Cameron Derbyshire sent us a great article on the Caddis Fly Shop from thirty years ago! The article appeared in Fly Fishing The West in 1981. Check it out.
Caddis Fly Shop – Review and ads
The Caddis Fly Shop is more cluttered and disorganized than some, better than most.
Bruce Berry the Northwest sales representative for Pro-Tube Fly Systems, Beulah Rods, and Hatch Fly Reels will be at the shop this Friday from 3-6pm and this Saturday from 9-3pm. Bruce will be tying Pro-Tube Steelhead, Trout and Bass fly patterns. Additionally, he will have on hand Hatch Reels and Beulah rods including his favorites for Northwest Steelhead Fly Fishing. If you have yet to tie tube flies but are interested in learning this is a great opportunity to watch and learn. There is no cost to attend. Stop by the shop and pull up a chair.
CD
The Klinkhammer style Mayfly emerger has proven to be deadly with many of our important Western Mayfly emergences. In this video Barrett demonstrates how to tie a “Pink Lady” Klinkhammer Style. These “knock down” “drop down” parachute style paterns really fish folks, give them a try in many color combos including March Brownn, Pale Morning Dun, Adams Grey, and Blue Winged Olive.
Pink Lady Klinkhammer
Hook: Daiichi 1160 or 1167 (these are sweet hooks)
Thread: Rusty Dun 8/0 Uni
Tail: Coq De Leon
Body: Sulphur biot with Coral Hareline Dub
Post: Gray Sparkle Emerger Yarn
Thorax: Gray Dry Fly Dub
Hackle: Hebert Pro Grade Cape Dun
Buster Wants to Fish reminds us to eat our hatchery winter steelhead: While hatchery steelhead may be the new Zebra Mussel, there is no denying the fact that they are tasty morsels from the sea. Scourge or no, they go well with just a shake of salt and pepper, splashed with the slightest amount of Olive Oil.
Or you can follow RR’s excellent Steelhead Cutlets and Caviar recipes.
Emerald Angler’s Charlie Robinton posted this awesome fly pattern on YouTube — a top water beast for Baja. Watch this thing move in the water. If you like it as much as I do, tell him to post the whole video!
Chucking Line and Chasing Tail has a good review of the Redington Sonic Pro Waders. In depth objective fly fishing product reviews are worth reading. Check it out before you buy your next pair of waders.
Finding Bigfoot hits NY Times: Would Animal Planet, which has brought us rigorously scientific shows like “Hillbilly Handfishin’ ” and “Rat Busters NYC,” allow someone to be called a “Bigfoot Witness” on TV if he had not witnessed a Bigfoot? Seems unlikely.
Season Two of everybody’s favorite Crypto-zoology reality show made it to the outskirts of NYC. And if you can make it in NY you can make it anywhere. But I have to say that our footage is a little more credible than this:
Sign up now for a winter steelhead fly fishing class with John Larison, January 3rd, 6:30 to 8:00pm. Cost of the Class is $30. Pre-pay at the shop, or at the door.
The Class will be held at Oregon Electric Station (27 East 5th ave), a sign will direct you to a banquet room. Food and Drink available for purchase.
The Oregon coast is quickly becoming the epicenter of winter steelhead fly fishing. New innovations in two-handed rods and lines are allowing anglers of all casting abilities to swing flies within striking distance of our super-charged steelhead, which average 10 pounds and regularly exceed 15. Join steelhead guide and author John Larison as he shares his strategies for finding and hooking steelhead with swung flies on Oregon’s unique coastal rivers.
Topics will include:
-Locating aggressive fish
-Matching your line and tip to the holding water
-Selecting the right fly for the conditions
-Steering your fly to produce the fishiest swing
-Tips for landing these powerful fish with two-handed rods.
Bio: John Larison is Fly Fisherman’s Northwest Field Editor and the author of three books on steelheading, including the best-selling Complete Steelheader. He writes Fly Fisherman’s Spey Today blog, where he reviews the latest innovations in rod and line designs. He’s also the Native Fish Society’s River Steward for the Siletz, and a year-round steelhead guide and spey casting instructor. He can be reached at his web site.
Call the shop to sign up for the class or for more details (541) 342-7005. Cost is $30.
If you have already signed up give us a call to complete payment or look for us to give you a call during the day of the 3rd.
The Blue Winged Olive is a critical Mayfly to have in your fly arsenal. Often the most prolific hatch in nasty weather, trout key on them both surface and subsurface. The CDC Oiler puff BWO is an emerger imitation that will take the pickiest of fish in the flattest of waters. Have a few in the box if you are out on the water during the cold months ahead.
CDC Oiler Puff BWO
Hook: TMC 3761 #18-20 or Daiichi 1560
Thread: 8/0 Rusty Dun Uni
Rib: Small Olive Ultra Wire
Tail: Coq De Leon Tailing fibers
Body: Cream Uni Floss with ChartPak Pale Olive Dorsal surface
Hackle/Legs/Wing Buds: CDC Oiler Puff Natural
Understanding fly fishing requires understanding the unique personalities of our friends, clients, guides, and tackle reps. Have you ever heard the phrase – fly fishing fanatic? We have.
Offered in the spirit of good humor, this cartoon offers a peek into the minds of obsessed fly anglers, men or women as the case may be, and their non-fishing partners. Change the sex of the actors, change a few details, and see if you recognize any of the people in this video.
Welcome to 2012. May your tides build and your tackle stay off Craigslist.
CD
Two of my favorite places in the world to fish in Winter, Oregon and New Zealand are hard to beat when things are in shape.
Chironomid fly fishing continues to grow in the lakes of North America. Many of the patterns have a “see through” “opaque” quality that is hard to achieve with standard materials. In this video Barrett demonstrates how to use Liquid Fusion on the body of a Chironomid pattern. The relatively quick setting Liquid Fusion adds depth and life to Chironomid Patterns. Try it on Copper Johns, Poxy backs and stonefly nymphs as well.
Red bead Crystal Chironomid
Hook: Alec Jackson Crystal Chrionomid Hook
Bead: Med Silver Lined Red Tyers Glass Beads
Thread: Black Lagartun 150x Thread
Body: Thread covered in Liquid Fusion
Rib: Midge Body Red
Wingcase: Turkey Wing
Gills: White Antron
Local waters continue to be at Summer low water levels. Fishing is not red hot for Trout and Steelhead but it is still worth getting out and enjoying some December/January fishing that most years we simply don’t get. Blue Winged Olives are emerging daily between 12pm and 4pm. Nymphing has been decent mid-day, small prince nymphs, Golden Stone nymphs, pheasant tails and midges. Yesterday we even caught fish on Half Down Golden Stones on the surface. Warmer temps should spur some activity before water levels jump. Continue reading
J:Son Silicon Backs for Mayfly Nymphs Scuds and Sow bugs are perfectly formed easy to use wing casings and backs. Opaque, yet natural in color they give the fly a realistic look that is often important when fishing the smaller scud or nymph. In this video Barrett ties a simple scud using the J Son Silicon backs.
J: Son Simple Scud
Hook: Alc Jackson Crystal Chironomid Hook
Thread: Uni 8/0 Rusty Dun
Rib: Olive Ultra Wire Small
Body/Dub: Lt. Shade Rainbow Scud Dub
Hackle/Legs: Dun Hebert Minor Pro Grade Cape
Scud Back: J Son Scud and Caddis Silicon Backs/Legs
Here is my list of the best posts, coolest fish and stunning photos from 2011:
Coho Salmon on Poppers. Definitely the coolest fishery to blow up on the blog in 2011 — cohos, on top, in the salt. Check out Jay’s two great posts:
Silvers on poppers one
Silvers on poppers part two
Finding Bigfoot on the McKenzie River My fifteen minutes of fame, staring into the TV cameras and claiming a dark shape of shambling fuzzy pixels on the McKenzie was in fact “not human”. If you missed it, apparently Finding Bigfoot is all over Animal Planet all of the time. Watching Chris and Matt O’Neil rowing the film crew down the McKenzie, hanging out with Bobo while he hit on the young production assistant, full exposure to the crew at Ike’s Pizza, this was an amazing, unforgettable, squatchy experience.
Here is the writeup from our day out with the hosts. And here is the writeup from when the show aired.
Here are some of my other favorite posts and photos:
Chris’s 40th Birthday in New Zealand
Rob and John Geirach fishing Fall Chinook
The saddle feather craze is over!!! Sure, it might take a couple years for supplies to bounce back, but I think we’ve made it through the worst of it.
Alan Moore’s writeup on North Coast Conservation
McKenzie River Two Fly Tournament
This is also a time to remember friends we lost in 2011. Our thoughts go out to the families of Warren Moran and Rick McCreery.
Thank you to all of our contributors and readers. Merry Christmas and Happy 2012.
-MS
PS: Check out our previous Best of 2010 and Best of 2009.
The Patagonia Sunshade shirt is perfect for any hot weather trip. Headed towards warm climates this Winter for a Trout or Bonefish trip? The Sunshade is a “don’t leave home without it” shirt. Super comfortable, great wicking fabric, UPF 30, and breathable. Get this shirt for 20 bucks off today only $35.
Click HERE to order yours or stop by the shop and pick one up today.
Only $45 while they last. The Headwaters Sling Pack can be worn on your waist or slung across your body. We really like this style of pack for it’s “just enough” storage, external pockets and ease of use. Available in both Camo and Coal.
Click HERE to get yours today.
Today’s deal is a killer long sleeve Tee from Patagonia. Quick drying 100% poly tee with a “cotton-like” feel. Use it as a wear around tee or a technical under-garment. Three graphics to choose from include Tarpon Fitz Roy, Wooly Bugger and Tarpon Fly. Regularly $45 now just $29.00.
Click HERE to order yours today.
