Tuesday, October 20, 2009

BUSY SEASON!






I am sorry it has been such a long time since I have posted a new report on my web site. I have been very busy guiding everyday this summer and spend nearly all of my "off-water" time with my family. I have also taken a different approach to my reports. When I first started posting a daily report on my web site, it was a tool for me to keep my clients attached to my business by getting them to visit my web site each day to check out the new pics. Many of my regulars would go into the office each morning and pull up my report to see what I had done the day before. They could sit, have a cup of coffee and get their daily dose of fish porn before they started their days work. It was great - I was able to share my success and keep my clients wanting more. Well, it turned out before long, I had a couple hundred people a day checking out my daily report (many of which had no interest in ever booking a guide trip). I was finding that my reports began hurting me more than helping me. It was amazing how a string of good reports on the North Umpqua would really bring the crowds. So, given the date of my last post, it is more than obvious I have given up on posting a true "daily" report. Just know that if it takes me another couple months to post my next report, we are out on the water catching fish. Start getting worried if I have the time to post my daily reports again. That means fishing and business is poor and I am home on the couch.

Anyway, here is an update on what has transpired over the first half of our summer fall season. Our dam counts on the North Umpqua are very low and will prove to be about half of the ten year average when things are all added up at the end of the season. I would say for the most part, our fishing suffered because of these low counts. Most days we still had enough success to keep smiles on people's faces but we had to work harder to do it. We did have a few periods where the fishing was excellent. At times, the angling pressure would fall off and we would have the river to ourselves. Our fishing would then get good and we enjoyed better than average success. I had several days with Robert Wissmar (Wiz) over the span of his week where he brought 6 or more fish to the dry. I also had a memorable day with "Super Dave" Laurance where we brought 10 fish to the dry - Dave landed a couple of real beauties that day!

As of last week, I finished up my summer/fall season on the North Umpqua. We have closed up the NU house and moved back down to Medford. I will spend the remainder of my fall on the Rogue where I will fish through Thanksgiving. The dam counts on the Rogue have been more encouraging and have already provided us with better fishing than last year. I have not only seen some excellent daily tallies but we've also had some good success with the dry. This last week we saw some rain which dealt us an unsettled river and tougher fishing. This will prove to be a good thing. As our river falls back into shape, we will have some new fish up the crick and the old ones will be shuffled and grabby again. This week should be very good!!!

For those of you interested, I still have a few Nov dates open. I also still have a guide working for me up on the North Umpqua if any of you are interested in a late season NU trip. The "Secret Season" on the North can be an enjoyable experience. To experience the river without the "hustle and bustle" of prime time can be something special. The fall colors are in full swing and some of the late season fall fish can prove to be the biggest of the season. There were some awfully big fish in the fish ladder at the dam the other day when I stopped by on my way South.

I have posted a few pics to give you just a small taste of what we enjoyed this summer on both the North Umpqua and Rogue. Enjoy!

Good fishing, Scott