I’m finally taking a bit of time to look back through the season’s photographs; doing somehow makes the season seem like even more of a blur.
The photo series I’m flipping through tonight opens with a plethora of shots of Craig, seen under a blanket of snow and ice and shots of my homely little apartment.
As the spring moved in, the scenery changes to a startling green, the road began to clear and the days grew a bit longer. Town grew busier – no longer ruled by locals on four-wheelers – but now home to suspiciously shiny new Escalades, rental cars and a fleet of beat up guide trucks and SUVs.
The shop crew traded out rain gear and Patagonia down for shorts and sun shirts, and muck boots were now replaced by flip flops. Boat drops now meant a welcome dip in the river instead of battling icy ramps and freezing ropes.
July came on full blast with the event of the Fourth. Headhunters threw a bomber of a party, starting ceremoniously at 10am with a chain of firecrackers set off in the street. The entire town of Craig – all thirty year round residents – was joined by tourists and anglers (really, one in the same; no one comes to Craig just to play tourist) for a day long party of fishing, food and, of course, copious amounts of alcohol. When I left, well past midnight, the party was still in full swing, and Joe’s bar was launching rockets in the general direction of the river.
Let me tell you, if someone had tried to invade Craig that night, they would have lost.
The rest of the summer was a blur of heat, long days in the shop and fishermen from across the globe. It was always entertaining to see who would walk through the shop door and what questions they would pose. For some things, there was simply no way to be prepared…
Looking back at the season, it was filled with some of the most awesome people I have ever worked alongside, some of the most incredible, harsh scenery I’ve been witness to and endless days and nights of fishing. For this crew, life revolves around trout. Trout at work. Trout at play. I imagine they even dream of trout. I know the aquatic friends have found their way into my dreams recently.
So here’s to a great season on the mighty ‘Mo, and a hell of a highlight reel. And the book project that looks to be evolving out of it.
Cheers.
