EBB & FLOW
As the new year of 2023 begins, I can't help but liken the new year to the tides of Hoonah, Alaska. This summer, my fishing friends and I were lucky enough to watch the 20-foot tides near Juneau, Alaska, rise and fall with each day. Though powerful, these tidal waters brought new life in and out, such as the Coho Silver salmon we were after. In fact, it seemed that all the wildlife and inhabitants of Hoonah were driven by these daily tides to thrive and survive.

Each year brings us challenges, failures, and successes. I hope 2023 allows you and your family to rise and fall with each day's events. 

READERS' FAVORITE - FIVE STAR REVIEW
Really excited to share that Salmon Survivor received a 5-Star Reader Review from the Readers' Favorite Book Reviews and Award Contest (See this link for the review on the book).

Speaking of reviews, if you know anyone who has also read the book and wishes to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads, it really helps with getting the word out about the book to readers. Thanks for that new year gift in advance, and Happy 2023!

SAVING STEELHEAD
Now that November is upon us, I recall a foggy fall morning when I took a solo Erie trib trip in search of steelhead. I arrived to the water's edge to observe the water at extremely low levels due to the lack of rain. In situations like these, an angler decides to hunt for steelhead hiding in crevasses and tight against the back or do some scouting. I decided to do both and headed upstream in search of fishable water.

Luckily, I found a spot that held some fish, had good water flow, and had some ground water trickling into it. It took a while, but finding the right weight, the right fly pattern, and the right tippet size did the trick as I hooked into a bunch of steelhead for hours. In low water and tight stream conditions, steelhead EXPLODE when they know they are hooked, and many of my steelheading friends know this firsthand as the angler must hold on for the ride as they steelhead makes a run, leaps out of the water, or does a mixture of both. Eventually, I got a few to the net and really made the best out of the day.

On the walk back to the car, I traveled up a small offshoot of the main river. Water was still making its way down this skinny tributary as the rocks stuck out like ominous cemetary stones. I noticed some commotion up ahead and saw two trapped steelhead: One was an extremely large male and the other was a female. They had probably gotten stuck up there when the water levels started to drop. I took some action and decided to net the fish one at a time and walk them quickly back down to the main channel. The buck was the easiest to net since he was sitting in shallow water. I scooped him up and lugged him down to the main channel. His kype poked through the net and his body curled in my large steelhead net. I got him down to the water's edge and allowed him to get fresh water in his gills. He slowly swam into the depths. One down.

The other female steelhead provided more of a challenge as I saw her hiding among some tree roots hanging down in the shallows. Carefully, I placed my net in front of her head in case she took off. I grasped her tail and was able to pull her backwards and drop her into my net to make the quick run down to the main river. As I eased her back into the river, her bright body vanished into the deeper water. It was a fitting end to a great day on the water, and I'm hoping to meet them again on the stream someday.

AWARDS
Good news for readers as I've started to write the sequel to Salmon Survivor called "Steelhead Survivor." I recently entered the first chapter into the Alaska Writers Guild writing contest and was honored to earn Second Place in their Children's Literature contest! It was great feedback that I'm on the right track in writing the second book of the series (which involves the steelhead fishery in the Great Lakes - stay tuned, my steelheading friends!). 

I also got the amazing news that Salmon Survivor won the Bronze Moonbeam Children's Book Award in the pre-teen category! We entered this category back in the summer before the book came out, so we're thrilled that Moonbeams found it worthy of a mention and Bronze medal. 

AUGUST BOOK LAUNCHES
I'm really excited to finally share Salmon Survivor with readers this month (If you pre-ordered the book, it should be shipped to you by August 15th!)

After that, the novel can be purchased in many bookstores, platforms, and at all the book launches. Of course, I really would love to give business to our local Pittsburgh area bookstores, so support them when you can!

I will be signing books and tying flies at The Little Green Bookstore in Zelienople on Saturday, August 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you haven't visited this bookstore gem, make a point to come out and visit (Address: 104 North Main Street, Zelienople, PA 16063).

Then, at Discovery Christian Church in Mars on Saturday, August 27th from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, we'll have the official "Book Launch." A lot of fun activities to enjoy at Discovery. See the details in this blog post (Address: 170 Scharberry Ln, Mars, PA 16046).
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I hope to see you at one event, the other, or BOTH. Please feel free to spread the word to kiddos and adults!

SUMMER FISHING
In June and July, there are those rare days where the water is cool, the clouds are out, and the fish are looking up. I call it the 'Summer Trifecta.' I was lucky enough recently to hit a day on the stream when the trifecta occured. With the temperatures in the low 50's at night and only in the 70's for the daytime, Peter and I agreed that the fishing conditions looked tremendous. Now it was just up to the fish to cooperate; and did they! Using a tan foam hopper, the browns preferred a splashdown presentation on the water's surface. This particular 20+ brown trout sniffed at the pattern, then turned around and lunged for it in the foam (Watch the video at the bottom when I release him, and see if you can figure out what I called him at the end).

SUMMER BEACH READING
As an outdoor writer, I'm thrilled again to be included in what I consider two of the fly fishing industry's best magazine publications, The Drake Magazine and Fly Culture. Both of these article accounts are based on true events for me. In the Drake, I recall our search for the great Fly Bob of Cooper Landing, Alaska. This was the beginning ideas of the story I wrote in Salmon Survivor. In Fly Culture, Igor the eagle is the main character.  When we fished the Big Hole in Divide, Montana, this eagle kept following us throughout the trip. We caught a white fish and lured him to grab it off of the water. Wish I had captured that on video! 

SUMMER NOVEL NEWS
Salmon Survivor is just only one month away from hitting bookshelves and getting into the hands of readers. The actual book goes on sale August 15th. Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 27th as we're planning for the Book Launch that day. I was excited this weekend as I received my 'author books' in the mail! I'll have them available for purchase the day of the launch (Details forthcoming this month). So many emotions, and thanks to all who made this book happen :)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
Since I didn't get this Fly Pulse out at the beginning of June with the hustle & bustle of the school year end, I thought it was fitting to send one on Father's Day. This one is special since our third kiddo, Zander, just turned one, and we're reliving the magic of seeing a little one go from crawling to walking in just weeks. To my own dad and fathers in our family, friends, and beyond, we love you for all that you are and all that you do! 

NOVEL NEWS
Speaking of dads who are characters, I just received the FINAL DRAFT and review copies of Salmon Survivor in the mail this week from my publisher, Relevant Publishing LLC. After two years in planning, it's amazing to see the product that's come to fruition. Thanks to Sharon (Relevant Editor), Linda, and the whole editing team of Relevant. Though it's available for PREORDER on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indie Bookstore, and Bookstop, I'll be having a book launch in August when it will be shipped and available at bookstores and online. Stay tuned as I'll share more details at some of the events I'm hoping to have in August, September, and October to kick off the book and would love for you to be a part. I'm looking for my readers to offer a review to share the book and their thoughts on it with others! 

BOOKMARKS
I'm also honored to feature Joseph Tomelleri's sockeye artwork on the Salmon Survivor bookmarks. You might recognize him from the Trout calendars we trout-bums purchase each year! Check out his work at www.americanfishes.com. On the front, he allowed me to share the fresh Sockeye (Red), and on the back, the Spawning Sockeye. This has a lot of meaning to the story since salmon go through a journey, change their forms, and weather many obstacles to getting where they need to be by the end. I hope you're as resilient as a salmon in whatever you do!

P.S. - If you already preordered a book, I'll be sure to get you a bookmark when I see you again! I hope it's sooner than later. Happy June!

FLY TYER'S SEVEN SPRINGS REUNION
I was honored recently to attend the Fly Tyer's Reunion with some legendary tiers such as Chuck Furimsky, Tim Cammisa, Dave Rothrock, Shane Hawryliak, and more. We met up at Seven Springs Sportsmen Clay Lodge and tied our patterns on Thursday evening for the participants. I choose to furl flies and tie up the 'Furled Alevin.' My tying students love this pattern since we furl the material, add eyes, and then create an egg sac to simulate the trout alevin (sac fry).  After the event, some of the tiers and I stayed the next day and fished at Seven Springs (See the Brown Trout video below). I hope to join the tying crew again in November to tie up some great patterns.

TIC PROJECT
Our classroom Rainbow Trout are growing with each day. It's really amazing when they hold up somewhere in the aquarium for the optimal oxygen, cover, and food source, just like they do in the real streams. They have begun the feeding stage and have taken their spots within the tank. This is going to be a busy May, but we hope to release them this month. Stay tuned for the release details...

NOVEL NEWS
As the publishing date for Salmon Survivor draws closer, I'm happy to share that we've lined up some amazing reviewers for the novel. They will each give a little blurb about the story. Now that it's available for PREORDER, feel free to spread the word to the readers in your family or friend groups. I hope to start visiting schools and setting up some signing days in various places in the Pittsburgh area over the summer when it officially comes out. I'm always looking for new ideas if you have them for where to share the story. Thanks for all of your support and enthusiasm about the novel! 
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DRAKE MAGAZINE
Lastly, talk about THE magazine on everything-fly-fishing...Stay tuned for my latest article in the Drake Magazine this summer about Alaska and meeting one of my good friends and one of the best fishing guides I know, Fly Bob....