I have Heavy Heart Today

[chad wallin]

Although I never had the opportunity to meet Brian in person he has be very helpful with any questions I had.  The one thing that will stand out the most is his generosity.  When I first joined the forum a modorator, which was an old coworker, told Brain that I was rookie steelheader needing a little help and within the first hour of joining Brain introduced himself and offered to take me fishing. Who else would offer such? I am a self taught steelheader and I am very grateful to all the information he has given me and with that has made me the fisherman I am today.  Thank you Brain.

[The Codfather]

My deepest condolences to Karen, close friends, and family.

I'll miss Brian deeply, and going to some of his favorite water will never be the same without the stench of his cheap cigars. I stood up on a high bank last weekend where Brian and I shared the thrill of hooking a 20lb plus native. It was the first and last time I would ever see the master himself drop to his knees. I appreciate all the time we spent together, and will never forget his teachings. Once again B-Mac, thank you for everything. Until we meet again.

Reinhold

[dardevle]

It is hard to know where to start with this one.  When I first met Brian several years ago, I was feeling like giving up steelheading.  There are a lot of ugly and selfish aspects to this sport and from day 1 Brian was a breath of fresh air for our sport.  Like has been said many times above, Brian reached out to everyone and shared all of his knowledge.  To have so many friends visiting him at the hospital was a huge testament to his enjoyment of sharing and teaching everyone to be a better anglers.  In my case, he changed my perspective in ways that made steelheading more rewarding and fun. 

I just got home from a vacation with my family where fishing wasn't possible.  I started to think about fishing the next few days and all of a sudden it hit me.  I couldn't call Brian, I will never be able to ask him a question, I won't be able to have a great 3 hour conversation to and fro to the river again.  Life will not be the same and that's OK because we should miss exceptional people and Brian was definitely "one of those people".  Today, I have similar feelings to the ones I had about steelheading the day before I met Brian.  Don't worry, I'm not giving it up, rather I'll try to enjoy the code he has taught us all and try to pass it along the best I can to those that haven't seen the light yet.

Since this is a steelheading site, I think it is important to remember that Brian was one h*ll of a great steelheader.  He had the knack of making a difficult sport look easy.  For Brian, whether he knew it or not, it was all about attitude. Sure he had great water reading skills and had mastered everything from spoons to fly fishing but he also understood the "Zen" of our sport.  He knew that the more you try, the harder you push, the more it's about you, the more it's about numbers, the more it's about my share of the pie;  and the less it's about nature and the resource, the less it's about the wonderful wild steelhead, the less about friendship, the less about sharing... the more likely one would either rarely catch a fish or unhappily catch many.  If you have any doubts about this, I can offer the tales of the countless times he missed a takedown looking somewhere other than directly at his float.  How many of you can casually walk up to a prime "can't miss" spot, sit down on a rock, light a stoagy and point over to the spot and say to your trailing partner "I think you need to get a cast in there".  He was one of a kind and he was the best I ever got the privilege to fish with.

I could go on and on about Brian.  He was the most generous man I have ever met in the steelheading circles.  He was a great teacher and a great mentor for me and hundreds of others.  Most of all he was a great friend and I will miss him greatly.  The photo below has an interesting story behind it.  We spent a few days fishing on the Hoh and we were camping at Brians favorite slot at Minnie Peterson campground.  We had a great day fishing and he hooked 5 or 6 fish, with a couple in the fly water no less.  We were done for the day and before heading into Minnie we pulled the truck over just to look at the water accross the road from the campsite.  Brian saw that a little side channel met the main river there.  So he grabs his rod and scrambles down the rip-rap.  The main channel was on our side and the chance of landing a fish was almost zero.  That wasn't the point for Brian, it was about predicting holding water.  With all the crap, he could barely flip a cast out and on his first cast (last one of the day) he hit the lovely seam.  You guessed it, bobber down.  I can see the "I told you" smile on his face. Sure I have dozens of photos with Brian with some bruisers but for him it was all about "I bet there is one there".


I'll miss you, my friend!

[mitch184]

Very sad to hear, but glad to know he wasn't in any pain in the end.  Like many, I never had the priviledge to meet him in person, but he helped me out numerous times and gladly answered any questions I ever had.

He will be truly missed.

[big will]

Lost is very hard at time like this try to remember the good times any that will help you get thru the day.

Big Will

[Talljeeper]

RIP Brian......Prayers for the family

[Aaron]

My condolences to Karen, family, and friends.  I was shocked to read this when I logged in this evening.  I am still at a lose of words. 

Brian, we know you are in a much better place now.  I thank you for your knowledge, generosity, and dedication to our passion for steelhead angling.  You will be missed greatly. 


Aaron

[Steelie Maniac]

Wow! I just logged on for the first time in a while to see this... Wow.... You will definetly be missed in the world of steelhead fishing!!! Hope you catch a big ole nate up there brian!!

[bugnuts]

Very cool story Mikey...all my steelheading buddies are freaks but B Mac was #1!  See you tomorrow. 

[fishcasket]

my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.only the good die young.

[SciGuy]

What a great guy.  He really made an impact on me.  Everytime I walk the upper Hoh I will think of him.

[One More Cast]

I don't think i could write anything that hasn't been already said.  Brian was a great guy, a great teacher, a hell of a steelheader and will definately be missed.

  I was fortunate enough to fish with him once and share a campfire another time.  What i can say is after reading all these replys, I can go from being kind of choked up, to smiling about a fishing story someone may have had with brian, and back to choked up again in a matter of a few seconds. 

Eric Lindstrom

[thefishnfool]

Like has been said by many before......I have never met the fella but now that I hear all these stories I wish I had.  I definatly thought about him when I was on the river yesterday and it brought a peace to the day that I didn't expect.  RIP Brian.....may the rivers be filled with chromers forever buddy.

Tim

[Drifterat]

First to Brians family and close friends I'm so very sorry for your loss. B Mac was one of a kind. Everytime I fished with him or by chance met up on the river he did or said something that increased my passion for steelheading. His generosity of knowledge and unbridled enthusiasm for this sport was a true gift. I'm glad to have met him.

Mike you nailed it.

VB foresure

[bighoof]

My deepest sympathies goes to Brian's family. After reading what kind of guy he was I only wish I had the opportunity  to meet and fish with him.

RIP