Trout Unlimited monthly meeting, Monday, July 7th

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Redsides – July Meeting

Monday, July 7th,
The Stellaria Building
150 Shelton Mcmurphey Blvd., Eugene
Large community room

At 6:00 PM, The Redsides will hold their monthly board meeting in the small community Room of the Stellaria Building, 150 Shelton Mcmurphey Blvd.,
Eugene, OR 97401.

At 7:00 PM, Jeff Ziller, head biologist for the South Willamette district, ODFW will give a presentation that will cover the results of last year’s Martin Creek TU project and some work being conducted in the mountain lakes with a couple of stocks of rainbow trout.

This meeting will be in the large community room of the Stellaria Building.

See you there!

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | Leave a comment

Gold Lake Fly Fishing Report Summer 2014

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Mark Dahl recently returned from Gold Lake and had this to say about the fishing:

I wanted to get back to you regarding my trip to Gold Lake. We arrived Thursday evening. Fished in lots of rain Friday but with great fishing outcomes! Caught 20 the first day with half being rainbow and the largest right at 14”. A few really nice Brook trout as well. The majority of the fish were caught off the gold bead damsel nymph fished deeper but a few on a shallow strip or troll. Saturday the weather did clear and it was a beautiful Gold Lake day but fishing was slower. I caught 4 before noon with one rainbow. I actually used an olive wooly bugger but had to go really deep. I got no takers on the slip strike indicator and chironomid patterns. I need to learn that whole technique better.

Best fishing at Gold in a long time! Thanks again for your help and advice!

Thanks very much Mark for the report and photos below. Gold Lake has been really good this year and although you may have to fish a bit deeper in July there are still a ton of very “catchable” brook trout available.

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Posted in Fishing Reports | Leave a comment

Links from around the Interwebs

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The fishing world expands faster online than you or I can keep up. Here’s a smattering of what’s new out there.

Ling-a-ding. This isn’t super new, but it’s super gorgeous and needs watching. It’s a bunch of kids spearfishing for lingcod and as someone who enjoys seeing and eating lingcod, it’s beautiful.

Giant squid! A really huge Humboldt Squid popped up in Depoe Bay recently, about an 80-pounder. Before you start thinking Jules Verne here, the squid was only about six feet long and the boat much larger, actually. But it was pretty large for a Humboldt squid, and it made the day for one ship captain in Depoe Bay

Product review: WoolX As sometimes happens when running a blog, companies pitch us on trying out their products. We got a lightweight Merino Wool T-shirt and Boxer briefs from a firm called WoolX. The shirt is solid — held up to multiple washings and trail running, with no problem. I’d be interested in seeing how it performs as a baselayer in cold weather, but it’s a good warm-weather option. The pros-cons of a wool boxer shorts probably aren’t appropriate for discussion on this site. I asked the WoolX marketing folks about how they plan to position themselves against companies like Patagonia, and the company is touting its garment construction features on the necks/armpits of the shirts for comfort and durability. Price points are similar.

Lake Michigan Carp Bonanza: John Montana from Portland is housing the carp up in Lake Michigan.

What can you say about Lake MI? In many ways, it is the hallowed ground for carp on the fly. The fish are big, the water clear, and they eat meat. I will forever be madly in love with the Columbia River, and my home resource has many large carp in it but the finicky nature of clam eating carp makes for an extremely technical carp fishery. You must get close, you must fish small flies with little to no motion…you must see the eat. Lake MI offers challenges, but they differ drastically from those of my home water, and in many ways the big lake is a little more user friendly. You fish bigger flies, and the carp (sometimes) chase them down and eat them. That said, I see a far greater number of “positive” fish on the big C. And therein lies the real challenge with Lake MI. You have to find fish that are in the mood. In a lake this size with thousands of miles of shoreline, that is no small challenge.

SUP Fly Fishing (Via Moldy Chum) So, in my limited experience, Stand Up Paddleboarding is pretty damn tough. I can’t imagine fly casting and landing fish while balancing on one. It’s a cool idea. One time salmon fishing in Tillamook County, Old Rob and I saw two young Pacific City bartenders out in bikinis on SUPs while were out chasing early Fall Chinook with flies. And I hear there are all kinds of babes in Seattle who do Yoga on Lake Washington on these on weekend mornings. I’m just saying maybe we need to expand our horizons here…

Rebuilding Wild Steelhead Populations: (Via Bellingham Herald) Ed Megill on theWashington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s recent decision to stop planting hatchery-raised, winter-run steelhead in most Puget Sound rivers for two-and-a-half years and in the Skagit River for 12 years.

The key to both rebuilding wild steelhead populations and increasing steelhead fishing opportunity is strengthening wild steelhead in rivers with the potential to support abundant, fishable populations – rivers like the Skagit. This will require continuing the habitat protection and restoration work currently underway in western Washington, stopping hatchery operations that impede wild steelhead recovery, and improving the survival of young steelhead as the migrate through the marine waters of Puget Sound.

Op-Ed on ODFW’s Coastal Management Plan: Peter Tronquet, board member of the Native Fish Society opines on the future of Salmonid management in the Oregonian.

Wild stocks are as important to coastal economies as hatchery programs. More than 80 percent of fall chinook harvested along the Oregon coast are wild stocks. The CMP describes an extensive monitoring plan but lacks the budget to fully implement it. Without a robust monitoring plan, which collects data on such metrics as spawner abundance and the percentage of hatchery fish spawning with wild fish, data collection becomes haphazard and management accountability is compromised. Individual wild populations may slip undetected down a path toward extinction.

Posted in Oregon Conservation News, Oregon fly fishing links | Leave a comment

Steelhead Counts Looking Good-Town Run Improving

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Late June Chrome on the Willamette

If you haven’t already been swinging flies on the Willamette, now is the time to get out there. With hundreds of fish coming over the falls daily and with air temperatures not at peak Summer levels yet, fishing has improved and your chances of hooking into a steelhead through the town stretch are getting better and better as the days go by.

Some of our favorite flies to fish on the Willamette this time of year are the Green Butt Silver Hilton, Morejohn’s Tempest, and the Silveynator. Our best fishing has come swinging in the early mornings and evenings when the light is low; however, fishing a sink tip during the afternoon has been producing too. Also, make sure to check out our half day and full day guided trips for Summer steelhead fishing on the Willamette river.

Get out there and chase some of the hottest steelhead of the Summer!

Posted in Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | Leave a comment

Redington Dually Rod Review

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Lou Verdugo

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The Pacific Northwest continues to be the leader of spey casting and innovation. George Cook has been at the forefront of researching, designing lines, casting, and instruction about spey, switch and fly rods in general.

George Cook has taught the “Sage Fly Fishing Schools” in the early days of the company. George is the manufacturer’s representative for Sage, Redington, Rio, Solitude and Tibor. George is an outstanding sales representative and is “simply the best” when it comes to answering the many questions regarding the companies he represents.

The Redington Dually Switch and Spey rods have become very popular for a number of reasons. The Caddis Fly Shop Blog put together some questions for George about the Dually. Below are the answers to our questions and as only George can do….ah, just read it!

Scandi or Skagit which is best suited for the Dually?

Depends on just what YOU wish to do. To be sure, any given individual Model will have a “Pet Line” but all in all, an angler can ply his trade with any number of lines to suit his preference Winter or Summer, Dry Line or Tip game. As an example the vaunted 7130-4 Dually is just flat ass awesome with a RIO Scandi 480, simply fantastic ! The 8119-4 Dually Switch is fabulous with the Skagit Max Short Head. We love the 7113-4 Switch with a Switch Chucker #7 and the 8136-4 Dually is crazy good with the New Skagit Max Long in a 550.

What rod weights for Steelhead, Salmon or Deschutes Steelhead?

All the usual subjects here…….6126-4 and 7130-4 for classic summer run use. The 8136-4 for bigger water, Salmon and winter work. The 7130-4 would be as perfect of a Deschutes stick as ever was at this price point.

What about indicator fishing? Is it suitable?

Unleash The Bobbers ! Put the 7113-4 to work with a Switch Chucker #7 and get busy !

What’s with the name Dually?

Dually means Dual or in this case Dual as in “Two Hands” !

What’s the big deal about the Dually? Is it the price ($245.95) or performance?

All of the above ! These 3 Spey rod models are simply the finest Spey rods under $500. By any manufacturer EVER and they happen to be $249.95 . A Great match with the New Sage 2280 and 2210 reels that set up well for both Spey and Switch Rods and are $149. And $159. respectively. These rods are right on the mark as performance and value meet on the curve. No barrier to entry for anyone looking to get into the Spey or Switch game the performance and value opportunity is here ! For some ardent angler’s these will serve as fantastic backups and they will get caught reaching for and putting into their starting lineup !

What is the best line to match with the Dually if your indicator fishing?

Great question…..if from a boat, go with a RIO Switch Line. If on your feet with some “Swing Game” on the days agenda as well the RIO Switch Chucker is unquestionably the go to line.

What is the best line for a Skagit guy to match with the Dually if you’re just going to swing?

Here’s a basic chart for Skagit-ology 3.0

Dually Spey Rods

6126-4: RIO Skagit Max 400
7130-4: RIO Skagit Max 500
8136-4 RIO Skagit Max LONG 550

Dually Switch Rods

4109-4: RIO Skagit Max Short 300
5110-4: RIO Skagit Max Short 325
6110-4: RIO Skagit Max Short 375
7113-4: RIO Skagit Max Short 425
8119-4: RIO Skagit Max Short 450

What is the best line for a Scandi guy to match with the Dually if you’re just going to swing?

Dually Spey Rods

6126-4: RIO Scandi 390
7130-4: RIO Scandi 480
8136-4: RIO Scandi 510

Dually Switch Rods

4109-4: RIO Scandi Short Versi Tip #4
5110-4: RIO Scandi Short Versi-Tip #5 or RIO Scandi 270
6110-4 RIO Scandi Short Versi-Tip #6 or RIO Scandi 360
7113-4 RIO Scandi Short Versi-Tip #7 or RIO Scandi 390
8119-4 RIO Scandi Short Versi-Tip #7 or RIO Scandi 435

The Method weighs in at a lean 6.5 ounces on a 7126-4 (12’6” 7wt) compared to the 7130-4 Dually (13’ 7wt). The Dually is 6” inches longer and only weighs .8 ounces more. Not bad for an entry level rod.

So, what makes this “the best buy”?
Well having just returned from fishing in Alaska for the General Rainbow Opener and having fished a plethora of rods on this trip ( Method Series (7126-4) , Dually 8119-4 and 7130-4 (Geo’s Pet Sticks) along with the Spanky New Sage ACCEL Spey series (Available August 2014) in both a 7126-4 and 7136-4). I can tell you that the Method sticks are simply “Laser Throwers”, vicious line speed, the Dually’s are the “Blue Collar Smooth but Powerful Operators”, that tantalize you cast after cast and this Brand New ACCEL is simply “Soulfully Smooth”. The Dually benefits from a dedicated group of designers who not only are part “Lab Coats” but “Out There After It Anglers”. Because of this things like weight, action, components and cosmetics get a group signoff amongst a true group of fisherman. These Dually Rods are simply “Scary Good”. At $249.95 they are unequivocally the best Switch and Spey Rods ever produced under the $500 price-point.

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review | Leave a comment

Return to East Lake 2014

Posted on June 29, 2014 by Lou Verdugo

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With the weather Gods predicting a gray day with, “showers”, we headed out to East Lake for our last day of our Cascade Lake adventure. We had experienced some good fishing and our expectations were high upon our return. As seen in the photo above, we enjoyed a slight drizzle and rising fish. The ” Calli ” hatch was full on despite another late start due to a poorly timed teleconference.

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Once again the hot flies were the Thorax Callibaetis and the stacker Callibaetis.

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With the hatch full on for a few hours we enjoyed many fish to hand and some fine aerial acrobatics. The species caught ranged from kokanee, rainbows, and Atlantic Salmon. With a beginner fly angler in the boat, landing and releasing fish, and casting with three anglers in the boat, patience was at a premium.

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Oh, about the forecasted “showers”? Please note the darkness and soggy anglers at the boat ramp. Yep, it was bombing rain! We tried to hang in there with the hope it would stop and we would enjoy the return of a late evening hatch. About the only thing we enjoyed for this evening: the heater in the rig on the way home! Conversations turned to early next week for another lake outing…..stay tuned…

LV

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report, Fishing Reports, Oregon High Lakes | 1 Comment

Big Lava Lake 2014

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Lou Verdugo

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After a good day at East Lake we headed out to Big Lava the following day. One thing about Big Lava, if the fishing is slow, the view surrounding the lake is breath taking.

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Our fishing was fair at best at Big Lava. However, the few we did catch were of nice size and girth. From the picture above, you can see how anxious the fish of Big Lava wish to return to water. Practicing catch and release with this particular fish was not a problem for Jeff.

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Slow drifting and using the callibaetis nymph proved to get a few to hand. The fishing for us was a bit slow verses East Lake but we did have a late start for the day. We were able to cast dries and the thorax callibaetis proved to be best. Day 3 of our Cascade Lakes adventure begins tomorrow and with gray overcast skies forecasted, looks like a possible return to East Lake?

LV

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report, Fishing Reports, Oregon High Lakes | Leave a comment

Row a boat for Ninkasi

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

From Kyle Smith, President, TU Blueback Chapter #196 Corvallis, OR:

The Bluebacks are hosting a fishing trip with employees from Ninkasi Brewing Company on July 19th. The Bluebacks have 5 drift boats signed up for the trip, but we’d love to have more boats from the Eugene chapter join us. We’ll be floating from Hendricks to Hayden, leaving at 11am and should be off the water around 5:30pm. We’ve instructed the Ninkasi folks that they’re responsible for their own lunches, snacks, and drinks.

Ninkasi

Let me know if you have any chapter members that would be interested in joining us on this float. Should be a great opportunity to develop inroads with Ninkasi, who has been extremely generous and supportive of our chapter (and the McKenzie River Chapter 678) and we hope to continue working with for a long time!

Email: kms2159@gmail.com

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | Leave a comment

East Lake Report 2014

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Lou Verdugo

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Mid June, for Cascade Lakes fishing, only means one thing: East Lake! Hopeful for the callibaetis hatch we headed out and launched mid morning. We were not surprised. Like clockwork, the callibaetis were flying around at the ramp and continued on for most of the day and early evening.

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Ken C. had the hot rod for most of the day and landed some nice East lake specimens.

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We did see nice brown trout leaping in the early evening. Here is one taken on a thorax callibaetis.

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Our successful fly’s were the cripple callibaetis, thorax callibaetis and the epoxy nymph callibaetis. Frankly, its a dry fly show for us on East. Nymphing was done but the callibaetis “show” is not be missed! We are headed of to another lake today….yep, we are truly lucky!

LV

Posted in Oregon High Lakes | Leave a comment

Midwest Warmwater Update

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Summer is full on here in the Great Lakes. I’m spending a lot of time chasing largemouth bass with deer hair bugs, and enjoying the warmth.

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I just bought a new Redington Predator Fly Rod from the Caddis Fly. Originally launched Fall 2011, it’s a fast action, short, 4-piece rod with some serious saltwater durability features. It’s also cheap. Caddis has them on sale for under $200. I did a review of the Redington piece on my Ohio Nature Blog. It’s short (7’10”) and there are some tradeoffs associated with that, but generally I think it’s a great purchase.

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I’m also spending a lot of time doing Urban Fishing along the Cleveland Harbor. Capt Nate is keeping his boat literally in the heart of downtown Cleveland this year, and it’s been interesting to say the least. This place is in a process of recovery/renewal, and while some of the industrial views are visually jarring, the fish don’t care.

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The other cool activity is white bass. Most locals don’t spend a lot of time talking about these guys — they’re small, easy to find, easy to catch. But I think they’re great. They are a native species, there are tons of them, and they act like tiny stripers. You find the birds, you find the blitzing whiteys. They’re happy to take topwater flies, and if you get bored with catching fish on EVERY CAST, put on a sinking line and try to find out if there are any lazy predators hanging out below the school. Nate catches some very big walleye like that.

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The kids are spending a lot of time on the local creeks, messing with bugs and other critters. And I’ve started writing a naturalist column for a local publication. You can find the first installment here if you’re interested.

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Keep them hooks sharp, and if you wind up in sunny Cleveland this summer, shoot me a note!

-MS

Posted in Fly Fishing Travel | Leave a comment

Lake Report

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Hosmer Lake Brookie

Early Summer can produce some awesome fishing on Central Oregon’s high Lakes. Take a break from the rivers, load up your float tube/pontoon/drift boat and go fishing on some of the Pacific Northwest’s best stillwater fisheries. Here’s whats been going on out there as of late:

East Lake
East Lake is fishing great right now. With consistent hatches of callibaetis coming off daily, now is the time to head out there. This lake fishes consistently well throughout the Summer, but I’ve encountered some of my best fishing on East around this time of year. During the morning, fish chironomids or slowly retrieve callibaetis nymphs such as the Epoxynymph Callibaetis and the Emerging Callibaetis with an intermediate sinking line. You can also strip buggers and leaches using the same technique, with our personal favorite being the Hale Bopp Leech. In the afternoon, the callibaetis will start coming off, so switch to the dry line and start throwing some callibaetis dries!

Lava Lakes
Lava has been more productive than Little Lava as of late. Bring a similar assortment of Leeches, callibaetis nymphs, and damsel nymphs to fish with an intermediate sinking line. The flying ant hatch is a hatch that is often overlooked at Lava, and it should be happening anytime now. This can produce some superb fishing, so don’t forget to pick up some CFO Ants before you head out there.

Hosmer Lake
Focus your efforts at Hosmer during the early mornings (sunrise) and evenings. Not only will this allow you to avoid the “kayak hatch” that seems to occur there every afternoon, but these are also the times when you will find your most consistent fishing. To target the larger brookies that lurk in this lake, strip buggers and leeches with sinking lines early in the morning. Throughout the day, switch to callibaetis and damsel nymph presentations, and don’t hesitate to fish chironomids in the channel and along the weedbeds as well. You’ll encounter your best dry fly fishing in the evenings, with callibaetis cripples and midges the most predominate bugs on the water.

Crane Prairie Reservoir
Crane has been a bit tougher lately. The water hasn’t sufficiently warmed enough yet to fully consolidate the fish in the channels, so locating the fish has been tricky. Fishing chironomids, such as the red and black Ice cream cone, has been producing a few fish, but it isn’t red hot yet like we all know Crane can be. During this transitional period, stripping black leeches or streamer patterns that imitate the stickleback minnows that inhabit the lake, such as the Sculpzilla, can be an effective way to locate the fish.

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report, Oregon High Lakes | Leave a comment

Guide Trip Special: Willamette River Summer Steelhead

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Willamette Valley Summer Steelhead fishing is improving, with about a thousand more fish over Willamette falls compared to this time last year, our local steelhead season looks to be making a turn for the better. Optimal water levels and increasing number of fish have made for decent fishing this past week, and we expect things to only improve as the season progresses.

With easy wades and long shallow runs, our valley rivers set up perfectly for the swung fly. Due to the character of the rivers, we generally fish light flies and light sink tips, making learning the nuances of spey casting and swinging flies for steelhead much easier.

The Caddis Fly offers several options when it comes to Summer Steelhead guide trips.

1/2 Day Float for two anglers:

$350, 5-6 hours of fishing, lunch not included.

This is a great option if you are looking to take advantage of the low light conditions in the morning. The boat is used for transportation from spot to spot if the anglers wish to utilize two handed rods, casting from the boat takes place in areas where a cast from shore isn’t feasible.

1/2 Day Jet Boat two anglers:

$350, 5-6 hours fishing, lunch not included.

Designed for anglers looking to use two handed rods, and to cover many runs as possible.

After Work Special, two anglers:

$300 5pm-ish till dark, swing a handful of runs after work, during prime low light conditions.

Posted in Lower Willamette, Summer Steelhead | Leave a comment

2014 McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament Registration Now Open

Posted on June 19, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Join us for the Caddis Fly Angling Shop’s 2014 Two-Fly Tournament, September 26th and 27th, 2014

All Proceeds Benefit the McKenzie River Trust. Fish for a Cause on the majestic McKenzie River and the great Willamette River. Hosted by Chris and Shauna Daughters, owners of the Caddis Fly SHop.

McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament

It all starts on a Friday evening in the fall, as an eager group of anglers and local fishing guides come together at the Caddis Fly Angling Shop in Eugene to eat, drink, strategize and raise money for the rivers they care about. Join us to Fish for a Cause!

Friday: Catered dinner for two at the Caddis Fly Angling Shop with local guides, local microbrew, 2014 tournament fishing shirts handed out and more…

Saturday: Full day of fly fishing with a local guide on either the McKenzie or Willamette River. An evening together to celebrate the spirit of the sport and the future of the local rivers all complimented by a catered dinner for two in Ninkasi’s new Administrative Building (on its way to achieving LEED Certification), Ninkasi Brew, awards ceremony, prizes and more.

**FRIDAY: 10% of all sales at the Caddis Fly Shop will go to MRT**

Over $25,000 Raised To Date by the Two-Fly Tournament!

All proceeds are invested in the McKenzie River Trust, protecting the lands that cradle our beloved rivers and streams of western Oregon.

$375 Per Angler

Click Here to Register Online. Space is limited.

Special thanks to the local guides donating their time to make this event possible:
Lou Verdugo
Ty Holloway
Clay Holloway
Bryson Fairlamb
Chris Daughters
Mike Reardon
John Fabian
Matt O’Neil
Matt Ramsey
Brian Marz
More coming soon…

For more details contact Brandi Ferguson at brandi@mckenzieriver.org or

The Caddis Fly Angling Shop
168 W. 6th Ave, Eugene, OR
541-342-7005

Posted in McKenzie River, Oregon Conservation News, Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | Leave a comment

YouTube Saltwater Fly Pattern Comment Responses

Posted on June 18, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog


Warning:  this post is so long that it is capable of striking all but the most text-addicted reader as stupid long.

Ok, why post it in a world where people tend to prefer sound-bites and bottom lines?

It turns out that there are some five thousand or so folks subscribed to the Caddis Fly Shop YouTube channel.  Many of these folks do not regularly visit the Oregon Fly Fishing Blog to see what’s up in the local region.  There are a ton of readers who are not at all interested in fly tying themselves – people who tune in to the OFFB for conservation news or just the McKenzie River fishing reports, or are seeking tackle recommendations, travel destination stories, and whatever.

One funny thing about me – please don’t make a full list of personal quirks – is that I generally NEVER look at my videos on YouTube, and therefore usually do not see any comments our viewers have posted.  Chris Daughters and Matt Stansberry pointed this out to me last week and prompted me to find these comments and respond to the viewers.   I decided to limit my initial responses to the Saltwater Fly Tying series for now – and have collected them all here for the record.

Hoping to make this post easier to browse – I made the following list of general comment topic plus the title of the fly where the comment appeared, and numbered the sections.  I hope this will allow you to see if you wish to plow though the entire post or if you wish only to scroll down to read a few sections.  Your choice.

  1. Cure Goo and Fish Masks – how much is sufficient?
  2. The Nicholas Clouser style – not just a Clouser.
  3. Surf Perch fly.
  4. Surf Perch fly and spring Chinook fishing advice.
  5. Steve Farrar’s Blend materials, properties and recommendations.
  6. Applicability of big Salty flies to inland waters?
  7. Fishing USA saltwater flies in Europe inland waters?
  8. Comparing Simmer Fringe to Bucktail for a Striped Bass Clouser.
  9. Tying tube flies on shanks and shanked flies on tubes.

10.  Is Hydro cure goo really tack free, and can I purchase these flies?

11. Consider fishing big saltwater flies in Idaho and other inland waters.

12. Comment on unscripted video narrative and Deceiver Fly discussion.

13. Swinging Saltwater Deceivers in rivers for salmon?

14. The best eyes on baitfish flies and speed tying.

15. Freaky Squeaky bobbins and down-sized saltwater flies for inland waters.

16. Thanks for the quality customer service.

17. General Cure goo thoughts and appreciation for customer service.

18. Thoughts on hooks and tube sizes for large saltwater flies + thanks for videos.

19. Thanks for your support – more saltwater fly videos to follow!

All of the saltwater series videos were shot in August 2013 and have been sitting in the proverbial film can, waiting for debut on the OFFB and posting on YouTube.  I shot almost 60 of these and we have only posted the first twenty or so, meaning there are lots still ready to go.  There will be some fun (my opinion) flies of traditional and modern influence to see in the weeks to follow – I sure hope you find some that you find interesting.  Now that I know how to find the comments and respond, I will do so and eventually compose a summary like this here stupid long post.

Jay Nicholas (June 2014)

Continue reading →

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

McKenzie River Trout Study Post Script

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The McKenzie River from Hendricks Park to Belinger Boat landing has been the site of a mark and recapture study to track the population of trout after the removal of stocked fish. Four years ago that section of river was a sliver of what it is today. Fish populations and fish size have improved mightily!

From Arlen Thomason: Thank you to all who attended the wrap-up meeting Tuesday evening. And to those who weren’t there, sorry that you couldn’t make it. After the presentations we had an interesting and enjoyable discussion about the future directions of efforts to support wild fish.

One of the things that we all agreed upon was to get out the message about the rebound of the wild trout population and the improvement in fishing results after hatchery stocking ended in the study section. Over four fishing seasons, 2010-2013, the trout population and the documented angler catch rate both increased by almost 300%. The anecdotal experience of those who regularly fish it matches the numbers.

So please help spread the word. Every chance you get, tell people about what has happened there. Invite them to fish the study section and see for themselves. Little by little, let’s chip away at the myth that artificial supplementation is necessary for our rivers to provide a quality fishing experience.

The 2013 and whole-study report is on the web now and can be downloaded from this page.

The story told in numbers and words is pretty darned amazing. Maybe most amazing of all is this set of numbers: 108, 2559, and 276.

108 volunteer participants.
2559 recorded hours on the water.
276 trips to tag and recapture fish.

And those numbers substantially understate the actual level of volunteer involvement.

The level of dedication, effort and accomplishment in this implementation of citizen science deserves recognition. I tip my hat to all of you.

Not that it is any way adequate acknowledgement, but we have Certificates of Appreciation and Accomplishment, printed on thick high quality glossy paper, for any study participant. We handed them out to people who were at the meeting, but if you weren’t there and would like to have one, please contact me and I will find a way to get it to you.

Cheers,
Arlen

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 4 Comments