Blocked By Concrete...

Mountains of concrete block their way.   No passage, no quarter, firm isolation.

The wild redband rainbows of Eastern Washington are steelhead of the landlocked variety.  I can feel it in every ounce of their power when we tussle for time to time.

So I dream about what could have been with adequate fish passage.   I have a feeling it could have been amazing.

Nothing's perfect.  It's a dream of a problem that has no good solution.  We've done a great job at screwing up perfection but who knows what the next 50 years brings.

It could be great.

Fishing Industry Legend's Doppleganger....

Meet Rodney, one of our fishing buddies.

First time I met him, the thought came to me.

This is what you get when you cross angling literary legand John Gierach and Mr Walker's Cay Cronicles, Flip Pallot

The combined resemblance is uncanny.

It Will Be Cold Again....

104, 102, 103

The next three days expected high temps.   As hell's inferno is about to descend upon the Pacific Northwest, I find solace in that it will be cold again.

The blast furnace of summer will subside and the crisp mornings of fall are just around the corner.  Summer will hold on but Fall will always win.  It always does and we who love more than just tubing around on a lake will come alive at the bounty of September and October. 

Beyond that, what really keeps me going through the heat of hades is the thought of stepping into 40 degree water in December in a canyon so calm, so quiet that my soul resonates at it's highest frequency. 

It also helps that the fishing is damn good too.

So I smile at you triple digits, your days are numbered.

Thanks Dad...

For being my role model throughout my life

also for.....

Telling me hunting fishing stories every night when I was very young.  I was spellbound and remember ever story from Shocktaw Ridge

Taking me on the Salmon River when I was 9.  That overnight rafting trip was special, I saw my first shooting star and I was convinced ever rock that my mepps spinner hit was a fish.

Being my chauffeur to a million and a half soccer, baseball and basketball practice, including the horrific 6am weight lifting classes my freshman year in high school.

Being there for all my outdoor firsts, including that great and special moment when those two mulies came running down the treeline and we tagged out together.  Buck fever be damned!

Not laughing as I missed about 400 grouse when I was 13 on Rodgers Peak.  Now that was a terrible display of shooting, considering I dont think I had ever seen you miss....ever.

For telling me before every one of my baseball games when I was the starting pitcher to have fun. Just have fun.  Also for talking shit to the opposing parents.  It was hard not to laugh from the mound

Walleye fishing on Lake Roosevelt, trolling for Macs at the cabin, running down pheasants on the Palouse, adventures in deer hunting

That trip to Fernie was amazing.  Catching that first fish on the fly rod and that was that.

Being ready to roll anytime.  Drive 22 hours to the Skeena, fish the Snake in 32 degree water temps, old age be damned.

For teaching me a few tricks in advertising, even if your the last human alive who survives via fax.

I take great pride in watching the faces of my friends as they are amazed at your ability to catch fish. Getting out-fished by OMR is just normal to me.

Most of all, thanks Dad....happy father's day!

Wrapping Hairwings...

Lets temper ourselves with the realization that steelhead eat gobs of eggs, diver plugs, beads and oh yes....pink bass worms.

But on the converse, they also eat some of the most beautiful hand tied creations that can pass as works of art.

Traditional steelhead hairwings are so damn cool, and so damn effective.

My work on the vice is far from that, but the journey of getting better gives me something to shoot for.    Like the junior high kid who plays pickup basketball with the high schoolers, I have been fortunate to become friends with some of the best bug wrappers who challenge me to up my game

I cant thank them enough.

You can only go so far on your own.    That's why I love this sport so much, the best are so willing to help.

Throwback....

Dont call it a comeback, I've been here for years

Fishing has always been there, always

This Is Your Watershed...

Figure it out Oregon.

Clear cuts to the headwaters, spraying of pesticides on community drinking water.

Is this 1940?

Watch this amazing video on what citizens of Rockaway Beach are doing to help protect their watershed, and other watersheds in the future

Get on board with this initiative, by getting info via Rockaway Beach Citizens For Watershed Protection FB page

Wire For Steel...

Some metal for metal?  You bet.

Bugs like these are soon to be available at Emerald Water Anglers in Seattle.

Get some.

#PublicLandsProud

My first introduction to the legacy gift that is public land access was as a chubby 13 year old kid.  We launch our boat on the snake river and powered down to a canyon across the river in search of chuckars.

The BLM land that we had access to was immense, dynamic and beautiful.  Miles and miles of that river system was in the hands of public trust for our benefit.   Fisherman, campers, boaters, hunters...all have the ability to use these lands without cost or consideration

Do we realize how unique and special that is?

I was speaking with a friend on the east coast of Canada and I asked about salmon fishing out there as it's on my personal bucket list.  What it came down to was how much money it costs on the prime rivers and prime beats.

It's hard to even conceptualize private rivers.   In that case, he who controls the land around the river, controls the access.

Can you imagine not having access to your favorite river or seemingly endless tracts of public land?

Are you #PublicLandsProud?

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is one of the groups leading the charge to protect our access to these lands for the public benefit.

Right now they are hosting a PHOTO CONTEST using the #publiclandsproud hashtag on instagram.

I suggest you check your photos and submit, and remind yourself that we are so, so very lucky to have the access we have

ShuttleSnap

Getting shuttles dialed in on a river can be a crap shoot.    There's nothing like dropping keys to your rig in the hand of someone you dont know at a shop you've never been at and hoping your trucks in the right spot at the end of the day

Enter Shuttle Snap to simplify the system.  It's a web based app that works on all your platforms and devices allowing for a seamless transaction between folks needing a shuttle and the drivers ferrying your rig.

It's a super easy 5 step process that goes from picking river, to float, to date/time, to provider and then an other information that may be pertinent

Right now, the system is based in Montana, but other states are soon to come online.  I am excited to see the system grow as the guys who are behind this system are solid gold dudes from the fly fishing industry who do great work.

Check it out, visit SHUTTLESNAP and the next time you're on the way to the river and your rig needs a ride downriver....give them a shot.