This morning I arrived at the lake, payed the daily state park fee, and started getting rigged up. As I opened the Water Master bag an image immediately formed in my head. I could vividly picture the two oars leaned in the corner of the hall closet thirty minutes away. I quickly jumped back in the truck and headed back home for the oars.
After picking up the oars and hitting the gas station I was back en-route to the lake. I pulled back into the parking area and started getting everything rigged up. I walked the boat to the waters edge and the moment the rubber hit water the wind went from zero to twenty. I stood for a second trying to make a decision on whether to deal with the wind or head back home again. The seven dollar state park fee loomed large and I decided to head into the whitecaps.
While it is always good to spend some time on the water, this morning was not full of good decision making. I arrived back home and told my wife about the wind. All she said was ,"That is what the forecast was saying." Looks like I might want to check the forecast next time.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Monday, April 2, 2012
April Fools Day
Mother Nature had her own ideas for an April's Fools joke yesterday.
This winter has been exceptionally warm in Colorado and yesterday was almost too much. A week ago I drove by a local reservoir and it was almost completely covered in ice. On the way to the river yesterday I veered off the main highway to take a quick look to see if there was enough open water for fishing. As I crested the small pass I couldn't believe my eyes. All I could see was open water. In one week the reservoir went from 90% ice to 90% water. It was truly unbelievable as this lake normally doesn't become ice free until mid to late May.
As I drove further south towards a new river I wanted to check out the thermometer in the truck kept rising. The heat of the sun had me cranking up the air conditioning to remain comfortable driving in shorts and a t-shirt. I had to periodically glance around to make sure I was still 8,000 feet high in the Rockies.
I arrived at the river and started hiking upstream. The only signs of winter were some old thin snow patches barely surviving in the shadiest, north facing places. There were other signs that made the date seem irrelevant. A few wildflowers starting to bloom in the open spaces and a dusty trail made it seem much later in the season.
After a short hike I entered the cold, off-color flows. The chill of the water felt great with the sun beating down. It felt great to cast a long line trying to get some trout to eat a streamer. I hooked a few nice trout but it was really just nice to be out on what felt like a summer day. I will remember that warmth when the fog and wind keeps the temps cool along the Strait of Juan de Fuca this upcoming summer.
I would love to say that this day of warmth was welcome after a long winter but we have not had a long winter. I remember seeing crocuses blooming before Christmas where the ground would normally be covered by multiple feet of snow. We have had warm sunny weather for what seems like the entire last month. April Fool's day was certainly the warmest day of this stretch though.
Of course, it must have been a joke as we awoke to rain and sleet this morning. Maybe it never happened.
This winter has been exceptionally warm in Colorado and yesterday was almost too much. A week ago I drove by a local reservoir and it was almost completely covered in ice. On the way to the river yesterday I veered off the main highway to take a quick look to see if there was enough open water for fishing. As I crested the small pass I couldn't believe my eyes. All I could see was open water. In one week the reservoir went from 90% ice to 90% water. It was truly unbelievable as this lake normally doesn't become ice free until mid to late May.
As I drove further south towards a new river I wanted to check out the thermometer in the truck kept rising. The heat of the sun had me cranking up the air conditioning to remain comfortable driving in shorts and a t-shirt. I had to periodically glance around to make sure I was still 8,000 feet high in the Rockies.
I arrived at the river and started hiking upstream. The only signs of winter were some old thin snow patches barely surviving in the shadiest, north facing places. There were other signs that made the date seem irrelevant. A few wildflowers starting to bloom in the open spaces and a dusty trail made it seem much later in the season.
After a short hike I entered the cold, off-color flows. The chill of the water felt great with the sun beating down. It felt great to cast a long line trying to get some trout to eat a streamer. I hooked a few nice trout but it was really just nice to be out on what felt like a summer day. I will remember that warmth when the fog and wind keeps the temps cool along the Strait of Juan de Fuca this upcoming summer.
I would love to say that this day of warmth was welcome after a long winter but we have not had a long winter. I remember seeing crocuses blooming before Christmas where the ground would normally be covered by multiple feet of snow. We have had warm sunny weather for what seems like the entire last month. April Fool's day was certainly the warmest day of this stretch though.
Of course, it must have been a joke as we awoke to rain and sleet this morning. Maybe it never happened.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Endless Greed
Saw this article in the Seattle Times
Increasing Pressure To harvest Small Fish Worries Scientists
And then I see the following advertisement that is a product based on small fish's food. We sure seem to be working hard to destroy the entire marine food chain.
Increasing Pressure To harvest Small Fish Worries Scientists
And then I see the following advertisement that is a product based on small fish's food. We sure seem to be working hard to destroy the entire marine food chain.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Why Fish?
I have non-fishing friends and family who often question why I always feel the need to bring a fly rod along on every trip outdoors. I occaionally wonder if they have a point. Is it really necessary to bring fishing gear along? Being out on the water or wandering through the forests should be enough. It really should be enough but it is not.
Walking along a river, paddling the saltwater, or watching whales feed ten miles offshore are great visual feasts but I would be missing something without fishing. First, I would likely not found any of those places had I not originally planned on going there to fish. Fishing is the reason I am there in the first place and the sights and sounds are a great side benefit. We have all struck out on fishing trips due to high water or being too early or late in regard to run timing. These trips are often memorable due to the beauty of being outside but those unforgettable days would not have existed without fishing being the driving reason for even venturing into those special places.
The greatest whale and bird watching I have ever experienced all came about in search of fish. No one ventures to this particular place to view whales and birds because it is a fishing spot that requires a long run in rough water. It is virtually a private nature preserve only seen by offshore fishermen and possibly the crewmen on a passing freighter.
Have you ever noticed the patterns in the gravel bars that the river currents create? Every stone seems stacked at the exact same angle along the entire shoreline. You wouldn't necessarily see that from any other vantage point except standing knee deep in the river swinging a fly. The backpacker hiking a riverside trail will never view the river in the same way we do spending time right next to the water and spending hours observing relatively small areas.
A non-fisherman only gets the rare glimpse of life underwater. A waterfall where salmon relentlessly jump to access spawning grounds upstream or a shallow creek with spawning fish are a few of the rare spots that one can view fish in their natural environment. We fishermen get a glimpse of that every time we hook a fish. We learn to understand currents and the way rivers move in the hopes of increasing our knowledge enough to get better at hooking fish. This gives us not only an understanding of the fish but the environment underneath the mirrored surface of the water.
In bigger waters such as the saltwater we have to pay attention to tides, currents, weather, and run timing to get the reward that often feels like an distant handshake at the end of the fly line as one feels the initial grab and first couple headshakes of a fish. Learning run timing and the type of water the fish like takes time. Like a steelheader waiting for a grab, the time spent casting and exploring the salt give us plenty of time to soak in the natural world around us. We notice things that a person standing fifty feet away on the shore wouldn't see or even think to look for.
The act of fishing brings us closer to the natural world. The closeness and understanding of natural processes gives us a perspective no non-consumptive user can have. It is like our own little secret. The park overlooking a prime fishing ground has tons of visitors that look at the same water and see the beauty right on the surface. Little do they know about the beauty lying just under the surface.
So the next time you are asked, "Do you always have to bring fishing gear?" respond with a resounding, unapologetic "Hell Yes!"
Walking along a river, paddling the saltwater, or watching whales feed ten miles offshore are great visual feasts but I would be missing something without fishing. First, I would likely not found any of those places had I not originally planned on going there to fish. Fishing is the reason I am there in the first place and the sights and sounds are a great side benefit. We have all struck out on fishing trips due to high water or being too early or late in regard to run timing. These trips are often memorable due to the beauty of being outside but those unforgettable days would not have existed without fishing being the driving reason for even venturing into those special places.
The greatest whale and bird watching I have ever experienced all came about in search of fish. No one ventures to this particular place to view whales and birds because it is a fishing spot that requires a long run in rough water. It is virtually a private nature preserve only seen by offshore fishermen and possibly the crewmen on a passing freighter.
Have you ever noticed the patterns in the gravel bars that the river currents create? Every stone seems stacked at the exact same angle along the entire shoreline. You wouldn't necessarily see that from any other vantage point except standing knee deep in the river swinging a fly. The backpacker hiking a riverside trail will never view the river in the same way we do spending time right next to the water and spending hours observing relatively small areas.
A non-fisherman only gets the rare glimpse of life underwater. A waterfall where salmon relentlessly jump to access spawning grounds upstream or a shallow creek with spawning fish are a few of the rare spots that one can view fish in their natural environment. We fishermen get a glimpse of that every time we hook a fish. We learn to understand currents and the way rivers move in the hopes of increasing our knowledge enough to get better at hooking fish. This gives us not only an understanding of the fish but the environment underneath the mirrored surface of the water.
In bigger waters such as the saltwater we have to pay attention to tides, currents, weather, and run timing to get the reward that often feels like an distant handshake at the end of the fly line as one feels the initial grab and first couple headshakes of a fish. Learning run timing and the type of water the fish like takes time. Like a steelheader waiting for a grab, the time spent casting and exploring the salt give us plenty of time to soak in the natural world around us. We notice things that a person standing fifty feet away on the shore wouldn't see or even think to look for.
The act of fishing brings us closer to the natural world. The closeness and understanding of natural processes gives us a perspective no non-consumptive user can have. It is like our own little secret. The park overlooking a prime fishing ground has tons of visitors that look at the same water and see the beauty right on the surface. Little do they know about the beauty lying just under the surface.
So the next time you are asked, "Do you always have to bring fishing gear?" respond with a resounding, unapologetic "Hell Yes!"
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Good News....Bad News
What a day.
Due to work by wild fish conservation groups the Elwha Tribe will not be planting Chambers Creek hatchery steelhead in the Elwha. Check out the link below:
Agreement protects Elwha steelhead from hatchery releases
It is moments like this that make me actually hopeful that our wild fish stand a chance. Finding optimism is often one of the hardest things for me to do in the fishing world. My eternal pessimism is likely not made to deal with wild fish issues as I am constantly feeling a bit down when it comes to long-term trends even though we are winning more and more battles every year. First, we got the state to create a Wild Steelhead Management Zone on the Sol Duc against local opposition. Now we got a co-manager to make the right call when it comes to restoration of wild fish after a dam removal.
Now for the bad news. The coho forecasts for this summer and fall were just released here.
It looks like the saltwater salmon numbers will be way down for everywhere inside Puget Sound. It looks like a repeat of last summer's fishing will not be happening. With the good news about the Elwha I am going to make an attempt to stay positive for the saltwater fishing this summer. Even with less fish coming through the Strait that doesn't mean that fish won't stop and feed in areas which should still provide great fishing at times. Even with the poor news of total run sizes I am making a vow to remain positive in chasing fish come August, September, and October this year. I may even attempt to make a trip or two to other areas that have better forecasts for 2012 than 2011.
Hope springs eternal.
Due to work by wild fish conservation groups the Elwha Tribe will not be planting Chambers Creek hatchery steelhead in the Elwha. Check out the link below:
Agreement protects Elwha steelhead from hatchery releases
It is moments like this that make me actually hopeful that our wild fish stand a chance. Finding optimism is often one of the hardest things for me to do in the fishing world. My eternal pessimism is likely not made to deal with wild fish issues as I am constantly feeling a bit down when it comes to long-term trends even though we are winning more and more battles every year. First, we got the state to create a Wild Steelhead Management Zone on the Sol Duc against local opposition. Now we got a co-manager to make the right call when it comes to restoration of wild fish after a dam removal.
Now for the bad news. The coho forecasts for this summer and fall were just released here.
It looks like the saltwater salmon numbers will be way down for everywhere inside Puget Sound. It looks like a repeat of last summer's fishing will not be happening. With the good news about the Elwha I am going to make an attempt to stay positive for the saltwater fishing this summer. Even with less fish coming through the Strait that doesn't mean that fish won't stop and feed in areas which should still provide great fishing at times. Even with the poor news of total run sizes I am making a vow to remain positive in chasing fish come August, September, and October this year. I may even attempt to make a trip or two to other areas that have better forecasts for 2012 than 2011.
Hope springs eternal.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
WDFW and Bobbers
On the department's Facebook Page they are promoting the opening of the kill season on wild winter steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula.
The funniest part of the post is the picture they used.
Celebrate killing wild fish with pictures of bobber caught steelhead. I only wish I could make stuff like this up. Laughter is the best medicine for insane policies.
The funniest part of the post is the picture they used.
Celebrate killing wild fish with pictures of bobber caught steelhead. I only wish I could make stuff like this up. Laughter is the best medicine for insane policies.
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