Swing, Step, Cast

Chilly Morning from Bobby F on Vimeo.

Spring Season

The winter season never showed up this year, and it doesn't have much time left to make a mark in Washington. The last few weeks have been filled with warm, bright days as if it were already May. Weekends have been spent road biking, hiking and obviously fishing. Fishing, not much catching, the terribly elusive wild steelhead trout. This time last year I was still learning coastal rivers, the two-handed rod and the confusion that is sink tip and fly selection. Somehow I managed to get myself into a 20 pound monster on the Sol Duc during this rookie campaign. How many more years will I have to wait to find another? Probably shouldn't think about it. Nevertheless, the desire to wade the unknown in search of the great fish remains. This year my season ends due to the new job just east of the Cascades, Twisp and the Methow valley will be home until June. It should be an awesome experience and fun place to live for awhile. The spring steelhead season on the Skagit/Sauk closed, and the coast is a circus because of it. This year is the year of reality, the steelhead and salmon of the Pacific Northwest are almost beyond any chance of recovery. Pretty sad, I have lived here all this time and never knew what I was missing till it was too late. I look forward to doing my best to find a way for these fish in the future.

Only one day of skiing this winter, the lowest total since I can remember, maybe even ever. I can't believe it was only one, be it a great one at Crystal Mountain. Only 2 years ago I was averaging 50+ seasons at Big Sky. Lousy snow levels, half the winter in Southeast Asia, less funds and a greater desire to catch chrome definitely led to the outcome. We'll see what the case is next year.

So from here on out most of my posts will be focused on my time in Twisp. The Wellington Way Station cabin awaits.