New Adventures in the Old Outdoors

In beginning to fly fish, I have run across a huge variety of different personalities and attitudes. A lot of the input I get feels kind of elitist, in that, the suggestions I get are to buy more/spend more, and bragging about gear. While I can understand having pride in your equipment, I do have a hard time understanding the popular view that if you don’t have a certain level of stuff, or a certain type of home waters, then it’s better to not even start. I, myself, do not have anything special in the way of equipment. My fly combo was purchased for around $20.00 at Wal-Mart. I have obtained some older second-hand stuff along the way, but have yet to spend any dramatic amounts of money on anything. Does this make things a bit more challenging than having better equipment? Possibly. But it in no way detracts from my enjoyment of being on the water. So if cost is an issue. Don’t let that stop you. Get gear as cheap as necessary and build up from there. You won’t be sorry.

Take care.

J

Day by day I stare at a computer screen while surrounded by drab gray cubicle walls. I say the same things over and over, endlessly on the phone, answering thousands of emails, typing thousands upon thousands of characters on a keyboard.

I know a place though, a place where the only sounds heard are those of God’s creation. The flowing of a river, the wind in the trees, the singing of birds. I often go to this place, not always in person, but I carry it with me in my heart and soul. When I am not there it sings to me, a siren’s call of enticement. I need no urging however. I am always there.

Take care.

J

Personal stuff alert: Periodically I will be posting things of a more personal, reflective nature. I will attempt to label these posts as such. If you are not interested, please feel free to bypass those posts. Otherwise, the post will appear after the jump. Continue Reading »

Tspey, the Fly Fishing Alaskan, has painted a picture of the new Alaskan spring. I recommend checking out the post. You won’t be sorry.

From the blog:

Wild rivers are something to behold. They are a living, breathing entity. Every year I look forward to seeing her. With each passing year the river’s changes are subtle but distinct. New pockets form and old runs vanish. It’s the same river I have been fishing since I was 12 years old but it is always different. Giant trumpeter swans were paired alongside pools of open water. The eagles outnumbered seagulls. A bull moose crossed upriver in slow motion with the sounds of others munching on freshly budded willows directly across from us.

Take care.

J