Mega Prince Fly Tying Video

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Our very best nymph this spring has been the Mega Prince size #6-10. It has even “out-fished” the Possie Bugger! I look for that to change as the water drops and clears but for now high flows and slightly off colored water have seen the Mega Prince “dominate” the local nymph fishing scene. It’s been vital to get the Mega Prince down so I am often using another large nymph tied to the bend or eye of the Mega Prince. Trout Retrievers, Fat Bastards, or Double Bead Stones work well as additional flies.  Some runs might require adding split shot to the chuck and duck rig. The set up is to use a 9ft leader and a Thingamabobber or a “right angle” nymph rig and get down deep. Often running 5-7 feet of tippet under the Thingamabobber.

Mega Prince

Mega Prince

Hook: TMC 2302 # 8
Thread: U70 Ultra Thread Rusty Brown
Bead: Copper to Match Hook
Antennae: Barred Crazy Legs Golden Yellow Pearl Flake
Head: Peacock Ice Dub
Rib: Copper Wire
Tail: Grizzly Marabou Golden Brown and Barred Crazy Legs Same as antennae
Body: Peacock Ice Dub
Legs: Same as Antennae
Hackle: Brown Hen Neck or Similar
Wings: White Goose biots

Posted in Fishing Reports, Fly Tying, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River | 2 Comments

Fly fishing Louisiana next week: Gulf Coast fly patterns

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

I’ve been working away at the vise this spring, getting ready for a trip down to the bayou to chase Redfish with Flywater Travel in New Orleans. I’ve never chased redfish and hadn’t found much information on fly patterns for that specific area, but that didn’t stop me. I started tying, and here are a bunch of the flies I came up with. Some articulated patterns, ripping off the Sex Dungeon, some flies that look a little like the Avalon Permit fly, and a bunch of rubber legs. Sure, I could just rely on our guides to provide flies, but what fun would that be?

Redfish Flies

We’ll have a clearer idea of what works and what doesn’t next week, and will do some instructional videos when we get back with the winners. I’ve also included some shots of offshore patterns we’re taking with us out of Venice, LA for a day chasing bull dolphin (Mahi) and tuna out in the Gulf. Stay tuned for fuzzy reports form Bourbon St.

Lots more pattern experiments below. -MS

Continue reading →

Posted in Fly Fishing Travel, Fly Tying | 4 Comments

Big fish conservation night in Portland Thurs April 14th

Posted on April 14, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Save Our Wild Salmon and Wild Salmon Center Present “Eastern Rises” and “The Greatest Migration” on April 14, 2011 in Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. — On April 14 at 7pm in NE Portland, Save Our Wild Salmon, Wild Salmon Center, and Trout Unlimited are teaming up to present Wild Salmon Rising: two epic films about the greatest salmon rivers on earth… and fishing.

In Felt Soul Media’s Eastern Rises, fishing is poetry; Bigfoot lurks in the fog; and fishermen risk life and limb in decommissioned Cold War helicopters to explore rivers that have never been fished. Eastern Rises has won awards including: Best Sport at Banff Mountain Film, Best Film at The Drake Magazine Video Awards, Audience Choice at Wild & Scenic Film Festival and Best Action at Flagstaff Mountain Film.

Eastern Rises | teaser from felt soul media on Vimeo.

Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon Conservation News, Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 1 Comment

Trout Unlimited Meeting Weds: McKenzie Native Trout Update

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Join Trout Unlimited Weds night for an update on the McKenzie River Native Trout campaign progress and round table discussion on next steps. Wednesday April 13th, Trout Unlimited Meeting at 7pm, in the green room downstairs on the left at the Vet’s Club, 1626 Willamette St. Eugene. This is a great time to bring new ideas and get involved.

McKenzie River Fly Fishing

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 5 Comments

Beulah Platinum Switch Rod Review

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

winter steelhead on switch rod

It is not often that I will stand up and give praise to any particular fly fishing or fly tying product that I have come across. Sure, I have many times said “this is the sweetest rod I have ever casted,” or “the drag on this reel is sick” but it rarely comes full circle to where I think the same while fishing it. This is not true about the Beulah Platinum 10’4″ 6wt, which is undoubtedly the best rod I have ever used for winter steelhead fishing. Getting this out of the way early, I am not talking about swinging a Prom Dress with a 600 grain skagit head and 15 feet of T17, I am talking about indicator fishing. Big creeks, little creeks, big rivers, little rivers, on foot, or out of a boat, this rod will get your glow bug (or glow bug substitute) to where you need it. Continue reading →

Posted in Coastal Steelhead Fishing, Fly Fishing Gear Review | 5 Comments

Euro-Capes, Intruders & the “Clumping” Revelation

Posted on April 11, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

robs intruder 1

First, some good news: The Caddis Fly just bought a bunch of super-bitchin’ Euro-Capes in natural grizzly, red, pink, blue and purple. These necks have extremely long, durable hackles, perfect for Pick-Yer-Pockets and Intruders. Since the cute hippie chicks vacuumed up the world’s supply of Euro-Saddles a few months ago, these Euro-Capes are a welcome sight. Continue reading →

Posted in Fly Tying, Oregon Winter Steelhead Fishing | 16 Comments

Fly Tying Thread Demystified, Part I.

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

fly tying bench

We all have our preferences, it seems. I tied with Nymo for years and years, but this thread disappeared from the supply chain back in the 1980s. Danville 6/0 Flymaster then became my preferred thread for at least two decades; then I moved on to Ultra thread for about five years, and have been on a Lagarun X-strong kick for the last two years.

As fly tyers, we display both innovation and complacency. Innovation in the fly patterns we explore and develop each year; and complacency in the threads and tools we keep on our fly bench, decade after decade. Continue reading →

Posted in Fly Fishing Gear Review, Fly Tying, Oregon Fly Fishing Tips | 2 Comments

McKenzie Dropping into Shape in a Hurry, Middle Fork Boat Ramp Update

Posted on April 8, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

mckenzie river graph

Barrett and Ethan ran from Taylors Landing to Hayden Bridge yesterday, fishing was decent. March Browns hatched in the afternoon and nymphing was consistent. Continue reading →

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | 1 Comment

Trout Unlimited’s Green Island Tree Planting is Scheduled for April 10th

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Caddisfly

Calling all local do-gooders . . . planting trees is fun and here’s the proof . . . .

green_island

This weekend on April 10th 2011, the Mckenzie-Upper Willamette Chapter of Trout Unlimited and friends will be planting trees on the Mckenzie River Trust’s Green Island property as part of our ongoing conservation partnership. The nearly 1000 acre island is formed by the confluence of the Willamette and Mckenzie rivers and is home to a number of threatened species including spring chinook.

We will be planting from approximately 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Come out and get your hands dirty in support of native trout and salmon. After the planting, conservation tours will be offered. The Two Fly tournament has raised about $15,000 for the Trust’s activities on the Island and this is a great chance to come and see what those monies have helped fund. It’s been a long winter and a tough spring so come out and enjoy some fellowship with people who care about wild and native fish as much as you do. Gloves and equipment will be provided. We hope to see you there! Continue reading →

Posted in Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Oregon Conservation News, Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 1 Comment

Native Fish Society Doors Closed?

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

native fish society photo one

Yes, but only because . . . . . . Hah! Got ya, if only for a minute. I dropped by the NFS office in Oregon City yesterday to say hello to a few of my friends, and found the place locked and shuttered. No wonder. Only four days away for their most awesome wild fish party of the year, naturally, the Native Fish crew were out and about making last minute pick-ups of Auction donations.

Amazing fly fishing toys that will be up for bid include Saracione fly reels, a Karstetter Bamboo Steelhead rod, and a truck load of the world’s finest fly rods, reels, lines, complete fly fishing combos, flies, art, and oh my goodness – – – – – – my mind is spinning as I go down the list. Continue reading →

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

Spring Fly Fishing on the McKenzie

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

mckenzie river rainbow trout

In general, there is a lot of great fishing around Eugene in the early Spring. This time of year offers some great opportunities to fish for wild trout on the McKenzie and Willamette, and the tail end of winter steelhead season can be spectacular. This year, however, the weather just has not been very cooperative. We had only two days last month without precipitation, which led at times to a lot of high water, muddy rivers, and associated cabin fever. That being said, these last few weeks have not been without their highlights. Continue reading →

Posted in Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River | 5 Comments

March Brown Ice Dub Soft Hackle Wet Fly

Posted on April 4, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

You’ve heard the saying “less is more”. The sparse Soft Hackle Fly written about extensively by Sylvester Nemes, and effectively fished by anglers all over the world is a proven winner during the March Brown emergence. Barrett ties a simple version using Hareline Ice Dub for the thorax (not sure if Syl Nemes would have approved). Fish it on a floating line, a leader at least 9 feet long,  cast down and across and swing. Regardless of the time of year, the Soft Hackle fly takes fish on the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers. Early in the season use larger sizes #10-12, as the water drops and clears, use smaller lighter colored patterns in #14-18.

Partridge Soft Hackle

March Brown Ice Dub Soft Hackle

Hook: TMC 3761 or Daiichi 1560 10-16
Thread: Ultra Thread U70
Rib: Silver Wire
Body: Ultra Thread
Thorax: Pheasant Tail Ice Dub
Hackle: Partridge Hackle

Posted in Fly Tying, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | 1 Comment

April Fly Fishing Events in Eugene: Conservation movies, fly festivals

Posted on April 2, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Greatest Migration
Join Save Our Wild Salmon, the Native American Student Union, and the UO Outdoor Program for a screening of The Greatest Migration next Wednesday at the UO Longhouse.

The Greatest Migration Teaser from EP Films on Vimeo.

When: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 7 PM
Where: Many Nations Long House (1630 Columbia St.)
Cost: Free!

In EP Films’ The Greatest Migration, we follow endangered Snake River salmon as they tackle an incredible journey from Alaska to Idaho’s wild and rugged Sawtooth Mountains — swimming farther and climbing higher than any salmon on Earth.

McKenzie Fly Fishers, Cascades Family Fly Fishers Spring Fly Fishing Festival
Saturday April 16th 2011
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Campbell Community Center, 155 High Street (at the river, next to Skinners Butte)
Learn about aquatic insects, water safety, knots and leaders, and tackle selection. Watch demonstration fly tying professionals show off their tying techniques. Look for more bug life than ever in the live display tank, and then let the experts help you “match the hatch” at instructional tying tables. Learn about current fish management activities and ask an ODFW fish biologist where you can catch fish. Try your hand at designing the perfect fish habitat on the ODFW stream table. Tie a fly and then take it to Alton Baker Park to catch one of the fish being planted there before the festival. Join with expert casters for fly-casting instruction and demonstrations throughout the day on the lawn by the river. Learn about gear and boating techniques that will help keep you safe on the water. Learn about the art of bamboo rod building from professionals and skilled practitioners. Bring your own bamboo or conventional rod project and sit down next to experts who will help you solve problems. Adults and children of all ages are welcome. For more information call (541) 343-3109, or email oakcrk@aol.com.

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

Oregon wilderness reaches out and smacks documentarian

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Oregon coast has literally dozens of tiny river valleys feeding the Pacific, where you can fall through the mountains of the Coast Range into a lost world of huge animal gods: Elk, bears — cougars lounging on horizontal limbs of cedars older than the Lewis and Clark. Places outside of our power and authority, where salmonids slip in and out a of a creek on the tides, on the rains. These fish that may never have seen a single human in their five-year lives, swimming around the Pacific Rim to come back to their tiny home creek. Places where you’d better pack a dose of Vicodin in case you have to drag yourself out on hands and knees. Or just hope the Search and Rescue team can find your 270lb-ass and pull you out.

Eagle Creek

You can thank The Wilderness Society and Lyndon Johnson that we have these places left. A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.

The world would be a tired, and boring place if these reserves didn’t exist. You can also thank Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and Cascadia Wildlands for advocating for more roadless wilderness areas.

Posted in Oregon Conservation News | 4 Comments

McKenzie and Willamette Rivers Rise with Snow Melt

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Warmer temperatures have caused some serious run-off on our local waters. Check out the gages shown below. Warm air is definitely what we need to improve fishing but this spike will need to flush out. We like the McKenzie at the Springfield Gage to be under 7000 cubic feet per second for the lower river to fish reasonably well. The Middle Fork is better in the 3500 cfs range.

springfield gage

middlefork gage

Posted in Fishing Reports, Lower Willamette, McKenzie River | 1 Comment