**MT SHASTA BOARD & SKI PARK OPEN FRIDAY DECEMBER 10TH!**
This is what I would call a sugar sunrise!
December is a fantastic time of year to visit the Mt Shasta area, when there's not a lot of other people around drifting down the Klamath or wading the Upper Sac. One can find
tranquility between the banks of the frozen tundra that melts itself awake mid-day, only to be recaptured once again
in a frozen state of time by sundown. jt
Every morning we have the tule fog that mysteriously floats the river. The temps range from low 30's to 40's with the
occasional teen morning, in which I reserve the right to re-
use my heater. Mid-day is always great, and every fish is like throwing a log on the o'fire!
Sizzlers, meet Ed Francis! Another retired school teacher. I think all teachers newly retired need to come and visit me. I really enjoyed my day out with Ed Francis and Eric Swinderman, and the river showed its true colors as we had action for most of the day.
Things change! Salmon spawn is over, Sizzlers. Get off the eggs and start being one with the river. Think like fish and look like a bug, I've always said. This damsel nymph works right now and is available at the Wine and Spirits Fly Shop in Mt Shasta. Only $1.79 for this wonderful and creative Umpqua pattern. Check out the dozens of new patterns
we have for 2005! You know I know the Klamath and what those
steelhead want. The reports that the rivers up here are slow right now are bogus. I suggest you hire a fulltime guide that
knows what they're feeding on and where to go!
Congratulations Mr. Francis, YOU'RE MY SIZZLER OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNER! This is one professional not coming out of retirement very soon or ever! For all the times you put up with all that %$#*@)&^#$ as Vice Principal. You are rewarded
with this beauty. And the time the student was up on the roof
of the school in his underwear and you had talk him down, way to go! It's people like you Mr. Francis that are true unsung heroes in our world. No more boring teacher meetings, parent conferences or catching students in the school parking lot, at lunch making advances for more than just an Oscar Mayer Wiener.
Eric nice fish! Eric fished with Mike Hibbard earlier in the
season and is now back ready for action! Eric is an accomplished professional jazz musician, with a cool, demeanor of wisdom about him. Two total Jolly Ranchers, out enjoying life! (Is it me or does the fish look likes it's smiling too?)jt
That's a nice hatchery steelhead. You can tell because it doesn't have it's adipose fin behind the dorsel fin. Take care Snakey and Mr. Francis! jt
Guide Mike Hibbard out on the Trinity, had a great outing with John Roth and Steve Levine! Mike likes to anchor above the run then walk down below to fish. John Roth Likes to catch steelhead like the one he has on...
Another satisfied customer! Way to go Mike, youdaman!
This is Steve Levine and Mike Hibbard out fishing a stretch
on the Trinity River below Steel Bridge. Isn't it sad how low the flows are on California's most premier steelhead river?
The Bureau of Reclamation. (i.e., the government) won't allow it to remain at the proper level which is about 650 cubic feet per second. Now, ankle deep in a lot of sections,
it flows at a measly 300 cfs. Thousands of steelhead and salmon are crunched together in a river that resembles a crowded
street in downtown Hong Kong. Let's hope that future generations get it right, and release the river flows conducive with riparian habitat(their language!). I can't imagine why other than politics and money,
the right thing isn't being done on the Trinity River. I have to give the Bureau of Reclamation the YELLOW SNOW AWARD! QUIT PEEING ON ALL THE FISH, ALL THE SALMON COUNTS ARE DOWN TOO???? Can I ask you a big question?? How come you let the flows go so high every May on the Klamath River and come October WHEN ALL THE FISH SHOW UP, the flows are dropped? Why not just keep the flows Steady??? (WOW!! "a little black book to put river flows in," BRILLIANT!!!)
Nice steelhead Steve, thanks again for coming up to see and fly fish the Trinity River. Mike Hibbard
Hondo's Mondo!! This was Hondo's first day ever fly fishing on the Klamath River, 5 adults!! I think he's ruined for life! take care jt
Matt Burgos fish on! Shasta the Trout Dog, watching the action! What could be better than that?
HAPPY HOLIDAYS SIZZLERS FROM ALL THE GUIDES AT JACK TROUT GUIDE SERVICE, AND THE WINE SPIRITS FLY SHOP. MANY RIVERS TO YOU, JACK TROUT * DEC 5TH 2004
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