Fished with Tony again today and as always we had a ball. Fishing is tough with very few fish around but we managed to scratch out a couple of quality fish. Water is low,clear and CCCCCCCold. Didn't put a thermometer in today but my fingers told me all I needed to know. Pool selection and perseverance paid off and we were in the right place at the right time. These early fish, if you find one, will yank the rod out of you hand! Fun stuff!

The more I fish the North the more I love it. The number of pools and places to fish seem to increase the more I learn it. This will be my 28th year exploring her banks I feel I am just now getting a feel for where fish are in all seasons with any kind consistency. I will never have it mastered and that is what drives me forward.

Winter fishing is a crap shoot at best. High and blown out conditions are quickly followed by low,clear and cold conditions. Trying to be on the river at THE perfect time is never easy. There is so much water to cover and the water level in a run you got them in last week may not be suitable or just plain un-fishable this week. Knowing the water levels and fish movements associated with those levels can't be taught. It can only be learned through years of time on the river. The mystery of winter levels is especially puzzling at times. The key is finding unpressured fish holding in a run where you can actually get a fly to them without dying. I would say that in the winter, there are large portions of the river that just can't be fished effectively with a swinging fly. The fish have the advantage most times,as well they should.

There is so much of the river that no one really fishes, even in the summer. The opportunities to hike into little fished spots are numerous. As everyone continues to pound the old familiars, I have enjoyed discovering new familiars. Fishing un-named pockets and runs is a always a new challenge....especially in winter. Wading is treacherous and the hazards are many. The rewards are worth the risk. I would rather catch a fish in a brand new spot with no one around then two in the "General Store".

The river is as wild as it ever was and rewards abound for those that seek. I will continue to search for the out of the way places,in doing so making the river come alive again for me. Nothing on the river is truly new or un-fished as many legends have been on the same journey as I in years gone by. But to me,as I walk through the old growth sugar pine, douglas fir and cedar, heading to a new section of river,it feels as if my steps are the first to ever grace her banks.

Get tight to one soon and
have a blessed 2013
Mark

A couple more days and 2012 is gone, where does the time go? I have been enjoying time on the hill shredding deep powder lately and will most likely be splitting my time searching for powder stashes and steel this winter. A great combo if I do say so myself.

I am going to get in a couple more swing sessions before the bell rings closing out 2012. The rivers are on a roller coaster ride and you need to be flexible to be there when it's prime.

I had another great year of fishing in 2012 with great friends, some old and some new. I am looking forward to much more of the same this next year. I will be concentrating on getting fish on my own terms this year, using more traditional tactics and gear. I have learned much from friends and mentors and I hope that never changes.I will be employing the use of  floating lines and classic flies more this winter as I pursue more challenges in an already challenging sport.

Thanks for reading and I hope to have some more adventures worth relating in 2013.

 Have a blessed Christmas everyone!

Met up with my buddy Scott Travis again on the river and he has been busy. We swung some flies on a beautiful early winter day and had a great time. After fishing, he broke out a couple fly boxes that just blew me away. Here are four of his flies nestled in the snow. Oh yeah, they catch fish too!

Being in the right place at the right time is always crucial to success. Being on the water during those iffy times between storms and high water events will pay off if you persevere.Today was one of those days. We had a small weather window today as the river was starting to rise and will blow sky high by tomorrow. We had a great time fishing and I had the distinct pleasure of seeing my good friend Tony Wratney land this remarkable North Umpqua fish. Few know the river like Tony and finding,hooking(and then landing) a fish like this is no easy feat. Tony skillfully fought this fish to hand in short order and he swam away strong.Just an incredible creature and we are so blessed to run into them every so often.