American Crow…

“If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be clever enough to be crows.” ~ Rev. Henry Ward Beecher

Walking the shoreline…

squirrel searching…

‘OK, where’s the bird seed?’ 

The bushy tailed squirrel perused every corner of the covered patio looking for food no doubt. I took shots through a window. Eventually, the squirrel scaled my tripod and sat/stood staring at me. It was humorous combination of subject matter and a photographer’s implement. 

onward…

keep climbing onward

the ridge top offers a view

rest in the sunshine

Always Searching for Something

“…adventure is simply physical and emotional discomfort recollected in tranquility”. ~ Tim Cahill

“But why think about that when all the golden lands ahead of you and all kinds of unforseen events wait lurking to surprise you and make you glad you’re alive to see?” ~ Jack Kerouac

“Better to sleep in an uncomfortable bed free, than sleep in a comfortable bed unfree.” ~Jack Kerouac Again

Winter Fly Fishing (Rick Hafele’s Advice)

“Nymph fishing on a winter morning will certainly hone your skills for nymph fishing other times of the year. The sluggish metabolism of winter fish means their takes are softer and subtler than ever. It also means they won’t go as far out of their way to take your fly. Thus reading the water and being able to detect the softest takes is critical if you hope to hook some winter trout. I find a strike indicator essential for such nymph fishing. I also find that casting as short a line as possible to effectively fish a piece of water improves my odds of detecting a strike and setting the hook quickly – seems fish can spit out a nymph just as fast in the winter as in the summer. Also keep moving and fish new water. Since many fish won’t be actively feeding you need to cover as many fish as possible to increase your odds of finding one ready to take a fly.”  (Hafele’s Laughing Rivers)

Short sleeves are gone in the Pacific NW. But, with some diligence and thinking, Trout can be had. Like Hafele, that idea of hammer smashed finger tips (the sensation) requires some serious mind control. Identify which streams might be open year round and then contemplate what might hatch in the Winter and after that what searching nymph patterns to use. Presentation, holding water, short lines, soft bites. Caught/Released.