ❄ Holiday Edition 2018 with a Redfish photo by David Sikes

one of the best places to ast. In Rockport, you sight and oyster shell flats. These so if you need a break from

Don’t Lose Your Shirt

It gets hot standing in the sun all day looking for reds.

Stay cool with this lightweight fishing shirt that goes from boat to bar and protects you from the sun’s harmful rays.

Patagonia Long-Sleeved Sol Patrol - $89.00

Keep Everything Safe



l Beer of Texas at Pop's

Every day our lives get more and more electronic. Keep your techs safe and dry with this bag that is small enough to fit in just about any hold, but large enough to fit your gear.

Fishpond Thunderhead Duffel - $299.95

Outfit

Accessorize

Add a few of our favorite smaller items to your holiday wish list.

rs its all about loading the rod n you see those tails dancing.

 Smith The Runaround - $199.99

Astral Designs Loyak - $85.00



5



t, Texas

by DUN Staff

I’m Seeing RED

There are a lot of great pants out there, but you should probably wear the ones inspired by the redfish, plus they’re SPF 50 and quick-dry.

Conner Brays Beach Sun Hat - $49.50

FisheWear Radical Red Fish Leggings - $110.00

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 35

No rod has ever silenced all the variables.

No engineer has ever found a way to transfer back cast energy directly into forward accuracy.

No angler has ever erased all the doubt from his or her mind.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

36

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

QUIT WISHIN’ & GET FISHIN’!

See our complete line of Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 37

Trout Fishing in Casper,

Grey Reef is considered on fisheries in the country an catch fish in the 8-20 poun favorite fisheries because big fish you can bring to th

Hire: Ty Hallock from Crazy Rai

Stay: Sunburst Lodge Bed and B

Eat: Cowboy Cut T-bone at the F

Drink: Frontier Copper IPA at Fr

The O

Make no mistake about it, while has a budget friendly price tag, i qual

ď ¸

38

DUNmagazine.com

â?„

Kim Cross, with a Grey Reef Rainbow Holiday Edition 2018

Wyoming

ne of the best trout nd rumor has it you can nd range. It’s one of my of the sheer number of he net in one day.

Rain, Rain Go Away



by Jen Ripple

It might not rain much in Wyoming, but the wind blows all the time. A light shell to keep the wind off your skin is a must have.

Columbia Arcadia II Jacket - $59.99

inbow Fly Fishing



Breakfast

Think Outside the Box

Guide and artist Ty Hallock makes the most beautiful fly boxes. He’s also a really nice guy who’s been married forever to his high school sweetheart.

FireRock Steakhouse

rontier Brewing Company

MFC Hallock Rainbow - $35.00

Outfit

Accessorize

Add a few of our favorite smaller items to your holiday wish list.

e the timeless looking package it does not in any way skimp on lity.



Fly Trap XLT - $14.50



Groove Life Trout Ring - $39.99

Dress Code

Rod: St. Croix Imperial USA - $280.00 Reel: Orvis Battenkill Disc - $198.00 Line: KastKing Exergy - $29.98

Who says you can’t wear a dress while you fish? This comfy dress will keep your mind on the fish and not on a wardrobe malfunction.

Mojo Shell Caye 1/4 Zip Dress - $69.95

Hydro Flask 12oz Coffee Mug - $29.95

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 39

Whitewater Smallmout

by Jen Ripple

Some of the most fun you destination is not far from Couple this amazing bass Biltmore and some of the and you have a trip you’ll b

Hire: Galen Kipar from Ashevill

Stay: The Cottage on Biltmore E Eat: Migas con verduras at Cúr

Drink: Liquid Truffle at French B

The O

Smallmouth fishing is all abou wind-resistant flies. This combo fishing. The short headed fly line where it needs to be for that e

 Rod: Winston Boron III Plus - $895.00 Reel: Orvis Mirage Reel - $649.00 Line: RIO Outbound Short F - $99.99

Guide Galen Kipar rowing a favorite smallmouth river photo by Rand Harcz

40

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

th in Asheville, North Carolina

le Fly Fishing Co

Bark Up the Right Tree

This jacket offers the iconic look and feel of a waxed cotton Barbour jacket in an updated color. It is the perfect garment for a night on the town or a day in the field.



u can have in a freshwater m downtown Asheville. fishery with a stay at the best food on the planet be booking every year.

Orvis Barbour Beadnell Jacket in Bark- $399.00

Estate ate

Broad Chocolate Lounge

Accessorize

Add a few of our favorite smaller items to your holiday wish list.

Outfit

Hestra Sigyn - $125.00



t pounding the bank with large o is tailor-made for this type of e and fast rod will deliver the fly explosive eat we all dream of.

Wear the Pants

If the future is female, then these are the pants to wear.

Just enough stretch to make them your new favorites.

Prana Jada Jean - $89.00 Dubarry Fassaroe Wrap - $129.00

Bundle Up



You don't need to go to Alaska to wear this comfortable and tailored shirt. The brushed cotton is super soft and breathable.

Filson Alaskan Guide Shirt - $125.00

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 41

Twenty Gifts $20 and U

by DUN Staff



Good To the Last D

Stick to It

You need this.

Ugly Bug Fly Shop Sticker - $5.99

Sea To Summit X-Brew Coffee Drippe

 

Hit The Bottle Everyone needs a place to put all those stickers.

A good day on the water with a cup of coffe

Klean Kanteen 18oz Classic - $18.95



All Hands On Deck

Because the winter weather wreaks havoc on your skin.

Burt's Bees Naturally Soft Hands Gift - $14.99

Who doesn't love warm, colorful printed socks?

Lorpen Outdoor Lifestyle Diamond - $17.99





Sock It To Me

Put The Hammer Down

Mix it up. Don't use the same old rocks glass like dad did.

Woodford Reserve Hammered Mug - $18.99

Map It Out

Don't get lost, go old school.





DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer - starting at $19.95

Get It DUN

Need we say more?

DUN Magazine Single Edition - $20.00

Care about the environment one straw at a time.

Izola SS Cocktail Straws - $20.00

44

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

Deep Pockets

The perfect stream side celebration, just add liquor.

Pocket Cocktails Moscow Mule - $9.99





Straw Purchase

Box It Up

Instructional and fun subscriptionbased monthly fly kits

nder

True Fly Supply Subscription - starting at $6.00

 

Drop

Fly Away

r starts e.

Nobody ties predator flies like Nome.

er - $17.95

Reel North Flies Da Perch - $10.50





Organize It

Keep it Clean

Start your New Year's resolution early.

Without the line fly fishing isn't fly fishing, clean it.

Orvis Super Slim Fly Box - $10.95

Loon Outdoors Line Up Kit - $10.50

Rise and Shine

The name isn't the only reason to love this coffee.



Mayfly Coffee Dead Drift Coffee - $13.99



Sister, Sister

The novel that is sweeping the women's fly fishing world.



The Reel Sisters - $15.99

Cup Runneth Over



Don't forget the matching cup for your anywhere coffee setup.

Squeaky Clean

When you're roadtripping it and can't live without your favorite soap.

Sea To Summit Delta Light Insulated Mug - $7.95

Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case - $12.99



Give Back

Keep your beverage at hand and give at the same time

Add a little flare to your fly fishing wardrobe.

FisheWear Fishe Nippers - $20.00



Cut It Out

Fishpond First Descents River Rat - $19.95

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 45

46

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

Tight Loops Fly fishing duo Aimee and Chase (Tight Loops) travel around North America in their VW Campervan, exploring the wilderness in search of rare species of fish. Their recent adventure took them into Montana’s AbsarokaBeartooth Wilderness in search of the elusive California Golden Trout—a fish with a history. An advocate of women in fishing, we caught up with Aimee to understand more about their expedition and why she thinks more women should get involved in fishing.

by Aimee Bartee

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 47

Fly fishing can be seen as quite a male-dominated sport. This stereotype is, however, being challenged as fishing becomes more popular with, and more accessible to, women. How did you get into fishing and what about the sport attracted you?

My father, aunt, and uncle all took me fishing when I was a little girl—it was part of my childhood. I caught my first trout with my dad, and it was fun and exciting, but it didn’t really become a passion for me at that point—it was just what we did. As life went on, fishing fell off my radar. But when I met my now husband, Chase, he reintroduced me to and got me involved in fly fishing. He took me to a local pond and taught me how to cast. I adored all of the details, like the flies themselves, and the colors and textures from all of the natural materials. I caught my first trout on the fly and that was it. I fell in love.

What made you want to pursue fishing by traveling around and exploring the country’s most obscure wildernesses?

Just being on a river. Enjoying the sounds, sites, and rhythms of the natural world is like no other experience a person can have. Fishing has taken us to some incredible places we’ve fallen deeply in love with. When you find something you love, you can’t help but want to share it with others.

Chase and I started making short films about our fly fishing adventures in 2014 under the name Tight Loops Fly. We have since produced two feature films and a multitude of shorts. These films have played a huge role in pushing us creatively and have allowed us to take a leap and work for ourselves. This decision has opened many doors in my work as a photographer. It has pushed me out of my comfort zone and has taught me to interact with the natural landscape, as well as how to be patient, persistent, and humble.

48

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

There’s a lot of talk about the benefits of fishing—the connection it gives you to nature, how it empowers women to be independent and take on challenges themselves. In what way do you think that fishing has helped you?

Fly fishing has forged a deep connection with nature in my life. Not only has it given me a reason to spend so much time in the wilderness, but it has allowed me the time to slow down and appreciate everything around me.

Often, I find myself in conversations with folks about catching big fish and, for me, it has never been about that. I could be perfectly happy watching trout sip mayflies. I don’t need to catch them. I find it absolutely mesmerizing to just be able to quietly sit and watch them do their thing.

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 49

On this particular trip in Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, you were searching for the elusive California Golden Trout, which has a really unique history in the area—can you tell us a bit more about it?

The story of how California Golden Trout came to be in the Montana wilderness is a particularly interesting one. When their orange and yellow iridescence was spotted by mountaineers in the Sierra Mountains in the 1800s, sportsmen all over the world wanted to find and catch them. Pretty soon attempts to transplant the rare hue began, but very few were successful. In the early 1900s, a crop of young California Golden Trout were being transported over the Rockies to the East Coast when the vehicle transporting them broke down.

Realizing the fish would die, the guys transporting the fish hiked up to the nearest lake and dumped them in, figuring this would at least give them a fighting chance. Little did these “bucket biologists” know, that the lake where they dumped the fish actually had the perfect combination of gravel, rock, and dissolved oxygen to be a golden trout nirvana, and the species has thrived ever since. The population in the lake has remained genetically pure for the last century, unlike their counterparts in their native Sierra.

Your trip meant some pretty arduous trekking and wilderness camping. How do you balance the enjoyment of fly fishing with the practicalities of traveling through these remote places?

When we decided to make the trek to find the Golden Trout, it was my first backcountry overnight to an alpine lake, so though quite a butt kicker, it was stunning as well. To say I was a bit nervous about the trip would be an understatement. I am a selfproclaimed ‘bearanoid’…. I’m absolutely terrified of bears. But through some coaxing and reassuring, Chase was able to get me on board for the grueling hike. It felt great to push myself out of my comfort zone and wake up the next morning with the realization

50

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

The number of women becoming involved in fishing is on the rise. What advice would you have for women looking to get involved in the sport? In what ways has the sport benefited you?

that, not only were we not eaten by bears, but I was able to overcome my fear and experience such an incredible place. Not to mention that Chase proposed to me early that next morning!

When I push myself to do these kinds of things, I grow as a person.

Perpetual learning and growth is so valuable.

Enjoyment and practicality definitely go hand-inhand. The more remote and inaccessible, the more enjoyable the fishing is for me. The remoteness is what motivates me to get out and explore.

Fly fishing has been a gateway to so many different outdoor activities and has afforded me the ability to enjoy incredible places. In my opinion, this is why fly fishing is becoming more popular with women. It allows us to get out and spend time out of our normal routine.

Only good things can come of that!

I’m not sure what to offer for advice really, other than get out there and try it. Take some time to learn about the fish and their habitats, learn to cast, get good at untangling knots, and, above all, respect these beautiful creatures and their habitats. ❄

Click here to follow Aimee and Chase

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 51

Jen's

Of all the i

Coffee!!

I can't live without hot coffee

Hydro Flask 16oz Coffee in Blueberry - $24.9

A



The Right Foot

Waterproof and stylish, perfect for the water or field.

Dubary Galway Extrafit Country Boot- $449.00



Beanie Baby!!

Jen teaches a young girl to fly cast at the Saltwater Show in New Jersey

52

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

For every product sold this company removes one pound of trash from our oceans and waterways.

United By Blue Canoe Pom - $38.00

s Favorite Holiday Gifts

by Jen Ripple

Splurge!!

Yes, this is pricey, but I love it.



95



e.



items I have seen this year, these are at the top of my list.

Hats Off!!

Abel Super Series in Wild Trout - $1,105.00

By far my favorite fishing hat.

Accuracy Matters



This rod makes me look like I know what I'm doing.

Conner Rockaway Beach - $58.00 Coupon Code ANGLER_20 for 20% off

Orvis H3F - $849.00



Reflect

I carry this journal everywhere. I even use it as my wallet.

Colsen Keane N0.1016 Field Notes - $160.00



Box Trot

This box is so pretty I take it out only on special occasions

Core Values



If I have to be in the cold, I'm wearing this vest.

A.L. Swanson Blackfoot - $159.00

Voormi Convex Vest - $299.00

Live Life

I love this so much I bought one for all my girls.

These make every shoe comfortable, and they're made with 100% recycled cork.

Sole Casual Medium - $60.00



KÜHL SPYFIRE - $229.00

Pack it In

Don't worry about having to choose between your clothes or your waders. These waders are light enough and small enough for you to bring both.





Heart and Sole

Patagonia Middle Fork Waders - $349.00

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 53

Jen's favorite nephew Owen can't wait to dig into his Olive The Woolly Bugger Trilogy photo by Mike Ripple

54

DUNmagazine.com

â?„ Holiday Edition 2018

Picks for the Munchkins

by DUN Staff

Want to raise an angler? Here are some fun gifts to get them started on the outdoor track.

This great summer camp offers fly fishing adventures for teens all over the US. Lillard Fly Fishing Teen Expedition - $3,895.00



Let Someone Else Teach

A Rod of Their Own



Book Worm

Perfect for anglers of any age, but designed with the young angler in mind.

photo courtesy of Orvis

TFO Bug Launcher - $89.95 rod only Bug Launcher Kit - $169.95 rod, reel, line, & case



Kids and adults alike love the tale of Olive the Woolly Bugger Olive The Woolly Bugger - $12.95/per edition

Cargo Holder

Whether in a watercraft or near the water's edge, protect your precious cargo.

Keep It Dry

Kōkatat Aries PFD - $99.00

You appreciate gear that fits well. So will they.



Simms Kids Gore-Tex Waders - $149.97

 

Close Encounters

Kids love crafts. Why not give them a fly tying kit?

Made for Walking

Don't just layer on an extra pair of socks, give them boots that fit properly.



Orvis Encounter Fly-Tying Kit - $98.00

Redington Crosswater wading boots - $89.99

Holiday Edition 2018

❄ DUNmagazine.com 55

WHAT WAS

YOUR FIRST

ON THE

FISH 56

FLY?

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

❄

Edition 2018 57 “Take care of the fish and the fishingHoliday will take care of itself.”DUNmagazine.com Join TU: www.tu.org

Fly Fishing Adventures That Work With Your Busy Schedule

On The Water Fly Fishing Travel

info@onthewaterflyfishing.ca

Holiday Edition 2018

â?„ DUNmagazine.com 59

®

60

DUNmagazine.com

❄ Holiday Edition 2018

www.FisheWear.com