I don’t consider myself a fisherman, but when I go on trips with Mark, and I’ve done a number of them, something magical happens. Through his eyes I see the beauty of the mighty Rogue, including bald eagles, giant salmon. I appreciate the elegance of the well-placed cast, and, of course, experience the sheer joy of chasing and catching fish. And his wife Joanie, she bakes incredible treats, including the best New York Cheese Cake bar I’ve ever had!

My sons Lee, 12, Nelson, 9, and I had a fabulous couple of days fishing with Mark, culminating in the pure adrenaline rush of landing two magnificent steelhead, the larger of which was 10 pounds and 30 inches long, on a 3 weight rod. We also caught a 10-inch native cutthroat on a nymph and both missed and landed a number of decent rainbows in the most active dry fly hatch I’ve ever seen. The Rogue River has something for everyone, and Mark is the right guy to lead you to it.

Our day with you on the water was fantastic. It completely reinvigorated my love for fishing and we both walked away with improved technique and delicious trout. Evan has since taken up tying his own flies this winter and even landed a large rainbow. I greatly appreciate the lengths you went to in making our day fun and successful. Everything from the gear to the homemade treats was spot-on. Thank you for your patience, clarity and conversation. I truly enjoyed making memories with my son that sunny afternoon on the water together.