Middle River Dispatches

A gumbo of fly-fishing, conservation, politics and days afield, for what it is worth....

Dealing with PETA

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Ok so I am likely in the minority of my peer group.* I actually think PETA serves a purpose. They are the yeast that makes the bread of public discourse rise. Animal cruelty in any form is despicable and those who fight against it have my deep appreciation. A lot of what they care about I agree with.

No, I think their tactics and campaigns are whacky and damage the hell out of their credibility, but they take it the streets and are willing to do what they think they need to do to advance their cause. Good on them I say.

The PETA protest lunch special (Courtesy Ugly Bug Fly Shop)

Case in point. A couple of PETA people showed up in front of the Ugly Bug Fly Shop in Casper, Wyo. Yup, Casper. Wyoming. Pretty wild.

But the gang at Ugly Bug didn’t come out swinging. Nope, they joined in the fun and offered their own point of view.

Check out the photo album on the Ugly Bug’s Facebook page (click here). The Wonder Bar showed some great community spirit. Classic.

So when these folks show up at your local fly shop, don’t beat them, join them.

 

*I also may not be so alone in my view, Truchacabra posted a pretty compelling case for supporting PETA (click here).

Tenkara Fishing out West: Fish Creek and Crystal Creek

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“The road goes on forever and the party never ends” or so I texted friends back home as we continued our tenkara tour of the Jackson Wyo. area.

After a sensational day on Flat Creek (click here for that story) we were pretty stoked to fish more smaller streams in the area.

A quick check in with our friends in a couple of local fly shops gave us da beta we needed.

Our first stop was Fish Creek, and a chance to put a big bend in the tenkara rod.

Fish Creek Cutthroat

 

During our last visit to the Jackson area we had fished the Gros Ventre and wanted to give it a try again. We headed up that way and decided that Crystal Creek, water we hadn’t fished before was worth a look. Crystal Creek was prime tenkara water and we roamed about trying a variety of spots.

 

After spending two weeks with a tenkara rod in my hand fishing a variety of water and catching some pretty decent sized fish I am more convinced than ever of both the effectiveness and versatility of tenkara fishing.

If you want to learn more I encourage you to check out the Tenkara Guide section of Dispatches, just click here.

 

Tenkara Fishing out West: $3 bridge, Yellowstone NP and Flat Creek

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After the tenkara summit in West Yellowstone, MRS and I took off for Wyoming and some tenkara fishing in the Jackson Hole area.

Before we left West we made a trip to the Madison River and some fishing at $3 Bridge.

tenkara in the shadow of $3 bridge

Five years ago Beth and I go married at this spot and we were excited to be back.

we stood right here 5 years ago

We worked our way down through Yellowstone National Park, fishing as we went. Ok I fished, Beth took pictures…

Trying it out on the Yellowstone

MRS goes artsy on me

We wound up in Hoback, WY. for a couple of nights with the Rivers of Recovery crew. BTW: If you don’t know about RoR then click here and check it out.

Be sure to watch the two videos, start with the one on the right. If you are unmoved by them, check your pulse.

We made a foray to the headwaters of Flat Creek. It was a spectacular 4×4 drive into the backcountry.

Flat Creek headwaters

Getting set up

a pretty Flat Creek pool

Mr. Cutthroat checks in

the tug is the drug...

success!

The chance to visit the headwaters of Flat Creek and to do it in the company of good friends made the trip special.

That they have served our country with honor and distinction makes me proud to be in their company.

headed to beer 30

As they say the road goes on forever and the party never ends.

Stay tuned for more pictures in episode two. Coming soon.

Another reason I love Wyoming

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Wyoming adopts ‘cowboy ethics’ as State code. Gov. Freudenthal signed the legislation on March 3.

The code of the west, derived from the book, Cowboy Ethics: What Wall Street Can Learn from the Code of the West, by James P. Owen, will be the official state code of Wyoming effective July 1, 2010.

The code:

(i) Live each day with courage;

(ii) Take pride in your work;

(iii) Always finish what you start;

(iv) Do what has to be done;

(v) Be tough, but fair;

(vi) When you make a promise, keep it;

(vii) Ride for the brand;

(viii) Talk less, say more;

(ix) Remember that some things are not for sale;

(x) Know where to draw the line.

For more information about the Jim Owen, the Ten Principals and the Center for Cowboy Ethics and Leadership click here