Jack Trout’s Weblog

Saturday, July 19th, 2003 *****FALL STEELHEAD SIGN UPS!*****

How nice is this! Standing out on a ledge with Wayne Balsiger on the McCloud River, the morning was slow at first then the trout started to feed. The views were awesome as always and no one else around was an added bonus. I’ve been having great trips cause I’ve changed our schedule, we now meet at 7am and fish til 1pm take a mid day break and get back together and fish from 5pm to dark. We visit at least two different rivers and we hit the fish when the fish are feeding. I’ll continue to do this until September or someone marries me and won’t allow me out after dark! jt

Wayne is a happy character, why? because he caught this nice loch leven brown trout introduced here in the early 1900’s from Scotland. The trout showed it’s age well, and we release after a brief examination. This trout was colorful!!!
Did you know the name Dolly Varden for a char was originated from a character out a Ernest Hemmingway book. Supposedly a lady went fishing from Dunsmuir with her husband and when he lifted his catch
the wife exclaimed,” Now isn’t that a Dolly Varden!”. That’s how the trout became known as the Dolly Varden. Fact or Fiction? Let me hear your thoughts, email me info@jacktrout.com

Then he caught this native McCloud River Rainbow! The trout that launched a 1000 ships, the hydro dynamic hybrid of a specie, made by the sky pilot, to survive both travel by rivers or by ship when introduced in the 1800’s to more countries than any other trout in the history of the world! You might of noticed, I’m kinda of fond of these fish!!! jt

I collect old post cards of the Mt Shasta area and especially the post cards of our local rivers. Check out this one from the 1920’s of the old pacific hiway shot down on the Mccloud River. What your looking at is now all gone under Shasta Lake. There might even be a salmon or a steelhead in one of the riffles or pockets, kinda sad but they’re all gone now. I guess it’s another dam story……

Prior to 1924 Mt Shasta was named Sisson, before that it was Strawberry Valley before that it was Berryvale 1887. By the way have you checked out the new deli at the Berryvale grocery in Mt Shasta it’s happening!, great food, new dining section added it would make our fore fathers proud. Best places in Mt Shasta for lunch Berryvale / Trinity Cafe.

On a hot day this is a great place to be, Dale Cannon sure liked it!

Fly fishing extraordinarie Doug Adams ladies and gentlemen. This kid is hot and I mean lighting fast reflexes when setting on any creature inhabiting our river depths. You see that big warm smile on the outside but no way, don’t be fooled, he’s a ruthless fish catching machine, heck the fish tremble at sound of his name!
He looks a little like Stiffler in the movie American Pie (haha!)
Doug Adams your my Sizzler of the week!!! congradulations Sizzler!

Gumboot Lake is a great place to fish drys like Adams size 16 in the afternoons. the mayflies are abundant and the lake is located at 6025 feet above sea level, which makes life a lot cooler. The resident Osprey dove the other day 30 feet from the boat and caught a trout just to let me know who’s really in charge. All I can say is, Osprey youda’man!

Sizzler of the week, Doug Adams proudly displays his catch up at Gumboot Lake!

South Fork of the Sacramento River is another fun filled area to fish. Wow there’s so many places around here to fish, I could guide you for 13 days and take you to a different spot everyday.
12 months a year we have some of the most consistant fishing of anywhere in the world!

This was longtime legendary guide Larry Green’s favorite section of the Upper Sac, as said by his son Scott. Did you know Larry? He did a weekly radio show on KCBS out of San Francisco and was beloved locally for his guiding and writing skills. I didn’t know the man, but from what I hear he was gifted as well as talented in many things and touched many people through his knowledge of fishing.
“This picture is for you Larry, the area will always remember you!”*****WHAT A FANTASTIC WEEK, I LOVE THIS JOB! NEXT WEEK MOSSBRAE FALLS WITH DRYS IN OUR POCKET!!!***** ADIOS JACK TROUT*****