tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65044455491099474642024-03-12T19:36:04.934-07:00Angler On The Fly with Jason CrossA Dad on The Fly in Blaine, Washington...Fun information on local fishing (Whatcom and Skagit Counties), fly-tying, casting and good ol' fashioned fishing stories. Please contribute and help make this Blog a fun blog!Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-38258136200747175382010-10-28T08:33:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:05:25.358-07:00Floating the Methow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQLHX0C4FoEoMl9p7Tesb97A5TgNBjQWHPgo1NEQ6BsCmV7fBWmKUWPvvJJAppRW_gC2zs7l96SN9CWTw0VFCoIWgBESmaQq8uz_BGRNplJnTpjPx_kiuvSKR_rUiM4WEt6sTXUPb4177/s1600/IMG_0639.jpeg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQLHX0C4FoEoMl9p7Tesb97A5TgNBjQWHPgo1NEQ6BsCmV7fBWmKUWPvvJJAppRW_gC2zs7l96SN9CWTw0VFCoIWgBESmaQq8uz_BGRNplJnTpjPx_kiuvSKR_rUiM4WEt6sTXUPb4177/s320/IMG_0639.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533142876573439986" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On October 12th I headed over to the Methow River to meet my brother and his colleagues from Paws Up Ranch in Montana. Dragging my boat behind me a weaved my way through herds of deer on highway 20 and made it to Lightning Pines RV campground just before 8am. A good solid 4 hours on the road, but needless to say, who needs sleep when your going fishing.<br /><br />Lightning Pines RV park, which is located on Burma Rd. in Methow, WA is a great place to stay. It is river front, with bathroom facilities, but very low key. All of the guides have made this their home and if you have the right combination "valuables", you might be able to befriend a couple of them.<br />The first day we didn't touch a fish besides the couple of taps at the end of a swing. We knew that we might have to get down and dirty to really catch some of these steelhead. Late in the afternoon, while floating along, we fished the stonefly omelet combination. My brother hooked into a fiesty but very small hatchery steelhead. It notched out at 20 inches but being mandatory catch and keep on hatchery fish, we brought it home. The float from Carlton to Gold Creek Loop Rd. was nice, easy going water for swinging. Certainly though, we were not alone out there.<br />Day two we floated from Gold Creek Loop Rd. to Upper Burma. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVGyfqJMhMkmyhY59n3ebXiXVTPoWVCQER9tv522au6mbCw8SlfwQ2WGZZhtodgaYr5SUoc0OefTivH2p6BjBYO-98Ru4KkOwL-PabsrHwDGKEFpTgiKtqV-c0SvYOFYPX8bj0VzcRf5_/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVGyfqJMhMkmyhY59n3ebXiXVTPoWVCQER9tv522au6mbCw8SlfwQ2WGZZhtodgaYr5SUoc0OefTivH2p6BjBYO-98Ru4KkOwL-PabsrHwDGKEFpTgiKtqV-c0SvYOFYPX8bj0VzcRf5_/s320/IMG_0534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533141500440997378" border="0" /></a>A long float with some amazing water, incredible structure, and some seriously bony rapids. Don't float this section unless you have your game face on! We fished the Orchard Hole hard. I was the third one through swinging a black mole leech with a chartreuse tail. Unfortunately, I had made a lazy, poor leader choice, putting on an old leader I had tied, a classic error that I would only do to myself....arrrgh! We had been told by the guides to go deep with big stuff so we were swing sink tips and leeches. Right at the meat of the run, I was in that spey fishing karmic zone when BAM! Less than a second, my whole leader broke at the upper loop. Whoops! That was my one shot for the week.<br />The guides told us they were mostly bead fishing but several were picking up 3-4 fish a day, half on the swing and some even on dry lines! It sure is frustrating and addicting. Why can't I have a piece of the pie? When you are on a river every day, you can learn where those fish hold and focus your efforts. When you visit for a few days, you look for the good water and hope you encounter a grabby fish. Wouldn't you just kill to have a year off just to steelhead fish?<br /><br />We ended up catching some rainbows and bull trout on beads and stoneflies, and Jim caught his first steelhead in the final hour, a 25" hatchery buck. Great trip, great river and there is nothing better than fishing with your brother and his dog Caddis.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LLyyDncBjyu-1yvsbYBqiPFuS7bHpXW0WEBmmqWamHvulLpWOnCGcoEap56cPhWXKhXvH4JQjJGNNnAVZ__Fok9FlqGFdzJ2Sbo-ZywXBjRhIqJKzNkqnMren66EppK-uBFc3HzE2mC2/s1600/IMG_0652.jpeg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LLyyDncBjyu-1yvsbYBqiPFuS7bHpXW0WEBmmqWamHvulLpWOnCGcoEap56cPhWXKhXvH4JQjJGNNnAVZ__Fok9FlqGFdzJ2Sbo-ZywXBjRhIqJKzNkqnMren66EppK-uBFc3HzE2mC2/s320/IMG_0652.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533143498857138050" border="0" /></a>Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-72758251458101613702009-09-17T22:18:00.000-07:002009-09-17T22:19:33.798-07:00Phil Anderson elected to take over.So Phil Anderson is taking over as director of the WDFW. What will this mean for us sports fishermen? Anyone have an insight?Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-27269949737822218652009-09-17T22:07:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:18:48.588-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4LsYZrQZnu0nNK0FbEvxFy3QXycNC2kBIaFlspqqWpKWk4upFJp27fgfMdID6UmGqcCSaftMXn7ZVQCOMejoSIuvNyH5oBmQ-foxKU_K1NXcuZxuHxNzLDcX6Hsokj_UFqOBjSshV4MR/s1600-h/IMG_0340.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY4LsYZrQZnu0nNK0FbEvxFy3QXycNC2kBIaFlspqqWpKWk4upFJp27fgfMdID6UmGqcCSaftMXn7ZVQCOMejoSIuvNyH5oBmQ-foxKU_K1NXcuZxuHxNzLDcX6Hsokj_UFqOBjSshV4MR/s320/IMG_0340.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382670172742423842" border="0" />What have you been up to this summer? Bull kelp wrapped around my fins looking for coho is where I have been. </a>Ready for the rain and the rivers, steelhead and silvers. Hope to see you out there soon.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-8907534315617281102009-02-20T22:16:00.000-08:002010-10-28T08:18:48.602-07:00Remaining Nooksack River Outings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYJPTXfvtvLiEKTFToR0t4lRXf16lh1esY6cjakz5ytmmMNRC-4O2AXmcMutoL5Nhi5FPe0Q7ZNTTCkCgpok6iIjX16iaj6BTYR-413Tc7xRQBpn-tgcJhTPxtoegflDAm3XuZMAhLwj2/s1600-h/P2070059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYJPTXfvtvLiEKTFToR0t4lRXf16lh1esY6cjakz5ytmmMNRC-4O2AXmcMutoL5Nhi5FPe0Q7ZNTTCkCgpok6iIjX16iaj6BTYR-413Tc7xRQBpn-tgcJhTPxtoegflDAm3XuZMAhLwj2/s320/P2070059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305133967858890562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Kenn Kiesner with a nice dolly!<br /><br /></span>The good news is that the Nooksack has produced some great fish this season. The bad news is that we have 8 days left in the Nooksack season. Now or next year baby! The other bad news is that I won't be able to take any more outings personally because I am booked with private trips. The other really good news is that Ed Megill is offering up a plethora of outing dates from now until the end of March (listed above).<br /><br />Good friend, and guide, Ed Megill is offering discounted outing trips for two people. The Nooksack River, after the January floods, is best fished with two people and we made the conscious decision to keep the experience top notch. Last year the runs could accommodate 4-6 anglers at a time or two anglers for three hours. That is not the case this season especially with the low water.<br /><br />Ed has been prowling the banks of the Nooksack this season and has had great success on top secret runs and patterns. See what its all about. Get out there, you won't regret it. Give me a call.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pvrYNZcGoybHBDbFEHVd0bVw8iiibj_BMmUA42jJsZHP4PTKYzFDLmhcKRMFTYfCDea4dIsx7NWtCCczwL6ir1b3bgHUE6WnEStG1d9V9oQwFUJYTLE3tR3RrWRYUn5cdVLY6c6MyDTa/s1600-h/P2070064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pvrYNZcGoybHBDbFEHVd0bVw8iiibj_BMmUA42jJsZHP4PTKYzFDLmhcKRMFTYfCDea4dIsx7NWtCCczwL6ir1b3bgHUE6WnEStG1d9V9oQwFUJYTLE3tR3RrWRYUn5cdVLY6c6MyDTa/s320/P2070064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305134570174570178" border="0" /></a><br />The Lunch Bucket<br /></div>Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-33754147692031333422009-01-17T14:31:00.000-08:002010-10-28T08:18:48.614-07:00Nooksack River after the FloodsI was out today with a friend on the North Fork. It is still high and quite dirty, maybe a foot and a half of visibility maximum. And that is above the hatchery! The Middle Fork continues to provide 35% of the flow below Mosquito Lake Road and the South Fork and Middle Fork making up over half of the flow on the main stem. I saw a couple people putting in their pontoon boats at Mosquito Lake launch and I hope they looked at the MF flows. The lower North Fork is somewhere around 2900 cfs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizepgdIm7v3RX-idXHfVThR5hx96nHWontBDv_5hLScuDtwoOZHFuuyVQaFxwBfjghAw-TkU7h6sGCBqwHwOh2v78AxGhc-l_lO9q_yLAaq28YhVje_cP_naM98FK8ccUXjl9ZtEHjGRP/s1600-h/P1170067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizepgdIm7v3RX-idXHfVThR5hx96nHWontBDv_5hLScuDtwoOZHFuuyVQaFxwBfjghAw-TkU7h6sGCBqwHwOh2v78AxGhc-l_lO9q_yLAaq28YhVje_cP_naM98FK8ccUXjl9ZtEHjGRP/s320/P1170067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292406196900399266" border="0" /></a>Surprisingly, right before I nearly fell to my waste in Quick-sack sand, I felt a tug on the dangle. I pulled back on the spey rod as I fell and the fish at the other end likely kept me from falling flat on my face in the water. I struggled to shore hoping I had a good hook set. What a beautiful fat dolly! I wasn't sure at first what it was because of the size. Much more than one could ask for on a day like today...and then the sun came out, warm on the face! The fog cloud still sat over Ferndale and Blaine when I got home...should have stayed on the river.<br /><br />Outings are on hold for a bit until I can get back out and see the river in full. It needs a few more days of cold to drop into shape on the North Fork and maybe a week or more on the Main Stem. The Main Stem could keep it's poor clarity for some time depending on what the South Fork clay banks have in store for us. The Kendall hatchery, as of the 15th, has 46 fish back. Either a bad year, there are more to come, too many harvested in nets or the fish gave up during the flood and are spawning somewhere else. Will we really know if they don't show up at the hatchery? I can't imagine nets were too successful this year either with the early ice and then the floods.<br /><br />I will keep you posted on outings for late January or early February on the Nooksack. Looks like we should head for the Skagit now that there isn't snow covering the put-ins.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-68936299348294281852008-12-17T21:25:00.000-08:002010-10-28T08:18:48.624-07:00Don't forget the Norrth Fork Nooksack ClosureWDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE <br />Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife<br />600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091<br />http://wdfw.wa.gov<br /><br />December 5, 2008<br /><br />Fishing to close Dec. 15 on a portion<br />of North Fork Nooksack River<br /><br />Action: A portion of the North Fork of the Nooksack River will be closed to fishing.<br /><br />Effective dates: Dec. 15, 2008, until further notice.<br /><br />Species affected: All gamefish.<br /><br />Location: The North Fork Nooksack River from the yellow post located at the upstream most corner of the hatchery grounds, approximately 1,000 feet upstream of the mouth of Kendall Creek, downstream to the Mosquito Lake Road Bridge.<br /><br />Reasons for action: The Kendall Creek Hatchery in recent years has been unable to secure sufficient eggs from returning hatchery winter steelhead to meet basin production goals. Closure of the fishery is needed to collect sufficient fish to meet egg-take needs. WDFW, in support of the Hatchery Scientific Review Group recommendations, intends to use locally adapted broodstock to support the Nooksack River winter steelhead hatchery program rather than importing eggs from outside sources. <br /><br />Other information: When broodstock needs are met, the fishery will revert to seasons as listed in the Sport Fishing Rules 2008/2009 pamphlet edition, FISHING IN WASHINGTON.<br /><br />Information Contact: Brett Barkdull, 360-466-4345 ext. 270 barkdbcb@dfw.wa.gov . <br /><br />Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-57679966604138070662008-11-24T23:08:00.000-08:002010-10-28T08:18:48.635-07:00Where the hell have I been?Well, a few of you realized that I had not actually stopped fishing. At first I was really busy, then there was the economy thing, and then there were the big beach coho. The summer ran away from me with guide trips and family. Fall came, and I started selling grape juice to the local restaurants. But now, the steelhead itch is coming back and I feel a little stir crazy.<br /><br />The calendar above offers up some outings for locals who want to float the Nooksack. The Skagit is still a great option, just a little more spendy. Over the next few days I will blog a little about the outings this year and my predictions for seeking the chrome. Ed Megill will be joining me in Captaining my boat for many outings. Ed is not only a great person and a great friend, he is an accomplished fishermen that has poured his heart and sole into the Northwest fishing culture. Any day on the river with Ed is a good day, you can count on that.<br /><br />We are accepting reservations for the posted dates. Ed is offering a kickoff float at $65 on Tuesday Dec. 9. Don't miss out on the fun! Can't wait to hear from some of you and hopefully see you on the river again.<br /><br />JasonJason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-79080928598850365272008-11-24T21:40:00.000-08:002008-11-24T21:48:48.975-08:00Why you need to get involved in CCA!Imagine your kids growing up and wondering what happened to all the fish; wondering why Dad, who loved to fish so much, spent all of his time fishing and no time saving the fish.<br /><br />CCA WA is now the 4th largest CCA state membership in the country! 8600 members. Things are happening, things are going to happen. We need you to become involved locally with our chapter so that we can turn some of the attention up North. This organization is no joke, it's the best shot we have at making a difference in our lifetime.<br /><br />Have you seen a little change in the WDFW's attitude? A shift in transparency? CCA has been putting the pressure on and we are getting recognized. Fisheries positioning statements were published for both candidates running for Governor. That was no fluke!<br /><br />Don't sit around and wait for something to happen in your back yard, on your bend in the river, jump in now because policy change affects the whole state. Sign up for <a href="http://www.ccapnw.org">CCA</a>, now, please.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-47787314086644557282008-11-24T21:31:00.000-08:002008-11-24T21:37:01.888-08:00Next CCA Meeting Dec. 10<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS2xAPIYjS4fvwcZJmOajoGJu-xJmahSHVC2d4GTnQGHQ515uYQZBtgItBgBwt-1VX6AhYkfg9SO0k50ou4rliNFAWJHkHTjCV5DcdE_kT7lRa4sYlpT4V1nHKVvA192QXDIl0fSNVSDy/s1600-h/CCA+d10+flyer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 370px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXS2xAPIYjS4fvwcZJmOajoGJu-xJmahSHVC2d4GTnQGHQ515uYQZBtgItBgBwt-1VX6AhYkfg9SO0k50ou4rliNFAWJHkHTjCV5DcdE_kT7lRa4sYlpT4V1nHKVvA192QXDIl0fSNVSDy/s400/CCA+d10+flyer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272464545911130674" border="0" /></a><br /></div><img src="file:///Users/angleronthefly/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-50919060358279616632008-05-21T23:01:00.000-07:002008-05-21T23:03:02.039-07:00Most Important local CCA meeting yet!Please come and join us, CCA- WA North Sound Chapter, for a fun and informative membership meeting on Wednesday, June 11th @ 7:00pm. It will be held at the new Bella Marina Restaurant at 2615 S. Harbor Loop Drive, Bellingham, WA. Food and beverage will be available for purchase at this event. Frank Haw from CCA Washington Government Relations Committee will present CCA's platform and positioning statements and Ginny Broadhurst, Director of Northwest Straits Commission, will give a power point presentation on derelict fishing gear. Matt Kayser, Executive Director of CCA-PNW will make a welcome return to Bellingham to add the final touch to our most important North Sound Chapter meeting yet.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-32806194362392586152008-05-06T00:01:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:18:48.647-07:00Yakima March Browns and Caddis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-0zqlB8DtZuRcMeVNlXwf5DqN4jJ749E2BV5syJdu6heXkj1sKOg4yh3I4gJd-H0T7_wYtIi5z-78rbKGs4tne2PkmIJbTXGiKkomyFMlnj7gBf5IpKav2SNcPLdjbaXceewr2IjxCnc/s1600-h/yakbow03.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-0zqlB8DtZuRcMeVNlXwf5DqN4jJ749E2BV5syJdu6heXkj1sKOg4yh3I4gJd-H0T7_wYtIi5z-78rbKGs4tne2PkmIJbTXGiKkomyFMlnj7gBf5IpKav2SNcPLdjbaXceewr2IjxCnc/s400/yakbow03.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197160648225096690" border="0" /></a>Photo By <a href="http://www.archangler.com">Arch Anglers</a> Guide Ryan Smith<br />Fish caught by <a href="http://www.emeraldwateranglers.com">EWA</a> Guide Kevin McAlerney<br /><br />While over at the FFF Conclave this weekend I had the pleasure to float the Yakima with Ryan Smith and good friend Ed Megill. What a great time on a beautiful river. We didn't have a lot of time but we put in at Ringer and were able to float the few hours before dark.<br /><br />Now I haven't floated and fished the Yakima too many times but I took the opportunity to glean some info out of Ryan. Right now the March Brown hatch is happening in the early afternoon and the fishing can be quite good. Late afternoon and evening can bring about a spinner fall which is always one of my favorite dries to fish. Warm evenings can bring on the early small and dark bodied caddis flies. Be on the lookout for golden stones to be crawling up into the grassy edges so don't overlook those areas in the next couple weeks.<br /><br />We manged to nymph up a few whitefish and lose a few rainbows on stones and lightning bugs. The evening was pretty slow and the river was seriously on the rise. It is truly a great time to fish the Yakima before the bikini hatch happens, however, I am thinking of returning for that hatch in late June and July. You may need to ask for the exact time for that one.<br /><br />Ryan says his favorite time to fish the Yakima is the fall. Of course! We all have about 300 rivers we want to be on in September and October, but not all are as close to us as the Yakima. On a good day you could meet Ryan there in about 3.5 hours. There is a lot of river to explore so you ought to take a few days and fish a lot of it. Give Ryan a call.<br /><br /><br />Call Ryan Smith for a Yakima Trip<br />Arch Anglers<br />Professional Guide<br />(425) 765-2035 cellJason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-2343587030307024132008-05-05T23:54:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:18:48.660-07:00Lake fishing is turning on!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvD0w6lgfl5YHNoyB-onaQ6IJk2G2vwqCQs5eGZyvrObwFepdYYmmwlPjleSlbiNUGxVmElyg3AQqNJ9q_Xc8Boi3zbJdRLYfLn9ZhVLiIkg881R2IpBdF9UqfoRnMDhIIAAiWhvTn0Uj/s1600-h/P1010022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvD0w6lgfl5YHNoyB-onaQ6IJk2G2vwqCQs5eGZyvrObwFepdYYmmwlPjleSlbiNUGxVmElyg3AQqNJ9q_Xc8Boi3zbJdRLYfLn9ZhVLiIkg881R2IpBdF9UqfoRnMDhIIAAiWhvTn0Uj/s400/P1010022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5197156310308127714" border="0" /></a><br />Whatcom County lakes may have been cool on opening day but some warmer weather is bringing on the callibaetis hatches. Squalicum and Silver Lake will see these hatches of nice mid-sized gray mayflies between 10:30am and 2:00pm depending on the warmth of the day. Start out fishing nymphs early and move to emergers between 11am and noon. Some of these fish can be pretty big as they do tend to stock some hefty triploids. Be ready for the occasional brown or tiger trout in Squalicum.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-76341948947490435832008-05-05T23:31:00.000-07:002008-05-05T23:40:10.424-07:00FFF Conclave in EllensburgI have never seen so many fly tyers in one spot. The FFF Coclave was a great event that I wish had been promoted better. The event was lined with tying benches filled with famous names like Harry Lemire. Flies from micro size 22 midges to elegant shadow box 3/0 Atlantic Salmon patterns were being tied with utmost expertise. I brought along my tying material and tied while running the Emerald Waters Anglers booth for Dave McCoy.<br /><br />The event featured vendor booths selling tying materials like All About the Fly and Irish Angler to full lines from rod companies such as Temple Fork Outfitters. There was a casting competition and a casting obstacle course that was incredibly fun. This is a great idea for an event, it just needed for people like you there. Did you know about it? No, I barely knew about it.<br /><br />The event should span two days next year and I think it will be one not to miss. Wish you could have been there.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-16426682871480395162008-04-13T21:34:00.000-07:002008-04-16T00:36:35.971-07:00Necessary Media for the Complete Whatcom County Fly FisherTwo weeks ago I had the pleasure of speaking at the Fourth Corner Fly Fishing Club meeting. My topic was fishing in Whatcom County and specifically how to go after the untapped resoursces we have here. I was asked if I would list the books that I find to be necessary in the pursuit of good and relatively untouched waters. Well here they are:<br /><br /><ol><li>Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer Washington (I would be surprised if you don't already have this)</li><li>National Geographic Trails Illustrated Map 223 North Cascades National Park Washington</li><li>Washington State Fishing Guide by Terry Sheely</li><li>Afoot and Afloat North Puget Sound by Marge and Ted Mueller</li><li>Washington's Central Cascades Fishing Guide by Dave Shorett</li><li>Current WDFW Sport Fishing Rules pamphlet for Washington State plus check web site for emergency rules and closures</li></ol>Happy Hunting!Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-74406097567037374472008-04-12T00:22:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:18:48.670-07:00What's on tap? Cutthroat Porter?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhRiUajTgR8Sk3LUg2OKjGAUzx8tO-YZkFnW2VLRzyAfxEX1qo07dpf_VSnuFlqnTGKPij5ilmIk7lJxPOcAdcrhAHfAmBrYEL6b3-utYFbB5gwk-2ZcFHeGhyphenhyphenR0o6B7hoozPQ0xQLpsQ/s1600-h/pugetsound_spottedcutt1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhRiUajTgR8Sk3LUg2OKjGAUzx8tO-YZkFnW2VLRzyAfxEX1qo07dpf_VSnuFlqnTGKPij5ilmIk7lJxPOcAdcrhAHfAmBrYEL6b3-utYFbB5gwk-2ZcFHeGhyphenhyphenR0o6B7hoozPQ0xQLpsQ/s400/pugetsound_spottedcutt1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188258857636088514" border="0" /></a>Well, you may wonder what I have been up to for the last week or two. I have been diligently dedicated to the pursuit of sea-run cutthroat. I had a really successful trip to Seattle and the South Sound and picked up five fish one day with Dave McCoy and his clients. Since then I have been running around hitting local beaches, looking for bait fish, and sitting behind the vise tying up minnows. Wow, I love a change of pace.<br /><br />Coastal Cutthroat trout are among my favorite. The pursuit of these feisty fish is a little overwhelming, kind of like the first time you showed up to the Skagit with your 5 wt. Where are they, when are they here or there, why and what are they feeding on? So many questions and so few answers biologically about this fish. I just love them. They are perhaps one of the most beautiful trout I have encountered and that is saying a lot. Look at Dave McCoy's picture of one of the fish from the other day. This fish was no more than 13 inches but it had spots like a leopard. You should have seen the spots on its back near the tail, they were huge. So beautiful! Size isn't everything. Why are you out there? Think about that for a minute.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtWNTyaix40aOYh1KC2xVNaBG3nVY10JN7cEQMCvT8j2GKP6uy0GGwIW9YYlsje8C_VPxYFLNLRYQpu_MAqFGdP5GdvX5tv0gr6V763Jg_stN_8IUa0OGg6naxSLTtDgLslrPl7r4VXhV/s1600-h/pugetsound_pinkfry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtWNTyaix40aOYh1KC2xVNaBG3nVY10JN7cEQMCvT8j2GKP6uy0GGwIW9YYlsje8C_VPxYFLNLRYQpu_MAqFGdP5GdvX5tv0gr6V763Jg_stN_8IUa0OGg6naxSLTtDgLslrPl7r4VXhV/s400/pugetsound_pinkfry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188257921333217970" border="0" /></a>You may not know where to start and what to look for when hitting the beaches for sea-runs. I am your man. I will be offering up some introductory classes in the next couple of weeks so keep posted. April and may can be pretty good times to get out there especially before the lakes open and your options are slim. You have to put in your time and do your research because it is a lot like steelheading, except easier casting, warmer temperatures, and more success!Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-82696865774056500382008-04-11T23:29:00.001-07:002008-04-12T00:21:20.082-07:00Fly Fishing Film Tour ReviewLast Friday night was a good night of entertainment for those dedicated fly fishers that made it out from behind their vise. Plus it was great to see K8 Taylor again in Bellingham.<br /><br />AEG Media has put together an impressive show of "fish porn" and conservation pieces from different fly fishing related movies in this new and up-rising arm of the industry. The approach of staying clear of the instructional side of fly fishing is a new look for the sport and will probably make it more attractive to younger generations. No one could help leaving their seat thinking they better take a fishing trip soon. I believe the fly fishing industry needs this film tour to bring back the energy we saw when A River Runs Through It came out.<br /><br />Mongolian Taimen......the world's largest trout. I have been eye-ing this monster fish for nearly ten years and can't believe it took this long for it to get publicized. Take a brown trout and add several feet onto it and then be the first person to go fish for it with a 12" long fly. Think your arm was tired the last time you hooked a fish?<br /><br />I had the pleasure to hang out with Justin, Chris, Bryan and the rest of the crew. The tour gets my two thumbs up and my hat goes of to those young guys living the dream and getting it done!Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-82409132928597205592008-04-11T23:09:00.000-07:002008-04-11T23:28:55.827-07:00NPR piece on salmon fisheriesAnyone who has the time should go to <a href="http://www.kuow.org">KUOW.org</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and do search for "salmon". You will find several articles and audio pieces, but the one you need to hear is from April 2, the Weekday program with Steve Scher.<br /><br />Guests on this show include the following people:<br /><br /></span><strong>Donald McIsaac, PhD</strong> is Executive Director of the Pacific Fishery Management Council<br /><strong>David Sones</strong> represents Washington, California and Oregon Tribal interests on the Pacific Fishery Management Council. He is a member of the Makah Nation.<br /><strong>Kurt Beardslee</strong> is co–founder and Executive Director of Wild Fish Conservancy Northwest.<br /><strong>Nathan Mantua</strong> is Associate Research Professor at the University of Washington's School of Acquatic and Fishery Sciences.<br /><strong>Jim Olson</strong> is a commercial fisherman with a boat based in Westport.<br /><br />Listen to the part on climate and how they speak to the extent that warmer climate is bringing Alaskan rivers to the peak of their salmon production. I welcome any discussion on this topic.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-3496159143384605632008-03-26T21:42:00.000-07:002008-03-26T21:44:26.788-07:00CCA Discussion<dl id="comments-block"><dd>I received a great dialog from a reader that I thought should be brought to the main blog and not left in comments. Thanks for reading.<br /></dd><dd><br /></dd><dd><p>Jason,<br /><br />I just wanted to let you know that I'm enjoying your blogs, particularly your reports from the river. Like many others, I enjoyed an up and down year on the Nooksack. You've noted some of the more interesting aspects of the season up there although I'd be curious to hear you expand on a couple of topics:<br />1) The color/silt in the SF. It sounds like you'll be doing some investigating on this. That fork seemed all kinds of f'ed up this year.<br />2) Your take on the NF hatchery steelhead. <br /><br />In regards to the second topic, I found it "interesting" that the river was restricted at one point due to a lack of fish at the hatchery. I thought the closure was premature strictly based on run timing. I'm not sure why they didn't try to wait another couple of weeks to really know if the fish weren't going to show up? You seemed to indicate that it turned out to be a good year for the hatchery fish. Does this just mean the fish were late?<br /><br />On a related subject, if the hatchery fish are inferior (which I think is clear even if broodstock is used,) their only stated purpose is to be bonked by fishermen. If that is the case, why EVER close a hatchery run? If they DO have to limit fishing, isn't it incredibly difficult to justify the continued money thrown at the hatchery especially when the results are so varied and the run timing isn't what they think it is (I caught 2 hatchery fish in the lower river the last week of Feb)?<br /><br />I suppose this leaded into the CCA topic. I have mixed feelings about them and will not be joining until they can better state their positions. I know that many say I should get involved now to help direct the group's priorities but I have a hard time believe they will EVER come out against hatcheries because it would upset too many of their existing members. Unfortunately, this is a major problem that has and will continue to divide sportsmen. In the mean time, I certainly wish the CCA well with their efforts to reform commercial practices. Maybe, at some point, that will be enough for me to join them.<br /><br />Again, thanks for the effort with the blogs and with the positive work you've been doing to help the Nooksack. <br /><br />-Aaron (said "hi" to you once out of a blue 2-man pontoon boat)</p> <p class="comment-timestamp">March 20, 2008 4:40 PM</p> <span class="item-control"><a style="border: medium none ;" onclick="" href="https://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=6504445549109947464&postID=2999140760393188953" title="Delete Comment"><img style="border: medium none ;" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/icon_delete13.gif" alt="Delete" /></a></span> </dd><dt id="c9210515389849171684"> <img src="https://www.blogger.com/img/b16-rounded.gif" class="comment-icon" alt="Blogger" /> <span dir="ltr"><a href="profile/07935479201079342219" onclick="" rel="nofollow">Jason Cross</a></span> said...</dt><dd><p>Hi Aaron,<br /><br />Thanks for your post and contribution to the topics. I will try to answer each item that you have brought up.<br /><br />1) I called Skookum Hatchery today and had to leave a message. I called for two reasons. The first being that I am involved in the Liam Wood fly fishing course for high school age students this summer and I thought it would be interesting for the kids to get a Native biologist's or hatchery worker's perspective on the fisheries in the Nooksack and learn of their efforts towards fisheries conservation. Second, I am thinking that they must be concerned about the silt load being carried in that river, especially with their pointed efforts at restoring native chinook runs. This will be the third time I have left a message there in the last year. I hope for a call back.<br /><br />A friend of mine, Josh, mentioned an interesting possibility. He heard that logging operations in that basin had built a new bridge over a tributary and that this may be causing the discoloration. This is a distinct possibility because the clarity didn't completely deteriorate until February. We did start seeing warmer temperatures which could have caused some clay bank cave-ins or a big mud slide. I definitely going to go check it out in April.<br /><br />2) The closure on the North Fork was a complete cop out for the WDFW. It seemes to me that with their lack of proper funding for enforcement they couldn't close a shorter portion of the river. I talked to one field biologist that was complaining how people get right up close below the hatchery and snag or floss the steelhead out. I said, "why don't you close this small braid section that is mostly Kendall Creek?" He told me it was too hard to enforce and that if it is completely closed then nobody has a reason to be there.<br /><br />I completely agree with you that hatchery fish are for the taking. In fact, I hope you harvested those two hatchery fish you caught in late February. However, I can see arguments for both sides. I will get to this later.<br /><br />The bulk of the hatchery run seemed to come from just before Christmas through the first two weeks of January. Now, hatchery fish are known to just move upriver pretty fast and WDFW might have been tipped off as to there presence in the system. Some fish might sit below the hatchery for quite a while before going in so it is hard for us to know when they were actually in the North Fork from Mosquito Lake down. By looking at the numbers and the fish we hooked on my trips I would say the bulk of the fish were there for us to hook on the North Fork below Mosquito Lake Rd.from December 23-Jan 7. If you fished the lower river more, that was smart.<br /><br />Here are the numbers. You may have them already.<br />Dec 12 3 fish returned<br />Dec 19 no report (oops, were they to busy getting the first of the fish?)<br />Dec 26 73 fish<br />Jan 2 102 fish<br />Jan 9 127 fish<br />Jan 16 151 fish<br />Jan 30 159 fish<br />Feb 6 159 fish<br />And that's it. They quit. What happens to those stragglers like you caught? Left to spawn with the native runs? Did you know that some of the biggest runs of wild steelhead were in the fall, November and December? We wiped them out!<br /><br />159 fish isn't a lot. 2006-2007 saw an escapement of only 66 fish and 87,000 egg take. These numbers do not give me a good outlook on next years return numbers. The smolt release numbers for 2006-2007 are not available yet on line. I will have to call.This is what the WDFW said in the end of December when they had 70 fish, "We need 250,000 eggs, which translates into roughly 83 females .<br />Returns so far include only 31 females." Here is the contact if anyone wants to ask more questions.<br /><br />Brett Barkdull<br />P.O.Box 1100<br />LaConner, Wa. 98257<br />(360) 466-4345 x 270<br />barkdbcb@dfw.wa.gov<br /><br />They most likely got there quota. maybe I talked about this earlier in one of my blogs. Hatcheries had to reform slightly this season to show that they are viable. It took the WDFW until 2007 to realize that "best science" tells us that we need to need to have hatcheries be self-sustainable and that the Nooksack should no longer use eggs from the Hoquiam because these fish need to genetically adapt to conditions on there own river system. Duh! So, in order to continue getting state funding, which comes from the license purchases of sportsmen, the Kendall Creek Hatchery needed to show that it was a viable hatchery. End of story. maybe we will see an increase in hatchery numbers over the next ten years with this new plan. Is that good? If you like to eat steelhead it is.<br /><br />hatchery vs. Wild. We have ourselves in a pickle now. I think I can try to answer a few of your questions at once here. I support the protection of wild fish. If WDFW could be convinced to do away with hatcheries on many rivers that would be great. We would not be able to fish, but I would be willing to make that sacrifice and go to BC along with everyone and their cousins. My question is where are the wild fish counts for our rivers. What do we have left to protect on what river system and how when are they all there. We can only theorize the effect hatchery fish have on wild stocks because we have no proof or do we? I believe there are some dead river systems. These should be put and take, such as the Cowlitz. I asked Matt Kayser, the Executive Director of CCAPNW, what CCA's position was on hatchery and wild fish. He said that if it were 20 years ago and we still had many strong stocks of wild fish throughout the Northwest, get rid of the hatcheries. But, we don't have those stocks on all rivers. CCA needs to take one battle at a time. If CCA comes out and against hatcheries, they are going to have lots of enemies right away. There are a lot of sportsmen that think fishing is solely for food and the fun comes with it. I am member of the Wild Steelhead Coalition and I like what they are doing. They have been here since 2000 and have less than 500 members. CCA already has 10,000 members in the Northwest. Strength to win fights in the political arena comes in numbers. CCA needs everyone and everyone, especially sportsmen, need CCA. Don't you think that if CCA wins the battle of changing non-selective commercial netting regulations (1st in the Columbia River basin, which sets a precedent) that this is aimed at protecting and preserving wild fish runs? First we get the fish back and then we fix the habitat. I don't think we will ever get rid of hatcheries completely, especially tribal hatcheries. The best we can hope for is hatchery reform and better methods of selectively harvesting the fish runs in the rivers. I would love to see the hatcheries disappear on the Nooksack, but it isn't happening anytime soon. I understand where you are coming from but I don't think we can sit back and wait. It would be kind of like saying i am not going to vote because the candidate doesn't have exactly the right platform I want. It is time for action and it all has to be done, one bite at a time. I will keep trying to convince people to help make change. Are there any other groups that have a track record like CCA in fisheries? Shrapnel and feater tossers unit, bonkers and conservationists unit. We get to decide what CCA fights for. Our chapter has a voice especially if it is big. We decide what CCA goes after. I know that CCA has habitat on their agenda. Think of all who that benefits and all the existing entities it will take to win that fight (logging, forestry, pollution, auto industry, state, federal, county and city, etc, etc.).<br /><br />Aaron, thanks for the conversation. I enjoy hearing others perspectives and I see the huge battle we have ahead of us. I hope that an organization like CCA can join hands with other non-profits like the Native Fish Society, American Rivers, Wild Steelhead Coalition and more.</p> <p class="comment-timestamp">March 20, 2008 11:12 PM</p> <span class="item-control"><a style="border: medium none ;" onclick="" href="https://www.blogger.com/delete-comment.g?blogID=6504445549109947464&postID=9210515389849171684" title="Delete Comment"><img style="border: medium none ;" src="https://www.blogger.com/img/icon_delete13.gif" alt="Delete" /></a></span> </dd></dl>Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-88431298343237588842008-03-25T22:26:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:18:48.684-07:00Sauk it to me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mtXWYVGwcMKWE0rn-T4evX36L8Gu_pO91ro4XiLr3qaOt7oKaPiBEYmy8qkbU119uN4ElLKljm78n09mr0tEwXph7Jpkn1q60sPSu_72MIDkKOs1LHnLIfw9tPkyGsdl1xIgmp-OT-m_/s1600-h/P1010034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mtXWYVGwcMKWE0rn-T4evX36L8Gu_pO91ro4XiLr3qaOt7oKaPiBEYmy8qkbU119uN4ElLKljm78n09mr0tEwXph7Jpkn1q60sPSu_72MIDkKOs1LHnLIfw9tPkyGsdl1xIgmp-OT-m_/s400/P1010034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181924349622662226" border="0" /></a><br />After spending most of the winter steelhead season on the Nooksack, it is a pleasure to lay my eyes on the beauty of the Sauk River. All morning long on my last two floats the male ruffed grouse drum quietly in the nearby forest. It is a low and progressively faster thudding noise that sounds like an old tractor starting up in the distance. Your ears aren't sure what or if they are hearing the sound at first. The other birds that remind me of spring on this river are the winter wrens. This tiny song bird belts out a melodious trill that warbles up and down echoing through the river bed. White Horse mountain pokes through the clouds and reveals its snow covered rocky crags. Sauk mountain lays low to the north covered in a down blanket of fluff.<br /><br />What more can you ask for when your fishing? This is the reminder, the reason we fish for this elusive streak of silver. A tug would make my toes warm you say.....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXL6A8T1OtIKYKV9n-ueL3NmU6N8AKMjJreWRo43rUv0gwvd2TAPMoa3NVNb6CxhsE_c6LCxdYy3VXCLFMNUEwho7OYc04jTxeDdSXMPOL0Wqgt2eaxgN4JUOYLiLjD6hpikWlAOztH_-/s1600-h/P1010019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKXL6A8T1OtIKYKV9n-ueL3NmU6N8AKMjJreWRo43rUv0gwvd2TAPMoa3NVNb6CxhsE_c6LCxdYy3VXCLFMNUEwho7OYc04jTxeDdSXMPOL0Wqgt2eaxgN4JUOYLiLjD6hpikWlAOztH_-/s400/P1010019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181924607320700002" border="0" /></a>..... on Wednesday Jason and his son Nick got seven tugs, six fish on and four dollies landed. Just dollies you say? That's awesome I say! I love dolly varden, they are so special and so beautiful. I can't believe they used to throw them up on the bank. Ever thought about hooking one of those 15-20lb. Skagit dollies? Would you turn up your nose at that? That would make my year, my fishing career maybe.<br /><br />The Sauk was busy from the 530<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RWN97ZmHS-eWF_dRbKIIXuAUsImLM-wrrvevf3zyXXj4uFpkpTHw4j1h_reFc50oOBdQF3gNZJstqsTHLHqiwn3sH0N4_fs4iywV_xDtB59bHQd4ikKB9T4pWqGAlFbDvPq-dNB6oknW/s1600-h/P1010016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6RWN97ZmHS-eWF_dRbKIIXuAUsImLM-wrrvevf3zyXXj4uFpkpTHw4j1h_reFc50oOBdQF3gNZJstqsTHLHqiwn3sH0N4_fs4iywV_xDtB59bHQd4ikKB9T4pWqGAlFbDvPq-dNB6oknW/s400/P1010016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5181924993867756658" border="0" /></a> bridge to the Government bridge. We lay back and targeted the "lesser" water letting other boats race ahead to grab the big runs. The water was so low and clear fish had to be hiding in the ripple water. That is what we fished, rocks and faster water that was 2-3 feet deep. No chrome, but they might have been there.<br /><br />Nick, who is nine, did great. He rowed us down through the "rapids" as he called them with all the muscle he could find. His dad Jason took a fun video of this "guide in training". You can watch both videos here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ2g3lDf3VE">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ2g3lDf3VE</a><br /><br />Nick and Jason made the day a great one, thanks to both of you. I can't wait to get back to that river again. It is too bad everyone else is missing out. Oh....what fly were we using? It's a secret! Whoops...you can see it.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-15481242186763474792008-03-13T15:29:00.001-07:002008-03-13T15:29:59.437-07:00Take the CCA Quiz Part 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNBaB_LscAyeVh0sIpsiKCiaDuIIQ2SishCrvTxzntdyhjnUVcLbxsYCm1WNo_rmrGjQDj1ukpltOUKAn9dGDaKnvTmnaJDivHDgGKNTcVTG2fkS_4SIyU5Fqw8_tIbfKXbC7dFvYMRVg/s1600-h/ccaq001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNBaB_LscAyeVh0sIpsiKCiaDuIIQ2SishCrvTxzntdyhjnUVcLbxsYCm1WNo_rmrGjQDj1ukpltOUKAn9dGDaKnvTmnaJDivHDgGKNTcVTG2fkS_4SIyU5Fqw8_tIbfKXbC7dFvYMRVg/s400/ccaq001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177357126659414082" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Click on image to make it bigger<br /><br /></div>Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-24366251638112234172008-03-13T15:23:00.001-07:002008-03-13T15:28:56.406-07:00CCA Quiz Page 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDKGuRAl5mqA82MWfc9icVJyU487JTqzMSidiG4L4oxUCJTxoFxRrFGMJD_JkQGBkOqvI-Vjva_4c3ZpyECsSd-nEHPWQj2yA3Tg2RJ4wpzdzlF4C95jkUo9ZTTNtIL-XfnJXzFsj7E1K/s1600-h/ccaq002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDKGuRAl5mqA82MWfc9icVJyU487JTqzMSidiG4L4oxUCJTxoFxRrFGMJD_JkQGBkOqvI-Vjva_4c3ZpyECsSd-nEHPWQj2yA3Tg2RJ4wpzdzlF4C95jkUo9ZTTNtIL-XfnJXzFsj7E1K/s400/ccaq002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177356856076474418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAXSVzrTj0qtYr1lVr8osi17Ef6qSb6h17NgLi4oBSBqRvigsa7jYnEqtGHwq8RYZeCDB7Mxgn_51yVKjRfH-UfZSShn6J3eavPTEuwegGbldo6lmP11eh3NRNajReLecXLdnGBCOudy5/s1600-h/ccaq001.jpg"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span>Click on it image to make it bigger</a><br /><br /></div>Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-87673075556967198312008-03-12T22:14:00.000-07:002008-03-12T23:56:34.927-07:00Gary Loomis' Talk and Matt Kayser Executive Director of CCAPNWThere is truly so much to discuss and I can't get to it all in one entry. I would like to encourage people to send me their comments. I can post them anonymously or not. Thanks to all of you that came and showed your support.<br /><br />I was slightly disappointed in the turnout last night. The group of people that showed were a great mix. There are so many people that said they were coming and didn't. Too much nice weather, I suppose.<br /><br />The next meeting will be even more important because we will build the foundation for our local chapter and decide what the issues are that we feel are most important. We were donated a spot by Semiahmoo Resort but that might be too far out to draw the crowd we need. The members in Burlington, Mt. Vernon, Oak Harbor and Anacortes may want to join us until we are large enough to split. My goal is to get Matt Kayser to return and lead us through our initial setup.<br /><br />Keep posted here or drop me an email. April 17 is the date we have set for now.<br /><br />The Bellingham area was built on commercial fisheries. How many of those families are still in it? How many of those fishermen, fish here? Probably very few. There were some people there last night showing concern for the economy, the jobs and the livelihoods at stake that our fisheries have supported for so long. I am a relative newcomer to Washington and cannot say that I know the whole picture yet. I spent 2 hours on the phone with a local who has commercially gill netted and seined the Copper River near Cordova, Alaska for 30 years. He was interested in CCA but had a completely different picture of the problems. Or at least he weighed the problems in a different order. He said "habitat". Not that he is wrong and we know it is a really big problem, but we have heard that one a lot. He said that because they are strictly regulated in area E (where he fishes) he claims they have had virtually no bi-catch in all his 30 years. In fact, he claims that the runs are getting better and better. As we heard last night, Alaska just had the largest harvest in history. Bill said it was the large pink run last year. My question is, even if the runs are getting better there, should we be harvesting more and driving the price of wild fish down to where we are selling the majority overseas at $1.95 a salmon? No. Let these fish thrive and use a simple theory of supply and demand. Alaska is really a different kettle of tea and CCA knows that.<br /><br />We need to embrace and include the commercial fishermen, but they need to do the same for us. We have to have everybody working together to make changes. We can ask nicely for help a couple of times, but if there is no cooperation from the commercial side then it is going to be "no more mister nice guy!" We have to remove some of the variables in the salmon and steelhead cycle and see where the populations are failing in the Pacific Northwest. If 80% of the Puget Sound salmon runs are being harvested in the ocean, then we need to remove some of that variable and see what happens. 120,000 chinook incidentally caught be polluck trollers is certainly a significant bi-catch. It may not happen in area E or M but it is happening out there.<br /><br />A question I received was "okay, the man is drowning in a pool, has a sprained ankle, and has prostate cancer. If we are supposed to save him from drowning and we feel that a large percent of our fish are being non-selectively harvested in Alaska, shouldn't CCA be aiming its targets at Alaska?" This is a valid question. I would really like to see the numbers for harvest up close. I will see if Gary can send me some of those graphs. Hypothetically, if CCAPNW says "Alaskan harvest is the only problem", everyone is going to laugh at us. Look at our habitat degradation and logging practices, look at our population along the coast (do you think we might have a little pollution killing some salmon fry?), look at our commercial netting practices, look at our hatchery science for the last 100 years, look at all the dams, look at our farming practices, look at how we take care of our lawns, and look at all the ghost nets in the Puget Sound and coastal waters, etc etc. We have to fix the leaks on our own plumbing before we can go out and put the wrench to someone else's pipes.<br /><br />So, you ask, what is CCA doing. Their first order of business is to change the way fish are harvested to make it more selective. People have asked what CCA's position on hachery vs. wild fish is and I think this plainly shows it. The most selective form of harvest is done by sportsmen. Members of the wild steelhead coalition are sportsmen (I am a member). We take care of the wild fish we catch but we still catch them. If netting practices are made more selective and the wild fish can be set free unharmed, does this not show that CCA is pro wild fish? CCA is working first on the Columbia River basin because that is where the largest number of CCAPNW members are from right now. Hey what about my river you say? If they win on the Columbia, that sets a precedent and allows easier and further wins on Puget Sound Rivers. Don't think that aren't a lot of CCA members in Seattle/Tacoma area. As Gary and Matt put it last night, you can't eat an elephant in one bite.<br /><br />Hatcheries? CCA is not taking a firm stand on hatcheries at this time as far as I can tell. Matt Kayser, who is the right, very smart man for the job, pointed out that if this were 20 years ago and our wild stocks were still good we might be able to do away with many hatcheries and save those wild runs. We can still do that on some rivers we have but not many. Do you like to fish? We may not be able to fish for completely native run rivers. I think we need to have a few of these rivers, do you want to volunteer your river? Let's look at the Cowlitz, dam after dam, hatchery after hatchery. Are there any pure native strains left in that river? It is probably a good candidate for a continued hatchery put and take fishery. We need some of those to. Not everyone gets satisfaction like fly fishermen do.<br /><br />Whew!!!!!! Where am I, what next? Anyone else going to ever comment on my blogs or just let me ramble and through it on the table?<br /><br />Something has to be done and CCA has the proven track record to make it happen. I want to end with a plug for an article by Patrick McGann in Salmon & Steelhead Journal Winter 2008 Volume 5 Issue 1. Titled "Tide Turns on Northwest Fishing Advocacy". Pick it up and read it. The writing style is a little harsh but it smooths out after a page or so. Yes, you fly fishermen, buy it even though the steelhead on the cover has one of those pink worms hanging from its mouth. We just wish we could find a fly that successful! Anyway, Patrick points out a piece of journalism on the Gulf Coast fisheries that won a Pulitzer for public service and work. Check out the link: <a href="http://www.pulitzer.org/year/1997/public-service/works/6-2/">http://www.pulitzer.org/year/1997/public-service/works/6-2/ </a><br />McGann quotes a Louisiana gill netter from the paper "I mean, it was no contest. Sudden, complete dominance. This is a rare thing in politics." That's CCA. He continues to talk about CCA's winning track record and its four part formula: "1. Get people, lots of them....2. get money, lots of it...lawyers and PR firms don't get paid in righteousness...3.Communicate, lots...4.And finally, advocacy." Pick up the article and read it. And <a href="http://www.ccamembership.org/">join CCA</a>. Now.Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-59551127656580888752008-03-12T10:06:00.000-07:002010-10-28T08:18:48.698-07:00Nooksack Season Wrap-up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7XhKpmwo4S9jl5ZD65Sto6lFvwlEp-qmavm8cNJLUpWIVcxO3PL9vu5VfZiqn8PDFPaB5fEDzNqNPr7Z9vMX9z2veDoIlmqDBf9FK_1Xv5uOSRgYnTCD0g1bgcPNpzBOmJIYNvz_tv_E/s1600-h/P1010001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7XhKpmwo4S9jl5ZD65Sto6lFvwlEp-qmavm8cNJLUpWIVcxO3PL9vu5VfZiqn8PDFPaB5fEDzNqNPr7Z9vMX9z2veDoIlmqDBf9FK_1Xv5uOSRgYnTCD0g1bgcPNpzBOmJIYNvz_tv_E/s400/P1010001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176919241858684946" border="0" /></a><br />So, did you catch all the fish you wanted this season? I didn't, but I sure love the Nooksack and I saw some beautiful fish this winter. This is just one of the reasons that I am getting involved with CCA. Here is my plan with my two separate bloggs. This blogg "Classes and Outings" will be reserved for information on fishing, events, classes, outings and will be the place to come and find the "calendar". My other blogg, <a href="http://angleronthefly.blogspot.com/">Angler on the Fly</a>, will be the platform for discussion on fisheries, Coastal Conservation Association, and local fisheries related issues. Right now I am writing a report of last evenings talk by Gary Loomis and the CCA. An honest report. I hope to have it posted by this afternoon. Thanks to all of you that came last night.<br /><br />Back to the Nooksack. The season. When were the fish around and where were they? I can't give it all up but I will tell that December was a good month. The hatchery steelhead run was good as was predicted. The hatchery got their numbers and then some. So, the hatchery on the North Fork will stay viable for more years to come. I know there are many opinions on this subject, but hatcheries are not going away and we need to embrace the need for them on certain river systems. Without them we not have a fishing season for salmon and steelhead on many rivers, especially with the ESA listing for Puget Sound steelhead. I will beat this subject up some more on my other blog. The coho came from September through February. Sounds crazy doesn't it. I have been told that there are coho in the Nooksack year round. So next year, don't skip those back eddies. The bulk of the run from the south fork came in October. The North Fork run was late and came mainly throughout December (remember the NF is only open for Salmon in October, which was funny this year because there really weren't any then).<br /><br />The steelhead at times held in interesting places. Often tucked so far under root balls that a fly fishermen had no chance to get them out. This is partially because the water was so clear for so much of the winter. The first person to head through a run, if they didn't hook the fish, may have spooked it into hiding. A tactic, I have seen a few jet boat fishermen use to get steelhead out of shallow water (fly fishing water), into their water (deep water). I witnessed this, unfortunately, but it is very effective (I am not making a generalization on gear fishermen here because I know lots of great gear fishermen). It was a good year to be on the main stem with great clarity all the way down to Lynden for much of the season. But then something happened on the South Fork. Even at low flows of 300 cfs the South was pumping chocolate. I have talked this up with many people that have never seen it this bad. I am going for a nice hike soon to figure this out because I am concerned for this river. We should all be. We don't want another Deer Creek situation do we?<br /><br />The bi-catch on the Nooksack was pretty slow this season until February when the lower North Fork started to see some more dolly varden hanging out waiting for the alevins. The dolly varden population is still rebounding from the 2003 and 2005 floods that happened right during their spawn. This has been a pretty good year for their spawn and salmon spawn which is great. There is a big snow pack out there and hopefully the weather can hold for the wild steelhead spawn in March/April. Winter steelhead pick a tough timing window. It would seem that the fry need to get out of the gravel before the summer high water comes. I do need to check the science on this...I will. Where were the whitefish this winter? It seems to me they were around early right below the chum and then they showed up in late February right above the highway 9 bridge. You ask why this is significant? Where there are whitefish, there are dolly's.<br /><br />I want to thank everyone that came out with me this winter and all of the wonderful people I met on and off the river. The steelhead catch was slightly down this year, even according to the gear fishermen, but it was a great season with good clarity, great water levels, and lots of "swingable" water (even on the North Fork).Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-24164855746772799502008-02-25T21:16:00.000-08:002008-02-25T21:17:34.902-08:00A reason to join CCA?Accidental chinook catch among pollock is an issue<br />By Hal Bernton<br /><br />Seattle Times staff reporter<br /><br />The Bering Sea trawl fleets last year set a new and unwelcome catch record: Their vessels accidentally snared more than 120,000 chinook salmon as they dropped their nets in pursuit of pollock in North America's biggest seafood harvest.<br /><br />The chinook are the largest of Pacific salmon, a prized catch in coastal and river harvests in Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Last year's big accidental haul by the pollock fleet has prompted Alaska native groups, the Canadian government and conservationists to push for new restrictions on Bering Sea trawl operations.<br /><br />"It's unbelievable that there is not a cap on the amount of salmon the pollock fleets can kill," said Jon Warrenchuk, a marine scientist with Oceana, a fisheries conservation group. "It's time for action."<br /><br />The pollock-harvest rules are shaped by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, a group of state, federal and industry officials who are meeting this week in Seattle. Today, they are scheduled to consider several options to reduce the chinook catch, including placing a limit on the chinook harvest that — if reached — would terminate the annual Bering Sea pollock harvest.<br /><br />It's a high-stakes decision. The pollock harvest yields more than $1 billion worth of fish processed into fillets and other seafood products, and it is a mainstay for Seattle-based trawlers in the Bering Sea.<br /><br />Seattle trawl operators are hoping they can fend off a cap in favor of other options such as temporary closures of salmon hot spots in the Bering Sea or avoiding fishing in October, when salmon catch rates increase.<br /><br />"We feel we can achieve the same objectives without that high cost of potentially shutting down the harvest," said Brent Paine, executive director of United Catcher Boats, which represent some Northwest trawlers. "But the pressure is on. This is a really emotional issue."<br /><br />Chinook form a small fraction of the fish that wind up in the trawl nets, and to discourage fisherman from targeting them, they cannot be sold. Some are given to food banks.<br /><br />In recent years, the size of this accidental catch has risen, with last year's record chinook catch more than double the 10-year average. Scientists are unsure why the trawl fleet is catching more chinook, which are born in freshwater, then undertake a lengthy migration to feed in the Bering Sea.<br /><br />Since 2005, researchers have conducted genetic testing of about 1,600 of the trawl-caught chinook to find out where they were from. Initial results indicate that a sizable percentage would have returned to western Alaska, where the chinook are important fish for Alaska natives.<br /><br />"There's a lot of concern," said David Bill Sr., a Yupik Eskimo leader who came to Seattle to support a salmon cap. "This is our livelihood."<br /><br />The studies also indicate about 40 percent of the fish caught in a prime summer harvest zone of the Bering Sea would have returned to British Columbia or the Pacific Northwest, according to Jim Seeb, a University of Washington fishery professor who helped conduct the genetic testing.<br /><br /><br />Those findings have heightened concerns in the Pacific Northwest and California, where chinook are prized by sport, tribal and commercial fishermen. Some chinook stocks are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act and have been the focal point of a lengthy and expensive rebuilding effort.<br /><br />"For these fish, it does not appear that the trawl harvest is a major factor impeding recovery," said Bill Tweit, a Washington state representative to the Federal Fishery Council. "But that doesn't let us off the hook. You have to address every source of mortality in order to get recovery."<br /><br />During weekend sessions, the council is expected to select several possible options for limiting the trawl fleet's salmon harvest. A final decision is expected this year.<br /><br />Hal Bernton: 206-464-2581 or hbernton@seattletimes.comJason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6504445549109947464.post-21348007466735414862008-02-24T23:55:00.001-08:002008-02-25T00:17:24.183-08:00Flies for sale!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdWwF2GIBlAG6gl4jW_XTZpm8ed1xbbeNDOAn8ufJuftCU4qYfpJArccpByNKd1M-PLitwX4xqrxhZ9SBW_fRy5HpIzROOukpeUZmmMCThHutRKPTOxLQIMcsfUKeRoJzitjl9_d4-ZiG/s1600-h/28711-MoMajic.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwdWwF2GIBlAG6gl4jW_XTZpm8ed1xbbeNDOAn8ufJuftCU4qYfpJArccpByNKd1M-PLitwX4xqrxhZ9SBW_fRy5HpIzROOukpeUZmmMCThHutRKPTOxLQIMcsfUKeRoJzitjl9_d4-ZiG/s320/28711-MoMajic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170825546356445842" border="0" /></a>Steelhead season is winding down but I know you won't forget about it. You can pre-order your flies for next season with me. Just give me a call.<br /><br />I can custom tie just about anything you want from classic spey to moal leeches. I can also get you set up for summer trout and salt flies. Don't hesitate to call. 360-927-4700. The nice photos here are by Ed Megill.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxmIb2CiUk85EqxpXPd-V7XdoIyC619jVMCmc_ndyMKUipDq3vRIdexJLbnb2F9VRM5ZepPCYgMzDbGgpzrYcwxNbJCnz-rYtN-JwTJSwsCJny6EY4L4ICMJkKGQzdWY65prGUQX_ILT7/s1600-h/56312-MoMojo2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxmIb2CiUk85EqxpXPd-V7XdoIyC619jVMCmc_ndyMKUipDq3vRIdexJLbnb2F9VRM5ZepPCYgMzDbGgpzrYcwxNbJCnz-rYtN-JwTJSwsCJny6EY4L4ICMJkKGQzdWY65prGUQX_ILT7/s320/56312-MoMojo2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170826246436115122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF_sHQbRdU7RWrYL1EHXtHbxZgK-C_h4I8cCsMAko2b1BgdkTDaoWSopxMwwG_8s9gk9wwdQpvnCixKtaIh6wITeaDBpx5-bh8DKAYMgi1si8YukmUt3e8CcXZC8pCDVhgyL7MVThbbgu/s1600-h/45300-NeedsWork.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF_sHQbRdU7RWrYL1EHXtHbxZgK-C_h4I8cCsMAko2b1BgdkTDaoWSopxMwwG_8s9gk9wwdQpvnCixKtaIh6wITeaDBpx5-bh8DKAYMgi1si8YukmUt3e8CcXZC8pCDVhgyL7MVThbbgu/s320/45300-NeedsWork.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170826023097815714" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsMUad1CDM5lsNigS5UVEw_aMAX5ejTiLl3uPtlz5z1DInHpOFuznTlk2h5r5SAR9vURRSwYHXtJrDxIvNAwOwkHlZzbCMPCn6FIWAFOMdOu7thaifZLnLkjrp8WVDQ-PYU2QldESFtM4/s1600-h/P1010632.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsMUad1CDM5lsNigS5UVEw_aMAX5ejTiLl3uPtlz5z1DInHpOFuznTlk2h5r5SAR9vURRSwYHXtJrDxIvNAwOwkHlZzbCMPCn6FIWAFOMdOu7thaifZLnLkjrp8WVDQ-PYU2QldESFtM4/s320/P1010632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170827590760878802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0oz3chEbR7BPGKRYublURPIcIjapaew4NSTcUHpdxmcJVR4y6pjqqUhvp1e8yLCwioGTEJW5pm0Uu3ifh7n63su6ITcNIxksvrdrQfcQtFC47oRtQj8idCP5jXlxX5IIxQavnmSjkf8v/s1600-h/Skookum+Sunrise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0oz3chEbR7BPGKRYublURPIcIjapaew4NSTcUHpdxmcJVR4y6pjqqUhvp1e8yLCwioGTEJW5pm0Uu3ifh7n63su6ITcNIxksvrdrQfcQtFC47oRtQj8idCP5jXlxX5IIxQavnmSjkf8v/s320/Skookum+Sunrise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170823794009789058" border="0" /></a>Jason Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07935479201079342219noreply@blogger.com0