Open For Season

Oh, it feels good, although winter will still have something in store for us, we official opened up 

our tiny little Fish Camp for the 2015 Season yesterday. Initial supplies are purchased, camp cleaned, early season water hauled in, we are set. OH the most import things, boat, Ready, flies, tied , sorted and organized, new gear purchased to start the season. Few new pieces of camera gear. Bring on the fish and the rivers. 

Starting yesterday, we will see if we can best last years record by visiting 8 new river drainages, and catching new species of fish. In addition, we will see if we can best our 79 days of fishing from last year. Although many, many  folks far surpass this mark, I find it a pretty good benchmark to average for 5 years running. 

Second choice next week: Colorado River or Arkansas?

Feels like jeopardy!!! Stay tuned to find out. 

Changing of the Gravel Guard

After 12 years I am taking a walk on the wild side by leaving Simms and moving my wading boots choice to Patagonia. After looking around and searching, trying on several different styles and brand

I really liked the cut and styling of the Patagonia Lightweight "Sticky" Wading Boots.

Here is the press release from Patagonia:

Boats and trucks can only take you so far; you have to make it the rest of the way to fish on your 
own two feet. When the trail gets long, your Ultralight Wading Boots keep a spring in your step all the
way there and back. The lightweight , quick-drying synthetic leather upper is flexible yet tough enough
to handle years of hard use. Extremely durable Veregy mesh with bionic yarns drains the footbed while keeping the sand and silt out, making the Ultralight an ideal fishing boot. The internal support and reinforced  toe box protect feet from deep-water pressure and rocky river bottoms. Long wearing Rock Grip sticky rubber soles hold fin straps, accept studs, and can be re-soled for extended life.


Hopefully they live up to the billing of that some many have given them. Look forward to giving them a try .

All in need to do now to get some spikes drilled into them next. I really have gotten spoiled using them

as of late. Sure is nice getting a few pieces of gear.

Keep 'Em Wet

Keep ‘Em Wet Campaign 

This winter, Native Fish Society and many others are jointing forces to embrace the   “Keep ‘Em Wet” campaign to increase angler awareness about the negative effects of air exposure to wild fish.

Now don’t get us wrong, we’ve all taken fish out of the water to snap a photo, Native Fish Society staff members included.  But the more we learn about these issues and take care of the fish we love the more healthy wild fish there will be to catch. Right!

Even when anglers are taking precautionary measures, like crushing the barb, prolonged air exposure can make it difficult for fish to recover and there are delayed negative effects that may not be apparent even if the fish seems fine when it swims away.

Studies have shown that the longer a fish is exposed to air after exhausting exercise the higher their mortality rates are (Ferguson and Tufts, 1992; Gale et al, 2011).  Even 30 seconds of air exposure reduces a trout’s ability to recover and can provide a significant additional stress even when catch and release fishing (Ferguson and Tufts, 1992).

So, let’s get creative with the way we photograph our wild fish by keeping them wet and in the water.  Challenge yourself , friends and customers the rest of this year by keeping your fish wet and in the water. Protect the waters and fish that have been good to us.

This is going to be another tough year of water for us. Please do your part.......

"The Tale of Trigger"

Narrated by Woody Harrelson, this is a great story of the revered guitar of famed Willie Nelson. Trigger has most distinct sounds for gut string guitar and scratched in autographs from many of the greatest musicians in the world, make this an iconic gem.

A little long but worth the watch.