The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Purple Peril is one of the classic steelhead flies. In this fly tying video, Barrett shows you his own twist on this great Deschutes River steelhead pattern. It’s also a good winter steelhead pattern.

The Purple Peril
Hook: TMC 7999
Thread: Purple Uni 6/0
Tail: Metz soft hackle purple
Tag Lagartun varnished oval med french tinsel
Rib: Same as [...]

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Trout Creek to Harpham Flat, Nov 5-7: Eight of us set out last week from Eugene to the high desert to chase steelhead on the Deschutes River. Ethan Nickel Outfitters ran the program to celebrate the end of the ‘09 guide season and we came along for the ride, enjoying Ethan and Kyle Duke’s hard-won [...]

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John Larison’s The Complete Steelheader has changed the way I fish more than any other book I’ve read. There are lots of other books out there that have had an effect on my life, fishing philosophy, etc. But no other book actually changed the way I approach the mechanics of the sport. I think [...]

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Right now is my favorite time of the year to be on the Deschutes. You probably thought it was getting to be a bit late for Lower Deschutes steelhead didn’t you? Well so did everyone else, which leaves the lower section of river pretty much void of fisherman and still full of fresh steelhead. The [...]

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The water is high today but the graph has turned downward and things should be right for the weekend. The Willamette from Dexter Dam down through Eugene continues to outperform the McKenzie. Swinging Morejohn’s Bantam, Moal Leeches, Loop Leech and Hoh Bo Spey patterns have been working well.–CD

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One of my favorite old fishing clients called me a few weeks ago. “I just booked Hickman for a couple days and I want you to be my guest!” It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an order. “Sure thing, Les. Thanks a ton!”
I hung up the phone and felt the twinge of reservation. It was [...]

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Last week I had the chance to fish with Frank Moore and Pat McRae on the North Umpqua for summer steelhead. I drove down to meet them at lunchtime and fished the second half of one of the first rainy fall days of the year.
Pat and Frank scout the pool

As the three of us [...]

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