FADE 34 || Henderson Springs, California

FADE is a fishing trip that my father-in-law and his buddies have been taking every year for 34 years now. Peder, my FIL, has not missed one. Not missed one in 34 years. These dudes are dedicated to this trip and dedicated to their friendship. They are some loyal cats. They have been through ups and downs over the years with divorces, deaths, health issues, money issues, and kids but when they are together it all goes away. They talk about old times and FADE 15 when someone fell in the water and kept fishing while swimming (fishing through!). The fish are always bigger in memory, and the hatch was always better a few years ago. They ride each other, and piss each other off, then laugh about it. I know for a fact that threats against life and limb have been made and then chuckled off the next morning. They play poker and bitch about the money they lost, but it was never about the money, the poker, or even the fishing, really. It is about the time. The time they have together. The short time every year that they get to catch up and be young at heart. The time that they know is fleeting, and through wisdom of age, they know can not bought or earned back. It is amazing and I learn a lot from them every time I am with them.

FADE started out modestly on the legendary Hat Creek as a camping and fishing trip, but as the FADEs went on, the fellas wanted something a little nicer. Basically, they got tired of working so hard to sleep on the ground. Nowadays they fish the amazing Henderson Springs (I know that site is not much to look at, but honestly, they don't need it). Henderson Springs is made up of 4 lakes, a spring creek, and a couple of small ponds. The game here is float tube fishing while waiting for one of the most amazing insect hatches I have ever been in. The "Hex" is a giant mayfly that comes off at dusk and the trout go absolutely crazy. It is a big trout rising to big bug party for about an hour at the end of the day, and it is great fun.

I'm honored that these life-long friends would invite me on their trip. I hope that I live up to expectations and that the next generation can keep FADE going. That is all I can say about it really, and I may have already said too much because...you know...What happens at FADE stays at FADE.