High Tide Croaker

Still pondering my next trout huggin' expedition. Low water in most parts of the state has got me a bit nervous. Still the mid-elevation Sierra waters that normally run heavy will be primo in late spring. Setting sights on that strategy. But no one wants to get too rusty so today in Santa Monica, despite the salad and high surf, a chubby yellow fin croaker was dished the fly.

Bean Gone Too Long

A long overdue entry. A lot of personal stuff and music stuff goin' on that I'll save for another post. The fun fishy thing right now is the odd appearance of Corbina on the beaches of So Cal in January. I'll let the picture do the talking!

The Beach Hugger

Through the fog of a flu-like bug and just prior to a nice swell which has sent some of the best looking waves I have ever seen in So Cal in my life, I snuck in an AM session with fello anglers. Perch hookups galore. Photo cred: Al Q. Click on th eimage - it blows up nicely.

The Shark Hugger

Playing in the surf this morning with fishing buddy Al Q had this specimen make a showing. Returned the animal to the ocean to be free and grow larger. I have a soft spot for these fish. I don't like fishing for them but they are really beautiful. Remember too folks, leopard sharks are very much considered harmless.

Carnival Perch

Some of you may have seen this at my facebook profile and/or at the Fly Fishing Addicts forum however it deserves further sharing. I was lucky to be frivolously fishing near the pier when this perch cooperated for the shot. The fish was released unharmed.

Fire Will Tell

Fire, an annual celebration. In flurries or randomly or man-made or sparked by lightning. I have seen fires devastate a watershed and despite muddy runoff in ensuing years, delightful recoveries of trout populations. There are studies that indicate that many western salmonids have a resilience to the after effects of fires. One stream I know seems to have lost what was a robust brown trout population after severe fires while the bows rebounded. Maybe the bows just rebounded 'cause the browns were gone (nudge nudge wink wink). Anyway, after a mid-day swim today, this plume rose to the east ....