The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog | McKenzie River fly fishing, Oregon fly fishing reports and fly tying videos.

Fly fishing links: Searching the Web to waste your workday

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Readers, there are a lot of fly fishing blogs out there, some of them updating infrequently, but still kicking out important and/or entertaining stuff.

Osprey Steelhead News notes a warm-water fish kill on the John Day. “ODFW biologists estimated that a total of 183 fish, 60% of this summers return, died when water temperatures rose into the upper 70s. While these type of random events are a fact of life for salmon in the arid west, they are exacerbated by land use changes and water extraction that further stress fish.”

Brian Wise at Fly Fishing the Ozarks has a few new fly tying videos up, Nick Granato’s Sasquatch Series and Thomas Harvey’s Trophy Wife, which Brian ties in tandem with his wife. Worth checking out:

John Montana posted a great report of 30 mph winds, crashing waves, and epic carp on the Columbia. “Most of the takes being of the darting, slashing, wave surfing, mind blowing type that I only see when the whitecaps are around.”

Matt Dunn makes the case for Pulp Fly 2 here, featuring a lot of my favorite fly fishing writers today. You need a Kindle or some kind of e-Reader. Buy it on Amazon.

Big char, bigger bears. The photos from the Admiralty Report are worth checking out.

Posted in Oregon fly fishing links | Leave a comment

Helicopter fly fishing in New Zealand: Cedar Lodge

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

As many of you know we have a deep love for fly fishing in New Zealand. The beauty, gin clear waters and big fish have brought us back year after year.

The early days found us sleeping roadside, and driving dilapidated sedans on 25+ day fishing benders. We moved to a van we could sleep in, then a small house on the South Island and a 4-wheel drive. Instead of driving 10,000 kilometers on a month long trip we began to focus on the rugged, but beautiful south western zone of the South Island.

For my 40th Birthday we went to Cedar Lodge. A dream trip! Heli fishing daily to unforgettable rivers with large trout eating large dry flies! Amazing. Then for Shauna’s 40th we returned to Cedar. A friendship formed with owners Dick and Robyn Fraser. A plan was hatched and we write you today to inform you that we have purchased Cedar Lodge.

This unique opportunity is intended to augment our existing business. We will continue to operate The Caddis Fly year round. With fantastic staff in place at both locations and perfect seasonality, we feel it’s an ideal situation.

Cedar Lodge is located near the Makarora River; a stone throw to Mt. Aspiring National Park and two hours from Queenstown airport. Because we own our helicopter we are able to fly anglers daily without the cost of a separate charter service. Weather permitting we fly anglers to rivers as far as 40 minutes away and as close as 10 minutes. The lodge’s location allows us to fish a good number of rivers with incredibly diverse beats on both sides of the South Islands coastal divide.

We invite you to join us for this truly unique experience on New Zealand’s South Island. Shauna, Patsy, Cash and I will open the lodge in early November close December 20th; re-open from Jan 15 through till March 30th.

We fell in love with this spot and know you will too!

Cedar Lodge was just featured in Catch Magazine this month, and below is an excerpt from that article. All photos in this post by John Covich.

Early morning light pours over mountaintops into the valley floor. A clear morning means the chopper will be taking off soon. You get your gear ready, you go over your tackle checklist in your head and then add the heli safety talk to the forefront of your mind one more time, — don’t walk around the back of the machine, take your hat off, when in doubt sit tight and let pilot tell you what to do. Soon you’ll be flying over spectacular South Island backcountry terrain on your way to sight fish for large trout in sparkling clear waters.

Whop, Whop, Whop hat in your pocket camera in hand you duck towards the front seat. Head sets on, door check, the machine backs and lifts at the same time and then we’re off! Soaring over glacial mountain sides, aquamarine pools and meandering river valleys.

We land, unload and the chopper is gone. We are greeted with the smell of native beech, manuka and the cleanest air on the planet. Cicadas are buzzing, the river is clear, we are in trout paradise. A high bank nearby offers a perfect view point for a lengthy pool. We spot a fish, the adventure begins.

New Zealand’s youthful, rugged geography was designed for Helicopters. Helicopters that deliver angler and guide to clear waters with big trout taking big dry flies. Cedar Lodge has been flying anglers into New Zealand’s gorgeous backcountry rivers for over 30 years. The lodge’s location is ideal for access to the South Island’s West Coast and Mount Aspiring National Park.

New Zealand’s South Island Rivers are so perfectly designed to hold trout it’s shocking that until the late 1800s there where no rainbows or browns holding in crystal clear pools, runs and riffles. Once liberated, trout have naturally reproduced and come to occupy most of New Zealand’s freshwater rivers and lakes.

Anglers are hunters, hikers, walkers and spotters in New Zealand. Walking upstream along dreamy trout streams where every possible bit of trout water must be examined thoroughly before moving on to the next. Taking your time amidst the beauty of New Zealand’s forests, braided rivers, and rugged gorges is critical to not missing a fish but it also gives you time to take in your surroundings and enjoy where you are and what your doing.

Rarely do you run into significant hatches but the seemingly sterile waters of New Zealand’s South Island do hold a variety of insects. Trout can key on aquatic life but seem to be attentive to all of their surroundings. Cicada’s, beetles, hoppers, crickets and even mice are part of the diet that feed fish that average 3-8lbs.

If the mornings chopper ride wasn’t exciting enough you have now spotted a 5lb rainbow elevated towards the surface in a crystal clear pool. You see every one of its movements. Right and left he swings as much as 8 feet to grab an invisible subsurface nymph. He doesn’t break the surface but is extremely active. The anticipation of your presentation is part of the New Zealand experience.

Your first cast is critical. Long leaders, drab fly lines and a thoughtful position help you to increase your odds. If your cast lands short, the fish is likely to sense your fly’s presence, turn downstream towards you and either eat the fly while you gaze into his eyes or get nervous and change his feeding habits for the worst.

Knowing all this, you make a perfect cast upstream of the fish in the current line close to him but not directly in line. You know he will move a distance and use this to your advantage. He rises up to a size #10 Ramsey’s Goofball dry, he is facing away from you and you give him time to drop back down towards his feeding lie, you tighten up and the red hot rainbow is hooked!

-CD

Posted in Fly Fishing Travel | 3 Comments

Saltwater Clouser: Steve Farrar’s Blend delivers Rock-solid Quality

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

I have been tying a ton of fun saltwater flies lately, fishing them all, from Deceivers to SeaDucers, to clousers, to Toad-like flies, and Crab-like flies, and Squid like flies, and some worked well and some required tuning but the work with materials heretofore foreign to me was at first daunting then fun as all get out and VERY CHALLENGING. Surely there are plenty of Pacific anglers tying up a fly storm but they are pretty quiet on YouTube, where it is Striper, and False Albacore, and Pike, and Musky, and of course Tarpoooooon fly country and Snook and Redfish and Bass and anyway my intention was to tie and fish and tie and fish and so on to see what our Oceanic species here off Oregon would eat and what if anything they would reject and …….

Expect many videos to follow but probably not for months to come so now for just a quick fly that fishes very well in different sizes and uses a new-to-me material: Steve Farrar’s Blend.

I have fished Clousers tied with Steve Farrar’s Blend in various sizes and colors, all of which will be disclosed and analyzed to the point of nausea, because if the TARPON TOAD deserves 156 YouTube videos, surely our inconspicous Oregon Saltwater flies should receive similar exposure, huh?

My Clousers have typically been constructed with bucktail, and several alternate materials I have tried in the past left me less than enthused. Note here that just because I like a material or do not like a given material does not mean that my opinion is the only word on the subject. It clearly ain’t.

I was instantly drawn to the Steve Farrar’s Blend for several reasons, including the fact that it consists of fibers that are somewhat resistant to becoming pierced by a hook point, and in my mind that equates to less hook fouling. The stiffness factor of the material is close to bucktail but a little more pliable, meaning more wiggle and flow; and several of the SF Blend colors are actually a blend (hummmmm) of different color fibers with flash incorporated in the blend already.

The SF Blend colors are amazing, the textures are intriguing, and I have worked with at least a dozen of the various colors. I will note here that different colors at times will have different textures, and some are easier to work with then others. Same goes with natural bucktails too, so nothing new here, just surprised me that synthetics of the same brand would vary so much. Steve Farrar markets several other synthetic winging materials too, much like the EP line but with some differences that are worth exploring (and I will have more on those at a later date also).

Bottom line on Steve Farrar’s Blend? I like it. I like it a lot. So much so that it has become a go-to for many of my Saltwater Clousers, and ditto for a series of Saltwater Deceiver style flies I have been tying and fishing for salmon and bottomfish.

These two Saltwater Clousers both use the same hooks and materials, one tied on #1/0, the other on #2/0 Gamakatsu hooks. Here is the recipe, you can figure out the size for yourself. Please pass on the Kevlar thread; in my opinion it is NOT needed; I use 140 D Ultra Thread or Mono thread. And no epoxy either, I use Clear Cure Goo in Thin, Tack Free, or Hydro to lock it all down. These materials will take a tremendous pounding; when bucktail would normally have been ripped to shreds and stuck in fish teeth, this Steve Farrar material still has what it takes to keep on flowing and shining and drawing fish.

Hook: Gamakatsu Big Game SL12S or similar

Thread: 140 D White Ultra Thread

Alternate Thread: Danville’s .006 fine mono

Eyes: large painted lead or XL chrome plated eyes

Wing: from bottom to top when hook is inverted as it swims with lead eyes on underside of fly:

Steve Farrar’s Blend in White, Electric Yellow, Bleeding Red, and Herring Back Blue

Flash: Lateral Scale#1733

Accent in middle of wing: Fluoro Fiber in Fluoro Pink – this whispy material really shows up in the water and you do not need much at all, really sparse is best and spread out to not clump together if you can manage.

You may note that the white is tied in by the butts as per usual and tied behind the eyes. The other wing is tied facing forward then pulled back to secure the wing in the proper position. This leaves a bump where the material is doubled over and I do not try to cover that up with thread. The clear Cure Goo will make the mono transparent which is sort of cool and it forms an extremely durable head very quickly.

Also note when lashing in the upper wing facing forward put the blue on the bottom so it is on top when you reverse it to lash it down and finish the fly.

Hope you get a chance to tie and fish this fly, it produces and produces and produces. As do all of my flies, naturally, ha ha.

Jay Nicholas, August 2013

Redington Dually Spey and Rio Short Head Spey Video Demonstration

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The folks at Far Bank (parent company of Rio, Redington and Sage) have produced some awesome fly fishing gear for the Fall season. This is the first of a few videos discussing individual product introductions.

The Redington Dually series of spey and switch rods is the very best value in the two handed rod world available on the market. If you are looking to get into the spey and switch rod game the Dually series offers high performance for an extremely reasonable price. Dually Switch rods start at 4wt for the trout spey enthusiast and go through 8wt for winter steelhead. Dually two handers are available in line weights 6-8 in ideal lengths for most situations. We cast these rods with a variety of line types and they shined. In this video the Rio Short Head Spey is on the 7wt Dually Spey.

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review | Leave a comment

Tying a Tube Bead Head EP Bugger Trout or Steelhead Fly

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Jay Nicholas is having more fun trying his tying hand at adapting our standard patterns to tubes and new materials. Yes, this is fun. Will these catch fish? Absolutely. We have fished enough flies la all sorts over our collective years to know that these will be effective and gosh it makes for fun when we sit down to tie.

The long-bodied bead-head bugger is a fly style typically crafted on 2XL, 3XL, or even 4XL shank hooks in sizes as large as #2, depending on where one is fishing.

The fly demonstrated here would be about equivalent to a bugger tied on a #8, 2XL hook, and this particular size works really nicely on the small diameter classic tube, noted below.

This is tied with a tungsten bead head and man-oh-man it will go down and impart that jigging action. One could also tie this fly with a standard brass bead, glass bead, or no bead at all.

Imagine this fly tied with a little collar of Senyo’s hot pink Laser Yarn at the head?

Bet that would be a slow sinking winner too.

And could this tube bugger substitute for a hot-bead Stonefly nymph? Think it could, yes indeed.

Key materials of this EP Tarantula Tube Trout Bugger are noted as follows:

Thread – Veevus 6/0 or 8/0 black
Hook – Daiichi Short Shank Straight Eye D1640 #4 to #8
Tube Mandrel – Small Pro Sportfisher Flexi Needle
Tube – Small Classic Pro Sportfisher Tube, black or clear
Hook Guide – Pro Sportfisher small, black or red
Tail – Hareline Claret Wooly Bugger Marabou
Tail Flash – Krystal Flash, Pearl or Chartreuse
Body – EP Tarantula Hairy Legs Brush, ½” width, red/black
Bead – Hareline Tungsten Hot Bead 7/32
Wire Cutters – Dr. Slick 4.75” Gold Barb Crusher Scissor Clamp

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

Dory Booking Opportunity for Pacific City

Posted on August 6, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

As many of you know, I have blogged about fly fishing with friends from a Pacific City Dory and expounded on how much fun I have had. These reports often lead to inquiries as how to book a trip, and so Chris asked me to work on a Licensed Guide that we could refer folks to.

Remember also, the Caddis Fly Shop Albacore trip scheduled for August 18 and / or 19 with Captain Jad Donaldson, out of Garabaldi, and sign up for that trip ASAP! Jad’s boat is not a Dory, but has greater cruise range and speed, and the Albies should be on top big time when we make that foray. Meanwhile, back at PC . . . . the fishing is decent and the ocean has been cooperating fairly well of late.

Joe Hay of Haystack Fishing he has agreed to speak with prospective fly fishing clients who are interested in booking a seat/day fishing from a Dory out of Pacific City. Most of Joe’s clients fish non-fly gear but he is familiar with the fly fishing game and is open to accommodating fly anglers – it is however a different situation to fish fly gear than to fish spinning or level wind reels so the pre-trip conversation to lay out costs and expectations is good for all concerned.

http://www.haystackfishing.com phone: 503 965 7555

Any of our Caddis Fly Shop Clients who are interested in a Dory-based, ocean fly fishing or combo fly/gear trip may contact Joe or Wendy Hay and inquire about trip date availability, target species, and per-person cost.

Dory Trips can be shaped around a variety of bottom fish and salmon, perhaps tuna, all depending on ocean conditions and the latest fishing regulations. Joe emphasizes a quality ocean fishing experience and will discuss expectations with prospective clients. There are days when the best anglers will have difficulty catching fish on fly or gear, and days when most anglers will be able to catch fish. The very opportunity to launch in a Dory off the beach is a thrill in it’s own right and the various opportunities to see porpoise, whales, marine birds, shark, and who knows what are always enticing.

Joe is an experienced Dory Captain USCG Licensed, and will provide information for individuals interested in a fly fishing or combination fly and conventional gear fishing charter off the beach at Cape Kiwanda here at Pacific City.

Joe will note that he does NOT supply FLY TACKLE to clients, but if they want to shift from using their own fly gear to conventional tackle for bottom fish or salmon, he will provide the conventional tackle.
Immediate questions about any aspect of gear, tackle, flies, lines and such may be referred to me by email or phone 541 224 3524, and i would be happy to advise people for the Shop.

Posted in Fishing Reports, Oregon Saltwater Fishing | Leave a comment

Idaho/Montana Fly Fishing Pics

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Our friend Matt LaBounty stopped in to borrow a Water Master the other day and made good use of it on his last trip east. Thanks for sharing Matt.

I have friends who live and grew up in Wallace Idaho. After years of talking about good trout fishing and 10 lbs bull trout on streamers while I lived in Seattle. Twelve years ago I started fishing with them on their home waters. This last year I finally hit it right. Although some years have been slow, I have never had a reason to not return. The past eleven years we have exclusively waded though brush to access the river and stumble along rocks to reach our favorite holes. Last week each afternoon I passed on the hiking and floated the very skinny waters in a raft. I was able to save my shines a bit from the brush and see/find holes I hadn’t in the past.

If you haven’t fished this area try find some time, hit the road, float or walk, and be prepared, you might run into a Moose, an Elk or spook the occasional bear while you fish for cutty’s, brown trout, bull Trout in the country made for the fly angler.

Rivers fished: Clark Fork, St Regis, St. Joe, North Fork of the Coeur D’ Alene

Posted in Fishing Porn, Fishing Reports | Leave a comment

New Sage Method Two Hander Shines in B.C

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Photo below was provided to us by Deneki Outdoors BC West Camp. Check out the amazing steelhead and the absolutely cherry Sage Method 7126 Spey Rod in the background. It does beg the question, does the latest greatest gear catch the angler more and bigger fish?

Photographer, Scott Baker McGarva, BC West…

Angler, Jason Tonelli from Pacific Angler Fly Shop.

Posted in Fishing Porn | 1 Comment

July 31 2013 Oregon Saltwater Fly Fishing Report

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Another day in the near shore Pacific off Oregon, exploring the saltwater fly
fishing world like a kid in a candy store. Calm ocean. Warmer water moving
onshore. TONS of baitfish. Silvers on the surface in the morning. Black
Rockfish at 15 ft all day long. Rockfish on the surface in the evening. None
of it is easy. All of it is fun. Plenty of no-fish times, mixed with oh my
goodness i have a fish on now how did my line get wrapped around my rod.
Jellyfish. Whales. Porpoise. Outboards and inboard motors that actually
function properly. Trucks NOT stuck in the sand. Chatter on Channel 5.
Mid-day naps. No time to tie more flies. The fun of never knowing when the
next tug will come, at what depth, and what sort of fish or critter it might be.

One of these days I will drone on about fly lines and have PLENTY to say about
flies. For now, though, the ocean is good, black is turning gray, and I’m going
out with my friends again. As long as they have a spare seat in the Dory, I
will be there if I am able.

A coho Double.

No brand fixation here: Echo rod, Nautilus reel, Rio Striper fly line, all come
together in this magic Coho on the surface moment.

Tube flies with no barb were tasty for some . . . .

Coho Ocean sea lice.

Trippling up on the Rockfish (someone was fishing two flies so there were
actually 4 good Blacks on at this moment.

Fresh protein for family and neighbors.

Today?

Desperately seeking Kings; Lingcod? Chasing Rockfish on the surface, and
waiting for the Tuna to turn on?

Hope this day is good for you and that I can report again soon.

JN (August 1 2013)

Posted in Oregon Salmon fly fishing, Oregon Saltwater Fishing | 6 Comments

“Gettin Jiggy With It” McKenzie River Fishing Report

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Despite the hot weather and low water fishing on the McKenzie has been good of late. The best quality fish seem to be in relatively fast water with at least 4 feet of depth. Many of the nicest trout I have seen in my boat lately have been in what you might call “steelhead water” more than classic trout water. I would love to tell you they are swimming up out of 4-8 feet and crushing the dry fly, but that isn’t the case. Of late I have been fishing nymphs off of dry flies that are very slender and have excellent sink rates. Believe it not the Possie Bugger has not been the primary bug of late! Using a large dry fly, Chubby Chernobyl or Half Down Golden as the “indicator fly” and using the tag end “hopper dropper” method (see link) I have been fishing a “jig fly pattern” and even tying a smaller nymph like a Copper John or Pheasant Tail above it for a three fly rig. Two nymphs off the dry about 4-7 feet. If you tie the nymphs “in line” by using the eye of the first fly for both leader end and tippet end tangles are reduced.

The Jig patterns come in several varieties and they have all worked. The three best patterns for me have been the Jigged Prince, Jigged Hares Ear, and the Euro Jig Nymph.

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | 4 Comments

Tumalo Creek water editorial

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Excerpt of a recent article in the Bend Bulletin:

By Paul Dewey and Mike Tripp Bend Bulletin – July 28. 2013

Tumalo Creek is a cherished natural resource in Central Oregon. The headwaters springs are a wonderland of scattered seeps and springs that become a full-blown creek. The majestic Tumalo Falls is one of the most photographed and visited sites in the area. The creek is the heart of Shevlin Park. Mountain bikers, runners and hikers all use the creek’s trails.

Tumalo Creek is also a vital part of the ecosystem. It is the sole tributary to the Middle Deschutes for more than a 60-mile stretch of that river. It provides cold water that is critical to the health of the Middle Deschutes native redband trout.

Unfortunately, Tumalo Creek’s history over the past 100 years has been one of degradation through dewatering for irrigation and municipal uses.

Fortunately, for the past decade or so there has been a kind of social compact involving irrigation districts, the tribes, conservation groups and local governments where all have agreed that getting more water back into Central Oregon’s creeks and rivers is a shared objective. Irrigation districts have been piping canals and returning some of the water to the creeks, and local governments like Sisters are switching from surface water to groundwater.

The Central Oregon Conservation Network initiated the campaign to increase flows in Tumalo Creek because the creek’s progress has lagged behind that of other Central Oregon waterways. Not counting the variable amounts of water rights temporarily “leased” instream, Whychus Creek has achieved 25 cfs in flows or nearly 75 percent of the minimum target flow of 33 cfs set by ODFW. In contrast, only about 8 cfs of Tumalo Creek has been achieved toward the target flow of 32 cfs, or 25 percent. Progress has been slow for Tumalo Creek — from 2005 to the end of 2012, less than 3 cfs has been permanently protected. During the same time frame 19 cfs was protected in Whychus Creek and 70 cfs in the Deschutes River. Also, now the city of Bend plans to take more water from Tumalo Creek.

But just because an irrigation district or local government “can” take more Tumalo Creek water does not mean they should take more water from Tumalo Creek. That is particularly the case when groundwater and conservation are viable alternatives. Using more water runs counter to the social compact to get more flows back in Central Oregon’s creeks and rivers. We need more of Tumalo Creek’s cold, clear water kept instream and that is why the Central Oregon Conservation Network adopted that goal as a priority.

Paul Dewey is the executive director of Central Oregon LandWatch and Mike Tripp is the conservation chair of the Deschutes chapter of Trout Unlimited. They both live in Bend.

For background on the proposed project, check out the Oregonian.

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report, Oregon Conservation News | 2 Comments

New Fly Line Videos From Rio Products

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The videos below highlight products, technology stories and helpful info on understanding the how and why of choosing a fly line from Rio Products. New spey and running lines are due in this week, and the first week of August. We have cast some of these and they are awesome!

Trout lines: Rio Gold, Rio Grand, Trout LT, Outbound Short and the new Perception.

Rio Perception Line in Specific

Choosing the ideal Spey line from Rio Products, including a discussion of the newest Skagit Max, Skagit Max Short, Scandi and Short Spey Heads.

Choosing a Spey Shooting line from Rio Products including a discussion of the newest Connectcore shooting line and Gripshooter.

The newest spey heads and shooting lines are just coming in the first week of August. I have linked them in this post, we will be shipping as soon as they are available.

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review | Leave a comment

Book your Albacore Fly Fishing Adventure for August!

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Yes, you crazy adventurous fly fishers, one of the most exciting fly fishing opportunities within easy reach is open for booking – and will most assuredly knock your socks out of your waders. Or something like that.

Here is the background. Last summer I took a trip west of Oregon into the deep Blue to fly fish for Albacore. I fished with friends and we were testing the waters with fly rods and managed to catch a few AMAZING HOT Albies. Twenty something tuna landed and several broken off that eventful day, between the 3 of us.

The fishing experience and the power of the Albacore were AMAZING to say the least. The Ocean was as spectacular as the fish. I saw Mola Mola bigger than a Volkswagen Van, sharks, Porpoise and at one point, while fighting a nice tuna, a Whale surfaced so close to the Dory that I heard it exhale, ten yards from the Dory, right behind me.

Enter 2013 and I have decided to pursue these oceanic beasties with renewed gusto.

Jad Donaldson, of opportunityflyfishing.com has graciously agreed to reserve the dates of August 18 and 19 for me and five companions on each day.

Our trip will port out of Garibaldi, Oregon, a nice drive from The Willamette Valley.

Cost for each day is $450 per person, I will fish both days (it won’t be nearly enough, I’m sure) and I would love to have two-day companions as well as one-day adventurers join us on the trip.

You may think it’s early to book this trip, but life may be short and now is the best time to commit to a great fishing adventure. My job is to work with prospective clients and keep the communication flowing to our Guide-Captain-Skipper Jad. Even though Jad provides all tackle and gear (see below) I am messing with my own rods, reels, lines, and flies already.

Jad is going to handle all the financial arrangements and will reserve your seat. Foul weather and inability to fish would get any of your deposit refunded. Jad will have live bait onboard to chum Albies to the surface within casting distance. There is time to sort out lots of details, but for me, I am committed, full bore.

Please call the Caddis Fly (541 342 7005) to reserve your day(s) and call me at 541 224 3524 to talk about the trip.

Here are some words of guidance from Jad that I share with you.

Jad has most recently been working in Belize, where he is the fishing director at Turneffe Flats on Turneffe Atoll.

Jad says . . . . .

The Oregon tuna season is mainly made up of 2 different seasons and subsequently, styles of fishing.

Late June through early August: The fish are primarily feeding deeper than later on. Most of the fishing at this time of the season is done and trolling generally the most productive. I still carry live bait (when available) and try to live bait fish whenever possible. Sometimes it gets going, sometimes it does not.

Mid- August through late October: There is a definite switch away from the troll and on to live bait. Personally this is the time of year that I look forward to and what my boat is designed to excel in. It’s also the time of season that most of my fly anglers come to fish. We carry at least 10 scoops of live bait each day when guests step on the boat.

Jad doesn’t run a budget charter service – but for the dedicated fly angler, he will get you out fishing, into fish, and back to port safely and with more fishing time, than just about anyone else. His boat has a cruise of around 28 knots and top speed of around 40, which relates to a run of about an hour and 15 minutes under most conditions after leaving the harbor.

Jad guarantees all of the following items are onboard when you step on the boat in morning: Boat full of ice ( 1200+ lbs.); Snacks (sampler platter from Rick’s smokehouse in Warrenton, OR and chips, pretzels, etc); soda/water; boots; Gore-tex Bibs courtesy of Simms Fishing Products

Yes you may bring your own fly rods, reels, lines. I will. Kindly allow Jad and I to help guide you in the right direction. A nine wt rod might be fine for King Salmon, but an Albacore on this rod will hand you a drubbing and take away the opportunity to catch several more. I fished a 12 wt last year and it was about right. Lines and backing? Plenty of time to work out those details between now and August.

Care after the catch is very important and Jad runs a proper sluice tank. Because he understands care after the catch and provides a salted sluice tank as well as ice service. His fish hold carries 160 Albacore and they can be delivered for canning, loining, or vacuum packing on your behalf post-trip.

Jad expects you to step aboard with nothing but your own lunch. He doesn’t provide alcohol because his insurance company forbids it and the USCG frowns on the practice. So as far as Beer goes, BYOB please. As for lunch, there are just too many dietary instructions to keep up. Besides, you can count on Jad to be fine-tuning tackle and gear for the coming day’s fishing.

Jad’s boat is a 42′ Dorado Bluewater, accomodating 6 anglers, Jad as Captain and an experienced deckhand each day. His guide service meets or exceeds all requirements of the Oregon State Marine Board and/or US Coast Guard.

Boat features include: Triple 300hp Suzuki Engines (re-powered Sept. 2012); In cabin seating for all guests (nice when the weather gets a bit rough or rainy); 8 man Off-shore Life Raft; Epirb (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon); VHF radio and backup handheld VHF; Iridium Satellite Telephone; Furuno 24 mile NM Radar; Furuno Navnet w/ GPS, chart plotter, temp sensor; Airmar 1000w Transducer; 40 gallon built in livewell; 240 gallon main livewell on the “dance floor”; 2 ton fishhold; Standard Head; Hot and Cold Freshwater Shower; Heat and Air Conditioned Cabin; Secondary/Backup GPS system; USCG Life jackets with strobes.

Departure times are based on tide and bar conditions. US Coast Guard limits the Skipper to a 12 hr. day, port to port.

The plan is that Jad and I touch base on the phone in the window of 48-72 hours prior to scheduled departure. At that time, the call is made whether the trip is a “go” or not. If weather doesn’t cooperate, we will cancel and Jad will refund your deposit. Your credit card will be charged if you’re a no-show unless we fill the seat with an alternate client.

Jad can provide references or put you in touch with past guests upon request.

Direct contact is: Captain Jad Donaldson

www.opportunityflyfishing.com

503-799-1498

skype: Jad_Donaldson

Oregon State Marine Board Licensed Fishing Guide and Ocean Charter, USCG Licensed 50t Master

OK – lets go tuna fishing!

This will be an experience beyond price — a fly fishing specialist’s services in a dazzling environment, and the chance to put some serious meat in the freezer and snap a few photos for future reminiscing.

Jay Nicholas, July 2013

Posted in Fly Fishing Travel, Oregon Saltwater Fishing | Leave a comment

Sage Brings New Fly Reels to Market August 2013

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Northwest sales rep George Cook stopped by to detail the new fly reel introductions from Sage. Starting August 1st the reels discussed in the following video will be available. There are some really good looking new offerings in the line up. The Sage 2200 series reel has a sealed drag and starts at $129, the 3200 series is fully machined and starts at $199, and the new Evoke is a fantastic new design aimed at spey and saltwater fly fishing.

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review | Leave a comment

Oregon Saltwater fly fishing update July 22 2013

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Count on it. Every day on the ocean has the potential to be waaaaay different than the previous.

Duh.

July 19th: New dory (old but new to my friends); huge schools of Black rockfish, grabs a-plenty, Lingcod, gentle ocean current made it easy to get flies down to fish; wide mix of fish sizes from 12 inch dinks to nice big plump shouldered fish; lots of fish in the 15-25 ft depth range; motor starter failed and we needed a tow to shore. One oar cracked as we rowed to beach. Great first voyage in my friend’s newly acquired dory.

July 20th: Rough ocean. Crab pots full to the brim; heavy ocean current; lots of surface eelgrass to foul our bucktail flies; cold 45 degree water; heavy swells made fishing so unpleasant that we returned to beach in 30 minutes with nary a serious chance to fish. grateful Bread breakfast and a nap by 9 AM.

July 21st: Surprise! Good calm conditions to launch dory late at 7:30. Winds in the sub-ten knot range. Fished for salmon at 160 ft contour for a few hours, but no joy, no working bait or birds. A friend motioned us over when his starter failed – and we towed him into beach, cast him off to row to shore. Then we went back out fishing again for the Rockfish we so love. Ocean current was strong but we were able to get our flies down with careful line management; fish were more in the 30 – 40 ft depth range, more scattered, and more difficult to find;. We found enough fish to hit doubles whenever we did find the fish and we found full crab pots too.

July 22: up at 4 AM. It is calm here in Woods. Don’t know what the ocean will bring. I have rods rigged with new lines to test, new flies to swim, and great expectations. Waiting to see if the phone rings and says: Hey Jay, want to hit the ocean?

7 AM and the phone indeed rings. Truck won’t start. Ocean is perfect, but no truck means no Dory launch.

See what I mean? Maybe I’ll fish for sea runs. Or take a nap. Odds are the nap will win out.

Here are some photos from yesterday, July 21st, 2013.

Call me silly (I know you will), but this 4 weight Echo-3 wt rod makes an amazing Rockfish rod. More on lines and flies later, but this outfit made for wonderful excitement when we found fish at less than 30 ft depths.

Whenever we found the fish, we hooked upon doubles.

Tube fly, big eyes, and plenty of cure goo over Steve Farrar’s Blend.

Black and orange Clouser tied with heavy lead eyes; SF Blend.

Don’t believe that the SeaDucer is only an East coast fly, because it Rocks the Blacks here with just bead-chain eyes and lateral scale accents.

Sea Lice on Dorsal fins.

More SF Blend in blue, chartreuse, grey, and red on this Clouser.

Full crab pots. Yummmmm.

Black and Chartreuse SeaDucer at work.

May this day be good to all of you, on the water, at home, at work, and waiting for your chance to play with fishes.

Jay Nicholas

Posted in Oregon Saltwater Fishing | Leave a comment

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