Grew up on Bainbridge Island and learned to fish as a kid with a hand line and pile worms (best bait in the sound - I really should try using them again). Caught cod, flounder, rockfish, dogfish, ratfish, cabeson and even the occasional salmon. Thought I knew enough to get by until I ran into my mother-in-law BA and her friend Lois. These two had their own personal kicker at Pt. No Pt. back in the good ol' days. They kicked my ass and never let me forget it. They were amazing and Vic loved the fact that it didn't sit well with some of the other fellas. For them fishing was serious business. I learned to keep up just enough to be invited along from time to time. Lois wasn't entirely convinced about me before she died but my MIL, who can't fish anymore, still winks at me when no one else is looking. And why would'nt she, if I caught a 20lb King she caught a 35# and a 22#der.

Lois was a rare breed, a self made woman, a very successful executive for a large Seattle corporation back in the 50's & 60's (that's saying something) and also very well known as an outdoorswoman. Her love was steelhead fishing. I used to hear the stories about this fabled fish, Enos Bradner and the guys, the trips down the Soleduck and expeditions north to the Skeena. My MIL didn't enjoy the cold or steelheading and Lois never invited me. But I dreamt on. One day....

Like before, I tried to learn to steelhead on my own. About the time I thought, I'd figured things out (still had'nt landed one on a fly like Lois, tho), I had the great fortune of running into Bill Herzog. Watching him fish was like watching Tiger. You knew you would never be as good but he elevated your game just to be around him. What I learned from Bill was by osmosis (I really should buy his book). I was very blessed to have spent time around a true master. What I was never able to learn from Bill about fishing is no longer as important to me as the time we and the buds were able to spend together. It was a pleasure to climb down canyons, drive 200 miles at 3:00am, stretch a line, a float and a tale or two with him. With Bill, fishing was a passion, a passion he could not contain. Bill, if you're out there, thanks. What you passed on to me, I will not contain either. Because of you my son can out fish me too.

To BA and Bill, God Bless.