Keep The Sea Inshore Charters

30/05/2022

Our most sincere THANK YOU to all who have served.

07/05/2022

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I'm in a beautiful gorge, just in the shadow of Huckleberry K**b, a couple miles in on a Tellico trib, hadn't seen a footprint in the last hour of the hike.

I'm standing atop a 5' high granite boulder that is half in the stream and half out. After surveying the spot, I determined that this position gives me the best casting opportunities for the run I'm targeting.

It's pretty perfect. The run is deep for the water I'm fishing. The falls just above have created a mini-hydraulic, that then transitions into a a beautiful run of 3-5' depth and good current with big rocks strewn along the bottom.

It's maybe my third drift through this section with a #14 Yellow Sally. She's making her way above the submerged rocky crags. I'm enjoying the benefits of my ideal aerial view.

It's faint at first, but quickly gains in size and clarity. Just upstream of Sally, and facing up in altitude and down in stream, rose the largest wild Rainbow I'd seen. With just a breach of the surface and a slight inhalation, we were connected. It's that connection that rises deep from within my soul each time I zip open a rod tube or step into my wade boots.

The setting was picture-perfect. The rise and take would rival the most polished web video I've ever seen. The vantage point I had from high upon my rock was drone-like. It was one of those moments when a cannon could've been fired beside me and I would've never heard or seen a thing.

The instant that Sally gave all, I leaned into my Vesper and felt the wild one plunging toward the rocky bottom below, as the 5x gave a little stretch. It was about this time that the first of several clear thoughts began to enter my head.

How would I net this fish from 5 feet up the rock where I had climbed for my perfect cast. Wouldn't 5 minutes ago have been a great time to turn on the GoPro. Wouldn't it be great if I could do this 8 days a week.

Back to the battle.....
The stream offers mostly close-combat conditions, so the fish is not on the reel. I'm stripping and slipping as the wild one dictates while first scooting, then rolling down my rock.

Continued below in Comments........

03/05/2022

On a tip from .outfitters I headed up the Tellico River, well beyond the stocking area to some tributaries in search of wild Rainbows. What a great fishery! These fish were lit up like neon, hungry and ready to fight. Don't recall when I've had more fun on the stream.

A good mix of dry and dropper strikes throughout the afternoon and covering three different small tributaries.

My Vesper paired with the was the perfect weapon yet again.

If you find yourself in this part of the world, make a stop at .outfitters and head to one of the many fine streams in their area

25/04/2022

Rio San Antonio Rainbow camped in a plunge pool couldn't resist a #14 Rainbow Warrior. This fish took flight multiple times, and the sensitivity of the
Vesper made it a thrill ride!
Special thanks to Ray at for some great info and Tom for the best in supplies.

#505

24/04/2022

Jemez River Brown on a #16 Lightning Bug

18/01/2022

Winter blues got you down? Think Spring Reds and book your trip today!!!🎣

14/01/2022

Those Arizona Rattlers will sure make ya' jump!

01/01/2022

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!
Wishing you great catches for 2022!!!

25/12/2021

Merry Christmas from our front porch to yours!🎅☃️

19/12/2021

You know it's right when the two halves make it whole. You make each other whole. It looks and feels right when you're together and couldn't look and feel more wrong when you're apart.

Like most, we've gotten it wrong, and have the scars to prove it! But like so very few, we've been blessed to get it right with each other, on a level that we find incredibly difficult to even explain to most. But if you really know us, it requires no explanation anyway.

Life will bring you many gifts, and along the way, some tough battles. Life's great gift to me is a Warrior. A Warrior to stand beside me and make the best days better and the tough days easy. Each time I even think I'm lacking something needed, she has recognized the need and filled it before it even arises. So today, on the birthday belonging to her, like everyday, I celebrate the gift that she is to me.

Happy Birthday to my Warrior!

07/12/2021

I had the good fortune recently to fish the world famous "Juan" in northwestern New Mexico. To make it even better, I had the pleasure of fishing it with my good friend and fellow USCG Captain, Jim Norwood.

A bit of a new experience landing 20+" bows and browns on size 26 midges on 6x tippet! Watching those big fish bulldog upstream like a 27" Redfish, pulling drag with that setup is both nerve wracking and exhilarating at the same time!

Drag takes on a new meaning in this scenario though, with the expert rowing of a guy like Chris Eagan of on his sled, silky smooth drag and the most incredible finesse delivered by my new favorite 5wt!

We waded and floated the Juan and also waded a beautiful section of the Rio Grande in the Rio Grande Gorge State Park. I've always been a lover of the southwest and feel very at home here. This was my first time visiting this particular area and I can't speak highly enough of the experiences we had. The beauty of her landscape and the kindness of her people combined to make our visit to this part of the Land of Enchantment, one we'll never forget!

Special thanks to our great friends/family, Jim & Paddy for their incredibly warm hospitality, Tom for great supplies and information, Will & Chris for their top-notch guide services, Tate and all the crew for their excellent products and services and to everyone we met along the way who helped to make this an incredible experience!

See ya'll in the spring!😉

Capt. Jim

02/10/2021

The Best Part.

02/10/2021

Fat Reds, Skinny Water. Little Light, Big Bite!

02/10/2021

Our first October evening is going to be hard to top. I don't think you can paint it prettier than this.

07/09/2021

Heard some talk about flounder season. Somebody needs to tell these Trout!🤣

04/09/2021

Just a fun trip this evening to check a few spots. This big girl was caught and RELEASED in the Cape Fear River near Carolina Beach.

Sexy Penny jerk shadZ on a 3/16oz Texas Eye jighead did the trick!

As Fishing Guides, it's important that we all remember that it's the fish that puts the smiles on the faces of our clients. It's not us. Protect the resource. Lead by example. Practice conservation. Keep what you need and release the rest.🤙

02/09/2021

01/09/2021

Great trip this evening with visiting from Colorado! Several nice Flounder caught and RELEASED before the circus begins tomorrow. Two weeks under the big top. Should be quite a show!🤙