Proud Dad

These are my children and the baby is my grand daughter. I love each one of them and am very proud of them all!
Left to right

Troy - 33 Devon - 26 Kari - 29 Bethany/with Heidi Anne - 23

Death in the Family

My mother in law Phyllis J. Lewis passed away this morning. She was, for the last 28 years, a mother to me in every sense of the word. I will miss her dearly

Here she is in February with Heidi Anne

A tough time ahead for my family

What should have been a great weekend for visiting my grandkids and enjoying them was cut short with the news that my wifes mother has taken a turn for the worse in her struggle for life at the ICU.
We had just gotten to Medford after a day of sight seeing the beautiful Crater Lake ( a first for me)
Got the call from wifes sister that my mother in law was barely hanging onto life.
More later......

Priceless

An imported English fly reel - $450

A custom made split cane bamboo fly rod - $1250


Leaving your $30 raincoat back in your car over a mile away while you are caught in a drenching downpour on the Deschutes river because you are a dumbass and you didn't learn from the last time this happened.............PRICELESS

All Along the Lee Shore

I love the ocean. I love the smells that are associated with it. I love walking along the shoreline and seeing the constant movement of life there. Now don't get me wrong I'm no "Salty Dog" or even a Salty Dog wannabe because I am a bit prone to seasickness but none the less I do love the sea and cannot imagine ever living very far from it.
One song that captures the feel of the sea is this one by CSNY from their "4-Way Street" album recorded all the way back in 1970.

The Lee Shore

Wheel gull spin and glide -- you've got no place to hide cause you don't need one
All along the lee shore shells lie scattered in the sand
Winking up like shining eyes - at me, from the sea
Here is one like sunrise, older than you know
It's still lying there where some careless wave forgot it long ago
When I awoke this morning and dove beneath my floating home
Down below her graceful side in the turning tide to watch the sea fish roam
There I heard a story from the sailors on the Sandra Marie
There's another island a days' run away from here and it's empty and free
From here to Venezuela there's nothing more to see
Than a hundred thousand islands flung like jewels upon the sea for you and me
Sunset smells of dinner
Women are calling at me to end my tales
But perhaps I'll see you the next quiet place I furl my sails

The Anglers Reveille

I especially like this poem"The Anglers Reveille" courtesy of the Contented Angler

Then come, my friend, forget your foes and leave your fears behind and wander out to try your luck with cheerful, quiet mind .For be your fortune great or small, you'll take what God may give,and through the day your heart shall say,Tis luck enough to live.

I know that a "quiet mind" is what I'm seeking when I fly fish. Sometimes I accomplish that and sometimes it seems like the worries of everyday life prevent it.

Another year another missed salmon fly hatch!!!

For some reason it seems like there is some sort of conspiracy afoot that keeps me away from the Deschutes during the peak of the salmon fly hatch. This year is no different as the engine in Kathy's car decided to say "adios"
Well at least I got to see a few of them this year in Maupin before they really started hatching.

The Quiet Pool

Welcome all to the Quiet Pool. Sit back and rest awhile and read about my fly fishing exploits.
This time of year is when my fishing really takes off as the coastal cutthroat trout season has begun, The salmon fly hatch is going on the Deschutes and the warm weather has finally gotten here...sort of