It’s difficult to drum up a lot of sympathy from my fly fishing friends when my “I’m overworked” complaints fall only weeks after a return from Montana.
But the truth remains: right now, I am working a lot of hours, and yes, that’s why I have friends — to remind me it wasn’t always that way.
Sure it’s messy. But I’m getting work done, damnit.
Saturday, the L&T and I pack our bags and head for Maine. My posts from Maine seem to consistently generate a great deal of interest, and why not?
It’s beautiful, it’s remote, it’s steeped in history, and the fishing’s not bad either.
My two year-old posts on the Grand Lake Canoe continue to draw comments, and my “caught in a storm” post — where my bad judgement subjected the L&T and I to a serious soaking and some way-bigger-than-they-look-on-film waves — had one of the highest readership rates of any post up to that point.
And hell, I just plain like it there. In short, it’s hard to go wrong in Maine, though with all that’s going on in my professional and Trout Underground lives, I’m glad it’s only for a week.
Coming Up: A Chat With John Gierach
Believe it or not, I’ve been sitting on a John Gierach interview – one I conducted shortly after returning from Montana, but haven’t written up because of my workload.
I hope to get that written before my scribbled notes lose all their meaning, but I will say this: Gierach’s as interesting to talk to as he is to read, and over the course of our conversation I found myself getting drawn into his words the same way I’m drawn into his books.
Stay tuned for that one.
The Klamath Mess Kontinues
There are lots of noises being around the four Klamath Dams, and I’ve got to finish and post what amounts to a “history” piece on the conflict up here, so the fireworks headed our way will make sense to the Undergrounders.
Given that this could easily become the largest dam removal project in history – and lead to the recovery of one historically great steelhead and salmon river – I’m surprised it’s seen so little coverage in the fly fishing media.
Then again, maybe I’m not.
Stories about people fighting over water aren’t as much fun as your average bikini post, but if it’s one thing I’ve learned on the river and writing the Trout Underground, it’s that you gotta pay those dues.
Plus, Many, Many Book Reviews
I hang my head in shame, Undergrounders; I’ve got a stack of review materials a couple inches high.
Standing in the way of getting them done is the fact I won’t do one of those two-paragraph reviews you see so often, reasoning that the author put more time into the book, so it deserves a little more time on my end.
Still, some good stuff coming.
Naturally, I’ll post the usual stunning Maine landscapes (it’s different back there), and while Grand Lake Stream water temperatures are hitting 75 degrees during the day (so the fly fishing isn’t great), the lakes are fishing pretty well.
See you in Maine, Tom Chandler.
Good Luck, but don’t expect much sympathy from us after showcasing 14 “guide lunch” posts – featuring homemade berry pie, steak and boiled onions – cooked to perfection by your butler.
If your waders don’t fit at the end of the week, then NO WHINING.
kbarton10(Quote)
Last time the onions were a little overdone, and the crust on the pie had softened some from all the canoe travel, so it’s not all wine and roses…
Tom Chandler(Quote)
May a thousand mosquitoes, black flies and no-see-ums plague your every cast! Actually, I really want you to enjoy every second of your trip so that you can recover from the unfortunate trip to Montana that apparently was a complete bust (at least, that’s how I choose to read the posts and pictures–you poor man).
And, Yeah, we do feel sorry for you that your work piles up while you gallivant around the country fishing and hobnobbing with fly fishing’s literati.
Okay, I’ve let it go.
I’m looking forward to the book reviews. That “goodreads” site looks interesting. I may see you around there.
Enjoy your trip. Really.
cutthroat stalker(Quote)
Stalker: I left all the grizzly/militia/wolf/black helicopter encounters out of the Montana reports just so they wouldn’t seem so grim, but trust me, Montana’s not a place worth going if you’re a fly fisherman and you want to have fun.
It’s dangerous.
Goodreads is an interesting site, though I don’t spend much time on any social networking site (save this one) these days. I like the idea of discussing books with folks, but there doesn’t seem to be much of a fly fishing crowd there.
Get a few more warm bodies, and we’ll start our own group.
Tom Chandler(Quote)
Here’s an elevator pitch-
Against a blackfly darked backdrop you film some hot chain pickerel action. Maybe chug some fermented maple syrup with some plaid-clad local. Tie a dessicated moose rack to your canoe, we’ll mix in some industrial strength rock music—– VOILA.
Sully(Quote)
Brilliant! I’ll make repeated references to “sleeping in a rustic cabin” and complain about the so-so-quality of the homebaked pies so viewers will know I’m absolutely charged with testosterone.
You want to produce?
Tom Chandler(Quote)
So are we going to hear about how warm and friendly the airlines have become with the big increase in jet fuel prices?? ;-))
Brian
Heddon17(Quote)
We’re taking a Redeye from Medford to Las Vegas to New York to Maine – where in the morning, we’ll pick up our rental car and drive several more hours.
So yeah, you can expect something bright and happy from me on the state of travel…
Tom Chandler(Quote)