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Here are some shots from Ron and Chuck who just spent two days at Eagle Canyon.  Clint helping Chuck with his big fish  Ron's biggest fish of the trip |
I just finished up 2 days with Mark and Paul from the Bay Area. Fishing was really tough for us yesterday. It was really hard to get a grab on a nymph, and way too windy for any dry fly action. Today was much better, and Paul landed a very nice 20 inch rainbow on a small mayfly nymph. There are all sorts of bugs hatching mid-day. Big and small caddis and a couple types of mayflies are thick during the warmest part of the day. The fish seem to be keying on the mayfly nymphs, though.  Paul with a great rainbow |
I conducted a stillwater techniques clinic at Eagle Canyon today. My five students did well, managing to hook quite a few fish on a variety of techniques. We hooked up on nymphs under indicators, nymphs under dry flies, and streamers. Adam was the star of the group - see his photo. Action was definitely better early and late in the day. Best flies were black Copper Johns size 12 and the oregon cheese micro-spawn.
This is what Adam had to say about his trip to Eagle Canyon:BIGGEST TROUT OF MY LIFE!!!!! Thanks so much we had a blast. It’s pretty special getting to spend time fishing with my dad and grandpa. Your setup made it easy for us all, even the 92 year old! That was the biggest trout I’ve ever caught and the biggest trout any of us have ever seen! You’ll see us back in the future that I guarantee!  Adam was a quick study  Hal with his first fish of the day  Our host Clint helps John land a nice one |
Four anglers had a really good day at Eagle Canyon today. Here are some photos.  Burt with his big bow  Duane did well with the indicator rig.  Ron and Duane doubled up on the lower pond |
Here are a few non-fish shots from Eagle Canyon. These lakes have big fish, but they also have great scenery. The mayfly looks like a baetis, and they are hatching regularly now. Soon they will be joined by the larger callibaetis.  Sunset view of the lower lake  The evening light is fantastic  The fish are eating these on the surface mid-day. |
I cant imagine better weather to winter steelhead in...I feel like I'm still in New Zealand! The only issue is that there aren't many fish to catch on the Trinity. They are really spread out, and the river is crystal clear. There is no rain in the local forecast, so the fishing will continue to be pretty tough until a significant rain event. At least the weather is superb, and very low angling pressure on the Trinity. Hey, it's winter steelheading, so the only way you can catch one is to get out there and try...but I'm heading to the Coast, and so should you if you want a better shot at a fresh winter steelhead.
There are more fish around on Northern California and Southern Oregon coastal rivers, but we need rain over there too. I am heading over to the coast today, and will be exploring and guiding coastal rivers in Southern Oregon and Nor Cal for the month of February into March. Spey casting, soul searching, and steelheading....life is good.
If you really need to catch a fish right now, head over to Eagle Canyon and get it out of your system...I know they are in there!  swinging on a unmentioned stream |
Richard & Adam from Red Bluff enjoyed a day at Eagle Canyon today. Here are some photos. |
Today was my second day with Stan & Bob. We floated from Bonnyview to Anderson and didn't see another boat or fisherman all day long. The weather continues to be spring-like, and the hatches are fast-forwarding to March already. We had a great caddis hatch starting around noon. Two different-size bugs, one a 16 and the other a 12 or 14. The fish in the shallow riffles and tailouts were chowing big-time. We rose about ten fish on dries, both from the boat and while wading. It was a lot of fun! Our forecast calls for another ten days of this incredible weather, so expect more great dry fly moments in the near future.  Stan caught this one on a trigger nymph  Bob with a colorful rainbow |
I floated over twenty miles of the Trinity River in the last two days and we didn't hook a single adult steelhead. The water is a little high and extremely clear. I'm hoping for another storm to come soon and bring some more fish into the river.
There is a pretty good hatch mid-day and some half-pounders and browns are eating dries. Stan and Bob from San Francisco landed a pair of half-pounders on callibaetis dries this afternoon near Lewiston. There were also some much larger dries hatching. They might have been green drakes. We saw about six of them hatch and all of them were aggressively chowed by half-pounders. |
The Lower Sac was fun on Saturday as I floated Stacey and Judy on their first trip of the year.The weather was pretty chilly with that lingering fog all day. We floated the high section Posse to Bonnieview. There were a ton of other boats at first concentrated near the Sundial Bridge. Our best fishing occurred early on the upper section. Nice rainbows were hitting mostly egg patterns although Dark Lord and Birds Nests seemed to tempt them as well. The water level was down to around 4500 so there were ample opportunities to get out of the boat and swing a fly. Should just keep getting better and better as the spring approaches. Yahoo! |
Fishing continues to be fair on th Lower Sac. I enjoyed a record-high temp day on the Lower Sac with Dan from Folsom today. It felt like April out there! We enjoyed beautiful views of Mt. Lassen as we floated through the Cottonwood area. We didn't see any other drift boats today. Water conditions are perfect, but the fish just aren't chowing down yet. We caught fish on S&M Nymphs, Jimmy Legs, flashback PTs, and tan birds nests. The highlight of the day was some wade fishing in the afternoon. Dan landed a couple of nice fish that jumped over and over again. There was a decent hatch of baetis and a few fish were rising. We had some luck casting a small nymph to the rise and stripping it in. |
Today is the last day of the Sacramento ISE Show. Our Eagle Canyon Trophy Trout Lakes booth is in the fly fishing building, booth 2119 in tent C. The show will be open from 10-5 today. This is your last chance to take advantage of our show special. Come by and say hi!  Katie working the crowd |
Here are some photos from Josh and Aurora who fished the lakes on Sunday.  Josh with a big bow |
Wayne from Orland brought his twin boys to Eagle Canyon lakes on Saturday. They played bumber-boats in their float tubes and caught lots of nice fish. The fish are starting to key in on the midges on the surface. We've had some good surface grabs on small parachute adams and even the occasional royal wulff.
Due to a cancellation, we suddenly have an opening this coming weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday are available, Jan 22/23. We also have some weekdays the last week of January. Prime dates are going fast so be sure to schedule your trip soon. |
I guided Peter from the Bay Area and Terry from Chicago on the Lower Sac today. Terry had never fished northern California and was very impressed. He started out with a huge rainbow, one of the best I've seen in a while. He hooked another nice one in the morning and then the fishing got tougher. We had the whole river to ourselves today. This was the warmest day I've spent on a river in a couple of months. Our best flies were the brown jimmy legs size 8 and a size 16 beadhead pheasant tail.  Terry with a really big rainbow |
I enjoyed a nice day on the Trinity today with Paul from Orinda. Paul sealed the deal on a nice colored-up buck that ate a pink glo bug. We floated the canyon today and didn't see another boat all day. The river is in great shape. Fishing is challenging and some days you have to cover a lot of water to find fish. You can bet on plenty of solitude, great scenery, and enough opportunities to make it more than worthwhile. The callibaetis are starting to hatch and there will be good dry fly fishing on the calm warm afternoons from here on out.  Paul with his big fish |
In December Craig Neilson hosted a 2 day Spey clinic on the Klamath River at Klamathon Lodge. Craig, Jeff Putman, Chris King and myself were the four instructors. We had an awesome weekend, which included on the water instruction, classroom time, great food and accommodations, a slide show presentation on Spey venues from Charles Gehr of Fly Water Travel, and lots of fishing time during our daily floats.
It was such a huge success, we are doing it again March 11-13. Here's the details...
Leading California Two Handed Casting Instructors, Chris King, Jeff Putnam, Jon Hazlett and Craig Nielsen are offering an exclusive weekend Klamath River Spey and Switch Rod on-stream workshop hosted by Klamathon Lodge. All of the guides are certified casting instructors with the Federation of Fly Fishers. The two night two day weekend includes demonstrations, on stream instruction and guided opportunities to cast for and catch both half-pounder and adult steelhead on the legendary Klamath River.
All meals, snacks and non alcoholic beverages are provided as well as transportation to the river, including boat access to prime runs each day. Rods, reels and lines will be available for guests to sample and use. The Klamathon Lodge is located on the banks of the most productive section of the Klamath River with a fabulous run just a few steps from the door. This weekend is limited to eight anglers, double occupancy and a guest to guide ratio of two to one! Invite a friend. Priced at only $795.
Contact Craig Neilson at Shasta Trout for more info and booking (530) 926-5763 or call me at 541-941-0186  Spey lesson on the water |
Gino found himself on the lower Rogue guiding Alex Moneybags McHuron and Ms Holly Steelhead Hunter over the weekend. As steelhead guides, it would be great if the action was spread out throughout the trip. They cashed in all their chips on day one.
Between the Holly and Alex, they reported at least six grabs, two of which Holly turned into gorgeous chrome bright winter steelhead. Alex got two hard pulls, but neither fish wanted the hook in its mouth. Both fish were landed within 2 miles of the ocean. They don't get any brighter, better, or perfect than this. All fished were hooked on the swing with spey rods. Holly even hooked one on a Scott rod. Do they still make those?
Here are a few pics that Alex took.
 Fabulous  Another Chromer  Great fish |
I just spent the last 4 days on the lower Rogue doing some recon. Water conditions are perfect and the local gear fisherman are doing quite well. The challenge of winter steelhead fishing is getting your swung fly in front of fish that is in the mood. As a swing fisherman, connecting with a fresh coastal winter steelhead is the most rewarding moment in a steelheaders evolution. I had a conversation recently with a Forest Service official who was curious how many fish we caught compared to gear fisherman. I told him that we catch about a tenth as many fish as they do. But, when you do catch that perfect chrome fish on a swung fly that you cast and presented to that fish, it is ten times more exciting, ten times more deserved and ten times more memorable. That is why we do it. Catching a steelhead from an anchored boat with a Hot Shot plug is considered fishing and certainly exciting, if that is what you are into, but it is not angling. Our anglers work hard for every take, every fish on, and every fish that comes to hand.
Winter steelheading with a swung fly is the pinnacle of steelheading in my opinion, and we are lucky to have the resources, the clients, and of course, the passion to pursue these fish in this manner.
We are very excited about this winter. So far, our coastal rivers are getting good returns. In three days of fishing this week, my scouting partner had two encounters on day two. Neither fish wanted the hook in its mouth. Such is luck. Unfortunately I had to take a day off to take care of some business. Then yesterday, I went out solo for a morning on the lower Rogue and caught my first steelhead of the season. Oddly enough, the 8lb native buck ate my fly while I was stripping in my shooting line between casts. As he made his first run, I was able to clear all the shooting line as it came tight with the reel. As the battle ensued, I found great pleasure in the fact that I hooked one before the anchored boat across the river from me, who was sporting several lines in the water. As I brought the fish to hand and grabbed the leader, I had a brief moment to admire its beauty before the hook popped out and it swam back our into its native waters. I had to stand there a moment and take it all in. It's encounters like that which fuel our souls as we feel the pull towards the lower reaches of our favorite winter steelhead rivers. We welcome anyone who shares the same passion and is ready for the most challenging, yet rewarding season of steelhead fishing, the winter steelhead. |
We had a great group of gals fish Eagle Canyon on New Year's Eve day. Kim, Deborah & Michelle had fun catching some seriously big fish. One even dragged Kim into the water - see below. Here is Kim's fishing report:
It was cold and clear in the morning with ice on the ground. We had a really great morning with fish after fish, it slowed to almost nothing during the day when the wind picked up, temperature dropped and the clouds rolled in - perhaps the barometer, then it picked up again going crazy just before dusk. We caught most of the fish on clear intermediate sinking lines and the rest on sink tips. Bright green Clouser minnows, pink bunny leeches (weirdly they liked them on top in the lower pond), green crystal buggers and later black woolly buggers and bunny leeches did the trick. I think all the fish were caught on 2x tippet. We didn't find the fish to be leader shy at all. The smaller ones (5-7lb) fought the best. The really big one (15-20??) was more sluggish. The fish were super hot in the evening and that sure was fun. Got a good soaking from their tails throwing water up as they swam back into the lake after being released. We caught most of our fish in the upper lake - on the levee in the morning and the island you can walk out to in the evening. All in all a fun day.
Weekend dates are disappearing fast for February and March! We're only open through April 10th so plan your trip soon.  Girls just want to have fun  Busting the fun-meter  A great catch at sunset |
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