Edward Abbey, aka Cactus Ed

Edward Abbey, aka Cactus Ed

Back in 2018, I did a post on Edward Abbey’s funeral, if you want to call it that. No hearse, no flowers, no singing. Four friends threw his body in a pickup and drove off into the remotest parts of New Mexico, to bury him in an unmarked, secret grave. It was the way Abbey’s wanted it to be.

Photo credit: Kirk McKay LA Times

That post has never been popular, and yet I firmly believe Ed Abbey, aka Cactus Ed, richly deserves a follow-up. He may well be the most important environmentalist of the last century. During his life he was called a great many things – an anarchist, arrogant, an iconoclast, confrontational, controversial, shy, a racist, a misogynist, misanthropic, a loner, a drunk, a desert rat, a gifted writer, a visionary, profoundly insightful, bitingly sarcastic, incendiary, awe-inspiring, fearless, untamable, forever ready to fire a salvo across your bow, and forever devoted to our planet.

Desert Solitaire ( A Season in the Wilderness) is his most widely loved book. Published in 1968 by McGraw Hill, it chronicles Cactus Ed’s time as park ranger in Utah’s Arch National Monument. Living in a trailer with frying pan, bacon, eggs, mice, a British Webley 45 revolver, and a rattlesnake under the front steps, Abbey reveals the beauty and spirit of the desert. Brilliantly done, the New Yorker called it “An American Master Piece, A Forceful Encounter with a man of Character and Courage”. The New York Times reviewer called it “Like a ride on a bucking bronco….deeply poetic… set in lean racing prose…of power and beauty”

Is your interest perked? You can find a paperback at a reasonable price – ten bucks? On the other hand, a first edition, hardbound with dust jacket, could go anywhere from $500 to $3,000, depending on condition and whether it’s a first or later printing. I have never seen a signed first edition, for sale. Does it exist?

 

 

 

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A Modified Kwan

A Modified Kwan

A Modified Kwan

The Kwan is an excellent flats fly -ready for bonefish, redfish, snook and spotted seatrout. It was developed by Pat Dorsey, a Colorado guide and pro tyer for Umpqua. To my eye, design wise it is a Swiss Army Knife style fly, intended to mimic crabs, shrimp or baitfish, while borrowing from the Borski Slider, the Merkin and the Tarpon Toad. Did I leave anyone out?

When I live in southern Florida, I use the Kwan strictly as a shrimp pattern for redfish. To that end, I tied a modified Kwan, one to suit my needs. Most notably I removed the Merkin type body. It was not needed to mimic a shrimp and was a pain in the ass to tie. Good riddens. Next, I added rubber legs. They are deadly. Love them. But note where I tied them in. Why forward? For two reasons. When tied to the rear, the rubber legs tended to stick to the tail, killing the action. Moreover, the legs were prone to damage, often breaking off after a fish are two.  Up front, the legs offered more wiggle, more action. And if they break, they are easy to replace at the vise. How’s them apples?

For the record, the modified Kwan shown above was tied on a size 2# Mustad Big Game hook, 2x/STD. The tail is sand colored Pseudo Hair, striped with a black marker. Those are EP “eyes”, natural. The body is built up tan thread covered by Bills Bodi Braid.  Which got a coat of Sally Hansen. The legs are mixed Hareline Root Beer and Grizzly. Wanting it to land softly I typically added no weight. Still I did have some in my box with either tiny dumb bell or bead chain eyes.

PS I forgot the damn weed guard, but I do recommend them. Twenty-pound mono does the trick.  And I have at times tied this fly with a pale pink body or a pale green.

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Bluefish have Moxie

Bluefish have Moxie

It’s odd not having bluefish around. Once upon a time, they were ubiquitous, blitzing in midmorning on running tide, ripping up schools of bait, birds circling, blood in the water. Man, their energy drove the fishing.

In my neck of woods, they were hottest back in late 1980’s and early 1990’s, fading in 1995. By June, you always carried a good number of flies with shock tippets. Forget 40 pound mono! Big blues sliced through that. Yeah you might get lucky and land one, but the next blue cut you off.  I used solid 60 pound tobacco colored wire, secured with a hay-wire twist. Pain in the ass, but mandatory. 

Hell under an summer moon, you could tangle with blues dogs into the teens. I mean it. What a war. The photo up top comes from that early era, decent double digit blue on a popper, with my old Winston fiberglass 10-weight rod. Note my shiny new fly reel. LOL About a year later a blue of 17 pounds destroyed it. Bent the handle over 45 degrees. And forced the spool to rub hard against the frame. Had to trash it. Blues have moxie.

 

 

 

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Even Small Boats Get Loved

Even Small Boats Get Loved

Some captain spends hours poring over product catalogues, searching the internet, and combing the aisles at the boat store. They’re forever wanting to upgrade, make things bigger, shinier, better. Understandable. This boat’s captain, however, isn’t one of them. Now that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care for his beloved water chariot. Look at the ropes; he is never letting his baby get away. Even small boats get loved.

Overall, he must be a laid-back dude. I imagine in his house is a poster of the late Baba Ram Dass, extorting him to accept life as it is, remain calm, make no fool hearty ego driven decisions, live in the here and now. Instrument panel? None, no fuse block required. Yeah, yeah, there is a cup holder, but don’t hold that against him. Trust me, he is keeping life simple, keeping Karma aligned with Dharma. And check out that captain’s seat. No pain, no gain. At first I figured the red & white object on the green chair was his cushion. On closer inspection it turned out to be a old pizza box. Well, no matter what we think of this vintage vessel, rest assured. When the captain walks down the dock, joint hanging off his lip, and sees his Crestliner awaiting, he stops and grins from ear to ear. Even small boats get loved.

 

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Keeping an Eye on Bobby Popovics’ Passing

Keeping an Eye on Bobby Popovics’ Passing

Here is a bit of an update on the events surround Bobby Popovics’ tragic passing. As many know, he died on November 1, 2024, from severe injuries sustained after being hit by a car as he crossed the road on September 23. A well-attended, memorial service was held in Toms River, New Jersey on November 11 2024, Veterans Day.

The driver of the car, Genell Mcinaw, 50, of Seaside Park, was traveling south on the Boulevard in Seaside Heights, when she hit Bobby, near the intersection of Dupont Avenue. She left the scene. Her blood alcohol level was later measured .187, twice the legal limit of .08.  Genell surrender to police on November 4, 2024.  And has since been charged with Vehicular Homicide, Strict Liability Vehicular Homicide and Knowingly Leaving the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash Resulting in Death. At present she is released from pretrial detention and not allowed to operate a vehicle. As best I know, no trial date has been set. If I learn of one, I’ll post it.

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