Hello fellow Fly Fishers, My name is Jonathan Bole--a writer for SFSU's [X]Press Magazine, and I am writing an article about fly fishing Putah Creek. I am looking to capture a snapshot of the Putah Creek Fly Fishing culture; the fraternity, the code of ethics, the character, and the interesting details of fishing the creek. I do not know too much about the creek, so I am hoping some you might be willing to teach me a little about it. If anyone would like to share their views, opinions, anecdotes, information, and stories about fly fishing and the creek i would be very grateful. I believe the creek deserves a great story, and maybe some of you could help me write it.
If anyone is interested please email me at motojonas2000@yahoo.com or call (805) 796 1995.... In Person interviews would be great, but a phone interviews will suffice, also, i will be heading to the creek a handful of times over the next month with my photographer... Would anyone be willing to let us tag along and get some photos of them in action?
The article will appear in next month's [X]Press magazine, which is distributed throughout cafe's all over SF.
This is what I beleive, You write something about putah creek and then theres going to be more people on it. Do us all a favor and forget about putah creek. Thats my opinion.
I TOTALLY AGREE DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT WRITING A ARTICLE ABOUT THE CREEK !!! THE LAST TIME IT HAPPEN THERE WAS SO MUSH PRESSURE THE WHOLE WINTER ,IT WAS UNREAL SO AS A FAVOR WRITE ABOUT THE COPPER RIVER IN B.C. OR SOMETHING THANKS MOSES
...but if you are a sportsman, and have ANY respect for endangered waters, you won't write this article.
At least not right away. There are MANY more people better equipped than myself to speak on behalf of what's happening there. But know that it is a FRAGILE resource. AND it can NOT stand the pressure that an untimely, or irresponsible article could bring it.
PLEASE take the time to do your homework, and talk to the players before you publish anything, anywhere.
Have YOU ever fished this water? I have only been fishing it for a little over a year. It is special, and deserves to be properly cared for. Please due a reasonable amount of due diligence before even thinking about writing or publishing anything. A month will not get it done. You need more time than that.
As I type these lines it occurs to me that I will post this IM to the forum. I am confident that I am not alone in these sentiments. Please be a RESPONSIBLE journalist and sportsman.
MOST SINCERELY, Ed Justus
-- Edited by Lahontan at 23:19, 2008-10-11
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"You tell yourself that it will be both educational and spiritually uplifting, as all imaginative excuses for goofing off are." John Gierach, "Music of the Spheres".
In earnest to your concerns; I am a fisherman myself, and understand the importance of conservation--my article will not be an asinine endorsement for fishing Putah Creek. In fact, my primary focus is not the creek itself, but you, the fisherman. I want to explore the reasons why you all care so deeply about conservation, about sportsmanship, about nature, and about fighting to protect your sport.
In light of your distress I would take the focus off Putah Creek in particular, and place it on you. I have spoken to a few fisherman already, and realize that preservation of fisheries is the one of the cornerstones of fly-fishing culture, and therefore it would be a cornerstone of my article.
The story idea has not developed yet, it is growing more and more with your input.... I am here to tell your story, not to sell Putah Creek. If the story is: Fly-Fishermen Fight to Protect Putah Creek... then that is the story!
The [X]Press is the SFSU College Mag, it is aimed at a 18 to 25 demographic, and it is my honest opinion that few if any students are interested in fishing. They are, however, interested in exploring human nature, solidarity, preservation, and fighting adversity; i would like to write an article about these things that, hopefully, fly-fishermen embody.
I Hope i have alleviated your fears, Sincerely, Jonathan Bole
hi jonas-------a very fishy spot on the putah cr. it's a small town called monticello, i suggest you & your photographer spend an afternoon there getting to know the locals.
If you are truly interested in writing only about the culture of those that fish Putah, why not give a fictitous name instead of the actual name of the creek. Also, I believe you are WAYYYYY underestimating the the demographic of the [X]Press. My daughter is a graduate of SFSU and wrote quite a few articles as she was a staff writer/reporter. And I can tell you the job offers she has had as a result of those articles were from business people well outside the 18-25 demographic, and well outside the SFSU student body as well. You can still write a meaniful article, just don't use the actual name or location. Being vague is a literary license available to you.
