The discovery of the rainbow trout came about, as most significant discoveries do, during a search for something else. The US government was looking for salmon to restock the decimated Atlantic Salmon of the eastern US.  Oregon was mentioned as a source of salmon, but there was some doubt, as everyone knew that pacific salmon do not take a fly. In fact, according to the story, Britain ceded the Oregon territory to the US because the brother of  Lord Aberdeen was skunked on a fly fishing trip to Oregon. Who needs fish if they won’t take a fly? Who needs Oregon if you can’t catch the fish with a fly?

Now, with all our modern technology and rich history, we know that getting skunked on a fly fishing trip to Oregon is not unheard of. The last time I was skunked, I thought of ceding my spey rod to the river, but not the whole territory…

This particular book was pretty cool to start reading. I opened it for the first time this weekend, on the banks of the Upper Sacramento river.  The story opens with some guys from Washington DC traveling to Red Bluff by railroad, then to the McCloud river by stage coach. They went to find salmon; what they discovered was Rainbow Trout.

I’m a couple of chapters in, and have really enjoyed a few nuggets of prose.  Instead of a a book review, I thought I’d share these nuggets as I come across them.

The first was not written by Anders Halverson, the author, but instead  written by someone else, quoting someone else. The Foreword was written by Patricia Nelson Limerick, where she shares this quote from James Madison:

“As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other”

Wow. We get all worked up and passionate about those things that are important to us: water management policies, vice-presidents, indigenous species populations, and the annual budget of the Department of Fish and Game.   Who would have thought we could get all indigent over the budgeting process for land use agencies in Idaho? Well, Madison did. We know the best way to manage state parks because those decisions potentially impact our access to Millionaire’s Pool.

Will the Firehole drain into hell? Or as Jamie Farrell of the University of Utah says, just an interesting event to study earthquakes.  (hey, didn’t he play Corp Klinger?)

Opening day is 4 months away. Check back then for an eye-witness report.

Jake Pool-4101, originally uploaded by WhiskeyCreek.

Jake, the German Shepherd pup has learned to open drawers. Specifically, that drawer which held a dozen chicken necks. No, not the chicken necks with a brand name like Perdue, and stuffed inside a $4 fryer chicken. These were necks with brands like Whiting and Metz.

The pup has expensive taste. (well, besides horse poo – but that is a different blog post)

The bright spot, the grizzly neck was about 80% used up already and just lost some spade feathers and some quills for mosquito bodies.

Well, at least I can use his tail for Clouser minnows:

Nothing is better for thinking than Steelheading.  The steady mantra of Cast, Mend, Step Downstream is almost never interrupted by a fish. The repetition clears your mind. The flowing water cleanses your soul.

Yes, I went steelheading over the weekend, and had plenty of time to think…

The state agency that oversees Harriman state park may be “reorganized”, which puts a lot of uncertainty in the park. According to the press release from the Henry’s Fork Foundation:

Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has proposed the elimination of general funding for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) as part of the 2010 state budget. The elimination of IDPR potentially means the loss of public access to state parks and facilities all over Idaho, including the world-famous Harriman State Park in Fremont County.

…According to State sources, the Governor has recommended that responsibility for park maintenance be transferred to the Idaho Department of Lands, with a goal of continuing to operate state parks.

This may be a rational reorganization of the management team that operates the Idaho state parks. These are tough times economically, which reduces state income, and rational organizations adapt to live in their means.

But then again, bureaucrats are making these decisions. Bureaucrats tend to base decisions to protect the bureaucracy, not little things like reason, wild trout, angler access,  and preserving nature for future generations.

Damn straight that anyone who visits that slice of heaven known as “The Ranch” has the right to be concerned.

Its time to break out that hope.

CES 2009 Duck Hunter indoor toy from Ars Technica on Vimeo.

Those mechanical duck wings look good for tying mayfly spinner wings or nymph wing cases.

DSC05785, Kendall-Jackson Wine Center, Santa Rosa, California, USA, originally uploaded by jimg944.

The Kendall Jackson winery has figured out how to keep their wine production clean with less water. They will be saving 6 million gallons of water.

This means there are 6 million gallons of water more for the Salmon & Steelhead of the Russian River.

Three Cheers!