Friend with terminal cancer looking for place to fish

YukonC

YukonC

Just Hatched
I am a novice fly fisherman and don't get out as much as I would like to, but when I do it's usually in mountain rivers away from people. I have a good friend of 35 years that was just diagnosed with terminal cancer and she said going out fly fishing is on her bucket list and wants me to take her somewhere. The challenge is she is not real agile and is on the larger side. After chemo she is in ok shape to hold and learn to cast a rod, but needs a location that is easy to access fairly close to the Seattle area. I live in Auburn so actually south of Seattle.

If anyone can DM me with a place where the access is fairly easy on a river that has fish, it would be greatly appreciated. Not looking for a honey hole...not that an easy access spot would be that.

Thanks,
Mark
 
YukonC said:
I am a novice fly fisherman and don't get out as much as I would like to, but when I do it's usually in mountain rivers away from people. I have a good friend of 35 years that was just diagnosed with terminal cancer and she said going out fly fishing is on her bucket list and wants me to take her somewhere. The challenge is she is not real agile and is on the larger side. After chemo she is in ok shape to hold and learn to cast a rod, but needs a location that is easy to access fairly close to the Seattle area. I live in Auburn so actually south of Seattle.

If anyone can DM me with a place where the access is fairly easy on a river that has fish, it would be greatly appreciated. Not looking for a honey hole...not that an easy access spot would be that.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...
Rocky Ford in Ephrata. It has handicapped accessible area and some big fish. Desert Angler Fly Shop in Ephrata for help. You’ll get some nice spring weather soon just keep an eye on it and pick your window of opportunity. Good on you!😊
 
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Sorry to hear of your friend’s fight with cancer. Can your friend get into and out of a drift boat? If so I would suggest a guided float on the Yakima. Some of those guides are very good at their jobs and can accommodate people with a variety of disabilities. I know of one guide that took a blind guy fishing and got him into fish.

By the way, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer almost ten years ago. Never give up.
 
Sorry about your friend. Cancer sucks! I agree with Kerry. Contact Red’s Fly Shop in the Yakima Canyon. There are accomodations at Reds or in Ellensburg. The restaurant at Red’s is very good.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer nearly 20 years ago. Been through a lot of chemo since and a bone marrow transplant, but have been cancer free for 8 1/2 years. Never give up.
 
YukonC said:
I am a novice fly fisherman and don't get out as much as I would like to, but when I do it's usually in mountain rivers away from people. I have a good friend of 35 years that was just diagnosed with terminal cancer and she said going out fly fishing is on her bucket list and wants me to take her somewhere. The challenge is she is not real agile and is on the larger side. After chemo she is in ok shape to hold and learn to cast a rod, but needs a location that is easy to access fairly close to the Seattle area. I live in Auburn so actually south of Seattle.

If anyone can DM me with a place where the access is fairly easy on a river that has fish, it would be greatly appreciated. Not looking for a honey hole...not that an easy access spot would be that.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...
Hey Mark - a close smaller option would be the lil Deschutes in Olympia. If we get a few days without rain, it might be in ok shape. I have not fished it in the Spring but perhaps other forum members have and can chime in. Or call the Fly Fisher in Lacey and Bjorn probably knows. I have caught small trout there in the Fall, so I believe it holds some resident trout. They can be a delight to see come up on a small dry! There are a couple of nice bends less than a 15 minute walk from the parking lot. It is an urban fishery but pretty once you get away from the parking lot. Best of luck to you and your friend and wishes for a rising trout!
 
kerrys said:
Sorry to hear of your friend’s fight with cancer. Can your friend get into and out of a drift boat? If so I would suggest a guided float on the Yakima. Some of those guides are very good at their jobs and can accommodate people with a variety of disabilities. I know of one guide that took a blind guy fishing and got him into fish.

By the way, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer almost ten years ago. Never give up.
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Thanks, She's a fighter and said she will stay here as long as she can. I have another friend that was given a few months to live...5 years ago.
 
I suggest going to a recently planted lake and fish with an indicator. Pretty much any small fly world work, just hang it down 4' and stay kinda close to the boat launch they were put in at. Simply look at the WDFW web site for a list of lakes. https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/reports/stocking/trout-plants
If you are in Auburn, there are a number of lakes in the area from Federal Way, Auburn, Enumclaw that are getting new fish as we speak. You are welcome to DM me for more info.
 
Cal I Baetis said:
Rocky Ford in Ephrata. It has handicapped accessible area and some big fish. Desert Angler Fly Shop in Ephrata for help. You’ll get some nice spring weather soon just keep an eye on it and pick your window of opportunity. Good on you!😊
Click to expand...
I'm gonna be helping my folks move this weekend from Crescent Bar to Wenatchee...might have to buzz over there and check it out, visit the fly shop.
 
this is north and includes a ferry ride, but you can fish Lone Lake from the shore. no walking involved, nice little place and I have caught fish from the shore in the past.
good luck and positive thoughts for you friend.
 
You might try and contact some of the veterans fly fishing organizations in the PS area (such as Project Healing Waters for example). These organizations routinely organize fly fishing opportunities for disabled or handicapped veterans. They might be able to guide you toward some opportunities suitable for your companion.
 
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