There are no doubt several fishing site/chat boards to choose from. One of the little more local unknowns to the masses, is a site simply called Steelhead Notebook. http://steelheadnotebook.net/forum/index.php
Steelhead Notebook was created by a great guy and fanatic Steelhead fisherman who was known to many, simply as B-Mac. Brian McArthur, founder and creator, passed away from cancer in February of 2009. Due to the small community he created and dedicated friends, his Steelhead legacy lives on.
The annual Notebook Winter get together, has taken place for several years. It is just a simple little get together/gift exchange amongst local fishermen in the Tacoma, Pierce County area. The Swiss Tavern in Tacoma has been the usual hang-out for this seasonal event and tonight was no exception.
The goal for me this evening was to reconnect with a good number of guys, friends and ODL supporters that I have not seen in a while. More importantly it was the opportunity to get my brother Dean out to catch up with guys and talk fishing.
My brother Dean is fighting brain cancer, and up until a couple months ago, was having a pretty rough go. Lately he is doing much better, waging war and fighting a good fight. Good enough in fact that he said, if I had the time he would like to go. For that kind of a request, you make the time. So go we did, as did about 25 other Steelhead Notebook supporters.
The food at the Swiss, is always pretty good. I did the best I could to stick to the program and went for the Chicken Caesar.... Tasty...
Justin Martin sporting his idol attire, #3 Russell Wilson. This is how Justin looks when you call his name and snap the photo.
Something B-Mac started years ago and one that members look forward to, is of course the gift exchange. As you can see, some of the guys went to the extensive trouble of wrapping the gifts in Top-Foods bags. Looks good to me, at least they have Red and Green lettering on them so I say it qualifies as a gift bag. Not that I actually brought those bags with me!
Turns out Dan's wife received a very nice custom home-made salmon lure. Ironically enough, it just so happens that Dan was wearing the shirt to support that type of lure... Go Figure.. Ha.
Great turn-out and it was so awesome to get my Bro out to say Hi and visit with buddies he has not seen in a year or more. Part of what brings us all together is the passion we have for fishing. Sometimes we need to take time to enjoy other aspects of this passion that in fact brought us all together in the first place.
Thanks Eddy, for putting this together once again and for your dedication to the site. B-Mac is looking down tonight smiling, as his small fishing community he created is still going strong. Dean aka RedHook, was in his element tonight, surrounded by like-minded-folks and had a great time ...