Pick the Photo Contest Winners!

[Zach Matthews]

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 Rock Creek Cattle Company 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.

(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 http://www.mountainkhakis.com (winner pays shipping), and a Scientific Anglers Sharkskin 5 weight fly line!

Second Prize

Temple Fork Outfitters has generously agreed to donate the TFO rod of your choice;

AND

Scientific Anglers has contributed a Mastery Expert Distance 5 weight fly line!

AND

Mountain Khakis 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 Scott Fly Rods;

AND

Scientific Anglers has contributed a Mastery Trout series 5 weight fly line!

AND

Mountain Khakis 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

Scientific Anglers has contributed a Mastery GPX series 5 weight fly line!

AND

Mountain Khakis has contributed a One-Time Pro Purchase card good for 50% off a pair of new Mountain Khakis (any style)!

Fifth Prize

Scientific Anglers has contributed a Mastery XPS Series 5 weight fly line!

AND

Mountain Khakis 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:

“Snow Drift Boat” – Joel Thompson

Number Two:

“Back to the Drawing Board” – Kevin Powell

Number Three:

“Itinerant Angler Ale” – Jim Lampros

Number Four:

“Ooh I Just Got a Bite” – Brett Hoskins

Number Five:

“Grass Trout” – Bob Riggins

Thanks, everyone!
Zach

[kevin powell]

A little background on the image – Sorry, no humor to the story.

Last year at this time we lost everything to a house fire – house, art portfolio… everything. To top that, two weeks before the fire we found out that we were pregnant with our first child. We completely rebuilt the house and moved in on Christmas Eve. At that time, we still really did not have anything but the shell of our new home.

In January, I found the IA podcast on iTunes and checked out the site. I promptly contacted Zack with kudos to a well put together site and podcast… and asked Zach if there was anything that I could do to help him with. He asked if I could work on a little project for him.

[parker allie]

Just submitted my votes.

Outstanding job by everyone.

[Brett Hoskins]

Ooh I just got a bite

This photo was taken this June 19th on the San Marcos River, deep in the heart of Texas.

[Jim Lampros]

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.

JL

[Joel Thompson]

The history on my photo is the result of boredom. We had just got another big snow storm in Missoula and I was really sick of working on preseason orders for the fly shop. My lab Riley was bugging me to go outside and do something so we spent the next couple of hours constructing the snow boat and snowman. The funny thing about it is after I finished the boat and was working on the snowman Riley was digging away at the front on the boat! 😀 Not always the best helper….

Anyhow by the time I finished the snowman and got it in the boat Riley was just hanging out in the boat like we were on the river and it spawned the idea of putting the IA shirt on the snowman and taking a picture.

Joel

[Bob Riggins]

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.”

[Joel Thompson]

Zach, How is the voting coming along so far? When does it close?

I just can’t wait to see who the big winner is going to be! 😮

Joel

[Zach Matthews]

We’ve had 141 votes cast so far and what started as a pretty good spread has narrowed.

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

Please take note; I got ahold of some additional (more minor) prizes.

[kevin powell]

Zach, How is the voting coming along so far? When does it close?

I just can’t wait to see who the big winner is going to be! 😮

Joel

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

[Bob Riggins]

Zach, How is the voting coming along so far? When does it close?

I just can’t wait to see who the big winner is going to be! 😮

Joel

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

I would be willing to trade prizes and you can even keep the pants. ::)

[Zach Matthews]

Congratulations guys!

[Simon Chu]

Well done to all. What a fabulous contest and the spirit of it was brilliant. Kudos to Zach and sponsors!
I’ve enjoyed watching!! 🙂

[Joel Thompson]

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

[Joel Thompson]

Zach,

You were in fishing mode this morning so I really didn’t understand how we claim our prizes. Let us all know when you get a chance.

By the way how did you and Dr. Neal do fishing today?

Joel

[ron snow]

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?

[Cameron Mortenson]

Congrats everyone that participated and won.

[kevin powell]

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.

[Brett Hoskins]

Congrats to everyone in the contest.

[Author]

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