One of my favorite fly fishing bloggers of the early 2010s was Kirk Werner, the author of the blog “Unaccomplished Angler“. While Kirk doesn’t post as frequently as he once did, you’ll find at least a few newer posts that are keeping the lights on for a journal that started all the way back in 2009.
I always appreciated that Kirk’s fishing (and adjacent) posts were mostly longer form, and he wasn’t one to simply link to an external video or post a few photos and dip. Instead, his entries had depth, creativity, and were often laced with sharp, self-deprecating wit. Reading the tales of the Firehole Rangers, a group of friends he’d travel with on an annual fishing pilgrimage to Yellowstone, were always a highlight of my visits to his site.
Speaking of writing, I was likely first introduced to Kirk and his UA blog back in 2010 a little before he released the first “Olive the Little Woolly Bugger” fly fishing-themed children’s book. He ended up authoring three of them. How cool is that?
Let’s catch up with Kirk Werner…
Kirk, what have you been up to over the last ten or so years?
First, thanks for thinking of me to participate in this trip down memory lane. Admittedly it feels somewhat akin to a reunion tour of rock bands from the 70’s that nobody remembers, with the band members propped up on stage with walkers, hooked up to oxygen tanks.
The last ten years have been a blur–the decade of my 50’s came and went so fast that it’s hard to fathom at times. On a personal level, many wonderful things have happened during that time. Seeing my 2 kids grown and being successful is very rewarding, and having been given the gift of two grandkids has been just amazing. They live very close so we get to see them often. I retired a year and a half ago so, professionally, not a lot to say there. Having the free time is amazing. The lack of daily structure is sometimes concerning (to others, not me).
Do you miss the fishing blogging community at all? Have you kept in touch with anyone from that bygone era?
I do miss the sense of comradery that was very much a part of the fly fishing blog era of yore. I met (virtually and otherwise) many really good folks through blogging. For the most part, everybody was on the same level and not trying to accomplish too much of their blogging “careers” other than to have some fun. Most of the blogs/bloggers with whom I interacted were just sharing a bit of themselves with whomever would read. I’m probably still Facebook Friends with most of the folks who had blogs although I don’t have much, if any, contact with them. I’m not very active on Facebook but the occasional sifting through the feed results in seeing some of the old, familiar faces.
Are you still fishy? Do you still find time to fish? If so, how often, where, and for what?
First, I was never fishy. Let me remind you of my blog name, which was not named as such for no reason. That said, I do still love to fish. 10-15 years ago I fished more often than I do now, despite having more time now to chase fish. I tend to take more trips and get more fishing done in a period of consecutive days, rather than fish a day here and a day there, year-round. But fishing has been a part of my life for a long time so it’s always right there, just under the surface.
I still do my annual Firehole Rangers trip to Yellowstone each year and that’s always a highlight on the calendar. In fact, we depart in a week and a half. Not much has changed about that trip in nearly 20 years, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. I also get away for a week of fishing in the Idaho backcountry each summer, which is my favorite place on earth.
The Firehole Rangers had the good fortune of visiting Kiritimati (Christmas Island) for some life-altering flats fishing a few years ago. We hope to go back in a year or two. It’s a special place. Most of the Rangers try to do a multi-day river float/fishing trip with an outfitter every couple of years. We did the Middle Fork Salmon a few years ago and are doing the Selway this year. Those trips are a blast as we wake up each day, eat breakfast, float and fish all day, eat a great dinner, drink a few beers, stay up late around a campfire and sleep under the stars (or in a tent if you prefer).
These are the opposite of DIY trips—the outfitters do almost everything for you, which is a guilty indulgence. If you’ve never shat in a “groover” you really owe it to yourself to try it some day.
I found most people wrote their blogs as a personal journaling exercise or a creative outlet. What’s your creative outlet today?
Indeed, as you noted, much of my blogging (initially anyway) was a way to create a journal of sorts about fishing trips. It started out that way, anyhow. I often veered off on tangents, but my content was still tied to fly fishing. Since then I’ve used my blog occasionally to write about other matters, but it’s not uncommon to go a year without an entry. It took a lot of energy to post weekly for all those years, but it was fun and felt effortless, and many of the bloggers were very supportive of each other. I don’t have that same energy or innate need to “create” any more.
You mentioned Olive the Little Woolly Bugger in your intro. Authoring and illustrating that series of 3 books was, in retrospect, the height of my creative career, perhaps my Magnum Opus. Unfortunately, that all came to an abrupt halt when my publisher went bankrupt in 2016. Fortunately I was able to obtain the last remaining inventory, which I gradually sold off over the next 3-4 years. I had hoped to continue the series with at least two more books, but after the publisher failed financially it took a lot of wind out of my sails. I tried but wasn’t able to find a new publisher so the Olive books faded into the rear view mirror.
Since then I haven’t done much creatively, on a personal level. That has surprised me because all through my life I was a creative person—constantly drawing, occasionally writing—I figured it was who I was and would always be. Photography has always been a love of mine and I enjoy it to this day. But it’s just a very low-level hobby. I’m at peace with things though.
I’m interviewing you today. Is there anybody from outdoor blogging’s past you think I should track down and interview next?
I’m willing to bet that several former blogging folks from back in the day would provide the same answer to this question: The Outdooress herself, Rebecca Garlock. She was a force at the time, not only with her personal blog, but also the Outdoor Blogger Network. And then she was just gone, and I don’t know of anyone who has heard from her. Another blog which I really enjoyed was Up the Poudre. Sean was a great writer and a really likable guy on a personal level. He just sort of disappeared, too. I wish Rebecca and Sean only the best in their current lives.
Is there anything you’d like to add that I didn’t ask you?
Can we talk about religion and politics? Kidding.
Finally, assuming you’d want to be found, where can some of your old blog friends find you today?
I continue to pay my hosting invoices so my blog is still up but you’re not likely to find anything of interest there unless you’re into vintage JanSport external frame backpacks (which I’ve written a bit about in recent years). I’m on the Instant Grams but there’s very little fishing content as it’s my personal account @unaccomplishedangler
Many thanks to Kirk Werner for “Catching Up With…” us today.
Post Script: If you’re wondering why I’m interviewing these random people, or just what “Catching Up With…” is all about, visit this page for a brief backstory.
One of my favorites, Kirk Werner. I always enjoyed getting a few chuckles from his post. One of the best bloggers in my opinion.