SoulFish

Check out Mikey Wier's new flick, Soulfish. It's going to be a good one.



Check out his other fab films at Burl Productions.

Giving

This Christmas I gave Papa John, my father-in-law, his first fly rod outfit. A few months back we went fishing together for the first time down the Bear River directly behind his property. After the great day of fishing and showing him the basics in casting, Papa John, was intrigued by the idea of fishing with the fly. I knew that this would be my gift to him for Christmas. What a great way to share the passion my father gave to me. It was great to watch Papa John open his gift while I remember opening my first fly rod at the age of twelve. Looking forward to fishing more with him.

Watercolor

A Photoshop rendition of the coldest fishing day I have ever experienced. My reel froze solid in less than ten minutes. Ice gathered around the guides to a point where line couldn't pass through them easily or if at all. I remember continually submersing my rod , reel, and hand in the river to thaw the frozen guides and reel so I could make just a few more casts to the big one that was certainly right in the seam below the fallen tree stump. I forgot my gloves. I didn't last too long in that cold. That big one is still there.

Oh Mexico, Oh Mexico

I just began entering into the world of saltwater fly fishing as I now live just minutes from the beach. This new endeavor has been, shall I say, a little humbling. I will be the first to say I have no idea what I am doing. I can't read the ocean like I can read a trout stream, I have little knowledge of stripping techniques, no clue on what line is best for the conditions, clueless on effective fly patterns, where to position myself, and don't know how to cast 2 pound plus flies. You get the idea. But as in all things new I am up for this challenge.

Over New Years break I packed up my 8 wt rod and headed South to Cabo San Jose to meet up with some good friends who moved down to Cabo 2 years ago to pursue helping Americans invest in Real Estate near the Cabo area. They are currently building their new home on the Hill, which my wife and I had the pleasure staying at their residence while we explored the region. I had several days to cast from shore and kayak for the elusive Rooster Fish, Halibut, or other species of fish that I would be afraid to touch because I wouldn't know what it was. After hundreds of quasi-double-haul-attempted casts I never thought it would happen, but I finally landed my FIRST saltwater fish on the FLY! A whopping 3 inch Ling Cod-looking thing which attempted to eat the clouser fly that was half its size.

Let me put things in perspective:

Saltwater Winston 8wt rod: $700
Abel Super 6 Reel: $600
Sinking head line: $60
Hip Shooter Stripping Basket: $60
Patagonia hot weather attire: $100
New Double Haul pack: $120
A slew of Flies, boxes, Pliers, Line, Tippet, and Nippers: $200
Flight to Cabo: $800
Getting sun burnt, food poisoning, achy casting arms, looking like an idiot, and triumphantly landing the one and only 3" fish for the trip: Priceless

How great is that.

I think I am ready for serious sponsorship.

The American

The American.

I was by your side as I grew through the years.
You taught me how to understand and read you and others like you.
I jumped, skipped, fished, walked, and meditated by your banks every summer of my childhood.
I listened to the fauna and flora that flourished because of your presence.
You allowed me to ponder life as I waded deep into your seams and pockets.
You taught me to trust and to recognize the power of God and nature.
I miss spending those summers by your side.
I will once again find myself by our banks introducing you to my children or grandchildren.

The American.

Good ol' Southern California

Once again to feed the fish bug I headed with fellow comrade, Grinsel, into the very wild and desolate Angeles National Forest to 'stick some pigs'. A few months ago I had the privelage to fish with one of the industry's finest, Mikey Wier, of Burl Productions who showed me the fine art of pig huntin' with hairy bunnies (i will leave that up to your interpretation). Out weapons of choice: Fast 5 weight rods with various large size 2 to smaller streamers. We each had day packs loaded with lots of drinking water, waders, lunch, and cameras for the just in case moments. Considering our location, this day was close to epic. I couldn't help but imagine the hustle and bustle of gridlock traffic, crowds, and general choas brimming from LA while so alone in silence with the occasional sound of a trout leaping into the air as we set our hook. We caught a handful of small fish and a few rather 'large' trout, a relative term of course. It's great to know that there are trout in our backyard; it's just a matter of searching for them with our bunnies and all.

The Weekend of Many Firsts

What a weekend. The cold Fall weather hit me the first night as I slept in my 30 degree summer down sleeping bag 4 hours after we landed in Northern CA. I shivered through the night waking almost every hour due to the combination of 1. excitement because I was far from home and so close to wild trout, and 2. the reality that I am used to sleeping with the wifee in a comfy bed in ideal Southern CA weather.

I knew this Weekend was going to be a special one once El Pescador, the infamous author of wayupstream, found two pennies head's up on the ground as we loaded our gear into the back of the truck.
Mikey Wier, a true fish-head, fly connoisseur, and brains behind Burl Productions, picked us up at the airport in his rig and pontoon boat tied to the trailer. I rarely have opportunities to float sections of rivers so my excitement and giddiness was apparent. This didn't help me sleep much the evening before the expected float down the *unknown* river but that didn't matter.

The following morning we met up with Mikey's fellow comrade Chris to begin the mini floatzilla. The boys got their rigs together as I watched. I quickly realized I didn't have the same gear they were rigging up. No 4 wts, No stimulators, no fancy, little size 18 Adams in 6 different variations. I knew this trip was going to be different when they pulled out big, furry, ugly streamers from their fly boxes and secured their 6 and 8 wts on their boats. I grew up fishing small mountain creeks and streams with primarily small dry flies in technical waters.
Luckily, I was able to borrow their setups as we pushed off the bank and headed down river. My world of fly fishing was shattered. It was the first time I chucked an 8 wt streamer rig for trout. The first five minutes into the drift, El Pescador lands a beautiful, greenish shade Rainbow right out of the gate. I am not talking the usual 8-10 inch wild CA trout; this is a nice, hefty trout. As I begin to get the hang of throwing and stripping the hairy beasts, I eventually landed my first trout of many for the day.

I was so excited catching all these fish that I somehow let Chris's net float down the river ( a first, oops) as I managed to pose for a picture. Funny thing was that El Pescador and Mikey, while playing a fish downstream from us, grabbed the floating net and used it to land the trout they were fighting. Can you believe that?


We came around a large bend in the river halfway though the float where schools of fish curiously stared and scattered around our boat. I chucked the hairy beast near the bank and stripped wildly as I saw what was coming right for my streamer. I will never forget the moment I watched a rather large Rainbow aggressively chase and take the fly. In my momentary bliss, I realized that fish was a personal best- the first largest trout I have ever caught on a fly.

A few minutes later Mikey sets the hook on a decent trout ever so casually. I couldn't help myself but grab my 4 wt and cast out into the same seam where I proceeded to land a similar size trout on a 14 elk hair caddis. This was another first - My first double hook up.

That night I slept like a warm baby as I recounted a stellar day of fly fishing with many firsts.

My Beloved

Who understands me more than anyone.
Thank you for all of your love.

Fall is here

Fall is here
I love the colors of this season
From red to burnt orange splotches
To strips of white
To an infinite number of shades of brown
To the iridescent shimmers of water and light
Like the big Browns who come out from the depths
Fall is here

The Big Trip

I was looking through some older photos when I came across some photos of our Big Trip through Central America, the East coast, and Western Europe. We, like most college grads, scrapped some cash together to head to Europe by backpack. My wife, Anna, and I also wanted to surf some warm water at the time. So the trip began with 1 month in Central America getting by on public bus transportation through the borders with a board in one hand and a bag in the other. We finally made our way to Manhattan where we met up with some great family friends for a week doing fancy things like running in central park, seeing a few shows, eating at a restaurant that serves 10K + bottles of wine, and the like. We lived it up for a week in NYC as we gathered warm clothes to head to Europe for over two months. There are so many stories I could share backpacking through Europe but I will share one of the highlights of hiking and a little fishing in the Swiss Alps. The fishing wasn't great b/c the fish apparently don't speak English but the views and the memories shared were priceless. We finally ended the trip 4 months later in London where I was quasi-hired over the phone/email to work at a little joint we call Patagonia.

The Bishop

We recently hooked up with some friends, Ryan and Cammille, on their last leg of their big trip, to beautiful Bishop, CA.

We took a little adventure to one of the hundreds of high alpine lakes in the Eastern Sierras. We also hit a number streams, ate well, sat in some natural hot springs, and slept hard.

I wouldn't call the fish large by any part of the imagination but it was a trip where the size of the fish didn't matter.

A Jaunt Over to Some Blue Ribbon Water

Third cast, first fish of the trip. A nice way to start a fishy weekend. A nice Cutt in a creek no large than 5 feet wide and knee deep.
The Cutt was landed in a trib. near The Big Hole.


And a little taste of the Beaver Head
I love Montana.




"He has made everything beautiful in its time." Ecc 3:11

A Jaunt Continued #2

A little float down some Hopper Lovin' water. There is nothing like a middle of the day drift with trout rising to the surface for some tasty hoppers along the banks and seams. Cast, Mend, Recover baby. Many thanks to Mark for the float.

A Jaunt Continued #3

A gnarly hike up to a 'secret' high alpine lake. Elevation approx 10,000 ft. This is not the average Montana fishing trip - I wouldn't have it any other way.

5 grueling hours hike in + a few hefty Cutts + good conversation + 4 hour hike out = Priceless.

I consider myself a connoisseur of landing small trout but I definitely don't mind trout in this size range either. ;)





Notice Mark, a Patagonia comrade, with this nice one.<

Photo Shoot

This sure beats a desk job. I love what I do.





Photos by Tim Davis