The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Spey Class Coming!

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

On the water

March 3, 2012 – The Caddis Fly Angling Shop will host an all day Spey Class on the McKenzie River with George Cook and Jon Hazlett. The class will cover; Single Spey, Snap T, Snap Z, Wombat, Perry Poke and Double Spey.
George will have on hand several rods and lines for anglers to choose or you may bring your own outfit and have George give you a “tune up”. George says, “Learning to Spey cast is not a daunting task if you begin in a class,” he says. “Books and DVDs can be important learning tools to perfect your technique, but the best step to begin is to take some lessons, as there’s no substitute for on-the-shoulder help.” The cost per angler is $150, with lunch provided. Call the shop (541-342-7005) to register for this class, as space is limited.

Class to be held at Armitage Park from 9-4:30, March 3rd.
Cost: $150
Equipment Provided Upon Request

Posted in Classes and Instruction | Leave a comment

Angling regulations public meeting tomorrow in Eugene

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Upper Willamette 2013 Angling Regulations Proposal Planning Meeting

When: Wed. Feb. 15, 7-9 pm
Where: LCC, Bldg 17, Room 308
Why: Outline the process for anglers to propose new or modified fishing regulations for 2013. Anglers will have until the end of February to submit proposals. See ODFW website for information about the regulation development process, guidelines and forms for submitting proposals, and existing staff proposals.

For more information, contact Jeff Ziller or Kelly Reis, ODFW, at 541-726-3515, or Jeffrey.s.ziller@state.or.us or Kelly.e.reis@state.or.us

Also, mark your calendar for May:

2013 Oregon Sport Fishing Regulations Public Review Meeting
When: Mon. May 21, 7-10 pm
Where: LCC, Bldg 17, Room 308
Why: Become informed of and provide comments on proposed 2013 angling regulation changes that have passed initial review through the Angling Regulations Review Board. See ODFW website for information about the regulation development process, as well as alternative public meeting locations/times, and contact information for written public comment.

For more information, contact Jeff Ziller or Kelly Reis, ODFW, at 541-726-3515, or Jeffrey.s.ziller@state.or.us or Kelly.e.reis@state.or.us, or contact Dave Stewart, ODFW Angling Regulations Assistant Coordinator, at dave.stewart@state.or.us.

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | Leave a comment

Winter Steelhead Report: Great Conditions Persist

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Conditions lined up perfectly for good Winter Steelhead fishing this past week. Good numbers of fish, falling river levels, and warmer than average water temperatures made for some awesome fishing. With more mild weather and showers in the forecast, conditions should stay in the sweet spot for a while longer.

Nymphing various egg patterns through bedrock-lined slots has been highly productive, and with much warmer than average water, the fish are more willing than usual to chase a leech or intruder swung in the right water.

We have over 6 more weeks of Winter Steelhead season to look forward to, but there is no time like the present to get out on the river. Runs on many of Oregon’s winter steelhead rivers will be at their peak over the next couple of weeks.

In certain areas there are a lot of wild fishing spawning already. If you see colored fish laying over shallow gravel this is what they are up to. Admire them and move along.

McKenzie River Fly Fishing report

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The McKenzie River reshuffled the deck. Rocks the size of cue balls form new bars and riffles. Old bars, tree stumps have migrated. Newly formed spots haven’t started collecting fish, but the old spots are full of them, and they’re hungry. These trout haven’t seen a mega-prince in months.

Ethan and I hook and land a half dozen, one per cast, in a single spot. A few of them jump clear out of the water. It’s nearly 60 degrees out, and they’re excited. These are thick-backed wild trout with black spots and pink cheeks. These months between now and the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch are amazing.

Missing most of the winter steelhead season is paying off on my first trout run of 2012. I never got the chance to develop all of the bad habits and a five weight feels right in my hand. Two buggy nymphs and a small split shot set five feet off a thingamabobber should be deadly until the water spikes again.

-MS

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | 4 Comments

Protect Columbia River Fisheries: Oppose HB 4101

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

From Water Watch

Help stop another attack on Columbia River fish and jobs! Oppose HB 4101 today!

Please contact Governor Kitzhaber and key legislators today urging them to oppose HB 4101, a bill that would undermine key protections for struggling Columbia River salmon and steelhead and threaten more abundant runs which support jobs, economic activity, and food production throughout our region.

Photo by MVI

What House Bill 4101 does: HB 4101 would allow up to 450,000 acre feet of additional summertime water withdrawals from the Columbia River or its tributaries and would circumvent rules protecting imperiled salmon and steelhead and the jobs that rely on those fish.

The bill ignores the 25,000 lost family wage jobs in the region caused by declining salmon and steelhead runs in the Columbia Basin – jobs lost in part due to poor habitat resulting from excessive water use in the dry season.

Background: To address recognized dry season flow problems in the river and help recover endangered fish, Oregon seasonally limits new water withdrawals from the Columbia above Bonneville Dam unless mitigation water is provided. These seasonal limits and mitigation requirements coincide in time with the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s flow augmentation schedule in the Columbia and Snake Rivers. HB 4101 would circumvent these salmon protection rules and allow up to 450,000 acre feet in new water withdrawals during critical summer months when federal and state agencies in the region are working together to meet target flows needed for fish.

Click here for detailed background information on HB 4101 [pdf].

Please help stop the rollback of existing protections for Oregon’s imperiled Columbia River salmon and steelhead! Help stop HB 4101!

Key Points to make in opposing HB 4101:

HB 4101 weakens Oregon’s laws protecting our invaluable Columbia River salmon and steelhead.
HB 4101 jeopardizes recovery efforts to restore imperiled Columbia River fish and recover lost family-wage jobs and economic activity in both small towns and urban areas.
HB 4101 threatens the jobs, food production, and other economic benefits provided by a healthy Columbia River.
HB 4101 undermines the collaborative efforts of a coalition of Umatilla Basin water users to appropriate available winter water from the Columbia River for the Umatilla Basin Aquifer Recovery Project.
HB 4101 marginalizes the economic and cultural value of healthy fisheries in the Columbia Basin.
HB 4101 stacks the deck against fair and balanced policy-making, by proposing an unbalanced task force to predetermine a negative outcome for salmon and steelhead.

Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | Leave a comment

Coastal Streams Producing

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Coastal streams are in fine shape this week. Anglers should see good results from projected rain showers and lower river levels over the next few days. Cloudy skies and appropriate nymphing techniques, provided Mckenzie River Trust board member Jim Reichman a fine hatchery Steelhead this week. Using a lowly glowly with a suspended egg pattern proved to be the winning combination.

Lou was able to land a fine buck with a similar combination of flies, while Jim piloted “the beast” through the turbulent waters.

Posted in Coastal Steelhead Fishing, Fishing Reports, Oregon Winter Steelhead Fishing | 4 Comments

Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 Meeting Tonight

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Caddisfly

Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 would like to invite you to a presentation February 8th 2012 @ the Veterans Club.

1626 Willamette Street
Eugene OR
Time: 7:00 pm.

R.J. “Moon” Mullen will be presenting
My Story of Our Troubled Waters

Moon has been described as a raw and humorous teller of tales and one of the most non-politically correct voices of our times. A self described elitist redneck, hero to none and a legend in his own mind…. Moon believes most folks take themselves way to serious to enjoy life in our fast paced times and has tried to do less with his “just to keep it all in balance”, except when it comes to protecting our wild fisheries and the water in which they swim….. Come share in his passion as he tells his story of our troubled waters.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

McKenzie River in Fine Shape Guide Trip Special Returns

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The McKenzie has dropped into fine shape and is fishing well. Yesterday I floated from Hendricks to Hayden and nymphing was very good from about 12pm-4pm. My best rig was a Thingamabobber strike indicator with about 6 feet of 3x Tippet and a large Stone Nymph with a smaller Blue Ice Prince or Mega Prince Nymph attached to the bend of the larger stone using 24 inches of 4x Tippet.

Best Flies were: Double Bead Peacock, Mega Prince, BeadHead Stone, Blue Iced Prince, and Jigged Tungsten Bead Prince.

HALF DAY PRE-SEASON GUIDE TRIP SPECIAL

This year we offer our “Pre-Season” special guided float trip for two at the great rate of $275.
Trips are for one or two anglers on the McKenzie or Willamette Rivers. Gear and flies provided, food and beverage are not provided. Since fishing is best during the warmest hours of the day this time of year trips usually run from around 10am to around 3pm. Please call the shop (541 342 7005) to book your day(s).

FLOATING THE RIVER

The section between Hendricks and Belinger landing has changed a bit again this year. There are some great looking, newly formed riffles and runs. Of course with the incredibly high water earlier in the season some islands and log jams have shifted about. Notable sections include the area just below the EWEB Salmon Diversion Canal which has really spread out. I went left which currently seems to be the best route, we will see as the water drops, this may change. And the section just below Belinger where the left channel is partially obstructed, I went right without any troubles.

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River, Shop Sales and Specials | 2 Comments

Clear Cure Goo March Brown Nymph Fly Tying Video

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

It won’t be long now! The March Brown emergence on the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers is nearing. Today we have a simple nymph pattern that works throughout the March Brown Hatch. It’s not super heavy so try it in shallow riffles by itself, or dropped of another nymph during higher spring flows.

Like the Copper John posted earlier this season this March Brown Nymph utilizes Clear Cure Goo Fleck for the budding wing case/back of the nymph. The Clear Cure Goo gives the fly an added realism that makes a difference.

Clear Cure Goo March Brown Nymph

Hook: TMC 3761 #10-16
Bead: 1/8 copper or gold Tungsten
Thread: 6/0 Uni Black
Tail: Dyed Brown Mallard or Wigeon
Rib: Copper Wire
Body/Dub: Hare’s Ear Plus Olive Brown
Wing Case: Cinnamon Turkey and Clear Cure Goo Fleck
Thorax: Same as body
Hackle: India Hen Back

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

Skagit River report: One day late, again

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

History repeats itself. We’d done this exact same thing last year, showing up one day after the WDFW closed the best part of the river to protect the dwindling wild winter steelhead run. Our guide, Ryan Smith of Arch Anglers says 90% of the run spawns in the Sauk, downriver from our drift. Very few wild fish run up this stretch. Hatchery fish are present, but few and far between. It’s a big river, there are places for them to hide. But we don’t have a choice on our schedules, so we go when we can.

These repetitions remind me of that saying about doing the same thing over and over and hoping for different results being the definition of insanity. The hatchery fish (who apparently do eat swung flies) mainly hold at the mouth of North Cascade Creek, and that’s where we start, on a wide run below the mouth where the river bounces along cobbles at an attractive depth and pace. I cast and swing and step and watch bald eagles. We’re in a nesting preserve, and the raptors are everywhere, watching us from limbs of trees jutting out into the river.

I have a new fly, tied with two big orange chenille gobs on a long shank, with trailing tentacles of orange ostrich plume, jungle cock eyes and hot pink chicken feathers. It’s the fishiest fly I’ve tied in weeks, but nobody wants it.

We fish hard until dark without a grab. And I think of the echoes, the way we live in looping circles.
-MS

Posted in Fly Fishing Travel | 4 Comments

NW Fly Fishing Expo: Sign up for Classes!

Posted on February 4, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The 2012 Northwest Fly Tyer & Fly Fishing Expo is set for March 9 & 10 at the Linn County Expo Center in Albany, Oregon. The Expo Education team has been busy getting class material and instructors ready for another round of great classes from fly tying, still water strategies, to spey casting. Check out the class section on the the expo web site. Sign up for classes at: www.nwexpo.com. There are a limited amount of spaces in each class, so sign up early!

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

Winter Steelhead Conditions Improve

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

We have a really nice window of weather and numerous dropping and clearing rivers around the state. Locally Lake Creek and the Siuslaw are coming around, the South Coast is in fine shape and the Alsea system has been fishing well for several days. Swing Intruders and nymph with Lowly it’s “PrimeTime” for Winter Steelhead Fly Fishing.

Laura Parrish caught her first Winter fish yesterday morning, Nice Work! Her outfit was a Sage 10′ # 7 ONE and a Nautilus FWX 7/8 loaded with a SA Steelhead Taper, 1″ Thingamabobber, 1x Tippet a Lowly Glowly as her first fly and a Gorman’s Bead Head Egg dropped off of it.

Posted in Coastal Steelhead Fishing, Fishing Reports | 4 Comments

Hot Crazy Legs Steelhead Nymph Fly Tying Video

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Continuing our series of the dirty dozen winter steelhead flies, this nymph combines the general idea of somethign juicy and crunchy to eat, a fast sinking tungsten bead, some wiggle, and the pink/purple color combo that steelhead have always responded to. This fly is a 2012 update of a nymph that I fished for both winter and summer steelhead. Tie it with a black body too, and an orange thorax, and that makes a great alternate color combination.

Why steelhead eat nymphs is as complex a question/answer as the matter of why they eat any sort of fly. Sometimes, I sincerely believe, they think they are eating a bug; sometimes, not. Make up yer own mind on this issue, and mostly, have fun with it.

Jay Nicholas
January 2012

Hot Tipped Steelhead Nymph

Hook: TMC 7999 #2-6
Bead: 3/16 Fl. Orange Plummeting Tungten
Thread: Lagartun 150 x-strong Red
Tail: Hot Tipped Crazy Legs Purple Pink
Rib: Silver Oval Tinsel
Body: Purple Uni-Yarn
Thorax: UV Pink Frizzle Chenille
Hackle/Legs: Same as Tail

Posted in Coastal Steelhead Fishing, Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies | 4 Comments

Babine Special Winter Steelhead Jig Fly Tying Video

Posted on February 1, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

For those of you who are familiar with the Babine Special, a long time favorite winter steelhead fly pattern, this version of the fly may seem a stretch. But come on, have heart, and forgive a little creative messing around, will ya?

This winter steelhead fly of 2012 is one characterized by fresh thinking about old flies. It is not so much that the old flies were not effective, not a case where the old fly pattern wouldn’t still catch fish, but more the case that we steelhead fly tyers are continually fiddling around with new materials and techniques, always dreaming about creating the perfect fly, the fly that will catch one more fish than last year’s flies.

This here Babine Special still has the hint of two eggs. It is tied on a jig hook, just in case a guy or gal wants to suspend it from an indicator. This isn’t necessary, because this fly will swing or bottom-bounce with the finest of your egg patterns. The Rubber legs are another 2012 enhancer to add a little wiggle and jiggle to entice a grab.

Hope you find inspiration and steel in this fly.

Jay Nicholas
January 2012

Babine Special Jig Fly

Hook: Gamakatsu Jig 90 degree Heavy Wire
Thread: White Lagartun 150
Tail: Arctic Fox
Krystal flash fl. fucsia
Flashabou Holo Pink
Butt: Fl. Fucsia Chenille
Body: Lagartun Mini Flat Braid Silver
Eyes: Pained Pearl White Large
Head: Fl Shrimp Pink Chenille Med.
Legs: Loco Legs Bonefish Pink

Posted in Fly Tying, Fly Tying Materials and Supplies, Oregon Winter Steelhead Fishing | 3 Comments

Fly fishing blog links: Feb edition

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Looks like 2012 is off to a good start in the fly fishing blogosphere. Below are links to a few book reviews, some hysterical posts, and downright bizarre, thought-provoking writing from my favorite anglers.

Chucking Line: What’s the fly fishing blogosphere really about? Asking the important questions in life… like, should I drink this old bottle of booze I found on the river.

Buster: 2012 industry predictions, satin jackets, shiny platters and sweet sweet rumpcake.

Chester Allen returns to the blogosphere, and he brought a new book with him, about fly fishing for sea run cutthroat. Look for a Puget Sound focus.

Fishing Jones reviews Jeffery Cardenas’s book Marquesa, out of print for years, now reprinted by Departure Books. “A natural voice that perfectly reflects his sheer joy and wonderment from being immersed in this wilderness with tarpon, permit, sharks and even cassiopea.”

Fishing and Thinking: Filthy, filthy carp flies, the Legion of Doom is one of the most original looking fly patterns I’ve seen in a long time. Gotta believe these work on any fish you’d find on any flats.

FishBeer: Matt at FishBeer rules. One of the greatest lines I’ve ever read on a fly fishing blog. “You know what rye whiskey goes great with? Ice. You know what mint leaves go great with? Me neither.”

Fishing with Jay: From the mind of the great Jay Nicholas, “I have no tears, no blame, and no use for regret. I am able to sit here in my little cabin, with my propane stove, looking out at frost on the grass, wood smoke raising from neighbors homes, cows in the farm across the gravel road — because of everything that happened before.”

Posted in Oregon fly fishing links | 2 Comments