On the Hook, Tom Rosenbauer

Tom Rosenbauer, host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcasts, has been with the Orvis Company over 30 years, and while there has been a fishing school instructor, copywriter, public relations director, merchandise manager, and was editor of The Orvis News for 10 years. He is currently Marketing Director for Orvis Rod and Tackle. As merchandise manager, web merchandiser, and catalog director, the titles under his direction have won numerous Gold Medals in the Annual Catalog Age Awards. Tom has been a fly fisher for about 50 years, and was a commercial fly tier by age 14. He has fished extensively across North America and has also fished on Christmas Island, the Bahamas, in Kamchatka, and on the fabled English chalk streams. He is credited with bringing Bead-Head flies to North America, and is the inventor of the Big Eye hook, Magnetic Net Retriever, and tungsten beads for fly tying. He has over 15 fly fishing books in print and was named Fly Rod & Reel magazine's 2011 Angler of the Year. I met Tom at ICAST and noted what a down to earth guy he was. Later, he had time to answer a few questions.

Tying....Thinking

 

Tom, first of all, thank you for talking to me. I know you are a very busy guy. For over 30 years you have worked at Orvis in a storied career. What would you say is the single greatest event in your career?

There are lots of things I am proud of, but if I had to name one, it’s probably being named Angler of the Year by Fly Rod & Reel Magazine. It was in recognition of the culmination of many years teaching people about fly fishing. My wife and coworkers were very impressed for about 2 hours.

You have been fly fishing in some pretty incredible areas. Where was your favorite place and why?

That would probably depend on salt or fresh water. For salt water it would have to be the Bahamas. Grand Bahama specifically. It’s a beautiful island and I know it pretty well. I mainly fish for bonefish there, and sometimes get a shot at tarpon or permit as well. And triggerfish. Triggers are tough and lots of fun to catch. Freshwater would be the many trout streams in the U.S. Not really any particular one, I like all of them.

Tom's Albie

 

Considering all the places you have been where is the one location you haven’t been that you want to go and fish?

I would love to go fishing in New Zealand for trout. That’s really the Shan gri la for trout fishing. I have friends who have fished there and tell me it’s really great and that’s the type of fishing I am really in to. There is very clear water, excellent for sight fishing. I would definitely have to say New Zealand.

What is the largest fish you have caught on fly?

I think that would probably be a 100lb tarpon. Maybe not quite 100lb, but close. I don’t think I have reached that 100lb’er yet, but it’s something I am working on and I want to get to someday. But, to me it’s not about how big, but how interesting. The most interesting fish I have caught are bluefin tuna. I have had several break-offs from some big ones, and have landed some in the 25-30lb range. I think they are way more interesting than tarpon.

Working

Do you use a kayak?

I do sometimes fish from a kayak. I own a Native Ultimate 14, and I love it. I mainly use it to get to the flats or areas I want to wade fish, but it’s also really easy to stand and fish in. It’s easy to stand and sight fish and it’s a very comfortable kayak. I also use it to fish for bass with my son.

You are a Show Host, Outdoor Writer, Marketing Director, Editor and a host of other titles, in which role have you found the most enjoyment?

The TV shows and videos were a lot of fun. You know how grueling it can be Bob, but they are very fulfilling. Not only did I get to go to some really cool places, I learned a lot from writing script to directing to rough editing. I learned new skills and that can be very interesting and rewarding. I don’t like writing at all. I do it when I need to because I can, but I would rather not.

What is your favorite all-around fly fishing rod and reel combo?

Well, that really depends on whether you are fishing salt or fresh water. For fresh water, I would recommend a 9 foot 5wt setup. It’s long enough for trout streams just about anywhere you go, and also great for bass and bluegill. It’s by far the most popular freshwater rod. For saltwater I would say a 9 foot 9wt combo. With a 9wt, you can cast tarpon flies further and can land tarpon as well. With more spooky fish like reds and bonefish, you can add more leader for a softer presentation. On the Orvis website, you can chat with our techline and get custom recommendations for what kind of fishing you want to do. These guys aren’t just salespeople, they can help you pick the right rod and answer any questions you may have about fly fishing.

What is your favorite species on fly, and why?

For freshwater it would have to be brown trout. They are much more difficult to stalk and catch. When they eat, when they go after the fly, they really smash it. They don’t mess around. They are also great fighters. As far as saltwater, I love anything in the tuna family, including mackerel. Tuna or kingfish are such hard fighters, really fast and exciting fish. False Albacore, I think you call them Bonita, are excellent as well. I don’t really know why they aren’t considered a sport fish.



Tom, the Chocolatier

What is the most interesting thing about Tom Rosenbauer that everyone should know?

This will probably shock and surprise people. I am an authentic, bean to bar chocolate maker. I roast the beans, grind them, temper the chocolate…everything. There is only one place to get quality cocoa beans in small orders, that’s chocolatealchemy.com. I make it in my kitchen and only use quality cocoa beans and organic sugar. The beans are grown all over the world and depending on where they are grown, the flavors can be different. My coworkers love that I make chocolate as well.

After 30 years at Orvis, Tom doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. Check out his many videos and podcasts at Orvis.com and don’t forget to sign up for their email series on how to fly fish!



An Average Glades Adventure

Always an advocate of everyday adventures, I was excited when Glen Pla, the Host of Average Angler Adventures, asked me about fishing in the Everglades. It’s “no secret” that I love the Everglades and I wouldn’t miss a chance to share it with anyone, so plans were made to meet up and film an episode of Glen’s popular fishing show.

We met up at Port of the Islands Adventure Resort and didn’t have to go far for our first stop. Adjacent to the Resort is a small landlocked pond that houses some respectable fish. Through the early morning fog we could see tarpon feeding just out of casting range. We launched our kayaks and began our hunt. It was a cool morning and the action was a little slow. I didn’t have any luck with topwater lures so I switched to live bait. Glen was using a soft plastic mullet. I managed a gar on a shiner while Glen jumped two tarpon on artificial. Lesson learned, I switched to a Vudu mullet and landed a nice largemouth on my first cast.

Morning action

 

 

Just before leaving the pond, Glen was working the edge on the way back to the launch when his lure was slammed by a sizable fish. Our excitement grew when the bucket sized head of a giant snook broke the surface. In such a small landlocked body of water, we expect a few small snook, but this was the king of the pond! After Glen skillfully landed the beast the fish posed for a few photos before swimming off to fight another day.

Glen's morning monster

 

The fog began to dissipate and we began the long drive into the Everglades for exotic fish. I have wrote about and filmed my favorite spot for exotics in the Everglades for many years, always just stopping short of saying exactly where it is. I always thought people could figure it out, it’s not that big of a secret. While talking to Glen on camera, I finally let the cat out of the bag as to the exact location. We drove to the Collier-Dade Training Airport just off of US 41. Just south of the airport there are large borrow pits created while digging fill dirt. These lakes are very deep and are full of largemouth and peacock bass as well as other exotics.

 

Looking for exotics

 

We walked back to the lakes carrying only the essentials. We opted for live shiners because the peacock bass seem to be a little harder to entice with artificial bait when the temperatures are lower. We immediately began catching fish. They were smaller, average sized peacocks and largemouth. Glen caught and landed his first oscar and had a shot at a few more. We moved on to hit a few other hot spots where we caught varying sized peacocks and largemouth bass. By the late afternoon, the bite shut down and we made our way out of the back area. We caught many fish but the cooler weather kept the largest of the peacocks away.

 

1st oscar

 

Back at the resort we finished up with an ending interview sequence. Glen and Producer Grant were quick and professional and we were done in short order. We had a great time, caught lots of fish and hopefully got enough video for a compelling episode of Average Angler Adventures, exclusively seen on Bright House Sports Network. The latest episode can be seen every Sunday at 7:00 p.m.

 

Filming

Hanging with Songwriters

My good friend and Chapter Coordinator of the newly minted Nashville Songwriters Association International Ft Myers group, Mike King, invited me to cover their November meeting. On tap as a guest speaker was Gary Hannan, a staple of the Nashville music scene. Several talented songwriters performed music they are working on, and the evening culminated in Gary performing his well known songs for the group, including his #1 song, "Tequila makes her clothes fall off".

Mike King introducing the next performer

Folks came from all over SWFL to have their songs evaluated

 

Standing room only

 

My role there was to write a story or press release for the group for Nashville publications. This is the more detailed version;

 

The Nashville Songwriter’s Association International recently chartered a Southwest Florida chapter based in Ft Myers, and Chapter Coordintor, Nashville Recording Artist Michael King, has been busy booking guest speakers for their monthly meetings. November’s meeting featured well known Nashville Songwriter Gary Hannan who penned Joe Nichols #1 hit Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, as well as several songs on Blake Shelton’s 2013 multi-platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, ACA and CMA-winning Album of the Year, “Based on a True Story”. It was standing room only at the event held in North Ft Myers and was open to the public.

Hannan offered advice for up and coming songwriters and offered individual sessions for one on one focused mentoring. “This is indicative of the quality of the guest speakers we intend on having at our meetings”, King said. Chapter members can also look forward to instructional meetings and evaluations of their work by professional Nashville songwriters. “First and foremost, we help each other with song evaluation. The Association has a support system to assist with evaluation and protection of songwriter’s rights. We teach through seminars and mentoring sessions and help with the song pitching process in Nashville”.

After several members performed songs they were working on for the group, Gary Hannan took a turn at the microphone. He talked about growing up in then violent Rhodesia and how he began putting his feelings on paper. As he told stories about his eventful and interesting life, each story would lead to a song inspired by experience, like the melodic and soulful “John Roby”, a tune he wrote about his best friend and soldier who was killed in action during the Rhodesian Bush War. He performed several of his other songs, including “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” for the group before answering questions. “The NSAI is one of the few resources available to songwriters who don’t reside in Nashville”, Hannan said. “It provides them a lifeline to the industry, I really advocate people to join”.

For more information on the NSAI Ft Myers Chapter, check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NSAIFtMyers, or email Chapter Coordinator Michael King at michaelrking73@gmail.com.

Hot Rods and Reels

Recently, I had the good fortune to be invited by the Darrell Gwynn Foundation to cover their fundraising fishing tournament, Hot Rods and Reels, at the Homestead-Miami Speedway during the NASCAR Championship weekend. Accompanying me as a Photographer was my son Eric, who is a race fan but had yet to attend a live race. We arrived at the track early Saturday morning and received our credentials and inside we went.

 

It was a beautiful Florida morning and a perfect day for fishing. At lakeside, the boats were already lined up while anglers and guides registered and began talking strategy. The event pairs NASCAR Drivers with anglers to fish for the largest total weight of largemouth and peacock bass. Soon, the drivers began arriving. Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman, Richard Childress, Clint Bowyer, Kenny Schrader, and Kerry Earnhardt, among others, showed up to fish.
 

Tony Stewart getting ready to fish

 

Richard Childress telling fishing stories

 

Eric and I were able to interview several of the drivers and guides before the event started, and they were all there to win as a matter of pride. We followed the boats and there were many fish caught, including a catfish caught by Kenny Schrader that Clint Bowyer jokingly insisted was an illegal fish. Everyone had a great time, but in the end there could only be one winner.

Clint Bowyer fishing with his team

 

The winners from left to right, Jason Young, Kerry Earnhardt, Terri Knight and guest

 

Kerry Earnhardt was teamed up with Terri Knight who won the fishing/race weekend trip as a promotion for Earnhardt Outdoors. She and a guest fished with Kerry and guide Jason Young. I actually fished a tournament last year with Jason at a FOWA conference (Polk County Surprise) and it was a lot of fun to catch up. Kerry explained the concept behind Earnhardt Outdoors and their new partnership with Tackle Grab. We exchanged email addresses and promised to fish together sometime soon.

 

Talking fishing with Kerry

 

All too soon, it was time to go. Eric and I stayed in Homestead and returned the next day for the race. The whole weekend was an incredible couple of days for a father and son team. For the complete story on the fishing tournament and more information on the Darrell Gwynn Foundation, check out the official Florida Sportsman article here.

Gear Review: Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad XP

 

 

Finding the right piece of equipment for your next adventure can sometimes be a challenge since it seems every company offers many variations of gear. For trekking in the Everglades, I have gone through several different backpacks that all fell short in different ways. Some were great tackle carriers while some were good at protecting equipment like cameras. But none were great at everything.

 

 

 

I saw the Wild River Tackle Tek Nomad XP by Custom Leather Craft backpack at ICAST and at first it looked a little too gadgety for me. It had lights and chargers and too much stuff for something just to carry gear. It has a rechargeable battery pack and a USB port for charging electronics like cell phones. It also has an optional solar panel for charging the battery pack. There is also a small LED light for illuminating the inside of the pack that flips out for task lighting. A couple of weeks later I had one delivered to my door and placed it in my closet where it sat for a while, forgotten.

 

 

The first chance I was able to use it was an overnight hunting and fishing trip to Babcock Ranch. This was a short trip and I didn’t want to carry several gear bags, so I pulled out the Nomad and gave it a good looking over. The first thing I noticed was a top opening section just large enough for my camera and accessories. The sides and bottom are padded and I added the divider from my camera bag and everything fit like a glove. The bottom section of the main pack had plenty of room for the next day’s clothing, and then some.

 

Several side pockets of varying sizes held cell phones, glasses, sunscreen, etc. We were out in the middle of nowhere and by the next morning, my iPhone battery was at 14%. I plugged in the charger with the supplied tip and was surprised to see the phone charging fairly rapidly. After 20 minutes the phone showed 85%. That was just enough to last the rest of the day in a very remote area, and there was still 75% charging capability left in the charger. The pack was comfortable to wear and easy enough to take off for access to gear.

 

 

I used the Nomad again shortly thereafter on a day trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary. I used the top portion for my camera again and this time I used the bottom portion as a cooler. My wife, Bonny, placed several cold drinks and snacks in with plenty of room to spare. During our three hour walk through the sanctuary, I took the pack off several times to change lenses and batteries, or to get a cold drink. Each time I noticed it was very comfortable to wear it and it caused no fatigue whatsoever.

 

 

Soon, the real test was to begin. I originally wanted the Nomad for hiking in the Everglades. Sometimes I walk for miles to a fishing spot and it’s very important to forget nothing. Some of the day packs I have used before are basically bags and everything is thrown together. For this trip I used the Nomad’s top access for my camera again, and the bottom area fit my tackle and drinks. Side pockets held Deet, first aid kit, spare tools, etc. The Everglades can be very inhospitable and bulky backpacks will physically wear you down. The Nomad performed flawlessly and remained comfortable to wear the entire day. Easy access to tackle and gear ensured that I caught more fish than Jim VanPelt. Although it was dry that day, in the summer it frequently rains in the ‘Glades, and the Nomad is ready with an attached rain cover in a top compartment.

 

Now for the techy part;

Product Specifications (All measurements approximate)

Light Source: LED Light

Output/Levels: 13 lumens max.

 3 levels Power: 2 AAA 1.5V batteries, included

Exterior Dimensions: 17"W x 18.5"H x 8.5"D

Tray Compartment Dimensions: 11.75"W x 7.75"H x 8"D

Weight: 4.75 lbs

Weight w/4 #3600 Trays (WT3604): 7.5 lbs

Tray Dimension (#3600): 10.75"W x 1.75"H x 7"D

 

All in all I like the Nomad. This will be my go-to day hike pack because I can use it as a camera bag, and because it has a lot of room. It also keeps gear separated and easy to access. All seams and zippers are heavy duty and well-crafted for durability. At around $200, depending on options, it’s also fairly easy on the wallet. For more information on the Tackle Tek Nomad Xp Lighted Backpack, check out www.gowildriver.com. 

A Master Knifemaker, Gordon Romeis

The right gear can make the difference between a great day of adventure or a cascading event failure. There are some types of gear you can skimp on and some that are so important that you may want to pay a little more for quality. Cutting tools, more specifically knives, are such an item.

Gordon is a member of the Knifemakers Guild
 

 

Knives are an essential item for someone who spends a lot of time in the outdoors. I recognized early on that many store bought knives don’t hold up over time, especially when put to hard use. Custom made knives can be pricey and you don’t always know what you are getting in terms of quality. A few years ago I found out about Gordon Romeis. He has been a knife maker since 1977 and is a member of the prestigious Knifemaker’s Guild. More importantly, Gordon has been able to bridge the value gap by giving the buyer a much higher quality custom made knife for affordable price. 

Gordon is always working on something new

 

Gordon’s workshop is located in Ft Myers. It is an unassuming backyard shed full of equipment and raw materials. Many knifemakers start with a pre-cut blade but all of his knives start out as a bar of 440c stainless steel that he shapes into one of his designs. This is all done by hand using grinders and sanders…and a lot of patience. Once this step is complete, the blades are sent off to be heat treated. Gordon then finishes the knives with a large variety of handle materials including Micarta, bone, horn and antler, wood and even mastodon ivory. A custom sheath is made from leather or a kydex material for certain blades.

Custom handles are made from exotic materials

Gordon at the wheel

 

Finishing up a new knife

 

One of my favorite knives of all time is the Romeis “Florida Caper”. This is a shorter, single edged blade that I use as a utility knife. I have done everything from bait cutting to making tent stakes with this knife and it still looks brand new. My Caper is outfitted with Micarta, an extremely durable material made of cloth and resin. It has a full tang and is very light. The fit and finish boasts the quality of this blade. It fits my hand perfectly and I have never found a store bought knife that comes close it and the Caper is a Romeis original design.

The Romeis Florida Caper

 

Over the years I have gone through several fillet knives. The blades can be so thin that they eventually bend or break with extended use. The balance of the knife can also be an issue with fillet knives as the weight is in the handle or whether the blade has a full tang, meaning the blade steel runs the full length and width of the handle which affects the strength and stability of the knife. My Romeis fillet is a balanced 6 ¼ inch hollow ground beauty. The blade is 1/16^th inch thick for a flexible yet sturdy feel. The comfortable Micarta handle reduces fatigue and the high quality 440c stainless steel ensures it stays sharp after plenty of use.

Fillet knives in various stages

 

The finished beauty

 

Gordon makes a wide variety of custom products from paring knives to fighting blades, and everything in between. He uses Alabama Damascus steel to create one of a kind collectable knife and can make a completely custom shaped blade to your specifications. A standard knife, like the Florida Caper, can start as little as $165, which is a very small price to pay for a custom product of this high quality. For more information, check out Gordon’s website at www.romeisknives.com or email him at gordonromeis@gmail.com.

Combat knife

Finished orders

The Romeis para-hatchet

Hunting and Fishing Babcock Ranch

“There’s one” Dan exclaimed, quickly raising his rifle to his shoulder. I barely had time to react when the rifle cracked like thunder. I was able to catch a glimpse of the big hog just as he fell over.

 

We were hunting on Babcock Ranch Preserve, part of the Crescent B Ranch. The Preserve consists of over 70 thousand acres in Charlotte and Lee Counties and it represents one of the largest single purchases of conservation land in the state's history. The area protects incredibly diverse natural habitats, important water resources and scenic landscapes in the quickly growing southwest Florida area. Portions of the Preserve are under hunting lease agreements, and we were on Dan’s family lease. I was fortunate to be invited for a day of hunting and fishing in one of Florida’s best known and most pristine wilderness areas.

 

We arrived early the evening before, driving on partially submerged trails for miles from any asphalt covered roadways. These trails lead through open pastures, pine canopies shading palmetto and cypress lined creeks and ponds. This is a working cattle ranch and we drove past herds of cows being worked by real-life cowboys. This is the real old Florida, from the days of cattle barons and homesteaders.

 

The camp consisted of an older cabin situated on the banks of Clay Gully. Permanent buildings are not allowed, but the cabin was an existing structure from an earlier era, meticulously restored by Dan’s Father-in-law, Bruce. The remarkably quiet generators supplied enough electricity to provide air-conditioning and lighting which was a nice surprise given the remoteness of the camp and the residual heat left over from a hot summer day. After dinner, we fished in the creek for a while and caught some of the most beautiful bluegill I have ever seen.

 

 

 

After a fitful sleep, I awoke to fresh coffee and breakfast. In the inky pre-dawn darkness, we loaded up the camp jeep for the ride into even more remote areas to find our quarry. As our headlights scanned the trail before us, we spied raccoons, possums and deer scampering into the brush. After going through a couple cattle gates, we approached the boundary of the lease, Dan turned onto a submerged trail and the older but very capable camp jeep came to a sudden stop. Flashlight in hand, Dan surveyed the scene and found the problem. “Looks like we threw a wheel bearing. It’s on foot from here”. We made the best of what could've been a ruined trip and hunted our way back to the safe haven of camp. We had quite the trek ahead of us, with rifles slung, day packs stocked with water and jerky. This ended up playing to our advantage. Without the rumble of the engine and creaking of the jeep, we were able to pick up the subtleties of tracking. Turkey, deer, raccoon, hogs and alligator tracks were seen during our journey back to Dan's pickup at camp.

 

Since 1914, the Crescent B Ranch has produced timber, cattle, crops, and sod, and provided recreation opportunities such as hunting and ecotourism.  The area is so vast that much of it remained untouched and natural. During the sale of the property in 2006, a portion of the original ranch was reserved for a private residential development known as the Babcock Ranch Community and the remainder was sold to the state. The Preserve is managed by a unique public-private partnership which helps maintain the property as a working ranch with hunting and eco-tourism operations. Revenue from these activities provides the resources necessary to maintain and protect the property for the citizens of Florida.

 

 

 We had been walking the trail for a short time. The sun had come up over a nearby prairie flooding the wooded edge with light. “There’s one” Dan exclaimed, quickly raising his rifle to his shoulder. I barely had time to react when the rifle cracked like thunder. I was able to catch a glimpse of the big hog just as he fell over. There were a few others that scattered into the woods in response to the gunshot. Dan took off across the field, closing the gap in short order. It was a good hog, certainly big and meaty enough for a few family barbeques. A short foray into the woods confirmed the rest of the group was long gone. Dan field dressed the hog and we completed the long hike back to camp.

A couple hours later we were headed to a fishing pond on the lease. We stopped by the camp jeep to partially dismantle the front end for replacing later. Turns out we spun a hub as well. As we journeyed to the fishing spot, Dan explained there are a few on the property, and his family has landed bass up to 12 pounds. Not hard to believe when you see the deep, clear borrow pits and plethora of baitfish on the surface. Little fishing pressure means the fish are receptive to our artificial bait. Within minutes, drag was peeling line from my reel. The bass wasn’t huge, but it was fat and healthy. Bass elsewhere in Florida can sometimes be a little thin, but these fish are dense and heavy for their size and great fighters as well.

 

 

We rounded out the day with a photo safari. I didn’t want to keep Dan much longer from getting the camp jeep back in order. We drove through mainly forested areas, stopping to take photos of whatever looked good. Along the way we saw deer, Osceola turkey, quail and even some crayfish, which Dan says taste like little lobsters. I will take his word on that. Born and raised in Florida, Dan’s excitement and love of the area was evident. “Within a three hour drive from here, you can engage in world-class off shore fishing, inshore fishing, freshwater fishing and hunting”. Indeed he is correct, which is why Florida, and particularly places like Babcock Ranch Preserve, remains a sportsman’s paradise.