Fish Tales
Sweetgrass Versatility
In the sprawling territory between Princeton and Cornell, a storied river cuts and bends its way through land that is as wild today as it was when John Voelker called it “a forgotten region which Read more…
Fish Tales
When Spinners Fall
A strong emergence of drakes for three straight days. Then, finally, a warm evening. Love was in the air. (click on the photo to enlarge) Share
Fish Tales
A Simple Plan
I’ve read that a little brown bat eats as many as 1000 mosquitoes in an hour and a dragonfly eats hundreds per day. Some bird-house manufacturers have claimed that Purple Martins eat thousands per day, Read more…
Fish Tales
The Most Interesting Fly Fisherman in the World
A little humor for a Thursday: In case you haven’t seen the inspiration, here’s one of the commercials: Share
Fish Tales
The Year that Was
Here is a brief review of the first year of Madness and Magic in a video slideshow set to the tune of Upstream from the excellent album Fishing Music by Ben Winship and David Thompson. Read more…
Fish Tales
Anatomy of a Weekend
Cast of Characters ADAM, John Voelker’s quick-witted grandson TIM, the bumbling photographer and flailing fisherman BROOK TROUT, the foolish and unwary native Scene One: The Internet Prologue (Email exchange, day one.) ADAM Tim, I’m thinking Read more…
Fish Tales
Monsters in July
I can scarcely remember how I came to this place. When I was young the water flowed all around me. The swift current swept bugs and small minnows through predictable paths, and I ate recklessly. Read more…
Fish Tales
Rolling a Cast on Frenchman’s
All Hail the roll cast: all fishermen should be required to learn it at birth. I teach it by special appointment, but only on Leap Year Day. John Voelker Anatomy of a Fisherman I think Read more…
Fish Tales
Solitude Lost
The Middle Branch of the Escanaba River begins northwest of Humboldt, Michigan and flows south and east until it joins the East Branch just below the the town of Gwinn. Highly oxygenated riffles, pools the size Read more…
Fish Tales
An Ivy League Education
The main branch of the Escanaba River — or the Big Escanaba — begins at the confluence of its East and Middle Branches just south of the town of Gwinn and east of the small Read more…
Fish Tales
A Memorable Photograph
Life photographer Robert Kelley took over 1,400 photographs when he visited John Voelker in 1961. I have a reproduction of this one on the wall in my office: (From Life magazine.) The light. The fog. Read more…
Fish Tales
Photos: The Wait and the Reward
I have known many fishermen but never have I known one who could make trout feed when they don’t want to. As the child soon learns his ABCs so the wise fisherman swiftly learns the Read more…