Learning with Jimmy June 26, 2008
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Dad got some formal casting instruction this morning from Jimmy LeMert, owner of Patrick’s Fly Shop and one of only a handful of FFF certified master casting instructors in the world. Classroom was on the lawn at Gas Works Park. From what I heard [and saw], a few bad habits were identified, proper technique demonstrated and some corrective measures taken. We’ll see what the old man learned tomorrow @ Picnic Point…
Sculpin Surprise June 25, 2008
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1 small- to medium-sized sculpin
1 size 8 green/white clouser
1 ripe banana
1 doppio espresso
1 gallon of mojitos, mixed
Eat banana in car on the way to the coffee shop; throw peel in middle of the road. Pound espresso while flipping radio stations and driving twice the speed limit to Carkeek. Try not to lose your dad following in the truck behind. Tie on an olive mini-ceiver, whip water. Switch to a pink m-c and do same. Watch osprey dive and catch his own breakfast. Switch rods to throw popper, give dad green/white clouser. Observe dad catching scrawny sculpin on last cast while feeling uncomfortably envious that at least he caught a fish. After work, mix and drink entire gallon of mojitos. Damned orcas.
Do you believe? June 25, 2008
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From the June 24, 2008, edition of the NY Times:
“It has always interested me that the word ‘credit’ comes from the word ‘credere,’ which means ‘to believe.’” Mr. Wolfe said. “It only works if people believe in it.” He’s right, of course: one reason the credit markets have tanked is that people don’t believe anymore.
– Tom Wolfe, author of Bonfire of the Vanities, excerpted from “A ‘Bonfire’ Returns as Heartburn
There are no salmon in Puget Sound June 20, 2008
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It’s true. I’ve tried to find them and they’re not there. Anywhere. I think the orcas had something to do with it.
Beautiful morning at Carkeek. Loaded up the GS and hit Diva for a doppio espresso on my way down. There was one guy there before me fishing the surface and another guy [the old man from Patrick's, John, I think] who stepped in just before I left. Nobody got so much as a bump, nor had they had much luck recently. The water was unusually dark and cloudy considering there hadn’t been much rain. Near high tide, fished chartreuse/white, then pink/white baitfish patterns to try to get some visibility.
Damn orcas…
Tim Russert perspective June 19, 2008
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Gary, right on, as usual.
AS MODERN JOURNALISM LAY near death, with its entertainment-driven news, pomp and punditry, Tim Russert was its life support. Now, with Russert gone, we can only wonder how long journalism can go on.
An email from my dad yesterday June 19, 2008
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“A new fly shop opened up here on Clearwater. Needless to say, I can’t let myself go there again. Great inventory and some of the best looking fly patterns that I’ve seen. It doesn’t resemble retail sales in the least. It’s more like theft. Out of my pocket and into theirs.”
The best father’s day ever June 17, 2008
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Launched the boat at Shilshole. Glass. Rainier and the Olympics were so close you could touch them.
Fished Carkeek first. One other guy casting on the north end. Lots of smaller fish jumping but no hits.
Buzzed up to Boeing Creek; same story but had the place all to myself.
Buzzed up to the north end of RBC and fished around the island. Caught a decent sized flounder but no trout. Got a call from the D to meet in Edmonds. Tied up in the marina, jumped in the family truckster and had a great breakfast at Chanterelle’s.
Next, the boys and I jumped back in the boat and fished/beachcombed the way back to Shilshole. Noah landed a sculpin off the nude beach [fortunately it was still too early for the nude set]. At Boeing Creek we saw three guys using a Banshee River Board. I can definitely see one of these in our future…
Cleaned up and headed over to Nana Becky’s to try out Don’s new BBQ [works great!] with Brian, Erin and Kate. Pool time, good eats, sunshine, cold beer, family and lots of laughs. My best father’s day yet!
Eagles 2, Dave 0 June 16, 2008
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Woke up early Saturday morning [like pretty much every morning these past four months] and ran down to fish an hour of the outgoing tide on the North end of the RBC before swim lessons. As soon as I clambered my way to the crest of the train tracks, I saw two eagles standing on a fish between me and the water. One was a mature bird and the other still brown. Neither seemed overly concerned to see me, though when I finally decided there was no way around them and started down the other side, they both picked up and moved in opposite directions down the beach.
I fished the point with a pink and white baitfish pattern, working my way south until I ran into a thick patch of milfoil. When I turned back to shore to plot my next move, the immature bird was sitting on a rock about 40 yards away. I watched him hop down to a smaller rock just at the edge of the water and hop foot-to-foot as the waves licked his toes. Just as I started to laugh, he reached down and plucked a dead flounder from the water, hop back up on the rock and began eating his breakfast.
I couldn’t tell how far down the beach the milfoil went but decided to take advantage of his distraction and wade past. I was 20 yards dead in front of him when he finished his first course. This led to a fierce staredown, which I won when he broke gaze, bounced down to another rock at the water’s edge, and picked up what looked like a small trout or salmon smolt. It was pretty much over at that point but the crying.
Eagles 2, Dave 0.
ADV June 13, 2008
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My ADV Rider stickers came today, all the way from Toronto. Thanks Gadget Boy.
