Bogachiel last Monday

[Tim Garton]

I had plans out on the OP last weekend and, since I had Monday off work I decided to get in a day of fishing out there as well. I'd heard recommendations on this site for Jim Kerr as a guide. Looking at his web site I noticed he talked about Spey casting opportunities on the OP rivers. I recently started learning this technique so I booked a trip with him on Monday to see if I could put any of the stuff I've learned to use.

According to Jim, the rivers were kinda high but were coming down and steelhead were starting to move in. We fished the Bogashiel exclusively that day. We spent most the day swinging some several runs. Talked to some other folks on the river and not much was happening yet.

We ended the day drift boating and nymphing a section of the river he called "the ditch", very near to a steelhead hatchery. Ended up boating one 6-7 lb hatchery buck.

If your looking for an OP guide I can recommend Jim. He's based out of Forks. He seems to know his stuff (caveat being that I don't know much so most people "know their stuff" to me :)). He's reasonably priced, personable, funny, hard working and a wizard at casting.

Now, if he would only send the hero shot he took of the steelie I caught so I can prove it wasn't just a fish story :hmmm::

[John Hicks]

nice report. Welcome to the world of spey casting.

[Buck]

I've recommended Jim Kerr several times and posted his web address too. He is a good egg. It's nice to be able to count on at least the guide. Congrats on your steelhead and what sounds like a good day.
B.

[Tim Garton]

Thanks for the welcome, John. Mastering the Spey cast (or at least nailing one out of five)...another obsession to add to my compulsions.

Buck... I gotta agree... Kerr is good. He emphasized Spey fishing, as opposed to Spey casting, and gave me a newer appreciation of the possibilities available with the long rod. I was attracted to Spey by the elimination of the back cast and need for false casting. He added the aspect of high sticking to mend and feed line into a swing and to work the fly around structure. Could be second nature to some but it was an revelation to me. But, like I said, I'm new to the fly game.