Well, the entry deadline for my first-ever photo contest is fast approaching, and I'm eager to see the shots that squeak in over the line.
Photos are the way most of us remember our trips to the water -- especially in this age of catch-and-release fishing and the decline in mounting fish. Photos are better ways to keep our wild fish anyway -- they always look good in the shot!
Photos are also a way to capture our good friends fishing, goofing off or just enjoying the day.
Finally, we all see wonderful things that non-anglers could never imagine. A camera -- for me -- is a very important piece of fishing tackle.
I know the prizes aren't huge, but they're better than nothing. If you don't remember, here's whats at stake:
One dozen of my favorite sea-run cutthroat trout flies goes to the winner, second place gets six flies and third place settle for three flies.
Winners can also substitute flies for cold water surfboard wax....
Here's a couple shots I've taken while fishing Puget Sound:
And here's a close-up shot of low tide at a really shelly -- and fishy -- beach:
Now, these shots are far from stellar -- I'm a mediocre photographer at best -- but they caught the feeling of the day for me.
The shot of the shells just captures how much life there is on those beaches. Clams and barnacles and marine worms and crabs and oysters -- which sometimes slice my leader when I've got a fish on the line -- turn the beach and the water just offshore into a carpet of living things.
The first shot just shows the solitude and peace found while casting a line off the beach.
So, send in your shot -- one per person! -- to [email protected] by Sunday night. I'll have winners up by Tuesday morning.
Someone has to win these prizes -- and it might as well be you!
