Below is the flyer for the 2015 Fly Tying Expo hosted by the Great Lakes Council of the International Federation of Fly Fishers. The Fly Tying Expo will be held at the Causeway Bay Hotel in Lansing Michigan from 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday, November 7, 2015.
The Fly Tying Expo is a major source of income for the Great Lakes Council. The income generated from this event helps support the conservation of our fishery resources, promote fly fishing as a method of angling and protect and expand fly fishing opportunities.
Late September is the time of year I look forward to for my annual "cast and blast" that takes place in Northern Michigan each year.
This is the time I hunt grouse and fish for Brook trout.
My favorite area south of the bridge is the Pigeon River State Forest. This is the largest tract of wild land in the Northern Lower Peninsula and is the core area of Michigan's wild Elk herd. The Elk are scattered throughout this huge tract of land and one of my favorite Brook trout rivers, the Black River, runs through the heart of a traditional rutting area. To fish the river in the fall of the year is a pleasant adventure that I look forward to for the fish themselves....the bonus is to have Elk bugling in the early morning at first light in the surrounding hills.
I have spent many mornings through the years at this time of year in this very special place fly fishing for Brook trout in their spectacular fall spawning colors, while several bulls announce their presence in the hills and meadow along the river. I have had the privilege to have an entire stretch of river to myself with the sound of Elk seemingly surrounding me to create an atmosphere that suggests you could be in a western state or Province, while a mere three hours from home.
Then there are the Trout themselves, which is what lead you to this river valley in the first place, and are reason enough for the short pilgrimage north.
If you have never had the pleasure to look at a male Brook Trout in the fall, you Are missing out on a different kind of 'color tour 'that takes place along with the changing of the leaves in the hardwoods. The other color tour I am referring to takes place under water, and is a sight that only a fisherman is privy to. A beautiful fish to admire all year long, now transforms into a painting, with exaggerated markings and a sunset orange belly that no doubt helped it to achieve the lofty status of our State Fish.
After the music of the Elk has subsided in late morning and you have held in your hand and admired enough Brook trout to hopefully sustain you for another year, you can slip off your waders and pull on your favorite hunting boots and head for the Aspen thickets in search of grouse and woodcock.
If you are lucky, you will look in the game pouch you have not visited for a year and find among the year old twigs and leaves a few grouse feathers from a successful past hunt that brings a smile to your face and gives you pause.
This could be the reason a bird hunter never cleans out the bottom of his or her hunting vest. Maybe If we were to clean out our pockets and game pouch and throw away the twigs and sticks that have accumulated there along with the feathers, we may be throwing away a memory from the recent past that leads us to the present ,and fills us with anticipation which truthfully is the force that drives us.
To be in a wild place in the fall such as the Pigeon River forest gives the sportsman more options than time allows for in a busy world that always pulls at you with domestic chores and general commitments with a perpetual 'to do list ' that waits for us very patiently back at home. At some point the 'to do' list creeps into your head and reminds us that this escape to the wild to fulfill our passion is a temporary fix that has some consequence, big or small, depending on how your personal world turns.
Guide and Author, Mark Karaba, with Grouse harvested in Northern Michigan. Photo Curiosity of Mark Karaba.
Regardless, we push ahead through yet another poplar stand with intense anticipation of the thunderous flush of a grouse, we wade around just one more bend in the river with a promise to ourselves that we will stop after just one more cast, because we want to hold one more Brook trout in our hand and sit on the river bank and admire the scarlet maple tree before turning away to succumb to the 'list' at home. By now the list is moving to the forefront of your thoughts, and at this point in your life you have learned to accept the balance of duty and wanderlust to chase trout and birds and elk because if things all work out as in the past......you will be back next year to this very spot, and if history does in fact repeat itself, nothing will have changed in the woods and river, and you will be a full year older and just maybe, the 'list' has gotten smaller and leaves you to be quiet and still to hear the Elk bugle with even more clarity.
I have been waiting for the inspiration to find me to allow me to put my thoughts in order ,and finally write about our recent camping trip to the Upper Peninsula.
Ten days of camping that hasn't been experienced before by someone else I suppose. You know,the Bald Eagles that were sighted nearly every day ,and the Ospreys that seemed to lead our canoe down the beautiful, wild Escanaba River as we drifted and paddled, and fished.
The anticipation and excitement (at least for the first day) of not knowing what lay ahead on this sprawling, remote river that we had not canoed before.
There were rapids and deep runs ,and areas of sheer bedrock that the river flowed over, and huge rock gardens that we bottomed out on in the canoe.
There was of course, fly fishing and birds to watch, and so many wild flowers to try to identify. We picked wild raspberries and looked in vain for the venerable blueberries that did not do too well across all of northern Michigan it seems.
We fished on a stretch of the river that had a waterfall dumping into the main river from a smaller tributary that came in from the north where the entire river as far downstream as far as you could see ,had carved its way through the bedrock and exposed the rock walls that contained it. The River itself and it's wild diversity, along with the possibility of seeing wildlife such as bear or even a moose, created a pleasant distraction that made concentrating on casting and following a drifting fly a refreshing challenge to a familiar routine.
There were smallmouth bass in all the places one who fishes for them with a fly rod expects them to be, in the log jams and the deeper and slower runs. They were aggressive and explosive, and had the 'pull' of a fish that made its living in this tannin stained, steep gradient river system.
Aside from what the river had to offer and show us, there is always some back road or "two track" cruising to be done to just look at the country and experience the lay of the land. The constant slow drive with no hurry, and no one to rush you to allow time to check out the animal tracks and learn more about the area you are now a part of.....though temporary in truth, you explore as though you just purchased a cabin in the woods near here, and you want to acquaint yourself with your surroundings and neighbors, though few they are.
There were the two sets of bear tracks we saw and took photos of, and one or two wolf tracks following the sand road in the direction we were traveling,though made the night before, and a few coyote tracks with one actual sighting of one wanting to cross the road ahead of us.
The main focus I suppose on this particular adventure was the camping itself.
It seems that Julie and I have a knack or just good luck to find a remote campground that is vacant or nearly so, that affords us the privacy and solitude that we demand in seeking out a sanctuary for 're-charging' our internal batteries ,and avoiding an engaging neighbor that seeks out company in such a way that makes me suspicious of their motive for camping in the first place so far from home!
This was our first real 'out bound' stay in the small camper trailer. Though small in stature, it has all the comforts of home on a much smaller scale.
There was a very comfortable and cozy bed. A small shower and toilet with miniature vanity and sink. A refrigerator/freezer and cook stove plus water heater that runs on propane.A water tank with a twelve volt pump that supplied our water to sink and shower. An awning for shade and rain protection.
We had a chainsaw and cut firewood every couple days for the constant campfire in the fire pit a few feet from the camper door.
We pumped water from a hand pump into a vessel and poured it into the holding tank through an improvised 'funnel' (pop bottle) every couple days.
So here we were back in the woods with nearly all the comforts of home.
Refrigerator, hot water, comfy bed, stove, fire and firewood, and most important of all....solitude and quiet. The kind of quiet that we seek out . Quiet from noise and lights and cars and everyday distractions with everyday commitments that make their own sounds that usually manifest themselves in the form of a ringing phone or the 'ding' of a new email that we MUST check and respond to.
We did spend some time in the the town nearest us for a meal or two and general shopping which, in this context is more novel than a chore and is done in a way that just becomes part of the vacation itself. I mean, we don't know anyone in Gwinn that we run into to 'chat' or catch up with. We only exchange pleasantries with total strangers that in itself is fun and novel and can be as stimulating as the other aspects of the vacation, especially if the stranger (I suppose WE are the strangers here) offers a tip or advice on a hot fishing spot or where a moose was recently spotted.
It seems that I for one, am constantly drawn to the north country and the pine and spruce forest that has lead me to nearly all parts of northern Michigan and five Canadian provinces. I am constantly missing and seeking that clean fresh pine scented air with a sky that's a shade or two of deeper blue, and maybe the sound of the rolling, sometimes crashing waves of Lake Superior.
Having been many places of the north or the mountains gives me satisfaction that I crave to sooth the wanderlust that is an affliction I suppose.
Having a place like the Upper Peninsula, that has so much to offer for the seeker of wild things and wild places makes one justifiably proud to live in the great state of Michigan.
As spring turns to summer, the heat that coats us like a wet blanket begins to creep into our days and nights. It's hard to escape it and those of us without central air better hope to have a window unit or two.
The "dog days" of summer or the "summer doldrums" are rapidly approaching. Folks typically associate this as a very difficult time to fish. I just think back to frigid 10 degree days of January sitting in my den tying flies dreaming of warm days and open water and I become reminded of the opportunity that I have now. This is not the time to make excuses like oh it's too hot or muggy.
When targeting bass it's all about the early morning hours and the end of the day, the last hour or two of light. This is top water time. Foam popping flies ranging from size 2 to 8 in a variety of colors work well. Black, white, grey, tan and green should cover most everything. I also prefer a deer hair fly with rabbit tail. This fly is deadly on shy smallmouth and largemouth. I use it primarily as a night fly for large brown trout, but quickly found out how deadly it was for bass as well. I don't bother trying to tie terrestrials to match the hatch for bass. But it's a good idea to have beetles, ants, hoppers, and dragonflies in a variety of colors and sizes for the more selective trout. There are numerous patterns out there that will catch plenty of fish. I also like patterns that imitate frogs and mice for "mousing" after dark.
I always doubted how much attention a trout paid to mice believing they were primarily feeding upon frogs until one evening while fishing the AuSable river waiting on the Hex hatch. A mouse was working over a particular stretch of bank that I was sitting on. I was in his way and he would disappear underneath the bank. I actually heard him entering the water and observed him fall into the water a couple of times. I realized how close in proximity mice actually get to the lairs of giant opportunistic brown trout. There have been many nights that I've heard fish attempt to feed on the bank. Pushing prey into the shallows or feeding on prey right at the waters edge. It's similar to behavior of bottle nose dolphins that push redfish into the shallows. Frogs, mice and fish are all fed upon in the shallows and are good choices to imitate in low light and after dark.
Large fish tend to feed in the mornings, evenings and especially after dark with the elevated water temperatures. Bass can withstand higher variations in water temperature, but large fish rarely leave shady banks, logjams or shallow spring water seeps that offer a reprieve during the warmest parts of the day. Trout start to seek coldwater reprieve once the water reaches 70 degrees and night offers a drop in water temperature steadily throughout the night and eventually rises again during the afternoon and mid-day periods. There are armies of fly anglers that pursue trout after dark religiously. I have personally caught numerous trout between 15-20" after dark and the opportunity to catch something in the 25" range is common. An explosive eruption on the surface is your cue that the fish has attempted to eat, wait until you feel the fish to set the hook, or slowly sweep your rod tip until you feel pressure ensuring that the fly has driven home into the fishes jaw. In darkness the fish feel much more comfortable exposing themselves and move about freely into feeding lanes. Often times these fish bury themselves in the wood all day long and night is the only opportunity we have to make a decent presentation.
Fishing in the dark takes some getting used to. You have to use all your senses and this is not the time to obsess over your fly landing exactly next to cover. Fish will move for your fly as long as they can see it or can follow the wake it leaves. This is not the situation to worry about drag free drift and swinging down and across and casting quartering upstream is the norm. Sound from gurglers or popping flies can help a fish to home in on your fly. SLOW down and make one cast where in the daylight you might make 5 presentations. Start out casting to areas that you know you can get a drift without snagging any wood or branches and feed more line as you gain confidence in your fly placement.
You should be prepared when fishing at night and it is not wise to wade where you are not familiar with. Fishing with a buddy is advised and they can help you net your fish and take that once in a lifetime photo. You should have bug dope, a thermacel, and any other form of repellent you can think of. A headlamp is a must and an extra flashlight.
Inevitably fishing late means you're going miss the early morning unless you plan on burning the candle from both ends. That's when afternoon fishing terrestrials to the banks and wood can pay off. Cooler water seeps near shore offer reprieve from warmer water and are often shaded from riparian vegetation. I have made the mistake of fishing to likely seams and feeding lanes in 2-3 ft. of water only to bust a fish behind me in 6"-12" of water with its nose to the bank. It's something that you don't forget very easily. If your wet wading you will feel the temperature changes and often can locate the spring seep. Remember this spot for the next time and make sure to fish it. Long outside bends with shade offer prime targets for hoppers and grassy undercut banks should be targeted as well. Remember to consider how the fish will position itself. Often times they will be positioned with their noses to the bank watching for an opportunity to feed on whatever is at the water's edge or even flying above the water surface.
After a nice wet wade you can go grab a bite to eat and take a nap before you return to the river that evening. This is not a bad way to spend a couple days of fishing on vacation or on the weekend. Don't worry you'll just be dragging at work for a couple days until you get used to it and by then you'll be thinking about doing it again. Fishing at night offers solace and a reprieve from the norm. I've come to enjoy this time of year and all that it has to offer. Consider fishing outside your comfort zone this summer and reap the rewards!
The middle and upper Kalamazoo River has been overtop its banks for approximately three weeks and finally we are starting to get a little reprieve from all the high water. Some folks downstream have experienced flooding way down toward Allegan and New Richmond which is almost to Lake Michigan.
Up here in the middle and upper Kalamazoo watershed we rarely get enough of a swell to overtop its banks. So this has been quite unusual, but serious flooding jeopardizing homes is very rare this far up in the watershed. However I did hear that a few people needed rescuing while floating down the river during this high water. Not a good time to float the river especially if your not experienced. The faster water can get you into trouble quickly. Floating the river is safe now but the water is still at least a 1-2 ft. high for this time of year which should provide the fish some added security to make it through July and August when summertime mean temperatures get near 80 degrees.
A few new trees are in the river in the places that don't need it and not enough trees in the restoration stretch between Saylor's and Ceresco which is disappointing. Hopefully they still have plans on anchoring some large trees in that stretch. And I've heard from a very reliable source that this should happen. The river itself looks amazing and the potential for water quality and the fishery in the future is immense. It's kind of ironic that an oils spill spurred so much attention to a wonderful river that needed attention and probably never would have received it on such a large scale. Not saying an oil spill is good thing but maybe now what conservation folks and outdoorsman have wanted for years will start to happen at an accelerated rate.
The trees upstream in the long run will be good, but can make it a challenge to navigate successfully downstream. Be prepared to portage or bring something with you to cut your way through upstream of Albion. The farther downstream you get the more likely you will be able to float through as the river gains cfs (volume) the wider the stream tends to be. Passage in small tributaries that dump into the Kalamazoo will have new blowdowns and movement of jams is common. So don't be surprised if your favorite spot has changed some.
I will say this the fish are fat and they look happy. I don't think I've seen a skinny fish since the post spawn and the 72 degree water is inviting. Typical of the Kalamazoo the fish are buried in the wood with an occasional teenager keyed up in the bubble line maybe sitting behind a gravel shelf.
The pondweed and the grass mats that cover the edges of the river and sometimes the entire cross section are really starting to form. Just remember that a small depression will form behind the base of the plant and the longer and thicker the plant the more cover it will provide from above. Fish will sit in the blazing sun below this mat. Don't just fish the edges or shady parts of the river this time of year. Grass holds fish wether in two feet of water on the river or in 8 ft in a lake.
When fishing a "jam" hit the head or leading edge of the jam and twitch or strip the fly tantalizing it as close as possible. Rusty Gates preached it for dry fly fishing bugs for trout this time of year and the technique works for smallmouth. Subsurface streamers for trout during the daytime and surface flies in low light is the general rule. When your in a boat floating with the current you can stall your fly out out and strip it right in front of the fishes nose teasing him into striking.
Consistent weather now has provided some consistent fishing. Mark, Bill and I fished Sunday downstream of Marshall and caught 7 fish the biggest was Marks 18 1/2 inches. Not bad and came right off the wood. I took fellow MSU alum, hunting buddy, and friend out last Thursday, Coree a Masters student who just received his degree from OSU in wildlife. He literally picked up fly fishing in 10 minutes, a super talented athletic guy, he was fishing effectively enough to catch fish. He moved two fish and lost one. But hey that's just how it is. Sometimes they just seem to be fed up and the river can be quite stubborn.
So why has Smallmouth bass on the fly become such a hot topic ? The pull...the tug ,the 'take'..that's why. If you fly fish and have not pursued these feisty fish with a streamer ,you are missing out on big fun . Chances are , if you are a trout fisherman (fisher person for the PC crowd),if you live in the great state of Michigan, or Wisconsin, you are within near casting distance of a river that holds smallies.
If you are totally set on fishing pristine ,clear and cold hard bottom rivers and streams such as classic trout waters typically are, you need a new perspective.
Some of the water we here at The Fly Factor fish,our 'home waters' if you will, are for the most part are not unlike many northern rivers. The Kalamazoo River is a perfect example . You can wade many stretches of the upper river and if you didn't know better , you would assume it was indeed a trout river and in fact, an occasional brown trout is caught as a bonus.
We employ drift boats for the most part and wear our waders to allow for the option to wade certain stretches that allow for a more deliberate approach and presentation...also this helps to create a little diversity and the client can slow down and cast from a static position as opposed to the sometimes "machine gunning " of being in a boat and casting to cover as it presents itself.
The deal here is,that many anglers are missing out on great fishing that occurs in some cases, very close to home. The fight and pull of a 15" bass in moving water will put a smile on the face of an angler that may have looked down on warm water fish as somehow beneath them . And technically speaking,while fishing from a drift boat, the smallmouth are 'beneath you' in the most literal sense.....that's the game here...to bring a new perspective AND the fish to the surface, have fun close to home with a fly rod and open up a whole new world that is bass fishing with a fly that once experienced, you yourself can become 'hooked' as the tug is going to surprise you ,and allow for a quality experience close to home.
Getting Started Fly Fishing; What better time than now?
Fly fishing isn't really that complicated...no really I'm being serious. Maybe that sounds ridiculous, but in all reality it's not. It was hard for me though and took years to become effective enough to actually become efficient at it.
I've taught quite a few people how to fly fish in less than 45 minutes. And have had them catching smallmouth on the fly in that amount of time.
Granted these folks were different than most, but in all reality I've worked with all levels and it's not that complicated. Us "experts" would like to make it seem like you need to be absolutely one with nature and have spent a lifetime to be able to catch a fish on a fly. It takes years to reach higher levels and to master certain styles or techniques but to cast line effectively and efficiently enough to deliver a fly to a fish is pretty straightforward. This is the nuts and bolts of fly fishing and also explains how a complete novice can grab a fly rod and catch a 20" plus trout their first time out. It's probably also to inspire us and torment us at the same time.
Learning is sped up tremendously by a good teacher. I fumbled about for years as a teen teaching myself and would have benefited greatly from a mentor or guide. Even in my early years at college I should have hired a guide every chance I had instead of worrying about having enough money to chip in on the next kegger.
And I would suggest doing just that and taking some lessons or spending time with a mentor to save valuable time and effort. It's a lot like a good golf game and swing...lots of muscle memory and moving parts that can easily go wrong or with proper teaching can more often than not go right. It's very hard to see what your doing wrong but someone watching you on the other hand can correct problems almost instantly.
I alluded to muscle memory and this is something that just takes time. AND if you start out incorrectly your digging yourself a major hole. Good form, good instruction, and a little willingness and effort to learn and you'll on your way to success.
Before you know it with some effort you'll be catching bass, pike, bluegills, trout and anything else you can think of. If there's a fish there is a way to catch it on the fly!
Don't spring for the expensive rod and reel start out with something in the $100 range (and that's a $100 for the rod and a $100 for the reel otherwise your wasting your time). No wait I have a reason for this - well made expensive rods are much quicker, and less forgiving which are way harder to learn on. If you have a little more to spend in your budget - nothing wrong with the 175 dollar range. Talking price ranges - $300 for a rod is mid range and $800 is expensive. I buy all my "expensive" rods slightly used or at discount. I like to let the more affluent guys break them in for me or get a deal.
Fly rod designers use a weighting system to define the size of fly line the rod should cast best. Fly reels will follow suit by stating that they are for 5-7 weight and so on. Think of 1 wt as very small and progressively increasing in number increases in size. Relatively speaking a 3 wt is for smaller fish like small trout and panfish, a 6 or 7 wt is capable of handling larger fish like bass and steelhead and finally 8-10 wt for salmon and large saltwater species. A 4 wt is a good all around rod and a 7 wt for larger fish, like bass and pike. I was told to grab a 5 wt and an 8 wt to start, but i really wish I would have been advised to get a 4 wt then a 7wt. The five is just a little to beefy for small flies and fish but too small for decent sized streamers so I advise going with the 4 wt which is perfect for trout dries and nymphs, medium to small sized wadeable streams, and allows for enjoyment while fighting fish like trout, sunfish, bass and others. If you go down to a 3 wt you will be disappointed in your ability to fight and turn decent sized fish and you'll have a hard time throwing size 6 streamers or larger, something you'll need for trout and bass streams. The 7 wt is perfect for bass streamers, steelhead, and applications for large trout - like mousing or hexing.
Affordable rods with decent quality leave you: TFO (designed by the grandfather of modern fly fishing- Lefty Kreh) and St. Croix make quality affordable rods. Orvis, Scott, Winston, and Sage are the next natural progression. These companies are starting to make more affordable rods in the $300 dollar range. Some companies with historic names in the industry make rods in the $100 dollar range but just keep in mind your not getting that $300 or better rod blank. A local company that's getting a lot a attention is Mystic Outdoors rods. They are based in Portland, MI just west of Lansing.
It's also important to explain the thought process on choosing what you buy and why. The general idea is that you want a better rod in the 4 wt and not to worry so much about the reel. This is because you'll be catching smaller fish and the rod is more important than the reel. I generally agree with this, however your going to need a reel that can pick up line quickly when you get into a nice fish. Some would argue that you still don't need that because your going to have a hard time getting a fish on the reel (picking up all the excess line from casting so the line is reeled in vs. not getting it on the reel and pulling the fish in by your reeling hand with pressure from your rod hand) which can be true, but just being able to have that capability and just for the ease of reeling in your line go with something with a larger arbor. By larger I mean the diameter of the reel as well as considering the width. The larger the diameter the more line it will pick up. Sage used to make an affordable reel that I still have (and use) the 1600 series. Then it morphed into the 1800 series and now the current 2200 series has replaced the latter. Orvis makes a nice mid arbor reel and offers a few other options depending on what you're willing to buy.
The thought process with investing in a good reel for the 7 wt is that you will be fighting bigger fish with the ability to test the drag. This holds but the only drawback to cheating on the rod is that a cheaper heavier rod can take its toll whole casting all day long.
I'm not going to overwhelm everyone with explanations of rod action and soft tips, bend etc. this is not the place or time to talk in depth about this. Mistakenly most teachers muddle that point to the beginner with to many technicalities. Thise are things that come in to play later in the individuals progression.
A moderately priced rod and reel is more than adequate to learn on and it shouldn't be an obsessing point. Get in the game and purchase your first setup and start the process of beginning a pursuit toward something you've always dreamed of.
Well, another opening day has come and gone here in the great state of Michigan.
The conditions were certainly more favorable than in certain past years with the snow gone from sight in the northern lower peninsula and moderate to low water levels. On the famed AuSable, where I have spent many opening days but, this year the water temps were the deciding factor in the slow fishing.
At the Keystone Landing, on the 'Holy Water', the water temp on the afternoon before the opener was a chilly 39 degrees. On Saturday, in spite of the sunshine , the water temps remained in the high thirties and I believe I saw a high water temp of 44 degrees. The nights were cold with frost, and the wind was out of the north east most of the weekend. I saw a substantial hatch of Olives in the afternoon on Friday with many flies on the water and not a single rise. The Trout were just not 'looking up' in the cold water in spite of the available bugs on the water. I spoke to a group of anglers in the restaurant in Grayling and they had Hendricksons on the water at Wakeley on Sunday without ever seeing a rising fish.
So it goes as they say. It was still good to feel the water rushing past waders that had been in a suspended (pun intended) state of dryness for too long and the sky was a classic, northern deep blue that helped remind me of why I do what I do, and that catching is not always fishing in of itself.
Julie and I spent The forenoon in Lovells, as has been a tradition for a few years at the Fly Fishing Museum enjoying the fishing artist display held there this year.
For those not familiar with the Museum, it is a wonderfully rustic log structure that though diminutive in stature, is jammed full of reminders of the historic role that Northern Michigan streams, notably the three branches of the AuSable River, have contributed to fly fishing and conservation of precious resources. Walking around inside the place makes me feel connected in a warm and fuzzy kind of way, and it just makes me feel good to know so many people care about something that happens to have been a very important part of my life for a very long time..........probably why my youngest son is named 'River AuSable Karaba' (poor kid).
After we left the museum, we followed our yearly tradition and headed to Fullers North Branch Outing Club. Now here is a place that if you Google 'fly fishing history in Michigan', well, it should be first on the first page. This the old Douglas Hotel that had as regular guests in its day such as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and many iconic wealthy industrialists as regular patrons. It is owned and operated by Judy Fuller and has been brought back to its historic condition, and you can even see the old guest register on the counter with names that are recognizable throughout the world. They were trout fisherman that got together as is still done today, to get 'up north'. They headed to the cold, clear and crisp northern air and waters that as I have said many times before, are always better than at home.
And so as a traditional trout opener has ended, so begins an entire new season for those of us with this particular affliction that is fly fishing. And soon the arrival of the front wave of bird migration will show up and we will be treated to a new chorus of song to harmonize with the sound of flowing water around our legs, and the cedar and sweet fern, in time, it will become that familiar elixir that makes us day dream in our waking hours of the cold and seemingly endless winter months. There will be a rise and a familiar ring on the water, and the sky will fill with mayflies and Cedar Waxwings, and we will realize that this is real and now.
Well we've all got that early season fishing itch and the way the last two winters have gone we couldn't deserve relief more. This is the time to turn thoughts to that first excursion of the new year. For trout traditionalists its the last weekend of April. Bass enthusiasts used to have to wait until Labor Day, but luckily now we have an early catch and release season that opens April 25th. Some folks have been lucky enough to sneak out and fish for steelhead ( for me the last two years have been extremely challenging), but if you're like me, you have to pick and choose your adventures and life's curve balls have lowered the amount of winter steelhead hours I've been able to log. Gas, lots of snow, and home restoration have taken precedence.
That's all about to change. Warming trends and spring melt are just around the corner. And it's time to think about where and what you want to fish for.
Northern pike will spawn under the ice and right after ice-out; walleye will be running up our river systems to spawn ; and yellow perch and crappie will be spawning on nearshore shelves and flats.
For me though thoughts turn to rivers - trout and bass in particular. March and April typically mark our first significant hatches of insects. Early winter stoneflies are active, you'll see them emerging on what's left of the snow on the banks. Nymphs are an effective strategy this time of year. Trout actively feed in very cold water (32 and above). Streamers really start to produce and a warming trend can really get things going. Be careful to check the reg's on your local trout stream to insure an enjoyable trip to the river free of a ticket from your local Conservation Officer (CO). Around here on our inland streams, generally Type IV (blue) designated trout streams are all that's open. This will offer you a chance to test out that new gear and get your "wading legs" back. Some winters are harder on fish than others, and brown trout are fall spawners so there's no need to worry about interrupting reproduction. Cooler water temperatures aid in revival, but be mindful of a hard winter on the trouts ability to recover from a long fight. Lower water temperatures slow its metabolism and lower the amount fish feed during the winter. A fish can burn up most of its fat stores and a long hard fight can bring a spring fish to the brink.
Contrary to some peoples fool hearty belief bass FEED YEAR ROUND (if you don't believe me go ice fishing and if you're not able to pull that off ask an ice fisherman if he's ever caught a bass), but they can be hard to target effectively until temperatures climb into the mid to upper 40's. Bass are cold-blooded and presentations should be tailored to water temperature. Throw current in the mix and most experienced anglers don't know how to adapt. Current speed and depth should dictate how much weight you will need. Talking flies - this is accomplished by dumbbell eyes or lead wrapped around the shank. Clouser type flies or crayfish imitations are my favorite this time of year and allow a slower presentation. Casting slightly downstream allowing the fly to sink before short strip- pause retrieves or small "pops" of the rod which allow the current to move the fly slowly downstream into a waiting predators mouth. Another effective retrieve when things get real slow is to employ a "float" (bobber), by setting the depth to barely tick the bottom in likely holding locations in the tails of pools or next to structure, which have a lower current velocity allowing a large predator to expend less energy and still ambush with little effort or resources expended.
Repeated casts to likely lies and experimenting with weight and sink time is probably more important than covering water. Fish will be in the best of spots - holes, eddies or deep pools, or the best available. I've seen times where a fish didn't strike until about the 15th drift. Sometimes the fly has to be in that sweet spot for a lethargic fish to decide to eat. Fish aren't spooky this time of year. Very little fishing pressure and slower reaction times allow mistakes to go without consequence.
Sunny afternoons are usually more productive than early morning or evening. So make sure you get a good breakfast, don't forget any gear, and catch up on a little sleep on the weekend this time of year (we're all still a little sluggish and trying to shake off the winter blues). It sounds cliche, but it's real and it's something that mother nature puts all gods creatures through. Some have evolved different methods of coping ( hibernation, exercise, eating too much, drinking too much etc.).
Smallmouths typically spawn at lower temperatures than largemouth, mid-fifties to low-sixties (13-17 degrees Celsius - if your one of our Canadian friends or if you took for granted what your middle school science teacher told you about the US adopting European standards) but largemouth will spawn at the same temperatures but typically when water reaches and exceeds the 60 degree mark. Remember that shallow lake areas with darker sediment tend to warm faster than streams. Lakes can warm significantly faster than rivers. Snowmelt and cold rains lower stream temperatures. Extreme switches in weather patterns from cold to hot can stimulate a short spawning season so be sure to pay close attention to stream conditions. Some seasons have long drawn out spawning while others are very short windows.
Largemouth and smallmouth water is typically thought of as separate in rivers. But they're habitats overlap and I've seen them use the same areas to spawn as well as areas to overwinter.
Largemouths will actively seek out warm, sediment laden, coves and bays or eddies, and oxbows that can be 3-5 degrees warmer than the rest of the waterbody. On large rivers this tends to be in the lower river or delta areas. Remember that the sun warms the north shores faster due to the fact that we are in the northern hemisphere and the sun resides in the southern portion of our sky this time of year.
Pay attention to environmental visual clues. Vegetation can be a clue to water temperatures and stream conditions. Plants like yellow and white lily pads can clue us in. Just when they begin to shoot for the surface is usually the time fish flock to these incubating areas that help to speed the development of egg clutches developing inside the female. As pads start to unfold on the surface fish begin to progress throughout stages of the spawn and will most likely move to locations more suitable to make nests and to spawn. I like paying more attention to aquatic vegetation than riparian trees, which is a better indicator of water temperature compared to those old adages like "bass bed when the dogwoods are in bloom".
Females feed heavily up until they spawn. I've seen the spawn happen in early May and also saw it happen the end of May and through June. Of course nothing is set in stone when it comes to a fish and multiple waves of spawning is also typical depending on weather patterns. Keep in mind I am speaking of weather patterns and latitudes in southwest Michigan.
When the spawn happens fast it can present a short window. Two years ago on the Kalamazoo, cold weather, with unusual short-sporadic warm ups left fish and local anglers bewildered. I was excited and readily anticipated what I knew was going to be the "the perfect time to target big fish", but I had to sit out a week and a half because the river was "blown out". I also had to wait until the weekend, elongating my return to the river, when I had enough time for a float trip. When I finally returned, the river had come down and cleared up and I returned with high anticipation - all that was left was guarding males. If you've ever caught these fish they are some of the most aggressive fish you'll ever encounter, little tough guys- about 8-12 inches. But they are left to defend their young and if you find yourself in this situation it's best to give them a break, and float downstream and come back another time. Smallmouth fry are amazingly quick growing and I've found them to be much more elusive than largemouth fry ( maybe a reason they are so successful in moving water). No worries, this is a short window and before you know it fry will disperse and the males hormones and instinctive protection of young will subside.
Soon after dispersal males and females put their feedbag back on to recover from resources lost during the spawn.
One more thing to consider when fishing on moving water is higher spring flows typically position fish shallower. Dropping water levels will leave spawning beds abandoned on rivers with extreme fluctuations, luckily southwest Michigan streams typically only experience slight fluctuations compared to southern reservoirs and tail races.
Before long May will transition to early summer. This period will mean warmer air and water temps, leading to much anticipated top water action and faster streamer retrieves. Until then enjoy the early-springtime in- between-time! Take advantage of early season catch and release opportunities and Type IV designated streams.
While everyone else is out scouting turkeys and thinking about last years deer season I'll be out testing new flies, waders, and seeing how the rivers swift current and high flows have shaped my favorite streams and creeks. It just might come in handy in June and July when fish pick more aggressive feeding lanes and expose themselves. I would rafter wade through a newly formed fish holding depression in a feeding lane in April than June.
See you on the water! And book a trip with that guide you've been wanting to fish with or on that river you've always wanted to fish.
with good success . Though ,I have found that with trout if I am able to cast directly upstream or up and across and strip the fly directly back to me ,I have a lot more hook ups. One issue here would be the amount of weight on the particular fly and the distance of the cast. It doesn't take long to strip a fly back in a fast current. Even with a long cast,It can be quite a workout .
I will add here ,that though the technique for swinging a streamer for trout and smallmouth is basically the same,I have found this anomaly. A Strike from a trout with no hook up usually means its time to move on. A smallmouth, not so much. Another way to describe the inherent difference between the take of a trout and that of a smallmouth might be explained like this.......a trout takes a swipe at the streamer and feels the sting of the hook ( or not )and says ,hum...I don't believe that was a food item!
A smallmouth on the other hand may think,..give me another shot at that thing whatever it was !
My intent here ,before I digress into the beaten to death subject of swinging a streamer ,is to discuss fishing a nymph on the swing.
Let me qualify this by saying for what it's worth,that I am a nymph fisherman when it comes to Trout. Drop me off on a unfamiliar stream and,unless there is evidence that a hatch is 'on' ,if allowed only one type of fly it would definitely be a nymph. Show me a rising trout during a sporadic hatch, and I will swing a nymph past it.
I have spent thirty years fishing with a nymph ninety percent of the time. I have been fishing with friends who will take up a position on a log,lean against a tree,light a smoke and wait. Wait for a reason to fish with a dry fly. I always comment that ," I came to fish." I will never criticize the joy of having a Trout rise to a dry fly. Who would ? And I am not foolish enough to stick with my nymph rig when there is obvious surface activity taking place and the Trout are refusing my sub-surface offering. I do carry a few drys in my pouch for this reason.
Almost all the nymphs I tie are weighted. Either a bead head or a wrap of tungsten .
I have never tied a nymph to match a traditional pattern. None of the ones we are all familiar with look anything more like the natural than what I tie.
Here is a simple tip....when on the stream,bend down,reach in the water,and pick up a stone. Maybe a baseball size one. Turn it over.Look at what is crawling around on it and study it for a moment. Then go home and tie something that looks like that.
Something "buggy". That's it. You don't need to go to YouTube and watch some dude tie a Prince nymph,a Hares ear,or a myriad of patterns that are just that,patterns. However,if you are one of those traditional people that has to have a blueprint for every venture into the unknown,you know the guy who actually SAVES the directions to a "some assembly required"type of whatever well , this may all be too risky for you.
My point here is...this is the place you can experiment. Step out of the norm and have some fun. Explore . I have no reason to suggest that traditional nymph patterns don't work. That would be foolish. They do work of course.
I just feel that this is the area that you can create something on your own and enjoy the additional pleasure that comes with tying a fly of YOUR design and catching a trout with it !
Now, about the presentation . I like to cast down and across. I will sometimes even mend the line to the downstream side of the fly to create more of a 'belly' in the line. This also helps to present the fly sideways to the trout. It appears as though the fly or natural, is swimming right in front of the fishes nose.This is always what I try to imagine when I place the fly where I want it.That it is going to swim directly in front of a trout and all it has to do is open it's mouth or lunge forward to eat it. Not having to chase it,but so close and tempting that it causes a reaction bite. I must back up here and explain that , this whole technique works well in a moderate to slower flow or gradient. Some water is simply to fast to swing a small fly .
Sometimes in fast water you will move the fish and feel a bump but not get a hook up. You must decide through trial and error or plain experience if you need to slow the fly down.
If you feel that the fly is moving too fast ,do an upstream mend and 'stall ' the fly just before it enters the fish zone.
Another technique I employ is ,to let my fly line straighten out downstream, then lift my rod tip to bring the fly back toward me,then roll cast a downstream loop in the line without picking the fly out of the water. This will when the line catches up to the leader swing the fly at a slightly slower rate of speed.
Roll casts. I rarely back cast when fishing down and across. I have fished for hours and covered a half mile of water and only used a roll cast the entire time.
It's easy, takes less effort, saves flies and , I am able to place the fly with much more accuracy . A weighted fly is not that much fun to false cast.
Learning to cast a fly in general with a dry fly, can be done on the lawn. That's all about timing and loop.
Learning to roll cast , just add water. You need the resistance and drag on the fly line from the water to turn the line over to its full extension.
Though to some and maybe most fly anglers, maneuver of the roll cast is elemental and part of their repertoire . I personally rarely see another angler using the roll cast up or down. Though in fairness ,my survey of how many anglers use a roll cast has a small demographic . Mostly because I try real hard to fish where I do not see other anglers.
My leader set up is typically shorter and heavier . This type of presentation puts the fly in front of the fish before the leader ,so you can shorten up .
Also,you will occasionally get a violent strike that comes against an already taut leader that the current is pulling on with virtually no slack. I have had some fish with some weight break off on the take.
One thing I have forced myself to do to reduce the numbers of break offs on the take is....hold the line loosely in my left (line) hand and still maintain control. It is the most efficient way to create slack to allow for shock when a fish hits that moving fly.
If you have a fairly new and expensive rod chances are it has a fast tip.
If you are trying to learn to roll cast and seem to be working to hard at it, Try a slower action or medium action rod. More parabolic if you will.
I suppose some may disagree with me about slower rods for roll casting, but to me it is a no brainier .
I own several fast action rods. I love them.The faster the better for casting big flies or streamers,or even dry flies for that matter. But when I am on a skinny piece of water and know I will be roll casting, I grab a slower rod.
Most nymph fisherman nowadays use a strike indicator. A bobber.
This is a very effective way to fish with a nymph downstream. It allows me in faster water to mend and slow the fly down and let it drop lower into the fish zone. This is the same effect as casting directly upstream and retrieving the line enough to be able to lift the rod tip when a strike or take occurs .
The other tried and true method of presenting a nymph is "high sticking".
This is a up and across cast on a shorter line and holding the rod tip fully extended to keep as much fly line off the water as possible thus creating less drag and allowing the fly to ride closer to the bottom where the fish are.
This can either be done with a strike indicator,or the traditional way of watching the end of the fly line to stop or twitch forward indicating a take or bottom. Either way,this is when you instinctively lift to set the hook.
I recently fished a stream in Tennessee that was of a fairly steep gradient and full of rock of all sizes. This was a perfect size and flow for my favorite method of swing ing a bead head nymph. I had never fished this particular stream before . The water was slightly below' bank full ' and appeared very wadeable .
The first hour moved no fish and I changed flies several times, adding a small split shot a foot above the fly. I finally caught a 10" rainbow quite by accident as my line trailed below me as I was distracted. This gave me hope. On a deeper run on the far bank, I reeled up and added another small shot above the other one and cast again.
A solid thump took me by surprise and I had a large fish on for three seconds before he came off. I re -cast to the same run ,and on the third cast I felt the same take and was into another very good fish. As I don't use a net much anymore ,I played the fish to the shallow bank where I eventually beached it.
It was a beautiful ,solid 18" rainbow with a very wide and bright crimson stripe from its large gill plate all the way down its side. I was able to snap a quick photo with my phone before reviving him and watched him stabilize, remain upright ,and slowly swim away.
I had covered some good water before this run that held these two good fish but my fly was moving too fast and riding too high. The added weight put the fly in the zone and slowed it down enough to become attractive to the fish without having to expend too much energy and not have to chase it. This was very early spring and the water was below normal temps. I have seen trout chase a large streamer in these conditions ,as a larger potential meal apparently is worth the effort.
Experience will tell you about the swing speed and fly depth. It is a method that goes against what most fly fisherman have ingrained in their heads about drag and mending. It is hard to convince some to mend DOWMSTREAM and create a belly in the line that causes the fly to be presented across in front of a trouts nose .
PS.......the The Fly Factor will be airing some video on this method in the very near future ...so keep checking us out. We are under construction but adding new media weekly .


Wixom, Michigan: NLB Corporation, has announced the opening of a new rental and service office in Sulphur, Louisiana. The branch facility, located at 3473 South Beglis Parkway in Sulphur, offers water jetting customers a second Louisiana location to meet the needs of NLB's growing customer base in the Southwest Louisiana area. The branch will offer experienced sales and service to high pressure water jetting users in addition to the rental of water jet pumps and accessories and a well-stocked inventory of genuine NLB replacement parts.
"The opening of NLB's Sulphur store offers our customers a closer location to meet their rental and service needs. There is a large number of customers who operate in this key industrial belt between our LaPorte, Texas and Gonzales Louisiana facilities who will benefit from a closer location with a full range of rental equipment and services," said Bryce Mulligan, Vice President of Branch Operations, NLB Corporation.
The addition of the new Sulphur location expands NLB's network of convenient regional branch locations to eight. The others are in Michigan, Texas, Louisiana, California, Indiana, New Jersey and Washington.
NLB Corporation, www.nlbcorp.com, a global leader in high-pressure and ultra-high pressure water jet systems, manufactures a full line of quality pump units and accessories for contractor and industrial uses. Applications include product removal, pipe and tube cleaning, surface preparation, tank and tube bundle cleaning, pavement stripe removal, runway rubber removal, concrete hydro demolition, concrete and pipe cutting, and more.
For more information, go to www.nlbcorp.com or call the Sulphur branch at (800) 441-5059.


DESCRIPTION: ULTRA-SEL II is a preparation of Vitamin E and sodium selenite in an oral powder form. Ultra-Sel II is intended for the addition to the animals' feed.
This feed supplement represents a balanced combination of the anti-oxidants Vitamin E and Selenium. These two ingredients work synergistically (this means that they work together better than they do apart "1+1=3") both inside and outside the cell to neutralize harmful free radicals that effect performance and general well being.
Ultra-Sel II is beneficial in areas where a selenium deficiency exists. Ultra-Sel II is also valuable in cases where the horse suffers from muscle pain, stiffness, 'tying up', and nervous disorders. Ultra-Sel II can also be used to aid in increasing immunity to infectious diseases.
DOSAGE: Horses: 1 scoop (28.4g) added to the daily grain ration. Repeat as indicated or as recommended by a veterinarian or nutritionist.


Whether its swimming in the crystal-clear waters of Mauritius, viewing Turtles on the Cousin Island of Seychelles or walking through the Old Fort of Zanzibar; a vacation in the Indian Ocean Islands offers experiences not available anywhere else in the world. Bask in the warm sunlight of these picturesque locations and experience the island lifestyle.
Webtours has a total of 267 holiday packages in Indian Ocean Islands. Please use the filters or browse through the packages to find the right holiday!


GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHZ Support non-server based location.
Covert criminal tracking. Location memorization.
Provide peace-of-mind for businessman. Geo-Fence: alert in case of breaching the predefined district.
GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHZ Support non-server based location. Anti-theft of the car, boat, van, truck, motorcycle, and other valuable assets. Movement alert: alert in case of movement Good Protector for the children, elder person, disabled, pets etc. Over speed alert: alert in case of excess of the pre-defined speed Covert criminal tracking. Location memorization. Provide peace-of-mind for businessman. Geo-Fence: alert in case of breaching the predefined district.


text:
CUT ABOVE
CUT ABOVE Trademark Information
die-cut paper for making and embellishing greeting cards, occasion cards, and gift bags; envelopes
diecut paper making embellishing greeting cards occasion cards gift bags envelopes
This is a brand page for the CUT ABOVE trademark by Cabin Creek, LLC in *********, **********, ***** ****.
Write a review about a product or service associated with this CUT ABOVE trademark. Or, contact the owner Cabin Creek, LLC of the CUT ABOVE trademark by filing a request to communicate with the Legal Correspondent for licensing, use, and/or questions related to the CUT ABOVE trademark.
On Thursday, August 21, 2014, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for CUT ABOVE. The USPTO has given the CUT ABOVE trademark serial number of 86373701. The current federal status of this trademark filing is CONTINUED USE NOT FILED WITHIN GRACE PERIOD, UN-REVIVABLE. The correspondent listed for CUT ABOVE is THOMAS P. ISOM of ********,********, ***** **** . The CUT ABOVE trademark is filed in the category of Paper Goods and Printed Material . The description provided to the USPTO for CUT ABOVE is die-cut paper for making and embellishing greeting cards, occasion cards, and gift bags; envelopes.
Word mark: CUT ABOVE
Goods and Services: die-cut paper for making and embellishing greeting cards, occasion cards, and gift bags; envelopes
Trademarkia-Network law firms can help you incorporate a business around your CUT ABOVE trademark in less than 5 minutes. Trademarkia makes the process easy and convenient, so start now!
THOMAS P. ISOM is a correspondent of CUT ABOVE trademark.
Please Rate and Review for CUT ABOVE
CUT ABOVE is providing die-cut paper for making and embellishing greeting cards, occasion cards, and gift bags; envelopes.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Home 2013 funny Pics: Lee Westwood On A Nudist Beach And The Famous Poulter Tweets. Happy 42nd Birthday Lee!
Pics: Lee Westwood On A Nudist Beach And The Famous Poulter Tweets. Happy 42nd Birthday Lee!
Ah yes, I remember this one. Nudist beach Lee!
Pacquiao Mayweather hadn't a thing on Westwood Woods.
The best collection of funny Lee Westwood Tweets ever thanks to Ian Poulter!
Of course Lee did get Poults back!


All those man made fibres will mean pollution.
Nabbed for shoplifting and told to report to the nick? Why not respond with a nice dickpic?
Tell the truth, was it you?
I have been guilty of stupid actions under the influence but I cannot claim this one. Just a very amused bystander in a regiment that was no stranger to bellendery.
Castle Lager! Not just for breakfast!
EM to mongs (plural) - Go on lads, it will be a laugh this.
Mongs _ What oh noble imperator?
EM - Well you ever heard of train surfing? It's fun and makes sure the ladies are impressed.
Is that four lots in the last 24 hours?
In my less law abiding days, if I were challenged as I parked up in a P&C space, I'd just say "Yes, I'm going inside to collect them". Or if challenged as I came out of the store, I'd just say "Yes, I've dropped them off and I'll be back later"
I do that now, on account of there's always a child seat fitted on the back seat for the older grandson.
Massive industrial accident in China you say? Now don't get me Wong, but it's not rike His Excremence has to put much effort in for something rike dat to happen ova dere, now is it?
Any news on the tortoise?
'Truant Tortoise Spotted - PCSOs are stalking it'.
Let's circumcise our own baby, what could possibly go wrong.
It's the baby I feel for. Parents should be neutered, prevent reoccurence.
Was it a little green man?


text:
The Great British Bake Off: things to know
After an unprecedented production and an uncharacteristic (if justified) delay, The Great British Bake Off is bake – ahem, sorry – is back!
Death… Taxes… Opening crisp packets upside down, prompting people to point and go, "You've opened that upside down…" The Great British Bake Off arriving on telly screens in August … Some things in life are certain.
Until 2020 that is, with the baking contest's eleventh series finally arriving this week after a lengthy delay due to COVID-19. Bubbles, biospheres, and more tests than exam week have all ensured Bake Off fans across the land weren't left until 2021 craving another series.
But how did the big brains at Channel 4 and Love Productions do it? Will there be any Hollywood handshakes this year? Have they done an I'm A Celeb and inexplicably replaced the trademark tent with a plush Welsh castle…?
In the words of the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, "Don't panic." Brew yourself some Assam tea and read on below to find out everything you need to know about the upcoming series…
Expect some new (and familiar) faces
Shocking as Lionel Messi's recent transfer request was, Sandi Toksvig's announcement she was stepping down from Bake Off presenting duties back in January was huge. So, for the first time since 2017, there'll be a new face on the Bake Off presenting team in the form of former Little Britain star Matt Lucas!
We feel sorry for the contestants who will inevitably have to put up with a fair bit of highly distracting, no doubt quite surreal Fielding and Lucas-induced weirdness taking place around them while they try to bake. Thankfully, judges Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood will return to provide some semblance of seriousness to it all.
Bake Off took a turn for the sci-fi during filming
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, plenty of mind-boggling (but entirely necessary) precautions had to be put in place to ensure the crew and contestants were safe during filming.
Quarantining for 14 days prior to arriving at the tent was mandatory, with the 120-strong crew required to keep the show going throughout the six-week shoot living in their own self-contained biosphere. Regular testing also ensured no-one in or around the tent ever tested positive.
But, fool-proof as the plans proved to be, they did come at a cost…
No Hollywood handshake!
Rumours abound across social media that, due to new social distancing rules, Paul Hollywood's now-legendary handshake will become more of an awkward "Hollywood Wrist Bump".
To be honest, we think a handshake-less series is a good thing. Economists have long warned the handshake has inflated in value since its debut in series 3, rendering it almost meaningless. Plus, nothing can beat Keith from Pottery Throwdown literally crying when someone does a good job.
New runtime
What's better than Bake Off? Even more Bake Off, obviously. Fans will be pumped to hear that, for the first three episodes of this series, the usual 75-minute runtime will be beefed up to 90. Why? Who cares IF IT MEANS MORE BAKE OFF!
Though we've no idea (yet) as to this year's contestants' baking ability, we can tell you their names, ages, and what they get up to when they're not baking. So, without further ado, here's this year's batch of contestants to get pinning your sweepstake hopes on…
Dave (a 30-year old security guard from Hampshire), Sura (a 31-year old pharmacy dispenser), Rowan (a 55-year old music teacher), "Young" Peter (a 20-year old badminton player), Mark (aka, "Mark with a K", a 32-year old public health project worker), and Marc (aka, "Marc with a C", a 51-year old sculptor).
Joining them will be Makbul (a 51-year old accountant), Lottie (a 31-year old pantomime producer), Loriea (a 27-year old radiographer), Laura (a 31-year old digital manager… whatever that is), Linda (a 61-year old retiree), and Hermine (a 39-year old accountant who has never been to Hogwarts or befriended Harry Potter).
Oh, is the tent back?!
Yes, it is indeed... only it's now in Essex.
When can I watch it on TV?
The Great British Bake Off will air on Tuesday 22 September on Channel 4 HD (CH 104). It is also available for 30 days in Catch Up > Channels > All4.


text:
package com.plealog.prefs4j.implem.ui.tools;

import javax.swing.JComponent;

abstract class AbstractRowItem extends BasicItem implements IRowItem
{
	protected AbstractRowItem(JComponent component)
	{
		super(component);
	}

	@Override public void hide()
	{
		if (isFirstSpanRow())
		{
			_isVisible =  component().isVisible();
			component().setVisible(false);
		}
	}

	@Override public void show()
	{
		if (isFirstSpanRow())
		{
			component().setVisible(_isVisible);
		}
	}

	private boolean _isVisible = true;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


SHH are please to announce that they have been shortlisted for the SBID International Design awards 2018 in the CGI & visualisation category.
For more information on the Mayfair Hotel, click here.
To vote for SHH, please click here.
SHH was included in this year's Brit List, which recognises and celebrates the top influencers in hotel architecture working in Britain today.
SHH have been featured as the lead on Hospitality Interiors in the 2019 Interior Design Yearbook. Find out more.
Lifestyle journalist Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle has written a three part series on St. John's Wood Villa.
Claire Bingham, author of Living in Style – The New Art Deco, explores deco-inspired interior design in this beautiful coffee table book.
We were excited to be asked by Photo London to design the VIP Leica Collector's Lounge at Somerset House in collaboration with Italian furniture brand, Calligaris. In its fourth year, Photo London 2018 will showcase the very best of the past, present and future of photography to a growing international audience.
SHH Architectural Designer, Kristina Reingoldt has just launched her new project OnTheInside.Club (OTIC).
Designcurial Report on a mixture of architecture, design, interiors and art. They wrote an article about The Trafalgar St James by SHH.
The magazine Living Etc. feature a fascinating story with advice from Susie McLaren.
SHH benefits from a team made up of many different nationalities. 'Spread The Word' is our new editorial series that explores lesser known designers from those nations.
SHH are delighted to be featured in The Spear's 500 2018, as a top recommended Architecture practice.
A round up of The Trafalgar St. James Coverage.
SHH curated an installation for the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards 2017. Find out more.
New culture magazine, Trebuchet, has featured an interview with David Spence, in its debut issue.
Today's house tour takes us to a unique 'House of Books' in Hampstead. The former home of Labour grandee Michael Foot, it's been transformed into a modern design and bibliophile's paradise by SHH Architects. Behind a traditional facade, the interior is a marvel of clean lines, stunning attention to detail and imaginative use of space.
Our Architectural team recently travelled to the picturesque town of Bruges, Belgium to visit the Delta Light headquarters. They visited the show room, head office and factory which are all housed in the same building. We spoke to Architectural designer Kristina Reingoldt to find out more.
Our Residential Interior Design team visited Italy for Salone del Mobile Milano. See their favourite Milan haunts here.
Written by SHH Company Chairman, David Spence, in June 1990; this article titled 'Three Lonon Boys go Mad in Hastings' describes the competition that started the company.
This idea translated into embracing and reflecting the surrounding area, that being Coventry, the West Midland borough of England that boasts a strong local industry and manufacturing background.
A stunning aerial view of a 250,000 sqft site on a scenic plot in Hampshire that is currently being developed by SHH to create a fantastic custom-built exclusive gallery space and executive office to house a unique storage collection of historic race cars.
Leading wealth management and luxury magazine talks about SHH's expertise in designing stunning properties.
Standing proud inside the Highgate Conservation Area for the past 130 years is the once impressive Athlone House.
We are proud to announce that our Interior Design Project Chester Terrace has won an award in the Interior Design Show Home, London category at this year's UK Property Awards.
In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday, Art Below displayed a 'queen themed' exhibition, featuring contemporary portraits by both emerging and major artists. The artworks varied from internationally renowned Banksy emulator, Mr. Brainwash, to SHH's very own Interior Designer- Ernesto Romano. The show was presented at the Tabernacle Gallery in Notting Hill, a dominant Arts and Culture hub in West London, as well as occupying billboard space across major London Underground stations.
When it comes to fashion, interiors, accessories or travel they have been providing current culture trends for over 30 years. That why we are over joyed they have featured our work on St. John's Villa.
The figures aren't completed yet but the hope was to raise 3 million from the London ride alone. Bearing in mind other rides were happening all over the world on the same day, that should create a great fighting fund to stop us chaps falling fowl of the dreaded prostrate and depression that often strikes men of a certain age.
Technology is a great communication device, and it's much more flexible to manipulate than built things.
As one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar, working with the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), SHH Architecture & Interior Design was briefed to design the interiors for The Champions' Room to focus on creating an enjoyable and unique customer journey.
Our very own Associate Director of Interiors, Brendan Heath was invited by Creativepool to sit on the judging panel for the Interiors category presenting the best creative work from around the globe across 21 disciplines.
SHH has completed the transformation of a Grade-II listed conservation area property, originally designed at the turn of the last century as one of a series of paired villas, but which had been converted into two apartments in the 1930s when the entrance had been moved.
SHH has completed the redesign of two restaurants – and created a third brand new dining space – for the National Railway Museum in York.
SHH has completed the re-modelling of the 'House of Books' in Hampstead, the former home of Labour leader Michael Foot, known for covering almost every inch of the property in books.
Seamless specialise in the design and production of surface finished for luxury interiors.
Our commercial team is starting to branch out from its traditional hospitality work on individual bars, cafes and restaurants with work for some of the UK's most prestigious sporting and entertainment arenas and stadia.
We have been featured in Bridge for Design Magazine!


Palm Beach County's jobless rate remained at 6.6 percent, well below the August 2013 rate of 7.8 percent while Broward County's rate stayed at 5.7 percent, also an improvement over the 6.2 percent rate of a year ago.
Unemployment rates were unchanged in August from a month earlier in Palm Beach and Broward counties, but experts say that's because more jobseekers are re-entering the workforce – a sign the jobs market is continuing to improve.
Palm Beach County's jobless rate held steady in August, unchanged from July but still well below rates from the previous year, the state reported Friday.
The county's unemployment rate remained at 6.6 percent, more than a percentage point below the August 2013 rate of 7.8 percent.
In Broward County, the jobless rate remained at 5.7 percent for the second straight month..
The August 2014 rate was half a percentage point lower than a year ago, and lowest of all large Florida counties.
With data showing healthy jobs growth over the past year, economists saw the news as evidence that the economic recovery was continuing at a steady clip.
The report "is consistent with a strong Florida labor market continuing to recover at a faster pace than the national labor market," said Sean Snaith, a University of Central Florida economist.
In Palm Beach County, 14,600 non-farm jobs were created in the county over the past year. That includes 2,200 new construction jobs and 2,700 in the leisure and hospitality industry – bellwether sectors that signal a strengthening economy. Also seeing strong growth were professional and business services and education and health services.
In Broward County, 16,300 non-farm jobs were created in the county over the past year. That includes 4,500 retail workers, 2,700 in the leisure and hospitality industry, and 2,600 new construction jobs.
Florida's unemployment rate inched up to 6.3 percent, just 0.1 percentage point over July's rate, but nearly a full point below the 7.1 percent rate in August 2013.
August marked the ninth consecutive month that Florida's jobless rate has fluctuated between 6.2 percent and 6.3 percent since December. The rate fell below 7 percent in September 2013 for the first time since August 2008.
The static nature of the statewide rate can be deceiving, Snaith said, because the labor force, which includes people actively looking for work, has been growing. When longterm unemployed people who were no longer being factored into the unemployment rate see more companies hiring, they resume their job searches and again become part of the pool of workers counted as unemployed. That can keep the unemployment rate from declining month by month even though thousands of new jobs are being created.
Statewide, August marked the 49th consecutive month of positive year-over-year job growth, with 211,200 non-agricultural jobs created since the previous August. The state reported 43,500 of those new jobs were in the construction industry.
Jobs in Florida grew by 2.8 percent over the past year, outpacing the 1.8 percent increase in the overall nation.
Jobs also grew by 2.8 percent in the South Florida metro region, which includes Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Florida's job market looks set for steady growth through at least 2015, said J. Antonio Villamil, an economist at The Washington Economics Group, a private consulting firm based in Coral Gables.
"Once we get beyond the summer season and into December and the winter, the unemployment rates should be coming down below 6 [percent] for Florida," he said.


text:
Friends spear an alligator in honor of late U.S. airman, hunter Carl Enis
Nada Hassanein
Staff Sgt. Carl Enis, a U.S. Air Force pararescueman, was an avid hunter, fisherman and diver. From yellowfin tuna-spearing expeditions to Colorado elk hunting harnessing a bow and arrow, Enis would try it all.
High up on his bucket list was taking an alligator underwater with a spear gun. He never had the chance.
Last March, Enis was one of seven airmen killed in a helicopter crash in Western Iraq. He was 31.
On Saturday, his friends bagged a gator in his honor.
Chasen Poole went alligator spearing in the clear waters of the Wacissa River with other longtime friends of Enis and Enis' brother-in-law after finally obtaining a Florida Fish and Wildlife permit.
More:Tallahassee Air Force Staff Sgt. Carl Enis killed in Iraq helicopter crash
More:Widow of Carl Enis: Sacrifice of military members' loved ones 'doesn't end'
They played baby alligator calls from a speaker on their boat. One gator watched nearby. It waded in front of a grassy patch before Poole went at it. The 8-feet-7-inch reptile weighed a couple hundred pounds.
"We didn't realize how big it actually was," he said.
Enis would have had a grin on his face the entire time.
"He was always doing stuff like this. He'd be smiling the whole time," Poole said. "If he saw this, he would have been so happy."
Poole said he will mount the skull, which will join other memorial items on display in his friend's remembrance.
Last November, just before being deployed, Poole and Enis went free diving in Costa Rica with friends, diving for mahi-mahi and wahoo. Their last trip together was memorable.
The close-knit group of friends would often spend weekends at Alligator Point and go spearfishing together.
As soon as they got the word about the alligator permit, Poole said Enis "would have been pumped up and ready to do it."
"That's why it was such a big deal," he said.
Enis, who was also a local commercial real estate agent, kept a blog called Lelantus Experience, named after the Greek Titan god of hunting. The blog was laced with photos of him in the wild and underwater.
"Memories like these make me even more grateful to be able to do what I do," he wrote in a fall 2016 post about a high-altitude military parachuting training course, "even if I am lying on the ground with cactus spines stapling my glove and sleeve to my body."
Reach Nada Hassanein at nhassanein@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @nhassanein_.


text:
Q: Python Compared to BASH I've been studying bash for the past three weeks or so, and it is very easy to learn since it is basically just command line inputs. I've decided to now move onto python but I've been lost the whole time trying to learn it.  My question is in python, it all seems to revolve around numbers, lists, variables, etc. While bash seems to be much more straight forward with the commands. I can not find one example in python where there is a way to move files, change directories or other things like that. I feel like I'm already too used to bash to learn python. Can someone please explain any of this to me.

A: Bash is not a programming language, but a shell targetted for quickly entering commands and executing those. Therefore, you run other commands doing your job (e.g. mv moves files and directories). Variables in Bash are limited and since commands are all strings, there is no reason to be very strict on it. (it is possible though to force types, see help declare).
Python on the other hand is a more extensive programming language with more language features. Instead of executing other programs, you use built-in functions or other functionality from modules (libraries in other languages). For a basic tutorial on input/output in Python, see http://docs.python.org/tutorial/inputoutput.html. The whole tutorial itself is worth reading if you want to start programming in Python.

A: Python is a program language; and like all other programming languages, it's designed to describe process and data.  Most of your questions deal with the API to the operating system in the os module, for example, os.chdir() and os.rename() (for the UNIX mv command).
The shell is an operating environment, meant to give you easy access to the operating system at various levels (files, processes, etc.).  It includes programming constructs like variables, loops, and conditionals, so in this sense it is a programming language, but it was not designed to be one - that evolved.  You can do quite amazing things with a shell script - I once wrote a call tracking system that handled 60k requests a month.  But it also has limitations that a computer language can handle better.
For example, you could write a web browser in Bash, but it would be inefficient, especially when trying to concurrently download the html, css and javascript pages and handle user input.  A programming language like Python, which has access to threads, would handle this more efficiently.
While Python has a "shell" as well, it's not one that's easy to use for accessing the operating system.  But it is usable.  For example, the shell command mv * otherdirectory would be written in Python as:
import os, glob
for fname in glob.glob('*'):
    os.rename(fname, 'otherdirectory')

Or more compactly:
import os, glob
[os.rename(fname, 'otherdirectory') for fname in glob.glob('*')]

Most tutorials for languages want you to understand the language first, and later how it interfaces with the operating system.  For a shell, you need to understand how it interfaces with the operating system first.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


DFRI offers guidance and advice to employees, supervisors and leaders on work-related issues and concerns by providing an environment where employees feel safe participating in a process supportive of their right to report and resolve workplace concerns. We ensure consistent interpretation and application of our clients' workplace policies, practices and procedures.
A specialist will work directly with a client's department or worksite to gather valuable input on the perceptions of the current work environment. Our Employee Relations Services is designed to assist individuals and departments on how to work through problems and differences to make the work environment more positive, enjoyable and less stressful.
We focus on promoting good management practices and workplace behaviors, positive working environment and relationships, on complying with Human Resources Policies and Procedures, and conducting timely and effective workplace investigations. In addition, we regularly train managers and supervisors on how to manage difficult conversations and conduct thorough, comprehensive and valid workplace investigations that mitigate the threat of risk and deliver optimal results.
♦ Assist employees in understanding policies and in effectively following internal procedures.
Employees and supervisors learn how to talk about violated expectations in a way that yields two-way accountability and allows desired progress to be made.
Reinforcement of the skills acquired in our in-house training leads to faster problem solving, decision making, and conflict resolution.
When issues are resolved and business focus is restored, productivity increases, relationships are strengthened, and high-performance cultures are formed.
Timely resolution of employee disputes has a drastic effect on employee morale and loyalty to your organization. Having such an environment improves employee retention, in doing so the cost of recruitment, hiring and training is cut drastically. For most businesses the high cost of employee turnover outweighs the cost of the employee relations programs. When employee turnover is low it ensures that your company has a trained and skilled set of employees. One of the key reasons why DFRI's service is so popular, is that it keeps your functional and support departments running smoothly.
By providing guidelines for conflict resolution in the workplace or directly managing staff issues effectively, DFRI employee relations services can significantly enhance staff relationships in an organization and allow businesses to solve employee problems in a productive manner. Our pricing is flexible depending on clients' needs. In addition to the on-demand advisory packages below, we offer hourly and retained packages that are delivered on-site. Training-only packages are also available.
Clients who have completely outsourced their Human Resource and training departments find DFRI services to be of great value to their managers and supervisors. They call us with questions regarding everyday employee challenges, DFRI provides the answers with the help of our employee relations programs.
Clients who have part-time Human Resource help, use our service to supplement their current process.
DFRI human resource services and strategic employee relations programs serve to support your managers when your HR admin is not available. DFRI answer questions from your admin when he/she needs extra support. When your management team needs a proven intervention to resolve a specific workplace challenge, we are here to help.
Have a full staff, but more employee conflict than they can handle?
No longer do managers or HR staff have to suffer the effects of poor management because of employee conflicts. Avoid wasting time in meaningless conflicts and disputes, rather, concentrate on strategic tasks. DFRI's sole purpose is to solve employee problems, so you don't have to.
Take advantage of this Dynamic service Today!
DFRI is on a mission to redefine workplace conflict management. We focus on the complex task of resolving employee conflicts, and give your team the freedom to focus on core business tasks. Most companies will leave conflict resolution to untrained Human Resource Generalists or busy department managers. Let's face it, the dynamic of today's diverse organizations make them more vulnerable to disagreements, harassment claims, and never-ending problems. The average manager lacks the resources to resolve conflicts in a timely manner before they escalade. Human Resources staff take weeks to work on an issue and your organization is liable for what happens in between. Our fresh approach to workplace conflict resolution means you get unbeatable performance and unrivaled flexibility − all for an industry-low membership fee.
How does DFRI deliver value?
Never struggle with a difficult employee again. DFRI advisors are standing by to answer your most challenging questions. We address every issue from statement and fact finding to resolution. We even attend unemployment phone hearings on your behalf, at no extra cost to you.
Say goodbye to answering employee issues night and day. Our in-house team of Employee Relations Advisors respond quickly to every inquiry, answers questions on your behalf and resolve issues 6 days a week.
Get world-class support – from real people. We handle all pre- and post-conflict resolution communication with your staff and management team, our team is always just a phone call away.
Discover true peace of mind. Every recommendation is protected by our industry-leading Advisory Protection Plus program with up to $2,000,000 in liability coverage.
Enjoy a more effective solution to workplace problems – entirely risk-free. There's no hidden fees – just our incredibly low membership fee. Try us free for 30 days!
How IS DFRI different from traditional mediation companies?
We resolve workplace problems that arise every day, before they escalate to legal matters. Our team of advisors are well-versed in Mediation, and Employee Relations techniques which we use to mediate differences and resolve conflicts. We resolve formal and informal complaints within your organization, preventing them from escalating to becoming formal complaints with a federal agency such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Doing so saves an enormous amount of time, while increasing morale and productivity in your workplace.
Can I sign-up my managers for the individual membership?
Absolutely, however, only one designated manager will be able to call in or send inquiries. Companies can rotate their designated managers up to 4 times during the term of their annual membership. With DFRI for business, Team Leads, Supervisors, Human Resource Generalists, or any designated member of your leadership team can enjoy the benefits of the service.
You can get started by speaking with one of our Account Directors, which helps us determine if Evolve can be a good fit for you. You'll then sign up by agreeing to our terms and conditions, providing some basic details about your organization. Once your company have signed up, you'll schedule a call with our onboarding manager, who will take you through a detailed onboarding call. This is where we get in-depth on everything there is to know about your organization, or department so we can field inquiries and resolve daily employee problems on your behalf. Once onboarding is completed, you can start enjoying the benefits of the membership right away. The entire process can take a couple days, or a week, it all depends on soon you schedule the onboarding call. Ready to manage your workplace with less hassle? Call us at 877-803-3486 to get started today.
Unlike products that can be returned, our service is based on a professional advisory membership that can only become more valuable to your organization over time. Companies have many opportunities to identify if they are a fit for the service, by signing up for the FREE 30 days TRIAL, talking to an account director, and through on boarding. Advisory fees therefore, are non-refundable. Our short and flexible contract terms make it easy for companies to enjoy the service.
"A very streamlined process. DFRI offered more than what we bargained for. My line managers swear by the service. I would recommend DFRI time and time again.


Eric Ledesma is an experienced graphic designer, Filipino folk dance performer, and roller coaster enthusiast living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I double-majored in Studio Art and Psychology at Santa Clara University. After returning to my hometown of Sacramento to do a few years of freelance graphic design, I moved back to the Bay Area to work at Minted. My 5 year tenure there allowed me to hone my design and customer service skills and knowledge in a hands-on and fast-paced environment. My past leadership experience set me on a path toward supervising, allowing me to combine my design expertise and my background in Psychology to successfully manage a team of designers.
I balanced my day job with my personal passion for traditional Filipino folk dance. Currently, I am on the Artistic Leadership Team for Kawayan Folk Arts—a non-profit performing arts company—for which I choreograph, teach, and conceptualize dance pieces for our stage performances.
My creative approach—no matter the medium—is to give equal attention to both the big picture and its finer details. I value layers and depth, so I aim to invite my work's viewers to take a second or third look to unravel its subtle mysteries.
Send me an email at evledesma@gmail.com.


To Sign Up For The Fall gROWth program, please click this link.
This fall the 7th and 8th grade non-competitive gROWth program will be offered this Fall.
The goal of the program is to introduce middle school student athletes to the sport for the first time. Students will learn safety aspects, basic technique, boat handling skills and also spend some time developing strength, flexibility and conditioning. The program runs two days a week, Wednesday and Saturday, with a 2-hour lesson each day.
The cost of the program will be $325 and will run from Wednesday September 5th to Wednesday November 7th.
Wednesday's practice (4:30pm – 6:30pm) will be held at the Tulsa boathouse and will involve an on the water session, if river conditions permit. Saturday's practice (7:30am to 9:30am) will be held at the University of Tulsa boathouse in Catoosa, OK.
The program will be coached by Zach Kilburn. Coach Kilburn was introduced to rowing at the Tulsa Rowing Club while he was a senior in high school. He didn't join the club then but was instantly hooked on rowing. He trained and competed with the Oklahoma State University rowing club from 2004 to 2008. He was nominated Vice President in his last season with the club. Coach Kilburn facilitated team workouts, helped coordinate regatta entries and travel arrangements, and competed in the varsity men's double and four. He was then hired to coach the novice boys at Tulsa Rowing Club, where he worked from the summer of 2008 to 2009. He competed in the men's lightweight pair at the 2009 US Rowing World Trials at Mercer Lake in New Jersey. After leaving coaching to pursue his master's degree, Coach Kilburn is returning to manage the 7th and 8th grade program at Tulsa Rowing Club.


Shakira gave a speech at the Bill Clinton For 'Giving' Event.
The video is 146MB in size and has the file format '.avi'. If you have issues playing the video, please try VLC player. ShakiraMedia.com has recorded the video. Thanks!


The UNT BSM Growth Course 1 will help set the tone for our Growth Groups and help you understand how spiritual growth happens. The purpose is to teach how Christian community plays a part in sanctification.
Fridays at noon in Fall 2018 beginning September 14, 2018.


text:
More than 100 York County Prison inmates have COVID this week
Penn State wrestling program looks to hit its stride with 3 weeks to go until postseason
PARTH UPADHYAYA
Centre Daily Times (TNS)
Cael Sanderson hasn't been known to shy away from challenges in the past. So, why would this season be any different for Penn State wrestling's 12th-year head coach?
The No. 2 Nittany Lions had a late start to their already-delayed season — originally moved from a November to January start — with their first two meets postponed. They also had two more meets postponed earlier this month. And though it's been difficult for him to truly gauge where his team is at, Sanderson is confident that Penn State will peak at the right time with less than three weeks until the start of the Big Ten Championships.
"It's a unique year to figure out how to be at our best at the right moments," Sanderson told reporters on a Zoom call Tuesday. "But that's what makes it fun, as well."
Sitting at 4-0, the Nittany Lions beat unranked Indiana and Northwestern in a late-January dual meet to open their season before knocking off then-No. 17 Wisconsin on Feb. 2 and then-No. 2 Michigan on Sunday.
With the pauses in competition and general uncertainty that have come with this pandemic-stricken season, wrestlers have had to find ways to remain sharp.
Redshirt freshman Carter Starocci — the No. 5 174-pound wrestler in the nation, who was named the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week on Tuesday — said trusting Sanderson and the rest of the coaching staff has allowed him to not be distracted.
"It's staying focused," said Starocci, coming off his 7-1 victory over No. 6 Logan Massa, of Michigan. "It's working hard, and listening to the coaches — I feel like that's key. ... It's just having belief in those guys. I know they'll lead me in the right direction."
Starocci hasn't been too thrown off by the postponement of meets, because he believes Penn State's wrestling room has more than enough talent in it for him to stay prepared.
"We go out and we compete versus these other teams, but we have the best guys in our room," he said. "So, when I want to compete, I just go to practice. ... Obviously it's nice to go out there and to wrestle, but I feel like nothing really changes (with postponements)."
For Sanderson, the hurdles that have come with this season aren't dramatically different from those in previous years.
Still, he's proud of the way his group has adapted so far.
"Things generally don't always go as planned," Sanderson said. "And you've just gotta be the best you can be, wherever you are, regardless of time or circumstances. I think our guys have done a good job with that."
Sanderson admits "it's been an exhausting year" — particularly when it's come to figuring out how to ensure the Nittany Lions are ready to compete at all times.
But instead of letting the adversity that has come with this season hold him and his team back, he's chosen to find excitement in trying to overcome the obstacles of the last few months and those that lie ahead. And that, more than anything else, should help Penn State continue to build momentum as it tries to end its regular season on a high note with meets against No. 12 Ohio State and Maryland remaining.
"We can either feel sorry for ourselves," Sanderson said, "or we can rise above it and use it as an opportunity to have a great finish here."


Have you ever gotten so hung up on a winning or losing position that you lost sight of your overall profitability? Here are four tactics that can help improve your performance—regardless of how any single position may fare.
You don't have to be right all the time to be profitable; in fact, you don't need to be right even half the time. The trick is to set—and sustain—a reasonable "expectancy" of profits versus losses. For example, I'm generally looking for a profitability ratio of 3 to 1, or $3 in profits for every $1 in losses. That way, even if I get only four out of every 10 trades right, I'll still be in the black (see "A winning strategy," below).
Even when your losers outnumber your winners, you can still come out ahead.
Start by taking a hard look at your losers. Did you sustain losses across the board or did just a handful of especially bad trades sink your performance?
For me, the biggest barrier to success is overconfidence. For example, I nearly always set a stop-loss order when adding a new position. However, on more than one occasion I've gone back and removed it, convinced the declining stocks would bounce back. They rarely did, of course, and my losses worsened exponentially as a result.
If, like me, you sometimes have trouble sticking to your trading plan, it can help to remember that successful trading is as much about preserving money as making it. After all, if you don't maintain the capital you have, how are you going to turn a profit down the road?
Study your winning trades, as well, including how the stocks performed after you sold your positions. Painful as it is to acknowledge, every trader inevitably leaves at least some gains on the table.
Indeed, one common habit among traders is to sell as soon as they've seen the move they expected. But one of the surest ways to meet or even exceed your expectancy is to hold the stocks you like as long as you can. To do so, try selling half a winning position at your target price and setting a new stop order for the remaining half. This can help you lock in the profit on both halves of your position while also giving yourself more room to run.
How often you should review your overall performance depends on your trading frequency. If you make fewer than five trades per month, for example, a monthly or quarterly review should be sufficient. If you're trading every day, on the other hand, you should check in more often. I typically make 15 to 20 trades a month and review my performance weekly.
The important thing is to make it a regular habit. Consistency and discipline are the hallmarks of successful traders. You don't develop these traits through happenstance but rather by carefully studying your own strengths and weaknesses.
Kevin Horner is a senior manager of trading services education at Schwab Trading Services.
Schwab's Gain/Loss Analyzer tool* provides a variety of performance metrics, including the gain/loss ratio, the profitability rate, total gains and total losses.
*After logging in, select Trade Source under the Trade tab and look for Gain/Loss Analyzer in column at right.
Need help with your trade plan? Call 877-807-9240 to speak with a Schwab trading specialist.
Ready to bring your trading to Schwab? Get started today.


text:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE suppressions PUBLIC
    "-//Puppy Crawl//DTD Suppressions 1.0//EN"
    "http://www.puppycrawl.com/dtds/suppressions_1_0.dtd">

<suppressions>
	<suppress
		checks="InterfaceIsType"
		files="(Kernel32|ProcessUtils|User32|WinUser)\.java" />
	<suppress
		checks="MethodName"
		files="(Kernel32|ProcessUtils|User32|WinUser)\.java" />
	<suppress
		checks="ParameterName"
		files="(Kernel32|ProcessUtils|User32|WinUser)\.java" />
	<suppress
		checks="ParameterNumber"
		files="(Kernel32|ProcessUtils|User32|WinUser)\.java" />
	<suppress
		checks="VisibilityModifier"
		files="(Kernel32|ProcessUtils|User32|WinUser)\.java" />
</suppressions>