Hi guys, I'm going to try and make this short if I can, but of course, that doesn't always work. The first thing I do want to do is nip any crazy rumors out there right in the bud! I ran into a guy downtown this past weekend who said he'd heard I was sick and possibly even undergoing some chemo, but this is about as far from the truth as it possibly can be...
For those of you that have been reading my ramblings for any amount of time you've also followed as I've unsuccessfully quit smoking about a thousand times. Now, I'm not patting myself on the back just yet because I want to give it a year first, but the fact is that I laid 'em down this time way back on May 4th and have been on a bit of a get fit kick ever since.
I do understand where the thought that I may be sick comes from since I have lost a lot of weight, (40 pounds lighter now than my peak weight of 237 this past winter.) but I came by the weight loss the hard work way rather than any health issues.
Fact is, my busted up knee is probably only going to let me do this once, but I plan to run a half marathon in Grand Rapids on the 18th of this month as one of the goals I set for myself back when I was short of breath after walking a half mile... I'm not planning on setting any records, but it will be a nice accomplishment for me and if anyone else wants to join in just let me know. (I lost my running partner for this thing due to a bad knee on his end as well.)
OK, enough about that now, I'm not sick, I actually feel better right now than I have since I was in the Army back in the early 80s! The fishing is what's sick and by that I mean pretty darn good sick! It seems the fresh ones just keep on filling in the dark water in places and there's a little mix of everything on and around the gravels.
It's looking to me like we'll have great Salmon fishing well into the last part of the month and the Steelhead fishing is already coming around to the point that I think you could spend a day targeting them with some confidence. I've only put one to the net since the last report, but even though we've just been chasing Kings I've had several more on clients lines that got off and have seen a few others caught and/or fought. Both John and I have lots of great openings for guide trips after the 12th for anyone interested in doing either!
I'm not going to try and go over every day, but it's been a bunch of fun out there since my last report and I'm looking forward to our trips for next year and for some of you later on this fall already. The leaves are changing and it's simply a great time to be on the water! Here's a few shots from recent trips...
The second day of our trip was productive as well...
Sure we got into the Kings, but this gal made our day!
Liam decided that the Steelhead this spring weren't quite big enough so he tackled a few of these! Here's his first and his last that he brought to the net...
Fished with Stuart and Steve for a couple of days and they even netted a couple of "small ones" for me! ;^) Thanks a BUNCH guys, it's always a pleasure to row the boat and cook some lunch for you while not doing much else...
It was good times for John and I with Dan, Paul, Steve and Mike as well!
Waiting on some more photos from the guys since I kept "misplacing" my camera, but I did get a shot of Craig with one of his nice ones!
A new destination location!
We are trying on a Bahamas deal for size this winter and we think it's a pretty good one! We have space for six people in the week February 13th to the 20th, 2010. John and I will not be there with you as we are going the week after with our own wives and one other couple and the accommodations are for six guest comfortably. Your host will be my cousin Jim and his family, the same ones that run the Alaska camp...
If you've ever done any salt water fishing you already kind of know how sweet this will be and if you've never done it, this is the chance at a great way to try it! Basically, the deal is $1,000.00 per head gets you food & lodging for the week as well as the use of boats with fuel. Jim plans to drive people to either the wading flats by vehicle or let them take the boat(s) to the flats on their own.
For $2,000.00 the trip can be fully guided all week by a Bahamian guide, but Jim recommends something in between. Maybe take a guide the first couple of days and then go it on your own... At any rate, I can have the trip molded to fit your needs.
There are 3 bedrooms for guests. 2 of them have their own private bath. The third has a bathroom right next to it, but which is also used by people in the living room. There is a total of 3 twins and 2 kings in those rooms right now, but we can adjust how many and what kind of beds to fit the guests needs. The house also has wireless high speed internet and has a nice waterfront area with a deck on the water. (Attached is the only photo I currently have of the house...)
It has flats across the "creek" and several just up inside, plus lots more flats up in Fresh Creek, which goes for many miles and the open ocean is about a 1/4 mile away, with a large reef just offshore and a nice white sand beach.
The place currently has a Pick-up truck, a VW van, a 26' offshore boat and a carbon fiber canoe, but Jim plans to ship a flats boat and a kayak into camp as well before this trip date.
There is the very small town of Fresh Creek within a short walk or drive. It has 3 tiny little grocery stores, and 4 or 5 small restaurant/bars. Jim has had dinner at 2 of them. One was called Hanks (Hanks also offers bonefish guiding.) and it had great food and felt very Bahamian. It had a nice outdoor deck where tarpon were feeding during dinner.
There are several large wading flats on the ocean side of the island that are accessible by car. These have lots of bonefish cruising. It is about 1/2 hour south to the middle bight, where many of the bonefish camps are located. Stafford Creek Lodge is on the next creek north. The north end is famous for big bonefish and less pressure - also a little over a half hour drive.
There is an airport right there in Fresh Creek, Andros where you would be picked up by Jim or Phyllis. There are some direct flights to the island from Florida a few times a week. There are daily flights from Nassau to Fresh Creek for under $100. Jim believes the cheapest route is to fly Spirit Air to Nassau from Detroit, then hop a commuter plane from Nassau to Fresh Creek. You can lay over for a few days in Nassau for some great beaches, night life and casino's. Jim stayed at the Sheraton on Cable Beach and it was very nice. He booked it on Expedia for less than $150/nt.
A photo of the accommodations.
The Alaska trip was a huge success this year with lots of comfort updates to the camp as well as the great fishing and we have the first two weeks of August for next year again! (July 31st to August 7th and August 7th to the 14th, 2010) The price has gone up by only $200.00 making it $1995.00 per person, but still cheaper than the rate for going not with us and well worth every penny considering the new updates and expected updates as well... For those of you that haven't seen the 2009 Alaska reports you can find them at these two links, but you have to be a member of our forum and signed in or sign up to be…
Steve’s Report
John’s Report
Argentina is coming around fast (January 16th to the 23th, 2010) and we could really use a few more heads there if anyone is at all interested in what I consider to be the best of the trips we offer! That is, of course, only if you think that 80 degrees and sunny on a beautiful river in the Patagonia's, catching large trout, experiencing a new culture, eating great food and drinking great wine while it's freezing here at home is a good idea...
You can read about some of our past trips to Argentina at the links below and you really should read them or re-read them before making a decision on this one!
Steve’s 2009 report
John’s 2009 report
Steve’s 2008 report
John’s 2008 report
Steve’s 2007 report
John’s 2007 report
Contact the shop if you are interested at all in any of these trips, we’d love to have you! 1-877-422-5394
Tight lines all,
Steve
