Tag Archives: philosophy

When the Land Knows You are There

Posted on August 8, 2023 by rivertoprambles

[Part 3 of the Icelandic series] In the morning I met Stefan, my fly-fishing guide for the day, and we were off to the Holaa River for Arctic char and possibly a sea-run brown. Since Iceland requires visiting anglers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Arcti char, ecology, environment, flyfishing, Holaa River, Iceland, philosophy, tourism, traditions, travel, Walt Franklin, writing | 10 Comments

Stepping in the Same Stream Twice

Posted on July 15, 2021 by rivertoprambles

A day-long rain cancels my intended visit to the upper Sinnemahoning. Disappointment has me dreaming– oh, those might-have-been trout! Those wild browns upstream of Costello, those speckled natives of the East Fork pools! Some old moderns like myself get sidetracked … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, daydreams, fishing, hummingbird, nature, philosophy, photography, Sinnemahoning, smallmouth bass, South Bend, warbler, whip-poor-will, writing | 14 Comments

Spinners, the Final Stage

Posted on May 21, 2020 by rivertoprambles

“Spinners” form the fourth and final stage in the life cycle of a mayfly. The aquatic insect lives through egg, nymph, adult (dun), and spinner stages. The adult typically rises from the stream as nature says, “It’s time to mate.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fishermen, fly-fishing, friendship, Genesee River, mayflies, philosophy, poetry, psychology, spinners, the final stage, transcendence, writing | 12 Comments

Thinking Like a Creek

Posted on August 26, 2019 by rivertoprambles

1. Stumbling from the lean-to late one night, relieve an aching bladder. Stars shine brightly through the broken canopy of Baxter wilds. I think of The Maine Woods by Thoreau: “In the night I dreamed of trout fishing.” Silence, like … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fly-fishing, home, nature, ocean, philosophy, poetry, reading the water, small streams, Thinking Like a Creek, travel, Walt Franklin, Water, writing | 11 Comments

“Walt’s Lure” (Rangeley)

Posted on August 12, 2019 by rivertoprambles

One allure of Rangeley camp in northwestern Maine was bird life. The wild shrieking of loons at night brought vivid images from lakeside to the closeness of the tent. It was often accompanied by hoots and chortling of various owls, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, camping, fishing, Kevin O'Malley, Magalloway, Maine, nature, Oquossic, orange fish hawk, Outdoor Heritage Museum, philosophy, Rangeley, travel, Walt Franklin, writing | 12 Comments

So, How Was the Fishing?

Posted on March 30, 2017 by rivertoprambles

1. Sometimes when there’s nothing new to say or to add to the overall blogging compost, I like to hear that ageless question directed at a rambler on the trail or in the water: “So how was the fishing?” Hearing it, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged brook trout, Cattaraugus creek tribs, environment, etiquette, fishing taverns, fly-fishing, forest, friendship, nothing to say, Pennsylvania Wilds, philosophy, photos, small stream fishing, steelhead, stonefly, western New York, wild, Zoar Valley | 20 Comments

Of Hope and Expectation

Posted on June 28, 2016 by rivertoprambles

“Hope is the thing with feathers– That perches in the soul–,” said Emily Dickenson, who probably had no idea of what a trout fly is, but who certainly understood that feathers– on a bird or on a fish hook– have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Emily Dickenson, feathers, fishing, fly rods, hope, nature, Orvis graphite, philosophy, poetry, soul, West Branch Genesee | 16 Comments

With Roots in the Sky (Finale)

Posted on June 24, 2015 by rivertoprambles

1. Just over two years ago I began a series of blog posts that I’ve called “The Cedar Run Experience.” The series has reflected my intent to fly-fish and explore the whole length of a beautiful trout stream, Cedar Run, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged anti-intellectualism, beauty, Cedar Run, critical thinking, fishing, freedom, headwaters, hiking, King Crimson, music, native trout, nature, philosophy, Pine Creek watershed, racism, roots, songbirds, Summer Solstice, The Cedar Run Experience Part 20, violence, walking on air | 22 Comments