I grew up in Shelton and caught my first steelhead in Mill Creek in 1973, when I was 7. I was already a fishing fanatic by that age and pestered anyone to take me fishing anywhere.

I had buddies that lived scattered around Mason county, and we fished whatever we could ride our bikes to. We caught some literally monster Rainbows out of Island Lake, spanked cutthroat all over the Skok valley, and fished Goldsborogh and Mill creeks all the time. Once we got our driver's licenses, the Grays Harbor tribs became our favorite haunts. We used to camp on the Wynoochee at Charlie Wincewicz's place below the crossover bridge when he still owned it and would fish steelhead from daylight till dark.

I still go out to my old digs now and then and remember when it was cool to just walk down to the creek and dunk a worm and catch a couple trout. Now, my kid thinks it's cool to just walk down to the creek and dunk a worm and catch a couple trout. Ahhh, the cycle of life goes on..........and fishing is passed on to the next generation.