I have decided that the winter of 2013 has determined my maximum tolerance for snow, ice and arctic temperatures. Normally my fall and winter days are consumed by chasing waterfowl and upland birds (for gourmet meals and fly tying materials) but this past season, drought, followed by early freeze and a ridiculous amount of snow…
I ran across the display above while talking about smallmouth fishing with my old friend Bob Nicholson. Bob and I have spent many years fishing for trout on the Muskegon River in Michigan. In the summer when trout fishing slows down, the Muskegon becomes a really great smallmouth fishery. Enquiring about the chart, of course,…
In my younger days, I used to take my corporate mandated vacations in a block and made every effort to go someplace and do something “new”. In 1974, in the spirit of exploration, I ended up in Portland, Oregon with a young lady who, among other things, was willing to try fly fishing. We visited…
Fly fishing methods are as varied as the number of anglers. If you examine any of these methods you realize that no matter what the method, there is always a thing called a “leader”–which is the all important connection between the fly (the part that catches the fish) and the fly line (the part that…
One of the current military strategies is to “Rule the Night”. Basically, this means that you take away from the enemy the ability to control the darkness and make it an advantage to you. While I never thought of trout fishing in a military sense, the thought might work if applied to the Michigan Mayfly…
One of the strengths of America is that we are never satisfied. A national mania for innovation is what drives our economic success. Collectively, Americans look at something and seem to say “I can do it better”. This “madness” extends to fly fishing in many ways. What was wrong with bamboo rods, canvas waders and…
It is currently popular to criticize the “gub’ment” for just about anything. Unfortunately I cannot blame them for many of the stupid things I’ve done in the last 65 years. In fact, ever since the Department of Defense developed the Internet, I think we should thank it profusely. Without GPS I can think of a…
When it comes to drift boats I spend the majority of the time rowing one. When I get the opportunity to fish out of one, I will most likely be fishing from back of the boat — on the upstream side. My seating position is not out of choice but remains a factor of weight.…
Since I discovered cologne back in my pubescent years, it seems that every time I am within aroma proximity of an aging baby boomer the world ceases to spin long enough for them to toss out a comment that includes the words “french whore.” Having the delight to fish and hunt with more than a…
It is estimated that there are over 300,000 people in the U.S. living with a spinal chord injury (SCI). For some, simply stepping out the door is a daily adventure. Fly fishing is among the growing list of adaptive, outdoor pursuits for individuals living with SCI. From the trout’s perspective, the amount of mobility an…