The days are growing shorter, as is the fall steelhead season. Soon, we'll be chomping at the bit for the first push of fresh winters. But until then, there are still plenty of opportunities at the last of the fall "freshies".
The best week of the year, the "fly girls"...
"The Queen" Anna-Lena with a better than nice Rogue hen.
Sandra with a great Rogue buck. Yes, she is wearing "the pearls".
It's had to believe another guide season has come and gone for me. Where have the years gone? I remember my very first guide day 8 years ago, I was a scared young kid and we didn't catch a thing. Much has changed since that first guide day, and so much has been learned.
The North Umpqua saw a great return this year, not sure what the actual count was but, the fishing showed that it was strong. Looking back, we typically saw multiple fish each day, of course there were some tough days in there to keep you humble. Some great fish were landed and some epic fish were lost...
Big Dave with a good one.
After several hooked and lost, Brady Johnstone finally gets one to the beach.
Vincent Novits with his first North Umpqua steelhead. Vincent lost one of those epic fish the evening before, a fish that just crushed the fly and "tore the river up".
The smartest frog on the planet.
A Rogue morning.
After a solid morning, my clients asked to watch me fish a run. I asked if they were sure because I was pretty certain there'd be a fish in this run. Of course when I told them that they said I had to prove it. There was a fish in there...
Brian Walker with a prehistoric creature that absolutely crushed an intruder.
It has been a little hectic the past month, a lot of travel from the North, Rogue, Trinity and the often overlooked Klamath. Dad, if you are reading this, yes I'm keeping the oil changed in the truck.
Richard Quan and a Klamath "gator".
Steve McKenzie with a pretty hen.
The sweet Trinity...
The Trinity has been a sweetheart. I think the Klamath/Trinity have the grabbiest steelhead on the planet. While any day spent on the river is special, the Trinity is especially for me. I just connect with the Trinity, can't really explain it better. It's kinda funny, and my clients can attest to it, when the fly is coming across through the goods, "right there, right THERE!". That phrase comes out of my mouth without even thinking about it, sometimes with an arm motion of a steelhead turning on the fly, I dunno, I'm a little crazy about this. I do this on every river I guide but, on the Trinity, the fish make me look pretty good, ha.
Bent
Late October on the North
Arturo Budnik, back from Chile with a pretty wild hen that ripped. Probably one of the coolest fish of the year for me, she came out of the water less than a foot deep. This was one of 11 Arturo saw to his fly in two days. "It's the cheese" Arturo Budnik.
Many thanks to everyone that came fishing this summer.
Rich & Bo