FISHING LODGES

Steelhead on The Fly

Our steelhead season starts in late summer as we transition our guest ranch and Fish Lake operations into our steelhead fly fishing lodge. Our fishing rates are based on full service guide packages with meals and lodging included, but can also be arranged a-la-carte for steelheaders who may not need a professional guide or a lodge meal package.

Doug Cole, the ranch owner and lead guide, and his family and staff live here and fish here. Our "home turf" advantage of intimately knowing the mid Klamath, lower Trinity and Cal Salmon allows us to lead you to the best possible fishing day. Our guiding signature is in taking steelhead on the “swung fly” as our predominant tactic, in accessing remote and seldom pressured river sections, and in our extreme work ethic as we strive to build your fishing adventure. Your fishing experience here will rival anything you might find at a fly-in resort.

A typical fly-fishing day with us involves a mixture of tactics. We quarter cast and swing wet fly patterns in the classic "greased line" method. We team fish the swinging fly with extended drifts using boat movement. We quietly walk the boat alongside holding water while you cast from stable boat decks. We cast dries to undercuts and pockets, and we swing waking patterns across glides. We also dead drift nymphs under indicators in the cooler Winter water temperatures... but you will NOT spend your entire day watching a "bobber" while fly-fishing the Klamath or Trinity in the Fall, since our emphasis is on the "tight line take" from a swung fly. It is important when you book with us to tell us what level of activity you prefer. Aggressive wade fishermen and Spey casters will be taken to different water than those wanting a more relaxing day casting entirely from the boat. We recommend our July and September clients to consider the Lower Klamath below Weitchpec for a steelhead "spey" day. Come and try our spey rods if you want to see how it feels.

Be sure to visit our Steelhead On The Fly blog for current fishing reports, river conditions, and commentaries. For more general ranch information or reservations, please visit our Marble Mountain Ranch home.

Gear - For the mid-Klamath we suggest you bring two rods: an intermediate sink tip rod in a 5 wt - 8 wt range as your main rod and a back-up rod with a floating line. For the larger water of the Lower Klamath we recommend a minimum of a 7 wt single handed rod or 12 foot spey rod. Any gear you do not have, we do have. We provide the guide, the drift boat dory (2 guests per boat), shuttles, tippet and fly patterns as needed. It usually works best if you bring your own tippet and patterns and we fill-in the voids. We also stock an inventory of rental waders and boots if you need help outfitting some of your party ($25/day/wader & boot set). Don't forget your fishing license with steelhead stamp, and a rain jacket with layers of poly-pro, since we do not cancel rainy fish days. Trips are only cancelled when the river is unsafe or un-fishable. Also, since we float some difficult stretches of white water, we will require that you wear one of our comfortable fishermen's life jackets while on the river.

Suggested fly patterns are all available on-line at the Redding Fly Shop or from our ranch gift shop. Our staff is also prepared to supplement your inventory of missed patterns from our stock and this service is included in your trip fare. We will not "nickel and dime" you for tippet or flies.

Some of our favorites are: stone fly nymphs, assassins, herniators, muddler minnows, and all the traditional wet fly patterns such as the silver hilton, wooley bugger, brindle bug, skunk, mossback, purple peril etc.

We are a "catch and release" steelhead guide service taking home only the memory and photographs. Photo CDs of your fishing day are also included in your trip fare! Your licensed and bonded guides are Doug Cole (Marble Mountain Ranch owner), and Captain Greg Squires.