Kokanee and the one armed bandit: Fly fishing Crane Prairie

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

We spent the day fly fishing Crane Prairie Monday this week with Caddis Fly employee Ty Holloway. Ty is recovering from a recent shoulder surgery and spends his days floating the stillwater until he’s recovered. But his sling didn’t stop him from outcasting and outfishing me one-handed, which was pretty embarrassing.

Oregon fly fishing marathon

Blazing sun and little wind concentrated fish in the channels, but we couldn’t get them interested. Ty caught a Kokanee on a chironomid pattern below a thingamabobber indicator. I caught the smallest trout in Crane (certainly not one of the Cranebows from last week). It’s a tough fishery, but one hog trout could make your whole day. One of the guys on Westfly compared it to steelhead fishing.

Oregon fly fishing marathon

The place was pretty packed for a weekday, but only a couple boats were landing any fish. -MS

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report, Oregon High Lakes | Leave a comment

Wild summer steelhead surprise: Catch of a lifetime on the Row River

Posted on July 16, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Caddis Fly customer Tim Finlayson had a hell of a day on the Row River last week. After a slow day fishing the North Fork of the Middle Fork Willamette River, Finlayson headed back to Cottage Grove and fished in the campground area below the dam on the Row River. From Finlayson’s email:

I caught 4 decent cuts in about 20 minutes. I saw a good fish surface but couldn’t hook in, looked like a big Steelhead. I went back the next day below the bridge and hooked some small trout. On my fourth cast hooked this 30″ Steelhead ” pic attached” I was fishing a Z axis 3wt with 5X which was amazing. I actually caught this hen on the gold bead head you sold me, fishing it under an indicator. I’m glad I had my camera to get some pics before releasing her. I was wondering if this might be some type of record. It took me 45 minutes to land. I estimated it at 11 lbs.

Tim Finlayson steelhead

Tim Finlayson steelhead

This wild (notice the adipose fin) Willamette Drainage Summer Steelhead took Finlayson well into the backing 4 times and he cut his knee on a sharp rock, trying to get a handle on the fish. You can see the blood spilling into the water in the second photo. A great and rare catch, despite getting bruised and battered. Congratulations Tim! Send us your Oregon fly fishing photos and stories.

Posted in Fishing Porn, Summer Steelhead | 4 Comments

First Annual McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament Announced For 2008

Posted on July 15, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

EUGENE, OR – The first annual McKenzie River Two-Fly Tournament will take place October 3-4, 2008 on the McKenzie River. Organized by The Caddis Fly Angling Shop and Trout Unlimited Chapter 678 (McKenzie River, Upper Willamette Chapter), proceeds from this inaugural event will fund restoration projects on the McKenzie River.

TU McKenzie Two-Fly Flyer

The tournament organizers have partnered with the Eugene based McKenzie River Trust to allocate funds toward native salmonid habitat enhancement. The Trust is a local grassroots organization working to protect special lands in Lane and Douglas county Oregon for their fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and scenic values. The Trust has been recognized by its partners for being creative with its projects, professional in its work with landowners, and committed to the community. “The McKenzie River Trust welcomes the continued loyal support of anglers,” said Joe Moll, Executive Director.

The tournament will take place October 3-4, 2008. Festivities begin Friday evening with a pre-tournament reception and raffle; the competition begins the following morning. The entry fee is $300 per person, two anglers per boat. Entry fee includes one day guided float trip on the McKenzie River, festivities, and door prizes.

“This tournament is a great way for anglers to give back to the resource that gives them so much,” said Karl Mueller, Conservation Officer for TU Chapter 678. “We can’t control ocean conditions but we can do everything in our power to ensure that salmon have the in-stream habitat necessary to thrive in the McKenzie River, which is one of the last strongholds for Willamette River spring Chinook salmon.”

Rules, registration and further details will be announced at The Caddis Fly shop and www.OregonFlyFishingBlog.com. Visit TU’s blog or more information on Trout Unlimited in Oregon.

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

Small Hatch, Good Bite on the Mid-Mckenzie

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Caddisfly

Sunday evening I opted to take it easy and fish the Mckenzie on foot rather than by boat.  The fishing was good pretty good, I caught north of twenty fish in about three hours.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get the big redside that I was after. The first fish was a feisty wild fish that ate a #12 Possie Bugger:

Mckenzie Native Rainbow

In the hours that followed planters ate my offerings like it was their job scarfing up the Possie Bugger, #12 Parachute Adams, #16 Light Cahill Wet and #8 Golden Stone (Stimulator).  All of the planters were healthy and spirited and fought like they understood the gravity of their predictament.  When the hatch came off the river didn’t erupt with bugs like it did on the lower section a couple days ago, rather the hatch was fairly modest. There were a few caddis coming off sporadically and an adult laying eggs now and again.  There were also a few golden stones around.  The hatch was enough though to get the fish looking up and this native redside approached what I was after:

Mckenzie Redside Rainbow

I know that hole harbors larger trout. I’ve caught them there every year and catch at least one decent native almost every time I fish there. Once you’ve found a productive piece of water, provided a high water event doesn’t change the structure of a piece of river having favorable habitat conditions you can know that spot will continue to crank out nice rainbows.–KM

Posted in Fishing Reports, McKenzie River | Leave a comment

Bass like it hot

Posted on July 14, 2008 by Caddisfly

Seventy two degrees seems hot but bass on the mainstem of the Umpqua and the John Day River are right at home.  The John Day is a haul for most of us, but  is a great multi-day family fish and swim float trip. Hot days, great scenery and active smallmouth bass make fly fishing the John Day a blast.

The Umpqua is much closer and access around the town of Elkton and Umpqua is pretty good both for floating and bank angling. For both the John Day and the Umpqua use floating lines and poppers under low light conditions. As things warm up fish rubber legged stonefly nymphs, skinny water clousers, Thin Mints, Mega Princes and Crayfish imitations. On the Umpqua the past few years I have been messing around with droppers, fishing two nymphs at the same time.  More drab offerings, big hares ears, possie buggers and Thin Mints fished about 36 inches apart can yield two at a time bass masters action.-CD

Posted in Fishing Reports | Leave a comment

Despite recent heat lower Mckenzie is fishing fair

Posted on July 12, 2008 by Caddisfly

On Friday evening I met up with Matt and Mark for a quick post work float from Deerhorn to Hendricks Bridge. Granted, I’d prefer to fish higher in the watershed but short on time we stayed low and caught a mix of natives and planters–the first fish was a pretty 12″ native.  Fish ate #12 Possie Buggers on the dead drift and the swing as well as a #10 Prince Nymph and a halfback golden stone. When the hatch came off, there were a lot of little yellow stones, some yellow caddis and a few bigger golden stones. In addition to the trout, Mark also caught a “nice” whitefish:

Whitefish Love

You have to love that face at least a little!

This was Mark’s first trip on the Mckenzie and hopefully I got him warmed up for the nice float he is taking with Chris from Paradise to Silver Creek today.–KM

Posted in McKenzie River | Leave a comment

Tying the Editor: Fly tying video

Posted on July 11, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

The Editor by Mike Brooks is an Atlantic Salmon fly, but it is also a good summer steelhead fly pattern in low, clear water. It literally glows. Tie this fly sparse.

The Editor
Hook: Size 6 Tiemco up-eye salmon hook
Thread: 6/0 BlueTail: Golden pheasant breast feather
Body: Fluorescent white floss
Rib: Pearl mylar tinsel and fluorescent green mono
Wing: Fluorescent green and black arctic fox, crystal flash
Hackle: Black hen neck
Overwing: Gray Fox

Mike Brooks' flies

Posted in Fly Tying | 1 Comment

Project Healing Waters hard at work in Oregon

Posted on July 10, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Jerry Lorang of the Tualatin Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited is spearheading Project Healing Waters in Oregon. Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active duty military personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. In this video, Lorang outlines some of the projects the organization has going on in Oregon.

For more info or to get involved with Project Healing Waters in Oregon, contact Jerry.

Posted in Oregon Fly Fishing Clubs and Events | 4 Comments

Crane Prairie at a ten year water high, fishing is fair

Posted on July 9, 2008 by Caddisfly

Caddis fly employee Ty Holloway spent yesterday at Crane. Despite recent shoulder surgery his hunt for big fish could not be disuaded.

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He used Ice Cream Cone chironomids black with red rib size #10 under a small Thingamabobber indicator. Ty’s rig was a 9ft 3x full flourocarbon tapered leader plus 3ft of 3x flouro tippet to his first fly. Another 3ft of tippet off the bend of that fly to another chironomid of another color or size.

P7080039

Fish were caught in the channels. Channel depth maxed out at 16ft, with channel edges being around 11 feet. Water temps in the deeper portions of the channels made the difference. Position yourself to fish the deeper sections.-CD

P7080047

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report | 6 Comments

Summer wading conditions, mega hatches in the evenings

Posted on July 9, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Summer is my favorite time of year. Wet wading, light till 9pm, dry flies and tons of trout. And the Upper Willamette River is my favorite place to be on a summer evening. The flows are finally down enough for very successful wade angling. During the early evening, the planters were taking a half-down golden stone dry with a size 14 possie bugger dropper. The fishing lagged between 6pm-7pm, and then a monster hatch of large tan caddis and golden stones erupted. Larger native rainbow trout came out to smack the big bugs off the surface, far out into the middle in heavy current. I switched to a yellow stimulator after refusals on the parachute golden stone and landed a few of the nicer fish in the run, missing quite a few more. Almost makes me want to move to Oakridge. -MS

Upper Willamette River fly fishing

Upper Willamette River fly fishing

Posted in Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | 1 Comment

Ally’s Shrimp: Atlantic Salmon fly tying video

Posted on July 8, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Mike Brooks, friend of the Caddis Fly and expert Atlantic Salmon fly tier demonstrates a classic Atlantic Salmon fly in this video. Brooks uses this pattern for steelhead in the Pacific Northwest, but learned to fish the Ally’s Shrimp in Sweden.

Ally’s Shrimp:
Hook: Size 6 double Atlantic Salmon Hook
Thread: 6/0 Fire Orange
Tail: Fire orange buck tail, crystal flash
Body: Fire orange Antron yarn, black floss
Rib: Silver tinsel
Wing: Arctic fox natural
Beard: Arctic fox natural
Hackle: Webby orange hackle
Overwing: Golden pheasant crest

Mike Brooks' flies

Posted in Fly Tying | 1 Comment

Fly fishing for tarpon in the Florida Keys

Posted on July 8, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

As many of you already know I am sick, sick with a disease that can only be cured with a 12 wt. rod and a couple dozen 60lb shock leadered toad flies. This affliction takes me to some of the most striking warm weather locales. Rife with blazingly hot sun, mosquitoes, and 100 plus pound tarpon, the Florida keys serve as the ultimate backdrop for my demise (economic, mental).

This was my 12th year going to the northern keys of Florida to fish for megalops atlanticus. These are the ultimate test of angling prowess, no other animal is capable of intense runs and jumps like the tarpon. Not to sound like a walking Chasing Silver commercial but it is the best bite in the business, period.

Long casts, 80-100ft, are mandatory, as is precise accuracy. Then the world erupts with molten silver and you lose control of everything for at least a few minutes. The ocean has huge wholes blown in it and your knees finally stop knocking from your adrenaline super enriched blood, time to pull, time to pull like you have never pulled before on anything with fins.

Barrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon TripBarrett's Tarpon Trip

If you are lucky the giant fish has been up all night chasing shrimp or bait and gives up after only twenty minutes. Then there is the worst case scenario, a true giant that is hell bent on keeping up with the rest of the school that you just plucked it from.

These fish usually make you work a lot harder, minutes feel like hours and the sweat burns your eyes. Finally, the fish is boat side and the Kodak moment becomes a reality. A quick thank you and a safe healthy release. Another day in paradise! If you are interested in a trip to fish for these prehistoric gladiators please don’t hesitate to come into the Caddisfly for a full rundown on tackle, casting and guides. It is one of my life’s great passions and with a little preparation it could be one of yours, too.Great light and tides-BC

Posted in Fishing Porn, Fly Fishing Travel | 3 Comments

Oregon Fly Fishing Blog winds up on KATU, Lou casts w/ the Oregon Duck

Posted on July 7, 2008 by Oregon Fly Fishing Blog

Last week we published an article on KATU about fly fishing on the Lower McKenzie River. From the article:

As summer continues, early and late parts of the day become the best options for fishing the lower river. Anglers should try fishing faster water during the midday. Evening dry fly fishing can be excellent – anglers just need to scale down the size of their offering (size 16 and18 pale morning duns, pale morning dun spinners, little yellow stones(sally’s) and small caddis) are best.

Also, Caddis Fly guide Lou Verdugo hooked up with the Oregon Duck at the Track and Field trials media day to teach folks how to cast. Photos below.

Caddis Fly at Track and Field Media Day

Caddis Fly at Track and Field Media Day

Caddis Fly at Track and Field Media Day

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

Lower Deschutes Caddis Hatch brings the big fish to the eddies.

Posted on July 7, 2008 by Caddisfly

My favorite time of year on the Deschutes is upon us. All day blizzard caddis hatches can create a scum of insects on the water that will make you want to clean your waders. Streamside vegetation can hold so many caddis during evening hours your lantern can be darkened with swarms of caddis. You begin to not care about whether you are eating caddis with your dinner or not, a little protein never hurt anyone. Eddies and edges hold great numbers of hot Deschutes Rainbows slurping the never ending supply of caddis flies. 

 Tie on a #18, Elk hair Caddis, Royal Wulff, X-Caddis, E/C Caddis or Sedge Hammer Caddis imitation, position yourself on a good looking edge,  work a short amount of line out and make short casts upstream continuously moving your feet upstream. Hopefully you will be able to sight cast to rising fish. Time your casts to match the rythmic feeding of the trout. Active fish and active fishing with small dries doesn’t get better. The float from Trout Creek to Maupin is ideal, good walk in access can be had at Mecca Flats, Trout Creek and South Junction all below Pelton Dam.-CD

Posted in Central Oregon Fishing Report | Leave a comment

Mckenzie and Willamette drainages lower, offer best access so far this year

Posted on July 7, 2008 by Caddisfly

Both the Mckenzie and the Willamette Rivers, and tributaries dropped huge amounts this past week. If you are used to walking in on the Middle Fork or the Mckenzie access is as good as it has been all year. In addition Salt Creek, Salmon Creek, and the North Fork of the Middle Fork are all in fine shape. Insects present on all previously mentioned waters include, Green Drakes (especially on the upper Mckenzie), Golden Stones,  Little Yellow Stones, Pale Morning Duns and Brown Caddis. 

IMG_2541

 As waters have dropped clarity has improved. It’s time to start thinking about lighter tippets, moving from 4x to 5x or on the really small waters even using 6x. We are headed for another hot period of weather and fishing will be best in morning and evening on the lower Mckenzie and main Willamette. The upper Mckenzie and upper Willamette offer more broken, fast water that will hold feeding fish through out the day. When surface activity is limited go subsurface with Prince Nymphs, Possie Buggers and Copper Johns in sizes #10-16.

IMG_2544

  Our local waters are now much closer to normal flows. They are far easier to read in terms of drop offs and submerged structure and the wading is much safer. Summer seems to have finally arrived.-CD

Posted in Lower Willamette, McKenzie River, Middle Fork Willamette River fishing | Leave a comment