You’re Not Crazy Until The LA Times Says You Are…

January 29, 2012, by 10 comments
Mount Shasta

A half-dozen Alert Underground Readers forwarded this LA Times article about all the odd people living up here, and while I’m forced to point out we’re pretty accepting of crazy up here (witness the County Board of Supervisors), I have to admit the surge in Bigfoot sightings mentioned in the article is probably my fault.

Mount Shasta, home of crazy people

The mothership is docking...

From the article:

The mountain has been touted as the site of an energy vortex that allows passage into the metaphysical dimension; the birthplace of a spiritual foundation whose adherents believe they can ascend to the eternal realm; and a hot spot for UFOs that hide in the clouds and enter the mountain’s core through mystery “portals.”

Newer to the repertoire are sightings of Bigfoot (the word serves as both singular and plural, like fish and sheep), believed by some to conceal themselves by passing into a fifth dimension.

“Mt. Shasta has always had a spiritual drawing, but it’s getting more and more popular,” said Karen Anderson, a supervisor in the town’s visitors bureau, who estimated that a fourth of the area’s tourists come for that reason.

To assist seekers from around the globe, the bureau’s website includes a list of energy healers. Shops carry crystals for the “spiritual pilgrim.” Drop-in channeling sessions are held each Sunday at a spiritual center. Guides lead soul-cleansing treks up the mountain in all seasons.

I can’t speak to the UFOs (locals believe the Lemurians’ giant space ships are docking with the mountain when the summit is obscured by lenticular clouds), but the recent Bigfoot frenzy can probably be blamed on… Singlebarbed.

I twice took Singlebarbed fly fishing on the east side of the mountain.

I should have expected someone would make the inevitable mistake. (Not that I’m suggesting he needs a shave or anything.)

See you on the mothership, Tom Chandler.

Another John Gierach Interview Floats To The Surface

January 27, 2012, by 3 comments

Fly fishing uber-writer John Gierach has always given the appearance of a reclusive nature, but the last couple years have found interviews popping up like mushrooms (including mine).

It’s just possible we’ve learned almost as much about him via other people’s writing as we have his own.

This interview (found via Moldy Chum) was conducted by a Colorado writer, and it’s long and detailed and while the writer occasionally heads a little far afield into gonzo journalism territory, he does a nice job of profiling John Gierach’s conservation work, which we don’t read about much in Gierach’s own essays:

“I have no idea if anything I’ve done will make a difference in the long run, but you have to try. Every generation has to try. Because if you give up, the bastards win.”

There are other engagingly candid moments (he quit working with the New York Times because “they were all assholes”), and frankly, quotes like this make it worth the read:

“I wouldn’t over-analyze it too much,” Gierach said when I asked if his philosophy degree influenced his passion for the sport. “I think it’s trendy to link fly fishing with spirituality these days. There might be something like that involved, but most of it’s crap. In the end, it comes down to this: I like catching fish.”

(This dovetails nicely with one of the Underground’s Absolute Rules Of Fly Fishing Writing: the sport is special and all, but descriptions of fly fishing should not include the word “soul.”)

Keep writing, Tom Chandler.

Today’s Fake Fish Painting Post

January 26, 2012, by 5 comments
Goldfish

These aren’t real goldfish — they’re handcrafted by a Japanese artist who painstakingly builds them up layer by layer.

I’d love to see what he could do with a small pod of Brookies.

Goldfish

(Click here to see more pictures and watch a pretty fascinating video.)

Weekly Short Casts for 2012-01-26

January 26, 2012, by No comments yet

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Save The Baby Electrons: The Underground’s Short Casts Go Weekly

January 25, 2012, by No comments yet
200handstar

I’ll admit I’m ready to be reversed if the Undergrounders form an Occupy The Underground movement, but I just transformed the daily Short Cast posts into a single, awe-inspiring digest post set to appear once a week (it’s set for Thursday).

It seemed like the daily Short Casts were starting to clutter up the place a little, and yes, when I see a string of them I’m reminded I haven’t written anything for days.

As it is in the House of Representatives, the victory here will go to those who make the most noise.

If you want to experience my Short Casts in realtime, just subscribe to my Twitter feed.

See you being all geeky and shit, Tom Chandler.

Finally — Hope For Fly Fishing’s Helplessly Addicted…

January 24, 2012, by 12 comments

Never let it be said that the Underground turns a blind eye to the plight of steelheaders those struggling with addiction, which is why we’ve chosen to courageously publicize perhaps the Most Important Press Release We’ve Ever Received:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 24th, 2012 – Doron Ofir Casting, (Millionaire Matchmaker, My Strange Addiction, Jersey Shore) officially confirms and announces for the first time ever, real people struggling with addiction will have the opportunity to take part in a revolutionary and groundbreaking documentary series chronicling the emotional and physical struggles of addiction—“REHAB with DR. DREW”.

Participants will be given a once in a lifetime opportunity to enroll in a no-cost, 30-day treatment program to begin the process of breaking free from the bonds of addiction and take their first steps down the road to recovery.

VH1, in association with Irwin Entertainment and Doron Ofir Casting, is currently searching for those struggling with substance addiction but not ready to give up hope.

“If you are ready to fight to take your life back into your own hands, I’m hoping to find you! Instead of giving in, make a change and seek the help you need. I want your story and why you need the help. Your story can be someone else’s hope.” Doron Ofir, Executive Casting Director

Realize that recovery can become your reality.

Please apply online at http://www.rehabcasting.com

Wow. Who knew there existed a reality tv-based cure for addiction?

Of course, we’re 100% sure the casting of this wholly non-sensationalistic show won’t be biased towards those with the ability to fill a C-cup, so all you fly fishermen — who as a group tend to peg the rattiness meter — should apply right away.

Make sure to tell them you’re not only addicted to fly fishing, but have developed a Spey craving that has cost you several relationships.

With the coastal rivers running either dry or muddy brown as of late, you can also truthfully say you’re hitting rock bottom.

Even as I write this, I am dabbing at the tears forming in the corner of my eyes (just like I would were I chosen for this reality series [hint, hint]).

At the Underground, we can’t help but give. You know that about us.

See you in reality TV rehab, Tom Chandler.

Short Casts for 2012-01-24

January 24, 2012, by 2 comments

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Short Casts for 2012-01-23

January 23, 2012, by 3 comments
  • What *really* happens on all those fly fishing trips John Gierach writes about (via Sipping Emergers): http://t.co/XSKrIl93 #

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A Clear Case Of Fly Fishing Retail Therapy (or, What Do I Do With These 6wt Fly Lines?)

January 22, 2012, by 35 comments

In what I’ll admit is a clear case of snow-driven retail therapy, I just ordered a 6wt Bass Bug fly line from the Orvis Clearance Tent.

I haven’t owned one of those aggressively front-loaded, big-bug throwing fly lines in well over a decade, but given my desire to get back to throwing poppers at bass from a float tube, it seemed like time.

Especially given the $23 price tag.

A McCloud Reservoir rainbow trout

A reservoir trout -- and a good reason to own a handful of 6wt fly lines

(In this post, the Underground rolls out the Index Rating the rest of the fly fishing industry has sadly neglected: The Risk To Relationship Rating. An R2RR rating of 23 is pretty safe; a rating of 800 [e.g. -- for one of the new high-end fly rods] puts you firmly in the red zone.)

Still, no purchase ever goes unpunished, and in this case, adding another 6wt line has added a little juice to my only real source of fly fishing gear angst.

I don’t have any place to put them all.

I’ve got five 6wt fly lines, but only one 6wt reel:

  • A slow-sinking clear intermediate line (my “go-to” stillwater line)
  • A faster-sinking (Type 3?) solid line
  • An Outbound streamer line
  • A standard DT floating line
  • A Bass Bug line (as soon as it arrives, anyway)

Only two of the above are actually found on reels, and one is mounted on an old Teton Tioga, which may be strong enough to withstand a nuclear strike, but which is, I’ve decided, way too damned heavy.

(I’m not one of those anal types whose reels have to balance their rods perfectly, but even I have my limits. It’s voted off the island, paving the way for my followup gear post: The Underground Closeout Sale).

Stillwater guru [Name Redacted] impressed me with his stillwater system; a couple of those truly affordable synthetic fly reels and a handful of extra spools (sadly, he managed to misplace the reels last season).

He liked their affordability (a former government employee, he said they were “Forest Service cheap“) and the fact they weighed almost nothing.

Both of which are sounding pretty good.

As a man who has caught a lot of very big trout on lakes, if he says they work, then they work.

So I turn to the Undergrounders for their advice.

The Reel System

I can find a reel for my floating line. Which leaves those four other specialty fly lines.

Is the smart play to buy a pair of synthetic fly reels and a handful of spare spools? (Orvis sells a $49 budget model with $25 spare spools, so the Risk To Relationship Rating is $150.)

Or do I risk matrimonial eviction and pony up for a pair of mid-range reels and a couple spare spools? (Risk To Relationship Rating of $330.)

Note that I’m looking at two reels. There are times when one sinking fly line isn’t enough, and despite what the popular literature would have you believe, changing spools while fishing is not a particularly quick or relaxing process.

Has anyone else come up with an affordable system that doesn’t lead to the immediate filing of divorce papers?

Keep in mind I’m not a reel snob; I own one of the Winston/Hardy Perfects (a tradeout) and one of those high-end Ross fly reels meant to mimic the original Etna-built Ross. I bought both a bargain prices, but I can safely say I’d have done just fine without either of them.

In fact, there’s something to be said for fishing with reels affordable enough to not generate a sharp, worried intake of breath every time you stumble.

Underground Gear Fiends, the floor is yours.

See you juggling 6wt fly lines, Tom Chandler.

Short Casts for 2012-01-22

January 22, 2012, by No comments yet

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