Be A (Tina) Fountain, Not A Drain, by Sara Ichtertz

BE A (TINA) FOUNTAIN

In life we rarely find people who we truly connect with. When it comes to fisherlady to fisherlady, that rarity shrinks even more, or so it seems! To see someone’s gifts and not be threatened by them, what a gift. It’s one I rarely see genuinely given.

Ladies can be vicious as they try to find their way in the traditionally maledominated sport of fishing, and this digital world we live in makes it even harder. It creates this false reality that social media somehow validates ourselves more so than the sport itself, more so than embracing the personal growth that naturally takes place when time is truly given to the river. Sadly, that amazingness isn’t quite enough (must be because we are human), so we turn to media platforms that lack any form of true depth. To truly give time to the rivers is so much different than to hop aboard a boat and fight fish.

I honestly have grown quite ill of it all. I believe that in embracing nature we find our true worth; the passion of the rivers validates you in a wholesome, one-of-akind way that the shallows of this new digital world never could. There are some women who are far more gifted in their abilities than this superficial world gives them credit for and so this December I chose to write about one woman in this industry who actually inspires me because she is the real deal. Her time given to

the rivers and the passion she shares with others does not go unnoticed. I am thankful she is a “Fountain” in my life, not a drain. The depths of this woman’s love for the river, the fish and her family is By Sara Ichtertz FOR THE LOVE OF THE TUG genuine and she knows that justification from nature that I speak of. Her biggest fans and most important students call her “Grandma,” and I absolutely love that. She fishes for all the right reasons and I just truly hope she sees 12TH that. When it comes to what truly matters in life, you have got it, girl! Believe me! Real Annual TINA FOUNTAIN WAS raised by an old-school dad who loved fishing and Nor westOF FISHING hunting to his core. She remembers helping him set up his hunter safety classes and, from a young age, loved being able to see him sharing knowledge and passion. Growing up in the Springfield area before its massive growth, she developed a lifelong comfort in the outdoors that has never left her. On the other hand, growing up it was hard for her that her dad was very much old school. Girls stayed with their moms and learned womanly things, and the boys went with their dads to learn the ways of the woods. This is a good example of how even in our homes, sometimes women must really want it in order to truly find their place in such sports. Tina’s dad naturally took her brothers far more than he took her. He didn’t know any better, she is certain, as that was just the way it was back then. But she would light up wholeheartedly when he would say it was going to be a

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FOUNTAIN, NOT A DRAIN

“The depths of this woman’s love for the river, the fish and her family is genuine,” writes author Sara Ichtertz of friend and fellow Oregon angler Tina Fountain, here with an Alaska sockeye. (TINA FOUNTAIN)

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Childhood family adventures with her father, Del Patrick, an “oldschool” outdoorsman, were a powerful spark for Fountain, lighting a flame that now burns brightly.

(TINA FOUNTAIN)

family trip. That meant she was going to be able to join him, learn from him, and take it all in. That was what she really wanted, and those childhood adventures lit the sparks of a lifetime fire that still burns today.

Naturally, Tina wanted to share the outdoors with her children. Spending time on the rivers when her kids were young, they gained comfort, which is so important. Though they didn’t fish the river, they did embrace it and together they flourished.

Tina recalled a Mother’s Day that really changed her. She took her children down to her beloved river in search of some trout and there, by fate, they encountered a family fishing for salmon. She watched them drag huge fish out of the river, and in total amazement she knew her heart wanted to know what such a sight felt like.

She left there a different lady. Completely inspired, she knew what she wanted: one of those fish! In her heart she knew it was time to go for it. After acquiring some gear, she stayed at it. She wanted it badly and remained driven, giving the river time, and lots of it. Only those who start out on the banks with not much more than desire know just how sweet that first victory finally tastes! It cannot be duplicated!

Setting fear aside, Tina let her presence be known by showing up and never giving up. She learned a lot from the fishermen on the bank, first from watching from afar. Only once they realized she was not going anywhere did they begin to share with her their approaches to the waters and why. When a lady shows up solo on the bank respect is not given. It really does have to be earned; I can relate to that firsthand.

So much of Tina’s story I can relate to, and I am sure that has something to do with why we truly connected. The respect you earn when you set out on your own two feet to truly pursue these fish is almost as priceless as the fish themselves; not only from anglers who fish the same rivers, but the respect you gain within yourself. It’s worth so much more than being Fakebook famous. Tina gives thanks and appreciation to her old fishing friends Bob Dodd and Jim O’Hare. The friends we meet along the way, the teachers who are waiting, the fate of it all is pretty incredible. Without even knowing it the passion of the rivers is passed onto the right people at precisely the right time.

A trip to a river with her kids when the salmon were running led Fountain to decide to try her hand at catching one herself. Watching how other anglers did it gave her a start, but her persistence led them to offer advice and soon she was ready for the next step. (TINA FOUNTAIN)

river, Tina found herself in a blow-up raft, which became a gateway to so much more of her home waters. Gaining strength running her Fish-Hunter raft allowed her to open the confidence to get something bigger to get to the fish.

“One day I was fishing from the bank and decided it was time to jump into the McKenzie with both feet,” Tina recalled. “I was ready for my first boat.”

The year 2017 was when Tina decided she was ready to put on her big girl pants and buy a boat. Her drift boat was the first big purchase she bought on her own. It was empowering, and with that empowerment she was ready. She began rowing short distances, floating main parts of the river. Even though she might not have realized it at the time, she was

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“One day I was fishing from the bank and decided it was time to jump into the McKenzie with both feet,” Fountain recalled. “I was ready for my first boat.” Here she is with her latest boat, a step up from her previous drifter and the raft she began running rivers with. (SARA ICHTERTZ)

growing from that rower’s seat. Learning from a boat was very different for her, as she had been bank fishing for many years. A friend taught her much about the approach for catching salmon from a boat. She gives much gratitude to him, not only for the knowledge he shared, but because he believed in her.

Once Tina gained enough strength to believe in herself as much as Jim did, she was able to start inviting friends to join her. One tiny lady came walking into Tina’s life at exactly the right time – as fishing mates usually do – and hopped in her boat. Vickie Swenson Wells was her name and together fishing fun was their game. There is something very beautiful about putting people on their first big fish, but there isn’t a whole lot that’s better than helping someone else’s dreams come true while you are fulfilling your own dreams too. Together Tina and Vickie were getting limits before work, and Tina was thriving. Like her father, Tina loves to share the passion and teach.

TINA IS A true fisherman in that she continues to learn. Embracing bigger water and new fisheries, she never gives up. Success will come when you want something bad enough and Tina inspires me in her fearless pursuit, not only in targeting countless fisheries but in her ability to run boats. Our first adventure is one that is forever in my heart.

Coming from a tiny town with not a single stop light, I saw the madness of Buoy 10 for the first time with her. I love that our time wasn’t spent with a guide, even though I was certainly guided by her. I was able to embrace the day with a family who was not on a time schedule. No, we were living for that day, that tide, and I wouldn’t want my first trip to Buoy 10 to have been any other way. We slayed the

TOP NORTHWEST STEELHEAD GUIDES

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Fountain cradles a very nice Oregon Coast wild winter steelhead caught last January.

(TINA FOUNTAIN)

salmon each and every day we fished.

The growth I have been able to witness within this woman over the past four years is impressive. There is no fishery Tina won’t embrace. Watching her grow alongside the man she loves so deeply has impressed me as well. Any man would be lucky to not only have a beauty on board but a deadly beauty at that. She truly understands how to put fish in the boat, and I give her a huge standing applause for the fish she put in her man’s boat while embracing ladies-only fishing trips. Social media may not show how many of those fish were in fact yours, Tina, but you very selflessly handed those fish off and I hope you can feel that gratification inside your heart! You rock and make the world of fishing a better place. I see it and I appreciate you. Watching you spread your wings and fly to Alaska was special; I love hearing you talk of this place that stole your heart. Seeing your beautiful blue eyes light up as you speak improves not only your life, but those who are lucky enough to hear your adventures firsthand.

As winter is upon us, I look forward to seeing where this season leads you. I look forward to seeing you embrace your new drift boat even more. Yeah, she’s a fancy girl compared to the first boat you bought, but I know you love all the chapters that have led you here. I know that if you can give it your best, you will succeed. My hope for you is that you never stop chasing your dreams. Look how very many of those dreams you have landed! Life isn’t always easy, but it is 100 percent worth it when we keep passion as a frontrunner in our lives. Never forget that, and never let anyone or anything take from you your why.

Why you fish is beautiful. You have a true love for the tug and anyone lucky enough to fish alongside you knows this, and that, my friend, is what really matters. I will never forget sharing my summer steelhead waters with you and your sweetest little blondie, Cloe. You are an amazing grandma and are the only person I have ever shared that water with who stepped up and hooked a hottie straight away. I loved it, and I love you. Thank you for being a Fountain, not a drain!

As we head into a new year, may the waters you face inspire you to be the very best version of yourself. You have no idea the impact and inspiration you truly possess. Our hearts are on the river and we couldn’t change it, even if we tried. NS

When your birthday and Buoy 10 combine for your new personal best Chinook, hell yeahs ensue! Carissa Anderson hoists her 30-pound, 37-inch fall Chinook, caught this August. (CARISSA ANDERSON)

If the Northwest tuna fishery needs an enthusiastic spokesperson, may we suggest Kelly Frazier? “It was so fun!! Highly recommend everyone try tuna fishing!! So exciting!!” she relayed after landing her first albie this summer.

(KELLY FRAZIER)

Misty Braaten lives in fishing and hunting paradise in Northcentral Washington and helps keep her family in good eats – here she holds a nice pair of Banks Lake walleye. (ERIC

BRAATEN)

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12TH Real Annual

Nor westOF FISHING

With appearances in our magazine since she was 5 years old, Rylee Chmela, now 22, is a certified Real Woman of Northwest Fishing!

(CARL LEWALLEN) “My name is Coleen Goulet and I am from Prosser, Washington. I grew up fishing with my dad, so the love for it is in my blood. About six years ago, my husband said to me, ‘Honey, let’s try trolling for salmon,’ so we did and as soon as I felt that tug on the rod, I was hooked. We now fish year-round for salmon, walleye, sturgeon and trout, of which our alltime favorite is salmon at Drano Lake. We are empty nesters and this is a hobby we love doing together, not only for the fishing but for the beautiful sunrises in the Columbia Gorge and the family/friend time we spend on the water. We love trying different fisheries, new gear and scents. This year, I am two salmon away from filling my catch card, with time left – fingers crossed!” (COLEEN GOULET)

Paula Corcoran’s no stranger to ocean lingcod and local lakes’ rainbows, but her favorite fishery might just be Deep South Sound Chinook, judging by pics that proud hubby Kelly has sent over the years. (DAN DOTY)