Author: Eric Silfen
Brown Trout and the Delaware River
With John driving and Ricky riding shotgun, the 38 mile trip along NY Route 97 from Cochecton, NY to the West Branch Angler & Resort above Hancock takes an hour. Located about 5 miles south of the Cannonville Reservoir and dam, the West Branch Angler & Resort is situated on the West Branch of the …...
The Otter Creek Classic
By himself, Ricky drives through the Green Mountain National Forest towards Middlebury, Vermont. Leaving U.S. Route 89 at Royalton, he travels west along VT-Route 107, passes by the old Vermont Castings factory, and through the towns of Bethel and Gaysville. At Stockbridge, Ricky journeys along VT-Route 100, past the Liberty Hill Farm,...
Two Tales of False Albacore
It is 1 PM. The sky is dark. The air is chilly. The Southwest wind is damp. Puffy clouds cover the Sun while displaying various shades of grey. The waters are a deep blue-green and choppy. Alone, Ricky guides the Pilar II from the Warren’s Landing mooring field; between the red and green channel markers; …...
Schoolies Among The Creeks
Nantucket Island is tiny; crescent-shaped; isolated; sitting off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Thirty miles from the town of Hyannis, the Island can be reached by private boat, by public ferry, or by plane. Together with the smaller islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, the Town and County of Nantucket is formed. The name Nantucket...
The Hunt for Bonefish
Ricky’s airplane trip from Boston to New Providence is packed; filled with numerous couples that seem to know each other. The flight is 3½ hours; non-stop to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport. Ricky has made the journey many times; from Boston’s Logan and New York’s John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Newark’s Liberty...
Tarpon Among the Mangroves
On Ambergris Caye, the sun rises at 5:50 AM and sets at 6:15 PM; the same time, every day. Each dark morning, Ricky peers at the docks from behind his living room curtains to judge the wind and the weather. From the weather he learns if he should carry a rain jacket? If the sun’s …...
The Rip and the Harbor
To my brother Michael; who once said, “Rick. Learn to fly fish. It is something we can do together.” It is a clear and calm, mid-August day. The tide is low, and the wind blows from the southwest. The brothers Michael and Ricky decide to pack-up the Pilar II and hunt for striped bass. The …...
Rainbow Trout in Blackfeet Country
It is dark and cold. Ricky slides from under the covers, into Phil’s guest bath to clean-up, then wanders into the cabin’s living space. The dress will be longs and longs, heavy sweater and waterproof jacket, waders, and boots. Phil is awake. The lights are on. The cast iron stove is crackling with burning larch wood …...
