[vanislealoha]

I have to book a steelhead trip for my dad, brother and myself and was wondering if anybody had any thoughts on the best times to go.

I looked through some old posts and it was mixed. i saw there were some good trips in January as well as February to beiginning of March. Is it better to wait until the new year when more fish, summers and winters, will be in the river. I had been thinking of early March as it could possibly be warmer at this time.

I heard last year may not have been the best at the stamp. Any thoughts on this years return.

 

[kaitlyn]

L :2cents:ast year sucked big time, I played one fish in two days on my early Feb trip, but had a 6 fish day in early Dec.
Best to watch reports as they start to come in, or check with Murphy's, they're pretty honest about conditions if you ask.

 

[Big Green Machine]

The end of December is a great time to go if there are fish. You will be catching winter runs if you fish January-March. Any summer hold outs will be pretty weak if there are any around. I was out with Nick, my usual go to guy for the Stamp and he predicts a good year. He also saw quite a few summers this year too.

 

[rln]

book with David Murphy or Kenny Myers if possible. They both work lots behind the scenes to try and make sure there is decent fishing on the Stamp/Somass. Some other guides on the system have a shady past.

 

[Big Green Machine]

RLN, I know what you are referring to. Personally, I have always had a great time with my guy who also has given back to the fishery.There are a couple of 'sub contractors" out there that have been hired in busy times that have made some poor decisions. These 'guides' have been hired by the other popular companies too. There are stories that go around and they get embellished depending upon who you talk to. If you talk to Courtney Ogilvie on the Island, he would say that the absence of winter run steelhead last year had everything to do with the jet boats running up and down the river and the use of bait in the lower section. We know that's a bit of a stretch. Lot's of theory and speculation.

 

[kingpin]

and not to mention huge seal numbers... the use of bait had no effect in my mind as the fish were few and far between anyways/

 

[kaitlyn]

Bait has never affected things in the past...
but the combo of too many seals, and lighting the river to allow them to hammer all of the fish...
has anything been done about the lights?

 

[vanislealoha]

L :2cents:ast year sucked big time, I played one fish in two days on my early Feb trip, but had a 6 fish day in early Dec.
Best to watch reports as they start to come in, or check with Murphy's, they're pretty honest about conditions if you ask.

Can trips be generally booked on short notice (ie a couple weeks) if the reports start looking good or do you have to book months in advance?

 

[steeliesrking]

That depends on what they have for availability. If they aren't booked, you can book the day before. It's a chance that you have to take. Usually I book when I want to go, and constantly check the reports for a few days before. In the past, Murphy's has called me 2 days before we were to be there, and said it was really slow. They gave me the choice of staying with the day, or changing to a later date. If the reports are good, you will have a hard time booking on short notice.

 

[vanislealoha]

Thanks steelierking. Thats the info i was looking for. Nice to hear that a company will let you know if the fishing is slow. I was probably going to book with Murphy's and now I will for sure.

 

[hotrod]

Murphy's is the best as far as I'm concerned. They do the same for me. Quality outfit!

I hope this will be a decent year for steel over there!


Hotrod

 

[kaitlyn]

Hey guys, great news. I just received a call from Matt, one of the top guides at Murphy's, and he told me that he will be working on his own as of the 15th of October. He plans on working the Stamp for the first part of the season, before moving north to work the Gold. I have fished with Matt a number of times, and I can tell you that nobody works harder, or is more knowledgeable than Matt. His number, which I'd keep if you are at all interested in Van Isle steel, is 1.250.735.8867 :happy:

 

[Big Green Machine]

Is this Matt Guigett?

 

[kaitlyn]

yes, it is, and he has a brand new zodiac on the way. should let him up the bucket in lower water conditions, and it will be great on the Gold. :thumbup:

 

[vanislealoha]

Here's the other issue. We have three people so it is unlikely that you can fish with three in one boat? If we go in two boats there will be a single. Do you generally pay per person or by the boat? iF it is by the boat we should find an extra to split the cost!

 

[kaitlyn]

personally, I'd find a fourth, as it will save a few, maybe $100 bucks or so. I'd call and book Matt, and Ken Meyers and put them head to head! It would make for a helluva derby! ;D

 

[vanislealoha]

I'd call and book Matt, and Ken Meyers and put them head to head! It would make for a helluva derby! ;D

Yeah that would be cool! Battle of the guides.

 

[hotrod]

Here's the other issue. We have three people so it is unlikely that you can fish with three in one boat? If we go in two boats there will be a single. Do you generally pay per person or by the boat? iF it is by the boat we should find an extra to split the cost!

One of Murphy's boats is big enough for three people! Talk to him bout this one and I'm sure he'll hook you up.


Hotrod

 

[Rib]

Vanislealoha...

A word of advice...the 3 person boat will have some shortcomings that hotrod has failed to mention. My girlfriend, hotrod and myself took it last year....so from experience...if you have a newer or novice angler in the boat you may find it to be a bit tight in there while fishing, there were several times where I sat back and watched so that the girlfriend could fish with enough room for her comfort...secondly, make sure your guide is able to go above the bucket...if the fishing is slow at some point like it was last year, you may find yourself wanting to see more of the river and go to some of the upper spots if the lower is not producing well...

Carefully consider what you're wanting to do out there. If I were to go again, I would not do the 3 person boat, I would find a fourth and get 2 boats both with guides that have the experience to run the entire river...Murphy's is very good, and the guide we had was a great guy, but there are some things you should make absolutely clear before you book...

Hope that helps,

:cheers:

 

[kaitlyn]

wise words Rib ;D