Meet Andy Cassady

Want to meet a good fisherman?  Meet Andy!

Andy is a commercial fisherman I posted about when he was visiting Ross Lake Resort this past July.

He fishes in Alaskan waters commercially for salmon and off of the coast of California for squid.

On his time off he visits Ross and catches huge Wild Ross Lake Rainbows.

Andy fly fishes his own flies - a simulation of the red sided shiner.  He trolls them in shallow water very close to shore with line stripped almost all the way out.

He reminds me a bit of the character Gus Orviston in David James Duncan's book The River Why.

Andy's a guy I would like my 16 year old who is just learning to fish to follow for a day to pick up some of his skills but more importantly his passion for this wonderful sport of Angling.

photos this post courtesy of Ross Lake Resort

Nice Fish Greg!

We live on Lopez Island, and have been going to Ross Lake with a group of friends from Bellingham, the Cassidy family and mutual friends, for most years since 1983.

I was using a fly rod with leaded line and a lure similar to a dick nite spoon. I need to give some credit to my fishing partner Gary Cassidy as the net man. Gary was counting the number of times I had the fish to the boat, and had to let him take the line back out to keep from losing the trout. After seven times, I told Gary "this is it" I'm bringing him to the net, as I didn't think the hook would stay in much longer. Gary netted the fish as the hook came out. I had the largest fish from our group until Gary's oldest son, Andy showed up that evening and caught a 221/2 trout. 


We were fishing near Rainbow Point when we caught these large trout, but Gary and I were able to catch and release a number of large trout from many locations on the lake. We had a personal size limit of at least 20 inches or we would release the fish.

Gary and I took his younger son Sam Cassidy out to fish one of the days we were there and caught and released a number of 16-18 inch trout. That night after we came in, Sam said to his dad " I catch the biggest trout I've ever caught in my life, and you and Greg say nice fish Sam and throw it back" I guess we forgot to tell him about or size requirement. 


We look forward all year to our annual trip to Ross Lake the last week of July to be with good friends and family and enjoy all the things Ross Lake has to offer, and Tom and Carol and the rest of the Ross Lake Resorts crews, hospitality.

Regards  Greg & Selma Starkman


Thanks so much you guys we appreciate you sharing this story with all of us!

9 AM Limit

"Hey old timer, let's run down to the lake and catch a fish!"
"Well say young fella, why don't we walk down and catch our limit!"


Romaine Souey, Jim Hobbs and Ray Andrews display their limit of Wild Ross Lake Rainbow Trout.

I had just spotted them pulling in front of the bunk house at 9 AM.  I made the mistake of asking them if they were coming back in for breakfast and maybe a nap.

"Heck! We already ate a fine breakfast at 4:30 and caught the limit by 8:15!"


"We thought we would come back here and wake up some of the young guys and get them out."


About then 3 or 4 of the young guys stepped out of their bunkhouse took one look at the 3 limits, rolled their eyes skyward and shook their heads.

They knew they would never hear the end of this.

I believe I heard a consensus as Romaine, Jim, and Ray were walking away that maybe they would fire up the BBQ, cook a few fish, and serve the young guys lunch in bed.