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.

Bob, I'm listening.

I won't let up. Cast, mend, swing, strip, strip, step. Cast, mend, swing, strip, strip, step. My ego has been chewed up and spit out, hopelessly denied just like every cold swing that I have carefully placed in my last 4 outings. I have almost forgot what it felt like. My time will come...... and it will make all this pain feel better. I never thought I would be saying this..... we need rain.
One.