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TWENTY TEN!!

        I've meant to do this for some time now...Our 2010 Alagnak River Float Trips schedule has finally become clear.  As we cover approximately 45 - 50 miles within the wild and scenic section of the Alagnak in Katmai National Park I have always felt it difficult to float this distance in less than 10 days.  Sure you can do it, but don't you want to remember some of it?  We will continue to do "ten dayers" and do them at last year's rate of $3500 per angler.  Right off the top I can tell you this will be hard to beat.  After your airline ticket your only expense will be a current fishing license and possibly a little libation while around the campfire each night.  Call for available dates.  Check out our Alaska Pages - I'm sure you will have questions - disregard any mention of 7 day floats and be sure to touch base with us through our Contact Page or 707 322 3536.

   Wednesday  5/19/10  The rains just will not end!!  That, coupled with the annual need to flood the fields in the central valley, has the Sacramento River still running a little high.  Shad are in the Chico area already and the larger (females) are right behind them.  We expect to start doing day trips shortly, so call for details.

   Thursday   4/1/10   With exception to drifting through Wine Country on the Russian River, or checking out the redwoods on the banks of the main stem of the Smith River, the 09 - 2010 winter steelhead season has come to a close.  With springlike conditions just around the corner, our efforts will turn toward an occasional lower Sacramento trip and later, chasing Sac River shad.  Late May should see us in the middle reaches of the Klamath for springer salmon, the best on the BBQ!

  Monday 3/29/10   Well, those couple days in the sun a week or so ago sure were nice.  That seems to be the way the season has been for middle norcal, a few nice days, then high water.  Then a few fishable conditions and more high water.  Another weather front has come in, most steelhead systems are on the way out!

  Friday  3/19/10   The South Fork Eel River is coming into shape in the middle reaches through the week end.  Hot reports from the gear guys over on the Lost Coast has forced me to switch directions.  With thirteen days left for many steelhead rivers, it's hard to pass up a warm, sunny day casting over wild steelhead.

   Sunday  3/14/10   Friday saw another fast storm front pass over the coast rendering most rivers unfishable.  Predictions are that we are in for a dry spell and a little of that spring like weather I'm always talking about.  The upper reaches of the Eel River should be in shape by mid week followed by a few smaller coastal streams.  Prior to this storm reports on the Gualala were somewhat positive - "a few fish being caught".  Smith River is still seeing  a few fresh fish coming in with no pressure.  A last note, the gauge on the Mattole is off so consider your normal indications to be high.

   Saturday  3/06/10  Weather patterns in the Gulf of Alaska continue dumping rain up and down the Norcal coast.  On a bright note, the window of opportunity between storms seem to be lengthening.  Hey, it's March!  Springlike conditions should be right around the corner.  I've been carrying a "flats shirt" in my dry bag, right along side of my sweater for awhile now.  Haven't dragged it out yet - but it will happen.  We are still getting fresh fish into the major coastal drainages.  The season is far from over!  

Wednesday 2/17/10  Better late than never!  DFG has ended the taking of Smith River wild steelhead beginning March 1st.  Now we need a ban on the use of steelhead roe.  All rivers are in or coming into shape.  The weekend looks to get a little rain late Saturday with rising conditions on Sunday.

  Friday 2/12/10   Weather patterns seem to finally be coming around in our favor.  The front that currently is producing light rain north of the Bay Area will result in a small spike to river levels and then, if long range forecasts are close to accurate, all steelhead waters should be on the drop.

  Monday  1/25/10  California again...   I have to laugh, I was about to give some positive strokes to a couple rivers up north this morning...until I looked at the river levels.  Every coastal ditch to the Oregon border is on the rise!  The Smith has experienced some excellent fishing between the fronts.  Another fishable piece of water is from Lewiston's single lane steel bridge down to Rush Creek.  Weather predictions are that after this next front, we should experience several days of dryer conditions.  I will keep us posted.

   Thursday  1/21/10   With exception to a small window on the 15th and 16th, we have had "o" fishable water south of Eureka and it's pouring and blowing here in Sonoma county as we speak.  I will post a prediction in the coming days.  Right now, the Smith River, the first to clear, is on the rise. 

   Thursday  1/13/10  The much needed rain Mon and Tues blew out every steelhead river north of SF Bay.  There is a slight possibility that the section upstream of Standish Hickey Park will be fishable Saturday.  Another front is predicted for Sunday.  My guess is that the Smith River may be the only fishable water Monday morning.

   Sun  1/10/10  With coastal rivers closed under low flow restrictions, concentration seems to be toward the South Fork Eel River.  All reports indicate steelhead are throughout the system.

  Sat 1/02/2010  Kudos to DFG!  All streams trubutary to the Pacific Ocean in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties are now open to fishing.  Guernville flows on the Russian River gauge are around 650 cfs and climbing.  With no appreciable rain in the forecast this may be the window of opportunity for weeks to come.  Further north, most rivers are blown out.  Fishable conditions should be happening by tomorrow on the Smith while others may take a few days longer to clear.

   Happy New Year! 1/01/2010  All streams in Marin, Sonoma and Mendo counties that dump into the Pacific remain closed although Gualala River and north seems to have received a substantial amount of rain.  With the DFG office closed today the possibility of an "emergency opening" for the first weekend of the new year appears slim.

   Wed 12/30/09  DFG closed all the coastal streams that empty into the pacific (except the Russian River) in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties at 1PM today.  While that is the right thing to do given the river level gauge in Guernville is hovering around 430 cfs and dropping, weather forecasts for tomorrow evening and New Years day predict a strong onshore flow that is sure to saturate all coastal drainages north of the Golden Gate.  So watch the weather, call your buds up north or look here for a report. 

   Mo 12/28/09  Hope your Christmas was a good one.  All coastal streams tributary to the Pacific ocean in Marin, Sonoma and Mendo counties remain open - at least until Wednesday.  The low flow number is 707 944 5533.  For continued fishing, we do need more than just a little rain.  On the other hand, our northern rivers, while low, are flowing well enough to entice steelhead to enter.  The weather forecast shows some rain for the coast north of San Francisco to the Oregon border through the holidays and into the new year.

   Wed 12/16/09  @1:14PM  DFG just opened up the coastal streams in Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino counties!  The Russian R gauge at Guernville reads in excess of 1000cfs and climbing.

  The 2009 - 2010 winter steelhead season is finally here!  We have rain in the forecast, heavy at times for tonight (Tues 15 Dec).  Gualala locals reported fish in their river and the mouth wide open.  The Russian had steelhead before Thanksgiving.  DFG should remove the low flow restriction sometime tomorrow for all streams tributary to the Pacific Ocean in Sonoma county.  While Ca needs the rain, it would be nice to have fishable conditions by the week end at least.

 We are your connection to fishing northern California as well as southwestern Alaska's coastal river systems for salmon, trout and steelhead.

First and foremost, it is our desire to give you and your party the personal attention you are looking for.

Going into our 13th year, our emphasis leans toward fly fishing and aiding the resource through catch and release.  We have however, been very fortunate to remain in close contact with many of the top guides in the gear fisheries. This enables us to pair you with the best in the business.

Relax and let us do the work for you.

Sincerely,
Lud Martinson