O come blessed spring. Copi Vojta checks in to jolt us out of our e-hibernation, reminding all that mud season is upon us -- soon followed by early caddis, green drake and PMD seasons. A fine bit of verse from friend of  FFJ Tailgate, Cameron Scott, and a bit of zen sculpture captured by C-dale soul photographer and sandwhich artist Copi. Thanks much dudes. Keep Stoke Alive.

iHaiku entry from Jeff Romans --

Context: It's late February and it's cold here in Montana. As I somehow manage to tie on a size 18 midge in the 40 mph wind standing in the Bighorn, I think to myself:

Tailgaters will recall back last July, we introduced pescadore compadre Fred, with a brilliant and primal bit of inspired writing which we took the liberty of labeling "iHaiku". Fred was on a soul-cleansing trip to Montana in search of pristine alpine lakes, small streams and willing brook trout. Fred found RV hell, overbooked campgrounds and biblical levels of swarming insects (the biting, not hatching, kind). Fred has the digit dexterity of a Wookie and his emails tend to reflect this.

With subjects now covered from women's health, to alpaca raising, to sales strategies -- as well as the classics: golf, alcoholism, and communist revolution -- The Little Red Book has become an ubiquitous publisher entre into any number of worlds.

Most instructional books suffer from the same maladies: a glut of information that glosses over the critical basics. Conway's book "The Orvis Guide to Saltwater Flyfishing: 101 Tips for the Absolute Beginner" is the exact opposite, a coherent and managable amount of info with due and digestible analysis of salt nuts-and-bolts.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the spirit of P.J. O'Rourke, John Milius, and Peter Beard -- and anyone else with a penchant for journeying to effed-up regions of the world at entirely chaotic times -- we offer this relevant travel thought: No time like the present to flyfish Egypt.