Catch and A Release

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 →

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 →

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 →

Fishing Feng Shui

When setting out to explore new water there is always the critical question of where to start. It's fun to explore, but it's frustrating to walk six miles without seeing a fish. What we want to do is to roll up to a new place, walk to the water's edge and say to ourselves, "now … Continue reading Fishing Feng Shui →

Navigating a Crowd

I like getting away from the crowd when I fish, but it's not always possible. Crowded spots are often crowded for a reason. If there are a lot of people fishing somewhere it's often because the fishing is good there! The flip side of this coin is that the fish in these areas can get … Continue reading Navigating a Crowd →

Feels Like Summer

Big O'io There are some places on the flats where big fish regularly feed, but they are crazy-difficult to catch. When I see these fish I go directly into stealth mode, with lots of crouching low to the water and slow-motion steps. Most of the time, no matter how stealthy I am, the fish turn … Continue reading Feels Like Summer →

Pow Pow!

Ed picked me up early and we marveled at the clear sky and calm conditions on the ride to the boat ramp. The weather was ideal. "Why can't every day be like this" we kept asking each other. The marina parking lot was mostly empty and we rigged up the fly rods and launched the … Continue reading Pow Pow! →

Classic Ed

I fished back to back days this past weekend, and it was epic. . Part I: Intro Saturday I fished with Captains Makani Christensen (Fly Fishing Hawaii) and Chris Wright (Aloha Fly Fishing). The next day we were joined by Sean, owner of Nervous Water, thee fly shop in Honolulu. And out on the flat, … Continue reading Classic Ed →

The Buddy System

I believe I have mentioned the phenomenon of the buddy system before, but I think it bears repeating. . Very often bonefish travel and feed in pairs. Sometimes they are close together, but I have also seen fish a hundred feet apart that are clearly aware of each other and eventually meet up before leaving … Continue reading The Buddy System →