The Trout Underground has been a truckload of fun; a community of wry, intelligent commenters has sprung up, and it allows me to indulge my compulsion to write about something I love.

Frankly, I'd like to see others afforded the same opportunity, so you're witness to the start of something new and interesting -- The Fly Fishing Underground's Writer's Network. (sfx: ignite the fireworks)

It will eventually become a blog network for fly fishing writers, and I'll explain the details further down this post. For now, say "hello" to the first new blog -- Singlebarbed.com.

It's the fevered ramblings of none other than Everyday Underground Commenter Kbarton, who test-flew a free blog under the Ripefish.com banner. He decided he liked it enough to try it for real, and here we are -- welcoming another witty, interesting blog to the mix.

What's the Fly Fishing Underground Writer's Network?

The Trout Underground has been a passion of mine for almost two years. While I started it with the intention of being nothing more than a quirky Web site, the switch to blog software opened my eyes.

Blogs are affordable, easy-to-use, wholly delicious electronic publishing platforms. Couple the efficiency of blogs with the realization that fly fishing is a tiny industry, and I saw either a burning need or an opportunity (I'll let history decide).

I believe there are a lot of smart, kickass fly fishing writers out there who don't want to write a book, or blast out the how-to/gear/destination articles sought by magazines.

I've long held the goal of forming an online writer's community focused on a shared passion, and the Underground's Writer's Network is the first manifestation of that.

What's Next?

Over time, we'll be adding other writers -- both those we find, and those who contact us. The deal is this: we set up and run the blog (and if you're serious about blogging, the free blogs don't really cut it), add our expertise to the mix, and everyone supports each other.

Down the line, I plan to launch a weekly "best of" e-newsletter, and yes, there's even the lure of ad revenues. Nobody will be getting rich, but it doesn't take many ads to put what most fly fishing magazines pay into perspective.

Along the way, we'll have a lot of fun. I think assembling a squad of insightful, intelligent writers is a lot like chemistry lab in high school; you never quite know what's going to happen, but it since involves chemistry, energy, and the potential for an explosion, it's gonna be interesting.

More to come, Undergrounders. More to come. See you on the Internet, Tom Chandler.

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