Work, work, work!! I doubt if any one is even still checking this thing so I`ll be brief:) After losing several springers to small hooks bending, 8lb leaders, rocks and not getting hooks set I finally got into a summer and got the hook stuck....and it didn`t straighten out. It`s only the 3rd summer I`ve been into for the season. But I`ve only been out twice. Purple/yellow yarn did the trick! Short enough?;)

Got into some nice springers plunkin the lower the Columbia recently. Tom had the hot rod for the 1st couple days with his bright on dark spinglos and hot bait. As the water came up chartreuse got some hits. And after even more water and the sun coming out, colored wings on chrome took off. As did a new bait. We got our butts kicked the last 2 days but learned a bunch. Still not my preferred method of fishin but if the tribs are high and the Buffalo ribeyes are on the grill... I`m in:))
Just got a into some native winters on the tribs too. Unfortunately the camera was dead. AND my phone was full:( But they were winter steel, we`ve seen `em before right? haha

2 days in a row of some pretty epic battles. Yesterday was me and the 11lb hen. She took me for a ride down river, rapids and around a corner but in the end I prevailed. Not sure if the pics will show it, but she wrapped up during the first minute or so of the fight. After coming undone the headshakes didn`t quite feel the same. When we got her to hand the leader had wrapped in the small lil disc that is part of the gill plate. Not the maxillary but between there and the gill plate itself. I`m sure I`da lost her if I hadn`t loosened up the drag as she slipped around the corner. When I finally did get a tight line to the fish I had to take a knee and BREATHE! Dad laughing at me lol! It was funny! Had another great battle with a nate I BARELY kept from going down too. Dad landed a dandy of a buck as well.
Today was dads turn to do the rapid run, HAHA!! Only all of a sudden it wasn`t funny anymore. That was about the time dad realized half of his rod was somewhere closer to the fish than it was the butt of his rod:0 This was half way down the rapid, the fish WELL around the corner. Off I run. I get to his backing in the bottom of the rapids and pick it up. Fish is WAAAAAYYYYY down there. So I get the line in my hand and start runnin. I get to fly line and eventually the tip of his rod. Shoot!, the lead had slipped through a couple eyes! The fish tries to take off and I panic a lil and let go of the rod tip:0 Uh O? The fish was tuckered out and didn`t go far. When I got the tip again it was free and I handed to dad, FISH ON! NATIVE:0:0 But we`re ok with that, good fight!

I always start to wonder what`s takin `em so long about now. It`s quite the journey for metalheads to make it to metalfishers like myself. Some enjoy it in a boat and therefore are blessed with having an earlier season than I. Same for those who enjoy curing different baits, building spinners/jigs and hanging in the lower stretches, with or without the masses, pitching from the bank, awaiting the tug! The thing about where steel end up is it`s serenity. The towering trees and cliffs right at your back and casts end. The fog that almost never lifts. The sun that barely manages a peak. The gray line that`s right where it`s supposed to be. The angst of deciding where to land the fly. The angst!! The take! The flash! The shake! The splash and bash!!
Yesterday was 1 of those days that you don`t forget. Met with my partner for the morning and started off with fish right where I thought they`d be. But they were not the biters we had hoped for. Chris and I worked/walked hard for the next few hours only to see 1 more non biter. At some point I lose my fly box FULL:( of nymphs and eggalas`. A friend made sure I made it through the day with some of his nymphs and egg patterns, thanx bud! About noon a pod of fish began moving but again there were no takers for the group of die hards in the area.
Ken and Ethan(?I believe?; my dad called ya Ian so I`m soooo confused:)) got to the water about 1 and all activity seemed to be non existent. Then, one of said die hards:) had gone down river and hooked up, momentarily. Making our way down they let us cast in the hole they (said die hards:) were at to see if it could happen again on sumpin different. Not. Down we go where Ken and I stumble upon a feesh. A hundred casts later and it moves:( Down we go. UUGH! Back up we come!:( There he is! 2 even!! Well low and behold the 2nd took the yarnie and game on! Ken is tied into his 1st ever! steelhead and it`s on a fly rod no less. He was blessed with a very well behaved winter. At 13 lbs(10.15 gutted/egged) she was smart enough not to exert too much energy all at once. But Ken fought her well and the 8wt wore her down after 8 minutes or so. And at 30 minutes to dark we have dinner for Ken and the Fam. Yesterday was 1 of those days that you don`t forget.

Well the floods moved a few things around for us. Some changes good, some not so much. I`ve spent the last week watching the water drop and looking for new pockets, ripples and seams were our prize will hide. It finally paid off with a limit for me and dad yesterday. There is a fish that kept a pink worm and 1 that straightened out a hook as well. I was hit with eggalas, hazey, pink worm. Dad got bit with black nymphs and cream yarnies. It was not an epic day, but a good sign of whats to come. A couple hundred steel have ventured up to the hatchery. So barring any more major flooding we should have a decent to great February. Let`s get this party started!!

It`s been fairly quiet lately. A few fish are being caught and the coming weeks should really start to see some fish in all the systems around P-town. I`ve had some really cool clients in the recent weeks. All have had the best attitude, which I`m sure will help them in the years to come. They did not catch any fish but I`m positive they came away with more tools to do so, soon! In between I did have 1 day to get out. I stayed quite low and managed a fatty hen. With the water so cold she wasn`t the scrappiest fight but a good doggie like under water battle. Very few looks at her till I coaxed her to the shallows 4-5 minutes later. She fell to the all mighty pink worm. Get out after this cold snap, should be good feeshin from here on out:)

Lot`s of pressure early. Why were there so many biters still around at noon?:0 Great start to the winter season after a poor one (so far) on another stream(had 3 fish on in WA since Thanksgiving). The ol man started us out with a big ol hen. She didn`t have a lot of spunk for some reason?? But still a nice bright fish. Wonder if she won a battle earlier in the day. After clobbering her she managed to get back into the water and was lost:( Not a good feeling really, she didn`t seem to be alive and would not make it if she was. But after all that the hole had a chance to calm down and 2 casts into it I had on a scrappy buck. This moved some other fish into a spot we could see `em but they would move around and were not interested in our efforts. After a lil searching we found another few scattered about. Dad got another big hen that we did not let flop away! And she was a much better fight for dad. I had what I think was the same fish hit twice in about 5 casts, 10 minutes apart. 3 the first go at the spot and I missed the hookset. Sharpened up and dad got his (that I just mentioned), I throw 2 more times and WHAM!! CHROME !!! A long/HARD fight and it popped off just as I was starting to get it tired out. I`m thinkin nate. Especially since I got one that fought even harder and longer about 15 minutes after that. 2 great fights and a couple average (which are NOTHING short of amazing) fights to start our season of slaughter!!
The water was in great shape with just a touch of snow color. I had expected a lil more snow color and took off the pink egg for the cream. Dads were on peach. Get `er done!

Every one ready for the winter steel season? I know I`ve been tyin like crazy. So I must be nuts doing this sale cause I may not get a break now. Anyway, until December 1st I`ll double your order. Buy $25 worth(25 regularly priced flies) and receive 50 flies. 50 cents for these steelhead slayers is a good deal guys. So check out the flies on the services page. They all kill steelhead, VERY WELL! By the way!, if ya live in the PDX area I`ll meet ya with your order. If not, paypal is easy to use and I have had no issues with it, thus far:)
Happy steelheading folks!
Damon

A good buddy got back from his season of guiding in Alaska last weekend and the fish are in TROUBLE! We were on the hunt for some scrappy native ho`s this morning. DONE! Aaron started us off with a purty lil hen. I wasn`t too far behind. He also landed a tired springer. There were a few bites missed and I had 1 go crazy all the way through a set of rapids before coming undone. Not bad for a system that desperately needs rain. And when it gets it?!! O boy, o boy, o boy!!

Dave and Rose are always willing to go the distance. It seems, however, that ever since the 1st trip it`s been harder and harder to get them into fish. They do everything right, it just doesn`t happen. They did each get a chunky trout (Roses a cutty) but not exactly what we were goin for. That`s feeshin, I guess...:)
John came on over from Newberg to get a lesson the very next day. He had fought some big fish and just wanted to get down a few new tricks for his arsenal. He did land a tired hen that was promptly released and missed a good bite. John had a great attitude on a day of tough, tough fishin.
The coho are around, and like a lot of years we could use some rain. Until then keep it simple, dark and small. They say salmon aren`t leader shy. But ya may want to think for yourself!

Sorry folks! Life got in the way for bit. I went back to work full time. But not before going totally broke. The net was down and very little fishing was happening:(. Alas, things are looking up!!
Before the break I had a cool client by the name of Chris. Chris fell in love with the method in which I fish and I believe is hooked! He got 1 to take home that day but it was toward the end of the springer run so fishing was a little slow.
This past weekend saw me with Doc and the gang for their return trip. This time for some coho action. The day was not as action packed as hoped but we did have some hook ups. Sue got to land a nice native right off the bat. Doc too landed a scrappy nate a bit later. The bite Doc missed was the fish of the day however, and I`m haunted by that fish. We met up with my brother and dad about noon and bro had a hatchery buck. Now that I think of it, I didn`t take a pic of that fish. The 2 nates will be added to the photo wall today or tomorrow. Have to liberate my camera back from dads car. Here`s lookin to another great winter steel season!! Right after this coho thing;) Cya!!

I guess that`s the best way to describe it. If you were to ask the traditional fly casting trout fisherman, he`d tell ya what I do is blasphemy. LMAO! It`s my tool and I have attachments for that tool. Everything I do with my tool can be done with ANY gear rod because I`m drifting, dredging my flies. I just like how versatile it is. At times I`ll throw a weighted fly and strip it. But I ask the traditionalist, what`s the dif? You wrap lead on the shank of yer flies to get them down on days the trout won`t come up, right? Lead on the fly or on my line 20" up puts the fly down were the steel lay, period. So to those that think I`m just a fly guy and might be little put off or hesitant to book with me cause I carry a fly ROD 90% of the year, don`t be! I carry a spin rod on every guide too. Plus you can bring your own and use it as well. My name is Damon and I`m a fly RODDER;)

been tying, fishing, tying, tying, fishing and tying. I`ve had some decent days on the Clack catching summers and a few springers too. A lot of the springers are going back these days. I have a couple pics but no time to get them on here now. I`m headin out to get a little fishin in for myself, with my brother and to help mom get finished moving. Hey, she told me not to show up till noon!:) She went to the Scorpions farewell show last night so she`ll be sleeping in;) I`ll get that fish porn up for ya`ll soon, promise!

Had to get a summer on for dancin with! Well had a few on and the only 1 I landed was prolly the 1st summer to enter the Columbia this year. It cut reel nice though! They were all over nymphs, no surprise. Killer lil stream that I`ve walked a few times but never as far as yesterday. Small nymphs, small leader, small crick and BIG fish! Love it!!

Have lots of flies to tie. Got into a couple last week, sorry for the quick/late report but I gotta go and just realized I was suckin at this:) The springer was on a fall favorite. The summer engulfed eggalas(cream egg). Go early if ya can!

HELUVSALMON!! Ali called for a chance to get to know a body of water that has some very nice springers hangin out in it. We started with a few casting lessons on the 8wt and let him practice cast n`drift at some weary nookies. It was 1st lite and I sure thought every cast was gonna be the one. But they had seen this before! They stacked up in the white water so we gave `em a few and switched flies from bright to drab. I put him in the fast water and I worked a sole fish in the tailout. He must`ve kicked one back cause all of a sudden I had 2 fish, 1 of them on and the one I had cast for was still there?! So I handed it to Ali and he performed beautifully. The fish did manage to get up the rapids but I was hot on his tail! The next hook up was Ali`s and that fish strait schooled him!! We both blew a couple more bites and that was it for that hole`s biters. The next hole had a couple biters too. But they did not stick. We met up with my dad and a couple friends there and dad had a heck of a fight that he lost while there. At the last hole of the day there were fish but the sun was shining and made it difficult. Dad and Ali both landed a native from here, but that took more work than I thought. It was a good day of fishin and I know someone who will be a force to be reckoned with on that water for years to come.

screw it! I just typed up a report and it didn`t go. Dad and I got 1 and our buddy Jason lost 1. Dads was a fighter. No pics of fish but I`ll throw up a fish on and scenery pic! Dark colors are still scoring. Pink at 1st light. Good luck!!!

Josh is Alex`s dad and a friend from childhood. We went to school together, played football, basketball and tore the town up when we where just a touch older than Alex is now. I took the opportunity to reunite with Josh while his X (and still friend, PATTY!!!!. Yes` ya gotta yell it. If you knew her you`d know why:)) and son where still here. The kid started us off with a solid hook up but after a tussle the salmon swam free. My brother was hot on his heals and this fish was not as lucky. Josh got in on the action in the first hole as well with a beauty of a springer. After lookin in a couple likely holes we headed down a ways to see if anything was around. When we got to the hole I`d hoped would hold a couple fish, I was elated to see a very sizable number of springers. And they hadn`t seen anything all day, at least. FISH ON!!! I could sit here and try to recall all of the hook ups and fish brought to the bank..... I`ll say this, PHENOMENAL! After the first couple we kinda had to work, but that`s easy to do when yer lookin right at yer prey. A gorgeous day on the water with an old friend, his terrific son, and my brother Bob. Dad even started the day with us but had to retire early in the morning for chores. We all met at the park with more old friends, food and a cold one, a wonderful day indeed!!

Had an old friend come up from Florida with her 14 year old boy this last week. He was all over me about fishin for some big nooks! I mean this kid was ready to go, now!! So we went. He had been on the ocean before, catching shark, so when I hooked up and handed him the rod he looked like a pro. Except when the fish would come to the top headshakin mad, the lil chit, Alex by the way:), would just keep pumpin and reelin!! Luckily I had made it clear to let go of the fly reel after the reel down, so the fish was landed. Now he wanted to do it on his own. It didn`t take too long neither. This one came undone. Dad was there and they doubled at one point. We did end up with 4 fish and a happy/tired 14 year old!
The following Saturday, yesterday, my brother and I went up for another 4. He got to try out his new Temple Fork Outfitters 8wt on some nice nookies!! The waters are low and clear, fish are spooky. I am running 8 lb leader. Yes, the big boys are tearing me a new one, but I don`t think I`d get the bite, let alone the fish to hang out with me:), without it. Blacks, purples and the drab are getting the subtle bites.

The springers are in!! I`ve been fishin so hard, I haven`t put anything up in a bit. We started last week, Tues., and it was PHENOMENAL!! In an hour we had our limit of 10-13lb bright ass chinook. We had 2 doubles but we couldn`t get `em both in either time. Got tore up by a few. I brought in a "native" too.
Wednesday we went back only to have our ASSES!! handed right to us. Almost lost my fly line to a feisty fish!
Thursday was a lil better. I landed a "native" right off the bat. Let it go so fast we didn`t even get a pic. Then a hatchery not to long after that. I even landed the same "native" from 2 days before. I knew because he had hit a different fly a while later that day. When I realized it was him, he was very tired still, I pointed my rod at him and gave him my fly. Well I got it back!! It`s a wall hanger;)
Friday I had Dave & Mike with me, along with my dad and brother. We walked that crick so hard my dad threw up at a hole we had stopped to eat and B.S. for a bit. Dave was apparently a little tired too, though he was a trooper (so was dad for that matter!)and wore it well, cause he fell in and got we bit wet. All was well, it`s shallow and he didn`t twist anything. But I guess he had a lil issue with the stomach upset not to far down the road on the way home:)-. Sorry Dave, I hope it was worth it bud:) I know it was, I`ll see ya in a day or 2, ha!! And that`s after a slOOOOOOOOOOOw day. Dad finally showed `em some action in the form of violent head shakes at the top of the water. That nook swam free after a solid minute of shaking!! I had 1 hit just as it was time to call it. Handed it to Dave and he said "holy sheet!" as it took off in a fury. This was just prior to the bath actually. I wonder if his legs where back yet??!!
Sunday was Fathers day and my Dads Birthday. So after breakfast with my my daughter Crystal, the twins, dad, of course, and Aunt Janice, we went up`er! Just me and dad:) I had 1 slam my fly right off the bat. Just as I said "ya better get the net", my fly was flying!! Went down to the next hole and had some fun. Dad couldn`t get the hook set I guess? I had my issues but was fortunate enough to have another blast my A.M.F. egg pattern. That`s like 5 hits, 3 of `em total slams. I even missed the first one that slammed it cause I could see it happening and was just JACKED!I suppose?, and froze for split second. It was one of those kinda weird deals. I guess, lookin back, I couldn`t tell exactly where my fly was so all I SAW was the fish darting, but still!!, DUH! So there it is, a great week in fishin! I`ll try to keep up this week;)

but the summer did not. I love free fishing weekend. Everyone is on lakes. Saw 1 guy, and I see him there all the time! The water is clearing and this week should produce some fish. Had to switch to purple after getting the 1st bite (springer) on pink again. Gonna hit it hard this week!! STAY TUNED!:)

I had `em bad after all that rain. A record setting May right into an already wetter than normal June made for some couch time, not a fan. The river dropped to under 14` so we went to see what was cruisin the waterway. The crack of dawn my pink eggalas was crushed by my 2nd springer of the year. Gotta love that shallow water dance off! Thought it was a summer at first. So @ 5:30 the count is 1 nookie. Dad gets in on the action with a nice hen summer run. I get a hold of the tail and put her on the bank. Grab the hook and she escapes my grasp, splash!, nooooo. The poor girl must have exerted some energy cause she just sank to the bottom. So for the 2nd time this year I get arm soaked and save dad`s catch. 6:08, the count is 1 and 1 :) Just as I`m thinkin to call it, well see if my ride is ready to call it, he`s on 1! Nice big buck of a summer!! 7:42, 1 and 2!!! Good enough, it started raining immediately after so after a gut fest we were on the bikes and rollin. Everything came on pink in somewhat colored up water.

Friday saw me with Doc, his wife Sue and their boy Dan. It`s been a bit slow but they were looking forward to a lesson in small stream steelheading, I think they got it. I put Dan in the "clients honey hole", which is known to grab ya and take yer gear if ya don`t stay over far enough. Dan knows what I`m sayin;) However it`s also a very productive rock to throw at and after a couple hours I hear "got one!". Not for long however, for some reason the fish could not take line:0 Dan had a hold of his line and rod, ooops. Well as I said it`s slow and it takes a bit. But after calling Doc up to help tick a fish off, sitting in front of said rock, Doc starts "you got him Dan, you got him!!" This time the fish backed up with the fly as he took it and the hook set just wasnt` there. Happens to me all the time, yesterday in fact. That was our action for the day. Well dad got into a couple and Dan was able to feel the power of a nice fresh native winter. So not bad, happy clients should be good enough right? Well I want `em to catch somethin dangit!!

Started off with a nice springer of about 13 lbs. This was in the middle of a little hook up frenzy. I get a bite and blow it, bro`s turn. Bro hooks up and looses it along with his lead, my turn. I cast, WHAM, summer on! He jumps 3 or 4 times before spitting the hook. I still had my lead and on the very next cast I was into my 2nd springer fight of the season. He was not happy about it! He jumped once and I thought it was a summer, my brother called springer, but I wasn`t sure till I got him down to a more manageable area. Called dad over to assist in the land, WHOOO! So today my brother and I go for a repeat performance, in our own minds. Had to work for it but all of sudden another bite was on. My brother`s headed down with a fish on and I say "I`ll be right with ya, gonna try to bring one with me!" A minute later I`m hooked up! A second later I`m not. Bro landed his (ol` winter)and we go back. I get a good set this time and I`m headed down. Just as I get to the landing hole I hear "fish on!!" 2nd double of the day, nice! I land my very scrappy winter, let it go just in time to look up and see bro comin down, WHOOO! His came off on the LDR. A while later it happens. A heck of a push of chrome bright summers are pushin through. Finally one hits. And this fish was eye level twice with in a matter of 5 seconds. Beautiful hen of a summer run comes to hand. They seem to be diggin on my shrimp/krill pattern. The water is in good shape, could use another lil` bit o` rain to tell the truth. It`s starting to get good, which means it can be hit and miss for another month, but it`s a good run so who know`s.

I seem to be starting a new trend in 2010. It`s called LDR the first fish of each season! You should NOT try it. I lost the 1st summer last week and today lost my 1st springer of the year. If I do that with a coho, a fallie and again for winters it`d be a quad-fecta? lol I`m not a betting man, what would that be, just dumb luck?? I did get to fight this beast of CHROME BRIGHT springer. Dad got a glove on it and we could see the fin so it wasn`t ALL bad. Sure wouldn`t have minded a pic of the big boy next to my gear though. I`m a lil tired of seeing my ugly mug next to fish :)

You knew I was gonna go back to that spot;) Didn`t take too long neither. I think a summer will be layin in that spot every morning for a couple months. I`ll let ya`ll know!! I gotta keep an eye on some other spots too though, springers are calling me! Eggalas in super clear, morning sun water did it again. That egg pattern is unreal man. I still throw other flies. I`m just not sure why sometimes;) JK, there is a time and place for the nymph to do just as much damage on any system!

Man that was a nice summer run! Lost it. She came up with the hookset. First jump she was able to dislodge the fly:( Can`t tell ya how many casts/colors me and dad threw at her? She finally took eggalas. Water was gin clear on this lil river that I don`t actually frequent, but love.

If, and I mean if, there were a better feeling than setting the hook, feeling/seeing that head shake, sliding your prize onto the bank or into your hand or net and the resulting BONK! on the head or SNAP! of the camera and release of your quarry? It has got to be helping/watching someone do it for the first time. Today I had an Army brat;) by the name of Bobby (not my brother!:) that was really wanting his first Oregon (or any) steel. After a soggy morning trying to figure out what they wanted, we hit it. Red. And it was on like donkey kong! Bobby (client, not my brother!!:) landed a nice buck. I believe that was the beginning of the end for ol` Bobby!! I got a decent hatchery for him to take home and he landed another himself to make it a pretty good, for slow, day. I`m pretty sure he doesn`t want to talk about the chromer that got away. Oops, did I say that outloud?

3 landed from 10am-1pm. Just to stay sharp!!;) Went to check on the crick at first. Nothin in it, it seems, YET. They do have an acclimation pond at Eagle Fern which disturbing, a bit. Those springers that are released there are gonna stop when they get back. Well, the N. Fork is right below there. Naturally spawning steelhead still use that fork, quite a bit. I just don`t see how this is any good for them. A springer , not even from the Clack., competing for spawning grounds with Native steel?? Anyway it`s a fun fishery, the Eagle crick Springer fish, they fight pretty darn good and it`s a small body of water. I guess ODFW will tell ya this is the first year they return. Well the 12 (10 hatcheries) I got in June last year tell a different story. 2 salt fish I assume, fairly small and not expected by F&W. Get `em guys!!

Friday I sucked!! I don`t wanna talk about it:)We did meet a couple of guys from Tennessee who got out a map and decided they were coming to Oregon to catch a steelhead. Being that I was born in Arkansas, my dad in Tennessee (we moved when I was 4 or 5) we thought it quite the find for them. I mean what are the odds? After a brief run down of the runs and technique, which any fly rod wielding "traditionalist" has issue with until they see the damage it can do in the right place, Seth was tied into a nice winter run steel. He was pleasantly surprised, as most are, with the power of these fish. He was a little less pleased when the fish found a rock to cruise around. I finally got the line out from around the rock but the damage was done and the fish popped off. We left them at it with the plan to meet up in morning. When they finally showed up I had landed a beaut of a native, and so had dad for that matter. Not long after I got a nice lil hatchery hen. I was beet down so we called it a day and left the "ridge runners":)) to see if they could land their quarry, on their own, the way they set out to do many miles away. I hope Seth and Pete did just that!! They ended up with a very pleasant afternoon to be in the N.W. pursuing THE WINTER STEELHEAD(echo). I also hope they`ll let us know how they did by leaving a comment:) If one/both of you will shoot me your email @ groundnpound@gmx.com, I`ll be happy to send ya the video I have of Seth tangling with that fish. Sorry folks, rules are rules! My rules clearly state no video of "certain" fishing holes will be broadcast on this or any other station ;)-

that was! Late start and fast to hook up!! I went 3 for 10 in about 2.5 hours. Can`t mess with that! Man I had one goin nuts, 57 shakes, 48 twirls and SPIT!! All in about 5 seconds!!!!!!!!Chrome too! I gotta say, there are a lot of fish comin through. I like, I like it a lot. Nymphing is now dominating. A lot like fun...

Rose nailed the 1st of the day again. And only 5 minutes after asking if I thought she should throw her own fly. If that doesn`t instill confidence in an angler then I have no chance of being a guide. Yes! she could have done it on her own, without question. But it felt good being able to put her in a spot with the ability to present that fly to steel. Dave got to land a fish. And Daves dad caught the chrome of the day! A small but very feisty lil native hen. Randy is a modest man indeed, not even a pic with his 1st steel. Great job sir! A tip of my hat to ya!!

today is half as good as yesterday. My brother and I went up to scout for my 3rd guide today. It was PHENOM!! We had fish everywhere and for an hour or so couldn`t stop yelling FISH ON!!! I brought in a healthy native buck and a gorgeous hatchery hen. My brother never did get one to stick for more than the top water dance-off! Dave must of had fun last weekend cause he`s booked himself, his dad(was not at the first one), and Rose again. So if today is as good as yesterday or even last Fri. ...... I`ll be happy! But more importantly, so will my clients!!

of seeing someone GET IT is quite extraordinary. Robert was my 2nd guide and while he wasn`t able to bring one to the bank he left with the confidence to go anywhere and give it heck! His bite @ twilight was one for the books alone. The fish crushed his egg pattern and turned with every intention of taking Roberts rod. I think had he been a little more aware of every cast he would have got a good hookset. As it was the rod tip touched water before the pull back and he got a nice top of the water thrash before the chrome came undone. This was pretty much the theme for the day, whether long or short the fights ended the same, LDR. Finally he insisted I try it. I too had a problem with the first 2 strikes. My excuse, talking, it`s always my excuse:) But, as if knowing I`m on the 2nd guide of my life a bruiser decides to chomp on my fly. BRUISER! After 100 yards of river and 20 minutes of 8wt madness the beast was gloved for a quick pic. 35incher, dark and native. So after 2 guides I have 16 hook ups between 3 clients, me and my dad(who was along for the first one). I can only assume that with more seasoned steelheaders, the landed total would be better, it`s 5 now. I don`t want them to feel bad! It is exactly how every one gets started fighting these powerful fish! Even seasoned guys lose fish, frequently.
Saturday I drifted the Sandy with eggs of the OFF family in his bathtub,lol (driftboat:). We saw some weary fish in the crystal clear river. We threw the sink and he had some players but nothing committed. It was a beautiful day to be out and I finally fished some water I`ve never fished before. It`s time to start thinking springers.

My clients today were bigsteel and lilsalmon from the OFF family. They needed to get that skunky smell OFF and I think I was able to help. Lilsalmon started us off with a pig of a buck on her 6wt!! After 45 minutes of "reel, get yer hand off that reel, reel, get your...." I put the beast in the net (he was very tired and did not thrash at all, so no extra damage occurred netting him) and left the beautiful specimen in the water for lilsalmon to have her glory shot! That, my friends, was a GREAT feeling! Bigsteel hooked up a while later, but that one was short lived. His next hook up was much better and he did a great job of fighting his first fly rod steel. The fish did eventually swim free on the LDR but we all agreed the fish would have gone back even if hatchery cause of his color. So bigsteel was satisfied. They were great to have on the water and I hope I was able to learn `em a little somethin to take to their home waters. O yeah, dad landed a nice hatchery buck, so they got to go home with meat too!

It`s getting late! And I showed up late! And there`s color on that water! And I missed my hit!! But it was pretty nice out. Didn`t rain. Jim got a pig. On a light pink egg pattern. And all is good. Better than a sharp stick in the eye! Here`s to the weekend!!

the ipod helps when it`s a bit slow!! But it hasn`t been THAT slow. We have our moments, but for the most part there are fish to cast at. Yesterday me and dad got into some but I was the only one to bank 1. Beauty of a hen on cream/peach eggalyss. Dad twisted his ankle a touch so he was kind enough to take me up there so I could fish with Aaron today. He leaves in 1 week for AK. We saw quite a few fish and I was able to bank 3. I blew it on a nice chromer first thing:( Aaron pretty much copied the performance in the same spot an hour later. He was able to bank a couple too though. It was purple pearl for me after the light of day was upon us.

cause it might cost me body parts to say were I was:)) But what a day!!!. 4 take downs with the poor %age of landing 1. Nice sized buck though. Dad had 6 hits and landed a native. While I was fighting my hatchery!! So we only got the pic of mine. Dads was CHROME! After watching my egg pattern(OR the lead OR the line) spook several fish I went to a purple pearl "like" pattern. Good move!!! 10 lb leader as there was a touch of color on the water. Beautiful spring weather to boot!!

On to the Sandy baby! It was time to make the hated(jk)switch from crick mode to big water mode. And it didn`t take long to be hooked up. Pink worm made my day and not a nice natives. Had another nice jumper on not long after that, but he was LDR`d. Dad got to watch 1 chase a spinner but it turned away at the last second, I`m told. Beautiful day to be out man, just gorgeous! The big one is in there, I know it!!

Well that was prolly my last run down the crick for winters. I have to say, I`ve definitely noticed a drop in the # of nates I see each year. And I stayed longer this year than in years past. My bro and I hit the trail at the new daylight after springin forward and boy is it sparse fish countin. The 2 I took video of the other day were still doing their thing. My brother harassed `em a bit getting the buck to strike twice and then see ya! This is after I landed a scrappy lil hen that had spawned quite a while back. She fought like a suckerLOL. Well better than that, but only for minute:). My bro did not feel well today. He uh, well, hmmm, had to poop! And with the lack of fish (along with fact that my bro cannot "drop trowel" anywhere but his own toilet) we headed out. I`ll be on the Sandy for awhile, lookin for the big nate of a lifetime. A wonderful season was had by me on the creek, one for the books, if you will. I`m working on the season long video for youtube and should have it up soon, very soon;)

Got a call from a buddy, "ya wanna go fishin?" he says. "Well I was gonna get on the bus to go, whatta you think?" I quickly reply. So today we get there 1st and only saw 2 other fishermen, 1 of which had just landed a hatchery buck on a pink worm. But our day was slow to start. I got a good strike an hour into it and was sling shot into the tree, promptly, I might add. My partner was finding bottom quite a bit, and this gave me a chance get into 2 more fish and I landed the buck, native and was completely schooled by the hen. Promptly! We went right back by the 1st 2 fish spotted this morning (sling shot)and let `em be this time as she was digging. I don`t always do this here as a lot of hatcheries spawn in the creek. But, who knows??? Hopefully they were nates, giving us something to look for in the future.

LOW! The water is!! Just me and dad today. It was tough. Fish were all alone and not in the mood! Ya hit the water and away they go. But, as always there are some little spots, and we hit `em every time anyway! I landed 1 hen and fouled another for a split second. Had to put on a nymph today, 8lb leader. Hope this is a good rain event coming. Going to the Rogue next week for a little road trip and a metal show! Should be fun. Prolly get in a couple more local trips before then too!

Today we got to park in our new parking spot, Kenny`s drive way. There wasn`t any fish in his hole when we got there. In fact, there were no fish for quite some time. Aaron started us off though, hookin a pair, landing the buck. Man it was slow. Dad beet feet as per usual. When I caught up to him he was landing a hen. I got the buck and Aaron came down to make 3 for 3 out of that hole. I nailed a hen not long after that! 4 for 4!! In 1 hole! There were others but not that wanted to eat. It was cold today, made clear by dad as he turned to head upstream (car). A ways up he spots 1 and she hit right off the bat but came undone. Come to find out (from a fellow fisherman) Aaron has jumped up the trail ahead of us. When we get to him he`s landing the 2nd of a beautiful pair of hens. So we`re off to Kenny`s hole before the car. There just happens to be a chromer in there! The ol` man and I moved it around a couple times, then all of a sudden HE hit. FISH ON!! Nice little buck to finish a beautifully slow day on the crick. And I mean BEAUTIFUL!! All winter almost. Gonna be a warm summer, but man what winter steelhead season it`s been!!

is what I hope to win tonight in Powerball! Then I can buy my dream house on the crick. Anyway back to reality, I landed 2 of 5 today and Aaron started off a red hot 4 of 4 but dropped off as we went on, but still hooked up 5 more times and landed 1 of those. Dad was skunked, but had a nice chromer on to start the day. This is fun!

so far!! Yesterday was a great day with several hook ups and 2 to the bank for me. I even had more hook ups than Aaron!! He managed to land 2 as well though. The day before I was by myself and had a slow day but got 1 first thing above the log hole. Today I managed to reach 40 with the 1 I finally banked after 5 other hook ups. Dad and I both had PIGS on!! It is startin to slow down. 927 fish back so far and they got the $$$ to release this year:)!!!!!!!!

the rain didn`t amount to much so it`s STILL low and clear conditions. Managed 2 real fast though as there was 2 in the sweet spot. After a pic with the hen I went to watch bro or dad try a hook up. The other fish dispersed so with out really thinkin about it I went to the white water and tossed, frikin fish on!!! He went burzerk at first and then came to hand for a photo as well. Watched as bro and dad walked right passed 4 fish. Let them know and dad was hooked up. Off. I hooked up, off, too and away we go. There was a nice fish down a ways and Aaron had joined us and gave her a real hard time but she swam free when we left. We managed video of everyone in the group hooking up, except me, of course. Good day! 37 and countin.

34! Tues. the 9th, me and dad went for it. Started off a bit slow but started hookin up in the b day hole with that frikin native I got on Dec. 14th!! He was to hand when he popped off, so we counted him. A pocket or 2 down I was tied into a different beast of a buck, again wiggling around in dads hands he fell out and off. Dad moves along and I take my time finding a fish in a new little pocket, for me. Fouled her and off I went, after the LDR. Come up on dad as he is landing a big hen. So I do it too! Then I get into a hot little buck, that popped off at the last second. Good vid and he was goin back so I counted him. Time to go see if the log hole is free, Chuck and his boy where on it. So I doink one on the 1st cast in a little pocket right below them. Beautiful hen!! Had another a few minutes later in the same spot and that little pecker schooled me. But my dad got the whole thing! From hook up to fish off! Very cool!
On a side note: Today is a big day for me. I met Kip from Yakutat lodge yesterday at the show, today his dad and I should find out if I`m the luckiest bastard in the world. I could be a fishing guide in Alaska this summer!! I`m starting to freak out a little:)))

Hit the # 30 mark for banked winter steel! Thanx again to dad for having the fever as bad as I do, and coming all the way to get me every time out. This will NOT be forgotten. The day started off fast with fish every where. I can`t even remember right now who got us started, I think Aaron. At any rate I went 6 for 13, all released, Aaron was 6 for 11, with 2 nice chromers, and my dad ended the day 3 for 8, 2 keepers (1 beautiful buck!), after a bit of slow start, for him. Again I toned it down as the water is low and fish seem to be spread out. Big holes, riffles and white water.

And broke her in nicely this morning. He started the 3 of us off with a cool lookin returnable buck. This after my dad hooked up but could not keep it pinned. I promptly play catch up on fights but like dad, mine spit the hook. I leave them to play LDR (apparently) as I head down crick. No luck in the likely hole and so I wait on the fellas, and away we go. Noticing we are behind a few guys we head up and around them. Ending up down crick a ways my bro and I run into a pig but he is not even interested. So I go down to the next hole and in 3 casts have a gorgeous hen on the bank. After some fish pics I go back to the spot and low and behold there`s 5 or so chrome fish! A cookie cutter buck was not far behind, and I was tagged out. The rest of the fish where gone for some reason;) With my dad in sight we head up. I show my brother a likely white water scenario and he is tied into a PIG of a fish!! Alas!, his knot gave way and fish swam away. I had to drab it down a bit as the water is low and clear. More importantly, fish were spooked by the egg patterns I tossed this morning. Dad went 0 for 5, bro was 1 for 4 and I was 2 for 5. Good day to be on the water with my best friends!
GO SAINTS!!

Nice buck to start the day. Had dad snap a few shots and sent him on his way. Got a hen outta the same area and bonked her for the smoker. Chuck and his boy were there. Tony had a fish on the bank. We headed down after dad LDR`d one. Aaron came down shortly after. Got one outta there, he did, and off we went. Got a few hook ups out of the next hole, and I landed another buck to be released. Saw a few, but still a bit slow in the next stretch. Went down a ways and came back to hook up some more and dad landed the first native for our group outta the logs. GOOD REDEMPTION!

Got skunked!! It doe`s happen?! Had 1 on, and I had my buddy Parr with me so...
Yesterday was good and I am at 19 for the year, to the bank. There are plenty of fish around and I`ll do better tomorrow, I know it!

Been pretty slow. Managing some hook ups and a fish on the bank here and there. Got skunked on the 28th with my new reel but turned it around nicely the 29th with a big ass hen and the fight of the year, so far! Man she wanted under that frikin rock bad. Never did jump! This was after my brother tagged 1 first thing in the morn. So a skunking for dad to pay back for yesterday:) Hope he is ok though. He took a couple spills the last couple days, 1 in the drink, 1 on the hard ground:( He has been the only reason I get out as much and I`m very thankful, even if it doesn`t always seem so;) SO here`s hoping for dads health and longevity so we can continue our path of destruction:) This run may not be here for long and every waking moment I can spend rippin a lip up `er I feel more alive, dragging tales in the mud and dragging ass to the car. That is when I am up to par!

we should be seeing a few more fish here. Not that its bad fishin or anything. Yesterday me and dad get there early and it don`t take long. Land a nice fat hen in the twilight and let her go. My freeze is full and she was getting dark, but a great looking specimen! Head on down and they spread out. We finally bump into some more fish @ the table top. My first cast (after walkin up on my dads 4th or so) she whacks it! But I blow it. Still, first cast and all!! Dad gets the buck to hit several minutes later and we snap off photo and kick him back. After a break I get back at it and she came to play. Kicked her down to some fellow fishermen that needed it.:) Good day!
Today we get there just in time to star fishin and I start it off with what may have been the same frikin hen from yesterday (I realize this as I am typing and pics will be up shortly, or tomorrow). Let her go (again?) and move along pretty quickly. Again it`s rather slow goin with no fish seen till the table top. A little fish way back in the tail out. I touched her?? but she got away. Just down stream a bit is another and we try, to no avail. On down, nothin. Back up to him and I finally get him and HE SCHOOLED ME!! Up to the table top where 2 guys are. They leave,I step in, first cast!! Nice fight with a buck!! 2 great jumps! FUN!!!

The water is getting low and steel don`t like it. Still managed a nice hen. She came out of her spot 1 foot or more and took my egg fly in about 8 casts or so. Now that`s fun!! Also let that big native (I caught a month ago) go , again. This time he took me 50 yards down the crick! Now that`s fun!! My brother had a nice hook up and fight only to have her come undone at the last second. I even had a hand on her. Aaron took a buck out of there and had plenty of hook ups. I had 4 with 2 landed. Not bad, aside from kids moving in on our hole:( Could use a 1/2 inch or so of rain!

A banner day indeed. The bite was on and it was good! Got there right on time and the ol` man proceeds to LDR one immediately. Aaron comes down just in time to see me pull a chrome beauty outta the same spot. I land mine and we are off to a great start. Aaron gets in on the action with an equally bright ass hen to match. Not even 8 am yet! A little BS ensues and Aaron says he`s ready to get outta dodge, right after one more. And a buck comes to play minutes later. C ya later bud! The ol man and I head for THE hole. I have my 2nd fish on in a matter of moments. Off he goes but another was not so lucky just a few casts later. And my dad wants to land one, he decides. CHROMER!, another hen to boot. We get some company in the form of a stranger, and Chucks boy had stepped in (long enough to see my dad land his) below a ways as well. We give the hole off to the stranger and head down for dads limit. It takes a few minutes but just when we run into Chuck he does it. A pretty good sized buck no less. Hope Chuck was able to break in his rod. My dad felt a little bad finding out he hadn`t broke in that new Albright rod yet. The water is clear and like I said in the last post cream is killin it!
A note about the site. I have used up my FREE space and until I can afford to pay and play I will put my videos on youtube. New pics will be added as fish are caught. But, old ones will have to come down to make the room. Thank you for visiting.

And waaaay to many people!! The hawg I left there the other day was still there! And with a hen bigger than him, no less. Dad did land 1 right off the bat and I`ll put a clip of that up. Aaron hit a couple and I lost either both the hawgs or 1 of `em twice. The water is great and cream should dominate from here on out. Just go bigger when the water is up.

Today was another great day!! Went straight down to the log at dark:30 and just after being crowded by some kid that wanted a pole whippin I get a good bite and fish on!! Good little fight and a long distance release. Waited on Aaron and Steve so they could have the hole or head down with us. They stayed and me and Bobby take off. Not to far down in a sweet spot I hook up on my first toss in there. Off!, she goes and a few more casts end with the same thing, fish on/fish off. Down a little more and I get ahead of Bob when he hollers fish on!! I turn and get back just in time for the spitting of the hook. Just as I get back where I was when he yelled, I spot 1. First cast!! Landed a beautiful buck after a 50 yard, down creek battle. Lunch and break at the table top and up creek we go. Running back into Aaron and Steve as Aaron lands a nice hen. I hook up 2 or 3 more times on the way up to the top, where HE! was. MAN! fish like that get me goin!!! Had hit a black fly after a bit but he came undone and was very scared after that. I tried though, for another hour or so. Had a dark buck hit while trying but it even came off?! O well, fun day!! Rained 1/2 inch or so on the 14th and there was just a touch of brown to the water when we got there and cleared out all the way by the time we left. LOVE IT!!

A great day of fishin! I had 5 hook ups, 1 landed. Dad and bro both had a hook up. Dad landed his. Aaron showed up and hooked fish. Met Chucks boy while he was fightin a fish. Water was down and clear but the bite was on! Peach n cream again. I`ll be putting a nice video together and have it on youtube tomorrow sometime.
Found another new spot that holds fish today! Had 2 on out of it!!!!

It slowed a bit today. Chuck and I headed down right on time to find the water down and very clear. Not many fish around but we did see a few. I finally got one down a ways in my brothers favorite spot. Peach and creamy seem to be doing the trick. Ran into Aaron at his favorite hole and he had one on the bank as well. It`s raining today (actually the 12th) and the water will be on the rise.
.40 inches since yesterday. Should be good in the morning.

Today was a good day. Thanx Dad, I needed that!
So I meet up with Aaron, head down, meet Steve and start fishin. Aaron hooks up right off the bat. He comes undone after a beautiful jump. And it`s Steves turn to lose one, both were pretty good sized steelhead. My turn! and managed to keep her stuck. Chrome little hen.
After many fish on/fish off deals Steve lands a decent buck. After many fish on/fish off deals I`m able to get a good hook in one. Unfortunately she got a good burst and headed down. I went for her but when I saw a spot I would be able to land her I tightened my drag a touch to keep her there and a few seconds later pulled out. So we head back up. After many fish on/ fish off deals (mostly by Aaron, by the way) Aaron sticks one for good. Chrome little hen! Between the 3 of us we hooked up 16 times, or so. Cream and peach where hot colors and the water is almost perfect, for me. Just a touch of color. Tomorrow should be good too!

ruining fishing spots since 1998!
Yesterday was a bit of a bummer. Showed up a little late on a Fri. to WAY more cars than there should be, this time of year. Bummed, we went for it. The water was just a touch up and had some snow melt to it. When we get to the first run, 5 guys! This is not good! We find a hole we can fish and barely do as all we can do is whine about people, solitude is non-existent.
My brothers reel is done, no drag. So 3 guys 2 rods, we should prolly just hang it up. Here comes a buddy of Aarons, with a fish. Apparently they are everywhere. Aaron hooks up a few times in said hole, me, one hook up/scratch. Time to head down. Many hook ups follow for Aaron, but my brother has to go.
Bright egg patterns where being hit.

Well this it. 2010 is here and I am takin it by the fins! Had a great December of 09 catching chrome in Wa. and Or. I tallied 7 steelhead in the 2nd 2 weeks of the cold days of December. 1 on bobber/jig-black in muddy water, 1 on a #3 green blue fox in clear water and the rest on my beloved fly rod. 1 was on a new body of water no less! So here we go. From here on out my blog postings will be of that days catch or no catch. Feel free to chime in, ask a ?, leave a comment or a pic. Happy New Year! And I hope it brings plenty steel to your feet.