The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 07.25.2025
Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope
My Fishy Friends,
I’ve been hobbling for the last few days because a combination of jogging and basketball this week left me with a large blister in an unfortunate location on the bottom of my foot. Perhaps wet wading will do it some good… salt water cures anything, right?
Cheers,
Jesse
Banner photo: Just hazy enough to keep confidence in the dry fly.
There is a strong correlation between the perceived magnitude of quiet and calm at home upon trip’s end and the cumulative cacophony and exuberance expressed while afoot and in the field.
Like ringing ears after a rock-and-roll show, a senses hangover accompanies attendees long after the affair itself, serving as both reminder and artifact. Something happened; something big, loud, and outstanding and it will reverberate for some time.
This phenomenon was illustrated to me twice in the past months, as I gathered with vast collections of noble, lasting friends alongside fishing waters…
Tying In Hand
Those who have fly fished for Atlantic salmon (and many who haven’t) have probably become taken, to some degree, by Atlantic salmon flies. They are undoubtedly as much art as instrument, especially when considering that the fish they target isn’t required or compelled to eat. Not to mention the incredible history and stories that come along with each pattern. But, to me, tying such patterns ‘in hand’ (without a vise) takes it all to another rung and I remain in awe. I’ve been following the Instagram account @flytyingduck for a while because of this gentleman’s in hand tying abilities; they are truly remarkable. Check out his profile, browse his ties, and be amazed!
“What the Fish Taught Me”
This essay, “What the Fish Taught Me” by Elizabeth Endicott, has so much of what interests me — Maine, rivers, oceans, anadromous fish, love — and also a lot of what I don’t know much about: sexuality, queerness, closets, and euryhaline fish. That’s all to say, I loved the piece and was, once again, reminded that we love water for many reasons, including “the way it holds you, buoys you, transforms you.”
The Lost Fish
Speaking of things I don’t know much about despite being surrounded by, Pacific lamprey have been coming up more and more for me. This week I came across this story about the second annual Lampreypalooza event, organized in part by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, which highlights the efforts to protect and restore this ancient, native species. For much more about Pacific lamprey and these efforts, check out the film “The Lost Fish.”
Photo: David Herasimtschuk
Intoxication
Intoxicated with a sense of his own power, mankind seems to be going farther and farther into more experiments for the destruction of himself and his world.
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© Jesse Lance Robbins, 2025
