Howdy friends. Hope you are well, and eagerly anticipating the summer trout season. As you may, or may not know-I have moved to Central Oregon near the city of Bend. I sold Sierra Drifters Guide Service, and its associated fly business to Doug Rodricks, who will continue to provide the finest guides and service in the Eastern Sierra. Doug and I remain very close friends (I administered marriage oaths to Doug and his pretty bride Jenny this winter at Convict Lake). We have discussed doing some Eagle Lake trips together in the future. Michele and I reside here year around, and have started building a new custom boat designed to fish the numerous trophy trout waters this area has to offer. Koffler Boats in Eugene, OR. is making this 24’ aluminum dream boat for me. As many of you know I am a boat-aholic, having owned many quality fishing rigs over the years. The design for this rig has been on my mind for many years, and I am very excited to have finally found a master boat fabricator to make it happen. I can fish four easily on this machine. Large, spacious, snag free decks-more free board for safety on larger lakes, shallow draft to get into creek channels. State of the art fish locating/GPS electronics, & 225HP to get us there quick! Can you tell I’m stoked on this boat?

My new business is named Tom E. Loe Fly Fishing (Tommy Loe). tomloe.com is my new website. Not much on it yet; but I will keep the home page updated as to when I will start booking trips, and what waters I have been working. My Facebook page will also be a way to check out where I have been “catching”, and to contact me.

I am working out of, & directly with Fly & Field Outfitters located in Bend, OR. This is an impressive organization teamed with some of the finest guides in the state. FFO has a beautiful shop stocked with top of the line gear, & high quality flies in the area. They have diverse programs that include Deschutes River drift boat trips, walk and wade programs on the abundant local rivers, & still water guide trips on the famous Cascade Lakes. I have been friends with the owner Scott Cook for several years now, and am excited to be part of this group. You can contact me directly about any guide trips you may be interested in. If I can’t help you myself, I will make sure your request gets forwarded to the shop immediately. I will be primarily focusing on still water lake trips; but can do some walk and wade trips if you prefer this. No more drift boat guiding for me, I have crossed my oars after twenty years of rowing!

The boat is in its final stages, with sea trials happening in May. I hope to announce some guide programs beginning in June; or July depending on how the fine tuning of the boat goes. If you want a trip to the area sooner; just get in touch with me and I will see you get on the books with a top FFO guide. There can be some great fishing in this region during the early parts of the season.

As I begin a new chapter in my fishing life, I truly hope to see many of you who have given me incredible memories, & become close friends. Let’s explore some new waters together, and create some new stories. I will put out another newsletter when I have the boat dialed in. If you have some thoughts; or questions about doing a trip up here this summer, contact me and I will keep them on file. I anticipate guiding in July through late October.

The scenic, and fish pics are from Crane Prairie Reservoir which I have guided since 2015. I am infatuated with this fishery, and it will be a primary still water location I’d enjoy showing you.

BE the fly...Tom Loe
driftfish1@gmail.com
760-937-2015