Back when I fished only muskies, I went north with 19 musky anglers, all men and a few quite accomplished. For anglers other than @T-Billy who launches and catches multiple muskies, you can launch and not catch a single musky, but you're likely to see some, as they're curious and fearless and will follow lures. So, when we all gathered in the evening, we'd tell stories of fish boated and fish that followed and the latter stories were nearly as exciting as the former. I was the only professional angler and storyteller in the group, but several of the guys told stories on a professional-grade level. I think this was because successful musky anglers have to be oh-so-observant and successful writers have to be the same.

Of course, you can steadily catch fine bass and be bereft of writing skill, but good catching and good writing are sometimes paired. For example, Glenn's videos showcase both his angling acumen and his precision and concision with words (So many of the YouTube angling videos strike me as fatty.). I enjoy @pdxfisher's witty titles and marvel at his detailed recountings. @Lottabass also entices us with his titles and Clayton also has a writer's muscular memory. Russ's powers of observation come through in his photos. In your angling lives, have you met, either in person or on paper, skilled bass wrasslers who could also wrangle words? If so, do tell!

Yes, Katie. YOU!

@Swamp Girl your writing, pictures and fishing are all top shelf and captivating. The guy I fish with now, @Mjchaeljarvisfishing ,has a great attention to detail and he regales me with stories all day while we are out fishing toggether.

My writing career started with Yamamoto over 25 years ago. I was lucky enough to have a Pro Staff handler who was a professional writer (she now has her own foodie blog and website in the northwest Portland area called Crunch Creative). She transitioned out of Yamamoto when the GSM buyout took place. I gave her full editorial authority over my articles and she would always make corrections, edits and suggestions on my submissions and tell me why. Whatever natural writing talent I had was greatly improved by her. As you implied, it’s not as easy as it sounds and if you cannot write effectively, it is painfully obvious. It’s kinda like when I first started guiding, my experienced established long time guide partner told me it isn’t important if you never put another fish in the boat as long as your clients have a good time whatever the trip outcome. It’s the same with writing, you need to make it enjoyable no matter the subject.

I'm getting betterer at bass fishing, still mangling the language

Before the social media boom when anglers offered versions of their fishing experiences solely in print, I enjoyed reading and learned a lot from Al Linder, Doug Stange, Larry Dahlberg and Mark Zona..

Since then, and on this forum, the same can be said for a number of members.

Turning the clock back a bit, I was always a fan of @everythingthatswims and @Fish Chris Topics. Can not over look the contributions by @WRB-2.0 and @Team9nine . For in depth and entertaining derby reports @Bluebasser86 are must reads for me. And under the category of 'against all odds' @pdxfisher has inspired me in many ways.

Thank you all

A-Jay

Thanks for the honorable mention Katie, but while I have my share of multiple muskie days, skunkings are not uncommon for me at all, and I sometimes go multiple days without a fish, especially in the spring.

The challenge is one of the things I like most about fishing for them. The follows and boat side strikes in the 8 get the blood pumping like no other fish for me.

So true! A good fishing story is no different than a good drama or comedy and being able to tell it well is a well-honed skill like any other.

In addition to observation, excellent anglers and writers share a woodshed mentality. Both pursuits require repetition, tolerance for consistent failure, and a burning need to improve. Musicians are this way as well. I used to practice guitar eight hours a day, then I went to school for literature and wrote that much a day, and I now fish with the same fervor --responsibilities allowing.

I don't personally know any excellent anglers who write. Outdoor Life scratches that itch for me with the classic articles they're surfacing on their website consistently. I also collect angling books and essays.

8 minutes ago, Rucksack said:

Outdoor Life scratches that itch for me with the classic articles they're surfacing on their website consistently.

I once spoke to a Field & Stream editor who said that they wished they could still write those classic articles, but that their readership preferred "25 Surefire Ways to Catch Big Bass."

10 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

I once spoke to a Field & Stream editor who said that they wished they could still write those classic articles, but that their readership preferred "25 Surefire Ways to Catch Big Bass."

That's a bummer to hear. The path forward there might be somebody opening up a substack dedicated to long form angling adventure writing and essays. It feels like there is a niche, but just not a big enough one to support a large publication's operating costs.

My day job eats up most of my creative energy or I'd do it myself. I've done substack before. It's exhausting.

I may not be much of a writer, or a fisherman, but I can BS as well as the best.

5 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I may not be much of a writer, or a fisherman, but I can BS as well as the best.

You're Bass Resource's Patrick McManus!

I envy those of you that can write well. I wish I could put into words what I see and feel when I go out fishing or just exploring. I feel I am very observant when I fish, I notice gator slides, that red eared slider balanced on that log. Even sounds or the lack of it, which kinda puts me on edge. The smells of a nature, something blooming drifting along the river or the petting zoo smell when wildlife is near.

When I try to put it words, it never comes across like I was experiencing at that moment.

Hats off, with a sincere bow to those of you that can and thanks for sharing.

29 minutes ago, GRiver said:

When I try to put it words, it never comes across like I was experiencing at that moment.

You just did. Here:

30 minutes ago, GRiver said:

I notice gator slides, that red eared slider balanced on that log. Even sounds or the lack of it, which kinda puts me on edge. The smells of a nature, something blooming drifting along the river or the petting zoo smell when wildlife is near.

I envy those who can paint a picture with words….I lean more toward either excessively literal or trying to extract a laugh out of it.

It seems these days writing is becoming a lost art, AI stuff ruining creativity.

Being old, remembering the only way of getting information was the written word.Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Field and Stream and Fur Fish and Game.

Growing up a big thing was TV, the Flying Fisherman with Gadabout Gaddis, then American Sportsman with Curt Gowdy.

Then came Fishing Facts which for me was a revelation of the how and why of fishing introducing me to Buck Perry.

Charlie Brewer and his light tackle do nothing approach resonated with me.

In-Fisherman followed with a scientific approach to fishing.

Saltwater Sportsman with Frank Woolner and Hal Lyman were another when I got the salt bug.

Many contributors here have been mentioned and writers in magazines too, I'll add Rich Zaleski to the mix.

I was first drawn to pursue bass angling after reading a book of short stories about the subject back in the 60's. . . . . You know, back when the Goodyear blimp and possibly a few pterodactyls still freely roamed the smog-choked skies of my suburban Los Angeles neighborhood.