1. Guided Backpacking “Over-nighters” (1-2 People 1-nighter $1,500. Each Additional night $750)
2. Traditional Guided wading days (1-2 People $700 / day)
3. Fly Fishing with me ($350 / day)

All 3 ways are physical and require hiking.  

Using me as your fly fishing guide is for the adventurous who want a shot big / nasty or beautiful wild native trout that don’t see a lot of artificials or even people for that matter. and have a heck of a lot of fun doing it. Nothing fights like a wild native pure strained Kern River Rainbow.  Pound for pound the more difficult fish to net that i have experienced.  And i have experienced a lot.  

Guided Backpacking Over-nighters

This is the modality where i do everything.  including cooking for you, cleaning up, making firewood, etc.  we fish all day and when we don’t you relax.

I have fished all over the world and I will tell you that nothing is more fun than backpacking to areas of the Golden Trout Wilderness that are just not heavily fished.

It was almost 25 years ago when my backpacking mentor, Rudi Van Der Walt, told me, “Tim, if you want to experience one of the few places in the world that has big wild native trout, we’ll have to backpack it.” He taught me a lot about how to thrive backpacking, the wilderness and survival. I have been “hooked” ever since.I use backpacking as a means to an end. I don’t hike for the sake of hiking. I hike to get to get to the good fly fishing.

I have lost count of how many nights i have spent in a backpacking tent. I have shared the experience with many. I’d like to share it with you. There is only one way to get to the great fly fishing spots of the Sierras: by backpacking. Overnighting it provides so much more in terms of fishing and the wilderness experience. I will tailor the trip for your hiking wants and ability. we can go as far or as short as the wilderness will give us and that ~40 pounds on your back will give you. We can move camp every day or day trip it from one site we camp at for a number of nights.

I don’t care if you are a beginner or expert to backpacking or fly fishing or both. All are welcome. if you are a beginner to backpacking I’ll get you savvy on this trip so you can DIY it the next time and beyond. I’ll also teach you how to do the backpacking thing cost effectively. Trust me the gear adds up…just like fly fishing gear does. Whether you are a beginner to fly fishing or an expert you’ll learn a lot. No matter what, we’ll do a lot of planning. Especially if you are a beginner to backpacking. If you are up for it I’ll also teach you about the flora, fauna and geology of the area.

How long we fish each day depends on you. I’m easy and flexible that way. I’m that guy that has to be dragged off the river. if you want to fish all waking hours then throw mice in total darkness, I’m your guy. if you want to hike 2 hours up river to fish 2 hours, I’m your guy. if you want to take two hour breaks between fishing sessions I’m your guy. No matter what we’ll have fun.

backpacking / fly fishing trips include:

• all flies, leaders, tippet, etc.
• loaner rods if you don’t own them
• all food and drink; the majority of which is made and dehydrated by me – depending on the length of the trip I may ask you to share the load
• gear guidance and planning for success

1-2 People 1-nighter $1,500. Each Additional night $750
Additional non fly-fishing guided Person(s) + $250.00 / night

1-2 People $700 / day

Traditional Guided wading days

This is the modality where i simply guide you on the Upper Kern River in the Wild Section of the Golden Trout Wilderness.  you are responsible for your food and everything that comes with backpacking.  or you day hike in and out from the Forks Trailhead.  we’d meet at a pre-determined location.  We may hike in together or I may already have hiked in and meet you in the canyon.

includes:

• all flies, leaders, tippet, etc.
• loaner rods if you don’t own them
• gear guidance and planning for success

Fly Fishing with me

If you are an experience fly fisher and simply want to fish with me, and learn some of the advanced techniques, Great!  I love to fish the wild section of the Upper Kern and i know the first 10 miles of the river above the confluence of the Little Kern River like and back of my hand. You’d only depend on me to figure out what they are eating and how we’d fish them.  I would not do any of the things that come with traditional guided days like teaching you how to cast or pulling your flies out of a tree or tying your flies on, etc.

1-2 People $350 / day

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Youth Groups, Vets, Cancer Survivors, and other charity groups – No Charge.  Love to do it with a little planning.

Special configurations no problem.

Contact me to start the planning process.