I’ve come to know Brandon Robinson (aka One Bug Is Fake) over the past year or so. While I’ve never actually shook the guy’s hand, I do feel like I know him, as we started off talking through social mediums, and now regularly share fly patterns and talk over email and on the phone. The guy has a dedication that’s not seen in too many others. A veteran, Brandon has a desire to create and donate different attributes to the blogosphere and fly-fishing in general. While talking with him about posting on Compleat Thought, he revealed something that I really didn’t know.

The following is from Brandon – visit him at One Bug Is Fake.

Almost a year ago, when I bought the domain to One Bug Is Fake, I envisioned a video-blog. My idea was
a sponsored (hopefully) web-tv type monster that would showcase a slightly less “high-minded” way of
living life on the fly. Measure in some funny, baste with an instruction blend, and sprinkle some music
to taste; nothing too fancy, but something that could be enjoyed. I knew I didn’t want to start another
blog, not when there are so many excellent blogs out there. I wanted to do video.

Problem is, when researching video editing, it was coming across as an expensive start-up. Then,
the videos I found out there were either: a stale collections of money shots, or just video versions of
the same stuff I scoured through when I was learning how to fly. The only ones that fell outside of
that Venn diagram were professionally done by people with financial backers. It short, it was kind of
discouraging. The one shining light in all of this was a website I found and subsequently began drooling
over. This website showcased beautiful locations, awesome editing, and really great music. Then I found
out it was done by essentially, a broke college kid… This can be done on the cheap! If you are reading
this, and you are wondering, “Who is this guy?” let me show you. This is a link to my favorite video so
far…

I focused on guest blogging however, and I built my homepage to warehouse all the posts the good
people of the internet have graciously offered to host; while still giving them the page views. The
video bug stayed percolating, until recently. Two things have happened that might change the course
of history! First, TexasRiverBum.com’s HCIC (Head cracker in charge) made a video of me fishing, then
completed all of the grunt work and released it. You can check it out here. Secondly, one of my go-to
fishing buddies admitted he is a carrier of the video bug as well. We are both prior service, so while
shooting the proverbial breeze, we hammered out an interesting hypothetical plan for doing just that.
Problem was, neither of us really had any equipment to pull this off with, but we had a name, “Infidel
Fly” (because “Pork-eating, Free American, Patriotic, Crusader, Fly Fishing Vets” wouldn’t fit on the
stationary, naturally). The two events did serve to convince me that like fly fishing, sometimes you just
have to trust your gut. With patience and determination, you don’t have to do things the way anybody
tells you. “This is what you need!” generally means, “This is why I don’t want YOU to do it!”

I kept an eye out and finally found a potential camera with a low price point, and an awesome return
policy. The purchase was bitter sweet. On one hand, it was everything I wanted to get started, but on
the other hand it had zero mounting points. None. The next model up was close enough to a higher-end
camera for it to make staying cheap, pointless. I went with my cheap option, because the return policy
covered dissatisfaction, and activation from the AllSpark, oddly enough. Maybe I’ve said this before, but
a little known secret about me is, I have NEVER been a fan of delayed gratification. I walked out of the
store basically itching to shoot.

I placated my desire to shoot by coming up with a logo. I varied between texting and calling Dylan
to make a plan for the first video. I dug in the back-forty for old videos from Yukon. I might have
developed a ‘man crush’ here; it’s hard to tell from this close. The plans were made, the location was
picked (this place that link also details a little bit of my history with this creek) and we set out.

I am not going to ruin the video with details from the trip, but I will say this…: We finally have had
continued rain, so the river is a lot murkier than normal. Second, read up on Guadalupe Bass (or read
my post in that last link). Third, Dylan is hooked on fiberglass now, so he fished the old Eagle Claw for
the video. (Did you hear that Cam? I converted a non-believer!) Finally, this video was shot on a cheap
camera, using $50 and below rods, and edited with free software. The music however, was custom and
played on the spot by Dylan. I hope you don’t hate it, the video, that is. The music is good, like left-over
spaghetti.

Most of you know the significance of the proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska. This documentary created by Felt Soul Media has won awards left and right, including one the 10 best from Outdoor Magazine. In the coming months, you’re going to be hearing a lot more about this proposal, as the Pebble Partnership begins its permit process. The people have already spoken out against this construction (possibly the largest open pit mine in the world), but that hasn’t stopped the continued exploration. Remember, our voices can help – even if it doesn’t always seem so.

Enjoy, and don’t forget to comment below for your chance to win.  I’ll close comments on Sunday, December 19th and list the winner. Happy Holidays!

Update: Winner!

The random number was #5! From the first to last comments, that would be Pam Funk! Thanks Pam – please send my your mailing address through the email on the contact page and I’ll get your copy of Red Gold out to you!

Thank you all for commenting, and stay tuned for further contests and information about Bristol Bay!

Comment below and let me know what you think. Yes, I’m still working on removing “Ads” on pages and changing those to ‘Friends’.  Thanks for the input!

I’m happy to announce that Compleat Thought and the International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) are teaming to present the IFTD Social Media Lounge at this year’s show September 9th – 11th at the Denver Convention Center.

As I’ve been to the retailer shows in the past, this is the first time AFFTA has introduced a booth specific to those reaching out in the new media world of social outreach.

While I’m helping with both the IFTD Facebook and Twitter sites, I’ll also be manning the booth at the show where the industry can come learn about social media marketing, as well as industry experts who have already adopted social media as a part of their marketing plan.

The goal is to introduce fly-fishing industry leaders to this strategy, and also have a place for us that are already involved to meet and discuss.

Plans are being discussed about a possible time for panelists to answer question and discuss where they have found success, as well as share information with others on best practices and lessons learned. Additionally, we’re hoping to interview a few managers and post viral videos.

I’m really looking forward to this part of the show, and if we haven’t been introduced, please comment, send me an email, or just find me at the show.

‘Compleat’ comes from Isaac Walton’s book, ‘The Compleat Angler’ – one of the first books written about fly-fishing in the 1600′s. I contemplated started from a small blog to becoming a small agency, but things have turned, and I realize I may be better served by going for a direct industry job rather than doing it on my own. This does make me a little sad, as I thought I had a niche, but that niche is becoming more and more internal jobs or PR companies already handling large accounts. While they may not do it as I would, I still feel I could be valuable to a company wanting to reach new levels of online marketing success.

So, I open this up to you! Do you think I’ve got a good brand? Should I re-brand and hope it succeeds? Do you have suggestions on new avenues to make this site a success?

I’ve posted a new poll on the right sidebar – please comment on this post or vote. I appreciate all my readers and value your opinion.