2009 FISHSTICK WORKSHOP IS IN FULL OPERATION
FISHSTICKS It has been a blast building wading staffs (Fishsticks) in my workshop during these slow winter months. I don’t know if you have ever done a wood project but I’ve found the first one comes out rough, and is time consuming. But if you keep making them, the procedure becomes refined and the projects become art. I have seen a huge growth of popularity for this product because of its simplicity, functionality and quality. I am unveiling a new staff this year that will replace the light weight Birch staff. The wood I tested last summer was Stringy White Ash, the same material that hockey sticks are made of. This material is very strong, but still perfect for casual wading under knee deep. As of Spring (March 17) the retail price will go to $59.95. They will come in three different sizes: 36 inch for anglers under 5 foot; 60 inch to accommodate the taller anglers; and the standard 48 inch. ...........place order by phone or e-mail esguidejaeger@hotmail.com

Lower Owens fishing Blog
March 2010 .....The Department of Water and Power have been ramping flows for the last two weeks from 80 cfs to todays flows of 390 cfs.......the river is blown-out. They said they needed to move water so they can work on a project this spring. The good side is the Eastern Sierra still offers plenty of water to fish till the flow go back to normal....it could be a couple few weeks. ...................UPDATE, 3-10-10 FLOWS ON THE LOWER OWENS ARE AT A FISHABLE FLOW OF 315CFS. The DWP have lowered flows because of the Blake Jones fishing tournament Sat. March 13th.......they say the flows will ramp back up the next week, its to bad because the Caddis Flies are going to GO OFF with this spring weather we have in store for next week. If anyone out there can pull some strings, see if you can hold the river back for ten days.......UPDATE-3-18-10 caddis caddis caddis, we are in it thick, the flows are hanging in the low 300 cfs. The big hatch start around 11:00 am to around 3:00 but we have had targets till dark. BIG BUGS around a #14-16 in size a elk hair will work but E.C. Caddis are my choice..............UP-DATE 3-26-10 FLOWS have ramped-up to 500 cfs a couple days ago...it was fantastic well it lasted, boy o boy what a great river and world class CADDIS HATCH. I bet the flows will stay big for a couple weeks then drop to fishable again....keep in touch......................April 15, flows have ramped DOWN to 390cfs, yesssss. it is big but fishable, I would love to see about 75 less in the next week. Im on the river today, the weather in the valley is perfect, flowers and the fish are going off............................................May 5th HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN, flows at at PRIME fishing flows at 255cfs. The weather is fantastic and the fish are on the grab, details later on the hatch's.............5-16-2010 FLOWS HAVE RAMPED TO 290 CFS, these are fishable flows but it sounds like the DWP are going to keep bumping it up. Before your day on the river check flows (if you are a strong wader 350 CFS is still fishable). The bank fishing is good at almost any flow, but be careful because the banks can give way. Hatches; Blue winged May flies(18#), some Pmd's(14#), little brown Stones and yellow Sallies(#14), Caddis flies(16#) and your every day midge hatch(18-20#)....I will keep you posted......................................May 21 flows have gone up to 360 cfs...becareful, you will see reports that this is still really fishable IT IS..BUT, a wading staff and fish with a friend...I recommend strong wading skills, swimming skills or fish off banks. The PMD'S are starting to pop (midday)...................June 5 water flows hit well over 500 cfs, summer hit down here in the valley day time high temps in the 90's time to go north. Fun Caddis fly fishing before dark.......................................July 15 first day off in many weeks, thank you. The flows are 404 cfs and holding. Start your day early its been getting hot down here in the valley. The Trico's pop at first light and fall around 8:00. After the shootout you will see Pmd's and a medley of bugs till afternoon....come back for the caddis grab late afternoon till dark.

Hatch report for Hot Creek 2010
Open for catch-and-release fishing. DFG Rules . . .Hot Creek from the State hatchery property line to the confluence with the Owens River. All year. Only artificial flies with barbless hooks may be used...... This report is written by Kevin Peterson Manager of Hot Creek Ranch. July 15th .... The fishing is getting going around 8:30 A.M. with a Female Trico Hatch followed about 9 with the Trico Spinner fall and the Caddis migration. The best Caddis patterns are all in sizes 20 and 22 and are Parachute Caddis in Grey and Brown, EC Caddis, Parachute Caddis Emerger, Low Profile Caddis in Olive and Brown and of course the Hot Creek Caddis. The PMD’s are just starting and the fish are beginning to key on them. They are getting started around 9:30. The patterns that are working best are all in sizes 16 and 18 and are; the Quigley Cripple, Parachute PMD, CDC PMD and the PMD Sprout. We are starting to see a few Yellow Sallies and Hoppers as well. Things slow down a bit mid-day although there are still a few Baetis around. Things pick back up about 4:30 with the Caddis and the Male Trico hatches. Folks have been doing well with Beatles and Hoppers during the slow hatch times but the evening Caddis grab has been incredible

Upper Owens river 2010
April 15th Crowley fish are in the river, take care when fishing over them, plenty of fish behind them in deeper pools.......May 10 fishing is getting better every day, many fish on the redds, please show respect...have fun............July 16th the water is clean and cold, great condition. I have been hooking lots of fish above the crossing swinging nymphs and streamers. The caddis are pop'n late afternoon and plenty of hoppers around....the sink tips fishing has been a blast give me a call

East Walker River Blog 2010
3-18-10 flows are going up....looking good around 100cfs today. If you plan to make the trip, keep a good eye on the flows...they will go up and down this time of year, that could make or break a fishing day.......update April 19 the flows are really good (160cfs)yesterday. The water temp's are going up, fish were ON THE GRAB yesterday...the first couple hours with dry flies (midge hatch). Sweet little BWO hatch midday.....it time to go fishing.........................May 17 2010 the water flows have stayed in great shape, water is cold out of the dam. The weather the last weeks have been in and out of winter like, but some really nice days mixed in. Bug hatches have stayed the same the last few weeks (its fished really good). The crowds have been crazy on the first mile. The warm weather the next weeks will warm up the water and we will start to see Caddis.....this will set the river off from top to bottom, and when I say bottom I mean the waters in Nevada. Ive hooked some nice big fish down there this year.....so heads up ................May 25 the weather has been off and on snow and rain, the fishing has been great. The water flow are at 181 cfs, not many people on the water, mostly Mayflies small blue wings 18-20.......................................June 5 Ive been living on the water for three weeks now. A couple days ago it was snowing but now its summer, the caddis are starting to pop. Lots of people on the river, fishing has been great from the DAM to Nevada border. ..................................July 15th the fows are PERFECT at 350cfs, water is staying cool full of air comming out of the Dam. The fish have been on the grab early eating midges, caddis pupa, Tricos and Pmds ....the Caddis grab late afternoon till dark has been excellent

2009 Steelhead fishing on the Rogue River
OCT-NOV 2009 Unfortunately our trip was cut short due to bouts of the flu that spread like wild fire through the family and myself. I was the first to get it the day I got to Oregon, and days behind the oars were challenging. The heart breaker was seeing my girls go from sick to sicker but thank God it never reached doctor worthiness. On the good side, the fishing was fantastic. The weather was perfect, warm and rainy. The Middle river water clarity was coffee with cream color because of the silt that was released during the removal of Savage Rapid Dam the week before we arrived to Oregon. This did not stop the Steelhead from grabbing our flies. The first half day (homework day) on the river produced four hooked fish; two to hand, one lost on the jump and one pig that broke 12# test tippet like it was 6#. By the way, the angler had never held a fly rod in his life…..good job Jake. Throughout the days on the water our average score was seven Steelhead a day, with twelve on the best day. This was one of the better falls I've seen in a bunch of years but by no means was it easy; every strike was created by blood, sweat and tears of joy. To all the folks that shared the days on the river with me, great job and I know once you feel the pull of a Steelhead, life will never be the same.....we will be back next October.

McCloud, Upper Sacramento and Pit River Trip June of 2010
The Magic of the McCloud River Experience fishing one of California’s finest trout waters Intermediate to Advanced Anglers* In the spring of 1995, I served an internship in Northern California under Dick Galland and the guides of the Clearwater House on Hat Creek. During this Ivy-League education in guiding, I fell in love with the waters of the area and vowed never to go long without spending time on them. One of these waters is the McCloud River – a 6-hour drive plus a bumpy, 30-minute, dirt road away from Mammoth Lakes. This river starts as a spring-fed creek, then dumps into the McCloud Reservoir. We fish the milky cobalt blue tailwater out of McCloud Dam, its source ancient glaciers high atop Mount Shasta. The river’s edge is surrounded by old growth pine giants that have seen hundreds of years of Native Americans, pioneers, and fishermen. My daily goals are to teach the art of fishing a river. You might think of it as of to draw a parallel between being an accomplished golfer and accomplished angler; the drive, the approach and the putt are essential to having a complete game. I will teach classic puff-ball rigging and techniques for fishing the big, deep, slower pools that the Mac is famous for (the drive.) Then, shorten up our system to fish the tail-outs and deep structure (the approach shot.) Then, lose the indicator all together and hit the fast water (the putt.) That’s where I teach my spin on Czech nymphing or Northern California tight line high sticking. After dinner we ditch the spit-shot all together and hunt fish until dark using the dry fly. Generally, we fish with four or five wt. fly rods with floating lines. The bug hatches you can expect this time of year are Pale Morning Duns, Pale Evening Duns, Green Drakes, Caddis and Giant Salmonfly. We camp streamside and enjoy the feeling of being in the middle of the land that time forgot (but with flushing toilets.) Our mornings begin with coffee at 8 am as we discuss the complexities of the day- whether to fish up river or down. We usually fish water about a stone’s throw from camp, or travel by car 15 minutes to the McCloud Nature Conservancy, where only ten anglers are allowed to fish per day. If camping isn’t your bag, then the charming little city of Mount Shasta is only 45 minutes away, offering excellent accommodations and restaurants. If you’re traveling light, I recommend a flight to Redding and a one hour drive by rental car to Shasta City. I am also permitted to guide the Upper Sacramento and the Pit River, all in striking distance from the Mac. Available dates: June 25-26 FULL DAY ONE OR TWO ANGLERS - $ 400.00 ADD EXTRA ANGLERS - $ 125.00 per person HALF DAY ONE OR TWO ANGLERS - $ 300.00 ADD EXTRA ANGLERS - $ 75.00 per person *I recommend that anglers have good wading skills and some type of camping background for this trip. I welcome you to bring your own gear and favorite flies, but our trips include any gear and flies you will need for the day.