Monthly Archives: July 2010

Lagartun Mini Flat Braid Summer Steelhead Fly Series: Fluorescent Orange

The first of four different steelhead flies tied by Jay Nicholas from his Steelhead Mini Flat Braid Series. Fluorescent Orange Lagartun Mini Flat Braid over-body and a silver Lagartun Mini Flat Braid under-body give this pattern a subtle glow in the … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Summer Steelhead | 1 Comment

North Umpqua summer steelhead, sleep deprivation, and collective insanity

We made it hard on ourselves, taking off for the North Umpqua Thursday night after last call. How many days ago, two? We left with no sleep, straight for the fly water. When I popped out of the truck that … Continue reading

Posted in North Umpqua River Fishing Reports | 4 Comments

Jay’s Summer Steelhead Chenille Series Red and Black and Orange and Black

The final two of eight Summer Steelhead Chenille Series flies from Jay Nicholas. Jay discusses hook size, proportions and flash. The next series of low water patterns is on the way!–CD Summer Steelhead Chenille Series Hook: TMC 700 2-6 Thread: … Continue reading

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Jay’s Summer Steelhead Chenille Series Claret and Black and Blue and Black

Two more in Jay’s Summer Steelhead Chenille Series Steelhead fly patterns. During the tying session Jay discusses stomach contents of Steelhead. His career as a biologist and angler has led to a tremendous amount of research, field observation and access … Continue reading

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More of Jay’s Steelhead Chenille Series Fly Tying Videos

Two more proven Steelhead patterns from Jay Nicholas’s Summer Steelhead Chenille Series. Purple has to be considered along with black as a top producing steelhead color. Fly number two is a “Juicy Bug” knock off that Jay has had success … Continue reading

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Middle Fork Willamette Report

Thursday, my friend Mike and I decided to take advantage of the good flows on the Middle Fork of the Willamette above Lookout Point and float for wild trout.  Whether it was the late rain or the Corps hording water … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | 2 Comments

The making of a steelheader: Bob Welch on the Town Run

Greg Hatten shot this great video earlier this week of Register-Guard columnist Bob Welch fighting his first steelhead on the Town Run. Check out the four-foot jump this thing takes. Apparently Bob is hooked.

Posted in Summer Steelhead | 8 Comments

Jay’s Summer Steelhead Chenille Series

It’s looking like another excellent summer Steelhead year in the Pacific Northwest. Rumor, suggestion, theory, preliminary numbers, has the Deschutes even better in 2010 than the record of 2009. The North Umpqua is fishing reasonably well right now. The Willamette, … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Summer Steelhead | 2 Comments

TU meeting tonight, Fish and ecology of the Long Tom River

Jed Kaul from the Long Tom Watershed Council will be speaking at the Trout Unlimited meeting tonight at the Eagles Aerie, 1375 Irving Rd., Eugene, OR. Learn about this watershed just west of Eugene. Free and open to the public, … Continue reading

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 1 Comment

Green McKenzie Caddis fly pattern winners announced

Here are the winners of the Caddis Fly and Hareline Dubbin fly tying contest — this spring’s pattern was the Green McKenzie Caddis. 1st Place: Green Caddis Wet by Ethan Nickel Hook: Daichi 1560 #10 Thread: Black UTC 70 Body: … Continue reading

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Fishing for town-run steelhead in fluctuating water

Last night Karl and I fished the town run from Island Park to Alton Baker on a rising river. The U.S. Army Corps has been raising and dropping the water levels to do some spillway repairs upriver, and the levels … Continue reading

Posted in Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Summer Steelhead | 9 Comments

Summer Steelhead Boss Series Fly Tying Videos with Jay Nicholas

Jay Nicholas and I sat down and filmed around 40 seperate fly tying videos earlier this summer. The following set includes 9 flies, all variations of Jay’s Summer Steelhead Boss. The Boss Fly has been around for a long, long … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Tying, Summer Steelhead | 4 Comments

McKenzie River Fishing Report

The McKenzie River is fishing well top to bottom. While the majority of our significant early season hatches have declined water conditions are ideal for wading or boating the entire McKenzie River. Lower River: Confluence up to Leaburg Dam: Early … Continue reading

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | 1 Comment

Patagonia film coming to Eugene, sponsored by Native Fish Society

The movie 180° SOUTH shows in Eugene at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 30, at the WOW Hall, 291 W. 8th Ave. The film’s star, Jeff Johnson, will be at both showings to greet people and answer questions. The movie is … Continue reading

Posted in Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 2 Comments

Wrap it up: 2010 Coastal Spring Chinook Fishery Ends with a Grand Finale

Spring-like weather might prolong the coastal spring chinook fishery for another week or two, but after the butt-kicking handed to me over the last couple of weeks, I’m crawling back in my hole for a month or two. My right … Continue reading

Posted in Oregon Salmon fly fishing | 4 Comments