Well balanced menagerie

I looked around my office as I pondered how to assemble words to mark the end of 2008 and the beginning of the New Year and I started to smile. My fly tying vise was sitting next to my lap top. A compass sat next to a stapler. 2008 fishing licenses sat next to my Treo. My office table was covered with flies, pliers and other tools, reels, magazines, sketches, hats (tons of them) and sunglasses plus other such sundries. Under the table sat a collection of prototypes and gear. In front of me, a variety of pants, shirts, sandals, belts, neoprene gloves and small stuff from this past year’s developments was piled high. Sitting nearby was a piece of snake skin, a pinecone and some beach stones. Other scatterings included duffels sitting next to reusable envelopes/shipping supplies and a color chart over a rod rack. What struck me as I looked around was how it appeared (to me at least) to be a well balanced menagerie. Where there was Ying, next to it sat Yang. Though many might look at the same scene and see clutter. For me it clearly marked 2008 as a busy, productive, well balanced and energetic year. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you in the Way Upstream community who have made contributions, shared opinions and been involved in 2008. There was rarely a dull moment. I look forward to 2009 with optimism. I think it will be busy, productive and energetic too. Happy New Year. Now I think it’s definitely time to clean my office.


Photos by El Pescador

Happy New Gear

2009 is close and so is the arrival of a host of new gear. Team Fish has been busy and your feedback has made a difference. Look forward to a series of posts to come in 2009 on all the new and revised gear plus some unique technologies to make your fishing experience better. The S9 Patagonia Fishing line contains 15 New and 6 Revised products not to mention the rest of the product categories. Check out this upcoming ad for the New Guidewater Waders that should be in stores late next month.

Holiday decorations

Make-a-Flake and Dumpr Amazing Circles images by El Pescador

Critical time

The wild striped bass is under more pressure than ever, and Stripers Forever, a free membership, internet-based organization, is fighting to end commercial fishing for wild striped bass and to manage the resource for personal use/recreational fishing. They need as many members as possible to show the politicians how many people depend on striped bass for recreation, food, and income.

If you haven't signed up yet as a member of Stripers Forever, here are a few things you should know:

Membership is free – no dues.
There are no meetings to attend.
Everything is done via the internet and e-mail.
Many top fishermen support Stripers Forever

SF’s only goal is to make striped bass a game fish, which means it would be managed for the benefit of the recreational fishing public, now and for future generations. Here is all that you have to do to join - it will take less than a minute and costs nothing:

Go to www.stripersforever.org
Select Become A Member from the top of the page.
Fill in the easy to follow sign-up sheet and submit.

This is a critical time for striped bass. SF is preparing for the introduction of their Massachusetts bill to make striped bass a game fish in the upcoming legislative session. They will need every member's help to make this a reality. Help Stripers Forever successfully advocate to protect the wild striper by making it a gamefish.

Fly pattern/photo by El Pescador Photos by Dave Skok

Rivers Of A Lost Coast

Rivers of a Lost Coast from Skinny Fist on Vimeo.

The rapid decline of our planet’s fisheries is well documented. The devastated fisheries of northern California are a microcosm of the planet’s larger problems. Once a major salmon producing region, in 2008 state and federal agencies agreed upon a complete closure of ocean and recreational fishing off the California coast.

While much attention has turned to the crippled commercial fishing industry, Rivers of a Lost Coast examines the situation through the unique, little-known history of California’s north coast fly fishing community. From this rare perspective, this documentary provides a symbolic, melancholy reflection on a wild California that has been lost to the growing metropolis.

Rivers of a Lost Coast follows California’s coastal fly fishing community through the rise and collapse of one of the world’s most magical fisheries. To some, this is a story about time and place, about a California that was. To others, it is a story about who we are, what we need and where we are going.

Check out this 2 minute trailer and visit the Rivers Of A Lost Coast web site for further details. Screenings begin in early 2009.

Exhibition

Original photos by Brian Bennett, Rene Braun and Dave "Whitey" Evans.
DUMPR Museumr images by El Pescador

R1

Spotted around the globe from high alpine elevations all the way down to sea level, R1® earns rave reviews from the most active customers and ambassadors alike. Warm, breathable and mobile, it has the minimalist detailing that avid anglers and outdoor enthusiasts rely on. Award winning R1® is earth-friendly (R1® fabric made with 60% recycled polyester). R1® fleece provides excellent stretch, warmth, wicking and breathability in a variety of temperatures. Many of these traits are signatures of the entire Regulator line up. R1® comes in a host of styles, colors and sizes and is recyclable through the Common Threads Recycling Program. If you are in need of a holiday gift idea for an angler, skier, climber, hiker, runner, walker or someone who you want to keep warm then consider R1® as a possible option.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Liskay