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.
I am in my last 2 weeks here in Michigan. I’ve had some good down time, lots of exploring, some self discovery and building, quality and important time with my partner and I was blessed with my son wanting to spend a big chunk of his summer with me. I set out to have a summer off and get to fish and explore for myself and I’ve gotten to do that.
Michigan has taught me a lot. It is not the west. The vibe is different, the fishing very different, the landscape, the water, the people. Everything is very different. Not worse or better just different.
Warmwater species is by far my favorite out here in Michigan. The plethora of options and spaces to chase pike, musky, gar, bass, bluegill, and smallmouth is overwhelming. Vast lakes, small lakes, lakes connected by slewy rivers. You dodge jet skis and speedboat, pontoon party barges and other big tournament style bass boats.
I’ve been out of the bass game for a bit but damnit it’s been a good time fishing both flies and gear. A soft plastic worm still catches the biggest fish so that hasn’t changed. Popper fishing is fun with most hours giving at least a few shots if not dozens.
I’ve barely scratched the surface out here and another May to mid July adventure is in store for next year. I still have 2 weeks to hammer out a few more warmwater species areas with my new boat. I want some smallmouth and a shot at musky before I go. Lake St. Claire is on the menu.
The trout fishing is a different beast and I am leaving Michigan with a new found appreciation and respect for what I’ve been fortunate to fish over the past 20 years out west. Blue Ribbon out west and Blue Ribbon out east are two very different things. Out west it means there’s a lot of fish. Usually 1000 per mile to receive Blue Ribbon status. Out east Blue ribbon means easy access and wadable areas. Very different fish numbers aren’t part of the equation. Michigan has a robust stocking program and many of the trout fishing on the rivers is comparable to small spring creek fishing out west. Large fish are there, but wary, seasoned, hooked many times, and spaced out in very specific zones. Small fish are common and days are typically a handful of smaller trout and maybe a shot or 2 at big ones. It’s all at night in the summer. Usually a spot is picked and sat on until the window of feeding happens. It is a crapshoot through and through. Might happen might not that’s trout fishing.
A day of trout fishing in Michigan is different than out west. After several weeks of trout fishing, various rivers floating and wading, talking with others, and experiencing it for myself, I have formed my thoughts on it all.
I leave Michigan knowing I prefer western trout fishing. Not better out west just different and more my speed and vibe. I cannot see myself guiding for trout in spaces out east. Just not my thing. And that’s okay. I felt similarly about Florida, and Alaska, I’m a PNW boy when it comes to the troots.
The warmwater stuff out east…doesn’t even compare to out west. Michigan and Wisconsin are warmwater paradise for anglers. I’ll be back working those fisheries into my guiding. A captains license for 2025 will make that an easy reality.
I am excited to head back to the homewater. Michigan has made me appreciate the experiences out west tenfold and realize how lucky I have been with the lifestyle I have. I get to travel, pick places I want to fish, work, and live. The things I seen, shared, experienced, not just out west but everywhere I’ve been, I am truly fortunate. Thankful to the anglers that frequent my boat and allow me to help them experience fly fishing.
Excited to come back anglers…see ya riverside soon.
Anglers! August is booking up and I’ve had some things move around which has opened up more dates!
Remember I’ve got Bass on the Fly in the new boat and Yakima River Trips up for grabs.
August Open Dates:
4th thru 8th, 11th thru 15th
18th thru 23rd, 27th thru 31st.
New September Dates:
2nd thru 5th, 7th and 8th just opened!
16th and 18th.
October Dates:
2nd, 16th, 21st thru 24th, 30th.
That’s what’s left for 2024! I’ll be back on the Yak August 1st. I’ll be running early morning trout trips on the mainstem Yakima and Bass Trips on the lower Yak, Potholes, and Quincy Lakes areas.
Book a morning of trout and an evening of Bass! Give warm water a try, why helping me log hours in my new skiff chasing bass around. Learn new stuff or just run hopper droppers for trout and have a good ol time. There are options and I’m back in the west doing what I do best anglers.
Anglers! The summer has been fun but I miss the West!
I’m opening up August Dates on the Yakima River and Bass Lakes.
I will be bringing the new skiff with me. You all helped me get it. It’s only fair you get a chance to see it and maybe take a trip in it.
I will be offering Bass trips with my skiff on Potholes and Quincy Lake Areas.
Yakima early morning trips chasing those big bows and cutties on dries!
Michigan has been a trip, and it has been fun learning how this place may and can come together for me over the next few seasons. I’ll slowly be building out operations here. But the Yak and the west are calling me back and I miss working.
You know the drill, reserve soon. Big change of plans I know but I’m ready to head back west.
Hope to see ya riverside in August on the Yakima Anglers.
Happy 4th of July Anglers! I’m headed back to the Yak early. Michigan has been a fun experience that we can all talk about in the boat when I get back.
It’s gonna take more time to get things operational out here. So instead of not working or fishing this summer, I’ve decided to come back a month earlier than planned. I miss work and the Yak.
I’ll be taking August trip dates!
I’m bringing my new skiff with me for real this time so everyone can lay eyes on it, I can actually work out of it before the winter, and it only seems right since everyone who has been a loyal customer and supporter of mine the past 10 years helped me get it! I’ll have bass dates open in August on Potholes Resevior and the Quincy Lakes area.
Sign up soon. August gets here quick and I head out July 24th to head back. August 1st thru 30th are open. September and October are almost full but there are a few dates for the fall hanging out there.
I’m taking my son along with me on a road trip to take home home to Idaho. I’m gonna fish a bit along the way with him and have a proper father son road trip.
A bit of a change of plans but it’s just fishing. I hope to see you riverside in August anglers.
Washington Anglers! I’ll be back this September and I’ve got the weekend set aside for Fly Fishing Schools!
Learn how to fish on a budget! Build community, meet new anglers, learn from 2 experienced education based guides! Have a lot of fun!
We have 2 days with 10 spots for each day! Get that friend into fishing, help your kid or significant other, or knock the dust off for the fall fishing.
Anglers who sign up will also receive 10% off a guide trip booked for the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 season!
Being a fly angler, you get to witness some really cool shit. Especially if you take the time to observe, listen, discover, and just be in the space. Let go of the need to catch fish, the focus, and just get lost in it.
It can take practice to disconnect in the world we live in today. I like to think that a big portion of my job is helping facilitate that disconnect and reconnect for people.
I am very fortunate in the things that I’ve got to see, hear, feel, and touch while taking in the experience of fly fishing. From the simple act of standing in front of almost 1000 year old trees in the high alpine lakes of the backcountry or the hidden swaths of the OP.
To amazing wildlife encounters with Moose in Idaho, Brown Bears in Alaska, Black Bears in Montana, to seeing gators of enormous size and beautiful stingrays, don’t even get me started on the birds. The eagles of Kechikan getting into the trash behind the pub, to diving seas birds for mullet indicating fish are near by, to hummingbird rituals in the conifer tree tops of Washington high country. The dolphins, snapping turtles, cardinals, herons, loons, elk, Bears, orcas, sea lions, are just some of the things I’ve got to witness. All have a special place in my memory.
I’ve seen awesome lighting storms, rocks the size of houses roll down a mountain, storms that lift trees from their roots, floods, and heavy flows in rivers that shake you to your core. The awe that the natural world has can be terrifying, alluring, and make you realize how insignificant you are. A true reality check. A reminder that we are but a small insect on this great ball of life rolling through space. It’s pretty fucken rad.
Insects, we got there eventually. As an angler you better get used to bugs. And I could get into the intricacies of a BWO hatch, or get into the October caddis life cycle, or when to fish for flying ants…but all I want to tell you about is a story about a bug hatch.
As anglers we know what a hatch is after a little time fishing. We are all chasing a good hatch of something in hopes of witnessing what I believe is the epitome of fly fishing. A trout, on a dry fly, during a hatch, on a river. It can be one of the easiest or one of the most frustrating things in angling. It is by far one of the best ways to catch any fish in my opinion. I’ve caught all sort in all sorts of ways. A dry fly eat from a wild trout has still yet to be beat for me.
There is a bug I have always loved. And it hatches during a wonderful time of year. The golden stonefly. An evening hatching, early summer time stonefly. Large, almost 2 inches long usually, bright yellow or burnt gold, they usually usher in the summer solstice.
Trout eat them as the evening sets in and the light changes. Willing to expose themselves for easy opportunity at easy food.
I was on a river in Idaho during this time a few seasons back. My partner and I were there for several days. We were floating a 13 mile stretch of river into the 10:30 pm. time frame. I think we took out just after 11 with a few other anglers worried we were gonna miss the ramp.
We had had a great day. Lots of fish. And we were just kind of vibing and floating. Not really fishing. It was just after 7pm. And we rolled up on a few other anglers in pontoons that were clearly waiting for something.
As we floated past them and back to a section we had to ourselves, the most amazing hatch happened. As the light fell behind the fir trees all the stoneflies that were residing in the branches descended from the tree limbs upon the river. Not just a few, not a hundred, thousands. Thousands of golden stoneflies hovered over the river and fell with soft plops and plurps.
Like golden fairies lit up from the alpine glows light of the mountain sunset. An occurrence that will not be missed. These bugs flittered and fluttered to the river surface. The water sliding them down it’s current. The next generation being put to the river while the birds and fish fed, a complete cycle of life happening in real time. It is a sight anglers. A true sight like the northern lights or fireflies for the first time.
We were so busy watching this amazing occurrence above our heads we didn’t notice the trout had also noticed and were smashing the ovipositing naturals.
We continued to just watch for a while. In 20 years, I can count on my hands how many times I’ve seen something like what we were in the midst of that evening. It may not have happened again like that for the rest of the hatch or even for several seasons. Of course we fished before it was over. But trust me just to be in the middle of it and just observe fish being fish. The river being a river, doing this natural phenomenon regardless of if it is witnessed.
It was rare, special, and something as anglers we kind of just wind up in the moment of. We chase it, and I dare say not for the fishing but to be one of the few individuals in a large world, that get to be a part of it…no matter our insignificance in its presence. The rivers will do without us, we have no bearing on how a river flows.
Truly, we learn we can dam them for a time but they can always break free if they move that way. They bring life and take it, we just step in and out, never remembered or forgotten, just welcomed and farwelled. Just to see it anglers. In a world that is in short clips, audio bytes, regurgitated garbage with a smidge of worthwhile content that may show us our humanity or our culture, the natural world holds secrets and awesome chaos, beautiful creations and moments that slip by unnoticed but worthwhile and meaningful. Even if they only impact the individual for that moment. These encounters are of substance, they matter, they are a hard line connection into space, our space, internally and externally.
Chase these moments anglers. I fear that these encounters get lost in the noise. Be still, quiet, and just be in the space. Put the phone away for the next few fish. Spend time with the natural a few seconds longer, with no motive but to be in the space and in that moment. For yourself, selfishly for yourself, take it for yourself, snatch it, hold it, feel it. Remember the smells, the light, the feeling in your body, what your thoughts bring forward. Fall into it, get lost in those waters.
I’ve been chasing trout for a while. I feel I’m pretty good and knowledgeable on the subject. I’m also constantly learning. And you never know everything, but you can know a lot. My skillset when it comes to trout is pretty adept now. Which makes learning new places and figuring things out a quicker process. It’s still a process. How many of my clients have spent more than a few trips learning how to fish. I myself took months to even catch a fish on a fly rod. I’ve met so many people that have encountered fish on their first try and many that haven’t. We all go through this process of angler development.
Angler development has stages and it changes. The simple version of it is, you learn the basics, stumble and fumble for a bit, start catching fish, start figuring it out, start losing a lot of fish, get better at not losing fish, then you might like big fish, or a specific kind of fishing like dries or euro, or maybe you like creeks and small rods, or maybe you are a two handed steel chaser, or just like plopping poppers for bass. We develop into anglers and change as we continue to fish.
Learning new places helps anglers really figure out what they like. It also makes you a better angler. And travel is good for you. I myself after 20 years am still developing. Fly fishing, and I have had a lot of time to settle. Changing it up helps with getting stale. I went to Florida and wasn’t impressed with saltwater fishing. But for some anglers, it’s their MF jam dude, and that’s rad. I’m all for passionate anglers. I love trout fishing in the west. Coming east, of course, has shown me how unique Western fishing is. There is nothing like what we have in Montana, Idaho, B.C., the OP, the Oregon coast, or the heavy fast water of Colorado, and all the stuff in between. Those rivers are special in that there aren’t any like them expect there.
Michigan trout fishing from my perspective is wittled down to three big rivers, and a few smaller creeks, lakes, and the big areas where the lakes and rivers meet. For comparison to western stuff, it’s like the state has three Rock Creek Montana sized rivers that cut through the state flowing south and then east and west into the big lakes. Which catch all the water. Everything flows into the big lakes.
The Pere Marquette, the Ausable, and the Manistee River are the big three. They each have branches or forks, or tribs, depending on where you’re from. They call them branches out here. There are some smaller streams or creeks. Teanaway, East fork of the Root, upper Blackfoot size, and a few creeks that resemble Flint Creek MT, or Black Tail Ponds WY. Less than 300 cfs. These rivers are the Pigeon, Black, Rifle, Sturgeon, and so many others. They make up the majority of the 29 rivers that call Michigan home. There are more in the Upper Peninsula, which is a 7 hr plus drive. It’s kinda like driving from Missoula MT to the OP in Washington. We explore those later.
Max cfs for fishing out here is less than 1800 on the big rivers. They kinda blow out after that. Big rainstorms will do that here, just like MT. These are small meandering rivers like the smaller spring creeks of Idaho and Montana. They have fish, not as many as Western anglers are used to, and there is a robust stocking program for all these watersheds. Blue ribbon means good access, good fishing opportunities out here. Large fish are throughout the rivers accordingly in structure, deep water, like browns do. Hanging out being lazy on the bottom a lot of the time. Hiding in structure like shelves, grass beds, logs, the few rocks, and all of the underwater sand dunes. These fish will slide up and around the sandy bottom like Sandworms from Dune looks to smash food.
It’s a low light game in the summer. Just like out west, but it’s more like that 2 hrs window of caddis fishing as it gets dark. The fishing during the day is slower than I anticipated. After over a dozen days on 2 different rivers and a few smaller creeks, the activity is low during the day. Like dead silent most of the time. Fish that do eat are small. The larger ones eat at night, they’ll move for a streamer, but it’s pretty uncommitted so far.
The rivers are easy to wade, but soft bottom and sand are taking me a little, getting used to. I recommend boots, not chacos. The rivers have current and lots of fun places to punch streamers and dries in. It’s all structure, bank, and shelf fishing. Tail outs, recess water, subtle riffles, multiple seams of cross current, its all there, its all trouty anglers. Different but trouty. There are bugs, but nothing that rivals anything out west yet. The Hex have started, and I’ve been able to observe fish eating them in the 45 minutes of the hatch from about 9:30 10pm to about 11pm. Night fishing is an interesting game, and also one that isn’t consistent. They may eat hard one night and then not at all the next, which I have also observed.
I am going to snorkel these waters. They are clear, tannin but clear. The best way to understand how fish be fish is to just go look. My years and my experience, as well as my little bit of time on these Michigan rivers, tell me that fish hold in deep and tight and move in the mornings and evenings. Browns are naturally more nocturnal. They are set in that all too familiar early am late pm cycle. Which is a summer thing. The spring and fall are different, of course. Population is something else. There isn’t a lot of room on these rivers compared to places out west. Are there 1000 fish per mile in sections, absolutely. I’ve seen pods of 30 plus large trout feeding on midges on the Ausable, and I’ve heard and seen pods of 5 to 15 feeding in various places. They are there. I want to know how they compare to Western trout. How do they move about these strange rivers, the sand and grass beds, how do they use them, the deep water and structure, how do they pod up, how territorial or friendly are they, do they react more to light, or movement, are they sensitive to boat traffic and people.
All of these things have now spiked my curiosity to learn more about these places so that I can better understand and appreciate them. I don’t particularly care if I catch fish most days. And when I do, it’s usually just for one. But I do want to understand how a river system works, and these rivers are oranges to apples from what I understand. The fish are the same. But their environment is not.
Michigan is a fucking deciduous jungle. Currently, it’s 80 degrees and probably 60 plus humidity. I love the humidity anglers. It’s so nice. It’s like Florida was in November. Just pleasant. Made the beard get shorter, but man, the weather is nice. Also it’s cloudy like all the time here. Not Seattle gross clouds in November, but just normal awesome fishing cloud cover. The wind here ain’t near as bad. And even when it is, there are so many damn trees they soak up almost all of it. Even on the lakes wind ain’t been like the Yak or other western rivers.
Camping here is wonderful. With lots of room. You can float to campgrounds and have shuttles run for multiple day floats. Lots of canoe and kayak access, plenty of raft and drift boat, and skiff access. Most people use the same boats as out west. A lot of old Hyde driftboats, a few adipose, lots of stealthcrafts. I even met another Hog Island skiff owner on the lake near where I live. There are tubers and kayakers all over. Doesn’t bother fishing too much. It’s got a similar feel to the summer as out west. The birds are way cooler out here. I’ll say that. It’s what makes it like a jungle. On any given day, there are 10 to 25 birds making noise.
Also, there are fucking fireflies every night! No one told me how freaking rad those little light up butt Beatles are. They are like little blue and chartreuse sparkly LED lights from 10 to 1am. So awesome to watch them. The other night, Kristen and I watched them blink and twinkle along the riverside of the Manistee in the thousands while fish ate Hex, caddis, and Spinner Fall. It’s not always about fishing. Sometimes, it is just about appreciating the space and the opportunity to explore and witness it.
Being so attached to the Western rivers, this place can make one feel out of sorts as an angler. A new phase of my development as an angler. I’ve needed a good challenge, and it’s part of what I was seeking out making this move. More to explore here in regards to trout. The opportunities for other species are more vast than the trout fishing here in Michigan.
Lakes upon lakes and several big short rivers that hold bass, musky, pike, gar, and carp. I have only ticked the surface of that kind of fishing here. It’s much more straightforward, in my opinion, than trout fishing. Especially bass, but pike eat, that’s what they do. Musky are a challenge, but they are more abundant here than places I’ve chased and caught them before. The salmon and lake run rainbows they have here are of little interest to me personally and professionally. As I felt out west with steelhead, it ain’t for me. I’ve caught my chrome. It was fun. I’m good. I’d rather chase something warmer in the winter months. Just not Florida.
The start of my summer has been interesting. It’s strange not working and being on river rhythm each day. Things change this next week. My son will be here, and we will be exploring this place together. Something I’m looking forward to. Taking time off of work was a necessity for many reasons. My body is a little wore out after 10 years. Many know my knee was funky two seasons ago, no more jumping outta the boat for me. I’ve been fishing less because my right elbow needs a huge break from rowing but also fishing. I wear a brace when I do row and fish now.
Most importantly. I wanted to take the opportunity to spend time with my kids this summer and the next few as they get ready to become young adults themselves. My oldest kids are almost 17 and 15. The youngest is 10 now. They are easier to see living here in Michigan. Flying them is much more affordable here, especially as they get older. They are getting to point where they also want to explore and discover. I want time to be there with them through that.
I have a partner who is building something out here and needs support. Her business is taking off and requires more hands and eyes, and we work very well together professionally. New opportunities that allow me to continue working in fly fishing without the wear and tear on my body are here. New ways of teaching and learning, new people to bring into fly fishing, and for once I get to be less of a boss and more of an employee, running a business for 10 years is some shit. Especially in recent years. The ability to let the Yakima take care of itself and my clients being the most awesome and supportive booking trips the way you all have is a freaking huge weight off my workload. It is because of all of you I am able to expand.
Lastly, and I guess selfishly, but also just because I need a break. I wanted time off. Guiding takes it’s toll and I’m in this for the long haul. I needed time for myself. I have other things that have come into life that I want to give my attention to. I’m almost 40 and have to start thinking about what’s next and what my career looks like, where I want to be, and what I want to be guiding. It’s a little scary, but it’s what I need, so I don’t burn out. I never set out to only guide one river or one place. This time off was to give myself the break to search that out. I can’t guide like I’m 28 anymore, nor do I want to. I have developed into a different guide and want more and different just as we all do as anglers. I want different experiences in new places. Adventure is the journey of figuring that out and what is discovered along the way. I can’t accomplish that for myself if I’m on the river for others every day. I wanted some time for that. Needed it. This world isn’t always easy. Especially when you chase your passion and try to make a living doing your own thing. It’s a choice I am happy I made. Things have settled a bit here in Michigan. I’m ready to start sharing some of these spaces with anglers and clients into July amd August. The opportunities are vast and diverse here. I’m only just getting into it, and it’s always a good time to explore and experience it with others. I hope to see some familiar faces out east, and meet new and excited anglers here.
Tamarack's Guide Service 