I truly believe that Americans are driven to innovate. Collectively we feel that whatever “it” is, “it” can be improved. Fly tying is no exception. Vince Marinaro in his book “A Modern Dry Fly Code” gave us new and innovative terrestrial fly patterns. Other fly tyers since then have come up with saltwater patterns that…
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…
The longer I fish the more I’ve realized there is always a trout willing to prove me wrong. I suppose if I always had their number, the pursuit and hopeful success would be far less grand than it is today. In the game of catching trout, presenting the right fly in the wrong manner will…
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…
There are two things that can be said about the original Dahlberg Diver; bass seem to love it and it takes a fair amount of time to tie one properly. Let’s face it, packing deer hair can be a painful process and it makes an absolute mess of the fly tying bench. After recently acquiring…
The last time I had the urge to steal a street sign I was standing at the junction of county highways PB & J. The sidetrack jaunt to the junction of PB & J was a mere 20-miles out of our way and, in my mind, well worth the trip to see if such a…