Stream Soul

[MJL]

A few months ago, as sure as the sun will rise, the salmon made their annual return to my local streams. Fed by cold springs, the salmon pushed through despite scorching day time temperatures. I left the fishing gear behind and hiked the creeks with my camera. The water was low but not as clear as I would’ve liked. I mounted my camera onto a net handle and probed the pools to document this great migration.

 

Chinook salmon by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Chinook shooting upriver

Chinook shooting upriver by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Spawning pair in B&W

Spawning pair by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Coho buck

Coho by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Swimming against the flow

Swimming against the flow by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

 

 

The last 2 weeks I drove up and down rolling hills in farm country. I found my way through gravel and dirt roads winding through valleys, before going onto sketchy trails ridden with pot-holes and fallen branches.

 

Alone, I stalked the streams with ghost-like stealth carrying my fly rod and camera gear in hand. I had miles worth of river to wade without another person in sight. At the end of the journey, I eventually found freedom.

 

The perfect cast

 

The Perfect Swing

Swinging down & across by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

The perfect take

 

A mint gem

Male in spawning dress by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Fish-eye views

 

brookie by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Brookie on the dry fly

Royal Wulff Brookie by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Half & half Brookie

Half & half Brookie by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

20" of spotted gold on the muddler minnow

Brown trout on the Muddler by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Pretty little brownie on the Muddler minnow

Half & half brownie by MJLeung, on Flickr

 

Stalking the streams was just what I needed - It was therapy for the soul.

 

Hope you enjoyed

 

Mike

[RDR]

Awesome photography! Those are amazing shots

[ratherboutdoors]

WOW!

[Rod Caster]

Yessir! I really don't understand how you manage to get half those photos...but I don't really want to know, I like the intrigue and mystery.

[Headhunter]

Absolutely sweet pics!!!! Thanks so much for sharing...

HH

[Roy]

Mike, you MUST publish a coffee table version of your works. They're stunning! I can't tell you how impressed I am. Thanks for sharing this preview of your upcoming book.

[mercman]

WOW ! !! I second Roy's comment. Stunning......

[Musky or Specks]

Man you take some awesome photos! Good to see you out and about and fishing.

[Dozer]

Some of the best I've ever seen - absolutely stunning photography MJL.

[solopaddler]

Incredible! Your talent and passion for the sport shine through.

[NAW]

Wow.

 

You should be extremely proud of your work. Those are some of the best fishing shots I've ever seen.

[blaque]

Amazing.......your an artist with the camera

[quickme]

speechless.... how do you not frame all your photos?

 

 

Nick

[fishindevil]

thats insane !!!! how did you do that ???.... amazing thats all...

[Scottydont]

Amazing!!

[cram]

You are super talented. Wow.

[Spiel]

I'm totally speechless Mike.

 

Your passion is seemingly endless as are your talents.

 

 

[davey buoy]

Best photos I think I've seen.Superb,also glad your feeling better Mike.!!

[BillM]

Mike those pictures are out of this world... Absolutely stunning!!!!!

 

You might need to teach me a few of your secrets!

Edited October 1, 2013 by BillM

[Terry]

wow

 

 

love this one

 

 

[glen]

Thank you for posting. Very neat to see fish like that.

20" of gold is a dream.

[JoshS]

Dude... these pictures are incredible!!! Great work!

[lew]

You've got a real talent with a camera Mike, those are some really impressive pictures.

[Sharkbait22]

Rank with some of the best I've seen. What are you using for gear? Wow.

[misfish]

I can see I need to trade in my old camera guy in for a new one. LOL

 

Them there are some purdy fish Mike.

 

 

WOW.