*****ARRIVED ARGENTINA/CHILE SIZZLERS HAVING A GREAT TIME IN THE SUMMER SUN!!*****
MIKE HIBBARD, JIM ROBERTS AND AARON GREENER GUIDING ON THE LOWER SAC, KLAMATH AND TRINITY!*****
UPPER SAC RAFT SIGN-UPS START NOW FOR April 1st!!
BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA SIGN-UPS APRIL 27TH TO MAY 15TH
ONE SLOT LEFT. ONLY $550 FOR PLANE RIDE. PACKAGES START AT $1950 PER WEEK!! STAY TUNED FOR THOSE ADVENTURES SIZZLERS APRIL 21ST TO MAY 15TH, 2007
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Well I made it! It was a long flight that I intentionally took through Buenos Aires so I could see how long and hard it would be for other customers traveling from the United States. I would say go through Santiago, Chile if at all possible and we’ll pick you up either in Puerto Montt, Chile or Bariloche, Argentina. I myself usually go to Santiago and my police friend and bro- Juan Ramos is there waiting for me with open arms. But I wanted to go to Bariloche and fly fish the Rio Limay, because this was where the first McCloud River Rainbows were transported to in South America in the early 1900’s! I have my guide friend Martin, who lives outside of Bariloche and he has the most beautiful resort we put folks at. After the sale of Bollibokka, I thought it would be important to tell you all the story and define the history involved with the transportation of the most famous trout to ever swim the earth! I cried when I heard that the dam deal was done with the Hills and the Westland’s Water Pricks, it hurt to the bone. So in a last stitch effort based on the importance of this fish and what it has meant to the world, I call out to all involved to stop the future dam raisals and never consider even taking one more inch of our mother river that has touched so many in so many places. Do we have a culture? Can we acknowledge our heritage and take pride for something so precious? Can we have some things that can be left sacred and are worth paying more out of pockets for to protect. Have we given up as a society and just allow the government to make all the decisions? Why can’t we do the alternate things I heard voiced by the Bureau of Reclamation when I was attending meetings about 4 years in those meetings no one I heard ever wanted Shasta Dam raised, we all wanted the alternatives. Was the real decision made behind closed doors after the public participation had ended? I heard about desalinization of ocean water, I heard of other smaller dams in much more uglier places. Why destroy a beautiful area only to benefit the ugly areas. (sorry, but it’s true) I just don’t understand you heartless, gutless people who have allowed others to take the road of least resistance. Have courage people we can still fight this and leave Westland’s with a property that has no value in their eyes. We get screwed also as tax payers when they sell it back to the Feds. YA, I admit my last two web logs have been crazy over the top, but damn it I can’t sleep over this. I know Diane Feinstien and the Bureau of Rec are making a critical mistake and when will it end? They will keep raising the dam every time our State needs more water and with that the little river we call the McCloud will be calling for your help! Are we not, “we the people”? I am disgusted with all of you that did nothing, you have no excuse and you know it! So here we go, maybe if I paint a real picture some of you will get as fired up as me and fight for what is right. We can make a change if we are willing to pay more and go with the alternatives that will be better for all of us California’s in the future. I first call out to all below us to start writing letters to Wally Herger, Diane Feinstien and the Bureau of Rec. Next, I call on Los Angeles to rise up and let these people know that you didn’t know this dirty secret (Westland’s Water Dist) no one else was ever telling you. That you want the alternatives cause it’s what is right. New Yorker’s did it and saved rivers that were threatened up in Canada in the 1990’s, so I don’t want to hear your b.s. stories that it can’t be stopped cause it can and will. It would also help if the Westland’s Water District would be more team ball players with the State of California and not charge so ·&%$&%%?/! much for their water to San Joaquin farmers and L.A., thus allowing the cost for alternatives for raising Shasta Dam a cost effective reality.
PLAIN AND SIMPLE PEOPLE WESTLAND’S WATER DISTRICT IS KILLING OUR STATE AND OUR ECONOMY- THINK ABOUT IT WITH AG COST, L.A. RUINING RIVERS WHEN WILL THEY BE STOPPED?. THEY PAY US LITTLE OR NOTHING FOR THE WATER AND TURN AROUND AND SELL IT FOR HUGE PROFITS!
We can still do it if you have courage. PLEASE!! I say this with a tear in my eye like the Indian in that old commercial from the 1970’s out on the lake that had been trashed. Except the modern day version is a Wintu Winnemem out on Shasta Lake looking for where his grandfathers home to use to be. Thank you for the over 100,000 people who have read my last two logs, now go out and make a difference and the river will never forget!!
Jack Trout
“Future generations reading this, imagine all the people”!
The day I arrived in Bariloche it was cloudy, windy and cold. I thought to myself- hey, I just left these temps at home? But just like anytime you come to the Patagonia, you could see the
four seasons in one day! I didn’t care, I love it here and the
excitement in my heart of knowing the adventures that await me ahead made me not think about anything but good thoughts.
I made it to the place I stay when I come to Bariloche, took a shower and took a short cat nap.
Martin, Tato and me were so fired up and ready to start our in search of McCloud River Rainbow journey. I know it’s hard to tell we were happy….
Martin uses mainly a cataraft which he says is a good way to go on the Rio Limay.
I saw two other fly fishers out in their cataraft and then huge
bird flew over them as though to make sure he made my log.
The McCloud River Rainbow was first transported in 1884 from where the Pit River and the McCloud River met. It was a place called Baird, and a man named Livingston Stone, a highly educated fisheries biologist from New York was hired by the Federal Gov to come out to California and start extracting salmon eggs and smolts to be placed in thermos’s, and from there they were sent by iced boxed ferries down the mighty Sacramento Delta to San Francisco, where they were shipped back east and then picked up by our British friends and taken by ship to Buenos Aires on a well traveled trade route.(Redding was called: Poverty City) The difficulty was keeping them alive during the journey, so most of the shipments were done at the end of the summer or early spring to assure a safe and healthy delivery. This was a money making operation for our Government and soon trout became the most highly demanded product because the trout were always available and didn’t just run up river during a certain time of year. No country in the southern hemisphere had salmon or trout so the business thrived. We sent rainbows from the Russian River, Los Gatos Creek but for some reason those trout didn’t do as well traveling like the hearty McCloud River Rainbows. It was destiny Sizzlers, Livingston Stone made it to Baird and hired local Wintu Indians to help with the operation. There is a picture of the Wintu Winennmem helping Livingston with the salmon and trout operation in the Rock House at Bollibokka, it’s from a a magazine I can’t remember, but maybe one of you can tell me.(There’s also that picture of them building the Rock House). The first McCloud River Rainbows were transported from Boston to Buenos Aires, Argentina where they were picked up by horse driven carriages and taken on a very long journey around 1000 miles to the Rio Limay. The McCloud River Rainbows were then placed in the Rio Limay where they were left alone for over 30 years unmolested. As you can see from my pictures of the region, the waters are connected like lake to river–river to lakes and the trout soon made it into Chilean rivers and the waters were healthy for spawning and some were not. Some were too hot in the summer so the trout left. Some were too glacier based and there wasn’t enough food so those trout either left or died. By the early 1900’s the Germans were then planting browns also and some habitat was better for the brown trout and some was better for the McCloud River Rainbows. It was amazing cause no one planted mayflies, caddis or stones they were just waiting to be eaten some day. Now stop and think back to a glorious time in American history where the McCloud River Rainbow made a difference and impacted the world. New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina all are grateful for those McCloud River Rainbows, how many lives were saved because of it rich food source it provided? I also thank Livingston Stone and the Wintu Winnemem for there great efforts in the beginning! I love the story I just told you and it’s from the heart that I write this. The rest is just American and World History that everyone else outside of the United States seems to know more about. Jack Trout
Riffles like these reminded me of the Lower Sacramento River, but looking at the insect habitat under the rocks made me realize that this river was more glacier based and the fish had to hussle to survive. The river has Pancoda though (stone fly/crawdad looking crustacion) so most of the time streamers is the fly of choice. But I did see a healthy caddis hatch in the afternoon and small fish were rising and taking them by dark, with a monster underneath them probaly waiting patiently for their turn to eat the small fish.
I like to spend more time later on next month nymphing this river with a Timmy Fox pupa one of the most effective flies ever tied.(Mike Mercer holds the record for the most)!!
My first McCloud Rainbow on the Rio Limay was a good fighter!
His ancestry would have been proud of him and isn’t great that all the rivers in Argentina are catch and release!! (I remember Gray Hills said once to me, “It should be called catch and deny, no one knows if they really live”? (pud)
Limay is a Mapuche word meaning Transparent, and boy is that true! I’ve never seen a clearer river in a high desert enviroment.
Martin is so fun to be around, he’s a wealth of knowledge and a safe approved guide for North or South America. We talked about life, McCloud River Rainbows, my favorite– girls (I did all the talking cause he’s married) and music we both enjoyed growing at the same time in different countries. It was a special memorable day, especially when we were out in the middle of this wonderful river singing September, by Earth, Wind and Fire! Man, that was fun and hilarious!!
I hooked fish all day long and for once I was in the so you would say, driver’s seat without having to drive. It was my wet dream Sizzlers!
Down further the river became more lush for a while, then it turned back to high desert canyons only to once again become open.
I see a resemblance to the McCloud River Rainbow, but this guys got Betty Davis eyes or is that Marty Feldman!
There are some trout in the 8lb range that Martin catches and I will show you some of them in my next post, next week! You know when I head south my postings are more often so stay tuned!
I loved the color of this river, so much the same as the color of the Mother McCloud minus mud creek silts.
Once again this is a river you need a boat for. It’s swift and dangerous from shore. I can’t tell you enough that if you come to South America don’t be a cheap-skate and try to travel without guides. You’ll have a cheap-skate result because you need a boat to float and drift the best sections. Look if you can’t afford a package, let us know and we’ll reserve a day for you. Every year I have folks travel to the countries guideless watching my logs and without reservations and every year they call and we are booked. By the time you make it down it’s too late. Unfortunately it’s not like the United States where you can show up on the scene and just catch fish wading or get some info in town and head out…. The difference you ask? We have dams, these places down here where we fish don’t, so the rivers are huge. All trips are well prepared and planned with backup rivers just in case with great guides I’m famous for always finding. You know you can always count on me to have the best guides in North or South America! I give you an opportunity to visit my life and ya, I chase girls and party on my days off you got to admit it’s pretty entertaining. But when it’s your time, your trip you have 100% of my and my guide’s attention. It makes for great conversations out in the boat. (who wants the diplomatic guide from PBS)…BORING! It’s all about you with me and my guides! We still have an opening in late March for Chile if one group would like to come down. email me; info@jacktrout.com Thanks Jack Trout
Ok, Bariloche! Now this is a town for the NON-Angler! There is so much to do here it’s incredible. For the next month and a half I’ll be showing the non-anglers what they can do as part 2 is out fly fishing with Pancho, Nico & Martin. Also guides– don’t come down to South America to guide it’s wrong. I have always brought my customers to guides from day one and respect that it is thier resource and income you are infringing on if you cross that line. Be a pied piper like me and bring folks to Chile and Argentina and you will earn the respect of all the guides here and be a hero!
I’m seeing more and more Gringos coming down and working at lodges and I think that sucks. I even was told last year by a guide looking for work through me that the Chileans and Argentines are not as good of guides. That is totally wrong I don’t want to ever hear that again. First off, based on my 14 years down here they are more honest and loyal with customers of mine. Work harder and longer hours, don’t complain about nothing! Act more deserving, appreciative and cast and fish just as good as we do. Heck, I remember my first Guide named Nicolas Gonzales, (I’ve had two named Nicolas Gonzales)could cast a bare line with his hands double hauling for 30 feet!! I can’t do that! jt. BY the way I pay my guides like I do in the United States, THE BEST and the MOST!!
Remember Chile and Argentina are not at all like Mexico. There is huge European influence here so you don’t have spicy food or even a taco. IT’s all very European looking and tasting. I would compare Bariloche to Switzerland. In fact they call it the Switzerland of South America. In the winter this town becomes the most important skiing destination place in South America, next is in Santiago, Chile.
Every block has huge candy stores that even Willy Wonka would be jealous of!! (Did you like Johnny Depp in Willy Wonka? I thought they should of casted Roger Daughtry of the Who, he looks more like Gene Wilder, and I saw him once host this show
that was the English version of the Twilight Zone and he was brilliant)!
The stores are clean the streets are safe, the town really gets going after 10pm at night when everyone goes out to eat dinner.
Wine has really taken off here as you all well know, but in the last five years these countries have really come into their own.
Can someone email me the name of that street in SF that’s like this one, I’m having a brain malfunction and I’m lazy right now to google it. Thanks 212 emails said Lombard St.
That night I headed out on the town. I never go out in Shasta. I don’t like the bars in Northern Cal, they suck! Violence is not a part of my itinerary for one. You’ll never see a bar fight in Argentina and Chile cause there’s a 4 to 1 ratio of girls to guys(opposite in Northern Cal, one girl having 20 guys hit on her is not my idea of a good night out in Shasta) and South American’s are great lovers not fighters! I walk around at 3am without a worry in the world, other than getting hit by a car or tripping off a curb cause I drank too much! You might lose your North Face jacket if you leave it in your car right where everyone could see it. But a drive by shooting–NEVER!
I met these great girls named Colo, Paz & Gaby and we drank some wine together and Paz told me how she got a job for next winter in Lake Tahoe at Squaw Valley. I can say this and I think I am speaking for the majority, we could use all three of you in Northern California. You are welcome! Here was there email to me the next day;
Hi…!!! we are Gaby, Colo & Pachu…we wanna tell you we had a great time at wilkenny…
hope to meet you again…and if not…the Best wishes and had a good time at Bariloche…
lots of kisses…
your friends from Bariloche…(best place in Patagonia!!!)=
Baci & Abbracci …Pachu
A little buzzed, Trout? Man, I was tired from the 22 hour flight I took from SFO through Buenos Aires and all the excitement and lack of sleep. But South American girls are real and they live for the moment always. Dancing can always wake you up!! We headed for the Roxy Disco next!
The next day I headed for a ride up the mountain to get views that one could never imagined if not witnessed personally or shown a photograph.
Up top the views were dreamy and the air was so fresh!
This place and Foz du iguazu in Brazil have to be the two most incredible places I’ve ever seen in my life, but of course I’ve only have been to 23 countries. I hear when you get up to 50 you can start acting like a world local!
Not much more I could say other than seeing it in person is better!
Thanks again for watching the AUDIENCE IS THE SIZZLER OF THE WEEK AWARD WINNERS!! CONGRATULATIONS SIZZLERS!! REMEMBER, IN LIFE HAVE A PASSION FOR SOMETHING AND DON’T EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU YOU CAN’T DO SOMETHING YOU SET OUT TO DO! I LOVE YOU MAN! JACK TROUT
WE’D NEVER WOULD OF SURVIVED IF WE DIDN’T GET A LITTLE CRAZY! SEAL 1991
EMAILS FROM YOU:
Fantastic. Thoses women are beauties!
scenery’s not bad either. John McNeary
Jack,
Thanks for sticking your neck out on this. Turns out the other 3 miles sold to this developer guy down here, very big donor to Stanford. Payed for the sports area and the new stadium! Heres what I found on him. The Hills must have it in for the Nature Conservancy….
Nothing, though, speaks to Arrillaga’s wealth more than the 210-acre domain he has crafted over the past decade in the foothills just to the west of Stanford. There, he has taken an abandoned quarry and turned it into his own private nirvana — “The Other Farm” — an estate that speaks to both his passion for landscaping and his vast wealth.
“Cost is never a factor,” Walsh said. “Ever.”
Naturally, an invite to the estate is a precious commodity, although a Stanford connection will get you a long way. For example, Arrillaga hosts a barbecue for the school’s freshman football players every year, and last year he held a gathering to honor the men’s tennis team for winning the national championship.
Man-made lakes. Waterfalls. Tens of thousands of trees, planted in imported soil, each pampered by a drip system designed to spur their growth. Sixty to seventy miles of irrigation. A 40-car garage with a marble floor (“You’ve never seen so much marble in your life,” says Chris Burford, the former Stanford receiver who lived in the same freshman dorm as Arrillaga in 1956 and was one of his fraternity brothers.) A basketball court. Tennis courts. A beach volleyball court, with sand trucked in from Monterey simply because he likes that particular sand so much. Putting greens. Outdoor pavilions. A boathouse. Music piped in to all corners. Roofing flown in from a village in the Mediterranean. Hundreds of pieces of work by bohemian San Francisco sculptor Benny Bufano. Carvings created by Arrillaga’s own private force of stonemasons — workers he imported from Czechoslovakia.
500 Los Trancos Rd, Portola Valley —Alan Sonneman
Lombard Street, Jack! The crooked street. I used to live at the top.
Louise Lacey
Juan Trucha!!!!
Sweet web post! Calling people out for doing nothing about the McCloud? Good on ya! You are 100% right and don’t stop. We’re going to have to get organized and fight the power!!! It will not go down as Westland’s thinks it will!!!
We’re gonna have to TESTIFY!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wieT8cyO1gY
Alright!
We’re going to have to get together a well thought out form letter for all your subscribers to send to Diane Feinstein and others.
I’m going to contact Mike H. about fishing the Trinity two weeks from this weekend.
Looks like too much fun in Chile!! Not unlike Dublin, Ireland where the ratio is 5:1.
Insane.
Later!
Chris Welch
Jack –
I know you are in Chile, but could you get Jim Roberts to give me an
email address and telephone number at which I could reach him? I know
I’m supposed to meet him at the Indian Creek Lodge in Douglas, but I
want to make it a little later in the morning if I can, say, nine
o’clock if that won’t impact the fishing too much. Could you have Jim
get in touch? I am currently in Canada (just bought 33 acres with 2200
feet of river front on the Slocan River in British Columbia; not
Leighton Hills, but you have to start somewhere!), so I’m available via
email or on my cellphone, Pat Patterson
Tight lines! I’m going to try to fish the Columbia this week at the
confluence of the Slocan. Understand it is AWESOME. Hopefully it isn’t
frozen over!
Pat Patterson
President
MacKenzie Patterson Fuller LP