The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 10.18.2024

Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope

My Fishy Friends,

You know the week has been a long one when ‘last weekend’ feels like two or three weekends ago. An old coworker and mentor once told me that short work-weeks always feel the longest because we squeeze five days of business into however many days we’re actually working. This week confirmed this wisdom. But the end of the week always, eventually, approaches. And the water always beckons.

Cheers,
Jesse

“Fishing Flags”

What do two flags, flapping in the breeze some 3,200 miles apart from one another, have in common?

Keep Reading & Find Out

Just Fish It

This week, Nike sub-brand NOCTA released its new Opal Collection, a selection of fly fishing-inspired outerwear, vests, and apparel. The launch coincided with a few collaborations in the fly fishing industry, including The Drake Magazine (which featured NOCTA part-owner and artist Drake on the cover), Abel Reels (co-branded reels), and Thomas & Thomas rods, as well as a three-day event in NYC. Fly Fisherman Magazine reported on the launch and event and also shared a short highlight video. With Drake’s 144 million followers on Instagram, this must be the most that fly fishing has ever been shared! I like a little shake-up of the industry and community but I’m curious about the intentions - is this simply a fashion statement and sales strategy, or is there more at work within the sport of fly fishing? It doesn’t appear to be about accessibility - the Abel reels go for $2500 apiece - but maybe exposure? I remember when Nike got into skateboarding - there was definitely pushback from that community (I had a sticker that said something like, “What if we treated all athletes like the next target market?”) but that’s long forgotten now. I think if Nike launched this line when I was 12 or 13, I’d be pretty stoked, even though I wouldn’t have been able to afford any of it. In any case, fly fishing is getting new and excited eyes on it right now, which I think is a good thing

Approach Like a Pro

On the bank of the famous Missouri River, in the small town of Craig, MT, is Headhunters Fly Shop. I was introduced to this small-but-mighty fly shop, its owners, guides, staff and angling philosophy, over a decade ago and they all left a lasting impression. Their preferred style of fishing - headhunting, or hunting ‘heads’ (rising trout) - is among the most challenging and exciting style of fishing for trout, and the Headhunters crew has a unique approach that has been honed over the course of their decades of dry fly fishing on the Missouri. Headhunters also maintains a blog, and it’s filled with fishing and river reports, technique and tackle discussions, and other relevant explorations. Guide and co-owner Mark Raisler recently posted a great overview of the Headhunter style of dry fly fishing: How to Approach Like a Pro. In Mark’s words:

This methodology has come to me over the past 34 years on the Missouri River. It has come from fishing with many friends, colleagues, guides, and family. I did not learn this overnight. It took many years to develop this method. But you can execute this method next time you find yourself in a rising trout situation. Do it. Learn it. Approach like a Pro! Catch more trout! Add your own twist to this and make it your own!

My father was just out there doing a little headhunting. He had an interesting end to his trip but was set straight by Mark and the Headhunters crew. Read more about that here.

Doc of the Drakes

Certain stories, or parts of them, or phrases from them, stick with me. This film, “Doc of the Drakes”, has stuck around in my head ever since I first saw it a dozen years ago. Having fished a few times on Silver Creek, I can picture these guys out there, floating around slowly with their dries in a perma-drift. I love all of this film: the camaraderie, the enthusiasm of the guide, the banter, all of it. And, yes, the fish is pretty amazing too.

Why Not Another Doc?

I caught my first proper Atlantic salmon on a Silver Doctor pattern, and it was given to me at Hachey’s Rod Shop by Maine tyer Gary Dinkins on my way to the Miramichi. The fly now resides in retirement at my home, among numerous other flies that have caught memorable fish - tarpon, steelhead, permit, trout, carp, etc. - or were given to me and/or tied by memorable friends. May we all have a fitting place to store such flies, like Steve Duda describes in “A Frazzled Constellation” (begins at 6:45). Here’s a great overview of the Silver Doctor from the late Maine tyer Don Bastian.

The Big Ones

What I try to do is write adventure songs and Halloween music. You put yourself into some sort of trance to receive certain songs… It’s like fishing or anything else. You have to be real quiet to catch the big ones.

~ Tom Waits

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this newsletter, please send it to a friend.
Was this email sent to you by a friend? Click here to subscribe.