Editor’s Note: Member Bob Lowry and his wife, Becky, are regulars at the monthly FCO meetings. They drive up from Eugene to enjoy the camaraderie of the Club and the excellent presentations. Bob sent me a couple fun links to articles that he found that you might find interesting. Thanks Bob, for the suggestions! LKH
Oregon mountain goat in meditative pose
NYT Claims Fly Fishing is the New Bird Watching . . . or New Goat Yoga?
Columnist Alexandra gives you an east coast perspective on why many millennials have taken an interest in fly fishing. She notes that millennials are looking for outdoor experiences where they find activities that mesh with their values and provide sanctuary from everpresent technology. One young Manhattan entrepreneur, Mike Kauffman, sums up his experience – “I find it totally meditative — the thing I never knew I needed.” Lodges, guides, and fly shops have taken note. This article is focused on NE waters where high-end lodges have added beginner fly fishing lessons and complete packages with all the gear and guides. Social media deserves credit for raising awareness of fly fishing in millennials. Sharing pics on “Finstagram” has helped spread the word. Increased diversity in fly fishing – more women, more people of color, broader age groups – has made the sport more approachable. No longer seen as the exclusive pastime of rich white men (no offense to any members), a more relaxed and inclusive culture has brought this younger crowd to love the connection with nature and rivers that feeds the soul.
Yallerhammer from Big Y Fly Company – Sorry, out of stock
Have Y’all Got a Yallerhammer in Your Fly Box?
Step back into some southern fly fishing history with T. Edward Nickens, Field and Stream contributor, as he seeks and finds a historical fly with a crushing reputation for resident brook trout. The Yallerhammer earned the reputation as a “skull crusher” because brook trout took the fly so aggressively they crashed into adjacent boulders. Mr. Nickens sought out the traditional southern Appalachian fly because of its historical significance. It may have originated from the Cherokee or from Irish settlers in the area. But it had been pushed aside by more refined and contemporary patterns. Once he found someone who would tye up some Yallerhammers for him, he was off to the headwaters of Appalachian streams where wild native brookies still predominated.
So, the morals of the stories are: Bring a millennial to the FCO meeting and encourage them to join!
And if y’all have any Yallerhammers or Yallerhammer stories, bring ’em along too!
Tight lines,
Lisa Hansen
