Writers on the Fly Celebrates 10 Years of Literary Excellence

WRITTEN BY: Lily Cutler

The tenth anniversary lineup of readers: (Again row L to R) Amanda Monthei, Bridget Moran, Greg Fitz, Jason Rolfe, Steve Duda, Will Rice, Jesse Lance Robbins, and Anne Landfield. (Entrance L to R) Jon Tobey and Nick Basaraba. Photograph by Dave McCoy

Frigid temperatures on Thursday, February 6, stored precisely nobody from attending the tenth anniversary of Writers on the Fly at Emerald Water Anglers in West Seattle. The celebration was additionally a homecoming, going down on the store the place it began in 2015. This system featured 9 hand-picked writers, who took turns on the microphone to share items of unique nonfiction prose and poetry centered across the sport. Whereas fish sometimes appeared in some tales, probably the most memorable moments touched on deeper themes.

The Phrase and the World

The brainchild of Jason Rolfe—one of many first staff employed by Emerald Water Anglers proprietor Dave McCoy—Writers on the Fly occasions have been held in additional than 30 totally different venues in Washington, Oregon, and California. The key of the occasion’s success through the years has remained the identical: the relatability and genuine really feel of each the works and their authors draw the absorbed consideration of listeners, no matter whether or not or not they fish. The tales shared usually are not heroes’ journeys, however odes to the common human experiences of affection, loss, communing with nature, and letting go of what we are able to’t management. Authors shared treasured recollections of time spent on the water with family members, contemplations on why we fish, and the way angling shapes our lives, relationships, and philosophies.

The place buzzed with a packed home and free-flowing beer on faucet. Dave McCoy and employees reworked the area to accommodate a sold-out crowd, which ranged from seasoned anglers to literary fanatics. Attendees stuffed each accessible area, keen to interact with the profound connection between fly fishing and storytelling.

Left: The sold-out crowd was enthralled by the readings. Proper: Authors Bridget Moran and Jon Tobey introduced their phrases to life. Pictures: Lily Cutler (l) and Dave McCoy.

The night featured a various lineup of readers:

• Will Rice: Recognized for his explorations of distant fishing locales, Rice shared a chunk that intertwined journey with introspection.
• Amanda Monthei: A nomadic angler and author whose storytelling is knowledgeable by her experiences as a wildland firefighter and journalist, Amanda learn a narrative in regards to the serendipitous encounters that are inclined to occur on the water and the way they typically result in lasting bonds that form and alter us in sudden methods.
• Nick Basaraba: His narrative delved into the technical intricacies of fly tying, drawing parallels to life’s complexities and the pursuit of perfection.
• Jon Tobey: Tobey’s evocative poetry and prose mirrored on the lack of a cherished accomplice, the impermanence of reminiscence, and the enduring solace of nature.
• Jesse Lance Robbins: Robbins provided a lighter contact with a narrative humorously detailing the challenges of navigating a international tradition in Japan: “Biru Kudasai,” evoked the common feeling of being an outsider whereas on his approach to the water.
• Steve Duda: The previous editor of The Flyfish Journal, Duda offered choices from his current assortment, River Songs, mixing darkish humor with contemplative musings on mortality and the unpredictable nature of rivers.
• Bridget Moran: Moran’s heartfelt tribute to a recently-passed shut relative explored the echoes of familial bonds and the therapeutic energy of water.
• Anne Landfield: A information at Emerald Water Anglers, Landfield shared a number of items, together with an account of guiding a consumer who slipped and hit her head – a joke that shortly dropped deeper into Landfield’s inside world as she associated her greater nightmares.
• Greg Fitz: Fitz’s narrative wove collectively environmental advocacy and private reflection, emphasizing the accountability anglers bear as stewards of nature. Fitz rounded out the occasion with a chunk known as “1-800-Beatdown,” bringing the viewers to rolling laughter as he learn out the choices for a hotline meant for steelhead anglers.

Sequence creator Jason Rolfe, who can also be the editor of The Flyfish Journal, displays on a decade of Writers on the Fly. Photograph: Lily Cutler

Doing Good Work

Every WOTF occasion adheres to a easy but impactful format: a collection of readers and collaboration with a non-profit group. The tenth anniversary gathering was no exception. Proceeds from the night supported the YMCA’s Bold & Gold Outdoor Leadership Program, underscoring the neighborhood’s dedication to fostering the following era of environmental stewards. Beneficiant raffle donations from supporting manufacturers like Fishpond and Patagonia provided attendees the prospect to help a worthy trigger whereas celebrating the confluence of artwork and angling. The occasion additionally acquired help from Loon Outside, Grundens, RIO, and The Flyfish Journal.

The milestone celebration was a joyful reunion of the collection, the store the place all of it started, and the neighborhood McCoy has tirelessly cultivated by means of a long time of labor bringing collectively anglers from all walks of life. Because the night concluded, conversations lingered, and so did the camaraderie. The tenth anniversary of Writers on the Fly not solely honored a decade of storytelling but in addition strengthened the enduring bond between fly fishing and the literary arts.

For these wanting to expertise future occasions or delve deeper into the collection’ wealthy historical past, extra data is out there on the official Writers on the Fly website, and to seek out out when and the place the following WOTF will likely be held, observe the official Instagram account.

Lily Cutler has been fly fishing since age 14 and might’t bear in mind when she began writing. Her skilled work focuses on historical past, language, wellness, and human-centered applied sciences. She additionally paints, performs banjo, and nonetheless sends handwritten letters in cursive.