Birds aren’t fish, and ducks aren’t trout. But for anyone interested in the conservation of these sporting species, a lot can be learned from a recent podcast put out by Ducks Unlimited. The show features an engaging conversation regarding ongoing empirical research on migratory birds. A story that is not unfamiliar to those who pay …
Clothes make the man. But do clothes make the fly fisherman? True: fishing is more about reading the water, making the right cast, and matching the hatch. But you can’t do any of this unless you’re dressed for the occasion. (And in most locales, it is probably frowned upon to fish if you’re not dressed.) …
This is part 5 of the story. Read the beginning of River Apollo here. Paul had stepped out onto his slate front porch and closed the door behind him as Gerry talked to him about the potential habitat improvement. Practically, it was to keep the bugs out. At a deeper level, Paul was subconsciously moving …
Unless you’re angling for the purpose of sustenance or competition, species and size are less important than the challenge wrapped up in the pursuit. Where you catch a fish matters to you. How you catch a fish matters to you. The fight of a fish matters to you. Particularly for catch and release anglers, the …
If you Google something to the effect of “dying in a national park,” you’ll get quite a few nifty infographics. Each one will show you that bears are not going to be the way you meet an untimely end if you do end up shuffling off this mortal coil while recreating on NPS property. Bears, …
Today you’re seeing part 4 of a series. Read the beginning of River Apollo here. Paul wasn’t an off the rack kind of guy. His rocky past and idyllic present were each a few standard deviations away from the middle of society’s bell curve. He knew this. He was thankful for this – even for …
They’re not the biggest or most technically-challenging fish, but there is something special about a wild trout caught high up in the mountains. And while those who spend a lot of time walking trails with fly rod in hand know that it is possible to catch dozens of feisty trout in these secluded creeks, this …
June. July. August. Summer means bass chasing poppers, stripers crashing in the surf, and long hikes to still-chilly mountain trout creeks. These three months have a lot going for them. I’m not too fond of the heat, but I’m quite partial to the fishing… and the vacations, the evenings on the deck, and the ever-so-subtle …
Decoration Day was the forerunner to the modern celebration of Memorial Day. A reunifying United States formally and corporately acknowledged the fallen. In steps through the decades and through other wars, Memorial Day as we know it came to be. Thaddeus Norris’ The American Angler’s Book was published in 1864. Although the war was still …
This is, as the title says, the 3rd part of the story. Read the beginning of River Apollo here. Paul never wanted to be a mascot for anything. One time he came close. (That is, in fact, a significant part of his life. But it is significant enough to wait for a more opportune time. …
