Wow, we've seen some pretty awesome fish as of late on the North Umpqua. I think I caught the smallest summer-run this year I'd seen on the North, maybe 23" in late July and our fish seemed smaller this year. But, the bigger fish we see returning late seem to be a bit bigger.

 This hen did everything you want one to do , 7 or 8 jumps a little backing and just no giving up. After we landed her we were obviously pretty happy and ready for cocktail hour, but being a steelheader you don't give it up after a good fish. We stepped back out and made the same cast and got rewarded.

 Thankyou Sandra for a great memory.

Spent Halloween with Grant Gardner on the North, Grant fished the river once before, back in 1984, I was four years old. It took him 25 years to come back, mostly because of the stories he'd heard about how tough this river is. Well, Grant you waited the perfect amount of time.

 Stopped by the fish ladder on my way home and although few, there are still some really nice fish headed upstream.

Down south on the Rogue the fishing is up and down. We'll have a really good day and the next it will taper off. The counts over Gold Rey dam seem to be improvng. We could really use some rain to get these fish moving and more excited.

The North Umpqua is really coming into shape, for leafers. As far as for steelheading it's pretty tough. Had my first guided trip that we blanked for the day and we fished really well, which is really suprising for this time of year. Up until that the North has been consistent. Spent a few days with Lance Watkins from my old home town of Newport Beach, Ca. We did pretty good for three days. Lance had started steelheading this past winter with me on the North, he caught the smallest winter-run fish I had seen on the river, about seven pounds. This time he saw why I chase steelhead, a few pics.

Also fished with Andy Hoag and his dad Tony for three days on the North and the fish were still there. Andy is just undertaking steelheading with a spey rod, it was really cool to watch him progress for three days.

Andy was a true pro when it came to staying calm and not jerking when a fish took the fly, and it paid off or him.

A few hours south on the Rogue, the fishing is really tough. We are still getting our shots each day, but it is not what I'm accustomed to this time of year. I heard that down in Grantspass it has been fishing better than last year so, those fish should be here soon.