Fall Edition of the Osprey

The Fall edition of The Osprey , a journal published by the Federation of Fly Fishers steelhead committee, has been released and includes a number of informative articles.

--Deschutes River hatchery strays
--New BiOp analysis
--Oregon Forest Practices
--Wind River dam removal
--New Era for Osprey
--Alameda Creek Update

(Via: Osprey Steelhead News)

Cape Light

Before heading home from the Cape last week I had a chance to hang and do some fishing with my friend and artist extraordinaire Mike Savlen. I had not seen Mike since he and Donna Lee moved away from Port Townsend a couple of years ago, so it was a real treat to be able to spend a couple of days with him before heading back home to Seattle.

We fished, soaked up the sights, sounds and smells of the salt flats.... and even managed to catch a couple of fish.

Prior to heading out the last morning we grabbed some Dunkin Donuts and hit the beach at Paine's Creek for some classic morning Cape Light. Mike added some of his signature artistic touches to a couple of great shots that he took that morning.

The light on the Cape, and on the flats in particular, rapidly changes. Throw a little morning fog into the mix and the expanse of sand merges with the sky.

"I could have sworn the mouth of the creek was that way."

To top it all off Mike hand delivered one of the Bragging Rights portraits that I commissioned him to do for my Mom.

She liked it.

Every trip back home to the Cape is special, this one was no exception.

Monkey dismounts back

Aaron Vance doesn't spend any of his free time studying flows, tying bugs, or humping gear.  He doesn't know the difference between Winston and Cortland. And he couldn't give a rats ass about Slab of the Year. 

Despite the infrequency of his flogging, this lifelong friend has been focused and determined for many years to meet Mr. Steel.  Aaron and I chase him together once a year and once a year he's given Aaron the fin.  This year, however, was different.  We finally swung up an introduction.  And in an extremely hetero way, I couldn't be more proud. 

Neville Flynn would be proud

Our friend Tim Ridings forwarded us this story and images.

Greetings to everyone from River Run Guide Service.

In 20 years of fishing the Middle/Upper Brazos River, I can honestly say that I have never encountered a venomous snake (pit viper) within the riverbed. However, as I tell my clients, go outside the riverbed and that can be a very different story.

Obviously, just because I have never come across a venomous snake in the river, does not in any way mean they are not there. In fact, I always remain vigilant and on the lookout knowing that I'm simply overdue for my first encounter.

The way I look at it, Texas, venomous snakes and the outdoors will always go hand in hand.

So, I wasn't too surprised when I observed a juvenile rattlesnake headed across the river while I was in my kayak flipping a jig for bass.

I continue fishing. However, I can't help to notice the rattler has changed it's course and is headed straight for my kayak.

At this point, I've pretty much quit fishing and have my attention focused on the intentions of this potentially pesky pit viper.

While tracking the rattler's movement, I couldn't help but think, from a fish's point of view, how enticing the serpentine motion of this snake looked while in the water.

Suddenly, I am jolted back to reality by the fact the rattler is now along side my kayak and is lifting it's head out of the water in an apparent attempt to come aboard.

No way I'm having this ill intentioned reptilian hitchhiker nosing around the kayak. So, with a couple whacks of the paddle, it's now docile as can be.

Now my mind begins to wonder...Hmmmm.

This rattler looks like mighty good big bass bait!!!

I put him in one of the footwells on the kayak and paddle over to a series of submerged river laydowns

Here is my "Superstar" getting warmed up in the bullpen. so I can begin to put my plan into action.

Put me in, Coach!!!

I now cautiously rig the snake by hooking it through the bottom of the jaw and through the top of the head onto a weedless black 3/4 oz. jig.

On my sixth cast into the snag infested laydown my jig n snake combo gets destroyed on the fall as indicated by a telltale "thump" that reverberates all the way down my rod blank. I set the hook hard and immediately feel stiff resistance on the other end from what I know is a solid fish.

What happens next is something I'll likely never forget as I watch my bass come cartwheeling out of the water with the rattler hanging out of it's mouth!

The LMB gave a really good account of itself and I eventually get her alongside the kayak. I cautiously lip the opposite side of the cavernous mouth where the fish is hooked.

I now take a moment to pose with my oversize snake eating river bass before returning her back into the river depths.

I admit, my curiosity might have gotten the best of me on this one. However, I just couldn't help it.

In the end...

It was just another Kayak Fishing Adventure on the Brazos River, Tx..

The Giant Carp Quest

LINK (Via: In the Loop)

Rainbow Connection

Alaska West's Kanektok is known for its King run.  But we found out on our last Moldy Chum field trip that there is one hell of a rainbow connection.

photo by Cameron Miller

According to Kermit, rainbows are visions - they're only illusions.  He's obviously never fished the Kanektok.