Fall back fish

As December rolls on and the annual steel head fever begins to set in......the importance of fall back fish should not be over looked. 

In the early years of angling and guiding....those years before all the information you may be looking for was on posted somewhere on the Internet.  You had to read books and articles written by anglers/authors to provide in site on locations and approach and then apply that knowledge on the water. 

Years ago a close family friend and mentor gave me his old Steve Raymond books.  So much of what and how I fished was gleaned from the stories in the chapters of those books.  One story that really hit home with me was titled "Fall Back Fish".  In general this referred to fall cutt throat and the abundance in Puget Sound and local rivers....but the premise of always appreciating the chance to pursue a fish with the fly is what has stuck with me for all these years. 



Chum Buddy



Good friend Scott and I snuck out to see if any early winter fish were in.  In between bouts of frozen guides and fingers....we happened into the some willing players....far from the chrome elegance of a fresh winter run, this chum salmon is the epitome of the "fall back fish".  Hard fighting and willing taker of a fly....these fish provided some excitement on what was really a quiet day in the water.  

 

A Fisher and Gentlemen

Tom with a beauty Coho

I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days with Tom from the great state of West Virginia fishing for steel and whatever else would bite.  While the steel head angling was a little off, the record number of Chinook in rivers made for some amazing fishing on the fly. 

 

Hooked up

Tom is the quintessential self made man with a long and distinguished career in multiple areas of endeavor.  An avid Elk hunter by preference, I was happy to share the water with Tom and we ran into a some willing players on the river.  The odd year has millions of pinks flooding into the rivers of Puget sound and anglers of all types are crowded along the shorelines.  We took the opportunity to get away and fish far from the crowds and humpy's.  Our reward was some solitude and great fishing.

15 foot type 6 sink tips and lightly weighted streamers were all that were needed for the day, and the swing was far more productive than strip and retrieve or nymphing. 

With the fall upon us the major push of coho and Chinook is wrapping up...chum salmon will run strong well into the November....and hatchery brat steelhead are just around the corner.

 

Welcome to Twin Bridges

Evening Sunsets at the Cabin

For the last five years I have been planning to spend some time fishing in Twin Bridges, MT with old friend and guide Joe Willauer.  I have been fortunate through the years to make it to the land of the big sky to fish but had yet to make it to Twin Bridges/ Dillon area.  Home of the Beaver Head, Big Hole, Jefferson, and Madison rivers....the confluence of fishing opportunity(s) truly sets this area apart from any other place I have been before.

I met Joe nearly 13 years ago while working at the evening hatch in Ellensberg, WA and in that time has turned into one of the best fishing guides I have had the pleasure of working with.  Quick with a smile and joke and some serious fish mojo its easy to see why he is so successful on the water.  It was awesome to get the chance to spend the day on the water and get caught up on the all the years that had passed by.  Now on the edge of 30 with a new career, managing Evo Anglers (www.evoanglers.com)  and baby it has been amazing watching Joe's success and accomplishments.

Me with an average brown 

We fished a middle lower section of the Beaverhead river and had nearly 12 miles all to our selves.  We fished drys with occasional droppers to large browns and enjoyed great fishing.  As a kid cut his teeth guiding the Yakima river and salmon and steelhead....floating down a lazy drift with tons of large browns was a serious shift in my trout fishing perception.

fish on

Warm temps and low water levels had many of the rivers closed to protect the fish and resource.  Again with some many places to choose from...there are always options.  We spent the majority of the time fishing the "Beav" but also made forays to the Madison river and upper Big Hole.  

It was the Montana Vacation I had been dreaming and only missing my best fishing partner Teresa....


If your going to Montana....seriously consider Twin Bridges and take the time to fish all the rivers you can get into.....Joe can be reached though his blog at www.evoanlgers.com.

Team Jergens with a healthy brown!

Future Fishing Guide

The future fish slayer 

fish on for the fish machine

Charlie and I met last winter while having dinner at a local restaurant and struck up a conversation about fishing.  He told me about the his boys especially his youngest boy who is totally crazy about fishing......with the odd year coming and few million salmon making their way back to many Puget Sound rivers we agreed to touch base with each other in the fall.

What I did not expect was to meet this little shaver....3 feet of full tilt fishing machine!  At 5 years old "fish machine" has been bitten with fishing bug.  I fear the day for all the fish in world when this little dude gets his drivers license and makes his way to waters edge on his own terms.

We hooked Pinks and Chinook and generally had a great time....and I am convinced that I witnessed the birth of future fishing guide....

Fishing will only continue to get better as the month rolls on...most things pink and weighted will catch fish.  I am always happy to see the humpy run every other year.  It helps me remember the fishing that we all did as kids when it felt like you could catch fish on nearly every cast.

We have some openings the remainder of September and as we move into the month of October I will be in Forks.  If you looking to book a date shoot us a message at (greenwater54@gmail.com)

Back to the Waters Edge

It has been a long and much anticipated break that began at the end of the Winter season and with the long days summer finally upon us....it has been a blessing to get back to the water.   It's not like I haven't been fishing....in between long drives to soccer games and numerous birthdays this time of year...it was just time to get back to basics is all.

Spring this year came in like a lamb but left like a lion, with large rain fall and making for some huge water in the local rivers.  I guess that why lakes can be a great alternative to slogging it out on high water.  The annual hatchery trout blood bath this year was a great time and the tradition of fishing is great way to get kids to the water.  We now have pictures of all the kids now spending time on the water from little boys to medium boys....my own girls have long since dropped fishing for soccer balls but it is my hope that hey come back to it again someday.....

Local is Good!

The last few years have been spent finding local waters with fish that are float able and the "hard" work has paid off and we have had some truly awesome days with an hour of the front door.  The river of the SW end of the state will only get better as the summer rolls on those chance encounters with summer run steelhead on trout gear become a daily happening....

A Day away:

The Yakima river was my first home water....I spent many days rowing the waters between Ensign Ranch and Roza dam.....alot has changed through the years but it still holds a spot in my heart.  Teresa and I were able to get away for the day and enjoy warm weather and solid trout fishing.  We managed to not only land a bunch nice fish but a few libations as well. 

Another year in the books

Through the years I have always used my birthday as the finish line for the end of the winter steel head season.  A time to begin breaking out the trout gear and as the lake opener draws near ....and as I welcome in my 40-something years it goes with out saying how amazing of a blessing it is to be allowed to chase wild things in beautiful places.

Good friend and fellow guide Aaron O'leary recently tied the knot with long time sweetheart Ravae this winter and the invite to the wedding was much appreciated.  It was through this special event that I had the chance to get caught up with old friend Jeff Brazda and after a few cocktails and laughter over the good old days of living on the cheap in state parks and good grace of Kim and Gordy, Jeff was kind enough to offer some additional days with his guide crew in Forks. 

Fortunately, and old dog can learn some new tricks and the opportunity to work with Jeff and Aaron opened my eyes to some new ways of doing things.  Talking fishing and guiding with Nate helped me remember that there are very few substitutes for hard work on the water and watching the youthful exuberance of Andy helped me to remember that guiding fishing above all else....is just plain fun.



Ross Hansard



The season was more like the ones I remembered from year past, when fishing hard for few hookups was more the reality than the all out slug fest and steel head derby the more recent years have been.  Maybe it's the natural cycle of things or the added pressure of the all the additional anglers on the water....maybe a combination of the two but the returns were not as strong as in recent years.





This season I was really fortunate to have some amazing people come out to fish this year and I am so appreciative of the opportunity to get to guide fly anglers for the most noble of fresh water fish in the North West.  My last trip of the year was with 2 gentlemen from Colorado.....both accomplished anglers and with a great outlook on life and fishing.  We fished hard over 2 days and had fish on everyday....just not many to hand....either way the weather was generally good and the fish were around. 

With the long shadows of the winter season behind us....I am once again looking forward to the warm days of summer.  Thanks again for all who made it out this year....especially you Robbi....I owe you a fish and promise to make that happen in the near future.

Tight lines!

Gus  

What a difference a little rain makes



Joe with a chrome hen



After weeks of running through low clear water in freezing  temperatures, the prospect of fishing in balmy 48 degree weather with a little rain falling was a welcome change. 

The over all river flows didn't rise as much as I had hoped, but the shot of fresh water in the system seemed to freshen the river up some and add that hint of steel head green to the river.  We didn't hook a ton of fish....truthfully we worked hard, covered water well and had two really great hookups to show for it.  Our first was a fish of dreams...large, wild and full of fight.  After a long and technical battle that covered nearly 400 yards of river and ended in a large stump wad,  the hook let loose.  Some times the fish win....It has been said I truly believe that the fish you never forget...are the ones that battle ferociously but get away.  They have a way of coming back in fishing stories and grow larger with each telling. 

Fortunately, our consolation prize was this beautiful wild hen steel head who gave a great account of herself. She spent a large part of the fight in the air and scrambling around the pool.  Luck was with us this time and we were able to slip a net under her and get a few pictures before we sent her back to the river.