Bill Heger Guide Service

7/2/2009 - Great time on the Calaveras! Bill Heger is a superb guide who knows everything there is to know about this river. Bill introduced me to several unique combinations of flies, different lines and techniques to fool these wild rainbow trout. Based on the different situations we faced on the river, he made expert recommendations on whether to nymph, swing a wet fly, or strip a streamer. He even carried extra rods along so I could quickly transition to the best setup. The result was a 15+ fish day with the largest fish exceeding 14 inches...with a fight twice its size. As for streamside manner, you will find Bill to be helpful, not insistent, and a person who genuinely enjoys sharing his insights on his "home river". In sum, Bill is an expert guide, masterful technician, and an enthusiastic fly fisherman whose hospitality you will thoroughly enjoy. Book a trip with him soon and find out for yourself!

John Burger

Tampa Florida

Ted Nahhas and I floated the Lower Mokelumne with Bill Heger on Monday February 22, 2010.  It was a cold and dreary day and the fish were not very cooperative. 

We tried throwing everything but the kitchen sink at them, but the bite did not turn on until after lunch.  We were below the Highway 88 before we found willing fish.  The hatchery juvenile steelhead were still present and was mostly what we caught.  We caught most of them nymphing on black Copper Johns and a few on Micro Mayflies. 

We were on the water about 9:00 AM and fished until 5:30PM.  A nasty wind came up in the afternoon and we raced the storm to get off the water before the rain hit.  We managed to get the boat out and secured and were in the truck when it started to sprinkle.  Not bad timing at all.

Don't miss Ted's Take after the jump!

Bill giving Ted a few pointers

Craig Martini and I floated the Lower Mokelumne with Bill Heger on Monday February 22, 2010.  It was a beautiful day and the fish were very willing.

We lost track of the number of fish that we caught, let's just say it was probably well over 50 fish landed between the two of us.  The hatchery at Camanche had turned out a lot of 8-10" juvenile steelhead, and it was all we could do to hook something larger between the little guys grabbing our flies.  We caught them swinging buggers on sink-tips, we caught them nymphing on red Copper Johns as well as blue Copper Johns.  They were spread out from the launch point to the takeout at Mackville, and probably lower.  I managed to land a few fish between 12-15" amongst the juveniles and I lost one large fish that was much bigger.  I never got a real good look at him, but he was definitely heavier than anything else I hooked.

We were on the water about 10:00 AM and fished until 5:30PM.  A very enjoyable day.

Here are a few pictures:

Craig (rear) and Bill.

Kissing the fish for good luck...

My friend Ben and I floated the Mokelumne River on Monday with Bill Heger, Owner of Bill Heger Guide Service.  We put in below Camanche and floated down to the Mackville Road takeout.

Ben is just getting into fly fishing and Bill did an excellent job helping Ben learn some of the finer points.  Ben landed his first fish on a dry fly as well as his first fish on a nymph.