All New Is Old

FROM DESERT TO OCEAN

From Redwoods To Chaparral

From The Trinity To Pauma Creek

trout are everywhere on the island of Cali Fornia

.. We've not had much keyboard time of late, (fish // don'tchknow,) so here's our annual post for the island folks in the "QUEENDOM" of CALIFIA.
.. After "THE BIG ONE," The left coast is supposed to become an island.
.. The Maps below are for Joe at THE HORSE'S MOUTH. Que Tal Hombre? Es possible? Es Del Sud?
..Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo seems to be responsible for the island concept in his 1510 novel Las sergas de Esplandián. It sounds like a great place to be. All inhabitants are tall gorgeous black women. Strong, noble, warrior goddesses ruled in the land of Queen Califia: the most noble of all.
.. There's no specific mention of fishing or trout, in the work, but the trout was known in Spain, and there are some spectacular places there to fish.
.. Although contemporary Californios have taken their cue from the British tradition, they could have easily become fly fishers in the Spanish tradition.
.. The Spanish fly fishing tradition can be traced, (in literature,) to a retired Aragonese soldier's 1539 work,"The Little Treatise on Fishing", by Fernando Basurto.
.. The early Spanish flies were densely tied of multiple hackles, and fished with a long rod and no reel. Today 'dapping' is returning. Andrew Herd suggests that the Spanish patterns may have been intended to float. Ahhh, old is new.
.. From Seville and Granada come some of the earliest examples of fish hooks, and despite the extensive "press" given the Anglophillic point of view it seems that fly fishing is a Mediterranean, (nee, even Macedonian,) tradition.
.. As California becomes reclaimed by Hispanic culture and people, one would wish that the fly fishing heritage of Spain would also return.
.. Jeff Kennedy is grinding along over at Drawing Flies 365. Just a couple of days left. This blog is a tough act to follow and we eagerly anticipate the encore.
.. His flies and the blog itself are both informative and entertaining. We hope it remains in an archival state for many years to come.

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.. There is a group of folks known as the "Prolific Daily Painters." These artists are committed to one work per day. Ann Elizabeth Schlegel is one who has practiced the discipline since August, 2006.
.. Her blog "Painting Each Day," has an extraordinary array of images, and includes a few flies as well, (#1, #2, #3.) The paintings of the flies are for sale, if you'd like to add to your collection.

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.. HDW MOBILE has the new masthead in place and is, of course, is on the road. SHEBOYGAN? MENOMINEE? YEEE HA! The slick of the road in the upper Midwest. Happy Holidays.

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.. Those of you following the march of invasive species should click on over to the INVASIVE SPECIES WEBLOG for a glimpse of our current biota; native and otherwise. (Last night's post is about the frog invasion in Montana.) Jennifer Orth has been busy cataloging the visitors since 2002.
.. The site is searchable, informative, definitive, current, and extensive. The 2009 invasive species calendar is available and all profits are donated to groups doing work in the arena of invasive species.
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-------FISH HERE

.. Don't get shot. Use protective coloration, (borrow a near-dead truck if you have to.) Take a local along. Knowing some Pauma & speaking a simple greeting is useful. Grunt up the steep and treacherous canyon from the bottom.
.. Catch 7" trout that are 11 years old. Don't touch them. Don't take them from the water. If you fish here you may capture one of the most rare trout on the face of the earth.
.. Puff down the hill. Avoid the local felines. Avoid the poison everything. Admire the fire-blackened trees and browning new growth. Drive a bit and have dinner at Baci Restorante. You did make reservations the week before? You did tip Tony the day before - right?
.. May we suggest: Calamari Fritti, followed by Insalata Capricciosa, then Rack Of Lamb Napolentana, and all accompanied by Colli Di Conegliano. A bit of vanilla ice cream, Galliano, and coffee should settle the meal.