The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Saltwater Clouser Fly Tying Video for Chinook Salmon and Rockfish with Steve Farrar’s Blend

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

This Saltwater Clouser fly fishes well in the both open ocean and estuaries. The texture of the Electric Yellow fibers are not as pleasing to my likes as most of the Steve Farrar’s Blends, but it is bright and I use in sparingly to spice up this fly.

I have tied Clousers in diverse sizes, materials, & colors, and the Clouser is among a handful of fly styles that merits the attention of most fly tyers and fly anglers. Granted, a 3” Clouser would not be my first choice when fishing over Spring Creek Trout when they are keying on # 20 Mayfly Spinners. Still, I love the Clouser. If you are familiar with the fly, you already get it. If not, I encourage you to begin working on your Clouser tying and fishing skills.

Jay Nicholas

Chinook Clouser Minnow for Open Water

Overall Length = 3.5”
Thread: Danvile’s 210 D Green Chartreuse
Hook: #2/0 Mustad 3407
Throat: Pink Gliss N Glow
Belly: Steve Farrar’s Blend – UV White
Top: Steve Farrar’s Blend Electric Yellow/Bleeding Mackerel /Bleeding Black
Lateral Line: Lateral Flash
Eyes: Hareline Painted Lead Eyes – Large Chartreuse
Cure Goo: Hydro

New John Gierach Book “All Fishermen are Liars” Signed Copies Available Starting April 21st

Posted on April 14, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

We have reserved at least 50 autographed copies of All Fishermen Are Liars. These hardbound copies are perfect to add to your angling library and make a fantastic gift for any angler. Click the following link to order your copy today: Buy All Fishermen are Liars Link

All Fishermen Are Liars By John Gierach

“I have to go fishing; it’s my job.” John Gierach can say that and mean it. But fishing is only part of his job. The other part is writing about his fishing adventures. And that’s the part we readers get to enjoy. In All Fishermen Are Liars, Gierach travels across North America from the Pacific Northwest to the Canadian Maritimes to seek out quintessential fishing experiences. Whether he’s fishing a busy stream or a secluded lake amid snow-capped mountains, Gierach insists that fishing is always the answer—even when it’s not clear what the question is. All Fishermen Are Liars covers fishing topics large and small: the art of fly-tying and the quest for the perfect steelhead fly; fishing in the Presidential Pools previously fished by the first President George Bush; and the importance of traveling with like-minded companions when caught in a soaking downpour. (“At this point someone is required to say, ‘You know, there are people who wouldn’t think this is fun.’”) Gierach may occasionally lose a fish, but he never loses his passion for fishing or his sense of humor. All Fishermen Are Liars proves yet again that life’s most valuable lessons—and some of its best experiences— can be found while fly-fishing. –

PRAISE

“All Fishermen Are Liars is rich in the savvy, humor, and sidelong takes on our sport that have made all of John’s books such addictive reading.” – Paul Schullery, author of If Fish Could Scream and The Fishing Life “John Gierach remains the most consistently eloquent fly fishing writer of modern times.” – James R. Babb, Editor, Gray’s Sporting Journal

“A fisherman’s testimony to the faithful. . . . [An] Elegiac tribute to the elusive art and ineffable pleasure of fly-fishing, with plenty of information about how it’s done by true practitioners.” – Kirkus Reviews

“Perceptive and witty. . . . These lyrical essays explode with descriptions of beautiful places, big fish, and beautiful fish. . . . But Gierach can write about more than trout and salmon.” – Booklist

Posted in Oregon fly fishing links, Shop Sales and Specials | Leave a comment

Lower McKenzie Dropping, Warming and Fishing Well

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The lower McKenzie River is fishing really well. Dropping water levels and rising water temperatures are a good combo. Grannom caddis and March Browns are the important surface oriented insects. Peacock Caddis in sizes 16 and 18 and March Brown Parachutes in size 12 and 14.

Monday was calm and warm with sun and a very high cloud layer, the dry fly fishing was stellar. Yesterday the wind howled up the river and the fish were not feeding with the same consistency. We were able to catch fish on the surface, but the nymphing was more effective for larger fish. Our best nymphs were the Jigged Prince in all sizes, and the ever reliable Mega Prince.

The weekend weather looks fantastic, get out there and enjoy!

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | 2 Comments

Saltwater & Puget Sound Shimmer Fringe Pink Clouser Fly Tying Video for Coho and Cutthroat

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Surprisingly, this little fly fishes well in the open ocean and in estuarine habitats like Puget Sound and the Frasier River in BC. The fly is small but predatory fish from sea run cutthroat to Black Rockfish know how to key in on little prey and have no problems finding these flies when they are featured on the menu.

Fishing these flies in estuaries is best done with floating and intermediate lines, using little twitches to keep the fly in the upper few inches or feet of the water. I have found that the sink rate of the fly in increased as heavier layers of Cure Goo are added, so if you plan to fish this fly in a few feet of water, like is common where Sea Run Cutthroat lurk in the spring; you want to keep the Goo layer relatively thin. When fishing Pacific Rockfish around kelp and over reefs in 20 ft of water with fast sinking fly lines, you may make the Goo layer quite thick and this makes for a more easily detectable fly that the fish will take with solid approval.

As always, experiment and vary the color combinations to suit your local conditions and personal preferences.

Jay Nicholas

Shimmer Fringe Clouser Minnow

Overall Length = 2”
Thread: Fine Mono
Hook: #4 Mustad 3407
Body: Ice Dub Shimmer Fringe Minnow Pearl Mix
Upper body: Shimmer Fringe Minnow back Hot and Shell Pink
Eyes: Hareline Pseudo Eyes – small black/chartreuse
Cure Goo: Hydro

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Oregon Salmon fly fishing, Oregon Saltwater Fishing | 3 Comments

Coastal Hatchery Steelhead still running

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Yep. This is a great time of year to fish. The McKenzie is coming on strong with nymphs and dries, Spring Chinook are in the Lower Willamette just begging to be shown a fly to eat, there are many lakes stocked with hatchery trout, and in the weeks before spring chinook nose into a few coastal rivers, there are still a surprising number of nice hatchery winter steelhead willing to respond to our flies.

If you are on the prowl on coastal rivers now, make sure you check the regulations because some rivers are closed for a while, but others remain open, like the Wilson, Trask, Nestucca, and Siletz. The steelhead pictured here swooped in from the ocean late last week, and reports from the weekend indicate that more fish slid in during the last few days. These fish ranged from about five to about 12 pounds, and interestingly, all three had harbor seal marks from recent close encounters.

The first few summer steelhead have also been reported, and the first spring Chinook may be expected any day now.

Check the regulations, have fun, and make your decision about where to fish, because there are plenty of opportunities.

The Caddis Fly Shop can schedule you for a guided trip for any of the locales mentioned here, so if you would like to try your hand at anything from coastal lakes trout, McKenzie wild rainbow and cutthroat, or coastal river anadromous species, give us a call and we will gladly explore options to tailor your trip.

Posted in Coastal Steelhead Fishing, Fishing Reports | 2 Comments

Flies you Need in your Fly Box for Spring Fishing on the Mckenzie and Willamette

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Here is a list of “go to” standard fly patterns for your local fishing over the next couple of weeks. Sizes may vary slightly and of course there are many other effective flies. These are your “don’t leave home without them” patterns.

Mega Prince
The Mega Prince can be fished dead drift or swung and is a favorite when the water is a bit on the high side and not perfectly clear. It can be used in tandem with other nymphs or wet flies. One of the best Sprng flies around!

Double Bead Poxy Backed Peacock Nymph
When you need to get down quickly the Double Bead Poxy Backed Peacock Nymph will get the job done. We use this quick decent pattern along with a smaller nymph for a double nymph and indicator rig. One of the best early season Deschutes flies as well.

Jimmy Legs
The Jimmy Legs is another highly effective nymph pattern. We have found it to fish in all colors and sizes. It’s buggy, leggy, “beadless” drift is deadly.

Pheasant Tail/PT Flashback
Nothing surprising here the Pheasant Tail is a great all around nymph anywhere trout swim. We like it to imitate March Brown nymphs in sizes 12 and 14, then drop down to a 16 or 18 for Blue Winged Olives. Fish it in shallow riffles under a dry or with another heavy nymph for best success.

Silvey’s Soft Serve March Brown Wet
The Soft Serve March Brown wet fly does great when swung down and across all Spring. It has a small bead tied into the body helping it get down a bit even in the fastest of tail-outs and riffles.

Tungsten Trout Retriever Yellow Lab
When you need to dredge a bit the Trout Retriever will get you to the bottom quickly. Use in with a small nymph for a double nymph rig. Highly effective as warmer days spurn golden stone emergence.

Copper John
Density and sink rate are superb attributes to the Copper John Nymph. There is a reason why it’s been the best selling nymph in the West for years. Try the Copper John under a dry or with a heavier nymph and indicator rig.

Possie Bugger
You knew it was on the list, only a matter of time. Swing it, dead drift it, get it wet. The Possie Bugger catches fish all seasons.

March Brown Parachute
Finally a dry fly on list! The March Brown Parachute is a favorite on those cloudy days when the trout push up into the riffles and feed on adult and emerging March Browns.

Peacock Caddis
The Peacock Caddis is as good as any to imitate the Grannom Caddis blizzard that can be present on sunny days this time of year. The hatch can be frustrating at times but find a feeder on the bank or in a defined feed line and present a size 16 or 18 Peacock Caddis for good results.

Western March Brown
A heavily hackle “traditional Catskills” version of the March Brown adult. We have gone back to this pattern a bit with surprising results.

Have fun out there!

Posted in Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing, Oregon Weekend Fishing Forecast, Proven Spring Fly Patterns | 2 Comments

Spring Guide Special Continues through April

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

We are extending our spring special trout trips through April.

Fishing lately has been very good, with consistent nymphing throughout the day and intermittent dry fly activity.
The recent moderate amounts of precipitation have kept the river at an optimal level for the past week, making for excellent early season conditions. There is a beautiful week of Spring weather forecasted.

Each Spring we are reminded of how fortunate we are to have the lower McKenzie within such close proximity to the Eugene area. When conditions align, there is potential for exceptional trout fishing.

If you would like to experience the what the Lower River has to offer, take advantage of our half day special. The special includes 5-6 hours of fishing, and all tackle is provided. The trip runs from about 10am to about 3-4pm.

Call the shop for a reservation. 541 342 7005

Posted in Fishing Reports, Shop Sales and Specials | Leave a comment

Shop Sales Continue though April

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

It’s time to move our inventory from Winter to Spring. We have put most of our Winter apparel on sale. Check out the great deals on Howler Brothers, Patagonia, Korkers and much more on these pages.
Patagonia
Howler
Korkers Casual Shoes
Selected Simms Jackets

Our Spring fly selection is stocked up as well, Caddis, March Browns, Stonefly Nymphs it’s time to get your fly selection reloaded. The McKenzie and Willamette are fishing well now despite water levels being on the high side.

Posted in Shop Sales and Specials | 1 Comment

Sponsor a protester at NFS’s Annual Banquet

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Via the Native Fish Society: With Sandy river hatchery plants cut by half, stray rates below 10%, wild broodstock programs suspended and a precedent setting federal court ruling, the Three Rivers Sportman’s Alliance (a pro-hatchery “political action committee”) is planning to protest our upcoming Annual Benefit Banquet and Auction.

FYI, there’s some amazing stuff happening on this website:

“We all agree on one thing, we need to make more fish. Hatchery programs are necessary for salmon recovery, recreation, jobs and the economic health of our State.”

In response, Native Fish Society supporters and members have asked us to provide an opportunity to raise additional support for wild fish by donating per protester.

If you’d like to sponsor a protester please email tracy@nativefishsociety.org with your name, the amount you would like to donate per protester and your phone number. Thank you for all your support for wild, native fish!

Side note: Chris and Shauna Daughters have donated 1 Angler, 5 Nights / 4 Days fishing the South Island of New Zealand to the annual auction. Should be a great night, with protestor fireworks to boot! Don’t miss it.

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

Free Spey Rod/Line Demo Day, April 27th

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Caddis Fly Shop, Scott, Sage, Rio, Echo and Airflo have teamed up to give you the opportunity to cast a rod/line combo of your choosing.

Already have a rod, but don’t know which Scandi head to match it with? Interested in demoing a rod in a fishing environment before committing to purchase?

Sunday, April 27th at 4:30pm we will have a vast collection of rods and lines to demo for free! The Caddis fly team will be on hand to advise individuals on rod and line selection, and to answer any questions concerning spey.
Limited to first 15 applicants. Please bring waders and boots.

Call the shop at 541-342-7005 to get registered. We will let you know the meeting place prior to the event.

Posted in Classes and Instruction | Leave a comment

New Fly Fishing Gear Notes From Cedar Lodge

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The past five months or so I have been able to put some gear through it’s paces, walking up many of New Zealand’s South Island rivers 5 or 6 days a week. Most of the gear is new to the market, and the rest is new to me in the sense of really getting a chance to use it day in and day out. Walking 3-7 kms a day, sometimes through thick bush, your gear needs to be comfortable and durable. Below you will find a discussion of each piece of gear.

Fishpond Black Canyon Backpack

A complete shift for me here. I have fished/guided from a drift boat most of my life and now I need to have everything at hand for the day on my back or chest. The Black Canyon Backpack has the room I need and more. I was able to carry a large lunch box, Kelly’s Kettle, (we make tea river side at lunch time), first aid kit, dry kindling, space blanket, sat phone, hydration bladder and an extra jacket or two. I had room to spare here for an extra reel or rod as well which occasionally were on added to the load.
The pack is really comfortable and light in weight. You can adjust it in all the normal spots a decent backpack allows. It’s color is very suitable in terms of trout stalking. It’s not camo but it’s not bright in anyway.

Fishpond Savage Creek Chest Pack

A key for me and the the use of the Black Canyon Backpack was the ability to add a vest or chest-pack and hydration bladder. Fishpond has really dialed this system in. I have been a chest-pack hater most of my life, thinking they got in the way of casting and were generally cumbersome. But.. The Fishpond Savage Creek Chest Pack attached easily and comfortably to the Black Canyon Backpack. I was able to carry two medium sized fly boxes, tippets, leaders, floatants, pliers, bug repellent and sunscreen.

Fishpond Geigerrig Hydration Bladder

The Fishpond Geigerrig Hydration Bladder worked great with the Black Canyon Backpack. I was able to put the bladder in last (top of the pack) and easily feed both the drink and pressure tube/bulb through the designed slot near the main zipper of the pack. No matter how crunched up or flattened the bladder was in the pack, the pressure bulb aided in emptying the water I had in the bladder each day.

Nomad Mid-Length Boat Net by Fishpond

Now the good folks at Fishpond were kind enough to ship one of these down to us at Cedar Lodge and upon arrival I was a bit concerned about the size. We fly daily to fish and all of our gear has to fit in the helicopter pod attached to the Raven 44 helicopter. Fortunately the Mid Length Boat Net fit perfectly, and despite my kiwi pals having a good chuckle about how ridiculously big this net is to carry, I love it. It’s massive hoop size spawned a nick name “the purse seiner”. After a few “wiffs” I learned that despite being light in the hand the Mid Length Boat Net is not fast in the water. It’s rubber bag and size simply don’t allow for a quick scoop of the fish. Rather you want to get completely or nearly completely under the fish and give it a two hand upward scoop. With the “upward scoop” technique I was very pleased with the net and found it very fish friendly and fly friendly. The bag is so big the fish seem to feel a bit more comfortable submerged in the net, and the rubber bag simply does not grab flies.

Simms Vapor Boots

Both myself and our pilot/guide Dion Matheson wore the Vapor Boot quite a bit towards the end of the season and while I do like the boot it simply did not hold up as well as I would have liked. You can view a more in depth discussion of the Vapor and Patagonia Ultralight Sticky here: https://oregonflyfishingblog.com/2014/02/28/lightweight-wading-shoes-simms-vapor-boot-vs-patagonia-ultralight/

Simms Guard Socks

Approximately 95% of our fishing is done wet wading, this includes guides and guests. We see a lot of wet wading socks from Orvis, Simms, Cabelas and Redington. Mid-season I had a few pairs of the new Simms Guard socks sent down. What a difference! The new Simms Guard Socks are the best I ever used hands down. The other guard socks on the market are not even close. The formed foot bed is fantastic, left and right feet (keep the Simms logo on the outside) and the tough polyurethane textured outsole makes them extremely durable. The pull down and clip to to laces gravel cuff is also super tough and superbly fitted. These keep gravel out as well as any guard sock that has ever been made. I went barefoot in these all season and didn’t have a rock inside once.

Sage Method 9ft 4wt

One could argue that the 9ft 4wt Sage Method is a bit light for New Zealand fishing. In terms of delivering the fly I would argue it’s just fine. The Method 4wt excelled in lengthy casts into the wind ( we get a few norwesters ) regardless of fly size. Landing fish would be the only concern I would have for this rod being a go to New Zealand rod. Undoubtedly a 5wt Method is a better call for landing most of the 4-6+lbs fish we see. I am positive the 9ft 4wt Method will do superbly on all Western US waters with dries or hopper dropper rigs. In a pinch this rod could handle smaller nymphs and indicators as well.

Patagonia sun stretch shirt

My favorite fishing shirt on the market. The Sun Stretch has great UPF 30 fabric, fit and pocket design. It’s the perfect weight for the hottest days and with a lightweight layer underneath it was good to go on cooler mornings. This years best color for New Zealand “bush camo” is Ash Tan.

Waterworks Lamson Litespeed 4 Reel

Light in weight and good looking the newest iteration of the Litespeed reel utilizes the same maintenance free conical drag mechanism that has proven reliability. I matched the size 2 reel with a 9ft 4wt Sage Method and had a really nice light weight combination. The most significant improvement in my mind is the more user-friendly drag knob. I found it much easier to adjust.

Howler Brothers Horizon Hybrid Pant

The Horizon Hybrid Pant is made from very tough and stain resistant rip stop nylon. I have been and continue to be a big fan of the Patagonia Guidewater Pant and continue to be but the Horizon Hybrid has a slimmer fit in the leg and reduced drag in the water. It worked very well by itself or over a thin insulated layer on colder mornings.

Finally a couple of key flies that were difference makers for us the lodge this year.

Mercer’s Missing Link Caddis

The Missing Link was superb on selective fish. I will be adding colors and sizes to the shop and lodges inventory. It lands upright every time and lays flat in the water emulating a struggling to emerge insect. We had few refusals with the Missing Link!

Mercer’s Micro Mayfly Nymph

The Micro May is fantastic as a dropper nymph. It’s slim profile and “large for its size” bead allow it to sink quickly without a bunch of lead. When we encountered cruising backwater browns that needed a straight nymph (no indicator) the Micro May was the fly pattern of choice.

Stay tuned for more gear notes including the Scott Radian, Winston B3x and much more.

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review | Comments Off

Heading back to Spring from Cedar Lodge

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

It’s been a great first season as owners of Cedar Lodge. We have had the pleasure of meeting so many fantastic new and returning guests. It’s been truly inspiring to fish with 76,78,80 and even 88 year old anglers hiking up many of the back country rivers we access daily. Despite relatively tough weather and water conditions on many of our go-to streams, we have managed to have pretty decent fishing. We completed plenty of upgrades to the lodge for our first year, and that is the way it’s gone; full-on every day!

The season has gone by faster than we ever imagined with post Christmas being a blur. The kids got into a groove with school and new friends, our staff clicked into a smooth operating machine and suddenly we were at the end of March and headed back to Spring in the Pacific Northwest. I knew we had enjoyed our time when the kids really weren’t ready to come home and Shauna and I were plotting a longer stay next Spring.

We could not have done it without our great staff at Cedar Lodge and our experience crew at The Caddis Fly, Paul, Dion, Terry, and Careen at Cedar and Bryson, Peter, Lou, Ty, Clay, Andrew, Austin and Zach at the shop were invaluable to the service we provided this season.

We had a few days at the end of our stay to get out and fish. The weather was incredible in March, little wind and excellent water conditions made for some really enjoyable fishing. We didn’t catch all the fish all the time as low water and calm conditions can mean spooky fish as well, but we did manage to get a few fine days in.

We have been filling in weeks for the upcoming 2014/15 season and hope to share some of New Zealand’s most unforgettable trout fishing experiences with you. Please contact us to reserve your date.

CD and SD

Posted in Fly Fishing Travel | 2 Comments

March Madness Sale Item of the Day: Umpqua Ledges 500 Waist Pack

Posted on March 29, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Ideal for fresh and saltwater angling, the Umpqua Ledges 500 Waist Pack has enough room for fly boxes, tools, floatants, water bottles and much more. Large easy pull zippers make opening and closing quick and smooth. What makes the Ledges 500 waist pack unique is it’s internal frame component, keeping the packs load comfortable and properly fitted on your body. The Ledges 500 Waist Pack can be worn on the waist or slung over your shoulder.
Get this versatile pack for only $65 regularly $99.00, call us at 541 342 7005 or order online here.

Posted in Shop Sales and Specials | Leave a comment

TU Activities ramping up in Oregon

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

From TU 678: Trout Unlimited, McKenzie-Upper Willamette #678 is re-starting chapter activities!

There will be a meeting on April 10th, at 7:00 pm in the Vista Conference Room at Symantec, 555 International Way, Springfield, OR 97477. Please use the East “Visitor” entrance. There will be TU members on hand to direct you to the meeting room.

Below is a letter from our new Oregon Council Chair, Terry Turner:

Dear McKenzie-Upper Willamette #678 TU Members,
I’m both pleased and excited to report to you that several members from your chapter have reached out to the Oregon Council of TU for some assistance in re-starting chapter activities in your area. After several meetings and lot’s of emails, we are ready to begin chapter meetings and project work once again.

The chapter members that have volunteered to assist getting things started again will need your support. The fundamental work of selecting new chapter leaders, creating a set of bylaws and an updated strategic plan are not always flashy, but they are important steps in ensuring that the chapter continues to operate consistently and serve the members well. Chapters are only as strong as the leadership and member support make it. The Oregon Council is available to support your efforts with materials and planning assistance as needed.

Some good things are happening around the state.

-The new Blueback Chapter in Corvallis is up and running with a lot of momentum and enthusiasm. Kyle Smith, chapter president, is also our new National Leadership Council rep from Oregon. Kyle attended the Western Regional meeting in Reno this month.

-The Deschutes Chapter is doing some groundbreaking work on Tumalo Creek, demonstrating the importance of this stream to survival of Redsides Rainbows in the Deschutes River.

-The Tualatin Valley Chapter completed the 3rd year of Christmas Trees for Coho which provides critical habitat for coho fry in the Necanicum River. This program received national coverage and is looking to expand next season.

-The Clackamas Chapter is on it’s 9th season of its Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp. This is the only overnight camping experience of any TU camp in the nation. The Clackamas Chapter also is providing valuable representation on the PGE Fish Committee, implementing the latest FERC relicensing mitigation plan.
The new Wild North Coast Chapter in Astoria is working closely with TVTU on joint management of the ongoing work on the Necanicum River and other streams on the N. Coast.

The McKenzie-Upper Willamette Chapter has contributed some outstanding work on fish issues in the McKenzie watershed and I’m confident this work will continue in the near future. We’re all pulling for the same goals; Improving Coldwater Fisheries Habitat in Oregon. The McKenzie-Upper Willamette Chapter is critical to achieving these goals.

New Seaside Chapter

TU’s second new Oregon chapter in less than a year is now up and running on the North Coast. The Wild North Coast Chapter (#213) became legal early in March, and joins the Bluebacks Chapter in Corvallis as new additions to TU’s growing grassroots network across the Beaver State. Local representation in the places TU works and advocates for is the key to conservation success. The Wild North Coast Chapter service area runs roughly from Rockaway north to Astoria, serving critical wild fish watersheds like the Nehalem, Necanicum and Ecola Creek. WNCTU, or the “Mossbacks” as they’ve taken to calling themselves, sprouted from roots in existing partnerships with prominent North Coast conservation anchor groups like the Necanicum Watershed Council, North Coast Land Conservancy and Tualatin Valley TU.

Most of the Mossbacks’ leadership, in fact, are active in one or more of those partner organizations already, and have been active for years in dozens of local habitat restoration and reconnection projects. Adding another organized group into that existing network of partnership working on the ground in these critical watersheds should only increase the local conservation horsepower working on behalf of the coldwater fish, watersheds and communities of the North Coast.

For information on meetings, activities or how to become involved, drop an email to wildnorthcoasttu@gmail.com.

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 1 Comment

Willamette River Report

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Lou Verdugo

The sky outside may not look like the above picture outside right now,…but the sun did come out earlier this week. Jim Y. and I took a quick trip down the Mckenzie and on to the Willy. I wanted to do some “recon” of the winter high water levels had on the river. What we found was not surprising. First, there were no obstructions at 3.9 feet (Harrisburg Gauge). Second, a few new gravel bars have appeared and will possibly improve the fishing in some locations. The cubic feet per second at Harrisburg during the winter flows, was anywhere from 38,000 to 40,000 CPS for days on end. Today, a softer, kinder, flow of 3,800 CPS was much appreciated. However, a storm is brewing and perhaps another week of high flows? Ugh!

I took a quick couple of water temps and the water was 49 degrees. The Middle Fork was pushing in the usual amount of discoloration. Lastly, the fishing! Ok, it wasn’t full flame on, white hot, mad dog crazy, or hatch crazy, but it was fair. The strangest deal was few March Browns and mega hatches of Caddis!

We did manage a couple of nice fish on a CDC Caddis Emerger. With some occasional rises, we tried sub surface and it paid off with a couple of nice fish.

One thing about the Willamette, nothing is for certain and we should always use caution while on the river. Safety is the key to any trip on the water. Let’s stay safe!!

Spring has sprung and its time to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors and maybe, just maybe, a few more fish!

Posted in Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette | 1 Comment