All Around Angler

GFK

Every time I go out on the water is a precious time for me. It’s time spent I don’t take for granted. It’s where I draw my energy and it truly is who I am. My soul-filler for sure. Sometimes I’m out there with someone I’ve just met, often through this website. Other times it’s with close friends or family such as Sal or Auntie.

But very rarely I may have the chance to revisit a river with a crew of guys I’ve fished with, grown with and who I consider my bretheren…all at the same time. Yesterday was certainly one of those days and a time to remember for sure.

The fishing wasn’t excellent and the weather was possibly as cold as I’ve fished in all year so far. We commented to each other that our feet were so numb we might as well have been walking on wooden stumps.

I even stripped my waders off to apply to sticky pad foot warmers to my inner sock. I was saving them for a cold day. Apparently you must apply before your feet are frozen solid. Along with your braided line.

Ensuing digression halted: Alas yesterday having produced my biggest coho catch since visiting Auntie two trips ago in Alaska, 2006…it was even more than that to remember. Walking new rivers with old friends. Talking parenthood one moment…runs and tail outs the next.

It was Pigsticker aka Chris Delcarlo and Mark ‘GhostFace’ Murray. It was Joshua H2O Thomas. There were even some new friends sprinkled into the mix for a while on part of the trip. New friends I am grateful for. Like the Traveler, Air Jordan (Hot rod of the day) and The Crusher.

But mostly it was an old group of tight fishing buddies….reunited. A damn proud moment for me. These guys are all part of who I am. Who I’ve become. And who I’ll end up being one day. Thank you guys. It’s been a long time since we did that. Years in fact. Let’s make it a tradition.

Chrisopher H3llcat Heller
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