Variety...The Spice of Life!

The summer has been busy with many of our guides relocating to summer haunts to guide and for those who take the summer off, well, it's been time to play.  Not always having the chance to go in search of the trout some of us would like, often times we just get out to enjoy a river and are constantly reminded of the surprises you can find on the end of your line when fishing warm water.  Here are just a few...

Chico holds up a hefty pre-spawn Channel Cat

 Greg and fishing partner hold a couple of Long-nose Gar caught 

while prospecting the Maumee River for White Bass.

 Toward the end of Steelhead season Nate Miller, myself and my son in tow, decided to go looking for some late season, last minute chrome and came up with a gorgeous surprise full of the payload of a next generation.  This truly was a great looking fish that I know neither of us will forget anytime soon!

 Nate Miller holds a monster Walleye caught while

swinging big flies for late season Steelhead

Nate with another hold on this beauty...nothing

likes the eyes of a big "Eye!"

If you aren't taking the opportunity to get out, don't waste another minute.  We have been out fishing for everything from Rock Bass & White Bass, to Northern Pike and Muskie.  If you have the time get out there and give it a shot.  If you need help or assistance, we offer personal instruction as well as group instruction to help you hone your game.  Give us a call if we can help.

Tight Lines,

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Head Guide

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

Go West!

Ladies, please don't take offense to the following statement....but men are not usually labeled as "nagging". Wether its the infamous "honey-do" lists that we joke about, or the unfinished "whatever" that we can't seem to wrap up....its usually our lovely better halves that assume the label. For the past several years I have been able to frequent western states/rivers, and have since become a serious NAG! It has been a progression of logistical reasoning, and I have bludgeoned the beast to death.

Me: Honey, what do you think about spending a few months out west this summer?
Wife: For what?
Me: Well, some sight seeing....ya know...i think the kids are at a great age to really appreciate it.
Wife: You mean so you can fish your brains out and I can sit with the kids by a hotel pool...
Me: We'll talk about it later.

2 months later...


Me: Honey, what do you think about spending a few months out west over our horrible winter months?
Wife: For what?
Me: Well, some sight seeing....ya know...i think the kids are at a great age to really appreciate it.
Wife: You mean so you can fish your brains out and I can sip tea looking out a cabin window...
Me: We'll talk about it later.

4 weeks later...


Me: Honey, have you thought any more about a trip out west?
Wife: Not really?

You get the drift.
I haven't quite worked out all the details, but maybe someday I'll make the 3 month thing work.
Fortunately for now, I am still able to make trips out to Idaho to see friends often, or take a trip to Montana for a long weekend...so I can't complain. Here are a few shots from a recent trip:

This Bighorn Brown came to hand on the 2nd cast

Never a dull fish....

Not a rattler, but surprised me for a split second 

These were stout fish as can be seen across its back

Look closely....this is for all the cast & blasters out there

Can I put up a cabin out there somewhere...?

This soon became my desktop background....its a good daily reminder

I am so blessed by the experiences I have had. Some of the Idaho rivers, that certain Oregon unmentionable river that is on my brain daily, the Teton.....my favorite places on the planet. 

5 min ago...

Me: So......honey....., have you thought about a trip out west now that the kids are done with school:)

Cheers to bent rods (and the distant west),

Ben Barger
Fly Fishing Guide
Steelhead Alley Outfitters
www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.com