The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 10.04.2024

Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope

My Fishy Friends,

It would’ve been impossible to ask for better weather on Wednesday when I was getting ready to float the local river with two friends. Warm but not hot, cool but not cold, and cloudy but not raining. Ideal. It was so good that, while my friends were parking their rigs at the put-in and I was rigging up a rod, a trout rose not thirty feet away. With my anchor still on the concrete ramp, I took one cast, and caught the fish. I wondered whether this would be bad luck for us, but as it turned out, it was emphatically NOT.

Cheers,
Jesse

The Original Trout Bum

Last week, the fly fishing world lost one of its most prolific writers, and possibly the most well-known one, John Gierach. Whether or not he coined the term ‘trout bum’ is likely debatable, but his book of the same name firmly established the phrase as one to be revered, at least in my eyes. Gierach authored over twenty books on fly fishing, most of them falling in the genre that I aspire to contribute to - creative nonfiction. Each and every one of his essays and stories has multiple, laugh-out-loud, write-down-for-later-use one-liners and sentences. I remember when I first worked in a fly shop in high school, I read his essay “Expertizing”, and realized that I was guilty of a scene he described - that of the shop rat, in response to a customer’s question, looking to the ceiling as if in deep thought, and as if the question warranted a life or death answer. He’d hit it on the head. There are numerous celebrations of his life online now; here’s one from Fly Fisherman Magazine, and here’s one from earlier this year at Angler’s Journal. Thanks, John, for everything.

Bre’s Grand Slam

The shared experience must be the best way to get to know someone; when situations aren’t ideal, challenges are faced, and eventually seen through. I met South Carolina-based creative Bre Drake through fly fishing and since then I’ve had the good fortune to not only to get to know her but also to collaborate with her. From afar, I watch as she continues to produce incredible pieces of design and her latest work, in partnership with 239 Flies and Tibor Reels, might be my favorite; see below. Check out Bre’s work on her website and her Instagram - you’ll be glad you did.

For Appalachia

In response to the horrific damage caused to Western North Carolina and other parts of southern Appalachia by Hurricane Helene, I’ve seen a number of channels promoted recently, through which to help recovery efforts. If you’re interested in contributing, one to check out is #fliesforappalachia on Instagram. The #fliesfor effort was started by Josh Mills years ago, and the premise is simple: tie some flies, post them to Instagram, followers bid on them, the winner donates money to a cause, and in return they get the flies. Other accounts to follow for more ways to help include the French Broad Riverkeeper, and Chattooga Conservancy.

The Best Kind of Vintage

Vintage Trouts, an online re-seller of old fly fishing hats, apparel, books, and other items has been a joy to follow as of late. I truly hope the items they sell find their way back to a river somewhere and aren’t worn solely for fashion, but I guess I couldn’t fault anyone for the latter. Vintage Trouts also seems to be on the same page as me when it comes to fly fishing vests, which is good to see. I can’t speak for the listed prices of their pieces, but how can you possibly put a value on a lucky fishing hat, really?

Action Alert for Stripahs

The American Saltwater Guides Association continues to work hard for Atlantic saltwater fish species, the latest of which is calling on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission to fulfill their obligation to rebuild the striped bass fishery. Specifically, ASGA is asking for support (co-signers) of their letter to the Commission which details a striper fishery management request. Click here to learn more and add your name, but do so quickly because the letter will be submitted after October 13th.