The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 07.12.2024
Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope
My Fishy Friends,
A heat wave came and went through Oregon and we escaped by spending as much time as we could in cool waters - cool rivers and cool alpine lakes. Admittedly, I’m often a quick, in-and-out type of swimmer but I’m rethinking my approach and remembering the days of my youth when I’d spend hours in the water. Why rush it? And, is there any better way to cool off? I think not. I hope that you have an oasis to which you can run and jump in, when the summer heat strikes.
Cheers,
Jesse
Modern Huntsman Volume 12
I’m honored to have a story in the latest issue of Modern Huntsman and it’s a collaboration with three great fishing friends: photographer and artist Bre Drake, boat builder Wilds Drake, and my favorite fishing guide, Capt. Andy Lee.
A Restoration
When I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2011, plans were well underway for the two Elwha River dams to be removed. What’s unique about this particular dam removal project is that the habitat upstream of the former dams is as pristine as it gets: it lies untouched within Olympic National Park. It’s now ten years since the second of the two dams was removed and noted Washington fisheries biologist John McMillan recently penned a summary of the changes he witnessed. McMillan reminds us that short-term effects aren’t always positive below former dam sites, but above them, the story is different. As example, consider this headline from the Seattle Times in September of 2014: “Chinook spotted in upper reaches of Elwha River”. The dam removal had completed only the month prior.
A Friendly Competition
I have participated in a few of these multi-species fishing tournaments over the years and I can attest that they are not easy. For me, the mental part of it all was really different than just going fishing and I couldn’t help but over-analyze the implications. Perhaps my favorite chapter in Fedarko’s The Emerald Mile is called “Speed” and in it, he poses the question, if we love boating through the Grand Canyon so much, why would we do it as fast as possible? This is how I wrap my head around fishing tournaments and competitions. In any case, here’s a competition that shouldn’t make you think too hard - the Smolt of the Month contest. Good luck!
A Tune
If you’re into both kinds of music - country and western - here’s a fun cover. “Cool Water”, originally written by Bob Nolan, came to me as a boy when I was introduced to the great ‘Uncle’ Marty Robbins’ album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. The version below is the opening scene from the Coen brothers’ movie The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, a compilation of western shorts, and I just love it. Fair warning: it may become stuck in your head. But if it does, consider it a testament to your good taste.
An Issue
Speaking (even more) of cool water, I’ve seen some good chatter online in the past few years about water temperatures and what’s safe for angling. Keep Fish Wet, a nonprofit advocating for science-based catch-and-release practices, recently posted an interesting article detailing the effects of warming waters on fish and ‘angling thresholds’ - the temperature that indicates the beginning of an exponential rise in mortality. Take a look, be thoughtful, and let’s take care of our fishy friends.
A Thought
Don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
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