River reads, post-hibernation edition

CFStaters:

Lo, the winter is passed, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.

Or so legendary Detroit Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell proclaimed every spring, reciting the passage from the Song of Solomon as the team emerged for its first spring training and opening day games.

Friends are sending photos from Grapefruit League baseball, crocuses are popping up in the park, and the goldfinches had a string of 60+-degree days to titter about. We're all thinking spring as the page flips into March. I sure hope things are feeling balmier wherever this note finds you.

1️⃣ Spring registrations open this week.
Hard to believe it, but this Wednesday, March 5th at 07:00 PST registrations will open at PCC. Many of you are alums. Spreading the word is incredibly helpful to grow the program, so please give any folks who might be interested a heads-up.

2️⃣ Maupin slot available
We've got an extra slot at City Park available for the Maupin meetup, where we'll be gathering this spring for TroutFest. Give me a shout if you'd like to join, whether or not we've had a class together! The meetup is open to everyone, regardless of skill level or ability.

Keeping warm with a good book

Hibernation reads, 2025

When we can’t fish and make stories, we read. Sometimes those are fly-fishing stories, and sometimes they’re fly-adjacent. Here are three that rolled across the bedside table, from the Grand Canyon to the Mariana Trench to Persephone Bakery in Jackson Hole.

Current Flow StateNick Parish

I probably should have tied more flies, but between various equipment improvements and maintenance tasks my main off-season pursuit this year was reading, curled up in the armchair with a book and a heating pad, the poor man's spa.

There were a couple titles in my run that I feel like y'all would enjoy: Misadventures and mysteries in the Grand Canyon, the magic of fishes, and a town full of billionaires. Find your next great book here.

TU talk on PDX-area smallmouth

Next Tuesday, March 11, local guide Colby Olson is presenting his approach for targeting smallmouth bass in Portland-area waters, chiefly the Willamette River, at the Clackamas River TU chapter meeting.

Bass talk at a TU meeting? Warmwater fish in the cold-water zone? Heresy! No, I kid. Bass are aggressive with a fly, close to home, and hard fighters. They're definitely worth adding to your repertoire of species of interest. Colby guides out of NWFFO here in Portland and knows the ins and outs of the local waterways. The presentation starts at 7:00 at Hopworks Urban Brewery on Powell, after a good :30 of kibbitzing and chat.

n.b.: You don't need to be a TU member to attend a meeting! There's no secret handshake or roll call. If you're curious about joining, come on by. I'm meant to be fishing that day, so probably won't be there in person, but I'm going to be sure to attend via Zoom to learn all that Colby's willing to divulge.

Tokyo-bound? A couple places to visit.

Good buddy Sam sent this Tokyo Outdoor Shop Guide, which I pass along to you. I don't have any Japan plans on the horizon, but believe me, when I do, these are some of the places I'll be visiting. I'd be astonished if Snow Peak hasn't done something very cool and fly-fishing-y in its flagship "Landstation" based on its recent fly-fishing moves.

If you're visiting, will you send back a report from the source? Maybe with a few photos? Maybe one day we'll get to do a Tokyo fly shop crawl. Anyone ever been to a Japanese fly shop?

TOKYO OUTDOOR SHOP GUIDE

Tokyo is a top destination for outdoor gear, offering everything from major retailers to hidden specialty shops. Whether you need ultralight hiking gear, technical apparel, or unique Japanese-made essentials, the city has something for every adventurer.

Sanpo Studios

Snout to tail fisheries

One of the most harrowing essays of Bill François' Eloquence of the Sardine details how our appetite for seafood is transforming the oceans, and how far from fish a "fish stick" has to transform before it hits a kid's plate.

So, it was nice to read about how commercial angling companies in the Great Lakes are looking for ways to cut waste and make the best use out of precious fish, getting inspiration from Icelandic anglers.

No Spare Parts: How Great Lakes Fisheries Are Creatively Minimizing Waste

Companies across the region have vowed to find a use for the entirety of each fish they catch, from fertilizer to fish skin leather.

Reasons to be CheerfulLydia Larsen

Current Flow State is a weekly newsletter from me, Nick Parish.

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