Friday, September 18, 2009

A River Runs Through Me

Morning light on the canyon walls as Guide Brian Silvey passes us the first day with his two clients.

When September rolls around I get a very anxious feeling, because I know it is time for my annual three-day float down the Deschutes in search of summer steelhead. I don't make it a secret that I am addicted to fly fishing for steelhead. Guilty as charged. This year I went with my good friend and guide extraordinaire Matt McCrary. Usually you can find him on the Deschutes guiding clients and teaching them the fine art of using a spey rod. This time it was just play-fishing for him and myself. We hooked five fish and landed four, in case anyone cares about fishing stats. But the best thing for me was hanging out with my good friend Matt, camping out under the stars, and standing in the river in hopes of hooking a fish while I marveled at the awesome scenery. Mr. McCray has become my steelhead fishing mentor, and this trip I really got schooled (in a good way) by him. It involved a few cold Hamm's beers, staying up too late in front of the Colemam lantern, watching copious amounts of caddis bugs commiting harakiri in the flame, and him explaining to me why it is not about how many fish you catch, but how one decides to experience fishing as an act of connection with all of the elements that determines the real results of a day on the river. I'll just leave it at that, because what is said in camp, stays in camp. But what I can say is that fishing, like life, is all about the journey traveled and the things you encounter along the way, and the not about the destination. It was a great journey!

The view from the river at sunset. This panorama was created with my iPhone. I don't wade the river with my good camera.

Boils and rapids along the way. Kinda like life.

The White River above us in Maupin decided to spew out some glacial silt, so I did some portraits of Matt McCrary while we waited for the river to clear.

The final resting place of our nocturnal camping friends. RIP.

Oh yes, we did catch some fish. Matt holds one of the four caught for my quick and dirty iPhone camera. This one was mine, but Matt caught and hooked all the others. He is da' man!