Those of you that know me personally, know that I work in the animation industry. You can imagine my surprise when I was checking out the work of another animator and saw what he had done. "Elk Hair Caddis" is a short film that is centered around fly fishing. Well, sort of anyway!
http://vimeo.com/9882509
The part where the frog gets, uhh. Impaled. It made me squirm. Only because that is my worst nightmare while fishing.
Mar 31, 2010
Mar 30, 2010
Warm up the vise!
After a survey of my trout fly box, I realized that I'm dangerously low on my best producing soft hackles and winged wets. This Thursday, I'll be targeting trout and half pounders, which means I'd like to have a variety of 'em at the ready.
I can't even remember the last time I tied a sz10 or smaller fly. This steelhead craze has had me tie bigger and bigger flies. Taking me further and further away from the flies that I became crazy about so many years ago.
Hopefully pictures will follow in the next few days.
I can't even remember the last time I tied a sz10 or smaller fly. This steelhead craze has had me tie bigger and bigger flies. Taking me further and further away from the flies that I became crazy about so many years ago.
Hopefully pictures will follow in the next few days.
Mar 29, 2010
Three weeks without
I can't believe I've gone three weeks without getting in the water. And really, I have no business fishing this week either. There are just too many other things I should be doing. However, I've decided to ignore my better judgment and spend a day on the river.
The weather calls for rain. Perhaps one of the last storms of the year. Hopefully that won't turn the fish off. That would be just my luck.
I'm split between the Yuba, American, and the Feather. I'm no longer looking for adult steelhead, but phasing into trout season (half pounders too). If anyone wants to share their opinion, please do. I'm all ears.
I can't wait to put on the compact scandi with a floating leader. Add a couple of small flies on the end and you've got to love the easy casting.
The weather calls for rain. Perhaps one of the last storms of the year. Hopefully that won't turn the fish off. That would be just my luck.
I'm split between the Yuba, American, and the Feather. I'm no longer looking for adult steelhead, but phasing into trout season (half pounders too). If anyone wants to share their opinion, please do. I'm all ears.
I can't wait to put on the compact scandi with a floating leader. Add a couple of small flies on the end and you've got to love the easy casting.
Mar 17, 2010
American Report
I've been a little busy lately and I'm just now getting around to a report from March 4th! This last weekend, I was heading to the mountains for a little skiing. While stuck on Hwy 80 waiting for the road to re-open after a heavy snowfall, I realized I never made the fish report from a couple of weeks ago on the American. Whoops!
This is going to be quick. I don't remember much from the day and details are cloudy at best.
On the water before sunrise on- Upper Sunrise. Water was clear and low. Air temp was in the 60's, if I'm not mistaken. I never took a water temp, but I'm guessing it was low 50's. Visibility was good, around 6 feet. Just an occasional showing of fish here and there, but other than that, it was eerily quiet. My conversations with other anglers revealed similar experiences.
A few hours on Sunrise, I moved down to El Manto with no results. I fished several riffles including a new one that I'll be sure to revisit in the future. Somehow, I missed it on all of my previous trips to this spot.
For the last part of the day, I went to Watt Ave and fished below the bridge. Again, nothing! This sunny day was almost a 180 from my previous two. No action whatsoever.
Upon reflection, with the sunny skies and clear water, I should of scaled down my flies and used more muted colors. I was so hung up on trying some of my big flies with heavy sinktips, I threw my better judgment out the window.
The good news is, I was able to enjoy the weather and have a relaxing time exploring some new and some familiar water.
This is going to be quick. I don't remember much from the day and details are cloudy at best.
On the water before sunrise on- Upper Sunrise. Water was clear and low. Air temp was in the 60's, if I'm not mistaken. I never took a water temp, but I'm guessing it was low 50's. Visibility was good, around 6 feet. Just an occasional showing of fish here and there, but other than that, it was eerily quiet. My conversations with other anglers revealed similar experiences.
A few hours on Sunrise, I moved down to El Manto with no results. I fished several riffles including a new one that I'll be sure to revisit in the future. Somehow, I missed it on all of my previous trips to this spot.
For the last part of the day, I went to Watt Ave and fished below the bridge. Again, nothing! This sunny day was almost a 180 from my previous two. No action whatsoever.
Upon reflection, with the sunny skies and clear water, I should of scaled down my flies and used more muted colors. I was so hung up on trying some of my big flies with heavy sinktips, I threw my better judgment out the window.
The good news is, I was able to enjoy the weather and have a relaxing time exploring some new and some familiar water.
Mar 3, 2010
Hitting the water tomorrow
Finding an opportunity to fish lately has been difficult. It has been more than two weeks since my last day out, and it probably won't be another two weeks before I go again. Luckily, I was able to work things so that tomorrow is doable.
I've decided to hit the American. My last few times on this river have been full of hookups and bumps, but no fish to hand. Hopefully that will change this time and I'll land a few. The adult steelhead season may be winding down, but the half pounders are gearing up. It has the potential for a good day.
If you will be fishing the American tomorrow, or can fish it. Send me an email. I'm going to be there half an hour before daylight and staying until dark. I've got my fishing route all mapped out and it will be a full day hitting a handful of nice runs.
On a side note, I just finished the 3rd generation of my Cotton Candy (still seeking a better name) fly. This one is bigger and uglier than the others. We'll see how it works.
I've decided to hit the American. My last few times on this river have been full of hookups and bumps, but no fish to hand. Hopefully that will change this time and I'll land a few. The adult steelhead season may be winding down, but the half pounders are gearing up. It has the potential for a good day.
If you will be fishing the American tomorrow, or can fish it. Send me an email. I'm going to be there half an hour before daylight and staying until dark. I've got my fishing route all mapped out and it will be a full day hitting a handful of nice runs.
On a side note, I just finished the 3rd generation of my Cotton Candy (still seeking a better name) fly. This one is bigger and uglier than the others. We'll see how it works.
Feb 24, 2010
Russian Report
A week ago Tuesday, I was able to get out to the Russian. Due to a sudden flu bug developed last week, I'm just now getting around to posting a report. Sorry for the delay. Being sick, sucks!
The Russian is one of those rivers that takes a while to clear. A decent rain will cause it to swell and a muddy mess is the result. Considering the downpours we've had this winter, I've been waiting a while for a chance to visit. Even though Tuesday's conditions were still muddy, with only a foot or two of visibility, the level was down enough for safe wading. That was as good as it may get. So I took the plunge.
I'm okay with swinging flies if there are a couple of feet of visibility. Just tie something larger and brighter on and the fish will see it if they are in the neighborhood. Lucky for me, my most recent fly design is bright and colorful. And at a little more than 2 inches in length, it is decent sized as well.
I arrived at the Dry Creek access well before sunrise. There was only one car there ahead of me. And considering the popularity of this spot, that is saying something. I wandered down to the water and stepped in. Within 5 minutes, I had caught my first fish. It was about 16 inches long and bright. He was sitting in a slow section, just out of the current. He grabbed the fly just before the dangle.
I was getting bumps and plucks on almost every cast. Several short lived hookups as well. None of the ones caught were that big. Probably juveniles or half pounders. Twelve to sixteen inches seemed to be the range.
I moved up and down this section for a bit before the crowds started rolling in. Anyone familiar with this area knows that it gets filled up with guys flinging gear or bait. I get the impression they don't take kindly to people with fly rods. They certainly don't respect anyone stepping down a river swinging a fly. They have no problem moving in right below you. Frustrating. So I moved upstream out of this rats nest of knuckle heads.
I continued to get bumped and catch another fish or two. I may of gotten one decent sized grab, but he never latched on. I stepped downstream until another gear guy moved in right below me. Enough is enough. I decided to leave for a less popular spot.
My next stop was about 15 miles up highway 101 to Cloverdale. Just off Crocker Rd there is a long gravel bar with some decent water if you look in the right places. Nothing great, but something I had visited on a previous trip and felt worthy of another try. Unfortunately, the water seemed even more cloudy here. There might of been a foot of visibility!
I walked upstream quite a ways until I found a decent spot. By now, the wind was blowing and it made casting an interesting experience. I wasn't only backed up against the trees, I was actually underneath them. Branches were well within striking distance of my rod tip. Stepping further out into the stream was risky. I couldn't see the bottom and the flow was a little fast for comfort. So, I played it safe and made more of a side arm cast. I couldn't hit the other side of the river in this manner, but I got it out there enough to find fish.
It started out slow, but the bumps picked up. On a previous post, I wrote about testing my new "cotton candy" fly. This is where it happened. I won't rehash what has already been said, so if you are interested, please take a look.
After catching several fish, I moved back downstream closer to where I was parked. After crossing river, I started casting and stepping only to be interrupted by a group of 3 bait chuckers. You know what happened, they moved in right below me. This was my cue to leave.
I drove up Geysers Rd until it it met up with 101. Parked my car and walked into the canyon. The fishing sucked here. However, I continued to abuse myself by walking downstream through thick thorn bushes and traversing steep dirt slopes. No bites or bumps in this entire section. So, I decided to cut my losses and exit the canyon. I practically needed rock climbing gear to get out. But once I did, I could easily walk back Geysers Rd to my car. Considering the rough terrain, I was amazed at how far downriver I had gone. It must of been a good mile. During that lonely walk back, all I could think about was the waste of time I just spent here.
At this point, I was contemplating calling it a day. I had caught a good amount of fish and I was beat. However, on the drive back down Geysers, I decided to park my car back at Crocker Rd and fish it again.
Finding a new spot, the water looked much more fishy than what I had visited earlier. I went straight for a tailout as the daylight was fading. Within ten minutes, I was back to getting bumps and plucks. Several hookups and a few fish to hand. All of them were in the 12-15 inch range. I got one solid grab when the fly was dangling downstream. I wasn't prepared and missed him. That might of been the biggest fish of the day. I tried several more casts to get him back, but it never happened.
It was a long 12 hour day of fishing. For my troubles, I caught at least 12 fish and had many more hookups. No adults, but one or two broke the 16 inch mark. Not bad.
I have mixed feelings about this river. Given the right conditions and some space from the crowds, it ain't a bad place to go. But, the frustration level can be high if you don't find solitude.
The Russian is one of those rivers that takes a while to clear. A decent rain will cause it to swell and a muddy mess is the result. Considering the downpours we've had this winter, I've been waiting a while for a chance to visit. Even though Tuesday's conditions were still muddy, with only a foot or two of visibility, the level was down enough for safe wading. That was as good as it may get. So I took the plunge.
| Access | Above/Below Healdsburg | |
| Air Temp | Low 52, High 70 | |
| Water Temp/Visibility | ~? F / 1-2 feet | |
| Weather | Sunny | |
| Flow | ~1200 cfs | |
| Time in/out | 6:30am, 6pm | |
| Leaders/Lines | Compact Skagit | |
| 10ft of T10 | All day | |
| 12 lb FC tippet | ||
| Flies | Various steelhead flies | 0 |
| 3” steelhead trailer | 12 fish | |
I'm okay with swinging flies if there are a couple of feet of visibility. Just tie something larger and brighter on and the fish will see it if they are in the neighborhood. Lucky for me, my most recent fly design is bright and colorful. And at a little more than 2 inches in length, it is decent sized as well.
I arrived at the Dry Creek access well before sunrise. There was only one car there ahead of me. And considering the popularity of this spot, that is saying something. I wandered down to the water and stepped in. Within 5 minutes, I had caught my first fish. It was about 16 inches long and bright. He was sitting in a slow section, just out of the current. He grabbed the fly just before the dangle.
I was getting bumps and plucks on almost every cast. Several short lived hookups as well. None of the ones caught were that big. Probably juveniles or half pounders. Twelve to sixteen inches seemed to be the range.
I moved up and down this section for a bit before the crowds started rolling in. Anyone familiar with this area knows that it gets filled up with guys flinging gear or bait. I get the impression they don't take kindly to people with fly rods. They certainly don't respect anyone stepping down a river swinging a fly. They have no problem moving in right below you. Frustrating. So I moved upstream out of this rats nest of knuckle heads.
I continued to get bumped and catch another fish or two. I may of gotten one decent sized grab, but he never latched on. I stepped downstream until another gear guy moved in right below me. Enough is enough. I decided to leave for a less popular spot.
My next stop was about 15 miles up highway 101 to Cloverdale. Just off Crocker Rd there is a long gravel bar with some decent water if you look in the right places. Nothing great, but something I had visited on a previous trip and felt worthy of another try. Unfortunately, the water seemed even more cloudy here. There might of been a foot of visibility!
I walked upstream quite a ways until I found a decent spot. By now, the wind was blowing and it made casting an interesting experience. I wasn't only backed up against the trees, I was actually underneath them. Branches were well within striking distance of my rod tip. Stepping further out into the stream was risky. I couldn't see the bottom and the flow was a little fast for comfort. So, I played it safe and made more of a side arm cast. I couldn't hit the other side of the river in this manner, but I got it out there enough to find fish.
It started out slow, but the bumps picked up. On a previous post, I wrote about testing my new "cotton candy" fly. This is where it happened. I won't rehash what has already been said, so if you are interested, please take a look.
After catching several fish, I moved back downstream closer to where I was parked. After crossing river, I started casting and stepping only to be interrupted by a group of 3 bait chuckers. You know what happened, they moved in right below me. This was my cue to leave.
I drove up Geysers Rd until it it met up with 101. Parked my car and walked into the canyon. The fishing sucked here. However, I continued to abuse myself by walking downstream through thick thorn bushes and traversing steep dirt slopes. No bites or bumps in this entire section. So, I decided to cut my losses and exit the canyon. I practically needed rock climbing gear to get out. But once I did, I could easily walk back Geysers Rd to my car. Considering the rough terrain, I was amazed at how far downriver I had gone. It must of been a good mile. During that lonely walk back, all I could think about was the waste of time I just spent here.
At this point, I was contemplating calling it a day. I had caught a good amount of fish and I was beat. However, on the drive back down Geysers, I decided to park my car back at Crocker Rd and fish it again.
Finding a new spot, the water looked much more fishy than what I had visited earlier. I went straight for a tailout as the daylight was fading. Within ten minutes, I was back to getting bumps and plucks. Several hookups and a few fish to hand. All of them were in the 12-15 inch range. I got one solid grab when the fly was dangling downstream. I wasn't prepared and missed him. That might of been the biggest fish of the day. I tried several more casts to get him back, but it never happened.
It was a long 12 hour day of fishing. For my troubles, I caught at least 12 fish and had many more hookups. No adults, but one or two broke the 16 inch mark. Not bad.
I have mixed feelings about this river. Given the right conditions and some space from the crowds, it ain't a bad place to go. But, the frustration level can be high if you don't find solitude.
Feb 17, 2010
Code name: Cotton Candy
I've been working on a new fly that I've referred to as "cotton candy". I'm terrible at giving my flies names, but this thing really does remind me of that tasty treat that melts in your mouth. I'd like to think that the steelhead think it looks delicious too!
The fly has gone through a few iterations. The current fly, I'm calling the 2nd generation, has a trailer hook and a bead hidden within the translucent body. Unlike generation #1, it has a very long collar that sweeps over the whole body. Almost like an Intruder. The best part, it puffs when in slow to moderate water. The fibers pulse in and out as it bumps through the current. I'm almost tempted to take a bite myself.
I won't pretend that there is a magic bullet when it comes to steelhead flies. However, this fly does give me an unreal amount of confidence. The large fish I hooked on the American a few weeks back were on the first generation of the fly. And after my trip to the Russian yesterday, the second generation may even be more seductive.
I was getting so many bumps and plucks on almost every swing in one particular piece of water, I decided to perform a test. I tied on a variety of other steelhead flies. Some tied by me, and some I obtained from a steelhead swap. Perhaps it was coincidence, but none of the other flies got any attention. Not even a pluck. (I did give each a fair amount of time.) As soon as I put 2nd generation Cotton Candy back on, the grabs continued. Magic!
Granted, this test was conducted on juvenile steelhead (12-16" in length). I don't think I could of performed it on adults, since they are so few and far between. But, I'd like to think that they have the same mindset.
As I begin on the third generation of the fly, I'll let you know what the results are.
p.s. I'll be posting my Russian River Report in the next day or so. Just to give you something to look forward to. I caught more than 12 fish. A great day in murky water with under two feet of visibility!
The fly has gone through a few iterations. The current fly, I'm calling the 2nd generation, has a trailer hook and a bead hidden within the translucent body. Unlike generation #1, it has a very long collar that sweeps over the whole body. Almost like an Intruder. The best part, it puffs when in slow to moderate water. The fibers pulse in and out as it bumps through the current. I'm almost tempted to take a bite myself.
I won't pretend that there is a magic bullet when it comes to steelhead flies. However, this fly does give me an unreal amount of confidence. The large fish I hooked on the American a few weeks back were on the first generation of the fly. And after my trip to the Russian yesterday, the second generation may even be more seductive.
I was getting so many bumps and plucks on almost every swing in one particular piece of water, I decided to perform a test. I tied on a variety of other steelhead flies. Some tied by me, and some I obtained from a steelhead swap. Perhaps it was coincidence, but none of the other flies got any attention. Not even a pluck. (I did give each a fair amount of time.) As soon as I put 2nd generation Cotton Candy back on, the grabs continued. Magic!
Granted, this test was conducted on juvenile steelhead (12-16" in length). I don't think I could of performed it on adults, since they are so few and far between. But, I'd like to think that they have the same mindset.
As I begin on the third generation of the fly, I'll let you know what the results are.
p.s. I'll be posting my Russian River Report in the next day or so. Just to give you something to look forward to. I caught more than 12 fish. A great day in murky water with under two feet of visibility!
The secret revealed
There seems to be no reason to keep quiet about what river my "Mums the Word" posts took place on. It is a large river that can support a lot of people. And since, many people are asking, I'll just come out and say it. The American.
What I won't say is where. I'd rather not see that section crowded- if and when I decide to go back.
For those claiming that the fishing on this river, this winter, sucks. Well, maybe it does compared to previous years (I wouldn't know). However, I'd say that, for me, it has been pretty darn productive this winter. While I'd rather land a fish, hooking up (and a bunch of bumps) with several large fish over a period of a couple fishing days is pretty good in my book. (I might also add that the two that joined me were either hooking up or getting bumped a good portion of the day too.)
What I won't say is where. I'd rather not see that section crowded- if and when I decide to go back.
For those claiming that the fishing on this river, this winter, sucks. Well, maybe it does compared to previous years (I wouldn't know). However, I'd say that, for me, it has been pretty darn productive this winter. While I'd rather land a fish, hooking up (and a bunch of bumps) with several large fish over a period of a couple fishing days is pretty good in my book. (I might also add that the two that joined me were either hooking up or getting bumped a good portion of the day too.)
Feb 15, 2010
Knots
I'm off for a day of fishing tomorrow. Hopefully it will go well and I'll have something nice to report back. In the mean time...
I mentioned on one of my recent posts about the trouble I've been having with 12lb fluorocarbon busting on me when hooking large adult steelhead. To try and correct whatever has been the problem, I did a bunch of tests with Maxima Ultragreen, fluorocarbon, and a couple of no name mono brands. All of the 12lb varieties pretty much acted the same. They were strong on slow steady pulls, but bust equally with quick jerk tests.
I did however come to some conclusions. First and foremost. I will never use perfection loops again when going after big fish. They break very easily with a strong jerk. Secondly, a knot that I use for trout is not good enough for steelhead. And that would be the Davey knot. It is so easy to tie, and the strength is incredible with steady pulls. But jerk tests performed badly using both FC and mono.
With what I now know, I've retied every loop on all of my sinktips. Instead of perfection loops, I now have non-slip loop knots. I'll also now be tying all my flies on with the same.
The days I fish strictly for trout, I can probably go back to the easy to tie Davey knot. But for steelhead, it isn't worth the risk. The fish are so few and far between, it is not fun to lose one because I was unwilling to spend an extra 30 seconds tying a better performing knot on (again, the Davey knot is great with a steady pull, but break pretty easily with a decent jerk).
I mentioned on one of my recent posts about the trouble I've been having with 12lb fluorocarbon busting on me when hooking large adult steelhead. To try and correct whatever has been the problem, I did a bunch of tests with Maxima Ultragreen, fluorocarbon, and a couple of no name mono brands. All of the 12lb varieties pretty much acted the same. They were strong on slow steady pulls, but bust equally with quick jerk tests.
I did however come to some conclusions. First and foremost. I will never use perfection loops again when going after big fish. They break very easily with a strong jerk. Secondly, a knot that I use for trout is not good enough for steelhead. And that would be the Davey knot. It is so easy to tie, and the strength is incredible with steady pulls. But jerk tests performed badly using both FC and mono.
With what I now know, I've retied every loop on all of my sinktips. Instead of perfection loops, I now have non-slip loop knots. I'll also now be tying all my flies on with the same.
The days I fish strictly for trout, I can probably go back to the easy to tie Davey knot. But for steelhead, it isn't worth the risk. The fish are so few and far between, it is not fun to lose one because I was unwilling to spend an extra 30 seconds tying a better performing knot on (again, the Davey knot is great with a steady pull, but break pretty easily with a decent jerk).
Feb 6, 2010
Coming soon...
I've been a little busy in my non-fishing world to post to the blog. Hopefully that will change shortly.
Some of the things you can expect are new fly photos. Including a fly I've been working on and fine tuning for a while now. It has been really productive for me on trout and half pounders. I have another fly that is bigger and meaner looking, this has been getting some nice grabs from adults.
I'm also putting together a writeup about Steve Godshall and his fly lines. For those of you not familiar with Steve, he has been developing various spey lines for years. He knows his business and has some interesting ideas.
Some of the things you can expect are new fly photos. Including a fly I've been working on and fine tuning for a while now. It has been really productive for me on trout and half pounders. I have another fly that is bigger and meaner looking, this has been getting some nice grabs from adults.
I'm also putting together a writeup about Steve Godshall and his fly lines. For those of you not familiar with Steve, he has been developing various spey lines for years. He knows his business and has some interesting ideas.
Jan 28, 2010
Mums the Word, Part 2
This past Monday, I went back to the "secret" steelhead spot. Of course it isn't really a secret, I just don't want the thousands of people who read this blog every day to turn the place into a zoo. Okay, maybe there are slightly less than a thousand people who come here. Umm. Maybe much fewer than. Whatever! You know what I'm sayin! :)
This time around, I was joined by Ted and Mark. It was nice to have company for a change.
Arriving before sunup, I put on my gear while in the car as it was raining pretty hard out. By the time I finished up, it had slowed to a drizzle. I walked to the river and got right in to the spot from last week. Ted and Mark were a little ways behind, so I figured I'd go ahead and catch that huge steelhead before they show up. ...That didn't pan out.
Ted and Mark came to the water and spread out above me. After a mostly dry morning, the rain came and went. But no where near the downpour that I experienced last week. Unfortunately, the bite was, like the rain, hit or miss. However, I'd have to classify this as a more productive steelhead day than most. Considering most are pretty darn quiet.
All three of us had bumps. Personally, I hooked up with another good sized fish that broke me off after a few seconds of brutal thrashing. The fish was sitting in the riffles below a tailout. Again, I was using my newest fly creation that was so successful the week before.
For those keeping score, that would be two (fishing) days in a row where I've hooked a good sized adult to only have the 12lb tippet busted. This is causing me to reevaluate whether fluorocarbon is indeed the best way to go. I'm getting a lot of mixed opinions from others. So, sometime this week, I'm going to do some tests to see if I can figure out how best to proceed.
I can't help to wonder what could of been. It would be stupid to continue with the status quo. I've got to figure out what the problem is. I'll report back with my findings.
The rest of the day consisted of a few bumps, but nothing more. Mark took off in late morning and eventually Ted and I moved upriver. This new spot looked fishy enough, but neither of us got so much as a nibble. As it was getting dark, I decided to try and find Ted to head back to the cars.
Thanks Ted and Mark for joining me. It was great to have others around.
This time around, I was joined by Ted and Mark. It was nice to have company for a change.
Arriving before sunup, I put on my gear while in the car as it was raining pretty hard out. By the time I finished up, it had slowed to a drizzle. I walked to the river and got right in to the spot from last week. Ted and Mark were a little ways behind, so I figured I'd go ahead and catch that huge steelhead before they show up. ...That didn't pan out.
Ted and Mark came to the water and spread out above me. After a mostly dry morning, the rain came and went. But no where near the downpour that I experienced last week. Unfortunately, the bite was, like the rain, hit or miss. However, I'd have to classify this as a more productive steelhead day than most. Considering most are pretty darn quiet.
All three of us had bumps. Personally, I hooked up with another good sized fish that broke me off after a few seconds of brutal thrashing. The fish was sitting in the riffles below a tailout. Again, I was using my newest fly creation that was so successful the week before.
For those keeping score, that would be two (fishing) days in a row where I've hooked a good sized adult to only have the 12lb tippet busted. This is causing me to reevaluate whether fluorocarbon is indeed the best way to go. I'm getting a lot of mixed opinions from others. So, sometime this week, I'm going to do some tests to see if I can figure out how best to proceed.
I can't help to wonder what could of been. It would be stupid to continue with the status quo. I've got to figure out what the problem is. I'll report back with my findings.
The rest of the day consisted of a few bumps, but nothing more. Mark took off in late morning and eventually Ted and I moved upriver. This new spot looked fishy enough, but neither of us got so much as a nibble. As it was getting dark, I decided to try and find Ted to head back to the cars.
Thanks Ted and Mark for joining me. It was great to have others around.
Jan 22, 2010
Mums the Word
The rain and wind has been intense. Originally, the plan was to go fishing on Tuesday. However, since the forecast was for 35-40mph gusts, it was probably best to leave it alone. Thursday rolled around and while it was supposed to rain, the wind was to be light. I decided to put on the rain jacket and head out. Where did I go? Well, for once, I'm not going to say for reasons that may become obvious.
Arriving to location #1 at sun-up. There was no rain or wind. I sauntered down to the water and perched myself on a rock. I stayed here for about an hour trying various flies. Water visibility was approximately 3 feet. Nothing. Not even a hint of a fish was present. I did get a chance to try out some newly tied intruders. They looked great in the water.
I hopped in my car and headed upstream to location #2. Found my parking spot and made it to the water. Started casting with no sign of any fish. I was disappointed, by not surprised. Up until this point, my confidence in this area was slim at best. That was about to change.
As I was walking upstream alongside some very fast water. Not exactly the place I'd expect steelhead to hold. A large fish jumped clear out of the water. Someone is home! I made short 10' casts with various flies with no results. At least I knew they were around.
Went downstream to some water that was running a little slow. I sent out a new fly design of mine to see what it would drum up. As I'm hoping for something to happen, I noticed a large fish jumping multiple times out of the pool. This was the second large steelhead I've seen to this point. More confidence. These guys were very active today. This guy in particular came completely out of the water 4 to 6 times in about a four second period of time. What was he doing? I'm not sure. But, I did get a good look at him. He was big!
I couldn't reach him with my casts, so I continued stepping downstream. Not long after, I got a good sized bump. After backing up and trying again. Nothing. Switched flies and stepped through. Nothing. Backed up again with the original fly. Bumped again! Kept trying in that same spot with no results. Time to move on.
After more stepping. Another bump! These fish were very aggressive today. If only I could get one to hold on.
Five or ten minutes later, after several more bumps, I felt this slight pressure on my rod. I set the hook and then there was a tremendous yank as the fish realized what had happened. The line went tight and the rod started throbbing violently. It was the biggest fish I've felt in a very long time, if not ever.
Then it happened, the fish jumped out of the water 3 or 4 times in about 2 seconds time. He was pissed! Even more impressive was his size. I'm guessing he was 35" and very thick. On one of his jumps, something went wrong. The line went limp and after reeling it in, realized he broke my 12lb tippet. Not at a knot mind you, just a clean break about a foot down from the T10 sink tip.
I was both disappointed and excited at the same time. I lost an incredibly large fish by my standards. However, at the same time, I had the pleasure of hooking an incredibly large fish. It was great while it lasted.
Too bad he stole my new fly that was working so well. Of course, I only had one and had to compromise with something similar. I got a few more good bumps with other flies, but nothing was as impressive as the one probably still attached to Mr. Steelhead.
Throughout the day, I had hooked, but not landed, around 5 fish. Most of them felt pretty large, as far as I could tell, only one of them was a half pounder.
Near the end, as I was standing in thigh deep water, I saw a flash out the corner of my eye. Either my friend was back, saying goodbye, or one of his brothers made an appearance. The fish surfaced two or three times within 5 feet of my legs. He was either chasing something or playing. Whatever the case, the fish in this pool were active, and obviously fear less of this wading fisherman.
Weather wise, the wind was quiet. The rain stayed away until around 2pm, where it was steady until Sunset. I'll be back! Possibly as early as Monday.
| Access | Undisclosed | |
| Air Temp | Low 43, High 52 | |
| Water Temp/Visibility | ~? F / 3 feet | |
| Weather | Cloudy / Rain | |
| Flow | ~? cfs | |
| Time in/out | 6:45am, 5:30pm | |
| Leaders/Lines | Compact Skagit/Scandi | |
| 11ft of T10 | Morning | |
| 7.0 ips Poly | Mid Afternoon | |
| 12 lb FC tippet | ||
| Flies | Generic Steelhead | 0 |
| Various intruders | 0 | |
| Top Secret Steelhead | 0 | |
Arriving to location #1 at sun-up. There was no rain or wind. I sauntered down to the water and perched myself on a rock. I stayed here for about an hour trying various flies. Water visibility was approximately 3 feet. Nothing. Not even a hint of a fish was present. I did get a chance to try out some newly tied intruders. They looked great in the water.
I hopped in my car and headed upstream to location #2. Found my parking spot and made it to the water. Started casting with no sign of any fish. I was disappointed, by not surprised. Up until this point, my confidence in this area was slim at best. That was about to change.
As I was walking upstream alongside some very fast water. Not exactly the place I'd expect steelhead to hold. A large fish jumped clear out of the water. Someone is home! I made short 10' casts with various flies with no results. At least I knew they were around.
Went downstream to some water that was running a little slow. I sent out a new fly design of mine to see what it would drum up. As I'm hoping for something to happen, I noticed a large fish jumping multiple times out of the pool. This was the second large steelhead I've seen to this point. More confidence. These guys were very active today. This guy in particular came completely out of the water 4 to 6 times in about a four second period of time. What was he doing? I'm not sure. But, I did get a good look at him. He was big!
I couldn't reach him with my casts, so I continued stepping downstream. Not long after, I got a good sized bump. After backing up and trying again. Nothing. Switched flies and stepped through. Nothing. Backed up again with the original fly. Bumped again! Kept trying in that same spot with no results. Time to move on.
After more stepping. Another bump! These fish were very aggressive today. If only I could get one to hold on.
Five or ten minutes later, after several more bumps, I felt this slight pressure on my rod. I set the hook and then there was a tremendous yank as the fish realized what had happened. The line went tight and the rod started throbbing violently. It was the biggest fish I've felt in a very long time, if not ever.
Then it happened, the fish jumped out of the water 3 or 4 times in about 2 seconds time. He was pissed! Even more impressive was his size. I'm guessing he was 35" and very thick. On one of his jumps, something went wrong. The line went limp and after reeling it in, realized he broke my 12lb tippet. Not at a knot mind you, just a clean break about a foot down from the T10 sink tip.
I was both disappointed and excited at the same time. I lost an incredibly large fish by my standards. However, at the same time, I had the pleasure of hooking an incredibly large fish. It was great while it lasted.
Too bad he stole my new fly that was working so well. Of course, I only had one and had to compromise with something similar. I got a few more good bumps with other flies, but nothing was as impressive as the one probably still attached to Mr. Steelhead.
Throughout the day, I had hooked, but not landed, around 5 fish. Most of them felt pretty large, as far as I could tell, only one of them was a half pounder.
Near the end, as I was standing in thigh deep water, I saw a flash out the corner of my eye. Either my friend was back, saying goodbye, or one of his brothers made an appearance. The fish surfaced two or three times within 5 feet of my legs. He was either chasing something or playing. Whatever the case, the fish in this pool were active, and obviously fear less of this wading fisherman.
Weather wise, the wind was quiet. The rain stayed away until around 2pm, where it was steady until Sunset. I'll be back! Possibly as early as Monday.
Jan 18, 2010
Fly #53, 54, and 55: Summer steelhead flies
Thought I'd post a few flies I tied recently. They are rather generic and are meant for low/clear water.
A basic spider with a bit of flash for wings.
This steelhead sized Royal Coachman was tied in a hurry
and is rather sloppy. However, it probably doesn't matter to the fish.
This has a hares ear body with oval tinsel ribbing.
The tail and collar is mallard flank.
This is certainly not a "pretty" fly. However ugly it may be, it works.
A basic spider with a bit of flash for wings. The body is peacock herl and oval tinsel ribbing.
This steelhead sized Royal Coachman was tied in a hurry and is rather sloppy. However, it probably doesn't matter to the fish.
This has a hares ear body with oval tinsel ribbing.The tail and collar is mallard flank.
This is certainly not a "pretty" fly. However ugly it may be, it works.
Jan 13, 2010
Fly #52: Green Steele Spider
Does this fly look familiar? It should, other than a couple of color changes, it is pretty much identical to my Blue Steele Spider. The blue version has been a great fly. Very productive for steelhead. For a change-up, I decided to tie one in green.
As always, click on the picture for a higher res version.
I won't bother with a description of the materials, you can figure it out pretty easily. Although I haven't fished this color yet, I'm confident it will produce in the right water conditions and with the right presentation.
As always, click on the picture for a higher res version.I won't bother with a description of the materials, you can figure it out pretty easily. Although I haven't fished this color yet, I'm confident it will produce in the right water conditions and with the right presentation.
Fly #51: Green Fuzz
I've been experimenting with various synthetic materials lately. One of which is Polar Fiber. My first tie with the material produced a nice flowing streamer in various shades of green and blue. It looked so good, that I decided to incorporate it into the body of a steelhead fly. In this instance, it was spun on a dubbing loop.
When you put this guy in the water, it has a really nice translucence to it. Additionally, it moves quite nicely. I can't wait to try it out.
When you put this guy in the water, it has a really nice translucence to it. Additionally, it moves quite nicely. I can't wait to try it out.
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