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.

Watch this Video

ACID TEST: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification from EARTHNATIVE on Vimeo.

Orcas Weekend

Weekend retreat to Orcas Island. Walks, lounge time filled with crossword puzzles and reading, lots of good food and plenty of rest. For once it was nice to be sleeping inside a dry, warm house with firelight instead of the front seat of the little mule.

Montana Winters

After watching the BBC's spectacular documentary on Yellowstone I've been thinking about how much I enjoyed the winter in Montana. These photos take me back.

Bringing back the Bulls

Following the sketchy maneuvers of the Bush administration in 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under Obama is making things right again. The policy change "would mean a more than fivefold increase in the miles of rivers and acres of lakes dedicated as critical habitat for the threatened species, and could mean more restrictions on recreation and development on federal lands."
Salmon, Steelhead and other fish that share these waters should be thanking the Bull trout right about now. Find out more.

Now Obama needs to rethink his Columbia River salmon agenda...

The Stoke

Revelstoke from Orange Krate on Vimeo.

Trip with Dad last winter to Revelstoke, BC to visit Jess. Spectacular mountain towering over the mighty Columbia river.