| "The Inside Angler" Party will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2000 at the Spanish Cultural Center in San Francisco. We recently sent out the invitations to our Party and was notified by a reader that there is a mistake in the packet. The donations on the Raffle Tickets are numbered from 1 to 27. We printed out a list of the donations on a separate sheet and they are numbered differently. It should be pointed out that the Raffle Tickets are correct and the sheet is wrong. We are terribly sorry for this error. Everyone purchasing tickets will be notified of this error as the tickets come in so their choice can be verified.
 To learn more about these service providers, we have given the issue of "The Inside Angler" in which they are mentioned. Please note that we haven't yet reported on some services. Chris and I had such a good time with these operations that we invited them to attend our Party so our readers could learn about them. The donations are as follows: WOLF CREEK LODGE is located on the Missouri River in Montana by the Wolf Creek Bridge below Holter Dam. This luxury home is owned by Mark LeGrand, an avid flyfisher, and his wife Madeline. The home has a master bedroom with Jacuzzi and two spacious bedrooms downstairs sharing a bath. A loft upstairs has satellite television. The living area and kitchen are combined under a high ceiling with a view to the river where rising trout can be seen through a telescope. At the back of the house is a large hot tub and a gas barbecue on the front porch is convenient for grilling. This home accommodates six people and the donation is for one-night valued at $500. There are no finer accommodations in the area. An update report on the Missouri River will appear in the January issue with some photographs of Wolf Creek Lodge. Mark and Madeline will be joining us at the Party as they visit San Francisco and the Wine Country.
Bret and Candy Van Rensselaer of the NORTH PLATTE LODGE in Wyoming have donated a two-day, three-night stay for two people at their lodge on the North Platte River below Alcova Reservoir, which includes lodging, meals and two days of guided float fishing. This donation is valued at $1,200. Chris and I made a visit to the lodge this September. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed some of our best fishing of the year catching very good size rainbows, cutthroat and some browns. The Van Rensselaers have a lease on many miles of the North Platte allowing their guests access to the stream in keeping with the trespass laws of Wyoming, which recognize that private property includes the stream bottom as well as the land beside the stream. A report on the North Platte River will appear in a future issue. Bret and Candy will join us at the Party and you can learn more about one of the most productive streams in the West not yet overrun with anglers. For those who want immediate information, you can contact the Van Rensselaers at (307/237-1182), e-mail: nplatlodge@aol.com and web site: northplattelodge.com. (Check out the fish pictures.) Mike and Kal Kalpin's SUGAR CREEK RANCH near Callahan in northern California has been a popular destination for many of our readers and the reason is big, healthy rainbows that can often be tempted to take small dry flies off the surface. Mike and Kal's donation is for one-day of fishing for four (4) rods valued at $600. Mike will be at our Party, along with Bill Tate, to tell about their two "new" ponds. A report on Sugar Creek Ranch appeared in Volume VI, Number 6, November 1997. (For more information and photographs of Sugar Creek Ranch, refer to our Page of Recommended Services at insideangler.com.) WILMS RANCH in Pope Valley was written about in Volume IV, Number 2, March 1995 highlighting the excellent catch-and-release fishing for rainbow trout. Besides the trout pond, there are two other ponds on the property and they contain largemouth bass. Chris and I fished one of these ponds last April and had the BEST bass bug fishing ever. Paul Wilms has donated one-day of fishing for three (3) rods valued at $225. The trout "season" is from November through May and fishing for bass is allowed all year. If you want to get away for a day of fishing close to the Bay Area in a beautiful country setting, call Paul at (707/965-2207). He and his wife Betty will be at our Party. LAVA CREEK LODGE is located on Eastman Lake, the headwaters of the Little Tule River, which is part of the Fall River drainage in northern California. From the lodge, it is a short boat ride to Ahjumawi State Park where lunker rainbows cruise the clear, spring water and it is an equally short boat ride to the lower Fall River, most famous for the July "Hex" hatch. A generous donation was received from the lodge last year and this year's donation is for a three-day/two-night stay plus the unlimited use of a boat for two people valued at $526. Lava Creek Lodge was mentioned in our update report of the Fall River in Volume VIII, Number 4, July 1999. Brad and Alisa Shannon from the lodge will be on hand at the party to explain all the other activities that can be enjoyed. Near the town of Choteau in Montana, close to famous Egg Mountain where fossilized dinosaur eggs were discovered, is the H LAZY 6 RANCH. The lodge is located at the base of the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains next to one of four productive, private lakes where good size rainbow, cutthroat, brown and brook trout are found. Guests stay either in very comfortable rooms in the lodge or in duplex cabins. This donation is for a two-day/one-night stay for one angler valued at $360. Hank and Laura Bouma are your gracious hosts and they will be at the Party to tell you more of their stillwater paradise. The big news around town is about the Bouma's new neighbor, a late-night host of a television show who often has performances by some pretty smart pets. A report on H Lazy 6 Ranch will be featured in a future issue of the newsletter. Steve and Debbie Hilbert of LONESOME DUCK on the WIlliamson River in southern Oregon have made another donation to our fun gathering. Their donation is for four nights for two guests, including the use of a drift boat valued at $750. The luxury cabins right on the banks of the best "Hex" water have all modern conveniences and meals can be arranged if you want a totally relaxing stay. Two of the cabins are spacious enough to easily accommodate another couple. If you are a couple who travel and fish and often go with another couple, this would be a perfect situation. A report on Lonesome Duck appeared in Volume VIII, Number 2, March 1999. Steve and Debbie will be joining us at the Party. You might want to ask them if there are any fish in the pond on the property. Chris and I had some great fishing on the Missouri River below Holter Dam last August and one day was spent with Tim Plaska of MISSOURI RIVER EXPEDITIONS. Not only were we in the company of one of the better guides on the river, but we were served an outstanding lunch. We would have enjoyed the lunch even more, but Tim set up the table and chairs on a bar where trout were frequently rising. Tim's donation is for one day of guided float fishing on the Missouri River valued at $300. An Update report on the Missouri River will be in the January issue where you will learn more about Tim's operation. If you want immediate information, you can contact Tim at 3 Lava Mountain Court N, Clancy, MT 59634, (406/449-6446), e-mail: tim@MissouriRiver Exp.com and web site: www.MissouriRiverExp.com. Tim and his wife Pam will be at our Party to tell you the best time to visit their home stream. Look for Tim's fishing reports at "Fishing Reports" at insideangler.com as he often drops in to let us know exactly how the Missouri River is fishing. The Hydes of YAMSI RANCH in southern Oregon have generously donated a 3-day, 3-night stay for one angler, which includes lodging, meals and fishing for big, wild rainbows and brook trout on a private stretch of the upper Williamson River and on a 300-acre lake. The value of this donation is $675. For a couple of anglers, it would amount to a wonderful stay at half the regular price. Many of our readers have enjoyed staying at Yamsi with most of them catching their largest stream-dwelling brook trout in the West. Your hosts are Gerda and John Hyde, who are assisted by John's wife Gerry and their son Tom. Our original report on Yamsi Ranch was in Volume II, Number 2, March 1993 with an update report filed in Volume VIII, Number 1, January 1999. For more information on Yamsi Ranch, contact the Hydes at PO Box 371, Chiloquin, OR 97624, (541/783-2403). Look at our page of "Recommended Services" for more about Yamsi Ranch and to see some photographs taken during our visits. Bennie & Connie Johnson of HIGHLAND DESERT FLIES are donating again one day of guided drift fishing for two anglers on the Green River below Fontenelle Reservoir in Wyoming. The value of this donation is $300. Many of our readers have fished with Bennie and they keep returning. What more is there to be said? Our report on this section of the Green River appeared in Volume VII, Number 2, 1998. In the print newsletter, we incorrectly published the wrong telephone number for Bennie and Connie. The correct number is (307/875-2358). To see some color photos of this donation, refer to our page of "Recommended Services" at insideangler.com. The fishing this past season on the upper Sacramento River was probably the best since the stream was reopened after the poisoning. A place you might enjoy staying is DELTA LODGE, 17290 Delta Road, Lakehead, CA 96051, (530/238-8247) and e-mail: msuttles@shasta.com. It was formerly known as Delta House. It is located right on the river not far above Shasta Lake. Craig Suttles, the host and owner, has donated two nights of lodging for two anglers (meals not included) in either a room or the suite. The value of this donation is $200. We will report on Delta Lodge at a later date. Sally Collins and Sherry Walker of FLYFISHING AT ASH CREEK have donated once again a two-day stay for two anglers, which includes lodging in luxurious quarters, sumptuous meals and private fishing on Ash Creek and a five-acre lake with some big rainbows. The fishing improves each year at this wonderful retreat and we especially like being on hand when the Hex hatch takes place in mid July to early August. This ranch is located east of Adin in northern California. We have not reported on Flyfishing at Ash Creek as yet, but will do so soon. The value of this donation is $900. For more information, contact Sally and Sherry at (888/29-TROUT). They are closed for the winter, but will return your call. Mike Hillygus of HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER has made his yearly donation of a three-day/two-night adventure for one angler (who must bring a paying guest) on a Montana stream valued at $1,050. This trip is complete with guided drift fishing, all meals and comfortable tent camping. Mike is a professionally trained chef whose operation ranks at the top. Repeat clients book quickly. Our report on the Blackfoot River was with Mike as our outfitter. Chris and I enjoyed ourselves immensely and are already planning to do another overnight trip with Mike in 2000. Check out the report in Volume V, Number 2, March 1996. You can get in touch with Mike at PO Box 516, Missoula, MT 59806, (406/721-2703), e-mail: mike@highplainsdrifter.com and web site: highplainsdrifter.com. Mike Costello of PACIFIC ADVENTURES donates again a one-day guided boat fishing trip on either the Sacramento/San Joaquin delta or a local trout stream. Mike has become one of the most sought after guides in northern California. He makes his home at Discovery Bay in the heart of the delta, where he is constantly on top of the striped bass fishing. Mike's donation is valued at $300. Our report on Discovery Bay was with Mike's help. It was filed in Volume VII, Number 4, July 1998. He is reached at 445 Discovery Bay Boulevard, Discovery Bay, CA 94514, (925/634-1280), e-mail: fishtrips@earthlink.net and web site: fishtrips.net. DAN GLINES has been guiding the Madison River in Montana before we first met in the early 70s. As an educator and former basket ball coach at San Jose State University, some of this clients included professional athletes. As has been echoed by others who know the river well and fish it regularly, the Madison rainbows have shown a remarkable comeback from whirling desease. The river fished very good in 1999 and should be even better in 2000. Dan's donation to our Party is for a day of guided drift fishing for two anglers valued at $300, which includes instruction, lunch and flies. Dan is an excellent fly tyer and he is booked heavily from repeat business. If you have set date to be in the Ennis area during the summer and fall, you may want to contact Dan at (408/264-8309) for his availability. UPPER CANYON OUTFITTERS is located on the upper Ruby River in Montana. It is headquartered on the old Tate Ranch and offers guests all the amenities of a full service guest ranch. There are two miles of the upper Ruby flowing through property with wild rainbows and guests can also fish a crystal clear spring pond loaded with big rainbows. This is included in the cost of a stay. Horseback riding is charged at an hourly rate. Guests can stay in the lodge with meals or take a housekeeping unit or a log cabin and cook for themselves. The housekeeping units were built last season. One of the nicest things about Upper Canyon is the flexible anglers program. Anglers on their own are given directions and maps to public water nearby where you can catch grayling, rainbow, cutthroat and brown. If you prefer to fish private water for a fee, this can be arrange too. For those who want to be fully guided, this also is offered. Donna and Jake McDonald are your hosts and they treat everyone like family. Their donation to our Party is three night's lodging for two people; one day of guided fishing on the upper Ruby for rainbows and grayling, and one day of guided fishing on the lower Ruby for browns. You fish on your own for the third day. The value of this generous donation is $1,100. Refer to our page of Recommended Services for more information on Upper Canyon Outfitters and photographs. You can reach Donna and Jake at PO Box 109, Alder, MT 59710, (406/842-5775), FAX (406/842-5884), e-mail: UCO@3rivers.com and web site: UCO.simplenet.com. Better yet, come meet them at our Party. A report on the upper Ruby featuring UCO will appear in the May issue. Rich Doty recently purchased the OLD LEWISTON INN from Connor Nixon. The inn is located right on the flyfishing-only stretch of the upper Trinity River. Chris and I have stayed here many times and have enjoyed ourselves immensely. Connor was a wonderful host and if our meeting with Rich is any indication, it will be the same. There is one difference that we should point out and this is that Rich is a flyfisher. He intends to make the inn more flyfisher friendly and his commitment to improve the fishing on the Trinity will be appreciated by all anglers. By this time, most of the rennovations to the inn should have been completed, including a new kitchen. The B&B rate is $98/night and Rich has donated two nights valued at $196 for our Party. Look at the January issue of TIA for the update report on the upper Trinity River mentioning the Old Lewiston Inn. The steelhead fishing at present is good enough to warrant a visit. Call Rich at (530/778-3385) for the latest information. The HENRY'S FORK LODGE near Last Chance, Idaho is one of the finest angling lodges in the country. It sits on a promontory above the river where you can often look down and see fish rising. The rooms are very nice and even if your spouse is not an angler, he or she will be comfortable. Most have fireplaces and a view. Designed by the late Joe Esherick, the award winning architect, every detail in the lodge has been carefully thought out. A professional German chef prepares the evening meals and the lodge dining room is the only facility for miles where you can have a dining experience, as opposed to just eating. Within an hour's drive from the lodge, you can be on some of the world's most famous streams, including those in Yellowstone National Park. The Lodge has made a donation to our Party every year and many of our readers besides those who have won this stay have enjoyed themselves immensely. This year's donation is for two nights, including meals, for one guest, providing a paying guests brought along, valued at $500. A report on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River featuring the Henry's Fork Lodge appeared in Volume II, Number 6, November 1993. More information about the Lodge can be had by writing to Nelson Ishiyama, 465 California Street #800, San Francisco, CA 94104 or by calling (415/434-1657). Some of the largest rainbow trout caught on a fly each year in the West are taken from the Klamath Lake basin in southern Oregon. The Williamson and Wood Rivers, Agency Lake and Klamath Lake can produce fish approaching twenty pounds. No one has fished this area more and knows it better than ED MIRANDA. Ed attended our Party last year with his wife Bernie and they will attend again. Their donation is for one days guided fishing for two anglers plus a night's stay in a comfortable housekeeping cabin, which is more like a home. The Value of this donation is $370. A report on the Williamson River featuring Ed appeared in Volume VIII, Number 2, March 1999. Ed also guides duck hunters, who are having a great season on Klamath Lake. You can contact Ed at Ed Miranda's Guide Service, 26646 Rocky Point Road, Klamath Falls, OR 97601, (541/356-2266). It is probably best to call in the evenings as chances are good Ed is out guiding during the day. THE FLY SHOP in Redding, California has donated a two-day stay for two anglers at their new private water fishery at Digger Creek Ranch in northern California. Fishing is done on a small stream and some ponds with huge trout. We have only seen pictures of the ranch, but the accommodations look nice and meals are included in the stay. The value of this donation is $780. The Fly Shop has gained a well earned reputation for its private fishing program, arranging travel domestically and internationally, and servicing its clientele in all matters related to flyfishing. It was mentioned in our report on the lower Sacramento River in Volume VII, Number 6, November 1998 and several other times in other reports. You may contact them about Digger Creek Ranch at 4140 Churn Creek Road, Redding, CA 96002, (800/669-3474), FAX (530/2223572), e-mail: info@theflyshop.com and web site: theflyshop.com. The BIG K GUEST RANCH near Elkton, Oregon has donated two days of lodging and two days of guided fishing for one, which includes all meals. A companion accompanying the winner of this trip can join in the fun for $300, a fantastic deal. The fishing is for shad from May through June and for smallmouth from July through early September on the lower Umpqua River, which runs through the Ranch. If you make a visit in mid June, like Chris and I did, you'll catch both species. We reported on the fishing on the waters the Big K Guest Ranch in 1995, when we stayed at Elkqua Lodge. An update report will appear in the March 2000 issue because anglers now staying with the new owners at Elkqua Lodge no longer have the privilege of fishing the waters of the Big K Guest Ranch. Chris and I had excellent and fun fishing on both of our visits and highly recommend this trip. For more information, contact the Ranch at 20029 Highway 138 West, Elkton, OR 97436, (800/390-2445), (541/584-2295), FAX (541/584-2395), e-mail: bigk@teleport.com and web site: www.big-k.com. David Armocido of MIDDLE FORK OUTFITTERS has again donated a day of guided wade fishing for two at Stony Creek, east of Maxwell. Readers of "The Inside Angler" have had excellent fishing while being guided by David, the first recipient of the Lee Wulff Memorial Conservation Award. The value of this donation is $200. If you have not fished Stony Creek, you'll be surprised by the size of its wild rainbows. Lunch and flies are provided. This fishing is for those who are physically fit as there is some hiking involved. We reported on this fishing in Volume III, January 1994. Milt Jensen of MERGANSER OUTFITTERS, PO Box 45, Chico, CA 95927, (530/343-4071) and e-mail: milt95928@aol.com has donated two rods for a day of fishing on Five Dot Reservoir north of Susanville, California. Lunch is included and inflatables are available, if needed. Milt also guides on Lake Almanor, which has fished very good the last two years. You may want to ask Milt about this. Our report featuring Five Dot Reservoir was published in Volume VI, Number 1, January 1997. The value of this donation is $300. A guided wade trip for two, including flies and lunch in the Tahoe/Truckee area has been donated again by Randy Johnson, JOHNSON'S TACKLE AND GUIDE SERVICE, 69 Bothin Road, Fairfax, CA 94930, (415/453-9831), from mid November through April and PO Box 26, Tahoma, CA 95733, (530/525-6575), from May through mid November. His web site is flyfishingtahoe.com. The value of this donation is $250. Randy was mentioned in our report on Boca Reservoir in Volume II, Number 5, September 1993. Besides guiding in the Tahoe/Truckee area, Randy guides along the northern California coast for steelhead. He is an excellent instructor and markets a line of fiberglass rods that are highly regarded by anglers who appreciate the action of these rods. We had originally planned to have twenty-five donations, but two late entries arrived and they are as follows: Guided wade fishing for two on either the McCloud or upper Sacramento River with lodging provided by the McCloud Hotel plus breakfast at the Trinity Cafe in Mt. Shasta with JACK TROUT. The value of this donation is $325. Fishing on the upper Sacramento last year was probably the best since the poisoning and the McCloud was as productive as ever. Jack Trout was mentioned in our update report on the upper Sacramento River in Volume V, #2, March 1996. He is a very attentive guide with good teaching skills and his high percentage of repeat customers attests to his ability and friendly nature. Peter Mitchell, the owner of BAILEY CREEK LODGE, has donated a 2-day stay for 2, which includes lodging, meals and private fishing on a small stream and a lake near Manton, CA. The value of this donation is $820. We have not reported on this lodge, but plan to do so in the future. Reservations are made through The Fly Shop in Redding. To learn what one of our readers thought of his stay, log onto insideangler.com. Hit on Fishing Reports and read the posting by Al Shaw made on November 4, 1999. "The Inside Angler" has learned that Peter is putting in a swimming pool to make the lodge all that more comfortable for spouses who do not fish. The season coincides with the General Trout Season. |
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