In fly fishing, and in our culture in general, tipping is expected for many direct services. On top of payment, gratuity is part of the transaction. It is a way to thank the professional. It is a way to compliment quality service. And it is a way to round out that person’s compensation. However, a …
“Last summer I headed out to do something that has been on my bucket list.” Joe Monaghan continued: “I rented a little Sprinter decked out for camping. I was all by myself and I had no agenda whatsoever. I drove east and started fishing; I started fishing all of western Montana. It was great. I …
The neighbor to one side of you still hasn’t removed all of the fake spiderwebs from her bushes, and the neighbor on the other side is staking illuminated reindeer down in his front yard. Thanksgiving (the superior holiday, mind you) is a turkey and pie speedbump that simply launches our culture headlong over Black Friday …
Outside of a rod, reel, line, and flies, there are only a few pieces of gear that deserve the designation essential. Sunglasses certainly fit the bill. If you think that polarized sunglasses are just for spotting fish, I’d like to walk you through a few more significant benefits. Also, I would like to advocate for …
I like fly fishing gear. I really like it. But I’m also not unreasonable. There are only a few things that you absolutely need to go out, catch fish, and have fun. If you’re using ads or catalogs to compile a list of things that are necessary, there is a good chance that you’ll be …
I’m a sucker for good marketing. Before you judge, let me explain what I mean: I appreciate a well thought-out sales pitch. I gravitate towards people who are passionate about what they make and/or sell. I like good more than I like bad. Can you blame me? While hype and reality don’t always line up, …
Last fall I fell down a rabbit hole. More accurately: I fell down into a duck’s nest. After decades of watching guys wade into swamps, dressed like trees, carrying fake birds over their shoulders, I decided to do the same. And I loved it. But aside from some cobbled-together gear from my vast fly fishing …
How do you talk about fly fishing? Over the years I’ve sold fly fishing gear, taught fly casting, and instructed teens in fly fishing. Recently, I’ve taken a few opportunities to write about fly fishing and talk about it on a podcast. The more I talk about fly fishing, the more I think about how …
I’m sure there is a fly shop out there that will sell you anything and everything that you would need to go fly fishing. But I doubt it. Reason being, there is a lot of non-fly fishing stuff that I need to get to the water and stay on the water. If you’re engaged in …
This past weekend, thermometers around me hit 90 degrees. It was a one-day aberration from an otherwise mild New England Spring. But for that one day it was hot. The weather, always a topic of conversation, was on the forefront of everyone’s mind. “It’s only May!” “Got your air conditioner on yet?” “Time to get …
