Skykomish river pink salmon run October ’07

We had an outstanding run of Pinks in the sky river this year. I managed to get in the water with them and after patient waiting in the turbulent shallow and freezing water, the fish would move back into the good gravel and proceed with the ancient ritual untill their battle worn bodies joined the food web. After watching the breeding on the beds I let myself drift with the eggs and witnessed the chain of events that followed. The small sea run cutthroat trout take the drifting eggs, sculpins jet in to grab what they can before the eggs drift into the crevices. As the water drops down deeper the large carp waited at the bottom in clean up position. I’m blessed to live in this place. It is a miracle the salmon survive in the river with the city of Monroe so close by and human disregard. From their perspective you can see life from a very different angle and the photos don’t even brush the surface of what was going through my mind. I would encourage anyone to take risk and discomfort and witness the real thing. We all know the story but it adds a great perspective to be in the web.

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