IRON FLY

Chad & Stephanie along with PIGFARM INK have a free event planned at SOUL RIVER RUNS DEEP  'IRON FLY'   If you get a chance, stop by Soul River on the 10th!

Just living the dream

This excerpt is from an interview recently by Forbes magazine with Tom Bie, the editor and chief of The Drake Magazine:

Forbes: What’s different about this generation of fly anglers and fly writers?

Bie: Other than an incessant need to film and Facebook themselves, not much. I think way too much is made of the “new generation” of fly fishers or whatever. Just like skiing or surfing or so many other sports, many will claim to be doing something “revolutionary,” only to find out that some old dude was doing it in the 70s with a beer in one hand.

Just saying......

The Steelhead Underground

More info soon!

Evening Hatch New Reports Page

Check out our new reports blog...

http://theeveninghatchreports.blogspot.com/

The Drake

Great photo taken just the other night on the Upper Columbia by CJ Emerson, Evening Hatch Sr. Guide.

Upper Columbia Fish Passage

This post and text is courtesy of Steve Bird's Upper Columbia Blogspot - He is a fellow angler, guide, supporter and advocate for the Upper Columbia American Reach and beyond.....Take time to inform yourself through the links in this post and take the time to submit input - jack

.........I wrote a couple posts recently about the importance of the upcoming renewal of the Columbia River Treaty with Canada. The original treaty, which went into effect in 1964, was about flood control & energy guarantees, & made no provision for fish. The U.S. Entity, comprised of the Bonneville Power Administration and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are considering proposals for a third mandate to serve the native fishery. Maria Cantwell gives an outline of the treaty in my earlier post ‘Salmon Returned to The Upper Columbia?’ And Suzanne Skinner outlines it here: 

http://www.celp.org/2014/02/21/fish-passage-and-reintroduction-into-the-us-canadian-upper-columbia-river/

A confederation of upper river tribes & tribal fishery agencies have drafted & submitted a plan to the Entity that suggests eventual fish passages around Chief Joseph & Grand Coulee Dams, as well as several Canadian dams, & re-establishing anadromous runs in the upper Columbia: http://www.celp.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-02-14-Letter-to-Elliot-Mainzer-and-Brg-Gen-John-Kem-with-Enclosure.pdf

I am surprised how little press this seems to be getting, as one would expect a groundswell of support from every citizen of the Pacific Northwest & beyond.  The reopening of another 2000 miles of drainage to salmon & steelhead? The economic & environmental boon to our state, & beyond? The jobs created? (Real jobs.) This is an opportunity we cannot afford to pass up. Please, take a few minutes & read the tribal proposal, then send an email to your state reps & the governor & let them know how vital this is to the future of our state.    

The Second Annual Klickitat Two Hander Day

This free gathering is for those who would like to learn not only how to cast the two hander better and further, but also how to fish it!

11AM - 12PM CHECK IN at Leidl Access on the Klickitat - Directions to Leidl - After crossing the bridge...Leidl campground is on both sides of the highway... Take a left to enter the west side campground and follow the sign down river...

Class topics to most likely include but not limited to...

-> Demystifying the variety of two hand lines
-> Beginner two hand casting 
-> Intermediate/advanced two hand casting
-> Getting more distance
-> Fishing the fly, hooking and fighting fish
-> Single hand spey casting
-> Up against the trees 
-> Combining casts to optimize efficiency
-> Long Belly Casting vs Underhand Casting
-> Overhead Casting with the Two Hander

Schedule of Events

-> 12-4:30 PM free classes and free riverside barbecue
-> 4:30 - 6:30 Open time
-> 6:30 - 8:30 Free Barbecue and Catch Mag viewing at The Steelhead Ranch
-> At Dark at The Steelhead Ranch - A Special Outside and Under the Stars Presentation of and by Catch Magazine.

Product lines represented by Echo, Redington, Sage, Rio, Airflo, Hardy/Greys, Vision and more to come.

Speakers; Brian Chou, Brian Styskal, Eric Neufeld, Ben Dow, Jack Mitchell, Steelie Mike, Trey Combs. Jeff Cottrell.

Upper Columbia

Big Water - Big Trout - That eat a swung fly better than not!!

North Shore

Recently on a North Shore hang out, we ate at 'Killer Tacos'.  The Tacos were just 'OK' but their sticker marketing was classic.

A couple photos and thoughts...

The horizon silhouette is surreal in nature. Crisp images that defy normalcy, wherein the scope of sight changes with a degree of movement. Never the same. Remarkable. 

The winter shrub steppe landscape is pared to the bone. In the next breath, vibrant and real. The stark beauty is sharp, clear, almost poignant; Ice full, leafless, extreme relief ... as beautiful as it gets, save for the green. The digital cannot capture the reality of nature but duplicates some of the clarity, transposing it for all to see. Images evoke emotion, however being there, the emotion lives -jm

Real Technology

This is awesome. End of story.

The Yakima's Other Season

Plain and simple, the fishing on the Yakima during the Winter and early Spring can be incredible. Often times the river is low and clear and the fish tend to be 'funneled' and isolated to specific zones. Food sources are significantly less at this time of year so the trout and whitefish will target the available foods in the 'feed me' zones. Generally on the Yakima some of the best winter calories for the trout consist of Skwala Stone flies, Midge pupae and adults, Whitefish spawn (egg patterns), Caddis pupa and forage fish.

Typical 'feed me' zones can be described as defined drop-offs and slow downs following large riffles or less isolated waters such as long deep pools. Big broad open flats, riffles and pocket water with multiple current lines are inviting and intriguing but certainly not isolated . The trout are often 'holed' up at this time of year and will move with in that hole to 'funnels' zones. The fish are definitely more migratory within a zone during winter's low volume and cold water season. Usual water temps for this time of year range from 35-40 degrees.

Let's paint a picture here. 9am in the morning and the water temperature is 35 degrees. The midge activity is minimal. By about 11am the water temp has warmed up to 36 and the trout are starting to move up from the depths of 'the hole' toward the drop off that forms the hole. Feeding becomes more active as the midge pupae are hatching more regular and the trout target the pupae along with the eggs of the whitefish. (Whitefish spawn in the flat riffles of tail outs and the riffles at the heads of pools). The water temp peaks at 38 degrees and holds at that temperature from 1-2:30. The fish actively seek the aforementioned food sources combined with the occasional Skwala Stone nymph. The Skwala stonefly perpetuates with a two year life cycle and hatches in March+/- on most western streams, including the Yakima. Therefore, the most mature adult Skwala nymphs are active during the winter time as they are not far away from their emergence. (hatching). At about 3:30 the water temps start to drop usually and given the strength of the subsurface activity the trout may continue to feed or may settle back into the hole where they can conserve energy until the following day, eating here and there. Fishing streamers (forage fish) is a great technique at all times of the day in the winter. Sometimes, prior and post to the described days activity is optimal because the fish are not typically feeding hard, yet the calorie intake of a small fish is hard to pass up.

While every day is not exactly the same, the above description is representative of 'Winter Fishing'.

When conditions align for optimal fishing, some of the best fishing/catching on the Yakima River can be in the Winter. Proper attire is essential as the water temps and air temps demand quality outdoor gear designed to cushion the elements. Currently the air temps are ranging from 28-40 degrees. Water temps are in the mid to upper 30's.

Aside from the actual fishing, Winter brings a new perspective to rivers. The landscape is 'pared to the bone'. The birds of prey are on the hunt. The Big Horn sheep are wintering in the Lower Canyon after a long and arduous rutting season. The most patient fisher of all, the Blue Heron, is present daily. Small heards of elk find refuge near the river bottom especially from Ellensburg upstream. Rarely is the river crowded; In fact, never.

Winter Trout Fishing is not for everyone. Rarely does the airtemp reach above 44 degrees, layers of clothing are a must and fingerless or fingered polypropylene gloves are your best friend. If there is a wind, the chill factor can be biting. On a warm winter day, the weather is tolerable for the average angler. On a normal winter day the temperatures are marginal for the average fisherperson and on a cold winter day the temperatures are basically not enjoyable for the consensus. Winter fishing is for the angler, not for the fair weathered interested fisherman. Winter fishing is for someone who enjoys fishing and not catching. The catching can be great in the Winter, but when it isn't, the weather is an obstacle that most fair weathered fishers would like to do without.

Let it swing

The fishing has been tough. You step into a run and it is time to pick out a fly. The last 5 runs you fished, nothing worked. Big, small, loud, subtle, didn't matter; nothing worked. You grab the nicest one in the box that you tied; then you put it back. No way are you going to toss that fly in this run because if it doesn't catch a fish, you will have just blown your ace.

However, you realize that all you can do is fish the run to the best of your ability with that killer bug. Life is good. It is what you make of it. So be the best you can be, fish as well as you can and be happy with it.

Recent Images

In the hustle and bustle of running a business sometimes we forget how remarkable and fortunate we are to spend time in the offices we frequent. Here are a few images from recent fishing trips.  The third photo is compliments of Brian Chou.

They don't make trout like this everywhere - Link here for more photos! Fishing on the Upper Columbia has been avg to great this fall - It is fishing and not just catching - There however are some incredible specimens in the watershed, as seen above.

Ride with Clyde

In life their are some things that become Iconic. The Drake Magazine has done an incredible job at portraying Fly Fishing Culture and in the same breathe adding a bit of satire amid the roses.

Typical to many magazines, The Drake has its usual departments/features and 'Ride with Clyde' is a feature that was incorporated to The Drake Magazine a few years back.

'Clyde' (a 1972 Mercury Brougham) has traveled around to many watersheds and locals since the Mercury's rebirth.  Recently, Clyde has been hanging around at 'The Steelhead Ranch' and on the Klickitat River.  Not only does Clyde command the road but the Brougham lends itself to a conversation or two. More to follow on Clyde's visit to South Central Washington coming soon.

Two Hander Day - A Free Event - Check it out!

Two Hander Day on the Klickitat  -  Featuring a 'Whole Lotta Talent'
Brought to you by The Steelhead Ranch  - Sept 7, 2013

The Silver Bullet

James and CJ

While the photo quality is 'less than desirable',  the fact that this is a wild Upper Columbia River Redband speaks for itself... The fish was 21 inches long in a 'Measurenet'.

Girth ?  Didn't take it, but...

Sometimes your the bug, sometimes your the bumper

Just a killer pic by Dustin Stetson

I am a big fan of fishing the fly under tension...  It doesn't get much better.

While trout fishing with a streamer  on the move in a drift boat I refer to it as 'the one shot deal'.  Casting up and away (quartering back) while drifting the angler has a chance to present the streamer in a fashion that   requires the trout to react in  'ambush mode' and is similar to that of a warm water fish (Smallmouth Bass and the like) response.  When retrieving streamers from the boat the angler is required to sink the streamer into 'buckets' or deeper segments and conversly retrieve in the shallower zones.  This technique requires the angler to decipher the water type and present accordingly.

Often times during the down slope of 'run-off' the streamer opportunity is heightened as the Rainbow is hungry after a long winter and coming off the spawn as typically run-off occurs after the spawn on many western streams. In addition, during run-off the water is bigger and generally less clear and the trout can capitalize more eagerly on the "big meal deal'.  Regardless, a well presented streamer  can be good year 'round.   A great streamer 'take or bite' can be electrifying.

Choosing a streamer pattern for the watershed you are fishing requires a bit of knowledge and at the same time a bit of luck. A few key factors when choosing a pattern might include... 1) Knowledge of bait fish types that are prevalent in the river.  2) The color of the river and 3) The type of fish you are targeting...  Rainbows, Browns or Cutthroat.

Depending on the depth of the river and behavior of the resident trout, streamers can be fished on dry lines, sink tips and full sinking lines. Probably one my favorite lines for a river that averages 3-6ft in depth is the Streamer Tip by Rio-  6 Weight - Type 6.

Have fun fishing the streamer; it can be a lot of work....but the rewards can be awesome.