Sometimes Ya Gotta Put Away the Books...

And crush steelies....Rogue Angel Laura scores:

photos courtesy of Laura Jenkins

Photos of Hannah Casting

I set down my rod and grabbed Hannah's camera for a few action shots during one of our fishing sessions last week...


I love how this looks like I 'pasted' a cut out of Hannah on this-the light is interesting.


this has cool angles with the fly lines


Hannah rigging up to fish a run

I'm Worried, Are You?

Please take action today!
-k8

Friday Pin Up-Doing Laundry Edition

Fantasy Friday anyone?

"Turkey Hunting is Easy"

Pictured below is Gracie and a big tom she shot after she and her dad and hunted before school last spring....pretty hard core for an eight year old. Her little sister Andie proudly accompanies her.

Here is Gracie and Andie's father's own words about the hunt:

Gracie had an epic turkey hunt with me this past spring. First day we had birds all over the place. We got busted by 2 hens but they were SOOOOOO close. Probably 10 feet. Gracie was shaking. The following Thursday is the morning of that picture. We walked out in my driveway and listened at 530am. Around 545 the birds started. We walked into my woods and he was still in the tree but about 75 yards away. I called, he answered. Then another bird about 100yds off answered. We had two toms fighting over my calls! The closer bird flew down at 6:03am I told Gracie to get ready, and here he came in half strut- running from 50 yards away. He stopped right in front of us and gracie thumped him. The first thing she said was, "wow, turkey hunting is easy!" "You just call them in and shoot!" I laughed because I have been on a million turkey hunts- this was a gift.

Thanks David, you must be such a proud father!

My My My Casting Face.

Upon review of Hannah's photos she took of me spey casting last week, we noticed something interesting.
See any resemblance?




















If you're not chicken, over at Flyfishergirl in the forum section you can post your casting face.

Golden choices.

On my way to the Olympic Peninsula recently, I got an excited call from Rogue Angel Whit talking fast about how they found some fish on the Skagit River that day. So not one to argue with her enthusiastic fishing report, I headed north to one of my favorite rivers to fly fish for winter steelhead. I cut my teeth here and it's always like coming home. I had pretty much decided with the earlier closure of the river this year and poor runs that I would not be making my annual trip there...and as I found myself driving through the familiar gradual incline into the mysterious mountainous terrain I certainly felt the change of heart was a golden choice.

I arrived into camp simultaneously with Rogue Angel Ade and cracked beers around the fire trying to catch up on a years worth of life experiences. I finally got to hear about Ade's trip to Russia last August and some tales from her other adventures since we last met up. Whit entertained us with her summertime steelhead fishing tales like running into Gierach on the river. While it may have seemed time stood still, soon it was later than any of us could believe and we headed into the camper for a few hours of sleep. The next morning was without a doubt a late start.

I rigged up the Speydek8r rod as they like to call it, so I could fish water we wouldn't be able to swing as we floated in between runs. (whether or not you think that is fly fishing and approve, I don't care.) First little pocket I missed a fish as the cobwebs were not quite dusted out of the attic. Next run Whit wants to swing so she jumps on the oars and rows us to the head of the run. I let the indicator float off the bow at the top of the run as she pulls in and when it plunges down, I set the hook on what feels like a pretty pissed off bull trout. As it gets into the current, it throws several headshakes and I consider it could be a small steelhead. But then it comes in closer, fighting in the dolly way and I get a glimpse of its chrome sides with pink spots. After some manuevering and close calls with snaggy stumps, I step back into the softer water behind me, bring it in, and Whit tails it. It's a big ass Bull Trout and there are three super stoked Angels on the banks of the Skagit.

Rogue Angel Whit and k8 with the big bull trout, photo by Adrienne Comeau

The sun is brightly shining warming us up as we continue to fish the rest of the day away. We hit great swinging water all day but the low clear water conditions were not conducive to roping steelhead. The following day we chose a different float and I watched some gear dudes pull a beautiful chrome wild hen out of a run. Our luck was less so, but we played around with a couple dollies keeping things interesting.


Ade with a beautiful dolly, photo by k8

Third day brought similar results except one super tiny trout that always seems really big when steelhead fishing has been slow:


little tiny trout!, photo by Whitney using Adrienne's camera

I don't know how to describe what it is like to fish with my other girlfriends who dig steelheading- are knowledgeable, great casters, fishy fishermen, and real characters. It's kind of like a dream come true for me and sometimes I got to drink a beer just to make sure it's real...pinching myself hurts.
Here are a few more shots from our trip, special thanks to our good friend Chris for the use of his boat! We even gave back the Iguana.


Rogue Angels Ade and k8 kicking back in the boat, photo by Whit with Ade's camera


Whitney Gould casting, photo by k8


dolly caught swinging a fly I tied for steelhead not for you dolly, photo by k8


Whitney Gould on the oars, photo by k8


Adrienne is just plain super cool. photo by k8

oh and parting shot, this is how we do:


Lunch on the river, photo and sammys by k8

He's No Angel...

...he's an International Man of Mystery. And you can read about him in this season's The Drake Magazine.

Nice work Zen Piscator, that was a great surprise.

Rogue Angel Jess

Tim Pearson of River Blends Blog and TSP Guide Service sent us photos of Rogue Angel Jess with some big catches, check them out!

Alaska Rainbow

Monster Buck Jess Scouted

Hey Pops, Happy Birthday.

Hay Bale Cake courtesy of Google Images

One day back when I was 10 or 12 or so, on a hot and humid August day in Virginia, my father, uncle, two older brothers, and I made hay from sun up to sun down in the rays of a beating sun. My uncle, would be ahead of everyone on a tractor attached to a hay baler producing heavy square bales and spitting them into the field. Being an exceptionally tiny person at that age, I usually was on the hay wagon attached to another tractor driven by my dad. My brothers were walking alongside this tractor, grabbing hay bales and tossing them to me. I would then neatly stack them so as to get the most hay on the tractor but as fast as possible. It's not easy work and it is definitely not fun. (the latter being a disputable statement among farm kids similar to whether nymphing is respectable fly fishing) You wear long sleeved heavy shirts, long heavy pants, socks, and boots in what is without fail the most humid hot day in Virginia. We nearly got the entire front field baled and put away in the barn by dark. There was just a few long rows left.

Starving and exhausted, we sat down for a great dinner prepared by my mom and aunt without even washing up first. A strong feeling of relief hung over the table that this hard day of work was complete. Suddenly my dad spoke up, "Forecast is calling for rain showers this evening." This was terrible news for hay that has been cut, raked, and left in the field because then you have to let it dry and re-rake it and dry it out further....adding more work and time to get the hay in and possibly ruining it. Being young and naive, I assumed my dad would chalk it up to bad luck. Boy was I wrong.

Dad grimly looked up and demanded that after dinner we will all go out and finish making the rest of the hay in the dark. Naturally my teenage brothers and I immediately protested angrily likely telling Pops he had lost his mind.
Without missing a beat, my dad said, "Look, if it don't kill ya outright it's bound to make ya stronger. Now let's get out there."

So there we were late at night, myself carrying an old lantern to help my brothers see the hay bales (pre-headlamps)....Nasty big bugs attacking my face, tired, angry, and fed up. But you know what? It didn't kill me. It did make me stronger.

Thanks Dad and Happy Birthday...I'm super lucky to have you in my life and am a stronger person because of it.

-k8

Me showing off my strength by holding up my dad, please take note that I am the one sitting in the deer hunter chair

A new blog on the frontlines...

I've posted a few photos in the last couple months of Lisa Rice, a new angler very excited and enthusiastic about fly fishing. Check out her ramblings on the blog, Hoof Prints and Fish Tales, and enjoy her fresh innocent perspective on entering and falling in love with fly fishing. As always, you can find it in the right side under More Angels Blogging.

Incredibly Good Eyesight

Koi in the vast array of ponds at Alhambra, Spain

This is a bilingual English/Spanish joke - good for those who have a basic understanding of Spanish. It also illustrates an important gramatical difference between languages (genders of nouns).

An Englishman went to Spain on a fishing trip. He hired a Spanish guide to help him find the best fishing spots. Since the Englishman was learning Spanish, he asked the guide to speak to him in Spanish and to correct any mistakes of usage. They were hiking on a mountain trail when a very large, purple and blue fly crossed their path.

The Englishmen pointed at the insect with his fishing rod, and said, "Mira el mosca!" (fly) The guide, sensing a teaching opportunity, replied, "No, senor, 'la mosca'... es feminina."

The Englishman looked at him, then back at the fly, and then said, "Good heavens... you must have incredibly good eyesight."

Fisherman's Corner Gets a Surprise.

There's a little fishing shop in the town of Philomath that we sometimes visit on the way to the river called Fisherman's Corner. Jerry is there every day, opening very very early in case you need something en route to fish. He is a man of few words but always has a smile, fishing or hunting report, and an impressive tank of live sand shrimp.
With Hannah in town, we needed to stop in and get a fishing license from Jerry the other day. Standing at the counter I looked down to see Hannah on the cover of Salmon Trout Steelheader's September issue. I immediately grabbed it and held it up beside Hannah and asked Jerry, "look familiar?" His eyes widened and he looked a bit stunned. Suddenly a huge smile spread across his face and he politely asked, "Can I get you to sign it for me?" Hannah flashed me an I'm gonna kill you look and with reddened cheeks kindly agreed to sign his copy. I then pushed the envelope further and forced them to participate in this little photo shoot of the entire event:









So thanks Hannah for being such a good sport and bringing some joy to Jerry at Fisherman's Corner. I'm know for certain that he is proud of your cover shot signature and frankly, so am I.

-k8

Spey Casting Photos by Hannah Belford

Yesterday steelhead fishing in bright sunny hot weather, I could hardly believe it was February. The lighting inspired Hannah of Flyfishergirl.com to photograph me spey casting. Her photos are quite a cool experience messing with light and angles, check out some of my favorites:

Hannah's in the House!!

Hannah of Flyfishergirl pictured casting somewhere with me....we're off to the river again,

-k8

How many...

...other women got native steelhead for Valentine's Day?



Rogue Angel Dawn did! pictured along with Rich and Dawg Bo, photo courtesy of her loving husband Brian Chou.

Native Fish Society Auction

A little time, a little money, a long way...




From Jason at NFS to you:

The Native Fish Society is the only Northwest organization that uses the best available science to advocate and steward for abundant wild, native fish and habitats that sustain them.

This puts the NFS in a far different realm than other organizations who, of course, should be equally commended for their efforts. In a nutshell, we are an advocacy group that effects policy based on the science, NOT business or social interests. In this, what science says is best for the fish always comes first. We also accept that all the habitat and watershed restoration work in the world can only help wild fish recovery if policy is shaped in a manner that favors wild fish like salmon, steelhead and trout actually returning.

Again, it would mean the world to me if you joined me at the auction and stuck your wallet out in support of the Native Fish Society's advocacy work. Tickets are $75 per person—not cheap, but then again, not all that expensive when you consider how much you're giving back to the fish and the salmon culture that defines the Northwest identity.

Email Jason, jason@meatisgoodforyou.com, to help support this worthy cause.

Parlez-vous français?

Je vous présente mes 2 little french angel... en plein apprentissage. J'espère bien faire aimer (sans forcer) nos 2 petites filles (pour le gars, no problem: il a déjà ça dans la peau!). La plus grande à déjà de grand succès pour elle: Grayling and Pike... no trout this day. Nous n'avons pas beaucoup d'anges pratiquant notre passion en France mais cela évolue. C'est incompréhensible tant Fly fishing correspond à la nature féminine. Votre culture est finalement beaucoup plus proche que la notre de la nature avec un esprit moderne que j'envie. Aussi, votre blog est ainsi un vrais régal et plaisir. J'attends le jour et possibilité de pêche en Colombie Britannique de ces fameuses et mythiques Stealhead. Peut être avec guide subtile et féminine et avec l'accord de ma femme of course!

Bien amicalement,
Pierrick

Merci Pierrick and Your Little Angel!

Never One To Disappoint...

photo courtesy of Tim Pask

Rogue Angel Sonya. Big Sea Run Brown Trout. BA.

Rogue Angel Jenny

Throw It In the Catch Cooler.

Rogue Angel Whitney with a recently caught hatchery steelhead. Strong work Angel!

Winter White Water Rafting!

Rogue Angel Dawn and her daring hubby, "B-Chou" floating for the first time on their new pontoon boat on a winter day.