Dun spring 2018

Wilderness Disorder Baby Steps DUN Destinations

Superior Bathhouse

Fluorescent Hot Mess

Spring 2018

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“ O n l y I c a n c h a n g e my l i f e.

N o o n e c a n d o i t f o r m e.”

Carol Burnett

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Spring 2018

MOTIVATION

Features

Spring 2018 Against The flow

16

Learning to swim against the flow puts life in perspective

by SYDNEY ABBOTT

The Life Vest

22

Finding comfort amidst the existential quagmire of American life

by ERICA HICKEY

Love Affair

28

When once upon a time truly does end in happily ever after on the water

by CARMEN BARENDS

Mom Season

34

Learning to let go of what we think our children should be

by LINDA GALAMBOS

Wilderness disorder

58

A drastic change in life creates a cure for one woman’s lifelong disorder

by ROBIN SCHMIDT

All Hands On Deck

90

From collecting data on a commercial fishing boat to picking up a fly rod

by MATTIE RODRIGUE

New Waters

98

Photo by Veera Viitanen

Baby Steps

On The Cover

68

Finding your rhythm after having a baby can be challenging but important

by VEERA VIITANEN

Three countries a world apart bring anglers together for a lifetime of friendship

by REBECCA BLAIR

Bear Spray

110

A gift from dad proves to be more about life lessons than about bears

by BRIDGET MORAN

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departments online

Contents 5 8 12 13 26 27 88 96 123

123

Letter From The Editor Looking Forward To Spring DUNmagazine.com We Hear You 5 Things You Should Do When Wading 2 Books We Love I Wasn’t Born With A Fly Rod DUN Asked, YOU Answered Excursions

FOUNDATION

10 118

Ask the Industry Professional Reading Between The Fly Line

118

BASICS

14 32

Solutions For A Sticky Rod What To Wear Under Your Waders

CONSERVATION

42

Bullsugar

66

FLY TYING

66

Fluorescent Hot Mess

GEAR

82

Why It’s Worth It

CRAFT LIFE

84

Superior Bathhouse Brewery

143

FASHION

108 140

4 Must Haves This Spring

84

Get This Look

GET TO KNOW

142

DUN Magazine

TRAVEL

143

DUN Destinations

REFRESHMENT

144

4

42

A Sweeter Negroni

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Spring 2018

MOTIVATION

JEN RIPPLE Founder & Editor-In-Chief Jen@DUNmagazine.com Janell Fannin Managing Editor Grace Erin Associate Editor Hope Halla Copy Editor

T. Daniel Frost Associate Editor Meg Humphries Editorial Assistant

Nome Buckman Contributing Editor

Alicia Boemi Social Media Strategist

Jessica Callihan Creative Director

Mēgan Berns Editor at Large

ADVERTISING Jeff Daniel ads@DUNmagazine.com GENERAL INQUIRIES editor@DUNmagazine.com

SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES subscriptions@DUNmagazine.com

SUBMISSIONS editor@DUNmagazine.com

CONTRIBUTORS Amy Abbott Sydney Abbott Carmen Barends Rebecca Blair Christa Buchwald Bulkley River Lodge Bullsugar.org Rick De Paiva Emily Farr Phoebe Fitz Will Franklin Linda Galambos Kim Garner Megan Hess Erica Hickey Heather Hodson Holly Irvin Matt Jennings Kevin Job Kirsten Rae Hughes Photography Linda Lamascus-Orozco Karen MacFarquhar

Irena Mathiasen Emily Mauri Michael Mauri Elisabeth Maxwell Meanderings.co.za Bridget Moran Brian Morrow Heidi Nute Jari Pedersen Allie Preston Mattie Rodrigue Kristina Royter John Schmidt Robin Schmidt Patrick Shepard Antti Takaniemi Kate Taylor Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch Rudy van Duijnhoven Helga Venter Veera Viitanen Colin Wiseman

 Follow us on Instagram instagram.com/DUNmagazine

On The Cover Veera Viitanen photographed by Antti Takaniemi enjoys an afternoon of fishing with her son, Roope

Inside Cover Guadalupe River, Texas photographed by DUN Magazine the things you see on the river

PUBLISHER Fly Squared Media 316 Hidden Valley Road Dover, TN 37058 p.224.532.9160

100% RECYCLABLE

i Green-Zine

EDITORIAL AND ADVERTISING OFFICE DUN Magazine 316 Hidden Valley Road Dover, TN 37058 DUNmagazine.com editor@DUNmagazine.com DUN Magazine ISSN #2573-3184 is published by Fly Squared Media, LLC, 316 Hidden Vally Road, Dover, TN 37058. The cover and contents of DUN Magazine are fully protected by copyright and cannot be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission. All rights reserved in all countries. DUN Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Submissions cannot be returned without a self-addressed envelope. ©2017 Fly Squared Media. Printed in the United States of America.

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MOTIVATION

LETTER from the EDITOR

Untimely Passing As I look back on this past winter, I am reminded that I have lost a few close friends and family members. Their untimely passing has left a huge hole in my heart. Each one taught me something about life that I will never forget – laughter, perseverance, strength, and unconditional love. As this winter turns to spring, I am reminded that life goes on.

And that is why I love Spring.

There’s nothing like walking out your door and seeing the green shoots of the crocuses as they poke through the freshly thawed ground. The moment I see their little faces, I realize that Spring is in the air. Somehow the stillfrigid morning seems warmer. I immediately feel my spirits lift, and life seems full of wonder and promise. I’m motivated to get up a little bit earlier, stay awake a little bit longer, and clean my windows.

As quickly as winter passes, so does our short time on this earth. I urge you to get involved in what matters to you the most. In these pages you will see the importance of an organization called Bullsugar, tirelessly fighting to preserve fishing in Florida.

You will learn why it’s ok to sometimes go against the flow, and why it’s important to have a life vest – but not the kind you think. It is my hope that this edition MOTIVATES you to get involved and make a difference. The world is in desperate need of people who care to make a difference in the lives of others.

Peter, Kyle, Helen, and Mike, this is for you. Your lives have motivated me to be a better person. I’m forever grateful.

With greatest appreciation to those who have made this edition possible, and to you our reader,

The smell of the wet ground, the glisten of dew on the trees, and the anticipation of open water and feeding trout are but a part of my motivation these days. As winter releases its grip on spring, I find myself once again in awe at the strength, courage, and determination of our authors. What a privilege to be a small part of their lives. The authors in these pages have taught me what it means to be a steward, a friend, a mom, and an overall better person.

Jen@DUNmagazine.com @Jen_Ripple

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No rod has ever silenced all the variables.

No engineer has ever found a way to transfer back-cast energy directly into forward accuracy.

No angler has ever erased all the doubt from his or her mind.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

spring

Looking Forward to

In anticipation of

SPRING

showers and flowers

TRAVELING TO MEXICO

DOOR COUNTY

I am looking forward to a trip to Xcalak MX chasing the elusive Permit. Warm winds and vast horizons looking for nervous water and anticipating the hook up. It brings out the huntress in me! And dancing with one is such a spiritual basic feeling of connection. Much different than fishing waters here in MT, but a welcome change after a long winter.

Peg M - reader from Montana

This spring I am looking forward to settling into my childhood home in Door County, setting up a fly-tying room (with a supplies closet!

Whooohooo!), fishing some sweet spots while watching Bald Eagles, Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and painted turtles... kayaking lazy rivers and the almighty Lake Michigan... and for the grand finale, attending the SWTU On The Water Clinic before participating as a River Buddy for the Women’s Clinic. I miss my Fin Sistahs and need as much of their therapy as I can get after this emotional move.

Laura N - reader from Wisconsin

Photo by DUN Magazine

FISHING FISHING NEW WATER Dave and Zeke and I plan to fish new water every weekend we can! Camping and fishing and painting every weekend! Woot! Can’t wait!

Sam A - reader from Vermont

Fishing, fishing, fishing, did I say FISHING!!!

IS IT SPRING YET ... I have cabin FEVER! Dana W - reader from Wisconsin

Photo by DUN Magazine

ROAD TRIP TO OREGON I’m looking forward to a spring road trip to Oregon to go fishing with my mom and my two sisters. My little sister has never gone fly fishing, and my older sister only once. This will also be the first time all four of us have been together in more than two years!

Alyssa H- reader from Wyoming

Photo by DUN Magazine

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What are you excited about this Summer?

Tell us what you are doing this summer at editor@DUNmagazine.com or use the hashtag #DUNwomen when posting on social media.

MOTIVATION

foundation

Ask The Industry

PROFESSIONAL

expertise

Just when you think Spring has sprung, a freak snowstorm brings one more snow day!

Learn from their

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MOTIVATION

foundation Annette from Oklahoma wants to know ...

When you can’t seem to make a decent cast,

what changes your mojo?

Heidi Nute

My secret weapon is to hum to myself the Tequila song by the Champs while making a few practice casts. You know the one, “da nah na na na na na nah.”

This keeps me loose. Choose some targets on the water and practice hitting them. Wait longer on your backcast. One thing that happens is we start rushing our backcast. Be aggressive on the forward cast and give it that abrupt stop so it doesn’t collapse - punch it forward, exaggerating your front haul.

Sometimes you just have to accept you are having an off day. Avoid being self-critical. Reassure yourself that this happens to everyone. Usually when I have an attitude of acceptance, I start to cast better. Keep an extra hat in your bag. I will change hats during a tournament if I am not doing so well. It works!

Ladies Tarpon Tournament DUNmagazine.com/Heidi

Heidi is the Chairwoman of the Ladies Tarpon Fly Tournament in Islamorada, Florida. She holds a world record for the largest documented tarpon ever caught by a woman on regulation fly tackle. She lives in the Catskill Mountains with her husband, pet pig, tortoise, and one-eyed cat.

Kristina Royter Sometimes all feels lost and the fly casting world feels like its going to

collapse right on top of me and swallow me up whole. It truly feels like I will never make a decent cast again; a slight exaggeration, but it truly does feel THAT bad sometimes! Whether in practice-casting or fishing, when it feels like all the elements are against me, and nothing seems to be coming together, my go-to is going back to basics. Strip all the line you might be trying to cast at the time right back to about 25ft of fly line, plus your leader, and get back into the groove of the basic short cast.

Concentrate on the mechanics, your casting arc, and making the visual connection between your cast and target.

This helps me recover my sweet spot, and everything is once again right in my casting world.

She Loves It Outdoors DUNmagazine.com/Kristina

Kristina is the Founder of She Loves It Outdoors, an organization that aims to promote the fly fishing lifestyle through social media, and connect at the grassroots level with the Australian and New Zealand angling community.

Jen Ripple

I’m in this situation more times than I’d like to admit. It seems I know from the moment I make my first cast it’s just going to be one of those days. After the expletives and the pouting subside, and I take my fly out of yet another tree, I simply repeat five times, “I am a fly fishing professional. I always make a perfect cast.” Ok, that is not at all what I do. What I really do is take a few deep breaths, pop open a can of beer if it’s late enough in the morning, and take the time to look around. That seems to put everything into perspective. It slows me down enough to relax. When I stop thinking about my crappy casts, then I start to let instinct take over and my casting improves. Then, I stand up, spin around three times, and fall off the drift boat. Problem solved!

DUN Magazine DUNmagazine.com/Jen

Jen is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of DUN Magazine.

We want to hear from you.

Do you have a question for our experts or is there something you’re curious about?

Email us at editor@DUNmagazine.com and your question could be featured in our Summer edition.

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online

DUNmagazine.com

Visit our website for more take aways, stories, guides, and knowledge.

Feature Me, My Baby Bump And Our Fly Fishing Life Veera Viitanen

My daily life has been all about fly fishing for a while. My dreams, my plans and my energy have all consisted of fly fishing. Happiness has come from every single cast and the rivers have been the road I walk. I have seen, felt and heard just for myself. But when the colors of autumn were behind and the whiteness of winter was landing on the rivers, one season of my life was getting to the end. Since that moment, everything in my world has been ... photo Antti Takaniemi

DUNmagazine.com/article/features

Information

Empower

Where The Dinosaurs Roam

Float Tube Fishing

Liz Ogilvie

Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf

I opened the door of the Suburban and swung out my legs. The thud of my wading boots on the packed, dry earth startled me back to attention. I’d been hypnotized for the last hour, sitting in the back seat and staring out the window, while the truck was slowly maneuvered across the roadless ranchland.

Twenty years ago if someone would have told me I was going to run a fly fishing business one day, and steelhead would be my biggest passion, and I was going to be a mother, I would have called bull ...

It was the view. That view! It was magnificent.

Mesmerizing. The air was so clear and unpolluted that the sky was Technicolor blue.

Was that actually real? It could have been a movie set. ...

DUNmagazine.com/tags/information

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Spring 2018

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Cul De Canard DUN Team

Duck Butt?

Cul De Canard better known as CDC is used primarily for dry flies such as the F Fly and the Moustique. The actual translation of Cul de Canard is duck butt even though these feathers are from the back of a duck directly around the preen gland and not from the butt (that doesn’t stop us from calling them duck butt feathers). The preen gland secretes an oil that the duck uses for cleaning and waterproofing. This makes these feathers very buoyant ...

DUNmagazine.com/tags/dun-take-away

photo Claudio Joost

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Take Aways

photo Cecilia “Pudge” Kleinkauf

MOTIVATION

We Hear You Jen et al., Got out to my PO Box today (with all the seasonal closures and festivities) to grab my beautiful hard copy of DUN (Fall/Winter 2017). Finally, a fly fishing magazine for me. (Okay, the BF stole it for a moment to read too, but I stole it back!)

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the quality articles, amazing photographs, and gear listings that ACTUALLY take into account that women are shopping for fly fishing supplies too! I couldn’t help but smirk at Anna Ortega’s Perspective having encountered the same “man hives” when both battling into the realm of archery and now fly fishing.

As a Canadian, I also appreciated Firsts by Wanda Taylor, Due North by Liz Ogilvie, and your Get to Know with Paula Shearer. We have so many great fishing opportunities across Canada that I’ve always been disappointed by the lack of presence in other periodicals I have purchased to date.

These were a delightful find among so many other great stories that spoke to me.

Thank you for being fierce women and forging forth to produce this magazine. I fully plan on taking your magazine around to my fly fishing store haunts in hopes that they will stock this with their other periodicals for others coming through. But no matter what, you’ve got a new DUN woman in me.

Cassie C. - Grande Cache, Alberta, Canada

Hi Jen, Congratulations on your first two print issues of DUN. I have enjoyed everything from cover to cover and everything from design, paper and content. Hubs likes to bring them home and surprise me with them.

My smallest fish so far! Just found your magazine thanks to my male dentist who came across it at a bookstore and loves it.

Thx Dana W. - USA

I am a bit old school and love holding a book or magazine, feeling and smelling the paper, dog earring a page if I want. Enjoying the foil DUN logo on the cover. Because I am a visual person I love seeing the stellar photographs of one of my favorite pastimes up large from a comfy chair rather than an iPad or hunched over a computer, which most of the time is work involved and not chill time.

I think you asked in one issue what we would look forward to this winter, well I look forward to 'catching' up with you at Troutfest and thank you in person for coming again this year ---along with your next issue.

I am working on a little piece about a historic American fly and it's 'tie in' to a historic American cocktail if that interests you. I am not a writer, but I enjoy writing every now an then and have had a few articles published.

Sincerely, Rita S. - San Antonio, Texas, USA

photo Dana W.

It’s so encouraging to hear from our readers.

It never gets old. Thank you so much for your emails and your support. It means the world to me, and my entire staff. Hope to see you all on the water this year.

JEN We want to hear from you. Tell us what you think at editor@DUNmagazine.com.

online basics

Getting Back to Some

BASICS

we think you should know

Solutions to help get your fly rod apart It’s a fact of fishing. At some point you will try to take your fly rod apart and it just won’t move. Before you have a comeapart, use this simple trick to get the rod apart, and put safely back in its case.

There are many ways to try and take a stuck rod apart and some of them involve being a contortionist. When we come across a rod that is stuck together, we reach for something cold and frosty.

Chilling down the stuck section will make it super easy to take apart. If you are on a trout river, try submerging the rod in the cold water first. If that doesn’t work, grab an ice cube from the cooler.

Place the ice on the female portion on the ferrell. Once you have chilled the rod, quickly dry off the sections so they are easy to hold. Place the thicker portion of the rod under your arm with the guides facing down. Grab the second section of the rod just above the ferrell and pull straight pulling the stuck sections apart.

You will be tempted to use the guides for more leverage, don’t do this. If the rod doesn’t come apart, chill it down more.

When pulling the sections apart make sure not to twist or bend the rod as this can lead to rod breakage.

If you can’t get the rod apart on the river, pack it safely in the car and when you get home reach for the frozen peas. Take the bag of peas, and wrap it around the rod so the frozen peas are surrounding the rod. After a few minutes, the rod should come apart like it normally would.

D

JOIN US FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL

CAST ONE FOR HOPE

September 28 – 29, 2018 IN HAMILTON, MONTANA AN EXCLUSIVE FLY FISHING EVENT ON THE LEGENDARY BITTERROOT RIVER TO BENEFIT WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER. For more information visit: castoneforhope.org The mission of Casting for Recovery (CfR) is to enhance the quality of life of women with breast cancer through a unique retreat program that combines breast cancer education and peer support with the therapeutic sport of fly fishing.

To apply for a retreat, volunteer or support visit: castingforrecovery.org

Against the Flow

by Sydney Abbott photos by Amy Abbott

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MOTIVATION

Four years ago, I learned a new sport, my most favorite activity, my passion. This was fly fishing. I grew up in a small town in Western Kentucky. I had fished all my life, but only with a spin rod and bait. Fly fishing was foreign to me. Little did I know that it would empower me to be a leader, a conservationist, talk to others with confidence, want to travel to every state, and to not be afraid to be myself. Fly fishing has taught me to not swim with the flow, but against it.

I first learned of fly fishing after we purchased three cabins in Pigeon Forge, TN, near the Great Smoky Mountains. My family and I love the outdoors and we are always looking for new adventures in the National Park. Learning to fly fish was on my mom’s bucket list, so she signed up for an Orvis endorsed fly fishing class. She fell in love with it as soon as she picked up a rod.

After the class, she came home and told me all about it. My first reaction was “that sounds weird and complicated.” So, I didn’t immediately pick up on it. About a year later, we were in the Smoky Mountain National Park. While we were there, my mom insisted that I try it at least once. I eventually gave in, and the rest is history.

The next year we were in the park at the Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont and they had an advertisement on their bulletin board about a youth fly fishing camp through Trout Unlimited. I was hesitant at first because it was so far away from my home in Kentucky. However, once again, my mom convinced me that I should do it. I went to the camp that summer. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. I met so many great mentors and other kids my age that fly fish. I also got to learn more about Trout Unlimited and conservation. It opened the door for so many opportunities, including the TU Teen Summit, and to be a part of the Youth Leadership Council for Trout Unlimited. Being on the Youth Leadership Council is the next step in TU for teens.

There is a long application process and only 30 teens across the United States get to go to the Summit.

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photo by Holly Irvin

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MOTIVATION

I am currently in my second year of being on the Youth Leadership Council. The Youth Leadership Council is a group of teens who do projects year-round and promote Trout Unlimited to other teens. Each year there is a Teen Summit where we plan what we are going to do throughout the next year.

It has been an amazing experience for me.

The YLC has changed me in the best way possible. I now want to share my passion of conservation with other people. I have traveled to some of the most beautiful places in the United States, which has made me want to go to more. I am glad to be a part of something that is making a difference.

My goal is to fly fish in every state. Hopefully my travels will allow me to meet more people and further spread the word about conservation and the importance of preserving our environment. I have been to 29 states and have fished in Montana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Tennessee, North Carolina, Missouri, Arizona, Arkansas, and Utah. I cannot wait to go to the other twenty-one states and to have more amazing adventures.

My involvement in Trout Unlimited has empowered me to travel, speak in front of crowds, teach people to fly fish, have a sense of adventure, be able to speak to teens and adults about important issues, and be treated as an equal. It has taught me to be myself. It has shaped who I am as a person and who I want to be in the future.

While most teenage girls my age are worried about conforming and peer pressure, I have learned to take my wisdom from a trout.

A trout does not swim with the flow, but against it. D

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WHAT WAS

YOUR FIRST

ON THE

FISH FLY?

“Take care of the fish and the fishing will take care of itself.” Join TU: www.tu.org

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MOTIVATION

The Life Vest

by Erica Hickey photos by Bulkley River Lodge

My mom

likes to wade deep—up to her armpits. And she is a small person. If I am wading upstream from her it is not unusual to see only a pair of arms, a rod, and a cowboy hat clearing the surface of the water. I watch for the reassuring wave of the rod, and then I can settle back into my own fishing for a bit. We are mother and daughter on the water, and we keep track of each other. Do not range too far. Stay where I can see you, or at least just around the bend.

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At some point I became frightened that this was not enough insurance against the freight-train current of a big river. I bought her a life vest, one of the small ones that inflates instantly when you hit the water. It was pink, and I think she was less than thrilled, but she wore it dutifully for a whole season, and even tried it out once on a slippery day. It has since been relegated to a storage bin with discarded long underwear sets and extra hats. Occasionally I scold her that she should be wearing it. She placates me, tells me she will get it ready again for next year, and we move on.

I sometimes wonder what I would do if she actually did come floating by me in the little pink life vest, bobbing farther and farther downstream through the rushing water. I play the scenario out in my mind. Would I just happen to have a handy rope nearby? Would I run, screaming up and down the bank like a banshee, or would I swim the river myself in the hopes of saving us both? This is the more likely, though equally foolhardy, option.

The life vest, it seems, was a silly idea. My mom has braved 70 years of unsure footing, deep waters, and powerful currents. She’s not going to stop now, but the tug of that invisible tether between us is one of the earth’s most primal callings. I’ve felt the pull of that cord more so than ever these days as I wade through the existential quagmire of American life, trying to keep my boots firmly planted, trying to step with intention from stone to stone, to find a clear path through murky, desolate waters and currents that I am struggling to understand.

I feel myself hoping for a life vest.

I called her from the Washington Monument on January 21, 2017, and told her I wished she were there. It was dark, and all of the memorials of the D.C. landscape lay out before me, illuminated, silent, as if holding their breath. She talked about how her 70 years of living through all sorts of upheavals helped her to stay calm, to somehow keep her head in order, though she was marching too. I felt her steady perseverance. And not for the first time in my life, I could feel her standing behind me.

Wade deep. I’ve got you.

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MOTIVATION

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5 Things You Should Do

When Wading

by Janell Fannin, Managing Editor

1

Prepare yourself. If you’re going to commit, then commit. I was fly fishing before I attended a women’s fly fishing clinic. One of the main reasons I attended was because I wanted to learn how to wade while in the company of people that would stop me from stepping into a green murky hole that would take me to the great upside down. Do your research. There is a lot to learn by other people’s mistakes. Read about footing, side-stepping, crossing water, knowing your limits, and identifying flooring (abandoned hip waders sticking out of the silt as if that was the only escape). Don’t underestimate a wading staff because a big drop can put you six feet under. Work with a trusted outfitter that can recommend a good pair of waders for your body type and try them on. Being comfortable and moving easily (as much as you can in big, what feels like rubber pants and boots) is a worthy investment. Take it from someone who once had hip waders with the boots two sizes too large.

2

Cast - then wade. Wade - then cast. Now I realize that an efficiency expert would cringe at this, but when you’re wading you should be watching, observing, and focusing on safely wading and ensuring you don’t get yourself in trouble.

When casting, focus on where and how to make an effective cast with more grace and accuracy. I would rather do one at a time and have a better chance at staying dry and have more productive fishing. This too may be the only time we get to unplug from our hyper-multitasking mentality and focus on one task at a time. A human’s attention span has decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2016, so what I’m trying to say is - Oh look! A bird!

3

Don’t panic. There’s a good chance you fall. OK. You’re going to fall. There, it’s been said. But don’t panic! Panicking in the water never ends well. Water weighs the same on the inside of your waders as it does on the outside of your waders.

It’s not heavier or lighter, but keeping the water outside of your waders makes it easier to move to safety. Unless you want your waders to look like you’re wearing one of those sumo wrestling outfits from an office team building outing, where you take your aggression out on Ted for eating his kettle chips too loudly in the cubicle next to you when they fill up with water, wear a belt. It’s a safety thing.

4

Be a deer. Don’t stampede through the water like a buffalo. Heck, at least have the grace of a herd of cows, but in shallow water, be a deer, Dear. Pick up those knees and point those toes so you don’t send a wave down the stream as you tromp through like a toddler on the move. I would recommend you practice this walk through the grocery store, at your kid’s basketball game, or anywhere you don’t want to be invited back. At least you won’t spook the fish.

5

Know your surroundings. We have all walked with that person who mindlessly steps off the curb and shouts, ”pedestrians have the right of way!” as if it’s going to make time, and the #12 bus, stand still. When you are fishing a stream in a pasture, cows, and more importantly BULLS, always have the right of way.

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MOTIVATION

2 Books We Love Down By The River Andrew Weiner MSRP $17.99

A heartwarming picture book about fishing and family. Written by Andrew Weiner, a longtime publishing industry vet and illustrated by rising artistic star April Chu, DOWN BY THE RIVER follows a young boy as he discovers fly fishing with his mother and grandfather.

A perfect introduction to fly fishing, DOWN BY THE RIVER is a celebration of the power of the sport to draw families together and back to cherished natural places. It is a multigenerational family story and the heart of the book is young protagonist Art’s relationship with his grandfather. Based on the author’s own decades of experience fly fishing, the book exudes a strong regard for nature.

It includes extensive backmatter about conservation and fly-fishing equipment and techniques. AbramsBooks.com

The Reel Sisters Michelle Cummings MSRP $17.99

The Reel Sisters is a story about a group of women fly fishers written by Michelle Cummings. In fly fishing, there are five main components to a fly rod, and there are five women in my story. Each of their personalities match a different characteristic of a fly fishing outfit. (rod, reel, line, leader and fly). The Reel Sisters is a story about the power of women friendships, and how we learn a little bit about ourselves each time we step into the river. Each character is on her own personal journey, and when difficult times hit, each woman weathers the storm in her own unique way. You’ll be hooked from the start! TheReelSisters.com

Alaska Sportsman’s Bear Trail Lodge Nanci Morris Lyon • King Salmon, AK 99613

by Carmen Barends

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photo by Meanderings.co.za

Love Affair

h

ow does one begin a tale of a love affair? Once upon a time? No, that is too much like a fairy tale.

And we all know life is not really like that. This story of love weaves throughout my adult years like a golden thread through a tapestry and has had me wrapped up for a while. But to tell this tale, I need to start at the beginning. Long time ago in a land far away ‌ I grew up on a farm where life was full of freedom and adventure. I have three brothers of which two are older and one younger. Truth be told, my parents could not have given us a greater gift. There was little chance I would turn out to be an average type of girl. I was too full of spirit, had hair with too much wave, more than a lot of sass, and a flair for the outdoors including scrapes and bumps (mostly from falling off my pink bicycle).

MOTIVATION

photos by Meanderings.co.za

Chances are I would not last long in ballet class.

Fast forward to my adult years and, after a year of unceasing persuasion, I decided to randomly try my arm at casting a fly line on a field and; weirdly enough, took to the challenge quite well. Even with my innate ability to stand on the side of a dam (and large amounts of patience might I add) and catch grass, sticks, trees, weeds, and occasionally myself, it took me almost a year before I managed to land my first rainbow trout. This happened on my first trip on a float tube, and in a rather comical fashion. In my excitement, I reeled the trout in so far that the leader was on the reel and the poor fish probably had a bruise on its nose. It was however returned in good fashion to fight another day.

As with any good love story with a lover enticing its object of affection, still waters whispered to me in my dreams with images of fish rising to a hatch, and the flash of spotted trout tempting me with their colours.

In my pursuit of further knowledge of these piscatorial pursuits, the story of a popular ladies festival in the farmlands of Maclear and

Ugie in the beautiful Eastern Cape of South Africa came to my attention. Famed in South Africa as a place where ladies can learn about fly fishing, experience the company of other fly fishing crazed women, and make friendships along with memories that often last a lifetime, I had to attend.

Off I traveled with my fly fishing friend eager to learn, and have some legendary fun.

I learned a lot at my first festival. I saw ancient rock art in caves in the valley, learned how to read a river, and gained way too much experience in drinking whiskey and lying in the long grass during lunch breaks with the ladies and guides. The gin clear beauty of the surrounding streams, some no deeper than my wading boots, held huge boulders in the valleys, and little trout no bigger than the size of my hand. This place captured my breath and my heart. Dreams are made of late afternoon light catching the hatch and silhouetting the grass growing speckled with wild flowers on the banks, all while you are watching your new found favourite dry fly with bated breath as it rides a ripple in the water.

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photo by Meanderings.co.za

Helga, Richard, and Carmen out for a day on the Maclear River

I am fortunate to have been able to fish streams and rivers for different species in various areas in South Africa. Because you cannot see the boulders due to the colour of the water, you need to perform the ‘Vaal shuffle’ (shuffle and feel with your boots while you walk), and yet still often result in an unexpected dip and swim, while fishing carefully for Yellowfish in the Vaal River in North West Province. When the sun beats down on these golden, feisty beauties, they look like bars of pure gold in your hand. They display their tenacity in eagerly fighting the current as they are released again.

For the most part, I have fished some still waters that in themselves were worth poetry.

I have lost fish that felt like monsters when I had all but given up on catching. I have fought winds on a float tube that have had my legs aching while trying to kick to shore, let alone keeping my fly in the water. There have been too many times when I have lost fish after fish and have become rather unruly in my prose while describing my thoughts. There have been many a time when my frustration levels in the wind rise, while I incur knot after knot in my line, where I lose my favourite fly, or just don’t have one tug on my line.

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I have also had days where I have hit that perfect spot between dreaming and reality, where I have clouds and azure skies above me, the water lapping gently on my float tube, a Fish Eagle calling, and a cold drink in hand when my line gives that heart-stopping, adrenaline pumping tug. Sometimes it means I get to release a tiny little feller, and other times I almost think my arm is going to give in before I can land the bus on my line.

But then, there is just something about this love affair that keeps me coming back.

Something that gets under my skin and into my heart. Something that intoxicates me and revitalizes me at the same time.

Like all relationships, there are those difficult days. The day you have been fishing in -7C with leaky waders, and you think that the relationship is over. But then you have a good day, with the stark beauty of the scenery, the lunch you packed in, the feeling of the sun on your face as you sipped a cider while laughing with your friends, and you remember why you fell in love in the first place. You are still as in love as you were when you began.

MOTIVATION

photo by Helga Venter photo by Helga Venter photo by Kirsten Rae Hughes Photography

photo by Meanderings.co.za

photo by Meanderings.co.za

I will admit, I am not the best at fly fishing, nor do I have the prettiest cast (in fact, it’s so ugly at times that I think it confuses the fish – hence I catch). But this pastime has brought me more joy than I can tell. From bush whacking with my brothers, to finding waters to fish, to watching snakes swim past while standing in a river, these afternoons belong in an award-winning movie with laughter and stories to last a lifetime.

If this be a love affair, then I am its captive. D Spring 2018

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online basics

Getting Back to Some

BASICS

we think you should know

What to wear under your waders

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online basics

W

hat is the universe made of? What genetic changes made us uniquely human? Are we alone in the universe? What does a Scotsman wear under his kilt? What should I wear under my waders?

These age-old questions, specifically the wader question, have haunted many a human.

How many times have you stood over your suitcase, every dresser drawer open, and every item of outdoor clothing you own strewn across your bed? It embarrasses me to say that this happens almost every time I pack for a fishing trip. If your fishing trip includes waders, what to wear underneath said waders becomes another layer in the suitcase dilemma.

With so many options in the marketplace today, your only option may seem like running to Nordstrom’s to pick up the larger size Tumi.

Let me just say, there are worse things than having a lot of options. Here is what I love to wear under my waders.

It’s no surprise that my favorite item under my waders is my FisheWear leggings. Especially if it’s a warm weather day, these colorful beauties fit well and make getting into and out of waders a breeze! Leave the shoehorn at home.

You won’t need it with these on. As a side note, these make excellent flats pants for that spring trip to Belize. They’re breathable, quick-drying and have a UPF of 50+. Oh, and they take up absolutely no room in said Tumi.

The older I get, the less I like the cold — or maybe I should say the less the cold likes me. Growing up in the Midwest, I spent many a day living in Capilene. To me, there’s no more versatile cold weather baselayer. Comfy and cozy like my favorite sweater on a crisp morning, these are a must-have in my suitcase when I’m headed to the river on a cool spring day. I can easily layer them under my favorite fishing pants, and they now come in such great colors that they can make the transition from river to dinner without an issue. My only issue with these is that I tend to never want to take them off. There are worse things than climbing into bed in what you wore under your waders, right? As a side note, these make excellent “stuffers” in your suitcase to protect other items (like your fly reels if you pack them in your checked bag).

In cases of fishing in a deep freeze, keeping yourself warm under your waders is trickier than landing a steelhead on a dry fly. Back in the day of bulky layers, trying to fit everything under my waders was more of a workout than

walking to the river. Today, there’s no need to be bulky and uncomfortable. My favorite layer is easily a soft micro suede fleece layer which fits just like the sweatpants you used to wear from bed to your early morning college class.

Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about. As a side note, layering that capilene layer under these will give you the added warmth you may need.

Don’t forget your piggies!

I have Raynaud’s phenomenon. I swear it has something to do with frost biting my toes as a child ice skating on the lake in Wisconsin.

Whatever the reason, when my feet get cold at all, I can’t feel my feet, which makes it difficult to wade a river. Fortunately, a good pair of socks helps. I’m a wool lunatic. Wool keeps my feet warm, even if I spring a leak in my waders or, more likely, fall in the river.

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Patagonia - Women’s Capilene® Thermal Weight Bottoms MSRP $89.00

Polartec® Power Grid™ fabric with Polygiene® permanent odor control with a smooth face for easy layering. The fabric’s open-grid pattern next to skin provides superior warmth, breathability and moisture-wicking performance Flat waistband has brushed inner elastic for nextto-skin softness. Patagonia.com

Orvis - Women’s Under Wader Pant

Smartwool - Women’s PhD® Outdoor Light Crew Socks

MSRP $79.00

MSRP $21.95t

A soft, warm, and comfortable option for under your waders. Keeps the cold at bay while offering a soft moisturewicking barrier between you and the waders.

Microsuede fleece with comfortable elastic waistband and a drawcord for a perfect fit.

Tapered leg keeps pants in place when putting on waders. Orvis.com

Experience durability at its peak with the PhD® Outdoor Light Crew. Featuring Indestructawool technology, a patentpending wool-based durability construction, these socks are ready for any adventure on your list. Plus, with redesigned mesh zones, a Virtually Seamless toe and the 4 Degree elite fit system. Smartwool.com

Fishewear - Troutrageous Rainbow Leggings

Smartwool - Women’s PhD® Hunt Heavy Over-The-Calf Socks

MSRP $119.00

MSRP $29.95 The STUNNING design we introduced during our Kickstarter campaign, Troutrageous Rainbow, is now available for purchase!!

The Troutrageous Rainbow is inspired by the Rainbow Trout, a favorite fish of ours!

Manufactured in the USA with Italian fabric with four-way stretch, Polyester/Spandex blend, UPF 50+, Quick-Dry, and Breathable. fishewear.com

Wear our PhD® Hunt Heavy Over-the-Calf once, and they’ll be your outdoor go-to again and again.

Special flex zones offer extra mobility, and our 4 Degree elite fit system provides better stretch and quicker recovery while in motion.

Odor resistance encourages multi-day wear. Smartwool.com

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Mom Season

by Linda Galambos

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hen your twenty-something son takes up fly fishing—at the cost of all other interests—there is bound to be some concern as a parent. This new fishing obsession was interfering with his college education, and baseball pursuits, not to mention preventing him from finding a summer job to help pay his way in the world. This interest seemed to come out of left field. Sure, we went camping and fishing as a family (when his sports seasons allowed), but this had become a rare thing in recent years as the demands of playing on more competitive sports teams grew. So, what was fueling this new passion, and was it just a passing phase?

Would he come to realize that fishing is generally a “hobby” for most people and return to more traditional thinking about “life?”

No. Not at all.

It quickly became clear that this was not a passing phase; his interest in fly fishing continued to flourish and consume him.

As concerned parents, we worried about our son making it in life, that is, being a contributing member of society with relative success and happiness, not to mention paying his way, we recalibrated our thinking and switched from feeling discouraged over his college interruption to asking if this kid could actually make a living fishing. He was, after all, forsaking every other aspect of his life for the sake of throwing flies.

A late-night job search on “fishing” revealed there were indeed many jobs that he could apply for to make a living in the business of fishing—retail stores, hatcheries, sales reps, and, of course, guiding. Finding a job, however, was not his intent at the time; he just wanted to fish. It was his escape, his “What do I want to be when I grow up?” question being answered.

As other parents of millennial children have discovered, many of our young adults want to “follow their dreams” and “pursue their passions.” After all, that’s what we have encouraged them to do—right? So, the only option in this case was to embrace him and his new pursuit. After all, there would be no getting around this new love.

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Walking with your child through tough decisions is not easy, no matter what their age—something that no one tells you will continue into their adult years. As with many things in life, we found a silver lining, but it was a struggle to see for a while. There was solace in seeing how quickly he achieved success with his passion, and in embracing the thought that this seemed to be his calling.

What parent wouldn’t want their child’s passion to also be their calling and vocation? And, as we often find in our own journey through life, new beginnings mean there has to be some endings. And endings can often be difficult as we let go of dreams and expectations to grasp onto something new. Quitting baseball and leaving college were difficult choices.

Being on the other side of those decisions now, and realizing your young adult is thriving, is not only worth it, but also rewarding.

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We weren’t sure at first, but watching our son find his own way has proven rewarding for us all

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Where has this journey taken all of us? In his quest to become a guide, he embraced the task of teaching his mom, dad, and sister how to fly fish. His patience and attitude held firm as we asked many questions, hooked flies on bushes, made mistakes, and yes, eventually caught fish. Today, he is a successful guide for several fly shops in Colorado. The daily grind finds him with a smile on his face, and a couple of customers in tow, as he heads to the “office.”

He is connecting with people from all over the world—from all walks of life.

In the end, our son provided us with a new opportunity to embrace, which led to new discoveries about him: his ability to relate to people, teach others, and lead the charge on his life. New discoveries about ourselves: the importance to staying open to new ideas, new pursuits, and, most importantly, loving and encouraging others for who they are created to be. It is also a new opportunity as a family to have fun together.

And yes, we became hooked on fly fishing as well. D Spring 2018

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conservation

by Emily Mauri

“For the second time in four years, the most biodiverse estuary in North America — the only place where bonefish and striped bass share the same water — was erased by trillions of gallons of freshwater.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

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photo by Allie Preston

BullSugar

conservation

I

started fly fishing when I was 20 on a small, trout-stocked lake in Southwestern Pennsylvania. To be quite frank, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. Over the next few years, if I caught a fish, it was definitely a pure stroke of luck.

However, I loved it as I have always enjoyed a variety of outdoor pursuits. It wasn’t my “passion” though. At least not yet.

In 2007, I was offered a job at the Fly Fishing Show. It’s a large consumer trade show that travels the country promoting fly fishing. I definitely didn’t earn that job because of my casting skills, but my socializing skills proved to be a good fit.

A couple years later I started to travel with the shows to various venues. In Somerset, NJ, I observed my first live casting demonstration.

I won’t name drop, but I was mesmerized by the demonstration presented by a tall, handsome man with a heavy German accent.

He had a rod and reel that was far more bad ass than the little trout set up I had. I was even more intrigued by the fact that he was using two hands, which eliminated his need for an overhead cast. “Whatever that guy is doing I want to do,” I said to myself.

Fast-forward to 2011. I married that tall, handsome German in a small wedding in Atlantic Highlands, NJ Atlantic Highlands was

special to us, as we would occasionally meet between our hectic schedules while we dated internationally. I started fishing for stripers off Sandy Hook Beach, and from then on, I was officially a two-handed gal. Our adventures would take us to Norway and Canada, fishing for Atlantic salmon. I learned quickly this type of fishing was not for the weak-hearted.

Swinging flies and Spey fishing was now, not just a passion, but a full-blown obsession.

I had no intentions of ever going back to overhead casting.

Until…

Fly fishing has taken me to some of the world's most beautiful places. But it's also opened my eyes to how fragile they can be.

photo by Michael Mauri

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conservation

photo by Rick De Paiva

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conservation “Long before the Florida Everglades became home to the largest environmental restoration project in human history, Marjory Stoneman Douglas began her crusade to protect it. Much of her incredible 108-year life was guided by the simple declaration, ‘There is no other Everglades in the world.’” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

photo by Pat Ford

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conservation

We took a trip to the Florida Keys in 2012. I had no idea what to expect other than there would be no two-handed rods. Oh, and the small detail that we would be fishing in the middle of the night. OK, middle of the night I could handle, but how on earth would I be able to survive overhead casting in the dark? I was mortified, excited, and feared for anyone on the boat with me.

We ventured out into the silent darkness.

Everything about that night was magnificent.

The star-filled heavens, the air so humid and calm; I never wanted this night to end.

The anticipation was like nothing I had ever experienced. I was so thankful that I was only required to make one cast and allow my fly to swing in the current, similar to my days on the river chasing Atlantics. The peaceful quietude was shattered when a giant, prehistoric creature completely derailed me. That was the moment my tarpon obsession began.

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photo by Rick De Paiva

“With the natural flow blocked by more than 1,000 square miles of sugarcane, shallow reaches of Florida Bay are now saltier than the ocean. They’re dying.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

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conservation

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conservation

“Two massive hurricanes ripped through Everglades National Park last fall, but mangrove forests survived. Fisheries scientists reported spawning bonefish and snook in Florida Bay days after Hurricane Irma. South Florida’s natural places might be hanging on by a thread, but they’re not gone yet.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

photo by Bullsugar.org

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conservation

“The damage to the greater Everglades ecosystem speaks for itself. Sugar has always won. But Bullsugar brought new life to the issue, and as the narrative changed the tables began to turn. We started to win, too.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org photo by Phoebe Fitz

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photo by Allie Preston

conservation

“The beauty of the system is that it really doesn’t take all that long to repair itself, even in spite of every bit of “progress” we’ve inflicted on it.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

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conservation

“There’s a solution to all of these problems that’s achievable in our lifetime. If we do it right, we might leave something worth protecting behind for our children.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

The next few years we would venture to Florida as much as our schedules would allow. In 2016, we laid down permanent roots in Stuart, FL to raise our daughter and explore the amazing variety of species saltwater has to offer. The St. Lucie estuary is located at the end of our street and boasts the most diverse saltwater fishery in the entire US. On any given day, one has the opportunity to catch a snook, bonefish, redfish, sea trout, or juvenile tarpon. Calm days (and German motion sickness gum) allow for mahi-mahi, spanish mackerel, and false albacore offshore.

In other words, I have found my paradise and I never want to leave. photos by Michael Mauri

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conservation

“The west coast of Florida faces a similar fate, where blasts of freshwater have scoured away seagrass and oysters in the Caloosahatchee River estuary.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

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“The Everglades were gone from Martin County long before I was born here. In their place a black-and-green chessboard of sugar cane fields spreads south and west from the shores of Lake Okeechobee, blocking the natural southern flow of water, rerouting it east into the St. Lucie River.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org photo by Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch

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conservation

photo by Allie Preston

“In 2016, the river ran green with toxic algae carried by lakewater discharges that plagued the estuary all the way to the ocean.” - Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

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photo by Allie Preston

conservation

“My dad caught a bonefish in the St. Lucie River just a few weeks ago. Despite the toxic barrage it’s endured for the past two years, our estuary is still not dead. We’ve yet to fulfill the legacy that Marjory Stoneman Douglas envisioned. We still need all the help we can get.”

- Allie Preston, Bullsugar.org

In the early 1900s, a dam was built for flood control purposes around Lake Okeechobee.

Over the years it has been reconstructed with levees and overflow channels into the Caloosahatchee and Saint Lucie Estuaries.

When Mother Nature provides wet seasons, and the lake rises, the flood gates are opened and billions of gallons of fresh water are released into those saltwater estuaries. The changes in salinity, combined with decades of agricultural runoff, create toxic algae blooms.

Sea grass is dying, spawning grounds are disrupted, and the communities living on both coasts are affected by the risk of healthrelated issues. Curious about what could

be done, I attended a meeting in Stuart, FL, addressing these environmental concerns and was immediately drawn to the grassroots organization, Bullsugar. This non-profit organization was founded on the belief that science has provided a fix to this problem, but the politics needs to follow.

Since that meeting, I’ve traveled all over the US to bring much-needed awareness to the fly fishing community. The support received has been overwhelmingly positive, and it makes me proud to be part of such a conservationminded industry.

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Wilderness Disorder

photo by John Schmidt

by Robin Schmidt

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Adventure and wilderness experiences heal our souls. We get out in wilderness in many different ways, and for a variety of reasons. There is a theme that runs common for those of us who are driven toward our passions—Joy. What is it that is the undercurrent of the joy we experience through adventuring? Answering this question is where each story becomes real. Uncovering our reasons, unique to all of us, can reveal our hearts.

MOTIVATION

ehind every reason we give for making adventure happen in our lives, there is a personal, internal motive that revs up our energy levels, clears the calendar, hires a sitter, and kicks us into action. No matter how busy, stressed, or complicated our lives can be, we find the time and a way to make adventure happen. We do this for a reason.

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We may not fully understand the reason we love and, in my case, need adventure. Over time, I discovered a great reward in looking honestly at my own drive and implacable need.

In searching my own heart and my spirit of adventure, I have found my purpose.

Origins of My Wilderness Disorder The title of this story sounds like a contradiction in terms. How can love of wilderness and adventure ever be a disorder?

The phrase “wilderness disorder” is the term I’ve used my entire adult life to describe the motive and the reason behind my own unrelenting drive to seek adventure. Early on, I never gave much thought to why I felt it was a disorder. I never really meant it to have a seriously negative connotation. It was always meant mostly as a joke, acknowledging the frequency and intensity with which I pursued adventure. However, I think my choice of words was a hint. Somehow, deep within, I knew my drive for adventure was a little out of whack. photos by John Schmidt Spring 2018

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I was in my 20s when my need for adventure first began to collide with the rest of my life— There I go again with the negative undertones.

Why do I call it a “need” and a “collision” and not just describe it as my deep passion for adventure instead? Because that’s how it felt.

For me, intense joy breaks through, deep in the wilderness, at the apex of adventure and in existence in nature, far beyond the complexities of daily life. As a young adult I began to feel extremely motivated to seek adventure. But not just motivated, I was propelled, full tilt, toward every opportunity as though I would literally die if I missed the chance—Seriously, I would throw a fit if someone stood in the way of my next adventure. To be completely honest, this still happens.

In those early, fit-filled years I couldn’t put a finger on why I needed adventure so badly.

With every excursion I felt it in my core, like I had reached a union of longings that defined who I was in my soul. I felt centered. My best expression of it probably didn’t come in words, but in a pose I still take—the joy pose!

I’m certain joy was not meant to be so difficult to find, deep in the wilderness, through miles of trekking, subsisting on morsels of jet-boiled slime and years of untangling tippet. Some of us are harder nuts to crack than others. I am in awe of the sheer power and force of joy that cracks through, comes out of hiding behind great canyon walls, crosses impassable rivers, and fights with fury and flash at end of my fly line, with a boundless need to reveal itself and to announce, “I am here”. No wonder we go back for more!

My need for more and more adventure was tilting off-balance. I see now that I was completely set up to become an adventure junkie. The DSM-5 diagnostic manual for diagnosing disorders will usually point to childhood for the root of the issue, and there is no exception in the case of a real good, solid wilderness disorder. My mother and father were avid adventurers and taught me there are no limits to what we are capable of doing in the outdoors. In other words, nine days was not too long to stuff an entire family of four, a dog, and all of our food and gear into one small canoe to float down a river.

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The Four Pass Loop near Aspen, CO

photo by Will Franklin

MOTIVATION

Most disorders also have some kind of trauma mixed in, and again, no exception here. Our canoe adventure was filled with drama, as one can imagine. Losing the dog, and then finding her, cuts, burns, copperheads, tears, not to mention snot, and my dad’s bright idea of shooting a series of small rapids in the dark (not going there). But it wasn’t actually drama and trauma at work in the formation of my wilderness disorder. It was simply the time we spent together, connecting, with all of our focus and efforts working together as a family and, the undivided attention of my father.

photo by John Schmidt

My father was in the Air Force and there were long absences from the family due to war and TDYs. The fact is, even when Dad was home with us, he wasn’t really geared toward personal relationships, and his words were very few. This changed beautifully as he got older, but as with many families in my generation, things just went unspoken back then. I’m sure I had to sort through all kinds of messages that this dynamic would convey to a young person.

The message that rang out clear, and managed to stick the hardest throughout my childhood, was that love, personal connection, and joy were assured in the heart of an adventure together in the wilderness.

photo by Karen MacFarquhar

In my teen years, I discovered that hiking, backpacking, skiing, and fishing were all sufficient to snuff out anxieties related to that phase of life. At 16, I picked up my first job as a ski instructor. I remember long backpacking trips in the Weminuche Wilderness area. I recall when, after several days on the trail, I felt myself cross over from just being in nature (observing and appreciating it) into a completely different existence. I focused on nothing but how we would find water to drink, food to eat, stay warm, and take shelter. I found escape from teenage anxieties. Again, and again, I was rewarded.

These young adventures were branded onto my heart like alters of where I must go to find genuine connection, peace, and joy. These were the formative years of my wilderness disorder, and by my early 20s the setup was complete and the deal was sealed.

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The Emerger Pattern If, in childhood, my adventures were the gateway drugs that were salve to my soul, it was when I moved to Alaska in 1988 that the full-on addiction took hold. For a budding new adventure junkie, living in Alaska was like drinking several double crackaccinos every single day.

I worked as an Artificial Intelligence Researcher and Software Engineer starting in 1985. Now living in Anchorage and married to an Air Force fighter pilot, my goal was to maximize our adventure time while holding flexible, independent contracting roles with large oil and gas corporations. The plan was good, but when the Exxon Valdez crashed, it wreaked devastation on pristine waters, shorelines, and wildlife, not to mention the research and development budgets that provided paychecks to someone in my field. Back to ski instructing I went, this time at Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood, AK. When I wasn’t teaching, I used my computer skills as much as possible in different jobs.

photos by Brian Morrow

Living in Alaska was as intense as its 24 houra-day growing season. I learned to seize the moment and mobilize quickly, since any delay might mean missing the midnight opening of salmon season. But, in just the few hours spent away fishing, the broccoli might go to flower before I had the chance to harvest. I quickly caught up to the rhythm and the pace of life in the land of the midnight sun, and it wasn’t uncommon to find me harvesting vegetables at all hours of the night before leaving on a trip.

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This was the craziness of Alaska life, and it was like jet fuel to my engines to go and go and go.

But it wasn’t just the pace and all the daylight that fueled my motivation for our constant adventures and trips away. It was the pattern of my childhood, my soul, and my wilderness disorder. It was the cry for real connection with my husband. Sadly, what had rescued me as a child did not exactly save me. The power of adventure to reveal joy in any circumstance, to find genuine connection, and provide rest from the complexities of life was not enough to put a broken marriage back together.

MOTIVATION

Snipping Line When standing on the bank of a river with a twisted and knotted leader, we have a choice to make. The time it takes us to untangle our mess is time we don’t have a fly on the water. It is certainly important to fix the mess because having knots in the line will weaken it and limit our success. Understanding how the line got knotted is helpful too, but even if we don’t understand fully, chances are we already know enough to move on. We just have to assess the damage and make a decision. Can we untangle or should we snip? Sometimes I untangle and sometimes I snip.

The Adventure Begins Colorado is my home now and where I met my soulmate, formed a big, adventurous blended family, and worked for 25 more years in software. This is also where my wilderness disorder took off on an even grander scale. My husband and I are soulmates because we both have the soul of an adventurous 10-year-old boy. John more than accepts my wilderness disorder, he is thrilled that I have it. He knows exactly what happens if I don’t feed the beast.

Adventuring with our family and friends is a priority in our life and our joy comes from sharing experiences, especially in connection with others. The difference in how my wilderness disorder plays out these days is that my motivations have shifted. I am more motivated than ever to share the joy, especially with women, and to celebrate what uniquely motivates us to seek out adventure. I also recognize that my wilderness disorder is not a problem, it is my gift, and also the solution to living a life of joy and fulfillment of my purpose.

The Women’s Showcase at the Fly Fishing Show - Denver, CO

photo by DUN magazine

A new chapter in my journey through the heart of adventure has begun. I’ve “uninstalled” my software career. I put down the design docs, deleted all the development environments, and shelved my technical resumé. Off to the Denver Fly Fishing Show I went.

I try not to define exactly how this journey will unfold, but I know that fly fishing is my passion and this will set the stage. My vision is to bring together women, my wilderness disorder, and the truths unveiled about the power of adventure to piece together a heart. All I can really say about tomorrow is that I have a lot to learn about fly fishing today.

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photo by John Schmidt

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I always feel I have more to learn, no matter what I’m doing. Maybe sometimes this feeling is just by virtue of being female. We tend that way, don’t we? I won’t get into Mars and Venus here. I will say, regarding fly fishing, I really, truly, need to learn more. Enough said.

This spring I am headed to Leadville, CO, and the Colorado Mountain College for a six week long course called “Professional Fly Fishing Guide”. I chose the CMC program because it doesn’t just vet people who are already awesome and ready to guide. It is a comprehensive course that gets to the core of the skills that I will need to teach fly fishing, and hopefully guide women who are new to the sport.

Until this episode of “Old Lady Goes to Fishing School” begins, I’m doing all that I can to build my skills. I take casting lessons and join fly tying workshops. I fish, read, tie, practice drills, and I’ve joined the Colorado Women Flyfishers.

photo by John Schmidt

My motivation is clear, but getting “there” will require more than just my drive. There is so much to say about how inspired and truly fulfilled I am as I journey on this path, which is both exciting and scary, to my unknown destination. As I jump feet first into the deep end, I’ve decided to wear my fear and vulnerability as a badge of courage. Let the “reel” adventure begin.

Joy poses, Everyone!

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fly tying

Meet fly dresser Nome Buckman

Hometown Portland, Maine

Favorite Fly Tying Material Flash, it comes in endless varieties of textures, colors, and can bring any fly to life. You can use it for everything from a musky fly all the way down to size 20-something nymph.

Favorite Fly Tying Tool The one tool I’ve had since day one of tying is my Griffin Montana Mongoose Vise with lever cam jaws. This vise has reliably held hooks from 8/0 down to #24 for many years without any hiccups.

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fly tying

Fluorescent Hot Mess Makes 1 large fly

Ingredients Hook: 5/0 Gamakatsu 55015 Thread: Nano Silk 6/0 white Tail: 4 Chartreuse Strung Rooster, 4 Hot Pink Grizzle Hackle Flash: Wavy Pink Body: Bucktail Flash: Hot Pink Flashabou Head: Chartreuse Howitzer Baitfish Popper Head Eyes: Volcanic Dragon Eyes

Dressing 1. Prepare the tail feathers by removing the webby portion at the base of the feathers. Tie in the tail with two feathers on the far side of the hook and two on the near side.

2. Trim three clumps of bucktail (chartreuse, pink, chartreuse) from the bottom 1/3 of the tail, carefully removing the underfur. Reverse tie these clumps making sure the hair goes all the way around the hook.

3. Test fit the popper head. Apply a generous amount of super glue to the hook shank and affix the head.

4. Attach the eyes with super glue and set aside to dry.

Fishing This fly can be fished as a popper on a floating line or as a streamer on a sinking line. For both situations, strip the fly hard and give it a pause to settle in the water before the next strip.

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Baby Steps

by Veera Viitanen photos Antti Takaniemi

One of the best things

about fly fishing is that you always learn something new. You can fish new water, head to unknown places, try different styles, and catch new species.

But what happens when all of a sudden you have a baby in your backpack? Do you give up your time on the water, or change your fishing habits? I would say that fly fishing with a baby is more than a decision, it is an attitude, a lifestyle choice all its own. A choice that will require many compromises: more planning, flexibility, and patience. Choosing to focus on the positives and not the challenges will open up a whole new world of experiences together. You will notice that you are heading into the future, which looks quite brilliant.

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Determined to live the family lifestyle, when our son was born we decided to take him with us whenever possible. For us, giving him the experience of letting nature be his playground was important. Our first year was filled with hours on the river learning to fly fish together.

The urban waters near our home were a good place to start. Being nearby made it easy to make short visits.

As an infant, it was simple to take him in a wagon to the river where he just slept and ate alternately. But that was only a tiny little moment in time. It wasn’t long before he wanted to explore and move around without any patience to stay in place. At that point, a good backpack was worth its weight in baby gold. The type of carrier depends on you. Just make sure that there are pockets for baby needs, fishing gear, and integrated weather protection, which is a big plus for outdoor enthusiasts like us.

Fly fishing during the baby-year was challenging, since he was growing so quickly, making the situations and rhythms everchanging. Flexibility was key.

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Baby or no baby, I’m sure we all agree that safety comes first. No matter how good and safe your backpack is, you always want to avoid risks while moving around. Safety and comfort affect many things when planning a fishing trip as a family. Whether you stay in the wilderness in a tent or choose a hotel is up to your comfort level. When we were heading to Slovenia, we chose our destination by thinking about where it would be easy to fly fish and move around with the baby. By choosing a familiar fishing spot, we didn’t waste time or expense by searching for the fish or getting to know the river. We knew from previous trips which places were easy to access and close to where we would be staying. The terrain wasn’t too difficult to hike and the river was easy to wade.

We made sure it was never too long a walk back to the car should something happen or if the baby was losing patience.

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Everything will take a little bit longer with a baby in tow.

What I have learned is that when you are planning a fishing trip with the baby, you must be ready for a normal, non-fishing trip if fishing with the baby doesn’t work for some reason.

Keep your mind open and live in the moment, and you won’t be disappointed. Fishing days can be long, even for adults, so save some time for relaxing outside of river time. Our accommodation in Slovenia was a nice, cozy, and child-friendly farm in the middle of the mountains. There were a lot of animals, a swimming pool and playgrounds, both inside and outside. It was a peaceful place to spend time when the weather stole a few river days.

In the end, we had only three fishing days in Slovenia, but it was just enough for our first trip abroad. Our son was 10 months old at that time and I think that more fishing days would have been too much for him.

It is clear that fly fishing with a baby changes your fishing habits. Gone are the days of giving the fish 100%. When the best evening hatch is just beginning, chances are you will be putting the baby to sleep. During morning mist, you will most likely be off the water at home boiling porridge. Many a day will be spent changing diapers instead of waiting for a rise.

It is okay to put your rod in the closet and let your waders dry.

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After we became a family, I noticed how much it meant to share the best moments with others, especially those who are the closest to my heart. Fishing alone, everything I saw and felt existed only for me. But having that little someone with me, made the joy a thousand times bigger. Suddenly, happiness didn’t come from the fish I netted, but from the smile emanating out of my backpack.

I spent a week in the wilderness without my family and I realized something: no matter how challenging fly fishing with the baby is sometimes, it is always easier than a fishing trip without him.

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online gear

Why It’s Worth It

It’s a big chunk of change, but here’s why we think it’s worth every penny.

Timberleaf Trailer Starting at $19,750

TimberleafTrailers.com

Handmade Each trailer is built to your specifications in Colorado.

Backcountry Gourmet No one ever said that off-grid had to mean freeze-dried meals.

Backup Camera Points straight down at the hitch for ease when connecting your trailer

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Comfy and Cozy

The Devil’s in the Details

Fully insulated cabin with one-inch thick foam insulation between 2 layers of birch plywood keeps the cold air at bay.

From bamboo cutting boards to interior window coverings, every detail is accounted for.

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online gear Nissan - Pathfinder Starting at $32,730.00

NissanUSA.com

Roomy, Refined Interior

Rear Door Alert System Developed by a pair of Nissan engineers and mothers, this system reminds you to check the rear seat for your family members.

Spacious interior with 3 rows of seating for up to 7 passengers, and cargo capacity that families need every day.

Lots of Power 284 horse power with a towing capacity of 6000 pounds.

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craft life

Jen Ripple Grabs a beer With

rose schweikhart of Superior Bathhouse Brewery The only brewery in a US National Park and the only brewer in the world using thermal hot spring water.

This historic bathhouse has been converted into a commercial brewery and restaurant in Hot Springs, AR

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craft life Located on the main thoroughfare in Hot Springs, Arkansas is the most unusual story.

It combines a U.S. national park, a hot spring, and some really great craft beer. It was just by happenstance that I came across a womanowned brewery called Superior Bathhouse Brewery. There are many things that make this brewery exceptionally interesting, including being the only brewery inside of a national park, being located inside a bathhouse, and the only one in the world (that we could find) using thermal hot springs to make beer.

I had the chance to sit down with Superior Bathhouse Brewery’s owner, Rose Schweikhart, and hear her story. I thought I’d share it with you because it’s a good one.

Jen: Rose, tell me a little bit about how this whole crazy story began. You seem so young!

I’m 35 years old. In my old life I was a musician, a tuba player, and I fell in love with beer while touring England and mainland Europe. I was living in Springfield, Illinois at the time and they didn’t really have any breweries. That was my first thought about possibly opening a brewery.

Fast forward a few years and through a series of events I’m living in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

I heard rumors that it was possible to create a brewery using hot spring water despite the folklore of larger brewers who thought this was not possible.

I started looking into brewing and discovered that the water here is potable for two reasons.

First, the water temperature is 144 degrees when it hits the surface. That’s hot enough to prevent bad bacteria growth. Second, the geography of the area is not volcanic, but rather a geothermal fault, which pushes the water through a limestone bed. When I realized this, I got in touch with the woman who is the Park Superintendent to see what the possibility was of having a brewery in the National Park.

She told me I needed to see this bathhouse.

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craft life JEN: Is it true this bathhouse was vacant for 30 years before you gave it new life?

Yes. The bathhouse closed in 1983 and was vacant. In the early 2000s, the Arkansas Congressional Delegation did a funding request for emergency funding for the park and spent $12 million starting in 2004 to stabilize the bathhouses so they could be leased. They spent over $1 million on this building. In 2011, I toured this bathhouse and opened a Request For Proposal. I had never done anything like that. It was an 88 page business plan. I had to make projections and talk to banks. It took a year before I was selected. It took another year of negotiations.

In March of 2013, I signed a 55 year lease. So at this point it’s like I own the building. All the day to day upkeep is my responsibility. I have to do things like save for a new roof.

JEN: You’re a woman in a very male-dominated business. What motivated you to do this?

I’m an intrinsically motivated person. I’m a big picture, long term thinker. For me, the most joy comes from having a dream and crawling, walking or running to that dream, with all the setbacks and detours. My motivation is the enjoyment of seeing a spark grow into a flame.

I love the work and patience you have to have during that process. I love the process, but I recognize that is not for everyone.

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JEN: Fly fishing is a very conservation-minded

sport. Is there a conservation aspect to using thermal water?

In beer making, the first step is to heat up a whole lot of water. The sustainability aspect of what I am doing is important. That 144 degree head start sure does help. And another thing that I don’t really advertise is I believe one of the most eco-friendly things I could do. I used an already existing, old building that has stood for over 100 years. It has good bones and will last another 100 years.

JEN: You are inside a U.S. National Park. How did

you accomplish that?

To my knowledge, we are the only brewery in a national park, and this is the smallest national park and the only urban national park in the country. Those magnolia trees right there are in the national park. That asphalt is the city. It has been a challenge. There’s an extra layer of scrutiny because this is federal property. For instance, there are rules about which pesticides and paint you can use in a national park. I have to have the awnings on my building taken to an off-site location to be cleaned because you can’t use the chemicals necessary to clean them in a national park.

Having to follow such strict rules has allowed me to be creative in other ways in order to have an identity. It’s a rogue element.

JEN: All of your beer is really good. What is your favorite style of beer? Do you have a favorite?

We have 18 beers. I tend to like the British style beers, like a pale ale, or our superior pale ale, which we call SPA. I think with the British ingredients it reminds me of when I was in Europe and there’s a nostalgic factor. Although, I never turn down a crazy IPA.

JEN: Are there any challenges associated with using thermal water?

It’s an unusual water chemistry. It’s very alkaline — the pH is very high. Depending on the beer we are making, sometimes we have to add hardness, add salt, to balance the water out. The chemistry of our water is a huge contributor. It keeps my beer special. I believe the water is similar to the water of Cologne, Germany, specifically Düsseldorf type water, which makes for a fantastic Kolsch style beer.

JEN: What do you love the most?

Cracking open a beer at the end of the day.

Realizing over 30 people in 7 years have worked to make this happen. The effort that has been put into it. For myself in planning, but then others here who love to make it, and love to wait tables, and love to cook chili. When you get to reflect on that is what I love best about what I’m doing.

MOTIVATION

craft life

JEN: Did you do a lot of the work yourself?

I’m much more comfortable with a tool in my hand or behind a computer than I am managing people. I did do a lot myself. I have this bolt tattoo because I did the structural underpinning myself with some friends. I cut and installed the I-beams. We had to bolt them together and I got burned by a bolt; I had the actual bolt outline, threads and all, burned into my arm. So this bolt tattoo shows strength and pain. I was going through a lot personally when I was standing in that hole holding up those beams and burning off those bolts. It was a real catharsis for me.

JEN: The hot springs are right behind your building, but how do you get your water?

JEN: Can you only buy here or do you distribute?

We distribute around Arkansas. We make 15-20 barrels a week now, but we are going to start to make more. All of my new equipment is in my warehouse ready to be put in, so we are ready to double our output. I’m not really interested in distribution, though. This is a destination city.

We have a racetrack and all these lakes with hiking, and fishing, and outdoor activities. What I am excited about is we are going to start canning our beer. Recycling is so important and those cans can be infinitely recycled.

JEN: You signed your lease in March of 2013 and your grand opening was July 12, 2013. Has it gone better than thought it would?

Yes. My projections were half of what they should have been. I doubled my 10 year projection. I have a lot more employees than I thought I would. During peak times I have more than 40 employees.

The park maintains the water system like your city maintains your domestic water. The park collects water from the 47 springs located along this hillside. There is a 12 inch pipe running down the street which pumps it into a holding tank, like a regular water tower but only it’s hot water. They have a laboratory and they periodically test the water to make sure it’s potable. The main use of our water is obviously for the bathing industry, the functional bathhouses. They use 1 million gallons a month. I use 10,000 gallons a month.

There’s a pump in the back and it comes in like city water in your house, only mine is hot.

JEN: In 100 years, what do you want people to say about what you’ve done?

That I was at the forefront of the revitalization of downtown Hot Springs, AR. I think it is ironic that my business is based off of water, and the reason it exists is because of water, and a water-based project is reawakening this historic old town.

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I wasn't born with a rod in my hand.

by Irena Mathiasen

I fished a little from time to time with my father; trips where the lunch and company were better than the catch.

Out by the lake I found the peace I had been missing. I didn’t really understand that at the time. But as I grow older, and wiser, I realize the positivity that being outdoors instills in me.

I caught my first sea trout in March of 2016 at 26 years old, and it changed my life. It gave me hope, faith, and a hunger for more. I made a checklist of species to catch.

Before the end of 2016 I had checked a lot of them off the list.

The only poisonous fish in Denmark, Trachinus draco (greater weever); beautiful carp; strong mackerel; and the dancing garfish. I caught the small, and in every way so perfect, brown trout. My biggest pike to date.

And, as if that wasn’t enough to satisfy my appetite, I caught the fish of my dreams—the biggest and most perfect sea-run brown trout I have ever seen.

This was the one that most people fish for their whole lives.

I must be blessed!

I am blessed. I am fortunate to have an amazing partner who has guided me, taught me, and led me on this journey. He tells me I have a talent—a nose for fishing. I like that thought. Whether he’s right, I do not know.

I wasn’t born with a rod in my hand. photo by Jari Pedersen

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I haven’t fished my whole life. I’m thankful for where I am, what I’ve learned so far, and where this passion is taking me.

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MOTIVATION

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All Hands on Deck

by Mattie Rodrigue

Long before I ever picked up a fly rod, I was hauling fish on the decks of commercial fishing boats, off the coast of Maine, as the onboard scientist for a commercial fishery-style survey evaluating groundfish (Atlantic cod, Atlantic halibut, haddock, hake, etc.). I was 22, a graduate student at the University of Maine studying marine biology and marine policy.

My classroom was the deck of a boat.

The fisheries research survey I was part of, known as the Eastern Gulf of Maine Sentinel Survey (Sentinel Survey), was started eight years ago as a collaboration between the University of Maine and Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries (MCCF), a non-profit organization that focuses on coastal fishing, community-based marine science and policy. The Sentinel Survey began as a response to the commercial collapse of groundfish in eastern Maine. The region is sparsely sampled by federal and state monitoring programs, so the Sentinel Survey, a local, collaborative program, was built to provide data on groundfish species in data-limited eastern Maine. My role was to collect data on species abundance, distribution, and biology, as well as to facilitate the collaborative platform between the University, MCCF, and the fishermen who participated in the survey program.

The fishermen I worked with came from fishing communities in eastern Maine. All had different personalities and fishing styles, but shared a common, deep-rooted appreciation for hard work. Each day for about five months every year, I’d hop aboard whichever participating vessel was heading out to sea that day, with a plethora of sampling equipment. The captain, a sternman, and I would travel out to a pre-selected station and deploy demersal longline gear (picture a long rope with a bunch of hooks attached to it that gets sunk to the ocean floor to catch the fish that live at the bottom), and use jig gear to sample the area with handlines while we let the longline soak for two hours. Then, we would haul up the longline and I, the “third-nerd” on board, would begin to process the fish.

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The work was heavy, dirty, and difficult, but I loved every second. I’ll be honest, there was no grace to my methodology.

They’d flip me a fish, and I’d measure it, weigh it, and take a suite of biological samples to be sent to various institutions for evaluation.

For example, I’d dissect the “otoliths” or earbones, of a fish and send them to the University of Maine to be processed. Each year a fish lives it lays down a layer of calcium carbonate; the layers can be counted and measured like tree rings to determine a fish’s age. I also took stomach samples to evaluate what other species the fish we caught were eating, fin clips to study genetics and evaluate population structure, and tissue samples for stable isotope analysis to reveal trophic interactions over time. I was able to create an index for several species which showed the changing temporal trends in the region, as well as distributional shifts per year. Additionally, I monitored the environmental conditions of each sampling station and evaluated the effects of water temperature, sediment structure, and depth ranges on the condition and abundance of groundfish species.

photo by Emily Farr

Mostly, I just tried to keep up with the agility of the fishermen, who were quick with the gear and quicker with the gaff.

From left to right: Mattie Thompson, Mattie Rodrigue, and Phil Shea, are all smiles after a day of fishing.

All this quantitative information was helpful, but it paled in comparison to the qualitative information I was receiving daily by communicating with fishermen onboard their vessels. Each fisherman brought with them a unique set of knowledge, based on their observations each season out on the water. They knew what we were going to bring up on the gear before we even set the longline, all based on location, bottom-habitat structure, water temperature, weather, and tide. I learned something new each day I went out fishing with them, and the more I learned the more I recognized what I didn’t know. I listened to stories of catches in the past, of thousands and thousands of huge, healthy codfish and haddock brought onboard, of changing temperatures and fluctuations in fish movements, and, most often, of the decline and collapse of the commercial groundfish fishery in eastern Maine.

photo by Patrick Shepard, Maine Center For Coastal Fisheries

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I learned what happened when large, factorygrade vessels came in to fishing grounds formerly targeted by smaller vessels that were captained by locals from the fishing communities in the Downeast region. And how, with a few years of heavy fishing and changing environmental conditions, these factory ships could easily decimate an entire local population of the fish that the local boats had depended upon.

photo by Elisabeth Maxwell

During my second season running this research program, we expanded our survey to incorporate more sampling stations in Penobscot Bay, which was an area experiencing the effects of river restoration due to a large dam removal project upriver in the Penobscot. Post-removal, we began seeing vast improvements in the return of forage fish, especially the river herring, or “alewife,� that so many larger groundfish species depended upon for a prey source.

The alewife is a short-lived, fast growing anadromous species, and so, with habitat expansion (and stocking in certain areas) we began to see a near-immediate, and overwhelmingly positive explosion in population size. We started seeing local effects all the way out in Penobscot Bay, even foul-hooking alewife in the pelagic zone as we reeled our benthic jig gear up to the surface!

And, where the forage fish were, so too were the seabirds, tuna, and whales.

photo by Patrick Shepard, Maine Center For Coastal Fisheries

Being able to witness the changes in the system I was monitoring in real-time, and with fishermen who had the historical, local ecological knowledge to compare against changes in the system, opened my eyes to the connectivity of the watershed and ocean systems in eastern Maine. I wanted to learn more about the rivers and the species that inhabited them.

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So, I picked up a fly rod.

Residents of Maine are comfortable with a barter system, and so I was given an old rod and reel combo in exchange for helping a friend move. Another friend who had years of experience casting flies taught me how to put it together; to cast, double haul, and to tie more intricate knots than I had used on the commercial vessels. The first time I waded out into a river to cast, I remember thinking to myself how different the grace and finesse of fly fishing was than the commercial fishing I had done. Of course, I was still awkward with the gear, but what I lacked in original skill I made up for in enthusiasm.

I began exploring areas all over Maine to fish, poking around in different rivers and streams, getting tangled in trees, and losing flies, but never losing my fervor for exploring the next spot. The best part? When the next sampling season began, and I started fishing on the commercial vessels again, many of the fishermen I worked with had a treasuretrove of tips, tricks, secret spots, and stories of “monstah� trout they had landed through the years. I should have known that the fishermen who taught me so much about reading the ocean ecosystem were also totally dialed in to the riverine systems. The pulse of the fluctuations in the watersheds coupled with effects of wind, weather, offshore currents etc., all tied in to their ability to locate fish both inshore and offshore. They perceived local, place-based changes in their targeted fishing grounds, and provided long-term local ecological knowledge about a system, and the species within that system, that they depended on for their livelihoods.

photo by Kevin Job

Though fly fishing and commercial fishing are functionally quite different, the observational skills needed to be successful at both require a deep understanding of the ecosystem, and an ability to tune-in to the external fluctuations that cause the fish within them to adjust their behaviors. I realized that when we fish commercially or recreationally, we are all scientists in our own ways, with valuable knowledge and observations to share.

photo by Megan Hess

This lesson is particularly important as fisheries management shifts toward a holistic, ecosystem approach that factors in real-time fluctuations in the environment, as well as incorporates human interactions within the ecosystem.

We can work collaboratively with fishermen on a local scale to share knowledge, learn from each other, and find solutions that work for those who depend on these fisheries, both commercially and recreationally.

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photo by Megan Hess

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motivation

DUN asked, YOU answered

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online motivation

What Motivates YOU? Watching the tarpon jump and throwing the hook ... or landing and breaking the tippet ... makes me ache to go after just one more... please ... just one ... to set the record straight.

They are my Achilles heel ...

Finding that time to get away and connect with nature, to leave it all behind and focus on the water. And, of course, I’m always motivated by what I might hook into on that one ... last ... cast!

Kesley Gallagher

Alecia Lynn

Motivation is using fly fishing to help women overcome life’s struggles. New friends, building bonds, and making small accomplishments. It’s an adventure that feeds and heals the soul.

Seeing the sparkle and excitement in a child's eyes when they come in to our fishing store to learn the beautiful art ... the fascination of the brightly coloured flies etc ... then we pass on our knowledge ...

Pamela Caldwell Dunlap

Conan Fyvie

The quest to see the changing of the water each year with new directions and shoals, new stumps and old rocks, the peace that comes with it and the grace needed to so elegantly chase the passion you love, and to learn, and grow older by one more day that God has given us.

The River Just Knows!

Rubert Uselton

The feeling of the tug on the line ... one more cast, one more cast, one more cast to get to that tug.

Nothing motivates me more than seeing and helping others pick up a fly rod for the first time and fall in love with our sport!

Dani Long

Rich Barrios

Motivation, for me, comes from the endless possibilities present with a fly rod in hand. So many have forged paths into the unknown in pursuit of one species or another, in every remote corner of the world. We live in an age when no experience is truly out of reach. Steelhead on the Kola, Taimen in Japan, Atlantic Salmon in Quebec, big Brown Trout in the wilds of New Zealand, Giant Trevally off the coast of Africa. Such rich and vibrant dreams, that may someday become reality.

And if not ... well at least I have something beautiful to dream about!

Alyssa Halls

DUN Asked! Jen and the DUN staff love connecting with you, the reader, on social media.

Occasionally the staff will come up with a question for our readers.

To get involved in the community and have some fun, follow DUN and Jen on social media @DUNmagazine and @Jen_Ripple. You never know when a comment of yours or a photo will end up on the pages of DUN Magazine.

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New Waters

by Rebecca Blair

M

y non-fly fishing friends just don’t get it. Why do all the pictures on my Facebook page contain a fish? Haven’t I caught all the fish I need to catch? Why do I travel the world just to catch fish? And then they say, “You look so happy in that fish picture.” And, it’s true. There is no place I’m happier than on the water with rod in hand. Although I have some favorite rivers, I feel that tackling the unknown and fishing in new places with new friends has contributed to my growth and enjoyment. No experience captures this better than my three trips to Austria and Slovenia.

Trip One: Anglers from Three Countries Meet My adventures started in 2009 when International Women Fly Fisher (IWFF) member Kate Blubaugh organized a gathering near Klagenfurt, Austria. Barbara Klutinis, Kate, and I flew over from the United States, Christa Buchwald and Claudia Muller came from Germany, and Henriette Adam van Scheltema came from the Netherlands.

Fortunately, all our European anglers spoke some English.

We stayed in the village of St. Primus at Hotel-Pension Wutte, which is owned and managed by Milan Wutte Sr. Incidentally, Milan is also an excellent fishing guide who is very knowledgeable about the rivers of Austria and Slovenia. I found out later that we were the first women anglers to stay at the pension.

To get to our fishing locations, the crystal-clear River Kleine Drau Side Stream and the River Vellach, we traveled winding forest roads, past fields full of yellow flowers, with snow-capped mountains towering above us. Barbara and I spent one day guided by Milan Jr., who taught us about tight line nymphing. We focused on ticking our heavily weighted flies along the river bottom in a way that would entice a fish. Due to the incredible clarity of the water, we could observe the fish take (or reject) our flies beneath the surface. I was surprised that we didn’t see other anglers on the rivers and learned that in Austria, an outfitter buys a license for certain sections of a river, helping to evenly distribute anglers over fishable water.

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Later in the week we traveled over the majestic, snowy Alps to fish in Slovenia. We focused on the River Sava Bohinka, a wide, turbulent river near Bled, Slovenia flowing 584 miles through Slovenia, Croatia, BosniaHerzegovina, and Serbia. Throughout our trip, we caught beautiful rainbows, red-dotted browns, as well as elusive, silvery graylings. It was an incredible experience to connect with other women anglers and pursue a common passion in such a beautiful place. Upon leaving, Henriette translated some parting wisdom from Ingrid who worked at Hotel-Pension Wutte, “What was, is history; What will be, is a secret; What is, is a present.” That week left us with wonderful memories and hopes for the future, as well as a feeling that we had all taken part in something special.

Trip Two:

Adventures in Borrowed Gear In 2014, I returned to Austria to join the Fly Fishing Ladies (the German Women fly fishing group) which included a familiar face in Christa, whom I knew well since she had fished with me in California after our 2009 gathering. I

was sure that Christa and I would have no problem picking up where we left off. I also knew we would once again be staying at the familiar Hotel-Pension Wutte and fishing local rivers. What I didn’t know, or plan for, was my missing luggage – all my fishing gear and even a change of clothing ended up being lost for three days somewhere between Frankfurt, Germany and Klagenfurt, Austria. My arrival in the small village of St. Primus was on a Saturday night, and it turned out there were no stores open that evening or on Sunday.

I arrived feeling tired and frustrated, not knowing how the next couple of days would play out. As I was checking in, two female anglers came through the door. I immediately recognized Sylvia Trautmann from Facebook.

She recognized me as well and exclaimed “Rebecca, so nice to meet you,” opened her arms, and gave me a hug. What a way to make a forlorn angler feel at home in a foreign country. At breakfast the next morning, I found that their entire group had combined forces and managed to outfit me for the day, from my fly fishing gear to borrowed skivvies. I have everything I need to get me out on the river.

The lesson here: don’t let setbacks determine the pace for the rest of your trip.

“ What was, is history; What will be, is a secret; What is, is a present.”

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We once again fished the River Vellach, which originates at the foot of Mt. Obir and is surrounded by breathtaking landscape. It offers wonderful, tumbling riffles, as well as deeper pools, and it is a pleasure to wade this crystalclear, aqua-colored water. Again, we were the only people on the river.

We caught beautiful rainbows and gorgeous brown trout in a wide variation of colors.

I’m told the fish adapt their coloring to their environment. In many sections, the river is aqua blue tumbling over pale sand, giving an oceanlike appearance. In these areas, trout can be very pale in color, while more shaded darker stretches of the river produced more traditional dark brown trout and more vibrant rainbows.

We settled into a routine: an a la carte breakfast at 8 a.m., out on the water by 10, lunch from 2-4, back on the water until sundown, and then a light dinner at the Pension of “Brettljause”—a plate of ham, cheese, peppers, and bread. Our main meal was lunch, combining hearty Austrian food, such as wiener schnitzel, with beer, schnapps, and of course, luscious apple strudel. Part of the fun of traveling is trying the local food.

Thankfully, we spent a lot of time hiking up and down the river banks to burn off calories. Later in the week there were lessons in fly tying and casting. As the trip wrapped up, I said good bye knowing that I had made new angling friends from the Fly Fishing Ladies of Germany.

photo by Christa Buchwald

photo by Christa Buchwald

Trip Three: More Time to Explore In May of 2017, I made my third trip back. Newly retired, I extended my trip, traveling first to Christa’s home in Germany. Even after a sixhour delay at the airport, resulting in a midnight arrival, Christa met me with a smile and a hug.

At her home, we celebrated with champagne and talked long into the morning hours, getting caught up on life. The next morning, we picked up our friend Antje and traveled the Autobahn for the seven-hour trip to Austria. Christa and Antje traded off driving as I tried to sleep in the back seat. It was a strange experience to groggily wake up in the back seat of a car going 90 miles per hour down an unknown freeway and hear people conversing in a language I didn’t understand. I felt very far from home.

photo by Christa Buchwald

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We arrived at the now familiar Hotel-Pension Wutte. On Saturday, I fished on what I could now call familiar waters—the River Vellach.

Meeting up with the other women, I felt the absence of my dear friend Henriette from the Netherlands, who fought a losing battle with cancer. Her absence was a reminder to take time to do the things you enjoy since no one knows what the future holds.

After one day fishing the River Vellach, the group opted to fish four days in Slovenia.

We would be fishing two rivers – River Sava Bohinjka in the northeast corner of Slovenia and River Savinja near the town of Ljubno.

River Sava Bohinjka is a beautiful, emeraldgreen, crystal-clear Alpine river emerging from Lake Bohinjka. It is exceptionally rich in nutrients, which support the large population of native graylings. It also holds strong, hardfighting browns and rainbows. In most areas, it is covered in thick bankside vegetation which prohibits casting from the shore. I was on my own much of the time and the focus was truly on enjoying the catch and release of my fish.

Once again, being the only ones on the river provided a sense of serenity that I sometimes miss on my California rivers.

River Savinja runs through an artfully decorated flower park with a huge variety of gorgeous, colorful flowers, many of them arranged into animals. We were, once again, the only anglers there and I still can’t conceive of an arrangement like this back in the states.

The river bottom is covered with marl and limestone gravel; and it contains rapids, pools, and quiet flows; holding browns, graylings, rainbows, and Huchen (Danube Salmon), some of trophy size.

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photo by Rudy van Duijnhoven

photo by Rudy van Duijnhoven

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On the first day fishing, I found a pool with several large fish, which I could see clearly as they jockey for position in the food lane.

Although I was able to present an Adams with a good drift, I couldn’t entice any to take my fly.

On day two, I returned to the same pool and hooked a wonderful steelhead-size rainbow.

Although I played him cautiously, he broke my line after several jumps. Still – it was a thrill to go back and hook him, and I was happy with my efforts.

After our four days in Slovenia, we traveled back to Austria and rejoined our fellow Fly Fishing Ladies for one last day of fishing in Austria. On our last evening, we had a farewell dinner where we indulged in “Kaiserschmarrn”—a traditional Austrian dessert consisting of caramelized pancakes made with rum-soaked raisins, eggs, flour, sugar, and butter served hot with plum sauce.

There were plenty of toasts all around.

The next morning, Christa, Antje, and I headed back to Dresden and once again I nodded off in the back seat while they took turns driving. I again woke to German conversation and laughter from the front seat. It somehow then seemed less strange; it sounded like the conversation of friends with a common fly fishing passion. As I drifted off to sleep again, I thought about how my love of fly fishing and travel had taken me to some beautiful places and allowed me to meet wonderful friends and experience nature in a way that feeds my soul.

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fashion

4 Must Haves this

Let us tell it editor@DUNmagazine.com

Have a Story To Tell?

What DUN is wearing this

SPRING

and beyond

Columbia - Women’s Ultimate Catch ZERO II MSRP $75.00

A lightweight fishing-inspired shirt featuring moisture wicking, sweat-activated cooling and UPF 50 sun protection. Discreet back vents, roll-up sleeves with tabholders, and mesh lining encourage airflow. In bright jewel-tone colors.

Columbia.com

Columbia - Women’s Super Tidal Windbreaker MSRP $55.00

When the wind gets whipping off the water, throw on this super-light, water-resistant jacket with UPF 40 and be protected.

The women’s Tidal Windbreaker features a fishingrod holder and zippered hand pockets to stash your small items securely.

Columbia.com

Astral - Brewess 2.0 MSRP $110.00

With its super-sticky G® Rubber outsole, Balanced Geometry™ midsole, and WaterReady uppers this evolution of our original shoe elevates the common sneaker to an entirely new level of performance and versatility. AstralDesigns.com

Orvis - Women’s Under Wader Pant MSRP $89.00

Our Guide Pants offer a chic look and a fit that moves seamlessly with your body.

Stretch fabric and quickdry material combine forces to create a wide range of motion that performs whether you are bouncing down the hiking trail, wet wading across the Madison, or simply hunting up the best cup of coffee in Durango. Orvis.com

MOTIVATION

ELITE LEVEL RODS AT A PRICE THAT WON’T MAKE YOU PEE YOUR WADERS. Designed by Bob Clouser, the Clouser Series provides uncompromised versatility. From tiny dries to hulking streamers these wonderfully light rods deliver with an easy loading, progressive action - just what you need to launch a Clouser Minnow a country mile.

Visit TFORODS.COM to find out more.

POWER TO THE ANGLER.

B EAR

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by Bridget Moran

SPRAY

photo by Kate Taylor

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W

hen I started fishing by myself, my dad gave me a can of bear spray. I laughed, thinking he was showing a little too much concern over an animal that had no great presence in my area of the world.

Stone-faced, he said, “It’s not for bears.”

Over the years, I have never had to use said bear spray, but its presence on my wading belt has comforted me on occasion. There was the time when I lost a fish after a stranger I was unaware of shouted “Set the hook!” while standing 10 feet behind me. Or the time I was not-so-quietly follow around the lake by another stranger running commentary on the quality of my casts. And then there was the time a stranger proposed to me after learning I was fishing alone, and was not already spoken for. I’m obviously not going to whip out the whoop-ass on these well-intentioned gentlemen, but being a petite, young woman out in the wilderness comes with the need to protect oneself should any of those situations go south.

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photo by Heather Hodson

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In an attempt to gain some solidarity after these experiences unfolded, I asked women on a local forum to share their experiences and suggestions. Women of all ages, from all over the globe, chimed in on the discussion. Some had just recently picked up a fly rod for the first time, others have been guides for decades. I got several responses from women with eerily similar stories.

Overall, I got much less solidarity than I expected.

Many of the messages came from women who just wanted to thank the men who taught them to fish and the men who continue to treat them as equals on the water.

How do we, the entire community of fly fishing men and women, reduce the need for bear spray’s alternative uses? The resounding message that women want to convey is that we aren’t a novelty. We aren’t asking to be treated like something special. We expect to fish in peace, just like you. We also expect that our personal safety not be at risk. Assume that we, too, grew up with a rod in our hands. Let us cast without correction or commentary. And when you see another man diverging from this path of mutual respect, help him get back on the right track.

photos by Colin Wiseman

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Doesn’t everyone carry a fly rod when they backcountry ski? photo by Colin Wiseman

Choosing the right fly and getting that knot tied perfectly is very serious business. photo by Heather Hodson

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photo by Linda Lamascus-Orozco photo by Colin Wiseman photo by Heather Hodson

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I love the way Averi Wratney of North Umpqua, Oregon put it. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary for you to hold the door to fly fishing open for me - just a polite nod and some room for my backcast please.”

Ladies, get out there and show them we are a force of nature, and we have every right to be out on the water with the best of them.

Demonstrate the kind of respectful behavior you expect from the men. Thank the ones who brought you into the world of fly fishing. We are agents of our own safety, and it is ok to educate others on what we need to feel safe and respected.

The day will come when I ask the same question to a group of women and am met with blank stares like I’m an idiot. In hindsight, some of my stories of unsettling run-ins with strangers are humorous, but I look forward to the day there are no stories to tell in the first place. It will happen. I know this because there are some seriously feisty men and women out there who will make it happen.

There are so many men in our community who are remarkably powerful allies for women on the water. We have grandpas, dads, uncles, partners, brothers, and friends who regard us as the equal anglers that we are. And, we are so lucky for that.

photo by DUN Magazine

We love you guys.

D

“The best kind of friendships are fierce lady friendships where you aggressively believe in each other, defend each other, and think the other deserves the world.”

Anonymous

photo by Colin Wiseman

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foundation

Reading Between the

Understanding what makes

FLY LINE

float, hover, or sink

W

hen I first started fishing, I owned one five weight rod and one five weight line. It was the line that the fly shop owner suggested and told me would be perfect for the Sage Light Line I had just purchased. I almost swallowed my tongue when I realized that line I had just plunked on the counter was over $100.00. I’d like to think that the line made all the difference, but honestly I can’t remember.

It was all so new, and so confusing those early days, that I have blocked it out of my memory. Fast forward 15 plus years and here I am with more lines than I could possibly use. The obsession continues, however a much more educated obsession. My walls are now covered with boxes filled with lines of all types. Boxes labeled F, I, Sink Tip, Full Sink, Type 3, Type 6, and on and on.

With so many lines on the market today with such vast differences in pricing, knowing where you want your flies to sit in the water column is the most important part of choosing the right line.

Floating Lines – When you want to fish flies that will sit on top of the water Probably the most common type of fly line, floating line does exactly what the name implies. The line is made to float on the water.

Think of this line as the perfect line for a dry fly, a terrestrial, or a popper. These lines are also great for indicator fishing or small streamers. Fly line manufacturers impregnate the line with micro-glass bubbles of air to help keep the line on top of the water.

Gone are the days of having to dry out your line and dress your line to keep it afloat. Enough said. These lines just make sense.

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foundation Intermediate Lines – When you want to fish flies that will sit just underneath the surface While I could classify these lines technically under the category of sinking lines, as my favorite type of line, I think they deserve their own classification. Generally made to sink 1 to 2 inches per second, these lines are best suited when I want my streamer to move horizontally under the surface, without the “jig” type action that a streamer on a floating line would create.

These lines have the added benefit of usually being clear in color, adding a stealth aspect as well. I love to use intermediate lines with an unweighted streamer pattern, as the intermediate line will pull the streamer under the surface, but keep it high enough in the water column to keep it from getting stuck on the bottom in shallow water. While it seems crazy, fishing with large poppers and divers with an intermediate line can prove deadly because the little bit of sink from the line will provide a thicker bubble trail behind the popper and get the fish’s attention.

Sinking Lines – When you want to fish flies that need to get down deep Again, as the name implies, sinking lines sink. Sinking lines are made by incorporating tungsten dust into the fly line. The amount of dust added determines the sink rate.

Those sink rates are called “types.” Generally speaking, a Type 3 line will sink at 3 inches per second, whereas a Type 6 line will sink at 6 inches per second. The faster the sink rate, the deeper you can effectively fish a fly.

Note that the sink rate is independent of the grain weight of the line. If you have a 7 weight rod, you need to choose a 7 weight sinking line of the sink type you desire.

Be aware that sinking lines are not uniform in density, meaning that you can purchase a line where the entire length sinks or a line with as little as a five foot sinking section. The longer the sinking section, the deeper the fly will go.

The choice between using a Type 3 or 6 line is not solely based on how deep you want to fish.

Type 6 lines are helpful when throwing a big, bulky fly, as the increased density in a Type 6 line will pull a larger fly down.

When using a sinking line, be aware that the chances of losing flies on structures you can’t see are increased.

Although floating flies make up a lot of fishing situations, there will be times when the best way to catch fish will be to get the fly down to where the fish are. Knowing the difference between floating, intermediate, and sinking lines will make a huge difference between fishing and catching. D

DUN TIP

Fly rods are categorized in line weights. When purchasing a new fly line for your 6 weight rod, choose a 6 weight line. Gone are the days of over-lining your rods. Today, fly line manufacturers build lines that make it easier to load a modern fly rod.

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we want to hear from you DUN Magazine invites you to join our community

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There is no other Everglades in the world.

-Marjory Stoneman Douglas

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Excursions words by DUN Magazine photos by Matt Jennings

Fishing takes us to some amazing places when we stop and look for a second.

The sacrifices we make to get there are always worth it.

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The Tying Bench

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Join our efforts! www.themayflyproject.com

“Our kids need rivers and our rivers needrivers kids.”

“Our kids need and our rivers need kids.”

-Kaitlin Barnhart, Co-Founder -Kaitlin Barnhart, Co-Founder

fashion

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Get This River fashion that makes you

LOOK

twice

Shirt:

Watch:

Filson - Lake Crescent Shirt Red/Sand $98.00

Seaholm - Offshore $1,995.00

Bracelet:

Ring:

DowlingBrothers - Leather Fish Hook Bracelet $17.00

Debby Moore Designs - Salmon Spoon Ring $150.00

MOTIVATION

getonline to know Take this quiz to find out how well you know

DUN Magazine 5

1

Who wrote the cover article in the Spring/Summer 2017 DUN Print?

A

Jen Ripple

B

April Vokey

C

Clare Carter

D

Hank Patterson

6

Who is Jen taking a road trip with this summer?

A

Heather Hodson

B

Tom Bie

C

Dana Moore

What annual tradition is Jen looking forward to this spring?

photo by Arabian Sport Fly Fishing

2

When Editor-in-Chief Jen Ripple takes the day off, what are you most likely to find her doing?

3

A

Antiquing

B

Playing with her grandbabies

C

Household chores

D

Hanging with friends

A

End of show season

C

Pirate Fest

B

Fat Daddy’s

D

Winnetka Sale

7

Where is Jen looking forward to traveling to the most in 2018?

A

Nashville, TN

C

Orlando, FL

B

Ambergris Caye

D

Asheville, NC

Why did DUN choose Dover, TN as its homebase?

A

1) C -Clare Carter wrote about fishing in Oman.

Surrounded by public land

2) B - Given the chance, Jen is heading to spoil those grandbabies.

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B

Surrounded by bass fishing

C

Peace and quiet

D

All of the above

3) D - Although Dover may not be on many fly anglers’ radar, it’s an outdoor and fishing mecca.

Surrounded by public land and water, it’s the perfect place to escape for a bit.

4) C - .Chocolate, coconut and almonds, need we say more?

When on a road trip, what snack does Jen never leave without?

A

Apples

C

Almond Joy

B

Beef Jerky

D

Fruit Roll-Ups

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5) C - Jen Ripple and Heather Hodson are going to be traveling from Tennessee to Washington this summer and filming all the fun.

6) A, B, C, D - Jen can’t wait to do all of these.

7) B - Jen is heading on a hosted trip to Belize this spring with her middle daughter. This is going to be a once in a lifetime trip for them.

MOTIVATION

travel

DUN Travel

DESTINATIONS

A selection of our favorite fishing

photo by Asheville Fly Fishing Company

Asheville, North Carolina, US

photo by Ganglers Lodge

North Seal River, Manitoba, Canada

The Biltmore Mansion isn’t the only reason to go to Asheville these days. Guided fishing adventures for smallmouth bass and trout are now your new adventure in Asheville. Want a unique experience? Try a multi-day river trip or a whitewater smallmouth excursion through the Nolichucky Gorge. Valuing long-lasting relationships with their guests, Asheville Fly Fishing Company is all about sharing memorable days on the water with you. AshevilleFlyFishingCo.com

The North Seal River in Manitoba is a remote wilderness destination.

Want to try your hand at toothy critter fishing? This northern pike fishery offers size and quantity with trophy fish over 50” and 100 pike per day. North Seal area has excellent sight fishing. The pike sit in the submerged cabbage beds waiting for unlucky bait fish to pass. Pike don’t eat flies, they attack and devour them. This is something that every fly angler should experience. Ganglers.com

photo by Arabian Sport Fly Fishing

Muscat, Oman

Chicago, Illinois, US

Dating back to the 1st century CE, Muscat was an important trading post between the East and the West, and it remains that way today.

Bordered to the north and west by the Gulf of Oman, fishing has been a mainstay in the region since the beginning. With deep water close to shore in Muscat, targeting open water species like tuna, dorado, and marlin is easy. If blue water is not your thing, the coastline has sprawling sandy beaches, secluded rocky bays, and sheer jagged cliffs where you can target yellow permit, 3-spot pompano, and queen fish. ArabianFlySportFishing.com

Chicago might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of a fly fishing destination, but as the former home of DUN Magazine we have to mention it. Chicago is the home of deep dish pizza, Italian beef, prohibition, and amazing carp fishing. Carp fishing is said to be like bone fishing, but in our minds it’s much harder. Even with the perfect cast and the right fly more often then not these fish will give you the fin and swim away. But, once you hook one of these monsters, your fly fishing life will never be the same. ChiFly.com

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refreshment

REFRESHMENT TIME A Sweeter Negroni 1 Serving

Ingredients 1 oz 1 oz 1 oz 3 Dashes 1/16 tsp 1 Garnish

Melborne Gin Company Dry Gin Dolin Rouge Vermouth Aperol Aperitivo Fee Brothers Orange Bitters Sugar Thick Orange Slice Orange Zest

Directions In your favorite cocktail shaker, muddle the orange, sugar, and the bitters, taking care not to crush the rind of the orange.

Add ice to the shaker, and build the cocktail by combing the gin, vermouth, and aperol.

Shake the cocktail vigorously, and double strain into a chilled coupe with a large ice cube.

Twist the orange zest over the coupe and drop it in.

Thanks for reading, now go make one for yourself.

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online

MEET OUR MACHINERY Name: Job: Service:

Charlie Bolton Blank Specialist 10 Years

Charlie is an accomplished angler and a seasoned St. Croix craftsman. He owns one of the 32 pairs of hands behind the production of each St. Croix rod. Every year he personally sands and inspects over 250,000 rods - and has the calluses to prove it. Sure it takes time, but it’s the only way we know how to ensure you get the precision and performance expected from a St. Croix rod.

If you are ever in Park Falls, take a tour of our factory and see Charlie work on your next St. Croix rod.

LEARN MORE AT STCROIXRODS.COM Spring 2018

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online

Fish-inspired.

Functional Fishing Fashion.

Shop online, at select retailers and in Anchorage, Alaska at FisheWear’s Show Room 511 W. 41st Ave, Suite 101 • (907) 854 - 4775 •

www.FisheWear.com

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