We were kicking around the morning’s successes and failures, and crunching roadside gravel under our wading boots enroute to the truck, when Latane froze stock still, sudden enough to alarm me. “You alright?” I asked. “Hole… Lee… Crap,” came his hushed reply. “Huh?” I asked. “Pig,” he breathed in a reverent tone. I stepped, Read More
He’s a blue-chipper, a top seed, the defending champ. Fish don’t count wins and losses. But by the record kept in pounds, inches and days in the water, he’s undefeated. It’s a single elimination world, and he’s still in the game, with a bellyful of losers. I’m a hack, a part time amateur, nobody’s idea, Read More
We’ve been two days without a fire in the wood stove. Small shoots of grass are poking out amongst the brown thatching of last years growth. Patches of coarse grained, dirty snow can be found on north facing aspects, but otherwise the ground is bare and sodden. I’ve been expecting fish to creep from their, Read More
On the canyon wall, midway between the rim and the river, there is a jutting ledge with a great view. I like to stop there on the descent, rest my creaking knees, and see what’s to be seen in the cold blue channels below. On arrival my eyes drop immediately to the river to scan and probe, Read More
We stared at each other for two minutes in the crisp morning air as the sun peaked over nearby hills. The adolescent moose made the first move, circling around knobby knees, nose to the ground, like a dog setting its bed, once, twice… Then it charged. With a two year old on my back, Read More
My motions are fast. Thoughts of work, family, the next fish or any number of other distractions cloud my mind. I barely see the big picture, let alone the details.Small, unheralded details provide the texture for our world. Each nick on a shotgun has it’s own story. Every feather on a bird, or spot, Read More
“Where are you going Dada?” asked my four year old as I rounded up layers, snacks and a water bottle. “Fishing,” I said. “Oh yeah,” he said knowingly, like it had been his idea to begin with. “With Ollie’s dad.” “Nope,” I said “Not with Ollie’s dad. All by myself today.” “But um… Cause, Read More
“Oooo, cool Dada! Look it!” declared my four year old as we organized fishing gear on the tailgate. “Oh yeah?” I asked, half listening. “Yeah. Do you keep your Hot Wheels in here?” It was a non-sequiter even by his standards. I looked up from my streamer box and found him wrist deep in the, Read More
Torrential rain pelted us like a prize fighter. Electricity in the air caused our rods to buzz. After 14 hours it looked like our hopes were dashed as we retreated into the forest. On any other day I would have packed it in and headed for home. But we huddled amongst the conifers in, Read More
Temps soar towards sixty. Small patches of snow linger on the banks. For February it’s a heatwave. My sinuses are clogged and my head is in a fog. Sweat builds on my brow as the heat builds inside my jacket and crawls up my neck. Cold water lapping at my calves provides some respite, but, Read More