There are moments in time that come with feelings of unrest. You cast into a nice deep run for half an hour without any action at all. A total blank. The half hour turns into an hour. Doubt creeps into everything you do, and questions seem to permeate your thoughts…Do I have the right flies? […]
Sometimes You Just Know Read More »
I don’t know how it happened so fast! First he was there, and so quickly, he is gone. The presentation was perfect. The drift…one of the best of the day! Hell yea, it resulted in a sophisticated, confident take. Even the most elderly, knowledgeable fish would have taken that fly. It was that good! The
How many times have you sat on the side of the river staring aimlessly into your fly box, contemplating what to tie on next? Unfortunately, after 30 plus years of fishing…too many to count. Similarly, how many times have you needed someone but were unsure of which “contact” would be the most helpful? Again, too
Choose Your Friends Like You Choose Your Flies Read More »
I remember when I first started fly fishing: I would show up to the water, look through my fly boxes (yes…plural), and stumble through all of the choices for what to tie on. I’d inevitably make a random decision, tie it up, and hope for the best. My only objective was to catch a fish.
The Intention of Noticing Read More »
Last year was a good one for fishing. It brought more opportunities for trips for some reason, perhaps commitment. Whatever it was, one trip in particular provided me an epiphany. It was a three day camping trip in late August with my much younger fishing buddy, Ed. At 56 years old, camping ain’t what it
Limitations Guide Growth Read More »
You can see it…that perfect spot on the river you know is holding a fish. There’s a seem coming off the big boulder, leaving some slack water just behind and to the left of it. It’s deep. Your years of fishing experience have taught you; there is a fish there, 100%, maybe multiple fish. You
You Don’t Always Need the Comfortable Cast Read More »
The memories of family time together while growing up come with great fondness. I don’t have a huge extended family. In fact I always joke that in comparison to my mid-western wife’s family, you could count the members of my entire family on two hands. Not quite, but close. As the youngest of three boys,
I’m not sure who threw the first rock, as it was a long time ago. We’re talking 25 years or more. In the 28+ years of taking our annual GFW trip, we have been all over the state of Colorado. Lots of water, lots of towns, lots of fish, and more importantly than any of
If it were easy, frustration wouldn’t exist. Without frustration, how would we ever learn anything? In Education, where I have spent the last 25 years teaching middle and high schoolers, there is this thing called “The Learning Pit.” In a classroom full of young learners, good teachers are supposed to challenge their students by throwing
The concept of knowledge has long been a topic for debate. Those who have taken a Philosophy class are familiar with the intense discussions among philosophers, each striving to outsmart their peers. This intellectual pursuit continues to this day, from academic settings to corporate boardrooms, and even among outdoor enthusiasts. Consider a fly-fisherman, always trying
The “Knowledgeable” Fisherman Read More »