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Fall is my favorite time of year. The color changes and bird and animal migrations are just part of the beauty of this season. The aspens have just started to turn with the cooler nights of late Sept. here in Bend. Flocks of Canadian Geese have arrived in our neighborhood as they do each fall.

This year we had invited my uncle, Floyd Lay, up to stay with us a week and camp at Wickiup for a few days. I had got he and my aunt, Dee, started on big trout back in the 80's when we all fished Klamath Lake. They really got into it and were soon bringing caravans of friends up to stay at the lake for several weeks each summer. Over the years they learned to dial in some of the best fishing runs and techniques to tie into the big bruiser rainbows that made the lake famous. Floyd caught a 13.5 LB. bow and aunt Dee caught a couple of 12.5 LB. red sides for their top fish over the years. With my aunts declining health and advancing years, they gave up there trips to Oregon back in the late 90's. We lost our aunt Dee last winter and I thought it fitting to have my uncle, who will be 86, up to catch some brown trout.....something that was new for him.

We took our trailer up the day before he got here so it would be an easy transition to hook up the boat and head on up there on Fri. after he arrived and he had a day to settle in. The weather was supposed to remain under high pressure and I had gotten reports from fellow Brownbaggers, Dan Stewart, Ted Neal and Phil Brehjle, that they were still picking up some browns early and late. Dan was up for a few weeks and Ted and Phil were up for a week. It was good to get caught up with those guys as we sat around the campfire Fri. night.

The first evening was our best with (3) browns from 4-5.5 LB. We did mange to pick up a few each day but then a small front came through on Sat. night with rain showers, it was evident after that the bite had slowed. Phil and Ted pulled out on Sat. morning and Dan was making a move up to Paulina on Mon. We decided to pull out that morning as well.

I will be heading down to California for my 45 year HS Reunion next week and pick up some mounts for customers in Canada later in Oct. I will be hitting Paulina Lake upon my return and then looking ahead to a trip to Kootenay in late Oct. for giant gerrard rainbows. Stay tuned for the reports.

Tight Lines,
Rick