Looking back through my journal notes I think I am forced to admit that the carp fishing season on the Columbia River ended in September. I still saw a few carp in October, and even caught one on November 2, but September was the last time I saw decent numbers of feeding carp in the … Continue reading Catch and A Release
Author: Adam
Adam has a master’s degree in mathematics, a black belt in aikido, and has worked enough jobs to fill a book—sushi chef, Peace Corps volunteer, and police detective among them. His writing and photos have shown up in The Drake, Tenkara USA, Hawaii Fishing News, and Sporting Classics Magazine. In 2023 he traded a badge in Honolulu for a skiff on the Columbia, where he now spends his days chasing carp with a fly rod and pretending it’s a retirement plan.
Just Now
My Boat finally arrived in November, just in time for the end of carp season! Shipping her from Florida and dealing with flaky freight companies and truck drivers was a bit stressful, but she made it in one piece. The whole package, boat, motor, gas, trailer, weighs in at less than 800 pounds, so she … Continue reading Just Now
The End of the Season?
Most sources agree that the carp fishing season on the Columbia River wraps up in October. Most of the spots on the main river channel have slowed down, but I have found hungry fish in the small lakes and backwaters. On mild days, with a bit of sun, or after some rain, the carp, especially … Continue reading The End of the Season?
October Caddis
The Columbia remains weedy and the water levels are very low. Carp fishing from the shore is a tall order, and with more saber-rattling at China over trade, I'll be surprised if my boat arrives in time for Christmas. Luckily for me, there are other fishing opportunities around. This week I decided to visit the … Continue reading October Caddis
The Fall Run
The chinook moved up the Columbia this month. For several weeks every river mouth was packed with boats from dawn to dusk. Launch ramps were crowded with trucks and trailers, and the filleted remains of salmon littered the shoreline. Now, the steelhead have started pushing up the tributaries and anglers are fishing shoulder to shoulder … Continue reading The Fall Run
Memory Weeds
I remember this fish. I spotted it from the road, rooting on the bottom in a small bay. I clambered as quickly and quietly as I could down the rocks and managed to hook it without getting my feet wet. I also remember that the hook pulled and I lost the fish. What had me … Continue reading Memory Weeds
Re-entry
It has been a bumpy return to the United States after finishing up our Peace Corps service. Here is the short version: The state of our home upon arrival 20 cubic yards of rubbish left by the squatters we had to evict The wildfire that almost burned down our house The new floor I had … Continue reading Re-entry
Bagga Blackfish
About five miles south of our village is a town called Barrouallie (pronounced "bara-lee"). Of course, if you try to catch a bus to Barrouallie you will never get there because you instead need to go to Bagga, which is the local nickname for Barrouallie. Almost every person (Habla, Starry, Big Cheese), every store (Saca, … Continue reading Bagga Blackfish
Sleepy Lake
For spring break we took a short trip to the East Coast. Two of our friends moved recently to Virginia, and their house was just a short walk from a neighborhood lake. The lake was actually a small reservoir, and the shoreline access was limited to the small embankment that served as a "dam" between … Continue reading Sleepy Lake
Caribbean Mountain Mullet
Spring in our bit of the Eastern Caribbean usually brings stiff sea breezes and an end to the wet season, but not this year. This year it has just kept on raining, and raining, and raining. I have been wanting to try some stream fishing, but heavy rains bring flash floods, and flash floods here … Continue reading Caribbean Mountain Mullet
The Fishing Dojo 