NEW YORK — Celebrated author Frank Anthony, known for drawing metaphorical connections between life and fly fishing, has made a bold claim in a manuscript he recently submitted to The Journal of Philosophy. Contrary to Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy—where the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is the number 42—Mr. Anthony insists it is a pink center-lock strike indicator and is adamant about proving it.
Critics and supporters alike are baffled and intrigued by Mr. Anthony’s theory, which links the aerodynamics, color, and buoyancy of the pink center-lock strike indicator to the metaphysical concepts of forever, God, sunshine, and love.
“Balance, connections, buoyancy, and presence in the moment are essential for indicator fishing and understanding the universe itself,” Mr. Anthony explained. Whereas avid anglers have flocked to stores, causing an unexpected spike in sales of pink center-lock strike indicators across the country, this claim has raised ungroomed eyebrows in the philosophical community.
Dr. Helena Miers, a philosophy professor at Columbia University, while skeptical, finds the notion stimulating. “The approach is unconventional, but it’s certainly thought-provoking. We must consider all perspectives, however unusual they may appear, in our quest to understand the profound question of life, the universe, and everything.” Meanwhile, Montana fishing guide Jimmy Brooks tweeted, “I don’t know about the meaning of life, but after switching to pink center-lock indicators, my clients are boating more fish.”
The debate has transcended academic circles, igniting a cultural phenomenon dubbed the “Pink Center-Lock Indicator Movement.” Social media has exploded with hashtags like #RethinkPink and #FishingForAnswers, with individuals sharing examples of how the pink center-lock strike indicators have supposedly brought clarity and purpose to their lives. One entrepreneur has already launched an “enlightened” fishing apparel line featuring the iconic pink indicator.
The scientific community has also joined the debate. Dr. Richard Langley, a physicist known for his work on particle theory, humorously remarked, “While we cannot currently confirm that a strike indicator can unlock the secrets of the universe, Mr. Anthony’s theory is a delightful reminder of how mysterious and interconnected our world is. Plus, it certainly doesn’t violate any known laws of physics . . . yet.”
The American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vermont, has announced the first annual “Unlocking the Universe Through Fly Fishing” symposium in 2025, featuring Frank Anthony as the keynote speaker.
When asked to comment on how his theory came to be, Mr. Anthony said, “Before I began writing my fly fishing books—which have always been about deeper subjects than fly fishing—my Wall Street career taught me to find answers to difficult questions through metaphors most people don’t see. Writing fly fishing books helped strengthen that skill—or gift—as many people tell me I have. When you think about it, how could a pink center-lock strike indicator just happen? Wouldn’t it have to be the answer to some deeper question?”
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