Serendipity

Many of you who have known me for the past 10 years know that I have been on a fly fishing roller coaster fishing as many species and as many destinations as I possibly can. My first adventure took me to Alaska seeking my first salmon on a fly. I remember the day so well...all alone, flying to Alaska to attend a women's fly fishing camp where I would have my opportunity at salmon, the biggest fish I had ever caught in my life. That trip changed me forever. Giving me confidence to pursue any fish, all fish, and realize that this was just the beginning of a long journey. I successfully caught my first salmon on a fly and my eyes were opened to a whole new world of fishing. The wild.

I returned to Alaska year after year until I successfully caught all five Pacific Salmon species. The migration of these fish is one of nature's most exciting dramas. It is beyond belief to witness this strenuos, desperate race against time, with so many obstacles taking its toll. I now have an opportunity presented to me to spend a week in Finland. An opportunity to work as a consultant and to fish for Atlantic Salmon, a dream that I hoped someday would be a reality. On July 26, 2009 I will be embarking on this journey...a destination totally foreign to me. Lapland. The fishing will also include trout, grayling, and char.

As I begin to prepare for this trip I can't help think about what this blog will contain after my return. What lies ahead is unknown....an adventure that will unfold and reveal itself.

This map indicates my final destination. Utsijoki.

Giving Back!

Yesterday I fished in our third annual Trout Tournament to raise money for Casting For Recovery. We collected $4, 225 that will be used for fly fishing retreats for Indiana women who have or have had breast cancer. It sounds like such a small event but I was fortunate enough to participate in the last few retreats and see first hand what this program means to the ladies who are participating.

"Giving back" to the sport is something that I always thought was just a noble saying...an excuse to justify the countless hours and money we spend merely indulging and feeding our addiction. "Passion "is another word that somehow justifies insanity, crazy, madness.

if you are passionate about the sport that is a good thing, but if you are a trout bum you have lost it and are totally insane. hmmm, let's pretend there is a distinct difference between the two!

The trout tournament was a success, not only financially, but for me it was a way of putting many things in perspective. A fish is a fish is a fish...having your life threatened or turned upside down by a vengeful disease, leaving you feeling helpless is a challenge far more important than fourty one inches of trout.

What we do with our "passion" and the decisions we make everyday can and does affect other people and in some cases we will never know just how much.

Creek Stompin Madness!

When you live in Indiana you LOVE smallies! The fact of the matter is even if you don't live in Indiana you love smallmouth fishing. Fishing for smallmouth is part of my Indiana heritage and we have some of the best creeks to fish and explore.

Last evening I was dying to get out and do a little fishing and 90 degrees and nearly the same in humidity was a subject that never came up.

Over an hours drive later I arrived at the targeted creek and hit the creek as fast as possible. Downstream looked picture perfect smallmouth water so after chasing off some kids swimming in the fishing hole we made our way to the first deep hole and caught the first fish. This is usually a good sign but sometimes can be misleading.

As we made our way downstream it became evident this was going to be one of those days.

We covered both sides of the creek...hitting every structure, casting behind every boulder, banging banks left and right and occasionally finding a fish.

Fishing was slow....but part of the fishing fun is never knowing what you're gonna get!

If you love to fish, a slow day of fishing is still a stellar day!

Soon we approached a bridge and there was an occasional rumble as cars drove over it. That sounds became louder and more annoying the closer we got to the bridge...I guess if we had been catching more fish the sound of my cheers would have drowned out the rumble.

I tied on a brand new popper, one I was sure was going to tease up a fish ,when all of the sudden I heard a rather loud rumble and my fishing partner asked if that was thunder.

I was really just focusing on my newly tied on popper, and I replied that the rumble was just a truck going over the bridge. Seemed logical at the time!

We began our way back upstream and casting rather quickly trying to get in as many opportunities as possible, I made a cast close to a fallen tree and immediately a fish slammed it.

Whooooo-hoooooooo FISH ON! my cackle was followed by crashing thunder and torrential downpour. The sky opened up and soon I was dripping wet as I made my way back to my truck.

My fishing partner doesn't know the difference between the sound of thunder and a truck going over a bridge!

Teach a child to fish!

Sometimes you give up your fishing night!

Well...rarely do I pass up my Wednesday night fishing for anything else, but sometimes we are called or pulled in another direction. This week was one of those times where I felt I needed to attend a meeting that addressed the problem of kids today not spending time outdoors.
This is something I feel very strongly about since I truly feel it is not in the best interest of the kids. I grew up in a different time, a different environment as many of you did. A time where being a kid meant getting up at decent hour ,quickly doing my assigned chores and running out the door to play all day long. We would jump on bikes and go looking for adventure.
We fished, hiked, played baseball, football, tennis, stomped in the river and in the winter we ice skated outside (not in a building)
Our children today are spending less and less time in the outdoors and the research indicates it is an ever increasing problem. These children are the voters and decision makers of the future and if they are not exposed to the outdoors and their natural heritage how will they be able to make decisions regarding natural resources usage?
Not to mention their health is at risk. Childhood obesity is becoming so prevalent and yet we accept this as if there is no other choice.
The most disturbing thing for me is what our children are exposed to: violence on tv, in movies, music, computers, countless hours of texting and cell phone usage compounded by drugs, explicit sexual material that is way beyond what once was teenage boys looking at playboy magazines. What chance do our kids have if this is "normal"???????
It is frightening to think of the consequences all this will have.
I plan to work with this committee to offer kids an alternative, an option....one that brings them back to a childhood that is fun, safe and most of all surrounded by nature.

Indiana Casting For Recovery Reunion!

2009 CFR Reunion!

Sunday, June 14 was the Casting For Recovery Reunion where manyl of the past participants that attended Indiana's Casting For Recovery Retreats gathered for a celebration. A few river helpers along with Eric Simpson drove to Swan Lake to assist the ladies in fly fishing.

These are remarkable women who in spite of all the challenges they have encountered they find the inner strength to support each other and to have fun.

I am truly Blessed to be able to assist them and to teach some of them how to catch fish however they have taught me something in return. Courage, hope and the power of prayer and friendship.

Thanks ladies for living life with such dignity. Keep Fishing!

And Thanks to the entire Casting For Recovery Team for all your hard work...you guys are awesome!

Got one!

My dear friend suggested I create this blog and start blogging my adventures in both fly fishing and shooting. ...

I think it will be fun and certainly will help me document some stories that I may find entertaining when I'm too old to do the things I enjoy.

Actually.....I don't plan on ever being too old to fly fish or to shoot my side by side!

This week I fished the White River with my fishing buddy. The river was running a bit fast and a tad high. We decided to wade downstream and cast to structure looking for smallies. I tied on a wiggle minnow and made some tight casts up close to log jams with no luck. Typically if a smallie is going to hit topwater it doesn't take long to entice one to come up and slam this fly.

I'm not the most patient angler I know so after about 30 minutes of nothing I switched flies and tied on a streamer. Several casts later I had a fish on! Now I'm feeling happy!

Like most smallies once he realizes he is hooked he displays his acrobatic talent in attempt to spit the hook and leave you watching your lifeless fly line floating down the river.

Luckily for me this wasn't the case. Keeping a tight line and gently bowing to the fish as he twirls and jumps kept me from losing this fish. I smiled as he came up out of the water for the third time before he succumbed.

As we moved further downstream we managed to pick up 6 more smallies and several rock bass.

All in all this was a great few hours on the river...sometimes just catching fish and sharing it with a good friend makes for great memories.