Category: Fly Fishing

We are at the 3/4 mark of the season. August brings in the hot summer days, warm nights, early mornings, and the push to the fall.

Summers are fun. Lots of people out, hopper fishing, swimming… did I mention lots of people? It’s the busiest time of the season for outdoor recreation. Everyone is outside in some form.  From concerts to camping, boating to fishing, hiking, biking, paddling, horseback riding, atvs, you name it; someone is doing it around here. Each weekend, the place fills with outdoor lovers. 

I will say- on a side note to all the fun times of summer:  it seems that a lot of people are on edge. So, just be courteous and kind to fellow recreators. Things are tough still. I just got done with a multi boat float with a lot of stressed out financial advisors and money people.  They needed a day to unplug and catch some fish.  You could feel it.

Stress is really noticeable when you work this gig and live this life. I don’t have a lot of it.  And I’ve learned to manage it pretty well. But my lifestyle affords me less stress all around.  I know I facilitate that kind of connection and unplug for most if not all of my clients. I may not understand the why or how or even care to know what the cause of the stress is.  What brings you riverside and how you choose to communicate it- is up to you.  I have a different and unique vibe with each of my clients and try and give them the day they need.  I know it ain’t easy all the time.  Shit gets tough, and let’s be honest, everything is f’ing expensive. 

Sometimes, this lifestyle can show a very carefree kind of life.  It’s not what you see on the gram and online that’s all queued and done up.  It’s work. It’s a grind, but it has its perks and cons just like anything else.  I get to fish and live this way, and it’s a choice. So I don’t complain much. Except when fish are being shits.  I don’t take what I do for a living and where I get to fish and play for granted.  I want every experience with clients to feel fulfilling and connective. It’s why I move clients around on the calendar when fishing is poor, why I get frustrated with fishing, and I work diligently to stay on top of things when it comes to guiding.  I want your time in the boat to be enriching.  Which means the river and I have to perform and produce. This gig is a mixed bag of things that come together to make good guide.  But in the end it’s still 20% fishing and 80% people.

I don’t have a lot of work this summer.  And that’s okay.  Last year, I was incredibly busy. I worked almost every day. I’m okay with my last full-time season on the Yakima being slightly leisurely. I still want trips, but it’s also been a funky season river conditions wise. And sometimes those are just the cards you are dealt as a guide.  I could say it’s climate change, or regs, or a multitude of other things that cause inconsistencies with the Yakima. It doesn’t get me anywhere, and sometimes you just gotta keep chunking away at it until it breaks, changes, or something is figured out.  It’s not the first season the Yak has been real persnickety with anglers and guides. But those early mornings have picked up, and fish are hungry.

The hot weather and water is another reason to take August easy. Already, hoot owl and closures are blanketing rivers in the west. Four more rivers closed in Montana this past week due to low water and high temps.  Closures in Oregon summer steelhead rivers just arrived due to low runs and 80-degree water temps.  Sturgeon fishing on the Columbia has closed due to hot water and seeing dead fish. It’s not the greatest news. And also a reason to take it easy in August.  The fall will come, and the fishing will be great. It always is. And it’s booking up.  I’ll take a few days in August that book, but I’m not trying to cram days in the heat, and put pressure on fish that I want around this fall before I leave for the year. There are early morning half day floats open for August 11th-14th, 22nd thru 27th.

Yes, I am leaving in November. A lot is changing and happening over the next 12 to 18 months for my business, me, my future.  It’s been in the making since 2019, then covid sent it back a bit. I’m gonna kinda skid and snake it into existence this year. I’m done waiting, and I need the change both personally and professionally.

My partner Kristen and I are headed to the southern gulf and Atlanta fisheries for the month of November. I have never fished or even been that far south. I am more than excited.  I am also partnering with Hog Island Boat Works, which makes my 16 ft. LTD Driftboat that everyone rides in, and they are helping me with getting a 17 ft. Shallow Saltwater Skiff.  It is basically like a sponsorship.  I will be traveling to Florida to pick up my new boat this November, where Hog Island is going to be making their skiff.  They are currently all made in Steamboat but mostly ship south.  I’m procuring a motor and trailer for the boat and a few odds and ends and working on my captains license over the winter.  The new boat and license will open more guiding and water up for me, which has always been the goal when I hit 10 years into guiding.

After Florida, I will be wintering in Michigan. I know- it sounds absolutely crazy to be in Michigan for the winter.  Especially since I freaking hate snow and being cold. But there are other things afoot in Michigan waters that I am also chasing.  I don’t want to live in Washington full time anymore.  I have lived in a few places and Washington doesn’t have enough fishing for me. I want more.  So Michigan seems like as good a place as any.  Slowly over the next 2 seasons I will work the south in the winter, and split my trout season from April to October between the Yakima in Washington, Idaho if work opens up, and Michigan. Summers will shift to Michigan fisheries as it gets hot in the west.  Bass, pike, and musky are now options, new clients, new experiences, travel trips for regular clients. And coming back to my homewater to fish and enjoy it with having done more and different which keeps the familiar interesting.

It’s a step. It’s a little scary, but it’s happening.  I am also 37 and can’t row a boat forever. Plans to have passive income, retirement, and other ventures are more easily accessible elsewhere compared to Washington. Like I said, both personal and professional reasons.

And anglers… there is so much more fishing out there than this little slice here in Washington. I’ve had the privilege of traveling and bumming it up all over and getting to experience a lot of different fishing. From Alaska to Colorado and damn near all the good stuff in between.  The Yakima is just a little bitty fraction of a fraction of fly fishing.  I can’t tell you how much things change the farther east and further away from Missoula MT you get.  Fly fishing is older back east.  And down south, which I have little knowledge of, seems like a different planet and vibe altogether.  Like Alaska is.  Just mind bogglingly different. The Yakima has always been a bit of a black hole for angling here in the PNW being one of if not the only good fishery in the state.  After 10 years and hundreds of trips, it’s just time. Never wanted to only guide the Yak.

I will, however, continue to guide the Yak.  Business wise, it takes care of itself.  I have worked very hard to build up a client roster and core clientele that book and fish with me.  I won’t say goodbye to that or teaching and developing more clientele here on the Yakima. It’s just not gonna be the only river or place I do it moving forward.

I will run 75 to 100 trips on the Yakima River in 2024, probably 50 to 75 in 2025, and that’s where it will stay moving onward.  Things change, but that seems likely. Eventually, most of those days will be booked prior to the season starting. Which has always been the goal. The dates will be set way ahead and during prime times like late March thru Mother’s Day Caddis and Labor Day thru Halloween.  That should be plenty of dates and they will fill.  Summers will shift to Michigan, especially May and June for Bass and other warm water species.  And the late fall and winter will be down in the southern saltwater and freshwater. 200 to 270 guide days a year if I want to be busy but more than likely under 200 split amongst the places with other things in the works too. 

That’s what’s happening and what I’m working towards right now anglers.  Enough money to buy the motor and trailer for the new skiff, the winter cushion I usually have, and scoot through the winter fishing salt and lake run rainbows and tying flies like usual. Those will be up for sale this winter like previous seasons. Little more robust this winter. 

There’s been a lot of questions and texts and sad faces, and I’ve been busy and quiet with responses while I plan things out.  But heading east is a certainty. Now that we’ve got the winter planned, and I’m finalizing all the details with the new boat and Hog Island, I can answer questions more surely.

The schedule is pretty full.  Maybe 10 to 15 more days booked between now and October, and that’s enough to get everything done.  It really wouldn’t be happening if it wasn’t for the support and patronage of my clients and followers. You all have made this Trout Bum’s dreams a reality. I am excited to share it with you as it moves and shifts.  Exploring new water, new species, new things, places, people, and I get to come back to the homewater and share new things have new perspectives, new stories and more options for all the anglers that come out. 

There ya go anglers.  Thank you again for all your support.  Book trips, fill up those last dates and let’s end this season on a high note.

See you riverside anglers. And in new places soon.

Tamarack

Well anglers June is almost done. It’s the halfway point of trout season. When summer rolls in and we chase the sunshine until Autumn. It’s been a regular season so far.  Busy with 50 guide days or so. Which is about average for me. Another 100 to 125 days still to go. We’ve got some two a days, and a pretty much full July with September booking up quick.

I’ve got to see a lot of my regulars this front half of the year. We’ve had some average and below average days.  It’s been a weird one, with lower water, then hotter temps in May, finally flows coming up, fish being finicky…the same shit just a new year.

It’s the Yakima. It’s nothing new. But it’s still incredibly frustrating. It’s part of why I’m a little weird and cranky these days. It’s also why I am fishing other places a lot more this season.

The Yakima has been my water for almost 20 years and I’m finishing up guide year 9. It’s time for different. I’ll always find myself riverside on the Yakina for a chunk of trout season for the rest of my career. And my guide season takes care of itself these days. I worked really hard to get here and it’s nice to see the benefits of it all.

I’m taking this season a little slower. No 10 to 20-day runs of trips. 7, maybe 10 in a row. Then I rest, and I fish for myself. I spend a good chunk of my fishing with Kristen, but I have several days to myself this season, too. I guided hard last season amd lost a little bit of my love for it. So I’m making sure I don’t get burnt out this year.

I’m spending more time traveling this year. With trips to Idaho and Montana a few times already this year. I leave for Idaho either Kristen again tomorrow evening until after the 4th. Chasing cutties in the highlands of Idaho. In airplane mode, just me and my partner, no boat, just a river and some tandem and solo wade fishing. At our pace, no pressure from friends or clients. No performing with a boat. No Instagram, no trying to book trips. Just fishing and trout bumming.

Work hard to play hard. I fish when I’m not fishing. So does my partner. We chase fish.

I’ve had the pleasure of being a trout bum for a while. It’s been a direct and leading factor in my life for a while now. A lot has happened off river over the years, my constant, my solace, the place I go to be myself, find myself, enjoy time with others, make my living, is the river. The life lived by its side. Simple, a little rough and grimy at times. But you know what…I get to fish. And not just for the gram, or to push some pair of sunglasses, some truck, or even fly fishing gear…I just get to fish.

In my experience, I put more days on water than most. And that’s all I’ve ever wanted. Work as a guide. Get enough money to pay bills, eat, and get to and from fishing. Damn anything else, really. Fuck rent and a house, forgo a handful of the creature comforts and convenience of modern living, give me a boat, some flies, gas money, some herb, and let’s fish.

Work takes care of itself, and I finally get to expand. I’m at a point where money is saved. Left over. Debt gets chipped away, new things get saved for, and the trout bun life keeps on floating and being happy.

I’ll be out of contact until the 5th of July starting tomorrow. If you’d like to reserve a day, please be patient until after the holiday.

I’ll have more blogs and content while on the Joe. Taking some time up there to be creative and write some of the more meaningful experiences from the guide season so far.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy 4th of July. I’ll be fishing on one of my favorite rivers with my favorite person.

See ya riverside anglers.

Tamarack

Link to sign up

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/learn-to-fly-fish-tickets-662567095017

Last weekend open until August

Hello Anglers! 

I just got back from a mediocre trip to the St. Joe in Idaho, the Bitteroot in Montana, and the CDA on the way home. All pretty meh fishing. I head back to Montana this Sunday for another crack at Rock Creek and the Salmon Flies just popped there.

Let’s talk about the Yak. I’m 42 guide days into the season.  Fishing has been a solid 7 out of 10. Little funky, but all in all, it’s pretty normal. As we move into summer things get a little more fucky.  We have no snowpack left. Under 40%, which is drought level conditions as we move into June. Our reservoirs are less than 85% across the board. This means lower than normal flows, warmer than normal water temps, and am August. That’s gonna be hot and warm and potentially hard on our wild trout.

We’ve been through this before in 2015. With recent news from places like the Big Hole and southwest Montana with massive decreases in fish populations due to a multitude of issues, including warm water temps, we can see similar issues rising here in Washington. This means being strategic with fishing in order to limit the impact on the resource as things warm up.

I will not guide or fish when water temps reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Fish mortality is 30% or higher after 2 minutes of stress typically at those temps, and that’s not cool. August, we will see water temps get that high. We see those temps on normal water years low water years it’s a definite. Which means hoot owl regs. We’ve been on mandatory hoot owl 2 times in the past 9 years. And other years many guides and shops do it voluntarily. It’s important to make sure these fish are taken care of during these kinds of events. The resource and fishery depend on our actions.

What does this mean for June and July?  It means water temps will be 50 to 60 degrees, and water flows will be lower than average. Probably 75 to 80 percent of normal. Normal summer flows are around 4000 cfs in the Lower Canyon and 3600 to 3800 in the upper river. I predict those will settle around 3200 cfsto 3600 cfs in the upper river, and hopefully 3800 in the LC. Water temps will definitely be warm by late July if that’s the case. Looking back at previous similar years, it seems likely.

Trout metabolism is at its peak in the 50 to 60 degree range. We can have a really good time fishing in the next 6 to 8 weeks while making sure the fish are well taken care of during the process. As a guide, I do this a few ways, and the industry as a whole on the western rivers is moving towards these trends. 

I use 3X and bigger for dries for leaders and tippet. It’s about 10lbs test. I use longer leaders to compensate for the thicker tippet and will use fluorocarbon tippet to help. The big dries will float it.

This means we are also able to put the rod to the fish and land them quickly. I use a more downstream approach with the angles of presentation.  Coupled with longer and stronger leaders, we are able to get good presentations on the lines trout are feeding on.  At 20 to 30 feet, when the trout is hooked, we are able to play them down ricer and alongside the boat against the current.  This helps us get the fish higher in the water column quicker and allows me to close the gap with the boat and downstream rowing or side rowing into the fish.  The trout can then be landed quickly over the side of the boat. I can release the fish with a longer handled net without it ever leaving the water. It is typically released back into faster cooler water, which allows the fish to find the bottom, rest, and breath to recooperate quickly.  I don’t take pictures of fish typically in the summer. Its rare, and they are usually in the net once we hit June. You want fish out of water photos, you book spring and late fall when the fish can handle it.

I land fish in 3 to 5 minutes or less. Sometimes, we get good enough at it it’s less than 2 minutes. And we go for numbers, and the LDR or Long Distance Release is encouraged with many fish after a decent fight of a minute or two for experienced anglers. If fish take longer or take the battle to the angler, and it’s just not coming to the net, and we break 3 minutes… I might and will make you break that fish off or give it slack.  I might even move the boat to help it out.  It’s just how it is.  It’s how I make sure the next angler has trout, but more importantly, the trout has a higher chance of recovery. 

Data on trout mortality is readily available. And I take it very seriously as I make my livelihood off of these wild animals. My life revolves around fly fishing. It’s every day of the year.  If you’re going to take, you must do so respectfully and give back in as many ways as you can.  It’s an inner mantra instilled in me from my mentors and 2 decades of spending time on water and outside.  We do whatever we can to make sure trout are interacted with respectfully and with care. Despite all that hooting and hollering, that’s what’s happening in the background.

As we get to those warmer water temps, I will be pivoting the program to warm water species, stillwater, alpine lakes, and other states potentially. I’m stoked for June and July fishing, and educating anglers on how to fish respectfully during summer conditions is a key part of guiding. Setting the example and being a steward for the watersheds, fish, and fly fishing in general is part of the program. Switching things up and giving the fish a break is part of that process. 

The fishing is going to be great for the next 8 weeks. There are lots of dates open, and I am stressing to get them in early as things get warmer.  This trend of warmer lower water is going to be across the western fisheries this season in general. August is going to be a different story. And I’ll know more each day we get into June, but it’s looking low and warm anglers. Get ready to chase Ditch Pickles, carp snucklers, blue gill little babies, some high mountain trout, and maybe a new river somewhere in a new state.

I hope to see you riverside the next 8 weeks, and maybe lakeside in August anglers.

Tamarack

The transition from one season to the next is here. The river is swollen, the snow is melting, fish are spawning, trees and hillsides are green, flowers are blooming, and the warm days are here.

We say goodbye to April and hello to May. We move from spring to summer over the next month. Already, salmon flies and caddis are percolating. The insects that usher in this transition time. The river begins to double and triple in size, fishing becomes a different kind of game, and experience on this river begins to really pay off.

Our fish are getting their PHDs this season. The kind of trout that require Perfection, will Humble angler and guide, and Defeat anglers who aren’t ready for the challenge. These fish are seasoned. They are 3 to 5 years old, most of them. They’ve been caught a good number of times. Battled wicked heavy flows last season and got swol and thick. They know how to play.

Trout are already showing their prowess with persnickity eats, refusing flies, spooked by line, boats, bad casts, and just about anything else. This is because they are wise to the game, adapted to the constant stimulus of being targeting by anglers. Now they require excellence a lot of the time. Things need to be perfect and then some. It will only get more difficult as the season progresses.

This means anglers need good drifts. They need the right angles. Ready to fight fish that are heavy and in a high class for this sport. Big flows and big trout mean tough battles and top-notch fish playing skills. It’ll mean the difference between netting and losing a lot this season. It already has.

These fish are playing hard. We are really having to put the rod to them. And 5wts aren’t enough stick some of the time. The trout are big and mean playing for keeps. It’s gonna get wicked fun out here anglers.

Smaller fish are waking up, big fish are getting through the spawn, the river is talking and the fishing only gets better as things start to settle into a new rhythm as we get into May.

We get to fish into the evening chasing Caddis eats during one of the Yakima Rivers’ biggest hatches. We get salmon flies, which are a big treat for post spawning fish. We finish up March Browns mayflies and move to morning PMD hatches and late evening spinner falls.

Get ready, anglers! May and June are filling up fast, and I a. on a mission to educate, train, and drill anglers with the skill sets required to find success on this river. This kind of season is the kind of guiding I work for. The tough stuff, the kind of fishing that weeds out the weak, where experience with this fishery pays off. I teach anglers, not just put them on fish. I’m always learning and tweaking my program to best engage anglers and clients in an education based approach to fly fishing and guiding. The how, why, and what is happening while we fling flies to fish.

Come learn, find success, experience fly fishing, and a guide trip the way it is supposed to be. Get your money’s worth, and leave the river with a better understanding of fly fishing for trout and how to use the skills to find success on your own.

Dates are open anglers.

Come enjoy the sunshine, the company, and the fishing this 2023 season!

Tamarack