Trout Camp

Timothy Burke • 6/11/172/16/19

Trout camp is a special place for storytelling, ribbing comments, and enjoying good company. Every May a few of my closest friends and I migrate south for a long weekend of fly fishing for very large and very hungry rainbow trout on the Deschutes River. After seven months of wet soggy Western Washington weather, the dry hot arid temperatures of Central Oregon are a breath of fresh air. We make it a point to fish the Salmon Fly hatch and tan our pale skin. Selfishly I get to hang out with people I love, do something I love (fly fishing) and be in a place that I love. For me, this scratches all the necessary itches all at once. Maybe you’ve witnessed a Labrador Retriever receiving a good scratch from a loving owner with their tail wagging and one back hind leg thumping on the ground with that look in their eye like, “I hope this never ends.” Well, that’s what I feel like come late May on the Deschutes.

Although my buddy JR would never admit it the trout I am holding is bigger then any trout he has ever caught. Notice his jealous grin…

My brother Seth and I share a special bond through fly fishing.

FullSizeRender — Fly fishing for rainbow trout

Stringer Full of Salmon

Timothy Burke • 9/5/162/16/19

Some mornings are very fruitful when your fishing with JR, using his secret techniques for August Chinook.

Why Fish Riffles at Last Light

Timothy Burke • 6/21/162/16/19

File May 29, 6 25 16 AM

Last light provides just the advantage that big redside Deschutes River trout thrive on. This minimal light environment creates a safe choppy top nutrient enrich feeding ground next to the grassy river banks. Large salmon flies who spend most of their day hanging out on trees, river grass, and sage take flight when the late evening temperatures soar. Their newly fertile eggs are released into the filmy rivers surface often causing the big bug to crash into the water turning into the perfect pray for a hungry trout.

File May 29, 6 27 34 AM

File May 29, 6 25 58 AM

Steelhead With The Bolin Boys

Timothy Burke • 1/13/162/16/19

I had the privilege of taking my best friend Joe Bolin and his two sons Cortez and James steelhead fishing over the Thanksgiving holiday. We had a couple days before the river closed for the season so we loaded up the boat on Black Friday and set off. One of the great things about winter steelhead fishing is the sun doesn’t rise until after 7 am and fisherman can sleep in compared to summer fishing which demands a very early morning.

After stopping at the Red Apple Market for coffee and donuts we slipped down the hill and slid the boat in the town run. The first row through was a rod slammer with Joe’s rod buckling under the pressure of an angry steelhead. After releasing a beautiful wild fish we went back for more. The second pass gave us another takedown but the fish got away. On our third pass James’s rod hooked up but the fight only lasted for a minute before the elusive steelhead spit the hook. So we made our way to the sewer hole and it was a chaotic fight. While we were letting lines out Cortez screamed in delight as a big native steelhead snatched up his presentation.

Joe and Cortez had both landed steelhead while James waited patiently for another chance. At the root wad hole, it was James’s turn. Under the big leaning pine, deep in the green water we found success.

We had a great day and the best thing in the world was spending time with my best buddy Joe and his boys. They love to fish and can’t wait to get back out on the water.

Always Believe!

Business Strategy & Salmon

Timothy Burke • 9/8/152/16/19

Working offsite can take on a lot of different looks. On this sunny Friday afternoon, business strategy and salmon made sense. With a new and quickly growing company, Seth and I had a lot to catch up on!

Biggest Fish in Washington

Timothy Burke • 3/7/156/12/15

This Lake Tahoe native looked at me after landing a nice winter steelhead and said, “thats the biggest fish I have caught in Washington”. We had a blast yesterday telling stories, discovering new water, and I got to see the Californian take an unintentional dip in the water :). I feel blessed to spend a day with a great friend in a place created with us in mind!