Tackling new Tricks

Fishing is a great way to meet new people and make new friends.  This is one of the things I like most about guiding. Getting to know friends better on the water and sharing in their triumphs is a blast. Finding out where they have fished and where they would like to is interesting. The camaraderie is so much of the sport we enjoy…After having a great year of saltwater fishing filled w/ countless tarpon and bones, Jay hit a mile mark on the MO as well. Landing his first chromer on the swing was just what he needed to finish the year strong. Of course, we still have December! Way to go Jay.

Jay Allen, Riverquest guide

no a bad one for the first on the swing!

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/10/tackling-new-tricks/

steeling the day – snapshots of steel from the week

Jeff having a “bit” of fun

Jerry’s first cast produced this steelie

the smoke was added for the effect; Jim finds hidden treasure

“I’d like to catch a steelhead if possible”, says Alan…the MO comes through

Yes Doug, this would go nicely w/ a Sauvignon blanc!

Jimmy had to put his shades on for this chromer

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/10/steeling-the-day-snapshots-of-steel-from-the-week/

Dog collar for the MO

Do we ever get sick of seeing our friends/clients catch quality fish on the MO…no. The past few days the Willets family joined us at the lodge for some fantastic fishing and food. Only their second time fishing the MO and they have realized what we all know is true: the MO is amazing. While Jen only wanted to catch steelhead, Darryl was content with hooking fish that should be referred to as MR. For a trip farewell Darryl hooked into his trip fish. The teeth on “Brutus” resembled a snarling doberman! Great to see you guys again and looking forward to more memories on the MO with you.

-Jay Allen, Riverquest guide

Darryl w/ his 26.5lb junkyard dog…the only thing missing is the spiked dog collar

great job fighting and landing this chromer Jen

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/10/dog-collar-for-the-mo/

going with the flow on the MO

Fishing has been interesting to say the least the past few weeks. With a biomass that might rival a megapolis the MO is hardly ever dull. Fish change feeding habits as often as women change shoes, making a day on the river always exciting. Fishing continues to be strong and I dare guess what this fall and winter will bring with such a healthy class of fish. As a preview I’ve already started to measure(accurately and quickly) fish to monitor growth…more on this later. After the hordes of fry the fish have been feeding on it appears as though they(fry drift not trout feeding) might be slowing down. Nymphing has been very productive and trout seem to be feeding ”normally”, if there is such a thing. Caddis emergences have been a bit weak but strong enough to get a good spent party at the end of the day.

Jay Allen, Riverquest guide

where are we again?

Frank on the MO

Jay pick-pocketed this bow

don’t shun the skinny water

sweeet!

trout are cool

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/07/going-with-the-flow-on-the-mo/

It’s hard casting dries on a warm summer evening

Fishing was hard today….hard if you think casting dries to rising trout while being bombarded with solar rays is a chore! Throw in a steak topped w/ blue cheese compound butter, charred onion-tomato-basil-balsamic salad, fresh herbed bread and you’re really suffering. Caddis activity was decent this afternoon but a barrage of suckers spawning put a few of the bigger fish off of the bugs. Activity continued throughout the afternoon and hit the zenith when the sky went dark with drakes…Biblical proportions. Picked our way down the river during the dusk hours casting at targets until the light faded and seeing the fly became tough. A beautiful day!

Jay Allen, Riverquest guide

a well presented floating caddis pupa took this consistent riser

drake crusher!

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/06/its-hard-casting-dries-on-a-warm-summer-evening/

Sweet Endings

Went out tonight expecting drakes…ended up catching some nice fish on caddis instead. Not all bad, just different than expected. Hudson and I have been meaning to get out together for a while and finally made it happen. I told him how the drakes have been heavy but when we arrived at our first spot few drakes were to be seen. We started fishing caddis emergers and were quickly into fish. Hudson literally made one cast over a riser and he came up and sucked down the floating pupa.  The fight was on. When the fish hit the net Hudson was ecstatic. There are few rivers I’ve fished that have good fish eating caddis pupa in rhythm during mid-day. Always a sight to see. The night ended fishing to brownies sippn’ spent caddis. Top the night off with a round of Ben and Jerry’s and you’ve got a night to remember!

Jay Allen, Riverquest guide

Hudson nailed this pupa eater in broad daylight..nice job!

a closer look

Hudson even let me catch a few

SWEEEEET!

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/06/sweet-endings/

Feels like we are being watched

Sitting in the boat waiting for drakes is an interesting activity. The anticipation is palatable and silence refreshing. One moment you feel they aren’t going to show up and the next thing you know there is a host of drakes all around.   Like star cruisers coming out of hyperspace they materialize. It’s as though they have been watching from the bushes at a distance waiting for the right moment to strike and it would probably be eerie if they were coming to bite us. But alas they are coming to feed the trout we so admire.

Jay Allen, Riverquest guide

buggy bliss

cast…rise…set!

via Allen Brothers http://www.theallenbrothers.com/site/2013/06/feels-like-we-are-being-watched/