Walton and Charles

The Izaak Walton League of America is another of the many organizations reaching my inbox, and perusing the latest connection, I felt moved to ask, "So what do we do to protect our natural heritage"? I don't mean to suggest I have a ready answer, but if you like, you can click on the link I leave for you, at bottom.

And who was Izaak Walton? In the wide-ranging reading of outdoor literature I engage, I once came upon a line that humored me a little, that he's the classic (wrote The Compleat Angler) every angler knows about, but has never read. Of course, I've read his book, but I'm obsessed with words and ideas, and have to suck everything written into my head. That's impossible word by word, but I listen to Pink Floyd, too, and my favorite line from them, sung, "Breathe, breathe in the air."

To get to the dark side of the moon, you have to realize the globe was orbited, first.

Walton was English. But I like the League's American title best, even though Walton's quest for the king, Charles II, does not reflect well on current national politics. I'll leave you with that hint. Future book(s) of mine might be more forthcoming.


http://www.iwla.org/publications/conservation-currents/article/conservation-currents-march-2018/iwla-disappointed-in-president-s-conservation-budget-request

Bucktail Spinner

"The Unforgettable Fire," U2 keeps playing in my mind, the cosmic resonance of instrumentation unearthly and melancholy, as if light years from the down-to-earth pursuits I love. I guess this winter is lingering on awhile yet, though this has nothing to do with ice fishing; it's a nabby sort of winter weather that doesn't give anyone the vitality of extreme cold.

I thought of taking my two-weight TFO and Sadie the black Lab to Peapack Brook, thinking of wild browns and possibly any rainbows that could have moved upstream from the North Branch Raritan, stocked this past fall, but I was up until 5:00 a.m. last night, not getting out of bed until 3:00, having a lot to do. I want to walk in the downstream direction along the railroad tracks and see if I can find holes along the brook's course as it nears the river. I also thought of casting spinners over here in the pond, and though that water is cold, I could grab my rod right now and try, but I think I'm waiting on next Monday, after I get a homemade bucktail spinner in the mail from Tom Savko, a New Jersey Federated Sportsmen News reader who liked my recent article about in-line spinners. He sent me photos of his father's, and his, work, and the plugs he makes are amazing for their professional finished quality.

Loss and Sustenance

The only tree damage my family suffered, resulting from the big snow, is the bent and possibly broken-bent limb of our juniper in front of the condo. But I felt for others' loss, and even mentioned this sentiment to a customer where I work, who spoke of her broken trees. I'm pleasantly surprised to have got Robert Romano's latest blog post in my inbox on just this theme of loss, though I feel sorrow for his.

We never lost power. Other people still have none, perhaps. I know yesterday some were without, including a coworker, though his came on this morning, and I got no news today of anyone without.

There's a maple--huge--in my father's backyard I planted in 1972 or 1973. A transplanted seedling, a tree now with a trunk about three feet wide. Someday, that house where my father lives alone, down in Mercer County, will be owned by someone else. But I expect that tree to remain there on the property for many more years to come.

Romano's blog (He lives in Sussex County):
https://forgottentrout.wordpress.com/2018/03/11/old-friends/