The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 05.17.2024
Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope
My Fishy Friends,
I’m off to try to find some big bugs today and if I do, I’ll share a picture of them next week. In the meantime, I hope that if you find any bugs, they are the ones you’re seeking. Here’s to the season of what-kind-of-fishing-should-I-do-this-week? Below are this week’s links of interest. If you enjoy this newsletter, please do forward it to a friend!
Cheers,
Jesse
An Event:
Virtual Office Hours w/ JLR
Over the past couple years, I’ve been helped out by so many people, got so much free advice, been introduced, made connected, and granted opportunities, that I want to start to repay the favors. So, I’m stealing an idea that I heard from a friend and am opening up my calendar on Tuesday, May 21st to chat with you about… whatever you want! Click this link or the button below to schedule a 45-minute chat with me. We can talk about anything: fly fishing, writing, fly fishing writing, fishing in the PNW, getting published, getting into the outdoor or fly fishing industries, Squarespace, an idea you have, come up with an idea, anything! If the day fills up with conversations, I’ll add another day.
A Project
The current ‘world’s largest dam removal project’ is underway on the Klamath River in Oregon and California, with four dams being removed by fall of this year. The Klamath River Renewal Corporation - a nonprofit created following the agreement to remove the dams - is orchestrating the project and their website has a host of great information. In addition, Swiftwater Films’ website showcases their previous and ongoing work to document the stories of the Klamath and its restoration. Also see CalTrout’s page for information on the removals. Below is a great overview of the restoration project.
A New Book
The fly fishing writing world is a small one but it’s filled with kind, thoughtful, interesting characters who are full of soul. Steve Duda is one of these folks. I got to know Steve when he was the Editor at The Flyfish Journal, and we did a couple pieces together. Prior, he worked for decades in music journalism and now he’s Head of Fish Tales at Patagonia. He has a book coming out in a few months and, having read Steve’s work and having heard Steve read his work, I know it’s good. Follow him on Instagram, and pre-order his book on Amazon. One quote of Steve’s from years ago that stuck with me: "Simply stated, we go to awesome places with our friends, and make friends with places that are awesome." Amen.
A Listen
After listening to their podcast for a long while, I saw my first live show of The Moth last week. It was even better than I thought it was going to be. Their shows are all over the country, so I highly recommend checking one out. Here’s a great story from Martha’s Vineyard captain Buddy Vanderhoop of Tomahawak Charters about a 34-hour tuna fishing trip that serves as a great reminder for us all to respect the Ocean.
A Tune
Nearly a decade ago, while in NYC for a fly fishing event, I reconnected with musician and artist Billy Woodward. We’d had mutual friends for a long time before that, and I’d seen him play music several times before, but that evening was the first time we’d spoken beyond quick hellos. In our conversation, he expressed his interest in fly fishing and I expressed my interest in playing guitar. What followed was an agreement to teach each other our crafts and we did just that, sending each other videos and lengthy emails for years, and meeting up in person when we could. It is largely because of Billy that I can strum a few songs over a campfire. Billy released a album a couple years ago and below is great tune from it. He also did the animation for the video - enjoy!
A Thought
There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.
There is another which states that this has already happened.
~ Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
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