The Great Northwest

It's obviously been awhile since my last journal post, and I apologize for that. It's probably the longest gap I've had since I started this site a few years ago. I've got many changes to report, most notably the fact that I have left Jackson, and have relocated to the Pacific Northwest. With potential opportunities in Jackson as an owner/outfitter at a standstill, and a great opportunity for my wife in her field, we moved to Portland, Oregon earlier in the winter. I'm planning on returning to Wyoming this year for some limited guiding, so stay tuned for updates on that. Regardless, I would like to keep this blog going and hopefully expand the content. Just as strong as the pull is to live in a place like Jackson Hole, so is the urge to see what else is out there. Coming off of two extremely long and wet winters helped tip the scales to head to a more temperate climate (with year round fly-fishing!). So, after celebrating Christmas in Wyoming, we put the house up for rent, and headed out.

After getting the family settled in and adjusting to our new surroundings, the first thing I did was order my first two-handed fly rod from Sage...a Z-Axis 7136-4. The Northwest has some fantastic trout fishing, but the main event is the Wild Chrome: Steelhead. Steelhead are one of the resident species found year round in Oregon and Washington waters. They are an anadromous fish, a Rainbow Trout that spawns in fresh water, and then spends much of its adult life in the ocean. Its when they return from the sea to their native water that anglers target them with flies. Steelheading is a difficult game, not unlike stalking a large Permit or sightfishing in New Zealand. It's a numbers game. They don't call Steelhead "the fish of a thousand casts" for nothing. When you do find one to eat, though, hold on...it's like hooking a freight train. Portland is surrounded by some very hallowed Steelhead water. Legendary river names like the Trask, Umpqua, Deschutes, Klickitat, and Wilson encompass the area. There are also countless other tributaries that I am desperately trying to learn about.

Although traditional singled-handed fly rods can work, two-handed rods (sometimes referred to as Spey rods), are much more efficient. They can cast greater distances and mend more line. Most importantly, there is no backcast to speak of. You can fire a long line while backed right up to a wooded bank. I've been spending much of my free time this winter on the Sandy and Clackamas Rivers practicing this unique cast. I've also got a handful of days under my belt on a few of the coastal rivers, including a long weekend spent on the Olympic Peninsula, in Washington. I met my good buddy John Holland up there a few weeks ago and spent some time with legendary guide J D Love. He put us on to some great fish on the famous Sol Duc River. Although I hooked two, I could not get either of them in. Damn rookies. Holland managed to land this 9 pounder...beautiful! I also got to explore the Hoh River in Oylmpic National Park, another Steelhead mainstay...absolutely gorgeous. Stay tuned for more reports and updates on what I've been up to.