Fishing Reports & Newsletter
Thursday, June 5, 2008
June 5: took long time friends Dan Ross, 800-840-6507, and Tim Muffenbier. It was 34 in Fossil and 50 at the river, 48degree water, 8590 CFS, 8-9 clarity, overcast skies. Dan caught the first fish at 7:50 AM a nice 19" Trophy. We had 5 fish at lunch. Dan caught another Trophy, 18 1/4" in the afternoon, and Tim caught a catfish. they ended up with 15 smallies and Dan had the Most with 9. I know no one want to hear about the huge fish that got away, but tim lost a monster smallie. It surface 5 times and ran back to the bottom, and finally got free. We got to see it at the surface, but not touch it. Bummer!!
June 3, 2008: Lead Guide, Bill Berray, took cousins Ray Norman and David Leiterman out to the Private largemouth Lake for a fun day of fish catching. The river was over 10,000 CFS and dirty. they boated 48 fish with Ray catching the Most at 26. David had the biggest fish, but Ray had to catch it by hand, cause David's reel was apart. You had to be there to appreciate what happened.
June 2, 2008: Bill and I took friends of my wife wife, Gordon and Judy Fultz and Alan and Kelly Melnick. This was one fun group of fishermen, and my wife Linda joined them for a trip on the Private Largemouth Lake. They ended up boating 106 fish with Gordon catching the Most at 24 and the Biggest at 19". The river was over 10,000 CFS and too dirty to catch fish. thanks goodness for a fish-catching-backup.
June 4: A Milestone Day-the highest CFS we've ever gone and still caught lots of fish. Took cousins Ray Norman, 503-755-2728, and Dave Leiterman, 503-755-2757, of the Seaside, OR area. Super guys and lots of fun to fish with today. It was 41 in Fossil at 4:30 AM, 54 at the river, water was 50 degrees, 8330 CFS and wnet up to 9100 CFS while we were on the water, 8-9 clarity, and overcast. Ray started out the day at 8:30 Am with a nice Trophy smallmouth bass 19" and fat. Dave followed that up with a 21" X 14" at 11:00 AM in a spot we haven't caught a monster in before so we named thehole after him-Dave Lieterman Point, and they had 8 fish boated by 11:30 AM. Ray boated another Master Angler smallmouth bass about 3:30 PM, 20 1/2 " X 14", and they ended up the day with 23 smallies. The secret is still clean water against the bank and fishing the dead water holes, and forget the CFS.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
May 30: The river is still blownout and running 12,200 CFS so we took a gsuper Father/Son Team of Tom and Martin Morris, and their good friend Mike Rathburn. They were great guys and good fishermen, but the fish were a little off today. It was clear skies (different), Private Lake was 62 degrees, and very clear. Tom started things off with the first fish and we had 22 fish by lunch. they ended up the day with 65 fish (48 largemouth/17 bluegill). Tom fly fished all day. Martin caught the biggest fish with a 19" largemouth and the most with 24. It was a great day with lots of stories and laughter.
May 28: We ran two trips today. I took friends Bob Boss, Chris Casebeer, and Kent Aldrich. The river only went up 600 CFS last night to 7080 CFS (you know from past reports we fish as high as 8000 CFS if the water si clear at the bank), but it was all mud and the river is dirty clear to the bank. We went on to the Private Largemouth Lake. It was an overcaast day with rain all around us, but only a few sprinkles falling a couple of times. Kent caught the first fish, and they had 61 fish by lunchtime. They ended up with 96 fish (65 larmought/31 bluegill) for the day, with Bob getting the Most at 46, the Biggest at 18".
Bill took a great Dad and Daughter Team of Lowell Goold and Bailey from Pendleton. They got up early and meet Bill at the Route 26 Expresso at Mitchell. They had a good time and caught lots of fish with Bailey's new fishing rod and reel.
May 27: Took three friends fishing: Chris and Kathy Copeland, 503-543-2917, and Chuck Kunde, 541-763-2059, of Fossil. I've taken Chris and Kathy fishing already this year, and already experienced some competitive fishing posturing. It was 44 in Fossil, 52 at the river, water was 50, 7-8 clarity, 6890 CFS, and very overcast. The first fish came to chuck at 8:05 AM and the race was on. Kathy boated the first Master Angler fish, a nice 20" X 14" toady (her first). Chuck caught the next one 21 1/2" X 14 1/4" in a place we haven't caught one before, so we now have the Chuck Kunde inlet (we normally don't fish this spot because there isn't any water there). We had 14 smallies by lunch, and then the weather started to change for the worse. we only boated 5 fish that afternoon, but one was another Master Angler 21" X 14 1/4" by Chuck. They ended up the day with 19 fish and three Master Angler smallmouth.
May 26: took the Three Amigos from the area fishing today. Don Withrow, and friend Fred and Bill. We started out at Service Creek Stage stop with some great homemade breakfast burittos that Fred's wife had made for us. They wanted to go to the Private Largemouth Lake, so off we went. Don caught the first fish, and the catching was on. We didn't keep close track, but they caught 60 fish. The stories were many and lots of fun. It sprinkled on us a couple of times, but overall we had a good time.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
May 21: Took a slightly competitive Husband/Wife Team of Dave and Gayle Lee from Paradise, CA. they came up two years ago and did a Three-Day overnight trip. they had such a great time with us and the Wilsons at Wilson Ranches Retreat that they came back to fish a couple of days, and just rebooked for four days at Wilson's in July, and another day on the river with us. It was 41 in Fossil, but the river rwas running 11,900 CFS and very dirty, so we wnet to the Private Bass Lake. It was 58 there and the water was 60, very clear, and heavy overcast. Gayle shot out of the chute and Dave caught up by Lunch and they 48 at lunchtime. A cold front came in and the pressure dropped, they ended up with 68 fish, and only a few drops of rain fell on our heads.
May 22: The lees were back for another day of fishing, but the river was 10,700 CFS and they wanted to see a change of scenery so we went up to the Private Trout Lake. The weather was really nice today, and lots of sun shine till late in the afternoon. Dave was on a run away and had like 16 trout before Gayle got stated. He had 5 for 5 on the first set of casts. He said he wanted to catch his age, so I was watching to see how old he was. Well, he's 61, and he quit fishing about 2:30, but then decided to fish a little more and ended up with 70, and Gayle ended up with 37. We left about 4 PM, because it's a long drive in or out. Got lots of great pictures of old homesteads, root cellars, etc., and some nice fish.
The river was fishable on Friday the 23rd, but we had to pass, Dave's shoulder was worn out. The river will be marginally fishable for the next week, and those that know what to do will get some big fish.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
For some reason there are a number of trips that have been submitted, but not made it to the Fishing Report site? Here they are!
May 9: Birthday Trip for Todd Mulvaney, with his friends Sean Clay and Daniel Klump. We went to the Private Lake, because the river was "blown out". We had a great day on the water, and the Brithday Boy caught the most fish. Nice guuys and super day.
May 7 & 8: "Brother Love Trip", with Gene and Greg Kremer had it's 11 anniversary this year. These guys are great fishermen, great brothers, and lots of fun to be with. They boated over 40 fish the first day and over 30 the second day. Greg got onto a super hair jig bite the first afternoon and was pulling fish off the willows for some very exciting hits.
May 6: Took friends Lewis Youngbood and Dave Fleming (not related, this guy is a fishermen) from Bend to the Lake. They are not only great painters, but good fishermen. They ended up with over 40 fish, and Dave had the largest at 19 1/2" in length. Super guys and they are coming back inAugust to catch lots of fish on the river.
May 4: We ran two trips today on the river. RB took Greg Rickman, 503-614-9600, and friend Barry Kenney on the second trip out. Greg started it out with a Master Angler 20 1/4" Smallmouth and added a Trophy 18"+ to his count before the day was over. They ended up with 11 smallies, and rebooked for the same day and guide next year (this is Greg's third year in arow with a Master Angler smallmouth).
I took one of my clients Dike Dame, and he ended up with two Master Angler Smallmouth bass, one 20 1/2" and the other 21", and a Tophy 18 1/2" fish for 8 total, and we took off the river at 3 PM.
May 3: Took Dike Dame on the river today, and he ended up with a Master Angler Smallmouth bass and an 18"+ Trophy. He boated 7 fish.
May 2: took friends don Miller, Dave Fronipeeli, and Red Iler all of the Mount Vernon area. They looked at the river and decided to go onto the Lake. They caught lots of fish, and have rebooked for next year at the same time, but on Monday instead (their usual day).
May 1: Took friends Paul Kuper, the King of Garlic, and his friend Robert Carlson, retired manager of the Puyallup Fair Grounds. Paul's Family runs the Garlic Goumay, 866-342-7542, www.garlicgourmay.com in Ariel, WA. They have the best products available, and you should ckeck them out if you want to use the BEST. We found some specialty woods for Robert to make into beautiful spoons, and cuahgt lots of nice fish at the Lake.
April 30: Took Ron Nelson of The Dalles and his friends Ryan Courtney and Master Story Teller-Bill Houston. We went to the Lake and the fellows caught lots of nice largemouth bass, and were entertained by Bill' s wonderful stories.
April 29: took the Founder of Painted AHills Beef, Merhten Homer, and two Feed Lot Experts: Keith Pearle and Doug Maag. I heard lots of stories and watched Mehrten catch a very nice 21" Largemouth bass. Oh, we had a Painted Hills beef roast, and boy was it good. If you want the best in beef, you should contact Painted Hills Beef, and see where it i sold.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
May 16: Being a fishing guide is a geat way to meet super people, and this last trip proved it. I had the plesure of Mel Ralston and his wife Janet, Tim and Josie Ralston Aaron, fishing and telling stories for a day on the Private Lake. The temp was a warm 43 this morning, river was 10,400 CFS, dirty and rising, so we used our backup the Private lake. Only Mel and Tim were fishing, or maybe I should say catching. They boated 30 fish by lunch and ended up the day with 75 largemouth and some bluegill. Tim was kocking the socks off the fish with a fly rod and top water bait, while Mel was covering the mid to bottom. They boated lots of nice fish with more largemouth than bluegill, and we all enjoyed a hot day in Central Oregon. They said they would be back to do the river, next year. I hope so!
May 15: Took friend Don Miller of Mount Vernon, his grandson-Lucas Palmer, and Don's son-in-law Geremy Russell, 208-755-1815. It was 43 in Fossil, 56 at the river, the water was 50, 7990 CFS, 8-9 clarity, and a sunny morning. Geremy started out the day with the first fish a Master Angler at 7:40 AM, 20 1/2" X 13 3/4", and followed it up shortly thereafter with the biggest fish of the year, 22" X 15 1/2" monster Master Angler smallmouth bass. The river was rising, and we were lossing clarity but we had 5 fish by lunch and ended up the day with 9 smallies. Don had the most with 6, but Geremy had the biggest. They are coming back for a 100+ day per person in August. I h ope my thumb will be up to it.
May 14: Took friends Kevin Howard, 971-236-9505, and Doug Greenl, 503-869-7163, of the Portland area today. Super guys with lots of great stories from their trips to Alaska. It was 50 in Fossil, 57 at the river, the water was running 47 degrees, 6690 CFS, 7-8 clarity, cloudy morning. Doug got the first fish at 7:46 AM and ended up with the most at 10 for the day. Kevin may have only had 5, but he boated a very nice Master Angler smallmouth bass, at 20" X 13" to Doug Trophy 18 1/2" fish. Great day with 7 fish at lunch.
May 13: One of my oldest and longtime clients, Terry Healy and freind Milt Mittelstodt, 503-292-6553 both of Portland fished with me today. Terry has a great sense of humor as does Milt, and I look forward to a day of fun and fish when they come. It was 40 at 4:40 AM in Fossil, 52 at the river, the water was running 47, 7270 CFS, 7-8 clarity, and overcast. Terry boated the first fish at 9:15 AM, but Milt stole the big fish today: 20 1/2" X 14 1/2" and 20 1/2" X 13". He caught both fish in a place we have never boated one before, so we have the Milt Mittelstodt Limb, and Milt Mittlestodt Willow Point Holes. They ended up with 16 very nice fish, and Terry had the First, Most (9), but Milt had the Biggest.
May 12: Didn't go today the client decided it might not be "good fishing". Too bad, probably would have been a great day for big fish, but the customer is always "right". They are booked again for next year, when Skip or one of the other guides will take them.
Monday, April 28, 2008
April 28: Took Barry and June Snook of Canby, 503-266-3411. They have been out with us many times over the last 15 years, and today Barry got his first Master Angler Smallmouth bass, 20 1/2" X 14". It was 36 in Fossil at 4:30 AM, 44 at the river at 7 AM, water was 47 degrees, 4600 CFS, 6-7 clarity, and very clear. June caught the first fish at 7:40 and we had 8 fish at lunch, ended up with 15 fish, and the water was 51 degrees and the air was 78 degrees. there were lots of frogs, smolts, and some small fish active today.
April 27: Took my wife Linda on her first trip of the year. It was 32 in Fossil, 50 at the river, and the water was 47 degrees, 3860 CFS, 6-7 clarity, and a very cler day. I lucked intot he first fish, but Linda beat me with 8 fish at the end of the day to my 2 (but I still had first and biggest). The water was 51 after lunch and it warmed up to 72 degrees.
April 25: Took guides Michael and Bruce Meredith, a great Father/Son Team, 5451-980-1922. It was 31 in Fossil at 4:30, 44 at the river, and the water was 44, 4200 CFS, 4-5 clarity, overcast morning. Bruce caught the first fish at 12:12 (slow start), but ended up with a Master Angler 21" X 13 1/2", and Michael boated a nice Trophy 18". We only had 10 fish, but nice fish. The water warmed up to 45, and the air was 60. Lots of smolts running through.
April 24: Took a GREAT Father/Son Team, Ray and Nat Stewart (360-318-1991), of Woodland - Vancouver, WA respectively. It was 36 in Fossil, 44 at the river, water was 43, 4570 CFS, overcast, 5-6 clarity. Nat got the first fish at 8:20, a Trophy 18 1/2", and ended up the day with a very nice Master Angler Smallmouth bass, 21" X 13 1/2". It was 58 after lunch and the water was 47. They ended up with 9 fish, and some nice fish.
April 21 & 22: Three friends from California came up to fish with us before they went sage rat hunting with Diamond A Guides in Burns (541-573-6080). Steve Lombardi Jr., 415-389-1711; Greg Jeffress, Steve Wignail, 925-998-0483 went out on Monday and Steve Lombardi Jr. caught a very nice Trophy 19" smallie and a Master Angler, 20 1/4" X 14 1/2"; and Steve Wignail caught a Master Angler 21" X15". It was 26 in Fossil on April 21, 25 at the river, and the water was 39 degrees, 5190 CFS, 6-7 clarity, and very clear. First fish came at 2:40 to Steve Lombardi. The water warmed up to 43 in the afternoon. April 22 was a bust-NO Fish, the water was cold, but lower than the day before 4360 CFS. They guys were on, but nobody showed up to guide (boy did I feel bad).
April 15: Two friends from Idaho, Richard Scott and Mike Douthit went tot he Lake today. The river was 9890 CFS, and "blown out". They boated 23 largemouth with Mike getting a nice 19" fish. It was 28 in Fossil, 42 at the lake, was was 45 degrees, clear day and clear water. super day of fishing.
April 14: Richard Scott and Mike Douthit came to Fossil to fish the John Day River. It was 44 in Fossil, 45 at the river, water was 42, 5890 CFS and rising, overcast day. We tried hard to catch some fish against the banks as the river was turnig dirty and high on us, but ended up empty handed. YUK!
April 13: Gary Miller of Mount Vernon, 541-932-4500, came for his annual trip, with Step sons J. Colt, and Jeff Colt, 503-558-1974. J. caught the first fish at 7:58 AM, Gary caught a nice 18" Trophy, but the day belonged to Jeff: 18 3/4", 19 1/4", 21 1/4" X 13 1/2", and another Master Angler 20 1/4" X 13 1/2". It was 36 in Fossil at 4:30 AM, 44 at the river, water was 45 degrees, 3380 CFS, 8-9 clarity, and very clear. We had six fish at lunch and ended up with 10 for the day, but some dandies.
April 12: Took a super Husband/Wife Team fo Chris and Kathy Copeland, of Scapposse, 503-543-2917. It was 33 in Fossil, 34 at the river, water was 43, 2510 CFS, 6-7 clarity, clear. Chris caught the first fish at 8:50, and that was the only fish we had at lunch time. But they ended up with 18 for the day, and the best two fishermen day of the year so far, and Chris got a nice 19 1/2" beauty. It ended up 71 degrees and the water came up to 45 degrees.
April 11: Took friends and co-workers at Carson Oil, Wayne Warren, and Chris Truesdale, 503-668-6497. It was 24 in Fossil, 20 at the river,. water was 41, 2390 CFS, clear skies. First fish came at 2 PM to Chris, but Chris ended up with two Master Angler Smallmouth bass: 20 1/2" X 14 1/2", 20 3/4" X 13 1/2". The water wrmed up to 45 degrees asnd the air temp came up to 68 degrees.
April 10: took two friends from Bend: Charles Beith, 541-593-8347 and Doug Watson, 541-382-4056. Charles ended up with a nice Trophy 18" and Doug caught a Master Angler, 20" X 13" beauty. It was tough fishing but they ended up with some nice fish.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
April 5: Two guides: Bruce and Michael Meredith were on the river today. They floated behind my group and boated three fish.
April 6: Bruce and Michael Meredith, 541-980-1922, were in theSpray section of the river today. It was 32 in Fossil at 4:30 AM, 46 at the river, and the water was 40 degrees, 2160 CFS, 4 Clarity, cloudy day. They only fished for a few hours, but Bruce boated a nice Trophy 19" smallmouth bass.
I was with one of our best fishermen, Dike Dame. Dike has more Master Angler (20"+ smallmouth), and Trophy (18"-20") smallmouth than any other client. The bite was very lite, there were lots of smolts swimming on the surface and heading out to the ocean. We had five different weather fronts go through, and only boated two smallmouth.
April 7: Dike Dame was back for another day of fishing, but the fish weren't. It was 25 in Fossil at 4:30 AM, 30 at the river, and the river was 43 degrees, 2120 CFS, on a clear day. It changed around lunchtime and the clods moved in along with an ugly weather front. Dike got a bright steelehad frist thing int he morning, and a couple of bass mid afternoon. The ones we got were so suttle in their pickups Dike wasn't even sure if a fish had picked it up. Well, they call it fishing, and I told Dike I was going to go back to Fishing School and see if I could figure these two days out!?.
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