The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 08.14.2026
Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope
My Fishy Friends,
It seems like everyone’s calendars are at capacity right now — ours included and, in some cases, there are conflicting entries. Summer plans are good, generally speaking, but it’s also good and necessary for absences of plans. Or, perhaps plans for things like meandering down a river, trail, or beach without an agenda, or reading on the couch and falling asleep. To the latter, maybe the following will help…
Cheers,
Jesse
Banner photo: An unexpected, cloudy—even misty—day in early August.
Skin in the Game with Dec Hogan
[Here’s a piece I did recently for RIO Products. What a treat to get to know Dec, learn from him, and hear more about the history and origins of PNW steelheading culture. Enjoy!]
Dec Hogan is a romantic. And like all romantics his approach to life – and consequently, fishing – deals in emotions, aesthetics and relationships.
"I can still feel it now,” he says about the first steelhead he hooked. We’ve all heard those words, but for Dec it’s more than a memory of the pull on his line: it’s a feeling in his heart, and it’s a feeling that he shares with others…
Reading at Roundabout Books
To my central-Oregon subscribers: I’ll be at Roundabout Books in Bend on Thursday, August 20th to read some chapters from my book and share accompanying photographs at the same time. Joining me will be the Deschutes Redbands Chapter of Trout Unlimited, who’ll speak to their work and other upcoming events and efforts. Join us all at 6:30 p.m. FYI, tickets for this event are $5 general admission, or free with a book purchase.
The Duranglers
When I moved out west, I landed in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and guided at the 4UR Ranch, outside of the town of Creede. Despite a year-round population only around 250, in summertime the town buzzed and especially with anglers. There, at the two bars in town, I first became aware of, and eventually befriended some of the guides from Duranglers, the longstanding, respected fly shop and outfitter based in Durango. I could say a lot about those summers and how much fly fishing knowledge I absorbed and discovered, but The Duranglers were a big part of it—if not directly, then because of their influence. Learn more about The Duranglers in this new short film.
Harm
While I’ve shared Jason Anthony’s Field Guide to the Anthropocene in this newsletter before, his recent post entitled “Harm” is too good not to include here. And when I say, “good,” I’m referring to the writing, and how he explains and puts into perspective recent specific and general attacks and threats to the environment and its protection. I found the post scary, sobering, angering, and yet hopeful. As in any great writing, Anthony puts into words what I’ve been feeling lately. As example: “Politics is too often the art of putting power into the hands of those who least deserve it, but amid the race-baiting and fearmongering and economies of selfishness now sickening the heart of the American experiment, there is still the greater reality of who people are, outside of politics, and how they feel about a meaningful life.”
Soul Fly Boston
All my New England-based readers should put Soul Fly’s upcoming Boston event on their calendars in ink! On Saturday, Sept. 12th, the shindig is going down—a celebration of fly fishing, fish, art, music, good food and drink, and northeast ocean culture. And, it’s in support of the good work of the nonprofits American Saltwater Guides Association and Elevate Youth.
A Good Skunking
Courtesy of the Atlantic Salmon Federation, here’s a decade-only story from the Atlantic Salmon Journal, written by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard enitled “A Good Skunking.” The essay is an exploration of ways to get skunked, as one might guess, but lands in a reminder of what it all means for the fish, and also includes a nice reminder about what makes for a good story.
Ten Years Against the Tide
If you’re feeling in need of a little inspiration and hope, take a look at this new film from the Florida-based nonprofit Captains for Clean Water. It’s a retrospective of their ten years in operation, and documents the movement they’ve built across Florida and the country—from advocacy to education and outreach. While you’re at it, grab a CFCW hat too.
Fish Untamed Podcast
A few months ago, I had the pleasure of joining host Katie Burgert on her podcast Fish Untamed. We bounced between fishing and conservation topics, and shared some recounts from our time in the backcountry. For those who haven’t been able to get to my recent book reading events, there’s also a story in there for you to lend your ears. I’ve come to appreciate Katie’s interviewing approach, thoughtful questions, and the variety of guests she has on her show. Check out Fish Untamed on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Thanks, Katie!
Live Migrations — Coming soon!
Beginning August 19th, the new website Live Migrations will go live and showcase the annual sockeye salmon run in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, wherein millions of these special fish return to their natal streams to spawn and die, all the while feeding the entire ecosystem as they do so. In their own words: “…through a network of remote cameras, viewers can experience this extraordinary event exactly as it happens—without narration, scripts, or editing. Sometimes the river teems with life. Sometimes nothing happens at all. Both are part of the story.” I’ll be checking it out.
Being A River Guide
We've got miles to make, and there are a million things to do, but it's also someone's vacation, so being a river guide means threading a needle. You have to be precise, always on-clock, while also seeming effortless and cool.
Only a small part of guiding is navigating rapids. You also need to be familiar with natural history, emergency medicine, cooking, thermodynamics, boat repair, bartending, babysitting, oration, costume design, anthropology, geology, and therapy.
~ From Heather Hansman’s new book Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America’s Love for the Wild
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