Jobs that probably do not suck: Director of Fly Fishing

For the record, I am sure that most every job can suck from time to time.  However, we do recognize the fact that some suck less that others.   Today's example via an article from ABC news, is Captain Mark Benson and his job is Director of Fly Fishing at Grande Lakes, Orlando (a Ritz Carlton property.

"My typical day is taking guests fishing on the many lakes throughout the extensive Grande Lakes Orlando property. I consider myself fortunate to be one of the very few people to carry the Director of Fly Fishing title and to be able to share my angling experience and love of the outdoors with guests in such a beautiful place in Florida."

Check out the article via this link   Do you know someone who's job doesn't suck (and we really mean jobs that are really cool and maybe outdoors related)?   Drop us a note in the comments and let us know.

Jobs that probably don't suck...Trout TV Hostess

Wherein we realize that we have some pretty talented and cool friends in the fly fishing industry... More info soon about FlyfishMagazine contributor, Hilary Hutcheson's latest media project.

Fishing News: Talented People Edition

The internets are reporting that angling legend Pete McDonald and Uber-talented photog Tosh Brown have completed the yeoman's work on their new book about fly fishing the saltwater off the East coast. Judging by the latest post over at FishingJones.com this is one launch party we want to crash. Check out the photos here.

Tosh & Pete's Big Adventure

Photo: ToshBrown.com

Many of you may or may not know that famous and talented writer / angling type, Pete McDonald of Fishing Jones, and equally famous and talented fishing photographer / publisher, Tosh Brown are collaborating on a book. The topic is the cult like salt water fly fishing scene in the Northeast. If the work in progress is any indication this will be one for both the coffee table and the tying bench. Check it out via Tosh Brown's Photoblog

Don Barone : When Recession Bites You In The A$$

Ever since we read his first story over at ESPN we have been what amounts to fans of the work of outdoor journo Don Barone. DB has he is known in the fishing world, recently became a victim of the recession getting sliced from the mainstream media even though he was writing some of the most popular stories on the outdoor net. Don received a FlyfishMagazine.com award for having a "Job that probably did not suck" which appears to have been his undoing. Look out Joan, Brian, Lefty, and Jose. This could be the fishing equivalent of the SI cover curse.

So what does a media guy do when the media he gave his blood, sweat, and tears for tells him to take his jelly donuts and go home? He covers the sport he loves anyway, albeit doing so on his own dime, all the while writing his book "The Hula Girl Diaries" (also published online) and reaching out to his fans to help fund his adventures.

"It was suggested "in jest" by one of my several thousand bosses that. "How cool would it be for you to take a Greyhound bus to….and write about the adventure of getting there to cover the event." I passed.

I have a minivan. With a dashboard Hula Girl named, Leilani, Jill my GPS-speak "Recalculating" bitch-in-a-box and U.S. Government approved luggage: 6 white plastic United States Postal Service mail bins.
I'll be fine.
So far I'm a National Traveling Internet Columnist w/o A Travel Budget for $312.52 plus shipping (Leilani $12.99, GPS-Jill $299.53)."
I "borrowed" my luggage from Ron the mail guy. No db editorial budget line cost there.

So he hit the road and is financing his journey with the sale of dashboard hula girls doing the service of helping freshen the stinky passenger compartments of anglers all over the USA.

The prices:

$5.00 each for Hula Girls Signed by DB

$6.00 for unsigned Hula Girls

$264 for those who's name we dare not speak or it will screw up our content ads (Sea Kitten Lovers)

$9,999 for IRS Employees

Check out Don's website http://www.donbaroneoutdoors.com/ for all the details and help a brother out.

PS. Don's big into covering Bass fishing. It is OK. He does occasionally write about fly fishing. There is hope for him.

FFR Show 2008

Wherein we resisted the urge to offer to help this nice lady string up her fly rod. However, Jay Moore and Tom Chandler did manage to give her some casting advice.

Jobs that probably do not suck...

This week's edition of FlyFishMagazine.com's "Jobs that probably do not suck" is awarded to none other than ESPN and BASS outdoor writer, Don Barone. We have been following DB's well chronicled escapades for quite an while and have found him to be a talented humorist who is well qualified for the award.

For example, while I, in all my pseudo- editorial glory, am slaving away answering last minute Board of Directors questions about why the housing market stinks and builders can't pay for their lumber(they all drive new trucks you know), DB is off on a no doubt expense report rich "tour "of Southern bass fishing spots, hobnobbing with professional anglers, and dining on local delicacies (read as Jelly doughnuts and boiled peanuts). Sure Don has an occasional brush with the supernatural and only occasionally writes about fly fishing, but his story telling acumen makes his work excellent reading.

The best we can make out from our spot in the corporate ivory tower Don's job is to go places, hang out with fishermen, and let things happen to him that can be written about later. He also is affiliated with a group of self described "Bigfoot Exterminators." For these reasons we declare that his "job probably does not suck."

Check out Don's latest article at ESPN Outdoors - "Salmon, steelhead and slobber" and his own personal website Don Barone Outdoors.

Click here to see our previous picks for this prestigious award.

Editorial disclaimer - examples of jobs that I may or may not perform mentioned in these postings are in no way intended to imply that my job was anything less than a joy to perform. They are simply used for contrast purposes and all reading this should remember that it is my great co-workers who regularly read this blog who make it all worthwhile....

Jobs that probably do not suck...

Being fly fishing royalty meets our criteria for a job that probably does not suck. We are thinking an endless supply of free gear, clothes, places to fish, groupies, and no shortage of anglers who want to purchase adult beverages for you.

As for Lefty, we met him out in Denver last year and we thought he was a real nice guy. As with all the posts in this ongoing series, if your job "does not suck" please let us know about it in the comments. We might consider a career change...

Jobs that probably do not suck...

Today while taking in the view of the graveyard out my office window and working on a seemingly endless power point presentation about DSO and risk etc. I couldn't help but allow my mind to wander to the subject of jobs that probably don't suck.

Today we honor Jose Wejebe and his job as host of television's The Spanish Fly. This guy has what may be the best title for a fishing show ever, a laid back demeanor, builds airplanes in his spare time, and fishes all over the world. Jose, today we lift our tepid cup of coffee in your honor and realize that we probably need to go fishing very badly very soon.

Nominate your own person who has a "job that probably doesn't suck" via the comments.

photo via SpanishFlyTV.com (we hope Jose doesn't mind us using it)