Wednesday, April 20, 2011

California Delta Rematch


Chasing pre-spawn Delta Striper with my dad and Mike Costello? You bet your ass. I felt that I had a score to settle with these fish (after the butt kicking I took last trip). We fished I-lines and sinking lines and it took a few hundred casts before I got used to chunking and dodging heavy lines again. Missed a few solid strikes (and by solid I mean how the F did the hook not find a home) but set in to some pigs. There is nothing like that solid whomp that comes in between strips as the fly drops or swings. The delta is beautiful in the spring, the ducks had paired up, the otters played happily, the trees and flowers had bloomed and the striper were fat and healthy and hit hard.

Dinner with April Vokey


I consider myself to be a pretty lucky guy but when Collins Illich called and asked if I wanted to join him and his wife, a few friends and April Vokey for dinner at Mi Cocina, I realized just how lucky I was to have such great people in my life. April is one of those people that has so much passion for what she does that it is pretty easy to get caught up in the excitement of her stories, adventures and plans. And whats not to get excited about? Steelhead, spey rods, Jack and ice, her upcoming trip to Belieze and her flyfishing guru/pinup status. Sounds pretty exciting to me. April, Happy birthday! I liked the high-wasted jeans. Lets go fishing when you get back.