Author Archive

It might teach respect, but only if he’s the bait »

Tony Dungy laments he never went fishing with Michael Vick?
Jesu Christo, if the lad is going to toe a bleeding hound into the brush, what good could possibly come from taking Michael Vick fishing?
Tony: Mike, you insert the needle into the earthworms and blow enough air to make ‘em float just off the bottom [...]

The hoary spectre of precise imitation rattles its chains »

I’ll unleash a storm of precise imitation, a half dozen tell-all manuscripts, and turn both coasts of fly fishermen on their collective ear…
… and I’ve always wanted to do that, just once …
Having fished for American Shad for many years I’d always subscribed to the “attractor” theory; they smack flies out of spite/anger/curiosity but they [...]

Fish like you’ve got a pair »

In a typical shad season I’ll plow through 10 feet of bead chain easy. Handing out handfuls of whatever works combined with those buried into the bottom consumes plenty. It’s the weighting standard for most shad flies because it flips the hook over giving a shot at the upper jaw, traditional hook-ups tear through the [...]

My public school system only awarded degrees in Modern Chemistry, now the kids get Angling? »

The credential is slowly winkling it’s way into our sport, and I have mixed emotions about the legitimacy that implies..
It was the same when I worked for a large brokerage house (now deceased); I asked the traders what it took to be a stock broker and was surprised how little training was required, “Basically, [...]

I’ll return to my senses as soon as I get my head out of the oven »

I like trout better.
Big trees, cold water, and a ready shade tree with rock to perch under - so I can dangle them big, tired Lumberjack feet in cold water …
I’ll be back to my senses shortly. I’ll remember the sphincter-puckering roar of that 100 car freight that surprised me on the outside turn, [...]

Death Wish XVI: The Stream Why »

It was the same eerie death rattle I’d heard earlier from Wally, who was keenly aware of the piles of rods, waders, and tackle, being transferred from porch to vehicle, and once freed found two cars in the driveway with doors open - and he’d made a dash for the Old Familiar.
Tail thudding a steady beat, [...]

Anyone recognize these hindquarters? »

All I know is I’m missing a double fistful of dry flies …

I made it back from the woods with all my tungsten intact, but the dry fly box had some conspicuous holes in it - with the only clue being directions to a party I’d never heard of … and scrawled in crayon across [...]

Risky given its connection to cholesterol »

Tom Chandler of the Trout Underground has been rather tight lipped of late so I knew something was in the works…
Espionage being crucial to us dirty water anglers - and with an embossed invite to fish the Upper Sacramento as a token gesture his guest, provided I bought all new wading attire and tackle, I [...]

Just a fast trip to spread a little pestilence »

By this evening I’ll be waist deep in icy unclean water. It won’t have been that way before I arrived, but after I dip them big feet into all that fast moving pristine, it’ll make metam-sodium seem tame in the comparison.
The first of my “national average” 6 trips to the unspoilt - which will [...]

We could call it American Idyll »

We’ve played this game before; I try to wrench you into the 21st Century, and you’re content with the pasttime your poppa taught you.  Still leery of professional fly fishing as a sport, televised or otherwise, and scowling while I insist competition would liven the small screen, and using NASCAR rules would make an interesting twist…
Spying an article on [...]

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