Regretting the Kiss & Tell
By Tom Chandler on Oct 26, 2006 in Opinion, Writing
Via MidCurrent comes an interesting opinion piece by a writer who wrote a kiss-and-tell article about his favorite stream for Fly Fisherman magazine.
It was years ago, but regret clearly runs through his psyche like… well, the stream he gave up:
If I had the money and wherewithal to buy up every copy of that magazine, I’d do it in a proverbial heartbeat; things haven’t been the same on the Clarion ever since. Although I have no proof that people from all 50 states showed up (even though it seemed like it at times), the place got awful popular with Northwestern Pennsylvanians and now, rather than having it mostly to myself, it’s rare not to find a bunch of people in my favorite spots.
The Kiss and Tell “destination” article is a staple in the fly fish magazine biz. And your reaction is largely based on whose stream is getting gored.
If it’s your favorite outof-the-way spot - and you end taking a number to fish your favorite run - then you’re probably opposed. Violently.
If you don’t have a favorite out-of-the-way stream or want to beat up the fish on somebody else’s favorite out-of-the-way spot, then you’re probably happy to see the things.
The Local Angle
One writer has penned enough kiss-and-tells about the Upper Sac and surrounding area that I wince when I see his byline, and when he gave up a bunch of alpine lakes - some of which weren’t heavily fished - there was more than a “wince” in the air.
Of course, the Upper Sac is hardly a secret, but there are still a few secrets hiding around here, and if one of them turns up in print, I’m perfectly capable of hunting down the miscreant and finishing him off with an 8wt at close range.
(For any law enforcement people reading this, that’s a rant and not a threat. Maybe.)
The currently hot destination stories cluttering the “popular” fly fishing magazine are the Exotic Locales - the destinations overrun with big, dumb fish that even duffers can catch, and do so between between breakfast and the cocktail hour.
Still, if you’re uncertain as to the effect of a few kiss-and-tell articles on a fishery, ask Montana Correspondent Sully about his love for the genre. He’d probably tell you an 8wt provides too quick a death for those involved…
Technorati Tags: clarion
Heddon17 | Oct 27, 2006 | Reply
I know the writer you’re talking about. He’s also penned several kiss-and-tell articles on waters in and around Redding and a few of these were not heavily fished either.
In addition the alpine lakes article he also wrote one on the Upper McCloud too.
I’m hoping to make it to the GW Bamboo Rod Building Gathering on Sat but this will depend on what my fiance’ wants to do.
Brian
Luca | Oct 27, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for bringing the “kiss and tell” phenomenon to light. I wrote a story about this problem, but Flyfisherman has yet to publish it or even return my calls.
In the story, I discuss the similarities between fly fishing writers and the Unabomber.
You see, Ted Kaczynski had a deranged desire to record his legacy. He kept meticulous journals detailing his crimes. In the end, these journals provided damning evidence against him and Kaczynski will spend the rest of his days in jail.
…perhaps this example is a little extreme, but you get the idea… maybe…
Tom Chandler | Oct 27, 2006 | Reply
Brian! Good to see you back. Hope you make it on Saturday as it’s an excellent opportunity to see and cast many, many rods that no sub-CEO-level person could possibly afford. Who could say no?
And Luca. Hope you’re not waiting for the check from Flyfisherman, but I appreciate you giving it the old college try.
The Unabomber is clearly a role model for so many in our little sub-culture.
And speaking of role models, where are you spending the winter, and will we see the Luca TU blog again next year?
Luca | Oct 27, 2006 | Reply
I will be ski patrolling at Moonlight Basin Ski Area in Big Sky, MT. It will be my second season at the mountain. I’ll be living in Ennis, so I’m sure my winter won’t be entirely fish-less.
I don’t know about the future of the TU blog at this point… I’ll let you know if we come back for round two.
Thanks Tom and have a great winter.
Tom Chandler | Oct 28, 2006 | Reply
Luca: TU would be fools not to bring it back. Also, I sent an e-mail via your blog e-mail address.
Alistair | Oct 28, 2006 | Reply
The only reason I blog about my local river is because it could be doing with more serious anglers taking an interest- its a funny old world.
Other rivers ?- hell no, lips sealed and mums the word :)
Alistair
Capt Gordon | Oct 28, 2006 | Reply
I have a local editor bugging me about writing more specific stories about my local fishing all the time. I tell him no b/c I prefer to be alone.
Tom Chandler | Oct 29, 2006 | Reply
I learned my lesson shortly after moving up here. I was whacking them on a just-before-dark spinner fall at one spot, casually mentioned it to a fly shop owner, and went back two nights later to discover… eight anglers where I hadn’t seen a one.
As I noted, the Upper Sac isn’t exactly a secret and its 35 miles can absorb quite a few anglers, but I still try to talk in generalities when doing my fishing reports (I’ve gotten a few pointed e-mails about it) because focusing too much attention on any single part of it can’t be good.
Still, I weep for the small streams and mountain lakes outed as some writer’s act of ego; they can’t gracefully absorb the pressure and typically wilt under the attention.