Uptonogood
PNW raised
When all of this forum migration jumped off I found myself reflecting about the original group. There are a lot of “old members” who regularly posted some really great stuff. I hadn’t fly fished since I was in undergrad at LSU and grad school at Auburn. My primary quarry was mostly bream (bluegills to non souther folk). When I returned to my PAC NW origins I longed to get into true fly fishing. That’s where this forum comes in.
I don’t remember how I found it, maybe it found me. When I learned I could catch sea run cutts from the beach, well, that stoked the sparking. Enter forum sponsors from the Orvis Outtdoor shop in Bellevue, the Avid Angler Shop north of Seattle, Puget Sound Flyshop and another shop in downtown Seattle. I jumped off the cliff: rods, reels, wadwes, tackle bags, leaders, lines flies…many flies. I took classes to learn how to truly cast a fly. And there was instruction on leaders, lines, etc. And there was the little book on where to explore for SRC habitat and public access. I was hooked. I now had an outdoor activity I loved to obsess when it wasn’t duck hunting season.
I learned to evolution of saving SRC, restricting fishing for these gems to catch and release only. Thank to Les Johnson and his cronies for that huge and wonderful effort. Most of those guys are physically gone now but their legacy continues.
Then I started targeting salmon from the beach. I sharpened my meager skins on pinks, a few coho and one small black mouth. My mentor there was Constructuer (RIP Terry, I really miss you, bud!). But here’s the bag of gold. I spent time with a few guys like my mentor Terry, who loved it as much as I did. The love of gorgeous scenery, beautiful wildlife and great fishing. That what the magic was. It was very healing. You see, I spent my work days helping a lot of men and a few women come to grips with absolute horror that is what combat is about. . Things you cannot imagine and ethics prevent me from sharing. What things men do to each other, the killing, torture, mutilate. It takes peaceful places to heal the images shared by those who acted them out Or experienced them. And the waters of Puget Sound provided that temple.
I’ve moved back to the southeast, my wife needs to be near her family. I’m still seeking my temple down here, it’s been very elusive. I find it now in my gardening. It’s an art like fly fishing once you understand the science.
I hope Chris made a bundle in the sale, he earned it. And I am really happy a new form has formed. The Legacy.
I don’t remember how I found it, maybe it found me. When I learned I could catch sea run cutts from the beach, well, that stoked the sparking. Enter forum sponsors from the Orvis Outtdoor shop in Bellevue, the Avid Angler Shop north of Seattle, Puget Sound Flyshop and another shop in downtown Seattle. I jumped off the cliff: rods, reels, wadwes, tackle bags, leaders, lines flies…many flies. I took classes to learn how to truly cast a fly. And there was instruction on leaders, lines, etc. And there was the little book on where to explore for SRC habitat and public access. I was hooked. I now had an outdoor activity I loved to obsess when it wasn’t duck hunting season.
I learned to evolution of saving SRC, restricting fishing for these gems to catch and release only. Thank to Les Johnson and his cronies for that huge and wonderful effort. Most of those guys are physically gone now but their legacy continues.
Then I started targeting salmon from the beach. I sharpened my meager skins on pinks, a few coho and one small black mouth. My mentor there was Constructuer (RIP Terry, I really miss you, bud!). But here’s the bag of gold. I spent time with a few guys like my mentor Terry, who loved it as much as I did. The love of gorgeous scenery, beautiful wildlife and great fishing. That what the magic was. It was very healing. You see, I spent my work days helping a lot of men and a few women come to grips with absolute horror that is what combat is about. . Things you cannot imagine and ethics prevent me from sharing. What things men do to each other, the killing, torture, mutilate. It takes peaceful places to heal the images shared by those who acted them out Or experienced them. And the waters of Puget Sound provided that temple.
I’ve moved back to the southeast, my wife needs to be near her family. I’m still seeking my temple down here, it’s been very elusive. I find it now in my gardening. It’s an art like fly fishing once you understand the science.
I hope Chris made a bundle in the sale, he earned it. And I am really happy a new form has formed. The Legacy.
