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Hey Guys!

Welcome to the 61st Issue of Guys Fishing Weekly!

Thanks for spending even just a little of your week with us. We are grateful for you!

Stay Legendary,

- The GFW Boys

Social Courage One Fly At A Time

I was nervous. I am not going to lie.

My first fly tying class. Initiation into the dark arts of fly fishing.

I am not sure why I was nervous. Everyone else in this class was new to this craft, so I wasn’t going to stand out. We were all equals.

Maybe it was my wallet yelling out at me, “uh sir, haven’t you heard from all the other fly tyers you know that this is not a good way to save money on flies?! It is an expensive hobby and we do have a family to feed.”

That is a valid point, but not worthy of nerves before even trying it.

Or maybe it was that only old people tie flies? Am I getting old? Fuck… I am old now.

None of these were reasons that I was nervous. And I knew it walking in.

I knew it before I even picked up the phone to sign up for the class.

I knew it 18 months ago, when I first found out about it, and put it off as something I would do one day.

In fact, I knew it was the exact thing that had held me back for years.

The 📫️ 

Q: Hey guys, I'm a huge fan of what you guys have going on with your annual fishing trips. I'd love to organize something similar for my own group of friends, but I'm struggling to know where to start. Do you have any tips on planning a successful fishing weekend? What do you focus on to make it memorable time for everyone involved? - Chris (Buffalo, NY)

A: There is a lot to unpack with this question because the end of it is how do you make it memorable for everybody? Finding the time to do it and selling your friends that they should take four days out of their busy life to do this, is the hardest part.

But how to make it memorable? One of the most important things in the way that ours started was making it something that everybody felt like they could accomplish. Whether it was financially, skill-wise, distance, just make it enjoyable in general.

When you get guys together, they find ways to make things memorable. But I think if you can remove a lot of the stress of, I can't afford that, I can't make time for that, I am not good enough at doing X, Y, and Z to not feel like a loser in front of everybody. If you can remove a lot of those friction points for people, that frees up a lot of mental bandwidth to make it memorable.

You could do a trip to the middle of a cornfield and fish out of a ditch if you're with guys you enjoy spending time with… it's gonna be memorable.

Best of luck, Chris. You'll make it happen.

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Quote of the Week

Trip We are Dreaming About

Snook Fishing in Costa Rica

For us here at GFW, winter has set in and the trout fishing slows down. That gives us plenty of time to daydream and plan our next adventure. You know what doesn’t slow down in the winter months? Snook fishing in Costa Rica! What better way to make good use of our time…sunshine, beautiful game fish, and time with the fellas!

What We Are Watching

Live the Stream: The Story of Joe Humphreys

In the fly fishing world, we have what we do because of those who came before us. Joe Humphreys was one of the greatest of all time, a true legend and member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. His greatness lies in his dedication to teaching. He is an icon for so many because of his love of the sport. His impact is far reaching. In his 90’s, Joe continues his legacy through teaching and casting his knowledge to people of all ages. This phenomenal documentary shows us the impact Joe has had on our sport, and well worth the watch. Joe Humphreys is a true inspiration!

What We Are Reading

Lords of the Fly

What happens when several of the world’s best fisherman come together to hunt for a world record Tarpon? You’ll have to read Lords of the Fly to find out. This one comes to us from podcast guest David Pitt @kcflatsco. David says, “It's a book about tarpon fishing, and It's fantastic. I mean, it's saltwater fishing, but the stories behind their journey in chasing world records are awesome! It's a great read.” It is now on our shelf!

From the GFW Community

(Our favorites of the week! Click to view)

One Cause to Learn About

Cast Hope

Mentorship is such an important part of any human being’s growth, especially at a young age. That’s why we want to support the people at Cast Hope. They seek to connect kids to the outdoors through the sport of fly fishing, providing mentors and guides to teach fly fishing, fly tying, environmental stewardship, and all while creating a love of the outdoors.

As the younger generation becomes more and more attached and reliant on technology, Cast Hope seeks to show young people the experience and richness a connection with the outdoors provides in life. As fishing enthusiasts, we know the importance of getting outside, but the next generation is seemingly missing out. Fly fishing is in our blood, and we want to support those who seek to pass on the legacy to the newbies.

For more info: Website | Donate

Nuggets for Nibblin’

How to Stay Grounded in the Midst of Chaos

75 Best Hobbies for Men to Live a Long Life

The Wild Fight Over Processed Food and Raw Milk

The High Price of Kids’ Parties is Out of Control

#River Thoughts

• It's super easy to permanently change your life for the worst, but not for the best. (Source: Reddit)

• The higher you go up a stairwell, the fewer germs are on the railing. (Source: Reddit)

• Imagine if they made TV remotes, console controllers, and wireless mice without removable batteries like phones have. (Source: Reddit)

• You can read more words than you can spell correctly. (Source: Reddit)

GFW Gear!

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