Either we elected the President as governor, or elected the guy that shot the President as governor, I lose track .. California’s thinks on a grand scale whenever porpoises are in trouble, or tofu is being discriminated against, it’s the price we pay for being trend conscious. Then again we tend to be quite pedestrian on “normal” issues..

I look at what other states are doing and wish we were them, not often – but often enough to wonder whether they’d trade us some intelligence for ..say.. Hollywood, or Paris Hilton, or maybe just a couple extra days of sunshine.

Maine might go for the sunshine, and I’d trade straight up for “checking out fishing tackle from the local library.”  California only lends handguns or fruit smoothies – fishing tackle might both invigorate our ailing public library system and earn a kid a suntan.

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources, “wants me to fish” – at least  that’s what the postcard they’re mailing claims. It may be enough to wave in the Boss’s face and demand a holiday to fulfill my obligation to the State … If he blinks follow up with any of a dozen choice epithets, and remind them they’re just the kind of fellow the Department of Homeland Security ensures will get a cavity search should they ever fly anywhere.

California likes the national stage, if they really wanted to stimulate anglers why not make a new state holiday? Present a valid fishing license to your boss, and you’re entitled to skip Monday.

License sales would skyrocket, and we could all get a taste. You could pass your license to co-workers, for a nominal fee, and they could march into the Boss’s office with equal patriotic fervor.

I’m not picking on anyone, but we may have to coach our Vegan’s to say, “Fish – Fowl” with a straight face ..

Technorati Tags: licensing revenue, angling promotion, state holiday

If the kid is riveted to the game console rather than the out-of-doors, is the sacred traditions of the Woodsman being undermined by cheat codes?

I’m wondering aloud really, as every parent bemoans their kid’s console addiction while ensuring “little darling” has every game he or she desires. Dad is adamant that he’s going to take the kid “when he’s old enough” but by then will the game version have altered the reality?

What would the hard life of an angler be like, if he were always under pressure to prove his skills in lots of competitions? Activision believes that fishing shouldn’t be relaxing, and promises that their new game Rapala Fishing Frenzy will be action packed.

“Fishing Frenzy’s” are common, most occur the night before the trip when we can’t find our wading boots. In the field, the action is slow as molasses.

Rapala’s flavor won’t teach patience – nor will it chill or dampen them cherubic little fingers. Now that Dad figures he’s old enough – is his eagerness to go driven in part by the memory of digital mayhem, a toasty bedroom, and Mom delivering popcorn?

The idyllic scenes and the first class graphics should captivate the player. Revamped controls should mean that fishing does not become frustrating on any of the three platforms (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii).

If fishing weren’t frustrating we wouldn’t be wedded to the hobby, as the suffering makes the brief moments of victory all the sweeter. If Dumpling gets turned off by a balky joystick, what’s he liable to do with his first dozen backlashes?

A proper fishing game needs to capture the adrenaline-pumping intensity of sport fishing,” said Adrian Filippini from Fun Labs.

There’s plenty of adrenaline in fishing, but real intensity results from slipping on a rock into a frigid torrent, imbedding a fly into the posterior of someone’s poodle, or scrambling for purchase on a sheer slope wearing felt soles. It’s bad enough that the game sets unreal expectations – but they’ve removed the hint of the fun to come.

The game does teach teach important skills they’ll use on the fly fishing forums – that vast wasteland of misinformation and discontent. Thread jacking is an art form and takes considerable practice.

Mayamo: I kinda like fly fishing. Being out in the middle or a rather fast moving river trying not to slip and float away while constantly working at dropping the fly just where you want it and occasionally working a fish.

Sponge: Ah, but you have the choice of three outrageous sandwiches to quietly nibble on: Jumpin’ Jam, Extreme Egg, Totally Tubular Tuna, Badass BLT and Awesome Avocado…

Sponge: That’s five. I got carried away, so exciting is rollercoaster ride of Rapala Fishing Frenzy.

Adodric: I could go for a badass BLT right now.

Chris: Yeah, now I’m hungry. 

Mad Jack McMad: There was this fishing game for the Dreamcast, I had a demo of it from some magazine. Sega Bass Fishing, I think. It had the most crazy assed metal theme song ever.
When you hooked a fish it was as if you triggered some mad capcom boss rush. The screen would shake, and FISH ON!!!! would blast all over the screen, the music would go wild… I don’t know, maybe real fishing is actually that intense for the paragons of the sport.

Maybe it is lad. It’s clear you’ve mastered the prerequisite skills to be a “paragon” of the parking area …

Technorati Tags: Rapala Fishing Frenzy, fly fishing forum, cheat codes, no attention span