schnitzerPHOTO

The Contemporary Sportsman: Spring 2012 Available Now!

2012-02-01T14:30:00.000-07:00

Take a minute to check out this fresh issue extra-close, whether on your computer or iPad. You'll find plenty of schnitzerPHOTO photography, as evidenced below, among loads of other good stuff. Click on the screenshot to go directly to the TCS website.

Gratuitous Sunrise

2012-01-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

There are many things we'll miss about living on this little piece of rural Wyoming. Of them, the sunrise view from our front porch is frequently sufficient to stop us in our tracks, ignore the hungry dogs and whistling kettle, and just stare. This morning was one of those.

Orvis!

2012-01-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Pretty stoked to share this screenshot with you all. My first work for Orvis, heading up their fly tying page online. Regular visitors may recall that shot, as it was first seen right here on this blog. Click here to check it out!

Silence

2012-01-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

The blog has fallen silent this January. It is a direct reflection of the amount of time I've spent with a camera during the past few weeks. Which is to also say, a reflection of the amount of time I've spent doing anything related to fly fishing.

This is what happens when one is faced with packing up the household in preparation for a move. Moving is, at best, upheaval. Everything is thrown out of whack. Add to this a hectic work schedule, including spending this past week on the road in DC. Time just hasn't been on my side. Starved for it, I'm in need of some creative time soon. Gratefully, we're heading to Belize in a couple short weeks.

Despite being pulled in a few too many different directions at present, this year has gotten off to a pretty outstanding start for schnitzerPHOTO. I'll share more as things shake out.

Video: Deep Water Cay

2012-01-04T11:29:00.001-07:00

Until the recent trip to The Bahamas and Deep Water Cay, I had never in my life have I made a video of anything. For that trip, however, I had the use of a little GoPro Hero2, and put it to work. It's definitely sub-optimal to be mentally switching between still-frame photography and video, especially when you also consider a third active element of actually throwing flies at bonefish. Also, from a photographer's perspective, the GoPro Hero2 lacks much of the flexibility that I was constantly wanting in order to portray a scene in a certain way. The GoPro is fine for its intended purposes, and there are other creative opportunities to explore within those limits.

Hopefully, Nikon's announcement scheduled for this Friday will include the D800, for which I have been patiently waiting. Assuming that the new D4 will carry a price tag of around $6,000, that flagship model will be a bit out of the ballpark for now. Once that D800 is in-hand, I will delve deeper in to more video fun.

That said, and for what it's worth, I put together this short video:

Deep Water Cay: December 2011 from Russ Schnitzer on Vimeo.

2011 Adieu

2011-12-31T17:49:00.003-07:00

I snuck out for some time on the water yesterday. It was a time to briefly reflect on the past year, with gratitude. But, I am not one to dwell on the past. I spent most of my time considering the year ahead. That, and sucking ice out of my guides. Perhaps as something symbolic, I optimistically pitched big streamers and sink-tip with the switcher. Not so much with the expectation of numbers of fish, but to feel the pull on the swing, and to fish in a way that is purely aesthetic indulgence. I daydreamed of the Pacific Northwest, of wild steelhead, and distant friends with whom I will fish more frequently in 2012.

Looking ahead, my perennial New Year's resolution to "fish more" is simply not enough. This new year, and for those to follow, I resolve to spend more time fishing with friends.

Here's to you all, and to a notable year ahead. Thanks for being a visitor, a reader and a friend.

Support Good Work

2011-12-28T11:59:00.001-07:00

A brief departure from the photo posts today, but for good reason. The end of the calendar year is a time for many to consider their charitable giving. I am taking this opportunity to urge all of you to give a little something to an organization, or organizations, that are working hard to conserve, protect and sustain the things we enjoy most: fish, and their habitat.

Following is a list of organizations that I support (in no particular order), and a brief explanation why. If something here piques your interest, I urge you to click on the link and find out more for yourself. While every donor dollar makes a difference, it is the awareness that comes from learning about these good works that is truly the most important investment. I'd enjoy hearing about other groups out there that you support, and why. No matter which direction you choose to go, be assured that you're making a solid investment in our collective future. Alongside you, I'm proud and humbled to be a part of a community of anglers so passionate and committed to the resource.

Trout Unlimited
Full disclosure: I work for Trout Unlimited. That said, I've been a full dues-paying life member since 2001. No other organization is more closely linked to my personal passions with as broad a scope. From the Appalachians to the Pacific Northwest, TU puts donated dollars to work on the ground, while also linking those hands-on projects to meaningful resource management policies and regulations at the state and federal levels. TU is action and results; it is friends and family; it is, and will continue to be, the most powerful voice for coldwater resource conservation in the country.

Native Fish Society
This group is dedicated to ensuring the future of wild salmon, steelhead and coastal cutthroat trout. The Native Fish Society pursues its vital mission through hatchery reforms, Endangered Species Act advocacy, and the development and application of sound science in fisheries management. They do this with a relatively meager budget and very low overhead. If you've ever fished the rivers of the Pacific Northwest for steelhead, you know just how important and magical those wild fish are. For all that these rivers and their fish provide, give a little back by becoming a member of the Native Fish Society.

Western Rivers Conservancy
Western Rivers is a group I've supported for several years now, and I continue to be impressed by the results they earn. Theirs is a somewhat unique approach in the non-profit conservation realm, a hybrid that blends traditional land trust / conservancy "protection" tactics with an additional emphasis on comprehensive conservation strategies for crucial watersheds throughout the West. Western Rivers aggressively pursues its objectives not only in the Pacific Northwest, but also in the Intermountain West, with current projects in Montana, Colorado and Utah. Even if you're as-yet unfamiliar with this group, consider this: In 2011, WRC permanently protected sixteen river miles on the lower John Day River in Oregon, and began the process of conveying it to the State of Oregon. It is scheduled to open in 2013 as a State Park, thus making available sixteen river miles of fishing to the public. That's a big win, and that's the kind of results you can expect from Western Rivers Conservancy.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust
Bonefish, permit and tarpon are species that many fly anglers dream about. All it takes is one experience - one introduction to those turquoise flats, one heart-thumping shot at a tailing fish - and you understand why this version of saltwater fly fishing is so storied and revered. Yet, amazingly little is known about these fish, their habits and patterns, their genetics, and the intricacies of the habitat that supports their populations. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is the lone organization working at every level to better understand these mysterious species and their importance through science, and then applying that knowledge to protect and sustain them. In Belize, for instance, a BTT study revealing the economic contribution of these species alone helped motivate the Belizean government to make catch and release mandatory for all bonefish, permit and tarpon. That's a huge and positive step.

Alaska Sportsmans Alliance
NO PEBBLE MINE. Period. This group, working along with Trout Unlimited's Alaska Program, is one of the on-the-ground resources working every day to prevent the Pebble Mine from being developed. If you're anything like me, and value Alaska's vast natural beauty as a piece of our national heritage, pitch in and help put this ridiculous and greedy ploy to rest. Forever.

Bahamas in Review: The Flies

2011-12-26T17:41:00.003-07:00

Flats Box #1

Most of us, when preparing for a bonefishing trip, are likely to fill the fly boxes with a plethora of patterns. As passionate anglers, we have conditioned ourselves to prepare for as many different scenarios as possible. Dozens of distinct and similar patterns in at least a couple different hook sizes, and in a few different color variations... It all adds up quickly.

During this most recent trip to Deep Water Cay, I was guilty of over-preparation. I ended up using exactly four different fly patterns during three full days of fishing. I could have settled with two. Ok, maybe even one. But, to do so would be to ignore one of the basic tenets of the fly angler: Always thinking there's a more effective pattern. I'm not saying that there aren't bonefishing trips that demand detailed, continuous analysis of the immediate environment, the fish and the eight-ball guess as to the right fly for the moment. However, this trip reminded me that you can also over-think things. It's always a good idea to start with the basics, and work out from there.

The four patterns that worked well for me during this most recent trip are as follows:

1. Flats Fly

I used this pattern 60% of the time on the recent Bahamas trip. I probably could have used it 90% or more, and been equally successful. It just plain works. I like mine in tan + pearl, tied with badger hackle for a little more depth in the profile while remaining a sparse tie. Maybe two fine strands of pink krystal flash in the tailing. Don't forget to trim and epoxy the underside. If you can find it, use pearl v-rib for the body, and straight 20 lb mono for the weedguard.

2. Shrump

This is a versatile and very solid mantis-type pattern. It can be tied heavy or light, big or small, and catches fish. Works best with a weedguard, and just a hint of flash. Again, I like tan.

3. Veverka's Mantis (Schnitzer adaptation)

My take on the venerable Veverka original. It is a "roots" pattern - basic, adaptable, effective. I've had good luck with this pattern in Florida, the Yucatan and The Bahamas. I'm sure I'll be using it in Belize in February. The only thing that makes my pattern distinct is the lo-fi dubbing material (special thanks to my cat).

4. Bunny Gotcha

Anyone who has fished for bonefish has Gotchas in their box. To fish flats anywhere in the world, you're going to have Gotchas and Crazy Charlies. It's a given, and they work. Just like your Charlies, have these available in sizes 8 through 4, and in tan, white and pink variations.

Sourdough Season

2011-12-24T09:14:00.002-07:00

Now that it is officially winter, it's time for me to get back in to the sourdough game. I've been dabbling in sourdough baking off-and-on for a while, but have been working with my current starter for about four years. Nothing particularly adventurous - pancakes, pizza dough, bread. But, it is bread that provides the most blank canvas for sourdough creativity. Not unlike tying flies, or photography itself, sourdough is more magic and moment than pattern or formula. It is a product of your immediate environment, drawing on ambient warmth, humidity, and responsive to your patience and touch.

Happy Starter

At best, it is a twenty-four hour process. This cannot be rushed. Patience aside, it requires a certain level of attentiveness. Each step is manifested by a different flavor or texture. How active is the starter today? How did it respond to feeding? How much time can you give the "sponge" in the fridge? Is the first rise warm or cool? How humid is the baking environment? Periods of attention are interspersed with intervals of downtime. These provide the baker with a perfect excuse to retire to the fly-tying vise, and use those rise times to crank out a few dozen flies. An ideal wintertime harmony.

Every batch is different, and each loaf a unique experience. When the magic is really working, the results can be amazing. This most recent batch benefitted from a very active starter, a woodstove-warmed house in which we and the dough were stranded by a blizzard, and a little extra time afforded to the second rise. I hope it is a trend for the remaining cold months.

Recipe (guidelines, actually - find what works for you)

A. Prepare the "sponge"
Combine in a non-reactive bowl 1 cup fed starter, 3 cups good unbleached white flour, and 1.5 cups lukewarm water. Beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until smooth. Let sit out at room temperature for 4-5 hours. Transfer to refrigerator overnight, or 9-12 hours.

B. Prepare the dough
Remove "sponge" from fridge, and allow to return to room temperature. Add 1 tbsp sugar, 2.5 tsp kosher salt, and approximately two cups flour. Mix together with wooden spoon until somewhat stiff dough forms. Transfer dough to floured countertop, and knead by hand until very smooth. Transfer dough ball to well-oiled, covered bowl. Let sit at room temperature 4-6 hours, or until at least doubled. It may be very puffy, or it may just kind of spread out, depending on the vigor of your starter.

C. Prepare for baking
Once at least doubled, gently transfer the dough to floured countertop. Divide in half with serrated knife. Gently form in to two oblong loaves, and place on a well-seasoned or greased baking stone, or a parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with non-stick wrap, and let sit for 1-3 hours. They may spread more than rise. Don't worry about this. Toward the end of this second rise, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Before placing loaves in oven, fill a baking tray with hot water, and place in bottom of oven.

D. Bake
Remove non-stick wrap, and make two fairly deep slashes in each loaf with a serrated knife. Spray loaves with water. Place on middle rack of oven, and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until deep golden brown.

Bahamas in Review: The Fish

2011-12-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

I took this snapshot as a simple attempt at communicating the visual excitement of bonefishing in The Bahamas. Click on the photo to enlarge... Can you spot the fish?

This was not an uncommon sight near Deep Water Cay!

For The Love Of Winter

2011-12-22T09:01:00.001-07:00

It's a whiteout here at the ranch. In fact, I doubt that we'll be leaving the house tomorrow. The snow continues to pile up, a very enthusiastic solstice celebration. Let it be winter, I suppose.

There's one member of the tribe here that is thrilled about the development. He's always loved snow. Days like this - alternating between a couple feet of fresh powder and a spot in front of the woodstove - must be something close to his ideal. Here's to you, Suba. Your love of winter far surpasses my own, and I'm made to feel slightly better at seeing your joy for the season.

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm. Happy holidays to you all!

Looking Back: Deep Water Cay

2011-12-19T09:02:00.000-07:00

Poring over the photos from this past week in The Bahamas, the still-tender line burns on my fingers help make each memory more vivid. Though my ears have since calmed from the wind's persistent hum, my half-unpacked bag still elicits sunscreen and salt spray. The bonefishing experience at Deep Water Cay is hard to describe. Steeped in generations of angling and guiding history, the flats are still perfect and the fishing still fairytale. Still, I did my best to absorb every element.

The last day dawned much calmer than those before. Casting amid lighter winds seemed graceful and effortless. We were quickly on large schools of bones, and tight in to them again and again. It was amazing. That last day on the water was drawing to a close as the tide ebbed. I was afoot across a vast flat, the late day sun in my face, surrounded on all sides by tailing bonefish. It was so beautiful, so ideal as to almost seem surreal. Those glittering tails and dorsi glittering in the sun, stretching out to the horizon. One last chunky 5-plus pound fish ate my mantis pattern, and churned off toward the sun with backing peeling off my reel. That's how I'll remember this trip, and what will fuel my ambition to return.

I've now transitioned back to Wyoming and Colorado for a while. It's snowing today. I wiped down my 8- and 9-weights; cleaned the lines and reels, and re-packed them. Seven more weeks until Belize.

Day Three: Wind, Waves and Bonefish

2011-12-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Another very windy day out of Deep Water Cay. Though there was sun, it was accompanied by a relentless, howling, whitecapped flats kind of wind. It was tricky to spot fish over sand, and nearly impossible to spot anything over turtle grass. Still, today was memorable. Still plenty of wind-sourced frustrations, and a still-adapting cast to compensate. I fished with a different guide and learned more history of the club and of nearby Sweeting's Cay. Saw lots of lemon sharks, including a couple better than six feet in length. As for bonefish, I hooked six and landed five, including three while on foot.

The day's last fish was the most noteworthy thus far. While poling the edge of a hard sand flat, we spotted a small group of distant fish. Being too windy to effectively re-direct the boat, I grabbed a rod and set out on foot to try for a shot. Absolutely solo, a hundred yards from the boat and surrounded in every direction by the vast palette of turquoise and white, it was just me and the bonefish. No guide, no nothing - just a barefoot guy with a nine-weight. Working across the direction of the wind, I finally punched a cast, and it found its mark. A couple of strips, and I came tight on a thick Bahamian bone. A few seconds later I was well in to my backing, and savoring that prolonged sense of elation that bonefishing with a fly rod is all about.

The fish wasn't huge, but respectable at maybe seven pounds. It was a great way to cap the day. One last crack at it tomorrow, and hopefully under slightly better conditions. Before that, however, I'm in need of some sleep.

Maybe more tomorrow.

Day Two: Windknots and Self-Loathing

2011-12-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

The conditions were challenging, to put it charitably. Winds were steady, then gusting, and constantly humiliating. In better cases, double hauls were thrown wildly off course, and often reduced to a laughable heap. Occasionally, flies were ricocheted off the back of my skull, or drilled in to my shoulder. In a few more regrettable instances, wind knots went undetected in advance of tightening up on a slab bone. That very special rush that goes along with a take, a solid strip-set, and a bolting fish peeling off slack turns instantly to sickness at the popping of tippet as the drag engages. So it goes.

Frustrations and failures aside, I'm still in the Bahamas, and surrounded by incredible bonefish flats in almost every direction from Deep Water Cay Resort. I fished today with a great guide. I had legitimate shots at no less than fifteen fish. I hooked five and landed two, all despite the increasingly frustrating wind.

Back at the resort, the Kalik Gold was waiting, along with the fly-tying station to replenish the day's lost supply. After another incredible meal, I'm late to bed, and looking forward to hitting the flats again early tomorrow morning. Wind, blown chances and lost fish aside, nothing can change the fact that this amounts to a fine day by any standard.

Deep Water Cay: Day One

2011-12-12T20:51:00.001-07:00

It wasn't without some difficulty that I finally arrived today at Deep Water Cay. I spent a couple hours detained by Bahamian Customs, as they didn't believe that a "tourist" would have a huge Pelican case full of cameras and lenses. They were trying to strong-arm me for some "duty" fees, sure that I was bringing all that equipment in to the country to sell (at a steep loss, which is typically my game). Some time on the phone with Ministry officials, some help from some friends, and I was finally able to go on my way.

I did make it to the island in time to do some scouting of some of the neighborhood flats. Despite very windy conditions, we spotted several bonefish, including some tailing fish that appeared to be quite nice. It didn't take long for the sun to start to sink, and I was able to get some photos done during that time.

Tomorrow, I'll give some of those fish a shot, and hope to have much more to report tomorrow evening.

On The Road

2011-12-11T15:54:00.000-07:00

Sitting here in the Denver airport, en route to Fort Lauderdale tonight and on to Deep Water Cay in the morning. I've got a trunk full of photo gear, along with seven, eight and nine weights for the week ahead. Fingers crossed for good weather and good light.

More Vise Time

2011-12-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Amid a weekend of snow and cold, I found time to continue work toward re-filling my flats box. The emphasis is on the much-depleted bonefish patterns, and I was able to get another couple of dozen readied. I also lined up a couple of reels being called in for salt duty, this time the Abel Super 9 for nine weight and the Loop Evotec LW 7/9 for eight weight. On both of these rigs, I'm relying on Rio Bonefish Taper lines.

I'm getting set to hit the road toward Denver and Boulder on Tuesday, and will probably throw the vise in the bag, as well.

Frigid

2011-12-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

Dawn opens clear and cold this morning. Temperatures below zero here at the ranch. Could be worse, though - the radio reports minus 25F in Laramie. I think I'll bring in a little extra firewood, and have a little more coffee. Keep warm out there, friends.

From The Vise: Meko Special

2011-11-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

Preparations are well underway. In recognition of the upcoming trip's destination, I've been cranking out an adaptation of a pattern known as the "Meko Special," named by its creator, Omeko Glinton. Meko is a senior guide at Deep Water Cay, and I hope to have a chance to meet him in a couple weeks. I'm also hoping to put one of these namesake flies to work on Bahamian bones.

Over-Under

2011-11-28T20:46:00.001-07:00

There's plenty that I should be doing - the aforementioned bonefish fly-tying, photo shoot prep, regular work - there remain some other considerations. It is still bird hunting season. I still like to eat chukar and Hungarian partridge. The dogs still need to get out. And, with our house on the real estate market, we still occasionally have a showing to accommodate. Today was one of those days.

After scrambling to put the house in "show" order, I needed no other excuses. The dogs and I headed out in search of some birds. Our neighborhood isn't exactly crawling with them, but we do occasionally jump a covey. Today we found none. We did, however, enjoy a beautiful late afternoon. I'm pretty sure the dogs got the best end of the deal, having flushed no fewer than eight rabbits. Tonight, they're red-eyed and stiff-legged, and I'm happy I could facilitate their entertainment.

Taking the dogs for long walks with a shotgun in hand is an integral part of the season.

Shifting Focus

2011-11-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

I dream, and day-dream, of fly fishing. As a long and hectic Wyoming autumn fades in to winter, I can once again find time to sit down at the vise. Doing so is always an opportunity to revisit memorable hatches, runs and fish. It is also a chance to dream of what might be. This time of year, those dreams are usually dominated by thoughts of anadromous fish.

At present, however, I'm thinking of vast saltwater flats, trade winds through the palm trees, and tailing bonefish. In a couple weeks, I'll be heading to The Bahamas for photography and a little fishing. It's been almost two years since I've cast to a bonefish, and I'm again hungry for the experience. So, the vise is set up for shrimp and crab patterns, and the gearing up begins in earnest.

This upcoming trip, while brief, may be a prelude. We're looking at the possibility of a February trip to Belize, and re-indulging my obsession with permit. It could be a very memorable winter.

Thankful

2011-11-24T10:35:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving, and the days surrounding it, are generally a time for traditions. Such traditions are manifested in many different ways. Some are akin to heirlooms, handed down from generation to generation. Some are more loosely-defined. Still others are the synthesis of a handful of elements, combined by friends, marriage, the passage of years, or place in an ever-evolving way.

It will likely be a few, perhaps several, years before we settle in to some kind of repeatable Thanksgiving tradition. Our families are distant, with their own distinct approaches. Our own world is so dynamic, and we enjoy trying new and different things. Each year is an opportunity to create a unique memory, with food, fun, music, and more.

Yesterday, a friend and I went out after some ducks. It was reminiscent of high school years, when I would dodge school around this same time of year to jump-shoot pothole Minnesota ducks. It was just plain fun, even if I missed some easy shots. We enjoyed an incredible fall day exploring some new country, and came home with birds. Today, we've got an elk roast for the slow cooker, and it will be another unseasonably warm and sun-drenched Wyoming autumn day.

This year, I am thankful for my beautiful and ever-patient wife. I am thankful for a job that I love. I am thankful for my friends here and scattered across the country and globe. I am thankful to have the opportunity to fish and hunt in beautiful country, and for the antelope, deer and elk in the freezer. I am thankful to have more opportunities to continue to grow as a photographer. Most of all, I am thankful for the promise of what lies ahead.

Cheers to you all, and have a great holiday and weekend ahead.

Muley

2011-11-19T17:04:00.001-07:00

I had a chance to do a portrait of one of our neighborhood bucks this evening. With a little patience, and aided by his rut-blindness, I was able to get a couple of decent shots. This deer, while nice, isn't a huge specimen, and we certainly have bigger in the local herd. But, he is beautiful. Happy birthday to me!

The Dogs

2011-11-19T16:11:00.000-07:00

Many of us share our lives with dogs. We have a couple, and they are quite a team. I talk about them often, but It's been a while since they've been in any photos. I am posting these for posterity.

Suba

Darby

Friday Video From Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions

2011-11-04T13:18:00.001-06:00

A little departure from the usual here, but this is a beautiful video produced by my friend and Lander, Wyoming-based guide Hank Hunker. It is an awesome glimpse at some of the incredible fishing opportunities that can be found in the Wind River Range. These guys don't just know it - they live it, and I can vouch for that. Enjoy.

The vid on YouTube can be found here: http://youtu.be/0b55AiHNKrw

Restoring Oregon Coho

2011-11-02T21:05:00.000-06:00

Now that the 2011 big game hunting season has successfully concluded, my waking consciousness can once again be devoted to fish and fly fishing. Well, let's say 80/20 fly fishing and bird hunting. At least through February.

With fishing back on the brain, I want to take the opportunity to highlight a guest blog post on oregonflyfishingblog.com, contributed by long-time friend, colleague and schnitzerPHOTO champion, Alan Moore. This post is the first of at least a couple on the topic of restoring native salmon runs to Oregon's coastal streams and rivers.

If you've experienced the cartwheeling cardiac arrest that can be silvers on the fly, you know that this is a fish that embodies an unparalleled wildness of spirit. It is also a salmon with implicit ties to the places Alan talks about restoring - once-nurturing coastal estuaries, nestled in lush Oregon rainforest.

Alan's terrific piece discusses the challenges, and I hope a lot more folks tune in. Without protecting and restoring nursery habitat like that pictured above, runs of fish like the one below will slowly continue to disappear from their iconic coastal Oregon streams. Let's do this work, and dig in on behalf of wild Oregon coho.

20 Questions: schnitzerPHOTO on EMBT

2011-10-31T11:50:00.000-06:00

I'm sure a few of you have already seen this, so please forgive this delayed post... It is hunting season. Last week, my old friend and colleague Chris Hunt graciously featured me in a "20 Questions" post on his excellent blog, Eat More Brook Trout. You can see the whole thing here. Thanks again, Chris!

The Contemporary Sportsman: Vol. 2, No. 4 Available Now!

2011-10-29T09:01:00.023-06:00

The new issue of The Contemporary Sportsman is hot off the digital press. It includes some of my photography, and once again I'm humbled to be in the very distinguished company of colleagues like Brian Grossenbacher, Corey Kruitbosch, Mark Lance, Bryan Huskey, Tosh Brown, and more.

The entire issue is great fireside or passenger-side reading on your iPad or laptop. However, I was particularly enthralled this go-round with Terry Weiland's piece on the Art Nouveau influence on modern sporting firearms. Terry's writing is always like an in-depth conversation with an old friend. Who else can get you as familiar with a Purdey or H&H without dropping $20,000 or more to own one? Perhaps one day, he'll allow me to photograph one of these working pieces of gun art.

Remember, TCS is always free and always available online - all it takes is a quick "subscription" to add your email to the distribution list.

Homework

2011-10-28T07:01:00.000-06:00

Another in this week's mini-series on the passing of autumn in to winter. I've still got a lot of splitting and stacking yet to do.

The Beginning of The End

2011-10-27T08:01:00.003-06:00

Autumn put on quite a show this year throughout the region. It remained on stage for longer than most were probably expecting. Yet, like all performances, the curtain has to eventually be drawn. Many of you out there have already been hit with a solid dose of winter. It has arrived here, too. I snapped this little point-and-shoot photo as I was out tromping around scouting for elk - seemed like it would serve well as a tribute to what has been a terrific season.

The Rest of the Story

2011-10-26T08:48:00.005-06:00

This is much-belated, but my hands have been tied since packing away the muley I harvested on October 15. Now, I'm scrambling to find my way in to elk season despite a crowded calendar. Before I get buried once again, I want to share the story of this year's deer hunt, if only for my own records.

Dawn was still a ways off as I gathered my gear, helped along by the brilliance of a near-full moon. In the distance, bull elk bugled in great numbers. It is a cacophony that stirs the big-game hunter's soul, even if that isn't the day's quarry. With that backdrop, I strapped on my pack and headed toward the now-familiar fenceline that would lead me to a spot I had scouted during the past couple of seasons.

45 minutes later, maybe an hour, and I settled in to wait until darkness would fade. There's something special about that time, the heavy balance between a hunter's night and day. It is a time that slows to reflect a different rhythm. It is a time of profound and comforting aloneness. Senses, particularly hearing and sight, are sharpened. It is also cold. Shivers are gripped in bodily stasis, waiting for the right time to move. Toes are wiggled, fingers gripped into fists inside of gloves. After what always seems like a ridiculously long time, the weakest of light begins to filter in, first starting broadly and high. Birds awaken, first just one or two, and then dozens of different species. Their cries are a welcoming prelude to morning, drowning out the elks' desperate bleating. This is the time.

I change positions to offer a better vantage of nearby hillsides and begin glassing. The light is still very faint, but enough to betray a handful of far-off white spots amid the shadowy sage. Maybe 600 yards. Are they moving, or is it light playing tricks on my vision? Definitely moving, as if apparitions. A steadied hand ties those white spots to vague bodies. Enough evidence to work for a closer look. Carefully, I parallel this group, moving toward a spur ridge that would provide some additional cover. The deer were moving quickly along the ridge. By the time I crouched behind some tall sage, several had already moved out of sight in to the next draw. Of the two I could still see at about 300 yards, one had antlers.

Then it became real. With a general tag, I could harvest only a buck. Knowing there are antlers in the group moved the pursuit to the next level of anxiousness. I very slowly crept to the next ridge, a broad, rocky finger studded with juniper. This was to be the telling moment - the deer could have either slipped quickly up the draw and out of sight, or they would be - should be - somewhere directly in front of me at less than 200 yards. As I neared one of the junipers for concealment, I noted that the wind had shifted with the advent of morning to an upslope breeze. All the pieces were falling in to place. I carefully worked the rifle's bolt back and chambered a cartridge. Peering behind the juniper with binoculars, I counted six mule deer. Two skittish does were being courted by four bucks. Just then, a young fork-horn jumped an old barbed-wire fence, moving quickly up the hill and out of sight. A pit in my stomach formed in a moment of disappointment, wondering if that was my one shot at meat in the freezer.

I was quickly reassured, though, as I scanned more widely. Two other bucks, both smallish three-by-threes, browsed lazily in deep sage and mountain mahogany. Just uphill from them, though, was another body, appearing larger, though its head was buried deeply in the brush. I put down the binoculars and slowly raised my rifle, zooming in with the scope. The buck then lifted its head, immediately showing that he was the one. In that moment, he drifted behind a large juniper, taking away any possible shot. I held my sight on the other side, and waited. It seemed like minutes, during which I'm pretty sure I didn't breathe. The other deer began to move in to the timber and out of sight. One doe lingered below in another dense patch of mahogany. Finally, the buck stepped out. All of my consciousness focused in that instant. With a well-practiced smooth squeeze, I felt the cold trigger release, and watched the shot hit home as the report rang in my ears. The time was 7:25 am, and my 2011 deer season was over.

Packing out wasn't easy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'll remember the burning thighs and sweat-soaked back every time I cut in to one of those venison steaks. After last year's futility, this year was a bit of welcome redemption. And, with the possibility that this was the last mule deer that I would take in that beautiful country looking out across Wyoming's Big Horn Basin, this particular hunt provides a very special memory for which I am grateful.

It's snowing today, and colder. I think I'll head out and look for a cow elk, hoping to soon fill the freezer full with more Wyoming memories.

Opening Day Success

2011-10-15T13:29:00.001-06:00

Yes, there's always a story to go along with such photos. But, I'm tired after packing this guy out. More tomorrow.

The Eve of a Season

2011-10-14T12:01:00.001-06:00

Just as exciting as the night of December 24th that made for sleepless childhood nights, tonight is the brink of my deer season opener. I'll be packing in late today, preparing for both warm weather and an impending cold front that looks to bring rain tomorrow night and in to Sunday morning. I'm returning to familiar territory, where I've chased elk the past couple of years, and where I know the land well. I'm looking forward to covering much ground in those beautiful mountains and the canyons with which they're incised.

After last year's frustrations and skunking, this year I'm hoping for nothing more than a chance. After all, that one chance is what makes a season. It's those butterflies that keep us young. The trembling hands reminding that such moments continue to shape us. The sweat and sore back that earn a winter's meals. Humbled to provide and to have been provided - a chance.

I hope you all have a great weekend ahead.

Bristol Bay Road Show: RSVP Today!

2011-10-14T07:44:00.001-06:00

Friends: This is an effort that I urge you to consider supporting. Note the locations for this great event throughout the month of October.

ATTENTION folks in Portland, Denver, San Francisco and Seattle: Associated with the Road Show events in your cities, there are special "insider" events sponsored by Patagonia at their retail locations. Contact me if you want the specific information!

Threat to thousands of sustainable fishing jobs prompts fisherman, Alaska Natives to take their story to the Lower 48 beginning Oct. 17;

Tour will highlight proposed Pebble mine’s threat to fishing jobs, Native way of life

Seattle – Alaska Natives, commercial fishermen, sportsmen and seafood processors are heading south on the Save Bristol Bay Road Show to raise awareness and build support for protecting Bristol Bay Alaska, which is threatened by the proposed Pebble gold and copper mine.

The mine, potentially three times as large as the largest current mine in North America, would threaten the headwaters of Bristol Bay, putting thousands of fishing jobs at risk, along with a Native way of life that has existed for centuries. The real gold in Bristol Bay is the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery, a sustainable resource that returns year after year.

In six cities, commercial fishermen, Alaska Natives, sportsmen and seafood processors will highlight the economic risks posed by the mine. The Road Show will also feature a screening of the award-winning documentary, “Red Gold,” delicious Bristol Bay sockeye prepared by local chefs, and locally produced beers.

Melanie Brown, an Alaska Native and commercial fisherwoman, and Ben Blakey, of family-run seafood company, Snopac Products, will travel to all of the cities as featured speakers, sharing the importance of the region as an economic engine, source of jobs, and resource for food. In each city, the program will also feature sportsmen, fishing guides or commercial fishermen, whose livelihoods depend on the clean waters and sustainable fish runs of Bristol Bay. More than 12,000 jobs depend on the commercial salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, along with more than 1,000 jobs related to sport fishing and countless other businesses.

The Save Bristol Bay Road Show visits the following six cities:
Seattle: Monday, October 17, Leif Erikson Lodge, 7 p.m.
Portland: Wednesday, October 19, Bagdad Theater, 7 p.m.
Corvallis: Friday, October 21, The Arts Center, 7 p.m.
San Francisco: Monday, October 24, Temple Nightclub, 7 p.m.
Santa Fe: Tuesday, October 25, Center For Contemporary Arts Cinematheque, 7 p.m.
Denver: Thursday, October 27, Oriental Theater, 7 p.m.

For information, please visit: www.savebristolbay.org/roadshow

The Save Bristol Bay Road Show is coordinated by the Save Bristol Bay campaign, part of a broad, bipartisan, national coalition that supports protecting Bristol Bay and its natural resources from the severe risks of massive-scale development, including the Pebble Mine.

The Road Show is sponsored by the generous support of companies including Tiffany & Co., ExOfficio, Icicle Seafoods, Orvis, Sage, and Chef’s Collaborative. Speakers are available for interviews and briefings. Speaker photos and bios available upon request.

For more information, contact:

Paul Queary, Strategies 360, 206-282-1990; PaulQ@strategies360.com
Kristin Dizon, Strategies 360, 206-631-1989; KristinD@strategies360.com

Prime Time

2011-10-13T11:20:00.000-06:00

Autumn is always fleeting, particularly in the Rockies. While it lasts, it is magic. We're currently engaged in the meteorological dance between fall and winter. The near-term forecast suggests fall for a little while longer. Be that as it may, we're essentially done with the garden - tomatoes are canned, a wheelbarrow full of potatoes is in storage, along with all the onions and garlic. The only things that remain are a few carrots and the dry beans.

Tomorrow, I head out in pursuit of a mule deer. Fingers crossed.

Here are a few shots from my travels last week in northwestern Colorado. A little scenery, a little color, and, of course, a little fishing.

Straight Away to October

2011-10-01T21:44:00.000-06:00

The house is on the market, and the list of things to do doesn't seem to get any shorter. Time at home is spare. Hunting season is about to hit full-swing. The garden, in its twilight, has us up to our ears in tomatoes. Blanch, peel, can, repeat - all while trying to do at least a couple other things. But, even with all that weighs on us at present, today was a spectacular one in western Wyoming.

To properly celebrate the first of October, we carved some fishing time out of the early evening. It wasn't a ton of action, it wasn't a lot of time. For a little while, though, it was perfect.

Wrapping Up The Season in Athletic Pursuits

2011-09-30T17:01:00.001-06:00

I've occasionally reported on this blog of some of the various athletic events in which Kel and I participate. This year was a particularly full one, with running, cycling and, for Kel, triathlons (including her first half-Ironman). It was a good season, during which we found ourselves near the top of our age group, and enjoyed being more competitive than ever.

Our "events" season concluded this past Saturday in Pinedale, Wyoming, with the Pinedale Half-Marathon. If any of you are runners, and interested in considering a new later-season event, I highly recommend this one in Pinedale. It was one of the most well-coordinated and enjoyable races of the year, not to mention a very aesthetically-rewarding run at 7,000-plus feet of elevation. Kel and I both ran to personal bests for the half-marathon distance - I finished 4th with a time of 1:35.

Now that all of that is over, hunting season is nearly upon us. We may get on the water this weekend, and I may try to either kick up a chukar or tag a deer. Next week, the temperature is supposed to cool. I'm going to spend a little more time fishing, and I'll put more work in to deer season. There will be reports and photos here.

Trout Magazine Fall 2011 Issue

2011-09-30T08:01:00.000-06:00

It is always an honor to see photographs in publication. I've been an occasional contributor to Trout Magazine for several years, but the just-dropped Fall 2011 issue is one worth noting. In it, I have a handful of photos. Most noteworthy, though, is my first two-page spread, followed by a full-pager of the Wind River Country. Check it out!

Trout Unlimited members, the newest issue of Trout Magazine has either recently arrived, or will be arriving any day now. If you're not a member of TU, please consider supporting coldwater conservation's leading champion. You get a great magazine, but also opportunities to get involved locally - projects, education and outreach, and more. To find out more, just go to www.tu.org, or drop me a line.

Twelve Hours of Yellowstone

2011-09-29T07:01:00.000-06:00

I'm way behind. So much so that I just got to uploading these photos today, from a day in Yellowstone that took place nearly three weeks ago. We arrived via the East Entrance early on a beautiful misty morning, and proceeded to cover about as much ground as is possible during a single day. There was to be no fishing, but I hope you enjoy a few "postcard" photographs nonetheless.

Sunrise over Yellowstone Canyon

Yellowstone Icons

Mud Geyser

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

Yellowstone River

Summer, Then Fall

2011-09-19T11:12:00.000-06:00

Melissa working for the perfect drift

It all happened so quickly. Ninety-plus degrees and sun, day after day, made August seem like it was six weeks long. Then, rather suddenly, we woke up to a forty-degree morning. Not long after, a day of light yet steady rain, an all-but-forgotten condition to usher in a new season. During this transition, I've been busy finding my way in a new job, related travels, and getting our house ready to put "on the market." There has been precious little time for leisure. Of course, I've found my way to some water here and there, but it has been shoehorned. Just a taste, a few fish here and there for balance and sanity. No time to get in to the rhythm, but jumping in from the margins if only for a few casts.

This year's hopper season wasn't quite as epic as last year's, but it was still awfully good. The pattern above yielded one of my best late-summer fish. Hoppers have since begun to wane. Cool nights knock them back noticeably, and the fish turn attentions to baetis, PMDs, caddis. I've been doing well lately using a reliable caddis emerger pattern, sizes #16 and #18.

With the advent of cooler weather, I've found the seasonal distractions of hunting and steelhead to be acute. Looks like I'll be heading off to Oregon in late October for a few days, hopeful to connect with some chrome, and also with some chukar or Huns. Prior to that is deer season, then elk, all bunched together in a mad rush to capitalize on an autumn which is even more fleeting than the Wyoming summer. There will be much to report, and I'll be back to work with the camera and lens now that some of the bigger house-bound jobs are complete. Thanks for your patience and understanding, and don't be a stranger.

Because They're Beautiful

2011-09-06T18:39:00.000-06:00

Portrait: Rainbow

Portrait: Brown

Bender, Day Three: Colorado River Cutthroats

2011-09-04T09:02:00.001-06:00

Day three of this past week's tour could be considered to be a bit of a celebration for my new gig with Trout Unlimited. Big native cutthroats at the very tip of the Colorado River's headwaters. I'm grateful for places like this, and hope they remain for future generations.

To get to these fish, you'll have to trudge through doghair willow and alder, beaver swamps, and you'll be in perpetual danger of being trounced by a moose. Beyond that, I'll never say where.

Catch Magazine Issue #19

2011-09-03T08:40:00.000-06:00

Dig it. Not only am I thrilled to once again be featured in Catch Magazine, but I'm even more excited that the photos are of our very good Alaska friends, Austin and Nelli, along with their steadfast golden retriever, Karta. To find this portion of Catch #19, flip through to "The Colors of Flyfishing," which is near the end. Of course, you'll want to spend plenty of time with the rest of this brand-new issue, as well.

Enjoy!

Keeping Current: A New Chapter

2011-09-02T19:26:00.001-06:00

The retro TU sticker on my truck is a nod to my history with the organization

Some of you know that my photography is coupled with a "day job." For more than a decade, I've worked in non-profit conservation in various capacities. Since January 2006, I've been with a group called The Nature Conservancy - first in Colorado, and, since 2008, here in Wyoming. Prior to this, I worked for Trout Unlimited's national office from 2000 to 2006.

As of September 1st, I am once again working on behalf of Trout Unlimited, this time for their Western Water Project.

I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and grow with TNC. I am very happy to once again be a part of Trout Unlimited, and look forward to the new challenges.

One Day of a Three-Day Bender

2011-09-02T07:24:00.001-06:00

This blog suffered in August. I can attribute this to a few things, the most notable being my challenge of ending a five and a half year stint with The Nature Conservancy and transitioning toward re-joining Trout Unlimited. I wasn't prepared for the amount of time it would command, along with balancing out the other calendared events.

Last week was my last with the former job. I was faced with about a week of unemployment. Since I hadn't been out on the water for at least a couple of weeks, I did what any fly fishing junkie would. I went on a bender. A binge. I dedicated three full days to fishing, beginning in the neighborhood near home, and carrying over to some other hallowed western Wyoming locales. Thankfully, Kel was able to accompany me for one of the days, along with a visiting friend from Colorado.

For this post, I'm going to highlight that day. Upon arriving at the river, large (#14) PMDs hovered over the put-in. Yellow sallies drifted lazily on the breeze. Caddis danced under the alders and willows. With all the signs pointing toward it, I quickly found myself in the midst of one of those days that makes a summer. So many fish, all on top. While I typically don't count, I tallied up to twenty that morning just for fun - in the first hour. Several times I caught fish three casts in a row. The girls also caught some fish. I think.

While I didn't tie in to any of the big fish I know to inhabit this stretch, one of the highlights for me was a brown that measured on the heavy side of 17 inches. It was as hot a fish as I've hooked all summer, and jumped no less than six times. Beside that, it was just pure fun, like the proverbial kid having his run of the candy store.

If you aren't familiar with this bridge, I'm not going to tell you where it is.

Kel working one of an endless number of seams.

Oh yeah, Kel definitely caught fish. The prize, and the return.

Today on NewWest.net's Adventure Photo Blog

2011-08-12T08:36:00.000-06:00

Today on NewWest.net, and featured on their new Adventure Photo Blog. Thanks again to Sanders - of Up The Poudre - for helping make the photo possible.

The Harvest Begins

2011-08-10T08:01:00.001-06:00

I recently posted something to the effect of this year's garden being at its apex. However, not all crops are on the same schedule. Last night, in the warm late day sun, we unearthed a bed full of garlic. It is an occasion worth marking, as the garlic is sewn during the latter part of big game hunting season. The little cloves over-winter, and are among the first sprouts to emerge, often enduring late spring snow. These photos represent about one third of what we now have drying in the garage.

This morning, the temperature dropped down to around 52-53F. Accompanied by cloud cover, the cool was almost startling in contrast to the intense heat that had become the norm. Though it is still early August, the days are now noticeably shorter. This year's harvest will expand quickly during the weeks ahead. We'll take every opportunity to savor the moments, and the hard-won comforts and flavors that go along with a productive season.

Up In The Air

2011-08-09T11:01:00.003-06:00

I recently made an early-morning drive down to Rock Springs, perennial contender for Wyoming's methamphetamine crown. While I normally try to avoid spending any time down there, I needed to get to the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport. I was contracted for an aerial photo shoot on behalf of Trout Unlimited, and with the assistance of LightHawk. Thankfully, morning storms quickly moved to the southeast, and it was clear flying to the site TU needed to document - an old tailings and slag heap along the Hams Fork River that will soon be reclaimed and the original river channel restored.

LightHawk arranged for the pilot, who flew up from his base in Colorado to meet me. After a brief orientation to the aircraft, we strapped ourselves in the Maule M-7 and headed north.

The Hams Fork is an interesting stream. Its headwaters are at less than 10,000 feet of elevation, but the upper course of the river provides habitat for native cutthroat trout. The stream flows through some pretty sere southwestern Wyoming country. From the air, it carves a beautiful riparian corridor that contrasts starkly with the rest of the landscape.

I got the shots, and enjoyed conversation with a very good, conservation-minded pilot. I hope to have a chance to work with him again on another project. Just a couple hours later, we were back at the Rock Springs General Terminal, and I was heading for Lander. Quick note here about general terminals... I've been in a several throughout the Rockies and Midwest. Every one of them seems to exist in a vacuum of time. I like the comfortable, very informal, throwback feel - everything from the old chairs to the old coffee maker and the retro posters on the walls. Little facets of aviation culture, in places where air travel is strictly utilitarian.

Thanks again to the pilot, and his well-kept little Maule. And, of course, thanks to Trout Unlimited for the opportunity to document another soon-to-be conservation and restoration success story.

Beartooth Challenge

2011-08-08T17:00:00.000-06:00

Coming off a big weekend in Red Lodge, Montana. I have been preparing for the Beartooth Challenge for a while, and was really looking forward to the experience. The "Challenge" consists of two individual events: an 8.5 mile run on Saturday, and a 24 mile bike on Sunday. The centerpiece of both is the dramatic climb up Beartooth Pass.

Saturday's early morning dawned clear and chill. I shivered while waiting for the start at 7,100 feet. Just over an hour later, I crossed the finish line, located at Vista Point, elevation 9,190. It was the most significant hill-climb run I've ever taken on, and I finished 2nd in my age group, just 20 seconds behind the guy (six years younger!) who took first. In the field of roughly 50 runners, I finished 6th overall. The entire run was pure focus - hanging on to pace, keeping the lead pack in view. The last mile was grueling, but I kicked it up to the finish and crossed feeling surprisingly good.

Sunday's bike was a bigger event. The morning was somewhat warmer, but everyone wondered what to expect as we climbed from the 6,100 foot start to the race's 11,000-foot summit. After the difficulties faced during the Triple By-Pass last month, I was hopeful for a smooth ride, despite the obvious challenge associated with the vertical feet. Just a couple miles in, I could tell that my legs weren't as "fresh" as I would have liked. Though I was maintaining a solid early pace, I noticed the muscle fatigue way too early in the climb. The steeper pitches worked me more than they should have. Realizing I wasn't going to win the day, I fought for every second of time. Meanwhile, the valley floor, then the switchbacks themselves fell off below me, and I found myself riding - cranking - on the exposed edge of a truly incredible panorama. The last five miles wove above treeline, past brilliant snowfields and alpine lakes. Each tenth of those miles was a battle against the effects of altitude, the sustained pitch of the climb, and a sharp headwind that seemed to intensify as the finish line neared. I stubbornly threw the bike in to higher gears, gritted my teeth and crouched low. With the finish in sight, my legs burned as I throttled ahead. This time, the only kick I could find was pure adrenaline. I was spent.

Thankfully, Kel entered the bike portion. She came across the finish line with a characteristic smile, and turned in a very solid time. It was good for 3rd place in her age group - pretty incredible for someone who entered the event as an afterthought.

Participants gathered at Red Lodge Ales later in the morning to celebrate the weekend, and hear the results. I was happy to find out that my combined time (run + bike) earned me 3rd Place in the overall men's group (possibly 2nd - there is a timing discrepancy still being investigated). Either way, it was good enough to earn me a very cool Beartooth Challenge "medal" hand-made by Red Lodge's Back Alley Metals.

We fought through fatigue, highway construction and thunderstorms during the 4 1/2 hours of road time between Red Lodge and home. There's still a little bit of a "hangover" from the endeavors. I'm mindful of the things I know I have to work on before the next event. But, I'm already looking forward to it. Meanwhile, it's now time to do some fishing.

Moldy Chum!

2011-08-04T08:38:00.000-06:00

Pretty stoked to have made it on Moldy Chum today! See the post here.

You can always find current Moldy Chum posts on my blogroll on the right-hand side of this site. Also, if you're on Twitter (FOLLOW) and/or Facebook (LIKE), hook it up there, too. Always good stuff, entertaining and informative, and at the leading edge of fly fishing culture.

At Its Peak: Garden 2011

2011-08-03T19:01:00.001-06:00

Maybe more for our own purposes than something particularly interesting to share on this blog, but we invest a lot of time, effort and resources in to the garden. Some years are great, and others, like last year, are downright miserable. This year is looking pretty rewarding thus far, and I want to remember it the way it is right now.

We've harvested buckets of peas, and at the next opportunity we will be able to unearth bushels of garlic and onions. New potatoes will get worked in to the menu, along with the always-reliable zucchini. Cherry and yellow pear cherry tomatoes will be coming on any day. It's looking like one of our better years for tomatoes overall, and very likely our best season yet for beans (various heirloom dry varieties) and peppers. More on all of this as the season progresses.

Reporting: Triathlon Season

2011-08-02T08:59:00.001-06:00

Some of you who've been long-time visitors may recall that my wife is a dedicated triathlete. She's been working particularly hard this year to prepare for her first half-Ironman event, which is slated for the end of August. However, before all that goes down, she had the opportunity this past weekend for a tune-up "sprint" event in nearby Riverton, Wyoming.

A tune-up it was. She recorded her fastest run splits in competition, a testament to the speedwork in which she's invested a lot of early mornings. However, a blown tire during the bicycle portion set her back in the overall standings. But, here's the kicker: with a fully-blown tire a mile from the bike finish, and a faulty spare tube, she takes off her bike shoes, picks up her bike, and runs it to the transition. In her socks. On pavement. Smiling.

You can't train for that. I'm proud of her. Hopefully, we've now got those kinks worked out, and she can focus on kicking butt in the next one.

For those of you wondering: Had I helped her, she would have been disqualified. Thus, the only thing I could do was take a photo to document the moment. -R

New Issue of The Contemporary Sportsman

2011-08-01T20:52:00.001-06:00

Judging by the pace and frequency of blog posts during July, you would be correct in assuming that I've been a bit pre-occupied. Well, yeah, I have. It's summer. I hope you have, too.

Even in these busiest times, when you're out milking every waking minute for all it's worth, it is still healthy to find some downtime. To make the most of those precious idle moments, it helps to have at your fingertips some quality reading material, coupled with some high-quality outdoor eye candy.

This month, the latest issue of The Contemporary Sportsman dropped, and it is chock-full of day-dreaming potential. Check out the steelheading story and photography by my friend Mark Lance (cover, below), more great art from A.D. Maddox, and fantasize about chasing Tanzanian tigerfish with Henry Gilbey. All top notch.

If you don't have a subscription, sign up - it's free! While you're at it, sign up for sibling publications, including The Contemporary Wingshooter and the soon-to-be-available Backcast. I'm reasonably certain you'll enjoy these pieces. There's also a pretty strong chance you'll be seeing some schnitzerPHOTO work in the issues to come. Might as well have it hit your inbox directly!

Impressions: Summer Brown

2011-07-26T15:03:00.000-06:00

My personal photography time is comprised of exploring a revolving set of challenges, sometimes themes, and, occasionally, working within self-imposed limits. One of the most rewarding is committing to work with a fixed focal length - the same way I immersed myself in photography in the first place. I'll be doing this quite a bit for the next month or so, and I hope some of the images work out.

Above is an example. A fish doesn't have to be big to be beautiful - just needs a creative portrayal.

Hope everyone is staying cool out there.

Friends From The Road

2011-07-25T09:06:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, in the midst of stifling summer heat and still-challenging streamflow levels, I was fortunate to host a couple fellow bloggers on a brief layover as they traveled toward Montana. It was a great opportunity to share some local water with Sanders, of Up The Poudre, and Mike, of Mike's Gone Fishing. Sharing was conditional, of course, and contingent upon a pledge that they make no public or private mention of this particular stream. I know, I am a trusting sort. But, these guys are the real deal, and I'm glad to now know them as friends.

Fishing was challenging, but there were good numbers of risers amid a smorgasbord of hatches - yellow sallies, golden stones, brown drakes, PMDs, caddis. I hooked several fish on an emerger pattern that has proven reliable in such circumstances, but landed only a handful. Long casts to wary fish reduce the hook-up percentage.

Despite the difficult fish, I hope my guests enjoyed the evening on the water.

Making It Happen

2011-07-19T20:57:00.000-06:00

Stole a little creek time on this very pleasant evening, and found some fish to oblige. The water is still high, and there are deer flies to accompany the ample supply of mosquitoes. Starting to see a lot more caddis skittering about, though they're not yet drawing any attention. I won't complain. Several good pulls, and a couple pretty browns to show for the effort. A great way to wrap up the day.

Dawn Fishing

2011-07-15T15:05:00.003-06:00

While it was still dark, this Friday morning unfolded with the promise of being a beautiful day. I'd waited all week for an opportunity to check on the neighborhood creek. It had been high and muddy for an unusually long time. Even after it began to clear up, flows remained high. I'd noticed that it had come down a bit in recent days, but that perspective was likely skewed by impatience. Still, I needed to put a fly on the water, even if it was high, unwadeable water.

I headed down early, well before morning light would hit the creek. As I stumbled blindly through the chest-high meadow grass, mosquitoes swarmed. A couple whitetails jumped up nearly at my feet. Upon reaching the water, the only insects visible that weren't biting me were tiny cream midges. At its edge, the water churned, a more formidable force than it seemed from a distance. At these levels - certainly still qualifying as runoff - creeks and rivers take on a different character. Holes and runs are obscured by the rush. Now, opportunism means spotting and fishing the "quiet" water amid the melee. With no discernible surface activity, I tied on some big meat.

The most promising quiet water lay along a seam formed by a sharp shoal paralleling the far bank. My 8'4" Scott G2 4-weight, usually a perfect match for this water, suddenly seemed inadequate. I lengthened the leader, mended aggressively, and swung that big bug through the boiler room. There's nothing like big pulls on the swing, even if they aren't steelhead. Lots of missed fish, lots of flashes - lots of gratifying action in less than two hours' time. It was two hours that made up for a lot of lost creek time during the past six weeks.

The sun rose higher, providing a preview of the heat that would choke the hours ahead. As I slid the last fish back in to the shadows, I was grateful have repeated it a half-dozen times before 8 am.

On the way back to the truck, I snacked on a handful of just-ripe gooseberries, grateful once again for the opportunity. By 8:15 am, I was back at the truck, and wiping sweat from my brow. There would still be hot coffee waiting at home, and I could still get to the office by 9. I'm looking forward to getting in to my own summer pattern during the weeks ahead.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

Since I Haven't Been Fishing...

2011-07-12T11:37:00.000-06:00

Work, travel, and non-fishing athletic pursuits have kept me off the river and away from the camera for too long. I'm looking forward to some creek time later this week. Meanwhile, there is a small bit of news to share. One of my photographs is featured as the banner image on a new Wyoming tourism website. See it here:

One More From the Rodeo

2011-07-06T11:01:00.004-06:00

Sometimes, if you spend enough time squinting in to the sun, and mentally sifting through all the details that might be made part of a hundred different shots, details snap together on the very edge of view. In that instant of recognition, the photograph makes itself. Nothing I might write could better communicate the feel of being at a rodeo on a hot summer night in a small Wyoming town.

Lander Rodeo 2011

2011-07-05T16:02:00.002-06:00

Some of you may recall some photos I did of last year's Lander rodeo. I have to admit, I'm not a boot-wearing country-western kind of guy. Even if I haven't adopted it myself, I recognize the socio-cultural significance, and greatly appreciate the aesthetic. These things are a departure from what I typically shoot, and I find the creative challenge to be important and invigorating. Thus, even though we would prefer to avoid heading in to a very crowded town during the holiday weekend, we made an exception to watch the sun go down from Lander's rodeo grounds.

It was 99 degrees when we pulled in to the lot on Sunday night, and there was little shade to be found. We toughed it out, and once again uncovered some photographic possibilities. I'm sharing just a few images with this first post, and may follow-up with a second post. I just haven't yet made it through the entire set. Enjoy, and let me know what you think.

Barrel Racer: Sundown

Calf Roper

Steer Wrestling

At The Chutes

Sego Season

2011-07-05T08:02:00.000-06:00

Summer here is brilliant, but brief. Thus, one learns to pay attention to the staccato pace of things. What appears vividly and full of life one day may be withered and faded the next. Such is the case of the sego lily, which is now in its fullness throughout our neighborhood.

While the sego is found in abundance in our part of Wyoming, it is also well-known as the Utah State Flower, and it is found throughout many western states. It is a bulbous perennial. The bulbs, which can be eaten, were important to both Native Americans and pioneers - particularly Mormon pioneers in Utah.

For me, they go hand-in-hand with the first true summer weather of the season. This also means that they're usually in their prime right about the same time as peak runoff. If a guy can't fish the neighborhood creeks, and is relegated to garden and other homestead duties, there might as well be some color amid the sage and cheatgrass.

I hope you all enjoyed a great holiday weekend.

Catch Magazine Issue #18

2011-07-01T07:35:00.000-06:00

The newest issue of Catch Magazine is live. Great work throughout. If you pause for a moment after flipping past the beautiful cover (shot by John Juracek), you'll see my spread, below. Great to be a part of it, and among very good company.

NewWest.net: Photo of the Day

2011-06-30T14:47:00.001-06:00

Check it out if you have a chance - from the recent shoot at The Nature Conservancy's Heart Mountain Ranch near Cody, Wyoming, and featuring on of the Crow dancers participating in a Sunrise Ceremony. This is the 22nd time one of my images has been spotlighted on NewWest.net, and I'm always happy to be a part of the site.

SW Florida Backcountry Fishing

2011-06-29T10:01:00.002-06:00

After a couple of days of strong effort without much to show for it, we called for help. Enter Captain Kevin Merritt, of Naples Backcountry Fishing. I can't say enough about this guide. Fun from the start, immensely knowledgable, and that innate fish sense that comes only from a lifetime on the water.

The backcountry fishing in this neighborhood centers on the southwestern perimeter of the Everglades. This coastline is known as the Ten Thousand Islands. It is a mangrove maze of cuts, channels, bays and flats. Manatees, porpoises, sharks, rays, schools of mullet and other bait, diverse numbers of birds, raccoons, mosquitoes... That's just the stuff I recall seeing off the top of my head. All of this, and less than an hour by boat from those characteristic Florida concentrations of condos and outlet malls.

It didn't take long to spot some angry snook viciously busting baitfish against the mangroves. Snook have an attitude. They remind me a lot of the northern pike I used to chase as a kid. When they want to eat something, there's nothing delicate about it. They kill stuff. They're the street fighters of the inshore backcountry, and that's how you fish them. It is sight fishing, throwing EPs and teasing fish out of tangled haunts. It is on top with poppers, making as much commotion as possible to elicit explosive strikes. Capt. Merritt put us on the fish, and we connected time after time. As we eased in to one tight little corner, Kevin warned to be on the lookout. Sure enough, a pod of little male snook surrounded a big, thick female - easily the largest we had yet seen, maybe 15 to 18 pounds. She lay motionless. I was on the bow, and pitched an aggressive cast just past her nose. The fly dropped in to the zone, and I gave it a couple of punches. In that decisive moment, the big girl casually declined, and slipped in to the depths.

As thick-aired early hours dissolved in to the height of morning, temperatures soared. Dripping with sweat, we cruised in to another quiet little river mouth. It was potentially a redfish spot, but we turned up nothing. Our collective interest was commanded by a distant disturbance on the surface. The substantial swirl was followed by a notable trail of bubbles. Then, across the flat, there was another. Tarpon. That distinctive dorsal atop an arcing deep jade back, brilliant in the morning sun. Not triple-digit fish, but always exciting. We slowly drifted, hoping for a roller within casting range. Just like that, it happened. A nice fish, fifty feet off the bow. I fired a cast, the fly plopping down amid the bubbles. "Count to six!" Kevin whispered. "Strip, strip, stop!" Stop, indeed. I needed no instruction in that instant, when the fly felt as if it had been stripped in to a bridge piling. Not fully realizing what was happening, I instinctively strip-striked, hard. The nine-weight bowed deep, to the cork. A massive swirl in the tannic water. Line zipped through the guides with powerful headshakes. And then, in the next instant, that gorgeous shimmering lightning bolt of a fish is launched in to the air. The moment freezes, a still frame of experience, seared deeply in to my memory.

It was all over as quickly as it began. My line slack, my heart pounding, my legs weak, shaking. It is one of the greatest moments in fly fishing. I sat down on the bow to compose myself, breathing deeply of the thick, swampy air. I looked up at the familiar Florida sky, the clouds towering sails above the Gulf of Mexico. It was time to begin preparing for the long trip back to Wyoming, and the contrast here couldn't be more stark. Southwestern Florida is a different world, a distinct one. I reflected on the birds, colors, elements subtle and intense. It isn't easy, but rewarding. I'm eager to get back home to Kel and the unfolding Wyoming summer, but I leave this corner of Florida still wanting more. I will return, next spring, for a dedicated effort to land a tarpon on the fly.

I hope yesterday's and today's small sampling of photos help better tell the story.

What It Is All About
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Dawn: Ten Thousand Islands
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

White Egret and Cumulus
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Gunning From the Bow
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Sunrise Snook
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Sun, Sand and Snook

2011-06-28T10:01:00.000-06:00

There's much to write of this past week's time in southwestern Florida. In fact, I've got a pretty good outline for what might be a decent story. There's the intense heat and suffocating humidity. The usual ups and downs of trying to find fish. The many contrasts. But, these posts reporting on the trip will be on the short side. This is a photo blog, and I'm going to get right to the point.

This post, and the next, will include a small sample of photos from the set. For this one, I'm going to highlight the experience of fly fishing Gulf shore beaches for snook. This was the primary objective for the trip. For me, it was a completely new experience. Throughout the week, the beaches on Sanibel were pummeled by a southwest wind, churning up the troughs where snook would otherwise be cruising, sight-fishable targets. A brief foray to the luxurious white sands of Boca Grande provided the sought-after sight fishing, but few feeders. There, the excitement of chasing pods of fish while dodging tourists, umbrellas, and beach toys was an experience in itself.

Enjoy the photos. There will be more tomorrow.

Passage to the Gulf
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Slow Sanibel Sunrise
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Sanibel Point Light
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Company on Boca Grande
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Snook: From the Surf
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Farewell Florida

2011-06-25T13:58:00.001-06:00

Sitting here at the airport in Fort Myers, waiting to get on a flight for the first leg of the long journey home. Though it begins this afternoon, it will be tomorrow before I can finally join Kel back at the ranch. It's been a full week of Florida fishing, and there's a lot to report. I ended up without internet access for the week, which made on-the-fly blog updates impossible.

As you might expect, the days were characterized by long hours amid staggering heat and humidity. A persistent southwest wind destroyed beach/surf fishing on Sanibel Island, and messed up outgoing tides elsewhere. I'm minus one Xi2 seven-weight to the Sage warranty repair department. Still, persistence, hard work, and the incredible guidance of Capt. Kevin Merritt for a couple of days salvaged the week. No remarkably big fish were landed, but we found plenty of action, and saw some beautiful water. I won't go in to great detail right now, but will cover with the next couple of posts.

I hope everyone has had a great week, and I'm looking forward to catching up with you all in the days ahead. Of course, there are plenty of photos to go through, and I am hoping for some good stuff.

Ten Thousand Islands Snook
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

From the Road: Transitions

2011-06-20T11:11:00.001-06:00

By the time this post goes live, I'll be settling in to southwestern Florida and preparing for some saltwater fun. I'll be photographing a new set of fly fishing adventures during the week ahead. I won't go in to more detail just yet, but trust there will be posts during the week documenting the experience.

From where I sit right now, in Denver International Airport, the time leading up to this trip's departure has passed at a head-spinning pace. Needless to say, there hasn't been a lot of fishing. Last week, I was camped out on one of my favorite Wyoming streams for a couple of nights. The water was very high: roaring, brown. I didn't have time enough to hike upstream to explore some of its better tributaries, but we'll get back there again soon enough. Meanwhile, the wildlife was plentiful - elk, antelope, deer, moose. Wildflowers were abundant. Despite the postcard scenery, I snapped this shot on a rainy, windy and cool afternoon. I got the sense that the bee was probably feeling much like I was at the time... Wait it out - it's just a matter of time before things turn.

Bee & Iris
Copyright 2011 schnitzerPHOTO

Reflecting on calendars and milestones

2011-06-20T07:07:00.003-06:00

According to the calendar, we just sailed past the halfway point of the year. It seems to come up fast when the high country is still getting hit with snow. In many locations throughout Wyoming, aspen leaves appeared just a week or two ago. When marking the halfway point, it always seems that the promises held by the latter half of the year unfairly weight the calendar. Summer has yet to really arrive, as runoff is still in full-swing throughout much of the northern Rockies. Fall - steelhead season, hunting season - warrants consideration on its own, yet, at present, seems out beyond the horizon of comprehension. Still, we hurtle ahead. Before too much more time passes, I want to reflect on some of the highlights from the first six months of 2011:

1. There have been travels. Beyond Wyoming, I've been to Arizona, Colorado, Florida twice, Minnesota (now twice, as well), Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington DC. The big trip was Colombia. International travel is always memorable, and this one was spectacular.

2. Published in The Flyfish Journal and featured on nationalgeographic.com, among others. A trend I hope continues.

3. Caught some beautiful fish. Despite rocky weather through the spring, we still managed to get after it.

4. Celebrated three years of marriage. Better than winning the lottery year after year.

5. Ran my first half-marathon in more than a decade. Finished sixth in my age group, and sixteenth overall. Not too bad.

6. Celebrated my father's retirement. 38 years of hard work. Now, the greatest man I know can relax a bit.

7. 300th blog post. Failed to note it at the time, but time does fly.

8. 20,000 unique visitors to this site, and counting.

Thanks to everyone who visits, and here's to an exciting and memorable second half of the year. If you have a minute, please let me know what you think, or just say hello. It helps me to hear what things catch your eye, or prove to be helpful.

I'm fortunate to have connected with some new blogging friends this year, and want to say a special thanks to these kind folks. The next six months promise more change, growth, and opportunity, and I look forward to documenting as much of it as possible.

Crow Sunrise Ceremony: Heart Mountain Ranch

2011-06-17T13:39:00.000-06:00

I mentioned that I was doing a shoot near Cody last weekend, and I have been unable to get to the shots until just now. Though there is still plenty of work to do in order to get through the entire set, here are a couple that initially stand out. It was an honor to be a part of the ceremony, and I hope these images serve as an appropriate acknowledgement to the Crow People, for whom Heart Mountain is sacred.

Grant Bulltail
Crow Tribal Elder

Tech Notes: ISO - What It Is, And Why You Should Care

2011-06-17T10:15:00.000-06:00

As you read through the various Tech Notes thus far, and if you've spent any kind of time exploring the various functions of your digital camera, you know there are a lot of settings to understand.

In digital photography, with the full image processing and editing power of software such as Adobe Lightroom / Photoshop, Apple Aperture, Phase One Capture, and others, there are few things that you can't change about your photo after it is taken. Composition can be amended by cropping. Filters can be applied. Sharpness, brightness, contrast, color balance can all be tweaked. Colors can be enhanced, or you can switch between color and black-and-white. The elements that CANNOT be changed are those it makes sense to emphasize in your learning and practice. These things include exposure, aperture setting (f-stop), shutter speed, and your ISO "film" speed. ISO speed is a fundamental photographic principle, integral to the quality of the final image. It is what we're talking about in this Tech Notes.

ISO is the common short name for International Organization for Standardization. Why the letters don't match up to the name is something I have not been compelled to learn. Back when photography was primarily film-based, the various film manufacturers (Kodak, Fuji, Ilford, etc) produced film in different speeds. Because photographers needed the measure of film's sensitivity to light to be uniform across brands, ISO became the arbiter for ensuring all ISO speeds to met a standard set of criteria, and performed to certain standards. The higher the ISO number, the greater the sensitivity to light. This is the principle I want you to remember.

I'd be willing to bet that most, if not all, of you shoot digital. As such, you've read through the first two paragraphs, and may be wondering how this is relevant to you. Digital cameras utilize an equivalent to ISO. The setting adjusts the digital sensor's sensitivity to light based on ISO measure. Most digital cameras are set up to automatically adjust your ISO based on the metered exposure, or the amount of light it is picking up through your lens. Very few folks have changed their ISO setting from Auto, which will work just fine much of the time. But, here are a couple things to consider: First, many digital cameras have ISO settings ranging anywhere from ISO 50 to ISO 6400 or more. That's quite a spectrum. And, you'd be right if you guessed that the higher end of that spectrum becomes increasingly specialized with regard to its applications. It is also an area of digital sensor technology that separates a $400 camera from those costing thousands of dollars. This is due to the sensor itself, and the amount of information it is able to record and process even at high ISO values. Digital photographs shot using high ISO values introduce the element of "noise," which is the digital equivalent of film grain. Digital film grain is less aesthetically compatible to a photographic image and far less endearing than actual film grain.

We're still talking about fly fishing photography here, which generally relates to any form of outdoor photography. You don't get a lot of second chances with hero shots. Understanding when and how to manipulate your ISO settings will give you the confidence to proceed even under challenging lighting conditions, such as dawn and dusk.

To get to the point, I'm going to give a couple ISO guidelines:
1. Unless you're shooting a high-end DSLR, generally try and avoid an ISO setting of higher than 1600. If you use a point-and-shoot, try and avoid going higher than ISO 640.
2. DSLR users, you can set an upper limit to your Auto ISO setting. I encourage you to do so.

High ISO speeds can be useful in very specific circumstances. But, the price you pay for hand-held shutter speed, or the ability to "freeze" action in low-light situations may be image quality. Though the examples below aren't fly fishing photos, I think you'll get the idea. Things really go awry when you try to enlarge a "noisy" photo. In conclusion, try to avoid relying on high ISO settings. Exercising discipline with your other light-related fundamentals such as shutter speed and aperture will ensure better photographs without resorting to electronica to render the image.

Here's a comparison of what I mean by "noise" resulting from high ISO (left image), against the same image taken with a more reasonable ISO setting:

ISO 8000

ISO 640

Busy Times

2011-06-12T21:52:00.000-06:00

Lots of road time lately, which included a shoot this past Saturday at Heart Mountain near Cody, Wyoming. Really beautiful setting, and a unique photographic opportunity.

The problem is that we have a backlog of garden work at home, and I'm heading back out on the road on Monday morning for meetings afield and away from the computers. Upon returning on Wednesday, I'll try and get a few shots up from the past week. I also have a new Tech Notes installment ready to run on Friday, June 17.

I'll get back out in front of things after June 19. Thanks for your patience and understanding, and, most of all, thanks for visiting.

More Signs of a Wyoming Summer (Thankfully)

2011-06-08T10:55:00.000-06:00

In addition to wildflowers, such as the paintbrush from a couple posts back, there are some other notable signs that the summer season is very nearly upon us. Sure, it may seem well in to summer in many other places - even some not too far off here in Wyoming. But, I heard from a friend today in Montana who was looking at more fresh snow on some of their mountains, and the heights of the Wind River Range to our immediate west still appear to be gathering snowpack. Here at the ranch, at 6000 feet, patience is key. However, just yesterday, I had a couple other seasonal messengers hanging out around the house. Both allowed me to get close enough for photos.

The muley buck above is a regular at our place throughout the year, save for several weeks between October and November. He's part of our local "herd," which is comprised of anywhere between fifteen and twenty-five animals, a handful of which are bucks. At this point in the season, we are just able to begin to see what kind of a "rack" he'll have to display later in the year. I think I have one of his sheds from last year, and he should make it to a small four-by-four this year.

In a more unusual occasion, and one that is worth capturing, a solo pronghorn antelope buck also passed through the property. They're moving around quite a bit right now, with the females beginning to give birth. And, we have a herd that frequents the general vicinity. But, it is rare that they appear up at our place, and even more rare to be visited by such a fine buck as this one.

With temperatures hitting the mid-eighties this week along the Lander Front, a lot of snow has let loose, and the landscape is carpeted with as bright a green as you'll ever see in Wyoming. That grass is growing fast, the rivers remain high and muddy, and we've got tons of garden work. But, we'll find some fishable water yet.

Supporting My Local Trout Unlimited Chapter

2011-06-07T16:04:00.000-06:00

Happiness Is...
Limited-Edition (Signed and Numbered) Giclee Print on Ilford Classic Pearl, #6 of 25

My local TU Chapter, the Popo Agie Anglers, is having their annual barbeque and auction fundraiser on June 18. As I did last year, I'm donating a 13" x 19" matted print (above) to the cause. Based on the feedback from last year, this particular edition served its intended purpose by piquing the interest of the younger banquet-goers, the folks in my peer group. This is a key group to get more involved, and I hope this print once again sends that message. Fly fishing is a lifestyle, and those who are passionate about fly fishing are also deeply-rooted in conservation. We also know how to have fun with it.

If you're in Lander, WY on June 18, let me know if you'd like to attend and need a ticket or two.

June in Wyoming

2011-06-07T08:08:00.000-06:00

After spending last week in Minnesota, our return trip home took us through North Dakota and Montana before turning south at Billings for the home stretch. We stopped near the MT-WY boundary to get the dogs out for a bit, and to stretch our own legs. There, the high desert basin was already sun-parched, in stark contrast to the brilliant snowy crest of the Beartooths to the west. Recent warmth during our absence drew out a colorful showing of Wyoming's state flower, paintbrush. This harbinger of summer, against the backdrop of that wild and beautiful mountain range, was too good to pass up.

Here's to hoping for more summer weather, and all the good stuff that goes along with it. We'll get back to fishing in the very near future.

Tech Notes: Composition and the "Rule" of Thirds

2011-06-06T11:01:00.002-06:00

The very first installment of Tech Notes discussed composition. This is the second in that series, which will likely contain many more on this complex topic.

Photography 101 in any form - class, text, web tutorial - will eventually cover what is referred to as the "Rule of Thirds." This refers to the division of the photographic frame - what you see in the viewfinder - in to three parts. Here's what it looks like in the horizontal (landscape) position:

For vertical, or portrait, orientation, just flip it up on end. Same deal.

The "rule" part refers to the balance of composing a subject with respect to the division of these three sections of frame. Once again, this is where you'll benefit greatly from the use of your viewfinder grid. However, here is where things start to get kinda messy. Balance is subjective. Sure, much of the time, composing your photograph per the "rule" will generally yield pleasing results. Employing this discipline is a fundamental step in moving beyond casual snapshot photography. Here are some examples of how it works:

Remember, the EYES of your subject determine how you should balance your composition!

But, is the whole thirds thing really a "rule?" Of course not. There are few rules that pertain to photography. The fewer you adhere to, the more creative freedom you will realize. I think a good photograph does three basic things well: 1) It commands attention; 2) Is technically sound; and 3) Effectively tells a story, meaning it gives viewers an opportunity to identify with and be a part of that story. If a photograph delivers on those three points without following the "Rule" of Thirds, it is still a good photograph. That said, I encourage you to look through photographs that you consider "good" with this information in mind. Does the concept of thirds apply? How? Where are the exceptions? I think you'll be surprised at the prevalence of this association.

I strongly urge you all to play around with your composition. Adhering to "rules" may work in a traditional portrait studio, but it risks turning pretty bland for hero shots or fish heads. Out on the stream, with a big fish story to tell and a dialed-in camera at the ready, YOU make the rules.

Minnesota: Sunshine, Bluegills and Bass

2011-06-01T16:29:00.000-06:00

It's been a long time since I've strung up a fly rod in Minnesota. A really long time. We were sidelined by weather for the first couple days of our trip to the native land, but today we had a chance to sneak away to one of the area lakes. This is just good, simple fishing. No PhDs among the crowd. Don't overthink it - just strap on a bugger, pitch it to a weed edge, and tighten up. One hundred percent pure fun. It's got me thinking about a bluegill fish fry, for which my desire and fondness of memory have not dulled over time.

We did not go home disappointed. More water time tomorrow, and hopefully a few more photos.

HF Bar Ranch

2011-06-01T07:09:00.002-06:00

Last week, I had an opportunity to spend a couple of days at one of Wyoming's premier guest ranches, the HF Bar. If you are looking for a real-deal place for family fun, or corporate retreat, the HF Bar represents a top-shelf option. It is situated in a beautiful valley between Sheridan and Buffalo on the eastern flank of the Big Horn Mountains - prime for fishing, wildlife and bird watching, and spending time astride a horse, if that's your thing.

Now that it is June, and summer plans are being made, a lot of folks are headed to Wyoming guest ranches to experience some of the best the state has to offer. If any of you are out there getting after some of that private water fishing, I'd love to hear of your experiences.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T07:02:00.001-06:00

I'm spending this Memorial Day with family in Minnesota, the place of my birth. My home town is also the same place where my great great grandparents homesteaded in the late 1800s. My family's roots here run deep. Being here on this day of observance is also a chance to recognize my grandfather, a veteran of the second World War. He was a great man, and had a profound influence on me as an individual and an angler. Together with three generations of family, we visited his resting place. There, quietly, we all reflected on what this day means, and gave thanks. Thanks for all who serve this country, and deepest gratitude for a grandfather who was familiar with great sacrifice.

Tech Notes: Shutter Speed

2011-05-27T10:23:00.001-06:00

Shutter Speed and "S Priority Mode"
First, a bit of background. The shutter is the mechanism that allows light, and thus the image data, to be recorded either on film or on a digital sensor. I suspect that the vast majority of you use digital, so I'll focus this information accordingly. A "fast" shutter opens and closes quickly; a "slow" shutter takes more time to do so. SLR cameras are generally capable of shutter speeds anywhere from 1/8000 of a second (super fast) to "bulb" exposures of 30 minutes or more (very slow).

So, how does "S Priority Mode" work? First, your digital camera is a pretty sophisticated little piece of equipment. It really is a purpose-built computer, capable of processing information and making parallel decisions accordingly. "S Priority" means that you are asking the camera to make shutter speed the primary decision point. All other settings will revolve around your selection of shutter speed. This means that if you choose a shutter speed of 1/4 second, the camera will work to select the appropriate aperture (f-stop).

When To Use "S Priority Mode?"
To answer this subjective question, I'll once again use "rules of thumb."
First, if you want to "freeze" action. Think of casting loops, loaded rod, jumping fish, and other fast-moving subject matter. This is particularly important when the available light isn't necessarily bright, but you still want to capture that action. Here is an example:

1/600 sec.

One of the more popular and impactful applications of manipulated shutter speed is often seen in fly fishing publications. You've all seen those shots where the river is a fluid ribbon of smooth movement, in stark contrast to a static landscape (or fish, or angler). It doesn't take much to slow the shutter enough to blur the flow of a river, but getting the desired amount depends greatly on how much light is available. Also, how slow you can go depends directly on the availability of a tripod, or other form of stable rest for your camera. Another example:

3 sec.

How?
Think of your camera's available shutter speeds on a spectrum. The faster end of the spectrum may begin at 1/400 second, and the slower end may begin around 1/8 or 1/4 second. I generally think of slow shutter speeds beginning at or near the point where hand-held shots become difficult without blur. There are no hard-and-fast rules associated with choosing shutter speed. That's one of the true beauties of digital - play with it until you've got it how you want it. By this, I mean practice by taking a stab at a shutter speed, using the spectrum to help guide your starting point. Review your shot. Adjust faster or slower depending on what kind of result you're after, and re-shoot. In doing so, you'll develop your own sense of which shutter speeds might work well in certain situations. As a result, you'll become increasingly efficient at dialing it in, and getting the shots you want.

Wrap-Up
That little dial on top of your camera is the heart of creative photography. I hope you find some opportunities to play around with shutter speed. I'll talk in more detail about aperture and the "A Priority Mode" in a future Tech Notes. Meanwhile, keep shooting, and let me know if you have any specific questions or challenges you'd like to see addressed here in Tech Notes.

Tight lines! -R

Minnesota Bound

2011-05-26T11:31:00.002-06:00

#4 Foam Hex Emerger, Schnitzer-Style

We hit the road tomorrow for Minnesota, the native land. With the hope of doing some fishing while we're there, I took to the vise to prepare a few extra flies in anticipation. Though the season is still a bit early, I couldn't help but re-construct some sentimental flies particular to that geography. The choices are many, and lake fishing generally opens up new and different realms.

There is one event in particular that can haunt dreams and make for some epic outings, if you know where to look, and when. The bug has gained almost mythical status over the years. Old-timers tell of hatches so prolific that vehicle grilles would be coated with their bodies when driving past certain lakes, streams. Everything about this insect is special. First, it is huge - #4-#6 adults. Like most mayflies, it is fleeting, lasting maybe two weeks, but perhaps only a couple of days at its peak. Its body is an almost-luminous yellow, with outsized sail-like white wings. Finally, and probably most magical: it typically hatches in the last moments of dusk, lasting in to night. Those who have fished the hexagenia limbata, or simply "hex," hatch know just how special it can be to blindly throw huge imitations to surface-smashing rises exaggerated by the veil of darkness.

The hex is more than a hatch, it is an event. Think of it as the salmonfly hatch of the Upper Midwest, though even more elusive and sporadic. I don't anticipate seeing any hexes while on Minnesota water during the week ahead - the bug, if it shows, typically begins to pop around summer solstice at these latitudes. That didn't stop me from getting sentimental, though, and cranking out a few of these emerger patterns that have taken a number of fine fish in my past. It should be noted that this is a fly that not only works on big browns in the streams where hexes occur, but it is also a great pattern for smallmouth bass, walleye, and, if you are so inclined, carp.

Big Deal: National Geographic Photo of the Day

2011-05-24T17:12:00.004-06:00

Check it out - marquee treatment on National Geographic's photography page!

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/nuns-cartagena-colombia/

Today on NewWest.net: Featured Image #20

2011-05-24T07:38:00.000-06:00

That's right - schnitzerPHOTO is on the front page of NewWest.net today, and it is the 20th time I've been spotlighted with their "Featured Photo of the Day." Always a happy occasion, this little anniversary is even sweeter when it is an actual fishing photograph - this one from last week here in the Wind River foothills.

Sharing The Fun

2011-05-21T19:01:00.000-06:00

Just a shot to share what the back yard looked like late in the day on May 20, 2011. Below is the local hydrograph - I expect the trend to continue.

I hope everyone is enjoying the weekend, and here's to good days ahead.

Tech Notes: Flash Fundamentals, Part One

2011-05-20T19:01:00.060-06:00

The use of any form of manipulated light in your photography, including flash, is a complex subject. Books are dedicated to the topic. I don't intend to split hairs with Tech Notes, but there is a reason why I designate this as "Part One." I hope you'll find something useful.

How many times have you taken a picture with your point-and-shoot camera and had the flash fire? How many of those times did you make a conscious decision to use the flash? In fairness, most point-and-shoot photographers are happy to let "autopilot" do the work. You want exactly what the phrase "point-and-shoot" promises, right? That's just fine for most folks, for whom snapshots don't have to be works of art. However, I'm talking to angling photographers, here - this is potentially serious business. You've been working on your composition, your points-of-focus, and putting all the pieces together. Your spouse/friend/client raises the fish of the day for one glory shot, and you press the button. Boom goes the flash. The fish flops back in to the water. Oh well - another evil-pupiled, glow-faced, grip-and-grin holding an almost unrecognizable glaring-white fish. Maybe this is fine if it is one of your regular fishing buddies. But, you can do better. And, if the subject is your spouse or, even more importantly, client, you'll score some points in working toward figuring out this whole flash thing when it counts.

When?
There is a time and place for flash. It may help to reflect on what flash is intended to do: illuminate poorly-lit elements of a photograph, e.g. shadows. What constitutes "poorly lit" is subjective. That said, I find that folks tend to like "rules of thumb." Therefore, if you take one thing from this Tech Notes, it is this: If your subject is generally situated between you and the sun, you're probably going to need flash. If you, the photographer, are generally situated between the sun and your subject, DON'T USE FLASH.

Generic examples, starting with the bad (needs flash):

And, here's an example of a use of good, balanced flash:

Other rules of thumb:

If you want to "freeze" action/movement, use flash.
Generally, if you are indoors without natural lighting, use flash.*
If your fastest aperture is approximately f/4 or slower (higher number), the light isn't direct, and you aren't using a tripod, use flash.

*If you're using a lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 or faster (lower number), even indoors, first try shooting without a flash in "Aperture Priority" mode - the "A" on your control dial.

How?
Two different applications here - fixed flash, such as those on point-and-shoots and the "pop-up" flashes found on many SLRs; and auxiliary flash, such as the units used with DSLRs. Look for the button with a little lightning bolt-arrow symbol. Here, typical of many point-and-shoot cameras, it's the button on the right:

You'll generally have these options: No flash, Auto flash, Red-eye reduction flash, and all-in flash. Play around with it. I've found that I am either in all-in or all-out user of flash with a compact. Leaving it up to the camera can result in those frustrating shots where the flash fires when you don't want it, and doesn't when you do. When you find that you want the flash, you'll also probably have the option of selecting the intensity with which it fires. With the flash selected, use the +/- button to select the intensity on the scale of what is usually a maximum of +/-3. Here's one of the beauties of digital photography: shoot a frame, review it on the LCD screen. If it looks too bright (blown out highlights), dial back the flash. If it is still too dark, dial it up a notch or two. Re-shoot, and see what you think. With practice, you'll get a feel for it.

Exceptions
One word: silhouettes. If your intention is to make a silouhette, position the subject between yourself and the source of light, and play with it. Example:

A couple tricks and tips
If you want a "softer" effect from your flash, use a diffuser. There are many commercial solutions available - just do a search for flash diffuser. However, you can rig up a homemade one on the fly. If your camera has a pop-up flash, pop it up. Avail yourself of a small square of white (t-shirt, handkerchief) fabric - maybe 4"x4", but doesn't have to be exact, and secure it over the flash with a rubber band. This works fine for a few shots, and can save the day in a pinch. But, be careful if you're going to shoot many continuous frames - the heat from the flash could cause the fabric to burn.

Another trick to soften the light on your subject is to "bounce" the flash. This is generally only possible with an auxiliary flash unit. Point the flash straight up, and hold a white index card up behind the flash head (your side of the flash), or tape it there. You'll get a softened, broadened pattern of light.

In closing, I urge you to be judicious when it comes to flash photography. Generally speaking, I consider using flash as a "last resort" where fly fishing photography is concerned. I believe this could be said for most outdoor photography. Available light is almost always the best light.

You Don't Need A Weather Man...

2011-05-19T20:24:00.001-06:00

This is the juniper at the end of our driveway, around 7:00 am this morning. It snowed like that for much of the day. In fact, it's still snowing as I write this, and a lot whiter now than in the photo. Maybe six inches of fresh, cement-like slush have made a pretty good mess of things around here. Everyone likes a wet spring, and we've got one now.

Snow is in the forecast through Saturday morning. Looks like I might get some much-needed vise time.

Pre-Runoff Epilogue

2011-05-19T10:02:00.003-06:00

After making that last post, I hastily threw some gear together, rounded up the dogs, and set off amid the downpour to give it one last shot. Just before heading out, a friend pointed out the updated forecast. "Winter Storm Warning." Snow for the next couple of days. I needed no additional motivation. After skidding down the clay chute to the river's edge, it was immediately apparent that it had come up since last night. But, there was still a hint of clarity. Cold rain swept over in waves. Those old familiar butterflies in my gut.

I knew what had to be done. High, off-color water, cold and gusty wind... Not rocket science. A heavy nymph on point to dredge the ringer, a San Juan worm. With the river at this level, options are few. Work the banks. Good holes and seams are more pronounced. The dogs and I fought our way across the creek. As they went off in search of something to chase, I worked my way up to a nice deep seam. It didn't take long to tighten up to a stout, richly-colored and densely-spotted brown. Before too much time had passed, I caught and released three beautiful fish, and lost another. Rain streamed from my hood, my shoulders. The cold wind numbed my fingers. I couldn't stop smiling. That's what it is all about.

Just enough. Time still to head home and make dinner, and get a fire going in the wood stove. At the last creek crossing, it seemed that the river had come up even during the past ninety minutes. The rain came down harder, and continued through the night.

This morning, heavy and wet snow is piling up here at the ranch. No sign of it letting up soon. Relocation, anyone?

Neighborhood Fishing, and Keeping Tabs on Spring Runoff

2011-05-18T17:06:00.000-06:00

Rain. A steady, soaking rain that hasn't let up since morning. Looks like it could continue straight through the evening. In this part of Wyoming, one generally sees only a handful of days such as these each year. At this point in May, with the mountain snowpack hovering at around 125% of normal, this could be it. The long, cool prelude to runoff may well be over. By tomorrow morning, the main event could be upon us.

We got out last night - just a few casts, checking things out, to see how close the local creek is to being blown out. Close, but not quite. Some color, and definitely more velocity, but fishable. No bugs in sight, no signs of near-surface activity in the heavy water. Nymphing seams and tight to undercuts gained the attention of some small fish. Just before packing it in, I let a heavily-weighted San Juan worm dump over a shelf and in to a tight corner. I tightened up on a good fish, and saw its broad, golden tail flash the instant the fly popped free.

That might be the last fish I feel from this creek for a while. We'll keep a close eye on the situation, and take advantage of conditions as they permit. Otherwise, it is time to mentally prepare for, and possibly accept, the reality that runoff has begun. Even when it isn't fishable, I'm grateful to know we've got a neighborhood creek, one that has provided us time and again, and it will be there with bursts of caddis and stoneflies when the water recedes.

Well, maybe I'll string up and head down just once more.

schnitzerPHOTO in National Geographic?

2011-05-17T17:01:00.001-06:00

It could happen. Last week, National Geographic and I agreed to terms for the possible use of one of my images. That is by no means a guarantee that it will, in fact, be published by NG. However, the image has been licensed for consideration by their editors for "print and/or electronic reproduction." It will also be included in NG's renowned collection of stock photography.

Pretty cool. Should it actually find itself in print, or used in one of NG's outlets, I'll be sure to post about it here.

Catching Up

2011-05-17T06:36:00.002-06:00

Head-spinning. Sucked in to a vortex of work and travel, and without a spare minute. Well, there are maybe a scant few spare minutes, but those have also been committed before they even drew near. I finally returned home this past Saturday around midday, road weary. Spent a bit of time on the bike with Kel before exhaustion took over. Now, at this point in the training season, Sunday is "long run day." As such, we headed out to a local dirt road that features a healthy dose of vertical, and each did our eleven miles. Stack on top of that a once-over for the homestead's ephemeral (thankfully) lawn and some garden work... Actually, to call the semi-grassy area surrounding our structures a lawn is an exaggeration. Out here, even when it isn't a drought year, it is called "defensible space."

Anyway, here I am for a week at home, and ready for a little steady. I really appreciate your patience as I ride out this rough spot in the schedule.

While I've been out running around, spring has arrived at 6,000 feet in the Wind River foothills. Our daffodils, tulips and irises - those that we've been able to keep from the deer - are in their full colors. Twice now I've had to cut the grass. Birds are nesting, and the spectrum of green shades reflected by the high desert vegetation is near its apex. The garden is beginning to take shape - garlic is well on its way, maybe two weeks ahead of last year. Onions are eagerly shooting skyward. Fresh spinach for our salads. Varieties of peas are all showing early promise. Raspberries are beginning to leaf out; asparagus is tentatively poking forth. The rhubarb has launched its annual campaign. The work is just beginning.

One thing we won't have to worry about just yet is irrigation. The forecast is calling for rain straight through to the weekend. This could usher in Runoff 2011 in serious fashion. Wet or no, I'm going to sneak out for a bit tomorrow or Wednesday to get just a little fix before things get really high and muddy, and remain so until late June.

Some good stuff to report on this week, and Tech Notes will be back this Friday with a post about when and how to use flash for your fishing photography. I hope you've all been well, and thanks again for reading.

Not a Fishing Trip

2011-05-14T07:05:00.002-06:00

So happy to be headed home today, and hopefully salvage some semblance of a weekend.

Wyoming Outdoor Council Events Calendar

2011-05-11T22:34:00.000-06:00

Recently, the schedule has been out of my hands. Again, I apologize. I generally try to keep things more current than what this week has allowed. I'm on the road in DC until Friday evening, and, fingers crossed, will be back home for a "normal" week beginning Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, I haven't been able to even piece together a fly rod, let alone get much photo work done.

This isn't to say that I haven't shoehorned in some work, but talking about that will have to wait a bit. Meanwhile, there has been some reasonably good news on the photo front during the past week. I'll start it off with this: Wyoming Outdoor Council, for whom I contributed a few pieces included in their 2011 calendar, has incorporated the calendar's cover shot for their 2011 events brochure. Here is the graphic, again featuring my beautiful wife:

Tech Notes: Horizons

2011-05-07T09:35:00.002-06:00

This will be a rather brief Tech Notes, touching on a very common and easily correctable photographic faux pas: UNLEVEL HORIZONS. Now, before you get too worked up about it, there are shots when you might purposefully distort the horizon in composing an angled frame. Fine. What I'm talking about today is the standard composition, with horizontal planes that are slightly, noticeably off-level. This isn't a problem with all compositions, but should be a concern for the angling photographer. We tend to spend a lot of time in landscapes with very hard horizon lines, such as the surface of a body of water.

I bet you've all seen this. It is one of the technical "ticks" that exclaims "bush league" from what might be an otherwise good photograph. Being off just a couple of degrees distracts the viewer's eye from the subject / message. Here's what I mean:

BAD:

GOOD:

THE FIX:

I advocate exercising discipline when shooting. This is a fundamental compositional issue. I like to use the viewfinder grid, and I encourage all to try it. To find this feature in most cameras, go to your settings menu / display options / enable or display grid. Even basic point-and-shoot compacts will have this feature. With more advanced DSLRs, you might also have access within your custom settings to a "virtual horizon" when using your LCD, or "live view" display. Whichever tool you use, just try it, and see how your composition improves.

THE CHEAT:
Of course, digital photographic images are generally processed using a software package. For example, I use Adobe Lightroom 3 to process my RAW files. If a horizon line seems a bit off when I open a RAW file, it is a very quick-and-easy fix using the "crop" tool to re-align the horizontals with the preview grid. Other software may have you draw a straight line on a horizontal reference, from which the image will be re-aligned. All of that said, PLEASE try to do as much work as you can "in-camera," while shooting. Doing so will make you a better photographer, and produce more satisfying images with less time spent in processing. Less time on the computer means more time on the water or more flies tied at the bench.

Now, all of this said, this isn't a "hard-and-fast" rule. Distorted horizons and radically-angled compositions have their place in creative photography. But, like using a fish-eye or tilt-shift lens, don't get hung up on novelty. Before you reach too deep in to the bag of photographic tricks, first discipline yourself with fundamentally sound composition. I promise that any expressive and impressionistic work to follow will benefit greatly.

That's it for this week's "Tech Notes." It is another hectic week of travel ahead, but I'll be checking in with a couple of posts to help numb the pain of being in DC for a few days while the brown drakes are hatching at home.

The Good Place

2011-05-03T16:51:00.001-06:00

The Good Place: Lander, Wyoming

Lander, Wyoming is a small town. Heck, Wyoming is a relatively small town. You are correct to then assume that Lander, like most of Wyoming, is a pretty tight-knit place. If they aren't at least acquainted, everyone who lives in Lander through the year pretty much recognizes one another. So, for a town that is pretty solidly anchored by hunters and anglers, I was initially surprised that there were very few gear shops. This could be attributed to the fact that the town doesn't need much more than The Good Place.

Proprietors Doug and Marla Lemm have served the community for many years, creating an institution for campers, backpackers, road-trippers, anglers and, significantly, hunters. They know their stuff. On occasion, I've drifted down there just to daydream a bit - I do enjoy my firearms - and maybe pick up a box or two of cartridges. Everyone who walks through the door is made to feel like an old friend, just as I did the first time I walked in there three years ago. Shops like these, and the good folks who run them, are the substance that belies community. For them, I am grateful.

The image of The Good Place was part of a shoot I did on behalf of the Brunton Group, based in nearby Riverton, Wyoming, and another solid member of Wyoming's outdoor community.

The Wilderness Society: 2012 Calendar

2011-05-02T06:28:00.001-06:00

I received word last week that the image above is going to be included in a 2012 calendar, this one for The Wilderness Society. Regular visitors might recall a photo reminiscent of this one that is in the 2011 Trout Unlimited calendar... The images are, in fact, from the same shoot, and include the same subject (thanks again, Liz). It must have been a good day for calendar shots.

The news is made a little sweeter knowing that it is going to support The Wilderness Society, the organization for which my good friend, Austin, now works in Alaska. Keeping it in the family, so to speak. TWS supporters, look for the calendar later in 2011.

A Tool, And Much More

2011-05-01T15:04:00.002-06:00

I once heard a well-known photographer respond to a question about his camera preferences by saying "I use a camera like I use a toothbrush - to get the job done." I understand that simple and detached view of a camera's purpose. It is a tool. A photograph exists first in the photographer's mind - a mere notion - before the camera, the lens, or the technology come in to play. Sometimes that vision is conceptualized over a great span of time. Yet, it can also appear as a whirlwind. Elements snap together in an instant, with just that much time to respond and capture it with the tool at hand. Through all of this, I don't feel any particular sentiment toward the photography gear. In fact, it is cold detachment. A set of tools.

That's the case with photography, and with many other tools specific to a trade. It is not, however, the case with fly rods. Why not? A fly rod is still an instrument of utility. I maintain that fly rods possess an element of magic that lies within their ability to connect and interact with anglers at a deeply personal level. What might be perfect for one angler may feel clumsy in the hands of another. To add to the complexity, fly rods are niche tools, refined for specific applications. When an angler dials in a perfect rod and fishes it in those situations in which it excels, casting a fly line becomes... Effortless. Something like ESP, to paraphrase the description an old friend used after slinging one of my 3-weights. The right rod, in the right hands and in the right situation has soul. When you see that loop unfurl with an impossibly light touch, you know what I mean. For these reasons, anglers develop special relationships with certain rods, some of them for a lifetime... Something that non-anglers find difficult to comprehend.

In any given line weight, an angler might find among the haystack of offerings one or two rods that, for that individual, will positively light up with that magic feel. Leaving aside the spectrum of offerings for the purposes of this illustration, let's consider the 5-weight. For the trout angler, a 5-weight is quite likely the most-used as an all-around rod. Any time I head to new water, or set out facing uncertain conditions, I'll bring a fiver. Over the years, I've had a chance to fish with more fives than any other line weight. Yet, there is one in my collection that combines those ethereal characteristics with profound sentiment.

This rod, an R.L. Winston LT 8'9" 5-weight, is an old friend. It is one of the finest rods I have cast, and destined to be an heirloom. I ordered this one in 2003, in the days following the passing of my grandfather. The reel seat insert is black walnut, as were the trees that grew in his Minnesota yard. Other than his family, my grandfather loved nothing more than fishing. I'm humbled to carry on in his name and with a love for fishing that he helped nurture. This rod is a symbol of that. Now in its ninth season of action, I am able to vividly recall the best times with my grandfather every time I string it up.

What stories do your fly rods have?

Tech Notes: Focal Lengths

2011-04-29T16:04:00.005-06:00

The purpose of this installment is to talk about how to utilize various focal lengths to add diversity to your fly fishing photography. This one is primarily geared toward SLR users, but those of you who shoot with compacts should still be able to apply the principles. It won't be a geek-fest about which lenses you need - you can find that kind of thing elsewhere, on camera-nerd sites. For these purposes, we'll stick to fundamentals, which break down as: wide-angle; "normal," or "mid-range;" and telephoto.

Full length - see how the Tetons are brought in to seem much closer?
ISO 200, 200mm, f/11, 1/500 sec.

Telephoto
These are the "long" lenses that come in a broad variety of forms. Typically, they're zoom lenses, covering some spectrum from a mid-range focal length (50-80mm) out to serious lengths (200-400mm). Fast apertures, particularly at the longer end of the zoom range, come at a cost. Inexpensive telephotos come with compromise - typically slow, meaning you'll have to use tripods or other rests, even with "Image Stabilization" or "Vibration Reduction." You'll also have to do some work to find the "sweetspot" in such lenses. Otherwise, they can be plagued by "soft" images, lots of light fall-off in the corners (vignetting), and slow autofocus performance.

You won't get this shot with a camera sticking in her face.
ISO 200, 200mm, f/10, 1/400 sec.

All of that said, you can find ways to make any telephoto work for you, provided you work within any given lens' limitations. One of the biggest advantages a telephoto offers is capturing detail from a distance. You can add dimension to that detail by paying attention to the background. At full length, a telephoto will draw distant objects in closer to your foreground subject, exaggerating a sense of depth and "drama" in the frame. It can also capture more "intimate" detail from a subject without having the camera uncomfortably close. To the left are a couple of examples, both shot at 200mm:

"Normal," or Mid-Range
This is generally the focal length spectrum from 35mm to around 70mm. The classic "normal" focal length in the 35mm format is 50mm. It is called "normal" because, in that format, it basically "sees" the same field-of-view as the human eye. Often categorized as "portrait" lenses in their fixed focal length form, these are typically much "faster" than mid-range zooms, and at a lower price point. These can also be relatively compact, particularly in contrast to protruding telephotos, making them great "carry-around" lenses. The performance can be really outstanding for a very small investment. A 50mm f/1.8 lens is often one of the most inexpensive lenses in a major manufacturer's line-up, yet perhaps the most versatile. Most importantly, it is a powerful learning tool, giving a beginning photographer the opportunity to create professional results.

Mid-range lenses, with their portrait pedigree, are terrific for emphasizing subjects. Faster apertures afford performance at very low levels of light (dawn, dusk) without using flash. Think "portraits" in the context of fly fishing - singling out and emphasizing a nice fish, or flexing a little creativity in to the typical "grip-and-grin." Here's an example:

Remember, focus on the eyes!
Fuji Velvia 50, pushed to ISO 100, 50mm, f/4, 1/250 sec.

Wide-Angle
These are the focal lengths that have long been the standby of landscape photographers for making "postcard" images. These are typified by focal lengths of a very wide 10mm to 35mm at the top-end. Somewhere in the middle of that range is where the most utility exists for the fly fishing photographer. Using a wide-angle lens offers incredible creative advantages, but they also have drawbacks. Beginning with the latter, you have to really be diligent in composing the frame. Even at 24mm, you're capturing a lot of elements. That can be distracting if you don't have a strong, clear emphasis on a subject, or a very well-balanced composition. Also, be careful of your feet/wading boots, shadows (including your own), and other astray elements from making their way in to the frame.

Emphasizing and really blowing out a subject is what a wide-angle lens does best. Such shots are more frequent in fly fishing publications now than ever before. On the wide end, shove the lens right in close to a subject (fish, face, etc), and see what happens. Don't worry about being technically perfect - you can find ways to let wide-angle distortion and flare work to make an image interesting. A subject like a fish becomes more than just a fish - it becomes a character, or an abstraction. Exaggeration that really punches. Here's a couple more examples:

ISO 200, 20mm, f/10, 1/800 sec.

ISO 100, 14mm, f/14, 1/600 sec.

With wide-angle lenses, practice, and find out how to make it work for you. With these lenses more than any others, let them lead you around a bit. Spend some time in the viewfinder, and play with your composition. There's a ton of fun to be had with wide-angle shots.

The Flyfish Journal v2.4

2011-04-28T19:55:00.005-06:00

It is always a great day when The Flyfish Journal arrives. Welcome Volume 2, Issue 4.

The day is made - way, way made - when I open to page 59 to see one of my images included therein. Yeah, I'm stoked. First, FFJ is, in my mind, a gold standard. I am in here with photographers I admire - Dave McCoy, Tosh Brown, Lucas Carroll, Mark Lance. Articles by the likes of Teton Valley savage Bruce Smithhammer (also of mouthfuloffeathers.com). My image is part of an article by the great Oregon-based writer Scott Sadil. It's all very humbling.

It is a great honor, and my day and month is made. Now, for those of you not familiar with one of the finest fly fishing publications in print, I hope you'll consider subscribing. It is well worth it. And, it gives the rest of us dirtbags an excuse to keep shooting and submitting.

More Images From the Weekend

2011-04-25T08:29:00.000-06:00

Just a few more images to share from the weekend. Enjoy.

A Rite of Spring

2011-04-24T22:14:00.003-06:00

Brown is Beautiful

Each year for the past several years, I've had the opportunity to fish a private stretch of river that is difficult to describe without hyperbole. Part of it is indeed the fishing - sometimes difficult, often very good, and, occasionally, unbelievable. Part of it comes from those with whom the experience has been variously shared: committed conservationists, statesmen, friends and colleagues. It is always memorable. It is situated in amid a striking landscape - wild, rough and colorful. It isn't easy. During warmer months, rattlesnakes are plentiful, as is poison ivy. In all seasons, thorny thickets tear at gear. Banks are choked with fly-grabbing alders and willow. It is a place for patience, no matter your abilities. Unlike days of fishing along a road, hopping in the truck to speed between runs, this river demands that it be experienced wholly on its terms. Hike in, pack for a full day. The rewards are that much sweeter.

Some years have presented more than one opportunity to fish here. However, scheduling a pre-runoff outing has been standard, essential. April is generally the month. Here in the Rockies, April is also solidly spring, which means fickle weather. I recall a couple years of 70-plus degree days. That was not to be the case this year.

I met up with friends to share in the fun, all quite familiar with the river and its potential. All had seen the weather forecast, and we braced ourselves accordingly. Saturday unfolded cool, gray and sullen, holding on to some of Friday's gusty winds. We dressed for winter steelhead, but strung up fours and fives for the river's browns, rainbows and cutt-bows. Despite the cold and wind, It didn't take long for lines to tighten on the first run.

As the day progressed, the weather deteriorated. Snowflakes, present throughout the day, pulsed through the canyon in dense swirls. Fish were had on streamers and nymphs. Around 3 pm, I spotted a couple of rises in a tight corner of a long pool. Working in to position, I sat and watched the surface, expecting minuscule midges to be on the menu. Within minutes, BWOs began popping en masse, forming little slate-winged flotillas that were being torn apart by enthusiastic fish. I added tippet, tied on an appropriate dry, and selected a riser. Almost too easy. The hatch lasted maybe 30 minutes. During that time, it was one after another, including the fish whose portrait heads up this post.

The day on the water ended as such days should, by slipping a fat and pretty fish back in to the current. Snow continued to fall, and intensified through the night. In the warmth of a little cabin, steaks and stories to wind it all down. Another spring with this river and its fish, distinct from all those that came before. Memories to carry forward for another year. Experiences that deepen the relationship I am lucky to have with this very special place. The road home, even on this snowy April dawn, is a bittersweet journey.

Toward a River

2011-04-22T12:50:00.001-06:00

The week's schedule dominated me, and I regret the lack of posts and the lack of photography since my return from Minnesota travels. I'm on the road today to a very special river, facing a very uncertain weather forecast. Forging ahead, I hope I am able to get some shots to go along with the story I look forward to telling of this stream.

I hope all is well with you all, and I hope there's a lot of fishing done elsewhere, in far more pleasant conditions.