Attitudes

I Walk Alone

The metal cleats dig into the asphalt, grinding against it with a bright metallic sound that changes tone when I step on the painted white line of the road. River water still seeps from my boots with each step. Like when I was a kid at the pool, leaving wet footprints along the concrete deck, I’m now leaving boot prints along this road… so maybe I’m not entirely alone. Earlier upriver, I paused at a movement. Startled, I froze to gather more information before reacting. Somet

Mike Sexton

Sep 9, 20253 min read

The End

On Father’s Day, my family decided to visit a privately owned wildlife park east of town. With the promise of wolves, bears, and mountain lions, I was all in. Even though the early summer heat was already here, and with the lack of shade out at the park, I knew our adventure would be short-lived, but still an adventure nonetheless. With the midday heat, if I were a bear, I wouldn’t come out for anything, not even ripe human trash. So, I ad-libbed the family and adult versions

Mike Sexton

Sep 9, 20254 min read

Deep Pool

This past year I’ve noticed something… Of all the things to be aware of, I’ve noticed my attitude change—really. Small, subtle changes that at times have caught me off guard, and other times I’ve embraced as an epiphany or just taken in stride. Growth or regression? Don’t answer that. Let’s face it: the more you fish, the better you get—or should, I hope. Also, it's the thrill of the hunt, as opposed to getting off on beating up a pod of stockers that just got planted. Let’s

Mike Sexton

Sep 9, 20255 min read

Bailing Wire and Beaver Ponds

June was weird. Lots of rain and cool temps threw off the river. Flows were still very high, and from experience I knew it would be a pain in the ass to navigate my favorite spots—and even a little dangerous. So after talking with a friend who would be with me, we agreed to postpone and keep an eye on the flows. If we could get above all the tributaries, we’d be better off—but that was a big if . I came into the shitty little A-frame we stay at every year a day early. With fl

Mike Sexton

Sep 9, 20255 min read

Quiet Pecos

Funny to look back at the last several years and take note of where I’ve fished. Some places I’ve fished more than others, some have been blown off, while others have come back as mainstays. Just like the rivers I’ve gotten to know and witnessed through their subtle changes, I admit I’ve also watched myself change—or better yet, realized it in past tense. I did have to go up a size in boots this year… or last. I can’t remember exactly when. Was it due to age and feet having a

Mike Sexton

Sep 9, 20254 min read

Lemon Heads

October—autumn—golden aspen reveal jagged spruce, willow, and cottonwood already showing their change. Dampness hangs in the air. The sun’s warmth seems not so everlasting and much more appreciated as the days are noticeably shorter, which gives me a sense of urgency. Urgency that the green grass at my feet will soon be covered in white. Above 9,000 ft, the peaks already show what’s to come. And with the white comes the dark. An anticipated time of predictions was lofting abo

Mike Sexton

Sep 9, 20256 min read