First week In Florida Keys

I am just finishing up my first full week in the Keys and I am holding on with both hands! The wind is blowing a steady 25 knots with gust to 30. Regardless I have been getting out and catching some nice fish.

The first couple of charters I had my clients just wanted to bend the rod so we spent most of our time catching jacks, snappers and sharks. Yesterday we were more interested in catching some larger targets. By the time I rolled back into the dock it had been a great day. We landed 3 Snook and and managed to jump 5 Tarpon. Not bad on a day when the weatherman's message was " Don't even think about it!" Check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTHPuz1jAE0&layer_token=3e42527ce1933fd6

Hopefully the wind is going to die and I can start to spend some time looking for Bonefish.

Last AuSable trip for 2009

I finished up my 2009 season in Michigan saturday. It was a beautiful fall day and we saw some great color, but we spent most of our time trying to stay warm. I was fishing with Dave Mayer from San Francisco who was in Michigan visiting his brother and decided to fish the AuSable while here. The morning started out at 19-degrees and just made it into the 40's for a high. I wish we could have a little more action from the fish, but that is fishing!

I am tying up all the loose ends in Michigan and will be off to Florida the first of next week. My next post will be from the flats of South Florida!!!

Fall Newsletter

September was a beautiful month here in Northern Michigan! We really had our summer after Labor Day with temperatures in the eighties and lots of sun!!! We did a lot of fishing, hunting and kayaking on our own and still had time for some guiding. October has been another story. Cool, cloudy and lots of rain. We did need the rain, but it still takes the wind out of your sails.

Setting here looking out at the cold rain makes me start to think about the southern half of my operation. The flats at Ocean Reef are looking pretty good today! As usual I am leaving here the last of October and plan on being available for charter the first of November. Orvis is still in charge of the charter operation and with a full year under their belt at the Club I think things will be great!! I have been in contact with Truel and Peter and they will be back running the school and giving casting lessons. I can also mix a lesson with fishing on a charter as always. I am looking forward to a great winter in Key Largo and I hope to see you there!! I f you would like to arrange a charter just let me know.

What a great time of year to be in Northern Michigan!! Hunting, fishing and wonderful fall color! Opening day of bird season I fished in the morning, had some good action with streamers. Caught a great rainbow and lots of smaller fish. After lunch my hunting buddies and I headed for the woods!! They had six flushes on grouse!! On their evening swim we were blessed with five eagle sightings. Life is good!!!

It has been a while since I have checked in. I have been remodeling my kitchen and dinning room. It has been quite a job, but a fun one. After fifty years things need a redo! Between being a carpenter and a fishing guide I haven't had time for much else.

Fishing has been steady mostly hoppers and ants of late. Lots of brook trout. They are beautiful little jewels and create a lot of action. We had frost one morning this week so fall is knocking on the door. Hope we get at least a taste of Indian Summer!!!

Will be back At Ocean Reef November 1, and ready for action. Get in touch if you would like to set up some dates for this winter.

Tight Lines, Capt. Dave

Fishing on the AuSable has been going great the last couple of weeks! The cool weather we have been having is great for the trout. There has been lots of olives and trico's in the mornings with hoppers and ants in the afternoon. I just had two great days fishing with a family from Cleveland. I would start out with two in the morning, We would all meet for lunch then take two more for the afternoon float. Dad was teaching his family to enjoy the river as much as he does. It worked out great we released 25 trout in two days. One even managed an AuSable Slam; Brook, brown and rainbow in a day! Not bad for novice anglers!! The hot ticket was a beadhead nymph dropped from a hopper.

Tight lines Dave

Summer Fun!

It  has been a very strange summer in northern Michigan. We have only had a couple days reach the 80-degree mark, but we must plug along! I have been doing a lot of instruction of late and love every minute of it. I worked with two friends from Ann Arbor last week who had never fly fished before and were looking to expand there repertoire. After some instruction on the lawn we moved to the boat and finished with a half-day float. Each fellow was able to release some beautiful brook trout. It was a great time for all! We were fishing with blue winged olives and patroits.

I have been spending a lot of time with some special young people who I have taken on as my protege's. We have been working on basic fishing and fly tying skills. They are moving along at a great pace and will be ready to hit the stream soon.

Tight Lines Capt. Dave