David Roberts

Well we left Redding early enough to get past Black Butte, and over the Pass before it started icing up, but got down to Ashland and hit snow, and it snowed all the way home, and have about 4″ on the ground this morning. I hope all of you had a great Christmas, and got all you wanted. Linda and I spent it down in Redding with the Grandkids. Today I am going to drive up to Foster Creek (can’t fish the season is closed)but I can put on the snow shoes, and have quiet for a few hours. Yes I will let Forest Service know where I am going and my pack will last me for 3 days eating well or can make it last 7, have never yet needed to even open pack other than to get hot chocolate out, but don’t want to be a statistic ether.  I just can’t seem to get enough of water. I would love to see what that beaver pond looks like TC and I found this year but don’t think I can get to it, as it is a lot higher up.  Sully glad to see you hear, and can’t wait to here more about your area and the fishing you are doing over there. Sully please post some of your great fly patterns on here. For those that don’t know Sully, he is a Piss Fur Willie, that is one hell of a fly fisherman out of Montana. He is a spring creek and tail water nut and tyes great flys.  Also Sully can we talk you into sharing some of your favorite leaders?

For the fishing around here, I did sneek out on Monday to fish the Upper Sac, I did try the place below the bridge you told me about Tom and picked up a couple of fish, not hugh, but nice, both on BWO’s. Also ran into the master Wayne there. I have been slacking here and haven’t any river reports, but will make up for that this week, I love to fish in the snow.

Have a great New Year, and DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.

David

Doug, a friend from Ashland called early in the week and wanted to go fishing and take his boat. Wow front seat in a drift boat, what a neat view. We did trade off on the oar’s because he wanted to do some steelheading, and I just really wanted to hit the hatch, and beside’s he has a real nice old Alumiweld boat (these are the one’s that predate the Willie boat and was build by Willie). It is just like the one I started with 30 yrs. ago. To a boatman a boat is kinda like bamboo rods they all do the same thing, just a little diff. I have to say sorry to Doug because I just can’t stop coaching when someone is rowing or casting, I guess it’s a guide thing.  I have really tryed to stop it when out fishing with friends. Now mostly I just think it (you should have taken that other line and we wouldn’t have hit that rock and be going in circles now). No Doug never hit a rock once.  Every time I start doing it I think of another guide that is far worse than me about it (I think) that drives me nuts with it. We got down to one of my favorite spots and hit the hatch just right and got into some really nice dry fly action on BWO’s. The next day (Fri.)  I hadn’t had enough so just went wading an area that can be good. The hatch wasn’t real heavy, but there was a few nose’s coming up and after releasing 4 fish my right hand was wet and got real cold, and I stuck it in the hand warmer pocket, and kept fishing. All of a sudden I started watching my cast and the path of the cast, and seeing how smooth the cast was, and how I was feeling the rod, there I go again I can’t even stop guiding when I am by myself. I have a habit of double hauling (even if it is ever so slight) all the time.  When I let the rod do it and got ride of my right hand I got to feel what my best friend Tom C. call’s buttery smooth. So if we are out fishing, and I start getting on your nerves with coaching, tell me to go fish.

David

Getting up at 3AM and getting started tying for the day give you a lot of time to think.  What is a “Trout Bum”, and are we one or just very passionate about the sport. Seeing how this is my site, I will start, but I want to hear from all of you.

I am a Fly Fisherman only, but I enjoy watching other fish the way they want to as I float down the river and talking to them on how they are doing.  I am a bamboo rod addict because I truly believe (for me anyway) is the best material a fly rod can be built out of. I am a fly tyer that is known for tying small fly’s, but everything from 32 midges to full dress atlantic salmon fly’s. I tye a lot of fly’s to sell so I can make enough to go fishing. I guide so I can go fishing, I teach class’s, so I can go fishing. I collect fly fishing book’s just to learning more, and more and more going away from any of the magazine’s because there are to many IMHO want to be’s out there that are changing the color of the Adams wing and calling it the new greatest fly and nameing it after themself. ( OK I am an old curmudgeon ) a phrase stollen from “A River Run’s Through It”.  I love to steelhead, but have never gotten the “Big Fish Fever”, I would just as soon work on one fish on a spring creek or chase down a little blue line on a map and find brook trout or brown’s in a small stream.

I think I am a Trout Bum.

Now it is your turn.

David

The other day on the Jefferson board asked about a bamboo rod, and seeing how I am suppose to be the local expert I chimed in.  It was said to be a H&I that right off in my mind (everybody who really know me knows that ain’t much) said crap production rod,  and as gently as possable that is what I said. Well the guy brought it to the lunchen, and after we where done we went outside and he broke out the rod. tips where even, but one tip top was missing, and the stripping guide are missing. The rod will need just a little TLC by a good refinisher (Bruce Howell is first to come to mind). This rod was very nice, not a sloppy noodle the bamboo was tight, and no glue lines, the grip was a western style grip and quite nice. I will never stick my my self imposed hi brow nose in the air about a mass produced rod again. There are some sleepers out there.

David

Its still cold here in the morning and I think I am going to get a few more flys tyed. Water is dropping (1585cfs) that is getting much better and it is suppose to be clear all week. I should get out a few times this week and report. I want to here from all the tyers out there and bamboo rod builder and hear what you have been up to.  There are some good shows comming up this next year to get on the calander. Reedsport is the 23rd. of Feb. and Albany will be the 7th. and 8th of March.  With Coho passing numbers of Steelhead, I think it shows he really didn’t have a great run, but fish are still being caught. 

One last thing to help with the stress of Christmas shopping, I let my wife do it, and I go fishing.

David

This is my first time to write on my new web page and blog, even if I don’t know what I am doing. I hope to get a lot of help from my friend. I am a good guide, and fly fisherman, but I am old and am just learning about these things.

As for the fishing around here, the steelheading is still iffy although I have been lucky and have been hooking up every time I go out. The Olives are starting to show a lot more and hatche’s have been quite good. If this works I will be posting a lot more, and as soon as Gus lets me know how I will start posting pictures.
See you on the water.

David