SPONSORS
(If you are a sponsor and your logo and/or link is not posted here, please contact us.)

Casey Key Anglers, Nokomis, FL

Great Outdoor Provision Co. Charlotte, NC

Frank Amato Publications Portland, OR

Jesse Brown’s Outfitters Charlotte, NC

Brumfield Enterprises Parkesburg, PA

Outdoor Specialty Products Truckee, CA

Rainy’s Flies, Inc. Logan, UT

J. Fisher, LLC Mobridge, SD

Blue Ribbon Flies West Yellowstone, MT

Creative Publishing Minnekota, MN

Ozark Anglers

Hiwassee Chapter, Trout Unlimited

San Diego Fly Fishers

Long Beach Fly Fishers

Virginia Coastal Fly Anglers

Lacey Sportsman's Fly Club

Sportsman's Warehouse

Oaks Fire Company Fishing Club

Indianapolis Fly Casters

Wildcat Creek Outfitters Zionsville IN

Orvis Fly Shop Carmel, IN

Panhandle Flyfishers of Destin, FL

Updated February 2, 2009

Greetings all,
         In the last update, I made the initial announcement about the Baghdad Anglers On-line Store opening.  Thank you very much to those who have used the store, the feedback I have received has been very positive.  Everything offered in the store comes with a 30 day money back guarantee. 

        I also announced the auction we are going to hold to support the club.  We are auctioning off a week long fishing trip with Alaska Adventures.  We are set to kick off the auction the first week in March.  I would have liked to start it earlier, but I cannot find an auction site I want to use that has an auction window greater than 30 days.  I do not want to start it too early in order to spread the word nor do I want to end it too late because of timing for booking the trip with Charlie.  Click the link above for more information on the auction.

         I need to clarify one thing.  I mistakenly described Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. as part of Wounded Warriors, but it is not.  "Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., initiated and conducted by members of the Federation of Fly Fishers and Trout Unlimited, serves military personnel who have been wounded, injured, or disabled to aid their physical and emotional recovery by introducing or rebuilding the skills of fly fishing and fly tying and by using and enjoying these skills on fishing outings and as lifelong recreation."  I apologize for any transgressions, I certainly intended none and do not want to distract from the mission of this fine organization.

        I continually get e-mails asking what people can send.  I have updated the donations page with the latest.  Right now, the club is in need of conventional spinning and bait casting rods and reels with line; fly reels for 4-8wt lines; fly lines sizes 4-8wt and backing.  They always need lures, sinkers, fly boxes, leaders, tippet material and polarized sun glasses. Hats are also welcomed, for those times they can fish in PT gear vice full uniform.

        I also get a lot of questions about flies.  I have made page that lists several patterns that have proven to be very good flies for Iraq.  In addition to the flies, I am also publishing the fly fishing manual I began writing when I was in Iraq.  I never finished it there, but managed to get it done this winter.  The BSFF Handbook is intended to be a basic primer for beginners.  I wrote my own not because there is not enough available out there, but because I wanted it to be a free resource for those interested in beginning to fly fish.

          For those in country - send me your fishing pictures and a story if you've got one you'd like to share.

     You may recall from last Decembers update Dan Millers huge fish.  I was able to contact Dan and get his story.  First, however, I have to show his fish again.

     Dan is a 27yr old firefighter who grew up in Ohio and joined the Marine Corp out of high school. He currently I calls Goodyear, AZ home, even though he's not home very much . He has spent four of the last five years between Afghanistan and Iraq. He has a beautiful wife Denise waiting for him to come home and start a family.
     He started fishing when he was very little, receiving his first fishing pole and tackle box from his grandfather at five years old. He has been hooked since! He prefers fishing with artificial baits. However, the monster below was caught using a circle hook tied directly to the line with no weights with a hole raw chicken breast. The day he caught the fish was real windy, so he cast out and let his bait drift in the choppy water.
     When the fish took the bait, it a ran fast, peeling line off the reel. Dan had been spooled before on multiple times, but this time he was ready, using 20 pound Fireline. He ran along the shore back and forth to keep this fish from spooling him, but after about 10 minutes, the fish started to give up and let Dan bring him in to shore. He was fishing alone that day so he had to get knee deep in the water to grab the fish. He moved it into a closed off area the would not escape and ran to grab some buddies.
     They took a few pictures then put the fish back into the lake. Dan pushed him back and forth in the water a few times and he took off. Dan estimates the fish was about 4 feet long and over 100 pounds. He has seen much bigger ones - as long as 6 feet but can't seem to land one of those guys. Beyond a doubt, this is biggest fish Dan's ever caught.

In addition to his story, Dan sent in a bunch more pictures from fish he has caught around the lakes on Camp Slayer.

   
The fish on the left may be one of the biggest asp on this website - it is HUGE!

 
On the left Dan shows off a decent shaboot and on the right is a common carp


Chuck Preble shows off a MONSTER asp he caught in front of the Al Faw Palace.

     We have another first for this club - a Coast Guardsman! Petty Officer Dylan Ranson linked up with our President, Scott Henry and caught a couple nice asp. Great job Dylan and welcome to the ranks of combat zone fishermen!

     Ken Bergman didn't let us down again this month. Here he is with a fine Slayer asp, from one of my favorite spots.  He caught this fish on a #2 Wooly Bugger on an 8wt.

     Trent Glasshof caught this asp earlier this month near the Al Faw palace. He caught it on a large rooster tail. He hasn't started fishing for carp, but after looking at the pictures on this site, he's going to start soon!

     I have to introduce a new fisherman to the site. He's caught some great fish and most notably, more bighead carp than anyone I know of. Dolf Taylor is a contractor who has been in Baghdad for the past FIVE years!  He has sent me a number of pictures of fish he has caught around the camp.

     That is the latest and greatest.  As always, I'll close out this update with a request for the guys on the ground to keep the pictures and stories coming in.

Fish on! Joel

ASSOCIATES

SUPPORTERS

Rick Pope Dallas, TX

Ed Laine Charlotte, NC

Quint Overocker Knoxville, TN

Howard Weinberg Severna Park, MD

John Mundinger Helena, MT

T.L. Lauerman Mountain Home, AR

Chris Campion Coronado, CA

Keith Moore Spartanburg, SC

Wade Caler DDryden, NY

John Naiser Louisville, KY

Bill Bartee Charlotte, NC

Fred Bridge York, PA

Ed Kelleher Pacific Grove, CA

Richard Farino New York, NY

Tony Delaney Ringwood, NJ

Gary Wilson Covina, CA

David Payne Parkersburg, WV

Ronald Aston Weirton, WV

C.D. Shirk Parkersburg, WV

Alan Cayn Eastpointe MI

Jim Brossard

Patrick Colgan Royersford, PA

Bob Rorick Royersford, PA

Art Schueneman, Cody, WY

Gerry Stribling, Louisville, KY

Jack Hanley Barnstead, NH

Brad Morgan Boulder, CO

Colston Newton Clarksville, TN

Rolf Jacobsen Warminster, PA

Kelly Palmer Troy, MT

Steve Williams Lexington, NC

Doug Dale Kamas, UT

Gwen Crabtree Charlotte, NC

Jerry Brumfield Parkesburg, PA

Michael Rury Salisbury Mills, NY

Jesse Riding Logan, UT

Eric Bridge Ashburn, VA

Huxley H. Conklin Warsaw, VA

Jon Stanberry Palmdale, CA

Willard McCorskey Cleveland, TN

Chad Burrell Parkersburg, WV

Kim Stewart Parkersburg, WV

Kelley Laughlin Norway, MI

Bill Kasper Royersford, PA

Matt Wanamaker Royersford, PA

Dan Miller Royersford, PA

Jim Taylor, Cody WY

Danny Egloff Pineville, LA

Don Edwards Garfield, GA

Kurt Carpenter Aurora, CO

Rob Gregiore Bozeman, MT

Gene Langston Watkinsville, GA

Doug Gilmore Adairsville, GA

John Roach Trenton, IL

Jack Elmer Canton, NY

John Harder Idaho Falls, ID

Sante Giuliani York, ME

James & Kristen Lyle Truckee, CA

Chris Jones Cedar Rapids, IA

Greg Holland Stafford, VA

Jon Sunquist Palmdale, CA

Dave Mercer Palmdale, CA

Rick Browning Parkersburg WV

Bob McKinney Parkersburg, WV

Pete Isner Parkersburg, WV

Bob Ealer Little Ferry, NJ

David Mosteller Royersford, PA

Brian Wood Royersford, PA

Charles Sabolovic Richardson, TX

Gray Thornton Cody, WY

Bill Streitz Destin, FL

Kyle Brehem Billings, MT

Bill Roberts Horsham, PA

Mike Hayden Springfield, MO

Shelley Wagner Escondido, CA

James Kissane Lees Summit, MO

Baghdad Time & Temp