I remember his comment as if it was yesterday. “It attaches to your belt and emits anti-mosquito sound waves, keeping the bloodsucking pests off you without changing your genetic code with a generous dollop of DEET …” Upon his return from the wilds of Alaska we were doubly quick to ask, “Well, how did the [...]

It’s not likely to be in your stocking but some lucky fellow may soon be the owner. One mile of the west bank of the fabled Itchen River in England, featuring stocked brown trout. The trout season runs from early April until early October each year. The main salmon run is predominantly June/July and then [...]

I suppose it’s piling on, but as absolutely every organization insists they’ve pulled out all the stops to attract youth, I can’t help but notice my yearly Begging for Dollars solicitation from Trout Unlimited, is about as marketable to youth as spinach. … it might be a trout, but after looking closely I get more [...]

Once the fishermen find out it’s an island they’ll scatter to the four winds hoping they can scrounge some old monofilament and feed the less fortunate members of the tribe. Once they see the size of the local Bonefish they’ll insist on Catch & Release – or some form of ultra-purism – which’ll piss off [...]

Dear Sirs, Your recent week-long West Yellowstone clinic on “Long Lost Secrets of Fly Fishing Returned From the Grave and Brought back with Us,” was ill conceived, disgusting and worthy of a refund. While both lodge and private streams are Orvis endorsed, neither of your featured speakers were licensed or bonded, and neither said much [...]

There is a place in every burgeoning entrepreneur’s repertoire for daytime soaps or Judge Judy … Some hideous repetitive task looms, and as you eyeball the points, run your hand over the assembly for burrs, loosen or tighten screws, and whack a chunk of whatever is close by, the Good Judge is sending some sobbing [...]

The prototypes for the next generation of Sixth Finger scissors arrived on my doorstep yesterday. I’d asked for them to add a zipper so I could change it each year and obsolete everything you already own … I figured I could offer it as a fetching facsimile to the Royal Canadian Mounties and the cord [...]

If you’re as uncomfortable with the building storm of Xmas advertisement, cognizant that the undeniable forces of consumerism lack the courtesy of waiting for Thanksgiving, you’re not alone. The only difference between this year and last is all the stock market pundits poised to declare the recession is here here over based on the retail [...]

A German company unleashes tiny winged advertising on conventioneers, is this a portend of what fly shops will be springing on us come Opening Day?   The exploitation of farmed mayflies, each dancing about with a gaily colored banner, “A #16 Royal Wulff would’ve caught that fish, now on sale at Big 5.” Bug activity has [...]

My childhood was interspersed with some family member saying, “Hmm” and disappearing into the basement to craft the “John Wayne Super-Sport Rubberband Gun” – allowing me to cut a swath through the opposition forces which were armed with antiquated single shot muzzleloaders. … as Hisself was the local paperboy with access to millions of rounds [...]