Turn the Phone Around: Stories are the Anti-Selfie

For as long as I can remember, books have have had a tremendous significance in my life. They've been the source of connection, inspiration and entertainment. 

From the moment you see one on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, right through the last page turned, and for the great ones, when you decide to pick them up again -- books are at the epicenter of a culture that values ideas and stories.

They represent the best parts of our nature. They invite patience, thought, silence, an open mind, a willingness to learn and an inquisitive approach. 

To look for and pick up a book is to invest yourself not just in fleeting pleasure for entertainment's sake, or for mindless distraction, but to search and seek stories, information, and inspiration. 

So many writers, from Dave Dibenedetto to John Gierach have enhanced my understanding of the sport with color and laughter to boot.

I'd always wanted to write a book, and tried on a number of occasions making one crucial mistake: THinking that I -- I had to do something worthy of a story, accomplish something, see something, find something that would captivate people.

IT took me a long time to realize that the most interesting element in our own lives, aside from God, are the people we get the chance to meet.

About a decade ago I started compiling and creating stories about some of the most interesting, altruistic, inspired and talented anglers that I have had the chance to meet, fish with or interview.

I've shared hundreds of stories through a blog and an online magazine.

But this summer I finally had the chance to choose from those stories and pick twenty-one for a print Book: INspiring Anglers, thanks to the incredibly kind and patient editors at McFarland.

Each Chapter tells the story of an angler who has truly had an impact on his or her community and culture -- through education, guiding, artwork, writing or entertainment.

John Thelen used a T.V. Program to connect and teach anglers, Monte Burke and Steve Ramirez are master storytellers, J.R. Cooper has done it all, from tournament fishing to getting anglers with disabilities on the water... Brian KRaft has battled to protect Alaskan Wilderness, Blair Erickson has blazed a path as a collegiate Angler, Roy Bilby has forgotten about more fish than most of us will ever catch, Alan Lang has literally chased meteorites and unearthed fossils, and "Chappy" Jeremiah Catlin served our country, survived insurmountable odds, and works with veterans every day, all in the name of Jesus Christ. 

Not to mention the artwork and writing of Mark Usyk, the incredible southern charm and shark stories of Tommy Scarborough, and a guy who splits time between bahamas Bonefish and buffalo steelhead, vince tobia.

Did we mention we have the chaplain of the B.A.s.S. tour talking about the time a professional angler lost his sight, or Lindsay Agness talking about bringing veterans and women courageously battling cancer together around the water?

Oh and just in case, like us, you're fascinated by the pursuit of enormous fish, we have profiled the world-record striper fisherman (Greg Myerson) and a guy who has landed more than 60, 50-inch muskie. 

These people, some of whom I've met, and all of whom have been enormously helpful and inspiring, are the kind of people you tell other people about... because you just have to.

I'm telling you -- Read Monte Burke's books, the characters are incredible, Follow Roy Bilby's youtube channel, check out the work Jeremiah Catlin because the guy is just... THE MAN.... Thank Brian Kraft for making sure there's a fight for Alaskan Wildnerness to remain that way, try to imagine fishing the way Mike Copppola does, full wetsuit on the rocks of montauk at night, Become a better angler by watching John Thelen teach, watch Joe higgins turn paper and ink into gorgeous art, hear about Lindsay Agness bringing hope and healing with a fly rod -- if the name Michael Tougias sounds familiar, you might be thinking of the finest hours, but his book on the power of positive fishing is heartwarming,

Jillian beattie and daniel lougheed each bring tons of experience with enormous pike and muskie to round out this group of incredible human beings.
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Stories are, and always have been, at the very heart of our relationship with the sport, the beautiful planet we live on and the anglers we share it with, and these 21 were far too good to keep to myself.

the temptation in our modern culture is to follow trends and remain absorbed in an electronic device, and it's a habit that's tough to shake.

But no matter what you do next, I hope it involves others and brings you hope, and I'd be honored if the stories I've collected become part of your journey.

Gratefully
Rick