Ooof

Well…the slowdown finally hit us. The summer has been a bit of a bust which isn’t anything new. With odd water levels, inconsistent conditions, hot weather hitting early, a lot more wind than normal the summer has been funky to say the least.

August is now here. The reservoirs are almost empty, we have the whole month of August still to get through, and the 85 plus degree days are going to hit us soon. Hoot owl is recommended but not required….yet. The water levels are dropping every day, and I expect the river to get smaller, hotter, and more busy with non fishing recreators as the heat comes in more.

Now its not all doom and gloom anglers. This isn’t the first drought this river has had to get through. I do have concerns for late August and September with the hot weather and low water levels coming But again, not the first time. That is why I give the river a break in the summer. I switch over to Bass and Carp and let the river be. I want it to be good for September and October. The early am grind for beating the heat, pressured and hot and tired fish that just want a break, and a river that just isn’t having it this summer in a lot of ways. It happens, rivers are finicky that way, and across the west the summer heat, low water, drought conditions, hoot owl restrictions are all over. It is now our turn.

The bass and carp fishing is a nice change of pace. Its a little bit more of a drive but makes up for it with the change in scenery, different kind of fishing, and a new experience.

But I also know things are tight right now. They are tight for us too. Everyone I talk to says similar things. I hold my breath as we come into August because the fear of cancellations on top of light bookings is there. I am always honest and up front anglers. Shit gets tough. This isn’t my first rodeo with turmoil, upheaval, and unprecedented shit. It’s been an uphill battle since covid. I have been at this long enough to see the trends, how people spend money, how things affect their want or ability to spend money. I work with people that are way smarter than me and work in a plethora of fields from construction, finance, tech, real estate, aerospace, agriculture, mechanics, education, healthcare, and so man others. All sorts, all income levels, all walks of life. The people that fish are just regular people that share this silly thing we enjoy with fish. I get to hear from these people, river time is therapy time for most people and they let me know. The boat is and always will be a safe space. The river takes what you give it and sends it down yonder. I just help get it out a lot of the time. Sometimes through fishing but most of the time, and when things are funky, scary, or uncomfortable, people just want to talk.

This job is still about people. Fishing is secondary. I find myself closing off, not going out, hunkering down. It puts you down, anytime there is downturn post covid it puts me in a depressive state. I have not doing anything. When it is mostly out of your control it is even harder to push through. I know others are doing that. I miss connecting with people. Its not the lack of fish…its the lack of people interactions this season. Some years its so busy and people heavy it burns you out. Other years its the opposite. With all the crazy in our world right now, the positive and shared connections with people seem to be the most important right now.

We need to be connecting and sharing experiences with each other during this time. We are all collectively…again…sharing the turmoil in our home right now. I’d rather share it riverside with anglers that need to feel that connection as well. To unplug from one world and connect to the real one. The world out here doing its thing without us. It feels like the summer of covid. Tight and uncomfortable, skating by with not quite enough. That’s just the truth. The work has only increased on the back end. Constantly brainstorming, trying pivoting. The same things that worked last year and the year before ain’t working this year. It has been hard to keep up for my trout bummy ass. That is why I have set changes in motion for next year to help and Kristen and I will be working together in a larger capacity. But that work is constant and always changing. Thankfully the guide work takes care of itself but at the end of the day its about butts in boat seats.

Being honest and open about things is the best approach for most situations in my opinion. I need butts in seats just like any other service or tourist industry that needs butts in seats. When people can’t afford it, don’t have time for it, are scared to jump into it, or any other reason that would make anyone think about recreating or doing leisure activities it trickles down. All in this together so to say. And its hard. That’s really all this post is about. Acknowledging that shit is a little out of whack right now and its stressful.

I am right there with ya. Doing my best to get through it and fish when I can.

See ya riverside anglers.