Rising Opportunities and Closing Chapters

As I write this I am in the midst of packing for the umpteenth time in the past few years.  My next journey is taking me to Patagonia, Chile for my first trip outside of the country.  I will be guiding for Patagonian-BaseCamp.  I will be posted at a wilderness camp with contact with the outside world just a few times a month while guiding clients down the Figueroa and the Rosselot rivers.

The past 2 and a half months I have been living and working in Asheville.  I guided a few trips and swung a hammer for Jade Mountain Builders(a local green building company).  I learned many things about myself and others while here and am happy to have had this experience.  As I close this chapter I can't help but know how important is was for me.  I can walk away with new friends and more fishing stories.

As for Chile, it has a been a dream of mine to visit this place Since I was about 15 years old.  Due to my remoteness I will not be able to upload photos very often but I hope to keep a more updated blog over the next several months though.

Until next time,

Chadwell

                                Do you think I have enough flies?

Down Under

Summer So Far

 Maddi was my first k-9 client.

 Maddi and Nathan on a "guides afternoon off"

 Bull Trout and Cutthroat double on dries!

fun.

 Nathan with a dead lake trout we caught trolling.

 Sunsets and Burritos

 This fish was a bruiser.

 Notice the tallon marks.....

 This fish took a while to land.

 healthy and fat

 looking up river

 My uncle's fish of the trip

 Catch of the day

 Rob's catch

Happy client.

Rising into Summer

Fun On The Fly

This past Saturday here at Glacier Anglers we hosted our first Fun on the Fly kids fly-fishing day school.   The idea had been brewing within the company for a couple of years but not until this spring did it actually come to fruition. 

Mitch and I headed down to the Fly Shop around 9 am expecting to meet the kids early.  Once all 9 were there we all introduced ourselves, took a group photo and then headed up to the Pavilion to begin our adventure for the day.

Once at the Pavilion we spent the morning learning about knots, entomology, river safety and the basics of the fly rod.  We broke up the day with burgers and brats on the grill and a fire to warm our hands and toes.  After everyone had their tummies full we took off to the private ponds for an afternoon of casting instruction and hopefully catching a fish or two.

The afternoon was a blur of laughter and smiles while running around netting multiple fish for all the kids.  Friendships were made and fishing stories were formed.  We were so happy to have Delaney, Ella, Austin, Merik, Michael, Taylor, Trevor, Ezra and Alex come out for our first Fun on the Fly and hope to see them all on the water this summer with a fly rod in hand!

The Kings of Our Waters

The Cheddar Biscuit!

In the Fall of 2007 I found myself at Magnolia Fest.  A four day long outdoor music festival along the Suwanee River in Florida.  I was there camped out with a dozen or so friends, listening to live music from the likes of Toots and the Maytals, Railroad Earth, Donna the Buffalo and many more.

As with any good camping trip of that size there must be several chefs.  One morning I was put in charge of breakfast and set out to make a Toad in the Hole.  For those of you that do not know a Toad in the Hole is a piece of toast with a hole in the middle and a fried egg on the inside.  that alone makes a fine breakfast but my goal that morning was to be a bit more creative.

I had the idea to fry one side of the egg and then flip it and throw some cheese on and another piece of bread to turn it into a grilled cheese(sort of).  The first few were a little rough around the edges but soon I mastered what became known as the Cheddar Biscuit.

Its been five years since then but it is still a staple to my camping breakfast menu.  I have made them for friends all over the country and even clients on the river.

The cheddar biscuit is very simple and that is the beauty of it.  You can add multiple ingredients to spruce or spice it up but I prefer mine simple.

Ingredients
Wheat bread
Sharp cheddar cheese
Free range eggs
Thick cut bacon
Salt and pepper

Butter

A deLIGHTful Day!

The fishing over the past two weeks has been hit or miss.  With mostly sunny days and freezing or "just above" freezing nights the rivers have sustained a murky tint.  When a couple of cold nights backed up to each other the river cleared allowing a "summer like" feel to the fishing.  Clear waters and productive fishing were exciting while they lasted.

Last week I had the pleasure to take Riq De Paiva down the river.  Riq was a tarpon fly fishing guide in the Keys for 12 years and now is a professional photographer with multiple Saltwater magazine covers.  He is also a Pilot by trade.  I was put in contact with Riq through the Glacier Outdoor Center Fly Shop Manager John Mallison.  Riq lives in Kallispell and was in town and looking for some guys to take him out on the water.  In all the years Riq has been throwing a fly rod he had only once before targeted fresh water trout.

The three of us met in the parking lot of the Fly Shop and headed towards the river.  It was looking to be a beautiful day at the put in.  There was great clarity(6-7 feet) and not a cloud in the sky.  As John and I rigged our rods Riq made it clear he just wanted to shoot photos.  We encouraged him to throw a fly rod but he insisted on just taking photos.

Within the first hundred yards of the float we were into fish.  One fish actually came up and swiped at the bobber.  I started to throw my 3 weight with a dry and had some success.  While nymphing an eddie John hooked what we thought was a big Cuttie.  It turned out to be a 21 inch Bull Trout that ate a stone fly imitation.  Which is not that common.

As the fishing got better we got lazier.  We floated down river towards the take out fishing less and less and we finally put down the rods and sat back to take it all in.  It was a great opportunity to have Riq in the boat with all of his years of experience.  I hope that I get to "fish" with him again some day.

All photos by Riq De Paiva.