A new chapter

This week marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life.A return to college!Of course my schedule is set to maximize fishing time.I have class 3 days a week of which one class is called The Art and Science of Sport Fishing!Imagine that,a class about fishing.Who knew?Anyways,I am extremely excited about school and look forward to finally finishing my education.And spending any free time I may have fly fishing!!

So until I am able to get on the water these photos from last March at Big Fish Beach will have to get me through....

Before the rain....

The alarm went off at 3am and I am on the road by 3:15.Freezing fog limits my ability to drive like a bat out of hell at this early hour so I take it easy.My original plan was to drive to the Mad River and fish there until the predicted rain shows up.A 6.5 earthquake centered 20 miles west of Eureka a few days before led me to a change of plans.My backup for when the Mad blows was to be the Trinity so this is where I am headed on this socked in early morning drive.Other than the fog the trip is uneventful and I arrive on the Trinity around 8am.As I gear up I look over the run that I am planning to fish.The river is running a bit higher than my previous trip but the visibility is good.

I walk down to the river and step into the run at the top.With my recent success swinging flies with my spey rod I am confident that I will be able to raise a fish today. It takes a few minutes to get into a rhythm casting and stepping down the run.The current is definitely swift this morning and my swings seem good.First pass through and no love.Second pass yields the same results and I move on to the next run.My casts are getting consistently better and with no other anglers in the area I am able to leisurely fish my way through this second run.Cast,swing,step down and repeat.With no tugs,plucks,pecks or love whatso ever I decide to drive down river a ways.

I walk across the bridge and stop in the middle to scout for fish.I don't see any but that doesn't mean they aren't there.I fished this run in October with Brian from the north side of the river.We both had grabs but he was the only one to come tight to a fish.So I am confident that this spot will produce.
I scramble down the steep trail to the river and head upstream to the top of the run.I tie on my confidence fly;a Popcicle tied on an Alec Jackson spey hook.Sexy fly!Today this run is a bit fast but still is enticing.As I cast and step my way down the snap t is my cast of choice.I am getting good line speed and able to cast 90+ feet with little effort.As I am about to the end of the water that I can reach I feel a familar weight on the line.I lift the rod tip and the battle is on!After a brief fight I slide this gorgeous wild winter run hen into the shallows.
A couple of photos and a length and girth measurment(27x13") and she is released back to the river whence she came.Awesome!!To me this encounter with a beauty of a fish is what steelhead fishing is all about.At this moment I am king of the world!Ok back to reality.....I step back into the river and finish fishing my way down this run.No more love so I head back to the top of the run.Another pass results in lots of water covered but no more grabs.I head back up the trail a very happy fisherman.

The wind has started to blow making casting a challenge at best.I fish 2 more incredible runs that are just plain sexy but the fish are not cooperating.I decide to call it an early day around 3 pm and head to Pidgeon Pt campground.I get the site that I want and enjoy an early dinner by the campfire.Home for the night is the familiar confines of the shell on the back of my Tacoma.Home away from home!
I run out of firewood by 6:30pm so I decide to call it a night and crawl into bed.What a great day I think as I close my eyes.The wind through the pines sings me to sleep.Around 10pm I am awakened by the sound of rain on my camper shell.Heavy rain!

The alarm goes off at 6am and I stay in my sleeping bag a while longer contemplating the sound of the rain.With coffee made and breakfast eaten I head to the river to start my day.Man is it POURING.The river has come up almost a foot overnight and is raging.But the color is still good.I fish through the same two runs that I covered the day before but I know this day is gonna be a tough one.Back to the bridge run to take a look.Damn!The feeder stream that has to be crossed to gain entry to the gravel bar is pumping mud into the river.This sucks!I head back upriver looking for fishable spots but the river is starting to blow out.

By noon the river is gone and the decision is made to head home.5 hours later I pull into my driveway and check my odometer.622 miles roundtrip.10 hours fished.One fish landed.Was it worth it?Yes!Would i do it again?In a heartbeat!

Swinging for Steel

Left the Sierras amid the coldest weather I have experienced in California with low's in the -20+ range.Made the drive to Weaverville through snow and ice.Once I reached the lower foothills the snow was gone and the greenery of the central valley was a welcomed change.Coming out of Redding I could see that the low snow levels of the Sierras were not happening in the Trinity Mountains.Thankfully!
Checked into the Motel Trinity,a dive if I have ever seen one,and cracked a cold Steelhead Pale Ale.Bruce was already there and had had some success the day before.I rigged up my rod for nymphing and had lively conversation with Bruce.After a couple of beers it was time to hit the hay.
The alarm startled me awake at 5am.Coffee made and a breakfast burrito from Suzies Bakery and we were off.It was a chilly 11 degrees when we hit the water.Ice on everything,waders,rod,reel frozen absolutely miserable conditions.And to top it off no fish.Bruce had a nice time landing 4 of 5 hooked.Me nothing.Oh well thats steelheading.
The next morning we opted for a later start and this helped with my morale.Bruce hooked up early in the first spot we fished.A little while later I finally got a take down and had a brief battle with a nice fish.While trying to keep this fish out of a mid stream tree he came unbuttoned.Easy come easy go.Getting somewhat discouraged nymphing,I rigged up my spey rod with 10' of t-14 and a pink and purple bunny leech.Halfway down the run I get a jolting grab that doesn't stick.I finish up the run with no further tugs.I hook another fish nymphing but once again cannot finish the deal.Day 2 finishes with no landed fish.
We follow the same routine the next day with a late start and I anticipate the arrival of Greg sometime in the early afternoon.Bruce and I fish a couple of known producers for nothing.The day is definitely warmer but water temps are sitting in the mid 30's making the fish sluggish.Greg arrives around 1pm and he and I fish a very likely spot but it is for nothing.Story of the trip.Another fishless day.
Friday was more of the same.Covering lots of water but unable to find anything.Snow overnight made the driving treacherous and 4 wheel drive was a necessity.This was the day that I started to lose confidence.
Day 4 we opted to get out at dawn and I chose to swing with the spey rod.This morning the epitome of steelheading.Foggy and rainy with warmer air temps.I chose a Popsicle that I had tied on a sexy looking Alec Jackson spey hook.About 5 casts into the run my line comes tight and the battle is on!A few minutes later I slide this hatchery buck into shallow water.
After a couple of pixs this fish was returned to the river.I stepped back in and continued stepping and swinging down the run.No more grabs so I moved to the next run.Nothing here either.The third run that I fished is absolutely perfect and a fun run to fish.A ways down and I get a great grab but am unable to connect.Greg hasn't had any luck so we move up river and explore some very nice water.The threatening skies finally opened up late in the afternoon and we continued fishing in the downpour.Nothing else for our efforts but I am satisfied for the day.
Day 5 is a short day as we are both on our way home.We start off at the same run that I
connected at the previous day in the early morning fog.Conditions are favorable with overcast skies and patchy fog.Nothing in the first run so I head upriver to a run that was occupied the previous day.Current is to fast at the head but smooths out nicely half way down.My swings are good and I get a sudden jolt!Fish on!!After a brief battle I drag a 25" hatchery hen onto the gravel bar and bash her head with a rock.She is coming home with me.I fish one last run and decide it is time to drive home.Content.I am definately bitten by the spey bug!Until next time.....

A Photo Journal

Windy this morning.With a storm moving in my thoughts turn to winter steelhead season.Here is a photo essay of previous adventures.

The Beginning

What to say?To begin with,the general trout season has ended and we enter into the winter season.Available options at this time include Pyramid Lake for trophy cutthroat,the Truckee River for browns and rainbows,or trips to the coast for steelhead.With snow in the forcast,it seems that I will be staying close to home for the near future tying flies and getting gear together for the upcoming season.The majority of my fishing will be at Pyramid,but I will be exploring the winter steelhead fisheries of the Lost Coast of California.
Winter is a time for reflection and inward growth.Many things have led me to this junction in my life and how I respond to this adersity will show what I am made of.I decided to start a blog to provide a written transcript of the trial and errors of my attempts to become a full time fishing guide.As of this writing I am no longer guiding but rethinking my options.The dream is still alive within me,but I am unsure if I have what it takes to make it happen.Insecurity is a bitch!
I look forward to sharing my passion for fly fishing and the adventures that will undoubtedly follow!

Jay