Don't get GASed 💨
Snow Peak launches a fly-fishing line, avoiding GAS, we find the safest place on the Oregon Coast to be in a tsunami, and more.
Big-up CFS massive:
I hope you've had the chance to fish this winter already. I, regrettably, have not. A steelhead date was rescheduled for March when there's more water in the river, and since then a lot of focus on tying flies, waterproofing a truck canopy, and our Winter class at PCC.
I did get over to the Pacific Northwest Sportsman's Show this weekend, which was a few different shades of trade show cluster (chiefly the Expo Center parking debacle). But at least being surrounded by a veritable mall of outdoor stuff put some pep in my step.
1️⃣ Dates for Spring 2025 Intro classes are up
You can check them out on the Classes page. The go-live date for classes is Wednesday, March 5th at 07:00 PST.
2️⃣ We're doing two Intro sections this spring
That's, uh, double the number of Intro sections. There's always been good demand in spring. If you know anyone you want to pull into the mix, give them a heads-up.
3️⃣ Eagle-eyes will notice fly-tying in the mix 🦅
That's right. Coming this fall. As they say in pushy radio ads: Be advised!
Essential fly-fishing gear: It don't take much.
Nick Parish
Like many fly anglers, I have GAS. And I have it bad.
No, not the convenience store food pyramid kind of gas. I'm talking Gear Acquisition Syndrome. Couple an angler's optimism and with a lust for nicely-designed things (see below) and thinking that I need to have every single last bit of gear can be a problem. At least I have avoided premium nippers.
Lucky for you, there are only four pieces of fly-fishing gear you really need to get started fly-fishing.
Writing elsewhere: Why Is This Interesting?
Sometimes, my writing shows up elsewhere. Frequently, it's at my pals' newsletter Why Is This Interesting?
This week I contributed an edition about a unique feature of the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building in Newport, Oregon. Principally, the GVMSB is probably the safest place you could be on the coast in the event of a massive tsunami. Give it a read.
Over the years I've written about all sorts of stuff for WITI, including the Bike Bus, dams, becoming a Super Neighbor, my journaling habits, fermentation, hostage negotiation, analog file-sharing in Cuba and more.
Guest Contributor
Another great recent by-the-sea WITI edition concerns what happens at the very bottom, when a whale passes away and then becomes fodder for all sorts of other sea dwellers. It's very black metal. Superb work from Chris Erickson:
Guest Contributor
A new fly-fishing-specific look for Snow Peak
I spent some time a couple weeks ago bagging on a few Johnny-come-lately fly-fishing collaborations, so I want to spend a moment offering the CFS sagebrush crown when it's done right.
Snow Peak debuted its new fly-fishing-central site this week, expanding its product line into fly rods together with the New Zealand-based Epic brand and apparel, as well as a dedicated service aspect, teaching and guiding in Japan. They produced a nice little film to go along with it as well.
If you're not familiar with Snow Peak, the gear is very high-end. It's kind of like an Arc'teryx for camping gear: great design, solid craftsmanship, not always the best durability. Snow Peak has expanded into lifestyle stuff too. Here in Portland and the greater PNW it hosts the stellar restaurant Tabiki adjoining its retail space and the kickass glamping destination Campfield in Long Beach, Washington, just up the coast a bit.
At first glance, with this announcement Snow Peak is swinging for the fences and entering the fly-fishing market with gusto. The rods and waders are in the $800 zone, and the outerwear is pushing $600, firmly in Sage and Simms territory. What's more, there's a lot of different items, especially in apparel: 21 outwear SKUs including jackets and vests, two-dozen T-shirt options, and a handful of different waders and wading pants.
There's a nice little quote that's worth including from the brand's US brand director, Yuichi Uchida, in the trade announcement:
At Snow Peak, our mission is to reconnect people with nature and its restorative, healing powers. We embrace ‘Noasobi’—the art of being outside, and view the campsite as a destination of rest. Fly fishing embodies a similar ethos—immersing us in our environment and grounding us in the moment. Our flyfishing collection brings a design-forward approach to the riverside experience. Epic shares our commitment to craft and innovation, and our combined collection offers a seamless fusion of functionality and comfort, elevating the riverside experience for both seasoned and novice flyfishers.
Any Japanese-reading members want to help us out with some close-reading of the site's copywriting, please share the standouts! This is an automated translation, but it's certainly in line with our ethos here:
Appreciating nature
is a great force in creating the future.
The truth that fly fishing teaches us.
A single cast connects the moment with eternity. Fly fishing is a time to face oneself. It is also a time to feel the principles of the earth.
Those of us who enjoy fly fishing become Earthlings who feel more strongly with our five senses that the Earth is an irreplaceable planet.
At Snow Peak, we believe that having many campers enjoy fly fishing will have a positive impact on the earth and society.
Whether or not you're in a position to spend the coin, the sentiment is right.
On second thought, should we plan a group trip to the Snow Peak HQ?
Perhaps it is destined:
Every sensitive white man has an object he deeply desires that can only be acquired by traveling to or importing from mainland Japan.
— skooks (@skooookum) February 16, 2025
Current Flow State is a weekly newsletter from me, Nick Parish.
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