By Bruce Ajari ·
Leslie Ajari on a float trip on the Green River in Utah. | Josh Mezher ·
Well, we never had a clue that my daughter, Leslie, would make fly-fishing her profession as an adult. She and her brother, Wes, were introduced to fishing at a young age and then to fly-fishing at about 10-years-old.
After graduating from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, she worked at a lot of different jobs and would come home and visit and go fishing with me. Before I knew it, she was telling me that she was thinking about going to guide school to become a fly-fishing guide.
One day, she called me and asked me what I thought of a guide school through Confluence Outfitters out of the Red Bluff/Redding area. After checking out the Web site and knowing some of the guides that were employed by them, she received my seal of approval.
She enrolled in the guide school last summer, spending a week learning to refine her technique, how to teach, how to treat the clients and how to run a successful guide business. After successfully completing school, she was offered a job with Confluence Outfitters as one of their guides. So, in the late summer, she began her guiding experience and spent last year on the Trinity River, North Coast and Oregon in her pursuit of steelhead.
Steelhead Rainbow Trout born in freshwater that go out to the ocean and return to spawn in those same streams are her passion. She loves the technique of swinging flies for them with Spey Rods. The Spey Rods are longer rods that involve casting with two hands. It is quite different than traditional single-hand casting that we do in most fly-fishing.
During the spring into early summer, she works as a trout guide on waters such as the McCloud River, Fall River, Hat Creek, Pit River and other waters around the town of Burney. She has a great blog that many people have followed: galgonefishing.com. As she describes the blog, “The chronicles of one woman’s journey through the art of fly fishing.” Her passion for the sport shines through her writing. Check it out.
In the fall into winter, her attention turns back to her passion – Steelhead. If you are interested in booking her for a trip for trout or steelhead, check out Confluence Outfitters at confluenceoutfitters.com.
FISHING REPORT
(See Sightseeing for water levels.)
Boca | Inflow is at 118 cfs and the outflow is 61 cfs. Fishing has been fair. Fly-fishers have been catching some fish near the inlet with nymphs, streamers and dries.
Donner | Fishing has been fair to good. Kokanee fishing has been good. Nightcrawlers and Powerbait seem to be the main bait for shore anglers. Mackinaw fishing has been good. Fly-fishermen are catching some fish with streamers.
Lake Tahoe | Fishing has been fair to good for mackinaw. A guide is highly recommended if you are fishing for mackinaw for the first time. Toplining and shore fishing is fair. Most shore fishermen use inflated nightcrawlers.
Little Truckee River | With this being the only fishable stream around it will likely get too much pressure. Consider fishing in alternative waters.
Martis Lake | Zero kill. Catch and Release only with barbless artificial lures or flies. Fishing is the best early in the season and again the fall. With the warming water, the fishing here is slow. Try fishing it again in the fall.
Prosser | Fishing has been fair. Anglers using bait, lures and flies have all caught fish. Fly-fishermen have done well near the inlet areas. Bass fishing has been fair.
Stampede | Fishing has been fair. The ramp is not usable for larger boats. Nightcrawlers, Powerbait and lures have all produced from shore. Fly-fishermen have been doing well near the inlets with nymphs and streamers. The Kokanee fishing has been fair for those getting out. Smallmouth bass fishing has been fair.
Truckee River | Not flowing out of the lake at Tahoe City. The flows through Truckee are at 9 cfs. The flow from Boca downstream to the state line is running between 88 and 99 cfs. Flows are too low now. Please target alternative water and other species such as bass or carp.
Davis and Frenchman | Fishing has slowed. It will improve in about a month when waters cool.
Bruce is a long-time area fly-fisherman and past president of Tahoe Truckee Fly Fishers. Visit TheTahoeWeekly.com to read more.
