By Jan Normandale
You are what you eat!
You are what you read!
Garbage in garbage out!
I don't know what all this means but it came right out of my keyboard as I sat down to begin this journey with you.
This column is a new one for the Global Fly Fisher and it will evolve and
grow. It may also flow smoothly, succumb to seasonal droughts and also
run full spate as it runs from it's source to it's final destination. It
is unnamed at this time but I will give it a name when I think of
something appropriate.
This column is one that has been cooking for a while now and I personally think we're on the right track.
It should be a column about the literature of the sport and in my
idiosyncratic way I am going to take us on an adventure as we tour the
writing of the sport of fly fishing. This first column will try to look
at what we have out there and then go exploring all the different areas
of interest and there are a lot of them as you will see.
I will look at the historic roots of fly fishing and try and bring it into current terms so that you can see where it has come from and possibly where it should or could go or where it can't or shouldn't go. I'll look at how the perceptions of the sport have changed as our society has changed. We'll look at ethics, courtesy, the philosophy of
the sport and find out if there is one.
Excuse me for a moment while I pour myself a ... heaven forbid ...
a blended scotch. Yes I know I'm style challenged but it's what I can
afford and there is always the chance you the reader will invite me to
meet your tastefully appointed liquor cabinet or offer me a "wee dram"
if we meet stream side.
Well let's give you a broad brush idea as to some of the territory we'll cover.
Certainly we will look at books on tackle & techniques for those new to the game and who are interested in "how to". We will look at books discussing fishing destinations and discussion of famous waters, we will look at some of the more important authors and what they have contributed to the sport in their unique way, a sort of PBS "Connections" concept. Other topics that I think should be explored are fly tying past and present and hooks, materials, styles, histories of patterns as well as innovators past & present.
Books on technological changes in the sport and entomology should also
be discussed and the future of the resource and how it is being impacted by human events and pressure.We should investigate the relatively recent revival of interest in antique rods, flies, tackle and collectibles. Finally There is a need in these obsessively quantitative times to explore the rest of the important things that attract us to the sport or perhaps it is something that you haven't thought about and now will , so we will investigate the literature and lighter sides of the sport and it's humour.
I'm sure that I will learn as much as you as we take this tour I'm no
expert "just a fan of the game". See you soon!
The Old Flyfisher
More stuff to look at on The Global FlyFisher |
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More about Books |
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