So, last April, when Pat and Chad fly fished steelhead with me, it took the two of them to land a steelhead—one hanging on to the bottom two thirds of the fly rod and the other, the broken off tip. Manage they did somehow to...
Have any of my fly fishing customers NOT wanted to savor my succulent, grilled, streamside prepared steak, chicken, or pork loin luncheons, complete with red checkered tablecloth—choosing instead to "Let's keep fishing!" That is, until today! Roger and his brother-in-law John, up from Florida to fish...
As soon as my guys settled into the boat this morning, Jeff said, "Tom, we're totally laid back today. Sure, we would like to hook some steelhead, but if we don't, no problem; it's a beautiful day, and we just want to soak it in!"...
Pretty cool how quickly golfer and hockey player, Travis, my nephew-in-law, and his dear friend, Tom, took to the fly rods today, Despite high river flows and gusty winds, the guys hooked and landed both steelhead and some very chunky rainbow and brown trout. Tom's...
Best fishing bud and fellow RiverQuest guide, Captain Don Graham, joined me for a shakedown cruise of my boat, which has endured sundry maladies this spring: a worn out anchor winch (Thanks, Tracey, of Tracy's Custom River Boats for the new gear box and motor!)...
It's been a challenge for Captain Don Graham and me to grab a "guides day out," but today we finally pulled it off. The Muskegon River received a nice push of steelhead over the last couple of weeks, and today they dished out some love...
Captain Don Graham hosted fellow fly fishing guide Bill and me for a guides' day on the Muskegon River today. Perfect conditions: overcast skies, light wind, and ideal river flows prompted the fish gods to smile on us as each of us brought steelhead to...
I had the pleasure of hosting Ben from New York City and Matt from Ann Arbor today. Each year, the guys and four of their buddies fish Michigan steelhead this week for three days; they've plied the Manistee and Pere Marquette, and this year are...
For Mike and Eric of Indianpolis, today was all about first times—fly fishing, floating the Muskegon River, landing steelhead and Chinook salmon, and staying at the Muskegon River Lodge. Despite a torrential downpour, these two of five sons-in-law and their father-in-law, Rick, toughed it out...
Satisfying, so satisfying it is when a trout rises to a fly one has tied oneself. Imagine, then, how pleased professor and bamboo rod maker, Bill, from Missouri, was when he brought a 16 lb. Chinook to the net on a bamboo rod he built...