Camoflage

This past weekend I bit managed to get myself out of bed early.  Decked out in full camo I headed to a spot that I like to watch birds.  It was an interesting experience noticing how the different species of birds responded to me.  The song and small birds acting like I wasn't there.  The herons and ducks however were very wary of me, the effects of hunting no doubt.  I saw an impressive number of species including an eagle (on the way home), osprey, blue jays, robins, chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, downy and pileated woodpeckers, cardinals, phoebes, red winged blackbirds, boat tailed grackles, crows, red tailed hawk, great blue herons, Canadian geese, mllard and wood ducks, hooded mergansers, mourning doves, belted kingfisher, flicker, titmice, and rusty blackbirds.

 This guy perched within ten feet for a few minutes. 

 Rusty Blackbirds were out in force.

 Freaking out upon spotting me.

 Next to the road on the long way home.

Kestrel on the long way home.

Revisit

A coupe more pics from the weekend that I really like. 

Adam in the rain

Reel in the rain

Beginners Mind

This past weekend, the opportunity to fish some water that I am semi familiar with presented itself.  I arrived prepared for many options, my car contained 5 and 6 wt single handers plus a 3 wt switch, my usual approach on this water.  At the river bank, my switch got demoted and my 6 wt was rigged with a sink tip.  This was a golden opportunity to engage in some serious streamer fishing and I was all in.  Years ago, when I guided in Alaska, streamer fishing was a mainstay of my approaches.  Truth be told I loved chucking big meat to fish, but somehow it got placed in the dust bin in the lower 48, as I tend to chase noses with dries.  Once on the water, I slowly doffed my old habits and mindsets behind and just fished what was in front of me. The river was a blank slate, I followed those inner whispers, tying on the fly that spoke to me and swam that fly at just the right speed through each pool. This "old" approach opened a whole new way of looking at the river and its finned citizens.  The day proved to be a magical one; a great time sharing water with friends, holding and photoing a few gems plucked from the mysterious depths and a rekindling of my passion for chucking big flies. 

 Just as a wall of water descended upon us

 

 Matt's first fish on a dry for the season. 

 

 Working the run

Mike working it with a smile

 First move of the snap T

 A well earned reward

clean

 Adam doesn't mind a little rain.

 

The release

Photo OP

So apparently my 14 year old son has an interest in interesting places.  He's seen some of my pictures and asked to go around and have his picture taken in some places that he liked.  It was a win win.  Spend the morning with my son, getting the opportunity to try to get some good shots of him at this stage of life and he got some pictures to post on instagram.    Here are the one's I like best.  
 

American Sweatshop

My friend Nick Pionessa recently opened his own tying business.  Nick has been tying commercially for 20 years and is a very talented fisherman, photographer and tyer.  That means that all of the flies that he designs and ties have been extensively field tested.  I have tied up a few of his patterns (All you need steelhead fly and the Peacock emerger).  Both work beautifully.  So if anyone out there needs some great flies I'd highly recommend checking out Nick's work.  Click on the image or his name to link to his site. 

Winter's Gift

Well winter finally came to town with some punch this past weekend with some brutally cold windchills.  It also provided me with the opportunity to see a bird I've longed to see but never had.  It's funny how sometimes one has to go "home"  to find a gift.  This past weekend I made the trek to my hometown to visit my brother, a life long friend and his parents.  The visit was perfect in so many ways.  My friend, Mike, asked if my brother and I wanted to take a ride to the beach to see if any Snowy Owls were around?  That was an easy one to answer, so we went for a little ride and were fortunate enough to spot two owls.  I took a ton of pictures and here a few that stood out.  I had a great time seeing everyone that I had an opportunity to visit with and as a bonus I got to visit with some other friends on the way home.  I feel grateful for the people that I have in my life  and the opportunity to see some of the gifts my hometown has to offer. 

Getting Ready

Sitting around the house due to the frigid weather and came across these pictures from this past summer.  They all involve some aspect of getting ready for some fishing.  I am of the same mindset. 

Getting ready to swing

 Getting ready to eat

 Getting ready to cast