http://voluntarybeatdown.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, August 07, 2007:
(re the know it all types from forums and shops)…..”anyway, more than anything he and his minions loved to debate about what was ethical with steelheading. now bear in mind these dudes seldom fish much and if they did, it was for summer runs. they loved to think the stupid things mattered, trying to define everything instead of letting shit be and being down with the vague beauty of it all, trying out new stuff and making the game their own. guess they really rodded off on making steelhead fishing more difficult than it really is, most likely because they just sucked at it and needed something to blame or something.”
“we make that observation freely admitting we suck at steelhead fishing as much as the next guy, as well, but whereas some dudes need to find an excuse for when the skunk saddles up and drop kicks your balls, we’re more into finding an excuse to go fishing again so we can understand a little more about why we keep getting kicked in the sack.”
Yes, it is crass and purposefully different writing than the boring text of most rags. But, you get the core point don’t you and if it resonates with you then keep an open mind. Yes, I am sure their are other counter culture practices I might not care for….but, as long as they promise to not become the next generation of snobs then I’m good.
Success breeds many things: contentment, comfort, worldliness, conceit, arrogance, envy and contempt. Flyfishing risks being depicted as the equivalent of fat cat Republicans or Democrats out of touch with core values and the common man. Beltway mentality that isolates. Such isolation infects the privileged if they don’t maintain a balance in life. The contempt for this arrogance is implicit in the new wave, I previously referenced in Flyfishing’s New Wave (Staid v. Edgy); July 12, 2008. The new wave is the rebellious bunch that I couldn’t hope to copy in their writing style. The new wave is anything but weak minded…crisp, sharp, witty, pissy and I have to say right on. Their contempt for flyfishing’s gurus would be borderline class envy bullshit that the left spews were it not for the true arrogance of their targeted contempt. They are right on.
Can there be any better line than the one above: ‘…trying to define everything instead of letting shit be and being down with the vague beauty of it all, trying out new stuff and making the game their own. ‘ I have written about ‘the moment’. Everything that infuses ego, arrogance and one-ups-manship only dilutes that moment. The moment should not be about ego but about pure joy….drunken joy over being in touch for that enduring moment. My comments are by no means a ‘beatdown’….I will leave it to the beatdown crew to nail the (“a famous steelheading dude with a famous bigass beard who might live out east of here and he used to talk tons of shit about us”) arrogant ones of Maupin, Welches, & Sisters.
The successes and blessings of their hard work and travels went to their head. Monied customers knelt at their feet and paid for the infusion of creds to enhance bragging skills. These past ski bums, hippies and renegades (pay attention beatdown crew) were the previous cutting edge and I am sure ruffled the feathers of the then stodgy elite. But, as said, their successes and cornering of the market went to their head. Manufacturing reps played into this by making only certain shops capable of carrying products, thereby excluding other shops as less worthy. A class system amongst the shops exists and the traveling know it alls move from shop to shop searching for the ego laden environment, where they can feel most at home spending, bragging and preening. Lost in all this is the ordinary flyfisher. Not just the new wave contingent, but all manner of hard working people, with little time, limited disposable income and only seeking real knowledge to experience the juice of ‘the moment’ (see June 14, 2008 post here: Why Flyfish~The Moment).
Note there are several excellent shops in Warm Springs, Portland, Tigard, Eugene, Bend, Redmond, Oregon and beyond in the NW. You are welcomed by decent men and women, who don’t cop an attitude. Equally traveled and storied but humble. Frequent these shops. Boycott the effete snobs; turn from them like an infectious rash. Too harsh some will say. Perhaps, but the breath of fresh air feels good right now.
http://mattstansberry.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/fly-fishing-blog-inspires-lofty-rants-on-the-industry/ (Upstream in Oregon is always right there….course I am a year late but I write as I feel it….so, I’m still behind the curve…just like school in the old days).
https://swittersb.wordpress.com/2008/07/20/hushfishingcom-a-theme-a-drumbeat-evolution/
SwittersB & Exploring 
