WRITTEN BY: Lily Cutler
The 10th anniversary lineup of readers: (Back row L to R) Amanda Monthei, Bridget Moran, Greg Fitz, Jason Rolfe, Steve Duda, Will Rice, Jesse Lance Robbins, and Anne Landfield. (Front L to R) Jon Tobey and Nick Basaraba. Image by Dave McCoy
Freezing temperature levels on Thursday, February 6, kept precisely nobody from participating in the 10th anniversary of Writers on the Fly at Emerald Water Anglers in West Seattle. The event was likewise a homecoming, happening at the store where everything began in 2015. The program included 9 carefully picked authors, who took turns at the microphone to share pieces of initial nonfiction prose and poetry focused around the sport. While fish periodically appeared in some stories, the most unforgettable minutes discussed much deeper styles.
The Word and the World
The creation of Jason Rolfe– among the very first staff members worked with by Emerald Water Anglers owner Dave McCoy– Writers on the Fly occasions have actually been kept in more than 30 various locations in Washington, Oregon, and California. The trick of the occasion’s success throughout the years has actually stayed the exact same: the relatability and genuine feel of both the works and their authors draw the soaked up attention of listeners, despite whether they fish. The stories shared are not heroes’ journeys, however odes to the universal human experiences of love, loss, communicating nature, and releasing what we can’t manage. Authors shared cherished memories of time invested in the water with liked ones, considerations on why we fish, and how angling shapes our lives, relationships, and approaches.
The location buzzed with a jam-packed home and free-flowing beer on tap. Dave McCoy and personnel changed the area to accommodate a sold-out crowd, which varied from experienced anglers to literary lovers. Participants filled every readily available area, excited to engage with the extensive connection in between fly fishing and storytelling.
Left: The sold-out crowd was enthralled by the readings. Right: Authors Bridget Moran and Jon Tobey brought their words to life. Pictures: Lily Cutler (l) and Dave McCoy.
The night included a varied lineup of readers:
- Will Rice: Understood for his expeditions of remote fishing locations, Rice shared a piece that linked experience with self-questioning.
- Amanda Monthei: A nomadic angler and author whose storytelling is notified by her experiences as a wildland firemen and reporter, Amanda checked out a story about the serendipitous encounters that tend to occur on the water and how they frequently cause long lasting bonds that form and alter us in unforeseen methods.
- Nick Basaraba: His narrative looked into the technical complexities of fly connecting, drawing parallels to life’s intricacies and the pursuit of excellence.
- Jon Tobey: Tobey’s expressive poetry and prose assessed the loss of a valued partner, the impermanence of memory, and the withstanding solace of nature.
- Jesse Lance Robbins: Robbins used a lighter touch with a story humorously detailing the difficulties of browsing a foreign culture in Japan: “Biru Kudasai,” stimulated the universal sensation of being an outsider while on his method to the water.
- Steve Duda: The previous editor of The Flyfish Journal, Duda provided choices from his current collection, River Tunes, mixing dark humor with reflective musings on death and the unforeseeable nature of rivers.
- Bridget Moran: Moran’s genuine homage to a recently-passed close relative checked out the echoes of familial bonds and the recovery power of water.
- Anne Landfield: A guide at Emerald Water Anglers, Landfield shared numerous pieces, consisting of an account of directing a customer who slipped and struck her head– an amusing story that rapidly dropped much deeper into Landfield’s inner world as she related her larger headaches.
- Greg Fitz: Fitz’s narrative wove together ecological advocacy and individual reflection, stressing the obligation anglers bear as stewards of nature. Fitz completed the occasion with a piece called “1-800-Beatdown,” bringing the audience to rolling laughter as he read out the choices for a hotline implied for steelhead anglers.
Series developer Jason Rolfe, who is likewise the editor of The Flyfish Journal, assesses a years of Writers on the Fly. Image: Lily Cutler
Doing Great
Each WOTF occasion complies with an easy yet impactful format: a choice of readers and partnership with a non-profit company. The 10th anniversary event was no exception. Earnings from the night supported the YMCA’s Bold & Gold Outdoor Leadership Program, highlighting the neighborhood’s dedication to cultivating the next generation of ecological stewards. Generous raffle contributions from supporting brand names like Fishpond and Patagonia used guests the possibility to support a worthwhile cause while commemorating the confluence of art and fishing. The occasion likewise got assistance from Crazy Outdoors, Grundens, RIO, and The Flyfish Journal
The turning point event was a happy reunion of the series, the store where everything started, and the neighborhood McCoy has actually relentlessly cultivated through years of work uniting anglers from all strolls of life. As the night concluded, discussions stuck around, therefore did the sociability. The 10th anniversary of Writers on the Fly not just honored a years of storytelling however likewise enhanced the long-lasting bond in between fly fishing and the literary arts.
For those excited to experience future occasions or dig much deeper into the series’ abundant history, more info is readily available at the authorities Writers on the Fly website, and to discover when and where the next WOTF will be held, follow the official Instagram account.
Lily Cutler has actually been fly fishing because age 14 and can’t keep in mind when she began composing. Her expert work concentrates on history, language, health, and human-centered innovations. She likewise paints, plays banjo, and still sends out handwritten letters in cursive.
