Tarpon in the Night

Timothy Burke • 5/11/156/2/15

Few things keep a fly fisherman on his toes late into the night. With a strong offshore breeze and the salty sea breaking against the shore even the darkest night holds great possibilities. Every cast with the clouser minnow skipping across sea foam and weeds is a blind effort to reach the Silver King.

The black water breaks with a gulp of delight and the small clouser is engulfed by the lurking tarpon. With an ariel display the jumps begin. I quickly learned the fly fisherman’s rule “bow to the tarpon” allowing the rod to ease the strain of the salty warrior. Jump after jump, after jump the show is on and the energy transfers to every nerve in your body. Leap up on leap either turns into a quick release or the triumphant landing of this spectacular fish.

Where the Road Ends

Timothy Burke • 4/14/156/12/15

Where the road ends the adventure begins. A short hike through sitka spruce and red cedars the river makes a sharp bend on its way to the pacific. On the inside of the rapids rests a soft blanket of slow moving currents perfect for a traveling steelhead to catch its breath. With a bright fly for the sunny day and a slow steady swing from the 11ft Meizer Switch it feels like heaven is near. Drifting off in a mid morning slumber I am instantly awoken to a disappearing loop and the throb of my rod as lightening strikes. A split second later the Hardy reel screams a frantic cry for help as an invisible river thief tries to steal the fly.

Game of Thorns

Timothy Burke • 4/9/156/12/15

With thick under brush, high banks, and a variety of black berry bushes the game of endurance leaves one picking thorns from sleeves and fingers. Below the barrier of briers is a gentle soft cobble strewn corner. With one simple swing over the top of a riffle covered bar the magic happens and a giant tug indicates a willing participant on the other end. With the battle in full swing it’s anyone’s game. At the end the feisty hen is returned to lay thousands of eggs.

Good Friday Double Banded Buck

Timothy Burke • 4/3/154/4/15

When the Sarg stepped into the river he immediately spotted a large old growth timber skimming the water at the bottom of the tail out. With conditions being low and clear and the skies filled with clouds and rain the choice fly was a purple marabou leech with a pink head. A long cast and a two stack mends sent the fly swinging perfectly down the face of the log. The Big buck lurking below came out of no where and devoured the purple leech. Lighting up the reel while running 75 yards down stream summer-salting all the way it was a beautiful battle.

On the Move

Timothy Burke • 3/29/156/12/15

With heavy rains and fish on the move staying in one run paid off for Todd and I. A willing hen tucked on a gravel shelf in the head of the drift and a lively buck in the belly of the run kept swung flies entertained and fisherman happy!

Big Carl

Timothy Burke • 3/28/154/2/15

In the bottom of the 9th (end of the day) with little energy left my buddy Todd hooked the fish of a life time. His tenacious spirit and persistency lead him to a 25 minute tug of war against an Olympic Peninsula giant. The battle ended in a fury of mixed emotions. With me on the oars trying to reach the shore in time to keep the giant steelhead from traversing the rapids. Todd reached down grabbing the tail of the fish to find out it was to large for his hand to grasp, in a split second the monster turned on its way to the deep. So in a last minute effort Todd pounced like a bob cat on the fish, water splashing, rod flying, the tussle ended in the blink of an eye and the fish swam away to it lair below. We named the 25 lbs steelhead “Big Carl” after a local friend who stopped over for a chat right before we hooked the fish. Battle pictures below…

Scout Trip

Timothy Burke • 3/20/15

I spent a day on the river with one of my best buddies and fishing mentor JR Hall. We had a great trip with plenty of action. We hooked 5 fish and lost two monsters. One of the greatest priveledges was to share life, stories, and enjoy a common interest. For me personally its been a difficult week with my dad (best fishing buddy) in ICU so it was nice to get away from the iv’s, breathing machines, smells, and anxiety of a sick loved one and loose myself on the river. Thank you JR and please pray for my dad Tom Burke!

Biggest Fish in Washington

Timothy Burke • 3/7/156/12/15

This Lake Tahoe native looked at me after landing a nice winter steelhead and said, “thats the biggest fish I have caught in Washington”. We had a blast yesterday telling stories, discovering new water, and I got to see the Californian take an unintentional dip in the water :). I feel blessed to spend a day with a great friend in a place created with us in mind!

What I Came Here For

Timothy Burke • 2/18/152/28/15

This central Oregon fisherman couldn’t contain himself when a big bright hen in the middle teens tore him up. He cried out “This is What I Came Here For” as the fish took off for the ocean. Used to beautiful steelhead from the Columbia River tributaries that average 6-12lbs the Oregonian got a taste of a Peninsula Power House. I think he’ll be back!

Fish-on, Fish-off, Fish-on

Timothy Burke • 2/18/156/12/15

Not sure the last time I heard “fish-on, fish-off, fish-on” all in the same sentence. I wasn’t sure who was more confuse, me, my brother, or the chrome lighting bolt trying to steal his fly.