Why I fish

 People ask me why I love to fish. Well, there are lots of reasons.
I think it is that sometimes there are just those fish that never fully show themselves. Just a splash is all I will get if I'm lucky! The line goes slack and then I'm left with an empty pit in my stomach. For the rest of the day I find repeating thoughts in my head of......  Was it the one? What the heck did I do wrong? It sure felt big?  Or, WOW that fish schooled me! 














These are the moments that keep me coming back. Always searching for that one that got away.
This is why I fish.

Oregon Sage Rat Hunting Tips

 Sage Rat season is here!!! The Spring weather is finally showing us few nice days and we are being rewarded with a target rich environment this year.

As Kids most of us can remember heading out to the desert with our Families to try out our first pellet gun or .22.  We had finally graduated from pop cans and paper to actual moving targets.

Now that we are adults, helping our local farmers out with varmit control still brings the same joy that we found in our youth.

Today though, the days of leaning on a wheel line or fence post with open sights are behind us. The technology that is available to us today makes us much more effective at controlling the population out there.

Being an Outfitter I have had the opportunity to view many different styles of shooting in past 5 years. I've learned a lot about the sport and just wanted to share a few things that will make your next Sage Rat Shoot much more enjoyable.    

1. A .17 caliber  is the new .22 If you haven't tried one yet go get one!! :-)

2. Don't go cheap on optics for your guns!! A good scope makes all the difference when trying to shoot a target that is the size of a tennis ball.

3. Try to get elevated! If you don't have a platform in the back of a truck.  Or you just can't drive in a field because the land owner doesn't want you to.  The next best thing is a standing shooting stick.  The few feet you gain, opens up so many more targets.


 4.  Take a good lunch and lots of water!!
Staying well fed and hydrated will help looking through a scope all day long.

5. Find an area that doesn't poison there fields. Or an area that hasn't been plowed for a few years.

6. Going with an outfitter takes out all the leg work that is takes to find the ideal place, ideal gear, providing a great lunch and will try they will do their best to make sure that the limited time you have off from work will be as productive and fun as possible!! www.lakeinthedunes.com

 I hope you all have great shooting this season.  Remember, don't wait till the grass is to tall to see, the time is now!! Have Fun!!!

 

Catch and Release

Now that you've made a solid connection with a trout of a life time, your job begins to make sure that fish can live to see another day. 
 Remember that the less stress a trout experiences during the catching, the faster it's going to revive and this makes the releasing easier.
 Hopefully you use only barb-less hooks or flatten the barbs on the hook you'll use.
 Try and land the fish as soon as possible.
 Tightly woven nets with rubber materials are better as it will not damage the trout's scales, fins or gills.
 Fish internal organs are also easily damaged so don't squeeze them or grip too tightly. If you really need to hold the trout, clasp it near the tail and turn it briefly on its side or upside down to immobilize it. Refrain from touching or putting a finger into its gills. You're going to do this because you want to take a picture of it so get the camera ready beforehand.
 If the hook appears to be deep and not easily removed, cut the line and leave the hook in the fish.
 When releasing your fish don't just let it go.
Don't force it. Don't push water through its gills. Just hold it steady with two gentle hands. It will go when it is ready. This may take time, but be patient.
 Remember, just because a fish swims away when released, this does not mean damage has not  been done and that the fish won’t still die in the upcoming hours or days from the experience. But, by considering all of these factors and trying to minimizing their stress, the fish will have a better chance of survival to be caught again on another day.

Fly Fising Lakes in Spring

 With the unpredictable weather that spring brings, fly fishing lakes can be a challenge. With cooler water temps the fish don't always give away their location with the explosive dry fly takes of summer. So where do we start once we've found ourselves staring at a lake that seems to be lifeless?

Here are just a few things that I've learned.

First I look for any source incoming water. A fresh source of water typically provides a little warmer temperature.  Also it can bring bug larva down a stream or kick larva out of the mud. Fish tend to gather around these areas when the rest of lake is still waking up from winter.

If there is no fresh water I look for a little deeper water. I put on an intermediate or sinking line to get to the bottom.  It is my belief that the deeper water is slightly warmer in the spring than the surface water that is exposed to the cooler nights, rain, wind and sometimes snow. Also this is wear the majority of the feed is.

As far as techniques go I have found that when with fishing leaches and nymphs, the slower the retrieve, the better.  Cooler temps and less feed options have the fish wanting to excerpt as little effort as possible. Slower strips and longer pauses is how its done.

Chironomids under an indicator with slight to no movement at all is also very productive. Just make sure to get your depth set about a 12-18" off the bottom.

And when all else fails bait fish patterns work well.  One big meal for a fish can be pretty enticing when there isn't a lot of other food sources yet.

Happy Spring Fishing!!!

Sharing the outdoors with our youth

Taking time to spend a day with our youth is priceless!!

The Future of are outdoor sports depends on moments like these.



Special thanks to Gary Lewis, Matt and Dara Smith, Loren Irving and Lake In The Dunes for a great day!!

Smart Dog, New Hunter

       This morning started with a  good friend Duane, wanting to bring up a new hunter and teach him how to pheasant hunt.  Also to work his dog Brit who doesn't get out as much as she should.  Brit was ready to go as soon as she jumped out of the truck as usual, so we hurried off in search of the first rooster.
 
        Right away Brit showed us that she still new exactly what she doing with solid point and flush. John our new hunter was spot on with a great shot, folding the bird sending it crashing into the open water. With no hesitation Brit plunged into the cold water bringing back the prize.
        
        We continued on with our hunt to find Brit locked up right around edge of the lake again with in minutes.  As we approached, the rooster made a short run out on the ice that had formed the night before flushing at the waters edge.  Once again Brit was rewarded by another great shot by John.
       
         This time Brit just stood at the edge of the thin ice and stared at the downed bird.  She looked at it then back at us almost saying "No way! You go get it this time. That water was way to cold last time." Duane went to throwing rocks out near the bird to try and convince Brit to make the retrieve.  After ten minutes of this, he said "well, she hasn't hunted in a year. Maybe if we come back after getting a few more she'll swim out and get it." I agreed with him and we continued on.
           Brit rewarded us with three more great point, flush and retrieve scenarios but all over dry land.  On the walk back we spent another twenty minutes trying to convince Brit to retrieve our second bird that was still out at the edge of the ice and open water.  We tried every trick we could think of, from rock throwing, treat tossing to even shooting the water out past the bird.  Brit just still gave us the look of "No Way I learned my lesson the  first time. That water is way to cold."

       Duane finally turned to John "well looks like your getting wet! Welcome to bird hunting. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do." Before I could even suggest going and trying one of my dogs or crabbing the long poll with a hook on it I have, jimmy rigged for such occasions. John had his shoes off and was wast deep in the water. He wasn't going to let one of his first birds ever get away from him I suppose. Come to think of it more than one of us have been there too.

Brit just sat there with a smile in her face knowing that she won.

It's All About The Take

Guiding has taught me to enjoy the little moments in a day at the office. It's not always about when a client gets to take home a full limit of birds or is able to land multiple giant rainbows on dries. Although those days feel really damn good too!!!


 I came to the realization a long time ago that "It's All About The Take!"  As a guide, not being the one with gun or rod in hand, I get to enjoy "The Take" in many different forms.  There are so many of these moments that I can't list them all.  Here are three of my favorites...
  
 "The Take" that stands out in fly fishing is when I watch that giant fish almost eat a clients fly, and they have no idea. I find it the best when I get the look like I'm crazy after I jumped up and down like a little kid and said "Holy crap did you see that fish! He almost ate it!!"

"The Take" in upland hunting is when I get to see the look in the eyes of a pointer that is sure that a bird is there. If they could talk they would say "Shhh!!! It's right there!" or "Hurry up. I've done my part."  It could be one of my dogs or a client's dog, it doesn't matter. However, almost every trip, a dog and I get to share a brief moment both knowing that we have done our job. As we go in together to flush a bird knowing that the fate will be left up to someone else.  Sometimes the dog gets rewarded with a retrieve and I get rewarded with high fives but no matter what we both get rewarded because we got to do what we love.

Some day's it's about watching the joy of someone new to the sports, young or old, have that moment where everything clicks. The best is when they say to themselves, not thinking that anyone is paying attention, "That was Awesome!!" When this happens I feel really good inside to know that I was part of introducing them to a life time of great adventures.

I'm positive that if we all take the time to look in our daily lives we will find the little "Takes" all over!

Ana River, Summer Lake Oregon

A few years ago if someone told me to break out the trout rod, tie on a dry fly and blow up the tube, we're going TROUT fishing in FEBRUARY, I would have told them their NUTS!!!

 Come to find out it can pretty good way to get a trout fix!

There are a few pieces to the puzzle when finding a way to get that fix in the middle of winter, 

   First, you need to find a tail water or spring creek that the water temps/flows aren't heavily effected by the harsh elements of winter.  Many of these waters exist where bugs and trout still go about there daily lives even though the rest of us try to hide in side by the fire.

 

Second, do a little research before you go. Find out what bugs will be there so that you'll be prepared to capitalize on the moments that will come. A Few staples in winter will always be BWO'S, MIDGES and STREAMER PATTERNS. Have these in your box but there could be something else so look it up, the Internet is an amazing fishing tool.

 Third, you need to come the truth that there is no such thing as bad weather just bad gear! The gear now days is worth buying because it opens the door to let us get out and enjoy what god created for us.

Fourth, find some friends that are just as CRAZY as you are! 

When you tell the story of that one (or more) fish that schooled you it's nice to have someone else as a witness :-)

Finally, HAVE FUN NO MATTER WHAT!!!!!

 

Pheasant Hunting at Lake In The Dunes

This is my first video at Lake In The Dunes

Winter time tying

It gets dark way to early this time of year and I turn to the tying table. Tying is a great way to stay warm inside, fill the boxes and still keep my mind focused on what I love (fishing). It is amazing how tying a few flies amps me up for a great float this weekend down the Ana River in hopes to hit the incredible blue wing olive hatch! Stay tuned for the fishing report.

Early Season Sage Rats

Every year we all wait till the warm weather hits so we can get outside. If you pay attention you'll notice that every February- March there is a warm spell that gives us the false hope that Spring is here.  Some people get fooled into planting the garden to early, jumping on yard work, or to put their shorts on too early.  The true secret to this false sense of hope is that the sage rats get fooled into waking up from there cozy winter slumber. Once they are awaken from hibernation they are out and about for the eye to see until true spring comes and the grass grows to hide them once again. In March the snow comes again and the gardens get frost bit, the yard work gets put on hold and the winter clothes get put back on. For the sage rat finding food is still an everyday adventure. This is one of my favorite times to bundle up, break out the .17 and enjoy some of the best shooting of the year! At least once a day a sage rat needs to peer from its underground home to find food and water or maybe its just a need to see what is going on out in the world with there buddies. It may be short lived for the day but either way when the snow is on the ground the little round dark fur balls make for some great targets to warm the barrels on.