New Adventures in the Old Outdoors

New Years Resolutions

plaidflannelman — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:59:28 +0000

In the spirit of New Years Resolutions and what not, I have decided to make an outdoor to-do list for the new year. Here it is:

-Actually write some posts for this blog.
-Go fly fishing.
-Tie some flies.
-Set up a trap line.
-Hunt the Midwest.

All simple right? Maybe. We’ll see what I get done.

Fever

plaidflannelman — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:46:09 +0000

I need to get outside!

Testing Word 2010

plaidflannelman — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:37:49 +0000

This random post is just to test Word 2010 as a blogging platform.

Moving, moving… Moved.

plaidflannelman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:21:10 +0000

~~I am moving. Well, moving the blog anyway. I am now here (http://hatchesmagazine.com/blogs/jgriz/).~~

Hope to see you there.

Well, I moved, and then I returned. Hope to be up and going again soon.

Tools of the trade

plaidflannelman — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:41:43 +0000

In beginning to fly fish, I have run across a huge variety of different personalities and attitudes. A lot of the input I get feels kind of elitist, in that, the suggestions I get are to buy more/spend more, and bragging about gear. While I can understand having pride in your equipment, I do have a hard time understanding the popular view that if you don’t have a certain level of stuff, or a certain type of home waters, then it’s better to not even start. I, myself, do not have anything special in the way of equipment. My fly combo was purchased for around $20.00 at Wal-Mart. I have obtained some older second-hand stuff along the way, but have yet to spend any dramatic amounts of money on anything. Does this make things a bit more challenging than having better equipment? Possibly. But it in no way detracts from my enjoyment of being on the water. So if cost is an issue. Don’t let that stop you. Get gear as cheap as necessary and build up from there. You won’t be sorry.

Distinctions

plaidflannelman — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:54:09 +0000

Day by day I stare at a computer screen while surrounded by drab gray cubicle walls. I say the same things over and over, endlessly on the phone, answering thousands of emails, typing thousands upon thousands of characters on a keyboard.

I know a place though, a place where the only sounds heard are those of God’s creation. The flowing of a river, the wind in the trees, the singing of birds. I often go to this place, not always in person, but I carry it with me in my heart and soul. When I am not there it sings to me, a siren’s call of enticement. I need no urging however. I am always there.

New Beginnings

plaidflannelman — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:21:55 +0000

Personal stuff alert: Periodically I will be posting things of a more personal, reflective nature. I will attempt to label these posts as such. If you are not interested, please feel free to bypass those posts. Otherwise, the post will appear after the jump.

I am in a state of transition. There are an enormous amount of changes happening in my life, day after day, and I need some sort of respite. I find that removing myself from the house or the workplace is not always enough on its own. I need to find a happy medium between new project #9,537, and absolute inactivity. This is part of the reason this blog exists. I don’t have nearly enough time to be outside fishing, hunting, or camping like I would like to be. So I think the next best thing is writing about what I love. I have to try and balance everything, which is sometimes harder than others. If my posting becomes sporadic, I apologize, that is just how the river runs. I guess the long and the short of it is that this blog is an outlet for me. It is primarily for my use and benefit. I will attempt to provide a resource for others through it. But, that is the way things stand. I welcome any reader’s constructive comments or criticism of my content, and will do my best to respond to anything sent.

Painting a Fresh Start

plaidflannelman — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:13:34 +0000

Tspey, the Fly Fishing Alaskan, has painted a picture of the new Alaskan spring. I recommend checking out the post. You won’t be sorry.

From the blog:

Wild rivers are something to behold. They are a living, breathing entity. Every year I look forward to seeing her. With each passing year the river’s changes are subtle but distinct. New pockets form and old runs vanish. It’s the same river I have been fishing since I was 12 years old but it is always different. Giant trumpeter swans were paired alongside pools of open water. The eagles outnumbered seagulls. A bull moose crossed upriver in slow motion with the sounds of others munching on freshly budded willows directly across from us.

Take care.

Thanks for stoppin’ by

plaidflannelman — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:24:49 +0000

Hello there.

Thanks for dropping by the blog. Sorry there isn’t much to see yet; but I hope to be getting something up soon. I will probably posting about hunting, fishing, camping, and a variety of other outdoor things I enjoy. If these interest you, feel free to come back again.

Until then, take care.