Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope

My Fishy Friends,

I hope winter has finally passed you by, wherever you may be. Bugs are hatching here in central Oregon and summertime fishing plans are coming quickly. It’s easy to fish the same water or the water that I know, but I’m going to try hard to get on some new pieces this summer and see what I can find. Let me know if you do too.

Cheers,
Jesse

Whatever Happened to Fly Fishing Vests?

It’s hard to believe that a piece of equipment that was once so critical and widely-accepted is now seemingly obsolete. I still have mine; do you still have yours?

Writers on the Fly Wrap-Up

The 2024 West Coast Tour finished last week and my head is still spinning. Read all about the trip and the fantastic writers, artists, and characters who joined in along the way.

Read the Wrap-Up

A Link

In the northeast corner of Oregon is a steelhead river and on that river is a steelhead lodge and the host of that lodge is a pioneer of PNW steelheading and Skagit-style two handed casting, Scott O’Donnell. I could write pages on Scott (and I have) but for today, I’ll just share his educational image How to Spey Cast in One Simple Diagram. Join Scott on the water and not only will your steelheading and Spey casting improve, you’ll laugh a lot and will make a new friend too.

A Tune

The catalog of the Drive-By Truckers is filled with great stories from The South and America in general. Their brand of rock-and-roll is rough and dirty and rowdy but deep and thoughtful and powerful. If you don’t have one already, I encourage you to find your favorite DBT song - there are many to choose from and all different types of tunes. Here’s one of mine, this version with an extended story introduction. They’re also on tour this summer; check ‘em out.

An Item

Admittedly, I’m a gear hound, and I love finding better gear that makes doing the things I love - fishing, floating, camping, outdoor-ing, easier or more comfortable. A couple good friends recently introduced us to the Luci Solar String Lights and, now that I have several days in several different scenarios of use under my belt, I’m going to recommend them to you. They’re great for car camping - both inside the tent and outside - and are also super helpful to have around the house in case you lose power. You can even charge your phone with them! I prefer the white lights, but you can get some fun colors too.

A Thought

I met these surfer kids once, and they imparted some philosophy. They told me that when you surf, you don’t have a goal, and it doesn’t go good or bad. You just do it. You get in the water, and you don’t ask the water to do anything different than it’s doing. You don’t ask the sun to be warmer. You just get in the water, because you want to be in the water. You surf. It doesn’t go well, or go poorly, it just goes.

~ Todd Snider, I Never Met A Story I Didn’t Like

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The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 05.03.2024