Saturday afternoon, I’ll be on the local outdoors AM radio call-in program talking about the plight of our native McKenzie River redside trout. The show starts at noon, and I should be on around 12:15. The station is KPNW AM 1120, and the show is called Pursuit of the Wild. If you want to call in and ask questions or show support one way or the other, call 541-485-5769 or 888-576-9888. You can also email questions and comments to: wildkpnw@gmail.com.
-MS
This is part two of Jay’s winter steelhead technique primer.
Swing traditional and leech flies. Traditional steelhead patterns catch winter steelhead like they have for decades, so you don’t have to throw out your Green Butt Skunks, Polar Shrimps, or Thor flies and replace them all with Intruders or Leech-style flies.
That said, big nasty flies like Intruders, Pick-Yer-Pocket, MOAL Leeches, and big-ass marabou and rabbit-strip flies are the latest rage. These flies often present a profile that is 2x – 4x larger than a traditional #2 steelhead fly. These big flies are intended to trigger a grab in cold water from fish that might otherwise just ignore a fly passing several feet away.
Big Intruder and Leech style flies range from blacks and purples to pinks and oranges. Everyone seems to have his or her favorite color combination for high and low water; bright and cloudy days; cold water, and so on. These flies do catch winter steelhead and an arm-wrenching grab to one of these beauties will create a life-long memory.
Big steelhead leeches may or may not be weighted, and there’s a reason to carry both types of flies. Some of the winter steelhead fishing we do is in slow moving, 3-foot deep water. In this water, a sink-tip line alone will be sufficient to present the fly at optimum depth, but a heavily weighted fly would hit bottom and stay there. On the other hand, if we want to put a fly 6 feet deep in fast water at the head of a hole and swim it through a boulder patch, we probably need to fish a stoutly weighted leech on a fast-sinking tip. Link to poly leaders or T-14 here?
Can the swung fly be more effective than the dead-drifted fly? You bet. Consider the challenge of trying to cover gravel-bottomed runs that are fifty yards wide and two hundred yards long. Two or three steelhead could be laying anywhere out there. No obvious sweet spots to concentrate on. Big, open rivers and runs are best suited to prospecting with the swinging fly. You can cover a lot of water systematically. Cast, swing, two steps; cast, swing, step; repeat until you get a pull.
That’s it. That’s the short version of the primer I gave my friend on the joys of dead drifting and swinging flies for winter steelhead Soft takes. Savage grabs. Nine-inch Intruders and Leeches. Size #14 nymphs. Tube fly hooks. Marabou and Ostrich. Barred rabbit-strips. Blah, blah, blah. We’ll see if he gives it an honest try.
After a long few months of rough seas, you can only imagine how much we have been chomping at the bit to get out and do some ocean fishing. We finally had that opportunity early this week. After a quick conversation with the USGS about bar conditions we pulled the trigger on the 2010 Ocean season if only for half a day.
![IMG00024-20100209-1434[1]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2766/4345799941_a52ab6cc03.jpg)
Let me tell you it went off with a bang! Fishing the afternoon bite (we left EUG at 10:30) we landed dozens of rockfish and even a few lingcod all on flies and all within site of Hwy101. A couple of beefy Quillbacks made an appearance as well.
![IMG00027-20100209-1535[1]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4346983463_486500c60d.jpg)
The usual shooting heads and clouser minnows where the ticket with black and white being the best color combination. If you are frustrated with old man winter or want to experience one of Oregon’s most diverse fisheries stop by the shop and lets talk about spring specials and how to rig up your tackle. The time is now, but wearing short sleeves while having a 9wt ripped from your hands is a great feeling any time of the year.
-NS
I was finishing out a beautiful tailout, lifting my fly as it rounded a boulder, then dropping it into a promising bedrock slot. Matt had wandered down river with his switch rod. Our morning, so far, had been blissful. I started the day farming a fish after some solid head-shakes, so I figured I was done. The river served up one gorgeous run after another, all with the right depth and speed, all with juicy boulders and pockets that screamed “Steelhead!” And not a soul in sight.
As I reeled up, Matt reappeared with a worried look. “How does it look down there?” I asked, hearing the thundering of a big drop below. He paused, then slowly explained, “Looks really crazy, man. I mean REALLY nuts.” I smiled, but I was nervous. Matt’s been in the front of my boat enough to know my respect (read: fear) of whitewater. And here he was again, braving another hairball float that neither of us had ever seen.
One giant boulder sat square in the middle of a tight, fast chute. I could imagine my beloved drifter pinned to that batholith, and the thought brought a lump to my throat. I’m that guy who passes out at the sight of other people’s blood. My overactive imagination visualizes the worst scenario as if it has already happened. I’m also overly attached to my boat. I really love it, and I know I’ll never find another one quite like it. Walking closer to the river’s edge, I tried to judge the width of the passages on either side of the boulder. There was plenty of room on the right as long as I could dig in with the oars. Tim Wagner, our steadfast navigator, and an experienced whitewater guide, assured me it was a piece of cake.
We loaded up and dropped into the rapids. No problem. My confidence was building. We swung another sweet, fishless run, then Tim got suddenly serious. “Okay, so the next one’s nothing,” he said. “Just down the middle. But right after that you’re going to have to pull over hard right. We’ll have Matt hang onto the boat while you and I scout the bad spot.”
Matt tended to the boat while Tim and I stood over the chute. There was one sharp rock that could not be avoided. I thought I could go left, but Tim said that was a VERY bad idea. I finally opted for the cheater’s route and roped the boat over a skinny side channel. The really big drop was still coming up, just around the corner. Here the river compressed into a narrows, with gothic walls of columnar basalt rising on both sides. We rounded the corner in slow motion, and there it was–the spot I’d been avoiding for ten years. We pulled over and scouted again. It just didn’t look wide enough, especially with a few feet of oar sticking out from either side. I fixated on a sharp rock that sat a couple of inches under the surface where my right chine would come down. It looked like a boat-splitter to me. But there was only one way out of the canyon, and this was it.
Matt got out to snap a few photos while Tim and I ran the rapids. I pushed into it. One little turn, line her up, and WHOOSH! Intense speed, a split-second of stress as the boat was pushed toward the left wall, then total relief as the pillow on the wall pushed us back into alignment. Nothing to it. From there down it was smooth sailing, and all I could think about was doing it again. Over and over.
We ended the day with one fat hen to the bank, two lost. Glorious by winter steelhead standards. Matt headed back to Eugene to be with his family. Tim and I drove into beautiful downtown Tillamook for a dinner date with Hickmanimal. La Mexicana is a little preserve of ethnic culture in an otherwise whitebread town. I always order the special, no matter what it is, and it’s always excellent. Especially with a cold Carta Blanca. Or two. That night Hickman and Sitka had the good fortune of sharing a room with me. I can only imagine the mental trauma suffered by Jeff and his wolfdog that night. I’m still living with the guilt.
Next morning we ditched my rig in a parking lot and headed up a different river for another wild ride. Miguel Morejohn met up with us on the way, HD camera in hand. He’d been commissioned by the Native Fish Society to interview River Stewards for a film that was to be featured at the April fundraiser (don’t miss it!). Miguel already had some great footage in the can, having spent some quality river-days with Marty and Mia Sheppard out east. But Hickman was the golden goose, and Miguel followed him around like a Paparazzo. I showed up slightly hung over, and in no mood to be interviewed. Jeff and I started off a little surly. We were both a little uncomfortable having someone film the river we both liked to keep quiet. Miguel could sense our apprehension, but he played it cool. We all loosened up after a couple of miles.
Around mid-day we came to the Money Water. It’s a quarter of a mile with four consecutive runs that all consistently produce fish. Right on queue, there came two scrappy sonsabitches scrambling down the slope to beat us to it! I really hate bank maggots when I’m in a boat! The same way I hate boats when I’m on the bank, or the way I hate jet boats when I’m drifting. Dammit!!! Then I realized they were both good friends of ours. Jeff gave them a wide berth and pulled into the lower half. Miguel announced that this very spot had produced his best fish of ’09. We suggested he stow the camera and jump in, and it didn’t take much coaxing. He swung a red and black Intruder, wading through a tricky boulder field. About two-thirds of the way through, he let out a howl and started thrashing his rod on the water.
“I think Miguel missed one,” I observed. “Yeah,” Jeff agreed. “Must have.”
Jeff followed Miguel through and had a bump, but nothing solid. I rigged a Ninja-black Intruder and followed both those goons for some sloppy thirds. Now I don’t know about you, but a lot of times just before I’m about to hook a fish, I’ll get this intense itch on my ass. It’s way down there under the waders, and if I try to scratch it above the waders, it just gets worse. So, as it often happens, I had one arm down my waders, scratching my ass, the other hanging onto the rod. Sure as hell, this angry buck ripped down on the fly and started freaking out. My other arm miraculously came free and I started for the bank. Miguel ran for the camera and filmed my rookie technique as I brought the fish into a soft little cove at the shore. It looked bigger close up–maybe ten or eleven pounds. And what a specimen! He didn’t show even a hint of rose on his gill plates, and had that blue tint around his eyes that says, “Yesterday I was in the Pacific!”
“Hey, Rob, hold him for some still shots,” Miguel requested.
I went for his tail and had him for just a second. He must have thought I was up to no good, because he shot out of there so hot and fast, he skipped out of the water in an arc, literally swam over a rock outcropping, hit the water and skipped across the surface. The hook had come free, thankfully. “Awesome!!!!” I yelled, laughing my ass off.
I’m still pumped up over that fish. It’s strange how one experience like that can erase a mountain of fruitless effort. Just one of the reasons I love swinging flies for winter steel.
-RR
Karl was on KEZI last night, talking about the problems McKenzie Rainbow trout are facing. Great video, including some shots of the river and a short section with ODFW’s Jeff Ziller.
KVAL also ran a story on McKenzie Redsides yesterday on its Website.
-MS
The Trout Unlimited scheduled speaker for tomorrow night, Darian Hyde of Hareline Dubbin, had to back out at the last minute due to illness, but Jay Nicholas swooped in to save the day. Jay will be presenting tomorrow night on Oregon Winter Steelhead:
Oregon Coastal Winter Steelhead
-Biology
-Monitoring
-Status
-Hatchery programs
-How to ketch ‘em on flies
-North Umpqua Winter Steelhead, the fish and the controversy
-Management options for the future
If you like Jay’s videos, you’ll love seeing him in person. Come on out Wednesday night for the free talk at the February Trout Unlimited meeting. We’ll have more news on the McKenzie River Hatchery issues as well. 7pm at 1375 Irving Road Eugene, OR 97404. Our meetings are free and open to the public.
-MS
For those of you who did not get a chance to make it out last night to the Inland Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting in Springfield, due to other obligations or the fact that you were locked out at the gate, please email your points to the following individuals.
Please be polite, as you are speaking for native fish advocates all over the state and it’s more important to change minds than it is to vent frustrations.
ODFW Staff and ISFAC members
Rhine Messmer: Rhine.T.Messmer@state.or.us
Ed Bowles: Ed.Bowles@state.or.us
Laura Tesler: laura.tesler@state.or.us
Jeff Ziller: jeffrey.s.ziller@state.or.us
Art Israelson: artisraelson@comcast.net
Bob Bumstead: bumstead@pacificu.edu
Jeff Devore: oakcrk@aol.com
Shahab Farzanegan: shahab.farzanegan@state.or.us
Terry Shrader: terry.m.shrader@state.or.us
-MS
Last night we nearly handed out all fifty of our signs for the McKenzie River Native Trout Coalition, an organization with the goal of reducing or removing hatchery fish from the McKenzie River. Wild fish supporters packed the room at the Springfield Infantry Readiness Center. In fact, the room overflowed with our supporters and people had to sit on the floor, and spill out the door.
By showing up last night, you demonstrated to Rhine Messmer, recreational fisheries program manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, that the public cares about native fish and doesn’t agree with the agency’s misguided efforts to increase planting of hatchery fish on top of robust native populations in Oregon.
In 2007, when the McKenzie River Guides Association and our ODFW District biologists put together a bait ban proposal on the McKenzie River to protect native redsides, it was ODFW’s team in Salem that shut down that proposal because, according to Rhine, there was a major public outcry. Last night you showed the agency that there is also public support for protection of this resource.
When 50-people cram into a hot meeting room instead of being home with their families, ODFW can’t ignore the plight of the wild rainbow trout on the McKenzie.
In this new video, Jay Nicholas shows you how to tie the MOAL Leech (Mother of all leeches), created by Derek Fergus. This articulated steelhead leech has excellent action in the water and a short-shank, trailing hook which means major hook-up percentage. In this video, Jay lays out his methodology to tie these great summer and winter steelhead flies.
MOAL Leech fly tying materials:
Hooks: TMC 811s # 6 and Gamakatsu Octopus # 2
Junction material: Superbraid or gelspun backing
Body: Two Tone Cross cut rabbit strips
Eyes: Pseudo Eyes 7/32
Hackle: Purple schlappen
Head: Purple Ice Dub
Tools:Two c-clamp vises, Tear Mender, Micro Brushes
It’s been a weird week on the Oregon coast, and at the vise. But things are working out.
-MS
For those of you who aren’t combing the blogroll, here are a bunch of important fisheries issues from across the Pacific Northwest:
Bill Bakke on the institutional barriers against wild salmon
A great look at the problem of relying on fish and wildlife agencies to save wild salmon from Bill Bakke’s blog: State governments have never been organized to actually protect wild salmonids and the habitats that sustain them. What passes for protection are carefully chosen words in plans and policies that are never expected to actually be carried out on the river. That way the public is pacified, the agency looks good, and the salmon continue to swim into the toilet.
Irrigation buyback on the Walla Walla could help reintroduced spring chinook
From the Osprey Steelhead News Blog: An effort is underway to secure funding for a $300 million irrigation project that would restore flows to the lower Walla Walla and provide irrigation water from the Columbia or Snake system. The headwaters of the Walla Walla are in excellent condition, however irrigation withdrawal most years leaves the lower river without very little flow. Efforts to reintroduce Spring Chinook to the Walla Walla began in 2000 when the tribe released 300 adult chinook in the Upper River. Since then number have gradually grown and in 2009, 800 chinook returned, the highest count since the reintroduction project began.
River Rights bill goes sideways: SB 1060-2 is a mess
Common Waters of Oregon worked with other river rights advocates over the past weeks to help shape SB 1060-1, not a perfect bill, but a piece of legislation that wouldn’t take away Oregonian’s River Rights. That process was recently blown up by a new amendment, SB 1060-2 that would allow for local jurisdictions to impose their own regulation on river use. Common Waters Oregon will not support this bill that fractures river rights across the state. Also worth noting, this bill avoids the elephant in the room — navigability. The current process of determining a river’s navigability is broken and this bill would do nothing to fix that. It would probably be best if this bill died right now and the Legislature looked at a comprehensive bill in the next full session. But for now, keep your fingers crossed and be thankful that we have people like Common Waters’ Heather McNeil and Jason Wells, Dave Moskowitz of Confluence Consulting, Trout Unlimited’s Tom Wolf and others fighting for your river rights in Salem.
Oregonian has a great article on Ocean Conditions and salmon returns
The Oregonian’s environmental reporter Matthew Preusch warns in a new article, Despite the recent good returns, over a dozen runs of salmon and steelhead remain on the federal list of protected species. None are expected to come off the list anytime soon.
Will golf courses get priority over salmon on Klamath Water deal?
One of the criticisms of the Klamath Basin restoration project is that the salmon won’t get enough water to make a go of it. Where is that water going? Primarily to California agriculture interests. But according to the KlamBlog, a bunch of water is going to non-agricultural sources like golf courses.
-MS
Attention Native Trout supporters on the McKenzie River: We need you Monday night at the ODFW Inland Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting. This’s committee will be discussing its draft of the 25-year angling plan which you can download here. This plan is 100% geared towards selling more licenses for agency coffers, with little attention paid to our dwindling native fish stocks.
Tom Wolf, Oregon State Council Chair of Trout Unlimited is on the committee and said that the agency plans to dramatically increase trout stocking to boost license sales around the state. Tom requested that the reduction/removal of hatchery trout on the McKenzie be on the agenda for this meeting, so it is very important for everyone to show up in support.
The meeting will be Monday 2/8/2010 in Springfield, OR at the 162nd Infantry Regiment Readiness Center, Room 147 from 6-9 pm. The address is 3106 Pierce Parkway, Springfield, 97477.
We will be printing signs with the new logo for the McKenzie Native Trout Coalition (designed by Trout Unlimited’s Brent Ross!) and we’d like to make sure everybody at the meeting has one in their hand. See us at the meeting to pick up your sign.
If you are a guide or business owner and would like to be added to our list of coalition members, email me.
-MS
Jay Nicholas wants your fly tying video requests! If you’re looking for a how-to fly tying video on a certain fly or technique you’re having trouble with, leave us a comment and we will get to work recording it.
