‘Gitche Gumee’

..

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WALLPAPER:  MALLOCH SALMON REEL - 1899

Fed Up

WHY THE HARANGUE ?

Are You Surprised ?

cheats are normal

NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN

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.. It's -23°F and rising rapidly to an anticipated high temperature of +8°F.
.. We had a mid life morning and quickly turned on the tube in the hopes of it pushing us back into the world of slumber.
.. The bombast from the screen was stifling and repetitive. Can we become inured to the illegal conduct of humans in high places?
.. Should we be surprised that our elected officials are crooked? Why should we expect legal behavior from the rich and famous in the business world?
.. Is the public service sector more closely scrutinized than the business world. Damn right it is! And it should be!

THE CLASSIC

.. This is a world where cheating your neighbor and your customer and your partner is de rigueur in business. This is the standard model of business in an entrepreneurial society. If you have never been in business you are out of the loop.
.. The only reason that laws exist is that people are prone to behaving in the illegal and proscribed behavior.
.. Enacted laws are the imposition of idealized cultural standards on behaviors of the populace, (religious, psychological, philosophical, etc.)
.. Are there laws against bestiality? Of course there are. Why? Because people are prone to do it.

THE EMULATOR

.. Are there laws against theft? Of course there are. Why? Because people are prone to do it.
.. Are there laws against fraud? Of course there are. Why? Because people are prone to do it.
.. We  should not be surprised that the standard business model should have been transposed to the current administration.
.. We should not be surprised that a large segment of the American public believes that business is a good thing. They are prone to the standard business behaviors.

THE HEIR

.. We should not be surprised that the "real business model" is running our culture and our politics. [[LINK-1]]
.. Avarice and the concept of 'success' is basic to both Homo Sapiens and the business model. It is, in fact, basic to scientific models of evolution.
.. Success in the evolution of our species is recorded in only a few factors.
1) Us against them,
2) Making more babies than them,
3) Hoarding more resources and wealth than them,
4) Using nepotism and other tools to give us advantage over them,
5) Survive by winning at all costs against them.

REAL SUCCESS

.. In fact these are the secrets to evolutionary success for all species.
.. Boiled down, below the scientific verbiage and all the academic and cultural hocus pocus, it is really "ALL ABOUT ME." [[ LINK-2]]

.. We are experiencing the catharsis of a society that is confronting it's base values and behaviors: there seems to be some outrage. What to do?
.. This is not just in politics. It is in journalism, education, recreation, business, sports, agriculture, fly fishing, religion, etc. It's not a pretty model of the success of our species. 

THE ENFORCER

.. There is a big difference between being human and exhibiting humanity.
>> Being human is what biological Homo Sapiens do.
>> Exhibiting humanity is behaving according to the idealized societal and cultural behavior that our gray matter puts forth.
.. Police and law enforcement are a couple of the  means that we use in our attempt to achieve humanity. (There are even 'fashion' and 'casting' police.)
.. Today, WORLD WIDE, success depends on employing base human traits rather than embracing humanity.
.. The subtle tyranny of words embodied in language reveals the truth of the matter: 'she's only human,' 'we're only human,' 'he's only human,' 'it's the human thing to do.'[[LINK-3]]
.. Yes indeedie, we are all human and should not be surprised about it. We could  exhibit a bit more humanity.[[LINK-4]]

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.. It is obviously, (to us,) way to cold to challenge pea brained aquatic creatures. It's too cold to enjoy the challenge of frozen guides. It's too early for lunch and too late for breakfast.
.. There are some old friends that need some love and attending to. We can handle this in front of the fire.

SUCH A STRANGE ARRAY OF FRIENDS

.. We'll fish next week.[[LINK-5]]

IN PREPARATION FOR THE DEEP

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WALLPAPER:  A PILE OF FRENCH TOAST

Wanderlust

TO THE LEFT COAST

Fish From The Sea

brief sporadic reports to follow

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.. As is our custom this time of year we're off to foreign countries for a couple of weeks. Our annual windshield survey of fine fishing spots this year will take us into the depths of such exotic venues as Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and California.
.. We shall drive past and completely ignore glorious fishing opportunities. Fabled names such as Truckee River, Bear River, Colorado River, Merced River, Sacramento River, Gualala River, Russian River, and San Lorenzo River will only briefly fill our windshield as we head to the promised land.

.. There are some nifty streams in the elbow ridden landscape of the southern left coast. Piru Creek, San Gabriel River, San Luis Rey Creek, and the All American Canal all have fish to be visited.
.. The recent seasonal rains make the fish fidgety and spunky. Fall is fine on these waters.
.. More than a half century ago we roasted crawdads from some of these creeks, (one of which was only six blocks from our back yard.)
.. We may even visit the jungle and fish for sunfish with a safety-pin and popcorn in the wilds of Hollenbeck Park or Westlake   MacArthur Park.
.. In San Diego Bay we anticipate Bonito beneath the bait receivers, Slimies near the Coast Guard Shed, Spotted Bay Bass beneath the Columbia 50 fleet, and even Bonefish deep on the mud flats or in the channel in the south bay.
.. Then, to the mountains, where there is the rare, ancient, and small trout of Pauma creek, the walk will probably kill us.

.. Turkey in the south-land is always a memorable event. Sometimes it's possible to glimpse a hint of seasons about this time of year. We'll keep you posted.
.. The first snowfall of Autumn has put a soft blanket of fluffiness on our town. By the time we return it'll be deep enough to remind us why we enjoy living here.
.. More to follow.

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THANKS KID - See ya soon !

From Vosseler

Grande Ronde Now

JUNGLE DRUMS CALL LOUDLY

Quick Diversion Taken

good choice

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.. We said goodbye to the coast and decided to take the slow way back to West Yellowstone. Of course we were having trouble deciding on the route. After all it's hard to just drive past the two Umpqua Rivers, the Elk River, the Deschutes River, and many other streams this time of year. We flipped a coin and decided on the Clearwater River.
-- Then the jungle drums began to beat. We listened! The Grande Ronde River near Troy is cranking out catchable steelhead at obscene and ridiculous rates. RECENT PUBLIC COMMENTS AND REPORTS [HERE.] That's all.

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Sneak To California

IT'S WAY EARLY
FOR STEELHEAD

It's Just Right For Salmon

good bye Chetco / hello Smith

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.. Just a brief note: gone south of the border for a couple of days. The 30# salmon of the Chetco River are interesting - BUT; how 'bout some from the main-stem Smith River? (READ THE LATEST CHETCO REPORT HERE!)
.. Shameless plug: GET YOUR GUIDE HERE!
.. It's such an easy drive from Brookings, Oregon to Crescent City, California that we decided to spend some money on a ticket for the Bear Flag Republic.
.. Reports to follow.

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Grotesquely Sunny

MOTHERS HIDING THEIR BABIES

Salmon Wearing Sunglasses

guides confused by lack of fog

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.. The "Chetco Effect" was absent for four days straight. Obscene sunshine permeated the conifers and they began to wilt. Neighbors saw who they were living next to for the first time in seven months.
.. Motorists discovered that Crescent City wasn't in Oregon. And, believe it or don't, there was no wind to speak of and the sky really is blue.


.. Salmon fishing slowed until yesterday afternoon, (a welcome Thanksgiving gift,) - the fog returned, it rained, the river came up, and the slugs came back to the roads.
.. There truly is a god, and the salmon sniffed their way back to the runs below the forest road. Just a mere 3 miles from Highway 101 there are 22# fish begging to be caught. We think it's worth another day or two.
.. The migratory fishers are already looking either north or south. Umpqua, Smith, and Gualala are on the lips of many. For now, and for us, it's still the Chetco River and the Coquille River. We won't tell if you don't.

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The 101 Connection

CRUISIN' FOR CHROME

Vantage Points And Access

it's a social thing

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.. We were invited to an interesting social event along the Oregon coast. Of course we attended. The informal gatherings are pleasant, informative, and require an enormous amount of gasoline consumption.
.. The venues change periodically as the season progresses. Currently the big party is at the ELK RIVER bridge. Since Highway 101 crosses these rivers near the coast, and since the bridges are high above the water, and since the sun moves across the sky, (or so it seems,) - it's possible to anticipate the correct viewing conditions for spotting steelhead in their holding water.
.. In some instances the access from the bridge right-of-way coincides with good holding water.
.. Bridge pools along U.S. 101 are similar to bridge pools elsewhere. They are stable, predictable, and provide constrictions for aerated water and viewing for fisher folk.
.. Information is exchanged as the folks peer over the side at the fish. Where are the fish concentrated? What are they eating? Have you seen Hank's new girlfriend? Etc.
.. We enjoyed the experience. We also enjoyed the enormous prevarications, misinformation, and silly demeanor of the local guides as they did their best to protect their insight in the face of so much local "TRUTH."
.. We bypassed the Elk River and sallied down to the Chetco River. It proved to be worthwhile.
.. Time for some jelly donuts and green tea. It's the local equivalent of a healthy breakfast.

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Into The Fog

THERE'S THIS BIG LAKE

The Trout Swim In Muddy Rivers

right past the bass

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.. A night in a motel between the Umpqua Rivers is not conducive to sleep when one is going farther south. We ignored the possibilities and pushed on.
.. Made it to the mystic river. It's full of mud - usually is - steelhead don't care.
.. They head upstream past the cranberries and the bass. They figure it out and end up in some interesting places.
.. The middle fork of the Coquille River is pretty brown and fishing is hard for those without a bit of flash in their gear - not flies, mind you.
.. We arranged a bit of sight seeing, and a visit with our local informant. Then a brief time out for food. We pause now for a piscatorial adventure. Pictures to follow - words maybe.

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No Cholera

FORT BOISE TO ROSEBURG

A Few Simple Rations

fish tomorrow

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.. Fort Boise was the largest city along the old Oregon Trail. It still is! We made it across the northern Great Basin on a quart of chocolate milk and three jelly donuts.
.. No cholera was contracted, every river crossing was dry, and the natives we encountered were not hostile.
.. The high point of the trek was the Millican Store - it's for sale! It would make the perfect fly fishing emporium for sand trout.

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.. By the time we encountered Willamette Pass another quart of milk had been consumed - along with a 1/2 dozen Twinkies. The pass was an instructive experience. We'd never before seen a tractor/trailer rig on an escape ramp in 18" of snow. We would show you a picture of the strange sight but we were too busy sliding sideways to find the camera.
.. From what we could see through the fog, and the snow, and the clouds of diesel exhaust, it looks like pretty country. The stench of burning brake linings spoiled the experience though. The elk we saw reminded us of home - even if they were DOSR.
.. There does not seem to be a recession in the Oregon gasoline business. No self service here. Swarms of eager pump jockeys descend on the vehicles to put gasoline in the correct orifice. It seems that the state legislature figures that people who drive their own automobile, (not motorcycle or airplane,) are too stupid to find the correct place to shove the nozzle. Interesting in a state that does allow self-serve suicide!
.. This day will bring a journey down the mysterious Coquille River. From it's headwaters to the Pacific Ocean It should provide some beautiful scenery, and probably several more dead elk. After driving past all the renowned fisheries on the road here - this had better be good!

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