It's Been Busy Round Here...

Whew.

It hasn't been all unicorns, rainbows and fluffy bunnies around here (but we think hot air balloons are pretty cool)

I have been a BUSY boy so far this fall season... er, SECOND SUMMER!!!! We're having fun doing what we do - everyday. From 6am till 11pm its been pedal to the metal. Eat. Sleep. Fish (or at least watch). Repeat.

Those who know me and my clients who fish with me, know my disdain for "Fish Reports". My peeps don't need a fish report to tell them "It's On" - they just pick up the phone or email me the dates they want to go fishing.

And then we go fishing.

We ALWAYS have a really good time and hook some trout along the way. Sometimes the fish are big, sometimes they are HUGE and sometimes they're only a little bigger than the palm of my hand.

You see, reading fish reports is like reading the Horoscope or the Tabloids. It's entertainment folks... nothing more. You're reading someone else's story - not your own adventure. Anyone else see the foolishness in that?

Just go fishing...

Try your best. Take a chance. You might will have fun. Maybe you'll even get a few to eat it - but don't let fish reports, internet forums, or magazine articles tell when to do it, where to do it, why to do it or even how to do it - Just GO do it.

By the time you read a fish report it's already old news.

Ever consider a "bad" fish report was created by somebody who doesn't know how to fish all that well... or maybe it was just a bad day?

I fished the East Walker several times this week and experienced completely different results in a 24 hour period. Glad I know better. And I'd go again tomorrow...

 

(John Cooke just went fishing with me recently, along with his 3 brothers. We had a great time. Photo by Scott Freeman)

Other than the fishing and working I have done plenty of rambling about in the mountains and hills w/ my cowgirl daughter and my newest buddy, my bird dog, Buster. We explored some pretty cool places.

   
(Images: 1. Scouting game in a dress, cowgirl boots and hat w/ Buster in tow. 2. Beautiful places near our home, 3. Beautiful places up on ridges. 3. Beautiful places I wish I had time to fish)


 
(Images: 1. Buster having fun 2. Buster on the trail 3. Buster eyes the prize 3. Buster at work in the woods...)

   

(Image: Just about to get the fly line back... this huge fish ate the fly 15 feet from the boat and screamed off 100 feet of fly line and bunch of backing like it was a kite in a hurricane. I thought it might be foul hooked. It wasn't, of course, it just grew up in Crowley Lake. Mr Leonard at the controls)

Crowley Lake has been up and down this month. One day it's "On" the next day... not so much. You never know lest you go.

My Bakersfield Boys, Jimmy and Marc, have seen it on the good and bad. But I guarantee if I called them tomorrow they would be over here to fish it with me before we even hung up the phone.

 
(Image: Fish Reports with fish like these are worth more than 5 pounder "Hero Shots" - thinks so? I do... you should have seen the smile at the other end of this line = worth it)

The San Joaquin has been really fun. Best fall season I have seen down there in the last 11 years... lots and lots of the above fish. Dry fly fishing all day long. Look around and you are in a dream it's so beautiful. 

(Images: 1. Jim Gregory on the SJ check out the RMA hat in action!! 2. Oooops, I'm FIIIIEEEERRRD pig tails don't land fish even 10" fish. 3. My knots held a "few" fish on. 4. Jim and his way better half, Tanis Gregory - we had fun, Buster did too!!)

(Image: Steve Jost is just happy we didn't get electrocuted by lightening, he and Mike bring every time we go fishing! Another proud SJ trout)

Hot Creek has been really good during the caddis event mid morning. The fall bwo hatch is just beginning too!! On the stormy, cloudy days (this week, look out) it could be pretty epic fishing on Hot Creek - and that would be some insider information right there.

 

Rest of the year availability:

My October is nearly booked up, but I still have some open dates to fill... Fall Fishing has been GREAT this year.

I will be beginning my Steelhead Adventures  around the first weekend in November!!! I only have 3 more days available in November!! Steelhead are being caught right now in the Trinity River system...

November 5, 6, 7

December  16, only left and going fast

January 4-18 booked solid after that...

Get on it now or wait until 2012 - which seems so far away.

Please visit my website www.ReelMammothAdventures.com, email me Neal2fish@qnet.com or call me 760.924.0438 office 760.914.0465 mobile. Find me on Facebook or sign up for my email newsletter