A gentlemens group on the River

From the land of the British Isle and over the pond to the Pacific Northwest:



Coach John



I have always felt that every day spent on the river is time well spent.  Occasionally you do have those days that are better than others for a variety of reasons. 

Call it a mix of great company, great fishing and day filled with belly laughs, the trifecta of these made for one of the most memorable days for me in many years and for all the right reasons.

This band of English Bandits has been friends for over 50 years and after a childhood of fishing reservoirs for trout, chubs and carp together, the opportunity to spend the day together on a big western river chasing wild fish was just what they were looking for.  Comprised of an English Soccer coach, a world traveling English poet, and last but not least the English entrepreneur, they all took to the fly rod and "American" approach of dry fly fishing on the move with ease.



Phillip, Ian and Coach John



Between the endless banter, discussions of world politics and an education on the importance of good scotch, we even managed to fish some.

The company on the river was great, the fishing followed in kind and we had willing fish up to the fly from beginning of the day to the end.

Lessons Learned from the day:

• Friends are one of the most important things we have on Earth....
• Fishing is cool no matter what country your in or what continent our on
• English Scotch is good

The summer rambles on




Teresa with a westsider

 The summer rolls on and with the arrival of some warm weather the waders and spring fleece have been put away for the summer...or at least 3 weeks of it.

This last month has been a blur of fishing/guide days and road miles traveled up and down the coast and I have had the pleasure of fishing with some amazing people along the way. 

The west side trout fishing is holding it's own and we have been having good to great days on the cutts fishing traditional techniques.  Single hand rod swing with buggers has been the big producer lately.  After a decade of fishing trout in other water sheds and the watching the number of anglers grow and fish populations shrink it is amazingly refreshing to guide with a small box of streamers and dry flies and having it all covered for the day.

Don't get me wrong....I am a fan of fishing.  I enjoy the chase and the feeling of gratification when you figure it out.  But there are those moments of your childhood when the fishing was really good and the catching was equal to your level of effort. 



"Death Wish" and "Guns" on River





Resident Big Dog



As the summer rolls on we can expect the dry fly to play a bigger role in our days.  As summer stones and October caddis begin to make up a large portion of the resident fish diet, we will enjoy that magic fishing of late summer early fall...big dries and big fish.  Stay tuned as we well be on the water much of the month of August and September.

Forks,WA is more often thought of in the steel head and salmon world but it must be said that some of the finest trout fishing I have ever been part of has been on the fabled steel head waters of the coast.  The winter crowds are gone for the summer and whats left are gorgeous waters with almost no one around.  The numbers and size of the trout will only get better as we get more salmon in the river.....



River Cutie Pie...with dead meat



One of the benefits of trout fishing in a place with salmon and steel head is the opportunity to catch a few chromers while your out.  Teresa had the magic touch and managed to wrangle in a few over the past few days.We have been carrying a few gear rods with us on every trip and fishing for coho in likely water, the chance to do a little of both is always a nice way to spend the day.

We will be on the water over the next 2 weeks and will send updates when we get back home.  Stay tuned for some new reports from other new waters as best bud and partner Craig has procured a new toy that promises to open up some new waters.

Tight lines:

Gus Garcia