In the past I used to have a bucket list of places around the country that I still wanted to fish. That bucket grew into fifty-five gallon drum when adding desirable destinations from around the world to cast for exotic species one could only dream about. Unfortunately, however, time and circumstances have gotten the best of me, and now it seems the most I can hope to accomplish from a fishing trip standpoint is a “tin-can” list of modest user-friendly places to explore.

The one merciful aspect of reaching a certain age is that now I can enjoy the vicarious thrill of reading about angling ventures more than ever. Some stories are about far-away places, but many are close-to-home tales written by anglers influenced by the familiar surroundings that have touched their lives significantly in a region where they have spent a lifetime. One such book that I have recently finished is RiverBank Memories by Mike Watts. Mike is a dedicated conservationist and a free-lance writer who has taught fly fishing at Clemson University for over two decades. For several years he has also published an online website devoted to posting stories and articles from writers around the country who desire to share their talents and insights to a broader audience. Check out: riversandfeathers.com Personally, I have posted a couple of my pieces on Mike’s unique site.