I'm sure a few of you know me from the ODB-SW board -- I recognize a few names here (Bob, Bernard, Ken, Dean, etc). Whazzup?
Man, where to begin...
A handful of years ago -- give or take a finger -- I took up this pursuit known as
fly fishing. I'd been ultralight spinning all my life, but since moving to Los Angeles (the most beautiful city in the world), I'd been having difficulty fishing these trickles-masquerading-as-streams using conventional tackle. Even the Japanese-made fingernail-sized spoons I'd pick up at Bob Sands' in Van Nuys were too big, too clumsy, for these brush-shrouded waters.
So, strictly for effectiveness, I switched to fly gear; I started catching more fish right off the bat and begin writing about my experiences in earnest.
That's when the trouble began.
You see, prior to that point, I had no idea there was -- supposedly -- a fly fishing heirarchy with rules and regulations and codes of conduct and other extraneous B.S.; I figured, "
it's just fishing."
I guess I was wrong because plenty of people let me know otherwise.
Those negative experiences largely soured me on the social aspects of this sport; the myth of the "gentleman fly fisherman" was exposed for what it is -- a myth. That's cool -- we need myths, it keeps things interesting.
However, I've learned from experience that there are
plenty of exceptionally cool gentlemen involved with this pursuit and I've been lucky enough to fish with a few of 'em (you know who you are).
Like pretty much everything in this world, there are good, bad, and indifferent aspects to this pursuit, just as with any other activity. You take the good with the bad and make the most of the situation.
So here I am years later, embittered and old, set in my ways, just another fly fishing
faux-rebel with nothing better to do than poke fun at certain aspects of this crazy pursuit.
To that end, I've created a blog dedicated to:
1) Demystifying the "art" of fly fishing;
2) Taking a satirical look at fly fishing stereotypes; and
3) Reprinting my favorite fishing stories from years past, along with new material.
Note that there is adult content (ie. swearing and occasional sexual connotations, nothing remotely pornographic) and situations; also, I tend to come across as ruthless, bitter and perhaps even snobbish -- the very characteristics I enjoy bashing in others.
Everyone -- especially
me -- and everything is fair game: gear geeks, pool hogs, trophy hunters, newbies, oldbies, purists, fly fishing boards, you name it.
Should you decide to pay me a visit, please remember,
it's just fishing and it's all in jest, just mindless entertainment to help pass a slow day at the office.
One of my pet peeves is bulletin boards and the indiscriminate sharing of information, so I may not post here very often but rest assured, I'll be around and I will contribute whenever I feel I have something to add.
Thanks and I'm looking forward to hanging out here...
F.B.W.
http://fishbreakswater.blogspot.com/