We’ve got 5 weeks left anglers. Well I do at least. Trout fishing ends in late October for this trout bum and guide.

I’ve been on water almost 200 days since March. I’ve guided around 130 something trips maybe more I have lost track a bit. I’ll end the season close to my goal of 160 ish. I was hoping for 30 trips here in the Fall and I’m 9 away from hitting that mark.

But there is burnout. I had a chunk of time off in August again but it wasnt the kinda down time I would have liked. Summer cost a lot. From gas prices to low guide days, hot water temps, deers, shennanagins, the summer was kind of a bust. Nothing new in this gig. The fall is always good to me.

But I’m ready to be home. I spend over 50 days away from home at a time. It can stress you. After 200 plus days I’m looking forward to the end of the season.

So I won’t be steelheading this year. With the recent closures in Idaho and low numbers and intense commercial and recreational pressure…I’m just not that interested in it. Plus the cost of doing it and the money to be made is a wash. My focus will be on saltwater down south this off season, tying flies, selling flies, and finding some new trout water to guide. I’ll be back to it on the Yak and Joe and other places next season in March.

The Push is here. Its fishtober. Its the last few weeks of good trout fishing on the fly rod before the cold sets in and the fish hibernate like the other critters. I hibernate too. I sleep, enjoy my children and those lives, spend time with my wife, play video games, and I’ll be looking for warmer water and bigger fish with bigger gear come the snow falling.

Tis the season anglers…

Fishtober is here.

Tamarack

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Published by tamaracksguideservice

I have been fishing the Yakima River and its surrounding tributaries, creeks, and lakes for 10 years. I have been tying flies specific to this river for 10 years as well. I have guided not only the river but also many of the hiking and mountaineering trails in the area and fished some of the more remote lakes and streams. I love to fish the Yakima River and have been running my driftboat here for 5 years. I guide a little differently than the other services here and have a slightly different philosophy on guided fishing trips. Its all about the experience, and while I can't promise there will always be cooperative trout, there will always be good times. I learned from some of the greatest anglers the Yakima has both on the water and at the vise and I guide to share and pass on that knowledge and expertise so others can enjoy this river as much as I do. I love to teach people to fish, I love to teach people how to read the river, and I love showing people the beauty and art of fly fishing. My service is a bit cheaper but that is because I have no shop taking a percentage. I use a lot of my own fly designs and patterns that no other guide has and have spent the past 10 years fine tuning my tying and patterns specific to this river. I have flies, leaders, tippets, and fly rods and reels, and always welcome anglers to bring their own gear. If you need waders and boots I can arrange for a rental. I support my local fly shop for my trips as well as it is important to me that our local shops stay open. When you take a trip with me it all about fishing and the experiences that happen along the river. I love getting my clients to have great moments with our trout here. Ask me all the questions you can, I want to teach as much as you want to learn. Whether you are an experienced angler or brand new to the sport I love sharing this river with people. I guide the Yakima River and many other secret waters in the area. When you give me a call I will ask you lots of questions as I want to make sure you have the best experience possible while chasing the trout we have here. Whether its a guided river float or a hike and fish, or a walk and wade to the secret places, I can help make your fly fishing experience memorable and fun. Give me a call today and lets set up a time to go fishing.

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