Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” —Sam Keen

There certainly is an element of truth to the above quote. I’m as guilty as anyone for justifying pastimes such as “patio sitting” and “hammock sleeping” when the weather is hot and dry. In fact, it’s the relaxing nature of most of my summertime pursuits that draws me to them in the first place. But — like you — many of my pursuits are really the farthest things from what you’d call lazy.
Take my number-one choice for a hot summer day: fishing (preferably by the fly or on the salt chuck). Summer fishing conjures up images of a glassy lake, a pontoon boat and a well-place fly. Sunburn is complimentary. However, two of my most memorable trips last year were anything but lazy! When I accompanied contest winner Mike Venne during the 2008 Sportsman Fishing Derby at Shearwater Resort and Marina, near Bella Bella, BC, our best day salmon fishing was tough. We took our limits — despite two-metre swells, driving rain, howling wind and an ambient temperature that suggested December over July. The day ended with a high-five for a job well done and a hot meal well earned. Lazy? Yeah right!
Or, consider my late summer trip to the Arctic (which readers may remember from the article “The Arctic Char Club,” Jan/Feb 2009). When I described fishing on Nunavut’s Tree River as “one part adventure race,” I was not vying for a laugh. Trudging through the tundra, gear on my back, over slimy rocks, brambles and mud-slick embankments made sleep come easy each night. We worked for those char, you better believe it. And we worked hard. I needed a vacation from that vacation.
I think we outdoorsmen are the hardest working recreationists out there. And compared to some readers, I’m downright lazy. I spoke to a reader last fall that was prepping for a 56-day hunt for grizzly bears in Northern British Columbia. Almost two months in the back forty! Spending a week at a northern fishing lodge seems “cute” by comparison.
But even the simplest of our pastimes have require and element of toughness. A day spent firing arrows, for example, or bullets for that matter, at the local range; hiking up and down a trout stream; scouting your hunt area for the fall. This stuff can be a workout! It may be why I like to eat the fish I catch — I need the protein.
From the staff at Sportsman, I wish you a great summer — no matter what “respectable” pastime you choose.
And for those of you who see summer as simply the months between you and hunting season — make sure to pick up our July/August issue (on stands June 22). We’ve got everything you need to get fired up for fall. Flip to page 14 for Brad Fenson’s roundup of 2009’s best hunting gear — 15 items to help put meat in your freezer. Speaking of meat, moose and elk hunters should flip to pages 24 and 28, ASAP. We’ve got two fantastic articles on calling and stalking Canada’s mighty bulls.
If you prefer to look up when you hunt, Kevin Wilson’s article on the lure of duck hunting (page 33) is purpose-built for you. And if you prefer to look down — from a tree stand, that is — W.P. Williamson’s “Beginner Bow Hunting” will get you pointed in the right direction, whether this year is to be your first time with a bow or not.
Finally, I’d like to introduce a name well known in the fishing community, but new to Sportsman: Phil Rowley. One of Canada’s premier fly fishermen, Rowley has put together a wonderful article on fly fishing for walleye in that issue. Yes, I said walleye. It’s a must read.
In fact — all of these articles are the perfect companions for some respectable summer laziness. Sit back and enjoy — you’ve got a “tough” fall ahead of you! editor@westernsportsman.com

Online fishing articles: http://acrossandabroad.com/tag/fishing/