New Abel Fly Reel Series Features Derek DeYoung Art

Derek DeYoung, whose remarkable paintings first caught our eye three years ago (he was one of our first Featured Artists), will decorate the next limited edition run of Abel Reels, according to Abel president Don Swanson. “Abel has chosen two paintings to replicate on their reels from DeYoung’s series, ‘The Abstract Trout Faces.’ One reel finish is based on DeYoung’s ‘Abstract Rainbow – Serendipity,’ a representation of a rainbow trout with a small serendipity fly in its mouth. The other is based on ‘Abstract Brown – Copper John,’ a painting of a butter-colored brown trout with a shiny copper john in its jaw.” You can see many more examples of DeYoung’s art at www.canvasfish.com.
Read the extended entry for the full press release.

ARTIST DEREK DE YOUNG, ABEL COLLABORATE ON TROUT FINISH
CAMARILLO, Calif. – Artwork by Montana-based fish and wildlife artist Derek DeYoung will be represented on a limited edition run of Abel Reels, announced Don R. Swanson, president of the tackle manufacturer.
Abel has chosen two paintings to replicate on their reels from DeYoung’s series, “The Abstract Trout Faces.” One reel finish is based on DeYoung’s “Abstract Rainbow – Serendipity,” a representation of a rainbow trout with a small serendipity fly in its mouth. The other is based on “Abstract Brown – Copper John,” a painting of a butter-colored brown trout with a shiny copper john in its jaw. Both of the DeYoung custom finishes are limited to the year of 2009 and available on any size Abel reel.
DeYoung, 28, was raised on the shores of a small lake in western Michigan, where he and his two brothers spent nearly every waking hour chasing pan fish, largemouth bass and northern pike. His career as an artist began around that same time as he began to sketch images of the fish he caught.
The artist graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, Mich. Upon completion of his formal education in 2003, he was faced with the task of determining how best to go about beginning a career as an artist. He began doing art shows around Michigan, but quickly determined that those shows didn’t draw the type of clientele that would truly appreciate his fish subject matter.
“I realized that if I could get in front of more fly fishers, I would have much more success,” Derek said. “My first fly fishing show was the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in Detroit, and though it was a huge investment at the time, it really paid off.” Since then, DeYoung appears at fishing shows around the country every winter. The rest of the year he completes custom oil paintings. “The fly fishing community has been so great to me,” he said.
Both of the DeYoung “Abstract Trout” finishes are priced at $200 above the normal cost of the Abel reel. Fly reel artwork representation of the rainbow and brown trout with flies are individually hand painted and anodized at the Abel precision machine shop.
DeYoung originals and prints are displayed at The Trout Hunter in Island Park, Ida.; Sweetwater Fly Fishing, Livingston, Mont.; Vermillion Sporting Gallery, Minneapolis; Bozeman Angler, Bozeman, Mont.; and at his studio in Livingston, Mont.
His art can also be viewed or purchased online at www.canvasfish.com.
For information or sales of the Abel Reels with artwork by DeYoung, phone 866-511-744, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.abelreels.com .