It's been a while for any social responsibility topics, but a conversation with a friend the other day inspired this one. I've written before about the value of buying local for keeping local businesses thriving and available to you as an expert resource in your outdoor pursuits. But have you considered the economic impact? I hadn't fully.
According to a study published by Andersonville Development Corp. when you spend $100 with a locally-owned business, $32 leaves your community and $68 stays. Contrast this with a non-locally-owned business where $43 stays and an astounding $57 leaves your area. This study is a little dated (2004) so I wonder how dramatic the difference is for Internet-based business -- I'm sure it's astounding.
So, think of it this way -- if you spend money locally, it may cost more for the purchase, but it saves you in the long run. That business pays taxes, which helps keep yours down. Their employees spend money in the community, which keeps costs competitive. I own a home in a town where the largest employer is a public university who doesn't pay taxes, so this really hits home with me. And it didn't hurt to be able to have my local bike shop set-up my disc brakes on the mt. bike properly after I couldn't quite get it right. Or have the guy at the fly shop teach me how to tie a new knot.
A little off-topic, but I'm also a believer in trying to buy locally sourced produce. In addition to usually being more fresh and healthy, it also requires less fossil fuel for transit. But the Michigan Food & Farming Systems consortium also says that if every Michigan family bought just $10 per week in Michigan produce, it would keep $37 million a week from leaving Michigan. That's stunning. And in a state that's in the news almost daily for it's faltering economy, that's not chump change.
This is not to be elitist, or high-falutin'. Do I sometimes fall short of this goal? Yup. But I find that if I'm conscious of making these decisions, it's really pretty easy to spend more money locally. Change comes not from a few making sweeping modifications, but from many making incremental improvements.
-Sean-
13 May, 2009
12 May, 2009
A Question of Style
When I started fly fishing a couple of years back, I had no clue how complex, and yet logical it all was. While I have by no means mastered it -- and doubt I ever will -- I'm surprised by how much I've learned, especially in the past year. I really spent the first year bumbling around learning how to tie some knots, how not to drown while wading, and how to accidentally snag trees and lose flies.
On the way back from the UP trip, I got to experience my first real "hatch" on a trout stream, spending an evening on the Au Sable during a Hendrickson hatch. Most of my recent fishing has been sub-surface with either weighted steelhead rigs, streamers, or nymphs. The bugs were as thick as snow at times and it was a really amazing experience. Plus, it was a really good opportunity to put the things I've learned from others and from reading to work. My casting was solid -- I was consistently able to put flies where I wanted them using standard and roll casts. By mending, I could get a natural drift. It felt really good to be able to think of a strategy and then implement it.
Ah, but all was not perfect. I didn't actually CATCH anything! I had a few takes and some interest, but no closed deals. I think part of it was learning to detect strikes. After a few days of steelhead fishing, where it's like hooking an angry freight train, trout were so subtle and polite. A simple "gloop" was about the only indicator.
The beauty, style, and subtlety of trout fishing was very therapeutic. Smooth delivery, cadence, and technique all seemed key, but not stressful. A really relaxing experience and perhaps the best way I could imagine to spend a pleasant summer evening.
-Sean-
On the way back from the UP trip, I got to experience my first real "hatch" on a trout stream, spending an evening on the Au Sable during a Hendrickson hatch. Most of my recent fishing has been sub-surface with either weighted steelhead rigs, streamers, or nymphs. The bugs were as thick as snow at times and it was a really amazing experience. Plus, it was a really good opportunity to put the things I've learned from others and from reading to work. My casting was solid -- I was consistently able to put flies where I wanted them using standard and roll casts. By mending, I could get a natural drift. It felt really good to be able to think of a strategy and then implement it.Ah, but all was not perfect. I didn't actually CATCH anything! I had a few takes and some interest, but no closed deals. I think part of it was learning to detect strikes. After a few days of steelhead fishing, where it's like hooking an angry freight train, trout were so subtle and polite. A simple "gloop" was about the only indicator.
The beauty, style, and subtlety of trout fishing was very therapeutic. Smooth delivery, cadence, and technique all seemed key, but not stressful. A really relaxing experience and perhaps the best way I could imagine to spend a pleasant summer evening.
-Sean-
11 May, 2009
Get it in Gear
Flashback to the old theoretical math I always hated in school this weekend. Trying to re-gear the 29er single-speed bike. Current gearing is 41-18. OK on a flat street, but that's about it. Bought a 20t freewheel, but then I have two big cogs and I'm not sure it lowers gear ratio enough.
A friend gave me a Graveyard 31t front sprocket (way cool piece of BMX gear) this weekend. So this set me off on a quest to start comparing gear ratios and see what I might need to run in the back. After trying about 14 online calculators, I gave up. Seems to me it shouldn't be that hard to devise a calculator that lets you input wheel size, crank length, front and rear gearing and gives you a simple multiplier ratio.
At any rate, I think a 16t rear freewheel should do it. Appears to be a little lower than 41-20 and significantly lower than 41-18 stock. Yikes. Why is it always the simple things that become the most complex?
On the upside, the rear wheel is SWEET! Seems completely bulletproof. And the White Industries ENO eccentric hub seems the perfect solution for chain tension.
-Sean-
A friend gave me a Graveyard 31t front sprocket (way cool piece of BMX gear) this weekend. So this set me off on a quest to start comparing gear ratios and see what I might need to run in the back. After trying about 14 online calculators, I gave up. Seems to me it shouldn't be that hard to devise a calculator that lets you input wheel size, crank length, front and rear gearing and gives you a simple multiplier ratio.
At any rate, I think a 16t rear freewheel should do it. Appears to be a little lower than 41-20 and significantly lower than 41-18 stock. Yikes. Why is it always the simple things that become the most complex?
On the upside, the rear wheel is SWEET! Seems completely bulletproof. And the White Industries ENO eccentric hub seems the perfect solution for chain tension.
-Sean-
08 May, 2009
Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'...
But wait, it's not all fly fishing...
Took the new (to me) single-speed mountain bike for a spin last night. I'm digging that thing (SE Racing BMF). Big 29er wheels roll over obstacles effortlessly. It's just simple and stupid fun to ride.
And, it's proven to be a fun tweaking platform. Found an online deal on disc-brakes (Avid BB-7's for you gearheads) and cables. After a quick review of an installation video on YouTube, I got the front brake installed and set-up. Looks way-cool and cleaner than the rim brakes, works GREAT.
Steve Sauter at Great Lakes Cycle is working on my back wheel to get some more strength and also to convert it to a White Industries ENO eccentric hub so I have a chain tension solution. Once that's done, I'll install rear disc. Also picked up a little larger freewheel for rear to see if I can get the BRUTAL gear ratio (41-18) down a bit. A friend who's a lifelong flatland BMX guy thinks he has some extra smaller front sprockets, so that might help, too. I'm thinking 34t should do it.
Fun project bike, fun to ride, and scratches my itch for an updated mountain bike. Pix coming when I get a bit further along.
-Sean-
UPDATED: Picked up rear wheel today -- WAY cool! Steve did a great job. Having him do the front so I have a bulletproof set. Hoping to install freewheel and new chain this weekend.
Took the new (to me) single-speed mountain bike for a spin last night. I'm digging that thing (SE Racing BMF). Big 29er wheels roll over obstacles effortlessly. It's just simple and stupid fun to ride.
And, it's proven to be a fun tweaking platform. Found an online deal on disc-brakes (Avid BB-7's for you gearheads) and cables. After a quick review of an installation video on YouTube, I got the front brake installed and set-up. Looks way-cool and cleaner than the rim brakes, works GREAT.
Steve Sauter at Great Lakes Cycle is working on my back wheel to get some more strength and also to convert it to a White Industries ENO eccentric hub so I have a chain tension solution. Once that's done, I'll install rear disc. Also picked up a little larger freewheel for rear to see if I can get the BRUTAL gear ratio (41-18) down a bit. A friend who's a lifelong flatland BMX guy thinks he has some extra smaller front sprockets, so that might help, too. I'm thinking 34t should do it.
Fun project bike, fun to ride, and scratches my itch for an updated mountain bike. Pix coming when I get a bit further along.
-Sean-
UPDATED: Picked up rear wheel today -- WAY cool! Steve did a great job. Having him do the front so I have a bulletproof set. Hoping to install freewheel and new chain this weekend.
07 May, 2009
The Best Tool
This week's trip fishing steelhead on the fly in a variety of spots was a great place to test out some recently acquired knowledge and newly configured gear. Through excellent guide Gene Lake on the PM, I was able to learn more about the differences between Indicator and Chuck n' Duck rigs. I gained an understanding of how to fish them, cast them, and select when to use each.
On the tighter rivers, like the Black River pictured at left, the Indicator can't be beat. Simple roll-casting lets me cover the short distances with great accuracy and fewer snags. And I can even drift under trees and cover that would normally snag every time. My roll cast isn't perfect, but it's getting better with each outing. I'm hoping to fine-tune it at the upcoming Hawkins Outfitters class on 16 May. With Orvis Wonderline in 9 wt. steelhead and a pretty traditional rig, I was able to cover most of the smaller UP rivers (including the TINY Thompson Creek) quite easily with minimal snags.
But the big water called for a tool that enabled me to belt out long casts and drift a large piece of water. On the wide-open spaces of the Manistique (at right), just below the paper dam, the Chuck n' Duck enabled me to cover more water easily and with great accuracy. By the second day, I was making long, clean casts with surprising accuracy.
On the tighter rivers, like the Black River pictured at left, the Indicator can't be beat. Simple roll-casting lets me cover the short distances with great accuracy and fewer snags. And I can even drift under trees and cover that would normally snag every time. My roll cast isn't perfect, but it's getting better with each outing. I'm hoping to fine-tune it at the upcoming Hawkins Outfitters class on 16 May. With Orvis Wonderline in 9 wt. steelhead and a pretty traditional rig, I was able to cover most of the smaller UP rivers (including the TINY Thompson Creek) quite easily with minimal snags.
But the big water called for a tool that enabled me to belt out long casts and drift a large piece of water. On the wide-open spaces of the Manistique (at right), just below the paper dam, the Chuck n' Duck enabled me to cover more water easily and with great accuracy. By the second day, I was making long, clean casts with surprising accuracy. It was really cool to truly understand how each tool worked and when to use which. I find with any pursuit, that moment of clarity is a really cool experience. The "ah-ha!" moment if you will.
-Sean-
P.S. The wade across to Manistique to get to the island shown in the picture was HAIRY, but I pulled it off pretty confidently! Wading skills are improving. No swimming for me on this trip!
06 May, 2009
No Match for the Hatch
Capped off an excellent UP/Northern Michigan fishing trip with a stop on the Au Sable last night. More on the rest of the trip this week when I have some time (work calls). But wanted to write a quick note on the Au Sauble experience (my first).
With the help of the guys at Old Au Sable, we found a great location, got some solid pointers on flies, and encouragement that an "epic" Hendrickson hatch was going to happen that evening. I can't say enough good things about Andy and his staff. If you're headed through Grayling and have even a passsing interest in fly fishing, these are great folks with a terrific shop. Very willing to help newbies!
So, Paul and I drive to the first access point they suggest. NOBODY there!!! Woo-hoo! Wader up! My fly efforts have been mostly wet nymphing or various steelhead techniques. This was my first true attempt with a bit of knowledge and the right equipment on the dry fly. The hatch was surely on -- the bugs were so think they almost looked like little snowstorms at times. And they looked just like what I had tied on. Paul got a couple small ones, while I had some solid interest but no takers.
But, what a cool experience. Easy relaxed wade down a superb river. Leisurely casting (after a few days of more vigorous chuck n' duck and indy fishing for steelies). An entirely pleasant way to spend a nice summer evening. Of course, the two mile hike back upstream to the truck in waders wasn't optimal, but I'll chalk it up to a learning experience. I will definitely be back!
I'll be back with more on UP trip this week -- including lots of photos!
-Sean-
With the help of the guys at Old Au Sable, we found a great location, got some solid pointers on flies, and encouragement that an "epic" Hendrickson hatch was going to happen that evening. I can't say enough good things about Andy and his staff. If you're headed through Grayling and have even a passsing interest in fly fishing, these are great folks with a terrific shop. Very willing to help newbies!
So, Paul and I drive to the first access point they suggest. NOBODY there!!! Woo-hoo! Wader up! My fly efforts have been mostly wet nymphing or various steelhead techniques. This was my first true attempt with a bit of knowledge and the right equipment on the dry fly. The hatch was surely on -- the bugs were so think they almost looked like little snowstorms at times. And they looked just like what I had tied on. Paul got a couple small ones, while I had some solid interest but no takers.
But, what a cool experience. Easy relaxed wade down a superb river. Leisurely casting (after a few days of more vigorous chuck n' duck and indy fishing for steelies). An entirely pleasant way to spend a nice summer evening. Of course, the two mile hike back upstream to the truck in waders wasn't optimal, but I'll chalk it up to a learning experience. I will definitely be back!
I'll be back with more on UP trip this week -- including lots of photos!
-Sean-
01 May, 2009
Fish On!
Headed to the UP this afternoon for a few days running around the rivers up there. Have a good group going -- family and friends and my Dad. My Dad and uncle put 200 miles on yesterday scouting some good spots. A lot of the rivers are still pretty high, but they think they found some solid places.
I love exploring in the UP. It's such a different place from any of lower Michigan. And this will be a good time to test some of the knowledge I've acquired since my trip up last Fall. Eager to try the new chuck n' duck rig, and the teeny-tiny trout rod on some of the little streams back in.
Photos and reports will follow!
-Sean-
I love exploring in the UP. It's such a different place from any of lower Michigan. And this will be a good time to test some of the knowledge I've acquired since my trip up last Fall. Eager to try the new chuck n' duck rig, and the teeny-tiny trout rod on some of the little streams back in.
Photos and reports will follow!
-Sean-
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