Jefferson Spey Sessions

Glimpses

Knowingly driving away from a river for the season, sometimes saying goodbye for months on end, is a tough one. Every river has its own soul and the fish that return to them very much do as well. The question “what’s your favorite river?” comes up nearly everyday. There’s no right or wrong answer to this, but I don’t think ‘ll ever be able to choose just one. The fall season’s still hanging on but those drives away are coming, if they haven’t already happened.

Last of October

Turbulent skies

 

Native blush

 

Smokeless

 

Bob Schaefer with a dandy

 

Chris Bjuhr with a fine lady fish

 

Redtail

 

October evening

 

First on top, not a jerk in sight even as this hen came out of the water downstream after it. Great job Genevieve

 

Rick Davis hiding his smile after this hen cart-wheeled 9 times

 

Friends once again

 

Fresh one

 

Dinner

 

Grasshopper

 

The great blue getting personal

 

Nothing beats your first, but how many can say their first came on a dry? Allison Ridder couldn’t stop smiling

 

Big Dave getting after them again

 

Peter Heitman admiring some hard work

 

Morning bronze

 

Craw-baby

 

Sundowner

 

River camo

 

Exit-entry

 

Chuck Volckhausen, so shiny, so chrome

 

Cutty

 

The circle of life

 

Big skies in the valley

 

“Fish is coming” Mr. Matsuda with a beauty

 

Jim Brown could do no wrong in this spot

 

On the drive away…

 

 

Every once in awhile…thanks Jason Hartwick for a beautiful shot

 

Many, many thanks to everyone who spent time with me on the water. It was a great season.

 

Best,

 

Rich

 

 

One more time

Wild

Being an involved passionate steelheader, we get bombarded with petitions/call to actions. Seemingly more and more everyday. All worthy of a few minutes of our time. Today, I ask again. We need to stand up and say no to Red Flat Nickel Mine, period. This just cannot happen. Look at what recently took place in Colorado and last year in BC. Imagine spewing toxic mine tailings into the pristine headwaters of the Smith, Rogue, Chetco, Illinois, Pistol, Rough & Ready and Hunter. All these are salmon/steelhead strongholds and about as wild as rivers get. Standing by and allowing this mine to proceed will most definitely open the door to many more attempts of exploiting these rivers. The public comment period ends on Sept. 28. Share with as many as you can. Follow the link below to submit a fast and easy comment against the Red Flat Nickel Mine.

Public Comment

Wild

 

Thank you

Peaks and valleys

It’s that time of year again, yet another summer has come and gone. Dog days waning, with a transition on the way. Maple leaves are beginning to wilt and turn, with the grasses ever dryer. Poison Oak, the very first to begin the change, vibrant red, burnt orange, yellow and some still green enough to fool you. Turnouts once covered and hidden from the unknowing now beg for a look see. Feeder creeks playing with reality, now you see ’em now you don’t. Dodging wooly bears inching their way across the highway. Mosquitos finally fleeting, kinda. Giving an old growth a pat of respect on the way past, many droughts they’ve survived. Wishing you could’ve been here at this very moment when it was just a sapling… Morning shadows hanging on for a late fish. Darkness slowly creeping towards a favorable nights sleep. That’s the way it goes, the way it should be.

Every year we go up and down, this summer was no different. Though, more than we’ve seen in the recent past. Fire, smoke, drought, warm, low water, good fishing, tough fishing…these fish have survived it all, countless times. Things change, it’s inevitable, can you?

Sun showered.

Evening glow.

Rick Davis admiring a beauty before return.

Bob Dowling with a bright one, we had to pull all the tricks out to get her to go.

Does anybody get more jacked than Fred Pendergast? No.

Water temps were the big issue this year. On most anglers minds, for good reason.

When water temps get hot, reach for something cold…

Have an early dinner.

Lots of summer sun.

With a few of these mixed in.

Jason Hartwick with a dandy, no you’re not on the Dean.

Greg Someson waited until the very last minute for this one. Well worth it.

KC Biehn with a pretty hen that put on a spectacular set of cart wheels at our feet.

Pretty bird.

Lee Spencer keepin’em wet and real all at once.

Fire was another big issue and continues to be.

Men at work.

Moon dance.

A good run defense.

John Luis, understands it, gets it, does it.

Andy Marx with a low light beauty, hence the head lamp…

Father and son’s first steelhead experience, coming all the way from Georgia. Took both Russ and Chip Harden and myself to land this beast.

Beautiful wild iridescence.

Speaking of change…I’m a very, very lucky man.

A summer of change, a summer to remember. Thank you to all that fished with me and continue to do so. Looking forward to the coming fall and the changes it will most definitely bring…

Keep keepin’em wet,

Rich

PS- we have just two spots remaining for the Jefferson Spey Sessions. For more info, scroll down and get in touch if interested. Thanks

Jefferson Spey Sessions

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Come join Whitney Gould, Jason Hartwick and Rich Zellman on the mighty Klamath River, and be engaged in all things spey/all things steelhead for three days of on the water guided instruction.

Rose Eye Media

The Jefferson Spey Sessions were designed to target sink-tip and floating line spey cast fundamentals, both for those who are developing new skills and those who want to evolve what they already know. No spey casting experience required. Gain confidence in the swung fly for summer/fall steelhead, wherever they may take you. Spend three days floating the lower Klamath in one of the wildest corners in California. Big, broad, classic, bouldery riffles and never ending tail-outs invite the spey rod and swung fly. With the Klamath’s famed half-pounders eager to pounce and the bigger late run fall adults beginning to show, opportunities to put new skills to the test abound. Whitney, Jason and Rich share a passion that is unmatched for teaching, spey, steelhead and watching their students grow. Experience a day with each of them and you’ll emerge from the Jefferson Spey Sessions a spey caster and more seasoned angler.

Rose Eye Media

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Rose Eye Media

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Enjoy three nights of lodging at the historic Klamath River Lodge, which sits atop two prime steelhead runs. Built in the 30’s, by a steelhead fly-fisherman so that he could revel in the spoils of the lower Klamath. Sold in 1964 to the present owner, the lodge now is a staple among fall steelheaders and rarely has a vacancy from September on. Guests return year after year. Rustic cabins nestled amongst the trees offer, clean, comfortable rooms and all the necessary amenities, at double occupancy. Jason, Rich and Whitney are excited to share this place with you!

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All meals will be hearty and delicious, provided and prepared by Whitney, Jason and Rich.

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The Jefferson Spey Sessions are limited to six angler students to ensure quality one on one instruction.

 

Two sessions are available for this coming fall season:

 

• November 13-15
• November 20-22

 

Location:

Klamath River Lodge, Orleans, CA

 

Cost:

$1495 includes three nights of lodging, food, and three full days of guiding/instruction

 

Jefferson Spey Sessions will cover the following and more:

 

• All necessary spey casts, both river right and river left
• Equipment
• Swinging flies
• Reading water
• Steelhead fishing
• Fly selection

 

What to Bring:

 

• 2015 California fishing license and steelhead report card
• waders, boots, warm layering and rain jacket
• personal fishing gear(no rods or reels yet, no problem. They can be provided.)
• BYOB

 

For booking and more info, contact:

Jason Hartwick speybum@gmail.com

Rich Zellman steelheadwater@gmail.com

Rose Eye Media

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The Kalmiopsis

We need to protect these rivers for good and for all. Please take a few moments, hit the link below to sign the petition to keep these rivers wild and safe.

Sign the Petition

Into the void

Winter has passed, short, damp, warm…damn.

A hunger still growls for the low light and upstream coastal breezes with a hint of salt that bear a chill, unremedied until looking into the distant eye of a scarce quarry, when nothing else matters.

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The winter run…

Warm up.

 

There’s only one reason to take this wade line.

 

Joe Punla with the reason. An absolutely stunning hen.

 

Chuck Hammerstad with the reward of some hard work.

 

Winter waterfall into the river shot.

 

Cobra Lilies

 

Found more of these this year than I’d care to. Pretty obvious adipose hack. A shame on a year when the returns were well below average. Every poaching was called in and I did hear DFG picked up a few poachers. Just not enough wardens out there.

 

Dave Geisser approached the river in the right way, and she gave one up in the first run. But, that wasn’t all she wrote.

 

Morning glory

 

After a long hiatus, Gary Fuller with a ghostly hen.

 

Right in there.

 

Say hello to my little friend, in my truck. Finally…after many unsuccessful kill traps, the havahart comes through. Felt good to release the lil’ fella too.

 

Fred Pendergast says it all.

 

Pizza over the fire? Treat yo’self

 

Rainbow Brite

 

A big inland lady

 

Who dat?

 

Keep ‘Em Wet

 

My brotha from anotha motha, John Luis with a handsome buck.

 

Chuck Volckhausen of Wild Waters Fly Fishing with a beauty.

 

Easy to let go, hard to forget.

 

 

Many thanks to those who came fishing with me this winter. It was great to spend time on the water with you all. Looking forward to seeing many of you again this summer.

Into the void for now…

Rich

steelheadwater 

 

 

 

 

Rambling

Movements through and between mountain ranges, valleys and passes were many. The odometer on the ol’truck ticks ever higher, striving toward greatness. Greatness being if it’ll make it to 300 thousand. Fall brings many rivers into their prime, time spent on the road is just part of it.

 

October

 

November

 

September

 

Native

 

We’ve got those too

 

“fish come”‘ Hitoshi Matsuda didn’t jerk

 

Joe Custer brings a bright one to hand

 

Electric elephant

 

Threatening

 

Brady with a beauty

 

Andy loving it

 

Quick, grab the bobbers

 

Sometimes the camera just can’t capture it. Two fish, one swing.

 

Sea-run?, Sure why not

 

 

Eye in the sky

 

Moon rising

 

Provisions

 

Don’t come any prettier

 

Terry Sternberg had a day

 

Big Dave getting it done again

 

Bruce Moore finds a beauty in rough conditions

 

Instant backing hen for Mark Haffenrefer

 

Rick Davis batting clean-up, fished up the last of three in one run

 

Big sky

 

Fall

 

Last

 

 

It’s a good path. Thanks to all that make it possible.

Rich

 

 

 

 

 

Getting by

Slowly, summer seems to crawl in, and how quickly it fades away into the longer nights of the fall to come. Every year chasing the next, faster faster faster. As the seasons go by at a high step, the game slows down. The subtleties becoming more obvious and the enjoyment of more than just the fish, far more apparent. The fish are what keeps the head in the game but it’s the rushing water wrapping round the legs, the trees, twittering birds, crawdads at your feet, young of the year darting form your shadow, “smell that cedar”, stoneflies fluttering, caddis crawling, baldy fly-by, a visit with the man at the pool, midday naps, living down by the river, GBH stretched out roosting, the sweet foam line, blackberries ripened in the shade, the moment your new pup realizes there’s something alive at the end of the line, cup of black coffee watching the sunrise, going for a hike over fishing, meals of red meat, green bedrock glowing, pissed-off bald faced hornets, #6 with bacon at the Inn, that orange rock one seems to be on every time, trying something new, log jams of winters past, free pumice, butterflies, tiger lilies, pea-blossoms all summer, kingfishers, when-I-dip-you-dip-we-dip of the dipper, the hot-spot no ones caught onto yet, old-growth, shade, swim/guide bath in the creek, sleeping in, the change, the good’ol boys back year after year, Norman and his Koi pond at the Dogwood, goosebumps, cell service at Baker, Little Pizza Paradise, the “steelhead tree”, nobody around, thunderstorms, greenness,  good friends, and the fish are pretty damn special too…

Elevation, river right

Beauty with the answer, “if you only could fish one fly…” in the corner.

 

 

Genevieve Long with the big hen we all dream about. One huge leap and lots and lots and lots of backing. This was Genevieve’s first steelhead, told her she should just quit and go out on top. Doubt she will.

 

Bruce Moore with a third times a charm, this dandy finally got a hold of it on the third try.

 

Morning fire

 

Evening fire

 

Nature’s sweetside

 

Bob McMaster had one of those magic days on the North you don’t see very often. Nobody around and fish seemingly looking up in every spot. Great to spend that kinda day with someone who understands he may never see it like that again.

 

Chris “Tony” Marto, you just had to be there…

 

Fred Pendergast with a bright, perfect hen

 

Nobody puts the wood too’em like Jim Ansite

 

“My fucking legs are shaking!” Jim Ansite

 

Elevation, river left

 

Brown & serve

 

Visitor

 

Clouds bring the crowds

 

Stay outta my water

 

August 1 – February 28, by all means, snag away…

 

Chuck Volckhausen grinning with a XX steelhead

 

Doug Eisenberg admiring his second steelhead in his first year of trying. The unknown and mystery of the steelhead in the begining can be overwhelming and daunting, those first few mean so much. Great job Doug

 

Big Dave with his first steelhead on the dry. There may have been a little flatfooting on the bank afterwards, just maybe. Love it

 

Dues payed in full for Henry Carlile and Blue’s first photo bomb.

 

Rand Kaplan with just a ripper of a buck, took it running downstream and didn’t stop until two pools later and a hairy chase-wade, unwrapping off rocks three times. Lucky to land him

 

What a great few months this has been. Full of all the right stuff, the good, bad and the ugly. One more before I go…

 

 

Be good,

Rich

steelheadwater

 

 

 

 

 

Winter wait

The wait is over, rivers are rising and falling to rise again. The days of checking and re-checking the forecast in hopes that the last day of the 10-day would show rain, a dozen or so times in a 24 hour period are over, for now anyway. Now it’s checking and re-checking to see when it’s going to stop a dozen times a day. Playing the guessing game of when it’ll be fishable again, is the forecast right? Will that half inch of rain two days from now stop it from dropping into shape three days from now? Constant over analysis of differing scenarios and what river to be on and when. With a few days of blowout in the books and a few more ahead all I can do is wait. If you’ve been waiting for the rain to go fishing, that’s too bad…

Sunrise

The enabler

Waking on a pretty daze.

Long winter nights lend themselves to fire and meals from the oven.

Camplifier

Roast chicken? Treat yo’self

Descent

Steels in the pools

Blushing buck

Sweet music.

Whitey

Get Whitey

Got to be one in there.

A mean one, he fought as hardened as he looks.

Hardly a mark on her

Freshness index

Rain coming.

While it hasn’t been the best start to the winter steelhead season thus far, it still started and you don’t catch them from home.

Looking forward to the next few months and what curves are going to be thrown and the adjustments that’ll have to be made.

Rich