tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

The Peninsula

I haven’t been on the Olympic Peninsula since 2020. A common theme with the OP and my fishing excursions over the past 20 years. I spent a lot of time bumming around in my early 20s. Caught some amazing fish, learned a lot, and then just kind of lost the bug. You get “Your” lifetime fish and some anglers chase more and some kinda go…okay what’s next. I was the latter. A long time ago now. The year my eldest daughter was born. So…2008, she was born September 2007, and on Feb 20th 2008 I landed my big steelhead. I have a picture of it somewhere. I had a clunky old digital camera that had a timer. Set it up after tailing the fish and snapped a photo. I didn’t even print the photo for another season. Had it framed for a while. Its probably in a box in a storage unit in Idaho. Seems like an age ago. Kind of was.

After that I didn’t steelhead on the OP again until 2010 when I worked for one of the fly shops and got invited. I would chase steel on the Met and Wenatchee, they were close to where I lived. They closed down a few years later and I stopped steelheading altogether. From 2012 to 2018 I didn’t even really think about them. I was in my trout time. I was learning and guiding by 2015 so I didn’t have time. In 2018 I hit the OP again after trying the Grande Ronde and Snake in Idaho and wanted something I was familiar with. Friends and I started venturing out and I encountered a few here and there but rare. 2020 I put serious effort into several trips, landed 3 so was happy. Then Covid, work, and here I am again in 2025 giving it another go in February.

For the next 12 days we chase steel. We reconned areas today. The rain and snows are here. Maybe a bump in flows, a high tide, and they should come through. The water is so low. 1000cfs. We have the boat but we are gonna hit it on foot for now. Patience they don’t have a lot of space right now.

The OP is gorgeous. It is this murky, damp, foggy, charmful place. It reminds me of Upper Peninsula Michigan in so many ways. We walked the the mouth of the Hoh today. Touched the Pacific. In a few weeks we will touch the Atlantic as we grab our house from Florida and head back to Washington for our season starting. Steelheading is our vacation before our very busy season.

I could live out here. Its warm in the winter compared to the other side. There is saltwater with sea run trout and steelhead and spey casting. I like the quiet of it all out here. Cle Elum is getting busy and loud. I miss the woods.

The OP has a special place in most PNW anglers hearts. These short little coastal rivers are true hallowed grounds in the angling world. These fish that run here are special and unlike any others I have every encountered. Truly special. Kristen has never met one, so there is some drive for her to meet one. I am hopeful, things are favorable as the week progresses. And I wouldn’t mind meeting one myself. I am a much different angler these days, wiser, more appreciative, less intense, and I am also indifferent to seeing one. One less encounter with a human means more chance at survival for the fish at the end of the day. And I have met these fish before.

But to be here for a first encounter with Kristen is something I am looking forward to. The OP in February seems like a proper place for a couple of trout bums to be.

See ya riverside anglers.

Tamarack

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

9 Days Left

I’ve got 9 guide days left open!

Choose from the dates still available. I close Bookings for the spring as soon as they fill!

March: 5, 11, 13, 17, 18, 20th

April: 4th, 10th, 14-15th

May: 11-13th, 15th

I have space open for Yakima Trout and Potholes Bass and Carp from May 20th thru August 1st!  Deposits due May 5th!  Reserve early before they fill too!

The season is 32 days away!

#flyfishing #pnw #yakimariver #yakimarivercanyon #guide #trout #flyanglerlife

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

Spring Shuffle

As always things move around in the spring. I have had some Reschedules, some cancelations, and some more dates book.

Here’s what I got through May 15th.

March: 5, 11, 13, 17-20th

April: 4, 10, 14-15th, 17, 21, 25, 30th

May: 11-13th, 15th

That’s what’s I’ve got.  I’m looking to book 11 more days for the Spring before shifting focus to the Summer Bass and Trout fishing! 

See ya riverside anglers!

Tamarack

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

Spring is almost Full

Anglers!  The Spring Calendar is almost full. I am only working 50 guide trips this spring and I’ve only got 13 dates left open! 

MARCH 1ST THRU MAY 15TH

Only 13 dates left open for reservations. The open dates are as follows:

March: 6th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 17th-20th

April: 3-4th, 8th, 10th, 17th, 21-22nd, 25th 27th.

May: 11-13th, 15th.

That’s what’s left to book and I’m only taking 13 more days!  

I pivot to Bass fishing through mid-May into the summer as I predict the river will get funky. But I will still be running Yakima trips in the summer.

Summer reservation deposits are due May 5th so reserve your dates through August soon.  Fall trips are also booking and depsots for the fall are due June 15th. Grab a date! 

I have 3 fisheries I am guiding this season.  The Yakima like always, Potholes Resevior for Warmwater Species, and Puget Sound this coming winter 2025! 

I am spreading 175 guide days between the three fisheries.  Space is limited like last year anglers! 

Reserve your 2025 Guide Trip Date today! 

Tamarack

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

Last Call March 2025 Dates

Anglers!  The season in 45 days out and March is almost full.

Last remaining open dates for March:

6th, 11th, 13th 14th, and 16th thru 20th. That’s it.

I’ve got time off for my own fishing this spring, retreat dates with Kristen, and my eldest daughter is spending her spring break with us and partaking in the Skwalla Holla this year. So, there is limited space for guide trips this March.

April isn’t far behind, and May has 3 days left open for potential salmon flies and Mothers Day Caddis.

Summer Bass and carp trips are up for grabs, as well as trout dates for Summer and Fall.  And added this winter will be Puget Sound Searun Cutthroat Trips with my skiff. Lots of options this season anglers. Let’s fill up the calendar and go chase some trout! 

See ya riverside.

Tamarack

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

58 DAYS TILL SPRING!

It’s Coming!

Anglers we are 58 days fron the Spring Season here on the Yakima. I have limited space this Spring and my schedule is already filling up with less than 30 days open.

March: 1st and 2nd
6th, 10th, 11th, 14th, 16th thru 20th.

April:  2nd thru 4th
7th, 8th, 14th thru 17th, 21st thru 25th, 27th, 28th.

May: 4th, 5th, 11th 12th.

That’s it for the Spring. Dates open in May thru August for Bass and Trout. Summer dates fill up quick too! 

I’m really looking forward to 2025. We have good snow pack, healthy trout, and a busy season shaping up. Reserve early. I’m already half full for the entire season. 

See ya riverside anglers.

Tamarack

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

Spring Skwalla Holla 2025

The spring of 2025 is shaping up anglers!  I have limited space available as dates are filling up.  There are only 37 available days left from March 1st to May 15th.  

We have a Skwalla Hatch, Blue Wing Olives, and the sought after March Browns which we kind of missed in 2024. Also just a few potential salmon fly dates left in early May.

The snow pack is looking good, and we are in for a proper spring!  We will have run off, salmon pulses and high water.  I have left dates open specifically for reschedule during the spring but we also will have room in the summer.  I will be in Washington for the whole season and am looking to book 180 days on The Yakima for Trout and Bass Fishing on Potholes through the Summer and Early Fall.  

Dates that are available for Spring 2025 are listed.  Bolded dates are when I think the hatches will be going.  

March Availability: 1st-3rd, 6th, 10th-11th, 13th-20th (Skwalla) and the 31st.

April Availability: 3rd-4th, 7th, 14th-17th, 21st-25th (March browns/BWO) and the 27th-30th

May: 2nd, 4th, 5th (Salmon flies) 11th-13th, 15th (Mothers day Caddis)

That is what is open Anglers.  After May 15th I expect higher flows and general funkyness.  I will be pivoting to bass with the skiff through the summer but will still be running trips on the Yak as conditions settle.  Summer and Fall Dates are booking up as well.  I am filling up a few months in advance again this coming season!

Reserve Today!  Gift Certificates Available.  

Spring Deposits are due time of booking, summer deposits are due May 5th, and Fall deposits are due June 15th.  

Reserve Early, Pay Later!  

See Ya Riverside Anglers!

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

Offseason Jams 1

Offseasons have become a more normal thing for me these days. The grind the of season makes me enjoy the first three weeks or so of sitting around doing jack shit. Its nice. My body likes the rest, so does my brain.

I play a lot of video games in the offseason. I dont get a chance during the year.  Ita nice to take the time to not be always working. I’m still working, but it’s all boring back-end stuff.  The day to day business maintenance stuff. Prepping and scheduling. Emails and posts mostly.

Working is non-stop. And it’s busier more than ever these days.  I have to limit days or I am inundated. Which is right where I wanted to be in guiding 10 years in.  I feel fortunate and privileged to have made a living out of fly fishing thanks to my clients and this community.

As we enter into the holidays we get to what I call the Offseason Lull.  Its when business really slows, and I tend to hermit myself a bit and unplug.

Kristen is keeping me busy with casting classes, SRC chasing, steelhead, and content creation. I’ve slowed down on a lot of that kind of stuff over the years, focusing on guiding and honing those skill sets. Its been a long time coming me getting back into more than just guiding.

Change is good, keep things fresh.  I need that as I keep this gig going. It’s why I added bass, am in the process of figuring out SRC on the Sound, and am limiting guide days and taking more time for my own pursuit of fish.

With everything going on off river in the ‘real world’ I’ll take my hibernating hermit time in the winter. Emerge cromchy, bushy bearded and ready to chase fish. Leave the rest and hope a big melt washes a lot of that away. Fresh for spring. A new season, more adventures, chasing trout and trout bumming around.

Tamarack

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

2025 Season is Open for Bookings!

The 2025 Season is booking up!

The Spring Skwallas, March Browns, and those sought after Salmon Flies of early May!

These dates will go fast and once there are 60 Days booked I will close booking for the spring.

Otherwise, I end up working every day in a row.

There are 30 days left open for Spring Bookings. Once they fill that’s it! 

Dates are open for Summer and Fall as well and are booking.

Bass Dates through the Summer on Potholes Resevior and Trout fishing through the fall on the Yakima. With a splash of Sea Runs as we dial in that fishery to the roster.

It’s gonna be a busy year. Shooting for 180 guide days! There are only 125 days left open for 2025! 

Reserve before they are gone anglers. I booked out months in advance and had to turn people away this last season.

Dates Below!

See ya riverside in 2025!

tamaracksguideservice Fly Fishing

Offseason

The offseason is here anglers. The season came to an end rather quickly. It seems like just a few weeks ago I had just arrived here from Michigan and was bass fishing the Potholes in the Basin. The Yakima was a bit interesting this late summer and fall season. We had the lowest water flows since 2015. Many anglers and guides had not seen it this low. The river fished as to be expected after a lot of pressure from the spring and summer and the low water coming in quick in late August.

We had a busy season. I ran 53 days this spring and 71 since August 1st. I took from May 15 through August 1st off. I spent time with my son, my partner, and time for myself. I haven’t had a summer to myself in over 10 years so I was happy to have a part of it to myself. A habit I will continue next July when I take a good chunk off for fishing and not guiding.

I ain’t getting any younger. I haven’t got to fish much these past 10 seasons. A few days here and there. This year I finally had more than 30 days on water for myself and not for clients and that was a personal goal I made for myself and my mental health. The guide grind can wear on you. I have the skill and the physical ability to chase fish better than I did when I was in my 20s and I am planning on taking advantage of that in the years to come.

This offseason is one that comes with less stress on some fronts and new stress on others. I am ending my season doing well financially and it seems that finally, post covid and 10 years in business the business and hard work is paying off. Its nice and I have all my clients and the anglers that follow me and read my blogs to thank for it.

Now I am going to get heavy for a second and this seems the best place to put this out there.

I came back early this season for one main reason. My mother was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. Many clients know this as we have talked in the boat. I also just posted a gofundme link in my instagram for it and got some questions about things. I keep this kind of stuff pretty close to the chest. I am here in Cle Elum staying with my parents while we fight her cancer. It is going well, we caught it very early, and things are positive. That’s what I will say about it. We have good support and family around us. Not the easiest thing to talk about and also something I didn’t bring to work with me much but for a few clients. We all use the river to heal in our ways.

This offseason is one that I am not taking for granted. Last year was a little tough out in Michigan and the whole Florida ordeal. Kristen and I are very happy to be back and looking forward to this offseason. We both miss the saltwater. Not Florida but we miss the vibe of the salt. Puget Sound is our next big thing. Kristen is very very seasoned on it and I am a novice. This winter is for exploring that fishery with my new skiff. Bass fishing with it has been amazing, but it was bought for the salt. Now I didn’t care for Florida and I have more southern saltwater to explore….but that is for another offseason. We are playing close to home this time. I want to add it to my guiding roster and I still need hours for my captains license.

Steelhead is also on the roster this offseason. Not for guiding. I won’t guide for them but I will chase them from time to time. Kristen and I have a Grand Ronde Trip coming up, a trip down to Oregon at some point, and the OP in February. Some fishing for us. I am looking forward to all of it.

The offseason is also a time for fly tying, blogging, working on back end business stuff, and programming for next season. It’s a full time job just a little slower in the offseason. Trips are booking up for next season. I am starting to see things book out into the Fall for 2025 already. When I started this gig 10 years ago I never thought it would get to this level here on the Yakima. I am thankful it has. Thankful to my clients. I have become a much better guide because of them and they in turn and become amazing and gifted anglers. It is a joy to work on the Yakima and share it with clients and anglers.

The offseason is also a time for reflection. This year has been busy, travel heavy, on river and off river life has had its trials and tests. The life I set out to have as a young trout bum putting passion into business and making something of nothing has come to fruition. I come into the offseason with a different and more all encompassing sense of myself, my business, my skillsets, and my passion for fly fishing. I have a new and different energy. Could be my age, but really my experience. I spent a good chunk of the last 16 months out of my comfort zone. Coming back to Washington and the Yakima I am more inspired by this place and more invigorated to explore and share it.

I am looking forward to the down time while I have it. The transition to the offseason takes some time. It can be hard coming off of performing, producing, hunting, and rowing for guide season pretty cold turkey as October ends. The Body and Mind get restless as the season eases off. The cabin fever sets in every few weeks or so, like a weird claustrophobia. I have a hard time sitting still for too long. I have also grown to love travel and like the moving around a little bit. Less this offseason but a few light excursions to keep the mind sane. Some time to fish for myself, to see my kids, to spend time with my partner, and just relax and be somewhat still, its important to take the time to rest. To fully rest.

I look forward to 2025, its already filling up. Going to be another big busy season. I will see ya on the other side of the offseason anglers. Check back soon. We get back to regular blogs and fly tying and talking about trout this winter.

Tamarack