The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Red Ant Fly Tying Video

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

It’s prime time on the Rogue River for juvenile and adult Steelhead. Here is another classic “double” called the Red Ant. The best way to fish the Rogue Double Style pattern is to concentrated on tail-outs, gravel bottom runs and riffles with 2-6 feet of depth. Swinging and twitching the fly as you fish it.

Rogue River Red Ant

Hook: Mustadd 3582BR #8 or Daiichi 7131 # 8
Thread: Black Veevus 10/0
Tail: Red Saddle Hackle
Butt: Peacock Herl
Rib: Red Brassie Ultra Wire
Body: Red Uni-Floss
Wing: Fox Squirrel Tail tied “Rogue-Style”

Echo Gecko Contest Winner and Video

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Rick Allen has won the Echo Gecko biggest fish contest with his Summer Steelhead entry. Thanks very much for participating Rick, and thanks for the video showing how much of a bend you can put in a Gecko Rod. Enjoy your new Echo Rod.

Big fish little rod / fish whisperer demonstration from rick allen on Vimeo.

Posted in Fly Fishing Contests | 4 Comments

Foam-Top Steelhead Skater Fly Tying Video

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

It’s prime time to skate a dry for Summer Steelhead. This video demonstrates how to tie on of the very best Steelhead Skaters around. Two layers of foam, a green butt and buoyant moose hair this pattern stays on top under tension down and across.

Foam-Top Steelhead Skater

Hook: TMC 7989, sizes 4-8
Thread: Black Venus 6/0
Tail: Moose Body Hair; Two Strands Fl. Chartreuse Krystal Flash
Butt: Fl. Chartreuse Mini-Flat Braid
Body: Black Hareline Flat Diamond Braid
Wing: Black or Orange Hareline 2mm Foam
Thorax: Medium Black Hareline Cactus Chenille
Legs: Moose Body Hair

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

High Cascade Lake Report

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Lou Verdugo

With a hint of Fall in the air and another member of the Men’s Technical Conference retiring (Ken C.), we headed off to the Cascades last week. First stop was Crane Prairie. With little wind and a glass like surface, we headed out. Trolling Thin Mints and Hare’s Ears provided some results. Fishing was fair at best. It was the usual Crane behavior, long periods of time between fish, but “it only takes one Cranebow to make the day!” There is nothing like the onset of Fall and no greater place to see the mighty Cascades than Crane.

The second day we headed over to East Lake where we had better results. The Callibaetis hatch was full on! The Thorax Callabaetis was the hot fly. Ken and I enjoyed the hatch for many hours. Casting toward the shore and into the middle of the caldera to rising fish was a real treat. Casting a dry fly, waiting for a passing fish, sipping a tall cool one, and a fine cigar provided relief from a warm day. Fish rose continually from morning until late afternoon. We should all get out and enjoy the last few weeks of a disappearing summer!

Posted in Eastern Oregon, Fishing Reports, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Sage Circa Fly Rod Review by George Cook

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

George Cook regional sales rep for Sage, Redington, Rio sent out this update on the performance attributes of the new Sage Circa Fly Rod. Below you will find the report/review described as only George can do.

589-4 Circa also now known as “Baby” got after Bow Bow and Doll Doll on the
upper Kenai this past Sunday. “Baby” went forth UNAFRAID of all River
Creatures including errant “Red Monsters” otherwise known as spawning Buck
Sockeyes of which “Baby” wrenched several in without fear.

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review | Leave a comment

September Trout Unlimited Meeting Announcement

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Join us for our September meeting of TU 678. We’ll be celebrating the
recent bait ban on the McKenzie from Hendricks Park to Hayden Bridge
passed by the ODFW Commission last week. We’ll also have a great
presentation by Pam Reber of the Coast Fork Watershed Council. Pam will
update us on CFWC restoration efforts, including their plans for their
River Celebration on September 22. As always, bring a friend, a couple
of bucks for a beer and come celebrate and learn about CFWC activities.

Where: Vets Club 1626 Willamette Street, Eugene
When: 7:00 pm, Wednesday, September 12
What : Pam Reber on the Coast Fork Watershed Council’s restoration efforts
What to bring: A friend and couple of bucks for a beer

Hope to see you all there,

TU 678

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

Victory for McKenzie Redsides at ODFW Commission Meeting

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Great news from Arlen Thomason of the McKenzie Fly Fishers, reporting on the recent September 7th meeting of the ODFW Commission in Hermiston, OR…

I’m writing to you from a motel room in northeast Oregon, having just arrived after attending the ODFW Commissioners meeting on angling regulations in Hermiston. I’m pleased to tell you that the vote went in our favor for both of the regulation proposals where our club took a strong position. Regulation 31S, which would limit the use of bait to protect wild fish in the Hendricks to Hayden stretch of the McKenzie, was passed by unanimous vote. Regulation 6P, which we opposed, would have redefined soft plastic or rubber lures as lures, rather than as bait; a move which seems sensible on the surface, but is contraindicated by substantial evidence that such lures have incidental mortality rates similar to live bait. The Commission rejected this proposal, with one dissenting vote.

On both of these issues, the public correspondence to the Commission was overwhelmingly in favor of the positions we took. Much of that correspondence came from you. I think it had a very positive effect on the outcome. So a big thanks to all of you who took the time to write to the Commission, and congratulations on a job well done!

OregonFlyFishingBlog echoes Arlen’s thanks to all those who took the time to write to the Commission. These decisions mark substantial victories for McKenzie Redsides, and serve as clear evidence that our voices are being heard in Salem!

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 5 Comments

Oregon Coast Fly Fishing Report

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Jon Tapper brings us this report from the Oregon Coast. Jon, thanks very much for sharing your trip with OregonFlyFishingBlog.

A few years back I was scheduled to join Nate Stansberry in his Boston Whaler to fish for black rockfish along the coast, on assignment for 1859 Magazine. Seas were too rough that day, and I didn’t reach the goal of fly fishing the Oregon saltwater. But intriguing trip reports on the Caddis Fly blog would intermittently roll in…stories of a dory captain out of Pacific City who was piloting fishermen for black rock fish on the fly. With our annual summer family beach trip coming up, I had to get some of that. I gave Jack Harrell a call, and he said he was happy to take me and my son out to show us his coastal waters.

Camping down by Yachats, we hit the road at 6 a.m. and arrived after a lovely morning drive right around 7:30. It was on.

My son Forest takes in Haystack Rock at 7:30 a.m. in PC. What you’re not seeing are the 5 surfers crying into their latte’s because of the non-existent swell.

Jack and his son John arrive and we get ready to launch the dory, The Golden Comet.

OK, so maybe Jay Nicholas took a photo like this…but I couldn’t resist.

Captain Jack Harrell was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge…he really treated us like family.

Launching right off the beach, as dories do, we headed out behind Haystack Rock, turning tight circles around some of the underwater prominences behind it. The fish finder was showing fish between 12 and 75 feet, mostly feeding off large schools of micro shrimp. Small clousers tipped off our leaders, with 18 feet of lead core to get it down. Toss it out, let it sink, and strip retrieve. Continue reading →

Posted in Fishing Reports, Oregon Saltwater Fishing | 1 Comment

Blue Fox Variant Fly Tying Video

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Today’s Steelhead fly tying video is a fly we really like in the Summer and Fall Months. The Blue Fox Variant is a cross between The Editor and a Blue Fox Lure. Steelhead love it and will move towards the surface to take it on a down and across swing. The Pearl Flashabou over floss body looks killer when wet.

Blue Fox Variant

Hook: Gamakatsu T10-6H # 4-8
Thread: Danville 6/0 Black
Tail: Red Golden Pheasant Crest
Rib: Flat Silver Holographic Tinsel
Body: Fl. Blue 4 Strand Floss
Overlay: Pearl Flat Mylar or Flashabou
Hackle: Royal Blue Chinese Saddle Hackle
Wing: Black Eumer Artic Fox
and Blue Krystal Flash

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

Summer Steelhead Fly Fishing on the McKenzie and Willamette Improving

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Cooler weather is headed our way this weekend and early next week. Water levels and temperatures are ideal for swinging classic wet flies for Summer Steelhead. Try Green Butt Silver Hilton’s, Hartwick’s Silent Assassin, and Reverse Marabou Leech’s.

Posted in Fishing Reports, Summer Steelhead | Leave a comment

Reminder: BIG WATER LITTLE BOATS SEPT 5th

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Please join us as we host Tom Martin for a presentation based on his new book, Big Water, Little Boats; Moulty Fulmer and the First Grand Canyon Dory on the last of the Wild Colorado River.

This 45-minute program features original photographs from various 1940’s through 1960’s Grand Canyon River trips, including Boulder Narrows at 126,000 cubic feet per second in 1957. The presentation tells how Fulmer happened upon the McKenzie River hull design of today’s Pacific Northwest boats, and how he used that design to build his boat the Gem, Grand Canyon’s first decked dory. Martin will also touch on the building of a full-sized replica of the Gem and taking the replica through the Grand Canyon. He will show photo re-matching of original pictures from the 1940’s and 1950’s river trips. The program will be followed by a book signing. Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 1 Comment

Pacific City Dory Fly Fishing for Albacore

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

July 20, 2012

Yeah I was excited. Excited for the simple opportunity to get out on the ocean again with Jack and John. My wife is afraid that I am going to want to buy a Dory myself, because she sees how much fun I have whenever I get out on the ocean at PC. I assure her that I will never, ever buy a Dory myself. It’s not just the Dory, I say. You have to buy the Dory, and the dedicated Beach Truck. And you really have to know how to repair and maintain your outboards and inboards and your truck and your trailer, and these Dory guys are a pretty self-sufficient bunch of people. I deny the possibility of ever buying a dory myself. She just stares at me and raises one eyebrow and doesn’t say anything at all.

We met at 5:30, in the dark, this day. Tuna grounds are usually at least twenty miles offshore and an early run is more than a nicety, it is key to getting out before the seas make the run difficult or impossible. Deep V Hulls make the run faster and can traverse the ocean in rougher conditions than a flat bottom Harvey, but Jack and John know their Dory, and always keep the trip well within the operational safety comfort zone.

The seas were ideal and the sun came up to clear skies and only the lightest breeze. We were making a solid 17 knots going about due West, and the sea surface temperatures were liking good. At 18 miles we started seeng a lot of baitfish on the surface. We saw rolling porpoise, cruising sharks, several giant Mola Mola, two whales, and, eventually, Tuna chasing baitfish. The sunfish pictured above could be an easy 600 pounds or more. Continue reading →

Posted in Fishing Porn, Fishing Reports, Oregon Saltwater Fishing | 9 Comments

Real-Time Update on Nicholas’s Saltwater Fly Fishing Adventures

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Jay and I were emailing back and forth this a.m. I had no idea he was in such a dire situation, until he sent this photo along. I chided him about a bad cast and he followed with this:

however, the lesson is NOT related to casting, the lesson is that one should not hold a fly in their mouth while leaving fly line laying in the bottom of the boat, lest one’s fishing buddy gets his feet tangled in the line and stumbles around, jerking vigorously on the line to get it free….

and also, it is important to carry some wire cutters capable of cutting hook shanks

ha ha...

Posted in Oregon Saltwater Fishing | 4 Comments

Rogue River Juicy Bug Fly Tying Video

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Fall brings “half pounders” or one salt Steelhead into the Rogue River. Tony demonstrates how to tie a simple Juicy Bug pattern designed to catch these willing and exciting micro Steelhead. Feel free to use a single hook for the pattern, the doubles are for tradition sake. They do allow the fly to ride nicely in the water and if anyone even sniffs the fly they are on.

Juicy Bug

Hook: Mustad 3582BR #8 or Daiichi 7131 #8

Thread: Black Veevus 10/0

Rib: Silver Oval Lagartun Tinsel

Body: Rear-half Black Medium Chenille, Front-half Fl. Red Medium Chenille

Wing: White Arctic Fox tied “Rogue-Style”

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

Green Butt Skunk Variation Fly Tying Video

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

In this video Tony ties a Green Butt Skunk variation. The flies design developed from wanting a “low water” tie with fast sinking qualities. You can certainly use a sinking tip with this pattern but a Scandi Head and a floating or Intermediate Poly Leader will also work great. The fly will get down below the surface in a hurry with a “Summer Fly” profile.

Green-Butt Skunk Variation

Hook: AJ Steelhead Iron, sizes 3-9
Thread: Black Veevus 10/0
Tag: Flat Silver Tinsel
Butt: Fl. Chartreuse Mini-Flat Braid
Rib: Medium Embossed Silver Lagartun
Body: Black Uni-Yarn
Hackle: Black Saddle Hackle
Wing: White Arctic Fox Tail

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Summer Steelhead | 3 Comments