Well, we just finally got home from our annual trip. No moose hunt this year ... just some serious steelheading and some time with the family

Incredible weather ... the best we saw all summer, great water, decent fishing, great friends, way too much food. All in all, a great trip that started in early September as we left our Fish Camp up north.

Rowan got to see just how big a moose is up close. Rowan figured out it was a statue ... Rainey, barking wildly in the truck, did not



Took us a couple of days to drive the 1700 miles .... but we finally made it and it didn't take long to get camp set up.



Water was primo to start our trip, so we ventured down to a fave spot that is just perfect for swinging. Didn't take long to fold the rod over, our first look down a rod at a beautiful piece of water:



On the end was a pretty girl with a striking blush stripe all the way down her side:



This little Honey Hole turned out to be a top producer for us again this year ... with a few days even seeing double digit numbers of fish on the fly ... far better than we've seen for a couple of years. Not a lot of really big fish, but maybe next year coming off the better numbers of this season ... insert fingers crossed here!

Only pitfall of the run was that there was really only room for two guys, so our usual trio ended up splitting up each time we ventured this way. Oh yeah, two more pitfalls, the wading sucked (but the big loose rocks are why it held fish), and there was no soft water anywhere nearby to land a fish. It was hook and down you went ... remember Parker ????

A walk back up one morning from landing a fish presented me with this interesting dew show:



Another look at our Honey Hole in the morning mist:



Simple flies, as usual, do us plenty good ... a little bunny fur and a few strands of flashabou make up one of my most productive patterns:



A look downriver from the top of the run, if you look dead in line with the end of my floating section, you'll see a fish splashing away for Jim:



Oh no, over the lip we go into the chute!



Art and a wild one:



Success, he slides her into the shallows:



We're not the only ones who like this spot:



Jim walks in "at the rock" ... another beautiful sunny morning!



There's that stupid basic fly again!



But you gotta play around a little, let's see if these that I tied on these Waddington Shanks will work? Yep



But there's always more than fishing to these trips. Lots of food and drink. The "Girls of Camp":



Our camp hosts were kind enough to roast us a big ... a chainsaw might have made this job a little quicker:



Would you expect any less, when it was time for the guys' turn for a picture, most were in some sort of alcohol-induced chaos:



Speaking of our hosts, here's Victor on the left leading us all in a toast to celebrate Al & Dottie's 50th anniversary!



Family day of fishing. While Rowan digs to China ... Rainey follows dad right in:



Not satisfied with being close enough, she just swims below me in place for a few minutes:



As we bumped around fishing spots, it was time for Ro-Ro to see the "Nays":



She even found hereself a perfect walking stick at our next spot:



And then decided to wet a line for a bit:



Rainey, ready to pounce if needed, watches one swim away!



More ....

Back to our old haunt, Art's coming down!



You just never get sick of looking at these beautiful fish!



Parker remembers this very spot well. A look back up the chute that nearly every fish our the Honey Hole dropped down. The only spot of calm water was at my feet in this pic, really the only place to bring one into some form of shallows. Don't miss it!



New pattern ... first cast. I like it!



The sunshine just kept coming, day after day, and so did the fish!



Time to empty out the flybox ... here's a variation of the green-butted skunk that was buried deep in the box, and now in the fish's jaw:



Our guard dog is working hard to protect our lunches:



But by afternnon mop-up time with a spoon, she mustered up enough energy to come inspect this one. Very little gear fishing this year, I think only 3 fish fell to the spoons ... when the water's right, why bother?



Oh, the camp clan: Buddy, Rufus, Rainey and Tashu raisin' cane before Happy Hour:



Rowan's riding to the campfire in style:



Checking out the mushrooms while we chow away on H'ors D'eourves:



Art & Jim swapping stories at Happy Hour:



The Honey Hole finally began slowing down as the river got lower and lower as weeks went by without rain. No problem, we know where there's more! Time for a shift to the Big River ... in little boats:



Perhaps not the most glorious of fishing boats, the "Rubber Duckies" always did the job nicely. Got me right to one of our old fave spots during low water conditions:



The big fish continued to elude us, but some of them did appear to be growing!



Another Big River riffle, I managed a couple of fish on back-to-back casts right after snapping this pic:



Although the second one was the smallest fish of my trip, maybe 4 pounds, and it looked like it had a rough time with the nets along the way:



Had to avoid the big stuff in the Duckies:



But we soon ditched the duckies and tried a haunt that I haven't tried in a number of years: Area 51. What a beautiful view, had to snap a pic of this glorius fishing locale:



But it looks better with the rod folded over as it did just moments later:



A day off meant it was time to reload the box with some hot producers:



And of course, we had to cook a mess of clams too. Rowan is learning the science early on:



Nearly 100 razors and about 6 pounds of halibut just stared the food table off ... you can't see all the desserts on the other side



A breathtaking sunrise at Area 51:



But we started homing in on one 1/3 mile run that was paying pretty good dividends: 3-5 fish a day and we never saw another soul 95% f the time we were there:




More ...

A little snow finally dusted the high country:



With Honey Hole #2 in full production, we were bypassing the Duckies, and dropping down the "Hill of Death" into our spots. Art climbs back out:



Rowan gets the fishing bug one night and decides this is her "Honey Bucket":



The sun tries to burn through the morning fog on some the last days of fishing for me:



And I was ready for it ... this is what the guides looked like on this fish:



But by afternnon and a trip downriver to Area 51, it was a splendid afternoon!



Sunbathing, BC style!



Just as I counting the days down to head south. The big boys started to show. My big fish of the trip, a little over 41 inches:



Not quite sure what happened to this one, but OUCH!



Our Pal, Gordy has begun tying a few flies again. I promised him I would try one of his first ties from after his accident. Thanks Gordy!!!



But finally the rain came ... yuck!!!!



But I didn't let it dampen my spirits ... how could it when you're catching fish like this 39 incher:



And Rowan sure enjoyed all the mud puddles it made:



The rain finally passed and the clearing made for a beautiful sunrise on what became my last day of fishing.



By the time mid-day rolled around, the river was up 18 inches and it was time to start packing. But one last look at the Big River before it was time to go home:



A morning of packing was followed by lunch at Dorothy's House. They don't make tough like this anymore!



An early start home the following morning:



The hottest weather we have seen since our wedding in January, 2005 greeted us that afternnon as we made the drive south. Windows down!



A few days in Seattle to do lots of shopping & eating ... and also a day to meet up with the Parker Clan at the Zoo. Rowan gets to see her first real-life elephant:



She thought the Carousel was pretty cool too:



One last Seattle meal: Take-out to the RV from Claimjumper and it was time to make the final push home. The Navy even came to greet us as we made our way onto the OP.



Lots of unpacking now and honey-do's as well. Bring on the fall rains ... it's time to chase some salmon!!!

Wow! Thanks for sharing Bob. Just went on a little mini fishing vacation just looking at the pics.

Way to go! Looks like the family had a great vacation. Welcome home.

Great photos Bob, looks like a great trip!

Holy crap, that's just about the best fish-log ever. That 41 incher is a BRUTE!

Painfully good.

Right on, now that was a post. I like Rowan's muddy shot, and of course the fishing in the toilet shot. The fish pics were awesome, but that is normal, wouldn't expect any less. Watch out, I'll be around your neck of the woods this weekend.

DAMN! What a show!

Looks like another wonderful trip back home!

Now that is living!.......What a DREAM vacation!....I almost felt like I was there!...Awesome pics!....What more can you ask for on a trip like that...Family, Friends, Food, Fish and Heaven!.....The Best post I ever saw....Thanks...

Thanks again and RoRo is such a cutie....

Great report Bob! Looks like you all had a banner trip. I must say that I'm thinking the trip needs to be a bit earlier next year.... brrrr
we are off!
Cheers,
Neal

That takes care of my fishing fix for awhile!

Incredible post! Awesome pics that make us all envious.

Wow! MagnaPost Supreme!
The shot of the 39 incher lying along side the rod looks about 5' long!
Ro and Rainy are dialed! Everything has "fun" written all over it.

Best post I've ever seen. Just Awesome. Great photos, love the perspective shots.
Thanks

awsome post. great pics!

interesting just how good fishing can be when the gill netters don't fish the shiat out of them at the mouth. Nice to see a good trip .

Looks like a great time

Awesome post, Bob. Thanks!

Sweet picts looks like another fun trip!

I know that spot and fly well!

I'm back in the game next September! It pretty much killed me not being able to get up there this September.

I feel like I owe you money, like I should have bought a ticket... for reading a post that good...Incredible pictures Bob, thanks for sharing.

Looks like stuff that dreams are made of, living the life of such. I agree, you have a sweet little girl, and I thought my boy was the only one that could catch something out of the porcelin lake!

Thanks for the great shots and taking the time to share with us.

Steve

That is the best fishing post I have ever read. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Man you sure know how to burn-up a month the right way !!



Cherry-picking thru your trip pics this one just jumps out......





Your not a small guy & knowing that, this fish is just a HUGE steelie....

It looks like a steelhead/king salmon hybrid, did you get a girth measurement on it?



Great post.....



c/22

WOW.Nice,thanks for sharing.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

That looks to be....

41x22.

A nice solid *honest* 25 pounder.

Bob,
Thanks for sharing this year's incredible journey from the north!
Totally Awesome fer sure.

Parker, that sounds about spot on. Like to know what you think TRBO


"Its just a Nookeelie"

Is Rowan ever not cute in a photo?

Thanks for taking the time to put the collage together Boss, stunning

I've never caught a steelhead over 14lbs and never seen one in person over 16lbs. They just don't grow them that big down here, except up on the Smith River. Thanks for a great post Bob!

fantastic report.......

Fabulous report Bob.
I gotta get up north soon.
Real soon.

Thank You for sharing with the unworthy.

Awesome pics Bob, got me shaking in my seat!! I'll be heading out there in a few weeks, and hopefully land some piggies like that big one you got

Wow! I don't know how anyone could ever top that post.

Geez Bob. The bar for legendary posts is a bit higher now. Inspiring to say the least. Great to know that there are still places on this globe where fish of that quality are still found in decent numbers. Well done sir.

Knock it off, Bob.

Incredible pictures, simply stunning! You are living a charmed life!

Ya, thanks fer stopin by on your way home. I'm 2 blocks outa your way. BTW your rod holders are ready, looks like I HAVE ta drive 2.5hrs to Forks to deliver them!

Looks like the family enjoyed thier time off! Can I be you?

rowan is looking so old and grown up!

Bob - Thanks for brightening up my lunch hour here in Portland! The fish pics are great but the best of the bunch is Ro-Ro with the walking stick. What a smile! Ya gotta frame that one for the family album.

Tough pic's.

Mf

Thanks for sharing Bob. That's a wonderful collection of photos. Somebody's got a good eye with the camera. Of course all the pics of Ro are automatically cute. I'm missing the north country this year, so this was my vicarious trip. Thanks again for sharing.

Sg

Now that's a vacation. Just awesome.

Bob,
Almost as good as being there! Lots of great pix but I especially love the family portrait in one of my favorite spots--D's kitchen....
See y'all this fall.

Notice them still warm rolls on the back counter Driftin' ... went pretty good with some jam and some pineapple cake to boot

I figured the biggun was right about 25 ... a healthy girthed fish ... fairly typical of the bigger bucks there, many fully resemble chinook in their body structure.

Back to work finally ... chasin' some of these "little" coast silvers today

Stunning adventure with great friends and great fishing. Nothing better!

Incredible trip!! Thanks for sharing

Now I really feel cooped up at work