David Siskind | Sunday, 11 January 2026
I just spent nine delightful days fishing for snakehead with Paul. The first three he guided, getting me some great shots. Then we struck off separately and each fished on our own for the balance. The lake is low - Paul calls it the “Wet Season That Never Happened” - and babies were not nearly as plentiful as they were when I fished a little over a year ago. My numbers sucked. We don’t have to do stats here. Let’s not. Here’s my report card:
1. Snakehead shot is pretty good. Given a good opportunity they mostly went in.
2. Casting overall has become more efficient.
3. Baby sighting improved vastly over the last week.
4. Boat handling skills improving, and I feel ready but unproven - I was able to create few quality shot opportunities.
5. Fitness required to fish hard is still there.
It’s a tough game but endlessly amusing and fascinating and it’s great to be barefoot for ten days. I love it. I’ll be back of course. Clearly it should largely be the DIY experience, the only question being whether I’m nuts enough to leave the Battleship and camp out on Paul’s designated grassy knoll of an island.
The limited connectivity on the lake was also a boon affording an opportunity to unplug and wall off the horrors of the world around me. I’m grieving for the loss of the future I imagined for me, my posterity and everyone else. I heard Ryan Grim (see Drop Site News) using the term “fuckery.” It was apparently used by activists years ago (I’ll have to look up how many). It’s when the powerful lie, know they’re lying, and know that you know they’re lying and do it as an expression of power. I’ll say her name - Renee Nicole Good. There is spreading cruelty.
The fishing helped, a lot. There’s something about challenging sight fishing that affords a reset. All of it, the practice included. Thank goodness. The chaos has scrubbed my scheduled trip to Cuba at the end of the month. And might impact a scheduled bonefish adventure with my favorite Danish outfitter. And just as the plane landed my LA friend, Chloe, texted that her next door neighbor was snatched by ICE of his front lawn. I hear they’re running out of detention space and are considering large “soft-sided” prisons. This is all unbelievable.
I’m in Thailand now with Jackie. I’ve never been here. So far it’s been grand - beautiful temples, great food, and cheerful fellow tourists soaking it all up. I will miss my casting practice. We’re now in Chaing Mai. Paul says it’s where many of the flies we fish are tied. Maybe I can visit a “factory” here. Jackie says maybe I can work in one. I don’t think I’m near good enough. It doesn’t sound like fun.
Oh yeah. My compliments to chef Paul. He whips up some great meals. Highlights were a remarkable everything-in-it curry and the most dreadful licorice candy imaginable.
Cheers all. Hang in there.
David Siskind