January 19, 2025 – Fishing the Forebay in January is usually slow. Cold weather, chilly water, heavy rains, and muddy conditions are the norm, but today was anything but typical. Maybe it’s because there’s something in the air—a feeling of renewal, like a rebirth of a nation. Or perhaps it’s special for a more personal…
January 5, 2025 January has always been a challenging time of year for me on the lake and forebay. The lively blitzes and the big schools of bait are long gone. The fish have moved deeper, leaving the shallows empty and lifeless. It seems like the only ones catching fish now are the trollers, consistently…
I heard from my cousin that our friend Dave Inks died last month. Its been years since I last talked to Dave. Dave was one of my mentors when I worked at the Millpond in the 70s and 80’s. Dave Inks, a renowned figure in the fly fishing community, passed away on August 31, 2024,…
… If I could stick my pen in my heartAnd spill it all over the stageWould it satisfy ya, would it slide on by yaWould you think the boy is strange?Ain’t he strange? The call unexpectedly blasted in like a lightning bolt out of a clear sky. My old neighbor Tom was on the line, offering…
After more than five decades of fishing the forebay, my hopes were high for today to be unexpectedly good. Just two days ago, Frank had reported the best day on the forebay this year, with 10 solid catches and a screenshot of a school of large spawning stripers. That was all the motivation I needed…
In the heart of Chicago, fate led the way, A meeting so fateful that forever would stay, Forty years past, we embarked hand in hand, Together we journeyed across life’s vast land. In the city’s embrace, I found my soulmate, Gina, your name whispered by destiny’s gate, Through the highs and the lows, side by…
July 26, 2023. Wednesday. Despite reassurance from an early morning chat I had with the Kiosk, I arrived at Dino to a frothing lake. Wild wind gust tore through the serene wind pattern that had lulled the lake into a sense of complacency. But I, oh yes, I was not going to be deterred. Hell…
July 14, 2023 – The most challenging day of fishing is often the first day back on the lake after a fantastic week of destination fishing. Just a week ago, I was engaged in an intense battle with 10-15 lb Mahi Mahi, tirelessly tugging on a 10-weight fishing rod. The memories of that exhilarating experience…
Ive been using my July 4th week working around the house and doing some fishing projects that I have put off just waiting for an opportunity to fish. Since getting back from Baha, its been difficult to get back to fishing San Luis Reservoir and I have’t fished it since I got back. It could…
May 22, 2023. Life is good when you can spend more days fishing in local waters than working at the office throughout the week. After a couple of days fishing The Sac and Oroville Lake, I decided to explore the Forebay today due to high winds at the lake. The water in the Forebay is…
Cadiz, Spain May 7, 2023 Cádiz, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Western Europe, was founded by the Phoenicians. In the 18th century, the Port in the Bay of Cádiz consolidated as the main harbor of mainland Spain, enjoying the virtual monopoly of trade with the Americas until 1778. Gina and I spent the day walking…
April 10, 2023 – After an exceptionally good day two days ago, I was optimistic that the forebay would be even better today. There was a huge amount of pressure on Easter Sunday according to Tim Anderson who was also on the lake today as was Brian. It was Tim’s third day in a row…
Saturday April 8, 2023 – I have always held the belief that sharing fishing reports comes with a great deal of Karma. Whether it is writing this blog, offering tackle to those who are learning, or simply sharing what you have learned at the dock, Karma operates on the principle of cause and effect. This…
Monday February 13, 2023. Its been two weeks since I fished the Big Lake and caught the first stripers of the year. I’ve been gone for two weeks just returning from South Carolina where I gave away my daughter at her wedding. Turns out my daughters father in law who I met for the…
Saturday November 19, 2022 – After over 40 years of practicing Dentistry I’ve realized that to be at the top of your game, you need to constantly learn what’s new and surround yourself with excellent people. A good friend told me that you are only as good as your top 5 advisors when it…
Friday November 12 2022. Thanks to Ken Oda, we nailed them today in the Forebay. Even old dogs can learn new tricks and today school was in session for me with Ken Oda on the Forebay. One way to become a better fly fisherman is to fish with guys that are better than you. Surround…
Sunday November 6, 2022. It’s always a bad sign when good fisherman are calling it a day when you are launching. So was the case today this first weekend in November. On top of that was some not so good reports from the week as well. I felt like even if it was…
October 21, 2022 Friday – Some days it seems I can’t buy a fish out of the Forebay. I sucked today. Maybe I need to sacrifice something valuable like an Iphone in order to pull a rabbit out of the hat on a really shitty fishing day on the forebay. I had lots of…
One of the great things about my annual trip to the Aleutian Islands is bringing back Roe and Fish. The camp has a full size Freezer and given the huge yields of fish on the river, we are allowed to bring home some fish. I enjoy processing salmon roe and filleting salmon, perhaps it’s …
There they were tucked way under the Mangroves. Pelicans and Terns were diving through the branches to score an easy meal in the concentrated schools of sardines hugging the shoreline. The fish were feeding on the baitfish that were coming out from the shore cover with the outgoing tide. This was the moment I imagined…