Redside Fly
Smolt
As we get close to summer, I wanted to make my first post on this forum of memories of last year's highs and lows.
These two photos where taken at the beginning of the summer by my fiance, who had passed away shortly after on June 15th, 2021. This was a very awful way to start the the summer.
The weeks following my fiance's death, my coworkers down at the flyshop I work at made sure I was not dwelling and tearing myself apart. These photos are how the end of June and beginning of July went for my boss and I.
I never had the chance to float the Lower Deschutes yet, so my coworker, Dave took me out and showed me what it's all about. It was absolutely bliss. We didn't catch a lot that day but it was a big turn around for me after losing my love. This was also the time I fell in love with swinging a fly with a spey rod.
The photo above was taken in November, my boss Paul caught this beautiful Redside. I knew I wanted to work on my photography this trip, and so it turned out to be my favorite photo I've ever taken of a fish.
With the Lower Deschutes closed in the winter I decided to change my focus to the Metolius, and aim for those legendary Bull Trout. The first photo is a nice smaller one caught on a streamer by Paul. The second is finally, successfully catching a bull on a double nymph rig setup. 6 trips and the last trip I ended up landing this gorgeous specimen. My buddy Dave took this photo.
Well I hope you all enjoyed my small stories and the fish porn as well. This last year has been the most life changing, from lows to highs. But I never gave up and continued forward, adventuring out on the open river and making new friends that share the same passions as I along the way. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you all have a great summer and good luck fishing out there!
-Austin
These two photos where taken at the beginning of the summer by my fiance, who had passed away shortly after on June 15th, 2021. This was a very awful way to start the the summer.
The weeks following my fiance's death, my coworkers down at the flyshop I work at made sure I was not dwelling and tearing myself apart. These photos are how the end of June and beginning of July went for my boss and I.
I never had the chance to float the Lower Deschutes yet, so my coworker, Dave took me out and showed me what it's all about. It was absolutely bliss. We didn't catch a lot that day but it was a big turn around for me after losing my love. This was also the time I fell in love with swinging a fly with a spey rod.
The photo above was taken in November, my boss Paul caught this beautiful Redside. I knew I wanted to work on my photography this trip, and so it turned out to be my favorite photo I've ever taken of a fish.
With the Lower Deschutes closed in the winter I decided to change my focus to the Metolius, and aim for those legendary Bull Trout. The first photo is a nice smaller one caught on a streamer by Paul. The second is finally, successfully catching a bull on a double nymph rig setup. 6 trips and the last trip I ended up landing this gorgeous specimen. My buddy Dave took this photo.
Well I hope you all enjoyed my small stories and the fish porn as well. This last year has been the most life changing, from lows to highs. But I never gave up and continued forward, adventuring out on the open river and making new friends that share the same passions as I along the way. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you all have a great summer and good luck fishing out there!
-Austin
