MARBLE MOUNTAIN RANCH
Destination Overview
Marble Mountain Ranch is a Klamath River “destination fishing resort” and features packaged steelhead fly fishing trips. Their complete “Steelhead On The Fly” fishing trips include all meals, private cabin lodging, guide service, drinks and snacks on the river, all needed flies, and shuttles.
They target the Middle Klamath River, Trinity River, and Cal Salmon via drift boat, raft and by guided wade fishing. Marble Mountain specializes in leading you to steelhead on the traditional “tight line grab” of a swung fly.
The target waters are close to the home ranch, require only short shuttles, and easily allow you to return you to your private cottage for a hot shower and a 5-star lodge dinner. Your fishing day at Marble Mountain Ranch will be characterized by solitude on the remote stretches of the Klamath River, upscale lodging and meals, and dedicated and enthusiastic guiding.
Doug Cole, the ranch owner and lead guide, his family and staff live on site. They have “home turf” advantage of intimately knowing the mid Klamath, lower Trinity and Cal Salmon rivers. Fly Fishing Travel promises your fishing experience here will rival anything you might find at a fly-in resort!
Since the ranch is also a working dude ranch, bring your entire family for horseback riding, rafting, shooting and more! A great place to bring the family and experience why ranch life elicits so much allure!
At a Glance
Location: Klamath River, California
Target Fish: Steelhead
Time of Year: October through March
Lodge Capacity: 36 guests unless you have made an exclusive ranch charter for a larger group. There are beds for about 50 in 10 cottages and two deluxe homes. Because of the occupancy cap, the usual guest occupancy ranges between 24 – 30 visitors.
Nearest Airport: The nearest airport is a two-hour drive from the ranch and we suggest either the California Arcata/Mckinleyville airport (ACV) or the Medford Oregon airport (MDF). Shuttle service is available at $25/person each way ($150 minimum) and is free to guests staying on the 5 night package.
Documents Required: Fishing License with Steelhead Stamp
Fishing Program
The steelhead season starts in late Summer, as they transition the guest ranch operations into the steelhead fly fishing lodge. Fall is the prime season, with Winter steelhead fishing continuing into the Spring months. The full service fishing trip rates are based on guide packages with meals and lodging included, but can also be arranged a la carte for steelheaders who may not need a professional guide or a cabin and meal package.
The drift boat program covers 6 – 10 miles of river in a day and they decide on which run to drift based on river conditions.
Steelhead fishing on the mid Klamath is best September through April (as river conditions permit), with the prime months being October and November.
Spey casting is also good on the mid Klamath with the drift boat program, but some of the best holding water is frankly best reached while casting from the decks of a drift boat.
Steelhead Fly Fishing Using Local Guides - The Home Court Advantage
Doug Cole, the ranch owner and lead guide, and his family and staff live and fish on site.Our “home turf” advantage of intimately knowing the mid Klamath, lower Trinity and Cal Salmon allows us to lead you to the best possible fishing day. As mentioned above, their guiding signature is in taking steelhead on the “swung fly” , and in accessing remote and seldom pressured river sections. Doug and his entire staff have an unmatched work ethic, making your Fly Fishing Travel fishing adventure everything you hoped for.
Fly Fishing The Swung Fly Verses The Drifted Indicator
A typical fly-fishing day involves a mixture of tactics based on the classic “greased line” method. They will have you cross current cast, mend and swing the fly downstream through targeted water to produce that “grab and run” hit made famous by Pacific steelhead. They also team fish the swinging fly with extended drifts using boat movement. Also your guide will quietly walk the boat alongside holding water while you cast from stable boat decks. Also, you will cast dries to undercuts and pockets, and swing waking patterns across glides. They also dead drift nymphs under indicators in the cooler winter water temperatures, but you will NOT spend your entire day watching a “bobber” while fly-fishing the Klamath or Trinity in the Fall. It is important, when you book, to tell us what level of activity you prefer. Aggressive wade fishermen and Spey casters will be taken to different water than those wanting a more relaxing day casting entirely from the boat.
Your licensed and bonded guides are Captain Doug Cole (Marble Mountain Ranch owner) Adam Cole, and fellow guide associates.
Marble Mountain Ranch is licensed by the Coast Guard as OUPV #26242 and are permitted by the Klamath National Forest. Also licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game since 1994 – guide license number 1983.
Accommodations
Lodging and cottage options at Marble Mountain Ranch vary in size and available amenities, but the Western hospitality is consistently legend. The cottages and homes are located conveniently close to ranch activity centers, but are remote enough to allow you to find solitude in the lush shade of the forest margins.
Marble Mountain Ranch is Siskiyou County’s only full-service Klamath River Lodge. The accommodations include fully furnished deluxe homes and housekeeping cottages with full kitchens, as well as smaller units that come with kitchenettes.
Cabins come with all bedding and linens, bath towels, and hand soaps. You should bring all of your personal toiletries including hair dryers if you need them. Each cabin has a personal kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator at a minimum and some have full sized kitchens with cooktops and ovens.
They do not provide daily maid service in their efforts to “go green”, but you may always request fresh towels, linens, or maid service as you need.
Outside towels are provided for the pool, hot tub, and other outside events as needed. Depending on the activities that you choose to participate in, you will need clothing appropriate for that activity. In general you will need ranch-wear, river and fishing clothing, and riding clothing.
Meals are bountiful as well as eye-pleasing. They serve home-baked breads and desserts, salads, and vegetables fresh from their own garden, and select meats smoked and roasted over native hardwoods. Adventure seeking may be what originally brings you to Marble Mountain Ranch, but the meals will be a surprising highlight and will bring you back again and again.
Getting There
For guests who prefer to fly in, the nearest airport is a two-hour drive from the ranch and we suggest either the California Arcata/Mckinleyville airport (ACV) or the Medford Oregon airport (MDF). Shuttle service is available at $25/person each way ($150 minimum) and is free to guests staying on the 5 night package.
Some guests are reducing air-fare by flying to San Francisco California or Grants Pass Oregon and building a Pacific Coast driving vacation onto their Marble Mountain Ranch stay.