August 2009 – Mark it on your calendar

Back in December I picked up on Speypages that Ed Ward was working with Jeff Mishler on a new film project. This looks to be a teaser for the upcoming film project. I lifted this from Simms.

simmsfishing.com

“Skagit Master” Trailer

Discover the secrets of Skagit Casting and the man driving its evolution. Visit Skagitmaster.com beginning August 2009 to purchase “Skagit Master–Featuring Ed Ward”.

Makes for a good day

Due to a mix-up at the campground entrance…got a better camping spot out of the deal.

Cut an hour plus hike into one kickass 15 minute bike ride.

Shared a beautiful piece of water with friends.

Got to show one of them for the first time.

Threw a few dries and buggers.

Caught a few.

Watched hundreds and hundreds of salmon swim by my feet.

Stood in the middle of them as they nervously rushed by.

Brought a few home.

Grilled one up the next day.

Makes for a good day wouldn’t you say?

The past couple of weeks have been hectic. Both sides of the family are due in town in a couple of weeks. Been heavy into harvest mode gathering up the necessary fish and game for the summer backyard bbq sessions. The hands and fingers wear the signs of use and abuse.

I’ve been sampling the goods heavily. I feel it is my duty as a good host. Have to be sure that what I’m serving up is worthy of the effort.

Back into the swing of things

Slowly easing into summer here at the compound. The annual king and clam social has already come and gone. Missed the last couple and it felt good to get back into the swing of things. Been doing it for 25+ years and likely we’ll be doing it for 25 more.

The harvesting is better than the cleaning but nothing a few beers can't make better.

No kings this time but the clams were a plenty. A daily haul of razor clams is a workout and one felt sorely the next day. After the second straight day you are too tired to care. More than worth it though.

So here we are…less than a week away from the opener. Sadly the king run has been spotty. Starting June 6th the Anchor River is closed to king salmon fishing until June 30th. Year to date there has only been 334 fish counted. Historical average for this time of year is 2500 fish. The speculation is a late peak…hope so.

Tuber and I did try our luck at some urban kings. I bet Tuber and I are the first ones ever to swing a two-hander down there. We got a lot of strange stares. Not sure I’m going to be putting that king stamp to good use this year. Who knows…blind squirrel finds a nut once a while.

Back to the tying bench for now to get ready for the next trip. Things are getting buggy around here.

Reel World Tour – Nautilus Travelers

Nice little marketing deal Nautilus has going. Cut from their very own blog.

Nautilus Travelers™

Nautilus Reels is introducing its Traveler™ program: Borrow a Nautilus fly reel for a fly fishing trip to an exotic location and return it to us with pictures, a story and wear and tear, and we will post the fishing trip on our Traveler™ blog. The fly reel will be laser engraved with every location it has been fished, and you can check the history of the Travelers on the blog in the future.

All Traveler™ fly reels are shipped with backing and your choice of RH or LH wind, so all you have to do is load it with a fly line, and take it on an exotic fly fishing adventure. By exotic we mean anywhere away from your home that the Traveler™ has never been. So The Florida keys are exotic for someone who hasn’t been there, just as the colorado river is exotic to a Florida keys resident. We will be the judges of the exoticness (is this a word?) of your fly fishing trip.

Make sure to give us notice well in advance to make sure you can reserve a Nautilus fly reel for your trip. Should “your” Traveler™ not be back from a prior trip, your reservation will be out of luck. Sorry. The Traveler™ program availability is only as reliable as the person that took it to a fly fishing trip before you.

Good luck, have fun, take plenty of pictures and report back in good health. You will love the reels! Please send and email to jesus@nautilusreels.com to request your Traveler™ for your next trip.

Only 149 left – 2009 Native Fish Society Tees

Dams are something this fisher is not familiar with. There aren’t too many of those around these here parts. Free flowing is something most Alaskans likely take for granted. For years I’ve heard jibber jabber about damming a river or two here in Alaska. No better case study on the effects of dams on anadromous rivers then the ones found in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. It’s a damn shame if you ask me.

Help celebrate the removal of Marmot Dam on the Sandy River by throwing down some much needed financial support to the folks at the Native Fish Society by purchasing this limited edition tee.

As first mentioned by the crew at Buster Wants To Fish, there are only 150 men sizes and 25 women sizes. If you are lucky enough to attend the Sandy River Spey Clave you can pick one up there for $25 a piece. If you can’t make it there, you can drop Fran Taylor at the Native Fish Society an email [fran@molalla.net]. All proceeds go to the Native Fish Society.