The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog » Poll http://troutunderground.com Fly Fishing the Upper Sacramento River : Tom Chandler's Fly Fishing Life : Fly Rods are the Measure of Life Wed, 21 May 2008 14:57:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 en The Recession. $4 Gas. Mortgage Crisis. Are You Still Going Fly Fishing? (Oh Yeah, Win a Free Book!) http://troutunderground.com/2008/03/21/the-recession-4-gas-mortgage-crisis-are-you-still-going-fly-fishing-oh-yeah-win-a-free-book/ http://troutunderground.com/2008/03/21/the-recession-4-gas-mortgage-crisis-are-you-still-going-fly-fishing-oh-yeah-win-a-free-book/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:05:45 +0000 Tom Chandler http://troutunderground.com/2008/03/21/the-recession-4-gas-mortgage-crisis-are-you-still-going-fly-fishing-oh-yeah-win-a-free-book/ SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "The Recession. $4 Gas. Mortgage Crisis. Are You Still Going Fly Fishing? (Oh Yeah, Win a Free Book!)", url: "http://troutunderground.com/2008/03/21/the-recession-4-gas-mortgage-crisis-are-you-still-going-fly-fishing-oh-yeah-win-a-free-book/" } ); ]]> c&mad

In the late 90s, I wrote a series of ads for the ill-fated Cope & McPhetres fly shop, which closed after the owners realized they could make a bazillion percent more profit selling boat parts instead of tippet material.

The above ad was particularly popular (the customers kept repeating the headline to the staff), but it reminded me we’re facing some pretty turbulent times right now.

The economy’s slowing. By summer, gas will soar over $4/gallon. Houses aren’t selling, investment banks are collapsing, consumer credit is tightening, and yes, we’re facing a few other things I won’t bother to mention.

Has All the Turmoil Affected Your Fishing Plans?

Are you reconsidering your fly fishing travel plans?

Staying closer to home? Buying less gear?  Trying to make your own tippet with a pasta maker and a double boiler?

In January, I asked the Undergrounders to discuss their 2008 fly fishing plans. Now I’m asking you to take a deep breath, and think for a second.

Has the bad news changed those plans?

My answer is (surprisingly) "Yes" — though I’ll save the explanation for later. What’s yours?

Yes, You Win Something Just For Playing

The poll below is just to tally the big picture; I really would like you to also add your thoughts in the comment section.

And to make it worth your while, I’ll randomly select a winner from the comment section below (using atmospheric scattering to generate a random number) and send you a FREE copy of Kerplunk by outdoor humorist Patrick McManus.

It won’t help you find a job, sell your house, or make gas more affordable, but while you’re reading it, you may just forget about all that crap.

Has the recession/gas/other crap changed your 2008 fishing plans?
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See you in the cheap seats, Tom Chandler.

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]]> http://troutunderground.com/2008/03/21/the-recession-4-gas-mortgage-crisis-are-you-still-going-fly-fishing-oh-yeah-win-a-free-book/feed/ How Many of You Fly Fish AND Hunt? (It’s An Underground Poll!) http://troutunderground.com/2007/11/16/how-many-of-you-fly-fish-and-hunt-its-an-underground-poll/ http://troutunderground.com/2007/11/16/how-many-of-you-fly-fish-and-hunt-its-an-underground-poll/#comments Fri, 16 Nov 2007 17:55:25 +0000 Tom Chandler http://troutunderground.com/2007/11/16/how-many-of-you-fly-fish-and-hunt-its-an-underground-poll/ SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "How Many of You Fly Fish AND Hunt? (It’s An Underground Poll!)", url: "http://troutunderground.com/2007/11/16/how-many-of-you-fly-fish-and-hunt-its-an-underground-poll/" } ); ]]> We’ve all seen the numbers — participation in outdoor “blood” sports like hunting and fishing is declining, with hunting taking the biggest hit.

So how much crossover is there between hunters and fly fishers? I get the impression the two sports have polarized a bit, and that the number of crossovers used to be higher.

So here’s the Underground’s Poll of the Day: How Many of You Hunt AND Fly Fish? (Retrieving roadkill doesn’t count)

How Many of You Fish AND Hunt?
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]]> http://troutunderground.com/2007/11/16/how-many-of-you-fly-fish-and-hunt-its-an-underground-poll/feed/ An Underground Poll: Do You Read Fly Fishing Magazines? http://troutunderground.com/2007/09/19/an-underground-poll-do-you-read-fly-fishing-magazines/ http://troutunderground.com/2007/09/19/an-underground-poll-do-you-read-fly-fishing-magazines/#comments Thu, 20 Sep 2007 04:12:29 +0000 Tom Chandler http://troutunderground.com/2007/09/19/an-underground-poll-do-you-read-fly-fishing-magazines/ SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "An Underground Poll: Do You Read Fly Fishing Magazines?", url: "http://troutunderground.com/2007/09/19/an-underground-poll-do-you-read-fly-fishing-magazines/" } ); ]]> Only a fool believes everything he reads on the Internet (by the way, I’m 6′2″ and handsome), but if you buy into even a little of it, you’d think a lot of online-savvy fly fishers stopped reading fly fishing magazines years ago.

I want to know if it’s true. So I spent hours (a lie) creating a wholly anonymous poll that involves literally a few seconds of your time (both true). Do the Undergrounders read fly fishing’s mainstream print magazines?

By mainstream, I mean Fly Rod & Reel, American Angler or Fly Fishermen (I’m leaving out the Drake and regional magazines).

Do You Regularly Read Mainstream Fly Fishing Magazines?
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Respond and be heard, or I’m going to start a topic asking people to name their alltime favorite fly, and force you all to read it…

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]]> http://troutunderground.com/2007/09/19/an-underground-poll-do-you-read-fly-fishing-magazines/feed/ Tomorrow I Fly Fish. My Readers Decide Where. http://troutunderground.com/2007/05/30/tomorrow-i-fly-fish-my-readers-decide-where/ http://troutunderground.com/2007/05/30/tomorrow-i-fly-fish-my-readers-decide-where/#comments Wed, 30 May 2007 22:55:05 +0000 Tom Chandler http://troutunderground.com/2007/05/30/tomorrow-i-fly-fish-my-readers-decide-where/ SHARETHIS.addEntry( { title: "Tomorrow I Fly Fish. My Readers Decide Where.", url: "http://troutunderground.com/2007/05/30/tomorrow-i-fly-fish-my-readers-decide-where/" } ); ]]> It’s been a long day. Tomorrow, however, I’m going fly fishing (at least in the afternoon).

Sure it’s hot. Sure — word is the Upper Sac’s hot bite cooled considerably over the weekend. But damnit, I have a duty to my readers, and I take that duty very, very seriously. (I fly fish for you, my friends. Never forget that.)

Besides, it’s time my readers were heard; welcome to the Trout Underground’s first-ever blog poll, where I ask a simple question: Where should I fish tomorrow?

You’ve got a handful of choices, but those of you who feel constrained by the list should feel free to add your alternate destinations to the comments below (they just won’t be counted).

Where Do I Fish Tomorrow?
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Once again, we stomp the fly fishing world’s sacred cows with the first reader-directed fly fishing trip — and this despite the fact I plan to do as I damn well please (I said you’d be heard; I didn’t say I’d listen).

Vote away, Undergrounders. Polls close tomorrow am.

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