Lou DiGena of the Fly & Fin blog is the subject of today’s “Catching Up With…” article. Lou is one of those guys that is multi-talented, in addition to being a well-rounded fly angler (and early adopter of tenkara). During the blogging heyday, Lou spent a great amount of time posting about his fishing outings and fly tying. As a matter of fact, the fly tying is where his blog really shined, and since it’s still up and running, I highly recommend you checking out his back catalog of tying related posts.
It think I first crossed paths with Lou when he won one of the first giveaways I hosted on Troutrageous!, a sunglasses giveaway sponsored by Hobie Eyewear.
In the years that followed, I bumped into Lou in person several times, including almost annually at The Fly Fishing Show back when it used to be in Somerset, NJ, as well as at a few Tenkara USA Summits.
I have a hazy recollection of drinking moonshine with Lou, Bart Lombardo, & Anthony Naples one of the evenings of the 2013 Virginia Summit, followed by a greasy breakfast at Waffle House the next morning to shake off some of the cobwebs.
Enough reminiscing… now, let’s catch up with Lou DiGena…
Lou, what have you been up to over the last ten or so years?
First, Mike, thanks for including me in the “Catching Up With…” series on Troutrageous!
Like most, I have been running on auto-pilot for the last decade, dealing with home, family, and personal issues. Outside the pandemic, there are no notable highs or lows, just everyday life. During that time, I saw my boys navigate high school and college, moving out and making their way in the world. I miss them, but I don’t miss driving them everywhere when they lived at home. I’m proud that they are independent and on their adventures.
Professionally, it is more of the same. Time flies, and I’ve marked 31 years of teaching at St. John’s University (wow). I still make art, exhibit, and play with cameras and computers.
On the fishing side, I am still active. I fish when I can, but not as much as I would like (life gets in the way). My Blog, Fly & Fin, is still there but needs attention. I’m a regular at The Fly Fishing Show (Northeast) and International Fly Tying Symposium, tying flies, giving presentations, and teaching fly tying. Also, I’m on the pro-staff for brands I love and use. Regal Vise, Solarez, and Ewing Hackle, to name a few.
Two high points during that time are being recognized, like you, as an outstanding tenkara ambassador at Tenkara USA‘s 10th anniversary and by Rob Giannino on his Fly Fishing Journeys podcast.
Do you miss the fishing blogging community at all? Have you kept in touch with anyone from that bygone era?
Yes, I frequently miss blogging and writing about all aspects of fly fishing.
Short-form social media is fracturing my and our attention. Writing or videos on fly fishing and fly tying fit into two major buckets: extremely short or long. I find it hard at times to keep up.
Most of my interactions with the bloggers from the heyday are through social media, mainly Instagram and, to a lesser extent, Facebook. In the winter show season, I interact more with the community in person at the shows where we catch up.
Are you still fishy? Do you still find time to fish? If so, how often, where, and for what?
Yes, I consider myself still fishy. I do find time to fish, but sometimes life gets in the way. I’m lucky to live in an area with an excellent trout stream (temperatures permitting), two local reservoirs, and smaller ponds and streams where I can fish for trout, bass, and panfish.
I go to a fishing camp in Maine yearly and visit Montana’s Yellowstone Country when I can.
I found most people wrote their blogs as a personal journaling exercise or a creative outlet. What’s your creative outlet today?
My main creative outlet is fly tying. I love creating patterns based on my observations of the water. It is a beautiful playground that directly relates to my background in fine art. There is no finer thrill than catching a fish on a pattern you designed and made.
As I mentioned earlier, I still make art and exhibit it. I love landscape photography and integrate photography projects while fishing.
Photography and fly fishing have many crossovers, mainly being present and observing your environment. Whether backpacking with a fly rod and a 4×5 field camera in the Shenandoahs or Yellowstone National Park, I’ve always lugged a camera and fishing gear to places I love.
I’m interviewing you today. Is there anybody from outdoor blogging’s past you think I should track down and interview next?
You should interview Tom Sadler from Middle River Dispatches. I know Tom is still active in the outdoor community and guides for Mossy Creek Fly Fishing. It would be nice to read his reflections on the last ten years.
Is there anything you’d like to add that I didn’t ask you?
I still love tenkara and fish tenkara. It’s one of the best tools for presenting flies to stream-weary trout. Nothing is better than walking the bank of the Madison River (Wade section) and picking off big trout hugging the bank.
Finally, assuming you’d want to be found, where can some of your old blog friends find you today?
The best to see what I’m up to is on the following:
- Instagram: @loudg13
- Facebook: @FlyandFin
- Blog: flyandfin.blogspot.com
- X (Twitter): @FlyandFin
- YouTube: @FlyandFin
I’m trying to increase my Instagram numbers, and I would appreciate it if your audience could follow me there, (@loudg13).
Many thanks to Lou DiGena 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.