This Blog is 10 Years Old!

This anniversary snuck up on me!  It just dawned on me yesterday that not only is today the anniversary of this blog, but it's kind of a big one.  Today, July 11, 2025, this blog turns 10 years old.  It sure doesn't feel like I have been posting content for a decade...but here we are.  In keeping with tradition (because I'm a fan of traditions), I almost always do two things on the anniversary of this blog.

First, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.  Whether you read this blog everyday (I'm looking at you Pat), or you watched some of my TikTok and/or YouTube videos, or bought some flies from my Etsy store, I appreciate your support.  If you've ever left a comment on my Instagram posts, bought a copy of my book off Amazon, or if this is the first blog post you have ever read, thank you.  

What started off as a simple blog has turned into a network that I use to promote our beloved sport and share my experiences.  I never meant for any of my endeavors to be a means for me to brag or show off.  I have always meant to use my experiences to help others become better anglers and promote the experiences that can only come from being immersed in nature.  In full disclosure, I would have quit posting on this blog a log time ago if folks like you didn't read it.  The positive feedback and support that I get from so many kind people is what pushes me to keep sharing my experiences, thoughts, and feelings.  No matter what level of support you have given me, I appreciate it and it means more to me than I can put into words.  

Second, I always share my favorite video from YouTube.  While the footage comes from Michigan, the words come from John Voelker.  Voelker wrote an essay titled "Testament of a Fly Fisherman" and the words are as true today as when they were written.  Yes, it is centered around trout fishing but if you close your eyes and listen to the words, you can create your own images from you own experiences and it can get pretty emotional pretty fast.  Whether you fly fish for carp, smallmouth bass, or don't fly fish at all (for whatever reason), a flood of memories might come rushing back with little to no effort.  To me, fly fishing is pretty close to being a spiritual venture.  What I mean is that fly fishing makes me feel a stronger connection to nature, those that I'm sharing the water with, and a power greater than myself.  I hope you enjoy the video, make a strong connection in some way, and get on the water as soon as you can!