Natural Selections Art Exhibit Begins October 9th

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Our friend Analee Fuentes will have her Northwest fish paintings on display at Jacob’s Gallery starting October 9th, 2015. The reception starts at 5:30pm and all are welcome to come enjoy some beautiful fish inspired art. You can see more of Analee’s work here: http://analeefuentes.com/series-natural.htm

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New Partridge Attitude and Attitude Extra Fly Hooks

New Partridge  Attitude and Attitude Extra Fly Hooks

New Partridge
Attitude and Attitude Extra Fly Hooks

Anyone who was addicted to the TMC 700 fly hooks and lamented the passing of that fine fly hook should pay particular note to these new fly hooks from Partridge, the Attitude Streamer Hook and the Attitude Extra Hook.

These hooks are of particular interest to tiers who prefer a straight Ring Eye Hook over a Turned-up or down eye. This means us Clouser and Comet tiers as well as anyone tying streamers, and various baitfish patterns.

Jay Nicholas Partridge Attitude Fly Hooks

Partridge Attitude & Extra Fly Hooks

The Attitude is a fine wire hook with micro-barb that is easy to flatten. the shank is called a long shank but it looks like a standard shank to me. I have tied and fished Comets and Clousers on this hook as well as the Attitude Extra and find that I prefer the Attitude for my Comet flies and the Attitude Extra for my Clousers.

The photo above shows the sizes I use most (2s and 4s) and illustrates the shorter and stouter wire on the Attitude Extra Hook.

Overall, I’m impressed with these hooks, realizing that I am positively biased in favor of straight ring-eye hooks so I liked these from the first time I put them in my vise.

Partridge Attitude Hook

Partridge Attitude Hook

Partridge Attitude Extra Hook

Partridge Attitude Extra Hook

These hooks penetrate well and hold up to serious pressure with Chinook tugging on the end of my line. Consider giving these a whip finish or so and see what you think.

Jay Nicholas, October 2015

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies | 1 Comment

Eugene Springfield Healing Waters Chapter Meets this Tuesday October 6th 2015

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WHEN: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. every 1st Tuesday of the month starting Oct. 2015

WHERE: Moose Lodge, 2011 Laura St. Springfield. OR 97477

All experience levels of fishing desired, weather you have never touched or seen anything about fly fishing and want to know more, or are a seasoned angler and capable of passing your knowledge on the those that can use it. Some of the activities to be expected are fly tying, rod building, guest professional speakers, casting instruction, and on water sponsored fishing trips. So if you are interested and would like to participate or volunteer please contact Chris or Moon listed below and we will ensure you are taken care of.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, receives no government funding and is dependent on tax-deductible, charitable donations and the help of numerous volunteers to meet the educational, equipment, transportation, and related needs of its participants.

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. strives to effectively serve the deserving past and present members of our armed forces who have made great sacrifices in the service of our nation.

Contact Info:
Program Lead: Chris Matthews
Email: chris.matthews.phwff@gmail.com

Assistant Program Lead: Moon Mullen
Email: moon@centurylink.net

Posted in Oregon Conservation News, Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 1 Comment

Two Fly Tourney This Weekend 10% of Sales This Friday Go to McKenzie River Trust

McKenzie Two-Fly

This years Two Fly Tournament kicks off this Friday. As part of the events fund raising we are donating 10% of our sales this Friday to the McKenzie River Trust. Come by, have a beer, spend a bunch and support a great non profit land trust. All Friday October 2nd 2016.

Two_Fly_2014

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The Redsides October Meeting

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Monday, October 5th, McMenamins North Bank 22 Club Rd. Eugene, Oregon

The general meeting will start at 7:00PM and the public is welcome. The board meeting will follow directly after the general meeting and TU members are welcome to attend.

Summer is over and It’s time to ramp up the TU meetings again. And on that note we would like to invite everyone to our fall kick off. Also there are some new things in the works from the Redsides this year, including something near and dear to my heart. Our chapter is sponsoring two new Project Healing Waters Fly-fishing chapters. One down in Roseburg headed up by Jeff McEnroe (fish biologist for BLM) and our Eugene/Springfield chapter headed up Chris Matthews ( he is also our new education chair). We have some things to get done, some things to discuss and some exciting trips and volunteer opportunities to come.

And with that, we would like to invite you to our first presentation on Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing.
Chris Matthews will be giving an in depth and informative presentation on PHWFF. How it began, where it began, how and why we choose to begin our local program, what our mission is, how you can help, and will be answering any questions you may have. Also we will have a special guest Chris Hubert from the Phoenix Arizona PHWFF on hand.

So mark it on the calendar, and see you there.

Posted in Oregon Conservation News, Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 1 Comment

October Caddis Time on the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers

mckenzie river fly fishing fall 2015

October Caddis have been out in the late afternoon and evenings in low numbers for the past week. Yesterday they started earlier and were more numerous. Look for more of these bugs to be out in the coming couple of weeks and for fish to key on them.

Two of our favorite dry fly patterns are Kingrey’s Better Foam Caddis and Morrish’s Foam October Caddis.

kingrey's-better-foam-caddis

morrish-foam-caddis

Here are a bunch of October Caddis fly tying videos we have done over the years.

Tube October Caddis

Extended Body October Caddis

Coastal October Caddis

October Caddis Wet

October Caddis Pupae

Posted in Fishing Reports, Fly Tying | Leave a comment

Postcards from PC to the Caddis Fly Shop

Long tail sea lice on Chinook salmon

Long tail sea lice on Chinook salmon

September 2015:

Dear Friends, the days are shorter now than back in June, and there is so much going on that it is nearly daunting to try to explain it all so in stead – here are some photo images of the local goings on.

Best wishes to you all, come visit sometime, you will have a great adventure!

Jay Nicholas

Must be a spinner bite at the Bridge.

Must be a spinner bite at the Bridge.

Brian was happy with this king.

Brian was happy with this king!

Crabbing remains very most excellently good.

Crabbing remains very most excellently good.

Tying Flies and sketching at 3 AM.

Tying Flies and sketching at 3 AM.

Nice salmon released by Rob.

Nice salmon released by Rob.

Red Kulper and bullhead.

Red Kulper and bullhead.

First, angler hooks salmon on Kwikfish. Second, seal takes salmon from angler. third, seal eats salmon, carefully refraining from the dangerous parts!  Finally, angler finds kwikfish and gulls floating by in the estuary.  Had to see it to believe it.

First, angler hooks salmon on Kwikfish. Second, seal takes salmon from angler. third, seal eats salmon, carefully refraining from the dangerous parts! Finally, angler finds kwikfish and gulls floating by in the estuary. Had to see it to believe it.

Motoring off to chase a king.

Motoring off to chase a king.

Bye Bye for now, hope for the best every time you are on the water. 

 

 

 

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New Double Pupil Lead Eyes from Hareline

I know, some of our readers are begging for mercy, because three posts on Clouser Eyes is nearly too much fun to endure.

New Hrareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes.

New Hrareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes.

True enough, but these Double Pupil Lead Eyes from Hareline are impressive critters and many of our readers who obsess over the details of their flies will want to explore these beauties in 8 colors and 4 sizes!

Here is our standard king salmon Clouser tied with the but one of the 32 possible color/size options for these nice new eyes.

Kindly note: the finish on these eyes and the intricate paint/enamel work is impressive, the nicest eyes I have ever seen on a heavy lead base.  From x-small to large, these babies will find a home on my flies for this and successive seasons.

Securing Hareline Double Pupil Eyes to partridge Attitude Extra hook.

Securing Hareline Double Pupil Eyes to partridge Attitude Extra hook.

Top view Hareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes - hit it with Zap Brush on to secure.

Top view Hareline Double Pupil Lead Eyes – hit it with Zap Brush on to secure.

White buck tail belly with hint of hot pink Fluoro Fibre at throat secured front and rear of eyes.

White buck tail belly with hint of hot pink Fluoro Fibre at throat secured front and rear of eyes.

Adding the traditional chartreuse buck tail back on the Clouser to finish the fly.

Adding the traditional chartreuse buck tail back on the Clouser to finish the fly.

Our three Clousers tied with Double Pupil Lead Eyes (left), BalzEyes (center), and Pseudo Eyes (right) - all from our friends at Hareline.

Our three Clousers tied with Double Pupil Lead Eyes (left), BalzEyes (center), and Pseudo Eyes (right) – all from our friends at Hareline.

Three new Clouser eyes in morning coastal sunshine.

Three new Clouser eyes in morning coastal sunshine.

Have fun, fellow fly tyers; we now have more options to ponder when tying our flies.

Post Script: sorry to repeat, but the finish and detail work on these eyes is absolutely amazing, and I am not going to be satisfied with my old eyes after seeing these and fishing them.

Jay Nicholas, September, 2015.

 

 

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies | Leave a comment

2015 McKenzie River Two Fly Tournament Prizes

Mckenzie river August 2015

This years Two Fly Tournament to benefit the McKenzie River Trust has received some sweet prizes. Thanks so much to Hatch Fly Reels, Costa Sun Glasses, and Echo Fly Rods for contributing. Costa has even helped out with hats, cleaning cloths and sun glass retainers for the guides.

Print

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First Place Boat: Hatch 5+ Reel for each of the winner
Second Place Boat: A pair of Costa Del Mar polarized shades for each participant.
Third Place Boat: An Echo Glass Fly Rod for each participant

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Lower McKenzie Fly Fishing Heating Up

Cooler weather has the fishing on the lower McKenzie improving.

Thanks to Andrew Shipman for this report.

Hi Chris – Quick report on the lower McKenzie. Couple buddies and I were able to get out of our father responsibilities and hit the river Sunday, we floated Bellinger to Armitage. Low river levels persisted & the sun was out so we focused on deeper green runs, running two nymph rigs (mega-prince, posse bugger, various jigged nymphs, Caddis emergers, etc.). We were hoping the recent shot of rain would help the river. There was little to no surface activity all day, but fishing was good. The third time fly fisherman caught: redsides, cutthroat, whitefish, & a 19 inch sucker, but no steelhead…it took two semi-tow trucks to land this redside:

lower-mckenzie-river-fly-fishing

See you at the two-fly. Andrew

(Camera settings were totally “bleeped-up”, don’t let 3 year old twins play with your camera. Some redsides seems ‘skinny’ and were quickly released.)

lower mckenzie fly fishing

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | 1 Comment

New Pseudo Eyes from Hareline

Fresh on the heels of my post on new BalzEyes, this will be an abbreviated post showing a similar Chinook Clouser tied with new Pseudo Eyes from Hareline. Remember, these are hourglass shaped whereas the BalzEyes are a genuine barbell shape.

Also note that the new Pseudo Eyes have even more NEW color options available, so it is well worth your time to browse these and let your imagination run wild.

New Pseudo Eyes from Hareline.

New Pseudo Eyes from Hareline.

New Pseudo Eyes from Hareline on Partridge Attitude Extra Hook.

New Pseudo Eyes from Hareline on Partridge Attitude Extra Hook.

Top View of new Pseudo Eyes, apply Zap Brush on to secure.

Top View of new Pseudo Eyes, apply Zap Brush on to secure.

Add a hint of Fluoro Fibre as throat to white buck tail belly.

Add a hint of Fluoro Fibre as throat to white buck tail belly.

Now secure Chartreuse  buck tail in front of Pseudo Eyes.

Now secure Chartreuse buck tail in front of Pseudo Eyes.

Ok, enough for today; next up are the new Double Pupil Lead Eyes.

Jay Nicholas, September, 2015.

 

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies | Leave a comment

New BallzEyes Colors from Hareline

New Anodized BalzEyes in Red and Green with White Pupil from Hareline.

New Anodized BalzEyes in Red and Green with White Pupil from Hareline.

I realize that not ever fly tyer gets as enthused about dumbbell (barbell) eyes as I do, but for anyone who is similarly affected – there are several new options to dress our clousers with, so I decided to feature these here.

I tie Clousers and Bonefish-like Mini-Charlie flies to fish for Chinook salmon, but many flies use or could use these eyes to achieve a sink and an erratic retrieve motion.

The new BallzEyes are offered in anodized Red and anodized Green with white eyes and black pupil. These are different from Pseudo Eyes in that the former are a genuine barbell shape while the latter are an hourglass shape.

The photos following show a nice little king salmon Clouser tied with the new BallzEyes.

Secure new BallzEyes to Partridge Attitude Extra #2 hook.

Secure new BallzEyes to Partridge Attitude Extra #2 hook.

Apply Zap brush on to secure eyes.

Apply Zap brush on to secure eyes.

Tie in buck tail in front of BalzEyes.

Tie in buck tail in front of BalzEyes.

Secure buck tail behind the eyes.

Secure buck tail behind the eyes.

Add a hint of hot pink with Fluro Fibre.

Add a hint of hot pink with Fluro Fibre.

Add Chartreuse  buck tail tied in front of BalzEyes.

Add Chartreuse buck tail tied in front of BalzEyes.

Our new Clouser with Balzeyes.

Our new Clouser with Balzeyes.

Next up: new Pseudo Eyes from Hareline.

I know, it’s almost more than a fly tyer can bear.

Jay Nicholas, September 2015

 

 

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies | 1 Comment

Stop Nickel strip mines in pristine headwaters: Heat to Portland Patagonia Store tonight

From the Native Fish Society: Mining companies want to develop nickel strip mines in the pristine headwaters of the Wild and Scenic Smith and Illinois Rivers in southwest Oregon. Nearby Hunter Creek and Pistol River are also threatened! These watersheds are home to wild, native fish including salmon, steelhead, pacific lamprey, eulachon and sturgeon.

What’s at stake?

The threatened area includes the headwaters of three national Wild and Scenic River that serve as vital strongholds for wild, native fish. Hunter Creek, and Pistol and Illinois River are free of any hatchery salmonids, making them increasingly important as protectors of diverse and unique salmon and steelhead genetics.

Join Native Fish Society at the Patagonia – Portland store tonight (Thursday 9/17/15) to celebrate the wild rivers and places of the Kalmiopsis in Southwest Oregon. This event is free and doors open at 7:00 pm. Ninkasi sponsored the event, so you know the beers will be great.

Presentations will focus on the importance of the Kalmiopsis and ways you can help to protect its wild rivers from the threat of industrial open-pit nickel mining.

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | Leave a comment

Fall Fishing Getting Epic: McKenzie and Willamette Fishing Great

Fall is here in the Willamette Valley and our local fisheries have really turned on. The McKenzie in it’s entirety has been fishing great, the Middle Fork of the Willamette has dropped down and is very “wadable” with a 722cfs release out of Hills Creek Dam. October Caddis have begun to emerge, Short Winged stoneflies are around on the upper McKenzie and we are seeing some really nice fish.

Fall flies for the Mckenzie

The best bugs to have in your box are pictured below.

Starting from the top:

First Row

Morrish’s Foam October Caddis
Advanced Stimulator Orange
Kinrey’s Better Foam Caddis

Second Row Nymphs

HDA Jigged Variant
Jigged Possie Bugger
Jigged CDC Pheasant Tail

Third Row Dries

Parachute Adams
Goddard Caddis Rusty
Hairwing Gray Drake

Fourth Row

Orange Soft Hackles
Extended Body Mahogany Dun
Blue Winged Olive
Klinkhammer Blue Winged Olive

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | 1 Comment

Help Protect 14,000 Miles of Oregon Streams

Mckenzie river August 2015

From Trout Unlimited See TU Post here: Protect Oregon Streams

Two minutes can help protect 14,000 miles of Oregon streams.

The Oregon Board of Forestry (BOF) will soon decide whether to increase Oregon’s riparian buffers. These buffers supply cool water in the heat of summer, water necessary for steelhead, trout, salmon and other organisms important to Oregon rivers and streams.

Currently, Oregon requires only a 20 foot buffer — far smaller than neighboring states, and according to the science, woefully inadequate as a means of providing the necessary cool water on which these species depend.

Studies have shown that at least 120 feet of buffer is needed to provide adequate shade 90 percent of the time. By comparison, Federally managed forests in the Northwest require a 300 foot buffer on fish bearing streams.

We are asking for a mere 110 feet – a reasonable compromise.

But we need you. It’s not often you can protect 14,000 miles of streams. Please, reach out to the Board member in your region and tell them you support increasing buffers to 110 feet.

The board is expected to make its ruling by early October. We urge you to take a moment and stand up for a positive change for fish and habitat that is supported by both the science and the angling community.

Contact Information

General email for Board of Forestry:

BoardofForestry@oregon.gov

Members

Tom Imeson – Chair
220 NW Second Ave.
Portland, OR. 97209
Phone (503)-220-2370
tom.imeson@nwnatural.com

Sybil Ackerman-Munson
20200 SE Walgren Road
Damascus, OR. 97209
(503)-419-8454
sybilbof@gmail.com

Cindy Deacon Williams
4393 Pioneer Rd.
Medford, OR 97501
(541) 601-4737

Nils D. Christoffersen
401 NE 1st St. Ste A
Enterprise, OR 97828
(541) 426-8053
nils@wallowaresources.org

Tom Insko
Eastern Oregon University
One University Boulevard
Inlow Hall Suite 216
La Grande, OR 97850
(541) 962-3512

Gary Springer
Starker Forests, Inc.
7240 S.W. Philomath Blvd
PO Box 809 Corvallis, OR 97339-0809
(541) 929-2477
gtspringer@hotmail.com

Mike Rose
25379 State Hwy. 38
Elkton, OR 97436
(541) 337-7413

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 1 Comment