Change is . . . hard
February 12, 2009
Somebody somewhere said, “Change is good.” I’m pretty sure that person wasn’t going through change, just trying to console a buddy going through change. And while yes, change may be good for us, it’s also hard. If I can admit that it’s good, I should also be able to say out loud, to anyone within shouting range, that it’s also hard.
Our longtime, ever present, ever insightful editor, Jerry “Bubba” Puckett, has made such a change. It’s a good change, a positive change as you’ll read below in his farewell Editor’s Log. For those of you who’ve been around for the long haul, way back in ’93 when this whole Inside Line thing got started, you’ll agree with me that for the past 16 years, Bubba has been doling out and fashioning the finest fishing yarns in the business, and single-handedly making a one-man army appear to the outside world as a well-oiled and multi-faceted conglomeration of outstanding fishing material. He has been the man behind the Inside Line.
Over the years, he’s brought a great group of writers along for the ride. What our rag-taggle team lacked in pizzazz, we made up for in heart (ain’t that right, boys?). I don’t think there’s a single one of us aboard who hasn’t been schooled by Jerry or received a therapy session or two in his office. His “third leg of the milking stool” pep-talk comes to mind, personally.
Jerry’s singular goal for the Inside Line was to design a publication providing the average everyday angler (and those aspiring to bigger ponds) with the latest developments in the high tech world of top quality baits and angling techniques. The Inside Line was always about inside information – and it still is today.
It’s always been important to Jerry, first in his guiding business and then with his work on the magazine to make fishing more exciting and rewarding for everyone. It’s my goal to continue in that tradition. I know I speak for all of us here at the Inside Line, Jerry, when I say we endeavor every day to fan that flame. We’ll miss you.
Heidi Roth
Inside Line
Editor's Log
Good Afternoon, Good Evening . . . and Goodnight, All
February 12, 2009
Greetings from the ragged edge of the hinterland, the Four Corners area of New Mexico. This is truly one of the last vestiges of what was the Wild West, and to be sure that was the case hereabouts not that long ago. But aside from the colorful history of the area, admittedly much of the Four Corners is…well, ugly. In fact, some of it is butt ugly. Thankfully, these same “only a mother could love ‘em less than scenic areas” sit atop cubic dollars worth of natural resources much in demand today.
Also serving to soften the sting of the Four Corners’ desolate nature is its delightful proximity to some of the most beautiful real estate on the planet. If like me you’d like to do lunch in Durango, Colorado on the occasional Saturday afternoon it’s no problem at less than an hour’s drive, or maybe dinner and an overnighter at Ouray or Telluride inside three hours. I gotta tell you, there are worse neighborhoods in which to hang out.
It’s interesting how “things” have developed in my life – as some smart guy said, “Life is what happens as we await further developments.” I agree. Years ago the needs of my family took me away from this same rugged albeit dear to my heart environment and planted me squarely in the middle of a red rock strewn nowhere called Lake Powell.
That move led to a wonderful conglomeration of simultaneous careers as fishing guide, writer, and editor along with a morning gig as a radio talk show host. But the best part of that two decade period was the unimaginably improbable opportunity to become closely involved with two families. One of those families owned a small but growing bait manufacturing company that produced products that I depended upon totally in my guide service and tournament pursuits.
The other family consisted of, and still consists of a wonderful group of folks with whom I shared a love for fishing, and moreover, a desire to share that unbridled joy of fishing and the outdoors in general. Those were some pretty heady times, heady times indeed.
Originally it was the needs of family which set my course for Lake Powell. Twenty years later it was the needs of a friend that brought me back to the Four Corners.
It’s not without regret that I say goodbye to what was such a large chunk of the formative life experiences for my entire family, my immediate family that is. It is fortunate for me that the change I am making does not come at the price of sacrificing the friendship of those other two families. That fact makes this change more bearable.
Thank you all for playing such an amazing part in my life.
Goodbye and Good Fishin’
Jerry Puckett