Loss of Habitat

According to California environmental law if you create a habitat for any specie you must not alter or harm said habitat once any creature inhabits the area.

We have a dire situation here in northern Cali. A unique and fragile creature, and the habitat it frequents, is become endangered. The creature (usually male) eats, sleeps, and breeds in single family units. He gathers with other likeminded characters to discuss the art of fishing, politics, family matters, and anything of interest. He is attracted to shiny new gadgets, items marked with discount tags, and anything associated with the word “free”. Generally each gathering place will have a unique social structure of which he may be well established or be pacing on the fringe of acceptance. He lives in constant flux risking his fate by balancing the frequency of his social gathering within the unstable boundaries of the Domestic Tranquility Index (DTI). He is constantly weighing the balance of the DTI with the benefit of the gathering. He is common in appearance and generally blends into other social settings. However, at times he is easily identified by a number of characteristics; a slowing vehicle within view of water; hands cupping the outer edges of the eyes looking into water; a seemingly useless knowledge of insect life cycles; and at least one visible logo of Patagonia, Simms, Sage, Gloomis, Orvis, Smith, Winston, or some other manufactured good. The creature I speak of is, of course, the local Fly Shop regular.

My local fly shop "Off the Hook" recently closed its steel and glass doors in hopes of staying afloat via internet sales. The cast of characters who frequented Off the Hook have now lost their habitat. Now I suppose some of them may actually get out and fish a bit more now that the allure of the daily gathering is gone. However, there are those that for reasons of age and ability or simple laziness will be relocating to new habitat, seeking new gathering locales. I for one will miss all the bullshit that filled the walls of that little local shop. I hope as this sport continues to grow we can support local shops. The loss of the shops and the habitat they provide will be a terrible detriment to the future generations of fly fishers.

Sorry to see you go Off the Hook.

There's Gold in Them Thar Hills...Rainbows and Browns Too!

I finally understand the old adage of gold at the end of the rainbow. However, my recent experience fishing my backyard stream has taught me that there are places where the rainbow and the gold live in harmony, neither having elevated status over the other. I have been trying to crack the code on our little backyard stream for a year. It finally happened last weekend. Further, the gold and rainbow I am speaking of is that which colors the scales of the Salmo Trutta and Gairdneri. That is not to say that true gold does not still haunt the waters of Camp Creek as the neighbor boy has been panning all summer and is making a good damn living doing it.

It was hotter than blue blazes last weekend, first serious heat this year in the Sierra foothills. Sunday I decided to quit ranch work early to hit the stream in hopes that the cold mountain pocket water and silvery fishes would help cool me to the core. The sun was already high as I climbed down into the canyon seeking the cool green canopy of the river. Salmon berries, wild flowers, and lush green broad leaf flora abound in that river bed. It is truly a mystic and magical place.

I started fishing upstream from the bridge which is also our southern most property line. It's an old wooden/steel truss style bridge and still has the original beams and metal spikes the gold miners drove into it many years ago. I took my 2 weight, built by the old man, and started right off fishing hoppers, bouncing them off the banks into undercuts and deep plunge pools. I hit my first rainbow in the first hole. This little beauty is as wild a trout as they come. I fished the day away and ended with this awesome wild rainbow. I am in heaven.

Girly Creek Cool Water Respite

O and I had a great time in Mexico. We went to get away from the ranch for a week and also look at a house Gila was interested in. However, the house is a no-go and we are going to put in a pond and travel locally this summer instead. O has been working a lot with Alex, making use of her new arena, to get ready for the fall eventing season. So far no terrible crashes of falls, just a few minor bumps and bruises.

The heat finally hit this past week with a couple days in the 90's. Consequently, the rivers are blown out again and need another week to mellow. I was going to fish our creek Sunday, but realized it was far to high to even think about it (see pic). So I opted for a high elevation lake to escape the high water and high heat that set in Sunday. The lake is at about 5,800' in the Crystal Basin west of Tahoe. Red Cedars, Pines, Junipers, and a few bristle cone pines dot the granite walls that surround the lake. Eagles, loons, a sow and cubs, and candadian geese were the locals who shared the day with me. I hit it at the crack leaving the ranch around 6:00 heading northeast up the hill. The morning started out great as I had the place to myself and had a great time fishing the surface for a few hours. The hatch was consistent and consited of midges: chronomus, baetis, caetis, and then a few damsels started to show. Brown trout were the quarry of the day and many came to hand. I ended the day fishing deep with type 3 sinking lines and long flourocarbon leaders dragging nymphs and buggers. Ended the day with 20 plus browns, though that was only icing on the cake. It was great to be out again as it has been a while. More soon...

Tying for Mexico

I have been tying flies to prepare for my May 19th Mexico Roosterfishing trip with my Oluvia. Rods will be a 7wt switch rod loaded with an Intermediate sinking line and a floating Short Skagit line; and a 10 wt single hander loaded with 450 grain shooting head line and a floating weight forward line. The fishing reports have been good for this secret locale, including Roosters up to 40 lbs and Dorado up to 35 lbs off the beach. I plan on hiring a Panga (small boat) for a few hours one day, though probably won't need to go far from our destination beach. Snorkeling will also be on the agenda as there is a protected coral reef within walking distance of our hotel. We should also be able to take a paddle up into the mangroves where Snook, small bonefish, and Jacks reside. If we find time a soak in the Aguascalientes (hot springs) located in one of the crystal blue rivers flowing into the Pacific. I am very excited for this trip as I have never been somewhere truly tropical. This may be the new locale for Gila's winter/vacation home so we will be looking into real estate options and prices. More to come...

Flower Power

O and I spent the weekend checking out the Ram Tap horse trials down in Fresno CA. Fresno is the armpit of the central valley, but we had a great time. The ranch is turning all shades of the color wheel each and every day. Our Cinco de Mayo party this weekend will be a nice change of pace and offer an opportunity to get to know O's co-workers. I have been busy tying Roosterfish flies for my upcomi

ng trip to southern Pacific Mexico. We can't wait. More on that to come.

Cheers.

Mushroom Season

Spring is now truly upon us. Three days after another dose of snow and cold I found our first Morel in the orchard. Apparently they grow well around fruit trees in our neck of the woods. As you can imagine I am very excited and honestly surprised. One of the farmers who is leasing part of our orchard also turned me on to the purple colored Wood Blewit mushroom which resembles a Portobello. This same farmer has been providing us with the most delicious lettuce greens which he has been growing all through this harsh winter. I continue to be amazed by the quantity of food that is produced here in our foothill community. I will attempt to add new photos of flowers and other life on the ranch soon. All Love.

Spring, Sprang, Sprung

Old man winter of 2009/2010 unhanded his icy grasp on our little piece of heaven. These past few weeks have revealed new shoots, flowers, and buds which I continue to be amazed by daily. While the deep cold snow still beckons from the higher elevations, I am pleased that spring has awakened the natural world of our Camp Creek Ranch. Everyone from Ruby Slippers to the tiny blue belly lizards are pleased with the warm spring days. Sunshine is here and here to stay. We recently leased eight acres of our apple orchard to an organic farmer who lives up the hill in Camino. He has been feverishly pruning those trees which have yet to blossom in a bold attempt to prepare them for the coming fruit. This is great news to all of us as the 2,800 apple trees have been an overwhelming project that we had not yet been able to schedule into our lives. I continue to work on cleanup from the December 7th 2009 storm which I am now realizing was more impressive than previously suspected. We have well over two dozen cords of firewood cut and stacked, waiting for the purchase of a new hydraulic log splitter. We have also given away firewood by the truckload to anyone willing to put in the time cutting and hauling it away. Fishing season on Camp Creek opens soon and I am ready for a day on the river. I plan on putting most of my time in on our own creek this year in an attempt to get to know every trout that swims those cold rocky waters. More spring photos to come. Cheers. Woodrow

-- and that government of the corporations, by the corporations, for the corporations, shall not perish

Sorry Honest Abe, but it is now official. The highest court in the land has declared the good ole US of A a Corporatocracy. A lot has changed since the 1860s. Don’t expect any Woodrow sightings this weekend. I’ll be spending my weekend trying to stay as close to the earth and my own roots as I can. I may even see if I can’t catch a trout or two. Have a great weekend everyone.

Biblical Storm Forecast for the Sierra

Weekend is here and I'm grateful
Chainsaws will be running quite faithful
Weekend snow high to near 10 feet
If storm disasters a repeat
Hawaii we're bound until April

Thai Blacktail Carpaccio with Grilled Purple Cabbage Slaw

It is on a sunny Thursday afternoon that my mind has wandered off to the weekend's culinary events. It has been a very busy work week and will begin to slow after tonight City Council meeting. I am looking forward to trying the recipe described below this weekend paired with a good local red wine. While traditionally Carpaccio is thinly sliced raw beef, this version is seared to enhance both texture and flavor adding a bit of smoky crunch. In all fairness, this is a spin on a Jamie Oliver recipe for traditional beef Carpaccio. He has been an inspiration for many of my culinary endeavors over the years. The blacktail used for the Carpaccio must be a good tender cut, such as a piece of belly brisket or loin. Marinate the entire piece of venison for a good bit in lime juice, lime zest, grated ginger, cilantro, Thai chili oil, olive oil, chopped garlic, ground ancho chili, brown sugar, salt and pepper, and whatever else comes to mind at the time. 1. Fire up the grill. I prefer a small bit of charcoal mixed with oak/apple wood. 2. Clean, stem, and halve leeks lengthwise to ensure all grit is removed. Peel, halve, remove seed(s), and thinly slice one green mango and/or papaya, (in a pinch ripe fresh fruit of either variety), and one large avocado. Squeeze half a lime over all and set aside. 3. Finely chop five whole scallions (set aside half), two garlic cloves, thumb size piece of fresh ginger, good bunch of cilantro (set aside half), and one or two small hot red chilis of any kind (set aside half). Place all in a bowl with a bit of lime juice, coconut milk, chili oil, and salt and pepper. Toss all together and set aside. 4. Slice purple cabbage in half then into 1/2"" slices keeping the stem intact, the cover with olive oil, salt, and pepper. 5. Pull meat out of marinade ensuring meat is room temperature and not cold from the fridge. Pat dry, cover with salt, pepper, and rub with olive oil. 6. On a clean and screaming hot grill, place cabbage slices and leeks down. When they start to brown and crisp flip. Once both sides are crisp (five to eight minutes each side), set aside onto cooler area of grill. Slap down the venison onto the hottest part of the grill. Turn 90 degrees for good marking after 2 minutes and cook another two minutes. Flip over and do the same (two minutes-turn 90 degrees-two minutes). Pull everything off the grill and place meat under foil tent to continue cooking. 7. Remove stems from cabbage. Roughly chop leeks and cabbage and place in large mixing bowl. Add and toss scallion-garlic-cilantro-ginger-chili mixture. 8. Thinly slice and plate venison around the outer rim of plate. Lay out mango, papaya, and avocado onto meat and plate. Place nest of cabbage slaw in the center of plate. 9. Garnish with remaining garlic, cilantro, chili, and whatever else looks good. Cheers -

Big Damn Storm

December 7, 2009 will go down at Camp Creek Ranch as one hell of a night. The storm was scheduled to bring a bit of snow and cold, nothing a strong Michigander couldn't handle. Well at 2:30 am a big Grey Pine of nearly 200 feet in one of our pastures came down bringing a few oaks along onto our porch. From that point until 5:30 that evening we were all pretty much hunkered down by the woodstove waiting for something to come down on the house. The weight of the snow was taking trees and limbs down every three to five seconds over the course of more than 12 hours. It was one hell of an experience. The trees haven't seen that kind of snow in more than 30 years, according to the locals, and couldn’t handle the excessive weight. Everyone survived unscathed, except for a canoe, fences, porch railings, and a few gates. It took us nearly four full days to dig, cut, and climb our way out into the outside world. Thankfully, as we always do, we had a well stocked larder that would have supported half the county for the duration. We are still cutting, burning, brushing, and clearing our way back to a sense of normalcy. Thanks to a bit of insurance and a ten man crew the house and gates are nearly back to pre storm conditions. It is a hell of a lot of work, but enjoyable and honest none the less.

I'll get back on the water soon, or perhaps the powdery slopes of Tahoe.

Cheers