New Tackle Store in the Memphis Area

Having heard about a new tackle store in Bartlett, here in the greater Memphis area, from our friend Larry Rea and others, my son and I decided we should go have a look.  David Best’s new store “Primary Tackle” is a treasure of warm water fishing gear and advice.  He features a wide selection of plastic worms, spinner baits, hooks and related terminal tackle, along with rods and reels.  Videos are playing with “how-to” advice on rigging your gear, and fishing tactics that work.   David took us into the back room where he has an aquarium set up to demonstrate the proper use, and resulting action, of various baits.  

Here’s Luke spending some of his hard-earned graduation money on a McCain Swamp Series, “The Beast” rod. 

Primary Tackle is offering fishing classes on Tuesday evenings, using their ample classroom space. These classes will help the beginner better prepare for their next trip, while more advanced anglers will learn new techniques to step up their game.

In an era of big box retailers, it is great to see a local store catering to local interests.  Please go by and meet David and his staff, and pick up something.  I promise it will not be your only visit to Primary Tackle!

Learn more at www.primarytackle.com

Tight Lines!

/TF

A Fly Rod of Your Own - Great Stories for Fly-fishers

I think I discovered Gierach about the time I discovered fly fishing.  I can’t claim to have read all his books, but certainly most of them.  I mean, who could resist the title “Trout Bum?”  When I saw that Gierach had a new book out, “A Fly Rod of Your Own” I immediately ordered a copy (and yes, in a fit of self indulgence I ordered an autographed copy.) 

I always feel like I’m just along for the ride when Gierach tells his stories.  His style makes you comfortable, and you just settle in as the story unfolds.

Many of the stories in this most recent book involve the north country and the primary mode of transportation there: bush planes.  For me, these locales increase the lure of the stories, as steelhead, char, and the like are foreign to my experience. I’ve never fished out of the continental US!  Not all of the stories are about exotic locales, however.  He writes about fishing a crawfish pattern in a local lake with the familiarity of a hockey player leveraging the sweet spot on the boards on his home ice.

Other stories range from fishing trips across the lower 48 to thoughts on guiding, choosing a fishing partner (or do they choose you?) and other musings on this pursuit that so many of us hold dear.  I’m afraid to go into too much detail for fear of spoiling a story, but here are a few examples.

In an almost autobiographical comment, Geirach says

“This river is like a favorite author who could write a book about knitting and we’d still read it . . . “ and of course, in spite of advice from experts to the contrary, they fish the river that day.

In discussing camp food, he wisely advocates for simplicity: “Like fly-fishing itself, the simplicity of it can easily be smothered under too much equipment and technique.”  Think about that for a minute or two.

One quote in particular stays with me “. . . the best advice you can give either a fisherman or a writer is: Don’t do what everyone else does.  Avoid cliches’."

 

Gierach gets it.  The “it" of why we travel and fish and talk about fly-fishing.  His writing is always engaging, and you will have to pace yourself in order not to miss the subtlety of his observations.  Don’t read this one all at once!  Get a copy for yourself, and a friend, your dad, even a random stranger.  

Tight Lines!

/TF