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GARTH SCORES AGAIN!

Man, what a trip.  I spent the weekend of March 5/6 in Gold Beach with the Lottis Family.  The Lottis’ are owner-operators of Five Star Charters.  Skipper/guides Mark, Jeff, and Corby are expert anglers for everything from albacore and lingcod to salmon and steelhead.  This time of year they are working the Rogue, Elk, and Sixes Rivers for steelhead and next month they will be chasing springers on the Rogue and rockfish in the ocean.  I was fortunate to catch a drift boat trip with Mark and Corby on the Elk River on Saturday and the Sixes River on Sunday.  I had spent a little time on these rivers in the past but I got the full meal deal this weekend.  Conditions were awesome and the steelhead were cooperating.  Our day and a half drift yielded 9 fish landed and a few other take downs.  We focused on jig and bobbers but also side drifted a few baits.   The quality of the fish was much better than I had expected.   Three of the fish were 12 pounds or better.   Over evening meals I came to learn a lot more about these two rivers and I am hooked.  The Lottis’ and fellow guide Greg Eide recounted a bunch of stories of big wild steelhead in these waters.  Greg, who spent several years guiding trophy steelhead on the Hoh on Soleduck, says this south coast pair of rivers can hold their own with their northern counterparts.  I’m a believer.  And, oh yeah, these fish are 100% naturally produced.  Need I say more.

Garth