I still remember a kind and patient John Kerr, in the old offices of Ontario Out of Doors at the corner of College and Bay in Toronto, trying to explain to me what it would take to get an article about steelhead published in his magazine. As I look back on it now, my arrogance was quite spectacular and I dare hope that he was at least amused - if not bemused - by it. I also hope that my passion for steelhead fishing, then as now, helped smooth over that little failing of mine...
That was 1995.
Twenty years later, almost to the day, I can prove that I understood, finally. If you happen to subscribe to the mag, or see a copy at your local news stand, turn to page 42 of the Nov/Dec issue. You'll find my first Ontario Out of Doors article, sitting there quite humbly amongst many other fantastic contributions.
It's a little dream come true, for me as I've always wanted to contribute something to OOD. I owe a debt of gratitude to the centrepin crafters who gave me their time, to Ray Blades (Managing Editor @ OOD) and to Mike Borger (friend & publisher of Canada Fishing Guide) without whom I would still be waiting for this cherry on the cake.
Regardless, it was one of the purposes of my little fishing blog to help me get something published someday. I always knew it would be good practice, and how else do you show what you can do if not by actually doing it? So I've always striven to provide some form of quality in my posts and in my pictures that would, someday hopefully, attract the attention of serious publishers.
It doesn't end there. The beauty of it is that the old saying is true: "it never rains but it pours."
Not only have I finally published an article in Ontario Out of Doors, but I've also contributed to "Steelhead and Salmon Journal", which is a western US magazine published out of Oregon. My discussions with Pat Hoglund, Chief Editor of the magazine (as well as "Steelheader's Journal" and "Traveling Angler"), began over an old picture of jumping steelhead that I'd posted on a forum & quickly progressed to writing. So, I'm doubly blessed this month with articles in the Nov/Dec issue of not one, but two magazines.
Finally, there are two valid ways to see this: Santa came early (since this all happens in December) and whatever your bliss: persistence pays off. No matter how long it takes, don't despair and never quit. Sooner or later, at the very least, you'll look back and be pleased with your accomplishments.
Thanks for reading!
p.-
Time for a new post!
It's been an inordinate amount of time since my last entry, and there's been a lot of water under the bridge. Part of my silence is due to the fact that I've got some fishing articles coming out soon, and I can't really talk about it here until some time after they've been published. So, since the things I'm writing about are usually what I like to talk about on my blog... it's lead to this awkward "ahem" type of absence on this space.
Still, tons of things have gone on and, since I'm also honing my photography skills (and having a lot of fun doing so),there's no better way to broach that vast compendium than through a photo montage.
Shortly after my last post, here is an image that represents the last few minutes of a great way to warm up in the clenched, frozen jaws of winter. Cheese fondue! We enjoyed the real thing, with grated Vacherin and Gruyère, Kirsch and Fendant. It is such a lovely feast that one almost pines (almost, but not quite) for the return of Winter!
My favourite hockey player, on a break, flying up centre ice! I never get tired of watching him as he progresses and continues to excel. He's a major reason why this space may continue to be skinny, starting in September; he's gone and made the rep team again, and that means sleep, eat, drink, dream, smoke, breathe (etc...) Hockey!
Then the thaw took place in earnest, and I took time to check out the local Spring steelhead run...
... things were spirited, as usual! The run actually snuck up on me a little bit, since I learned that the fish had been running in much greater numbers at least a week prior to these photos being taken.
No. I don't really get tired of watching them. This can be an exercise in patience for those accompanying me. They practically need a crowbar to pry me away from the river!
Finally, there was a little bit of this, though most of it was spent on the road, getting material for my professional writings.
Then, of course, the Khalidian Dynasty continued. This is his personal best, and the only regret I have is that I wasn't there to snap this pic! Awesome fish, my friend!
There's no better tonic for the "few fish" blues than a trip to western New York. Here, a drop-back hen rests up after a spirited fight.
Muscle cars anyone? At the Bowmanville Summerfest.
Oh wait! How'd that get there??? Hmmm....
Trip to the Bluffer's park. Enjoying a brief dose of sun and sand.
An excited Samuel overlooking his first Blue Jays game. Justin Smoak popped a homer that landed little more than 20 feet from where we were sitting. How cool would that have been, at your first ever game!
And now, for a floral break... (Ahhhh! I feel rested!)
Dawn on Rice Lake... and...
...bass on Rice Lake.
Giggles at camping. Isaac saw something funny on his iPad.
A golden Lake Ontario sunrise, on a calm early-August morning. We were canoeing. It's quite an experience, when the lake is this calm and glassy. Look closely at the buoy and you'll see a tern sitting there.
A visit to a friend's cottage, to strengthen the quadriceps.
Subsequently, Sam's first time ever water-skiing. Apparently, he's a natural!
Children fishing off the dock in the quiet evening.
Charter fishing on Lake Ontario. Sunrise on the canadian flag.
My newest Cellphone background :).
Magic with a wide-angle lens.
A competitor deploys his array, off the bow, in the easy morning.
Success!
Another fine catch for the day. All in all we landed 8, enjoying an almost unusually calm, hot and sunny day out on the lake. I can't tell you how many times it popped into my head to jump into the cool water, inches from my feet...
An image bereft of sound or fury, signifying everything! This is indeed an older pic, but one that neatly symbolizes the end of that hot day out on the boat - as well as wraps up this little post :).
More to come!
p.-
Shoveling the driveway yet again, I paused to light up. Little halos of smoke fluttered away into the night as I puffed the little stogie to life. I got back to work. Push, scrape, lift, toss; repeat - pausing every now and again to luxuriate in what some would consider stench, though it will always delight me.
When all the white stuff was cleared away and the cars, swept clean, sat quietly in the driveway, it started to snow. Just a passing flurry, with only a slight breeze to disturb the peaceful descent of the large, white flakes, swirling like glowing moths in the dull city lights. In silence, I took in the scene, savoring the smoke, watching as the temporary fruit of my labor vanished under the fresh, feathery blanket.
When -3 degrees Celsius feels balmy, it's clear that we've passed through the
heart of Winter, even though we've yet to reach the other side.
It occurs to me that even these sometimes barren and unpleasant times are just part of the cycle, of the process of each long-awaited fishing trip. The realization imparts a certain ephemeral charm to even the mundane activity of the shoveling of snow, the early morning alarm clock beyond, the tawdry and pointless commute; endlessly repeated, as they are, and yet leading me toward...
I start thinking back on a few things.
First, and most exciting for me personally, an unexpected phone call from a friend, presaging something I've always dreamed of but never really hoped would happen: a professional request for my pictures and for my writing. I won't go into detail at the moment, but suffice it to say that when the email from the publisher arrived in my inbox, I was very excited. I remain giddy and enthusiastic, and I promise to share more with you in the following weeks and months.
I'm a little trepidatious as well, since this past Fall did not cover me 
in glory half as much as I'd hoped or expected. On the Georgian Bay, anglers complained the fish were underfed; on Lake Ontario tributaries, an overabundance of gill lice was claiming quite a few fish. So I have no idea what numbers of fish will be greeting my friends and I when Nature sees fit to send us a few warm days in which to find open water (and unfrozen guides)!
Salmon, by contrast, were much easier to come by, and I did quite well in comparison, when considering that I don't usually spend entire days chasing them, as I do for steelhead. A few hours here, a few hours there, stolen on early mornings when the family is still asleep: this usually suffices for me, where Great Lakes pacific salmon are concerned. On the canadian side of the Lake, for example, Coho salmon are usually harder to come by; but my luck was good and I caught a number of these feisty silver beasts.
Ah well. New seasons come and go. 
Now, I cross my fingers and hope for at least a short window of above-zero temperatures, so that I can ring up a few good friends and head out in search of open water.
As my toes started to freeze and the cinders cooled in my hands, I tossed the dead, brown butt into the icy street. I turned in and shut the garage door, took off my coat so as not to stink up the house, turned a few techie tricks for Laura and sat down to write this.
The clock stretches out toward midnight, and another early commute awaits me in the black morning beyond. As I prepare for a last wistful glance at a fish picture or two, before I head up to a well-deserved sleep, I leave you with an image: bright sunrise, breaking through the mists of Lake Ontario, swift and hopeful.
Good night!
p.-
