New Studio-Shed!

Just finished install of our new shed - A collaborative new company effort by Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski and Michael Koenig here in Boulder. Check 'em out at studio-shed.com.

Simply Too Cool

Happy Holidays Everybody!!

Happy Holidays to all of our family and friends.

Much love,

Matt and Laura.

A Great Truth...

So here it is... A moment of truth:

In 1983 (13 years old) I was totally into bass fishing around Manchester, NH. But even more than that, being nine years younger than my closest of five siblings, I was just missing hanging out with four of the coolest brothers and the greatest sister a kid could have. They were all in college or beyond and I was chucking lures at the local pond quietly waiting 'till I was old enough to hang with them on their terms. Now, I have always heckled my brother Brion for being a pack-rat. But as he said, THIS is why he hangs on to all this stuff. He found the letter below, in its entirety, the other day and sent it to me. Not much has changed for me, really, since 1983. I still have five of the best siblings on the planet. In many ways, I could have written this letter many times to all of them. I also still love catching local bass, even if it is on a fly rod in the lakes and ponds around Boulder, CO now instead of Las MANgeles. So here it is, a little kid just wanting to hang with his older brother:

"Sunday, Sept. 25, 1983

Howdy Bri,

I went fishing today with my new lures. They work great! I got some surface Buzz Baits. They are really cool. I caught 2 bass on them – 12" and 15". (Aaa, all right … just kidding!)

I wish you were home more often. I miss you. How was your party? I hope it was fun.

School is absolutely great! I really like my teachers. They're the greatest. I like Mrs. Swhartz the best. She is my Social Studies teacher. Right now we are studying the "Roaring '20s." Al Capone was some dope! I have a weird science teacher. She can't move her teeth, so it's hard to hear her, but I'm doing okay. We just finished tennis in gym; that was fun, but I couldn't play singles with Sean Ferrin, one of my best friends.

Soccer is going okay. Our record is 2-2-2. We won our game today, 2-1. I'm playing all defense, but this game I went up. I liked it. Next game, I hope I can play halfback.

Last weekend I went camping. It was boring. It was a Catholic Scout Retreat. We had to form little groups. I didn't know anybody in my group, the "Dorothy Hamills" (how dainty!). They were a bunch of pipe dreams. Then we had to do these babyish activities, I almost threw up. When I was with the troop it was great, but that was only at night.

Bri, you are the greatest. I wish I could go see you. Maybe some weekend, we can get together, just me and you, and have a blast. I love you so much, and every time I hold that tennis racquet, I think of you and say "Thank God he's here!"

I love you, Bri,
Matt"

'Nuff said....

A Grand Adventure...

Okay okay, this is a little late in coming. So, since this blog is supposed to be about both Laura and I and it is usually over-run with photos of me and the boys holding fish, I figured there was only one way to fix the situation without sacrificing too much on my end - nice. Get Laura into a drift boat up in Wyoming and let her get it done. The plan? Well, if you want to have a great day fishing in WY, call the Ugly Bug Fly Shop and book Blake Jackson as your guide. The guy knows the river like the back of his hand, is incredibly patient and most importantly, tells great stories. This last one is the most important to me because lets face it, there is always some downtime on the river.

So, we met up with Blake at about 9am at the Crazy Rainbow Ranch. Everything was rigged up and after a few quick lessons for my favorite gal, we were off and running. Despite an early desire to imitate Sandy Koufax on her backcast, she got it dialed in and landed a ton of beautiful fish. We had a great day all around - I got to float a new section of the Platte, the weather was splitter, and I landed my first Platte brown trout - pretty cool indeed. So there you have it. I wouldn't say she's hooked, but she'll get on the water for sure... Thanks to Blake as well! Enjoy some photos...

Way To Go Baby! First Drifting Slab!

Laura And Blake On Point!

Best Double Of My Life!

Big Beautiful Brown!

End Of The Day Slab!

Cute - Happy Anniversary Baby!

12 years in the making and I wouldn't change a thing. Wifey and I went up to Breck to hang where it all started for the weekend and had a great time - beautiful rides, seeing old friends, the works. Needless to say, it was perfect! Looking forward to 12 more...

I Think I Can See Russia From Here...

Just A Little Re-Cap...

So, we have returned. From an epic. To say the least.

The 2008 trip into the Wyoming backcountry will not be forgotten. How could it be? An unbelievably burly 11.5-hour horse ride in over rougher country than I have ever experienced. A horribly sprained ankle. Bush-whacking. Splitter weather. Long hikes in to breath-taking alpine lakes. The elusive Golden Trout. The voracious Cutthroat. A bear. Her cubs. A stellar assortment of surface bugs. Long casts and great takes. An 11th-hour grab by a beautiful rainbow in the last 5 minutes of fishing. Incredible food and fine wine. Could Casey, Mike, Aidan and I have asked for an easier trip? Certainly. Would we trade this one in? Absolutely not.

The full story is best told over a couple fine libations and around a fire. For now, enjoy a few pics...

Destination: Heart Of Darkness

Can You Say "Remuda?"

Jowls - The Trusty (AMAZING!) Steed

Almost There...

The Ankle - This Is NOT Turf-Toe...

Casting Below "Mordor"

Moore In Beautiful Country

Son #2 - Kid Has Skillz!

Golden!

The Condo...

Moore Gets It Done!

Can you Say "Perfect Pool?"

Where To Men?!? The Planning Sesh...

Beautiful...

Cutty For Breakfast?

Sensei - Once Again!

Slab!