"One must learn by doing the thing, for though you think you know it, you have no certainty until you try.” ― Aristotle Even after doing the thing, certainty can be elusive. Therefore, one must continue to fish. Learning by doing is a lifetime endeavor. The Big Wood It finally feels like true fall fishing has arrived. The cottonwoods and…
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"Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction.” ― Kenichi Ohmae The same principle applies to fishing. Slow down. Reassess. Try different flies. Exercise stealth. Make fewer casts. If you fish smarter, you will catch more fish. The Big Wood Despite the low flows, the Wood continues to fish well. Hecubas, the last big bug…
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"Something to think about: If you fish the wrong fly long and hard enough, it will sooner or later become the right fly.” ― John Gierach Here is something else to think about: If you are fishing in the right spot, at the right time, with the proper tackle, technique, and presentation, then maybe you have the wrong fly. Change…
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"All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Grown-ups who remember the delight of catching their first fish, angle into the sunset of life. A fall day on the river with rod in hand always invokes the youthful spirit within. The Big Wood The Wood is low. The cooler weather is a…
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"If your why is strong enough you will figure out how!” – Bill Walsh If you only teach me how, I will have success in the moment. But if you teach me why, I can figure out the how again and again. The Big Wood September is a special time on the Wood and despite the historic low flows, it…
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"When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this ― you haven't.” – Thomas Edison It is the problem fish, the ones that continue to feed even after the box and bag of tricks have been emptied, that keep the angler coming back. These fish teach humility and remind us that there is still more to learn. The Big Wood The…
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"Remember how long you’ve been putting this off, how many extensions the gods gave you, and you didn’t use them.” – Marcus Aurelius After all, calling in sick to go fishing is completely forgivable. Putting off fishing because you are too busy is blasphemy. Take action this August and get yourself to the nearest body of water. The Big Wood…
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"Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” – Mary Oliver Day in the life of an angler: Observe the vicissitudes of the barely visible. Revel in the sublime beauty of trout and their environs. Sit around the shop, beverage in hand, and tell about it. The Big Wood The Wood continues to fish well. The…
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"In so many ways a friend with a boat is better than owning a boat.” – Kevin Kelly A friend with a boat, a box with the right flies, a vest full of tackle, a cooler full of cool beverages, a few yarns to tell, and a bit of timely advice is the best friend you can have. We call…
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"You forgive us and we'll forgive you. We'll forgive each other 'til we both turn blue. And we'll whistle and go fishing in the heavens.” – John Prine There is no time like the present to learn how to fly fish. We have modified the format of our popular Fly Fishing 101 Class to meet COVID safe social distancing protocols…
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