The last thing in the world we want to do is start up with that type of thing or, to have a pay area for our site with members only, so I've come up with another idea that I hope will work solely because some, or hopefully many of you, have found some real value in our site and reports over the years. (I do realize of course that many of you have held off shopping other places because of it and supported our store instead and for that, I sincerely thank you!) What I am going to do instead is simply solicit donations...

Anyone wanting to donate can do so by ether calling in to the store (Toll free 1-877-422-5394) with a credit card number and an amount stipulating it's for the web donations or by sending a check or money order with a note stipulating the same to: BBT, 9375 South M-37, Baldwin, MI 49304. Anonymous donations are welcome of course, but what I'd like to do is offer those of you with a $25.00 donation or more a one-time only 10% off any purchase at the store. (Multiple items are OK, but just one trip to the register.) You just give us your name, we put you on the list and check it off whenever you make it up for that purchase anytime over the next full year from the date of your donation.

In addition, members of our on-line forum should give us your user name for any size donation and your user status will go from member, frequent member, senior member, etc. to that of Supporting Member. Those with the $25.00 or more donation would go to Super Supporter. I know it is bold to ask, but I do feel like we've given something over the past 13 years and it would help us out a lot with past and future expenses. At any rate, thanks in advance to anyone that helps out and thanks to all of you for your support and business over the years...

Speaking of donations, anyone wanting to donate your time and effort can join us for the annual fall river cleanup and Halloween party on Saturday October 31st. (Meet at 9am at the shop for a group photo and to split people up.) I realize that some of you might not be able to make that date because of the holiday, but it's the only one that'll work for us (BBT) this year and for those of you that can make it we'll dress up funny (Or not.) and go hit the river with trash bags and a great attitude followed up by the usual appreciation party afterward at my place.

PLEASE CALL THE SHOP to put your name and anyone else coming with you to the cleanup on a list. Anyone is welcome to show up last minute of course, but it sure is helpful to have an idea of how many will be there for food planning purposes.

Now, on to the report! After posting my report on the 8th I headed out on a group trip with John and Johnny as the other two guides and a family of seven. We wound up battling lots of fish and bagging a few, but the guys kept me so busy tying knots and stuff that I never made time to take a photo. In all fairness, we spent much of our day on gravel flats so the guys could fish together and there weren't all that many to the net that were all that pretty! (There were however, a few...)

I was also missing photos from the group trip that John and I did on the 7th if you remember, but one of the guys made up for that by sending me a YouTube video that he made of our day. To Mr. Jones, Mike, Pat, Spooner, Jordan and Craig from Ivan's, all I can say is it was a real blast being out there with you, and I do mean out there... :^) The music on the video is from Jordon Ross who is in it. Some of you might have seen him at Eddies on Sunday evening the 4th of October while he was up here or out on the river with us that day. You can check out his web site right here

On the 9th it was my third 3 person trip in a row with new anglers/father and son James and Cole as well as Don, who's still new to it, but has been out with me before. To say I stayed busy would be a bit of an understatement, but in the end it was all well worth it having put both James and Cole on their first river Salmon and then a few more.

There's nothing quite like the look on the younger ones faces while doing battle with a big one. Cole did hold his fish, it just got away from him before we could get the lone shot. (That's why we sometimes hold the fish in front of a client for the "safety shot".) I'll look forward to hopefully being a part of all their transitions to master anglers in the future!

On the 10th and 11th I took the father and son team of Tom and Tommy. These guys have been here before, but it's been about seven or so years and we had to spend a little time just getting back in the grove. Had a few fish on at our first stop, a deep gravel redd where you can't quite see 'em but know what they're up to however, it was our second stop in a deep pool with lots of fresh fish in it that made our first and as it turns out, second day as well...

The traffic was fairly thick on Saturday and I felt lucky to get the spots we did, but Sunday was a whole different story and it felt like we had the river to ourselves for most of the day. Here's a few shots of father and son and I'm happy to say I'll see them next year for two more days of a really good time! Thanks guys...

I was supposed to be out on Monday, but found out instead that being a nice guy doesn't always pay. A fellow that I let back out on a trip back on Monday the 28th because of the super high wind gust warnings and sideways rain (Along with it being his wife's first exposure to the river.) had told me to "pencil him in" for this past Monday when I told him it was open, but might not stay that way and he would call back if it didn't work, now claims that he remembers that differently.

Live and learn, I took an unexpected day off when I actually could have re-booked it had I known a few days prior but sent that client to another...Tuesday and Wednesday never did book for me so the rest continued like it or not and I'm actually getting caught up on a few things around here. John was out and says the river traffic is WAY down now with pretty much all those fish still hanging around in various stages including the very fresh.

I'm out on the river the next three days with clients and then have Sunday and Monday blocked off for my Half Marathon in Grand Rapids on Sunday and a day of recuperation afterward. Wish me luck, I'm excited about doing it!

The calendar opens right up after that with the exception of a few guys starting to fill in a few November dates, but the fishing should remain very good from now till the middle of the winter with the Salmon hanging in there till the end of the month most likely, the Browns getting fat for their own party coming up and some chrome bullets starting to show already in decent numbers with more expected on the way. Please give the shop a call if you'd like to spend a day or two on the water with us, we'd love to have you.

FYI. Our destination travel business is separate from our shop and guide businesses and we do have to fill spots in order to go ourselves contrary to one belief I read on our web site recently. (No, we can't afford to just go to these places, it doesn't work like that at all... ;^) The Bahamas trip below only has two spots left right now, but feel free to contact me if you are interested at all, I may have some other dates available as well. Argentina (Also see below.) is right around the corner and we have room for up to five more people comfortably on that one, but even just another head or two would help. (It really is fun and well worth it!) The first week of Alaska is just about full now, but lots of room on the second for the moment.

Tight lines all,
Steve

We are trying on a Bahamas deal for size this winter and we think it's a pretty good one! We have space left for two people in the week February 13th to the 20th, 2010. John and I will not be there with you as we are going the week after with our own wives and one other couple and the accommodations are for six guest comfortably. Your host will be my cousin Jim and his family, the same ones that run the Alaska camp...

If you've ever done any salt water fishing you already kind of know how sweet this will be and if you've never done it, this is the chance at a great way to try it! Basically, the deal is $1,000.00 per head gets you food & lodging for the week as well as the use of boats with fuel. Jim plans to drive people to either the wading flats by vehicle or let them take the boat(s) to the flats on their own.

For $2,000.00 the trip can be fully guided all week by a Bahamian guide, but Jim recommends something in between. Maybe take a guide the first couple of days and then go it on your own... At any rate, I can have the trip molded to fit your needs.

There are 3 bedrooms for guests. 2 of them have their own private bath. The third has a bathroom right next to it, but which is also used by people in the living room. There is a total of 3 twins and 2 kings in those rooms right now, but we can adjust how many and what kind of beds to fit the guests needs. The house also has wireless high speed internet and has a nice waterfront area with a deck on the water. (Attached is the only photo I currently have of the house...)

It has flats across the "creek" and several just up inside, plus lots more flats up in Fresh Creek, which goes for many miles and the open ocean is about a 1/4 mile away, with a large reef just offshore and a nice white sand beach.

The place currently has a Pick-up truck, a VW van, a 26' offshore boat and a carbon fiber canoe, but Jim plans to ship a flats boat and a kayak into camp as well before this trip date.

There is the very small town of Fresh Creek within a short walk or drive. It has 3 tiny little grocery stores, and 4 or 5 small restaurant/bars. Jim has had dinner at 2 of them. One was called Hanks (Hanks also offers bonefish guiding.) and it had great food and felt very Bahamian. It had a nice outdoor deck where tarpon were feeding during dinner.

There are several large wading flats on the ocean side of the island that are accessible by car. These have lots of bonefish cruising. It is about 1/2 hour south to the middle bight, where many of the bonefish camps are located. Stafford Creek Lodge is on the next creek north. The north end is famous for big bonefish and less pressure - also a little over a half hour drive.

There is an airport right there in Fresh Creek, Andros where you would be picked up by Jim or Phyllis. There are some direct flights to the island from Florida a few times a week. There are daily flights from Nassau to Fresh Creek for under $100. Jim believes the cheapest route is to fly Spirit Air to Nassau from Detroit, then hop a commuter plane from Nassau to Fresh Creek. You can lay over for a few days in Nassau for some great beaches, night life and casino's. Jim stayed at the Sheraton on Cable Beach and it was very nice. He booked it on Expedia for less than $150/nt.

The Alaska trip was a huge success this year with lots of comfort updates to the camp as well as the great fishing and we have the first two weeks of August for next year again! (July 31st to August 7th and August 7th to the 14th, 2010) The price has gone up by only $200.00 making it $1995.00 per person, but still cheaper than the rate for going not with us and well worth every penny considering the new updates and expected updates as well... For those of you that haven't seen the 2009 Alaska reports you can find them at these two links, but you have to be a member of our forum and signed in or sign up to be…

Steve’s Report

John’s Report

Argentina is coming around fast (January 16th to the 23th, 2010) and we could really use a few more heads there if anyone is at all interested in what I consider to be the best of the trips we offer! That is, of course, only if you think that 80 degrees and sunny on a beautiful river in the Patagonia's, catching large trout, experiencing a new culture, eating great food and drinking great wine while it's freezing here at home is a good idea...

You can read about some of our past trips to Argentina at the links below and you really should read them or re-read them before making a decision on this one!

Steve’s 2009 report

John’s 2009 report

Steve’s 2008 report

John’s 2008 report

Steve’s 2007 report

John’s 2007 report