[7919]

I was going through some files this morning, killing time before a meeting, and started running across some of my older fly fishing pictures. It got me thinking, I would like to see some of the pictures that were taken in the past that defined moments in your life, as related to fishing.... Im sure that collectively we have some great stories.

In the summer of 2008 (9?) I had been working in the Cascades on a wilderness PCT trail crew. Unfortunately, I suffered a fairly good knee injury towards the 3/4 mark of the season, and fell into a depression, stuck at the base camp cleaning buildings and sharpening tools for days on end was not what I was there for... at a measly stipend of a few hundred bucks a month (americorps), the job was the last thing on my mind. You see, earlier that summer fellow forum members had taken me out to a very special river, and got me a taste of the thrill of steelhead.

After learning I was not going to be able to travel to work with my crew in California for the rest of the season, I said F it, packed my car with all my gear, and drove to the river. Maybe one of the best and worse decisions I have made. Some highlights of that end of summer were catching my first steelhead, catching my first steelhead on my own, and generally being inspired.

Thanks to the WFF members who went out of there way to help me during that time. One amazing dude saw me hiked into the river as they floated by, and invited me to there camp to float with them the next day (that was an epic day to me watching you guys catch fish and apply the craft) Those are days I will likely never forget (at least until i start forgetting everything). That summer changed my course for sure, and has sense led to so many friends and adventures that I am very thankful for.

Your turn!

PS. This ice needs to melt.
Camp Life.

The trusty steed of a trout bum. A subaru and a touring bike. Sold the car, still have the bike. Passed the reel onto a friend who was poor and learning.

 

[Skip Enge]

I have some fun old photos...However they are held hostage on Photobucket...about 5,000...I have been a free"cloud" user since the 90's...Now the ads block my use ...ply me with monthly offers to remove ads and allow me to use images for 3rd party sharing. Oh yeah they piss me off. And are only one of so many little examples of this sort of manipulation and simple extortion. Maybe I can figure out a back door...so far no worky...Have some funny shots from a past death march...

 

[PhilR]

Dustin, I love that milk crate tying table, with extra points for using the little pockets for hooks and beads.

Slight hijack - Skip, I retrieved my pictures from PB using the Photobucket Album Downloader. Otherwise, you're grabbing them one at a time.

 

[T Bag]

My mom died suddenly in a motorcycle accident in October 2012. I was 25, my daughter was 6 months old. I was deeply depressed, dealing with the loss as well as the stress of trying to take care of my dad and brother, raising my young daughter, work, and my (then) wife who was not supportive in the least. I was pretty much in a haze all the time.

I ended up with three days to myself right before New Year's where I was able to get away by myself for three days to fish. I didn't really want to due to being so depressed, but I knew it would be better to get out and fish than it would be to stay home and drink.

The temperature never got above freezing. I spent two fruitless days fishing the Trinity River for steelhead without even a tug. The last day, I bushwhacked down to the banks of Lewiston Lake, found a little feeder creek, and saw rainbows just stacked up behind it. I caught 40 rainbows that day without even moving my feet. It got dark, and I realized that I had FUN that day, for the first time since my mom died. I realized that someway, somehow, eventually things would be alright. It was a very significant day for me.

This fish came as two guys trolled by in a houseboat and yelled to me that "nobody ever catches fish on the fly in Lewiston Lake". On cue, I hooked up on this guy and it took me into my backing, right in front of them.

 

[Skip Enge]

Dustin, I love that milk crate tying table, with extra points for using the little pockets for hooks and beads.

Slight hijack - Skip, I retrieved my pictures from PB using the Photobucket Album Downloader. Otherwise, you're grabbing them one at a time.

Have to pay a monthly fee to do that...I have had a free acct for about 20 years...almost i think...it was a site that supported early free members until recently

 

[PhilR]

Skip, PB album downloader is an extension for your browser. You don't need to pay the fee to PB. It might be a couple of bucks for the extension, but I didn't mind paying a little to the guy who helped me jailbreak my own pictures.

 

[Skip Enge]

Skip, PB album downloader is an extension for your browser. You don't need to pay the fee to PB. It might be a couple of bucks for the extension, but I didn't mind paying a little to the guy who helped me jailbreak my own pictures.

I will look into it...it annoyed me a bunch...I only work from an old school computer...I do not nor want a smart phone...in case this is one of those phone app thingies...My daughters think I am funny...define irony...I was a power user and beta tester years ago...come to think of it i am a dinosaur now...aaargh! Ha!

 

[Old Man]

I will look into it...it annoyed me a bunch...I only work from an old school computer...I do not nor want a smart phone...in case this is one of those phone app thingies...My daughters think I am funny...define irony...I was a power user and beta tester years ago...come to think of it i am a dinosaur now...aaargh! Ha!

Your getting old like me and using old stuff. I not smart enough for a smart phone. I still have trouble with my dumb one.

 

[Skip Enge]

Your getting old like me and using old stuff. I not smart enough for a smart phone. I still have trouble with my dumb one.

eff all of it! Just showing ya the love, Old man. High Five!!

 

[Old trout]

I'm with you Old Man. There is a reason they are called Phones. Don't how to nor need to use all that other stuff. During my working days and now, I could count on one hand the number text messages I have sent. my thumbs just don't work that fast or well.

 

[Skip Enge]

I'm with you Old Man. There is a reason they are called Phones. Don't how to nor need to use all that other stuff. During my working days and now, I could count on one hand the number text messages I have sent. my thumbs just don't work that fast or well.

I suck at text messaging...my phone is always off, I lose the little sucker...I have had it slide off my truck seat right into the corner pocket...a cup of coffee between the seats...I lose my damn glasses all the time too. I have a little Verizon Bright Side flip phone...don't call me I won't answer unless I say I am leaving the damn thing on waiting for a call...and if ya don't it's getting turned off for a week and gravity will take it somewhere in my truck under old empty coffee cups most likely...next to the 2 month old french fries i spilled.

 

[Old Man]

I suck at text messaging...my phone is always off, I lose the little sucker...I have had it slide off my truck seat right into the corner pocket...a cup of coffee between the seats...I lose my damn glasses all the time too. I have a little Verizon Bright Side flip phone...don't call me I won't answer unless I say I am leaving the damn thing on waiting for a call...and if ya don't it's getting turned off for a week and gravity will take it somewhere in my truck under old empty coffee cups most likely...next to the 2 month old french fries i spilled.

My dumb phone only rings when it wants to. I check it often to see if anybody calls and then call them back. Works for me. Besides I don't hear all that noise when it goes off.

I couldn't text if my live depended on it. It isn't me. I don't like to much change in my life. I'm kind of laid back.

 

[Manwell Lotion]

First fish after surgery.

 

[junkie]

Caught this westslope 23 years ago on a camping trip in the high country. I miss fly fishing in the backcountry wilderness on horseback.

 

[troutpocket]

Fun thread.

Fifteen years ago my girlfriend (now wife) landed an internship at the NOAA king crab lab on Kodiak Island. I followed her up for the summer. We bought this car, formerly owned by a nurse and before that a local Russian man with several gold teeth. He walked up to me in the grocery store parking lot and asked me how fast I had run his car, which is funny on Kodiak because there aren't many paved roads! I fished most days and we ate a lot of fresh salmon.

I worked at Cy's Sporting Goods for a couple months. When it was time for me fly home to start grad school, Cy offered to keep me on long term as his fishing business guy. Promised to take me out to the remote fishing lodges that sourced a lot of their equipment from his shop and send me to the lower 48 for the trade shows to escape some of the Kodiak winter months. I'm still pondering whether I made the right choice.

 

[Porter]

That thing looks like a huge boat...Ford Granada?

 

[troutpocket]

That thing looks like a huge boat...Ford Granada?

That sounds right. It was a beast to drive on gravel!

 

[Fishnow]

This photo of me was taken August of 1969, we had to cross the one lane wooden suspension bridge until the early 70s

I was sitting where the bait fishermen are at the far left of this photo, I still fish the same river, now waddling the shoals below the bridge.
Little Red River, Heber Springs, Arkansas

 

[Nick Clayton]

Early 90's on lake Tunkwa

Steelhead fishing with my little brother

First steelhead

First season commercial fishing in Alaska.

My sons first salmon

His first fly caught trout

First fly salmon

 

[junkie]

@Nick Clayton
1) sweet fish!
2) frickin badass mullet!
3) you definitely don't need a DNA test to know who's kid that is