Fishing Journals & Keeping Memories, Not Just Intell

I am a strong proponent of keeping a fishing  journal. There are several out there and find one that suits your style (free flowing writing or entries prompts that seek specifics and a little space to write. Many of us gather intell on the front end via friends, shops, on line etc. but afterwards we don’t write it down. Starting a journal requires self discipline to maintain, especially if your outings don’t yield results. 

SwittersB's & Tony's Fly Fishing Journals

The journals provide plenty of intell for future outings and you will soon write to not only provide data for future trips but to capture special moments and emotions. Going back and reading the entries 20 years or more later about yourself or your fishing partners is quite satisfying. Here are some entries that while not overly unique, show the excitement and pleasure I felt and still provided prompts for future outings.

I remember this day, a water boatman return to the lake with pronounced plops hitting the lake and me. Fascinating.

The journal can even be the repository for old cards and pictures. Here I found a card from my mom, who obviously knew how to select a Christmas card I would enjoy.

Tony's entry showed his transition to a 2 hander and expensive tastes.

Consider a journal that fits your writing style, temperment and invest the time (takes maybe 10 minutes or so) to make the entries and reap the rewards in the near future and many years later. Oh, that Little Gray Nymph….I will throw it at you again.

Merry Christmas to the Naughty & Nice!!!

St. Nick’s History

Cigars: Tim’s Great Cigars (Wood Village, Oregon)

I have highlighted TimO’Dell’s cigar shop, Tim’s Great Cigars in Wood Village, Oregon. I dropped by today to say howdy and check out the shop. I hadn’t been in for awhile and I was struck by his expanded inventory of cigars. He carries a little pipe tobacco and some inexpensive pipes, but he mostly has a fine selection of cigars.

Tim O'Dell's Shop in Wood Village, Oregon

Tim transplanted from Hawaii a few years back and is an avid fisherman, adept at swinging a fly on the Deschutes R. He likes to collect vintage electric guitars and fly fishing gear.

Take I-84 to Exit 16 (Wood Village exit), head South up the hill a short distance to NE Halsey Street and Tim’s Great Cigars is over on the SE corner. Look for that Cigar Indian.

 

Cowboy Caviar & Flanken Cut Ribs

• 1 (11 ounce) can small, white shoepeg corn, drained
• 1 can of black eye peas, drained
• 2 firm-ripe avocados, finely chopped
• 1 large tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• finely minced jalapeno peppers

Hot Summer night at the kid’s house. Cold beer, grilled, marinated Korean, flanken cut ribs, grilled veggies, the cowboy caviar; cold, cubed melons, chicken and burrrp….pie. 

Fly Fishing: Life Interruptus

I imagine every insidious (well not insidious, but invasive) hobby, or past time, has that pull; that pervasive pull on your mind, your equilibrium. I use to feel it about working out. Injuries have lessened it, but not wiped it out yet. Gardening is there as my connection to the soil, beginnings, nurturing and tending to endings.

Penny studies with me on how to catch fish. She seems equally fascinated with this passion. She likes the pictures a lot. SwittersB

But fly fishing and all the associated trappings is so a part of me that when I can’t fish or even tie, I do feel a withdrawal or craving that is so strong I can get testy. Wanderlust, skills performance, moving and planning, connection to the flows, observing for signs, tying to create to seduce. Take it away from me and I range from longing to severe withdrawal. Once there, getting ready, doing it…I am almost immediately at ease.

Life Interruptus: poor health, loved one’s needs, work, hard times or even other hobbies. You will know the worth of fly fishing et al, to you, doing it and once you are cut off. For me, fly fishing has deeply inserted itself into my sanity equation. It is a good thing….but, sometimes life does intrude. Have faith.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Liberty Day~Aunt's Flagpole (SwittersB)

Fly Fishing: Simple Partridge & Green Shined

Yesterday, midday, on the McKenzie River the Partridge and Green Wet Fly Shined

PMD’s and a variety of  Caddis were coming off. As the fly became tattered from teeth, it still worked just fine until it finally came undressed. Darn!  Tutorial/SBS by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog.

Bloodknot Magazine & SwittersB

Bloodknot Magazine and me  

Thank you Bloodknot Mag….

Wines: Serving Temps…No, Not Warm Room Temps

WINE SERVING TEMPERATURES…ENJOY

A Bright Spot, A Retreat…

Bright Spot (SwittersB)

Why do we/you fly fish? A new challenge, like golf, like skiing? To be with special friend(s), who attaches great significance to the endeavor, so you do too? To fidget and fuss with gear; a love affair with process and preparation? To be near water, wind and the irregular edges of earth? “The moment”? The take, the pulse, the power, the holding on? The  catch/the kill? The catch/ the release? The reverence for a creature described as possessing but a pea brain, but that possesses your mind, heart, some would say your soul? The draw of the group, the associated bonding of the group and memories? Egocentrism, elitism, distinction? Goofball fish porn, bumism, machismo, rebel without a cause? Individuality and solitude?

After the preparation, anticipation, tinkering, tying, technical how to’s, talking, following the contemporary trends (as you may have since middle school)…..why, in your mind, do you fly fish? Strip away all the trappings and I hope you settle upon a renewing force beneath the trappings. It will be a bright spot in your life, drawing you back to rebuild, rejuvenate, re-gain your bearings.