Kamchatka

Many years ago sitting around the fire, hitting golf balls across the Skagit, with Marlow, Ed, Dec,and others...we listened to Ed  talk about swinging flies for steelhead and salmon on the rivers flowing through the Kamchatka Peninsula.  He showed us pictures of massive steelhead and kings that were ready and willing to take a swung fly.  Since then it seems that Kamchatka has grown quiet when anyone mentions these anadromous fishes.  Now, 10 years later, a new project has emerged in Kamchatka.  And, I want to go.

Here is the link.     http://vimeo.com/21624484


Cal

Moose and Charlie

Pretty cool link for Sleeping in the Dirt magazine.  Tim Pask took some great photos of a duck hunt in Washington.  Moose belongs to me and his hunting partner Charlie belongs to my good friend Mike.

Cover shot is also taken by Tim Pask at one of my favorite blinds.  Scott Brow and Bryan Gerber throwing a little gas on the fire.

Check it out.

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/SleepingintheDirt/sid-6/2011021101/

Cal

Giant Lake Pend Oreille Rainbow

Here is a picture finally of the 25lbder.  Too bad it was whacked...but still a great fish and a good sign for the future on Pend Oreille.  The latest Kokanne numbers are up to 15 million. 

The Lake

....finally un-locked itself to us last week.  After 4 days of fishing and 40 some rainbows landed...and way too much Kokanee, we were happy to become obsessed with yet another fishery.  All of these fish were caught on flies on the surface.  We were not fly fishing, just trolling polar bear flies on the surface.  It is really cool to see these fish boil on the flies...  Watching the fish try and hit looked like it was raining bowling balls.  If a guy were to put in his time, I bet you could get one on a fly rod in the lake.  Here are some hero shots taken on the weekend.

Perfect Day

Listening to Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" drinking a Kokanee and watching Landon fishing (naked) was truly a perfect day.

Next Generation

Landon's First Bass

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Landon had a full weekend of fishing last weekend. He wouldn't even take a break for a snack or water. After catching the largest bass of the day, he wanted to be sure and let his Grandpa know...so one quick phone call later my Dad was in tears over the "fishing story" that this 2 year old was dishing out. "My fishy was bigger than Uncle Nick's." Then on Sunday Landon had his first fly fishing lesson. I elected to remove all the hooks for the safety of everyone, he didn't really mind, he just wanted to cast.

Salmon Fishing

The runs for the Snake and Clearwater Rivers look very promising this spring.  With a higher peak than 2009, which was a great year, 2010 is looking to be great.   The fish should hit Lower Granite Dam appox. two weeks after they pass over Bonneville Dam.  Here are some charts for the upcoming season on the Clearwater and Snake Rivers as well as the fishing regulations.

Press Release:  http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=5394
Fishing Regulations: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/fish/rules/chinook_seasons/10rules.pdf

Charts

Judging by the Charts, the Adult Chinook should hit Lower Granite Dam somtime around the beginning of May.