Poll Voting Rules

Ok, this is how this is going to work.  I want everyone to cast THREE (and only three--and not less than three!) votes for the above choices.  

You must cast all three votes at once!  Once you have voted, no matter how many choices you have made, your poll will close.  You will have to ask me to delete your votes to allow you to vote again.

Hopefully as everyone's vote is tallied, we will see a clear consensus in how these pictures rank.  Remember that the point of the contest was to reward creativity and entertainment (as well as subjective things like courage) over technical skill.  Each of these images has a story.  I would like to invite the Finalists to make one post below describing the contents of their image for the board to review.

I will be able to see if you have voted for more than three pictures.  If anyone does this, I will delete their votes and ask them to vote again.  I will keep contest results private other than the final ranks, so feel free to vote for yourselves.  Remember, there are some pretty great prizes on the line.

I will keep the voting open through the end of next week.  The last vote will be counted on Friday, July 11 at 5:00 PM EST.

Prizes

Here are the prizes once more:

Grand Prize

Joel Thompson, board member and manager of the Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has (very) generously agreed to donate a 5-night stay in his cabin in Montana, pictured below.  This cabin is Joel's personal property, so you can understand how generous this donation is.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
(Cameron Mortenson's picture)

The cabin is at 6,000 feet in the Flint Creek Range west of Deer Lodge, Montana, and it abuts Rock Creek Lake.  In addition to the lake itself, fishing opportunities are abundant in the area.  The cabin will be available for booking for the winner from the 1st of June through the second week of September, with the exception of 4th of July week.  (Obviously, since the contest is over on July 1, 2008, this also applies to 2009).  Although Joel doesn't rent this cabin out, this prize is easily worth more than $1,000.

Additionally, the winner will receive a card good for one free pair of Mountain Khakis of his or her choice, redeemable through the online store at Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (winner pays shipping), and a Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Sharkskin 5 weight fly line!


Second Prize

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has generously agreed to donate the TFO rod of your choice;

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a Mastery Expert Distance 5 weight fly line!

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a One-Time Pro Purchase card good for 50% off a pair of new Mountain Khakis (any style)!


Third Prize

Scott A2 fly rod in your choice of 5 weight or 8 weight, courtesy of James Buice of Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ;

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a Mastery Trout series 5 weight fly line!

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a One-Time Pro Purchase card good for 50% off a pair of new Mountain Khakis (any style)!


Fourth Prize

Mark Shafer of Steelhead Shop in Toledo, Ohio has agreed to donate a Temple Fork Outfitters Professional Series fly rod from 3 to 8 weight (your choice).

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a Mastery GPX series 5 weight fly line!

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a One-Time Pro Purchase card good for 50% off a pair of new Mountain Khakis (any style)!


Fifth Prize

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a Mastery XPS Series 5 weight fly line!

AND

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or has contributed a One-Time Pro Purchase card good for 50% off a pair of new Mountain Khakis (any style)!

AND

I am throwing in an Itinerant Angler hat in your choice of cotton or waxed canvas.  


The Finalists

And last, here are the finalists for your review, in no particular order:

Number One:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
"Snow Drift Boat" - Joel Thompson

Number Two:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
"Back to the Drawing Board" - Kevin Powell

Number Three:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
"Itinerant Angler Ale" - Jim Lampros

Number Four:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
"Ooh I Just Got a Bite" - Brett Hoskins

Number Five:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
"Grass Trout" - Bob Riggins

Thanks, everyone!
Zach

Just submitted my votes.

Outstanding job by everyone.  I enjoyed the creativity and I already got some ideas brewing in my head for the next photo contest.

Cheers.

Itinerant Angler Ale

I brewed this beer with the help of friends and family over the Christmas holiday. I designed the label with the photo contest in mind. It's a winter ale, a very fitting refreshment for the steelhead streams of northeast Ohio.

This particular day was one of the few chances I got to fish with my dad over the holiday break. We had fun trying different angles and backgrounds out for the picture. The fishing was lousy, but it was comforting to know that after a long, cold day of winter steelheading we still had a few chilly ones waiting for us.

Oh well, since everyone else is posting something about there picture, I will too.  Mine doesn't make sence if you don't know the story. I am recovering from GBS (Guillian Barre Syndrome) so I wasn't getting on the water to much, so I posted this story with the picture:

Florida Grass Trout

"I'm still not able to get out on the water much.  So I decided to try my luck at the elusive Florida Grass Trout.  My neighborhood is a notorious spawning ground, so I went out sight casting to one of the big females.  I sighted one laying up in the shadows under one of my hibiscus bushes.  One cast, right on the nose and "FISH ON".  The battle was epic.  Long runs across the neighbors yard, up the sidewalk, across the driveway,  but I was finally able to bring it to chair.  I definately think this is a record, but before I could get the tape on it, it jumped out of my hands and took off down the street."

We've had 141 votes cast so far and what started as a pretty good spread has narrowed.  I definitely think it is still anyone's game.  The vote will close tomorrow at 5:00 PM EST.  I will close the poll and then take a few minutes to compile the votes and make an announcement post.

I have all the prizes in hand with the exception of the rods, which the winners will need to order (since you have choice of weights).  This stack of fly lines sitting beside me as I type this is pretty sweet looking.

Zach

Joel Thompson a.k.a. moosedog wrote on 07/10/08 at 8:00pm:


Joel - When you win this thing, what are you going to do for that week in the cabin?

Congratulations guys!  As you can see at the top, Kevin is taking home the Grand Prize (which is good, since it IS Joel's home.   ).  I need you guys to contact me via PM or email with your preferred shipping address.  I will also put you in touch with the appropriate contacts so the three of you who won rods can put in your orders.

Zach

First off I would like to congratulate Kevin Powell for winning the big prize! Good job buddy, you deserved it! And congrats to you too Jim!

I would like to thank everyone for voting for me! I will be getting a spey rod with my winnings! Never done it but I think it is time to learn!

Thanks again guys!

Joel

Congrats to everyone. Well done. Great prizes and great entries. Like Simon, I too have enjoyed watching this come together.

Kevin, see you when you get here.

Joel-Can I borrow your new rod?

MONTANA OR BUST... and a new pair of pants.

I cannot wait to go out and test out Joel's new spey rod...

I would like to thank everyone and this really was a fun contest. My wife and I are still trying to figure the traveling with a 5 month old. but we will know soon. And when we go, there will be pictures.

Cam, I'll work on that hopper box.

We are excited and thanks again.

Congrats! Creative entries everyone!

I have not really had a good proper chance to respond.

I want to thank everyone that responded and voted. There were some great photos submitted to this contest and to "win" a contest like this with a community of so many great and talented photographers is really an honor. I know that goal of this contest was to have fun and that it was not "professional" skills that Zach was after but every photo submitted had that touch of professional quality.

My favorite photo in the contest was "Ooh I Just Got a Bite" by Brett Hoskins. With a new born baby, I dream of days like that. She had it right because food on a fishing trip is the best food ever. This brings back memories from my childhood and creates dreams of the future. Nice photo.

"Itinerant Angler Ale" - Jim Lampros... I have to try one of these. Like the food on the water, Home Brew has a special place in all of our hearts. To try a home brew cooled by the stream after a day of fishing would be one of the best things I can imagine.

"Grass Trout" - Bob Riggins. What a great laugh and this is what I believe the contest was all about. This also shows the desire that we all have to be on the water. In hard times it can be really hard to keep a sense of humor and it can be even harder when we cannot do what we love. Keep it up Bob and if there is anything that any of us can do to help - Just let us know.

Joel's photos were all great and the lack of snow that we have in the south makes me kind of envious. But... Is it still snowing up there? I can not envy that. But on the 90+ degree days in the south when we shouldnt fish because of stressing the fish, I'll look at this series of photos and cool off a little.

My other post were all fun photoshop heavy. You guys really impressed me with your photoshop skills. I work daily with a bunch of designers daily that cannot do the photo work that you all possess.

I look forward to meeting Joel and seeing the beautiful landscape where he lives. I also look forward getting my new pants dirty and shooting my new sharkskin line. This contest was fun and thanks again to all the folks on this board and the sponsors... I think this is all of them.

Joel Thompson - Montana Troutaholic Outfitters
Temple Fork Outfitters
Scientific Anglers
Mountain Khakis
James Buice of Scott Fly Rods
Mark Shafer of Steelhead Shop in Toledo, Ohio.

and ZACH,,,,

Thanks.