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| Your Olympic Peninsula fly fishing guide, catch & release, fly fishing only! |
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| Winter. |
It is only the second week of December and yet we have had winter and autumn weather on and off since late October. November saw some truly arctic cold days, and we got some good early snow pack at higher altitudes in the mountains. December rolled in with a warm blast that sent the rivers skyrocketing. We just got through some of the wildest days I have ever seen here, as far as wind and rain goes, and there have been several records broken for Autumn and December temperatures. And it's not even winter solstice yet. The rivers are on the drop now, the mountains are getting colder again, we're seeing much better flows than we have seen here in weeks, and those early winter, hatchery run steelhead are still rolling in. I will be guiding for the hatchery runs through December. I will not be guiding for wild winter run steelhead on the Olympic Peninsula rivers. The runs are too severely diminished now, and I don't think that we should be fishing for them at all.
On the beaches
On the beaches here we have seen some beautiful days between the storms and freezes. I think that some of the sea-run Cutthroat do get back out into the saltwater to feed, when the smaller rivers get too dirty and flooded in the winter. And the saltwater clears up quickly after the storms. When we do catch Cutthroat here in the winter they tend to be larger fish, Well worth the effort. And thankfully we are in the Olympic Mountain Rainshadow, so we do enjoy much fairer weather than the areas to the north, south east and west of us. The mountains protect us. Seattle gets about twice to three times the amount of the rain that we get here near Port Townsend in the winter. If we get a few sunny, mild days in a row here, the trout will come back up to the surface to feed along the beaches. For my guests who come in the winter months, I keep an eye on conditions and forecasts here, and I let them know when things are looking right for a day of beach fishing. And we do catch a few nice wild fish around here. Yes, even in the winter.
"All that is not given is lost."
Mahatma Gandhi
One thing that I try to hang onto is the notion that our fishing lives are a kind of gift. It is inscrutable to me that there are people who have no interest in the outdoors life. They have no sense of wonder at the sight of the first flock of migrating geese, nor for the sound of the first loon of the year coming back from the arctic, they get no anticipation of a wild fish on the other end of their line. I have met some of these people, and I have guided a few. Once afield, they are strangers in a strange land. I have no idea how this works, but there are some people who are never going to be outdoors people, they won't go hiking or camping, nor will they ever be true fishers or hunters. It is just true. I have spent my whole life in outdoors adventures. When I am away from the trails and the waters for too long, life becomes a place where I am merely waiting to live, until the next outing, and the next raindrop on my face and the wind at my back. I have always been this way. The modern world offers me very little solace. But taking a brief walk beneath the tall firs, or a hike along a river trail, a few hours of wading and casting, some light on the water and a row along the bay, and I am healed. Sometimes all that it takes is a glimpse of a hawk or eagle, briefly sweeping across the sky, an owls distant hooting in the night, to remind me that I am a part of something greater, and that we all share this life with every living thing. It is a blessing to experience life in this sometimes primal way. You might know what I mean- A sense of Unity.
Fly Fishing Gift Trips
As a reminder to you, and for the holidays- I offer fly fishing gift trips to anglers year round. These are a guided day of fly fishing, for one or two anglers, including lunch, snacks and soft beverages. I share my own custom tied flies for the day as we fish these beautiful waters. Once you contact me to arrange this gift for your friend or loved one, I will provide you with a gift card for you to give to the recipient. And they can then get in touch with me in advance to work out the details of their Olympic Peninsula fly fishing adventure. This gift trip is valid for beach or river fishing, catch & release fly fishing only. I also offer rowboat picnics on a quiet estuary here, or private fly casting instruction sessions. Contact me for the details.
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| Early winter sea-run Cutthroat fishing. |
On the beaches
On the beaches here we have seen some beautiful days between the storms and freezes. I think that some of the sea-run Cutthroat do get back out into the saltwater to feed, when the smaller rivers get too dirty and flooded in the winter. And the saltwater clears up quickly after the storms. When we do catch Cutthroat here in the winter they tend to be larger fish, Well worth the effort. And thankfully we are in the Olympic Mountain Rainshadow, so we do enjoy much fairer weather than the areas to the north, south east and west of us. The mountains protect us. Seattle gets about twice to three times the amount of the rain that we get here near Port Townsend in the winter. If we get a few sunny, mild days in a row here, the trout will come back up to the surface to feed along the beaches. For my guests who come in the winter months, I keep an eye on conditions and forecasts here, and I let them know when things are looking right for a day of beach fishing. And we do catch a few nice wild fish around here. Yes, even in the winter.
"All that is not given is lost."
Mahatma Gandhi
One thing that I try to hang onto is the notion that our fishing lives are a kind of gift. It is inscrutable to me that there are people who have no interest in the outdoors life. They have no sense of wonder at the sight of the first flock of migrating geese, nor for the sound of the first loon of the year coming back from the arctic, they get no anticipation of a wild fish on the other end of their line. I have met some of these people, and I have guided a few. Once afield, they are strangers in a strange land. I have no idea how this works, but there are some people who are never going to be outdoors people, they won't go hiking or camping, nor will they ever be true fishers or hunters. It is just true. I have spent my whole life in outdoors adventures. When I am away from the trails and the waters for too long, life becomes a place where I am merely waiting to live, until the next outing, and the next raindrop on my face and the wind at my back. I have always been this way. The modern world offers me very little solace. But taking a brief walk beneath the tall firs, or a hike along a river trail, a few hours of wading and casting, some light on the water and a row along the bay, and I am healed. Sometimes all that it takes is a glimpse of a hawk or eagle, briefly sweeping across the sky, an owls distant hooting in the night, to remind me that I am a part of something greater, and that we all share this life with every living thing. It is a blessing to experience life in this sometimes primal way. You might know what I mean- A sense of Unity.
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| Happy Holidays!!! |
Fly Fishing Gift Trips
As a reminder to you, and for the holidays- I offer fly fishing gift trips to anglers year round. These are a guided day of fly fishing, for one or two anglers, including lunch, snacks and soft beverages. I share my own custom tied flies for the day as we fish these beautiful waters. Once you contact me to arrange this gift for your friend or loved one, I will provide you with a gift card for you to give to the recipient. And they can then get in touch with me in advance to work out the details of their Olympic Peninsula fly fishing adventure. This gift trip is valid for beach or river fishing, catch & release fly fishing only. I also offer rowboat picnics on a quiet estuary here, or private fly casting instruction sessions. Contact me for the details.
Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide and Instructor
I am guiding fly fishers on the Olympic Peninsula beaches, rivers and streams. We walk and wade, fly fishing for sea-run Coastal Cutthroat trout in freshwater and saltwater, and in the rivers for trout and summer steelhead. This is strictly catch and release, traditional fly fishing only. Lunch, snacks, soft beverages, and use of some equipment is included. I also offer personalized and private fly fishing and fly casting instruction for beginners. I would be happy to help you plan your Olympic Peninsula fly fishing adventure, for beginners through expert anglers. Public presentations, Naturalist guide for rowboat picnics, Tide Pool and river trail day trips. Please call, write or email for booking details.
Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368
Licensed Washington State Guide
Certified Fly Casting Instructor
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award
U.S.C.G First Aid/CPR/BLS/AED/BBP/HIV Certified
Phone: 360-385-9618
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LittleStoneFlyfisher
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