CAMERON MORTENSON
Business Name: The Fiberglass Manifesto and Fishy Kid
Websites: www.TheFiberglassManifesto.com and www.FishyKid.org
Number of days fished last year: Not enough. It is a bit depressing how much real life can cramp the fly fishing lifestyle. I did a lot of local trips (warmwater, coldwater, and saltwater) around South Carolina and North Carolina and then trips to Michigan and Colorado as well.
I’ve already got a long list of trips mapped out for 2010.
Favorite fishing location: Anywhere considered “Backcountry”.Favorite fly and why: I’ve really gotten into midge fishing the past few years since it really evens out the game when you are targeting large fish on small flies and light tippet.
What Willy J products do you wear: All of the Old School line, Current chest pack and Conduit gear bag from the MAG series, and Tech series Escape Pack.
What one item would you never head to the river without: Lunch. I used to do trips without food or even water since all I could think about was get to the river and fish. I would get off the water at dark completely spent. Those days are gone. Now part of planning for a trip is putting a good lunch together. Taking an hour or so during the trip to talk with friends at the vehicle or on the water sometimes means as much as the fly fishing itself.
Favorite music to take along: Radiohead, Ben Kweller, Regina Spektor, Bright Eyes, Ben Folds, Smashing Pumpkins, The White Stripes, and a long list of other artists. I also listen to a lot of podcasts as well.
Your most memorable day fishing: I spent a week in Wyoming a couple summers ago and fished lesser known rivers near Jackson with a friend. We spent a day on an out of the way creek and I caught a 21 inch Bonneville Cutthroat which lazily rose to a large dry fly on a four weight glass rod and vintage clicker reel.
Facts (fishing or non-fishing): I have fished fiberglass fly rods exclusively for the past five years in all line weights. Also I’ve been married for the last ten years to a “Liberated Southern Belle”, two young children, career, and somehow still find time to get on the water.
Catch you're most proud of: A few years ago my wife and I were backpacking in the Rocky Mountain National Park and we made it up to a stunning high altitude lake with greenback cutthroats just as a storm was closing in on us. I had enough time to pick out a good sized greenback cruising the edge of the lake and drop a tiny foam beetle in front of him. He took and I quickly played him to hand before breaking down the gear and heading back to our tent site two lakes away.
Other hobbies: I seem to be a hack at a long list of things but my other interests include photography, writing, travel, fly tying, cooking/grilling, and collecting fiberglass fly rods and vintage reels.