Tony Buzolich
09-20-2007, 07:32 AM
Just a short update as to the Feather.
For those that are interested, the Feather does have good numbers of salmon and now steelhead are starting to show as well.
There are lots of dark salmon, lots that are turning red, and in and amongst them are some really nice chrome fish with the greenish-gray color that marks a fresh one.
Yesterday I took out Bill Nash and his son Gary. Bill is now 81.
Where we go requires a lot of walking and I was concerned about Bill's health and ability to hold up for the day.
Well, let me tell you, I hope I have half the drive Bill has when I'm his age. We took our time walking over the cobble, and stopped a few more times than normal to tell stories, but Bill never missed a beat.
We got to the water a little after 6:00AM. I got Bill set up and showed him where to cast and how to swing the drifting fly. He smiled and without saying a word proceeded to cast exactly where I suggested just as if he had done this all his life. He probably has and was just humoring me by letting me talk.
I moved up the riffle a ways to get Gary going with his rod and the same set of instructions.
Before I could finish with Gary, Bill yells out "Fish On!" A nice 20 pounder makes several good jumps and is wildly all over the riffle.
Bill is fighting this fish with all of the classic moves just like he'd done it a million times before. The fish would head right, and Bill would lean left. Fish goes left, and Bill would lean right. Perfect
As I'm holding Bill by his wader straps helping him to keep his balance, this salmon decides to head south and sadly comes undone.
Bill looks at me, smiles, and says "Boy, that was great. Lets do it again".
And so the day went. We'd move from spot to spot taking our time. I'd wade Bill out to a good spot and he'd do the rest casting tirelessly to the same run with perfect grace and poise.
What a great day with a really great guy.
TONY
For those that are interested, the Feather does have good numbers of salmon and now steelhead are starting to show as well.
There are lots of dark salmon, lots that are turning red, and in and amongst them are some really nice chrome fish with the greenish-gray color that marks a fresh one.
Yesterday I took out Bill Nash and his son Gary. Bill is now 81.
Where we go requires a lot of walking and I was concerned about Bill's health and ability to hold up for the day.
Well, let me tell you, I hope I have half the drive Bill has when I'm his age. We took our time walking over the cobble, and stopped a few more times than normal to tell stories, but Bill never missed a beat.
We got to the water a little after 6:00AM. I got Bill set up and showed him where to cast and how to swing the drifting fly. He smiled and without saying a word proceeded to cast exactly where I suggested just as if he had done this all his life. He probably has and was just humoring me by letting me talk.
I moved up the riffle a ways to get Gary going with his rod and the same set of instructions.
Before I could finish with Gary, Bill yells out "Fish On!" A nice 20 pounder makes several good jumps and is wildly all over the riffle.
Bill is fighting this fish with all of the classic moves just like he'd done it a million times before. The fish would head right, and Bill would lean left. Fish goes left, and Bill would lean right. Perfect
As I'm holding Bill by his wader straps helping him to keep his balance, this salmon decides to head south and sadly comes undone.
Bill looks at me, smiles, and says "Boy, that was great. Lets do it again".
And so the day went. We'd move from spot to spot taking our time. I'd wade Bill out to a good spot and he'd do the rest casting tirelessly to the same run with perfect grace and poise.
What a great day with a really great guy.
TONY