"Well, mostly I just don't have anything that important to say."
That's my response when, on the rare occasion, someone will
ask me why don't I write a book. Another reason is that I respect
books. Respect for them, and those who produce them, was
drummed into my little noggin at a very early age. Actually it was
my fathers mother who first started on me. She would read to me
when I was very young and would encourage me to try to become
a writer when I grew up. Bless old Nellie, I tried lady, but just did
not quite make it.
There might be a few exceptions; some things important enough
to write about. There was a book that impressed me just a few
years back written by a most remarkable gentleman from Chicago.
Jim Chapralis was his name and the book is
Fishing Passion.
Jim wrote so well that he could break the rules of writing, and not
get caught at it. By that I mean, most authors will fill a whole volume
with things just so they can get to the main point, the last chapter,
sometimes just the last paragraph in a book.
Jim didn't. He hid his in the next to last chapter. Not that the rest
of the book was not entertaining, informative and delightful, it most
certainly was. Even on my short list of books worth reading more
than once. I kind of stole this, but, "Some books are too valuable
to read just once". But the meat, the heavy lifting was covered under
I.C.S. The International Congress of Sportfishing. It was his dream,
his goal, yes, it was his passion.
I am here going to break several rules of writing and ethics. If you
are in any way connected to the Chicago Casting Club please let
your friends there know about this
flyanglersonline.com/features/casting/archive.php column.
I am going to try to help Jim promote his passion once again. Why?
Because I agree with him. I hope someday it can come to pass, that
someone, somewhere, at sometime can head up such an organization.
If I and other writers will keep reminding folks every so often, it
may have a chance of fruition. Without it, it won't.
Jim's idea was roughly this. We need one central organization of sportfishing.
Hunting has one, the N.R.A. We need a collective voice to get our message
out loud and clear and united. Not that each of our separate fishing and fly
fishing groups are not necessary and are not effective. They are. But we
need one collective group that covers it all. One strong, united opinion
and voice. One truly 'International Congress of Sportfishing.'
We were very honored to have known Jim and the casting world
lost a great promoter when he passed. We spent many hours
discussing fly casting and many of the other elements of fly fishing
with him. In some small way I would like to think that we might
help to carry on a bit of his message and a hope for an organization
which will represent each of us and collectively protect all of the
interests of the sportfishing world. ~ James Castwell
Fishing Passion.
Jim didn't. He hid his in the next to last chapter. Not that the rest
of the book was not entertaining, informative and delightful, it most
certainly was. Even on my short list of books worth reading more
than once. I kind of stole this, but, "Some books are too valuable
to read just once". But the meat, the heavy lifting was covered under
I.C.S. The International Congress of Sportfishing. It was his dream,
his goal, yes, it was his passion.
