**HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE, SNOW IS TALL HERE!* Shasta in a cloud: Well howdy hi everybody, I hope your New Year's was safe and fun. I spent two nights in my car stranded by the storms on Dec 26th and Dec 29th. I was so glad I always carry a sleeping bag and pillow. There's really nothing you can do when they close a highway and you're in traffic with 50,000 others. All the hotel rooms were full between Redding and Sacramento by 10 pm that night. There I was coming home from Christmas on the 26th, when about 6pm I made it to Shasta Dam Exit on Interstate 5, and it took 4 1/2 hours to go 6 miles up to Fawn Dale Exit where at 10:30pm they completely shut the highway down. Then on Dec 29th, It took me 7 hours to go from Mt Shasta to Susanville. At 1:30 am in a complete white-out, I pulled over and went to sleep near Doyle, California. If you're traveling up here in the north state: have water, shovel, chains that fit, food, sleeping bag and pillow. Call 1-800-427-7623 Cal Road Info. If you have a family, bring a tent that fits everyone! I saw a family that had kids and they were stranded with no hotel rooms available. I never really minded sleeping my truck because I was prepared. jt Klamath Dusty fish on!: In between the storms, Chuck and I guided Greg and his friends, Reed and Dustin. Here's Dusty with a nice hard fighting Steelhead, while Chuck's in perfect position to crash this fish's New Years party! Dusty fish !: That always starts a trip out right, Dusty showing that great holiday spirit! The Klamath has been fishing good. It always amazes me how they get so little snow over in this region of my county. There could be a blizzard going on in Mt Shasta, but over on the Upper Klamath you better bring your shades! KLamath Weed Reed: Then Reed got into the action with this nice Klamath Steelhead. Reed you're my SIZZLER OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS SIZZLER!! JT Dusty Lunky: Here's Dusty with another lunky! Nice trout dude, this puppy is so cromer and fought hard for the national championship. This whole BCS series makes me want to go fly fishing! Get a play off you .... offs! Sorry, lost it there for a moment... **CHILE*CHILE*CHILE*CHILE** Tres fishing Petrohue: Back in Chile, Tres is fishing my favorite river, the Rio Petrohue. He had a great day hooking into bionic-strength rainbows that originated here on the McCloud River in far Northern California. Livingston Stone a fisheries biologist from New York, helped ship the first McCloud River Rainbows to Chile in the late 1800's. Now, over 100 years later, the fish are doing great and wanted me to tell you all hello from South America! I think the most incredible part is they were shipped on Ice boxed train cars to the East coast, then placed on ships to locations all over the world. Tres said he enjoyed his day so much on the Petrohue, the fishing was incredible, the scenery was spectacular, and the fish fought so hard. He has no problem recommending this river and my guides to anyone. Tres Mccloud Rainbow in Chile 2004: Nice Mccloud River Rainbow in Chile, Way to go Francsco! Nice guiding, see you very soon my friend! JT Osorno Dec 2004: Meanwhile, Osorno Volcano stands looming in the summer sun, as Tres, Janet and Francisco enjoy the rays and hatches that appear on the Petrohue River. I like this area of Chile because it reminds me of the Mt Shasta area, with its volcano towering above the town and the local rivers. This region of Chile has many volcanoes, and hundreds of lakes and rivers! Janet trout: On one of the days Janet and Tres floated the Petrohue in Francisco's drift boat. She caught, she laughed, and she had a wonderful lunch provided by Francisco's wife! What a great way to spend a summer day in South America! Petrohue Falls: Petrohue Falls in Petrohue National Park are so beautiful. This river starts its course from the drainage from Lago Todo Los Santos, then makes it's way approximately 50 miles to the ocean. It's full of rainbows, coho's and the occasional salmon pen escapee catch. Petrohue the magnificent: Petrohue the Magnificent. This river rivals the beauty of the McCloud River, and in a funny kind of way, this area is so similar to the Mt Shasta area, I consider it the sister region to Shasta! jt Frank on the Maullin: Wow! Now that's a big Brown on the Rio Maullin! Way to go Frank and Francisco. I think one of the bigger ones we caught last year could of gone 5 to 6lbs? But this one looks like it's about 7lbs..? I like those German Browns with big dime-sized spots. Francisco said they lost another one near the boat that was 1/3 larger! That Rio Maullin and its lunker browns....I CAN'T WAIT TO BE THERE MYSELF! jt Puerto Varas at night: Puerto Varas at night is so beautiful and safe. I love to eat fresh abalone, merluza, congrio eel, crab claws by the jazillion, empanadas, escalopa kabur, corvina, just to name a few I'm jones'n for. (*Jones'n: Modern day term for feeling, Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here.) I hope to see some of you folks down there this season or next. We only have 8 slots left for this season! Best year since before 9/11. (bite-me Osama!)Thanks to you, the Sizzlers! And a cast of guides that are dedicated to providing you with life long memories and quality guided adventures here and abroad. Jack Trout Guide Service. Santa Walk: Here's Christmas in Chile for ya! The winner of my boat naming contest is Steve Berkstresser (Cal-Trans Marysville) "JACK'S WILLIE!" A real classic if you know me well! We're still fishing away on the Klamath River, Lower Sac, some on the Trinity if weather prevails. I have some dates left in January for Chile and 2 one person slots in Feb. TAKE CARE SIZZLERS AND STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK AS WE CHECK OUT THE LODGING WE OFFER! MORE CHILEAN AND NORTHERN CAL SITES IN STORE! MANY RIVERS TO YOU, JACK TROUT ( thanks to all of you who voted, I had 183 entries!) I almost picked; "FREE JACK'S WILLIE"... HA!


[ Print This Page ]