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Starting over before an Alaska fishing trip
Rather than an orderly collection of streamers, Gurglers and Egg-sucking Leaches, it looked, as I explained to my friends on a group chat as we planned out the week ahead, like the dog had coughed up a flamingo
A rebuilt fly box for a trip to Alaska. When the old fly box just won't cut it anymore When I booked a place to stay in Southeast Alaska for this coming week, I still had eastern Idaho carp on the brain. Like a lot of anglers, I have a running "fishing calendar" — a…
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Remembering John Merwin and lessons learned
I remember the first time we met in person. We were at a fishing trade show, and Merwin ordered me to lunch. I was pretty nervous because everyone at the magazine had told me what a tough customer he was. And sure enough, he was no more than a sip into his martini when he criticized the most recent story I had written
I was cleaning up my office the other day, and chanced upon a book that made me smile. It’s a copy of John Merwin’s The New American Trout Fishing, given to me by my wife as a birthday present, not long after the book came out in 1994. The book made a tremendous impression and influenced…
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PSA: This ‘boat blog’ has a name
Way back in March I wrote my intro to this platform that I’ll post again below. Hopefully it resonates with a few of you and is providing some entertainment. We try not to take ourselves to seriously and would love some feedback if you have a second.
It’s called The Thalweg and I only bring it up because it’s been a few months since we launched and wanted to reiterate our mission statement of sorts. We also want to know what the audience was liking or disliking as well as what you all want to see and hear more of. I'm having…
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It’s bull trout time in Idaho
Roger Phillips photo. By Roger Phillips They’re big, they’re hard-fighting, and they’re one of Idaho’s most overlooked trophy fishing opportunities, but many anglers are still confused about whether they can target bull trout for catch-and-release fishing. The short answer is yes. When bull trout were listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act in…
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Milestones
Milestones. Like shifting winds off the canyon walls, they come and go without warning. While often more prevalent when we are younger, milestones appear easier to recognize as we age. A couple of weeks ago, without notice, one happened. On the drive back from the river, I announced it to my wife, who was quietly…
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Throwback advertising: absurd old-school drift boat sales video
motion, fish handling from hell, absurd rowing lines, more absurd launches, and stress tests with sledgehammers and rocks.
The old Lavro drift boat video I stumbled on via YouTube had me in stitches this past weekend and had to share. The upload date says 2009, but I'm pretty sure it was filmed way before then. Now, don't get me wrong, Lavro made some really cool boats back in the day — especially some…
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So, you want to write about fly fishing?
Writer Kirk Deeter taking notes on a layover in Prince Albert, Sask., Canada, en route to Lake Athabasca. Chris Hunt photo. “How in the heck did I ever end up here?” It’s a question I’ve asked myself many times over. Sipping icy Coca-Cola at a Bolivian army base with El Comandante, as my four Argentine and…
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