Fake High Dynamic Range (HDR) images with GIMP

I love the way this picture of Connor came out when I first took it. But with this new technique, it really made for a great shot! This is the first picture I've used this method on, but I was so excited I thought i would share. I've always been impressed by HDR pictures and thought I needed an expensive digital SLR and an ability to shoot in RAW to create one. But with the help of Google and a little luck, I was able to come across a way to do it ghetto style. And for those that know me, the more ghettoerest the bettererest! The following video shows how to improve images dramatically with GIMP. Although this isn't truly HDR, it does create vivid images.
I've found that scenery and fish are enhanced well by this technique. But hero shots and portraits do not come out as well because skin tone is too unnatural. In the last picture with Kyle's snagged brookie, the original thumbnail looks better, but once the pictures are viewed at larger size the Fake HDR is much better.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

I've ruined two cameras while fishing after taking a misstepped plunge into the water. The last victim was a Casio Exilim I killed last summer. I've been using a Canon I borrowed from my dad since July, but didn't really like it. I really wanted a camera that could take abuse and still produce good picture quality. To make matters worse, I also needed good video because this was to be the family camera to document my two runt's childhood. I narrowed my choices down to the Panasonic TS2 and the Sony TX5. But the Panasonic was $60 cheaper and rated to have better video so I pulled the trigger last night. I hope it's as good as advertised. There seems to be some really cool features that I'm excited to try out. With this new toy I can add more to fisheatflies, which has been non-existent for quite a while. I've been hard at work at the vise and I want to share my creations with the general public.

Boulder's Fall 2010

I've been pinned between work, school, and family this fall so I was really looking forward to the Boulders with Kyle and Matt. It was nice to hike in the great fall colors, but the trip was far from epic; which makes all the flack I caught from work for playing hooky rub me a little raw. But in the end, a day fishing is always better then a day stuck in class or at work. I just wish I could keep fish on after I hook them. But there's always next time...

Check out Kyle's report for the details.

I used the Lamson Konic a little and caught one small Cutt. Too soon for a review, but I didn't hate it.

Lamson Konic

I picked up a Lamson Konic 2 last week to house my Airflo type 3 line. I'm headed to the Boulders tomorrow for what will likely be my only fishing trip this fall; I'm really looking forward to it. Stay tuned for my trip report and my review of this reel.

*Picture taken from Waterworks/Lamson website.

R&R on the Brookie Meadow

Lately this site has turned into more of a family blog then a fishing blog. But within the last year, I realized I was forsaking my family for fishing and I felt like a chump. Tonight I skipped my study group to go in the mountains with the family for some much needed R&R for both Katy and I. Katy didn't stray much from her M.O. and caught fish while holding Caleb; except this time Caleb was in a sling instead of her womb. The little brookies were very aggressive towards our flies. In the short time we fished this little meadow stream, many fish were risen and quite a few made it to hand.

Retro Bass

This is a throw back to simpler times when I could play in the mud and get fish slime on my hands. This is on my Georgia Grandpa's Pond circa 1983. That's me holding the bass.

Connor on Willow Creek

As planned, Connor and I went fishing this afternoon. We had a water safety discussion before we started and he did very well following the rules. It was a great joy to watch my boy have so much fun reeling in fish. This is only the beginning.

Purple Haze and The Stoned-Beetle

I plan to take Connor to Willow Creek tomorrow. So tonight we tied up a few morsels to entice the locals. Last time I was there, I spanked them on a #14 Purple Haze. I also tied up a few #10 Stoned-hoppers, but once they were complete, they looked more like a beetle...hence the name.

I haven't had much to post lately, but hopefully I'll have something tomorrow. With a new baby, full-time work, and just starting my first year of school to become a Murse, I don't anticipate many fishing trips this Fall.

Caleb John Anderson

September 4 2010

10:13pm 6 lbs 15 oz 19.5"

MGMT "Congratulations" (vinyl)

From my nephew's collection.

The Purple Haze Blew My Mind!

I went to Willow Creek on Thursday for probably one of the last fishing trips this year. The weather didn't look like it was going to cooperate and right when we arrived it started pouring buckets of rain. But as soon as the rain started it was over and the sky and stream stayed clear the entire evening. I started with the StonedHopper but only caught a few fish in the first few likely spots. But when I switched to a #14 Purple Haze the fish started slamming it kamikaze style. Fish were completely jumping out of the water for the fly. By the end of the night I caught over 50 fish in less then 4 hours. They were never larger then 11", but fun nonetheless.

I'd like to thank the guys from Fishtech for taking the time to help me round-up all the materials for this fly. I went to about three other shops before ending up at Fishtech and no one prior could help me out. For those unfamiliar with the Purple Haze, it's basically a Parachute Adams with a purple Flex-Floss body. I sometimes add a dubbed thorax of purple dubbing mixed with UV Pink Ice Dub.

Non-Violent Crisis Intervention

I attended a four day training in SLC this past week to be a certified Non-Violent Crisis Intervention instructor for my agency. I hoped to mix business with pleasure and fish as much as possible working around the training schedule. As I drove up, I planned to fish Willow Creek, but severe thunderstorms changed this plan. But I was able to find a break in the storm and semi-clear water on Fremont Flats. I was excited to fish my newly repaired 3wt. The Stoned Hopper was the preferred method and with a dozen fish under my belt in a hour, I moved on.

After the first day of training, Craig met me in downtown SLC and we headed to the cabin outside Oakley, UT. The water dropped at least 12" since the beginning of July. We were still able to find willing fish, but not as many as last time. I caught most of my fish in a para-Adams, but my largest Cutt fell victim to the Stoned-Hopper.

I wasn't able to get out and fish again until the trip home. I chose Fremont Flats as my playground, but the water had a lot of chocolate milk mixed in making it less productive. I threw the Stoned-Hopper and streamers picking up fish 50/50 on both methods.

Family Cabin Fishing Fun

We were able to make it to Katy's family cabin outside Oakley, UT a few weeks ago. It was a wonderful experience and great to watch Katy master her skills. She still hadn't had a phenomenal day of fly fishing up to this point. We went out the evening before and Katy was able to hook a few small Brookies and Cutts. But the next afternoon the heavens opened. With five other family members fishing the same small run, Katy hit a streak and caught some very nice fish on my Stoned-Hopper. It was a great setting for Katy to have all the elements come together.


Katy's brother Sam rocked some hammer pants and also found some willing participants. I'd like to use the excuse I was helping the others get into fish and giving up the best spots. But my fishy-juju was off and I only managed a few fish to hand. It must have been the whitefish slaughter I put on the morning before fishing the Upper Weber that gave me bad karma.

I've spent much of my fishing time this summer with my family. I've really enjoyed sharing my passion of fly fishing with Katy and Connor. I'm not sure how many more trips I'll get under my belt this year, but I have many fond memories to keep me going through the next year of school and new baby .

Backyard Bushwhack

I decided to break ground on my own backyard playground last Wednesday. I spent most of the time clearing away stream side willows and breaking dead growth that stood in the way of victory. I plan to clear more of the stream each time I visit so I have multiple beats to fish when I need a quickie.

Family Fishing on 2nd Creek- the sequel

I spent last Monday on 2nd Creek with the family. I really wanted Katy to catch a bunch of fish on a small stream. She was a great sport trudging through the water to appease me. She is in her third trimester with our second child and it's getting harder for her to keep her balance. The water was perfect and the fish were willing.

Connor brought his net along to help us land and release fish. He was careful not to squeeze them too hard, but he gave a few flying lessons.

Stoned Hopper

I sat down at the vise a few weeks ago with the goal of tying some Stimulaters, but I forgot how much hackle those bastards take to make. So after wasting a perfectly good saddle hackle on one fly, I decided to go a different route.

There are a few variations in material for this fly, but the basic pattern is as follows...

Hook: 2x long med-light wire hook or a Daiichi 1270 or similar hook (size 6-10)

Tail: End of foam, biots optional

Body: Foam under-body (Evazote strip 1/8" wide or med "Rainy's" float foam with dubbing over it

Under-wing: "Hareline no-fray wing material" or transparent ribbon (from craft store) cut to shape.

Over-wing: Elk hair

Head: Deer hair bullet-head or Evazote foam (hook gape wide) tied in with dubbing ball over tie-in and then folded back over the top and tied down.

Legs: Two strands of rubber-leg material of choice.

Father's Day Fishing 2010

It's a yearly tradition to fish with Craig for father's day on Willow Creek. I was looking forward to fish some big dries to stupid trout and the Stonefly I've been recently tying was just the ticket. The beaver pond that's held strong for the last 4+ years couldn't take the beating of this years runoff.

We were able to catch a few fish each on Willow Creek, but the flows were still quite high and the water was a little chalky. We decided to go up further and see if 2nd Creek was better. I took the family up there a couple weeks ago and it was a big meadow of bog.

2nd Creek was perfect in flow and clarity. I hooked up right away with fish in each of the first three holes. We both caught our fair share of fish until the light faded. What a great way to spend an evening.

Six Fingers Creek

The plan was to drop Connor off with my mom and fish for two days. But life is never that simple and work had to be done. But I ended up getting out Saturday for the first part of the day with Matt. We fished lower in this drainage a couple weeks ago and had mixed results. With scattered rain the last 24 hours, we bypassed the usual stomping grounds for something new and higher

up the mountain.

We hiked up the deep canyon and hooked a mixed bag of Cutts and Browns. No fly pattern transcended as the clear winner but a #6 Stonefly on top was my favorite. It felt good to fish a dry after what seemed an eternity of nymphing; if you can call chucking SJW patterns nymphing

Family Fishing on 2nd Creek

I was hoping to replicate my latest trip to Willow Creek today with Katy and Connor. But as we drove further up the canyon, I could see run-off had different plans. The road to 2nd creek was completely covered by snow a couple weeks ago, but today the roads were clear all the way there.

The stream was running higher then I'd expected, but it was the only realistic chance to fish moving water on this mountain. The valley floor is a braided labyrinth of willows, beaver ponds, bogs, and water channels of various sizes weaving in and out of the main stream. The key was to find deep cuts in slower water where current was running in.

Last year I found the SJW to be the ticket and today was no different. Connor really enjoyed getting a close look at the fish and petting them. We all stayed dry and had a very enjoyable family outing without having to fling steel.