Glass Is Not Dead

We got out this weekend and broke out some glass. It's always great to fish rods with soul. These particular ones sure did.

Visit thefiberglassmanifesto.blogspot.com/ if you don't understand the appeal. 

Photography By: Ben Sittig

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Wild Fish Matter

Homewaters Require Vigilance from Native Fish Society on Vimeo.

Take a moment to watch the video, then please take a moment to voice your opinion on the hatchery program on the Sandy River in Oregon by clicking on the link below. Even if you have never fished in Oregon, you never know if the opportunity will arise in the future. If it does, I hope there are wild runs of steelhead waiting for you. 

Save Sandy River Salmon and Steelhead

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Pay It Forward

Somebody taught you how to fly fish, right? Take this summer and pay that solid forward. Seeing kids get hooked on the sport is one of the great joys of this world. Give a kid something to be passionate about other than video games. These are some pics of my nephew Jackson tearin' up the bass pond with me. 

The kid is a natural. 

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Fire On The Mountain

Unless you have been sitting under a rock for the last week, you have probably heard that the entire Rocky Mountain West is on fire. This is pretty much accurate, and the High Park Fire near Fort Collins is the big dog of them all. This is the second largest forest fire in Colorado history and spans over 58,770 total acres. It is 50% contained at the time of this post. 

We are already dealing with historical low water levels and now we are dealing with a raging wildfire that has burned over 189 residences. This summer is turning into one of the most devastating years for fisheries since I moved to Colorado. They say this fire may last through the entire summer if conditions were to get worse. 


Keep the people of High Park in your thoughts and if you are interested in lending a helping hand, here are some of the folks to contact. 

coloradoredcross.org

larimerhumane.org/ (for the stranded animals)

salvationarmyusa.org

ACS Community LIFT

Photography by Karl Gehring/The Denver Post

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Life Is Fleeting

I wrote this on a forum about a year and half ago and randomly thought about this event in my life today. This took place about a year and a half ago, but it is something that keeps running through my mind recently. Life is a journey, folks. Drink it in.... HttS

I am not a guy that really ever thinks about death, but this year a lot has changed. With today marking my Grandmother's (who passed this summer) birthday and the events of yesterday (explained below) has got me thinking about things. Things like how I spend my time, who I choose to share it with and what I want to accomplish before this life is over.

Yesterday ______, _______ and I spent the day fishing at a local tailwater. Fish were caught, good times were had, I lost a huge fish (per usual). It was a good day. So after we got done fishing, we decided to stop by a restaraunt up by the river that has great food and libations. It is a classy joint with some of the best ownership of any restaraunt I go to. I always have a good time there... until yesterday.

As we walk in, laughing and enjoying a 60 degree/sunny January afternoon, we come to a jolting stop. On the floor in the middle of the bar, a man is getting CPR on the ground. I asked the waiter if they needed someone that knows CPR (not that he was doing it wrong, just that I am certified and was willing to help). He told me that the guy giving the CPR was the man on the floors son. Shortly after, the medics came in, the police, etc. The man on the floor never started breathing again and died on the floor of the bar right in front of us. His son had to walk over to his table where his friends and adolescent daughter sat. He whispered something to his friends and told his daughter that they need to pack up the car while they help Pappa. He sheilded her from seeing his dead body and left. Watching him hide his pain from his daughter was excrutaiting. I don't know if I would have been able to do what he did for his daughter.

And alas, that is life. One minute you can be enjoying a beautiful day with your child, grandchildren and friends. Taking in the sun and enjoying great food, drinks and laughs, and the next moment it can be over..... Life is Fleeting... so enjoy it my friends.

Peace Be The Journey

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The Dreadful Wind & Rain

Photography By: Ben Sittig

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They're Falling Like Flies...

Much to my dismay.... Singlbarbed has been debarbed. Good luck to Keith Barton in whatever his next adventure may be. I think he couldn't face the fact of being on Hiptothesip's blogroll. The shame was to much to handle. 

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Whoa is me...

                                                   This was me on this day, one year ago...

This is me today....

Whoa is me.....

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D-Day

Thank a veteran today and remember that on this day, in 1944, the Greatest Generation stormed the beaches of Normandy and protected the freedoms that we all take advantage of today. We don't have wars like WWII anymore, and thank god for that. D-Day was something that we will forever be in debt to the Greatest Generation for. We would be all wearing weird little mustaches and eating crappy German food without their insane bravery on this day.

If you feel like doing your part to pay respects, take a moment to visit www.projecthealingwaters.org and use your awesome fly fishing skills to give back to the folks that protect our freedom.

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The Kindness of Guides - Revisited

Some stories do have happy endings. This is one of those stories. Congrats to the fellas at Trouthunter for being heroes to Ozzie. He'll always be in your debt. 

Watch as biologist Rob Cavallaro (Idaho Department of Fish and Game) releases the famed "Ozzie" Osprey back into the wild. Ozzie was discovered injured and unable to fly on the banks of the Henry's Fork late last April by local fishing guides Brad Miller, Chris Andelin and Marty Reed. Ozzie was transported to the Teton Raptor Recovery Center in Jackson, WY, where he received treatment for damaged tissue around his clavicle. We are excited to have him back on his home waters, and are grateful for the efforts of the Teton Raptor Recovery Center who made this reintroduction a reality.

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