Nostalgia

  When I started flyfishing, way back in 1995, the internet was in its infancy, and platforms like YouTube wouldn't show up for another ten years or so. For the most part, we learned through magazine publications, books, and video instruction on either the DVD or VHS format. At the time, the two big magazines on the market were Flyfishing in Saltwaters, and Saltwater Flyfishing. I much preferred the latter, as the former was mostly a travel and destination publication. And, since I could barely afford to go to Rockport TX, much less the Seychelles, I didn't glean much from such travel oriented articles.

  As a lot of folks do, I tend to hold on to magazines I have collected over the years, in case I need them for reference at some point. I still have ALL my old guitar-related magazines from the 1980s and 1990s. Like guitar magazines that contain valuable lessons and transcriptions, flyfishing magazines are worth holding on to, as they usually all contain a few fly patterns in every publication. After a couple of years of hoarding magazines, one will have amassed a nice library of fly patterns to draw from at their fingertips.

I had many years of magazines in my library, when in 2008 I took a break from the fishing scene until my son was old enough to accompany me on the water. During that time, I "gave" all of my flyfishing-related magazines to my friend Chris, for him to have as a learning resource. I guess I felt like I really didn't need them anymore. Probably close to 10 years later...2017 or thereabouts Chris phoned me one day and asked if I wanted these two boxes of magazines back. To be honest I had completely forgotten I had given them to him! Of course, I was glad to have them back, even though some of them are closing in on 30 years old.

  These days I pull them out probably a few times a year and thumb through them as they were a nostalgic reminder of what flyfishing was like back in the mid 1990s. Those of us that were in this game back then have seen some extremely cool equipment enter the market that has had long-term, lasting impressions in the flyfishing world. I can vivdly remember when Mr. Ted Juracsik released the Tibor line of reels into the marketplace. I also remember when Flip Pallot, Hal Chittum, and Chris Morejohn turned the skiff world upside down when they built the first Hell's Bay Whipray. And, if I remember correctly that first Whipray was displayed floating in a 6" deep makeshift pool at a Shallow Water Fishing Expo here in Houston, TX. I remember when the SAGE RPLXi and the Scott Heliply ruled the rod world...and most every Hells Bay had a SAGE or a Scott outfitted with a Tibor in the rodholders under the gunnels.

  The beauty of these printed magazines is that they are like a time capsule that documents these important landmarks in technology, design, and performance in our sport. Especially for fisherman like my son, who werent around back then, but have a deep appreciation for the history of fly fishing and those who help shape it. I am grateful that I held on to these, and even more grateful that Chris took good care of them before returning them a decade later.

Hope you all are having a great week,

Andy