Forks of the Stani-ku 5-1 thru 5-12, 2016

Swallowtails and Mourning cloaks,
Along the trail, between.
Towering cedar and pine,
we waltz.

Here again,
A favorite spot, to cast and dream.
Wow! big splash.

Under bloomed dogwood,
this river spotted leopard,
My new friend.

Cascades of bubbles and foam.
Along this dark seam, in-between
faith and hope.

Ride it high and dry!
Sulfurs cruz.
Just believe.

From the first of May I traveled the forks of the Stanislaus adventuring high and low to get my fix on one of my favorite river systems. The water has been high and some of the past secret spots during low water was un-fishable or should i say un-reachable! However, like a text book lesson, fish were to be found where the fish should be. I witnessed an incredible Sulfur emergence each day from noon to 3:30pm that brought large and small brown trout to the surface. When I casted my imitation to likely spots I got an over whelming response. The average size of these Sulfurs were around the 12 hook range. The environment of the forks is truly just stunning with Dogwood in full bloom and butterflies everywhere. Wild Iris and Ginger poping up in the shade as well. The days are long and getting warm but the water is quite chilly. I found the best fishing days were the ones when cloud cover eased the brightness, trout were more willing in the shade as well. Lots of snakes are out and about, I saw two timber rattlers as well as a few colorful Kings and a Garter. Be mindful of stepping on sticks, it just might be a snake? Get out while its still cool!

Yuba-sonnet-ku 1-16-2015

Yuba Rock of Power ode to Howard and Jim

Siphlonurus surface skate.

Crouching leopard, rainbows porppus.

subtle emergence.

Cast and mend,

fureld leader spider's web.

Flossed in the jaw,

palmerd hackle hooked tight.

A great day casting drys in my favorite riffle we all know about, there are no secrets, just spots we all love to share. Along the hike up river I ran into two new friends Howard and Jim, who after comparing the days notes told me they had seen fish rising were that rock is up there. Well all I can say is thanks for the tip! luckily I had plenty of size 16 gray drakes to feed the fish. Earlyier in the day I was quite content landing fish on Skwala drys along the bank up river from the boat launch. But the afternoon was silly crazy fun. Lets keep in touch maybe we can meet up and share the Rock of Power soon!

Yuba-Ku 1-2-2015

Slow slow, slow, tiny tug.

No ring, no rise.

Quite as a tomb.

Baetis tenuous in the drift.

Still no rise.

Cobbled river bed, ankles ache.

In the slot,

Sudden wink, kype jaw rises.

Mano a Mano.

Yuba-Ku 12-26-2014

Along the edge, We,

searching, fish watch hidden.

Luna and I.

Wind, skittered surface,

Along soft edges, they gather.

Tiny gray sails.

High ride the riffle,

my Baetis dry drift, mend.

Moon over Pisces.

Follow the green,

you'll find chrome.

Laughing river flow.

Yuba Begin Again 12-1-2014

No dataclysm here,

Only in the raw.

Either your catching or not.

No magic rectangle held in your hand

can tell you the code.

Only an observant eye can have

a chance to crack it.

It is nature,

adjusting to its moment.

Only ego must observe and adjust

to become ever present in its flow.

Nature has no ego.

Openning day on the Yuba proved to be spectacular, the day was perfect. 30 fish to hand 10 of which were on BWO drys between 11am-2pm. The rest were on beads and red copper john's, a number of times two at a time. Todd and I both found and hooked twice the 28 inch stellie the biologist had reported being in the river, However our 3x tippets and 4wt split cane rods had no traction on her. In the late afternoon Todd and I hiked back upstream to the fiffle we located her in, but this time she was busy cutting her red. We just sat on shore and watched letting her be, just enjoying the sight of such a beutiful fish.

Halloween, Upper Sac 10-31-2014

Into the flow
dogwood and maple turn and churn.
Even the moon quakes tonight.

Rumbling thunder behind me.
From my zen march I awake!
The engineer's horn.

Behind the veil,
Casting caddis adrift in current,
to no avail.

Between the corduroy,
rising to the caddis beat.
I cast.
Fish rise.
Cane bent.
Released in solitude's wholeness.

Quadra-Ku 8-16-2014

Between the corduroy
fur and feathers float.
High elevation, head dizzy.

Four strips of cane,
sudden rise in the bucket,
full of authority,

him, hooked and run.
Me, rock hop, balanced,
from the Gap back.

Alpenglow Performance Split Cane Rods @ Lost Coast Outfitters

I'm really excited to share that my split cane rods are now being represented at George Revel's humble fly shop in San Francisco.  Lost Coast Outfitters
If you near by his shop nestled in with the Wingtip store in the financial district, stop by and check him out as well as one of my rods.

Alpenglow Peerless series rods

Traditional elegance combined with a contemporary progressive rod action reminiscent of the original Bill Phillipson Peerless rods. The Peerless taper culminates in a smooth and accurate unified casting tool, with a reserve of power waiting to be used by the angeler for all trout fishing environments. This rod design is a great rod for the angler who splits their time fishing between graphite and split cane rods or who are new to casting a split cane fly rod.
This Peerless 5 and HLS series is a perfect companion for any local California freestone river such as the Lower Yuba River, Lower Sacramento River as well as the Upper Sacramento River or Truckee River. At 7’6”, this split cane rod is able to roll cast, curve cast, set hooks with authority and turn feisty trout. Delivering a dry fly effortlessly and accurately. I personally fish this rod taper on many streams year round with great success.
Tony hand makes these rods in a range of lengths from 6’6” to 8’1’, currently all are 2 piece models and are solid(HLS) and hollow built(HLSHB). The rods are finished with spar varnish and then hand rubbed by the French polish method. Tony uses Gossamer silk thread in Lt. Olive and Java that goes near transparent in the varnishing process. All the hardware is Nickel Silver. On flamed rods the hardware is all blackened. All the guides are Struble agate and Snake brand. The reel seats made in shop, inserts are hand turned by Tony himself. Deluxe rods come with two identical tips in a cotton bag and bamboo hex tube.


All Alpenglow performance split cane rods have a 100% warranty. In case the owner needs to warranty the rod first call tony at 415.279.2707 then simply send the rod in original sock and tube with a check for return shipping and He will fix the rod promptly.