Hang in there brother. I'm finishing up on a divorce, was married for 29+ years. The best thing I did for myself was going back to church.
Happy birthday, mine was yesterday....54.

I'll be there, not missing it this year. Couldn't make it last year was too busy chasing steelhead up north.

I'll be putting $40 in the mail today.

Way cool, love your photos. I have to get you and your camera on the South Fork Eel in my drift boat chasing some steelhead this year, you can even bring Badger, he can keep my dog company......we'll do a Myers Flat down drift, Avenue of the Giants, the scenery is unbelievable.

I usually fish the Smith 3 to 4 times a year, I have a 17' drift boat (Fish rite), been fishing it for about 9 years now. I stay at the Hiouchi Motel, good price and clean, east of the motel about a half mile on the north side of 199 is the place that will shuttle your vehicle for you, I think they charge $15. I start fishing for salmon after a good rise in the river, which hopefully happens soon, back bouncing roe. Chasing steelhead I'm side drifting, for weight I'm running the Mad river drifters 95% of the time, far fewer snags and I really like the way they glide thru the water. When I'm going to drift a deep hole I'll go with my big slinkies, gets the weight down right away. I also heard the hatchery isn't hauling fish up river anymore, not sure if this is true or not. The Smith clears in hours, which means it gets hit hard by all the guides in the area, I counted 13 drift boats in just one section I was running. They also have a tournament on the river, don't want to fish it for a few days after that.
Pete

I just might see ya there, I could use a break from chasing steelhead on the Trinity river.

I screwed up, it's Tish a Tang down stream that is closed to the recreational fisherman not Kimtu, sorry about that. I'll definitely be looking for ya....can't pass up free beer.