-
River treasures
Over the years on countless rivers and streams, I’ve found treasures. When the fishing slows or just for a change of pace, I walk around with my head down. It’s amazing what you can find. Of course, there’s the disappointing: tippet or leader pieces, shotgun shell casings, spent bobbers and the make-me-want-to-pull-my-hair-out cigarette butts and plastic water bottles. But…
-
The fishing lodge
The greatest fishing tales are first told at the lodge
The old dart board hangs from the split-log wall, inviting a game of 501. It’s just to the left of the bar, which rests in the shadow of a massive bull moose mount. The fireplace crackles nicely, spitting flames up the rock chimney and spreading the aroma of seasoned spruce throughout the lodge. It mingles…
-
Chama 2.0
Big browns can live in the Chama thanks to restoration work
A restored channel below Abiquiu Dam reinvents a New Mexico trout stream In the first "Rocky" movie, the title character dreams of being a prizefighter, yet understands that he will never rise above being a heart-of-gold jaw breaker for a small-time Philadelphia mobster. The Rio Chama below Abiquiu dam can relate; like Rocky Balboa, Abiquiu’s flood control and water storage day job is far from sexy. During irrigation…
-
Dear Kids …
Who will we be when this is all over?
Let me start by saying, for most of the parents of the world, that we have no idea what we are doing. The truth is, we might be in trouble here. I noticed it the other day as you were toddling around the house, swearing under your breath as you tried to find where you…
-
Birds, books and flies
Birding has become a distraction for one shut-in Alaska angler
Whiling away the coronavirus pandemic in Alaska I had a realization the other day while wandering my neighborhood bike path with the pooch, eyes scanning trees for the flutter of wings and ears waiting for the jubilant spring song of rambling birds. I am unintentionally prepared for this quarantine. After a pleasant trip south of the border, I returned to new norms of social distancing and a more or less…
-
Running toward it
Thoughts of recreation and even fishing now feel indulgent
We were just at the point of beginning to wash our hands all the time, after the first few cases were confirmed in New Mexico during my son’s spring break. The plan was to head to Utah and fish the San Juan on the way home. We camped the first three nights at Canyonlands, where we took a couple long…
-
Room to breathe
“Mom, has something like this ever happened to you?” Clara looked up from the snowy tire ruts where she was struggling to keep her cross country skis. “You mean like Coronavirus?” “Yeah.” I immediately thought of Sept. 11, 2001, when the planes flew into the towers, and tried to recall how I felt. I remembered…
Category