One Life, One River
Finding Inspiration
Gradual Untangling
Gold Rush
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Features
Summer 2018
One Life, One River
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When the river does truly make a difference by BECCA KLEIN
The Pink Lady
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Two Catskill legends, a classic fly, and a cocktail by RITA R. SCHIMPFF
Gold Rush
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The best part of golden dorado fishing by KATHRYN FENSTERSTOCK
Gradual Untangling
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When hard work and a positive state of mind makes all the difference by MARI KITAGAWA
Taking the Leap
90
One woman’s journey to reinvent herself by ROBIN SCHMIDT
The Lesson
108
When patience and perseverance pays off by MEAGAN NEWBERRY
Albies & More
122
There is much more to saltwater fly fishing than meets the eye by CAPT SARAH GARDNER
photo Brian Horsley
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departments online
Contents 5 8 9 88 102 118 143
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Letter From The Editor DUNmagazine.com We Hear You Tips Finding Inspiration Top 5 Things That Will Get You Busted At The End of The Day
CONSERVATION
24
Lahontan Through Different Eyes
144
GEAR
38 84
Outdoor Gadgets We Love Why It’s Worth It
BASICS
40 82
Sun Protection
139
Dealing with Line Twist
CRAFT LIFE
42
Southern Brookies Fly Fishing
FLY TYING
86
Fluorescent Hot Mess
118
GET TO KNOW
112
Kara Armano
24
FASHION
114 140
Must Haves This Summer Get This Look
TRAVEL
139
DUN Destinations
REFRESHMENT
144
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The Pink Lady
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INSPIRATION
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JEN RIPPLE Founder & Editor-In-Chief Jen@DUNmagazine.com Janell Fannin Managing Editor Grace Erin Associate Editor Hope Halla Copy Editor Meg Humphries Editorial Assistant Alicia Boemi Social Media Strategist
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CONTRIBUTORS Kara Armano Kelly Beard Mēgan Berns Beverly Booth Kaitlin Boyer Brandon Miller Photography Erin Crider Kathryn Fensterstock Fly Fishing Nation Gallatin River Lodge Capt. Sarah Gardner Sara George Kaitlin Glines-Barnhart Capt. Brian Horsley Jonathan Jones Mari Kitagawa Becca Klein Kocher Archives Mark Landerman Sarah Landström Josey Linskey Kasey Linskey
Andrew Lowe Carolyn Mason Kelly McAlister Pete McConnell Jonathan Messinger Andrew Miller Debby Moore Meagan Newberry Orvis Andy Osler Justin Painter Jamey Price Will Puckett Jacob Riffle Rita R. Schimpff John Schmidt Robin Schmidt Abbie Schuster Rollin Schuster Kimberly Smith Darrian White
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On The Cover A rainbow trout photographed by Jamey Price shows off its incredible acrobatic skills on the Chattahoochee River in Georgia
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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. ©2018 Fly Squared Media. Printed in the United States of America.
INSPIRATION
LETTER from the EDITOR
What Inspires You? Take a moment to think about what inspires you. Is it a place? A person? A movement? When I asked myself this question, I was surprised that it was so difficult to answer. I thought of all the normal inspirations: my parents, my kids, my grandkids. All of them inspire me in different ways. But, when I thought about this moment in time, which is so fraught with negativity, I found that my inspiration is not found in any of the above, but within. Sitting on my porch with a good cup of coffee is where I remind myself of my own strength, passion, and inner beauty that can be so easily forgotten. This edition is for all of you who forget every day just how amazing you not only are, but can be. Gradual Untangling, the incredible story of Mari Kitagawa from Japan, who overcame such amazing odds, will leave you feeling like there is nothing you can’t accomplish. In addition, you will learn how one river, and a cancer diagnosis, led a woman to the love of a lifetime. Looking ahead, you’ll learn about Albies and more, and never look at saltwater fishing the same way again. For those of you who need a little dose of inspiration, this is for you. Grab a cup of coffee, find a quiet place of your own, and take a look inward. It is my hope that you inspire yourself through the words of our amazing authors. Until next time.
Jen@DUNmagazine.com @Jen_Ripple drawing Debby Moore
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online
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Visit our website for more take aways, stories, guides, and knowledge.
What Native Trout Taught Me Sarah Trenschel
Within three months of discovering the concept of the California Heritage Trout Challenge, I was standing waist deep in the middle of a creek in a Redwood Forest, casting purple flash streamers into dark shadowy areas, focusing like a laser on ... DUNmagazine.com/native
Photo Russ Carpenter
Curiosity Claire Topalian
Photo C. Bowlin
DUNmagazine.com/curiosity
Finding Solace And A New Thrill Michelle Nicolson
Rivers of Recovery operates on a simple premise—outdoor therapy via fly fishing excursions can help U.S. combat veterans find emotional and physical recovery. All combat vets face similar complications when they leave the military—coping with the trauma of warfare, finding a new career, and navigating changed relationships with family and friends ... DUNmagazine.com/finding Photo Casey Breeds
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We Hear You Hi DUN, Just stumbled upon an article on fly fishing from the Great Smokies to New England. A fly fishing magazine for women, I love it! Only been into fly fishing for 2-3 years so still beginning and learning. Look forward to learning more about your magazine. Laura Hi Jen, I just can’t tell you how much I love the first issue of Dun Magazine!! There is something so fresh and inviting about the topics and articles - I can’t really express what I want to say. The articles are so well written and draw me into the person’s life. I feel a connection to them and the community of women fly fishers. The article about the stages of grief is so poignant and beautiful- wow, it really tugs at my heart. And who has ever put an article about keeping our casting arm strong in a fishing journal?? How brilliant!
Hi all! Sharing a mountain creek catch from the Smokey Mountains. This bugger was so small he swam out through the holes in my net. As a new subscriber, I also want to just thank you for existing. I’ve had a hard time finding a female community of fly fishers outside of regional chapters, so knowing a larger entity exists both reassures our place on the river and reiterates a larger movement we all feel at the local level to something more. Bri
Thank you for all that you do for women and fly fishing- it is remarkable. Keep up the great work on the magazine. I will always be your fan. đ&#x;˜˘Can’t wait to see you in Fort Worth! Jan
We love to hear from our readers. Contact us at editor@DUNmagazine.com
Got kids? Know some kids? Just a kid yourself? Get hooked on Olive the Woolly Bugger! Ask for ALL 3 books at your local fly shop or find them online!
olivethewoollybugger.com
It used to be packability OR performance.
Introducing packability AND performance
L E S S W E I G H T, M O R E F E AT U R E S , NO COMPROMISE
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The Pink Lady: a Catskill Legend
The sisters—The Pink Lady dry fly and dry cocktail. Tied by Dave Brant,
founding member of the Castkill Fly Fishing Center and a regular instructor at the Wulff Fly Fishing School. Egg whites give this cocktail its delicate floating foam top—perfect for anointing a famous Catskill dry fly. story and photos Rita R. Schimpff
Two Vintage Recipes for Riparian Revelry A good streamside stiffener never fails to elevate a good story...but we must wait and travel back to the late 19th century. We travel to a famous Catskill inn, sit by a hand-hewn, rock fireplace to remove our waders and boots. We hang our rods by the fire before we partake of the bar that was built to connect and serve both this raconteur’s retreat and the main lodge— home to our subject, The Pink Lady. There, not one, but two pink ladies await. One, just off the dawn and dusk stream - rode hard and put up wet. The other, a voluptuous concoction that awaits with a slim neck, and delicate, pink, ginbased cheeks, topped with a platinum head— fresh for after dark interludes. Sisters, no less, but from two different recipes—nowadays we would call them sistas from different mistas. One thing I have learned from fly anglers...they are a happy and thought-provoking group. Whether catching big, small, or nothing at all—they are a positive, jovial, respectful, and
uplifting group in general, on and off the stream. They are very pleasant to talk to, and most willing to share a tale, a tip, a nip, along with both the like-minded and the hopeful. So, we take you to New York State, fade to the famous Catskills, full of famous old inns and noted taverns, rich with American angling lore. Now zero in to the center of this charmed circle. De Bruce, New York—that sits beside the confluence of the Willowemoc and Mongaup Creeks—home to the De Bruce Club Inn and The Pink Lady, where a legendary lady is treated with great respect. Maybe these agreeable anglers simply enjoy the intricate details of a recipe, the skill it takes to concoct it, along with reaping the rewards of fruition. Recipes are the written ingredients and blueprints for creating both a tasty cocktail and a believable fly to attract its intended species. The first written cocktail recipe is attributed to early New Orleans in 1806. Helen Shaw, who was
anointed ‘The First Lady of Fly Tying’, is credited for the first published recipes for dressing a fly. Two related recipes made of feathers and gin seems unlikely, but read on. The two recipes, one for a dry fly and one for a dry cocktail, were invented over 100 years ago in the iconic fishing hamlet of De Bruce—and both named The Pink Lady. Recipes were followed faithfully. The Pink Lady has been carefully played, adored, and stroked at the hand of masters, and given great attention in the Catskills. Forever entwined in a sensuous streamside love lost to the generations, or was it? These two sistas were roommates of sorts, as they were born and ‘raised’ figuratively and literally side by side, one in a bar and the other a few steps away on the stream. Both beauties were ever popular, but different as night and day—in fact they rarely saw one another as one kept day hours and the other a lady of the night!
Below: Postcard showing the inn—and home to the Pink Lady cocktail and fly—before the bar and Hearthstone additions. The old inn was known for famous service to guests by the Ward and Kocher families. Marilyn Kocher Lusker continues those traditions as an area innkeeper since the 1980s. Today there are restored properties on the site of the original inn in De Bruce.
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Pink Lady Fly Recipe - by Dave Brandt Hook: #12 standard dry fly Wing: duck quill Tail: ginger hackle Body: pink floss, flat gold tinsel Hackle: ginger hackle
The Pink Lady tied by Dave Brandt of Oneonta, NY. The original version of the fly was tied with double divided duck wings, but one set of wings became acceptable in the 1940s. In the background is the handsome inventor, George LaBranche (ca 1900), taken close to the time he would have created his Pink Lady. background photo courtesy of The American Museum of Fly Fishing
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INSPIRATION
The on-stream lady was given her due and first cast by her creator, George LaBranche, an extremely handsome man who was an ardent American dry fly angler. A frequent visitor to the area in the late 1800s, LaBranche was hardly ever without a favorite fly called “The Queen of The Waters.” One day there was a lastminute need for this fly to add to his kit before departing New York City for his fly fishing foray to De Bruce. When the clerk at the nearby tackle shop failed to have the orange colored fly on hand, the suggestion of the russet colored “King of the Waters” was swept up by the unsuspecting angler. He was on his way, by train, to the confluence of the Willowemoc and Mongaup Creeks, about to make history.
Disappointingly, this fly did not produce the first day and was left overnight on the drying pad, unnoticed until the next morning. When the angler set off again, he noticed it had faded to a pink. This time the fly was more successful as he made groundbreaking observations while watching the fish behavior. So, he sat by the river and pushed this wet fly into an upright shape to ride on top of the water, and with each tweak and addition, it became more successful until he developed a fly that soon earned not only great respect, but a new name—
The Pink Lady.
Below: The fisherman’s room in the iconic old De Bruce Club Inn. All of the old area inns catered to the angling crowd. Photo courtesy of the Kocher Archives
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Right: Archive photo of a welldressed bartender in the popular bar at the De Bruce Club Inn, possibly shaking up the famous Pink Lady cocktail born in the bar. Note the beautiful glasses on standby and pink ready. Photo courtesy of the Kocher Archives
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The off-stream sister was given her coronation by the De Bruce Club Inn. Research suggests the slim necked lady was in her infancy in the early 1900’s, well before prohibition, but most assuredly in her heyday in the 30’s and 40’s. The lady’s home, The De Bruce Club Inn was built ca 1895-1899 and first known as Cooper’s boarding house. The Ward brothers were the next owners and made many upgrades, including a fish hatchery and farm. They moved in a large, nearby, old building on a rock foundation known as The Hearthstone Inn to attach to theirs. The old Hearthstone was placed next to the De Bruce Club Inn and connected to one another by means of an addition that served as a bar to both buildings. This recycled old boarding house added more guest rooms above and a grand hall with a large, river-stone fireplace, and beneath this room was a below grade sports room for golf enthusiasts. Since both inns catered to anglers, they both had beautiful fishing rooms—the Hearthstone room was probably dismantled when the buildings converged, as the De Bruce Club Inn had its own handsome fisherman’s den, complete with a rock fireplace to relax and recount the day’s fishing. This iconic inn continued to treat their annual anglers with every courtesy—guests often waking to find their rod assembled and waiting in their own lockers and meals cheerfully offered on the angler’s timeline.
Above: George LaBranche’s favorite fly, The Pink Lady, painted by the author for her husband as a memento of their fishing trip to the Catskills. In the background is the De Bruce Club Inn with the bar addition to the right, as pictured in Land of Little Rivers by Austin McKay Francis. The painted fly shows the original double divided wing placement as popular before the 1940s.
In addition to being celebrated locally, each sister was perhaps unaware that their legendary success had far reaching fame through the years. Nearby were the bright lights of Broadway and a 1911 popular musical that enjoyed the name The Pink Lady, but the origin of the name and how it might “tie” in to either sister is lost. A flirtation with Hollywood came when the pink lady gained the attention of a famous movie star who possessed the same voluptuous and platinum characteristics. The research of Eric Felten shows that this star loved everything pink, including her ‘Pink Palace’ on Sunset Blvd, dubbed so because it was painted pink inside and out. A before dinner ritual of the beautiful pin up star, Jayne Mansfield, was to enjoy a single pink lady cocktail! Still attracting attention at the tender age of 70, a bit of naughty was attached to The Pink Lady’s reputation when angling
author Dana Lamb wrote of the scandalous misunderstanding surrounding the feathered sister and a local Scotsman nicknamed The Green Highlander, after a classic Salmon Fly. But these flirtations with stardom never went to their light weight heads; both pinksters stayed true to their homes and history in spite of what might have been whispered. In the 1940s, the sister’s home passed from the Ward estate to a family of Swiss ancestry, Rose and Walter Kocher, who were summer guests to the area while their children (daughter Marilyn) routinely attended to summer camp nearby. By now, the large resort with its farm and fish hatchery also offered guests tennis courts and a golf course in addition to famous fishing and the cocktail lounge! Walter and his family continued to run the inn with the same attentiveness toward guests along with the special following of the faithful old fishing crowd.
The birthplace of the two pink ladies would go on to be enjoyed up until the 1960s when business for all the old inns fell off and one by one, they fell into disrepair, caught fire, or were torn down. The Kocher’s daughter, Marilyn, and her siblings loved the inn, the beauty, and history of the area, and all it offered, so much so that she and her husband, Ron Lusker, spent much time and resources re-roofing and repairing to preserve the historic buildings. In 1970, the large old inn became a target for mischievous youth, and neighbors began to complain about safety. To fence off the inn was too costly, so they had to sell off all the fixtures and lumber in return for the dismantling of the four-story Grand Dame. Even though much of the original inn is gone, save for some landmark trees and sidewalk pavers, several of the historic buildings have been awaiting their turn in the sun.
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In the 1980s, the sisters moved down the road a bit when the Luskers decided to work on area history for themselves, buying and restoring an old, nearby, 1918 boarding house for tannery workers on the famous Willowemoc and called it the De Bruce Country Inn. In 2016, after a full day of fishing, the author and her husband met Marilyn each night in The Dry Fly Lounge, where our hostess had a roaring fire waiting and generously shared a rare, towering, gold bottle of clear spirits produced by a presidential candidate! Today this inn is under new ownership and known as The DeBruce. Marilyn, who has never tired of keeping the written and architectural history of the valley alive, has returned to the site of the original De Bruce Club Inn, where fortunately the old Hearthstone addition, the old barn, and two beautiful old buildings remain, and, under her creative touch, have been restored and reopened for guests as the Rose & Swiss Cottages at the De Bruce Farmstead.
Right: The author and her husband on a private stretch of the Willow after a brief shower reveals a beautiful rainbow. The bridge was built by the Luskers in the 1980s to connect hundreds of acres of hiking trails and fishing in the private preserve.
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Left: ‘We’ve come a long way baby.’ Our early predecessor fishing shortly before the Pink Lady fly and cocktail were born. This 1897 art was done by J.L. Weston for the Outing Monthly Magazine. Writings from lady anglers of the era and into the 40s and 50s spoke highly of their male angling companions and never felt any inequality, but in some cases quite the opposite! Just in case you are thinking the Pink Ladies had only gentlemen admirers, I think it important to note a group of historic anglers who more than likely enjoyed the gals’ company as well. The Pink Ladies were in their glory days in the 1930s, and so it was in 1932 that eight women formed the Woman Fly Fishers Club with their home waters on the Willowemoc. Historian Ed Van Put describes their first clubhouse in 1937 along one mile of leased water, and soon three more miles were added with the help of the Willowemoc Fishing Club—who counted among its members George LaBranche! With a rapidly growing membership, these lady anglers were known to enjoy ‘fabulous’ streamside lunches on a long lace covered table, appointed with nine silver champagne coolers—makes you wonder how this club, now in their 86th year, celebrates the stream today. Oh, and if you are also wondering about the fishing...worth the trip! Go relive American fly fishing history, fish the historic waters, see Roscoe and Livingston Manor, and visit the Catskill Fly Fishing Center. But, by all means, partake of the famous sistas—the girls are still available for your sporting pleasure by day and by night—kind of like the old advertisement “double your pleasure, double your fun” … oh wait, I am showing my age.
Bottoms up!
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conservation
Lahontan Through Different Eyes story Sarah Landström photos Jonathan Jones
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conservation “Our entire existence has been dedicated to protecting our natural resources for our future generations. Within our lake, the fish are viewed as sacred … They have given us life and we are responsible for their protection.” Autumn Harry, Paiute member and environmental activist When it comes to leading change, there is no one more fierce than a woman backed by history, tradition, and a passion for a place and people. Autumn Harry is such a woman. Though most anglers know Pyramid Lake only for its trophy trout, there is a Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe that cares for the lake and works behind the scenes to build a stronger conservationist community. The Pyramid Lake Trout Camp was created after the realization that there was an obvious lapse between the fishermen who came to find fish and understanding of the culture and people who were hosting them. Autumn’s
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work with this camp has been instrumental in changing the conservation policy and perception of this tribal place. The intention of the Camp is to do more than teach members of the tribe about fly fishing and fly tying. It strives to create communication between people who care deeply about the lake and the Lahontan Cutthroat who inhabit it. During this year’s camp, the excitement was palpable as kids, and even grandparents, learned to fly fish for the species rooted in their culture, and volunteers learned about the history of the tribe and its values. Working at the camp showed me how much effort the Paiute Tribe has put into making Pyramid Lake what it is today. I gained a deeper understanding and respect for the tribe, the lake, and the fish, and was reminded that there is more to fishing than the size and species of the fish we are looking for.
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Gold Rush story Kathryn Fensterstock photos Fly Fishing Nation
Quietly crawling through marshland with my rod balanced on my shoulder and doing my best to stay out of sight, I was reminded of stalking chalk stream trout in the British countryside, not a technique I had anticipated when fishing for the aggressive golden dorado in the Ibera Marsh of Northern Argentina. But, I was in fact after salminus brasiliensis, and this morning’s delicate roll casting in the small and intricate channels of the marshland was one example of how golden dorado fishing constantly keeps an angler on their toes, trying new techniques in varied environments.
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In preparing for my trip, I contacted Gordy & Sons, the premier hunting and fly fishing outfitter based in Houston, TX that is considered the ultimate one-stop-shop for any expedition. I have many friends who are prolific outdoorsmen from all over the world who highly recommended them. It is their unrivaled knowledge in my opinion that sets them apart. They want to know you, understand your passion and drive, and then outfit you in order to see those dreams realized. I couldn’t wait to discuss my trip and get their feedback. I spoke with the fly fishing manager about golden dorado. “The first thing I like to ask when my clients want to know about golden dorado is have you fished for pike or bass? The aggressive take, the importance of the retrieve, and the imperative sharp set are all akin to those aggressive freshwater fish, and they offer incredible acrobatics,” he explained. I had fished for pike, but not bass, and grew excited at such potential aggression, hard fights, and powerful jumps. “The best part of golden dorado fishing, however, is the unexpected. You will be faced with scenarios where you need to fish these species in ways you don’t anticipate. The diversity of their habitat means they behave in all sorts of ways. Even as a seasoned angler, this fish will keep you on your toes.” This piece of advice excited me the most. It sounded like I would learn a great deal from this one fish. As we wrapped up our conversation, he asked that I call him when I returned to recap the trip. I promised him I would certainly be in touch to tell my story. I must admit, I was a little nervous that I was embarking on a trip in search of a species I had never fished for, but I was determined not to let my insecurities get the best of me. After an overnight bus ride where we met members of the Pira Lodge team to drive us from the
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provincial town of Mercedes to the lodge, we finally made it to the lush landscape of the Ibera Marsh. This ecosystem has, without a doubt, one of Argentina’s most impressive biota. The extensive system of wetlands, with its remarkable diversity of plant and animal species, constitutes a substantial part of the natural heritage of Corrientes Province. After unpacking, we enjoyed a lavish breakfast and fueled up for our fishing. We were dying to get on the water after our long trip. After rigging up our outfits, we set out. As our guide expertly navigated the winding marshland channels, he explained we would start with a special spot he had explored earlier in the season and was confident it held results. We traveled for miles over diverse marshland, pockets of overgrown brush and leaves teaming with wildlife. The boat navigating nimbly through the roughage; Pira is the only golden dorado lodge in South America to be equipped with Hell’s Bay flats skiffs. We finally came upon a series of channels deep in the marshland, with water smooth and quiet as glass. As we polled through a channel barely wide enough to fit the skiff, I was sure I hadn’t heard right when our guide asked me to get out of the boat and stand bank side. Fishing for golden dorado from the bank?! The advice from Gordy & Sons echoed in my mind, “expect the unexpected.” My chalk stream brain switched on and my trout-stalking instincts came alive. Approaching the bank edge quietly, my heart was beating so loudly I was sure it would disturb the serenity of my surroundings. I was amazed at how crystal clear the water was, able to make out the distinct flash of gold with a black stripe: The dorado calling card. I had barely started my fishing adventure and had been thrown in headfirst, kept nimbly on my toes from the word go, but I was certainly along for the ride.
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I focused on a gentle roll cast to maintain the glassy, undisturbed water in order to lift my fly and haul for distance. But similar to shallowwater salt pursuit and dealing with picky species akin to permit, it was hard to land the heavy streamer delicately. Our target took one look at the fly and was off without a trace. Without a hint of dejection, our guide simply led me back to the boat to try our next spot. As we slowly motored to the main channel, the sun was sinking and I stopped for a moment to admire the rosy glow. The surroundings reminded me of a prior trip to Zambezi, when the early evening sun bathed the river in this distinctive peachy tint. Argentina felt just as wild and remote, where the only sounds to be heard were the zipping of fly line, the pole in the water, and local birds chirping nearby. In completely new water, much deeper and more diverse now that we were poling through the channel, our guide suggested I cast long ahead of the skiff, working the water from left to right to cover every inch. I worked a double haul as he instructed, stripping long and fast in this more complex water. We were racing
against time, as we were miles from the lodge and had to beat the light. Just as I thought I would have to wait another day before meeting my first golden dorado, I felt the eat. Without a moment to spare, I kept stripping, desperate to hold the line tight. “Wait for the jump!” he called, as giddy with excitement as I was. In a slightly over-dramatic fashion, I bowed as I had watched anglers do with leaping tarpon. Despite my theatrical flair, the hook held and I had my first golden dorado in the boat for a quick picture. It was just in time, as the sun was disappearing behind the horizon. We enjoyed a celebratory beer, and sped back to the lodge to share the exciting news. Having had the taste of success, I was eager for more. I was fortunate enough to have a few days with a friend from Buenos Aires who came to fish with us. Upon his arrival, we gravitated to the bar to sample expertly crafted cocktails and well-known wines from the Mendoza region, discussing fishing, travel, and the distinctive features of the local area. He announced that he and the guides had carved out an exploratory expedition, news I could barely handle.
Exploration of this magnitude is a once-in-alifetime opportunity, and I was desperate to witness such pristine landscape never tinted by the human hand. We embarked on a route the following day to this secret spot that was so remote we had to get out and push the skiffs to traverse the channels. As we poled through a series of lagoons, I nearly jumped out of my skin when I watched a golden dorado swim by that could have easily weighed more than 20lbs. Buzzing from this encounter, we quietly moved into a pool. I had never experienced sight fishing like this before. The visibility allowed me to really take in the bizarre nature of the golden dorado. Some takes were sudden and out of nowhere, and some takes the fish were absurdly close, having followed all the way in. Frustratingly, I lost two over 10lbs which would have been my record to date. I was taught to not let my strip set get lazy! I felt annoyed that I couldn’t connect but experiencing such intricate sight fishing was just as exciting. I had never seen such detail.
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For a relatively new angler like myself, an experience that offers a whole host of different scenarios is invaluable for honing personal skills. I was still waiting for my personal best, the trophy fish that would tip the scales. My moment resulted a few days later, when we decided to fish the river system that housed faster moving water adjacent to the marshland. Reflecting again on the advice from the experts, I found myself fishing this water like I would for salmon, casting as far as possible, letting the line sweep across the water, and mending to let the fly sink. My guide this day was attentive and focused as he instructed my technique carefully, advising that I wait until the very last minute to strip in, allowing the fly to move along the bank side where he was confident the fish would sit. Sure enough, I was into a number of smaller dorado, but I wanted that big one landed. It was when I decided to fish deeper, letting my fly sink a bit longer with bigger mends, that I felt a jerk which was harsher than anything I had experienced before. Desperate not to lose the fish I had come here to catch, I put my head down and focused on making strong methodical strips that would set the hook. As my guide and our neighboring boat cheered me on, I did not let my team down, and finally had an 11lb dorado in the net, submerged in the water to protect this beautiful bar of solid gold. Golden dorado become more golden as they grow and this fish did not disappoint. The early afternoon sun sat high in the sky, and the rays caught the glinting scales perfectly, sending beams into the crystal-clear water, bouncing off and creating a mirror image of dancing light. Sitting there in the water with this gorgeous fish glowing in my arms, it really was a magical moment. After so many encounters where I was forced to learn quickly how my targets were to behave, this achievement felt more well-earned than any other fish I’d ever had. 
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gear
Outdoor gadgets
We Love Bump It Off - $9.99
Goddess of Gadgets - GoddessOfGagets.com
Somewear Global Hotspot - $450.00 Somewear Labs - SomeWearLabs.com
We have found this nifty little gadget handy in the boat for cleaning the scum off the hull before putting the boat away for the day. Best part, we can leave it in the boat without worry of mold or other nasty things attaching to it.
We see a lot of new products come across our desks every week. This hotspot will redefine safety while fishing. How many places do you fish where your phone just doesn’t work?
ComfyFit® Baby Carrier - $70.00 Boppy - Shop.boppy.com
We have lots of babies around the office these days and our staff has tried many versions of this carrier. According to them, this brand is by far the most comfortable and breathable carrier they have tried.
Original - $9.99
Milkadamia - Milkadamia.com
We love this dairy-free alternative, made of raw macadamia nuts, on granola, in smoothies, or just straight. The nuts are grown on a family farm in Australia that plants thousands of trees each year helping to reforest areas previously cleared for dairy farming. How cool is that?
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Core Power - $36.99/Case Fairlife - FairLife.com
We are always on the run. Something that is filling, tasty, and easy to transport is a win for us.
INSPIRATION
gear
Silo 6G - $299.99 YETI - Yeti.com
Nothing beats cold water after a time in the hot sun. The new Silo 6G is the hottest water cooler around. Gossip not included.
SolarHome 620 - $149.95
JEN RIPPLE
IS A TU
BUSINESS MEMBER. ARE YOU?
BioLite - BioLiteEnergy.com
Call us scaredy cats, but we don’t like the dark. This kit is a must have for anyone planning on camping this summer or dipping your toes in off the grid living.
6’ Cabana - $299.99 Treepod - MyTreePod.com
Hammocks are so last year. This year it’s all about the Treepod Cabana. This ‘hanging treehouse’ is made specifically for adults and comes in a vast array of colors. It’s perfect for hanging in your backyard or at your favorite campsite.
Jen Ripple, DUN Magazine
online basics
Getting Back to Some
BASICS
we think you should know
Sun Protection - More than Skin Deep
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Number of ne w cases of m
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9,320 11,200,000
Deaths attributed
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year
1
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2013
Number of blistering sunburns during childhood that can double your chance of developing melanoma
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Ah … summer.
The season I wait for all year long. Maybe I have a touch of Seasonal Affective Disorder or something, but I feel better when it’s light early, and stays light longer. I love the feeling of the sun on my skin. It just makes me happy. I am very aware that skin cancer is the most common cancer in the US, but I was brought up in an age where you mixed iodine and baby oil, and lathered it on thick to get a deep, dark tan. Oh the good old and ignorant days. Being 50, I’m past the days of claiming ignorance, and have come to the realization that there will probably be no pill to cure cancer any time soon. I spend a lot of time in the sun year round, so prevention is my cure. Sure, I wear SPF clothing, but what happens when your pants ride up or you are on the flats and forgot your buff. Do these products really do what they say? The answer is YES, if you use them correctly and buy the right ones. The choice between chemical versus physical sunscreen is a personal one. Just make sure you choose wisely. Here are a few things to keep in mind and a few of our favorites. Lotions are better than sprays. It may feel like you’re getting a more even coverage with a spray, but it’s not the case. Have you seen how much blows away? If you’re serious about protection, lotion is best.
Vanicream - Lip Protectant MSRP $5.60 - .35 oz
Don’t forget your lips. Mine are so sensitive that being uncovered for a few minutes in the sun will cause them to blister. There is nothing worse than having your lips enter a room well before you do. Want to look like a surgical experiment, read no further. Serious about protecting your lips? This is the best stuff. Psico.com
elta MD - UV Clear MSRP $33.00 - 1.7 oz
This facial sunscreen is routinely classified as a favorite among dermatologists. We love it because it works, and it’s great if you have acne-prone skin. EltaMD.com
Neutrogena - UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen MSRP $12.99 - 3 fl oz Neutrogena is a company whose products have stood the test of time. Since 1930, they have been providing us with quality products that work. This sunscreen is no exception. The SPF100+ may be a bit of overkill, but is it? Let’s just call it an insurance policy, since we rarely put on sunscreen the way we should or as often as we should. and for good reason. Neutrogena.com
Smith - Ember MSRP $169
Sunscreens have an expiration date, but don’t let that fool you. Unless you’ve kept that sunscreen in a cool, dry place all the time, that date doesn’t matter. You see where I’m going with this? Left your sunscreen with you in your dry bag while out on the flats? Probably best to buy a new bottle well before the old one’s expiration date. If the bottle says “broad spectrum,” then it protects you from both UVA and UVB. UVB may be the most notorious of UV rays, but protecting yourself from UVA is also extremely important. UVA rays will prematurely age your skin and make you look well over that age on your driver’s license. UVB rays burn. Both cause cancer.
Blue Lizard - Active Sunscreen MSRP $12.99 - 8.75 oz
If you have sensitive skin, this is the lotion for you. This lotion contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and is fragrance-, chemical-, and paraben-free. The best part, the bottle turns BLUE when it comes in contact with UV rays, reminding you to reapply! How clever is that?
We wear sunglasses for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is to see fish. But, forget to wear your sunglasses in bright sun and your future self will not forgive you. Smith makes a great line of women’s sunglasses and their ChromaPop lenses are amazing! These Ember frames are our favs! SmithOptics.com
BlueLizard.net
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craft life
Jen Ripple Enjoys an afternoon with
Susan Thrasher of Southern Brookies Fly Fishing A camp and trout fishing guide service located on the Caney Fork River, near Nashville, TN
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craft life About an hour outside of Nashville, in the little town of Lancaster, Tennessee, is a picturesque camp on a beautiful trout stream. Dotted by trout-painted vintage campers with a view of the Caney Fork River, I talked to Southern Brookies’ founder Susan Thrasher about fountain pens, life lessons, and euro-nymphing over a glass of southern hospitality.
JEN: Are you a native of Tenness? I was born in Mobile, Alabama and moved to Bristol, Tennessee when I was two.
Jen: Before Southern brookies, what did you do? I was a civil engineer with Parsons Brinckerhoff, headquartered out of New York.
Jen: I’m sure that was a lucrative career. Why did you decide to take a different path? I learned to fish, and as I became more knowledgeable, I began to notice that people would ask how I was able to cast so far. I realized that it was fun to stop fishing and teach them. I was so passionate about the sport that I couldn’t wait to introduce more people to it. The more I taught, the more I enjoyed teaching and guiding others more than fishing myself. I began to think I would enjoy doing this all the time. I was too young to retire and I couldn’t quit, so I put a 10 year plan in place. I waited for a big project I was working on to end, and I gave notice. At that time, I was in a senior corporate position and most people knew who I was. So, when I gave notice, I sent an email with “What would you do?” in the reference line. When they opened the email, it said “If you knew you couldn’t fail?” My answer was to teach fly fishing for a living. I was surprised by the number of people who said that they really wished they had something they were passionate enough about to leave.
Jen: Have you ever taught people from your former workplace? Yes, multiple people. One man came and asked me how this differs from what I did. I told him now when my clients drive up, they are excited. At the end of the day they say how amazing the day was, and they give me a hug. Before, I would occasionally have someone say the same thing, but there was no hug at the end of the day.
Jen: What makes your camp different? The vintage campers, definitely. Occasionally I will offer dinner along with the vintage camper stay, and I’m pretty well known for my grilled pork chops. I actually have a fly that I’ve named the pork chop. Jen: I asked for a picture, but it’s top secret. Summer 2018
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craft life The massive outdoor stone fireplace is the perfect place to unwind after a day on the river.
Jen: Why the Caney Fork? Tell me more about this fishery.
Photo Brandon Miller Photography
It’s the closest cold water trout stream near Nashville. I had kayaked, floated, and fished it a number of times and fell in love with it. I found a place across the river and it was outrageously expensive. A realtor suggested I watch for a piece of property going for auction. I had just seen an auction sign for this piece of property. I came out and walked the entire farm which they were dividing into 10 and 12 acre lots. I asked a lot of questions and then I could just envision it all. The boat ramp, school, camp. I had a top price per acre in mind and so I raised my paddle for that amount and held my breath.
Jen: You started a group called the Music City Fly Girls. Tell me about that group. In 2007, I was part of TU and other local fishing clubs, but there’s something unique about an all women’s or all men’s group. There’s a different dynamic. The camaraderie is all different. I wanted a group where women could gather together and learn without feeling pressured to have to fish. No judgment. I wanted a group where a fly girl was able to call someone to fish with so they didn’t have to go alone. Now the group is really like a family. There are approximately 40 fly girls. We charge $60/year to join and the money goes in a pot to subsidize trips and outings. One of our club members was asked by a member of the Middle Tennessee Fly Fishers what made our club different. She told him, “I’ll tell you what it’s not like. We don’t’ have board meetings. We don’t have drama or fighting.” He asked how we ever got anything done. She told him that we have benevolent dictators. We know what dues are, when they’re due, and we give her our money, show up, and have fun.
Jen: Tell me something about Susan Thrasher that not a lot of people know. I collect fountain pens. As an engineer I took a lot of drafting classes and I love writing and printing. I’d rather write out a card than type it. I like the idea of filling the pen with ink, the heaviness, the way it makes a scratch on the paper. There’s just something about it.
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craft life Jen: What would you like people to know about Southern Brookies? Once you get here and see it, you won’t want to leave. It’s beautiful, peaceful, and serene. Jen: She is absolutely correct. I didn’t want to leave and already have plans to head back..
Jen: You’re a Certified Casting Instructor. What does that add to your camp? It means if you’re frustrated with your cast or feel like you need more experience before you take a guided trip, you don’t have to be. When you’re on the water with me, we are not only having a good time fishing, but you’re learning a lot at the same time. I want people to feel like there is no need to be nervous. Everyone has a starting point. I like to think I can relax people and let them know it’s a learning process. Southern Brookies is a place of patience and opportunity to learn in a beautiful setting.
Why the name Southern Brookies? Calling yourself that would make one believe that you are closer to southern brook trout water, like in the Smokies. How did you come up with that name? I am very proud of being from the south. My accent would give me away at the Manhattan headquarters, but I was always proud of it. I loved the thought of having “Southern” somewhere in the name of what I was doing. Brook trout are my favorite. They’re little hand painted gems. Even the tips of their fins remind me of a French manicure. They’re so beautifully laid out.
Jen: What does a guide trip look like? If you’ve never fished before or are still a pretty new caster, I’ll ask you to show up one hour before for an hour casting lesson at the casting pond. Once in the boat, I anchor in the middle of the river and we’ll practice what we learned on the pond. We’ll go over mending and then get you fishing. This water is a tail water and the float location and start time depends on the generation schedule. I am a big believer in more fishing than rowing. We cover every little inch, riffle, run, or choppy water. Everything there is, that’s what we cover. You’ll typically fish with a 5 or 6 weight and if there’s a brand that you’ve wanted to try and I have it, I love to let you try it for the day. Why spend a lot of money if you’ve never used it before?
Jen: Describe yourself in five words. Happy. Driven. Sociable. Seeker. Patient. Jen: I’ll add a sixth one. Kind. Susan is the kindest person I have ever met.
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Jen: What piece of advice would you give to our readers about a guided day? Whenever you hire a guide, it’s an investment. Come prepared with a list of questions that you’ve always wanted to ask. You have seven or eight hours in a drift boat with a guide that fishes all the time. They’ll have a lot of answers to your questions. Use that time as a learning experience and resource. Talk about access points, favorite flies, and what they’re looking for when they tell you to cast over there. Why over there? What does the tail out of a run mean? Why cast behind the boulder? How do you read water? That kind of thing.
Jen: What’s in your fly wallet? Midges, midges, midges. 90% of the time fish are feeding sub surface. Even though it’s fun to dry fly fish, if you want to be productive, you’ll fish sub surface. We don’t have prolific hatches like out west, so subsurface is more productive on the Caney Fork.
Jen: We just went euro-nymphing, something I’d never done before but really liked. How did you get involved with this technique? My neighbor at the river had just gotten back from the mountains in North Carolina and asked if I had ever tried “euro-nymphing.” I had heard of it, but not tried it. I found an instructional video by Devin Olsen and Lance Egan. It’s an amazing video called “Modern Nymphing-European Inspired Techniques”. One of the things I like so much about fly fishing is when you hook a fish, you are connected to it. You feel every movement. With euro, you have a tight line the whole way and it’s even more about the feel. It gives you a tactile sensation and I love that.
Jen: What are two things that have helped you more than anything? My Christian faith and my relationship with Joan Wulff. Joan was one of my first instructors and mentor when I was thinking of leaving my job and taking this leap. I’m forever grateful for the time and effort she has put into helping me and for what she’s done for all women in fly fishing. Joan was one of the first that said don’t quit your day job, but she also said let’s open a bottle of champagne and celebrate when I finally did quit.
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Gradual
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Untangling story and photos Mari Kitagawa
Fly Tying? You want me to tie a fly? No way. I can’t even darn socks. I knew I had enrolled in a fly fishing school, but I never thought about the fly tying aspect that would accompany my studies. School started and there I was, my instructor persuading me to give it a try. Reluctantly I went to the tying area. With a heavy heart, I tried my hand at tying my first fly, and managed to make a large and splendid bug. That disheveled fly went on to startle many fish, but one showed interest;
all was not lost.
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I have a disabled left hand and foot, and in the beginning tying a single mayfly took over an hour. It took me hours to fill my fly box with even a handful of flies. Then, I took them fishing. They got caught in trees, in grass, everywhere. Before I knew it, my fly box looked empty. The impetus to begin fly fishing was a company social. I thought maybe fly fishing was something I could do, even with my disabilities. Filled with insecurity, I participated in the event. That was the day my outlook on life changed forever. It was as if I became part of the rivers and seas, plants, and insects. I felt the wind, smelled the outdoor air, and my heart pounded. I quickly found a friend who told me about a fishing spot that was perfect for beginners. From that day, I went there every week on my day off. Where I couldn’t walk, I used casting in clever ways. I also learned when to give in. Regardless, I was in a dream. I now felt somehow happy. There was no holding me back. Each week I would go back and practice. This was now my inspiration. As the mayflies floated over the river surface, they teased me, egging me on to remember what worked last week. I peered into my fly box and changed fly after fly. I made note of the day’s weather conditions and water temperatures. I was sad when my day off would come to an end and began to read books about aquatic insects during lunch breaks at work. Every night I tied flies in preparation for my next day off. It seemed like nature held out it’s hand where mine was weak. There was no turning back. In the beginning, knots were my nemesis. I couldn’t tie them quickly enough and often missed opportunities with fish that rose to the surface. I would become overwhelmed with frustration, sadness, and physical pain. Sometimes I lost my way while standing before the river. “I guess there’s nothing but to do it.” I told myself. Every night after work I practiced tying knots. Clinch knots. Surgeon’s knots. I turned out the lights, dampened my hands, or shut my eyes, and tied knots.
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I learned that I needed to put forth great effort in order to enjoy myself more when I visited the fishing area. When the off-season ended, I had become extremely proficient at tying knots. The fish happily responded. Fly fishing brought me many new stages in life. In particular, it gave me merciless, rigorous trials. I told myself it was OK if my progress was slow. I tried to train myself bit by bit. As my abilities increased, my opportunities surely doubled. If there were many obstacles to overcome, they were equally visited by heightened joy and deep emotion. I started wanting to test my potential with my entire body. I found respect for myself. As if to bring even more happiness to my future self; as if to reach the people who had supported me when I lost my body’s freedom and fell into despair; I felt the world unfolding before me. That may have been my expression of gratitude to the fortuitous miracle of adapting to this world where life had intersected. For me, meeting each fish became deeply emotional and that emotion transformed into power. But, those overcoming moments do not exist for the sake of the present and things rarely went as I wished. Even if I resolved myself and felt hopeful, there were still many times I got fed up with my “incompetence” and “thoughtlessness,” and my heart hurt. At such times, I reminded myself to enjoy it. But how to make it more enjoyable was the question. So that I could extend and enjoy my fishing time, I again researched knot types and increased my advanced preparations. So that I could maintain my balance on boats, I stopped hanging onto the straps on trains. So that I could master handling stripping baskets, I practiced in dark rooms. When I boarded yachts between fishing, I heightened my awareness of the wind and tides. After encountering fly fishing, it seemed I had something to look forward to, and before I knew it, 10 years had passed. Because I was blessed with senior fishermen, whom I tried to emulate in a backdrop that allowed for trial and error, I was able to determine my own benchmarks and dreams. As I collected fishing trips under my belt, I noticed I had gone from a state of disarray to a gradual untangling. Summer 2018
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It was all business. Although I was still grappling with solutions at times, I was able to focus on the fishing itself. My breadth of fishing expanded. I started to think about something more. I made the decision to join a national team in their training camp for the Paralympic sailing team. I passed my days memorizing unfamiliar sailing terms, reading strategy books, and engaging in visualization training. I began strength training at home and started building a body fit for tournaments. While I felt a faint sense of joy from learning to make action plans for goal achievement through fly fishing, it had been easier for me because I was supported by my fly fishing friends. Without realizing it, I had become spoiled by all the support. When I turned to sailing, I needed to put in all the more fighting spirit to open the door. Summer came and I was selected as the Japanese representative for the Asian Games/ Paralympic Sailing. These games are held between the Olympics and Paralympics and only take place once every four years. The games were to be held in October 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. I withdrew from a prior fishing tournament commitment and took a gamble on my first overseas game, a stage with the Japanese flag in its background. My nervousness took flight. When I was chosen as the Japanese representative, special training for the tournament began. The supervising group expected something of me, someone inexperienced with sailing, and I refused to disappoint them. I lacked technique and the days passed with feelings of impatience and frustration with myself. When I became anxious, I did squats for a change of pace. I chose meals that were linked to relaxation
and the elevation of physical strength, and I studied color psychology. I used the wisdom I had gained through fishing. In this way, bringing fly fishing to the table washed away a sense of loneliness. It was a way to protect my feelings. October arrived, and so did my uniform as the Japanese representative. It was almost time to leave the country. As I participated in formal practices, practice races, and the opening ceremony, I became aware that I was on another team’s home turf. Amid the four days of races, as the Japanese team began taking the top spots, other countries watched us more closely. As if they were trying to intimidate us, some boats began trying to block the paths of our Japanese boats. I steeled myself to focus even more on winning. Of course that applied to the race area, but also to the bus from the athletes’ village: I stopped cheerfully talking with participants from other countries and taking photos. In the cafeteria, I started spending my time with the Japanese team or alone. I only implemented the actions that I believed in.
It was all business. The second day of the races, friends from my student days came to cheer me on. Beneath freezing rain, the Japanese flag waved from the tetra warming my heart. I felt the encouragement at my back lend strength to the hand that gripped the sailing rope. On the final day, as the race came to an end, it was confirmed; I had acquired the silver medal. The silver medal was much heavier than I expected. While gazing at the rising Japanese flag, the faces of many friends rose to mind. My fishing tournament friends supported me from across national borders, even though I had dropped out of the tournament. My company fishing friends told me to give it my all. When I took on an aura of defeat, and felt I had few opportunities, my friends encouraged me.
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It was clear, standing on that podium beneath freezing rain with the Japanese flag waving, that this was a joint effort. I was there because my casting friends encouraged me when I did not feel that my cast was sufficient. I was there because the captain believed in me and continued to meet me when I began fishing for sea bass from a boat. I was there because my teacher pushed me that first day at school when I wanted nothing to do with fly tying. I felt an attachment to the medal that gave me daily strength and courage. Fly fishing brought me there, and the friends I found brought me to fly fishing. The medal became a daily source of strength that symbolized everyone in my past. It gave me the courage to believe in my experiences and brought forth my latent potential. As a result, I was the first medalist in Japanese parasport sailing history and was offered a position in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. I thought, “My feint was a success.�
Until that day ... In January 2015, a notification arrived hinting that sailing would be removed as a formal event from the Tokyo Paralympics. In Tokyo Bay, where I achieved a fly fishing world record; in Tokyo Bay, which helped me grow; I had planned to raise the Japanese flag before everyone. This had been my greatest motivation, and although the lingering effects of the medal did not fade, my chest swelled with thoughts of the future. I flickered from light to dark like a revolving lantern. In February, perhaps to lighten my heavy heart, I went to the US to practice for a tarpon tournament. I planned to aim for redfish in Louisiana and sharpen my intuition before taking on tarpon in Florida. Yet, nature ruthlessly met me in that foreign land with the most snow in years and record-setting cold waves. When the time for the tournament came, there were entire days when I could only stand on the platform without moving my rod. To my great chagrin, the plans of several years fell apart, leaving an even greater hole in my heart. After returning back to Japan, I felt desperate to achieve anything and filled my schedule with plans in order to reach the top spot in the global rankings of the IGFA. Summer 2018
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I heard that first place had never been achieved by a Japanese person. That was not lost on me. I visualized my photograph in the IGFA Hall for those who achieve first place, and my determination changed. I would be the first Japanese person to achieve first place. Being “first in the world” is a concept that can only be understood by those who seize the opportunity to expand their own potential. In the field of fishing, nationality and gender are of course irrelevant, and people respect each other’s results. After returning from Incheon, I turned my attention to that goal. I caught a world record fish. I caught two on New Year’s, and three over the long holiday in spring. I was doing well. Yet, as the road to the Tokyo Paralympics disappeared, I wondered if I could have fought harder and gotten a gold. My silver medal felt empty. I now needed to be the best in the world in order to be truly happy. I fished for more world records.
It became my obsession. One day an envelope arrived. As I read the piece of paper. “TOP Female Angler in the Saltwater Fly Rod Category,“ I picked up the silver medal that I had left alone for so long. It was indeed heavy. A sense of accomplishment spread through me. What I had managed to acquire in aiming for world records was more than just a title and physical strength. Fly fishing suited me, and therefore it gave me a home. The me who fell into despair after losing physical freedom, the me who experienced an expanded range of human emotions through fly fishing, and my current self could now say, all experiences are connected, and my choices were not wrong. At times, I thought there were many things I could not do. Now I think differently. I realize that I am the one who decides my own worth. Beyond this point, I know not what my bearings or destinations will be. I want to read the wind and continue to throw a fly rod like steering a ship. I want to listen closely to the voice of my heart and experience my fly fishing so that I can always think, “I’m happiest right now.”
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story Becca Klein photos Jamey Price
“Amazing Anne” photo Beverly Booth
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Water ... It’s all around us. It makes up 70% of our bodies, flows through our homes and businesses every day, and sustains us. But for me, my local river is much more than a drinking water source, it’s my life. Over the past nine years, the Chattahoochee River has provided me a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of a hectic city life and the strength to get through two cancer diagnoses. It is also why I get up and go to work every day as a senior staff member of the nonprofit Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. You know how they say #WaterIsLife? Well for me, it couldn’t be more true. I was connected to the water long before my work within the environmental movement began more than a decade ago. My father has a passion for saltwater fishing. He always wanted me to join him on his expeditions, but in my youth I never found much interest in fishing. Instead, I spent hot summer days on the lake and relaxing vacations playing in the surf on the beaches of south Florida. I was drawn to the outdoors – a ‘spiritual connection’ I found in my childhood. But it wasn’t until the summer of 2007, when a position opened with the Catawba Riverkeeper in Charlotte, NC, that our rivers gave me my calling. I had been working in the nonprofit world for a number of years when the Development Director position at Catawba Riverkeeper opened up.
I didn’t know much about the environmental movement, but it was a step up in title and I was eager for a new adventure. So I jumped in with both feet.
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Negative ions released from moving water are believed to increase levels of serotonin, helping alleviate depression, reduce stress, and boost energy levels.
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The Waterkeeper Movement For those who aren’t familiar with Waterkeeper Alliance (WKA), it is the largest and fastestgrowing movement solely focused on clean water. WKA unites more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations around the world, focusing citizen action on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change. The Waterkeeper movement patrols and protects more than 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes, and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. The movement defends the fundamental human right to drinkable, fishable and swimmable waters from the Chattahoochee River to the Himalayas. My boss at Catawba Riverkeeper was a woman named Donna Lisenby. She was a firecracker, one of the strongest female advocates I had ever met—and I had worked with the women of N.O.W. (National Organization for Women) throughout college. I give her credit for showing me the ropes and illustrating why protecting our waterways is such an important mission. During my time at Catawba Riverkeeper, I watched as she played a key role in changing the Carolinas’ inter-basin transfer laws and was the first environmental advocate to blow the whistle on leaking coal ash ponds across the state. She commanded her audience—people really respected her. While Donna may have given me my start, after two years working on the Catawba my world changed when I crossed paths with the seminal figure in the water movement in the southeast— Sally Bethea.
Heading Home In 2009, I headed back to my hometown of Atlanta, GA, to take a position as the
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Development Director for Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK). I would be working under the leadership of Sally, CRK Co-Founder, who had also been a founding member of The Waterkeeper Alliance. Many have called Sally a pioneer. Her successful brand of place-based advocacy paved the way for women around the world to become leaders in the protection of our waterways. In the early 1990s, she stood her ground against the City of Atlanta when millions of gallons of raw sewage were being dumped into the Chattahoochee River daily. When others said she couldn’t, she proved them wrong. Sally passed the reigns on to my current boss, Juliet Cohen, who has brought CRK into this new technological age. I have been so grateful for the opportunity to work alongside many strong women in my lifetime. It is because of these women, that I am excited to get up and go to work every day.
In my position at CRK I oversee all fundraising, events, and corporate relationships for the organization. Along with my team, we are responsible for raising the $1.8 million budget that keeps boots-on-the ground and a group of committed individuals out on the river taking water samples, investigating sewer spills, collecting trash, distributing rain barrels, educating youth, and making sure that the community’s right to enough clean water is always protected. This job has changed my life. I am part of a team making real, impactful differences in the world. Beyond that, my position has allowed me to build relationships with people who believe so much in the work that we are doing that they have become like family to me. This is especially true with our cause-marketing partnerships. Through these relationships, my connection to our river has only grown deeper and more personal.
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The Chattahoochee River is the second southern-most trout stream in the United States.
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Welcome to the Fly Fishing Community In 2015, CRK was approached by The Orvis Company and SweetWater Brewing Company. They wanted to start a cause marketing campaign to raise more awareness around the work our organization was doing to protect the local waterways. After all, the fly anglers who spend their days on the river should have a vested interest in its protection. The Quality Hooch Campaign was born. Not only is the Chattahoochee River the drinking water source for nearly four million people – it is one of only three rivers in the world that runs through a population of one million or more and supports a thriving trout fishing habitat. Now in its third year, the partnership so far has raised $30,000 for CRK’s water monitoring efforts. Most recently, the campaign has supported CRK’s BacteriALERT project, a water monitoring initiative that is especially important to the region’s anglers. BacteriALERT takes place within the National Park Services’ Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (CRNRA), which receives approximately three million visitors annually (including anglers and kayakers). The CRNRA encompasses 48 miles of the Chattahoochee River from Lake Sidney Lanier’s Buford Dam to Atlanta; this section runs through the highly urbanized greater metro Atlanta region. The program is very popular with Atlanta’s fishing community because it is the only system that provides real-time information about health risks from contact with the water in the park. Through a system of remote water quality sensors and laboratory analyzed samples, the BacteriALERT program issues public advisories to river users during times when E. coli levels exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended values. The continuation of this important program is vital to protecting the public health and safety. Not only has this partnership opened doors for CRK to the local fishing community to share our mission of water protection and conservation, but it put a fly rod in my hand. Something that has made a profound impact on my life.
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There is nothing more beautiful than the acrobatics of a rainbow trout.
On a Drift Boat in the Middle of the Chattahoochee River In 2016, Orvis and SweetWater hired a production company to do a feature on the Chattahoochee River’s unique trout fishery and CRK’s efforts to protect it. They sent me a first cut of the film to get my comments. I immediately pointed out that there were only a bunch of ‘old white dudes’ in the film, and with a growing female market in the industry, they were definitely missing the mark. Well you can imagine what happened next. “Well OK, Becca, meet us on the river bright and early next Tuesday.” I had, without realizing it, signed myself up to be the female face of angling on the Chattahoochee. I showed up at the river that day, bless my heart, with an old pair of Cabela’s waders and boots that I had borrowed from one of the guys at work, not knowing WHAT I had gotten myself into. This was an Orvis-led shoot full of experienced anglers so the production company looked at me like I was an idiot. As soon as I stripped down to my river shorts and Chacos, I met the guys who would be taking me out on the boat to film. How could I have known that the charming fly fisherman from Destin, FL, would end up asking me to marry him a year and a half later? That day, on a River Through Atlanta drift boat in the middle of the Chattahoochee River, I fell in Justin’s lap—literally. Whether I was clumsy or it was fate, I knew from that moment that this river rat and I were meant to be in each others’ lives in some capacity. What started off as a friendship quickly turned into a love of a lifetime. And before I knew it, Justin was signing on with Orvis Atlanta and moving up to Atlanta from his home in Destin. Last December, fly rods in tow and on a snowy bridge at Dukes Creek, Justin asked me to spend the rest of our lives together. In October we get to join our family and friends at the river we met on to say our vows and begin our life as husband and wife.
Water really is life. It connects us all.
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Casting for Recovery, Community, and Cancer My life as a fly angler began that August morning in 2016. I immediately felt at home on the river. City life had started to wear on me, and there was something peaceful about standing in a stream in the mountains with nothing but the sounds of birds and the occasional splash of a wild trout coming up to say hello. I realized that this sport made my busy life slow down, even if just for a moment. It was a feeling I had been yearning for. Although the free “therapy” I got from being out on the river was nice, fly fishing really found a special place in my heart when I was introduced to Casting for Recovery. Early in 2016, I had undergone a double mastectomy after an invasive breast cancer diagnosis. I met Justin in the midst of my reconstruction surgeries when I was feeling bruised and broken. My introduction to fly fishing helped bring back some of the confidence that I had lost. I guess you could say that the new skill I was learning empowered me, and the relationship that it brought helped build me back up.
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Fast forward to March of 2017—Justin and I scheduled a fishing trip to Helen, GA to shoot a short film about trash in our waterways and the importance of doing your part to keep the river clean. During the trip a friend told me about an organization he was involved with that brought women managing a breast cancer diagnosis out for fly fishing retreats. I immediately connected to the mission of this organization, as I knew firsthand the benefits this lifestyle offered women on the mend from such serious diagnoses. A few months later I was introduced to Casting for Recovery Georgia (CfR GA). With CfR GA I started to feel like a real part of the fishing community. I was given the opportunity to interact with guides and fly shops, and to help make connections with outdoor companies looking to support breast cancer initiatives. I was able to lend my skills to a cause near and dear to my heart. It was the perfect match. Soon after I started volunteering with the organization, I received my second cancer diagnosis. This time the cancer cells were in my thyroid and I would have to undergo a INSPIRATION
thyroidectomy in December. I was heartbroken. I wasn’t ready for another surgery. Lucky for me, this time I had fly fishing to help bring me clarity. After my diagnosis I dove into my volunteer work with CfR GA and found every opportunity to get out on the river. My first volunteer experience with CfR was during Georgia’s first Stage IV breast cancer retreat. I was paired with “Amazing Anne.” She had never been fly fishing before, but nonetheless was casting with the confidence of a seasoned angler after only minutes in the water. Anne only caught one fish that day—a baby rainbow trout about two inches long. But the smile that radiated across her face was one that I will remember for the rest of my life. She had a moment on that river where she didn’t have to think about treatment, or surgeries, or hospital bills. She had a moment where life slowed down. I knew that feeling all too well.
To fish really IS to HOPE.
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Happiness
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Fly fishing has introduced me to some incredible people in my community. From my work with Orvis, CfR GA, Georgia Women Fly Fishers, Trout Unlimited, and the many folks who find themselves at CRK events supporting the river, I have shared waters with people I know will be lifelong friends. I think Justin pulled me out to fish with him those first few times with a casual thought that I would join him on excursions every now and then. Now, I am ready to embrace fishing with my whole heart. Now I go without him. And he supports it, even if he is not too keen to receive photos of my big trout while he’s hard at work and stuck indoors. For me, fly fishing is much more than just the hope that comes with throwing my line and the thrill that comes with the “big catch.” Wading out into the water with my fly rod in hand has shown me strength, peace, freedom, a way to give back, and a beautiful new family.
And what could be better than that?
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online basics
Getting Back to Some
BASICS
we think you should know
Dealing with line twist
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basics Does this sound familiar? You’ve been making long casts, but then decide to make a series of short casts, leaving a pile of line at your feet. You see fish blowing up bait near the shore. You bomb out a long cast, but instead of the fly heading to that perfect lie, the fly line ends up tied in a huge knot around the stripping guide.
Or how about this? You’ve been fishing with an indicator all afternoon and then decide to switch to a dry fly. Your first cast has the fly turning over, and over, and over on the line.
If you have ever experienced these symptoms, your fly line is twisted.
Fly line twist occurs for many different reasons. Despite the manufacturer’s best efforts, most lines come from the factory with a little bit of twist. If the line is not installed on the reel properly, the line will twist even more. While fishing, casting wind resistant flies and indicators will also cause line twist. In addition, every time you strip the fly line you are putting a little twist in the line. The good news is that managing and removing twist is super easy. The first step is good line management. When fishing we pull off the amount of fly line we need to make our casts. Sometimes we will end up with much more line than we can cast off the reel. This extra line is a great place for the twist to build up and tangles to occur. When casting, most of the casts you make should pull the line tight against the reel. The action of the line
Fly line twist is something I am notorious for. I tend to step on my line and roll it under my feet. That is a no-no. Not only is it terrible for your line, it also puts a lot of twists in the line Editor-In-Chief, DUN Magazine Jen Ripple
coming tight against the reel will pull some of the twists out of the line and help prevent knots from forming. Choosing the correct line weight for the flies and rig you’re fishing is also imperative. It may be possible to cast that #2 Chernobyl ant with a three weight, but the wind resistance of that fly will cause the light and thin 3 weight line to twist, and those twists will head down the line and lead to tangles. When nymph fishing, make sure you pick the smallest and most aerodynamic indicator for the conditions. Indicators are notorious for causing line twist. Finally, make sure you remove twists from your line on a regular basis. When I’m boat fishing and having an issue with twists (because I haven’t followed my own rules above), I clip off my fly and pull all the line off my reel. I mean all my line down to the backing, making sure the backing extends past the tip of the rod. I let out the line behind the boat until it comes tight in the current. Then I relax for a few minutes as the current and tension on the line pull out the twists. If you do not have a lot of room to do this, or you are wade fishing or still at home, the best method to remove the twist is to pull all the line off your reel down to the backing. Make sure you are in a room without any young kids or pets (especially cats), because this can and will quickly turn into chaos. Starting at the backing and fly line junction, grasp the line between your index and thumb fingers in each hand. Hold the backing connection with your non-dominant hand and pull the line gently through your thumb and fore-finger on your dominant hand holding snugly. You should be able to see the line untwist, moving forward down towards the end of the line. Once your hands are about an arm’s length apart, grip the line tightly with your dominant hand and move your non-dominant hand next to your dominant hand. Continue to work your way down to the leader junction. It usually takes three to four passes through the entire line to get the majority of the line twist out. You’ll know you are doing it correctly when you see the leader twisting around in circles as you push the twists out. Once the line is untwisted, reel all the line up while running the line through a cloth to remove any extra dirt and grime, and you’re ready to go fishing with a lot less frustration.
Note: It’s easy to burn your fingers sliding them down the fly line so be aware of how tightly you’re pinching. You’ll quickly know if you need to lessen your grip.
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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.
Boulder Boat Works - Pro Guide Starting at $12,000
BoulderBoatWorks.com
Hand-crafted in Colorado, this drift boat is not only stunningly beautiful, it is light, making it easy to row, launch, and retrieve.
rope seats Available in low and high back options, these custom-made seats allow increased airflow for a more comfortable day
floors
mid ship drain plugs
Raised and leveled non-skid floors for angler comfort
The drain plug position eliminates the need to lift the bow of the boat to drain
hull
sawyer cobra oar locks
The VHMW-PE Polymer Hull is hand-crafted to create the strongest and lightest hull on the market
Ultra wide horns provide a greater load area and increased durability
Sawyer - Brown Trout SquareTop Oar Starting at $399.99 per oar
PaddlesAndOars.com
“Being small in stature and having small hands, I find it hard to row a drift boat. The combination of the Boulder boat and the Sawyer oars have taken away my excuse that I can’t row because everything is too heavy.”
carbon fiber x-weave The X-Weave provides strength and a bit of stiffness while still allowing a forgiving flex
squaretop This design counter balances the oar, for a lighter feel in the hand
Editor-In-Chief, DUN Magazine Jen Ripple
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online gear Hults Bruck - The Almiker MSRP $149.00
small all-purpose hatchet
HultsBruck1697.se
A 16-inch curved hickory handle creates the perfect hatchet for light clearing, camping, wilderness survival, and any number of backcountry jobs
“There is nothing like a grilled lunch on the river. Having to lug around propane or charcoal was a huge hassle. These items fit perfectly in a drift boat and make grilling a breeze, just don’t forget the firestarters.”
swedish axe steel The head is hand-forged in a foundry that has been in operation since 1697, with a tempered zone designed to maintain a very sharp edge
Wolf and Grizzly - The WG Grill M1 MSRP $109.00
WolfAndGrizzly.com
collapsible
Editor-In-Chief, DUN Magazine Jen Ripple
one fire fits all Three different configurations: 8-inches for larger fires, 6-inches for charcoal grilling, and stay flat mode for custom cooking options
Smaller in diameter than most water bottles and the same weight as two cans of beans, this grill fits everywhere
everything you need setup Just pull apart the frame, unroll the grill surface, and lock it in place
Made of high-quality stainless steel for durability and corrosion protection, this grill even comes with a fire-starting tool, cleaning cloth, and carrying case
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get to know
8 Questions With A Seasoned Guide
Abbie SCHUSTER DUN: So, Abbie, Martha’s Vineyard. Tell me about fly fishing at Martha’s Vineyard. Abbie Schuster: Martha’s Vineyard is a fisherman’s paradise. The season runs MayNovember and is chock full of fish the whole time, except for a minor lull in the heat of August when the fish go to deeper, cooler waters. In June and early July, it is hard to tell if you are in Belize or on Martha’s Vineyard. The flats are sandy, the water is gin-clear, and you are sight casting for big, beautiful stripers. The season only gets better from there. As it progresses, we see bigger stripers, more bluefish, and by the middle of August, we start to see bonito and false albacore. Bonito and albies on the fly are unbelievably addictive and fun to catch. They will take you into your backing again and again. The water will be calm and beautiful and then, boom, they make their presence known. The angler must do everything in their power to keep their cool, muster an adequate cast, and strip quickly in hopes of getting their fly in the school before they disappear. DUN: You seem so young and yet you’ve really become a name in women’s fly fishing. How have you been able to accomplish so much in so little time? AS: Passion. I love fly fishing, the outdoors, people, and teaching. My goal is not only to teach fly fishing to my clients, but also to bring awareness to the fish we pursue and their fragile environment. Both of my parents are inspirations to me because they both started and own their own businesses. I have seen the hard work, passion, and dedication it takes. From an early age I knew I wanted to be a guide, and watching my parents grow has given me the confidence to start my own outfitter. DUN: What was it like growing up Abbie? Are you from a fishy family? AS: My parents both love to be outdoors and my father is a fish fanatic. They did not let my siblings and me hold them back. We always joke that it is amazing we all survived the “character building” adventures our parents led us through, and on top of that
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Abbie bombs out a cast on the flats near Martha’s Vineyard still love to fly fish with each other. Before I could wade on my own, my father would put me on his shoulders and we would wade out at night to striper fish. Although we found ourselves unintentionally swimming a couple times, it was worth the fish we caught and memories we made. My family is very close and a lot of that is thanks to the endless hours we have spent together on the water. I am incredibly grateful for that time, and it has made me the angler and person I am today. DUN: Tell us about a typical day in your life. AS: Most of the year I am up before the sun, tuned in to the weather, getting ready for another day on the water, and, most importantly, eating a giant breakfast. I will wake up way earlier than needed to ensure I can eat a good breakfast, otherwise I am not
sure anyone would want me as a guide. Once I am off the water in the evening I clean the boat, play with my pup, Rupert, and practice or teach yoga. This time lets me reflect on how lucky I am to be living the life I created for myself. Many days in the summer I get to see the sun rise and set on the water while teaching and guiding the art of fly fishing. To me, it doesn’t get much better than that. DUN: Tell me something that very little people know about you. AS: I am incredibly and dramatically terrified of mice. Occasionally I will see a field mouse and make a scene. It’s unfortunate when this traumatic event happens in the morning, which does not help me gain confidence from my clients, as they see their guide screaming and sprinting away from a tiny mouse. INSPIRATION
photo Justin Painter
get to know
photo Rollin Schuster
DUN: If I was going to come to Martha’s Vineyard and wanted to fish, what would I need to know about the fishery? AS: The first thing to know is that your time on Martha’s Vineyard will be well spent. The fish are aggressive, powerful, and wild. Our season is short and sweet; we are seeing fish from about the end of April through the end of October. For a relatively small island, it has an incredibly diverse fishery. You can fish on flats, saltwater inlets, rips, channels, and, of course, the surf. A boat is helpful for the rips, but wading can also be very productive. An 8-weight rod with intermediate line is what we use for most of the season. During the fall when the bonito and albies are migrating through, a 10-weight with intermediate line is key. False Albacore will run basically until they die, so it is important to get them in and released as quickly as possible.
For flies in open water, I typically use sand eel, peanut bunker/menhaden, squid, and popper patterns. On the flats I use some of the same crab patterns I use in the Bahamas. The water is thick with bait for much of the summer. Taking the time to see how the bait is moving through the water is a great way to match your strip with their natural movement. DUN: What is your absolute favorite fish? AS: That is a hard question. I love the serenity and constant flow of a river; I love the expansiveness of the ocean, but if I had to pick one it would be bonefish. When I am casting at bonefish it means I am hosting a trip somewhere warm with some of my awesome clients. Hosted travel trips are so rewarding because I get to show my clients a new environment, culture, and fishery. Experiencing that together is powerful.
A healthy striped bass is returned to the depths to come back and play another day. DUN: What makes Abbie tick? AS: The will to be better, to make a difference in the industry, and to be an environmental steward. I strive to teach my clients, friends, and anyone who will listen the importance of taking care of our natural environment. My entire livelihood comes from the ocean and rivers. It is my job to give back to those waters and take care of them just like they take care of me. This can be done through passion, endurance, and education. Every trip or school I host I try to enlighten my clients on the importance of respecting the fish and water. An ideal trip for me is when my client leaves with a new passion, not only for fly fishing, but protecting the water in which these fish reside. Summer 2018
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TIPS story Kimberly Smith photo DUN Magazine
I always enjoy reading about fly fishing excursions to exotic countries, primarily because I’ll never get to visit any of those places myself due to, shall we say, financial considerations. My fly fishing travel experiences have therefore been limited to the domestic sort, such as Montana, for example. A teeny little fishing village, Craig, is located about an hour north of Helena along the western bank of the Missouri River. Craig’s population in the winter months is zero, because, I’m just guessing, the village is totally buried during winter in two or more yards of snow. So, I went there in an early spring after making lodging and guide arrangements. The guide’s name was Joe and he had, on his drift boat, the most expensive collection of fly rods I’ve ever seen. Of course, he refused to let me touch any of them, so I fished with a 12-foot-long bamboo “cane” pole. Joe: Be careful with that pole, Smith! I paid almost six bucks for it! Smith: Sorry! Hey, Joe, have you ever guided a celebrity? Joe: As a matter-of-fact, yes. Most recently with an incredibly gorgeous and incredibly talented Hollywood actress. I’d tell you her name, but then I’d have to kill you because she swore me to secrecy. Smith: Can’t give me even a hint? Joe: Well, I’ll cleverly disguise her name: Tharlize Cheron. Happy now? Smith: Deliriously. How well could she cast? Joe: A helluva lot better than you, which ain’t say’n much since my third-grade granddaughter can cast circles around you. Smith: So much for your tip, Joe. Joe: Fine, and so much for lunch and for safely navigating through those class four rapids just ahead. Out of the goodness of my heart, I immediately tipped Joe a thin wad of twenties. He not only navigated properly, but also fed me a superb lunch, which I have ever since termed “Montana Sandwiches.” Smith: Mighty fine cook’n, Joe. Mighty fine. By the way, how can anyone afford one of these Yeti coolers? Joe: Tips.
MONTANA SANDWICH RECIPE Ingredients: Hillshire Farms smoked beef sausage, sliced muenster cheese, Ciabatti rolls, sliced yellow onion, fresh coleslaw mixed with Hidden Valley coleslaw salad dressing Prep: Take a small folding table, a two-burner propane stove, a cheap frying pan and a $400 Yeti cooler out of the boat and assemble the kitchen, preferably along the banks of the Missouri River, if possible. Slice the sausage lengthwise, and simmer chunks thereof along with onion slices. Warm the rolls (which have been halved), then build the sandwiches and eat them.
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the Taking Leap story Robin Schmidt
photo Erin Crider
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The whispers still come, “Have you completely lost your mind, to give up your career to go fly fishing?” My heart answers back, “No, I have found it!”
No longer encumbered by killers of my inspiration, I am taking a leap. I’m jumping off my 35-year career as a software engineer into the world and industry of fly fishing. I’m taking my favorite route on this journey, the one that is unknown even to myself. I can only recognize that I am headed in the right direction as I travel from guidepost to guidepost, the path of my truest inspirations.
Rx for Joy As I begin a great adventure, it is not lost on me that this big life change and opportunity to fully explore my passions is a gift. It is the best imaginable gift to a hopeless adventurer. It is also, undoubtedly, the treatment for a lifelong struggle of living with wilderness disorder. Let’s face it—I am addicted to adventure. I joke about my obsession for play in the outdoors and diagnosed myself with wilderness disorder early in life. In all honesty, my love of adventure and my regular daily life tend to collide and things can get ugly. As it turns out, I am not alone. Since writing about my journey through a heart and spirit of adventure (“Wilderness Disorder”, DUN Magazine, Spring 2018), others have commiserated, “I have that disorder!” It is true (and to my delight) that I will spend a
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lifetime in “treatment”, but a cure must never be found. I have to listen to the cries of my wilderness disorder. They are the warnings of separation from what inspires me. They point to who I am and where I need to go. First Things First As someone without mysterious abilities to create art and make music, for example, I took the long way to discover my passions. They didn’t just pop out with the rest of me at birth. I didn’t come pre-loaded with everything installed to fully operate from a place of inspiration. It has taken time, and more importantly, life, to discover what makes my heart sing. Only now, in this stage of my life, can I deploy my inspiration guides and manage to stay the trail. Yet, as parents, do we not advise our children to let their passions guide them in choosing a
meaningful career path? Hence the conundrum of millennials. Guilty. When we consider how perfectly our current life circumstances must exactly line up with all that has made us who we are, it is practically a miracle that anyone can ever take the leap directly into their passions. Perhaps it is that, a miracle, patiently at work, sculpting our hearts, and unveiling our inspirations. Depending on how long a lump of clay has been living under a rock, possibly with her nose buried in computer programming manuals, the process might take more or less time. Mine took 56 years. Risk and Reward Growing up, I would spring big life change announcements on my parents. I became familiar with a certain look that can best be INSPIRATION
photo Kelly Beard
described as, “Wait … what?” Ironically, my parents were the ones who taught me to be adventurous, take risks, and trust that I will be okay. The “look” puzzled me until I had a child. To be clear, my folks did not transmit a sense that I would be safe in taking a risk. They did not promise to catch me if I fell. They did not promise that I would not get hurt trying. Somehow, with everything they failed to mention, I grew up believing that it is courageous to take a risk in the face of fear—but I don’t actually recall them saying that either. I simply learned that no matter what, I will be okay. I am eternally grateful for the wisdom of my parents. Being one who takes risks in life does not mean that I don’t get scared. On one hand, I am smiling ear to ear, imagining the prospect of immersing
myself into my passion for fly fishing. On the other hand, just thinking about next steps on this journey has me quaking in my waders. I’m leaving very soon to take up temporary residence (a campsite, to be exact) in Leadville, Colorado. I will attend a six-week certificate program at Colorado Mountain College called “Professional Fly Fishing Guide” This course is not a vetting shop to determine who is ready to guide. I’m going to learn the core of the skills I will need to teach fly fishing, guide, and work in the industry. The CMC program is unique. It is a college accredited guide program. The course is comprehensive, with content built into a six week session that is completed in time for students to jump right into work, even during
the current season. The structure is ideal for women of all ages and abilities to gain entry into the industry, unlike some commercial guiding programs that are not appropriate for those who want to work in the field, but are not ready to be vetted as guides. In my case, I have various goals, but all of the them revolve around working with women in fly fishing. I will leave behind my comforts, and the hours are extremely long. The weather is what you expect at 10,000 feet in the mountains of Colorado. Still, I believe I have died and gone to adventure junkie heaven. Big life changes can be a very scary business. It could scare me right off my track. This is where my inspirations come fully into play.
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photo Andrew Lowe photo Andrew Lowe
Meet Kaitlin Boyer. She is a professional guide and a 2017 graduate of the Professional Fly Fishing Guide certification program at CMC.
Guideposts The things that inspire me are what hold me to the track. They have the power to bond me to my future. Once the barriers that separate me from my inspirations are removed, I come faceto-face with my heart. My guideposts come into focus and my path forward is clear. Since making my decision to jump feet first into the deep end, I can say I have awakened, but that description is way too mild. It’s more like being slapped upside the head so hard my head is still spinning. That’s exactly how I was met with the first major revelation that inspires my journey …
Other women fly fish. I must explain. Please don’t read, “I’m something special because I’m a women and I fly fish. Wow, how cool am I?” Instead, read, “About time this geek crawled out from under her rock!” That’s the situation.
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I’ve been fly fishing for 25 years. My friend, Eileen, and I have fished together for almost the same amount of time. We built our fly rods together way back in the mid 90s. Aside from Eileen, I didn’t know many women who fly fished. With my head down, twiddling bits and bytes, I didn’t look out at what was going on with women in fly fishing in my local area. Then, one day, I did. At the top of my Google search results was “Colorado Women Flyfishers”. Reading the mission statement, I learned the organization had just celebrated their 20th anniversary. Again, the slap and the head spin. What I’ve discovered in CWF is a community of women of all ages and abilities, including some outright badass, capable, lady fly anglers. I possess a fraction of their ability. With my 25 years in the sport, you would think my head should be hanging in shame, but I am not ashamed at all. Instead, I am supported,
encouraged, and inspired out of my mind. It is clear, when I am with these women, I am showered by an open spigot of continuously flowing inspiration. Joining this community is like coming home to a place I need to be and a place I recognize when I see it—a guidepost. My first guided fly fishing adventure in Colorado was with an organization called Wilderness Women. I kept a copy of an old newspaper article about the organization. Recently, I reread the piece and based on the following snippet from the story, you would think the world of women in fly fishing should be a mega-monolith by now.
“Fly fishing is the fastest-growing sport in America and women make up the majority of people taking up the sport.” - Pete Lewis, South Metro Business Journal (May 1996, Page 3)
INSPIRATION
photo Kelly Beard
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From the 1996 Wilderness Women story—my first Colorado Dream Stream trout!
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photo Erin Crider
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photo Robin Schmidt photo Kaitlin Boyer
CMC students head to the river for a day of fun and learning.
The story was written in 1996, but isn’t this what we are still saying today about the growth of the sport and the industry? I am now aware of lady fly anglers everywhere, but there are not the numbers I would expect based on how long we’ve been at the sport. Initiatives, such as 50/50 On the Water are at work to increase the numbers. I’m inspired to join the cause. Women who have to prove themselves (unfairly and disproportionately) in male-dominated fields will tell you, this would not be such a problem if we were working alongside more women in these professions. As a female software engineer, I have experience in this arena. I’ve also learned that the solution to a large, complicated problem is found by breaking it down and solving many smaller subproblems. It’s best if I start solving the little problems that are right in front of my nose. As far as I am aware, I am the only woman signed
up for the 2018 session of “Professional Fly Fishing Guide” at CMC, Leadville Campus.
learning and togetherness, our playfulness, our joy, our laughter, and our organizational skills.
I’m on a mission to raise the number of women entering the CMC program. This is a tangible way I can help, starting now, to bring more women into the industry. All of our small initiatives taken together will have a big impact on solving the larger issue. Our experiences as women in the sport and working in the industry will benefit.
Women plan activities like no one else’s business. Three emails and boom! A trip is born. We execute. Like men, we fish and then we have a beer. The difference is that women might go on to have a wine and cheese tasting party before competing in a chili cook-off, followed by a moonlight hike, mountain bike, or even a skinny dip, during any of which, we would definitely break out in spontaneous “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Queen, A Night at the Opera, 1975).
How We Roll I hope the sport and the industry continue to expand in ways that rise to the potential of women—not just the other way around. Women bring new dimensions and very different possibilities to the sport. We are a community, not a group. We bring everything to the table, not just our skill and our knowledge. We bring our creativity, our sense of style and design, our desire to support each other, our love of
After so many years in the sport, I still experience a gap between what the industry offers and how women actually roll in the sport of fly fishing. I’m inspired to work right inside that gap, helping to bring everything women offer to the sport of fly fishing (including Freddy Mercury, if it helps).
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photo John Schmidt
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photo Jonathan Messinger
Finding a group of friends to fish with is invaluable.
It’s Go Day My inspirations function like a built-in GPS app for soul travel. I gaze in the direction of my guideposts and off I go. Every morning begins with an elixir of all the addictive substances of my wilderness disorder blended with all that inspires me (and about 300 mg of caffeine). No sooner could I put down the idea of pursuing my dream on this path than my wilderness disorder would sound the alarms and wailing would call me back into the journey.
The destination is, by no means, clear, but my inspiration guides are with me every step of the way. As long as I consult my heart for proper navigation, the path will continue to unfold on its own. I can trust the directions I find there— my wilderness disorder will kick me in the butt if I miss a turn!
Joy poses, everyone! Summer 2018
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inspiration
Finding I n spirati o n
Celebrating inspiration through fly fishing
This sculpture greets you as you enter the fly tying room at the Southern Brookies On The Fly retreat on the banks of the Caney Fork River, Middle Tennessee
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online inspiration
darrianW H I T E Stepping away from the everyday and taking control
The thing that inspires my fly fishing lifestyle is the simplicity of just being out on the water. The diversity of flies, casts, rods, and locations takes my mind away from the reality of stressors and insecurities of my everyday life. The thing that really attracted me to fly fishing was the capability to be in complete control of the situation; the fly, and the cast. Being 23, I’ve been through a multitude of situations someone my age hasn’t been through yet. Having the ability to (for once) take control of a situation and become at peace with my mind has really inspired me to become more active in the world of fly fishing.
photo Jacob Riffle
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photo Mark Landerman
inspiration
K e l ly M C A L I S T E R A wild and beautiful bonus The minute I hit the water all the stresses and worries of everyday life melt away. Whether I have a fly rod or the oars in my hands, inner peace is immediate. Growing up raised by a single father on the North Platte and Encampment rivers, I’ve always felt blessed. I moved away as a spin fisherman and seven years ago moved back, discovered fly fishing, and it changed and saved my life forever. Fly fishing is so limitless and the journey to try to learn it all is what makes it so amazing. The people that have helped make me the angler I am photo Pete McConnell
truly make this sport special as well. Fishing alone, the comrades I travel to fish with, the ones I haven’t even met yet, it’s what it’s all about. This community is widespread, but so small. I’ve never met bigger hearts or better people. The fish at times can just feel like a bonus; a wild and beautiful bonus that never ceases to get old.
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JoseyL I N S K E Y Reevaluating the important things I found a huge passion for fly fishing after a kidney transplant two and a half years ago. I was 25 at the time. Now I’m on the go, constantly scouting new spots, and learning from others with the same passion. Fly fishing was my source of recovery and solitude. It is a beautiful escape.
photo Kasey Linskey
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online inspiration
saraG E O R G E Chasing the blues away Oddly enough, my dog is my main source of inspiration when I go fishing. I suffer from clinical depression and those days I can’t get out of bed, let alone even think about fishing, she is always there to get me to the next step. Her love for fishing and the outdoors just makes my heart explode with happiness. She’ll follow me anywhere, from steep cliffs for those high mountain cutties, to mostly iced over rivers in a blizzard just to try to catch one fish in photo Will Puckett
the winter. My dog may not be able to net my fish, but she truly inspires me to get out and have fun. That’s what it’s all about. There’s nothing stronger than a gal and her dog.
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inspiration
photo Kasey Linskey
c a r o ly n M A S O N Living in the moment All my life I wanted to be an outdoor adventure guide. Instead, I ended up in the Navy and later with a career in law enforcement. Always longing to get away from the hectic world I joined, far from my dreams, I wonder why I compromised?
Fly fishing and being outdoors, has become my solace from the busy world I live in, and a glimpse into what it could become someday. Just the thought of a fishing trip gives me a surge of happiness. On sleepless nights, I often lie awake plotting where I’ll go and how I’ll
spend the day. I visualize the smell of the river, fiddling with the knot as fish sip at the seams hurrying me, the first stealthy step into the river, and finally the tug of a fish. If that doesn’t send me into slumber, I repeat. For me, the complexity of the natural world is where I find my inspiration. Fly fishing draws me to a place where I am part of the natural world, where I am meant to be. Summer 2018
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The Lesson
story Meagan Newberry
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I
preach the value of learning for a living, but I am not always comfortable as a
novice. The first time I fished the Owyhee River with my friend Kaitlin about four years ago, I was skunked. I was a typical beginner—I’d fly fished a few times before, but never really learned the craft. I was practicing a basic cast with a hand-medown rod and eight-year-old fly line, somehow drawn to this pointless activity of catch-andrelease fly fishing. I couldn’t, like Kaitlin, shoot the line a straight 25 feet across the river, let the pale morning dun imitation land like goose down on the water, and drift wake-free over the noses of sipping brown trout. Never mind that she had years of experience fly fishing and working for a fishing lodge in Alaska, I felt stupid that I couldn’t cast well enough to trick these trout. Then, I felt stupid that I felt stupid. I heard the tell-tale sound of the line tearing up off the water. “Fish on!” Kaitlin yelled.
“That’s a beautiful fish. I love those red spots. And I want to feel excited, but I just feel like a jerk because I’m jealous, and then I feel immature because jealousy is ridiculous, and then I feel irritated generally because I can’t snap out of this Jacob’s Ladder of obnoxious feelings and just enjoy even standing in this beautiful place.” Kaitlin laughed, commiserating. “You know, I don’t care if you’re not excited about this fish, but I do care you’re this bummed. I promise, these are PhD trout. They aren’t easy to catch. It’s taken me time to learn this river. You’ll get it. You’re just starting.” “Yeah. I just feel embarrassed at how bad I suck, and at being this upset, but my brain is telling me how dumb I must be to be unable to trick a fish. So, it’s that, or these are some smart-ass fish. This is supposed to be relaxing, and it’s not working. I care too much.” “That’s possible! Just keep fishing.”
Dammit, I thought. This is her fourth fish, and I’m an idiot for not being able to hook one. I’m not 20 feet from where she’s standing, using the same fly, casting to the same area. Instead of offering to help her net it, I sulked, gritted my teeth, and fought back tears. We had only been fishing for three hours, the sun was setting, and I had run out of feigned excitement. “Cool,” I said, not even willing to look at what was likely another fat, beautiful, brown trout. My mind was eight years old. The sides of my neck were tight, and my throat felt pressed in—feelings I now recognize as envy, fear, and anxiety. I despise envy, and yet I feel anxious when I can’t stop it. I try to breathe, but it feels more like blowing fire out of my nostrils. Why was I mad at this woman I’d only known a few weeks, and who clearly enjoyed my company? I knew and didn’t know how much river time it would take to fish with Kaitlin’s expertise, and lacked the patience for it. I felt deflated and depressed. The thought-spiral continued. I was staring down at the sage-tinted water, rod tip dragging in the current, watching spent mayflies float by, when Kaitlin waded over to show me the fish. I wanted to feel excited for her, because I’d be an asshole if I wasn’t. However, I was sick of feeling what I should feel rather than what I truly felt, so instead, I risked being honest.
But fly fishing as instant zen is just feel-good novella bullshit. It takes anger and probably a few broken rods before any peaceful falsecasting-on-the-Blackfoot cinema happens, if it does. The only reason to false-cast is to dry off a fly so it floats again. After all, keeping a fly on or in the water increases the chances of catching a fish. (I like to think the directors of A River Runs Through It knew this, but instead knew that keeping Brad Pitt on the screen increased the chances of a profitable film). It turned out that caring “too much” over time worked in my favor because the drive to figure out the constantly-shifting variables in fly fishing helped me chill out. My brain is a noisy, anxious place, and a puzzle like catching a trout shifts it into hyper-focus. I often fish for hours on end, and I’ll be taking off my boots and realize I haven’t been dwelling or obsessing about anything but fish, currents, rocks, insects, temperature, angles, shadows, weight, and maybe whether or not I will have to confront some dude creeping in on my space. Reading transports me, teaching provides hyper-focus, but fly-fishing is unique. Like teaching, I will never master it, and the more I learn, the more that fact makes me grateful, not irritated. Usually. I kept fishing, mostly alone, because there were enough pleasant aspects to keep me returning. I enjoyed the solitude. I’m stubborn.
photo Kaitlin Glines-Barnhart
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photo Kaitlin Glines-Barnhart
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I noticed I felt happiest in my beloved Subaru heading to the river. I liked the time with my dog. There was just enough hope that I might see a fish up close that I kept going back, kept trying, kept learning, kept reading, kept practicing, occasionally went with friends. Fishing became a necessary thing, like church never was, but was supposed to be. Church was supposed to make me feel better, and sometimes it did, but often it didn’t, and that was always due to something I wasn’t doing enough of, or well enough, because God was not to be questioned, but fly fishing, according to Norman Mclean, “is not fly fishing if you are not looking for answers to questions.” I noticed fishing and wading in a river always improved my mood, fish or no fish. Frustration or not. Knots or not. Tree snags or not. There’s this “it’s not about the catching” truism floating around places like Pinterest and fly shops. Damn straight it’s about the catching. But it’s really about the hope of catching. I read once that we are happiest in the moment right before we are given a reward. This is why my many long-distance releases are still satisfying (and have the bonus of less stress on the fish). I went to the Owyhee River with my friend Andy in January. I’ve been back countless times since that first afternoon with Kaitlin. Andy is a guide and skilled angler. The fish were rising consistently, which is a rare treat in winter, but were being picky as usual. He caught four nice fish before I finally hooked into a feisty rainbow. Andy had laughed at me for tying on a size 10 high-vis Griffith’s Gnat and dropping an emerger from it, which is a strategy more typical for July than January. But a fish took the dropper and ran straight for me. I reeled in line and kept the rod tip up to keep the line taut. The fish ran behind me and bolted back to the deeper water as the bent rod spun over my head and I turned in a circle. Andy laughed.
“First catch?”
While he caught at least 10 fish to my two, I was only jokingly jealous of him. My brain didn’t bully me. I didn’t feel embarrassed that my cast wasn’t always straight. I didn’t make excuses for being sloppy. I didn’t sulk.
photo Andy Osler
I just fished and let my brain rest on the water.
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get to know
Kara Armano story Mēgan Berns photos Andrew Miller
We had the opportunity to speak with Kara, Communication Specialist at Convergence, and Co-Founder of Artemis, an organization of bold sportswomen creating fresh tracks for conservation. Kara has a passion for the outdoors focusing on fly fishing and conservation. Her passion was instilled in her at a young age by her great-grandmother. As an avid outdoor woman, her great-grandmother continued to camp until the age of 96, and finally passed away at the age of 104. You may know Kara as the marketing genius behind Sage, Redington, Rio, and Loon. What you may not know is that she is also a Yoga Instructor, who believes that yoga is a “healthy way to look at life”. As an outdoor advocate, Kara believes that “we must do everything in our power to encourage women to get involved on the local, state, and national levels in order to preserve our resources for sportswomen of future generations.” And, if this doesn’t keep her busy enough, she teaches fly fishing to women and children as part of Artemis. She admitted to us that teaching women is easier than teaching men. Through Artemis, Kara is currently focusing on the Aspen Watershed from a conservation perspective, and hopes to engage with young professionals. While interviewing Kara, I took the time to find out her dream fish - Wild Run Salmon in the Pacific Northwest. Where is the one place she would love fish? New Zealand. Her first tarpon on the fly, five years ago, is her most memorable fish. She can still vividly recall the cast, the strip, and the set, as if it was yesterday. In her words, “I saw it all come together.” A few minutes speaking to Kara and it was obvious that she is more than passionate about fly fishing.
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get to know Her main focus these days is Artemis Sportswomen, where she works tirelessly toward their mission statement - “Women protecting sporting traditions, supporting women as leaders in the conservation movement, and fostering the next generations of conservationists to ensure the vitality of our outdoor heritage.” The National Wildlife Foundation embraced this program on June 2, 2017. As a founding sister, Kara helps puts on various programs, mainly in the western US, for hunting and fishing. Their initial focus is conservation for Mule Deer and Cutthroat Trout habitats. The group is also active at the government level, as well, trying to ensure a healthy future moving forward. Artemis has a three-tiered plan: Public land access, critical habitat for mule deer and cutthroat trout, and empowering women to be conservation-minded leaders.
Now that’s a plan we can get behind.
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must haves
Must Haves this
SUMMER
and beyond
Patagonia - Reversible Seaglass Bay Bikini
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MSRP top $65.00 bottom $59.00
Top: A reversible halter-style bikini surf top with ruching at the bust and elegant straps at the back. The body fabric is soft, stretchy, and durable. Bottom: Designed for our surf athletes, these low-rise, minimal-coverage bikini swimsuit bottoms are reversible and have narrow straps that wrap around the front of the suit.
Columbia - PFG Ultimate Catch Zero™ II Hoodie MSRP $60.00
A lightweight fishinginspired hoodie with cooling vents that you’ll want to wear everywhere. Packed with technologies such as moisture wicking, sweatactivated cooling, and UPF 50 sun protection, this topper delivers comfort and style.
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KÜHL - Strattus™ Skort MSRP $75.00
Orvis - Dolman Camp Shirt MSRP $69.00
An American summer classic, the iconic women’s camp shirt endures due to its simple ease and breezy comfort.
A soft, lightweight, air permeable fabric, RIPSTOP AIR flatters your curves and says no to wrinkles. The internal shorts are constructed of KONCEALER™ mesh, a patented, ultra soft, lightweight, and breathable yarn. KÜHLKURVE™ fit and the wide rib knit waistband make the shorts extremely comfortable. Kuhl.com
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INSPIRATION
must haves Prana - Elixir Dress MSRP $89.00
Seigler - BF (Big Fly) This dress is cut from a light weight, stretch recycled polyester blend. The racerback dress features an interior shelf bra with removable modesty cups, and lattice back detail.
MSRP $1,500.00
Set the drag and then release the lever to pull line off and rig, then switch the lever to engage the drag for fishing. This reel was specifically designed to battle Giant Trevallies, Tarpon, Tuna, and other big fish. Made in the US. Weight11.8oz Capacity- 400 yds of 50# braid w/12wt WF shooting line.
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Seigler.fish
KÜHL - Parajax™ Jacket MSRP $99.00
Featuring a bottom hem cord adjustment to lock out the cold. KÜHL’s signature hood has a back cord lock for a custom fit. The built-in hood and cuff bindings minimize bulk, while decoractive bar tacks add structure and durability. Two zippered hand pockets provide secure storage. Center front zipper length falls just below hip (26”)
BioLite - FirePit MSRP $199.95
Sit around a warm, crackling fire but forget about having to dodge smoke. The BioLite FirePit burns wood or charcoal and creates a hyper-efficient fire with airjets powered by a rechargeable battery. BioLiteEnergy.com
Kuhl.com
Yeti - Panga Backpack with Sidekick MSRP $349.98 The Panga™ Backpack is an airtight citadel merging the durability of the Panga Duffel with a tried-and-true backpack design. Its ergonomic DryHaul™ Shoulder Straps offer extra carrying comfort, while the removable chest straps and waist belt provide added stability and security while you trek. And no need to carry it over your head while you wade or blink an eye if left out in the rain, because it’s a 100% waterproof gear fortress equipped to outperform any other backpack out there. Yeti.com
Patagonia - Women’s Baggies Shorts 5” MSRP $75.00 Old school and still cool, these classic Baggies™ Shorts are made of lightweight 100% nylon (92% recycled) with a DWR (durable water repellent) finish and a 5” inseam. Patagonia.com
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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.
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“You’re not just another customer. We’re not just another fishing store.” Marcos Enriquez, Fly Fishing Manager
WE KNOW ANYTHING ANYONE BUYS FROM U S I S T H E B E S T. We know this because we are as passionate about the outdoor lifestyle as our customers. Our team of seasoned outdoorsmen and women rigorously field test the leading brands, so we only stock products that actually perform. And we just happen to have exceptional taste. Come and visit the finest hunting and fly fishing shop to be found. gordyandsons.com 22 Waugh Drive, Houston, Texas 77007
The finest shop for hunting and fly fishing to be found.
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fun
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fun
Top 5 things that will get you busted for calling in sick to go fishing story Janell Fannin
“Me time”, what we all say we need, yet rarely take to get our time on the water. Sometimes the only way to get it is playing the age old game of hooky. You’ve left the boss the voicemail declaring the comeback of the Black Plague (but you’re sure it will pass by tomorrow) and now the world is your oyster until 8 am the next day, when you’re going to need to summons your best Meryl Streep. But If you want to make this hooky day your last one for a long time, here are a few ways to ruin it ...
1. Not wearing sunscreen: If you’re reading this, chances are you have skin, and probably a lot of it, as in all over your body. A dead giveaway that you weren’t buried under a mountain of Kleenex and Sudafed while sleeping through your soap opera is not protecting it by wearing sunscreen. Come back to work with a sunburn and people will already be whispering at the water cooler. Come back with raccoon eyes from not wearing sunscreen AND wearing your sunglasses, well, you’ll be red in the face on the way to the boss’s office in more ways than one. 2. Not hydrating: Those of you who don’t wear sunscreen probably don’t drink enough water either. How can you play hooky to get on the water, but not remember to drink any of it while you’re out there? Heat stroke and dehydration may make your story come to life, but what an unnecessary plot twist. Do I need to say don’t drink the water you’re fishing in or you’ll be using your fair share of sick days with Travelers Diarrhea, capital T, capital D. Best hooky excuse because no one wants to talk about it, but not if you really have it. 3. Insta-twit-book-square evidence: Pics or it didn’t happen. For God’s sake, CHOOSE THE LATTER! Take a social media hiatus while you’re “recovering from this awful bug/food poisoning/sick grandmother vigil.” And, if someone tags you, deny, deny, deny.
4. Losing your passport: You know that time you and a couple of friends booked that last minute trip to Mexico to chase tarpon because the guide had an opening and the airfare was cheap ... only you didn’t have the time off so you planned to call in sick for that Monday? Remember that time you lost your passport in Mexico when you went with your friends to chase said tarpon? Remember that time you had to go to the consulate in Mexico to get their help to get home? Remember that time they had to verify your identity with your employer? Remember that time you had to kiss that Employee of the Month parking spot goodbye? 5. Showing up to casual Friday in your “I had to call in sick because my arm was in a cast” t-shirt: This can play out in one of two ways … it’s too obvious to be true and no one even considers the thought, like when a character admits to a crime in such a way everyone dismisses it while we, the third wall, look on with anxiety and suspense, knowing they did it exactly in the way they described, or well, your shirt serves as a self-fulfilling prophesy because karma is a boomerang.
Makes you feel a little sick to your stomach, doesn’t it? Summer 2018
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Albies
story Captain Sarah Gardner photos Captain Brian Horsley
Anyone with a keen interest in saltwater fly fishing will likely find their Facebook news feeds loaded with captivating images of glamorous flats trophies such as bonefish, permit, tarpon, and the occasional redfish. While angling for the species is some of my favorite fishing, there is so much more to saltwater fly fishing.
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If there’s one reason people write off saltwater fly fishing, it’s because flats fishing looks too expensive, time-consuming, and difficult. As a Mid-Atlantic saltwater guide, I want to debunk all these fears, especially the “too difficult” part. Anglers willing to look past the glamour shots will find that amazing saltwater fly fishing opportunities are everywhere.
mild and boat traffic is lighter. After the first brief cold fronts roll through in September, shallow water temperatures begin to drop and this starts a baitfish migration. Smaller fish begin to flow out of the sounds and into the warmer ocean for the winter. Predators come in from deeper water to the inlets and fatten up on the migrating bait. The inlets become smorgasbords.
Most saltwater angling opportunities are an easy drive from a large percentage of our fly fishing population. From New England down through Chesapeake Bay, striped bass, false albacore, blue fish, and spotted sea trout are abundant. I learned to fly fish on the Chesapeake 30 years ago and it’s an ideal place to get started.
The term “feeding frenzy” totally applies to this situation. From late August through December, balls of frightened baitfish are easy to spot as they are being shredded by predators from below and mobbed by gulls from above! This rampage is not just visually stunning, it’s also a great way to fast track all of your saltwater skills.
From my home waters in North Carolina through Georgia, red drum, sharks, cobia, and jacks are added to the mix. All of Florida, including the Gulf of Mexico, has unlimited opportunities that go way beyond flats fishing. Throughout this wide area, there are welcoming guides and great fly shops that take pride in helping novices get a taste of the salt.
North Carolina’s fall predators include false albacore, bluefish, and Spanish mackerel. The false albacore, also known as albies, cores, and fat albert, get most of the attention, and for very good reasons. These atomic-powered predators are fast, powerful and never give up. They can get big too, running from six to 20plus pounds. Their propensity to run and pull hard means rigging up with stout fly tackle in the nine to 10-weight range. I have guided plenty of flats fishing fanatics who feel that albies provide a harder and longer fight than any bonefish. I agree.
A particularly addictive and beginner-friendly fishery happens each fall along the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. It’s a beautiful time of year to be on the water. The weather is
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Early in the fall, we have unlimited numbers of bluefish and Spanish mackerel. These smaller fish can be caught on six- to eight-weight rods and are perfect fare for beginners as they are abundant, greedy, and don’t require heavier albie tackle. Macs, blues, and albies all love poppers so the bites are violent and at the surface. Blues and mackerel prefer the warmer water of early fall, as do I. Many days are spent fishing in shorts. My clients may still face wind and chop, but at least they are not cold.
substitute for casting to a living, moving target on a rocking boat.
That aforementioned wind is a factor in open water, but there is no substitute for getting out there and learning how to work with it. I can position my boat many different ways to help maximize a person’s abilities. I can even hold the boat in reverse, upwind of a bait ball, so anglers can roll cast downwind into the fray. If the fly gets close, it gets bitten. I love the odds.
Many of my novice saltwater anglers get to see their backing for the first time when fishing for false albacore. Watching people react when they connect with a fish totally makes my day. Expressions of joy are followed by horror as line and backing rip off the reel. Saltwater fish take off for the horizon or they hunker down for a good wrestling match. This is when most “zing pows” happen. Lines wrap around rod buts, lines get stepped on or folks panic and clamp down on their reel. When flats fishing you might only get one or two chances to cast at a fish in a day. That does not leave much opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Practice really does make perfect and albie fishing provides endless opportunities to screw up.
The best thing about this fishery is that it puts fly anglers in many different situations that improve casting ability. People can slowly master water hauls and double hauls in real-life situations, and blitzing fish allow anglers to make casting mistakes and still catch fish. Casting on grass or at a local pond is great, but there is no
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The learning doesn’t stop when the fly hits the water. The biggest difference between saltwater and trout fishing is the retrieve and the hookup. We actively swim the fly back to us and keep the rod tip down to set the hook. This cast and retrieve combination is called the “fishing position.” It is universal in saltwater and has some applications in fresh, too.
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Be prepared to do some serious battles with these fish
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Blitzing fish will also test knot-tying skills. Many of North Carolina’s fall critters have teeth and run hard, so we get a lot of break-offs and biteoffs. The upside to losing flies is being able to practice your knot-tying skills. Spending a few minutes sitting side-by-side with a guide to perfect a knot after a bad break-off is a great way to move past the trauma. There is a term in guiding called “learned helplessness.” It happens when the guide does everything for the client. Pampering is nice, but it doesn’t make a better angler. It’s far more rewarding for everyone when clients get confident and comfortable choosing flies and tying their own knots. Adaptability is another great skill to have in saltwater fishing. Many species, especially striped bass, will feed on the surface only early in the morning or in low light, but move to deeper water and continue to feed as the sun gets higher, which requires a different setup. To stay in the game, anglers have to move to a sinking line and potentially heavier rod. Casting a sinking line is not difficult, it just requires a change in casting stroke and timing. Being able to adapt to different tackle and techniques makes for a better overall fly angler.
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Another exciting fall species that requires adaptability are sea-run, trophy sized red drum. These bronze- and orange-colored brutes make brief surface appearances along the ocean beaches all fall. Sometimes feeding birds give away their location. Other times, spinner sharks jumping 20 feet into the air pinpoint the schools. We find them together because sharks and drum eat the same food. Pulling into a mixed school of 50-pound drum and sharks devouring terrorized baitfish is unforgettable. It’s one of the things I live for. When we find a school of drum, the albie rods are quickly put away and 10- to 12-weight rods armed with sinking lines are pulled out. I move the boat as close to the school as possible without scaring the fish so my anglers can make short casts where we can control the sink of the line. These greedy fish will eat the fly if they see it. The key is waiting for the fly to get down. Sometimes we only have to get it down a foot or two, but other times we may have to get the fly down around 50 feet. Once hooked these fish don’t like to move. We call it bulldog mode. Catching one of these trophies is more about acting quickly and being patient enough to let the fly get down than it is about casting well. Big drum off the beach don’t happen every day, but we are always ready.
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Commercial shrimp fishermen provide an unlimited food source for the predator fish we target
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Catching albies behind trawlers is another way to quickly get educated. North Carolina has a fantastic shrimp fishery. These tasty crustaceans are harvested by trawlers that work just off the beaches in the same water as the albies. Any fish that the trawlers can’t sell are sorted back into the water, which creates an unlimited food source for predators. Eventually these fish tune in to the sound of the trawlers running. Some years the albies don’t gravitate to the trawlers, but for the past two years it’s been EPIC. When there’s a good feed on, I motor near the trawler’s stern and have my clients cast before I drift the boat back along the trawlers wake until they hook up, which they almost always do. Then we try to strategically ease away from the trawler and any other boats that are nearby … which there almost always are. These albies are well fed and shark averse, so they run hard and they don’t care where!
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Many rods and fly lines have died in trawler albie battles in the past few years. One fly shop owner/guide started selling fly lines on the water this fall! Many hooked albies are eaten by sharks in an explosion of blood, while my clients watch in gleeful horror. Fall along costal North Carolina is great for all fly anglers, because there is so much to catch and experience. It’s extra gratifying to see novices become successful in this game and know that their new skills can be transferred to other saltwater situations, including the flats. The fall fishery is great preparation for Baja roosters, dorado, and Christmas Island trevalle. Throughout the year, the East and Gulf coasts offer equally exciting opportunities for adventure and skill building with guides who love to share their experience. Before thinking that saltwater fly fishing is just a faraway dream, look a little closer to home!
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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
QUIT WISHIN’ & GET FISHIN’!
See our complete line of
travel
DUN Travel
DESTINATIONS
A selection of our favorite fishing
Rio Manso, Patagonia, Argentina
photo Orvis
You’ll feel right at home at Rio Manso Lodge enjoying gourmet meals and exploring miles of pristine trout waters. Located near the famed resort town of Bariloche, Argentina in a remote corner of Nahuel Huapi National Park, Rio Manso offers exceptional fly fishing on waters from small streams and large rivers to intimate spring creeks and deep, productive lakes. Unwind at the end of each day in the Bavarian-style lodge with spectacular views overlooking Lago Hess, the Andes and majestic Monte Tronador.
photo DUN Magazine
Lancaster, Tennessee, US
Trout near Nashville? About an hour east of Nashville is the Caney Fork tailwater and Southern Brookies guide service and retreat Although not well known among other southern tailwaters, this river is home to large browns, rainbows, and brook trout and is definitely worth a visit. What makes this place truly special is the accommodations. Staying in one of the cozy trout painted vintage campers on the property is just something you have to experience. DUNmagazine.com/caney
DUNmagazine.com/rio
photo Gallatin River Lodge
photo Brian Horsley
Bozeman, Montana, US
Nags Head, North Carolina, US
Everyone knows Bozeman is home to some pretty famous trout waters, and is surrounded by some of the best brands in fly fishing. But, what you may not know is that it is home to a truly special boutique lodge. Offering luxurious accommodations, fine creative dining, and a quiet place to unwind, the hotel is located on a ranch near the Gallatin River. It is a great base for any fly fishing adventure in the region or for exploring Yellowstone National Park.
Nags Head is located on the Outerbanks. The Outerbanks consist of a string of barrier islands protecting North Carolina from the Atlantic Ocean and is home to the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center, the largest and most modern charter boat fishing fleet on the eastern seaboard. Step on to the deck of the Fly Girl and let world-class guide Captain Sara Gardner take you on the trip of a lifetime. Fish for everything that swims in the Mid Atlantic including cobia, blue fish, false albacore, sharks and more. DUNmagazine.com/obx
DUNmagazine.com/grlodge
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Get This LOOK
fashion
Pilot and aircraft aficionado Dana Moore gets ready for a flight with his wife, Debby Moore
The perfect look for jumping in your plane and heading to breakfast or traveling around the world
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fashion
Him
Her
Costa Blackfin - Ashwood, Green Mirror 580g The trusted tool of the true angler, Costa’s Blackfin sunglasses bring serious clarity and comfort to a day of fishing, whether it’s wrestling marlin in the deep sea, spinning up salmon in the river’s current, or fly casting for bonefish along the coast. 100% polarized, flexible and boasting a Hydrolite™ co-injected lining, these Costa men’s angler fishing sunglasses are made for performance and are a necessary addition to any tackle box. MSRP $249.00
CostaDelMar.com
This shirt is highly breathable and made of a lightweight linen blend that’s ideal for warm weather. The tailored fit allows a full range of motion while eliminating excess fabric. Filson.com
MSRP $125.00
Patricia Nash TOSCANO FLORENCE
Filson FIELD SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT This shirt is made of tightly woven midweight cotton for exceptional durability and outfitted with military-grade, chipresistant melamine buttons. MSRP $58.00
Filson WOMEN'S CONWAY SHIRT
Filson.com
This tailored tote in beautiful 100% leather is effortless with go-everywhere style in a size big enough for essentials, but still sleek enough for every day use. Features double leather handles and main compartment with magnetic snap closure. MSRP $199.00
PatriciaNashDesigns.com
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at the end of the day
At the end of the day, I believe that the world is a stunningly beautiful place that should be protected for future generations to enjoy. I believe that clean water should be a basic human right. I believe in kindness, in truth, and in forgiveness. I believe in moving forward, instead of living in the past. I believe the world is a troubled enough place, and the last place we should be fighting with each other is on a river, a lake, or a stream. I believe it is easy to surf the net and get caught up in the wave of negativity. I believe we have bigger and better fights to win in today’s world. I believe in authenticity, being real, and owning who you are. I believe our fights are much more important than what you wear on the water. At the end of the day, this is fishing. And fishing is fun. Now go say something nice. Jen 144
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at the end of the day
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refreshment
The Pink Lady Courtesy of Rita R. Schimpff 1 Serving
Ingredients 1.5 oz .75 oz .25 oz 2 dashes 1 Optional Garnish
Rutte Dry Gin Applejack Lemon Juice Homemade Grenadine Pasteurized Egg White Heavy Cream Maraschino Cherry
Directions In your favorite cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients over cracked ice. Shake vigorously until the shaker frosts up. Double strain into cocktail glass of your choice and garnish. Serve straight up. Visit DUNmagazine.com/pink to learn how to make our favorite grenadine.
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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