A few days ago, Peter Tobin, Bob Adams, and Jim Rohrer returned from a fishing trip to Moassin Lake, near Winthrop, WA. Here is a report supplied by Peter:
"Why has Peter (& Snowball ) fished Mocassin Lake on June 15 almost every year since hiking into the lake in 1993?
"YES - it is Peter’s birthday!
"Moccasin Lake, for those who may not know, is a private lake.
"However, back in ‘93 adventurous fly fisherman could hike into the lake carrying their float tubes on their backs. Since 1994, Sun Mountain Lodge controls access to this trophy rainbow and brown trout lake in the Methow Valley of Washington State.
""Kevin VanBuren has been a guide there - all those years - and operates Water and Snow 509 - a Fishing and cross country Skiing experience in the Methow Valley!
"Besides Mocassin Lake, which usually closes for the season after my visit in June, Kevin also guides fly fisherman on the Methow river, beginning in July !
" But in 2023 we ended up fishing on June 14 - WHY - after all those years on June 15!
"Well, it was because I was contacted by my long time guide, Kevin, - who, on June 10th decided to join his son and other ‘young’ friends at an ‘old time Methow Valley swimming hole’ - which had a Rope to swing into the river!!!
"That decision - to relive his youth, at his age, and as all decisions in life do, had its consequences!
"An immediate need for surgery for a torn right arm tendon.
"So he consolidated our group with three anglers from Washington DC who were having their second day on Mocassin lake on June 14!!
"Being old time fly fishing clients, as well, they were happy to help out Kevin and welcomed us joining their private experience.
"However, as both Bob Adams and Jim Rohrer will attest - the day was one of the most difficult fishing days we have ever encountered on a lake because of the WIND!! When it blows in the Pacific North West - it really blows!
"The wind never stopped and anyone who has fished in a watercraft propelled by flippers and oars knows what a day with heavy wind can do to your fishing experience!
"And as the day progressed, the wind got worse.
"And the fish also reacted to the wind - by going deep, very deep! Full sinking lines with large yellow or white attractor flies and that infamous bead headed green selection of Kevin’s, however, found those trophies!
"But landing them without an unwanted wind powered trip down the lake was the teal challenge!
"The three DC anglers were the first to quit, after all, they had jad a beautiful, dry fly experience the day before, so they packed up and departed Mocassin Lake Ranch at mid-day!
"Jim then Bob, who had both caught fish, but the experience was so grueling; they gave up shortly there after.
"Peter, however, never noticed that they left until maybe 2 or 3 in the afternoon! He was concentrating on fishing!
"After all, he was in a Watermaster which has much bigger, longer and stronger oars and he was certainly not going to let the wind defeat a Fishing opportunity!
"With lunch and water on board he kept fishing and catching moccasin monsters - till his arms wore out as well!
"A Number one fisherman (a long story for another day) enjoys the experience of being on a river or a lake and fishing - and weather, yes, weather, is not going to interfere with that experience!
"The moccasin lake monsters did come up from those depths and while some were certainly lost because of that wind; one’s ability to control a fly rod, row and land a large fish in the wind was challenged that day.
"Another experience on Mocassin Lake goes into the diary.
"By the way, today is June 15 and there is NO WIND IN THE VALLEY!
"Goodbye, Mocassin Lake, see you next year - at 79 - on June 15!!!"