The Best Fly Fishing is Everywhere - 09.05.2025
Ramblings & Readings, Creativity & Conservation, Happenings & Hope
My Fishy Friends,
A recent extra-long weekend provided me two days on the water, out of four in total. This seems like a good ratio: half of our days should be on the water, or outside at least, and no less. Wishful thinking perhaps but maybe it’s a long-term average we can strive for?
Cheers,
Jesse
Banner photo: Cold, clear, and consistent.
Flip
As many in the fly fishing community know, the legendary angler, guide, educator, casting instructor, and tackle developer, Flip Pallot passed away unexpectedly last week. There are many, many stories and films about and featuring Flip online; just take a look. But for now, I’d like to call attention to the heartfelt statement posted on his website, as well as the article in a 2017 issue of Fly Fisherman, written by Sarah Grigg, entitled “A Spiritual Guide to the Importance of the Last 40 Feet.”
Some great words of Flip’s from the story:
Life in my world comes down to the last 40 feet. If there's anything left for me to do, it's to make people aware that life, and most particularly this lifestyle, is tied to the natural world and not to a credit card… They've come all the way from Cleveland to Abaco, but with that last 40 to the bonefish, their credit card is worthless. They've forgotten to bring the skills they need, because they didn't invest the time to develop them…
Thanks, Flip, for everything.
Protect Roadless Areas!
Another attack on America’s public lands is underway and, once again, everyone’s comments are needed! Back in June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its intention to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This action would remove protections for 58.5 million acres of national forest land across 39 states that are home to irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitat. Comments on this proposal are being accepted now through September 19th. Click here to learn more and take action, via Trout Unlimited.
Fifty Fishy States
The folks at Vintage Trouts — purveyors of vintage and to-be-reworn fishing apparel — just posted a cool collection of items: their 50 States Collection. With hats, shirts, hoodies, jackets, or otherwise, and at least one item from each state, there’s surely something to catch an eye for yourself or as a gift.
Mosquitos & Mayflies
We’ve talked about angler and videographer Rolf Nylinder in this newsletter before, and probably will again, but his recent re-release of “Mosquitos & Mayflies” is worth a look, if not another one. “There’s always a rising trout… somewhere in my mind,” Nylinder says in the intro to this collection of shorts. For those unfamiliar, Rolf’s films are unique in their mood and aesthetic, and refreshing for that reason, all the while remaining inspiring. Enjoy.
Ideas & Fish
Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re beautiful.
~ David Lynch
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