Intuitive thoughts and tall tales from the field. Fishing, Hunting, and the Great Outdoors.
"Eventually the spring comes and, some time after the worst of the runoff, the elaborate and plague-like hatches of the West’s water bottoms become remarkably apparent. Incomplete and complete metamorphosis characterized insects live out their lifecycle before your eyes: from egg, to nymph or larva & pupa, to adulthood and, the ones that don’t get slurped up by the wild & spotted creatures of the riffle then fly off to spawn the next generation."
"The Big Dog provides, (in an almost poetic sense), such largesse. Christmas isn’t about the gifts we give each other, it’s about the gifts he has given us. It’s about establishing and indulging in an emulation of his everlasting serenity, here on Earth, for a narrow window of time."
All who know me, know that I believe life is about collecting memories, not materials. As a collector of experiences, this trip is the magnum opus of a lifetime of adventure. It truly has the potential to change the way we perceive wild places on this planet. I’m so absolutely excited for it and I hope you’ll join me.
"My anecdotal experiences have changed my perception a bit, however. I don’t aim to challenge the assertions of Emerson in this poem. More so, I aim to celebrate them. The man was wise and his words have guided me through both darkness and light. If I could, I would thank him. Because I cannot, I will simply write this:"
"Our family grew. When a Dane named Beef first arrived, Duke was a bit uncertain but before long, he came to love his new brother. Shortly after, my little Moose came to be. Duke never left his side. My son and my dog grew together like two trunks of two trees that sprouted from the earth in close proximity, until they grew into each other and then formed a weatherproof tower made of their combination."
"I bet the wait staff and neighboring table of patrons would be as charismatic and conversational as always and, when the elation washes over our waiter at the sight of the unconventionally large tip I left him in the spirit of our tradition, I bet he'll express his gratitude by using a portion of it to bring us a couple of cold glasses from the freezer and a complimentary pitcher of Raspberry Wheat."
"In doing so, I’ve come to understand the critically imperative philosophical roots of some of the most common western sociological convictions, and how they prosper in certain environments or head-spaces. Consequently, I’ve come to see there are two paths before every man who comes up in an affluent society and in an ironic condition of unfortunate intrinsicality and serendipity, there is little anyone can do to prevent the inevitable end in which each path eventuates. One path defines the people who are holding candlelight vigils and peacefully mourning today. The other leads to those who are dancing in the streets, enunciating “we got Charlie in the neck!” through manic cackles and demonic celebrations."
"From the middle seat view of my glass boat, I’ve learned much about people but more so, I’ve learned much from people and, that’s really what these words I’m writing now are about. I love this gig for many reasons but, more so than any other, is the fact that I am directly plugged into a network of fellow anglers who bring to the table their experiences from a lifetime of engaging in this sport. I’m the true benefactor and I simply don’t harbor the adequately creative mind to conjure words profound enough to authentically emulate my gratitude. Just know that I appreciate you all."
"I reached for my 85mm and began photographing Tristan as he leaned backwards against the fish’s resistance and demanded its submission. Eventually the lunk capitulated and I remember thinking “what a bucket” when I witnessed the net webbing stretch like the legs of an Armstrong figurine. Hud must have thought something similar because he returned the netted mass of aquatic critter to the water and, when he did, I noticed the net’s handle straighten in relief. We anchored the skiff and I hopped out to get a better shot. This was a memory I didn’t want to let slip by."
“One-by-one, as my loved ones arrive, I'll gift them this thing I've made and they'll smile at the sentiment. "You haven't changed a bit" they'll proclaim through tearful elation and an appreciation for the newly realized absence of pain. “Imagine that,” they’ll speak as their naked feet wade through ancient crystalline glacial waters and upon split granite, “no suffering.”
Authentically Wild Out West 