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03/26/2006 Entry: ""

January 25: Took two friends, Richard Dyer from Taft, Ca. and Al Betters from Portland, OR. out for a steelhead trip today. It was 29 in Fossil at 5 Am and the river was running 3230 CFS, a little high for this time of year. The water warmed up to 38 depgrees and the air temp was 54 at 1 PM, so it was a nice day. But, no steelhead, not even one hook up. YUK!! I did hook and boat an 18 1/2" smallie the first of the year, and it was a beauty. I caught it on a 1/4 oz. Charlie Brewer Slider with a 5" Black Outlaw worm, covered with Smelly Jelly craw/anise.

February 25: It was the guides day out, George Hadley and Dwight Klemins from Salem along with a new guide from Condon, Robert Bissonette. It was 17 in Fossil at 5 AM, river was 37 degrees, running 1660 CFS, very clear out, 24 degrees at the river, and the water was 2-3 clarity. The water temp after lunch was 40 degrees and it warmed up to 51 degrees. We had a couple of bites, but not one fish in the boat.

February 28: Great day it was 43 in Fossil, the river was 38, 2110 CFS, and the water was rising and getting dirty when we put in. The water went to 8800 CFS on the 6:30 PM reading, and we were catching lots of grass all afternoon. Paul Kuper of Garlic Gourmet (www.garlicgourmay.com), the fellow we get al our seasonings from, and a wizard at making seasonings that bring out the best in foods was with us. Joel Shangle from Seattle came down. Joel has a couple of radio chows and writes for everybody, and has been with us many times. Bruce Belle from Clackacraft boats came up with one of his new 18' drift boats, and we all took it for a spin today. I've been rowing 17' Clackacraft for three years now and thought they were the BEST boat I had ever rowed. Listen up the new 18' Clackacraft with it's Gulfstream bottom is 20% easier to row than the 17' I now have, and it is much more responsive. I could not believe how GREAT this new boat is. I'm trading last year's 17' boat in on a new 18' for this season. The room, handling, and ease at which it is to operate has got to make it the best boat on the market today. Call Marty Sherman, Jake, or Bruce today at Clackacraft (503-655-9532), and go look at one today. I won't have my new one till May, and I can hardly wait.

March 11: Good friend Dusty Routh and his good friend Greg Lapham, and our new guide Robert Bissonette went out for a day of fishing. It was 26 in Fossil at 5 AM, river was running 2940 CFS, river water was 37 degrees, and the air was 31 at 8 AM on an overcast day. The water clarity was good at 2-3, but the water only warmed up to 39 degrees at lunchtime with 44 degree air temp. Robert saved the day by catching a nice 24" steelhead, on a vibric black rooster tail.

March 21: Roger Jarvis (360-687-4857) came by himself for another day of smallies. It was 31 degrees at 5 AM in Fossil, river was running 2290 CFS, 40 degree water, and 40 degree air temp, 3-4 clarity, and some clouds in the sky. Roger boated the first smallie at 10:56 AM and it was just over 18 inches. He had one by lunch. The water warmed up to 44 degrees and the air was 53 degrees after lunch. Roger boated 10 smallies today with all of them coming on crankbait, covered with the new UV spray, Fool A Fish, and Smelly Jelly earthworm paste on the bellies.

March 22: Two time Master Angler from last season Roger Jarvis (360-687-4857) from Battleground, WA came up to fish for two days. Roger's a good fishermen and a great guy to be on the water with. It was 36 degrees in Fossil at 5 AM, river was running 2340 CFS, water temp was 42 degrees, air temp at the river was 40 degrees, on a very clear day with 2-3 clarity water. Roger hook at smallie about 10:30, but boated one at 10:40. He had two fish boated by lunchtime. The water warmed up to 46 degrees after lunch and it was a very comfortable shirtsleeve 64 degrees. Roger ended up with 9 smallies and the last one was 18 1/4" Trophy fish.

March 23: Took my wife Linda, and Bill Berray from Condon fishing today. The Wilson family bought Bill a retirement trip. He just retired from Home Telephone as the manager in Condon after many years of GREAT service. It was 41 in Fossil at 5 AM, the river was running 2460 CFS, 43 degree temp, air temp at river was 46, 2-3 clarity, and overcast skies. Linda cuaght the first fish at 12:16