mtshasta.com – jack trout's weblog

*****STEELHEAD ARE IN AT THE MOUTH OF THE KLAMATH!!!*****

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Have you got a place you run to when you need to re-boot the computer in your head? I do, I love to visit the coast of California and Oregon when the temps reach the top of my comfort zone around Shasta, and I need to see the Redwoods, smell the salt air, and have fun fishing in 70 degree weather. That’s when it’s time to load up the SUV, and head for the spots that re-fill my soul, like waves that hit a beach. I think John Muir said it best, ” Keep close to Nature’s heart… break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” The Yosemite 1912. Yea, John Muir coined it right, and so I headed to the coast to, “wash my spirit clean.” Little did I know, I was in store for the best fly fishing I’ve ever witnessed….. jt

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My friend and guide, Jim Basemer of Broookings Oregon, greeted me as I arrived to this R.V. park called, the Pather Creek R.V Resort located at the mouth of the Klamath. This R.V. resort is the closest to the mouth of the Klamath River. On the first morning we headed out at 5:30am (none of us could sleep anyway) so we loaded Jim’s beautiful new Boice Jet up with fly rods and his two sons, Kenton and Chase joined us for the adventure. One could only picture in some Dean Witter book from the 1930’s, what laid up the river some 20 miles above us…….

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Captain Jim headed us up the river with ease, He has been fishing here ever since he was a kid, like Kenton and Chase.
It amazed me how fast he can go, in as little as 4 inches of water. Jim knows where all the stumps are, and follows a route he defines early in the season, then sticks with that route throughout the season. The river changes every year, so you must be boating with someone who has a lifetime of experience, Jim’s your man!! Plus he’s got this softy, Mayberry RFD personality, that compliments his guiding. He’s a gentle giant, with a big heart a real asset to the fly fishing industry with two boys that are being brought up right, and will someday be passed the Olympic Torch of Fishing and the keys to the R.V. Park Mercedes. But first they must pay their dues like pops has done….

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We passed great riffle after great riffle. My excitement grew large as I knew we were getting close to the area below Blue Creeks… salmon fishermen were also present on the ride up, so everyone was happy, fishing and getting ready for hopefully, a big day…

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When we arrived, you could see fish everywhere! I had never seen so many steelhead lined up in one spot. These weren’t 1/2 lbers either, these were Jurassic Trout!! Jim had two paying customers along, Mark and Julie Westerly, from Sacramento. Julie laughed with delight as she hooked up on several adult steelhead including this one that jumped over 4 times!!

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Nice job Jim and Julie!

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We were all catching steelhead, having a ball when Shasta, my trusty trout dog, let out a distinctive bark that I knew indicated she saw a bear… Sure enough, as we all looked over the river towards the area she cemented her eyes to, we could see a small cub getting a drink of water. I wondered right then, if a bear likes the faint taste of salmon and steelhead in his drink, like one who puts a dash of lemon in
their cup for flavor…? The bear was there and gone as if to be a good omen that the day was young..

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I caught several big steelhead up to 10 lbs., then a monster took my small copper john size 14 and I was off to the races
fighting a steely fresh from the ocean, probably the night before!

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Jim’s son Kenton got into the action when he landed this nice steely that I estimated around 4 to 5lbs. Way to go Kenton, you’re my SIZZLER OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNER! CONGRATULATIONS
SIZZLER!!! jt

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Jim’s friend Paul, tried fly fishing for the first time and landed this nice 6 to 7lber! I mentioned how he would be ruined for life if he thought it was like this every time he went out! What an experience for a first timer…

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In all, I caught 16 adults and 2 1/2 lbers between 2 lbs to 13lbs! This was the best day of fishing in 6 hours I’ve ever had anywhere in my 37 years on Earth! Jim said it’s not always like this, I just timed it right with the weather and the flows… Great fly fishing on the Klamath Mouth, Rogue, Chetco and Smith Rivers!!!

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The next day we returned with one of Jim’s friends, Don Stearn who caught 15 adults!! He’s a school teacher in Brookings, Oregon, not in a hurry for school to start!!

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Don hooked several like this one here, so did I!! the first day I caught 18, the second day, I caught 9. What a memorable trip I’ll never forget and thanks to the klamath river for providing us with this great entertainment as well as Jim and the kids and who could forget Richard!!! Thanks again…. jt *****HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS WEEK’S TREASURE, WILL REPORT FROM THE NORTH COAST AGAIN SOON, ALSO, BACK STAGE WITH THE DOOBIE BROTHERS AND JERRY HANNAN!!! STAY TUNED SIZZLERS WE’RE JUST GETTING STARTED… MANY RIVERS TO YOU, JACK TROUT

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