Chrome Tails

Kamchatka

2011-03-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

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

2011-02-15T12:44:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-24T15:52:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

....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

2010-06-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

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

Next Generation

2010-06-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

Landon's First Bass

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

2010-04-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

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.

Zale Among Wave of Jewelers Opposed to Alaska Mine

2010-04-13T08:45:00.000-07:00

From the New York Times this morning.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- The nation's second-largest jewelry retailer on Tuesday joined the opposition to a gold and copper mine being developed in southwest Alaska near the world's largest remaining wild sockeye salmon streams.

Zale Corp. announced that it not only is boycotting precious metals from the Pebble Mine, but supports permanently protecting the Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale metals mining. The mine is situated near the headwaters of Bristol Bay on state land designated for mining.

''We believe gold should be mined and refined in a manner that protects both the environment and its inhabitants,'' Gil Hollander, Zale's executive vice president, said in a statement.

The Irving, Texas-based jewelry giant has 1,930 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It had $1.8 billion in revenues in 2009.

Zale Corp. was accompanied by 12 other entities in a new wave of jewelry retailers and designers that have joined the No Dirty Gold campaign being promoted by conservation group Earthworks and partners. Twenty companies previously pledged to boycott Pebble, including Tiffany & Co., Helzberg Diamonds and Ben Bridge.

The more than 30 jewelers now opposing the mine represent more than $6 billion in annual sales.

Getting jewelry retailers and designers on board is important because jewelry represents more than 80 percent of the global demand for gold, said Earthworks' Bonnie Gestring.

John Shively, chief executive of Pebble Limited Partnership, which is promoting the mine, said Zale coming out against Pebble is nothing more than a meaningless publicity stunt.

''It is pretty easy for a company to come out against buying gold that doesn't exist at this point,'' he said. ''We are years away from construction. The people managing that company now will probably be gone. Big deal.''

Canada's Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. and London-based Anglo American are developing the mine. They have approved spending more than $73 million this year to finish a prefeasibility study and prepare the project for permitting in 2011.

Northern Dynasty President and CEO Ron Thiessen has described the deposit of copper, gold and molybdenum at Pebble as ''among the most significant accumulations of metal ever discovered.''

But Bob Waldrop with the Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association said the area's salmon, which come back year after year, are worth much more. All the other river systems that supported huge salmon runs -- the Columbia, the Sacramento, the Fraser -- have collapsed, he said.

''This one stands alone,'' Waldrop said of Bristol Bay.

In 2008, commercial fishermen were paid between $160 million and $180 million for Bristol Bay salmon, he said.

''Pebble is bad business,'' Waldrop said. ''Why risk fish for fashion?''

2010-04-07T09:21:00.001-07:00

Dry Fly Action on the Clark Fork is Now!

Not a Steelhead.

2010-04-05T17:15:00.000-07:00

Amazing fish caught by Aaron about a month ago. 42" x 24" Gerrard Rainbow. Also the week before was a 41" Bully Trout. No pic avaliable though sorry.

Easter Weekend

2010-04-05T16:30:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was awesome this year. Turns out it was my Birthday as well. We loaded up the kids and headed to Missoula (Frenchtown Actually) to visit Camille's Sister and Brother in law, who both happen to live on the banks of the Clark Fork River. Friday we fished for a few hours during the heat of the day and had some awesome action on Skwalas. Saturday we were debating whether to float the Bitteroot in snow storms and wind or head up to a little lake to see if the ice had come off yet. Turns out it hadn't, but we brought a shovel. After breaking ice for an hour we started to see some nice fish crusing the shoreline. We ended up hooking several nice rainbows and landed some big fish up to 10lbs.

On Sunday we headed down to the Clark Fork after Landon's easter egg hunt, and fished for a couple hours. Landon picked up the fly rod and started casting like a champ. He loved it....I need to get an un-breakable fly rod for him....maybe a CB Antenna..or somthing. Anyway, it was a great weekend with lots of fish, beer, and family. Couldn't have been better. Here are some pics.

Taking the kids Fishing

2010-03-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

I feel it is very important to pass on the beauty of the outdoors to future generations. My Grandpa, Norman Fuller, was the first person, along with my father to take me fishing. My first memories were created along the banks of the Snake River fishing a little slough right outside Burbank, WA. Perch, Crappie, and small Bass were all it took to create a monster inside me that now ranks fishing as one of my favorite things in the world.

Nothing compares to watching my son, Landon Fuller, catch fish and get so excited about it he is laughing un-controllably. He now wants to play with his fishing rod everyday and even asks to go fishing.

I really hope I don't ruin him with my obsession for fishing.

Recently I took Landon, Nicolas, and Tyler Perch fishing on Lake Pend Oreille. They were watching their bobbers and getting hits every 10-15 seconds. It was hilarious to watch them try and reel in the "BIG FISHY" I will remember that Saturday for the rest of my life. All the boys had a blast and caught a ton of perch.

2010-03-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

First voyage out on the Dona Christine. Trying to find some fish for the boys to reel in. My son, Landon, absolutley loves the boat. He love the cuddy for all of his toys and nap time. Perfect day on Lake Pend Oreille.

More Argentina

2010-03-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

Awesome "Shore Lunch" I think it was some Ribeye, T-Bone, Lamb...more meat!

Trent with a beautiful Sea Trout

Che Ale. Weighing a Fish.

Barrett with a nice one that he didn't lose....

Could have been shore lunch.

Transportation and No Wind.

Chrome.

Dad's Big One. Last day, last session.

Barrett and Ale

Such a great place. Fantastic trip, great people.

Southern Chrome Sea Trout

2010-03-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

After our 18 hours of flying time... ten hours of layovers...14 Valium 12 Glasses of wine....we land in Rio Grande. We were picked up and driven to Villa Maria Lodge, which fishes the lowest portion of the Rio Grande. The previous weeks fishing had been tough due to high water conditions. Most of the "bigger" fish had moved up river to spawn.

Normally the winds are blowing 30+ and fishing can be fairly difficult. We had three days of calm weather that provided excellent fishing. With the water low and clear my "traditional" methods of using larger steelhead style flies would prove to only work at night. During our first session our guide, Alejandro Bianchetti, suggested a fly to for me to try. He wouldn't show me the fly until I fished it through the run. He said " you see the fly in the fishes mouth" he was right. In one hour I landed 5 fish ranging from 9 to 21 lbs.

Quilmes tastes just like Kokanne...it is a natural phenomena. The first sip made me feel right at home. Food servings at the lodge were huge. Rib eye steaks, Lamb, Pork, beef, beef, and more BEEF. That is why they Drink Mate' and Fernet. Fernet is like medicine, mix it with some coke and you are good to go...

It definitely paid not to take a 4 hour siesta like most of the other clients. After three bottles of wine with lunch it was very hard to get motivated to fish in 40 mph winds...but I just kept telling myself "you are on the fucking Rio Grande' go fishing!" During "siesta" Barrett and I fished the home pool right below the cabin. Each day we fished we landed between 4 and 10 fish.

State of the Lake

2010-02-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

The Lake Pend Oreille "State of the Lake Meeting" will be held on Saturday February 27th. The Lake Pend Oreille Task Force and Idaho Department of Fish and Game will be conducting a genearal overview of Lake Pend Oreille (LPO) and the latest fish counts. It is at 9:00am at the Ponderay Events Center. It is a good meeting to help everyone understand the goals for LPO. Kokannee counts, fish harvests, and water levels will be the main topic of discussion.

The Dona Christine

2010-02-24T15:07:00.001-08:00

The Dona Christine

...named after my Mother (so she would approve once my Dad bought it) is a 24 foot Wooldridge SS Pilothouse. Twin 150hp Honda 4-Strokes power this beauty. The perfect family fishing boat. No need for a wakeboard tower..we just put the post on the roof. Snap down cushions so the ladies can lay out on the roof and get some sun shine. Scotty Electric Downriggers, Big John Planer Board reels, Garmin 4212 Radar, GPS, Chartplotter, Espresso Maker, Waffle Iron, Fishfinder Combo....more shit that one can list. The new Lake Pend Oreille slayer. Now hopefully some Rainbows will start making a comeback. Maiden Voyage...should be towning a Dean Boat from Bella Coola to the mouth of the Dean...then just sleep on the boat.

~ Watching Steelhead Eat ~

2010-02-18T16:09:00.000-08:00

Sustut Pool at Rest

Hook Up

During my last fishing trip with my father we fished the Sustut River in B.C. It was an amazing experience full fish fights, scotch, cigars, and some amazing visuals on steelhead trying to hit a fly.

This was the first time in my life that I was able to physically see a steelhead at rest react to a swinging fly. After we set Jay up in the run to swing to these fish he kept working closer and closer. Once the fly swings within about 5' of the fish she decides to come up for a look. I was watching her "mouth" the fly for about 5 seconds wondering why Jay wasn't setting the hook. During this first swing the fish tried to eat the fly at least three times. He claims he never felt anything. Next swing, same spot, she comes up again a little more pissed off. Mouths the fly once hard then leaves. Jay sets the hook and misses. Third swing, the hen inhales the fly gently then turns to head back down. Bam, fish on. Jay sets the hook after he feels the pressure.

After watching this scene and trying to picture how steelhead hit, I find myself never "setting the hook" I always wait for the fish to take the fly then wait for the heavy pressure for the battle to begin. Drag from the belly in the line seems to do most of the work. Most of the time this is the case, for me at least, however, there are the occasions where you never get a chance and line is peeling off your reel instantly..those are the best. What I love about each take is the difference in attitude. Shirt tugs to Submarines I love them all.

~ Pre-Trip ~

2010-02-18T13:30:00.000-08:00

A Kvichak Rainbow and a Skagit Steelhead caught by Jim Fuller

My father and I get to go on a fishing trip. I am so excited to fish with him I lose sleep at night. I can't wait to hear him yip and hoot every time a SeaTrout from the colored waters of the Rio Grande grab his fly. He is a hardcore fly fishermen to the core. No matter how far away you drop him off in a run, you can always hear him when a fish decides to tug on his line. It always make me smile. Don't even think about tying his knots...he will just undo them and re-tie them. It is hard enough to offer him the "hot fly" when we are steelheading...if there is such a thing. My father, being new to the spey world, calls me daily, with questions like "So, why is my fly line only 27 feet long?" I tell him he doesn't need to cast any further than that...but after a while I mention to him that running line could be an important feature to check into.

I am very excited to fish with my father again.

This blog will be updates on family fishing days and those fishing tales of friends who travel the world daily.

Cheers

Cal