#2 - The Willamette - 6.3.2014

It’s easy to check off the Willamette when it runs through the middle of your hometown.  Of all of the outdoor possibilities, the “town run” of the Willamette is an incredible gift to those inclined to explore close to home. 

Tuesday was our last half day of vacation so we decided to venture out one last time to check a few of our favorite spots between Alton Baker Park and the Beltline bridge.  At one of those spots, Jen landed and released her traditional birthday steelhead on a fly she designed and tied.  This was definitely her favorite present. 

The second fish was a sweet surprise and a great way to end the short trip on our home water of the Willamette River.

#1 - The Molalla - 6.2.2014

We had a full day to explore on the 50^th and decided to start out bold, exploring new water up north on the Molalla.  We took Barney, our faded purple Aire Super Puma, and were ready for a day of steelhead or trout fishing.  Our research told us to head to the Feyrer Park area, which was beautiful, but the river was running pretty low and it seemed we might spend the day dragging Barney over the rocks from hole to hole.  That didn’t sound like a fun birthday adventure, so we paid the daily fee and ditched the boat and trailer at the park and headed upriver.  The South Molalla Forest Road offers lots of places to pull off and fish some great riffles and pools.  In another month, I’m guessing those pools will offer some great summer swim spots.  For now, they yielded a handful of smaller trout and a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. 

Biggy on the Molalla

Upper Molalla

50 years and 50 rivers - an introduction

Milestone birthdays are important to celebrate and great excuses to do something extra special to mark the day.  Jen and I always thought we would celebrate her 50^th in the Caribbean casting to Bonefish, but two aging dogs shifted our 50 year party closer to home.  50 BY 51 is the gift of time and a passport of rivers to fish and explore over the next year.  We hope you’ll join us on these adventures and suggest a few rivers you think we should check out.  We promise to tell the stories, but we won’t give away all of the clues to your favorite places and fisheries.

The birthday passport