A Fish Is A Fish. Is A Fish. Right?

A fish.....


is a fish......


IS A FISH.....


is a fish.....


is a fish.....


Is a fish.....


RIGHT?

The two D's.

"Ok little fishy.... Jackson and I know you got alot going against you. Floods threaten your water, people try to suffocate you with pollution, those bigger fish are ganging up on you and won't let you hang out with them, food can be scarce, and billy bob dunking worms and shit wants to keep you for dinner. Damn Poacher."

"Hang in there and eat up....learn from your mistakes, grow big and strong. Oh yeah.... and don't forget to make plenty of babies for me to obsess over. Don't worry though.... I'll put them back just Like I put you back (not without letting Jackson lick your face).... if I can set the hook."

Is it a coincidence that two big rivers with the hardest fighting trout I have ever hooked into start with the letter D? Even more of a coincidence the locals who haunt those waters refer to both of them as "THE D". THE DELAWARE. THE DESCHUTES.

Jackson and I have fished both of these Holy places. On opposite ends of the United States.... these rivers have many things in common. Any given trout can peel line off your reel. The fish grow very strong surviving in a huge river carved by a heavy current. Great dry fly action, and picky fish.

Even though they are not native.... the Delaware River Brown Trout will get the best of you if you are not on your "A" game. If you finally fool the fish (15 flies later, and 3 tippet changes after) Don't size a fish up.. until you land it. We know that 15'' brown felt like 20'' when it took line off your reel. These fish don;t nail flies.... they are picture perfect browns who SIP flies.


The Deschutes: The redside. Fighting Redside sounds better. I hope you can land the damn thing after you hook it...... but these fish know how to spit hooks while they are suspended 4 ft out of the water. Oh shit! I almost forgot..... the steelies. Yeah, they are there too...... this river will test your witts, and reward you beautifully. If you're lucky.


Jackson wants me to let you in on one little secret. I wont say too much...... my boy was working on the Delaware a summer ago and night fishing for large browns....... in between loud surface smacks in the darkness of the night (in between browns) he was catching these on the surface (with a 5 wt):


So..... put it on your list. 2 places to fly fish before you die.

Menomena.

Hey Portlanders. Show your indie roots. Menomena. Trash. Beat. Menomena. Cough,cough, coughing.

Honey Holes, Reports, Pics, and Inspiration

Hotdamn! The shacknasties are just about over. This side of the world is beginning to shake off the frost and thaw out. Everyone is dusting off the cobwebs and I am beginning to read more and more positive fishing posts. I have busted out the map book and begun searching out new water I want to explore. Forget the crowds.... I am leaning towards the days filled with a hard hike, rewarded by wreckless fish and solitude. Ok, so I will probably fish the salmonfly hatch on the D. But not before I start searching out some honey holes on lesser known water. I hope fellow bloggers, fishing boards, and friends continue their reports and postings. Cheers.

Portland, Oregon

Shelter from the storm.

Spring time in Portland=Rain. Now that things are warming up on the east side of the cascades... I have put the steelie pursuit on the backburner. In reality... I have just been jones'n to sleep in a tent again. My last to weekends have proven to be a success. Some nice weather, redsides, campfires, and good company has refueled my spirit. I guess I am not a true steelheader. I never considered myself one anyways. That does not mean I have given up.... but at this point there is no use in banging my head against a wall.



Jackson and I met up with some fellow Drakians this weekend on the D..... The fishing hasn't quite turned on yet..... but it was nice to see some sporadic hatches, and surface feeding action. What was even better, was sitting around a warm fire drinking, and shooting the shit with no worries about what I have to do at work on Monday.

Fall River

I spent the last week carefully watching the weather around Oregon. My intention was to camp with Jackson and get away for the weekend. Oh yeah..... and to fish. The truck was packed Friday night.... and by 6 am the next morning it was pointed towards Bend. The weather was predicted to be..... PERFECT. It was.


I chose to fish the fall river for one reason: I saw a picture of it in a book.... and it just looked like a river I would fall in love with. The Fall has the most amazing clarity I have ever seen in a river which scared me at first....



Order of the Day:
1) Pound the fallen trees with streamers
2) Long tippets and tiny flies



Fish On!!!!!



When camping, make sure you bring good companions:
1)Dog
2)Tasty Beer

Jackson


Scott Lays is down?


Ok... Back to the fishing:
On the second day I found a meadow portion of the Fall loaded with willing fish. They had no problems with my BWO comparadun, this water was really clear as well, but a long tippet helped my shitty presentations to the fish. I was even able to set the hook and land fish. I usually can do everything right up until the setting the hook part. But it all came together for me this weekend. Things are looking up.

The weekend went by too fast and I am now thinking ahead to my next trip. I did find an interesting portion of the river that has peaked my curiosity. A local was telling me Browns stack up below these falls during a certain time of year. It has already been marked on my calendar.

Indie....... Fly Shop

Saw this posted on the Drake today and it was very cool. I would like to have a beer with this guy.

Spring: First Push.

I got out today, in a much needed sort of way. Since I moved to Oregon I have tried to focus on learning how to catch steelies and leave the trout behind for a while. The steelies have been kicking my ass.....

After getting the skunk on a coastal stream Saturday, I called a friend to see what he was doing..... before I could ask him how he was...I was already agreeing to fish with him on sunday for redsides on the Deschutes. I can't complain.

The weather decided to cooperate and I felt the suns warmth on my face for the first time in months. The fishing was starting to feel a little more forgiving and we had plenty of opportunities. Redsides were caught, and beer got drank.

Here's my boy Wingnut in on a fish:


Damn sun felt mighty good. I was hot...... not cold. Hell yes! Even my BOY Jackson was going NUTS!!!!! Straight up true english Lab style:



Is this a day to go down in the record books???? Nope. But.....the beginning of spring gets rid of my shack nasties!!! The dries were even in effect today... some fish were rising and the BWO's, and the caddis were coming off in strong numbers!!! Attention anglers:
Make sure your boxes are filled, gear is in shape, and calendars are open because the season will be coming into shape before you know it..... shake off the frost, get prepared, and don't let the season pass you by. (I am usually not this positive... especially after trying to learn how to catch steelies, but after a warm sunny day like today..... and the future promise of consistent trout fishing, how could I resist?)

All positive bullshit aside:
The end of my day is described as seen:

Prehistoric.

That was the first thought that came to my mind when I saw this fish. My lady was swinging a streamer through a deep pool in NC and ended up whacking the biggest fish on that trip. She was the only girl fishing w/ a group of 7 guys. Nuff said. This fish has shoulders.....

Punk in Drublic

Get drunk and cuss at people. In my more destructive stages of my youth..... this was my anthem. NOFX. Fuck the straight edges. There was nothing that spoke to me better than white trash, three heebs, and a bean. Even though I have come full circle in my musical taste, and I no longer hate the hippies..... I am gonna have to break out the old album to bring a little juju my way this upcoming weekend. The upcoming weekend is looking like one of my worst opportunities to catch a fish yet. Many rivers are blown out.... and I don't quite have the Jedi knowledge of Oregon that I was convinced I had in VA. I'm starting all over again. In order to bring myself good luck:
1)Stock up on PBR
2)Wear "the" boxers
3)Put NOFX in the player and crank it loud till Sat.
4)Bust out Jackson's old collar that smells like shit
5)Don't check any more fishing reports.

Looking Up.

The lady was in town for the weekend, the fishing didn't pan out cause the river was the color of overstirred chocolate. But I didn't mind at all. We will be spending an extended weekend at the Metolius come spring and the timing will coincide with the Green drake hatch. We hope. After dropping her off at the airport... I decided to keep my mind busy by tying up some patterns for our trip to the Met. I have never fished the Met..... I am looking forward to it, and I read these are finicky fish.

I'll be kickin like a true yupee during this certain weekend cause the family will be there and my old man likes to be pampered on fishing trips. I can't complain.... moms cookin, an actuall bed in a cabin, great beer, and jackson will be getting extra attention. Life is good..... when the river is just out your front door.

Anadromous, according to Wikipedia

Here is what wikipedia had to say: (I think they left out the part about driving some people crazy)
Many types of fish undertake migrations on a regular basis, on time scales ranging from daily to annual, and with distances ranging from a few meters to thousands of kilometers. The purpose usually relates to either feeding or breeding; in some cases the reason for migration is still unknown.

Migratory fish are classified according to the following scheme:

diadromous fish travel between salt and fresh water (Greek: 'Dia' is between)
anadromous fish live in the sea mostly, breed in fresh water (Greek: 'Ana' is up)
catadromous fish live in fresh water, breed in the sea (Greek: 'Cata' is down)
amphidromous fish move between fresh and salt water during some part of life cycle, but not for breeding (Greek: 'Amphi' is both)
potamodromous fish migrate within fresh water only (Greek: 'Potamos' is river)
oceanodromous fish migrate within salt water only (Greek: 'Oceanos' is ocean)
The best-known anadromous fish are salmon, which hatch in small freshwater streams, go down to the sea and live there for several years, then return to the same streams where they were hatched, spawn, and die shortly thereafter. Salmon are capable of going hundreds of kilometers upriver, and humans must install fish ladders in dams to enable the salmon to get past. Other examples of anadromous fish are sea trout, three-spined stickleback, and shad.

Can't Sleep

I can't sleep.... my lady is coming in town and I am taking a needed day off work on Friday. Over the phone she has expressed more than once how bad she wants to get out and fish. The weather is cooperating.... rain should have these steelies turned back on and she has an ability to impress me with her skills every time.

Jackson will be so stoked..... belly rubs and extra treats are in the forecast for him. He is so tired of watching me get my ass kicked by these anadromous fish that he knows its gonna take a miracle or just a good luck charm. Well, that time has come. Even if things don't come together for me..... this is a time where I really mean... "it was just good to get out".

Partner in Crime.

REASONS TO GET A DOG:
-They will NEVER turn their back on you..... loyalty thru and thru.
-You don't have to drink alone anymore.....
-If someone is in your spot on the river.... let ol' Jackson come thru and make sure they leave.
-They make a great audience when your playing a fish.
-Provide warmth on cold nights in the tent.
-You don't have to mark your territory anymore.... Jackson will lift a leg and do it for you.
-Vacuum.... they'll eat anything you don't want.
-Alarm clock..... if you drank too much the night before and you wanna wake up early and hit the river.... (this works especially well in a small tent)
-Pillow
-They think you are honestly a good person.
-Hiking that extra mile does not bother them.
-Another reason to get out.
-Your best friend.
-

First Person.

I actually found myself rooting for this guy towards the end.

Fog.

I don't know what draws me to it..... but hearing rises and not being able to see the fish through a thick fog sends shivers down my spine.

The Cribs.

I saw this band open for Deathcab and Franz Ferdinand. They stole the show with drunk antics and pure stage destruction.

Portland. Beertown USA?

Since my recent move to PDX I have decide to learn me up on a few things. Portland has challenged me in many ways. I can now say that I welcome the rain.... it completes a necessary cycle. But I must note 2 important things I have decided to focus on:
1.Anadromous fish.
2.Oregon Brews.

The fishing has toyed w/ my emotions and the learning curve has tested my wits. Its like learning how to fish all over again. I love it.

The beer.... it has been nicer to me. I still enjoy the PBR and keep it in my fridge religiously... but the oregon brews are the best I have had. This city seems to be rooted in DIY and local pride. Every purchase I make at the beer store has me searching for something new... but it must be made in Oregon. My only requirement.
Props:
-Bridgeport IPA
-Amnesia ESB
-McMenamins Terminator
-Deschutes Brewery Mirrorpond
-Full Sail Wassail
-Rogue Dead Guy Ale & Hazelnut Brown Nectar

So many more......

She throws a pretty loop. A tight one.

It should come as no surprise that my greatest memory in life involves fly fishing. Don't be fooled by my rhetoric because this is not a story about fishing, but rather a reflection back to when the earth stopped spinnning for a few hours allowing me to enjoy a life defining moment with a beautiful girl.

Pre-Jackson era, spring break 2005: My friends could not understand why I decided to go on an extended road trip w/ my girlfriend to fish. They would rather go to the MTV infested cancun in search of superficial pleasure. Not me, it was my girl's idea to check out some rivers in Southern VA, TN, and SC. Not gonna argue. We covered it all.... tailwaters, medium sized freestones, and mountain streams with wild jewels. Brookies, rainbows, and browns.


It is still etched in my mind. Burnt inside my head..... the picture weighs heavy and unforgettable. On one of our stops... we chose the Chatooga river in SC. For EARLY spring... (very early) the weather decided to cooperate and the waters were warmed by a long forgotten sun. As we were gearing up, the sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds occasionally illuminating her face. When it finally found a break.... it seemed as if the earth paused in its rotation to give life to the river. We were basking in the sun with no worries about results.

This is not a story of an epic hatch, and numbers of quality fish. Most anglers would store a day like this in the back of their minds leaving space for an episode straight out of fy rod and reel. Their deserving memories might include a tough old gnarly lunker hanging tight to an undercut bank, protected by tiny micro currents, that refused half a box of emergers until it sipped a size 18 spinner on 15 ft 6x.


Our success was not a riddle.... a simple hare's ear under an indicator started off our morning. I was not my usual selfish self. We took turns in a run 5 minutes from where we parked. It was impossible to leave this spot. The smiles on our face were glued and our laughter was unstoppable. Fish after fish, we were amazed at how much will power made up for their lack of size. 3 wt action at its best. The laughter between us stopped occasionally to land fish and spot others. If there was a heaven on earth.... this would be it.


The highlight of the day came when a fish began to rise methodically on the other bank of the river.... I could not make this cast and I doubted our chances because I was worried about putting other fish down by going after this one. She challenged my doubts by taking the 3wt and placing an impossible presentation off the edge of a far rock. Whack! Fish on!

A storm began to roll in and we knew it was time to hit the road and head out. The earth stepped back into rythm and the sun was gone. Our smiles were overrun with conversation and joy. I have never been so happy in my life. This was a message from an angel in disguise. She teaches me something new every day.... enjoy the memories and share them with the ones you love. I will always remember this day.

To the one I love.