So Im home form a life changing 3 months

[youngbuck307]

So I have been home for a few weeks now so thought I better get on here and see how you all are doing.


So for the people who dont know I was offered a opertunity of a life time through another forum member and friend. Aaron aka flymstr offered me a chance to go and guide with him up in AK for 15 days during steelhead season witch I of course did lol. Well they liked me good enough to ask me to come back for the last 3 months of the season.

I didnt have to think about it when they asked me to come back for me was kinda a easy question. Then the days started to count down and got close to the date for me to leave and all the confidance I had kinda went out the door. Crap the 15 days was up there was the longest I had ever been away from home (portland area). Was really almost scared by the time I left. But after talking with Aaron some and him showing his confidance in me helped me gain back mine. There was still a lot of stress on me though not only did I now have to do good for myself but now I had someone counting on me to do well also. So I BUCKed up and did everthing I could to earn my spot.

I knew that I would be working a lot and long hours bla bla bla.....well didnt think about what it does to you after a few months. When your working 14 hours a day 7 days a week it gets to you. I did get 3days off and 4 halfdays or so but all you wanna do with your time off is sleep lol. So we would fish afterwork normaly if we wanted to fish and stay up late, witch we would do! But now I know what hard work is... 14mi of river in a drift boat almost all dead water so you have to push to make it 5 hours of just row time....

It has made me a better man also thats for sure!!!

To Matt thank you for making this site without it I wouldnt have meet Aaron and learned so much befor I went.

To Aaron thanks for giving me a chance brother. I have learned a lot from you when it comes to fishing and life. I owe you bro!!!

PS pics will be in another thread but here are a few


first sockeye


flight up to yakutat



just a pic to show how small and clear river is

[todd_brooks555]

Welcome back man, I wondered if you were still living the dream up there. Great life experience for you one way or another for sure. Look forward to seeing more pictures. Speaking of pic's thats weird thats a sockeye it sure looks like a steelhead.

[Spade]

Welcome back Tom. Glad you took advantage of that adventure. Do you think you'll be returning?

[worm slayer]

Glad your having so much fun, that is a beautiful fish but it looks like a steelhead with the small mouth and very sharp line down it's body, either way I bet it was delish.

[Ed Fast]

No doubt that looks like a steelie, but I'm guessing that if it was tilted down toward us it might look different? Also, I'm sure they know the dif and it's not the time of year for steelies up there.

Oh, and by the way; welcome back!! How cool is it that you got to spend the summer in Alaska!

Ed

[Waco:]

Welcome back Tom !!!! Yes I'm here too!! BTW those pics are amazing and the fish for sure looks like a steelie!!! Have you done any fishing here? Or you are tired of it?

[youngbuck307]

Lol guys not one spot on that fish.... What doest that tell you? No white tips on the end of the fins also... Learn a lot In 3 months. We don't kill steel up there.. They are gold to us everything we do is to help them.. Also why the king run is so small on the river. They would come in and use the same area as the steelhead to spawn and mess up there beds. Once there is more than 600 it's open season on kings.

And yea I'll be going back probably for 6 months next time if I'm lucky 5

[Chinook SSSF]

Tom welcome home buddy : ) We are glad to have you here! Glad you got the opportunity of a lifetime! What are your plans now? Feel free to show us some more photos when you have time : )

[youngbuck307]

I have like 2800 pics to go through and upload to photobucket lol taking some time. And I'm going to just hang out do some side work and wait for next year.. I already know I'm going back so just kinda a countdown untill then. I made enough money to pay all my bills untill I go back so I'm thankfull for that.

[wfocharlie]

Wow Tom. What and adventure. When you get up in years, its the memories of things like this that will make you smile and appreciate your life.
You know we love pics here.