The UnGuided~ Season 1 Episode 1 The Naknek

Gov asked me to write about my experience on the Naknek; but I cannot. That whole trip was a roller coaster ride, at times I even thought of throwing up (Eddies Restaurant, don't get the Reuben).
That river, oh that river; she gives and takes away. Fickle as a ...(insert favorite noun)... her blustery moods can destroy, she can give up her jewels from the crystal water, or she can write you a $200 ticket. Either way, you'll never forget her. She will forever haunt you. There, I did have something to write.

Here it is.. Episode 1

The UnGuided: Pilot (unedited)

Here's the Pilot episode for the upcoming (after editing) new reality show.  Anyway, this is a quick peek at some raw footage. I'll see if I can put something together in a few weeks, or at least wax poetic (Guv'na's raison d'etre), till then.. enjoy Naknek Chrome! Narration courtesy of Mikey.

Sometimes the Dog bites your Behind!

I only write this to document the conditions of BC on 5-5-11. The feelings are still to close to the surface, for me to speak or write about the events of that day.

Every Dog has it's day

It seemed to happen so often I can't now exactly remember the details, but the memory is basic. I'm at work, toiling away, in another meeting, grinding out an existence. The phone rings, and it's Pablo and the Mule. They are drunk with a cocktail of exhaustion, satiation and red bull. The signal is broken up because they are just now on the saddle above brown sugar, overlooking the Reservoir.... "Greatest..... huge browns..... man o man.... super slow motion..... monster head rising...... just tore down to the backing..... best day.... huge browns.... best day..... man o man..... just sucked in the fly..... saw this behemoth... behind rock....." Eventually the signal would drop and I'd feign throwing my phone through a window.

There is balance in the universe as Pablo and the Rook (need to change his nick to "facilitating SOB") got blanked for 6 hours on BC and two days later, on a lark really, I head out to JFork for a quick jaunt and bust chops. You know it's good when your royal wulf's ears are hanging off his butt from the mauling.

I won't rub it in, cause heaven knows I've spent many hours with tired legs stumbling aimlessly over rocks and aching shoulder with nothing to show, and I'll have another of those soon enough, but for now, the sun is shining on this dogs elk hair behind!

Best Fish, Worst Story

The story, our lives are about the stories. I wish this trout had a better story, it deserves a better story. It deserve a brutal slog through a torrential downpour, a long wait to spot it, an even longer cast and perfect swing to elicit the take and then the epic battle. What it got was a guide (yah, I know, how can there be a story with a guide on the unguided- my head is hanging in shame) motoring Steve and I over the "glory hole" with 8" spoons trolling 20 yards behind the boat. No sooner had we fixed our lines I started to tell about the last time I trolled for Stripers on Smith Mountain lake with a foul mouthed, idiot of a guide (there it is again) in a bitter wind for 8 hours....as soon I said, "I hate trolling" the rod in my hand jolted like I'd snagged a tree and instantaneously this rainbow began an acrobatic display fit for the cirque du soleil. It was incredible, and I admit I gave Steve STRICT instruction that his filming must not show the bait casting rod in my hands or the guide at the helm. Of course those were impossible orders and in the one shot you can even hear him say, "your going to have to SENSOR that, I think I got the pole in it". That is hysterical, Steve- what a great sport.

Ok, well, I guess this biggest 'Bo of mine does have a story- just not the one I would have like, but the one I got. And such is life- at least my life.

Midnight on the Kvichak

Funny when the year mark is creeping up on a trip, all pain, sorrow and suffering is forgotten, all fish are big, the weather is great, the companionship unparalleled and you want to go back in the worst way.. THEN you watch the footage! Not even that snickers bar (number 26 as I recall) could improve Pablo's mood. THIS, THIS is why we are the UNGUIDED.

I'm reading my fish journal from before and after this trip. I am hoping that all this experience is teaching me to slow down, enjoy the moment, whatever it may be and just let it flow. I've spent so many years and trips all keyed up and anxious- creating totally unrealistic expectations in my mind which must invariably be dashed and only in hindsight can I appreciate what did happen.

It's a Sockeye! Pt. 2