K8, "Kade" and the "Crumpster"

from L. to R. "Kade", K8 and "Crumpster"

Every so often I get the privilege to spend some pretty amazing days on steelhead and salmon rivers that I love. Today was one of those days. 

A few years back I received a phone call from Kate Taylor (aka K8).  She explained that she had been given my number by a mutual friend, Harry Lemire.  She said Harry recommended that she get a hold of me if she wanted to fish the Umpqua for winter steelhead.  Since then we've tried to work out schedules to get out on the water.  Today we finally made it happen and we had a GREAT day.

The "Crumpster" (aka Justin Crump, Kate's boyfriend) started us off with a chrome hatchery buck. (above pic) 

Later in the day, K8 hooked up with a gorgeous native.

Kade giving a ride to my lucky "green gremlin".  This 3 month old, female yellow lab pup was a source of delight and laughs for me all day.  What an amazing dog!  She'd spot ducks and geese for me, take long winter naps in the boat under a pile of blankets and was so well behaved, she was amazing!.

We ended the day with each of us getting a fish, (mine was a salmon that ate one of my steelhead muddlers on the swing?) Justin and I burned up some shotgun shells on some mallards along the river and the four of us had a blast! 

You can follow K8 and Crumpsters travels and fishing adventures with each other and their large group of fly fishing friends by visiting K8's great blog "Rogue Angels".