Photos by Pat Dixon

"They draw their inspiration from salmon and slime lines, empty nets and empty wallets, rolling decks and weary limbs. They write about lures, loves and even lives lost in pursuit of a fickle bounty. The Fisher Poets Gathering celebrates the men and women who find the raw beauty in this fishing life and share their joys and frustrations in verse."
- From The Daily Astorian, February 24, 2005

The eleventh annual Fisher Poets Gathering, where there will be 70 presenters from all over the west and east coasts, takes place in Astoria, February 22-24. Find the schedule online at clatsopcollege.com/fisherpoets and scroll to the bottom on the page to download audio from last year's event.

This event is not to be missed. But if you can't be there, Jen Winston's 2005 documentary Fisher Poets captures the moment almost as well.