“...the fisherman fishes. It is at once an act of humility and a small rebellion. And it is something more. To him, his fishing is an island of reality in a world of dream and shadow." – Robert Traver Now that the shadow of the eclipse seems but a dream, the rivers take a breath and relax. It just so…
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“Perhaps fishing is, for me, only an excuse to be near rivers. If so, I’m glad I thought of it.” – Roderick L. Haig-Brown If you are looking for an excuse to be near the wonders and beauty of nature, then look no further than the Wood, Silver Creek, Big Lost, or Salmon. Just as each cast with a fly…
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"Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth." – Buddha Now is a good time to stock up on essentials in preparation for the solar eclipse occurring Monday, August 21st. Be sure to have water, food, sunscreen, gas, eclipse glasses, and patience...lots of patience. Add ice, beer, and a fly rod to the list and…
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And everything under the sun is in tune. But the sun is eclipsed by the moon. – Pink Floyd If you have not heard, the Sun Valley and Stanley area is in the path of totality for the solar eclipse occurring Monday, August 21st. We expect a massive influx of visitors and congestion on all our roadways starting around the…
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“Fishing seems awfully insignificant at times, but for those of us who love it, fishing provides opportunities— opportunities to learn, to laugh, and to live...” – Ted Baechtold This week we have a great opportunity: On July 29th, the parking lot in the rear of the store will be transformed into a summer gathering and product fair featuring some of…
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“I have had my share of hairy moments, always from the same mistake—misjudging the strength of the current.” – A.J. McClane As the rivers in our region continue to drop, the water is looking more and more fishy. But don’t be fooled; it is still very high and a misstep wading can be dangerous. Here are a few reminders that…
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“There is nothing like the thrill of expectation over the first cast over unfamiliar waters. Fishing is like gambling, in that failure only excites hope of a fortunate throw next time.” – Charles Dudley Warner From moment to moment, rivers are in a constant state of change. Some change is subtle like a slight drop in flow or a rise…
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“This I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world.” – John Steinbeck All good anglers seem to have a common trait; they are relentless seekers. And it is this tireless exploration that makes some fly fisherman among the most optimistic, patient, and intellectually curious of our kind. The exploration…
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“Fishing consists of a series of misadventures interspersed by occasional moments of glory.” – Howard Marshall What constitutes a “moment of glory” while angling? If an angler pursues his or her quarry with the monomania of Ahab, then the moment of glory only comes occasionally, if at all. But if we focus on the misadventures and the lessons learned from…
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“The stream before you is constantly changing. If you are not flexible or confident enough to adapt to changing conditions on the stream, you are sure to fail.” – Joe Humphreys During a series of lean water years, we become accustomed to a level of consistency on our freestone streams; hatches predictably occur over clear, wadable water and certain buckets…
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“We could keep talking about the river or we could just get in.” – Jeff Tweedy Planning and preparation are important for a day of winter angling; however, the doing of the thing is paramount. The Big Wood February is a special time on the Wood. The days are a tad longer and this current storm cycle has brought the…
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“People are always looking for the single magic bullet that will completely change everything. There is no single magic bullet. Progress is about bridging the gap between what we observe and what we can imagine — one careful step at a time.” – Temple Grandin Observe the wind, the light, the currents, the bugs, the disposition of the trout. Imagine…
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