September, 2013

Ah, September, a bittersweet month. It means the end of summer, back to work and back to weekends only at Tunkwa, but it's also the month of my birthday, (usually) great weather and the onset of fall, a very nice time of year.

We came home to a very nice treat - a new deck! Jimmy, his pal Ron and my step-brother Warren did us a huge favour by tearing apart our old deck and rebuilding it for us. Sweet!

We also enjoyed Lee's annual fishing derby at Tunkwa and Wendy and I made it down to the Fraser Valley to visit Don and Judy, and Don and I met Gary at the Vedder to do some combat fishing for pinks.

Jimmy showing off our new deck.

Happy Birthday to me!

Gary tight to a pink salmon on the Vedder

A clean pink on the fly - fair and square, too!

Don waiting for a grab. He didn't have to wait long!

The Tunkwa gang at Lee's Annual fishing derby

Alison at Art Battle. She painted that in about 20 minutes!

Alison did her first art multiple through Von Zos.

An annual visit near our front door in September.

May, 2013

Ahhh... Spring! One on my favourite times of the year. Highlights: I met my wife, Wendy, in May, and our son Barry was born in May. The days get longer and warmer, and stillwater fishing really gets going! Gotta love it!

Where went the last 25 years? Happy Birthday, Barry!

Gadget, the furry grandchild.

Alison's tattoos are getting good!

Woo hoo! The ice is off at Zipperlip Lake.

And the fish were willing.

Kye with a nice rainbow on our first outing of the season.

Chironomids were active, too!

This loon harasses us constantly. Oh well, I guess it needs nourishment to produce those eggs. Check out the gouge in the top of its bill. Caused by a fish hook?

This expert angler at Hall Road Pond in Kelowna, where I take my flytying club kids, nailed a trout just as we arrived for an afternoon of fishing.

Melissa hoping for a take.

Fish on!

Way to go, Evan!

April, 2013

Slowly but surely I'll finish the year, month-by-month...

April means shaking off the shrouds of winter and getting back out on the water in earnest. Two casting events occured in April this year, both annual events that I always eagerly anticipate attending: the Michael & Young Spey Clave in Chilliwack and the Trout Waters Fly & Tackle Cast Away Day at Sutherland Park in Kelowna. It's casting only ay the Specy Clave, but if it's warm in April there are big carp swimming around in the shallow bay at Sutherland Park. I learned my lesson a few years ago: bring flies!

Alison showed off her art.

Alison's tattoos are getting better and better!

Ken Baker, Ralph Jolley and I made the trek down to the annual Michael & Young Spey Clave.

Lots of eager spey casters at one of the many workshops.

As usual there were lots of great prizes. Sadly, I got shut out this year! :-(

Shuggy looks on while Peter (R.I.P.) checks out some flies.

Kyle Sawayama, BCFFF President, addresses the crowd.

The load out before the long drive home. Happily, the weather was great to end the day.

Savas helps a new caster at the annual Trout Waters Fly & Tackle Cast Away Day in Kelowna.

Nick got interviewed for the local news.

Lots of two-handers to try!

This old girl just wanted to relax.

Casting demo on the beach.

Jordan landed a carp!

And so did I! 'Fat one, eh?

Ahhh... Stillwater trout season begins with a Sawmill Lake rainbow.

January, 2013

Happy New Year!

'Not much flyfishing this time of year…

Wendy and I went for a nice walk down the Greenway and the winter wonderland inspired me to make some photos. I set my little Nikon AW100 to black and white for these:

I experimented with 3D animated GIFs with some others:

January always means getting together with some of the FlyBC gang for our annual Interior Christmas Dinner at Olympia Greek Taverna:

Some of the motley crew

A bunch more of the motley crew

Lovely sweaters!

Eric had the best sweater and he won some nice swag, too!

The belly dancer always gets us movin'