The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Sea-run Cutthroat fly fishing class August 29 with Jay Nicholas

Posted on August 4, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Sea-run cutthroat class at The Caddis Fly Shop, Saturday August 29, 2009 9am to 1pm with Jay Nicholas.

Sea-run cutthroat trout are fascinating anadromous fish with complex life histories.

Understanding a little about biology, life history and the fisheries management history of this species can help unlock some of the mystery of where, when and how to catch them on a fly.

Rods and reels don’t have to be expensive to put you into the Sea-runs. We’ll highlight tackle that will help you fish most effectively. The lines and leaders you choose to fish are an extremely important part of your game.

We’ll have an active Q/A on time-tested strategies for selecting lines and leaders during this class.

Are you a fly tyer? Let’s introduce or add perspective to tying flies that will tempt Harvest trout, including colors, materials and hooks.

Are there secret fly patterns for Harvest trout? Nah! But there are some features about flies that can make them more effective: think movement think bushy, then think bright, undulating and teasing.

What type of water are Sea-run cutthroat likely to be found in? How should you fish your fly? Should you hunt Blueback in tidewater or upriver?

At the turn-of-the-century, fishing for sea-run cutthroat was often more popular than fishing for salmon or steelhead, but the popularity of this fishery, declined during the 1980s and 1990s.

The number of fly fishers pursuing these fish in has increased in recent years as their runs have increased. Old Harvest Trout anglers are returning to the game and newcomers are investigating the lure of this exciting fishery.

This class will cover all the bases and give you a great start — or perhaps tease the seasoned Blueback fly angler with a few new ideas.

Entering our rivers from summer throughout fall, these anadromous Pacific fish are intriguing, challenging and rewarding quarry for the fly fisher.

Fly fishing for this species is shrouded in rumor, misinformation, and downright elusiveness. Come share some stories, delve into science, boost your effectiveness, and have some fun in this class.

-JN

Call the shop to sign up, class cost is $20, shop phone 541-342-7005.

Posted in Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 4 Comments

Summer steelhead stalemate on the Oregon Coast

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Fishing a small coastal river for summer steelhead this weekend, we found low water and lots of angling pressure, the perfect combination for finicky fish. We’d been on the water since dawn, rambling up to likely pools, hoping for some deeper water, a little current, broken surface. We fished hard all morning and were headed back out of the gorge near high noon, and stopped one more time at water that had been occupied earlier in the morning.

Wild Bill and I spotted the big purplish fish right away, finning around in slack water at the head of a deeper pool. Damn near no current at all. He looked at us, and we looked at him like we were at the zoo, and knew right away it wasn’t going to happen. I plunked a fly on him, like a kid throwing a penny in a fountain, and he slunk off to the bottom of the pool, embarrassed for both of us.

Bill and I decided to let the pool rest, come back in 20 minutes. That fish wasn’t going anywhere.

We came back with a game plan. Sort of. We extended our leaders to 12 feet, tapered down to 8lb test. We got out the biggest golden stonefly dry we had. We got on some high ground and cast from 30 feet away from the edge of the pool. The dry fly didn’t annoy the steelhead, but it didn’t get him very excited either. We tried muddlers, nymphs, eggs, traditional patterns, switching off every few minutes to try another fly.

The closest thing to a take came when Bill swam a MOAL leech through the pool and the fish actually turned around for a second. It also spooked up a second steelhead we hadn’t seen, a smaller brighter fish. Eventually we gave up all pretense of stealth, and just walked right up to the edge of the pool and stared.

Both steelhead decided we were no threat and swam around freely while we watched.
-MS

Posted in Summer Steelhead | 4 Comments

Sale Rods available at Caddisflyshop.com

Posted on August 3, 2009 by Caddisfly

The fly fishing industries annual business cycle is winding down and it’s time for most companies to start thinking about next years offerings. As a result, it’s out with the old and in with the new. We are blowing out existing stock and bringing in some of Sages overstock, keep your eyes on our section of the website caddisflyshop.com as we will be adding models as we get them, all at great prices. If you don’t see what you need on the site give us a call, we will do our best to find you a rod at a great price

Sage is discontinuing it’s very successful Launch Rod series and we are currently offering them at excellent prices, click here to see the closeout pricing and purchase. Check out this review of the Launch rod by clicking here.

The outstanding saltwater series from Sage, the “Xi2” is also getting replaced with another model. We have a few of these left check them out here. The Xi2 is an amazing rod in the salt or for estuary fishing when big flies, wind and sinking lines get involved.

There are many other rods on the page have a look. Other items of note on sale at caddisflyshop.com are Rio’s Outbound Lines, Patagonia Shirts, Simms Shirts and many others, we invite you to check them out.–CD

Posted in Shop Sales and Specials | Leave a comment

Oregon Coast fishing report

Posted on July 31, 2009 by Caddisfly

Yesterday the Pacific Ocean out of Coos Bay was a busy spot. Hundreds of boats launched out of Coos and undoubtedly numerous other Oregon ports were just as busy.

We had our flies and hardware in the water around 9am. Marking fish on the fish finder immediately we had high expectations. By 11:30 our spirits had been pretty well deflated, not a bite, not a sniff, no bait slicks and nothing to keep us interested in trolling. Salmon numbers are excellent and the bite should pick up over the next couple of days but yesterday was just not our day. Contemplation now, do we try to run out to the “Tuna Grounds” 12-25 miles out where waters warm to 62 degrees. The ocean is nice but that is a long run to start mid day, we decide to go give the inshore rocks a go with flies and buck-tail jigs.

Our first spot is a familiar one, and yeilds a few fish on Clouser Minnows fished off of 25ft of T-17 attached to a sinking running line. Now the ocean is flatenning out a bit, we want to explore a few more of the millions of rocks, cracks, cuts, and reefs that the Oregon inshore fishing offers. A few spots later we find the mother load! Ethan is getting a fish every single cast. We are catching fish on flies and jigs cast near a kelp bed and rock pile. Who knows how many fish are in this spot and others along the vast coast. Keep in touch with Nate Stansberry at the shop (541 342 7005) for coastal fishing conditions and guided fishing trips on the Oregon Coast. –CD

Posted in Oregon Saltwater Fishing | 3 Comments

Two days left for Steelhead Fly Tying Contest

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Caddisfly

Get your entries down to the shop, pop them in the mail, overnight them from wherever! The first of many fly tying contests is ending and we want to impress the judges at Hareline Dubbin. Check out the details of the contest here. You’ve still got two days, crank the a/c and get on the bench. No a/c, get a bucket, fill it with ice and beers and submerge your legs under the vise.

Check out more great entries.–CD

Millennium Marauder
Hook: Your favorite up-eye Steelhead Hook, sizes 6 and up
Tag: Silver oval tinsel
Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet dyed black
Rib: Silver oval tinsel
Body: Rear 1/2 Redkrystal flash wrapped like tinsel, Front 1/2 black ice wing chopped and dubbed
Wing:Black Bucktail
Overwing: 6-8 Strands of black Krystal Flash
Overwing 2: Black Ice Wing
Hackle: Black Saddle then Dyed Red Guinea

McKenzie Monster
Hook: Up eye steelhead hook # 1/0
Tail: Black Marabou, black rubber legs, Krystal flash
Body: New Age Chenille black
Shellback: Krystal flash
Rib: Red Copper wire med
Head: Hot pink chenille
Eyes: Hourglass brass eyes

Rogue River Altoid
Hook: Alec Jackson steelhead up eye
Tip: Fine Gold Tinsel
Tag: Light Blue Floss (2 Strands)
Tail: Red Lady Amherst/Golden Pheasant Crest
Body: Back 1/3 Light Pink SLF, Mid 1/3 Dark Pink SLF, Front 1/3 Dark Purple SLF
Rib: Gold Mylar (med)
Underwing: Blue Schlappen
Wing: Natural Pheasant Rump
Hackle: Purple and BlackSchlappen tied in simultaneously
Collar: Hot Pink Guinea
Head: Red 6/0 Thread

The B.C. Summer Steelhead Fly
Hook: Partridge low water # 2
Tail: Grizzly hackle
Butt: Black Ice Chenille
Body: Chartreuse Ice Chenille
Body Hackle: Grizzly Hackle
Wing: White Widow Web
Thread 8/0 Black uni thread

Posted in Fly Fishing Contests | Leave a comment

Fly fishing photography from Jon Meyers: Deschutes River Salmonfly Hatch

Posted on July 30, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Pro photographer Jon Meyers spent Memorial Day ’09 on the Deschutes River, chasing big rainbows and the salmonfly hatch. Meyers’ crew drifted from Warm Springs to Harpham Flat. You can check out more of Jon’s work at www.StudioMeyers.com or at Cafe Zenon here in Eugene. They’re showing a lot of Meyers’ large landscape photos.

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report, Fishing Porn | 1 Comment

Rogue River chinook showing up, available for fly casters soon

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Jay Nicholas has been getting reports of several strong pushes of Chinook on the Rogue in July….hopefully this a good sign for next month and early September.

Rogue and Umpqua fall Chinook are very special fish in Oregon. They are tolerant, relatively speaking, of very warm water, though it probably puts them on the edge of survival at times. These fish come in early and FAT! Both characteristics are in tune with their life history which requires them to make 100+ mile migrations to reach spawning areas much farther upstream than is the case with most coastal fall Chinook (Elk and Sixes fish may only migrate 15-20 miles to reach spawning gravel.

Also, these Rogue and Umpqua Kings come in with very immature gonads., again much unlike the majority of coastal Kings. Thus, these two rivers receive salmon with high fat content to fuel their migration and gonad development during the 3-4 months they will be in the river before spawning. The high fat content and immature gonad development make these fish, I think, the tastiest and hardest fighting of any of the “typical” fall Chinook. Nehalem Summer Chinook could be the same deal.

Here’s a suggestion regarding catch and release. If the water temperature is in the 60s it’s probably OK to release these fish, should you wish to. Above 70, though, it is probably best to kill the beast for the dinner table. High water temperatures do not make for healthy released salmon, even these temperature hardy Kings. The Rogue at Agness has ben running from a blistering 71 in the morning to 75 in the afternoon. Geesh! Chinook may just stay in the Bay under these upriver conditions to take advantage of cooler ocean water provided by the incoming tides. Or maybe not.

Finally, we tend to somewhat arbitrarily refer to Chinook as Springers of Fall Chinook. Nehalem Kings have earned a reputation as Summer fish. These early-run Rogue and Umpqua Kings should probably be referred to as Summers also. Fact is, I think, that a few Kings are entering these coastal rivers during many, if not all, months of the year.

Call ’em what you want, these are prize sport fish on a fly. Just gotta find a place to fish them and find them in a grabby mood. Nuthin to it.

Posted in Oregon Salmon fly fishing, Southern Oregon | 7 Comments

Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 braves Deschutes Scorcher

Posted on July 28, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Members of Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 (McKenzie-Upper Willamette) braved the Deschutes River — floating Warm Springs to Trout Creek last weekend. Word on the streets from Warren Moran was, the trip can be summed up as follows:

1. It was a hot mofo
2. The fish were mostly dinks
3. Greg Hatten likes to drink scotch while he fishes.
4. The rest of us drink scotch mostly after dinner
5. And it was hot

But we’d do it again (in September)

Photos by Brent Ross:

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report | 4 Comments

Oregon Rivers Fishing Report

Posted on July 27, 2009 by Caddisfly

McKenzie: Fishing for rainbows remains good on the upper river with best catches occurring early and late in the day. Hopper dropper rigs have been taking their fair share of fish using golden stone dries and green drake nymphs/possie bugger droppers. Single fly choices would be #14 heavy hackle Adams or #12 orange bodied elk hair caddis. Lower river hatches include huge little yellow sally hatches and pmd/ped mayflies just before dark.Try #14 yellow sally patterns as well as sparkle dun pmds in size #16.

Willamette: Evening is the time to be stalking Goliath redsides, with dry flies, on the Middle fork of the Willamette. Larger than usual green drake and pmd/ped mayfly hatches have been bringing the big boys up to feed in the hours prior to sun down. Fish indicators and multi-nymph rigs in late afternoon to optimize on-water time. However, the real show starts about 7 p.m and goes until you can’t see your fly anymore. Dry flies of choice would be CDC green drake Parachute and sparkle dun pmd. Nymphs of interest would be #10 mega prince, #16 tungsten p.t nymph, and of course the possie bugger.

Deschutes: With the heat comes the plague-like caddis hatches. All those over-sized redsides that everyone forgot about after salmon fly season are in the bank and eddie lines gobbling down #16 and #18 X-caddis and peacock caddis. Sub-surface choices include green hotwire caddis and #16 and 18 red copper johns. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water and bring your sunscreen!

Williamson: The heat means one thing down in the Klamath basin, gigantic lake run rainbows coming up into the Williamson and burning the drags off your 6wt. Bring your slime lines and plenty of wooly buggers in black, olive and brown and hold on. Fish range from 14 in. to holy crap that’s a big one! 3X tippets are what hold ’em, but if you want to get bit you might have to go down to5X flouro. Seek broken water during mid-day sun. Remember that elephants eat peanuts and so do monster rainbows. Be sure to throw in some #16 and #14 soft hackles in yellow and black.

Best of luck to all who beat the heat while knee deep!–BC

Posted in Fishing Reports | 1 Comment

Oregon's Cascade Lakes Report

Posted on July 26, 2009 by Caddisfly

Diamond Lake

Fishing on Diamond has finally picked up, lots of bugs coming off from Damsels to callibaetis. The biggest mistake an angler could make is trying to match the hatch. The fish only seem to be interested in black mini leeches and chironomids. A damsel nymph may also be productive. Concentrate your efforts in the south end and focus on the weed beds that spike up in 12 to ten feet of water. 3x/4x fluorocarbon.

Crane Prairie

Producing some smaller fish but the big ones are few and far between. Fishing has remained slow all summer. Concentrate your efforts on the deep channels where the creeks and rivers come in because that is where the water is the coldest and fish are most active.

Davis Lake

Bass are always a moody fish but keep throwing rubberleg patterns into the lava dam with fifteen feet of 15lb fluoro. Early morning poppers can produce as well. Look for isolated groups of fish moving around in the open areas between the lilly pads. Strip some weedless olive buggers for the fish you spot. Can make for some exciting summer spot and stalk scenarios.

Little lava/ Big lava-

Both these lakes always seem to produce no matter what the weather. Deep suspended chironomids on about thirteen feet of 4x fluoro, will hook you up with some quality rainbows and monster brookies. Some days are slower than others but this time of year the fishing can be really good. The rocky shoal on the opposite side of little lavas boat ramp seems to be where the fish are stacking up.

East Lake-

Fishing has been good to excellent for Atlantic salmon and medium sized browns. Fish suspended chironomids in about twenty feet of water on the drop offs and points just south of the resort. Wind drifting callibaetis nymphs is also producing. Very few rainbows around but plenty of salmon.-CH

Posted in Oregon High Lakes | 2 Comments

Upper McKenzie River fishing well on foot

Posted on July 24, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Looking for Native McKenzie Rainbows? For those of you willing to put in some walking, the Upper McKenzie River (above Blue River) is fishing great on foot with summer low water conditions making it easy to get around. High quality fish-holding spots (deep pools and drop offs) can be spread out pretty far, so you have to be willing to hike up and down the river a bit to find them.

No major hatches going off last night, but fish were taking dries as well as megaprince and hares ear nymphs.

-MS

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | 1 Comment

Renowned Oregon salmon bio blogs from the brink

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

As some of you may know, unabashed butter biscuit eater Jay Nicholas decided to freak us all out with some coronary issues this week. Here is an update about Jay…

Seems like he didn’t do a very good job of exercising, dieting, and managing stress. Silly boy. First indication came on a steelhead excursion to the North Umpqua. In between swimming and skating Muddlers, he found that he had to stop now and then to rest. Pain in chest. Funny tingling feeling in backs of both arms. Difficult to breathe. He thought it was simply an artifact of way too many hours sitting on his butt in front of a computer and falling in the river every other hour.

Few days later, mowing the lawn, he had to go to all-stop for several minutes. Same deal with the symptoms. (Of course, he didn’t tell Lisa about any of this.) Then Saturday night, the “who me?” guy couldn’t walk more than a hundred feet without having to stop and rest.

Naturally, he wanted to go home and tie a few more Muddlers before going to bed, but Lisa and Jackson drove him to the ER, in spite of his protests. Sunday was a day of electro-cardio harassment, treadmill stress tests (note: these suck when you are out of shape), and shooting of radioactive poo into veins. All tests resulted in med technicians and doctors doing much mumbling with concerned looks on faces, head shaking, and tut-tutting. Monday dawned gloriously in an operating room surrounded by bandanna wearing, tattooed med techs and a gleeful doctor air-guitaring to the likes of Metallica and AC DC.

When asked how much pain meds he wanted, Jay opted for the dumb-as-a- post dose, and proceeded to watch the TV screen.

Doc started by inserting an aluminum rod tube, jamming a four-weight Winston up the right femoral artery, squirting dark Guinness up into the artery and taking home-videos. Note: this artery insertion site is waaaay too close to the pubic region. Don’t ask.

Much more tut-tutting and oh-my-Godding followed the home video session. Jay was entertained by med techs dropping IV tubes on the floor, computers reminding people that the memory was full and no more home video could be recorded, more insertion of IV tubes to compensate for “No IV access is available, doctor”, “oops, wrong hole”, and a Van Halen finish in the background.

Shortly following these hi-jinks, Jay was on the receiving end of a 5122-4 Dec Hogan stuffed up the artery, inflation of two steelhead- size Thingamabobbers in the heart vessel, and the grand finale — stuffing two Intruder-style tube flies up into his heart. All this stuffing, inflation, and insertion was purportedly to counter-act arterial obstructions. Jay thinks it was because Doc needed to finance a fly fishing trip to Kamchatka.

Presto. Done. The burly med tech delivered Kung Fu chop to Jay’s right femoral artery, pulled out twenty seven feet of tubing, and closed the artificial orifice. Doc said, “looks like you dodged the BIG one this time”. There are several smaller obstructions in arteries that are more difficult to access with Thimgamabobbers and Tube flies. These other obstructions are likely to be addressed at a later date, hopefully moments before death occurs. Jay is hoping a) to receive a pro-discount on any future action and b) to have such corrective action occur during non-salmon season.

Note: Hospital food is great, roommates starred in “Night of the Living Dead”, and the rates are better than Motel Six.

Tuesday, after continuous hourly blood sucking and various bodily invasions, Jay was handed a gunny-sack of heart medication and shoved out the door with a “try to stay alive long enough to pay the bill”.

Wednesday, Jay, Lisa and Jackson are stuck between hilarity and horror while they read the side-effects literature supplied with the medication. Jay is home, has showered, shaved and watched X-Men. He has tied eight Golden Brown Muddlers. Lisa and David hid Jay’s most cherished Butter Biscuits, so he is VERY grouchy. There is much talk about lifestyle changes and rehab. Jay swears the doctor said he could “go fishing” in two weeks, but Lisa, David, and Jackson ain’t buyin’ it.

Jay is already on the computer, and he has several saltwater fly lines and deer hair (Lisa loves that stuff) strewn around the den, dreaming about an offshore adventure casting to marauding Silvers on the surface.

Lisa says, “We’ll just see about that.”

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Second annual McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament: October 9-10, 2009

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The second annual McKenzie River Two-Fly tournament takes place October 9-10, 2009. The event is put on by the McKenzie-Upper Willamette chapter of Trout Unlimited and The Caddis Fly Angling shop.

Teams of two anglers will compete for thousands of dollars in prizes, fishing from McKenzie Drift boats rowed by expert guides. This fun competition restricts anglers to fish with only two-flies for the entire day, during some of the McKenzie River’s best fishing of the year.

The Cause: Native fish habitat restoration on the McKenzie River
Last year’s inaugural event raised $2500 to restore native coldwater fish habitat at McKenzie River Trust’s Green Island property on the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers. The funds helped reconnect an historic side-channel to the river, increasing habitat for Spring Chinook and Cutthroat Trout in the winter, and decreasing habitat for non-native, predatory fish in the summer.

This year’s funds will also be directed to McKenzie River Trust. The project this year will be the removal of a levee and road along a side-channel in the north portion of the property. The structure was built in the 70’s and restricts natural floodplain activity during flood events.

The side channel along this levee has been identified as having much colder water than the mainstem river, and during the summer months this habitat is home to 100% native coldwater fish species.

Event details: How does a two-fly tournament work?

Festivities begin Friday night, October 9th at the Oregon Electric Station in Eugene for beer, wine and appetizers, and a presentation by Oregon State University fisheries biologist Stan Gregory on the significance of the habitat restoration taking place on McKenzie River Trust’s Green Island property.

Participants will draw guides that night, pulling names from a hat.

Saturday morning fishing begins, anglers pick two flies at the start of the day which are photographed. If anglers lose their two flies they no longer participate in the tournament, but can fish for fun the rest of the day. Teams of two compete for the three largest fish, measured against official ODFW-standard rulers and photographed with digital cameras in the measuring device.

The awards banquet is held immediately following the fishing.

Tournament prizes
First prize: Angler’s from the winning team will pick up a new top-end trout outfit from Sage and Rio. Angler’s can choose from three, four or five weight rods, including Sage Z-axis or Sage ZXL. Anglers can choose from the Sage Click reel or one of the 4000 series. The winning outfit will also come with fly line from Rio.

The second place team wins a guided fishing trip with TU’s own Karl Mueller. The Mule will work hard to put you on fish.

Third prize is an excellent selection of fly fishing books from Angler’s Book Supply, including a signed copy of John Larison’s new Oregon fly fishing novel, Northwest of Normal, Dan Callaghan’s North Umpqua photography book, a signed copy of Randall Kaufmann’s comprehensive fly pattern recipe book and the McKenzie River Creel.

Entrance fee is $300 per person, including a full days fishing, two meals and a shirt.
Limited to ten boats — 20 participants. Angler’s can enter as a team of two. Individual anglers will be paired up with a teammate. First come first served.

We’d like to thank our sponsors:
The Caddis Fly Shop
Ninkasi Brewing

Sage

Rio Fly Lines

Angler’s Book Supply

Call the shop for more info 541-342-7005 or reserve your spot online.

Press or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Matt Stansberry, Trout Unlimited Chapter 678: mattstansberry@gmail.com.

Posted in Fly Fishing Contests, McKenzie River, Oregon Conservation News, Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | Leave a comment

Summer Steelhead Fly Tying Contest getting impressive entries

Posted on July 22, 2009 by Caddisfly

Thanks to those who have participated in our first of many fly tying contests. For more info on the Steelhead Fly Tying contest click here. Entries are coming in strong now and the flies look fantastic!

Here are a couple more gorgeous patterns. Steelhead runs locally have been a bit slim. Hopefully we will see a nice burst of fish this fall. The North Umpqua and Deschutes have been flat out tough. Regardless of fish numbers swinging a sweet fly through your favorite run is a bonus. Check out a few more entries.

A Dance at Night
Hook: Daiichi 5
Tag: Oval Silver Tinsel
Tail: Red Horse Hair
Body: back 1/3 Orange floss front 2/3 black chenille
Rib: Silver Flat Bliss
Wing: Black Arctic Fox
Collar: Purple body Feathers
Head: Black Thread

Green with Envy

Hook: Daiichi 5
Tag: Blue Oval Tinsel
Tail: Burgundy hackle fibers
Body: back 3/5 green bliss tinsel front 2/5 black seal dubbing
Rib: small gold over green flat gold bliss oval seal
collar: black hackle
Wing: Chartreuse PB
Head: Black Thread

Morning Glory

Hook: Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread: Black 6/0
Tag: Oval Silver tinsel
Tail: Purple Marabou
Butt: Chartreuse Ice Dub
Rib: Large oval silver tinsel
Body: Single strand of red 3 ply sparkle yarn of dubbing
Body Hackle: Purple saddle or schlappen palmered
Wing: Pearl Krystal flash
Hackle: Purple saddle or schlappen
Collar: Natural guinea

Posted in Fly Fishing Contests | Leave a comment

Northwest of Normal is a Must-Read

Posted on July 21, 2009 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

It’s about time. I mean, how many times do I have to go back and re-read The River Why, wishing there was another book, wishing there was another author who could capture the rain-soaked, moss-covered, sleep-deprived psychosis of life as a coastal steelheader?

Finally, Oregon’s own John Larison, the courageous author who brought us The Complete Steelheader (Stackpole Books, 2008), has delivered the goods. His new novel, Northwest of Normal, is a tight, gut-wrenching, fast-paced story about modern steelhead maniacs and those who suffer around them. Larison deftly portrays the ups and downs of life as a fishing guide, struggling with an uncertain future, tenuous and tangled relationships, and the economic and environmental demons that threaten to destroy wild fish and their natal rivers. His imaginary Ipsyniho, a small town and it’s river, is located somewhere in Western Oregon, with flavors of Cottage Grove, Siletz, Tidewater, Glide and Idleyld Park. The Oregon Country Fair, renamed “Carnival” in the book, figures prominently in the story line, as do the legendary pot growers of the upper Willamette Valley. Larison weaves a rich textile of sex, drugs, violence, betrayal, brotherhood, love and, or course those silvery sea-run rainbows that make us crazy.

I’ve been waiting for this book, and yet there was a natural reluctance to pick up and read a novel that presumes to describe my world, my life, my experiences, as Larison has done in Northwest of Normal. I was ready to hate it, but I ended up loving it. And I hope he keeps writing novels, because I want more.

I won’t give away more details of this great story, so no quick synopsis here. And be wary of other reviews and blurbs published on the internet. Most of the reviewers have either not read the book or missed the point. It’s not “humorous” or merely “quirky.” It’s tough, painful, frantic and true to life. You’ll be handing it off to your friends before you know it.

Here’s an all-too-real excerpt:

“You’d think between the two of us, we could convince a dumb hatchery clone,” Danny said while walking down the beach, his fly line kept aloft by short strokes with his single-hander. No one could cast like Danny. He leapt onto a rock, the movement of his torso and arms already gaining speed, and released the forward stroke: the rod arching into a C then snapping straight, a tight curl of line unfolding toward the distant horizon—the whole fly line, at precisely the same moment, leveled and settled to the river. Danny’s casts wrote cursive across the sky.

Andy D-looped another cast and felt the current bring the line into its swing. He looked to Danny, and the rod nearly jerked out of his hand. A fish. He raised the rod and instantly felt the telltale thump, thump, thump of a steelhead on the other end. Danny shouted, “About time!”

The line razored open the water, a thread of river climbing the monofilament. And then it was beside them, airborne, its silver body contorting wildly—a heavy bird taking flight. The fish dove under the rushing rapid, the neon line giving chase off its tail, and strained against both rod and current. When it finally tired and came near shore, Danny swiped it with the net.

He trotted up the bank, beaming at the weight in his hands. “Good fish,” he said.

Andy reached in, took the hen by its gill, and pressed it to the stones. He lifted a rock and smashed its head. The body throbbed under his grip, trying to find water and escape. He came down two more times, fast and hard, and finally the body quivered—its spinal cord cracked and its misery ended. Thank you.

“Andy.”

He lifted the fish by its gill. A stream of blood ran down its lateral line.

“Andy,” Danny said, pointing at the tail.

There, fat and obvious even in the low light, was a healthy and natural adipose fin. The dead fish, still quivering in his hand, wasn’t a hatchery clone at all, but a native steelhead.

-RR

Posted in Fly Fishing Books | 7 Comments