The happy, warm, fuzzy days of summer are gone, as are the free rising steelhead. It's time to get dirty, creepy and anti-social. Lying to friends and family about your whereabouts, listening to Tool, wading nips deep on your tip-toes to reach that pocket above a class 4 you just know there's one in, mobbing down a cliff on the off chance there may be one living in that tail-out, T-20, XL lead eyes, 6 inch long flies. Yup, the good stuff.

The hard won reward, a wild, ocean bright hen.

Winter fish don't come easy, you've got to be dedicated and willing to put in the time. Getting the skunk is inevitable, it's gonna happen, don't let that stop you. With the coastal rivers constantly in flux, time on the water is the key to winter success, learning where the fish hold at different flows is crucial. Winter waters hold their secrets tightly and so should you.

Dancing pines and the light that shines.

Wading and fishing a wild coastal river is as good as it gets for me. The beauty of both the rivers and fish that return to them are unbeatable. These are special places.

Another wild hen, just a beauty. Many jumps and a take like she took it running down stream.

Eating good is another key.

How many times have you bought this beer while fishing for them?

One the handsomest bucks I've seen in a while. Love the lack of spotting.

Not too many off these around right now.

One of the best lines I've heard from a gear guy in a long time, it's a long story and I don't feel like finger punching the whole thing, " I saw you was a fly guy and I thought, man, are we gonna have to kick sum's ass right now?" He also spouted off this gem, " Not all the steelheads in this river are ocean run, there sum that are indiggness or sumpin, natives I dunno..." Just know he was a good dude and one you'd want on your side.

Another beautiful hen, I've seen more hens this year than bucks, I ain't complaining.

Go fishing with high hopes and no expectations...

Be good,

Rich & Bo

www.steelheadwater.com

The days are growing shorter, as is the fall steelhead season. Soon, we'll be chomping at the bit for the first push of fresh winters. But until then, there are still plenty of opportunities at the last of the fall "freshies".

The best week of the year, the "fly girls"...

"The Queen" Anna-Lena with a better than nice Rogue hen.

Sandra with a great Rogue buck. Yes, she is wearing "the pearls".

It's had to believe another guide season has come and gone for me. Where have the years gone? I remember my very first guide day 8 years ago, I was a scared young kid and we didn't catch a thing. Much has changed since that first guide day, and so much has been learned.

The North Umpqua saw a great return this year, not sure what the actual count was but, the fishing showed that it was strong. Looking back, we typically saw multiple fish each day, of course there were some tough days in there to keep you humble. Some great fish were landed and some epic fish were lost...

After several hooked and lost, Brady Johnstone finally gets one to the beach.

Vincent Novits with his first North Umpqua steelhead. Vincent lost one of those epic fish the evening before, a fish that just crushed the fly and "tore the river up".

After a solid morning, my clients asked to watch me fish a run. I asked if they were sure because I was pretty certain there'd be a fish in this run. Of course when I told them that they said I had to prove it. There was a fish in there...

Brian Walker with a prehistoric creature that absolutely crushed an intruder.

It has been a little hectic the past month, a lot of travel from the North, Rogue, Trinity and the often overlooked Klamath. Dad, if you are reading this, yes I'm keeping the oil changed in the truck.

The Trinity has been a sweetheart. I think the Klamath/Trinity have the grabbiest steelhead on the planet. While any day spent on the river is special, the Trinity is especially for me. I just connect with the Trinity, can't really explain it better. It's kinda funny, and my clients can attest to it, when the fly is coming across through the goods, "right there, right THERE!". That phrase comes out of my mouth without even thinking about it, sometimes with an arm motion of a steelhead turning on the fly, I dunno, I'm a little crazy about this. I do this on every river I guide but, on the Trinity, the fish make me look pretty good, ha.

Arturo Budnik, back from Chile with a pretty wild hen that ripped. Probably one of the coolest fish of the year for me, she came out of the water less than a foot deep. This was one of 11 Arturo saw to his fly in two days. "It's the cheese" Arturo B… — Arturo Budnik, back from Chile with a pretty wild hen that ripped. Probably one of the coolest fish of the year for me, she came out of the water less than a foot deep. This was one of 11 Arturo saw to his fly in two days. "It's the cheese" Arturo Budnik.

Many thanks to everyone that came fishing this summer.

Rich & Bo