10/29/2009

The fishing on the canyon has seen a good mix of 1/2 pounders and a few Nice adult steelhead and Salmon.  The fall colors are in full swing!  I love this time of year.  2 more trips left and then open for Fall salmon on the coast.  These fish can sometimes top 40-50 lbs!  Fishing will start as soon as the rains pump the rivers up and end in December.  Then it's time for Winter steelhead! Lets go fishing!

Oh ya I almost forgot I got a little Buck on my day off...I can already taste the backstrap!

4x4

10/3/2009

I fished with Val and Jim on the last canyon trip.  The water was low but rising and I couldn't get much action as we went threw the canyon on the fly.  We did however see lots of Bald eagles, a golden eagle , and 4 wild black bears at close range.  On the last day heading out of the canyon the fishing was better and even with an early take-out we managed a few fresh from the ocean fish.

9-19-2009

The canyon fishing season is in full swing now.  The fall colors are starting to show and the water is starting to drop.  We are catching a good mix of halfpounder steelhead and a few adults mixed in as well.  The salmon are looking good so far with bright fish and lots of jacks in the lower river.  I fished Bob and Patricia on the last trip and we started slow for the first day and the fishing progressively got better.  On the last day we had 6 fish on the hook and landed 4 of them. a nice steelhead about 7lbs was landed by Patricia her first and largest fish to date she told me.  She also go to hang on to a couple of big chinooks but we couldn't manage to get them to the net...better luck next time!  I filled my dates on the 6th-9th with another canyon trip. salmon on the Klamith will have to wate till next year. 

9/7/2009
With one Rogue canyon trip done it looks to be a better year of fishing.  Quite a few adult steelhead and jack salmon are showing up in the catch along with a good numbers of 1/2 pounders.  I Am booked for the next 2 months accept for the days of  October  (6th 7th 8th and 9th) I will be open for day trips on the klamath river for salmon on those days.  There are fresh salmon in the Grants pass area but you have to work hard for them and it's not easy with all of the moss in the river.  The best fishing had right now is on the Umpqua river for small mouth bass.  Catches of over 100 fish a day can be had right now with some larger fish in the 3-4 lb + range. Can you say fish taco's!!!

6/25/2009

Upper Rogue still has a few springers to offer for those who are out on the water.  Also summer steelhead are also starting to show.

5/2/2009

With a slow winter steelhead season ending spring salmon are on there way.  Will they show up in any numbers this year? It remains to be sceen.  I'll be out fihsing for them but I never get to serious do the low numbers of returns in the last 5 or so years.  The summer ahead does hold some good fishing though.  The Umpqua river offers exelent small mouth bass and shad fishing in the comming months. This is a great oprotunity to introduce younger anglers to the basics of fishing without having to test there patients, as is usually the case with salmon and steelhead fishing.  If you want to go chase fish, get out on the river for a lazy float or go for an adrainaline filled ride through some world class white water give me a call...

Important Info.....Write your reps in support of SB 472 To revive the hatch box program...It won't cost you a thing the Guides association will raise the money needed for hatch boxes but the hatchery will not provide the eggs...this bill would make them provide the eggs and make it legal to put the boxes in the Rogue tributaries....It was very effective in the past, and should be again.

2/24/2009  I did a fun trip down the Wild and Scenic section of the Rouge River Canyon this last weekend with my friends and had a blast.  The first day the weather was great, not a drop of rain and more fish than you could shake a stick at.  I mean for reel, were were trying to shake them off of the line so we didn't have to bring them all to the boat. We couldn't get our baits down long enought for the big fish to bite before they were hit by half ponders.  The adult steelhead we did catch came on plugs, and they were some nice bright rogue winter fish.  It rained so hard the second day that the river blew out do to high muddy side creeks. It looks like the rain should bring all of the area rivers up for a while so the fishing should be good for the next few weeks!  I have open dates in march so give me a call if you want to go chase them.

2/17/2009  I fished quite a few days sence my last report all over the place.  The water has been low and clear so you have to stay off of the fish but there are some nice fish out there to be had.  Robby Nelson had one of his best clients bring a 20+ Pounder to the boat last week... Nice work Robby!  The Rogue has been slow giving me and 2 other boats in a group of 5 a skunk on Sunday but the Umpqua system has still putting out fish every day for me.  No huge numbers but a couple of fish hooked and landed every day. The coastal streems are also starting to fish again.  When it starts raining and the snow starts melting fishing should be good.

2/1/2009 I fished in the The Umpqua Fishery Enhancement Derby over the weekend.  The derby had 14 2 boat teams this year and ended up another successful event.  Over $40,000.00 was raised at the event.  I didn't do that great but did manage to get every one in my boat to land a fish.  This one was caught by Dan the news man at Kpic 4.  This chrome bright 14# fish was his first steelhead ever and put up a great fight!  He caught it on the North Umpqua the first day of the derby.  Nice work Dan! 

1/27/2008    Today I fished with Don who invited John, both from the valley.  The weather started cold and so did the fishing. About mid day the sun peeked it's head out and things started to warm up including the fishing.  Don started off with a nice chrome wild fish fallowed up by a hatchery buck that had been in the river for a while.  To prevent diluting the gene pool we wacked it.  Not to long after, John hooked a nice one and brought it to the boat.  We had a little rest in the action and then John's rod went down, and down, and down. The reel screamed and the fight was on!!!  After about 10-15 munits, long enough for John to finish his sandwitch, He brought it to net.  We took a few pictures, got a girth and length measurement and of she went.  She was a beauty and taped out to 38.25x18.75......17Lbs!!!  Nice work John!  Thanks to both of you for a good day on the water.

1/18/2009  I fished with Tim and Kevin today on the Umpqua and the fishing was sloooow for us.  We worked it hard for 1 fish.  It was Tims biggest steelhead ever, nice work Tim!

1/12/2009  Happy NewYear!  Well the rivers that were too high ath the end of the year are now fishable and some nice hot chrome fish are making their way up.  I fished the last 2 days On the Umpqua system. Sunday with Greg and Kevin.  Greg got 3 and Kevin got a goose egg, it will happen next time... today with fellow guides Rob and Dan.  Sunday we got 3 today we got 5.  All chrome bright Natives.  The fish are here, and I have dates open.  Lets go fishing

12/21/2008  I fished a little over the weekend and found a few fresh fish but the water was low and clear.  Rain and melting snow in the forcast will me heading to the coast this week to see if the fish are going to show this year.  Here is one from the other day along with a couple of ducks we got on a cast and Blast.  The fish are coming it's almost time!!!

12/7/2008  I fished a half day with a couple of friends Clayton and Andy today and Clayton caught his first steelhead ever(Mike you had better watchout).  Infact all of the fish he caught today were the first he had caught since he was 5 years old.  He showed Andy up and got the last one right at the ramp where it cooperated long enough for a photo before release.    

11/19/2008 I fished over at the coast for the last few days with some good friends and dispide the low clear water the fishing wasn't too bad.  We ended each day by putting a few fish in the boat.  We ended up with some nice bright fish and a couple with a little color.  We need some rain to get the river up because the fishing from here on out is going to be extreemly tough with out it.  After that though, it will be time to head back to the coast.

11/12/08 The Rogue River Canyon season is over for the 2008 fall season.  My camera went south on me during the season so I don't have much in the way of pictures to show of the fish caught or the fun times had but this season was good in both aspects.  Now the gears are changing and it's time to head over to the coast for a little late fall Chinook fishing.  I had the chance to get out the other day with a friend and fellow guide Mike over on the coast and the fishing was good.  We ended the day with a couple of jacks, 2 Chrome 20#'s and one Slab that went over 40Lbs. that had a little color.  We managed to catch and release a few more, and over all it was a great day.  There are some awesome fish to be had when the flows are right and the weather cooperates.    

9/15/2008 Half Pounder steelhead on the Fly is the ticket this time of year in the Rogue River Canyon.  Mixed in with that a few Chinook salmon and silvers are on the way...4 day lodge trips are under way and will continue until November.  This is one of the most scenic white water wilderness trips you will ever experience...A must see.  Spaces are still available for this season. Shore side fresh fish BBQ for lunch, alder smoked to perfection!!!

3/19/2008
The last few days I fished up in the Umpqua system for the fish enhancement derby make up  after getting blown out at derby time.  I fished a single the first day and we hooked 3 and landed 2 of them, both fresh native fish.  The second day I fished 2 and we started out over on the Coquille and got blown out by mid day, so we took out and headed back to the Umpqua for a half day and ended the day Hooking 3 and landing 2 fresh bright steelhead before the day ended.  Thank you all who donated to the Umpqua derby this year, and I look forward to working with you guys again next year.  Today I fished the Rogue with a group of 3 boats and at days end we ended up hooking 2 fresh fish and Tom  from the bay area landed one of them.  Both fish caught air before either coming to the net or getting away.

3/11/2008
I fished Mike and Dave yesterday along side of Wess who fished Brian.  We pounded the water all day long with nothing to show and then decided to pull out and put back in at another location.  We pounded the water some more and finely Mike hooked up and landed a hot momma hatchery steelhead to wrap up the trip.  We had good drifts all day with not a lot of pressure but the fish just were not on the bite...that's steelhead fishing for ya!  The guys were great sports and Wess and I were very happy to have them back this year.  Thanks to Brian for putting the trip to gather and Dave and Mike for coming up to take a crack at some West coast Winter Steelhead!!!

3/9/2008
I had 2 boats on the water again today with the same group of guys, this time we both fished the Rogue.   I fished Mike solo today, yesterday he got a zero today he got a chrome limit of hatchery steelhead and lost 2 others at the boat.  Wess was fishing Brian and Dave today and they  landed  limits of steelhead as well!!!

3/8/2008
Today I had the chance to fish with Brian from So Cal.  and Mike from NewYork, fishing buddies that live on opposite ends of the country but for the last 2 years have gotten a trip together to come chase West Coast Winter Steelhead.  I fished over on the coast just to see if we could relive some of the unreal fishing we had there last year.  The conditions were low and clear and the fish numbers are only a fraction of what they should be.  Today was fishing, not catching like last year.  Despite the odds against us we still managed to hook 2 Steelhead and land one chrome high flying one for the BBQ. The weather was warm and sunny and we were the only boat on the water, not bad for a weekend!

3/7/2008
I fished with a group of 4 boats today on the Rogue river.  The group of guys were great and nearly everyone caught fish.  The scores were 1-4 amoung the boats.  Here is a picture of John With a nice fresh rogue river steelhead.

2/22/2008
I fished with 2 other boats today for North West Drifters on the rogue river and we all had a good day.  The guys from  Pro-Kote in my boat today hooked 4 steelhead and landed 3 of them.  Chris and steve both caught their first ever steelhead in my boat today.  A big thank you to Fred for bringing the guys out to fish!!!

2/16/2008
Today I had the chance to fish with a great bunch of guys from Grantspass and from all corners of the country.  The sun was out and the weather was hot.  That's not all that was hot...So were the fish.  I was fishing with 4 other boats for NWD and ended the day 4 for 7 the lowest boat for the day.  Pictures are of Jason And Andy holding their first steelhead ever!  Everyone caught fish and had fish to take home.  It was all smiles at take out!  It's a good time to take a day off from the office and spend it on the river!!!

2/14/2008
The fishing over on the coast was good yesterday.  I fished Mike and Andy and we ended up with 5 fish on and landed 3 for the day.  The water was a little on the clear and cold side do to the snow melt but we still found a few fish willing to play.  The quality of these fish are matched by none.  These things are hard fighting once hooked and only about 50% of them end up in the net.  The weather was nice with temps near 60.  The flows will allow fishing atleast until the first of the week, but if we get some rain the water temps will go up and so should the bites.  Next post in a couple days.
Give me a call I still have good dates available...Lets go fishing!!!

2/8/2008
I fished over on the coast with Dave from California and Bob from Reno and we ended up hooking 9 hot winter steelhead.  A couple of them were too hot and ended up getting away but we did manage to get a few nice bright Winter Steelhead that had just entered the river fresh from the salt of the Pacific.  There are enough fish now I feel to start the ball rolling on the coast.  If you would like to be on my call list let me know.  The call list is a list of people who are flexable on the dates they can fish and are willing to meet me over on the coast at a day or two's notice to raft fish when the flows are right.  This river system is very touchy as to when it will fish good and I prefer to run trips when I feel A person will have the greatest chance at catching fish.   If you would rather just book a date that works for you that works too but the raft trip may be off the table at the time of your trip, so the trip would take place in the drift boat at an alternet location.  It's Time!!! lets go fishing!!!

2/3/2008
High muddy water on just about every river around has kept all but the most diehard off of the water this weekend.  The Umpqua Fish enhancement derby was held this weekend with the 2 day fishing part canceled do to high water.  The actions still were held and money was raised for up coming projects to improve the fish habitat on the system, thanks to all who showed up to donate!  My next report will be later this week when the water starts to drop and becomes fishable.  I still have dates available in feb. and march.

              23 pound steelhead

                                                23lb Wild Winter Steelhead (Umpqua River System)

                Releasing Him Back Into The Wild!!!

                              Robb's Big Fish

1/28/2008

I fished the guys from Musician's Friend for North West Drifters over the last 5 days on the Umpqua system.  The guys in my boat hooked 17 steelhead and landed 12 of them.  The weather and water was cold but these fish were hot!!!  The pictures below are of a few of the fish caught and released during the trip. Above are the pictures of a fish that is est. at 16lbs + caught by Robb, and of the (taped) 23 lb. monster that Craig Johnson caught and released on the first day!!!  The fishing seemed to be good one day a little slow the next but there was another great big fish caught by another boat in the group that was about 18 lbs.  There are some whoppers out there this year.  Next report in about a week.  Lets go fishing, dates open in Feb, and March.

1/15/2008  The fishing was about the same as last report. The numbers are still a little low but the sun was out and we were the only ones on the river.  Hopefully the fish will show up in the next few days.  This is the only fish we had to show for the day, a 10lb doe with one more hot fish that got away. 

12/28/2007

I fished on the coast with Mike and Andy yesterday looking for some of those early season winter steelhead.  Andy got one that was 8lbs and Mike bested that with one at 10lbs.  Mike has big fish on my boat so far this season but that won't stand for long.   More fish will be entering the rivers in the next few weeks. Fishing should get better by mid Jan and continue to be good till Mid March.

11/23/2007

New Pictures are posted.

Sorry all for the gap in reports.  after finishing the fall season I've been getting things back in order after virtually fishing for 5 1/2 straight months (Alaska,Oregon).  I have been out a few times with friends here and there and we have managed some nice fish, steelhead on the rogue and salmon over on the coast.  The salmon on the coast will last about another month and then it's time for winter steelhead!  I'll be focusing a lot of my time this season over on the Smith river.  I am California licensed and I hold a National Forest special use permit. If you have never had a chance to fish this special place give me a call and we'll put it togather.  It's a trip you will never forget.  The fish are big, bright, and full of fight.  The water is cold, emerald green, and swift.  With the Redwoods towering above and moss covered canyon walls, the scenery is unmatched.

Give me a call and get your dates

 Until next time....Fish on!!!

10/14/2007

More of the same for this trip on the canyon.  Cooler weather and ok fishing.  Some more silvers in the system but not many willing to bite, and a majority of the Half-pounders are still hanging around lower in the system.  The fall colors are here and on this trip we saw lots of  black bears out and about.

10/9/2007

Silvers are starting to show in the canyon and a few were caught on the last trip.  Salmon fishing on day one is spotty with a few here and there.  My boat had 3 bites on day one but none of them were hooked solid.  A few more adult steelhead are starting to show as are the half-pounders down in the Agness area.  A few more trips to go and then it's time for salmon on the coast.

9/24/2007

The fishing on the rogue river canyon is looking to be better than last year.  As a group we have been catching salmon on day one that were almost non-existant last year and half-pound steelhead are showing in way better numbers this year than last.   I caught the first silver of the season  yesterday and all of the boats got into salmon on day 4 of the trip.  The weather was great.  This trip will always take your breath away.

4/5/2007
I got to sit in the front of the boat for a change!!!   I fished today with a couple of fishing buddies on the Umpqua.  We fished from the boat and from the bank in a few spots.  At the end of a short day we had landed 9 out of 12  steelhead.  I landed 7 to Todd's 3 and this is my chance to rub it in!!!   The mix was  50/50  Upper/downer. A couple were chrome and 4 hit the fish box.  there are some nice fish out there and pressure is low.....Lets go chase some fish!!!

4/4/2007
I fished walnut farmers out of northern California for Arrowhead on the Rogue for the last few days.  The Rogue Canyon was great.  The weather was warm and it didn't rain a drop.  I was in shorts for day 3, that's how nice it was.  We did a 3 day 2 night camp out fishing trip that consisted of 5 drift boats and 2 gear rafts.  The half pounder fishing was good.  Lots of fat 16-18 inch fish.  all of the fish that had not shown up last fall were there now. Everyone on the trip caught fish.  My boat went 4 for 7 on adult steelhead and the rest of the boats on the trip caught adult steelhead as well.  I'm looking forward to next fall allready.

3/30/2007
Hay all,
I fished today with a group of 6 boats on the Rogue and just about every one in the group got a chance to land a nice Rogue River steelhead.  Shane and Travis fished with me and they each got fat hatchery hens to take home. These are the kind of fish I like to see....full of river guide gold, eggs that is.  The fishing wasn't super hot but it was a good day on the river none the less. Thanks for the day guys.

Next report when I get back from 3 days on the Wild and Scenic Rogue River Canyon...Wish us all Luck!!!

3/28/2007
I fished on the coast today with Jessi and Paul both friends of mine.  Jessi did a little better today than yesterday landing 5 out of 7 steelhead leaving Paul in the dust at 0 for 3..... Most of the steelhead are heading back to sea at this time but there are still a few fresh ones... Paul can atest to that!!!  The weather was cold in the a.m. but warm and sunny in the afternoon a great day had by all.

3/27/2007
I fished with Don and Jessi today and it was cold...Burrrr!!!!
The snow fell and the drags were singing 5 different times but we only managed to land 2 of the 5 fish on.  We we'll get them next time.

3/25/2007
Hello everyone,
The last 2 days I fished with a group of 4 boats and our fisherman were out of  Sac.  Kevin  and Rich had to put up with me for 2 days but they both caught some nice fresh rogue river steelhead.  The first day was a little slow only hooking 2 fish but both were landed. On the second day Kevin was on top of it landing 2 more and Rich landed one and lost one. Both of Rich's fish just committed suicide on the hook...."Rich you have a fish on".... The weather was warm and sunny and we eventually got into a little water fighting with the other boats.  It was a fun couple of days on the rogue.

There are still mint bright fish out there...lets go chase some!

3/22/2007
hello fishermen,
Today it was hot! Not the fishing but the weather.  We hooked 4 fish today on the Rogue landing 3.  all were fresh fish.  t-shirt weather by noon.  this is some kind of winter steelheading.  There are still lots of nice fish to be caught so give me a call and lets go catch some.

3/21/2007
It's been a few days, but today I hit the Rogue putting on late and taking out early.  We went 4 for 4 on Rogue steelhead with the largest fish about 10lbs.
Give me a call lets go get'em!

3/12/2007
Hello fish chasers,
I fished on the Umpqua today with Ron and Jerry form Red Bluff Ca. for fellow guide Randy Nelson.  His boat went 4 for 6 and we went 2 for 4 on brite hatchery steelhead. Most of the action took place in the morning.  The weather was so nice today we were fishing in t shirts by noon, not your normal winter steelheading but it sure was nice.

Lets go fishing.

3/11/2007
Hello fishermen,
Last week I fished with friends and clients and had some great days on the water.  Over on the coast the fishing was good with steady action on every day and later in the week on the Umpqua the fishing was still good with limits of fresh steelhead for a few who decided to keep them.  Here are a few pics of brian (not with the 14#er that flopped out of his hands before the picture could be taken) and Ian with steelhead, Mike I guess you will have to come back to get more pictures....bummer.  My camera is in the shop so I will only have pictures going up of people who e-mail the ones that they take on trips for a few more weeks. 

I still have dates open for winter steelhead....lets go fishing!

3/1/2007

The last 2 days I had the chance to fish friend and guide Dave Jacobs from California.  The weather was cold and wet but the steelhead fishing was hot.  We went 10 for 16 on the first day and 17 for 21 yesterday! Dave caught most of the fish in the 2 days of fishing but I got my chance at a few steelhead too.  One of the fish that I hooked into was a large native male that put up a heck of a fight but in the end I won the battle.  After a quick Length X girth measurement and a photo I set him free to go about his business. This was a fish I will never forget. Yesterday was my birthday and the fish gods must have thought I was due.  When I got a chance today to measure the pieces of fishing line I cut for length X girth yesterday that steelhead taped out to a little over 20lbs!!! 

Every day is a great day to go fishing!

2/18/2007
Hello all,
The river looked great today. I fished a half day today on the rogue and the water was a perfect green. A few bites were missed but we ended up with 3 nice hatchery rogue fish in the boat.  The time is now give me a call or drop me an e-mail....Lets go fishing!!!

2/16/2007
Hello fish people,
The fishing in the last week has been good.  I got a chance to fish with friends and fellow guides 2 days last week on the umpqua river and we had a hay day. lots of big and brite fish with one going 37 inches caught by friend and fellow guide Justin Wright.  Yesterday We started on the umpqua River and moved to the Rogue.  All of the boats in the group we were fishing with landed fish  We finished the day on the Rogue with several limits to show for the move.  Dennis caught this and another rogue fish to fill his limit and also let a go a beauty 12 lb nate on the Umpqua.

2/10/2007
Rain, Rain, Rain!  That's what we needed and that's what we got today, It was wet.  Fishing With a 4 boat Group yesterday and today on the Rogue had many catching their first steelhead ever.  Yesterday only a couple fish were caught but today all the boats had 1 or more fish.  We didn't catch any untill later in the day and further down the river the better.  Al form WA. and Marcel from CA. both caught their first fish today in my boat.  Next report in a few days, after I get back from a 3 day Rogue River Canyon trip.

2/5/2007  Hello fishermen,
I Fished with friends during the week and then the Umpqua River Enhancement Derby Friday thru Sunday with some guys from Cali.  The fishing is far from hot out there right now. The fishing pressure is high and the water is getting low and
clear. We still managed to get into a few fish despite the conditions, just not many. We need rain!

This is Mark from California with his first and second steelhead ever...nice work       Mark!

Buddy caught this hard fighter while fishing for the Umpqua River Enhancement Derby.   Thanks to all the people at Abby's Pizza for providing lunches, pizza and Beer, and thanks for catching that fish Buddy!