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Get your 8wt and your gotchas ready!  Confluence Outfitters guide Randy Hamann is leading a hosted trip to Andros South this coming April 7-14 2024.  This will be Randy's third time to Andros South.  He loves this destination because the guides are very good at getting you shots at quality bonefish.  During our week in 2023, guests landed bonefish up to ten pounds.  We also had fun chasing (and landing) barracudas and sharks.  As of this writing we have five open spots.  Get in touch with Andrew Harris or Randy Hamann if you have any questions about this trip!  

Big bonefish live here!
Big bonefish live here!
Sharks eat flies too
Sharks eat flies too
A typical Andros bonefish
A typical Andros bonefish
The sunsets are amazing
The sunsets are amazing
Andros South has the best boats
Andros South has the best boats
Barracudas are a blast on the fly!
Barracudas are a blast on the fly!
View Andrew Harris's Calendar
Red Hot

Few things are as fun as sight casting for permit, bonefish, tarpon, & snook! I'm pleased to announce that Brian Kohlman and I are hosting a trip to Ascension Bay in Yucatan, Mexico! We've secured the dates for a 7 nights / 6 days of fishing trip -- March 15-22, 2024. The fishing, ease of travel, and numerous testimonies about the quality of fishing and lodge have made this decision easy.What's the Fishing like? The Palometa Club is the premier lodge to chase permit, as their guides are experts at finding fish, knowing which flies to use, and how to present those flies! There are also loads of bonefish that are very willing to eat flies along with tarpon, snook, and a host of other species typical to saltwater flats fishing (jacks, sharks, barracuda, triggerfish, etc.. What's really unique is the guide to angler ratio; every boat has two guides; one for poling along the flats and the other to help spot fish, manage line, and help out with other issues that may arise. This is the permit capital and gives anglers the best chance at permit and "grand-slams" or "super-slams" (permit, tarpon, bonefish, & snook in one day). The weather is typical troplical climate and their season runs from January to September. What's the Lodge like? Unlike many simpler accomadations in the region, the lodge is tastefully decorated and equipped with 24 hour electric power, wireless high speed internet, super cool air conditioning, and effective mosquito control. There are six bedrooms, a fly tying study, library/living room, and a large dining room adjacent to the open kitchen. There are also several outdoor patios and a beautiful outdoor great to enjoy a cocktail at while sharing fish stories!  We'd love to have you join us for this trip! We are limited to ten anglers, so book your spot today!Click here for more information. 

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View Luke Geraty's Calendar
Red Hot

Due to unexpected cancellations, I have a few spots that recently opened up for a truly epic angling and travel experience to the famed Pluma Lodge, one of the finest lodges and operations on the planet for adventurous anglers.  Pluma is located in the heart of a remote jungle in the Bolivian wilderness, where we will be sight fishing for Golden Dorado and other exotiic species in a truly unique and pristine environment.  Our group has a prime week, with travel dates from July 7-17th.  Golden Dorado are incredibly aggressive and acrobatic when hooked, kind of like a cross between a steelhead, striper, and tarpon but have an incredible golden color to them and nasty teeth to rip their prey apart.  Most of the angling consists of upstream sight fishing in crystal clear water, similar to New Zealand  with some chaotic feeding frenzy's in between where you just throw your fly into the mix.  The water can color after a rain, so some blind fishing with streamers can also be on the menu.  This trip is for fit, healthy, adventurous anglers who are solid casters and enjoy challenging but rewarding angling with wold class guiding, food, accommodation, and the group comradery that is essential to adventure travel.  Please shoot me an e mail if you are interested in this incredible opportunity. I took a group to Agua Negra, a sister lodge of Pluma in 2019, and it is one of my favorite global travel experiences I have had both on and off the water.  Definately a bucket list trip.

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View Dax Messett's Calendar

The Bahamas is my favorite salwater fly fishing destination. After a great hosted trip to Crooked Island and exploratory trips to North Andros, Long Island, and Eleuthera, I have chosen South Andros as my next destination. Andros sets the standard against which all other bonefish destinations are measured. For quantity, size, variety and overall fishing experience, Andros Island delivers. Trip Dates: March 5-12, 2023 Andros South is one of the finest bonefishing destinations in the Bahamas. Andros South is located on the southeast coast of Andros Island, the largest and least-inhabited island in the Bahamas. South Andros is flanked to the east by The Tongue of the Ocean, a deep-water trough that drops to more than five thousand feet not more than a mile offshore. Andros Island itself is riddled with innumerable tidal creeks and inland flats, all home to untold numbers of bonefish. Variety is definitely the attraction when fishing at South Andros. There are miles and miles of easily-waded white sand flats as well as hidden, unspoiled mangrove-lined creeks. Inland lakes fill up with eager schools of bonefish, while expansive ocean-side flats attract double digit bonefish from the deep. Remote, rarely visited cays are home to massive schools of bonefish, while hefty singles tail along the mangroves. The diversity and size of the fishery offers a completely different fishing experience, every day of your trip. Andros South Lodge is intimate and comfortable – a perfect bonefish basecamp for an epic flats fishing experience. Overlooking a beautiful white sand beach, freshened by trade winds, this is a picture perfect destination to spend your week fishing, relaxing and living on island time. Tile floored guest rooms are single occupancy and air conditioned, each with a private bath. The dining room is comfortable, staffed with ladies that understand hospitality, and prepare some of the finest Bahamian Creole and fresh seafood dishes that you’ll ever eat. The beachfront Tiki hut is a super casual place to relax after fishing, complete with a fire pit and a cooler packed with ice cold Kalik, the national beer of the Bahamas. And, the sunrise over the ocean, complete with a fresh cup of java, is hard to beat! 7 nights / 6 days fishing: $6350 per person plus $381 tax.

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View Andrew Harris's Calendar

Fly fish Baja with Confluence guide Kevin Kay this summer! We’re going to Loreto, a laid-back fishing town on the east coast of the Baja peninsula, from June 27 to July 2 to fly fish for all kinds of things! This is a great trip for couples, single anglers, fishing buddies, and non-anglers alike. We’ll enjoy 5 nights at La Mision Hotel, the best in town, and 4 days of guided fishing in the Sea of Cortez with a knowledgeable local panga captain. Non-anglers can relax at the pool or walk to the quaint downtown for lunch at one of the many small restaurants. Anglers are usually back by 2pm so there will be plenty of time to relax before a great dinner at the hotel or downtown. Alaska Airlines flies direct from LAX so getting there is a breeze. Dorado are the main target species, but being a migratory fish they may or may not be there! If not, there are plenty of yellowtail, bonito, skipjack, sea bass, snapper, and the occasional roosterfish or marlin to keep you busy. Cost for lodging and fishing ranges from $2495 if you’re sharing a boat with another angler to $2995 if you and your significant other or buddy want your own boat. For more details email Kevin at flyfishredding@gmail.com or call him on 530-941-5873.

View of the hotel from the marina
View of the hotel from the marina
Yellowtail
Yellowtail
Whale shark!
Whale shark!
Downtown square
Downtown square
You might get a marlin!
You might get a marlin!
Dorado!  Dorado!
Dorado! Dorado!
Fantastic scenery
Fantastic scenery
Beautiful sunrise
Beautiful sunrise
Bonito are hard fighters
Bonito are hard fighters
The beach at Coronado Island
The beach at Coronado Island
View from your balcony
View from your balcony
Early morning run to the fishing grounds
Early morning run to the fishing grounds
View Kevin Kay's Calendar

Since all steelhead rivers are currently blown out, lets have a look at some fun hosted travel options for 2020 and beyond.  Contact me with any questions.  Cuba 4/23-5/2  El Faro Lodge, primarily a tarpon trip to a remote epic new lodge with no angling competition whatsoever.  Includes 3 nights in Old Havana.  Trip is full, inquire for 2021.Bolivia 7/10-7/19 Pluma Lodge, sight fishing for Golden Dorado at one of the top lodge operations in the world.  Maybe 1 spot left at a discounted price.  Most epic flyfishing trip available in the world for adventurous anglersDean River 8/7-8/14  Kimsquit Bay Lodge, arguably the most famous steelhead river in the world.  Maybe one spot left for 2020, 2021 is already full.  The Dean is on every steelhead angler's bucket list.  Its extremely difficult to get a spot here to have a shot at the hottest steelhead on the planet.Skeena River 8/30-9/13 Skeena Spey, arguably the other most famous steelhead river in the world.  Trip is (always) full, but inquire for 2021. After 10 years of exploring the system and lodge offerings, I can say with full confidence that Skeena Spey is the top lodge on the Skeena River System.  Louisiana Marsh 12/1-12/5 French Quarter of New Orleans, prime time for sight casting to mega Redfish. Trip is full, might add a 2nd week.

Skeena River specimens can be tough to get, but always memorable
Skeena River specimens can be tough to get, but always memorable
Hosted travel is an awesome way to experience destination travel and meet new buddies
Hosted travel is an awesome way to experience destination travel and meet new buddies
Redfish are one of the higher regarded fish for salt water anglers looking to stay close to home
Redfish are one of the higher regarded fish for salt water anglers looking to stay close to home
Bull Redfish pull extremely hard
Bull Redfish pull extremely hard
Birds eye view on the Skeena
Birds eye view on the Skeena
Tailout fish in British Columbia...epic eat
Tailout fish in British Columbia...epic eat
Just another day at the office for Doug
Just another day at the office for Doug
British Columbia dry fly player
British Columbia dry fly player
Chris with a truly mega Golden Dorado from a remote Bolivian tributary
Chris with a truly mega Golden Dorado from a remote Bolivian tributary
Moments in British Columbia
Moments in British Columbia
We will focus on Tarpon in Cuba, with maybe some permit fishing as well
We will focus on Tarpon in Cuba, with maybe some permit fishing as well
The water in the Amazon reminds me of the crystal clear rivers I use to guide in New Zealand
The water in the Amazon reminds me of the crystal clear rivers I use to guide in New Zealand
View Dax Messett's Calendar

I just got back from a super fun redfishing trip to New Orleans.  The fishing conditions weren't always perfect, but we managed to land some awesome Redfish each day, and also some huge Black Drums.  Like all sightfishing saltwater flats venues, ideal conditions are clear sky and light winds.  December is prime time to sightfish for the biggest Redfish opportunities of the year, but the weather can also be less than ideal that time of year.  We booked three days, and got to fish all three which is the best thing you can hope for.  When we had good visibility, we had plenty of shots at large Redfish, which what we were primarily targeting.  We also racked up some numbers on some fun smaller fish in that 5-8lb range, which was fun for a while but being winter steelhead swing fisherman, we wanted a bit more of a challenge.  The big fish needed the cast to be exactly one foot off their nose for them to show any interest.  When they do eat it, it is super aggressive and they starting ripping line at high speed.  Just and awesome fish.  Off the water, New Orleans is just about my favorite city in the States.  The French Quarter, where we based our trip is less than an hour drive to our fishing destination.   You can easily walk to anywhere in the district, and enjoy some of the best music, food, history, and architecture on the planet.  If your fishing days get canceled due to weather, there are few places on Earth that I'd rather be for a fishing trip.  Look for 4 night 3 day hosted trips coming next December for this fantastic fishing, dining, musical, and cultural destination.  

Hooked up in the beautiful marsh on the Gulf
Hooked up in the beautiful marsh on the Gulf
Redfish are very cool and beautiful fish
Redfish are very cool and beautiful fish
Dennis with a super mega specimen
Dennis with a super mega specimen
This awesome fish ran me waaaay into my backing...
This awesome fish ran me waaaay into my backing...
The beautiful French Quarter of New Orleans
The beautiful French Quarter of New Orleans
View Dax Messett's Calendar

Just got back last week from another hosted trip to Steelhead Mecca, the Skeena River. Despite the return being a bit off, some epic fish were hooked, and some even landed. I have two weeks booked again in 2020 at my favorite lodge on the Skeena River during what I consider absolute prime time to encounter the steelhead of a lifetime. At this point all spots are full, but inquire if you wish to added to the waiting list and you may luck out.

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Red Hot

What a truly amazing trip to a remote tributary of the Amazon River in the heart of the Bolivian jungle.  I've spent most of my adult life searching the world for my favoite flyfishing destination, and I think I've finally found it.  Our trip to Agua Negra combined everything I love about flyfishing.  Here is my rundown.Sightfishing :  I love sightfishing, for any fish.  Whether its for permit, tarpon, and bonefish in the flats, a rising trout on Fall River, or a cruisning carp in a lake.  Fishing on the small tributaries of the Secure river system reminds me of the upstream sightfishing angling experience during my years guiding in New Zealand.  At times it is very technical, so accurate casting is important.  But if you have a good first shot in broken water, the Golden Dorado just annihilate the fly, jump 20 times between ripping the line off your reel at a rapid pace.Beautiful Wilderness Envoronment: It doesnt get anymore remote or pristine than these remote rivers, located in a protected part of the Amazon Jungle.  It was a long, multi day journey to finally get to our destination, but thats what makes it such a cool place.  The only people who fish these rivers are at the lodge.  The native villages along the river and the people who reside there are truly amazing.  They use bow and arrow or handline to fish, which was incredible to watch.  The jungle is just teeming with wildlife and plantlife...and some nasty insects, but thats ok if you are prepared.Agressive, acrobatic, and smart fish : These toothy fish are the ultimate preditor when they hunt.  At times, you experience "feeding frenzies" where the Dorado chase baitfish into the shallows and banks of the river and just rip them apart.  Amazing.  Combine the agressiveness of an umpressured GT in the Pacific or striper in the delta, the jumping ability of a fresh chrome hen steelhead or tarpon, and at times the cunning and wariness of a large spooky cruising brown trout.  And no fish, even a rooster or tarpon, has a cooler eat than a Golden Dorado.  It doesnt matter if the fish was 2lb or over 20lbs.  Some days we'd hook 5, some days 30.  The guides said it was a "tough week".  What?! Superb Food, Accommodation, and Guides : As we say in the industry, you cant control the fishing, weather, or clients angling and physical capabilities.  Thats why you better have great food, comfortable accommodation, great house staff, and superb guides.  The Tsimane lodges greatly exceeed expectations on all levels.  These rivers can blow out.  These fish aren't always easy to catch.  And you need to be reasonably fit in order to hike to even more amazing water above where the canoes can go.  Despite these challenges, rest assured your time off the water is spent in the supreme comfort of the lodge, enjoying an full open bar, superb Argentine wine and cuisine and a comfortable bed waiting.  Just epic.I will be hosting a trip back to Bolivia next July, and every July after that as long as I can physically pull it off and fortunate to book a prime week in July at one of the lodges.  Prime weeks book far in advance.  I already have most spots locked up, but contact me with any questions or if you are interested in doing this trip in the future.  Bolivia should be at the top of every keen anglers bucket list.  Its not cheap, but the value of the product is incredible.  From a logistical and infrastructure standpoint, its hard to believe it even exists for any price.

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View Dax Messett's Calendar
Good

Katie and I just returned home from a great trip to Belize.  We stayed at El Pescador on Ambergris Key.  Our group included four couples that were brand new to saltwater fly fishing.  El Pescador was a great fit for our group and provided an excellent intro to saltwater fly fishing.  The house staff was superb, the guides were very professional, the food was great and the fishery is very intriguing.  We had one day of excellent conditions, one pretty rough and windy day, and one day somewhere in between.  In 3 days of fishing everyone in the group caught bonefish, one angler caught a permit and one couple landed a couple really nice tarpon.  I just wish we could have stayed longer!  Katie and I had some excellent shots at permit and I feel like I'll be ready for my next chance, whenever that comes along.

Frank with his permit
Frank with his permit
View from El Pescador
View from El Pescador
Main pool at El Pescador
Main pool at El Pescador
Loading up in the morning
Loading up in the morning
The dock at El Pescador
The dock at El Pescador
Andrew & Katie driving the golf cart into San Pedro
Andrew & Katie driving the golf cart into San Pedro
Relaxing by the pool after a day on the water
Relaxing by the pool after a day on the water
Heading out in the morning to the back side of the island
Heading out in the morning to the back side of the island
This crab ate Katie's crab fly!
This crab ate Katie's crab fly!
Catherine's tarpon
Catherine's tarpon
Catherine with her tarpon
Catherine with her tarpon
Bernard's big tarpon
Bernard's big tarpon
Catherine's shark
Catherine's shark
One of the larger bonefish landed by our group
One of the larger bonefish landed by our group
View Andrew Harris's Calendar
Red Hot

My annual journey to Skeena Country in Northern British Columbia was truly epic this year. The Skeena was in great shape for the entire month I was there. My guests for my two hosted weeks were able to swing for epic Skeena steelhead in perfect conditions every day. If you are a steelheader, you know how rare and special that opportunity is.As always, my good friends at Skeena Spey Lodge make sure we have an incredible time both on and off the water. They have the best food, accommodation, guide staff, and home water on the Skeena. I have two prime weeks reserved there next year.

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Superb accommodation
Superb accommodation
Epic Spey water on the Mainstem Skeena
Epic Spey water on the Mainstem Skeena
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Leslie swinging a run across from the lodge
Leslie swinging a run across from the lodge
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View Dax Messett's Calendar

Katie and I are hosting a trip to El Pescador Lodge in Belize in April of 2019.  We reserved a 4 night/3 day trip during the middle of prime-time. At El Pescador you can achieve the fly anglers' ultimate dream - a Grand Slam of bonefish, tarpon and permit. Belize's shallow water contains the only classic tarpon flats outside South Florida. Their flats are world renowned for offering the opportunity to sight cast to tarpon 12 months a year. This trip will be a great fit for couples with non-angling partners as well as solo anglers. The lodge has many non-angling activities available, including swimming, kayaking, bicycling, massages, SCUBA, snorkeling, cave tubing, jungle river cruises, mainland excursions, and more! We have reserved this 4 night/3 day trip at 2017 rates: $2585/angler or $1685/non-angler.  April 23-27, 2019. 

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Red Hot

Christmas Island is on every saltwater angler's Bucket List, and it will stay on mine as a place I will certainly visit again.  Our group had about as good as a remote destination trip we could get, experiencing great weather, incredible fishing, and a great time off the water.  The trophy fish in CXI is the elusive GT, which we all had multiple shots at every day.  While hunting them we would encounter and catch three other types of trevally, all of which are incredible fighters and beautiful fish.  We hunted the cool and elusive trigger fish, and the huge numbers of bonefish on seemingly endless flats CXI is famous for.  We also fished the ocean side for GTs in the beach break, which was exciting, technical and just awesome.  It reminded me chasing roosters on the beach in Baja when they still existed there. This diverse fishery is a superb saltwater trip for anglers of all skill and experience levels.  Contact me with any questions about this venue and to help you book your trip.

My first and best fish of the trip
My first and best fish of the trip
you can catch these fun little bones at will on cxi
you can catch these fun little bones at will on cxi
Doug was the top rod of the trip, landing the most GTs
Doug was the top rod of the trip, landing the most GTs
We weren't under gunned for gear!
We weren't under gunned for gear!
Jon with a larger bonefish
Jon with a larger bonefish
The flats in cxi are vast and beautiful
The flats in cxi are vast and beautiful
One of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet
One of the most remote and beautiful places on the planet
Our taxi to the endless flats
Our taxi to the endless flats
Stalking multiple species in perfect conditions
Stalking multiple species in perfect conditions
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Great

My 6 weeks in steelhead mecca British Columbia has finally come to an end.  I had another great group of guys for my few weeks of hosted trips.  Everyone caught bright chrome steelhead, coho and sockeye salmon on the swing.  Doug Rohn and I also experienced the most amazing dry fly steelhead day I have ever seen, raising over 20 fish on a remote part of a sacred steelhead river.  We stayed at two excellent lodges, Stan Dolls Wilderness Lodge and Brian Niska's Skeena Spey Lodge. I will return to both operations next year, as I think they are the absolute best of the Lower Skeena guide and accommodation options.  Contact me if you are interested, as there are limited spots during the prime weeks I have booked there.   Heading to the Grande Ronde to start my mulit day float trips for Scott Odonnell's new Speywater Lodge.  We have some openings for both my floats and lodge days.  Contact me for details.  Also booking Trinity trips for November, and Southern Oregon winter steelhead trips for December and January.  My Olympic Peninsula days are filling up quick for February into April.  I now offer accommodation options for that include meals and can offer attractive guide and accommodation packages, which are extremely rare up in that part of the world.

Doug with a chromer
Doug with a chromer
The home water of Skeena Spey Lodge
The home water of Skeena Spey Lodge
Mike Bates
Mike Bates
Ted Jablonski was the top rod of the week
Ted Jablonski was the top rod of the week
Mega chrome jumping dry fly fish
Mega chrome jumping dry fly fish
BC steelhead are epic
BC steelhead are epic
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Doug after releasing another skated up fish
Doug after releasing another skated up fish
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Skeena mornings are amazing
Skeena mornings are amazing
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Mike striking a perfect pose with a perfect fish
Mike striking a perfect pose with a perfect fish
classic admiration shot
classic admiration shot
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Red Hot

Another trip to BC is in the books.  I was up there for 5 weeks doing my annual hosted trip and exploration.  Amazing experience, as always.  I will be putting two hosted trips together for next year.  Please contact me for details. Heading to the Grand Ronde tomorrow.  I have two spots left available for my last multi day wilderness float on the lower river, one of the coolest steelhead experiences in the lower 48. Then I will head to the Trinity in early November.   

Darcy Bacha with a superb dry fly steelhead, he only fishes the dry fly.  epic
Darcy Bacha with a superb dry fly steelhead, he only fishes the dry fly. epic
Dean Bell with another mega BC steelie
Dean Bell with another mega BC steelie
Just another perfect BC swing run
Just another perfect BC swing run
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April Vokey's film crew, I will be appearing on an episode of her new TV show
April Vokey's film crew, I will be appearing on an episode of her new TV show
Master angler and guide for my NZ trip, Dean Bell
Master angler and guide for my NZ trip, Dean Bell
A good way to explore BC
A good way to explore BC
Giant BC steelhead eat dry flies pretty good
Giant BC steelhead eat dry flies pretty good
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Red Hot

I just finished up another fantastic hosted week in steelhead heaven British Columbia.  The rivers here have no dams on them, and only native wild steelhead reside in these dramatic rivers. We stayed at Stan Doll's Skeena Wilderness Lodge in Terrace.  Stan has been guiding the Lower Skeena and its fantastic tributaries for over 40 years, and has a huge amount of commercial guiding rod days to offer his clients.  We fished 4 different amazing rivers over the week, which is a very unique thing to be able to do in BC.   Dennis, Murray, Doug, and Mike all hooked acrobatic dime bright steelhead over 20lbs.   Landing them was another story!  A good amount of steelhead and coho salmon were landed, chrome bright bars of silver.  I got a few on dry flies, epic.  We also worked on spey casting skills throughout the week, and everyone progressed quite nicely.   Good buddy and BC speycasing legend Brian Niska is opening up a sweet new lodge right on the Skeena River in October.  I have been staying there before and after my hosted trip.  Next year I will most likely be hosting trips at both lodges in late August into September.  Contact me if you are interested.  If you are a serious steelheader,  this trip is an absolute must.

Mega chrome BC resident
Mega chrome BC resident
His Holiness in the morning mist
His Holiness in the morning mist
Love the river siesta
Love the river siesta
Murray aka the Dalai Lama with a chromer
Murray aka the Dalai Lama with a chromer
Mike bates battling a huge steelhead on an amazing river
Mike bates battling a huge steelhead on an amazing river
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Red Hot

I have 3 spots open for my annual trip to the ultimate steelhead destination of British Columbia.  Check out the details of this trip on our Hosted Travel link.  If you are a steelheader, you absolutely need to do this trip.  We will be fishing the sacred waters of the lower Skeena system during prime time.  All projections point to a stellar year in BC this year. I just gave a presentation in Squamish BC at Brian Niska's Cast and Blast.  It was one of the most enjoyable fly fishing industry events I have ever attended.  Canadians are incredible fly tiers and anglers, as well as some of the nicest people you will ever run across on Earth.  Shoot me an e mail if you are interested in the BC Steelhead Experience, one of the finest angling opportunities the world has to offer. 

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Red Hot

My mega BC steelhead journey has finally come to an end.  Fall and clouds finally arrived, which provided epic dry fly fishing my last 3 days there with steelhead buddies Darcy Bacha and Eric Jackson.  We hooked over a dozen fish each day primarily on drys, which is ridiculous.  We went skunk 4 days prior to that, so we were certainly due.  That is steelhead fishing...rewards only come to those that are dedicated.  Rain is still badly needed for the smaller rivers to become fishable.   Special thanks to all my friends up there who helped to make my trip truly epic.  You know who you are, and cant wait to see you next year for an even longer period of time.   My hosted trip to Z Boat will most likely be the 2nd week of September, and looking at the following week at another location.  Check our website soon for details. I head to the Ronde now until mid November.  I'll be on the Trinity for almost a month after that so book it while you can.  Should be a great year there...       

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Great

It has been in the mid 80s with cloudless skies for the past week, which is not exactly steelhead weather...but I'll take it.  I have spent the last 3 Septembers in BC, and it seemed to always be cold and rainy prior to this season.  I had a great week of angling despite the perfect summer weather, fishing with other hopelessly addicted steelhead bums on the famed tributaries of the Skeena.  The low and clear water on a particular river has provided the opportunity to sight fish to steelhead over 20 lbs...truly amazing.  They are pretty difficult to catch in this situation, but we managed to land some absolutely amazing specimens this week, and lost quite a few others.  

Jim from steelhead camp with a lovely hen
Jim from steelhead camp with a lovely hen
traveling in style, with cold beer in hand
traveling in style, with cold beer in hand
Truly mega steelhead over 20lbs
Truly mega steelhead over 20lbs
mist on the river...classic steelhead moment
mist on the river...classic steelhead moment
Sunshine and chrome...good combo
Sunshine and chrome...good combo
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Katie and I just got back from a great trip to the Bow River in Alberta, Canada.  We took a group of 14 anglers to North Bow Lodge, which is located right on the Bow River about 45 minutes from the airport in Calgary.  It was a great group of people.  I had fished with most of them before and we made some great new friends, too. The lodge is right on the river in a prime location.  You can walk right out and fish a lot of water on foot right in front of the lodge.  The lodge is located in the middle of one of the most popular floats on the river.  Our group was guided for three days by the guides from Country Pleasures Fly Shop in Calgary.  Most of us floated in drift boats, but two of the guides used jet boats on the lower end of the river.  Katie and I fished with three different guides and got to experience three different sections of the river, from downtown Calgary all the way down past the lodge. Our group persevered through some challenging weather.  Fishing was great the first morning, but shut down in the afternoon as a storm rolled in.  The next day we had about an inch of rain, which was enough to blow out certain sections of the river for part of the day.  Conditions were the best on our last day.  There was still a fair bit of color in the water, but the fish were feeding and most of the people in our group did well. The Bow River is a big river like the Lower Sac and you can fish it many different ways.  The great thing about it is that you can do very well on dry flies, hopper-dropper, and streamers.  Our group did very little nymph and indicator fishing.  Katie and I caught fish primarily on big grasshopper dries, but also had action on small dries, nymphs under dries, and on streamers.  Our average fish was about 17.  The biggest fish landed in our group was a 22 rainbow.  Some in our group caught rainbows up to 21 on small dries!  Bow River rainbows fight incredibly hard. Another whole facet to our trip was seeing a river that had just been through a 100-year flood this spring.  Calgary was in the news in June and July because of the extensive flooding on the Bow River.  The Calgary Stampede was nearly cancelled.  Needless to say, the river took a beating.  We floated through town where the damage was the worst.  The river shifted hundreds of yards in places, destroying parks and bike trails and footbridges over the river.  On the lower river there are massive piles of sediment, many new channels, and many collapsing banks.  It will take a few years for the river to get back into balance again.  The fact that our group still hooked many 17-21 rainbows just two months after the flood is testament to the quality of the fishery.  It will only get better over the next few seasons. Many thanks to Stu & Michele at North Bow Lodge and to Mike Gifford at Country Pleasures Fly shop for helping us to put this trip together!  The lodge was great, everyone enjoyed the food, and many in our group are already planning a return trip! 

Guide Jason Eggleton holding a Rainbow caught by Katie
Guide Jason Eggleton holding a Rainbow caught by Katie
This was a typical fish for us
This was a typical fish for us
Katie was top rod the first day
Katie was top rod the first day
Andy and Tim with guide Mike Guinn
Andy and Tim with guide Mike Guinn
Katie's hopper was well-chewed by lunchtime
Katie's hopper was well-chewed by lunchtime
Andy and Tim with guide Mike Algar
Andy and Tim with guide Mike Algar
Andrew & Katie at the boat launch
Andrew & Katie at the boat launch
Katie's big fish on day 3
Katie's big fish on day 3
The Bow is a great river for wading, too
The Bow is a great river for wading, too
The view from the upper deck at North Bow Lodge
The view from the upper deck at North Bow Lodge
Jason with Bernard's big fish
Jason with Bernard's big fish
Catherine always catches big fish
Catherine always catches big fish
The whole group on the deck at the lodge
The whole group on the deck at the lodge
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