What: A banquet and auction supporting the revival of wild, native fish, free-flowing rivers, and thriving local communities.
You’re invited to join us on an amazing journey into the future of abundance at our 27th Annual Benefit Banquet and Auction! We’re excited to welcome you back, in person, to the biggest party for wild fish in the universe!
Our Homewaters: Run Wild Benefit will feature a fully catered dinner, local libations, and our gold-standard live auction loaded with top-tier items from around the globe – and tickets are on sale now!
Mark your calendars for April 22nd – we can’t wait to see you live and in-person at our biggest event of the year!
From Wild Salmon Center: URGENT! Timber Industry Wants to Torpedo Tillamook Conservation—AGAIN
Here we go again. At a special meeting this Wednesday, Feb. 15, the timber industry will ask the Oregon Board of Forestry to scrap the major state forests habitat conservation plan that’s been in the works for years.
This isn’t the first time that logging interests have tried to derail this plan. In November, industry allies on the board tried to force a vote on a timber-friendly alternative. But a majority of the commissioners said no, citing the overwhelming community support for conservation earlier that day.
Let’s be clear: this habitat conservation plan (HCP) for Western Oregon state forests is not anti-logging. Plenty of timber harvest is still called for in the compromise language of this plan.
What the HCP does achieve is something that’s been lacking for decades: a balanced management approach for our state forests, reflecting the broad values that Oregonians have for our public lands. The HCPprotects salmon, wildlife habitat, clean water, recreation and carbon storage, while sustaining a healthy supply of logs. It’s been developed with years of public input—including from the timber industry and local governments.
Alternative 3 represents this balanced conservation approach. Can you ask the board to stick to its guns and move forward with HCP Alternative 3 (or an alternative that is at least as protective)?
These forests belong to all Oregonians, not just the timber industry. Don’t let them get away with another end run around a sound public process. Let’s keep the HCP on track.
In this video Simon Stephen demonstrates how to utilize the Hareline Zirconia dubbing rake to create easy to dub great looking fly bodies. The Guides Choice Hare’s Ear is an excellent high water nymph to use in spring.
My son and I had a chance to fish Astove Atoll in the Seychelles this December. The Bulkhead Deceiver was the fly all week! Black, yellow and brown, pink and grey all fished very well for GT’s. This style of fly held up better to abuse than many other synthetic flies. The bucktail holds its bulk really nicely pushing water and creating enough of a disturbance to bring fish out of the surf. There is no question this fly would be awesome for Peacock Bass and other predators.
Cold Weather and recent high water in the past weeks has made trout fishing inconsistent. More recently in the last week or so on our local rivers, the Mckenzie and Willamette, the flows have subsided leading to more favorable fishing conditions. Hatches have been sparse with the colder weather, and nymphing has been the most productive approach by far. Larger flies have been working when water was higher, but now it seems the fish are more keyed in on smaller offerings.
During the high water events, fish were found holding closer to the bank in the softer water and in large deep pools where they have to exert less energy to hold. High water nymphs include: Stonefly Double Bead #8, Jake’s Depth Charge Worm #14, Mega Pirince #8-12, Tunghead 20 Incher #8-12, Gummy Worm #12, or Tungsten Trout Retriever #8. When rivers are flowing faster, it is common for large stoneflies and other bugs to be pushed into the current. Pair that with heavy rains flushing worms into the system, and you’ll find trout holding on the edge of seams picking off large offerings being swept downstream. These larger flies are noticed more easily by a trout when the water is high and off color; hence why using a larger fly that stands out is important.
With flow levels coming down and water clarity improving, using a smaller nymph is more appropriate. Heavy jigged attractor patterns such as: Jigged PCP #14-16, Rainbow Warrior #14-16, Jigged Perdigon #12-16,Jigged Duracell #12 or a Jigged Frenchie #12-16 get down deep in faster water or deeper pools. When fishing water that is slower and softer, more realistic buggy looking nymphs often work better. The fish have more time to see your offering, so something more convincing and delicate will help. Good choices for slower, softer water include: Pheasant Tail #14-16, Galloup’s Peacock Hares Ear #14, Split Case BWO #18, Shop Vac #16, or a Zebra Midge #16-20. Drift these through the softer water near the seam and you’ll find willing fish. Letting your smaller flies swing at the end of your drift can also entice an eat, especially on warmer days before or during a hatch.
Cold weather has resulted in spotty Baetis/ Blue Winged Olive (BWO) hatches. Very few baetis will come off on colder days, but it is not enough to get the attention of the fish. On warmer days, however fish will key in on this hatch, and feed vigorously during the warmest part of the day. Unfortunately, most of January has been fairly cold or the water has been high, resulting in less than optimal conditions for the bugs to hatch. Fish can occasionally be enticed to eat at the head of runs, or in the tailouts; the likelihood of dry fly eats increases as the temperature does this time of year. If there are some warm days in the near future here are some great Blue Winged Olive patterns: Baetis Cripple #18-20, Hatchmatcher BWO 16-18, Film Critic BWO #16, Morrish May-Day BWO #17-19.
Streamer fishing can be good when flows are high. Small fish and sculpins can be washed down stream and provide high calorie meals to larger trout. Fishing a streamer at the head of a pool and stripping erratically will mimic a fish in a panic that was rushed downstream. When conditions are right, trout will key in on this and the streamer fishing can be decent. Streamer suggestions include: Thin Mint #8-12, Black Wooly Bugger #8-10, Olive Wooly Bugger #8-10, or a small sculpin pattern like Sculpzilla #8.
Our local waters are fishing well! Grab your gear, bundle up, and get out there!
Available here, this Sage SP+ 8wt came after the SP series. This fast-action rod is great for getting into the saltwater game but also an excellent backup for your upcoming season and trips. Comes with the original tube and sock for $425.
Alex Swartz demonstrates how to tie a proven euro style nymph pattern that resembles the “Brassie” nymph. We use this pattern for a hopper dropper rigs all year long. Alex uses a “3 at a time” wire wrap method that one can adapt to numerous colors and sizes of wire.
Available here, this G Series has the classic Scott action, perfect for summer steelhead and as your streamer rod. This rod is in nearly perfect condition, including the cork itself. Also comes with the original tube and rod sock for just $275.
Trivia winner prize – MiiR camp mug with artwork designed by Always With Honor
Native Fish Society will be hosting a trivia night, featuring categories such as “Native Fish of Oregon” and “Rivers of Oregon.” In addition to bragging rights, the winning team will also be rewarded with awesome MiiR mugs, featuring a leaping Chinook (pictured above). Teams of up to four people are welcome at this all-ages event.
Where: Ninkasi’s Better Living Room, 155 Blair Blvd
When: Wednesday, January 25th at 5:30 pm.
As always, feel free to bring friends!
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me,
Since 1975, the Caddis Fly Shop has been providing fly anglers with the best tackle in the world. Whether that be in person or through our website, we’ve enjoyed the ride and the people we’ve met along the way.
Over the years, we’ve understood that the price point for those just entering the fly fishing world – or for those who are looking for backup gear – are met with financial barriers. Or, maybe you are just concerned with your impact and enjoy buying used items. Regardless, we’ve only offered used gear here in the shop in Eugene, Oregon.
As we head into 2023, we’d like to extend our used offerings to our online shoppers. We’ll be loading in our used items here. Each listing and blog post will be accompanied by a short video describing the product, maybe a bit of its history, and more importantly, the shape the product is in. We’re excited about this journey and are looking forward to seeing how it goes.
The Lost Salmon, chronicles the plight and potential recovery of the iconic spring chinook salmon of the Pacific Northwest. Faced with extinction in many river systems of the West, a new genetic discovery could aid in their recovery. Once teaming in the millions and a sacrament for the oldest civilizations in the Americas, time is running out for the genetically distinct wild salmon.
The McKenzie and Willamette Rivers are in fine shape and winter trout fishing has been surprisingly productive. For 2023 we are starting our normal Spring Special in Winter! Let’s hope the weather California is getting pounded with continues to miss us!
The “winter time trout specific special” is a nymphing focused excursion of about 5 hours and can accommodate 2 anglers. Cost is $375, timing is generally in the 10:30-3:30 range. Anglers bring their own lunch. Our guides will instruct indicator style nymphing as well as euro nymphing. Tactics, leader construction, flies and more will be addressed.
A plan that will reshape management of 13 dams and reservoirs in the Willamette River Basin is the subject of four meetings next week in Eugene, Springfield, Sweet Home and Stayton.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting the meetings after it released a 2,200 page blueprint for managing how it stores and releases over 500 trillion gallons of water used for drinking, irrigation and recreation in the Willamette Valley.
A public comment period for people to weigh in on the seven alternatives the Corps are considering is underway until Feb. 23.
“What we’re doing now will be important for how we manage the system for the next 30 years,” Nicklas Knudson, acting project manager for the EIS revisions with the Corps, told the Statesman Journal in December. “This is the best chance to directly affect how we manage this system in the future. At this point, we can still make changes.”
While the meetings are good for information and to ask questions of the Corps, people still need to submit comments via email (willamette.eis@usace.army.mil) or mail to PO Box 2946, Portland, OR., 97208-2946.
In-person planned meetings in the Willamette Valley This Week
Eugene
12:30-2:30 p.m., Tuesday
Lane Community College
4000 E. 30th Ave., Building 19, Room 102, Eugene
Sweet Home
6-8 p.m., Wednesday
Sweet Home Senior Center
880 18th Ave., Sweet Home
Stayton
Noon to 2 p.m., Thursday
Stayton Community Center
400 W. Virginia St., Stayton
What’s going on?
The document in question is known as a draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement. It took more than three years to complete and was last updated in 1980 and comes following years of lawsuits and court orders demanding the Corps retrofit dam operations to help native salmon and steelhead avoid extinction.
The plan lays out seven different “alternatives” for how the agency could manage the 13 dams and reservoirs. People can comment on which alternatives they like most and why.
The Willamette Basin’s dams and reservoirs, which stretch from Cottage Grove to Detroit and include major rivers like the Santiam and McKenzie, were originally designed to reduce flooding. That main purpose won’t change.
But within its secondary operations, and in the document, the Corps proposes some dramatic actions. Its “preferred alternative” — the option they’re leaning toward — includes fundamentally changing Cougar Reservoir and building multimillion-dollar structures to help fish pass through dams and regulate river temperatures. It includes scaling back hydropower, eventually scaling back hatchery fish programs and tweaking how much water is stored in the 13 reservoirs.
The links above will take you to the Corps documents.. While the entire document is massive the first part of it gives and abbreviated examination/explanation of the preferred alternatives.
