l'Cleo, yes we did have a little too much beer for a parking lot casting contest; or maybe just enough to get us to have one. That 12' tall but slender tree had a bunch of little white lights in it, and I had spun enough 30 lb. Power Pro braid around the upper most branches that when people came out of the Hoot they were met by a swaying tree! I couldn't get the dam stuff to let loose. The options were to either make Sparkey climb that tree, or to just wench that 'cable' off. The latter did the trick, fortunately breaking up near the branches. That stuff is so strong I thought it might even pull the dang tree down.

Hey Dan, I already knew that both Washington and it's anglers rock. Why do you think I fish it half the time? This trip just knocked it all up another notch to me. Too much fun! All this recent trash talkin was only that - meaningless fun. Some guys e-mailed asking which river and I won't ever reveal one if asked not to. Ok, it was the Quinalt. ... Not. But guessing toward the OP isn't a bad guess. But I still wanted to post about Justin and his guide service, because he deserves the publicity. Same for Superfly. They know a lot of trophy zipperlip places! ... btw, at Justin's place I saw that magazine that had Tony's article in it and your mug appears in there with you holding a nice fish. What did Tony catch it on?

If it weren't for the netting issues and the Puget metro population, northwest Washington would be like B.C. In fact, the Olympics and N. Cascades are actually southern terminous' for Canadian mountain ranges. And the resulting river gradients, glacial water cooling stability, and rich eco feed for the fish make for big tough steelhead like you would find in NW and coastal B.C. Similar awesome scenery too!

Oregon does have nicer beaches and pristine upper ends of those coastal steelhead and salmon rivers though; without nets, but smaller average fish. And closer metro proximity to the awesome scenic and fish filled Columbia Gorge. Ain't it great to live in the NW!?!