We got up late…like typical trout bums in the offseason. I also didn’t feel like getting up at 4:30 am while it was f’ing raining. So we got up late and headed to Forks.

We hit the Bogechiel by 10:30 and swung till 3. I had one hit on a blue intruder thingy. My cast took all that time to get even halfway decent. Troy had an easier time casting but got no love.

We are gonna float tomorrow. Really get into the swing of things. And my boat is itching to get wet.

This place is amazing. Last night the Strait of Juan de Fuca was loud, the way the water sounds out here still gets to me. The smell of the saltwater and campire filled the air. We had thoughts of fish on our minds.

Its so warm here. The minor temperature fluctuations and the sheer dampness of this place boggles me. Its boardshort weather!

The trees keep grabbing my attention, gnarled and bearded with knuckled roots grabbing onto the riverbanks. The mountains, mist and cloud covered only catching glimpses of them. Their scarred sides from logging but full of young new growth.

Its wet. The fire burns dim and cold with how humid it is. It hasn’t dropped below 45 degrees yet. My beard is a curly mess tangled and frizzy from the damp. There is the constant sound of drip…drop…tink…plink…plop..dup..drip. I will take the wet over the hard bitter cold on the homewater.

Checking out and plugging into a different river, different species, different method of presenting a fly…I am completely out of my comfort zone. I am giddy about the place I am fishing, determined to lock into that steelhead swing rhythm. This is relaxing and stimulating at the same time.

Camp life is a welcome change. I didn’t get to camp at the end of the trout season due to losing the roof top in the accident. Its been nice to settle into a camp rhythm too. I coud live like this all the time. I prefer the lack of walls, the quiet, the fishing, just the getting lost in this river life. We only get one of these lives and we get to choose how we live it. I may not get to be with my kids like I want right now, and that will change in the very near future. Until then I will take the opportunity life or the universe…the fly fishing gods…what have you…has presented me with and follow it around the next river bend.

See ya riverside anglers.

Tamarack

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Published by tamaracksguideservice

I have been fishing the Yakima River and its surrounding tributaries, creeks, and lakes for 10 years. I have been tying flies specific to this river for 10 years as well. I have guided not only the river but also many of the hiking and mountaineering trails in the area and fished some of the more remote lakes and streams. I love to fish the Yakima River and have been running my driftboat here for 5 years. I guide a little differently than the other services here and have a slightly different philosophy on guided fishing trips. Its all about the experience, and while I can't promise there will always be cooperative trout, there will always be good times. I learned from some of the greatest anglers the Yakima has both on the water and at the vise and I guide to share and pass on that knowledge and expertise so others can enjoy this river as much as I do. I love to teach people to fish, I love to teach people how to read the river, and I love showing people the beauty and art of fly fishing. My service is a bit cheaper but that is because I have no shop taking a percentage. I use a lot of my own fly designs and patterns that no other guide has and have spent the past 10 years fine tuning my tying and patterns specific to this river. I have flies, leaders, tippets, and fly rods and reels, and always welcome anglers to bring their own gear. If you need waders and boots I can arrange for a rental. I support my local fly shop for my trips as well as it is important to me that our local shops stay open. When you take a trip with me it all about fishing and the experiences that happen along the river. I love getting my clients to have great moments with our trout here. Ask me all the questions you can, I want to teach as much as you want to learn. Whether you are an experienced angler or brand new to the sport I love sharing this river with people. I guide the Yakima River and many other secret waters in the area. When you give me a call I will ask you lots of questions as I want to make sure you have the best experience possible while chasing the trout we have here. Whether its a guided river float or a hike and fish, or a walk and wade to the secret places, I can help make your fly fishing experience memorable and fun. Give me a call today and lets set up a time to go fishing.

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