Goat Head Gear Logo

Howdy everyone. It’s been a while since my last post. I have had my nose to the grindstone for the last 11 months as a self-employed consultant and working on a couple of other businesses to boot. The one I am most excited about called Goat Head Gear is getting closer to reality. My business partner and I have been working hard on our first product, a small shoe screw for trail running and wading, called Sole Spikes™.  You can apply the screw into the lug of any running shoe, hiking boot, or wading shoe, generally about 10 screws per shoe.  They provide AMAZING traction in winter/trail running and provide some real bite when wading, particularly with the newer rubber soled boots.  We started this process over a year ago and have been refining our design and working with engineers to get a killer product at a great price.  We are working on the first real prototype to be completed in the next 2-3 weeks.  If that is successful we will start the process of officially launching our product.  The cool news is that we are introducing our product as a project on Kickstarter.com where we will be using “crowd funding” to help pay for our initial costs.  We have some nice thank you gifts for those who are kind enough to donate.  We hope to have that live in the next couple of weeks.  Please stay tuned for updates and of course it would be great to have your support on the campaign.  Check it out today.  Enjoy!

ReAL Racer Pinewood Derby Car

Ok, so not really a green car per se, but this car is completely emission free and still goes pretty fast, provided you have a nice slope.

My son designed this car and helped me build it for his most recent pinewood derby.  It is inspired by our favorite sports team, Real Salt Lake.  On the tail it has my son’s soccer jersey number (and also that of Chris Wingert, defender for RSL).

I would like to report that the car is as fast as it looks, but I would be lying.  Unfortunately, I made the mistake of tacking weights onto the bottom of the car which dragged a bit on the track.  I think the car also needed to be better aligned as it veered a little right.  Well you can’t have it all I suppose, or at least not when I am in charge.  Maybe next year we will go for the speed and leave the looks behind.

Now we just need to get Chris Wingert to sign it.  That would be a nice touch.  Here are a few more views (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Beautiful spring time rainbow trout

Some great links for your reading pleasure.

Anglers’ delight: Hungry fish seeking spring meal (Via Deseret News) – Be sure to get out before the great spring fishing is gone:

Green River electroshocking report and a big brown trout (Via Salt Lake Tribune Outdoor Blog) – What is happening to the big fish on the Green River? That river used to be full of them.  I thought the fish on my last trip were generally smaller.

Utah DWR presents Fishing the Weber River:

In a rare move, Apple has actually offered up some interesting content as a free download in iTunes.  For this week only, you can download a full episode of the acclaimed BBC documentary series, Planet Earth.  Get yours today while it is still free.  Planet Earth – Planet Earth, Series 1 – From Pole to Pole

I imagine I sound like a Brett Prettyman fanboy on this blog (I promise I am not stalking him), but I have to say he seems to hit the nail on the head every time and in the case of the link I am sharing here, he has written a masterpiece.  This opinion piece which will be appearing in the Salt Lake Tribune says everything I wish I could say about the disaster that is HB141.  This should be the rallying cry that the rest of the state, even those without interests in fishing, should use to express outrage at our pathetic legislative process and so called leadership from Governor Herbert. Please comment on your thoughts on his article.  It’s not too late to get angry.

Prettyman: Legislative foolishness could cost us big bucks (via Salt Lake Tribune)

Burrowing Owl - Geri Lawrence - Deseret News

Wow, I take one day off, get buried by email, and the blog suffers. Well got to pay the bills.  There was a TON of interesting outdoors related news in the last couple of days.  Check out the links below.

Utah DWR:

• Answers about fishing & stream access
• Great early-season fishing in Northern Utah – File this under “Wish I had fished these rivers when I had the chance”
• Nine Mile Reservoir produces 9-pound tiger
• Board approves big game permits – Maybe I’ll get my tag!
• New elk plan approved

Idaho Statesman:

• Hook up with trout in April – Go fishing in Idaho, all of their waters are public!

Deseret News:

• Hike of the week: Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Coyote Hollow Trailhead
• REI presents classes on hiking, biking basics
• Bird walk Saturday in Layton
• Owls may find salvation at Utah chemical weapons depot

It is with extreme sarcasm and complete derision that I would like to thank Governor Gary Herbert for stripping Utahns of rights we have enjoyed since the settling of the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.  With the signing of HB141, you have robbed the right of public water access from the citizens and given them away to the property owners.  Not only have you cost this state jobs and dollars by signing away our outdoor legacy, but you will also have cost yourself a job as Governor (I mean one that the people actually voted for).  What is it about an easement that is so egregious?  Every property owner has them for utilities or sidewalks.  This easement should be granted to the benefit of all to enjoy the relatively small amount of flowing public water in this desert state.  This law will be challenged in court costing good people and this state far too much time and money for something that could have been resolved through collaboration and openness.  I am confident that the rights of the people will be restored through the courts.  It is just completely stupid that it has to come to this.

Sign me up to campaign for your challenger!

• Gov. Herbert signs bill restricting access to streams on private property (Deseret News)
• Utah governor signs bill limiting stream access (KSL.com)
• Governor signs contentious stream access bill (SL Tribune)
• Utah Gov Has Family Ties To Stream Access Bill (KUTV News)
• Anglers Angered Over Bill Restricting Access To Rivers (KUTV News)

Trying to be eco-conscious, I have decided to recycle this post as it is more timely than ever.  Word on the web is that Governor Herbert will decide by Wednesday how he will proceed with HB141.  The hopes and prayers of those that enjoy the outdoors are that he will veto it.  Also, on a positive note, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that the Governor took time meet with some representatives of those who oppose the bill, including the head of the Outdoor Retailer’s Association. I also want to thank Senator Neiderhauser for supporting the rights of citizens in this state and opposing HB141.  Given that those who support the bill think that more study is needed to determine its impact (they are establishing a committee to do so) I don’t understand the rush to sign this bill. I say study first, decide later. Please take a moment and send Governor Herbert an email with this form letting him know he should veto this bill.

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Help us Gov. Herbert, you are our only hope!

Outdoor recreation in Utah was dealt a serious blow yesterday with the passage if HB141, a bill that strips citizens of the right to use their legally accessed flowing public waters on private land.  Our only hope now is that Utah state Governor Gary Herbert either vetoes or simply doesn’t sign the bill (I have since learned that not signing = signing in Utah…WHAT?!?!).  Signing the bill would be a HUGE mistake and many, including me, expect it to have a real economic impact on the state in the form … Continue Reading

I made it to the International Sportsman’s Expo in Sandy, Utah last night with my two youngest kids.  We had a pretty fun time especially thanks to a mix up at the box office where, to make things right, they let me in free (thanks again whoever you are).  If you like avoiding crowds, then I think Thursday night is the time to go.  It was very low key and we got a parking space right near the front door.

Several of the booths had some free schwag they were giving away, our haul included a spinner bait, goby plastics, hooks, several stickers, some bendy things, a rubber bracelet, and some nice mule deer antler head dresses.  Additionally I got some free stuff from Fish Pimp, because I bought a couple of their items from a fly shop that had a booth there.  It was a pretty good deal.

There were tons of junk merchants and never-ending booths from outfitters and guides trying to get you to sign up for a killer trip. I wish this blog brought in the kind of dough that would allow me to partake, but so far, I can’t even by a gumball with my click earnings.  Maybe one day in the future.  Until then I can only dream about the fun I would have on those once-in-a-lifetime trips.

The booth highlights for me were:

• No Pebble Mine/Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska – They are a group dedicated to protecting the legendary Bristol Bay fishery from the creation of the world’s largest open pit mine.  Met a twitter buddy @kyleindenver who was manning the booth.  I wish them luck in their efforts.  If you would like to find out more check them out at:
  • http://www.sportsmansalliance4ak.org/
  • http://twitter.com/nopebblemine
• Spinner Fall/Jack Dennis – Met Dudley, a guide from Spinner Fall

… Continue Reading

Help us Gov. Herbert, you are our only hope!

Outdoor recreation in Utah was dealt a serious blow yesterday with the passage if HB141, a bill that strips citizens of the right to use their legally accessed flowing public waters on private land.  Our only hope now is that Utah state Governor Gary Herbert either vetoes or simply doesn’t sign the bill.  Signing the bill would be a HUGE mistake and many, including me, expect it to have a real economic impact on the state in the form of lost tourist dollars.  This is basically a grab for what many land owners have assumed they owned for many years, the public’s water and easement to use it.  State Supreme Court rulings over the years have been unanimous and to the contrary stating that waters flow by providence and no single person can use them, but rather they are the right of all citizens to use.  This is the first step towards a UK like system with pay to play fishing on tightly controlled beats.  We don’t want this kind of imperialistic set up here in Utah.

Governor Herbert, please do the right thing and kill this bill now!!!!

Please let him know how you feel right now!