For most people of a political bent, the big takeaway from Jake Tapper’s interview of Gavin Newsom while engaged in performative fly fishing together in Montana which was aired by CNN on Monday was Newsom’s pledge to not run for president in 2028 if fellow Californian Kamala Harris decides to once again throw her hat into the presidential race. However, wildlife experts focused in on the inadvertent comedy entertainment provided by the cosplaying fly fishermen.
You can get a sense of just how hilarious such outdoorsmen found the duo by reading the opinions of a couple of them in Wyoming’s Cowboy State Daily. Reporter Clair McFarland revealed on Wednesday why many real outdoorsmen found Newsom and Tapper’s blatant act of performative fly fishing so awkward yet funny in ‘C.J. Box Says Everything About Newsom And Tapper Fly Fishing Is “Wrong”.’
A verdant Montana stream, two fly rods, and suspenseful music filled CNN’s 11-minute special this week on California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his odds of running for president.
And all Wyoming-based, New York Times bestselling author CJ Box could think when he saw a shorter, standalone clip from the interview was, “Neither one of these guys knows how to cast a fly rod.”
“They’re just throwing a line, as if they were using spinning rods,” said Box in a Wednesday phone interview, after remarking on the video via X.com. Box, 67, said he’s fly-fished for around 30 years.
He added that Newsom and Tapper shouldn’t be casting downstream, fishing shoulder to shoulder, or breaking their wrists with every cast.
“Everything about it is performative and wrong,” he said.
Fly fishing isn’t just whipping the water, but about placing the fly in a specific, tempting area for fish. The idea is to maneuver the fly so the fish sees it before it sees the line, Box said.
Another wildlife expert also weighed in on just why the Media Man and the Wannabe President appeared to be so awkward:
Noted Wyoming outdoorsman Paul Ulrich had a much stronger reaction to the video.
“Holy hell, that’s quite possibly one of the worst casts I’ve seen in my entire life,” said Ulrich. “The only thing they’re gonna catch with casts like that is perhaps each other, in the face.”
Ulrich urged Tapper and Newsom to learn to fish from a Wyoming guide.
“Do it right instead of embarrassing the entire fly fishing community across the world,” said Ulrich.
Exit Question: When does Calvin Klein release its line of Gavin Newsom Performative Fly Fishing Fashion Shirts?
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