U.S. Expands Bird Flu Testing

We thought we'd bring you up to speed on the bird flu news as our hackle supplies will be a function of this deadly virus.

In other news, be looking for our new Fly Fishing ebook to hit the market here in the next day or so. We've put a lot of work into it and look forward to releasing it.

Tight Lines,

Duke

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U.S. Expands Bird Flu Testing


WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bracing for the possibility that migrating birds could carry a deadly strain of avian flu to North America, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced recently that it plans to test approximately eight times as many wild birds this year as have been tested in the past decade.

Beginning in April, the USFWS says approximately 75,000 to 100,000 wild birds will be tested for the virus, an increase from the approximately 12,000 birds that have been tested for the virus since 1996.

The expanded testing program, which will focus in Alaska but also include birds in the Pacific islands and on the West Coast, reflects growing concern that the virus could arrive in North America as soon as this spring and be carried into the western continental United States by fall.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says if test results show the virus exists in wild birds in North America, it would not signal the start of a human pandemic, because avian flu is still primarily a disease of birds.

At least 175 people have been infected, and 95 have died from the disease since December 2003, most after having close contact with infected chickens but not wild birds. Scientists say the virus hasn’t developed the ability to spread easily from person to person. If that happens, they say it could potentially ignite a pandemic.

Of the four major flyways in North America the Pacific flyway is of greatest interest now, says Frank Quimby of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

“The Pacific flyway is the most likely route, because birds that winter in Asia migrate in spring to Alaska,” he said.

Scientists will test birds by first capturing them in nets and then taking swabs from the throat or cloaca (posterior opening). They’ll then send those samples to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Center in Madison, Wisconsin. If any birds test positive for the H5N1 strain of the virus, confirmatory testing will be done at the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa. USDA spokeswoman Angela Harless says as many as 18,000 samples a day can be tested. Tests will also be made on birds killed by hunters in Alaska this spring, and in Oregon, Washington and California during this fall’s waterfowl hunting season.

Sorry, no new post today...

We're sorry that we haven't been consistent with posting everyday. Right now we are in the process of finishing up an ebook on 101 Fly Fishing Tips. We hope it will be completed by the end of the week.

We'll try to stop by in here a little more regular....Especially once this new ebook has been released.

Thanks for your patience,

Duke

Snag-Free Fly Casting on Small Streams

Hugh Koontz describes a variety of mountain-stream casting techniques that have served him well over the years, including the 'S' Curve, Puddle Cast, and Rock Cast: 'With I cast my line over the boulder, so it rests there with no movement, while the fine tippet and fly land in the pool. With the line resting on the rock, there is no drag for several seconds, or at least until it floats to the dropoff lip of the pool.' In the Shelby (North Carolina) Star."

Washington's Best Trout Fishing For 2006...

If you're looking for where the hotspots are in Washington State, then check out the following article by Doug Rose in the March issue of the Washington/Oregon Game and Fish Magazine.

Washington Trout Fishing:

It's time to get out of your warm cabins and go wet a line!

-Duke

Lefty on Leaders: How To Choose Fly-Fishing Leaders and Tippets...

Lefty on Leaders:

How To Choose Fly-Fishing Leaders and Tippets

by Lefty Kreh

Consider the importance of leaders in the sport of fly fishing. Even in the earliest days, fishermen knew that they couldn’t just attach a fly directly to the line and catch fish. Since then, we’ve learned through trial and error the importance of the proper selection of the leader to match the fly, fishing conditions and the species sought.

In order to better understand leaders and their importance to fly fishing, let’s begin with this "primer" — a short history and discussion on the evolution and selection of leaders.

Some of the earliest fly lines were made from the strands of hair in a horse’s tail. In an effort to make the presentation more realistic, the number of hairs was gradually diminished so that only two or three were used to attach the fly.

The first nearly transparent, supple leaders were developed in the early 1700’s, probably in England. They were often called "catgut leaders," but actually were made from strands of silkworm gut braided into a taper. Such leaders needed great care because they were brittle when dry and they required a thorough soaking before each use.

In the early 1940s, the invention of nylon revolutionized leaders. And since then, its characteristics have been vastly improved. Nylon can now be made with various properties, such as high knot strength, degrees of stretch or stiffness, and abrasion resistance. In order to gain one characteristic, however, another often has to be slightly sacrificed.

To better understand leaders used in fly fishing, it is important to understand the terms used:

LEADER TERMINOLOGY

Butt Section, heaviest portion of the leader, attached to the fly line end

Mid Section, part of the leader forward of the butt section

Tippet, thinnest or lightest line strength segment of a tapered leader

Bite or Shock Tippet, short, heavy section of a leader between the tippet and the fly. The material used can be large diameter monofilament or wire (braided or a single strand). A bite tippet is used where fish have sharp teeth or may abrade through a tippet during the battle.

X, designates the tippet’s strength. Since nylon can frequently be of slightly different strengths for the same diameter, X is a little nebulous; however, if you want to know the approximate strength of a tippet, subtract the X number from 9 to get the strength of the tippet. For example, a 5X leader subtracted from 9 means about 4 pounds test, and a 2X tippet subtracted from 9 means a tippet strength of approximately 7 pounds.

Diameter, for correct diameter of an X designation, use a micrometer to measure the section of leader and subtract the X from .011. For example, a 5X leader subtracted from .011 should measure approximately .006. A 3X leader subtracted from .011 means that a 3X leader should have an approximate diameter of .008.

FUNCTION OF LEADERS

There are a number of reasons for using a leader. First, it forms a nearly invisible connection between the fly line and the fly. Obviously, a fly tied directly to the line isn’t going to interest most fish. Second, a leader permits the fly to either have proper action or drift drag-free.

For fishing with a trout streamer, bonefish pattern or similar small fly, it’s not good to use a tippet too large in diameter because the thicker diameter monofilament will destroy any natural action of the fly. For situations where the angler wants to manipulate the fly or permit it to swim freely on water, the leader must be thin and supple enough to allow the fly to move easily.

Another very important reason for using a leader is to place the splashdown of the fly line far enough away to prevent alarming the fish. The leader falling to the water does little to frighten the fish, but a fly line coming to the surface can ruin the angler’s chances. That is why a trout fisherman on a calm spring creek or slick beaver pond must use a very long leader. When fishing for the same kind of trout in fast water, however, the turbulence of the stream means that a much shorter leader can be used.

And in those situations where the fish have an abrasive mouth or one filled with sharp teeth, a bite (also called "shock") leader has to be placed in front of the fly.

TYPES OF LEADERS

There are four basic types of leaders, with variations within each type:

Level leader: this is a leader made from a single strand of monofilament of the same diameter. It is often used when the angler must fish in vegetation where delicacy of presentation is not a factor and a knotted leader would snag the plants. For example, a level leader may be the choice when seeking largemouth bass in lakes where the surface is cluttered with lily pads and similar aquatic plants.

Conventional Tapered leader: this is a leader where the butt section is heavy and its diameter gradually diminishes as it reaches the tippet. It’s the standard leader used for almost all fly fishing, other than trout. Such leaders should turn the fly over, as well, at the end of the cast. Used in both fresh and salt water, this leader is used during the retrieve to manipulate the fly.

Tapered Dry Fly leader: this leader serves several important functions, so the requirements of its construction are more critical than any other type of leader. A dry fly must float freely on the surface, as a natural insect does when it falls to the water. If the dry fly leader is not correctly designed, it will cause the fly to be dragged unnaturally on the water, and the trout will refuse it. The tippet is extremely critical in obtaining the correct drift with the fly.

There are two basic types of tapered leaders. One is made of a continuous strand of monofilament that diminishes in size, such as trout, bass and bonefish leaders from 3M Scientific Anglers. The other’s diameter is knotted together to form a similar continuous tapered leader. Tapered leaders can be made from solid monofilament, or the rear portion can be a number of fine strands of braided monofilament.

Bite Tippet leader: fish that have mouths lined with sharp teeth or that are abrasive will soon wear through a delicate tippet. To prevent a cut-off or to keep the tippet from eroding, a heavier section of monofilament or wire (braided or single strand) is attached to the tippet and then connected to the fly. This is called a "bite tippet" or a "shock tippet". It is an absolute necessity with many species — such as tarpon and permit in saltwater situations, and muskie and northern pike in freshwater situations.

If the teeth are likely to cut through an even large diameter monofilament, wire is used. Solid wire has less diameter than braided wire for the same wire strength, but solid wire tends to kink when anglers battle the fish and the wires must be replaced since the kinked material spoils the action of the fly.

Braided wire is more flexible and is usually coated with a clear monofilament to make it easier for the angler to handle. When using nylon-coated braided wire, some of the nylon may shred and hang down from the wire. This requires repairing the wire or replacing it -- usually the latter.

Regardless of whether large diameter monofilament or wire is used, the rule is to use the shortest wire bite leader possible. Longer bite tippets are very difficult to turn over on the cast, and in clear water, the longer a wire leader, the more likely fish will see it and refuse the fly.

COLOR

Monofilament leaders come in a variety of colors. Over the years, most experienced fly fishermen have determined that either a clear or light olive-tinted leader is best for almost all fishing situations.

DEGREE OF STIFFNESS

Nylon can be manufactured in many degrees of stiffness. For years, it was maintained that leaders needed stiff nylon in the butt section and then a limper section forward of that. A fly line and leader deliver the fly to the target by unrolling. At the end of the forward cast, the line starts unrolling at the rod tip and continues to unroll until the leader straightens. The stiff nylon butt section actually defeats the unrolling process. Nearing the end of the cast, the energy is diminishing and the line is slowing. Since a stiff butt section actually doesn’t unroll as easily as a softer one, this often results in a spoiled cast.

There is also the problem of a butt section being too limp to carry enough energy forward through the leader to properly present the fly. The answer is to have a heavy butt section of nylon that is neither too stiff or limp. Many leaders today have a butt section that is too limp. A butt section with a heavy mass (a thick diameter) but one that is not too stiff or limp, is the answer.

HOW TO DECIDE WHAT LEADER TO USE

Different fishing situations demand different types of leaders, and selecting the correct one is vital to angling success. Generally, manufactured leaders are divided into categories: freshwater and saltwater. The major difference between the two is that the saltwater leaders tend to have a heavier butt section and taper to a stronger tippet.

Freshwater leaders can further be divided into two areas: trout or heavy freshwater use. Trout generally require the use of small flies, while bass, pike, panfish and other freshwater species will strike larger flies. This means that trout leaders have to make a very delicate presentation and permit the fly to drift drag-free most of the time. A heavy freshwater leader is used in a different manner for the above-mentioned gamefish. In those instances, fly fishermen present the fly and use the fly line and leader to manipulate the fly.

For most trout fishing, a 7 1/2- to 15-foot leader is ideal, providing that a proper cast is made. If the fly is a heavy one, such as a weighted streamer or large nymph, a 9-foot leader may be required. If the water is turbulent, such as in a riffle or if the surface is ruffled by wind or current, then a short 7 1/2-foot leader is required. If the water is slick calm, the splashdown of the fly line needs to be placed as far away from the fly as possible. The more wary the trout and the calmer the surface, the longer the leader required — as much as 15 feet. The smaller the flies used, the lighter the tippet required to permit the fly to drift in a natural manner.

GUIDELINES FOR TROUT FISHING LEADERS

1. When dry fly fishing with small flies on a calm lake or stream, you may need a 15-foot leader tapered to a 5, 6 or 7X.
   
2. On a windy day on the same lake or stream when the surface is rippled by the breeze, a shorter leader such as a 7 1/2-foot leader tapered to a 5, 6 or 7X may be needed.


3. When fishing the same size dry flies on a smaller mountain brook where the water is calm but the pools are short, choose a 9-foot leader tapered to a 5, 6 or 7X. This is probably the most popular of trout leaders.


4. When fishing emergers or nymphs when the surface is calm or the water is deep, you will need a 12-foot leader. When the surface is rippled or the water is rather shallow, a shorter 9-foot leader may be best.


5. When casting heavy streamers and nymphs, the longer leaders make turning over the cast properly a difficult chore. A 9-foot leader works much better.


6. When fishing for larger trout, use the strongest tippet that will permit you to drift or work the fly properly. In catch and release fishing, you’re defeating the purpose to hook a larger trout on a 7X tippet and fight the fish until it’s exhausted. You should try to land the fish as quickly as possible so it can be returned in good condition.

If you are casting where there are obstructions or cover that the trout will try to get during the battle, use a least a 4X or stronger tippet.

WHERE TO USE A HEAVY FRESHWATER LEADER

1. When fishing for largemouth or smallmouth bass in a lake or stream where the water is clear, you’ll are using flies with hooks ranging in size from 8 to 2/0. A leader with an 8- or 10-pound tippet is fine.
   
2. When fishing for bass in a lily-pad covered lake or one with logs and other obstructions, your situation demands a 8-foot leader with a tippet of 14-pound test to help stop the fish from reaching leader-breaking cover.


3. Fishing for steelhead or Atlantic salmon — a 10-foot leader tapered to 8, 10 or 12 pounds is perfect.


4. When throwing heavy streamers, or fishing water is slightly roiled or dirty — a 9-foot with a 12- or 14-pound tippet is fine.

WHERE TO USE A SALTWATER LEADER

1. For almost all saltwater fly fishing conditions, a 9-foot leader is okay. If the fly is rather small (dressed on hook sizes from 6 to 1/0), a tippet of 8- to 12-pound test is fine. When casting heavier flies or when the wind is blowing, the same 9-foot leader tapered in 12 or 16 pound test is the best selection.


2. On very calm days in the shallows when fishing for stripers in a quiet cover, or bonefish and redfish on the flats and cruising snook, a longer leader may be needed. This is when a 12-foot leader is best. For smaller flies, use a 8- to 12-pound test tippet. For larger flies, a 12- or 16-pound tippet is best.

TIPPETS

A leader can be used over and over. But if the tippet becomes abraded by the fish, it will need to be changed when it is used for tying additional flies. For that reason, it is best to buy spools of tippet material. Scientific Anglers offers high-quality spools of tippet material ranging in size from 7X to 20 pounds. Those designed for trout fishing are tinted a light olive color, while saltwater leader tippets are clear.

Now that you’ve learned how to properly select the leader to match the fly, and how to match it with the fishing conditions and the species sought, you’re ready to put your skills to the test. Class dismissed! See you on the water...

Fly Fishing Guide Speaks The Truth!

Fly Fishing Guide Speaks The Truth!

Recently the Farmington Daily Times ran a story by Don Oliver, a licensed fly fishing guide in the Four Corners.

In this short story included below, you'll hear why it's all about fishing first.

Don reminds us to think back to when we first learned how to fish. Most of us weren't born with a fly rod in our hand.

We fished with a beginning spinning rod and reel often with nothing more than a hook baited with a live worm.

Even now when I fish with my spinning rod, I find that often trout just can't resist a wiggly worm :)

-Duke

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Fly Fishing Guide Speaks The Truth!

"If there were 10 commandments for fly fishing the first one would be 'Never use bait, alive or once alive.' The second one would be 'Only use of a fly rod is permitted.' Last month I broke both of these commandments, sinned, and it was fun.

My wife and I went with my fishing partner, Sam, and his wife to Rocky Point, Mexico for some much-needed sun, margaritas and relaxation. Needless to say, Sam and I took our fly rods. We fully expected to walk into the surf, cast our saltwater flies and become exhausted reeling in big fish. Our success at this was a big, fat zero. So, being guides, we did what all guides would do: We hired a guide for a day of fly fishing in the ocean.

We went to local dive shop that handles bookings for fishing guides, explained what we wanted, and were assured this was no problem. So, at the appointed day and hour, we arrived to be guided on a great day of fly fishing. The first indication this might not be the case was our guide spoke no English, had a boat with a sun cover over the entire boat, had heavy saltwater rods in the holders, and was loading frozen squid for bait. Not to be deterred, Sam and I did what any non-Spanish speaking American would do. We spoke louder and pantomimed what we wanted to do. The guide looked at us, nodded OK, and off we went.

To the guide's credit, he took us to where he thought we could successfully fly fish. We tried for about two hours with no luck. The guide, through pantomiming and talking louder, convinced us we needed to move to deeper water. We tried to fly fish in deeper water, and again it was not working. At this point, the guide started fishing with heavy saltwater gear. He took a short rod that a 200-pound marlin couldn't bend and attached to it was a reel capable of turning a tank. He tied on a weight heavy enough to take Sam to the bottom in two seconds and then put frozen squid on the hook for bait. We did learn frozen squid can serve a second purpose; the guide ate it for lunch. Yum, yum.

At this point, we begin to catch fish, and it was fun. Suddenly, I had an epiphany. I was reminded what fishing is all about, fly or otherwise. The main thing I need to remember is "enjoy the day." I am outside in God's beautiful creation; have fun with it. There is no better way to enjoy a day outside than fishing.

Next, I need not to be so didactic about only fly fishing. As I was cranking rock bass up to the boat, it dawned on me: I learned to fish with bobbers and live bait. I'll bet most of you also did. Think back to the times you sat on the bank of a stock tank, or in an old boat, catching warm water fish with bait you could eat. Those were great times.

Let's remember that while fly fishing is, in my opinion, the most fun way to fish, fishing is what we are really about. Let's go out and first enjoy the day, then enjoy it by fishing with whatever means we have on hand. I know I am going to try to remember this. I'll always try fly fishing to start with; it is my job. But, if sitting on the bank with a new or old fisherman while drowning worms is the best way to enjoy the day, then that's how I am doing it.

Sometimes a sin or two can be good for the soul.

Don Oliver is a licensed fly fishing guide in the Four Corners. Reach him at www.donoliverfishingguide.com or 800 634-4811."

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Fly Fishing Guide Speaks The Truth!

Fly Fishing Guru Clouser Shares Tips with Locals...

Have You Clousered Your Rod Lately?

Haha...Not quite "Driven Your Ford Lately" now is it...

Fly Fishing legend Bob Clouser tells these folks how to get er' done while casting his heavy flies.

The link to the full article is below...

Enjoy,

Duke

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Fly fishing guru Clouser shares tips with locals:

Thursday, March 16, 2006

By GEORGE THWAITES
Times-News

"ABINGDON - Pennsylvanian Bob Clouser isn't merely one of the most famous fly fishermen in America. His name has become part of the fly fishing lexicon during his own lifetime.
The chief reason is Clouser's Deep Minnow, which is arguably the best-known weighted streamer pattern in the world today. While several popular fly patterns bear his name, this one is certain to endure. If one fly fisherman asks another what he is using and is told, 'a Clouser,' that's usually enough said.

In fact, the Clouser Minnow has become such a fly fishing standard that Clouser's name has evolved into lower-case fly fishing jargon due to anglers' love-hate relationship with his fly.

'It got to where guys would make bad casts and they'd hit the rod tip and break it off. So they'd send it back to the factory and the factory guy would ask, "How did you break that?' And they'd say, "I hit it with a Clouser Minnow,'' said the 67-year-old Clouser, who was at the Virginia Creeper Fly Shop in Abingdon this past Saturday.

'It happened so often, they started calling it clousering your fly rod. They'd say, "No. We ain't replacing that. You clousered the rod.''

Clouser spent a couple of hours outside Abingdon's Virginia Creeper Fly Shop this past Saturday teaching area anglers how to avoid clousering their rod tips, themselves or innocent bystanders.

Even moderately proficient fly casters can find themselve struggling when they tie on a Clouser Minnow for the first time. Most fly anglers learn to cast flies that are virtually weightless. When they throw a heavy Clouser using the same strokes and rhythms they learned to cast Size 18 Blue Winged Olives, the result can be hazardous at worst and frustrating at best.

"Let's say we had 100 anglers here today. Usually about 90 will come to me for help about this. They realize that this is something different, and they're sure I wouldn't cast it like they do, or I sure wouldn't fish it," said Clouser, who also spent some quality time indoors at the shop giving fly tying demonstrations.

The casting techniques he taught Saturday were developed by the reknowned Lefty Kreh, Clouser's long-time fishing buddy and "probably the best fly fishing caster in the world." Kreh, who figured out how to throw heavy flies as one of saltwater fly fishing's major pioneers, passed these techniques on to Clouser years before his most famous fly was invented.

Clouser showed area anglers a modified side-cast that, among other things, keeps the caster's head and body out of harm's way. Essential to success is learning to throw a smooth, oval cast that keeps the fly in constant motion with no sudden stops that might generate shock and rebound. The zinging projectile riding the the fly line is tamed by follow-through."

Fly Fishing Article - What Fly Fishing Is Really All About...

Mike does a great job of explaining in plain English how to go out and have fun fly fishing regardless of what you catch and who you're fishing with.

I really liked his ideas about how to include your family members and friends...Even those family members and friends who say might not be too interested in fishing...

He tells a great story about his mom and how they shared some special times when she'd take him fly fishing and then go to the flea markets.

Check out his article to get some ideas for increasing your fun and skill as a fly fisherman.

Just click on the link below to go to his site to read it.

Enjoy,

Duke

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A Bunch of Ways to Increase Your Fun and Skills as Fly Fisher

by Mike Hogue

"Sometimes I wonder if I am any good at fly fishing. I toss my fly in the tree, pick up a snag and break off a particularly interesting fly. I've gotten skunked more times than I can count. I have also slipped on the rocks, broken a few rods and I still have that wonderful spot on my shin when I took a thumping from a hidden boulder the size of a car one night while fishing for browns on the White River. Oh lets not forget the 22 stitches and the scar on my hand from slipping in a gorge one night here on Six Mile Creek. These times often remind me of just how hard it is to learn how to fly fish or even how to get to the point where you don't feel like a complete idiot.

I think there are several things we can do make the sport a lot more enjoyable and just plain fun. The whole point of fly fishing is to relax, pack away some of your troubles for awhile and get lost in the moment. The rush of the water running through my legs, the crash of falls behind me or the shrill of an eagle crying more than makes up for those moments in which we loose our composure and a bit of self esteem."

The Rising Cost of Fly Tying...

While doing some research about feathers I came across this article about fly tying.

Bud does a great job at covering most of the topics currently being talked about today.

Like, are synthetics appropriate substitutes?

In his article he talks about various materials, hooks, silks, threads and numerous other fly tying topics.

In this article about Fly Tying you'll find some helpful advice even if you're just starting out.

To read the full article, just click on the link below...I've included the first paragraph of the article below.

Enjoy,

Duke

Hatches Magazine - The Rising Cost of Fly Tying:

Rising Cost of Fly Tying

by Bud Guidry

"Fly tyers in general use an array of materials for this hobby we call fly-tying. One can go to the most extreme in material and on another level take the low road by using easily found, inexpensive materials to create beautiful flies. The cost of materials has risen in recent years to a point where we, as artists of this growing trendy hobby, have found that using substitutes can be just as rewarding to the fly dresser as using authentic materials. Patterns of by-gone days call for Indian Crow and Chatterer or Cotinga but, in today's market for fly-tying materials, these beautiful feathers are practically out of reach for most tyers. When Indian Crow reached $10.00 a feather, this price became absurd for most tyers in general. Two thousand to three thousand dollars for a complete Crow patch is a huge investment for anyone, and these materials are getting rarer by the day."

Fly Fishing Article From Gary Lewis...

With spring just around the bend, I thought this would be a great article to post.

I like many of you I’d suppose have numerous magazines lying all around the house.

Well, as I was reading this article recently in an old Washington-Oregon Game & Fish, I thought about this blog and how I’d like to letcha all in on it.

Below you’ll find an article written by Gary Lewis and published by the Washington-Oregon Game & Fish magazine in their March of 2002 issue.

Yes, that’s from a few years ago but the information is just as valid in March of 2006 as it was back then.

I always enjoy this type of pool fishin’…Some of my fondest memories are as a kid fishing the headwaters of the Coquille River in Southern Oregon. We hike down to the river and then fish the length of the canyon. As an 8 year old, sometimes it was a struggle climbing over the big bolders but the rewards of catching nice bright rainbows made it always worth it!

Enjoy the article and let me know your comments.

-Duke

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Two For Trout

by Gary Lewis

Flyfishermen can always find trout in the clear waters of Oregon’s Fall and Metolius rivers, and that’s where they’ll be going as spring loosens winter’s icy grip.


A stiff wind blew gray clouds across the somber sky, and snow crunched beneath our feet as we broke trail to the river. My destination was a downed tree protecting a little pool and the pod of trout that I hoped lay in its shadow.

Approaching from downstream, I crouched behind a tree and stripped line from my reel, preparing to send a heavy stonefly – my “weight” – and a Hare’s Ear – the dropper – on their way. Working the line through the guides, I sent the flies 20 feet to the head of a pool. The take was immediate.

I saw a flash of silver as the fish moved to the fly, and I lifted the rod, setting the hook into a fat rainbow. It jumped and then ran downstream to the next hole before giving up its fight. I moved back upstream and could see plenty of trout to catch in the little pool. It was a great day to be on the water.

When winter weather has the high lakes in it’s icy grip and western rivers ride high with run-off, two central Oregon streams promise clear water and steady temperatures to fly fishermen: the Fall and Metolius rivers.

These flows have a lot in common. They both are spring-born, welling from the earth amid pine forests to feed the mighty Deschutes. You can fish them at any time of year under regulations limiting anglers to using fly tackle only. Both rivers can provide you with memorable days on the water – and that’s where the similarities end.

FALL RIVER

The Fall River emerges full-flowing from a spring in a grove of lodgepole pines south and west of Sunriver in the Deschutes National Forest. Flowing eight miles east, it empties into the Deschutes between Sunriver and La Pine. The water flows clear and cold year round through calm, quiet bends bordered by tall grass and willows. Downstream, it runs to riffles, rapids and waterfalls.

Submerged logs and channels in the ridged river bottom give cover to trout, while shallow weedbeds in the calm water upstream provide insect habitat. Wild brook trout in Fall River seldom grow beyond 6 inches. Brown trout can be found in excess of 5 pounds, but average 8 to 16 inches. Hatchery rainbow trout averaging 8 to 12 inches make up the bulk of the Fall River fishery.

In the winter and early spring, mid-day is the best time to fish. According to Bob Gaviglio of Sunriver Fly Shop – (541) 593-8814 – winter trout keep banker’s hours. The best time to catch them is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Some of the biggest rainbows and browns are caught on small Baetis patterns. Many of these 6- to 8-pound fish come out of the hatchery area. (Be sure to fish in the river, not in the tanks.) Gaviglio advises fishing the slots in the rocky channel with a two-fly system.

This is clear water and requires light line. Cast a floating line with a nine-foot plus leader and 6X or 7X tippet. Use a heavy stonefly nymph with your primary pattern, a No. 18 Pheasant Tail, Brassie, or Hare’s Ear on a 15- to 20-inch trailing dropper.

Gaviglio also likes to use the Prince Nymph to imitate the abundant caddis larvae found in the gravel. “Caddis larvae aren’t doing much this time of year,” he says. “But they’re down there, and the trout are eating them.”

In cold weather, trout metabolisms have slowed down and usually a small fly must come within inches of the fish before it will put forth the effort to eat it. To read the bite and react quickly, a flyfisherman makes strike indicators and polarized glasses essential components of winter’s gear.

Midges and tiny mayflies make up the main hatches on the Fall River in late winter and early spring. These flies are best matched with Griffith’s Gnats and Blue-Winged Olives, sized No. 18 through No. 22.

Fishing with streamers is another winning technique on this river, but it requires a change in tackle. Switch to a sink-tip line and a 5- to 6-foot leader; then tie on a forage fish imitator such as the Zonker or Muddler Minnow. Cast across and throw an upstream mend in the line. Strip it hard when the fly reaches the terminus of its downward drift. Ten- to 15-inch rainbows and browns will chase your fly all the way across the river.

Good fishing can be had from the falls upstream to the headwaters. Sometimes pods of trout will move around in a given section of the stream.


Don’t string your rod until you’ve walked and watched the water for a few minutes. If the fish are there, you’ll be able to see them. According to Gaviglio, the trout move around dependent on water temperature. If your spot isn’t holding fish, move on until you find them.

Fall River is open all year above the falls. Access to the river is good in the area near the hatchery and upstream on the National Forest land. The river below the falls is closed until the spring opener.


METOLIUS

Like the Fall River, the Metolius arises full-flowing from a spring. It is not the easiest place to catch a fish, but the pursuit offers its own reward.

Towering ponderosa pines lean eastward toward the rising sun. Lightening-charred hulks stand rotting alongside their more fortunate brothers. Toppled timber stretches out into the water, providing cover for rainbow trout, browns, and Dolly Varden.

The upper river is calm and placid with grassy runs, gentle riffles, bend pools, and islands. Casting is easy and fish-holding water is abundant. The best access in this stretch is on the east bank from Allingham Bridge, down to Smiling River, Pine Rest and Gorge campgrounds. This is a river managed for wild trout. Native bull trout (Dolly Varden), rainbows, brookies, brown trout and whitefish can be caught in March.

From Canyon Creek down to Wizard Falls Hatchery, the river runs through a canyon, and the brush affords little room for a backcast. The river takes on a different attitude. Yet there are fish to be caught, and the water opens windows into their world.

Seams shift and play with the light. Where riffles and glare conceal the gravel bottom, suddenly the water flattens, smoothing for a moment to disclose the river’s secrets: trout with speckled backs and crimson sides.

As on Fall River, the best time to fish is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. According to Jeff Perin, owner of The Fly Fisher’s Place – (541) 549-3474 – there are five main hatches that occur from mid-February through March. Stock your fly box with Blue-Winged Olives, sized No. 18 - No. 22, cream-colored mayflies in No. 14 – 16, cream midges in No. 22 black stone-flies in sizes No. 14-18, and the Silver-Striped Sedge, also called a fall caddis. Go prepared with 12- to 15-foot 5X and 6X leaders.

Perin recommends fishing subsurface in late winter. Anglers on the Metolius are restricted from using additional weight on their line. So, carry weighted nymphs to explore deeper reaches of the river. Try a No. 10 Orange Caddis Pupa to imitate the fall caddis. Stonefly nymphs are effective this time of year. So are Green Drake nymphs. To match the Green Drake, tie on a No. 10 Big Bird, Dirty Bird or Cadillac.

Bigger flies can also be used in tandem with smaller nymphs to enable the angler to reach bottom-holding fish. Use a heavy stonefly nymph with your primary pattern, a No. 16- 18 Serendipity, No. 14-18 Pheasant Tail, Batman, green rock worms, or egg flies on a 15- to 20-inch trailing dropper.

Streamer fishing is popular for anglers targeting the big bull trout that inhabit the Metolius. These fish average 3 to 15 pounds. Zonkers, lead-eye rabbit hair streamers, and Bunny Leaches can be fished to imitate a forage fish or a piece of decaying kokanee carcass. Use a sink-tip line with a 5- to 6-foot leader to probe the bottom, beneath underwater ledges, submerged logs and heavy brush cover.

Fishing for dollies is best at the Dolly Hole, Canyon Creek and Allingham Bridge. Don’t be surprised if the big fish you hook is one of the big rainbows or browns that also frequent these holes.

The upper river, from the headwaters to Allingham Bridge, is closed in the winter to protect spawning fish. Forest Road 14 is plowed regularly in the winter to allow travel to Wizard Falls Fish Hatchery. Angler access is good, even in the grip of a snowstorm.

All trout and char caught on the Metolius should be released unharmed. No fishing is allowed from a floating device.

Duke's Fly Fishing Secrets Book Review

The Fly Fishing GuideBook

Reviewed by Michael Conquest (Duke)

The Fly Fishing GuideBook is a complete step-by-step training kit filled with the latest and proven fly fishing tips, fly fishing techniques and fly fishing secrets.

Not only fishermen will find this information interesting, but anyone who loves outdoor activities and especially, those keen in learning new survival techniques will most definitely get some use out of this ebook.

It's like having your own private fly fishing coach in your vest pocket! Learn the tips and techniques in this book and you'll soon be impressing your buddies with beautiful mounted trophies and tales of the fighting whoppers that didn't get away!

Whether you're a novice or veteran angler, you'll love what "The Fly Fishing Guidebook" will teach you about this addictive pastime.

My favorite chapter is the one on Fly Fishing Secrets and Techniques.

Here are some of the secrets it reveals:

* How to use the "60/20/20" principle to create leaders that mimic flies.
* The most crucial piece of equipment and how to select it.
* Why barbless hooks are sometimes the best option for big fish.
* The four basic types of rod and which ones are best for action, flexibility, strength and value.
* The most important feature of the fly reel and how to use it.
* One of the quickest and easiest ways to spot fish (it's not a fish finder!)
* How to land that monster fish when it strikes.
* The most common casting mistakes and how to avoid them.
* The best way for beginners to catch trout.
* Ways to repel bugs, stay warm, and be safe.
* The benefits of belts & organizers, chemicals & dressings, clippers & nippers.
* And much, much more!!

This book is a great resource for both the beginner and experienced alike!

The bonuses aren't too shabby either ;)

To get your personal copy CLICK HERE!

Tight Lines,

Duke
Fly Fishing Enthusiast

"Bird Flu Forces Fly Fishing Industry To Go Synthetic!"

Wow, you know this never occurred to me but wow...This is definitely eye opening!

Just in the news today I was reading where the bird flu is expected to hit the US this summer.

Will this cause more and more of us to use synthetic vs. natural materials such as bird feathers?

I hope this doesn't impact us much more worse then it already has.

Do you think it will?

Read the full article below...

- Michael

++++++++++++++

Bird flu forces fly fishing industry to go synthetic:

- By Ed Stoddard

"JOHANNESBURG, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Bird feathers are to trout flies what leather is to Gucci.

But concerns about bird flu are forcing the makers of the artificial flies used by anglers to turn to synthetic fibres instead of traditional material such as pheasant or duck feathers -- sacrilege in the eyes of some purists."

Are Fly Fishermen Really Snobs?

Well, it appears that some people may have that opinion. I never really thought of flyfishermen as snobs, but that's just me.

Read the full article and then be sure to post your comments here on the blog. I'd be curious to hear your opinions on this.

I liked how Bill tied it all together at the end of the article so be sure to read the whole thing. This article was posted a few days ago in a North Eastern US Newspaper.

Enjoy,

Michael

+++++++++++++

Are Fly Fisherman Really Snobs?:

- Bill Thompson

"It has become conventional wisdom that if one fly fishes, he or she must be some kind of snob. The mere mention of fly fishing conjures up the image of the portly fellow dressed in tweeds, standing in a stream waving an expensive bamboo stick in the air. The fly fisher would be the fellow at the cocktail party, still wearing his tweeds, recounting the details of his last fishing experience in great detail to a board acquaintance. "

"Good Advice on How To Select A Fly Rod"

Here's some good advice from the Gamefishin Forum that I frequent on Fly Rod Selection.

Check this out for some advice on selecting a basic trout rod for fly fishing.

-Michael

"I'm thinking about delving into fly fishing and would like some info or suggestions as to weight of rod and size of reel, i will fish mainly trout, and some searuns,i don't want to spend a fortune, just a nice beginners setup to test the waters with."

To read the responses, click on the Title of this post.

Eagle vs. The Fisherman - True Story!

I read this story over at a forum that I like to visit from time to time...I've left it unedited. It'll definitely make ya laugh :) What a great way to end Steelhead season on the Skykomish River in Washington State. At least the guy got his fish!

Enjoy,

Michael

"Spent A few hrs. right above Monroe with no luck, so I thought I mite give Reiter one last try. Walked in te see 3 guys wich 2 of had fish, little color to them but still in shape. So I fish A while and lost one, but the 2 guys on the other side hooked into A bright fish, landed it and while bonking it on the head and hanging it from A branch mister eagle had taken notice. So after 10 mins thay went down stream A bit taking his fish but leaving it on A rock about 15yrd. from him. I threw out A few times, and at the end of my drift I noticed Mister Eagle with his talons ready for the grab, he swooped down and grabed the fish, them flew to A tree to enjoy his fresh steelhead breakfest. I yeld acrost to warn him as I saw the eagle going in, but thay did not hear me. So after 5 mins. he walkes back up and notices his fish is gone, looks aroung so I point to the tree where Mister Eagle is enjoys todays catch. He walkes up there to reason with the bird but he was having none of it, so he flyes up stream and lands on A big bolder. As he lands he drops the fish on the rock and SLIP right down the the bank, as the fish hit the ground the fisherman put it in gear and darted up there after the fish. SO after the 40yrd dash, he spooks the Eagle away and gets his fish back, only missing a eye and a few hunks of meat. I dont know what would have been better, catching A late brat or seeing that unfold. It was A grate day on the river......."

Let's Be Safe Out There!

Read these simple tips for safe, fun-filled fly fishing trip this winter...

A misstep in a summer stream can be a wet experience and possibly dangerous, but a fall in near-freezing water can be fatal even if you exit the stream quickly. Safe winter fishing is worth talking about.

I seriously recommend that anglers wading large rivers wear both a safety belt around their waist, to prvent freezing water from flooding into their waders in a fall, and a floatation-style fishing vest to keep them afloat in the event the lose footing and get carried into deeper water.

Carry a waterproof match cache so you can build a fire to warm up and dry out if you take a fall on a cold winter day. Be careful about using fire, of course, but it could save your life. Keep in mind that it's hard to light a fire when you are cold and wet, so don't wait until the shivers set in before you decide to light one. The sooner the better -- no fish is worth risking your life.

Float tube anglers wearing the right kind of waders and undergarments can brave incredibly low temperatures but still need to guard against hypothermia. Limit your time on the water, and always fish with a friend who can help if you get into trouble.

The same applies when fishing from a boat: The act of standing up to cast in a small boat can be life threatening. Wear a quality flotation vest and practice good safety habits. -- Richard Alden Bean

"Get Off The Couch This WInter and Catch More Trout"

Don't just sit around this winter...Instead use this opportunity to get out and fish while there's fewer people on the water!

Richard Alden Bean is a great outdoors writer and fly fisherman. I came accross this article in my local Game and Fish Magazine and thought I'd share it with ya'll.

Enjoy,

Michael

As winter trout fishing becomes more and more popular, flyfisherman are finding opportunities to catch fish in the coldest months of the year.

By Richard Alden Bean

Go look at the calendar if you must: It's late spring, early winter, depending on where you live, and things are really slow, especially if you're a flyfisherman.

Even your bait-fishing brethren are winding down on the winter trout fishing season, because in a few short weeks many of the lakes they've been fishing will be too warm to support trout, and by now bass anglers are flocking to low-elevation waters, looking for pre-spawn fish moving up from deep water.

As a fly-angler, you're looking forward to the warm days of spring to bring out the green in the hills and warm days that produce blizzards of hatching aquatic insects for trout to eat. But for many, late February and early March are a time for television reruns of outdoor TV shows interspersed with a bit of fly-tying and a fishing club meeting or two where they'll hear some guy talk about a place they won't be able to fish for weeks.

The weather outside is fitful. It may be blue skies and warming trends on Monday and cold, miserable rain on Wednesday or snow flurries on Friday. Many high-altitude lakes and streams are snowed in; some are frozen. Even worse, the low-elevation streams may already be seeing the first signs of the swell of spring run-off. It's enough to make a frustrated fly-angler want to take up bowling.

Hey, snap out of it! Winter can have some great fly-fishing.

We've all seen photos of an angler knee-deep in a stream with snowflakes whizzing by as he casts for trout. You can do that, too - but why would you?

We aren't talking about wading around in freezing streams in a blinding snowstorm. With just a bit of research, every angler with a particular interest, especially the trout enthusiast, can find great places to fish at any time of year.

First, let's take a look at the kind of fishing you will find. Compared to other regions in the country, we in the West are blessed with relatively mild winters. We get enough snow for skiing, and winter rain can be fierce, but there are winter days when air temperatures rise enough to require an angler to be in shirtsleeves by midmorning, and there are often hatches of caddis and mayflies in January.

Low-altitude waters, especially on the coastal side of the mountains, often have days that offer prime conditions well above freezing, if not quite spring-like, and conditions do nothing but improve with each passing week. So your first check should be in the regulations booklet: Check to find the waters you can legally fish now. There are some nearby, I promise!

Your next stop is at the local fly shop. Buy a handful of ties, tippets or whatever, and you'll find yourself the recipient of good hotspot information just for the asking. At this time of year you won't be fighting crowds."

To Read The Rest, Click Here:

Winter Trout Flies