Blixt Wins Drake's Quarterly "Big Year" Contest

Who says SoCal is just for surfers?

California-based angler and 12wt. customer Nicholas Blixt (above wearing the L/S FREEwt. Shirt) recently won the Drake Magazine's quarterly "Big Year" contest, landing more than twenty different species on the fly over the course of a few short months.

During that time, Blixt, who calls L.A. home, was fortunate enough to throw flies in Southern California, the Eastern Sierras, the Baja Peninsula, and Western Massachusetts. Blixt's most memorable fish? A 10" rooster from the trip to Baja (below).

still counts…

Here is the impressive species list that helped Nicholas beat out numerous other anglers:

Barred Surfperch, Barred Pargo, Calico Bass, Blue and Gold Snapper, Blue Mackerel, Pacific Bonito, Cabrilla, Jack Crevalle, Dog Snapper, Dorado, Green Jack, Green Sunfish, Ladyfish, Largemouth Bass, Needlefish, Panamic Grasby, Roosterfish, Skipjack Tuna, Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Trumpetfish and Yellowtail Amberjack

dorado, Baja 

To learn more about the Big Year contest and the prizes for the winners, check out the Drake's Facebook page.

All photos courtesy of Nicholas Blixt

New Hat for the Holidays

We're excited to roll out the new TWELVE Limited Edition hat from 12wt.  This is a durable all around hat for use on and off the water. Features an adjustable buckle closure and a wide fit range.

Support "90 Miles" on Kickstarter

12wt. ambassador and Key West guide Will Benson needs your support to help complete his latest film project, "90 Miles," a documentary about the complex relationship between the lower Keys and Cuba and the vast but susceptible fishery they, as neighbors, share. Check out the trailer below and donate to help "90 Miles" get to the big screen. For contributing to the fundraiser, you'll receive a unique reward.

 

CARPLAND Glove Love

New 1976 Hat Color

We're excited to roll out a new color choice for our popular 1976 hat - moss & khaki.

12wt. on "The Wilderness Journal"

Ted Putnam, owner at Hawk Lake Lodge in northwest Ontario, has been wearing our WORKwt. gloves for a few years now. Here's a video of Ted fishing on the T.V. show The Wilderness Journal, sticking some smallies and big walleye. Not exactly flats fishing under a hot sun, but the gloves are still getting it done.

Small Pond Bassing

Achigãs à Pluma em Lagoas Pequenas from BlueTail Films on Vimeo.

"Sun Ensemble"

Ric Burnley is a skin cancer survivor, angler, and editor at Kayak Angler Magazine (Rapid Media). He recently wrote a stellar review of our growing line of sun protection apparel. Ric took to the water sporting our new FREEwt. mask and short sleeve FREEwt. shirt, along with our "famous" WORKwt. gloves. Read his full review here.

photo from Rapid Media

TLTFF Teaser

The Ford Outfitters: Episode 2 Bloopers (S2 Ep2)

Martin Caranza and Conway Bowman team up for a little fun in the Everglades.

Damon Does NH

12wt. tester, Damon Bungard of Jackson Kayak goes dry fly fishing on the Androscoggin River along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail in New Hampshire. In this segment from Facing Waves, Damon identifies the complexities of controlling the kayak, fly and fish all at the same time.

Knockin' On The Door

The goal was to share the passion for fly fishing with the next generation of anglers out there. The WorldANGLING Facebook photo contest winner for 2013 was Will Griffiths, a shop rat from the Pacific northwest. He had never thrown a 1o weight in salt before stepping on the bow of my skiff. One thing was made very apparent in the 3 days that we had together on the flats here in Key West, that there is no denying the young guys are here to stay. It was obvious the passion that Will had for the sport and the Gods clearly favored him. Featuring an original soundtrack from Miguel Perez, Knockin On The Door is the story of Will Griffiths and the rise of a generation in the sport.  12wt. is proud to have played a support role.
 

Island Adventure

GREAT BIG MINNOWS from scum liner media depicts a recent trip to Beaver Island, MI http://www.beaverisland.org. This place is a premier carp fly fishing destination.  The flats, fish and community of Beaver Island are special.

Trip hosted by Indigo Guide Service http://www.indigoguideservice.com

Others involved include:
Cameron Mortenson http://thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com
Alex Landeen http://alexlandeen.com
Dan Frasier http://carppro.net
Matt Smythe http://www.fishingpoet.com

Kayak Snook On Fly

Damon Bungard of Jackson Kayak put together a great GoPro clip from a recent snook-on-fly trip. You'll notice he's rocking 12wt. gear to stay protected in the hot sun.

Limited Edition Tarpon T's

We at 12wt. are excited to roll out three new colors for our men's Tarpon Logo T-shirts: red pepper, olive, and pacific. These new colors are limited edition, while supplies last.

Grey tarpon logo shirts are now part of our standard Tarpon Logo T-shirt inventory, available in short or long sleeve.

12wt. Featured on "Guided with Mark Melnyk"

12wt. ambassador and World Angling guide Will Benson was a guest recently on World Fishing Network's "Guided with Mark Melnyk. Will is rocking some 12wt. gear while they chase the elusive permit on the flats around Key West, while discussing Will's activism in helping protect the local fishery. Check it out: Episode 3: Will Benson - World Fishing Network

Wool For The Flats

We know that comfort is vital to a successful day on the flats. 12wt. now carries a limited edition Rambler's Way Rambouillet wool cross neck shirt. At times keeping warm can be just as challenging as keeping cool. Insulating, breathable, odor resisting and moisture-wicking, this shirt feels more like silk than wool against your skin, keeping you comfortably warm as the weather cools. This indigo blue garment dyed shirt also features flat, white contrast stitch seams for additional style and comfort, along with a subtle but stylish 12wt. tag. Next time you're headed for the tropics, throw this versatile, ultralight shirt in your luggage - it's a great choice for the morning boat ride to the flats, or the casual night on the town. It makes a great combination with our FREEwt. shirt as well. 100% American made, using natural, renewable materials, from sheep raised on organic farms across the country.

Throw In The Towel

Our new 12wt. Microfiber Towel is an essential cleaning accessory for the serious flats angler. Harsh sun makes it nearly impossible to stay dry, and salt water and sunscreen residue are problematic. The towel helps remove sunscreen and insect repellent from your skin at the end of the day or clean the camera lens for that shot of the big one. It's also perfect for cleaning eyeglasses and phones - this microfiber towel produces superior cleaning results. Off the flats it's an ideal cleaning accessory for cars, trucks, boats, bikes and more. Don't forget to throw in the towel for your next trip.

Who We Are

12 Wt Apparel from william benson on Vimeo.
www.12wt.com

"12wt. Apparel" is a short video composed by Will Benson, 12wt. ambassador and popular Key West guide. It tells a little bit about who we are as a company and what our products are designed to accomplish, with some great action shots of bonefish, tarpon, and permit fishing in the Keys - the place where we draw much of our inspiration.

That Extra Support

Know that feeling at the end of a day on the flats, after standing on the platform or in the front of the skiff? Your legs are shot from hours of absorbing all that force, the bow rising and crashing in the waves. You're a little bit dehydrated and struggling to stay cool - you don't want to miss that perfect shot at the end of the day, but you're feeling a little wobbly. You know you'll be back tomorrow, but you can't imagine your legs standing up to another round of punishment.

That's where the CW-X Ventilator Compression Calf Sleeves  & Compression Support Socks from 12wt. come into play. The calf sleeves provide shock absorption to the knees, hips, hamstrings, glutes and lower back - not to mention stability and that extra support that will help keep you in the game. Built-in webbing supports the calf muscle and a mesh vent system makes for easy cooling - essential to anyone fishing the flats.

The Compression Socks help increase circulation and stability, acting as a shock-absorber for your joints. Like the sleeves, the socks help keep you cool with state of the art mesh vents. Anatomical toe design increases functionality and freedom of movement. Taping supports the calf muscle and ankle, and the compression helps with overall recovery.

Sun protection is our primary focus here at 12wt. and the CW-X Sleeves  and Socks carry a 50+ UPF rating. We're excited to expand our arsenal of flats apparel, and though the CW-X Sleeves & Socks may seem a bit "out of the box," we see them as essential as our gloves to the serious flats angler.

The Tides of March (Merkin)

 We're excited to have been a sponsor at this year's prestigious March Merkin Tournament, a three day permit-on-fly competition in Key West. Battling tough conditions, Greg Smith and guide Scott Collins managed to land three permit on the final day of competition, enough to finish in first place. Check out a blow-by-blow account of the three days from runner-up angler Nathaniel Linville. To see photos of the competition and those involved, check out the March Merkin Facebook page. You'll notice 12wt. gear in some of the photos!

 

The In-Between

12wt. is excited to be involved with the new film endeavor by 12wt. ambassador Will Benson, guide and founder of World Angling. You've probably seen some of his previous films about flats fishing for permit and tarpon. "The In-Between" - his newest work - is a short film about making the most of the short down time between guiding seasons, with a focus on fun and enjoying free time on the flats, while simultaneously letting go of the pressures and baggage from the previous guiding season. 12wt. is a proud sponsor of "The In-Between," which will debut on the Fly Fishing Film Tour.

In Good Company

Fly Rod & Reel Feature

We're excited to see that Fly Rod & Reel featured our WORKwt. gloves in their 2014 Tackle Guide.