I’ll Keep Reading
My name is Royce Aldridge, and I am a high school history teacher in Yerington, Nevada, just over the mountains from California.
I was raised Catholic, but, coincidentally, abandoned the dogma in my formative years when I discovered fly fishing. I commune better with my maker, knee-deep in the Walker River, than I ever did at mass. I grew up in Great Falls, Montana, on the mighty Mo—the majority of my favorite memories of family and youth involve that river.
I attended the University of Montana, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I chose that school, in part, because of a certain Maclean brother who didn’t attend Dartmouth. Missoula gave me everything I needed as an adult: an education, a bride, and a sense of belonging.
We’ve lived in Yerington, on the West Walker River, for over 20 years now, and I fish as often as possible. Over the years, I purchased the original California Fly Fisher magazine sporadically. I loved the articles & the knowledge, but I couldn’t get over how much I hated the feel of the penny saver format.
Last week, I stopped at the local grocery store to pick up lunch for the week and fortuitously spied a NEW California Fly Fisher magazine and immediately bought it. I didn’t allow myself to take it into the school because I’ve fallen prey to that self-imposed tiger trap with the magazine. And we’ve got to get the Civil War started, or we’ll never get to Sherman burning Atlanta.
That being said, I blew through the Summer issue in a couple of evenings. Thursday morning, I shopped again under the guise of a yogurt shortage and, to my surprise, they still had a single copy of the Spring issue! See, there is a God, and he is good … to me.
I’ve imposed a self-restraint clause as I enjoy this extra opportunity to learn, laugh, and contemplate this lifestyle we call fly fishing. The articles are compelling and varied. As an old English teacher, I absolutely appreciate the poetry!
I’m not much of a group joiner … Since I left the Air Force a lifetime ago, I’ve been leery of uniformity, conformity, and esprit de corps. But I’ve committed to you. You’ve earned my affection and appreciation. I am a subscriber. It feels a little weird admitting it. I’ve been a subscriber to various fly fishing magazines over the years, but I’ve never admitted it in public or to a stranger … not that you are any more strange than I am.
In summation, thank you for re-publicizing a great collection of writing. And thank you for the high-quality magazine feel. I’m looking forward to my first edition in my mailbox. I hope you continue to publish until I am gone, or too old to thread tippet into a size 18 Montana Wonder Bug. At any rate, I’ll keep reading if you keep writing. Take care & drive safely.
Royce Aldridge
Yerington, NV
Delta Roundtable
EDITOR’S NOTE: In October, California Fly Fisher hosted its first virtual roundtable discussion, bringing the Fall issue to life. The webinar roundtable featured Captain Mike Costello sharing tips on fishing for stripers in the Delta, angler Syndie Kohara sharing her Delta experiences, Jeff Ludlow explaining the geological history of the Delta, and Wil O’Neal and Steve Adachi discussing why striped bass love the Adachi Clouser. We’ll be doing more of these roundtables this year, encouraged by the positive feedback we received.
Appreciate the Perspectives
Just wanted to thank all of you for putting this event together. It was really informative and entertaining hearing the stories and ideas. I appreciated all the panelists’ perspectives and contributions.
If you do more of these, I wonder whether, in addition to your excellent geologist, you might include a fisheries biologist who could speak to the species’ life cycle, migratory behaviors, environmental factors that support or challenge their survival, etc.
Enjoying the magazine. Thank you for all of that work as well!
John Triska
Redwood City, CA
Breaking the Habit
Really enjoyed the seminar and ALL of your guests. I would have liked to hear Mike’s formula for assisting striper fishing “newbies” on how to practice breaking the habit of lifting the rod when a striper strikes, rather than setting the hook by pulling the retrieve line. He did mention that it was a no-no, but a possible cure was not mentioned.
Thanks again for the seminar … Love what’s been done with California Fly Fisher. Amazing!
Don Moura
Lincoln, CA
