Vincent Marinaro is the man who really inspired me to look very closely at nature through a creative lense. Vincent distilled nature down to its simplest form, he immersed himself in it like a mad man. As a craftsman this is of utmost importance. Making bamboo fly rods, fly tying, drawing, and painting are all part of my daily routine which is a reason I connect to this man deeply. Fly fishing to Vincent wasn't just a pastime it was a way of problem solving, coping, and working, it became a lifelong ritual.
Noise in the world today has a way of pulling you away from nature, it secretly robs you in many different ways. To stay grounded I often channel a handful of men that have managed to live a quieter existence focused upon what matters most, craftsmanship. These books I hold closely to my heart as I move through my life and often refer to them for comfort and affirmation. His books speak volumes about his seemingly maniacal observations, and work ethic. His obsession in understanding what makes the ultimate bamboo fly rod and what makes his flies irresistible to trout has become mine. His two books just opened larger questions in my mind. I honestly believe that this was his motivation, passing on all the nagging unanswered questions for my generation. I truly believe Vincent was a visionary genius and he broke a lot of conventional wisdom, strategies, and techniques. Vincent was a child of nature with a big heart and very busy hands.
~Clint Joseph Bova