Poetic Waxing About 2012, Or Maybe Not....

Time for me to wax poetically about another year in the books right?

Yes, it was another great year on this little ol' planet of ours.  We saw a lot of water and a lot of fish, I watched my family grow and felt ever so more comfortable in my path in life.

Yes I have an amazing wife who knows when I get that look in my eye I need to go find some flowing water.  Really, how many dudes with a crazy 2 year old boy get the opportunity to get lost in BC for 10 days.  Not many.

Speaking of the little guy, I think I am raising an O'doyle.  No matter, I love it, cant get enough of my ginormisauras.

I got another year of chasing fish with OMR.  72 and still outfishes most.

Attending IFTD in Reno opened my eyes a little more to our great industry, of which I am thankful for my little outpost in it.

More than anything, I am happy that after 500 or so posts in 4 years, there are people around to read, comment and think about what I am throwing down here.  Much appreciated there folks, much appreciated.

Here's to a great 2013.  Happy New Year!

Our Dogs Think We're Nuts....

You ever get the feeling that our dogs think we're crazy?

I imagine that if they could talk, it would go something like this....

"Ahh, guys...what the hell.  It's cold as hell outside and your standing in the water for hours and you havent thrown me a stick in god knows how long.  All there is to keep me from leaving your butt right here is the occasional dead sucker or decomposing salmon.  I think I'll roll around in the sucker for a bit just to remind you that your not paying attention to me"

"And by the way, if you'd listen up, you'd hear the covey of Chuckars up that hillside.  Dont try and fake me out by bringing a shotgun and then not going bird hunting.  I am a hunting dog remember....

Success in Reverse...

Gots to celebrate a bit, right?  Looking back through the pictures from another successful day out chasing what we love to chase the most, it still amazes me that this dood is 72, bad knee and ankle and still out-fishes about 95% of us.  Sure he has his skunks like anyone, but when the chips are down and you need a fish....dont count out the mojo of OMR.

After the tussle and bustle....the reward is in hand.  Another absolute stunner of a wild fish and although this picture doesn't show it

How in the hell did the fish see the bug?

OMR running down the man.

Hooked up.

Swinging With Flasks, Volume 2...

Sent in from loyal reader Gerald Cook...looks like a day on the winter steelhead grounds is warmed nicely with a little bit of fine whiskey.

Stay warm and stay safe!

Picture Of The Year...

When I look back on 2012 and the year we had, from a fishing perspective, this is the photo that will have defined the year.

Another year to share with OMR and our friends.  Another year of early wake up calls, monosyllabic grunts and talks as we sped towards our water of choice and hoots and hollers as someone in the crew hooked up

Our trip to the Skeena system left us wanting more and a desire to come back.  The people and the land left an indelible mark on us forever.

Our year was fun, filled with amazing stories, hilarious bloopers and a few other happenings that probably should stay out of the written word to protect the innocent. haha!

So why is this the picture of the year?

It showcases the bond between my father and I.  It shows how much we're willing to go to fish for these ocean runs.

More than anything, look at this fish.....a perfect specimen.  Cleaner than clean with perfect angular fins that show that this fish is wild born and bread.  Also, this is a monster for the river it was caught on.  They dont get much bigger in this system.

My only regret is that I didnt catch it, OMR did.  On the swing.  In 37 degree water.

I will gladly play the role of gille any day

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Andy's First Steelhead...

I couldn't be happier for a good friend of mine.  He was finally rewarded.

You see Andy is about as a proficient trout angler as you'll find.  I've watched him dissect hatches and catch the un-catch-able trout. 

Steelhead on the other hand, drive him nuts.  Time after time they've given him the middle finger, causing him to loose faith and almost abandon the sport of steel.

Each fall and winter, he gets all psyched up enough to try it again.  Trip after trip....he repeats the line

"I'd rather cross I-90 at rush hour blindfolded and naked before I go steelhead fishing again"

He was batting a flat ZERO for landed steelhead in his lifetime.

With trout fishing, there is a rhyme and a reason why a fish eats.  They've keyed in a specific bug, a specific stage of that bug, so on and so forth.   Steelhead on the other hand....well there is no rhyme or reason.  They just eat, or they dont

And that fact is why Andy was so frustrated by steelhead....yet each year he musters up the courage to go get after it again.

Finally on Thursday afternoon I got the text....

"3-4 today, lost a monster"

The best rewards take work, don't they?

5 Steps to Winter Steelheading Warmth...

Step 1--Cast large fly into large river, mend

Step 2--Mend again

Step 3--Reach into breast pocket, grab flask

Step 4--Unscrew flask while completing the swing...hope for a grab on the dangle.

Step 5--Repeat if necessary

Step 5 is usually repeated a gazillion times during the day....albeit not always with a flask in your hand, that would be dangerous.

That being said, fine whiskey on a cold winter day makes the monotony of fishless casts a lot more warm.