River report,Dec 16 2008

I've just returned from a "drive around" looking at conditions for the last few guides I have for this year. Yep, doesn't look good,

everything is high and dirty... not just high and dirty but very cold, slush is a big problem, we are to get another 5-10 cm of snow over

the next 24 hours.

I had a look at our rain gauge yesterday, 4 inches!!! Yes, some of that was snow,but really at 4 inches of melt, that's a lot of very cold run off into the systems. I took some shot's at the Bighead and then, for fun went to the Beaver to have a look. As you can see in the photo's not too much slow water to fish and even less anglers... good thing I took my camera and not my gear!

On another note, please be careful when around rivers for a bit, the

water has dropped and left some very dangerous shelf ice along the banks... don't ask!! Still some pretty deep water under that ice!!

I've got some big projects planned for the up coming year, I hope to have some info posted over the next month. Thanks again for a good year.

Tight lines

Happy Holidays

Ken

Fishing report Nov 30 - Dec 10 2008

More of an update on conditions,
Most of the rivers in this area have slush, the cold nights and days have really developed some bank ice. The river levels are good, we need a few days above freezing before I'll be out.

Fishing Report Oct 20 - Nov 30 2008

What a change from last fall, lots of water, almost too much. Like always, fishing has been hit and miss for the last few weeks.

The high water has filled the rivers with Steelhead, they are

not in the same holding locations as previous years. We've had to work a little harder to find them... but we have been finding them.The Lower Saugeen has seen some changes, the debris boom has let go with the high water and heavy debris, half of the boom is hanging over the dam. Lots of fish in the Saugeen below Denny's. It's big water and you need to really read the water to find those fish. The water temps have push many fish in the slower moving areas. I've been have luck with swinging smaller black spey flies with a dropper, single egg or small stone flies in black

We've been fishing a long leader with no sinking tips.

The Maitland has seen more high water than the spring!

We've had a few good days before the river was so high it

was no longer safe to drift. Mike V and I had another 2

boat day, a corporate event, the guy's had done some

Steelheading before, one was a good fly angler, try as

he might the other anglers with spinning gear were

getting the fish. Had a chance to spend a day with Ray

from Hook,Line and Sinker/ The first Cast. We drifted

the Maitland just days before it went off.

It had rained the night before, heavy at times, adding some colour down stream from our starting point. I managed to hook the first fish on the Maitland Leech. A nice Male, the water temps was mid 40's so this fish really put the boots to me. Check out the Video!!

I had a chance to fish the Bighead for fun as the river peaked a few weeks ago. I've never had a day when I've had the river to myself,

what a blast just to fish with no pressure from other anglers. Timing

is everything on the Bighead, be on the river as it's just starting to

drop with about 18 inches of vis... and you're in!

I'll post some photo's of fish we've landed, some are first time

steelheaders with first ever steelhead.

The season should go into Mid to late Dec, I'm booked to the

22nd of Dec,with a few days left here and there.

Try as I might this blog sucks, the pictures are all over the place and I just can't seem to get this to work. Sorry for the ugly lay-out

Cheers

Ken

Fishing Report Oct 6 - Oct 20 2008

And We're Off!!!

Things are heating up, the Lower Saugeen has been producing some good Steelhead. The Notty as well. We could use the rain that has been forecast for this week. With the Water temps around the 46-52 range, fish are full of energy. My Wednesday guide had his hands full with very scrappy 4-5 lb fish. So much so that we didn't land anything over 14 inches!!! The Upper Saugeen still needs some time before we see decent numbers of Steelhead. What a difference from last Fall, good thing, as I don't think I could take that many cancellations again and survive the Winter... or at least I don't think Val (my Wife) could take it.

On another note, we now have a new addition to the Ontario drift boat guides family. A 11 week old Golden /yellow retriever pup. His name is Drake, as in Brown Drake. He's a hand full right now and I'm sure all these sleepless nights will be worth it in the long run. He seems to like being in the Boat more than Sulfur, well, he likes to sleep until lunch then do his business and sleep the rest of the day!! Man I'd love to to that!!

I still have a few openings here and there, so If you've wanted to get out for a day of Steelheading give me a call.

Tight lines

Ken

Fishing report

Trout season is now just a memory, Steelhead has begun!!
Now that I've taken the Grand River off the list of rivers I guide, I've added a new drift boat guide for Brown Trout. I won't go into any details but if you would like a truly unique adventure, drop me an email and I'll be happy to get you into some water you will be amazed with. The 2009 trout season will be one of great dry fly fishing for large brown trout... natural, big, beautiful Browns and a few good sized Rainbows tossed in for fun!!We have a huge amount of pristine rivers in this area, most with little or no pressure. Think out of the box in the 2009 season,give me a call and I'd be happy to take you out for a great day of trout fishing.
With the rain fall being above average, fish have been moving into our systems. With the river levels and cooler temps we had some challenging days, and some Fantastic days. The Musky bite was amazing, we had some multi fish days, lots of follows and many lost fish. I've come up with a new pattern, a large tube that has produce many Musky.. and of course the odd fish on a popper while fishing bass!!

Lets talk about The steehead situation, I've got a busy season this fall, and am really looking forward to having all my regulars and some new clients in the boat. The out look is great this year, lots of water with fish starting to move in . The early season will be great, we will be swinging some new patterns I've been working on. As you may know I prefer to guide water that has little or no pressure from other anglers, finding fish can be a challenge at times,but always well worth the effort by myself and my clients. Rivers are a changing thing, structure and pools change all the time, I've spent a lot of time scouting out some new water and double checking the old haunts to be sure we have the details needed to ensure quality days.

Again thank you to all the anglers that booked me for this past season. I truly enjoyed every minute on the water this past season .
Cheers
Ken
P.S. Watch for my episode on the "New fly fisher" in the coming months.

Fishing Report July 16 2008-Aug 6 2008

Hey... can we get some more rain please???

What a great year for River levels, the down side , the Smallies are well dispersed throughout the river.Makes for some challenging Bass fishing. Bass fishing like it should be, know the spots, make a good cast and presentation.. you'll get your fish.

I have seen a huge amount of out-migrating smolts, I've never seen this many!! 3 years from now, we are going to have one amazing Steelhead run!! These little guy's are so hungry and aggresive they have been hitting our poppers.

We've had some great days with top water patterns, great sized fish nailing the flies, they are just not holding on!! Still makes me giggle like a little girl when a fish comes to a popper. The Hex's have started on some of the Smaller rivers in my area, we've also had some really good spinner falls of small mahogany's...and I mean small... 26's are about right. It's a very short spinner fall, maybe an hour, well worth the effort, no really big fish.. but who cares.. it's sipping Brookies in August!!!

Flyfitter's and I shared a drift Monday, great day, good people!!

Mike and I get along really well, it's great when a couple of guides

can do a drift together. With Mike's new Clacka and my boat we had a great day!!

It was the girls against the boy's.. the girls had the boy's hands down.. I think it was 7-3 with the largest fish going to the girls... an easy 22 inch smallmouth, with a first time smallmouth on a fly rod being 21 inches!!

Yesterdays drift was a slow day.. we did manage to raise a

Muskie with a popper, That fish was on a mission, when it

saw the boat it turned off at the last minute . But who cares...

it's a Muskie after a popper!!!

The Bass and Muskie season has really just started, Feel like changing species??? I've only got a hand full of days left for Aug/Sept

Drop me an email to book your day

Cheers

Ken