In this video Jay Nicholas uses a classic steelhead fly theme to tie a wet fly for trout and Sea Run Cutthroat. Swing and twitch this one on a floating line for trout in the spring.
Green Butt Soft Hackle
Hook: Alec Jackson Chironomid #7-9
Thread: Veevus 12/0 Black
Butt: Chartreuse Ice Dub
Body: Peacock Black Ice Dub
Rib: Copper Wire
Wing: Grizzly hair Fiber (New from Cascade Crest Tools)
Hackle: Badger or Grizzly Hackle
I experienced a great four hours at the 2016 Sandy Spey Clave on Saturday, May 14th. A mere four hours. So little time and far too many friends to try and catch up with. Knowing that I was at risk of getting drowsy if I didn’t head home by 5 PM, I just randomly visited with a few friends who happened to stumble my way. No master plan to watch presentations. No idea what the presentation schedule was. No agenda regarding who or what I should see.
The consequences of this behavior is a collection of random images, a very small collection, a tiny fragment of the greatness that unfolded at the event.
My apologies.
No story line here, just snippets, crumbs, to represent a day when I had a genuinely good time connecting and re-connecting with people who share my passion for flyfishing and fly tying.
Kerry Burkheimer. Randy Stetzer. Jeff Hickman. Eric Nufeld. Tim Rajeff. Steve Rajeff. Simon Gaesworth. Doug Brutaco. Dick Sagara. Marty Sheppard. Tom Larimer. Trevor Covich. George Cook. Jerry Swanson.
Here are the few images I brought home. No shots of the great on-river spey casting. Oh well, I had a great time and highly recommend this event for all.
Jay Nicholas, May 2016.
Dean River King
Time marches on, and my how it sprints on it seems. My dear friend Jeff Hickman is but a week from heading north to open Kimsquit Bay Lodge on the Lower Dean. Jeff knows the kings in BC and Alaska like I know the kings here in Oregon. It seems right that his king season on the Dean will be commencing just as my Chinook season is beginning to ramp up into the remainder of 2016. Jeff and I have had many a discussion about Chinook salmon around the world, and he enjoys teasing me with stories about the Dean’s kings.
While I know kings on the Oregon Coast, I’ve never fished the lower Dean, and have never had one of those magnificent salmon run me into the backing and head downstream through the rapids below.
Jeff and I talk about what makes a salmon strong – the genetics of energy reserves and pure potential fighting power. While I would rank Oregon coastal Chinook among the finest wild and hatchery fish on the planet – I have a strong hunch that Jeff might be right when he says that his Dean Kings are stronger than our Coastal River Kings.
On the genetics side of it, the Dean fish have evolved to make a longer migration and fight their way upriver through rapids and over falls. This environmental challenge alone could have produced a race of kings that are inherently stronger than our coastal Chinook, given the relative ease with which our kings can move upriver and the relatively short distance many of them migrate to reach spawning grounds.
I’d have to balk if Jeff tried to say that Dean kings are stronger than North Umpqua or Upper Rogue springers. These salmon make migrations of well over a hundred miles — these salmon historically negotiated swift waters on their upstream migration too.
Of course, our debates are as usual fun and we end up with the highest regard for the salmon we each fish in our different waters.
Without trying to say one way or the other, I’ll say that —yes—I can well imagine that the Dean’s kings might be tougher than the kings in our short reach coastal rivers.
Might be.
I’ll be seeing Jeff at the Sandy River Spey Clave this weekend and we will probably continue our discussion. Meanwhile, I asked him to shoot me a note regarding their season that is about to unfold. As usual, they were completely booked for the season, but two rods came open due to a cancellation.
June 24 through July 1st is the peak of the king season on the Lower Dean, and there are steelhead in the river then too.
Here is Jeff’s hastily penned note with a few teasers and reasons to jump on this opportunity of a lifetime.
____________This note from Jeff Hickman______________
Although Kathryn and I bought Kimsquit Bay Lodge in June of 2014 and spent that Summer at the lodge managing it. last Summer was our first full season start to finish. It was a whirlwind! We did all of the bookings, planning, barging and made many improvements to the lodge grounds and fishing program. Luckily for us we were full and for the most part the fishing was legendary! Large runs of both Chinook and Steelhead. The one issue we had last year was a very light snowpack which made for all time low water levels. We also had a lot of sunny and hot weather. This doesnt effect the steelhead much, but the Chinook don’t like sunny weather and low clear water.
We are all prepped up for another fun season up north on the Dean River. This time with one extra staff member on board, our newborn son Oly Dean Hickman arrived April 12th this Spring. We are anticipating a great year with large runs forecasted and this year we have a solid snowpack.
We have been booked solid but just recently had two spots open up for us. June 24th – July 1st. This is a unique opportunity as normally spots are sold out a year in advance. This is a primetime week for what could be the strongest Chinook in the world in one of the most beautiful places in the world to fish for them. There are always chrome bright steelhead in the river then as well.
Kimsquit Bay Lodge is the only lodge that fishes exclusively below the falls on the Dean River…These are the hottest and freshest of the hottest fish in the world. Don’t have a spey rod big enough to handle these mean Chinook? No problem, the lodge has a full assortment of excellent rigged spey rods for guests to use. The lodge sits overlooking the saltwater and amazing views of the Dean Channel near the mouth of the Dean River. Catering to only 6 guests per week, and maintaining six staff members the lodge has a very intimate feel. Each of the two guides takes three clients per day in the jet boat.
With world class guides, friendly staff and an excellent chef; double occupancy cabins with private bathroom and flushing toilets, the best boats and equipment. This is the ultimate anadromous fly fishing trip. Treat yourself.
Jeff Hickman
Fish The Swing &
Kimsquit Bay Lodge
Cell: (971) 275-2269
www.fishtheswing.com
www.fishthedean.com
________________________________________
Give Jeff and Kathryn a call if you’d like to join them the Dean this summer, for a fishing experience of a life time.
Jay Nicholas, May 11th, 2016
Well the seas are finally showing signs of settling down and we are able to get out on the ocean again this year.
I had the good fortune of fishing today with Bryson and Jeffrey as Capt. John Harrell searched the reefs and kelp beds in the nearshore waters around Pacific City today, May 11th.
Our fishing was among the most challenging I’ve experienced, but we managed to go home with our limits of Pacific black rockfish and dungeness crab – with a few lingcod in the mix too.
We found the sea bass and lings at depths from 20 to 40 feet, and when we found fish, they were receptive to a wide variety of Clousers between three and four inches long.
Fast sinking lines were the order of the day, and there are several old options available – including the Airflo Big Game Depth Finder, Depth finder, and Custom Cut Sniper T-14. Rio offers great ones in the Striper and the Custom Cut T-14 Outbound. SA offers several great fly lines that sink fast under their Sonar series of lines.
John Harrell was out on the 10th fishing and found the fish far more accommodating, schooled at depths of 20 to 40 ft, and generally rather more accessible than they were today. A week ago John’s clients found the bass on the surface for part of their day. It goes to show that every day on the ocean is likely to bring surprises and challenges.
Thanks John, for the great trip. Thanks Jeffrey and Bryson for sharing the boat today. Thanks to the bass and the ocean and the surf and the whales and ….
Sorry. I really do love being out on the ocean, and the fish, whatever their mood, are so much fun.
Hope to see you soon.
Bryson can help you select lines if you have questions and many of my fly tying videos cover the range of saltwater flies we fish from the dory boats.
You may contact Jack Harrell to book a trip at 541 921 1276.
Jay Nicholas, 11 May, 2016
Check out our new section of sale flies online here: SALE FLIES
Here are a few, many more are available at the link above.
In this video Jay Nicholas demonstrates how to tie a classic wet fly variation. We love to fish this fly on a floating line “down and across” style on our local rivers in spring time. It does a great job of imitating a variety of may fly emergers.
SLF Soft Hackle
Hook: Daiichi 1530 10-16
Thread: Veevus 12/0 Black
Tail: GP Tippet Dyed Orange
Rib: Lagartun Wire
Body: SLF Dubbing Tan
Wing: Lemon Wood-duck
hackle: Brown Hen or Dyed Brown Partridge
McKenzie River Trust recently purchased 122 acres of riverfront property on the Upper McKenzie.
From the Register-Guard:
The Trust finalized the purchase of the additional acreage, which includes the Finn Rock Boat Landing — which will remain open to the public — and the former Finn Rock Logging Camp, where Rosboro Lumber workers lived from the 1940s through 1980s.
Both properties were purchased from Springfield-based Rosboro, each for $775,000, or a combined cost of $1,550,000, in a closed-bid auction.
Liz Lawrence, the trust’s associate director, said the trust used private donations and a low-interest loan to buy both properties, now jointly referred to as Finn Rock Reach. The Eugene Water & Electric Board, which is keen to see its McKenzie River water supply protected, kicked in a $250,000 grant for conservation and restoration efforts.
While specific plans have not been finalized, Lawrence said the trust wants to conserve and enhance Finn Rock Reach in different ways, such as managing weeds, pulling invasive species and planting native plants. The trust also may restore areas affected by timber harvest, or make gravel ponds on the property less hospitable to non-native fish species, such as bass.
From MRT’s Press Release:
“We are grateful to the folks at Rosboro for working with us on this legacy project,” said Joe Moll, Executive Director of the McKenzie River Trust. “When you think of the McKenzie River, you imagine clean blue water, incredible salmon spawning habitat, and healthy floodplain forests. This property has all of that.”
Fly fishing on the McKenzie River is in full swing this May. We have ideal water levels, great weather and good fishing. Numerous insects are available to wild rainbow and cutthroat trout.
This year I have seen more Salmon Flies than I can remember and the fish are really recognizing and attacking them on the water. Historically we have seen this emergence but this year I am seeing more shucks on the waters edge, more insects on the water and flying over head. This past Saturday there were so many that large ravens were seeking them out over the the river.
There are small brown caddis, Green McKenzie Caddis, Pale Morning Duns and smaller tan/grey stoneflies available as well. Depending upon the water you find yourself in you can catch fish from top to bottom right now.
Water temps have been on the steady rise, this is a key to some of the excellent spring fishing at hand…
Water levels are looking good for the near future…
River of Life features the reflections of 3 women dealing with breast cancer while out fly fishing on the waters of the Pacific Northwest. The narrative connects the struggles of wild, native and anadromous fish with the challenges the women face in their own lives, while also capturing the magic and joy of fly fishing. This film is brought to life by the sensitive and insightful cinematography of Todd Moen, whose camerawork captures the vibrancy of the natural world both above and below the water line. The film explores life’s tenacity, and its fragility.
Women in Fly Fishing – River of Life from Todd Moen Creative on Vimeo.
The group behind the film is trying to raise $12,000 through donations to make this film possible. Any money raised above basic costs, or through screening the film, will be donated to: Casting for Recovery, Trout Unlimited and the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Costa’s Kick Plastic campaign and other like-minded organizations. Check the link to see the rewards, including a guided trip donation from The Caddis Fly.
After a period when we were unable to supply our discriminating tyers with the full range of Lagartun’s superior and unique products, the tide has turned and we are in the process of adding Lagartun back to our regular IN-Shop inventory and catalog offerings.
My personal affection for Lagartun was based on their threads, oval tinsel, and a few colors of Mini Flat Braid (Flat French Mini Flat Braid).
Lagartun threads earned a place as my #1 choice because they are strong (very strong) and lay very flat. I tended to tie with 95D and 150D, but it is available in 74D as well. I wasn’t very imaginative, most often tying with black, white, chartreuse thread. Needless to say, there are many color options that please a corresponding range of tyers.
What makes Lagartun Fly Tying Products so special?
Lagertun tinsels are produced in France, are genuine metal and tarnish resistant. the Braids are flat – really flat – with vibrant vibrant vibrant colors. The
The core of the X-fine oval Lagartun Tinsel is silk, but the core of all other oval Lagartun tinsel is a polyester – meaning that you can reef on it and it will lay very flat and help you compose very neat and tidy flies.
All of the Lagartun tinsels are varnished and are very tarnish resistant -they are also so much tougher than plastic mylar tinsels that the comparison is unnecessary.
The Lagartun, 95D, and 150D are polyester threads. These stretch a little, and they lay really really flat too.
I occasionally used Lagartun embossed french metal tinsel, but I devoured Lagartun oval silver and oval gold tinsel by the bucket load. I found it to be the smoothest, strongest, and it resisted tarnishing quite stubbornly. These oval tinsels make wonderful tags and ribs on steelhead and salmon flies: overall I just felt instinctively that the tinsels were truly a superior product.
The Lagartun product I used more than any others was the Flat Mini Braid, offered on spools. The shiny gold holographic and shiny silver holographic Mini Flat Braids were the staples of my Muddlers. The Fl. chartreuse, Fl. orange, Fl. Blue, and Fl. pearl were always a key ingredient of my Chinook Comets.
My newest Lagartun discovery is the Carded Flat Braid. This material is similar to Flat Diamond Braid – but quite different in several respects. First, it is slim and flat, and I mean really flat. The width is 1/8″ which makes it perfect for larger steelhead and salmon fly bodies, and especially for my Intruders. But the colors of this carded Lagartun Braid are really impressive and moves it immediately to the front of my material choices. I’m in the process of ordering roughly 20 colors of this carded Lagartun Flat Braid for and can already imagine them lined up on pegs in the Shop.
The Lagartun Carded Flat Braid is a woven metaloplastic material that is roughly 3mm (1/8″) wide. Metaloplastic is a wonderful material that I do not understand in a technical sense, but that makes me a very happy camper when I tie with it. It is strong, it lays really flat, it does not bulk-up when I tie it in or tie it off, and the colors are spectacular and permanent.
I have been tying with Lagartun again for about two months now. Listen to some of the colors: Rainbow, Sky Blue, Pearl/blue holo, Pearl/Fuchsia holo, Pearl/green holo. Pearl/red holo, Pearl/black + Peacock/pearl, Copper, Candy Pink, several Fl. colors, and my trusty holo shiny gold and silver. Lagartun Flat Braid is tough, lays flat, makes bodies as slender as you wish, and I have been creating AMAZING bodies on trout and steelhead flies from size 10 and larger.
Lagartun Micro Flat Braid is a product I’ve not yet tried out, but Ben Gherke, (our Lagartun Rep/owner) tells me that the micro flat braid has been very popular with trout tyers as bodies on Chironomids and with trout, steelhead, and salmon tyers as a colored ribbing material, or as a tag.
Like the wider Carded Flat Braid, Micro and Mini flat braids are a metaloplastic material that is super durable and wonderfully pleasing to work with.
Lagartun colors are vibrant and the range of available colors are a great asset on my bench.
There is more to Lagartun than braid and oval metal tinsel.
Micro Flat Braid.
All of these Lagartun products are proven quality and are nearly always the first choice of tyers who are crafting the finest classic traditional Atlantic Salmon Flies. More and more, Lagartun is showing up as a first choice among trout fly tyers.
The Caddis Fly Angling Shop is now stocking a basic range of Lagartun products on the wall and we would like you to shoot us an email, phone call or drop in to share your ideas regarding expanding the range of products we stock on a regular basis.
Lagartun special orders?
You bet. Let us know what you would like and we will let you know how soon we will be able to provide the thread, braid, tinsel, wire, mohair, or silk floss of your dreams.
We are pleased to have the opportunity to add Lagartun to our regular tying products and appreciate your patience as we work to adjust our working inventory and display arrangements. We think you will be thrilled to lash Lagartun onto your fly hooks and create superior flies of all sorts.
Questions? Ask away.
Jay Nicholas
Bruce Berry from Pro Sportfisher demonstrates how to tie a “taper cut” Possum Leech steelhead pattern. This fly catches steelhead anywhere they swim. Shrink the fly down a bit and use natural colors and you have a wicked trout streamer as well. Enjoy!
Possum leach
Tube: Micro Tube Orange
Hook Guide large fl orange
Weight pro raw weight small
Body:Pink polar chenille UV
Wing: taper cut hot pink pro opossum taper cut
Flash: Rainbow flashabou
Collar 1 pro opossum hot purple
Collar 2: purple schlappen
Cone: Ultra sonic cone purple metallic
Cooler temperatures look to prolong traditional spring conditions this week. We have had a bump in water, although it’s already on the way back down (see photo). Water conditions will improve each day this week.
Over the next few days look for Blue Winged Olives to be the predominant mayfly hatch. As it warms for the weekend Green McKenzie Caddis (which have been spotted in low numbers) should be around enough to get the trout’s attention.
Below you will find some fly tying videos for Blue Winged Olives and Green McKenzie Caddis.
In an attempt to tidy up the shops offering and free up some space and dollars we offer you a tremendous value on selected fly lines. In order to purchase simply click the following link: SALE LINES and order online, we will ship to you or hold for pick up.
CD
Bruce Berry demonstrates how to tie his favorite “Baja Baitfish” fly patterns. The fly has a great profile and is relatively easy to cast given it’s size.
Sombrero Baitfish
Hook: Gamakatsu SC15 1/0-4/0
Thread: Veevus 50 denier GSP White
Tail: White marble fox
Flash: Olive Krystal Flash
Rear Wing: Light Grey Pro Marble Fox
Rear Body: chromatic Brush White
Middle Wing: Light Grey Pro Marble Fox
2nd Flash Lateral Scale
Front Body: Chromatic brush white
Front Wing: Light Grey Pro Marble fox
2nd front wing: Light Grey Pro Marble fox
Lateral Line: Holographic Angel hair
Soft Head Medium for 3/0 hook 1/0 Hook soft head small 4/0 or larger soft head large
Medium soft gets 6mm eyes
In no particular order other than style, here are 20 fly patterns to have/consider/create if you are fishing in Oregon over the next few weeks.
Go Deep! “Highish” “Coldish” water means it pays to get your flies down in the water column. The “Go Deep” trend is likely to last for a while.
McKee’s Girdle Bug – Excellent all around stonefly pattern that does the job getting to the bottom quickly.
Double Bead Peacock Nymph – Another dense nymph double beads get down, peacock catches fish.
Tungsten Trout Retriever – This stonefly pattern has been great this spring on the Middle Fork of the Willamette.
Lex’s Improved Golden Stone – Not as heavy as the previously mentioned patterns but very effective.
The following patterns work well deep but are also effective in the “mid water column” as well. They can even be swung and are deadly as they drift near the bottom and then rise towards the surface.
Possie Bugger – Hall of fame trout fly, you need several sizes in your box wherever you are.
Mega Prince – An absolute favorite in high water, as well as water with a bit of color.
Jigged 20 Incher – Deadly quick sinking pattern that works well all over the west.
Jigged Pheasant Tail – Like the 20 Incher this one gets down for it’s size and is very effective in clear water.
Montana Prince Nymph – An excellent small stonefly imitator this one can be fished off of a larger dry.
Moving towards the surface….. Soft hackles and emergers are deadly this time of year particularly on cloudy rainy days. A down and across swing method, or a short dropper off of a dry fly are effective tactics to fish the following patterns. Soft hackles are one of the oldest, easiest, and most effective fly patterns around!
Beadhead March Brown Emerger – The March Brown emergence has stalled a bit on the bright days of late but will most likely improve as the clouds develop.
Soft Hackle Hares Ear – One of the best all around soft hackle patterns.
Soft Hackle Peacock – Another classic emerger that works pre-hatch, during the hatch and when it’s so dark you can’t see your dry.
Dry flies for Trout –
Parachute Adams – Caddis hatch, March Brown hatch, Blue Winged Olive hatch you name it the Parachute Adams is a must have.
Parachute Caddis – Numerous species of caddis will be emerging from now on, this pattern is a couple of sizes/colors will have you covered.
Carlson’s Copper Haze – A high vis March Brown imitator – good all around mayfly pattern.
Bear’s Hi-Vis Parachute Blue Winged Olive – When cooler temps bring on the smaller mayflies try this one.
Deer Hair Flying Ant – An excellent searching pattern or a match the hatch on a hot spring day.
Morrish’s May Day – High vis but sparse enough for flat water and picky fish. It’s a new favorite.
CDC Green McKenzie Caddis – Very effective on both the McKenzie and Willamette in late April-June.
Gould’s Half Down Golden Stone – One of our favorite Golden Stone adult patterns, and an excellent big dry to hold up dropper nymphs.
CD
