An Early Goodbye to Spring Fishing

This was a really interesting steelhead season to say the least.  There were fish early, but then the water went up, and up, and up.  Fishing was all over the place.  Some days were great (double digit fish) and there were even a few skunkaroos.  It's been unseasonably warm (just like everywhere else) and last weekend really put us over the top.  We had record highs in the 80s and the Salmon went from a fishable 2000 cfs to about 5000 cfs this morning.  Paddy had to cancel all of his trips this week.  On Saturday, Mark McCoy, a Stanley resident and member of Micky and the Motorcars was floating the Salmon and fishing and drown about 100 yards from Paddy and Carl's teepee.  You can read more about Saturday's accident here.  This was just another reminder that the water is always in charge. 

Last night Paddy and I went to Mormon Bend to pack up the teepee and I took the video below at Shotgun, a rapid about 5 miles downstream of their camp.

The river has gone up even more since last night.  Needless to say, I think steelhead season is over.

Leslie Fly-Fishing..How Did I Ever Miss This?

Leslie an Austin icon and Sixth Street's most famous patron unfortunately died recently.  I met him on my very first night out in Austin, when I was still VERY wet behind the ears.  He loved my cowboy hat and tried it on for size--it was my first of many Leslie experiences, but I never knew he fly-fished...

Fly Fish Chick posted last week about the Austin Fly Fishing Film Tour and mentioned a promo that Leslie did for the F3T a few years ago.  I almost peed my pants watching this--and let me warn you, if you're not familiar with Leslie, you're in for a treat.

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I'm literally laughing out loud as I read Buster Wants to Fish today. 

I grew up Third Coasting and was terrified of everything that can kill you in South Texas.  On a recent redfishing trip down south, Paddy had apparently never learned to respect the Gulf and ended up in the emergency room, had long bouts of vomiting, and broke a $3000 push pole.  Let me add these were all unrelated incidents. 

Anyhoo, terrible rashes like the one below are standard in the Gulf.  From what?  We don't know and don't really want to. 

Good thing there's Urgent Care in Rockport.

Contracted while wade fishing for Texas redfish…
A) Ocean chiggers
B) Red state psoriasis
C) Larval jellyfish attack
D) I call bullshit. He got that from some bar hag
E) __________________________

I Want to go to There

Mom with a 26" rainbow.  I can't believe how excited she looks!

So, I'm supposed to be in Argentina right now, but since it's steelhead season, Paddy and I couldn't go.  My parents, Kai and Janet, are there, though, and making me madder by the day.  My mom apparently likes it so much that she said she wants her ashes spread there (but I think it's mainly because there are no snakes or poison ivy!).  They are fishing with Patagonia River Guides in Esquel and I'm not sure they're coming back.  They've sent a variety of pics, but there was a nice brown that Pop caught and a 26" rainbow that Mom caught that steal the show.  I might add that they're not fly-fishers (except when I make them).  Maybe they're having so much fun they'll take me back next year!

Pop with a beautiful brown.  The weather looks lovely.

Help out Casting for Recovery

Spey-O-Rama is coming up later this month at the Golden Gate Casting Club in San Francisco.  Two awesome ladies and bad-ass casters, Mia Sheppard and Marcy Stone, are raising money for Casting for Recovery through this event.  You can donate by the foot or make a donation in their honor.  Click here to make your donation.

You can also make a donation to Casting for Recovery in Idaho here.  I'm excited to be a staff member for this year's South Idaho retreat, which will be held June 8-10 in Challis.  The application process is closed, but you can still make a donation.

I'll be sharing a few other pieces on Casting for Recovery in the coming months...