Hey guys, I’m gonna “try” and make this short and sweet with a few photos and a quick river update… (My phone and PMs on social media have both been blowing up with questions about the river.)
First off, a few quick announcements. We are STILL seeking more full and/or part time employees at the shop and if you, or anyone you know, may be interested please let us know. (More information at the very bottom of this report.)
Secondly our streamer trip for monster browns (see our Argentina page for photos) in Argentina this May is now full, but we will have some dates and rates for 2027 up sometime soon if you’re interested. (Most likely just after our return, we are fishing May 9 – 16 this year.)
For Alaska 2026 we were full, but “might” now have room for 1 or 2 more as a medical situation (He will be fine) is preventing some atttendence. If you’re interested just let the shop know and we will get back to you once we know for sure how that’s going to work out. (We also want to give the people that are already going a chance to fill those spots with their own friends or family first.) Dates and rates for 2027 will be firmed up around the same time as the Argentina ones most likely.
Now, the river! We got luckier than most to the north and south of us (my heat goes out) and she is currently shaping up very nicely, at least in the upper reaches…
My “guess” is that most sections will be just fine by this weekend, but I have not personally spoken to anyone that has floated below the fly water in recent days to know for sure.
John R and I did a bunch of safe passage clearing/cutting in the fly water on Friday, but there are still some tight spots. I would NOT recommend floating anywhere in the entire system without a chainsaw, hand saw, rope, etc… In other words, be prepared for the worst and hope for the best!
On a more positive note the water temps are great, plenty of steelhead are still around and I’ve seen some trout that are not full from the recent buffet feeding on the surface. Stoneflies, BWO’s and early Caddis are all on the menu, but I bet they’d take just about anything properly presented. 🙄 😳
Streamers are always an obvious choice and will be my personal “go to” this weekend with my usual group of friends for the opener, but if you’re out for “numbers” nymphing with micro eggs, tiny stones, etc is probably your best bet.
I had a few days off recently and used them wisely! I caught up on “For All Mankind” and watched 3 seasons of “Tehran” on Apple TV. 😅 (Awesome shows if you haven’t seen them.)
My last two reports (more like rants) were actually pretty popular and generated more views than usual so I’m going to copy those below if you missed it, but please don’t think I’m just a grumpy old man; it was just a few things that were beyond past due to be addressed…
Anyway, just wanted to check in, hope you all are well and let’s just keep having a good time out there!! 😎👊🇺🇸🦅
Be safe, have fun and try to play nice with one another!
-Steve-
Excerpt from my April 11th post:
So, to review, when approaching another angler or boat while in a boat on a small river you should:
A. Have everyone in your boat take a seat in order to present the lowest and smallest profile in passing that you can, pass as close to or even behind the other person as is safely possible, make your intentions clear to the other angler(s) in a friendly manner and then move along at least far enough that you cannot join in each other’s conversations without being invited.
B. Crank up the radio and run over the other persons fishing area while having everyone in the boat stand up pointing wildly and shouting about all the fish you just spooked out of the pool, run or gravel area that just blew up.
C. Make sure you stop, drop and roll! (“Stop” the boat by a “drop” of your anchor as close to the other angler as you possibly can then “roll” a cast over their line and into the area they were fishing!)
D. Just keep on stripping your streamers or tossing your spinning gear as you go by because, after all, you are doing something different than they are and that pool, run or gravel area will most certainly settle back down shortly!
(It’s A, a is the only correct answer here folks… A is not a “law”, but a is always “A”preciated!)
Additionally:
- There are some areas more easily accessible than others that do receive more pressure on a regular basis and people are “used to” sharing those areas with others, but it is still a good idea to talk with your fellow anglers establishing a mutual understanding of ethics and etiquette you can all live with and enjoy.
- It is also a good idea to have your boat ready to actually launch before putting it on the ramp.
- And it is a good idea to pull your boat away from the ramp area before spending the next half hour buttoning everything up once you’ve pulled out.
- In short, it’s just simply a good idea to “play nice” when you can and treat others as you would want to be treated…
These are just friendly suggestions folks, and I hope you will take them as such. I am VERY far from perfect myself so I don’t want to be the pot calling the kettle black, but I promise to do better, and I hope you will too.
Excerpt from my April 16th post:
I recently read “If your “guide” is snagging fish off of gravel they are ripping you off!” and well… That is 100% true!! (I completely agree with that statement!) However… If they are fishing on or around gravel for the tons of fish that are not spawning, like to use it as a feed bag and are actively eating your offerings he might also just be a genius!
In other words, it really depends on what you’re actually doing, your own morality, motivations and your own ideas of proper ethics. (Even if you’re not “snagging” you are going to hook a few of those fish that are spawning that did eat your fly before the others can. 
)
I’ve found myself avoiding gravel as much as I can in recent years because of that very same misconception, my own fear of critics that might see me and call me out as a hypocrite and the occasional fish that does get foul hooked no matter how careful you are, but on the other hand I’ve seen some really nice Steelhead that aren’t even thinking about spawning in that very same spot crushing eggs and some of the nicer trout you’ll ever see doing the same thing…
Now you’re not “snagging” (unless you actually are) you’re just matching the hatch! Who’s to say really? I say get off your high horse and don’t make assumptions about everyone you see in a gravel area, but that’s just me I guess. It’s an opinion, everyone is entitled to their own, everyone has one and sometimes they are just like something else everyone has… (insert a-hole here 
)
You are crazy if you think that every person, boat, etc that is fishing a gravel flat is snagging fish. I’m not saying that none of them are because more than I’d like to see are doing just that, but on the other hand some people are truly just “matching the hatch” and catching some of the wonderful fish that are feeding in and around them…
Take a video if you see someone “ripping” and turn them in, but you won’t get a good one of me or mine because we only set the hook when we get an actual bite or, at least are fairly certain we did…
I also love the idea that anyone using the C&D method is snagging or lining and those with floating lines and bobbers aren’t! 
That’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard in my life made up by some self-proclaimed purists who were the very worst of the snaggers back in the day and never even tried to learn how to do it properly. (Click here for a tutorial!) That’s what they did, so you must be too right? 
If you really want to speed floss some fish across the face and their open jaw while they are breathing (and snag a few along the way) the VERY best way to do that is with a bobber and a longer leader than what’s needed in the location your fishing; even better if you have a floating line you can let swing out or even put a downstream mend on at the right moment and to be honest I see a hell of a lot more guys doing just that than I do guys ripping with C&D.
C&D or Euro Nymphing is actually probably the very best way to avoid foul hooking fish “if you’re doing it right” IMHO… Ticking thru the bottom with a nymph, egg or fry is super effective if you keep a tight line, avoid that belly and only strike when you get one, but that’s up to the guy holding the rod; isn’t it? (The same way it’s up to the guy with a bobber, be it on a floating line, centerpin, bait caster or spinning rod to set it properly in just inches of water without letting it swing… Hilarious.)
Trust me, (or not) but I’ve been at this guiding game on the Pere Marquette River for 34+ years now and I started out doing a lot of those same shady things I’m talking about. Not proud of that at all, but I did. I like to think I’ve grown out of that and I’m more worried now about everyone having fun in a legal manner than I am about my fish count at the end of the day.
You can, and people do, abuse every single method out there and nobody is “holier than thou” than you are in any way whatsoever, you just do you. It’s completely up to the angler holding the rod and how they use it…
Rant over, do with it what you will, but I for one just want everyone to get along and have a good time out there. Stop judging your fellow angler, introduce them to something new if you want to, but be cool about it and have fun, that’s why we’re all out there!!
Have fun, be safe and please play nice if you can!!
-Steve-
BBT Fly & Tackle Shop is seeking full and/or Part Time Retail Sales Associates
Description:
We are seeking a passionate, knowledgeable individual to provide top-tier customer service, assist with rod, reel, fly, tackle and accessories selections, manage point-of-sale operations in an often fast-paced environment and take reservations for Guide Trips & Motel Rooms.
Requirements:
A solid foundation of knowledge in fly, spin and bait fishing as well as the equipment needed, experience with POS systems, and strong interpersonal skills. (Interpersonal skills is the only actual unconditional requirement as the right person could be trained on the rest.)
Responsibilities Include:
Assisting customers with gear, taking reservations, managing inventory, and maintaining a clean and inviting shop/work environment.
Experience Needed:
This varies a lot depending upon your work ethic, personality and ability to learn, but being “experienced in fly and/or spin fishing” is most certainly a major bonus as is some history in retail sales…
Benefits:
Employee discounts are nearly universal, alongside product discounts direct from many of our manufacturers and a very laid-back work environment despite the fact that it can and does get hectic at times. Pay raises will be quickly granted based on good performance as we are looking for long term employee(s).
“It’s the shop environment, spending time with quality like-minded individuals, talking hunting and fishing all day…, quality of life, low pressure work environment… the list is long!!!”
So, please call the shop and talk with either Jake or Jimmy if you have any questions about the position. Applications can be picked up at the shop and résumés can be dropped off there or emailed to [email protected]
(231) 745-3529
