Are You Our Guide?

The first couple of guiding trips I wasn't so sure this was going to be such a good idea.  The fishing wasn't spectacular, and I felt bad because these folks were paying serious coin.

The women were cool, happy to be out on the water and relaxing in a beautiful setting.  The guys were visibly disappointed in the fishing, and for good reason, fishing was slow.  I felt like I let them down.

 Ed, my friend and new boss did his best to cheer me up over the phone.  It was frustrating to let people down.  In the end, all you can do is your best.  Take the folks to beautiful places, teach them how to cast, and teach them how to catch the fish.  Much is still out of the guide's hands.

The last two trips have been an absolute joy.  Teaching folks how to fly fish, seeing their happy expressions when they catch fish, and their genuine appreciation of the gorgeous surroundings.

It has been a blast getting to meet people from around the country, and even the world.

I've been playing around with the digital camera and making movie/slide shows.  Here's an example of one of the latest attempt:

Why?

This says much..,

A Great Video and a Great Song

This song and video by Canadian Rachelle Van Zanten is now on my all-time favorites list.  Our kids deserve better than what we're handing over to them.

Nowhere Bound

This is the first summer I can remember without a big trip.  For some reason I just didn't feel like it this year.  Granted, money is a little tight and all, but the idea of a long road trip just doesn't do it for me right now.  Maybe I'm just tired of doing the long drives solo.  The flights to the Ukraine and Nome lost their appeal, too.  I've never been much of a homebody, but taking the occasional guiding job and just fishing and hiking around here seems to be enough this year.

 Worked in the garage and in the yard, and just kicked back on the back patio under the dogwood tree, with a nice breeze, and listened to good tunes felt pretty damn good.  I've already fished more than I would have if I'd gone up to the Damdochax this summer, and I've also lost 12 pounds since school ended.  Bizarre.

Guiding?

So I'm doing what I swore I'd never do again.  Guiding.  Stay tuned, it should be interesting.  I hope.

Here's a video/slideshow I put together that has much fishing from the last few years.