Open eyes..open minds!

This past weekend I participated in a new event in Indiana called" Hoosier Outdoor Experience" The event was put on by Indiana DNR. It was a huge event offering thousands of people an opportunity to try many different outdoor activities completely FREE. Archery, shooting, fishing, canoeing just to name a few.
Our club, Reel Women -Reel Men were involved with the fly fishing venue and it was wonderful to give so many folks a chance to see what our sport is all about.
The event was three days long, the first day was designated "Student Day"
Nearly 1,000 third grade students from all over Indiana were bussed in to attend this inaugural event. Interestingly enough, it was this day that opened my eyes and even though I WAS the instructor that day, by the end of the day I felt more like a student. A student who had just learned how powerful connecting with our children and sharing our passion really is. It was at this moment that I realized what impact we have if only we take the time to interact with our young people.
As a fly fishing instructor I feel my job is not only to teach flycasting and fly fishing, but also to help guide them to being better citizens. Citizens who care about our environment and who want to preserve and protect our natural resources.
As I stood before several classes of these third grade students, I spoke of my love of fly fishing and I briefly touched upon a few things the children could do to be better anglers. Things like not littering and picking up trash that is found in our rivers and along the banks, and then we discussed catch and release. Keep in mind these were only 9 year old children and I only had 4 minutes to speak to each class.
But something amazing happened, the children became very interested in the topic of releasing fish. Perhaps it was so foreign to them that they were intrigued by the concept, but regardless the reason I saw wide opened eyes, sparkling eyes and genuine concern. They spoke about maybe only keeping one fish instead of everything they catch, and one child even told me that he wanted to save some fish for his own children to catch someday.
Children are our future voters and leaders of our country......It is critical that we teach them not only to enjoy the wonders of the outdoors but also how to take care of it... to ensure future generations will have the same opportunities to enjoy clean, healthy rivers.
I intend to focus more on working with young people...they are intelligent, eager and purely delightful.

Shocking News from Muncie!

This past weekend I had the privilige of visiting Muncie, Indiana where Fish biologist Jason Doll of Muncie Sanitary District of Water Quality demonstrated some of the duties of his job. He along with two assistants demonstrated the process of electro shocking a stretch of the White River so we could observe how it's done.
It was truly amazing to see so many fish come out of a small section of the river. At first glance I only spotted maybe 2 places where if fishing, I would have made some casts. As it turned out... those few places were indeed where the fish were holding. Of course in shallow water, it is pretty certain that fish will move to deeper and cooler water. Seeking shelter and good food source, it made sense that larger fish were found just below the damn where a good food source would be found.
Oxygenated water is also a main attraction for most fish, so this area proved to produce the most fish as well as the largest.
Jason also showed us how they conduct surveys for habitat summary and how to obtain a QHEI score as well as an IBI score.
The most fascinating for me was seeing so many different species of fish, particularly bait fish. Shiners such as spotfin, sand, steelcolor, mimic, striped and redfin were found in great numbers.
It was also interesting to me that darters were found in various types. Bob Clouser told me that darters are found pretty much in every watershed and are a favorite food among smallmouth. That is one reason I keep darters in my fly box in various colors. Smallmouth seem to love them~!
In any case....thanks Jason for giving us such a great demo...I learned alot and it is always nice to have a better understanding of what is going on down in the water!

Thanks to Indiana Smallmouth Alliance for arranging the demo!

Nice visiting with members of the Normal City Fly Fishers also!

Damdochax River B.C. slideshow!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

My Sincerest Thanks!

A lovely monument in downtown Smithers

I happen to luck out and got to browse through the city market!

A town who takes great pride in its heritage and respects its natural resources

My dear friend Hannah!

David and I at the sea plane base

Four Flyfishergirls!

Alice cooking again!

Nelson leaning on an almost sawed off tree! yikes!

Shawn and I pretending to work in the shop!

Don and I fishing in perfect harmony!

Cottonwood Camp...my home for a week!
Thank-you Hannah for allowing me a close up look at your outstanding fishery. It was truly amazing to fish in your company and to spend a week in the wilds of British Columbia. I will never forget our fun times together and I look forward to doing it again soon! You truly Rock!

Thanks Alice for your fabulous hospitality! The food was incredible and you nourished my body so i could do all that hiking!

Don, it was great fishing with you, we seem to have kindrid spirits....it was like we had fished together many times before! You are an incredible story teller and made me laugh so hard my face was hurting!

Wilson....you are sooooooo funny! Unforgettable line: " Patti..you fish over there, I will wait here with the salmon!" LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shawn, you really gotta do something about that tape worm...you're gonna put my friends out of business man! lol....thanks for being so kind...the coffee in my tent, and carrying my back pack on the way out was stellar man!You're da man!

Mark....my favorite lumberjack! thanks for all the wood for my stove! You know how
to keep a woman warm!

And David....thanks for being there! I appreciate the lift and it was great getting to know you!

My sincerest thanks to all of you....I miss you already!

OH NO COHO!!!!!!

Fishing with my guide Nelson was one of the most fun I have had in a long time! We fished hard but also laughed alot which really helped take my mind off the Bear fear that haunts me everytime I am in Bear Country!
The trails were impressively cut and well groomed, making the 3 mile hike safe and a real adventure.
Once we arrived at the camp, you knew this was classic steelhead water...and I was in awe at being able to spot a wild steelhead for the first time in my life.
I had no idea that coho salmon would become intruders and make my steelheading even more challenging than it already is. I fished hard all day making casts to every good looking run we came across. Swinging classic steelhead flies trying to entice a strike brought me some awesome fighting coho salmon, but after several of those it was the steelhead that I wanted tugging on my line.
As the sun was kissing the treetops I realized the day was quickly coming to an end and no steelhead had even touched my fly, I made a few final casts working my way back to camp when all of the sudden there was that unmistakable slam and without time to think I set the hook and I had a fight on my hands...I won that fight and landed my first wild steelhead with Hannah there to tail it for me.
I can't tell you how happy I was at that moment but I remember admiring that gorgeous fish and absorbing all the beauty of nature around me. I will never forget it. In the remaining few days I had several other steelhead on but unfotunately unbuttoned on me and as disappointing as that can be, I was still filled with joy from that gorgeous creature. As I watched it swim free with such strength and force, I knew that someday I would return to Damdochax River and do it all over again.
This trip was more than just great fishing, it was about personal challenge and about meeting great people who somehow have a place in my heart.
Thanks Hannah, Alice, Don, Wilson, Shawn and Mark...You guys ROCK!
Until next time....over and out!

Bring it ON!

Those first few days were merely to wet our appetite...we had no idea what was in store, but we headed down to the river and the fun began! rainbows eager to take dries were as wild as you can imagine, often times lurking behind sockey, it was action packed and I was so pumped my heart was racing with excitement, and when this sockey took my size 12 royal coachman I thought I had died and gone to heaven!
Salmon on a small dry fly????? are you frikin kidding me?????????

OUT OF THE BUSH!

Today the sea plane arrived and I quickly realized my B.C. adventure was coming to an end. In the next several posts I will do my best to share with you the moments of the week that are forever branded in my mind.
The adventure was fueled by an online friend of mine Hannah Belford, steelhead guide, owner and operator of Damdochax River Lodge. Along with her mother Alice, they run a very remote lodge deep in the woods of British Columbia.
These two women are without a doubt the strongest, most self sufficient women I have ever met, and I feel so priviliged to have met them and to be able to call them my friends.
The main lodge sits on Damdochax Lake (Black Water)where the outlet leads to 12 miles of some of the most pristine waters I have ever fished.
Upon our arrival we (Nancy aka saltwatergirl) were warmly greeted on the dock by Hannah, Alice and Shawn. Quickly after settling in I was guided by Don to fish the inlet to see what we could stir up. It didn't take long for us to find some spectacular bull trout.

Off to the BUSH!

Finally got to meet Saltwatergirl (Nancy) last night. We had dinner, visited the liquor store and laughed alot. This morning we will be taking the float plane out to camp and of course meet up with Flyfishergirl (Hannah Belford and Alice)
weather is good right now however the forecast is "plenty of rain"
Smithers is awesome...It's a great little town and everyone I have talked to is a steelheader!
I am off to the "BUSH" over and out!

I forgot to tell you...the Bulkley River goes right through this town!
It's an awesome steelhead river!

Buzzing my way to Vancouver!

I left Indy at 9:45 this morning and it is now 6:30 Indy time and I am in Vancouver!
interesting way of travel these days...you must go backwards before you can advance toward your desired direction! Indy-Toronto...Toronto-Vancouver!

Smooth flights except for I must look like a terrorist or something. Once again I was detained at security and its no longer Victoria's secret that I wear an underwire push-up bra!
Oh..one more travel tip for you ladies....I recently bought a new mascara called
"Pulse Perfection" as the name indicates it has a vibrating brush that really enhances eye lashes.
After being wanded down about my bra the security guard held up my "Reel Women" backpack, glared at me and said" does this belong to you?"
Being the proud fisherwoman that I am I happily claimed it and then he said he must go through it! I gladly co-operated!
He had a look of concern as he dug deep into my pack when all of the sudden I hear something buzzing...OH MY GOD what must he be thinking????
I quickly explained it was my mascara but he kept right on digging and I began digging myself into a bigger hole until i realized i should just shut up!
Needless to say he found the mascara and excused me! How does this stuff happen to me??? lol
So ladies....leave your vibrating mascara at home...or at least take the batteries out of it! ;)

The Night Before B.C.

Waders, check..wading boots, check..wading jacket, check..rods, reels, flies, tippet, tools, bug dope, hat, gloves, sunglasses! I got the important stuff packed!
Tomorrow morning I am off to B.C. to fish the Damdochax River with a few flyfishergirls! Rain is in the forecast pretty much all week.
The anticipation is killing me....I love to travel and see new places, make new friends and fish new water. The unknown is part of the allure...wondering what will it be like..how will the fishing be..how will I adapt to such a remote place???
I am scheduled to arrive in Smithers tomorrow evening where I will spend the night in a hotel and fly out on a float plane to the lake camp the following morning.
The huge butterflies in my stomach will deprive me of a good nights sleep tonight but it is always worth it. Feeding my adventurous spirit is an addiction...the physical challenge is something I welcome. I guess I think about the days ahead when I will probably be forced to just sit and relive these exciting adventures only through memories and photographs.
I know some day my fishing will be limited to a john boat in a local pond, where I will comfortably sit and cast to bluegill! probably wearing a big old sun hat and a purple dress just to annoy my fishing partner... but until then..." Patti is GONE FISHING!" Live life to the fullest!