We don’t have cable TV at our house. We just roll ol’ school in the media department and use a pair of rabbit ears (plus converter box) to pick up the stations that are out there for free.

I’m not anti-cable or anything like that. I’m just … frugal.

A lot of people tell me that they couldn’t imagine life without cable/satellite or not being able to watch such and such show every week – I gotta say, in all humility, it hasn’t been an issue.

Now, having said that, when my wife and I travel we definitely take advantage of the in-room cable and the enormous flat screens with surround sound and we thoroughly enjoy episodes of shows we don’t otherwise catch.

We’ll often end up staying awake far, far too late watching some of the crazier “reality shows” that are out there like the one about the dog trainer or the one about the guy who intentionally signs on to do some dirty job or the one about people finding new homes in other countries or the one about people finding valuable treasures amid junk.

That last one, the one about finding hidden treasures, that one really intrigues me. We’ve been to enough homes around the county to know that one man’s junk is truly another man’s treasure.

We have seen some pretty amazing stuff.

I’m not one to judge, so there is no criticism here, I’m just sayin’ that there is no end to what people will collect, display, hoard or accumulate whether by design or default.

So the other day, we were out seeing a client – actually his pet potbelly pig — and I was just sort of chatting with him (the client, not the pig) as we concluded business and, somehow, the topic of fishing came up. Well, one thread of conversation led to another and before long I mentioned that I do a lot of flyfishing. He told me he never really tried flyfishing but he thought it looked interesting. Then he told me to hold on a second and disappeared into an outbuilding that he said was once a smokehouse/meat locker/butchering shed but hadn’t been used as such since 1971.

When he re-remerged he was holding two brick-colored cardboard tubes with the Fenwick label on one end. He said that they belonged to his grandfather and they ought to go to someone who could truly appreciate them ‘cause all they were doing at his house was collecting dust. Despite my objections, he pressed them into my hands and made me promise to actually use them… like that’s gonna be a problem.

When we finally finished our appointments for the day (one of the longest days on record, by the way) and our mobile veterinary hospital was safely docked and carefully cleaned and I was officially off the clock, I carefully unpacked them – a total Indiana Jones moment for me if there ever was one. Both rods were in near new condition down to the original prices tags ($24.95). After pulling the info off the butt section of each one, I hit the Internet (just a little ironic). It only took a while but eventually I was pretty confident that what I had in my possession were two pre-1960 eight-and- a-half foot, 7-wt or 8-wt fiberglass fly rods.

Further research showed that the guys who use fiberglass rods really love ‘em. I sort of got the impression that they are like the guys who still drive 1964 Chevy Impalas or the guys who still listen to oldies on AM radio…or like the guys who still use rabbit ears to watch TV.

So, after reading all the glowing reports … I naturally, went fishing.

And…it was pretty darn amazing… like driving a ’64 Impala…listenin’ to oldies on AM…adjusting the rabbit ears to get the best picture…

I love this addiction called urban fly fishin’.

I picked up my Okuma SLV 2/3 Fly Reel for fishing our local mountain streams. Small, Lightweight, Good drag, and Durable are the qualities that I most value in a reel for these situations. The SLV 2/3 delivers all that and more. This little guy requires little to no maintainance; just pull it out, attached it to the reel seat, and you’re ready to fish.  Fits great with my Okuma 7′ 6″ Guide Select Fly rod, and holds just enough fly line and backing for that rare 14-20″ fish. The Large Arbour Disk Drag is strong enough to keep a big fish where you want him, and the one way bearing allows for quick line retrieves (great when hopping from one hole to another). I have already dropped my reel a few times and it’s none the worse for it (something that I have come to expect from Okuma). I was a little sceptical over the rubber grip reel handle, but I found myself very satisfied with the quality and it does keep your soaking wet fingers on the reel. Overall, a great reel at a great price. It’s extremely hard to find a reel of this quality, staying within this price range. All you need is one of these reels and a back up spool for your sinking tip line and your ready for anything these little native fish have to throw your way. Okuma just keeps making quality gear at great prices, and that’s what Urban Fly fishing is all about.

I have recently been fishing with my new Okuma Integrity 8/9 Weight Fly Reel. I bought it for my 8 weight Surf fishing set up, and have been using it as my all around Saltwater reel. As always with Okuma, I am extremely satisfied with all aspects of the reel. This large disk drag reel was extremely smooth and carried a ton of line, which is a lifesaver in the surf. The reel feels a little heavier in your hand than some of it’s competitors, but the solid design and superior drag system beat out the competition any day. It’s low maintenance and does not require cork oiling. After a few times of  being dipped into sand infested water, not even a grain made it into the internals of the reel.  For this kind of set up I would recommend buying  at least one backup spool as you will want one set up one with an Intermediate or  Floating line and another with a sink tip or full sinking line. The solid design of this reel along with the affordable price make it great for Urban Fly Fishermen.  We are notorious for giving our fly equipment a beating, and Okuma makes these reels to take it. The reel comes in 5/6, 7/8, 8/9. and 10/11 weight designs. Get yours today and get an amazing priced reel that in my opinion blows the competition away!

Came home from the usual run of errand stops on Monday and my wife had strategically placed the cardboard shipping tube and USPS boxes where I would see them as soon as I walked in the door — after all these years, she knows me pretty well and besides, I think she secretly delights in watching me well-up and squeal like a little girl now and then.

I think it is some kind of subliminal test she conducts (perhaps without even fully realizing she is doing it) to affirm my manhood and fitness as a mate — “yup, he broke down over new fishing gear. He’s obviously a hunter/gatherer, interested in providing food for the table and he can be sensitive as well — baby daddy material — and he’s all mine!”

Anyway, my new Pflueger 9-ft, 8-wt fly rod and Okuma large arbor reel along with some Cortland 8 wt sinking tip line had finally arrived from Troutlet.com.

I say “finally” but it is in the same way as one would shout “Finally!” after winning a huge, undeserved jack pot or something. In actuality. my new rig arrived in about a week from the time I ordered it online. Quick, efficient, and right to the door — not that I mind rooting around the local fly shop for hours at a time, but a week’s wait is a good trade off to jacking up the credit card bill to just under the national debt of Chile.

Needless to say, I spent a very pleasant evening setting up my new rig and getting it ready for it’s maiden voyage. After some careful negotiating with the missus it was determined that we would go to El Dorado Park in Long Beach where she could ride her bicycle and I could hit the small lakes that dot the park.

Next morning I christened the tip of my new rod in coffee (since I don’t drink anymore) and off we went.

The new rig performed admirably and I was able to reach areas that i could not get a fly to before. The cool part was the way it handled the big bass flies with ease, tossing them out past the algae and weeds. The weather had taken a turn toward hot and windless and and the fish had all seemed to hunker down for the day. No one was catching anything anywhere.

Nevertheless, I was quite pleased with how this new rod, reel and line looked, felt and cast. Since it is bigger and stiffer than the rig I normally use, at nine feet, it took a little practice for me to get used to it. I spent a little under an hour casting at the ducks and stuff until I was comfortable with it.

So far, I think I got a great deal and I can’t wait to take it out to the beach, which is what I purchased it for in the first place.

Who says you can’t have Christmas in June!

The Okuma Tempest Fly Fishing Combo has become my everyday 5 weight fly fishing set up. I use the combo for everything warm water related.  For Bass at Park Lakes, Carp on the LA River, and for Trout in the larger mountain streams. It’s not that I don’t own other fly rods and reels, it’s just that I can’t put this on down. The quality that you are getting at an affordable price is amazing. The Adjustable one way roller bearing drag system is amazingly reliable and I have not experienced slippage one time. The rod casts just as good as any $300 rod that I have tried and the backbone really holds up. The largest fish that I landed with this setup was a 12 pound Carp on the LA River and the rod didn’t feel stressed at all. This combo comes in a 5 & 8 weight setup and I would buy both if I were you at Okuma!

If you are planning on buying a fly selection, you have got to take a look at the America’s 20 best trout flies selection from Orvis. The website is Orvis, and the selection is only $9.95 w/ free shipping. It comes with 20 flies a mixtures of; Buggers, Stimulator’s, Drys, and Nymphs. I have never bought a fly selection that gives you more bang for your buck. Not only are they good for all sizes of trout, but I have caught Bass, Catfish, Carp, and all kinds of Sunfish off of the flies in this selection. So go and pick one up before it’s too late!!!