So...here's some pics from the last day of the year for fishing. At least for me! I actually didn't get too cold...just my toes. There was a lot of slush on the bottom of the river, and then ice floating on the top as well. The fact that snow is falling means it was a little warmer, so it actually wasn't too bad. It made for a beautiful day on the river with the fresh snow.
It was also an interesting day on the river. Unfortunately I didn't actually land a steelhead. I hooked into three of them, but I'm not as good as a fisherman as Shayne...yet. Give me some time. I was a little frustrated to say the least. Especially since Shayne landed five steelhead from the same holes I was fishing. I wasn't a happy camper...poor Shayne. He's such a good sport/husband to take me out even when I'm being a brat! :)
As bratty as I was, even I couldn't help but think the bald eagle that kept us company was very cool. He was a young eagle, he still had a few juvenile feathers on his head and body. He was hanging out in the tree above us, when all of the sudden I saw movement to left of me, and heard a huge splash. He had swooped down into the river about 25-30 feet from me and caught a small Dolly Varden out of the river, and ate it on the bank next to me. He then hung out on the rock for quite awhile. Long enough for Shayne to catch and land a 30" steelhead to take a picture with...creep! Then after a bit the eagle hopped down from the rock and began to walk (it's a little more like a waddle) down river behind us checking out the water looking for some more fish. Shayne then hooked into another fish, and the eagle was very interested. As Shayne would get the large (32-33") fish to the bank the eagle would begin trotting over to Shayne to take his fish. Shayne would yell at him to get back, let the fish go back into the river and then try and get him close to the bank again. This happened twice before Shayne could get the eagle far enough away to land the fish. Then he took yet another picture with the fish and the eagle in the background...creep! It was pretty cool, and very entertaining!
As you can see from the other pictures of myself...the closest I got to taking a picture of a fish, with or without the eagle, was fighting one in the river...never got it to the bank. That night we got about 6" of snow, so the river is sure to be pretty filled up with slush and snow...so that makes it hard to get to where the fish are. So...I'm done for the year...which is a bummer because I really wanted to land a steelhead this year. Shayne's a, let's all say it together,...creep...for catching so many this fall! :)
Anyway...hope you all enjoy the pics and the story of the way too friendly, and maybe hungry bald eagle. It kinda made my day...since I didn't land a steelhead!
Hope everyone has a marvelous Thanksgiving holiday!
I was reading in the Ensign, doing some journaling, and catching up on friends' blogs, and each of these activities has emphasized thankfulness. So...I thought I would follow suit. There are lots of things to be grateful for in my life: Shayne, my job that allows me to work with some incredible kids, my church callings that help me to grow, our wonderful friends and families(including all the cutest nephews we have) that support and love us so unconditionally, and a great family ward...to just name a few. However, there is one "thing" that I'm grateful for that I wouldn't normally consider a blessing.
