"It’s from that comfortable perch where you’ll set your glass down and reach for his Nikon. You’ll snap another photo for this year’s album before adorning your german heritage enriched matriarchal tone and warn him, “You’ll cut that up into steaks, not fillets. I like the Kings as steaks better than fillets.” From behind his mustache a subtle smile will crack open and you’ll see it more in his eyes than from his lips. He’ll heave the mammoth fish onto the table of the cleaning station and carry out your instructions to task. It’s late June and the sun will be up all night. You’ll have to keep an eye on the clock when you return home to the cabin, or he’ll be out far too late tending to his yard and garden. Though, it will be nice to have the latter part of the afternoon to yourself, so that you can cook in the kitchen without disruption. You’ll package the salmon steaks into freezer bags and process them in the vacuum sealer. Then you’ll start a spaghetti sauce and saute some clams for dinner. As their shells begin to open, you’ll discard the ones that refuse to surrender. About that time, you’ll call him in to wash up and set the table. He’ll set out the simple but aesthetically pleasing white and green porcelain plates featuring silhouettes of bull moose. Then he’ll retrieve two Nachmann crystal glasses from the neoclassical vitrine stationed near the south window of the dining room; where the sun can most effectively showcase the beauty of the multi-colored array of imported diningware you’ve collected. He’ll set aside his caveman-like modus for an hour, so that the two of you can drink a bottle of aged Silver Oak from hand crafted Bavarian crystal, and engage in a deep conversation about anything and everything… or nothing. He’d do that for you. He’ll always do that for you."
Home in the Real
"Between my homes in the natural world, an intermediary exists. A purgatory for which I routinely pass through by unnatural means, surrounded by unnatural creatures, in an unnatural environment. I navigate through the crowd of aimless bipedal animals as their eyes remain fixed on the fluorescent glow in their palms, and they bounce off each other, moving with only a semblance of intention. I join them as we stack upon one another in a metal container and it burns the hydrocarbons left behind by ancient life, which serve to thrust the vessel into the atmosphere."
Just Keep Grinding
"It happens in those moments, deep in the jungle, secluded from all things you know of modernity and, in sync with the wilderness you were created to hold dominion over. That is the powerful realization that comes of experiencing Eden. That is the life changing perspective that falls upon the exclusive few who will enter this venue with an intrepid spirit to pursue these carnivorous, river dwelling dreadnoughts of the ancient world. A connection to the deep jungle not only instills a warm memory in sport, but also, it cultivates an acute awareness of the long arduous process of which our ancestors climbed from a middle position in the food chain prior to building the modernity that surrounds us all in our typical daily lives. Eden is not a vacation destination, it is in itself a journey to a moment of authentic and unbridled actualization. It's a venue to feel real in a world so unfamiliar with reality."
Christmas 2025
"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."
Para, Brazil 2026
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.
Succeeded
"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:"
Let Me Tell You About My Best Friend
"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."
Russian Fall
"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."
The Lamb
"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."
Pedagogy
"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."