Hey guys and gals out there,

I just wanted to thank you (all y'all) for getting me interested in Steelheading again. After a 10 year break, this board has served as an incentive for me to go out and get a rod and spend some time on the rivers. (No, I wasn't in prison or hiding from the law! :)) Actually it was kids, wife, and a new career.

Yesterday was my first day back at streamside in a long time. Fished the Cowlitz at the barrier dam, some little spot downstream, and blue creek. Had one fish on for about 4 seconds, yehaw! Well, I hope to improve on that long line release.

Sorry for my bumbling introduction to the board a few weeks back, and thanks for not holding a grudge.

So if all y'all see some guy driving a blue exploder with a Yakima rack, say hi. I'm the gut who is trying to remember what to do. Look forward to meeting SOME of you on the rivers.

Andy

P.S. Anyone remember their first steelhead? Mine was on the Sandy River in Orygun next to a golf course in Welches. Caught it on a green butt skunk. Ran me up and down the stream and I finally landed it after about five minutes of terror! Only about 10lbs, but it was a good one for me.

Anyway, Thanks! A

Glad to see that you've picked steelheading up again. That's what this board is all about. And don't worry about the people you pissed off when you first poted on this board. Anytime you get this many people conversing there is bound to be a few disagreements..... I wish I could have a dime for everytime I said something that offended somebody else on the board. Good luck with the steelheading, brother!

Really, even though your wife may call you that it's not too flattering to refer to your self as the "gut".

Of course, a lot of folks refer to me as the d!ck but I won't stop `em. That's why they call me that, right?

Welcome aboard Andy!

Your earlier postings were full of unreleased energy. Now, the trick will be in how you use and apply your remaining energy. I am looking forward to seeing how you use your remaining energies. Obviously, the Wallace Gravel Pit easement issue showed us that you do care about your fellow fishermen and their rights. Best of luck on your next fishing trip!

Cowlitzfisherman,

Is the taste of the bait worth the sting of the hook????

I enjoyed your energy in both fishing tech and fishing issue posts Andy. Nice to see you back again. - RT

Hey andy,
If you head west from McCleary, there's some good summer-run opportunities a lot closer than the Cowlitz.

Welcome back to the game, good to see that the fishing fever is getting you again.

Hey Dan. SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! Don't tell him about the rivers west of McCleary. Let him go with the hordes of people to the Cow.

Actually, it's good info. You have alot of good rivers to explore with summerruns within 30 minutes (if not closer) to you. Grab a map, grab your gear, and explore.

Fobb,

I actually have lost my gut, sorry, a mispelling. Remodeling our house took off about 30 pounds.

Dan, I know that there are some fish in the Wynoochee, but I haven't heard too much about that. The Chehalis also has some descent fishing, but I have heard that it is mostly a fall deal, along with the Satsop.

I am mostly set up for fishing lakes and the sound. A 18 foot Seaswirl with a 140 hp OB and a 15 foot canoe. Fishing the rivers can be a challenge from shore. I also have access to lots of private farmland in the Chehalis River valley around Porter for ducks, geese, and Elk for those out there with an AHE card (about 1500 acres). I am willing to trade hunts for fishing re-education, or trips in the sound or straight (Sekiu in my boat). If you are interested, let me know and we can see what we can do for each other. Other opportunities are my famous "guided pigeon hunts!" Nothing like sloggin' around a dairy nailing barn pigeons, plus they're great for training your bird dogs.

Looking forward to more discussions, take care.

Andy

Is this Andy M have the last name of Matthews? The one that used to live in Aberdeen and has a driftboat. That last post doesn't sound like Matthews. Just curious.

RT

If Andy Matthews (from aberdeen) was not fishing for 10 years that means he hung it up when he was 7! And then settled down and got married and had a kid along with a new carreer. Wow he's done alot for a 17 year old kid. I think he's probably 19 now! Ready to retire!LOL
I did hear from him the other day...Hes back in the area!

Bob D

andy,

Any time you're up to trading saltwater trips for some trips down the Satsop, Nooch and Hump, let me know. I'm forever jonesing to get out on the ocean or the straits, and would love to find somebody to swap trips with. Drop me a line........

No, I am not Andy Matthews. I have a long Slovenian name that if revealed will result in a lot of jokes. Let's just say that it rhymes with massage. I'm 35, so that takes care of the age issue, but if I was 17 again all of you with daughters would be worried. That farm animal thing was only an experiment when I was in college, and I am really trying to get past that, nuf said?

Dan,

I plan on heading up to Sekiu at least three or four times this year, along with a number of trips out to Grays Harbor. I do not plan on any outings into the ocean, as that is just too much water for me. A man has to know his limitations. I am also looking at a few up to Humpy Hollow for pinks as well. Fun fishery! If this sounds like fun, let me know and maybe we can set something up.

See ya later. Andy

Andy - what your friends forgot to tell you is that some of that experimenting will come back to haunt you. Hell look at Osprey
Now Osprey is reading that and wondering which one he got busted on now muh ha ha ha

Fobb - You aren't "Dick" from cellblock C are ya?

andy - good to hear you're back at the fish. Like Dan, I'd be willing to trade some trips with you. I've fished the Chehalis and to use the word decent in the same sentence doesn't do justice to the word decent. Too much illegal netting going on down on that river: tribal or otherwise.

Zo - I thought we were gonna plan ourselves a trip

Hey yall,

I will let you folks know when I plan on hitting the salt water, and if there are any takers, we'll set it up. Andy

Hey Y'all: Check your E-mail. Let's fish.