NWS Skywarn Spotter Training 2026

 The Little Girl and I renewed our Skywarn Spotter training in New Smyrna Beach last night. Will Ulrich, the Warning Coordination Manager for the Melbourne NWS office, and his intern (I'm sorry to say I didn't catch his name), gave a very engaging presentation. Weather is a huge part of life in Florida and plays a significant role in fishing, such that some extra training is always beneficial. And, knowing that you have the knowledge to be called upon by the NWS is pretty rewarding as well. Highly recommended!

How-To Festival - Port Orange 12 Sept 2026

 Had a fantastic time at the Volusia County Public Library How-To Fest at the Port Orange Regional Library! The MCFF booth had steady traffic throughout the event as we got to talk with many people about the local flyfishing opportunities. I spent much of my time behind the vise demonstrating some basic flytying. We also had a team outside helping folks make their first fly casts. Later in the afternoon we had a 30 minute presentation timeslot giving tips to get folks started flyfishing right here in our area. We ended the event by giving away a ton of gear to all those who signed up for our free raffle. We had a great time and, I think, a lot of attendees left with a new interest in flyfishing. I hope to continue to drive MCFF into participating in events like this to promote the flyfishing community here in the central coast through my tenure as Club president. Many thanks to the Library for inviting us and to Guy, Will, Ben and Bobby for generously giving their time!!

A Small Kayak Ditch Kit

 A few months back I did a presentation for the Mid-Coast Flyfishers on building a Ditch Kit or Ditch Bag for kayaking and small boats.  The kit can easily be scaled up or down to suit a variety of situations and conditions, but I had a couple goals in mind when I put it together.  Goal 1: Follow Dave Canterbury's 10 C's of Survival as a guide. Goal 2: Try to utilize as much gear already in my collection as I can. Goal 3: Keep it small and light enough to fit in the MTM box that's been looking for a new purpose.  Most of these products were things I already had on hand that just needed to be pulled together into kit form, but should be able to be obtained readily and fairly inexpensively.  The use case I envisioned for this kit would be along the lines of becoming stranded on one of the many spoil islands we have in our area after kayaking, or perhaps having to seek shelter to wait out a storm.  Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Here's the list of Dave Canterbury's 10 C's of Survival and what I used to fill in each category:

C1:  Cutting Tool: Fixed Blade Knife Maratac Compact R4A (Ready 4 Action) Fixed Blade

C2:  Combustion: Fire Kit of Striker, Ferro Rod, Lifeboat Matches, Bic Lighter (I keep mine wrapped             with Gorilla Tape and Waxed Hemp cordage)

C3:  Cover: Space Blanket

C4:  Cordage: Paracord (A hank of about 10' minimum is what I prefer to keep on hand)

C5:  Container: Whirl-Pak Bag (Holds a liter of water, but can be packed down to about the size of a lip         balm tube)

C6:  Compass: County Comm

C7:  Cloth: Cotton Hankerchief

C8:  Candling: Small flashlight (In this kit, I went with a peanut-style flashlight for it's small size.  It's a         backup to the slightly larger light I keep in my EDC. I also included two Snap Light chem light            sticks.)

C9:  Cargo Tape: Gorilla tape on lighter

C10: Combination Tool: Leatherman

A few other things I added to round out the kit and make it more "mission specific" are:

    A physical map of the local area (state map as placeholder, but better than nothing)

    A personal (and personalized) first aid kit

    A small snack and hydration bag

    A small personal hygiene kit

    A spare signal whistle

    A small ham radio or backup communications device

    A pack of water purification tablets

MCFF Presents F3T Daytona Beach

 

MCFF at Community Fishing Day Lake Woodruff NWR

Good morning Folks!

  Here's a few photos of the Mid-Coast Flyfishers’ booth at the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Community Fishing Day that took place on Saturday morning.  It was a very warm and muggy morning, but that didn’t seem to deter folks from coming out and enjoying the event!  I was joined in the booth by 4 other MCFF members (Bob Dillon, Will Moore, past Club secretary Capt. Frank Brownell and Club treasurer Guy Faherty) where we introduced folks to flyfishing opportunities and target species in our local area.  We had fly tying vices available and demonstrated a few simple flies, as well as a good selection of rods rigged up and ready for many to make their very first fly casts!  I believe we caught a good many future fly fishers, along with a few fish during the course of the morning! We were also able to make good contacts with the local Scout groups, had great conversations with interested folks on the state of our local waterways and, thanks to the knowledge we acquired from Jessy  Wayles, the Community Engagement Coordinator for the IRL Council, at our last Club meeting, we were able to share some good news about the condition of grasses in the Indian River Lagoon.  It was a great event, one that MCFF looks forward to returning to, but it was fantastic to see so many enthusiastic folks getting their feet wet fishing, flyfishing and in local conservation all at the same time.

Our Setup

Pres. Nick Hisey

Some of the crew! Pres. Nick Hisey, Treas. Guy Faherty, Past Sec. Capt. Frank Brownell.

Maggie Valley Fly Fishing Festival 2026 - First Shot

 My first trip to the Maggie Valley Fly Fishing Festival! Couldn't ask for a much better spot for an event like this! Cool with some cloud cover, so should make for a great day!!

NEBO Unveils LEO FLEX Series -- Press Release 15 April 2026

 

NEBO Unveils LEO FLEX Series: The Perfect Blend of Power and Portability in Flashlights Fort Worth, Texas (Apr. 15, 2026) – When selecting a flashlight, two key factors must be considered. It must be versatile enough to use in nearly any situation without sacrificing features or functionality, and large enough to get the job done while remaining small enough to be easily carried. These requirements call for a flashlight that is not bulky and can deliver far more utility than traditional options ever dreamed of. The team at NEBO excels with its latest offerings in the LEO FLEX line of flashlights: the LEO 3200 FLEX, LEO 5000 FLEX, and LEO 7500 FLEX. Depending on the model, each delivers between 3,200 and 7,500 lumens of illumination, designed for professionals and adventurers. Each LEO FLEX flashlight employs Flex-Power, allowing them to be powered by an included rechargeable battery or standard alkaline batteries for quick and convenient backup. These flashlights combine cutting-edge technology with unbeatable versatility and durability. Each model features five lighting modes ranging from Turbo to Strobe. The LEO FLEX 3200 delivers impressive performance with Flex-Power™ technology, providing versatility for any situation. It comes equipped with 3x adjustable zoom, Smart Temperature Control™ (STC), and a powerful magnetic base for easy attachment to metal surfaces. The LEO 5000 FLEX delivers up to 5,000 lumens and provides up to 24 hours of rechargeable battery life, while the LEO 7500 FLEX offers up to 7,500 lumens with up to 12 hours of rechargeable battery life. Both models are IPX7 waterproof, impact-resistant, and include an integrated power bank to charge any USB-powered devices on the go. Constructed from anodized aircraft-grade aluminum, the LEO 5000 FLEX, LEO 7500 FLEX, and LEO FLEX 3200 all feature 3x adjustable zoom, Smart Temperature Control, Direct-to-Low, Smart Power Control, and PowerSave lockout mode. They are USB-C rechargeable and can alternatively be powered by six AAA batteries. When looking for a dependable, easy-to-carry, and versatile flashlight for use on the job or while on the go, choose NEBO’s LEO 3200 FLEX, LEO 5000 FLEX, or LEO 7500 FLEX rechargeable flashlight. Explore the full line of NEBO products by visiting nebolights.com. NEBO – LEO 3200 FLEX FEATURES: • Five Light Settings • Flex-Power™ technology • 3x adjustable zoom • Smart Temperature Control™ (STC) • Power Bank • Powerful magnetic base • Anodized aircraft-grade aluminum • Waterproof (IPX7) and impact-resistant (1-meter) • USB-C Rechargeable PRICE AND SKU: • MSRP $64.99 • SKU NEB-FLT-0062 NEBO – LEO 5000 FLEX FEATURES: • Five Light Settings • Flex-Power™ technology • 3x adjustable zoom • Smart Temperature Control™ (STC) • Smart Power Control™ (SPC) • Power Bank • PowerSave™ lockout mode • Anodized aircraft-grade aluminum • Waterproof (IPX7) and impact-resistant (1-meter) • USB-C Rechargeable PRICE AND SKU: • MSRP $79.99 • SKU NEB-FLT-0063 NEBO – LEO 7500 FLEX FEATURES: • Five Light Settings • Flex-Power™ technology • 3x adjustable zoom • Smart Temperature Control™ (STC) • Smart Power Control™ (SPC) • Power Bank • PowerSave™ lockout mode • Anodized aircraft-grade aluminum • Waterproof (IPX7) and impact-resistant (1-meter) • USB-C Rechargeable PRICE AND SKU: • MSRP $89.99 • SKU NEB-FLT-0064 ABOUT NEBO: At NEBO, we believe that breakthroughs and big ideas always require unconventional thinking. Having sold over 30 million of the world’s best-selling lines of innovative, consumer-friendly flashlights and tools, we never stop creating. We expand the possibilities for our consumers by offering more than just the brightest lights on the market. At NEBO, we continually innovate to offer the highest quality LED lighting products at the best price so that you can keep making and doing. We exist to bring light to what you do. Visit us at WWW.NEBOLIGHTS.COM For more information, please visit  WWW.NEBOLIGHTS.COM