- Our Clients' Words -

For those looking for references regarding our service, please contact us, we are happy to provide a list of people for you, both personal and corporate.

Some kind words about our staff...

Dave,

Thanks for the receipt… I appreciate the fact that you take credit cards (we did tip Ted in cash as you suggested).

Yesterday was just great… we were quite concerned about heavy rain because on Sunday we rafted the whole morning in rain and got very, very cold.  But the weather cooperated as did the scenery – what a spectacular place!  The fish weren’t quite as cooperative but as usual, that was our fault, not theirs or Ted’s.  And Ted made the simplest, but best lunch dish I’ve ever had on any outdoor adventure.  You should post it on your website – I think he’d get a real kick out of that.  Did he tell you he fell about 10 feet down the hill trying to take pictures of us? 

Also, we can’t thank you enough for putting us in touch with Ryan.  Other than the cold, the rafting trip was awesome and Ryan is one of the best guides we’ve met.  He and the kind of trip he runs was exactly what I was looking for.

We are staying at the Mayflower Park Hotel.  Ted mentioned that you guys make the rounds of downtown hotels sometimes to get yourself known. I met one of the concierges yesterday (Sean) and will make a point of talking to whoever is on duty today to tell them about Emerald Water.  The professionalism and breadth of services that you offer is a cut above what we are used to encountering in guides, so we’ll make it a point to spread the word. 

We hope to be back in the area either later this summer or next year.  There are a couple of motorcycle trips we want to take in the area and if it works out, we’d like to combine another day of fishing with that. 

Thanks again for being such a great outfit – it was a perfect experience from start to finish.

Ginny Jackson
Dallas, TX
6-22-09

Dave,

Sorry it has taken me so long to let you know about our day on the Sound. We had a great day with Ted. What a great guide you have for your local area. I was excited to catch a SRC. We fished our asses off and Ted worked hard to put us on fish. My girlfriend even had one on for a while which was the most exciting part of my day.

Lets have a phone call soon to talk about links and fishing in general.

Again, thanks for the great day on the Sound. Hope your spring is going well

Andrew Byron
Jackson Hole, WY
5-16-11

Coach McCoy....thanks for the spey lesson. You are a natural born teacher, I appreciate your insight and teaching style!  30+ years of single hand casting were immediately enhanced with the additional knowledge you gave me. 

Thanks brah!"

Patrick Botzet
Missoula, MT
3-16-11

Hey Guys, 

Just want to drop a quick email and say what a great job you both did for Michael and I.  Great to be on the water with you both and swing flies on the “W”  plus the big native taking my classic spey was a great bonus for sure.  Thanks again. 

Dave……You have great guys there doing a super job for EWA. Good job. Thanks for making it happen. 

Talk soon, 

Chris Eden
Seattle, WA
11-15-10

Dave & Team-

Thank you so much for providing our group with a wonderful day of fly-fishing!  I spoke with a few of the guys afterwards, and they had only great things to say!  I look forward to seeing the photos taken along the way; this will be a sight to see!

We will be sure to keep you in mind for any other fishing excursions down the road!  Thanks again!

Take care,    

Laura Heimerl
Great Blue Heron Seminars
Seattle, WA
8-15-10

Dave,

 Tim Pyle here. First and foremost, I so very much enjoyed our day on the river weeks ago. I am seriously interested in continuing to invest in your classes. Please keep me informed of the future dates in so which I may take advantage of your classes.

What I learned that day opened my eyes to the world as I never seen it before. Dave, I have always had a passion for water. I have always respected it and your training has shown me new ways to co-exist with it and what the water has to offer. I admit, I have much more to learn to safely and intelligently further create that relationship that was intentionally part of what life has to offer. I do want to further create the ability to read water to the best of my ability. I also want to become more diverse in my fishing skills. Fly fishing was something I never had an interest in. But, to become a overall diversified angler, Fly fishing should be an intrical part of ones Fishing resume. I can only imagine what your resume looks like.

Dave, I am very interested in booking a couple days with you or one of you Guides to fish for steelhead on whatever river you suggest. So please keep me posted on either e-mail or my cell phone.

In closing, Dave, it was an absolute honor meeting you and I'm truly looking forward to becoming a returning as well as a regular client of yours.  So don't be a stranger, I do realize your a very busy man and what spare time you have is so deservingly reserved for your family. Have a nice week-end.

Regards...

Timothy A. Pyle
Tri Cities, WA
4-16-10

Dave,

John and I  had a great time Friday…thanks for all of your patience, energy and enthusiasm!  We would love to see some of the photos you took.

Also, I will be travelling to Hawaii in the next month or so and would be interested in trying to fit in a day on the water while there.  I will contact you as soon as I lock down my dates to see if you can help me schedule something.

Great to meet and fish with you..hope to do something else locally with you this summer.  Possibly the mountains or peninsula. 

Andy Albrecht
Puyallup, WA
3-20-10

Dave,

Yesterday was perfect!  I never thought my husband and I would be into Spey casting.  If anyone ever suggested that someday you will want a Spey rod, I would have laughed outright at them.  Now I am laughing at myself.  It was wonderful learning a new style of fly fishing and going after Steelhead, a new fish.  I never once felt overwhelmed, and throughout the whole day the fishing was fun.  What a treat to be fly fishing in February!

Ted is a true professional.  I felt very comfortable.  He knew how to handle a drift boat on a larger river, knew where the fish were, and is very patient in instructing those new to Spey casting.  I am really grateful that I did this, it will help me with my casting with smaller rods.  Best of all, it was a real ego booster.  I am still jacked that I can cast a 13+ foot rod and follow through.

I have attached some photo’s, the scenery and wildlife is just breathtaking.  We were very lucky.  John and I will be taking Ted up on his offer for a casting lesson on Green Lake and in a few months guiding on the Olympic Peninsula.  I see myself spending lots of money at Kaufman Streamborn.  I’m sure Kevin Becker at Kaufman Streamborn, he recommended Emerald Water Anglers to us, well, he is going to be quite excited about my new fly fishing interests.

Cheers!

Jessica Gallegos
La Conner, WA
2-5-10

P.S. Ted’s lunch was just what we needed, seaweed salad with pickled ginger, rice and albacore tuna.  It’s like he knew what our diet is.  What a treat!

Dave,

I realize I am not often demonstrative in person but I want to express how much fun I have going out fishing with you.  Yesterday was no exception.  When I got home, Leslie asked me which trip has been my favorite and I said they all are.  Thanks for the pictures...they are sure big images... Thanks for taking the time and effort to teach me some spey casting.  It was very cool and I certainly see the connection to becoming a better one-handed caster.  I would love to have the opportunity to learn more about casting.  Maybe sometime in 2010 we can work toward that.

I hope your upcoming trips are good. Let's stay in touch.  Thanks again.

Jim Osborn
Woodinville, WA
10-2-09

It was a great day.  Thanks, Dave!  In addition to being a fly fishing expert, you are an accomplished photographer.  Great pic.  That Cut has beautiful spots, and it is cool to be able to see the red slashes under the jaw as well.  Nice call to flip the fly line over the back of the fish so that only the fly is visible.  Very cool.  Thanks again.  Look forward to going out again.  Have a terrific trip to India.

Don King
Tacoma, WA
9-25-09

Dave,

And thank you for your informative, educational, entertaining and pleasurable day.  I am pretty impressed.  I can easily say that was the finest day I have ever had on the salt. Wow! Thank you for the incredible photos – definitely represents how the day was – top quality. 

Look forward to the pics as well as many years of enjoying the cutts now. 

Oly Welke
Seattle, WA
9-19-09

Dave,

Thanks for a great day of fishing on Thursday.  We really had nice weather and the fish cooperated as well.  A new experience for me fishing small rivers and light gear. Great time.  Please send along a few pictures when you can. Thomas, thanks for setting everything up!

Still grinning ear to ear.  Next week is going to be awesome.  See you on the rivers! (And creeks , shhhh)


Jon Fleming
Seattle, WA

and

Thomas Martin
Seattle, WA
9-21-09

Hey Dave,

Fantastic class.  You are a stellar instructor.  I can’t wait for the river levels to rise around here so I can get out and start practicing.

Mark Vickers
Forest Grove, OR
9-13-09

Dave,

Yesterday was a good time...Patrick was really helpful and I learned a lot that I now need to practice.  Do you have recommendations for a good shop/person I can talk to to get some gear? 

Matt Weagle
Seattle, WA
7-10-09

I had a great day with Ted yesterday. It took me quite a while to sort out my casting and mending but I still have a very very long way to go!! However it was great to catch one particularly nice trout towards the end of the day. The surroundings were stunning and I am truly hooked!

Ted is a great asset.

I’d love to spend another day working on my skills while I am here but I am not sure I can get away with it!!

I will certainly be in touch soon.

Thanks again for making this such a great trip west.

Cheers,

Ollie Snelling
New York, NY
7-4-09

Dave,

Thanks for the email and a great day last Thursday.  As for being neck deep - Yep - already happening.  On the drive home from your place last week I almost got in accident because an adult Mayfly happened to land on my windshield and I was busy examining it rather than driving.  It took me a minute to run through the rules -"let's see, it has a tail, so it can't be a Caddis, the wings are vertical, so it can't be a Stonefly - so it has to be an adult Mayfly".  Other signs of sickness would include the 3 hours spent
this weekend on my casting technique (coming along, but still a long ways to go) and the book I ordered (Handbook of Hatches) and the Casting Techniques DVD (Joan Wulff) :)

I look forward to spending the day with Ted and then eventually getting to know the "home-waters".

Take care and I'll let you know how we do on Thursday.

Dave,

Ted and I had a great day of fishing yesterday.  There wasn't a lot of action on the water, but I still managed to land one (thanks to Ted).  Between the two of you, the bug for this sport has definitely been planted!  Our trip to the river yesterday was not only memorable, but I learned an incredible amount about reading water and the entomology behind fly fishing.  Ted did an outstanding job and is truly an asset to your business.

I look forward to seeing both of you at the Jimmy Green fly fishing fair this weekend.

Mitch Sieglock
Kent, WA
6-15-09

Shannon,

This is way more than I'd expected.  Thank you very much. You were very helpfull. What I really liked was knowing my casting was mostly a matter of needing more practice, the fact my gear isn't soo crappy it'll never catch anything and the basics on how to catch fish. I'm thinking I might do follow up's each year and my wife was talking about sending me out with you on a trip.  Pretty sure she was just trying to get rid of me for a day, but sure seems like a win-win to me.

Dennis Webster
Shoreline, WA
6-1-09

Dear Dave,

We all really enjoyed your presentation at the NW Women's Flyfishers on the 21st. Your slides were absolutely gorgeous and so inviting. I knkow it generated big time interest in our local streams and underscored your special expertise. I for one will be getting back in touch once our summer plans stabilize -- I know others will too!

Thanks so much!

Sincerely,

Bonnie Steele
Chairperson NWWF
Seattle, WA
5-11-09

Many thanks to you, we had a blast.  I am pretty hooked n the whole spey cast thing.  We had a nice Sunday.  We drove down the coast from Bellingham, out to Whidby Islandand caught a ferry over to Port Townsend.  Very cool drive, and some more quality time with the bros.

Loved the picture of us, please send more if you have any.

It was great to see you, and a really special day.  Stay in touch,

Dave Hock
Portland, OR
3-9-09

Dave,

Thanks again for the day out fishing, what a great way to start the new year!

Mark Doughty
Boston, MA
1-4-09

My trip this year was amazing.

Yes, it was great to finally catch a fish while fishing with you, ;) but the overall experience was more than I could have imagined. Spending time with you and your dad, meeting and spending time with Marty and Brian and spending three days in –what I consider – the most amazing scenery any steelhead river could offer ever, was worth every dime and more.

Thanks again,

Todd Karn
Seattle, WA
11-17-08

Hi Dave,

Thank you so much for the memorable fishing day yesterday.  You are a fun guy to hang out with, and you sure know your stuff on fly fishing.  I greatly appreciated the experience, and the knowledge you were kind enough to share.

If the pictures turned out I would love to have a few, and I am glad to pay for them.  If you just let me know how much? Hope your upcoming trip goes terrific, and I hope to fish again with you.

Don King
Tacoma, WA
11-10-08

Dave,

I am not tired at all....my arm feel great (with 2 lbs. of ice wrapped around it!!!!!!!!) and the fingers are OK. Thanks for a great day on the water. Could you also email me Don's fish picture?

Thanks also for the equipment recommendation.

Greg Plancich
Tacoma, WA
11-10-08

We chose to book our trip to the Two Yurt River through Ken.  After much anticipation and planning we completed our adventure with Will Blair on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula the first week of September.  It was an incredible experience for Martin and me.  Just being in such a remote and isolated part of the world was worth the effort.  The fabulous fishing wasn’t bad either.

Please accept my great thanks for helping us.

Barry Sehlin
Whidbey Island, WA
10-22-08

Hello Dave,

My wife and I have just returned from our first trip to Africa, and I wanted to thank you for suggesting I fish with Keith and Rob of Tourette Fishing. We had a wonderful time fishing the upper Zambezi and then following the cat fish run on the Okavango. The fish were a challenge to find, then to hook, and they didn't all get all the way in to the boat. But the experience was worth all the effort in getting there, and Keith and Rob are very knowledgeable and well organized. All planning, lodging, transportation, equipment, went smoothly. Rob was my guide for the trip, and he is superb. i would very much like to fish with them again, and feel free to use my name as a reference if you have clients interested in a similar trip.

Thanks in advance for the info., and thanks again for referring us to Tourette.

Allan Craig
Seattle, WA
10-22-08

Dave:

We had a great day.  Shannon saved the best fishing for last.  Watching Shannon use the spey rod was a real treat and getting my hands on it was extra special.  Next time we will double check who has the camera.

Wade Boyd
Longview, WA
10-18-08

Dave,

It was a great time, and no hurry on the manuals (we won't be trying out our fishing skills for a couple of weeks). You took some amazing photos!!!  Absolutely gorgeous, and it looks like you couldn't help but have a fabulous time!!  Understand about the quantity of photos, this April I took a trans-Atlantic and Med cruise for 32 days and with 5 women, our photo count was overboard, but they are so much fun to watch and remember the good times.

Kim so enjoyed her birthday present and is telling others all the time about the fun, the great instructor (he even caught a fish during the demo, go figure), the reason every one should do this, etc, so look out! We will most likely not get many chances to try out our new skills, this year is booked with gleaning the Ephrata fields in two weeks for the food banks, working a few bazaars on the weekends, razor clam digging (if they open on 10/17, fingers crossed) and that's just between the regular work time.  I'm sure we'll get some time in before the snows hit.

Dave, the experience with Emerald Water Anglers has been nothing but positive and fun, which reflects back on all the great folks you have (yourself included). Enjoy the crisp rest of summerish time, and thanks again!

If you need anything from me, you have my contact info, just shout it out!

Bonnie Maneja
Eatonville, WA
9-26-08

Dear Dave:

Nancy and I had an absolutely wonderful time with Mike and Jan earlier in the week. They were gracious and thoughtful and fun. The fishing was exceptional. Your Dad is the consummate professional. Above all he  knows the river, the fish and is very astute in assessing the person in front of him. A terrific teacher and raconteur. We even stuck a magnificent fish, which was even dumber than me - since it grabbed the fly 20 feet above some very heavy water but chose to run upstream to make a stand. I learned a whole lot about our sport and many of its fine pints. It was a privilege to spend time with him and a privilege to be a guest on the Umpqua.

I look forward to the John Day later this fall. Nancy and I spent the night in Condon last night before returning to Pullman . And yes I confess that I did let your father cast the 13’3” 7/8 RLW, which he claims has ruined him (probably no less than his letting me cast his sweet little switch rod).

I hope this finds you well and at peace.

CW
Pullman, WA
9-26-08

Dave,

Hey – we had a great time even with out the fish.  Mark was terrific and we learned a lot about a form of fly fishing new to us.  Our short casting ability contributed at bit to the lack of catching, I’m sure. But we had such good time anyway that it was completely fine. We will do it again!

Dave,

THANK YOU so much! You far exceeded my expectations for the event and I have heard nothing but positive feedback. :) I definitely want to make this an annual event. I could not have asked for better guides than your entire staff. They were absolutely wonderful. Everyone had a blast and many of the Rainiers players said that was one of the best events they have taken part in. So THANK YOU!

The fans had a great time as well and were very excited to hang out with your staff and the Rainiers players. I have a ton of pictures that I took so I will send them on CD with the programs, which I will mail out on Tuesday. Again, I can't tell you how thankful I am for your help in this event. It was definitely a huge success!

Most everyone caught a fish, which was great, but the instruction you provided far surpassed everything else. I think by the end I finally got a little better. (I only hooked two trees, which is AMAZING for me :) and I even caught a fish). Anytime you guys want to come out to a Rainiers game, don't hesitate to call! Thanks for everything and have a great time in Mongolia!

Kari Hockett
Tacoma Rainiers Baseball Club
Tacoma, WA
9-1-08

Thanks for a great day on the river – you made our first father/son guided trip one to remember.  It looks like we will return to our favorite spot on Kelly Creek next week and explore some new water on the Lochsa to keep it fresh. 

The pictures are great and it even appears that we know what we’re doing out there! 

Have a great trip and alert us if anything extraordinary comes up. 

Take care,

Rob and Rudi Fuchs
Seattle and Burlington, WA
8-31-08

Hey Dave,

Thank you for the great day! I thoroughly enjoyed the company of Brian and Nancy and of course it was good to spend some time with you; it's been too long. I can't say much for the goober in the pictures but the pictures of the mega Chinook slipping away belong on National Geographic - very creative photography on your part.

Good luck in Mongolia. And remember, please don’t use my surname on your website :)

Rick Hasselback
Seattle, WA
8-28-08

Dear David,

I just wanted to drop you a line to tell you how happy I was with my trip. I know Ted told you we had a great time together. He is a great guy but I know you know that already. He was a great teacher and helped me alot with my skills. I can't say enough about him and my time spent with him. It was a great day on the water. Thank you.

Thanks for everything and you can use my name or recommendation anytime.

Sincerely,

Vic Triolo  <"((((((><
New York, NY
8-25-08

Dave,

Thanks again for all of your time and expertise on our trip this past Sunday. I had a blast. Big fish or small fish, catching fish is always fun, and we caught a lot of fish! This is my email address to send photos to and what not. If you ever need a testimonial for your ads or website, just let me know - I'll be glad to put something together for you!

Thanks again, and let's keep in touch. Good luck with your trip to Mongolia in a few weeks!

Cheers,

Chris Scheppler
Austin, TX
8-25-08

Dave,

I really enjoyed the walk and wade trip.  It was most enjoyable in a different sort of way.  More on that later. I would like to go fishing on my own sometime soon... I had such fun.  I want to consult with you on a lightweight rod and reel combo that you feel would be a good starting place for me. I also will have to review directions to a creek or two.

Thanks for the fun trip.

And thanks for the pics too..... nice shots...

Jim Osborn
Woodenville, WA
8-25-08

Dave

Just wanted to send a quick note to let you know what a great time I had with Ted yesterday.  The instruction was top notch and the company was truly enjoyable.   I am pretty new to the sport, been out a few times with a couple of guides but yesterday tops it all.  I learned more yesterday than I have learned in the couple of years of reading and guided fish trips.  I plan on trying the salt water class in the fall.  I will book that soon.  Also, I thought your website was very well done.  I spent some time on it this morning – some great photos.

Thanks again and look forward to my next excursion with you guys.

Dan Wassel
Seattle, WA
8-25-08

Hey Dave,

Just a quick thank you.  The best thing about the day was you and Ted.  I wrote a review for you on a site called tripadvisor.com which you should get a copy of.  I appreciate that you worked hard all day and never lost enthusiasm.  Thanks for helping us get back early. We might be back in Seattle next summer and if we do I will give you a call. Read his Trip Advisor.com review here.

Gerald Jordan
Arlington, TX
8-19-08

Dave,

Thank you for setting us up with Shannon.  He was a great guide and great with my kids.  The fishing was the highlight of our trip to Seattle.  Given that Seattle isn’t really famous for trout fishing, I think it says a lot for the guide and the location he took us to.

Thank you,

Tae Kim
Chicago, IL
8-14-08

Hi Dave!

Just got back from the Teanaway Valley. Had a great time fishing the streams for small trout, but I must say I kept daydreaming about elusive mykiss. Can't say enough what a fun day I had on the water with you. I'm so excited about getting my spey rod I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. Thanks so much for an amazing day. You're a great guide, instructor and mentor. Yeah, you're kind of a jerk for letting me cast your Winston, but no one is perfect.

Talk to you soon,

Nancy Kim
Seattle, WA
8-3-08

Dear Dave,

I should have provided you with feedback earlier, but given it almost takes 24 hours to get back to Manila from Seattle and the work load back in an office, that I have been out of for the last ten days, just didn't afford me the luxury of sending you an email.  I am so glad you initiated...

How do I describe the trip.  Amazing, exceptional, breathtaking, brilliant and  a memory that will always and forever be cherished.  I am packing my bags and moving to Seattle...

It turns out that Ted and I come from the same town in New York, played squash around the same time that he was there and have fly-fished on the same streams.  Now that is a small world.  He is an excellent guide and I don't think I got to thank him enough.  I have promised him that I will practice my Spey cast and he should find an able student in me the next time.

Thank you once again for planning and arranging a most memorable day.  Which reminds me, Ted had mentioned that your company has arrangements or could recommend someone in New Zealand.  Could I possibly trouble you for that.  I might just go over there for the Christmas holidays.

All the best

Hasib Ahmed
Manila, Phillipines
7-30-08

Ted,

Thanks for the note, which I showed to Davy while we were on the way to AK.  We had a great time, caught some fish, and the day we spent with you was invaluable in making our time in AK so much more enjoyable.  Sadly, we did do some bait-chucking (for Halibut), but we will let this shameful fact go unrecorded except for this email.

You have the patience that all good teachers must have, and the soul of a happy fly-fisher.  Thank you for the good work you do, and I hope I can get Melissa up to Seattle sometime so she can catch the bug from you also.

Sam Beecroft
Corpus Christi, TX
7-10-08

Hi Dave,

We had a delightful morning on the Sound last Sunday with Shannon Carroll as our guide. Both Judy and I learned a lot about techniques, timing, etc, and I felt fortunate to catch 3 sea runs larger than I had ever caught before! Shannon took a couple of photos of me with fish that I was hoping he could pass on sometime soon...

Thanks again,

Jed Marshall
Seattle, WA
6-24-08

Dave,

Thanks a lot! I'm really stoked to try the Echo and start swinging! I've already ordered Dec Hogan's book, A Passion for Steelhead, and can't wait to read it. Thanks for a great day of instruction. It's always great to be out on the water with you. I have a feeling I'm going to get way into the steelhead thing....Just a feeling.

Nancy Kim
Seattle, WA
6-23-08

Dave,

Yesterday's fishing trip was great. The fish were elusive, but the scenery and the rivers were magnificent. The wind was ferocious, but how can one complain when staring at incredible snow-capped mountains and beautiful forests while breathing the cleanest, freshest air we've experienced in years. Shannon was super. He was very patient with us and we had a great time. I learned a lot about casting in windy situations and really enjoyed myself. We would do it again in a minute. It was so very relaxing after a high energy week in a show booth.

Thanks again to both you and Shannon for arranging a wonderful day for us.

Best Regards,

Claudia Martin
Columbus, OH
6-14-08

Dave,

Hello. I used your guide service last Wednesday, June 4th. Shannon took me out to the Sound.

I want you to know that he was a great guide - professional, courteous, and insightful. I will personally use Emerald Water Anglers in the future if/when I'm back in the area. As well, I will recommend your services to other fishermen without reservation.

Also, I heard that you're a bit laid up at the moment - I hope that you're back in the rivers soon.

Thanks,

Jay Kupcak
Cleveland, OH
6-12-08

Hello Dave,

I inquired a few months ago with you about finding a real fly fishing guide in Mazatlan MX and you refered me to Ben with Pro Billfish who refered us to a captain named Chileo..... Chileo was up front with us saying I can´t guarantee roosters but we will get on a number of fish, he lied to us.... he got us on rooster after rooster after rooster....then jack fish....then ladyfish...then permit....and then offered some dorado, but after that time it was hot, we were tired and too drunk to keep throwing 10 weights in the wind.....what an amazing first time salt water fly trip!!!!!   Thank you 100 times over for the reference.
 
Kennie Garcia
Denver, CO
6-3-08

Hi Dave,

If you have talked to Jason then this will be old news.  We had a wonderful experience!  The place is very special and Jason is a prince of a person.  I knew we were getting a guide but the gourmet chief was unexpected.  The food was great and the weather was also cooperating. Jason, he is a credit to your team.  Did I mention the fish had relocated for the day; well that is what happens from time to time.

Dave thanks for setting this up and I will wait to fish this beach again for Coho!

Arlan Collins
Seattle, WA
5-25-08

Hey Dave –

Thanks so much for the trip – while I wish it were more fruitful on the fish front – the education was absolutely worth it, and the company was good. My arm is not sore at all – A  first since I started way back in the beginning of May.

Looking forward to getting out again with you sometime soon –under warm sunny skies!

Thanks,

Anthony Potestivo
Redmond, WA
5-9-08

Hey Dave,

Your lecture and demo was so far one of the best of all events on campus since last fall, so I’d love to try this again. Spring 2009? We’ll definitely keep in touch.

Ron Carnell - University of Washington
Seattle, WA
4-24-08

Hi Dave,

Just wanted to let you know that I collected on the fishing trip that Mike had given me for a present last year.  Jason was a very good guide and really tried to get us into some fish.  He took us to a very beautiful area that was completely new to me.  We did find some small bait fish, and I did get a strike and a swirl, but missed a hook-up, must have been the fishes fault.  Jason is also a birder, as I am and he showed me several birds that I would have missed on my own.  He then took and told us about several other places that I can try later on my own, this was a added bonus that I had hoped for, so the trip will continue to pay dividends later on. Thanks much for setting me up with Jason. 

Best wishes for a good season coming up. 

Lyle Hand
Bellingham, WA
4-22-08

Hi Shannon,

Thanks a lot for being the BEST ever possible guide during my fly-fishing! Thanks for sending me these beautiful pictures! Will let others know how wonderful you are.

Thanks,

Himanshu Baral
San Jose, CA
4-21-08

Thank YOU, Dave.  I had a wonderful time and learned a lot.  Last night I dreamed I caught a fish.  I wasn't going to tell you or Alex that I had hooked one until I actually landed it.   The funny thing is, the dream turned into something else and I don't know if I landed it or not.

Ellen Rice
Vashon Island, WA
4-15-08

Dave,

Thank you for the best weekend ever! I had an amazing time and have definitely developed more then an interest in this sport.  I will most definitely take you up on the offer to sit in on group casting lessons. Thank again, and I will definitely send you a picture of my first fish!

P.S.   No lie, I totally dreamt about fishing in all of my dreams last night.  I crack myself up.  :)

Alexendria Pugel
Seattle, WA
4-15-08

Dave,

I did have a blast!  I went today with my neighbor and hit the same beaches you took me to.  It was windier than last time.  I caught one 8 inch cut at the last beach near Olalla?  Missed one other.  It was still fun and I am officially hooked!  The best part..... my casting was awsome!  My neighbor was actually jealous...You rock thanks for the tips!  Next time we go and there will be a next time you need to fish with us!

Scott Wallis
Redmond, WA
4-6-08

Dave and Ryan,

Thanks for a great day on the water. Now that I've slept on it, I know I will remember yesterday for a long time. The conditions were great. Ryan was amazing. He is knowledgable, professional and tireless. I appreciate all he taught me and all his patience. Lunch was the icing on the cake and then to get my first rainbow on a dry fly! Couldn't be beat. I know I am a better fisherman than when I got here. I hope I can get back here soon.

Thanks guys,

Chuck Lanzieri
Columbus, OH
3-25-08

Hi Dave,

I’ve been meaning to write and let you know how much Ruth I and enjoyed our day with you on the mighty Snoqualmie.  You did a great job of orienting us to basic drift boat skills and safety concerns, and getting us organized and prepared to tackle some of the Olympic Peninsula streams. Thanks again for a great day on the water.  And have a wonderful Holiday Season with your family and friends.

Regards,

John Warrick and Ruth Jenkins
Port Angeles, WA
11-18-07

Dave,

I had a great experience with the Ryan's they listened to what I was looking for and worked hard to provide it. I suspect they got a bit more talk than they usually do. As a semi-retired professor I have hours of lectures built up and I tend to unload those lectures on folks I interact with.  When I fish I want to learn something new each day and the Ryan's certainly provided that opportunity.

I will be back to fish with them again and next time I will try to make the timing fit the fishing instead of my "conference" schedule.

Thanks again for everything.

Gerry Campbell
Madison, WI
11-13-07

Dave,

Thanks once again for a great day on the water. I'm excited to hitsome local beaches as soon as time allows. It has been really fun learning to fly fish from you. Thanks for
guiding me on this new path and for being such a great instructor and resource.

Nancy Kim
Seattle, WA
11-13-07

Ryan,

Again, thank you for a great day on the Sound and for your patience with such limited ability anglers.  I think you could make anybody look good.

Dennis Olson
Bend, OR
11-9-07

Mike,

Thanks so much for the teriffic pictures. Yours are much better than the ones I took. We just had a great time with you guiding us on the McKenzie. We were very happy too, to be able to catch so many good fish. That is some kind of magic fly that we used. Too bad Dave doesn't have one of those in his fly-box. Good luck fishing.

Jim and Dana Mounts
Portland, OR
11-8-07

Dave,

I have been meaning to send you a hand written note.  We had a terrific time.  It was really fun.  Jody was a bit apprehensive about what it was going to be like and whether she would be able to get the hang of it.  You are a master of teaching fly fishing and making it fun and relaxing.  We enjoyed your company and learned a lot.  The lunch was terrific, who knew you were such a great cook.  Jody really liked being out on the river, so much so that she has asked for fly fishing gear for her birthday.  It is something that I would like to do more of in the coming years.  So it would be a great pleasure to go out with you again sometime. 

Conrad Gehrman
Seattle, WA
11-07-07

Dave,

Debbie and I had a great time fishing with you.  Thanks for the extra effort to help us learn more and catch fish. It is always a pleasure to fish with you and your team.

T.F. Lambert
Bellingham, WA
10-8-07

Ryan,

Here are the pics we promised. I wanted to thank you for the great trip and wonderful meal. Lisa had a great time I have never seen her fish for so long. Let me know if you ever get to Texas.

Andy Hernandez
Corpus Christy, TX
10-8-07

Hi Dave,

I sure had fun yesterday.  I really enjoy your company and your wit, not to mention your easy, patient way of making this amatuer fly fisherman feel like I know what I'm doing.  I want to work toward doing at least one more trip with you before you head to points south, if that is to be.

Thanks again for another great day on the river.

Jim Osborn
Redmond, WA
10-08-07

Kevin,

Just a short note to say "thanks" for a great experience flyfishing on Saturday.  We both learned a TON and had a great day, too.   I'm going to have to do a bit of practicing now so I am ready for the next trip!   Thanks so much.

Kate Julin
Seattle, WA
10-7-07  

Kevin,

That trip was fantastic; I can’t thank you enough for taking me out.

As requested, here’s some pictures for you and the shop. When you get a chance, would you mind sending me a picture of that olive clouser with the stinger hook and a full picture of your fly box? Give me one of you while getting ready to fish while you’re at it too…I’ve got some ideas coming through on the backside of this trip!

Talk with you again soon.

Scott Frushour
Boulder, CO
10-1-07

Hey guys,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know that Sheila and I had a fantastic time fishing with Dave’s dad(Mike McCoy)on the N. Umpqua – and that we are going out with him again next week on the McKenzie. What a great guy. We loved being in his company and both learned a ton from him.

Kelly Sjolander
Seattle, WA
9-19-07

Mike,

I want to thank you for the great time we had fishing and learning to row with you last week.  Fishing experience was great, the teaching was excellent and your self control when I was going to hit the rock was great (your octave did go up).

Again thank you for a great time and I am sure we will do this again. I’ll practice rowing in the meantime!

Regards,

Gerard G. Moulin P.E.
Yorba Linda, CA
9-30-07

Hi Dave,

Dylan was awesome!  The guy is an asset to your outfit for sure.  Although we didn’t land much of anything, my client from Japan had a great experience learning about local steelhead from Dylan. 

Regards,

James Iwase
Seattle, WA
9-25-07

I’ve never seen the group I manage so elated after spending time together. Generally when our management team gets together it is to hack out difficult matters of policy and to set interest rates. When they finish they tend to look as if they’ve swum the corporate equivalent of the English Channel. But after the afternoon with Dave at Emerald Water Anglers they looked ten years younger and they couldn’t’ stop talking. It was if the stress was gone from their faces. It helped a lot I think that they ALL caught a fish! Some of them caught several. All had nothing but good things to say about Dave and Monday morning at the office they couldn’t’ stop talking about what a good time they had. I would recommend Dave and Emerald Water Anglers for any team-building event.

Mark Stricklin
Seattle, WA
9-25-07

Hi Dave,

We had a wonderful time today with Dylan!!!   Nick and Liesl loved it also.  Dylan was a wonderful teacher.  Thank you very much.

Diane Gelotte
Seattle, WA
9-21-07

Dave,

Yesterday was absolutely great!!

Ryan and Dylan were such a pleasure to work with.

The instruction was outstanding. Dylan helped me a lot. I really have to say that my distance casting improved significantly and I can now cast a weighted fly, not perfectly, but with some degree of success.

The other guys had a great time as well. Rob is a new comer to flyfishing and he got a lot of attention from Ryan which he really appreciated. He felt like his casting improved a lot.

We all think we can fish the salt with some confidence now.

Thanks again and I look forward to the next outing.

T.F. Lambert
Bellingham, WA
9-14-07

Ryan,

I’ve been meaning to contact you to thank you for the great day Dennis Falk and I had August 14th.  It’s still on my list, once I learn to transfer digital photos to email, to send you the shots of my big steelhead.  Thanks for the tips and the lessons on Spey casting.  I also enjoyed your general knowledge of the flora and fauna.  Hope to ride with you again in the future.  Best wishes.

Bruce Squire
Albuquerque, NM
9-10-07

Dave,

Thanks again for the rowing lesson, you are an excellent teacher. I am typing this with a pencil in my mouth, I can't raise my arms.

Rick Henegan
Olympia, WA
9-8-07

Hey Dave,

I didn’t get a chance to thank you for fishing guide for Michael and I.  We had a great time, and you were a great guide…just the type of experience I wanted for my son. Anyway, thanks again, and if we are up that way again, I’ll definitely be giving you a call.

Tom Hanna
Los Angeles, CA
9-7-07

Hi Dave,

Fortunately Ryan escaped Lake Osewgo and developed a social conscience. He demonstrated tremendous patience and great stamina putting in a 14hr. day to get fish. He taught me a lot about fishing in the Sound and we had a great day. He ties a magical streamer. Might have been a shorter day had the fish been released before 6:00PM. I will be back to get those Coho I released prematurely and maybe get another gorgeous cut.

Thank you guys.

Steve Butt
Eugene, OR
9-7-07

Just wanted to say thanks for setting us up with Ryan for our fishing trip last Sunday. We had a great time and Ryan had us on fish; they just weren't cooperating. But I learned alot from him (which I'll translate into use here on Lake Michigan), and Ryan did a great job and took extra time to teach my 18y/o son Kurt the finer points of big water flyfishing. He also cooked us a great lunch!

I hope to get back to the Seattle area sometime soon-will definitely contact you for another trip. Feel free to use me for a reference if needed.

Thanks again,

Jack Swanson
Chicago, IL
8-30-07

Dylan,

We all really enjoyed our trip with you Friday!  We had a really good time and we learned a lot.  You were so very helpful and encouraging.  We will be in touch for future trips.

Michael Tucker
Woodinville, WA
8-27-07

I had a great time!

Cascade mountain creeks were gorgeous and fishing was awesome with lots and lots of fish. Box canyon had the bigger fish. Did catch a very nice 11-12" fish that managed to get away while waiting to have its picture taken :)

Puget sound was also good with a nice 4lb coho and 2 cutthroats, one a nice 18", 2.5lb+ fish.

Had a great weekend and Dylan was very good (even brought me to the airport afterwards which I appreciated a lot).

Thx

Robin Thorn
New York City, NY
8-26-07

Hey there Dave,

Thanks again for the great trip and the Spey casting instruction.  Thanks for being so patient too.  You're a great guide...Stay in touch.  Below is my contact info.  Good fishing always!

Steve Hoover
Oakland, CA
8-11-07

Dave,

I had the pleasure of fishing with Ryan Smith a few weeks back on the Cowlitz. Although we did not get any steelhead, I wanted to let you know that I thought Ryan was a pleasure to work with. His good natured personality, knowledge of the outdoors, and professional guidance made the day very enjoyable. I have fished in many places around the world with a few guides and can say that Ryan is one of the better.

Dean Lippold
Chicago, IL
7-29-07

Dave,

Thank you so much for a wonderful day!  We had such a great time and I couldn’t have asked for a better guide and person.  What is your address?  I’ll be sending a photo CD, you took so many great photos I can’t email that many!

Take care,

Corrine Gooden
Seattle, WA
7-30-07

Dave,

Thanks once again for a perfect day on your water. You are the consummate professional. I particularly appreciate your willingness to take up the mantle of educator and advocate for these incredible fishes and their homes. You are uniquely positioned to make a difference. Probably the high point of the day was a glimpse at a sea-run cutthroat, with its mysterious Braille of spots, communicating something beyond words. A little doggerel came to me on the trip up the Columbia, a strong impression of the summer run and of your church.

Drifting, probing monks
Waving feathered prayer sticks.
Hail! Silver pilgrims.

Until we meet again,

Chris Warner
Pullman, WA
7-1-07

Dave,

Yesterday was a great day.  Thank you for all the effort you put in to make it so informative and fun. 

Teresa Bonfiglio
Seattle, WA
6-4-07

Hey Dave,

Thanks for the note and thanks for the class, it was wonderful! I had a great time, really learned a lot and had a lot of fun... don't think I'll ever look at bugs the same again :)..... you do a great job.

Mike Fowler
Snohomish, WA
6-4-07

Hi Dave,

I just wanted to let you know that fishing with Ryan last week was a great experience. He is an excellent teacher as well as a damn good riverside cook.

All the guys thought he was great. The best part was Ryan teaching a beginner - I mean never cast a rod before beginner - how to cast and was even able to out fish his friend. Whom by-the-way, has been fishing for years.

Thanks for letting me tag along.

Todd Karn
Seattle, WA
5-29-07

Dave,

Kevin was great last Tuesday. We had a great time, despite having to cut the day really short due to a work crisis.  Important safety tip, leave the cell phone at the hotel!

Anyways, I caught one so I can add to my species list.

Next time I can get out there I will definitely call on you. In the meantime I’ll let the folks know who referred me to you that their recommendation was excellent.

Robert K. Rowell
Townshend, VT
5-27-07

Dave,

Thanks for the fishing on Wednesday…it was a blast…I will look you up the next time I am back…You have a great approach. Kevin did a great job as well.

Bill Miller
Kansas City, MO
5-18-07

Hey Dave,

Thanks for a great trip, we sure had a good time fishing with you. Even though the fishing was slow, we all sure gave it our best try. John and I fished hard on Thursday and Friday but still no luck. Thank you very much for all your help on the casting, I certainly understand more about it now and will be able to improve, provided the casting gods are willing. Please tell Ryan and Dylan how very much we enjoyed our time on the river with them as well. They are great guys and a pleasure to spend a day fishing with as are you. Anytime you guys are out around the Lyons area, just let me know and will get together. Hope to see down the road.

Dave,

Thank you for a great day on the water, it was truely a learning experience.  I enjoyed spending time with you and on the water, Ben ???  I think he was whipped by lunch time. 

I thank you for spending the quality time with Ben, I know steelheading can be quite frustrating. I have been there before, and trust me I will be back.  This has now become a personal quest, I want the 20+ pound steelhead on the spey rod.

If there is anything I can do to help you out let me know, I will pass on my experiences with my friends and colleagues that have a passion for fly fishing.   You operate a professional and excellent business.

Regards,

Todd Somsel
Phoenix, AZ
3-12-07

Dear Dave:

I hope you remember me.  A few months back I sent you an e-mail asking about  a one day fishing visit in Bariloche.  You put me in touch with Manuel Abril.  I wanted to thank you sincerely for helping me make the connection with Manuel.  What a wonderful guy and what a wonderful day fishing.  Manuel stopped by the day before our trip with his son just to go over details and provided everything I needed and more.  The location was spectacular, the fishing was excellent and the service and support provided by Manuel and his son Gonzalo was worth every penny.  He provided transport, gear, food, advice, casting lessons, etc and all with good humor and fun.

I sent you photos of the lovely fish we bought, and my deepest thanks for hooking me up with a great experience.  I’ll be going pack to visit Manuel with friends and hope we can all get together and fish S.A. one day soon.

All the best,

Jon Wolfsthal
Washington, DC
3-5-07

I was impressed with how far you guys go to make sure the client is happy. I don't know anyone in the guide business that offers the value and personalized service you offer. Ill be in touch when I am in the area again.

David Prestipino
Star Tannery, VA
3-20-06

Dave,

We had a great time with Ryan. The class taught us what we wanted and needed to learn. It was great fishing on the Yakima river even though the weather was not the best for it. I guess it was a little too cold for much of a hatch. The spots were nice and no one else was fishing the area so we got to learn a lot. We both caught some fish but our only expectation was to have fun and learn. The fish were a bonus.

Thanks for a great class.

Jeff Ellis
Seattle, WA
9-22-06

Dave,

I could not be more pleased with my experience. My friend and I, despite not having caught much, enjoyed being out on the water. Mark was helpful and patient, especially with my friend who was truly a beginner. I am looking forward to coming back and will recommend Emerald Water Anglers to my friends back home… thanks again!

Aarin Massey
Chicago, IL
8-18-06

Hi Dave,

You were great! Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk with us. The guys who sat with us at breakfast, John and Keith, could have listened to you for hours. Fishing is life for them. And several others commented later about how much they learned and enjoyed your talk.

Best regards,

Richard Walters
Seattle, WA
8-2-06

Dave,

First let me apologize for not writing you sooner. I want to thank you for a remarkable trip to the Cowlitz River. Although I wasn't able to catch a steelhead the day was one I will certainly never forget. As you may recall I said something to the effect of "If I don't catch a fish it doesn't matter, I was able to spend the day in some of the most beautiful country. I truly believe that the opportunity to see and experience Gods gift to fishermen is the primary pleasure of all fishing trips. If I am able to hook one ,land one, or see someone put one in their creel then the day was even better.  I want to express my gratitude to you for not only having the patience of a saint but for having a genuine stewardship for the environment and its beauty. I feel as though I had a day of  excellent tuition with a good fisherman and made a friend at the same time . I would gladly return that favor if it were in my power. Please promise that if you are ever in my neck of the woods that you will let me return the favor with some good Texas hospitality. Thank your wife for supporting you in your stewardship and at the soonest take your baby fishing. May God Bless you and all that is yours.

As I Remain Thankful

Bruce Tiffin
Austin, TX
7-22-06

Hi Dave. 

I had a marvelous time fishing with you last week.  I know you wanted to catch a fish very badly but believe me I learned so much and had such fun that actually landing a fish would have been icing on an already very delicious cake.  I fished this morning on a small stream in Westchester county with my 7' bamboo rod and found myself double speying instead of rollcasting, which was really overkill but more fun.  I don't know about my school schedule for next year yet but when it allows I am going to try to come back.  I think we have a few long weekends in early October, and then Thanksgiving (I don't know if you work then).  If I had a choice between them (and I'm not sure I do, but let's be optimistic) which would you recommend?  Again I don't know if the finances or the schedule will really allow for this, but I'm being optimistic.  Anyway, gratias tibi maximas ago (thank you very much) again.
 
Funes intentos esto (tight lines),

Tom Hoetzl
New York, NY
7-8-06

Dave,

Dylan was the best! A great guide and a great person to spend the day with. We had a fantastic time. Monster fish, fun fly fishing. I gave up fly fishing about 30 years ago, but after the day, I can see getting back into it. My son still talks about the fishing. We may be in Seattle in March and will definitely get back to you.

Have a great holiday.

Thomas R Petersen
Los Angeles, CA
11-29-03

Hello Dave,

Just wanted to send you a note to let you know that it really was a treat to fish with you a couple weeks ago... The fish may not have cooperated but it truly was a pleasure to share company with you for the day. I was satisfied just wading Puget Sound and all it's beauty. I know after spending the day with you that I don't need to say this, but count your blessings, you are living a dream! You bring great credit to the sport/passion of flyfishing and your enthusiasm is contagious.

Thanks,

Bill Darbee
Bakersfield, CA
5-13-06

Dave,

Had a great time. Kevin was excellent and the scenery was brillant! Next time will be for steelhead

Thanks,

David Goldstein
8-1-06

Dave,

We had a great time! Ryan was great, he has the best personality, and was the most fun and personable of any guide I've ever had (and I've had more than 20 or 30). BTW, he took some pictures that we'd REALLY like to have e-mailed to us. We'll pay to get them developed if necessary, but we really want copies of those pictures!

Mark Godsey
San Louis Obispo, CA
3-20-06

Dave,

This is a long overdue thank you for all the help on the trip to Pelican Bay .  As I am sure you know it was not great fishing, about 80% fishing and 20% Chuck!

It was everything I could have hoped for in a bone fishing destination.  I just wanted to thank you for putting it together and we will probably go back sometime and will have you do the trip. Greg was great, very professional and took an interest in all the anglers and always ready to listen and give advice when needed.  Thanks again.

Liz and Chuck Brousseau
Seattle, WA
5-1-05

Special thanks to yourself and your fine staff. I enjoyed myself and learned a great deal from each and every instructor. I would love to see this become an annual get together and count on me bringing a couple of friends. On Labor Day I was visiting relatives on Fox Island . I got up early to go fish off the shore and caught my first salmon on a fly rod in the saltwater, a nice 7lb silver. I owe it all to the great ideas and instruction I received. You have a new saltwater disciple in me.

See you at the shop, or on the beach.

Sincerely,

Bruce Christy
Seattle, WA
9-10-04

Thanks Dave,

Had a great time on the Ronde althought the fishing was poor.  Everyone did get a fish however.  Marty and the crew were awesome and I would do the trip again in a heartbeat. We rebooked for next year already!

Nathan Keen
Seattle, WA  
11-5-05

Dave,

Thank you so much for making my dads' day of fishing so enjoyable.  Both of them gave you a "two thumbs up."  I really appreciate your warm hospitality, patience and friendly demeanor.  My dads really had a great time!

Thanks, again, Dave!  I'm really happy that the day was great for them.

Amy Trenary
Seattle, WA
6-29-05

Hi Dave,

Dylan ran a great class a couple weeks ago, so thank you.  He told us that we could email him anytime to ask questions. 

Drew Herdener
Seattle, WA
11-14-06

Greetings Friends,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note with great appreciation for the trip guided by Ryan in late June 2006.  I was in Seattle on a business trip and a short time to use for "on stream" fishing.  Ryan's attitude, knowledge, and willingness to share made the 1/2 day trip on the Cedar River memorable.  I brought along a new friend; a doctor living in WA who is engaged in studying stream activity and trout populations, and he even was impressed.

As a beginning fly-fisherman, I hold courteous guides and a willingness to share experience with me as worth every penny of a guided trip.  An educated professional, I learn quickly about the entomology of the region and local fish behavior.  Ryan was more than accommodating in this regard.

Though the 1/2 day trip yielded only 2 hook-ups and no fish was brought to hand, Ryan and his seamlessly and selflessly shared experience made the trip worth every penny for the outing.

I can, without reservation, recommend Emerald Water Anglers (Ryan especially) to host anyone willing to learn and have an opportunity to put a trophy trout in hand.

Additionally, I will recommend Emerald Water Anglers and Ryan to any friends and associates finding their way to the Pacific Northwest.

Best regards,
T.W.
Indianapolis, IN
1-25-07