Blood on the Sidewalk This Monday Morning

Politics Finally Bleeding into Texas’ Fly Fishing Social Order

The rebellion against traditional fly fishing appearances and mores had already begun by the time I arrived here. And while I had my times that were more wildly related to fly fishing, age and sickness had a way of putting me in my proper place over time. 

I think my place is okay, a little bit of country and a little rock-and-roll at times, but that third rail, POLITICS, has stayed and been visited elsewhere. And that same concept has gone for many leading voices in the Texas fly fishing scene. I DO NOT CONSIDER MYSELF LEADING/A LEADING VOICE.

Leading voices, in Texas fly fishing, in my opinion, are people like Alvin Dedeaux or JT VanZandt. Alvin appeals to young and old. And if you are an industry figurehead, a guide and a personality, as is Alvin, then you are, right now, faced with a true Hobson’s Choice. 

In Texas fly fishing we have a rather gigantic social divide, one that shows its face in the darkness of places, like Facebook. Now, those of you reading here can potentially agree on this one thing; Facebook is the devil’s playground. I hope that is one reason you are HERE! But over the past fifteen years, it has also become the CHEAP-OUT version of a website for thousands of fly fishing personalities, guides, consumers. Consumers, mostly older and better situated demographically, feel “safe” on Facebook (first mistake). So vendors, like fly personalities, fly fishing guides and all, were drawn in as well. But, being drawn into the devil’s playground meant not playing around in any political minefield for those of the fly fishing industry who actually mattered (I matter not).

And for me, I have my times on the devil’s playground, and I dance in the Facebook minefield, but maybe only two mornings a week. The fullness of my Texas-based opinions actually manifested itself in a private page, “Texas Blue Dots.” It is quiet there, with the exception of reposting videos and snippets from other like minds. I don’t mind the rules too well. I also post and repost political views on my own Facebook timeline. Do I suffer from it? Maybe. But I also give fair notice to “friends” who have crept in via all my fly fishing friends and the Texas Fly Caster Facebook page; I have views. They are Blue. And there’s no dumass debates. Yes, intelligent debates are welcome, but no dumasses. (dumasses should be in the dictionary by now).

AND SO I was pleasantly surprised when I saw a crack in our wall between the high profile Texas fly personality Alvin Dedeaux and the Red State – in which he finds himself completely ingrained in – on Facebook last week. Considering his lack of political opinion, the guy is truly brilliant in this regard, placing his number four truth as, “#4: Our President is a racist” shocked me, and made me wonder … where has Alvin been all these years? Yes, #4 was the last on the list, but it is progress! My only debate is the word, “Our.” That train left my station a long time ago, but still progress …

OR IS IT?

Sometimes we get the bear. Sometimes the bear gets us. Right now, the Texas bear is “TRUTH.” It took courage to lift the tiptop edge of his helmet above the ground of his foxhole. I only hope an industry leader, like Alvin Dedeaux, is starting to really stand up for truth, and speak up more often. Thank you Alvin. I know that took some courage. 

It is time to meld Texas fly fishing and the things that effect our fly fishing – LIKE TEXAS POLITICS and POLITICIANS. That is my opinion. I know, as a group, we don’t amount to much in the way of influence or power, but to stand back and say nothing, to stand by and do nothing? It is time for our leading Texas fly fishing personalities to actually LEAD, and show us you are leading in one single way – OUR environment, our Texas fly fishing environment. 

My own little activism – the Denton Greenbelt Disaster – has already been going on for many years. And yes, it has had no impact. But I show up in the batter’s box anyway, and swing away at this obvious environmental disaster. What else should I do? What else could I do? What can you do for your Texas fly fishing and recreational environment? What more can huge personalities, like Alvin Dedeaux do? Maybe we are about to find out … maybe the bear is about to clamp down.

CONCLUSION

There comes a time. Maybe the bear has picked up my scent? I am going to let the Texas politics of fly fishing simmer on the stove a bit longer, look for a breathable way in and out of these critical topics … do my own “weave” so to speak. I would say, “time will tell,” but for the problems facing Texas fly fishing right now, time is no longer our friend. If you see a TEXAS environmental or political topic that will have an effect on our group, or the future young fly fishers of Texas – feel free to speak up here! This is NOT Facebook. You are more safe and protected here than on Facebook. The best thing any Texas fly fishing personality can do for themselves is ABANDON FACEBOOK fly fishing, and get back to your own website, but who am I to talk? Just a guy with a near twenty-year-old website that is still going strong IN SPITE OF Facebook. If a few “important” Texas fly fishing personalities begin to get back to basics of their own website content, you too will be safe, and business will follow you – bigly. Courage.