Dave can talk all he wants about his epic Ronde adventure, but in other news the John Day this fall was nothing short of impressive. You have to love the fact that it's the only river in the lower 48 with an ALL WILD run of steelhead. And I caught a bass. In November. Booyeah.

Being the second longest free-flowing river in the lower 48, and in the midst of a spell with little rainfall outside Condon, we were forced to fish some VERY slow water. In fact, Deschutes guide Brian Silvey refuses to call the Day a river and only refers to it as the "John Day Lake." We had some swings that lasted long enough to read a book in between casts. I probably would have tried doing that too, but I can't read. Maybe Marty will teach me next year.

Fishing this water honestly made me think about places where steelhead will hold in an entirely different way. You have to in order to find these fish. We ended up fishing in many places that coming from Washington you wouldn't choose right away as obvious steelhead water and in doing so I think it made all of us better steelhead fishermen. Thanks to our hosts Marty and Mia Sheppard as well as our guide Brian Silvey for an excellent weekend. Can't wait 'till next year!

Fishin' Tune of the week: "My Girls" by Animal Collective

Check it out, it has to be one of the best songs of 2009 and its a must have for your next drive to the water.