Feed Fish Flies

Last Chance to Steelhead on the Snohomish System

2012-01-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

I'm sure most of you have heard that there is some emergency closures on our local rivers starting the first of February, but in case you didn't I will post the complicated mess of rules they have issued down below. This will be the last weekend for most of us to get a shot at chrome within a decent reach of Seattle and it looks like the weather Gods may bless us with some decent enough weather to chase after them with.

Anyway, here are the links to the emergency closures. Last chance to get after it without have to drive to the sparkly vampire haven of Forks.

Snohomish System Closures

Skagit System Closures

Come on down, get some tips and any equipment you may need and get after it!

Until Next Time

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

Bonefish Mania! Fly-Tying 101: #8 The Crazy Charlie

2012-01-10T17:19:00.000-08:00

The months of tropical fishing have descended upon us here in the Pacific Northwest. And by that I mean, for those that don't steelhead in our lovely winter weather and can afford it, they trick their significant other into a tropical getaway, ditch them at the pool and go fish for Permit, Tarpon, Bonefish, etc. Or those of you that are lucky enough to have a fishing spouse then you can forget the ditching them at the pool part.

this usually entails loading up on leaders, tippet and of course, flies. Crabs, shrimp, and other scintillating patterns top the list, and most look like you need a PhD in physics to tie. We have a super simple fly that you can vary in color that will work, and work well. It also works up here for Salmon, steelhead and sea-run cutthroat in pink and chartreuse, so you got that going for you as well. Here we go with fly-tying victim #8, The Crazy Charlie.

Supply List

Hook: Daichi 2546 #6

Thread: UTC 140, match color to body

Eyes: Bead Chain Eyes, silver

Body: V-Rib, Match color to thread

Throat: Calftail, Same color as body/thread

Flash: Pearl Crystal Flash

Step 1: Anchor thread onto hook shank. Cut bead chain eyes so that you have two beads connected. Place near eye of hook leaving enough space to build a head later. X thread over the center of the bead chain eyes 8-10 times tightening it down as you go making sure the eyes stay straight. If you feel they are still loose after this you can wrap thread until you feel it is tight enough.

Step 2: Wrap thread back towards the bend of the hook, tie in the v-rib (for this we are using chartreuse, which is the most popular color), wrap thread forward in front of the bead eyes. Wrap the v-rib forward keeping it tight and being sure to not overlap. Wrap to the back of the eyes, then pull it up and over the eyes between the space. Tie it down and trim excess.

Step 3: If you have a rotary vise, flip the fly over so it is upside down. If not, Pull the fly out and turn it upside down. Take a clump of calftail (You can also use bucktail if you so wish), tie it in base first. You want the calftail to be about 1.5-2 times as long as the hook shank. Tighten it down, trim the calftail bases at an angle from the hook eye backwards.

Step 4: Cut the crystal flash the same length as the calftail, tie it in over the calftail, tighten down, trim excess and tie over the calftail and crystal flash, building a nice even head. Whip Finish. I also recommend cementing the head.

Where It Fishes: Anyplace you can find bonefish or permit or tarpon. The Bahamas, Belize, Florida Keys, etc. The green and pink version also works very well in Washington on Chum salmon, steelhead and coho in the rivers. And sea-run cutthroat, pink salmon in the sound from the beaches.

Colors: Pink, tan. chartreuse, silver, orange, black and white. I've also seen a blue version not sure if it fishes or not.

As usual, this and other fly-tying lessons can be found on our Fly-Tying Page.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.

-RB

Creekside Upcoming Trips

2012-01-08T12:02:00.000-08:00

According to many reports and some filtered through fish stories, the steelheading on the Olympic Peninsula has been good so far this year (or last year, since this is a new year technically) and should continue on through the remaining season.

For those of you that want to fish the OP but feel intimidated by the seeming complexity or overwhelming mythology that seems to surround the Peninsula (No I don't mean vampires or werewolves, just the mysterious shroud that is OP steelheading)we may have the perfect opportunity for you, especially if you would like to gather a group of buddies and go on a fishing adventure in the land of mist and giant trees.

Troy Dettman of River Guides LLC.has open dates for individuals or groups in March on the OP. Troy has years of experience and great knowledge about Washington steelheading. His quick wit and humor create an enjoyable fishing experience for everyone.

Current Dates:
March 5-8
March 12-14
March 21-23

If you have any questions or just want some more information feel free to call us at the shop or you can contact Troy via email at islandangler@msn.com or via his Facebook page, River Guides LLC.

Also for those of you looking for those Issak's Ranch dates we have our dates with Jay Robison in.

April 13th
April 14th
May 12th
May 13th

Again any inquiries can be sent to the shop at (425)392-3800 or via info@creeksideangling.com. Issak's is Washington's premier pay to play. It's huge fish and secluded setting make it hard to beat as a destination, especially in spring when most rivers are running high and colored. Prices are $225 per rod. Spots are filling fast so get on it!

Until next time.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

The Best of 2011, Creekside Edition

2012-01-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

We have entered 2012 with tails...err...tales of steelhead in our brains and dreams of fishing trips to come. 2011 was a year of high water, really high water into mid summer, a crappy summer of weather until the very end, Donald Trump's run for president and subsequent tongue lashing as he pulled out (please, please run as an independent, we all need something to laugh about), epic steelheading and great fall trout fishing. All in all, from a fishing standpoint it was a great year. So in the effort of beating a hatchery steelhead into further submission, so to speak, we shall review the year, Creekside style.

Best Steelhead River, The Klickitat: While steelheading was pretty good across the board this past year, the Klickitat takes the cake. This fall it provided more entertainment for fly-fisherman and gear heads then Donald Trump's presidential campaign did for Jon Stewart. A lot of fish, and not just hatchery fish were being caught, lots of big wild fish, bringing smiles to even the most hardened man's face. Hell, even I caught some, which tells you just how good it was and I have proof.

See. Proof. Anyway, the Klickitat fished really well this year. We recommend you start thinking about heding down there next year, hanging out with the boys from the Steelhead Ranch and hooking some chrome in the cold, crisp autumn air.

Creekside Catch of the Year: This one was a tough one to determine.We had some good ones to peruse. From little girls holding their first fish to seasoned vets showing off slabs we got them all. So after much thought, for our Catch of the Year we have chosen. (Someone queue a drumroll or something.)

Gotcha! Ok, ok. Here is the real Catch of the Year.


Hugh and Scott doubled up on the Klickitat!

Top Fly: The bead. I keed, I keed. There were a lot of great flies this year. The one we would choose to be the top fly for this year would be everyone's favorite to say because it drums up Bill Murray. I, of course, am talking about the Dali Llama, as our fly of the year. Cinderella story, this greenskeeper...

Ok and with one finally thing.

Epic Fail of 2011: Steven Tyler. We are talking to you. You single handedly cleaned out our feather market with your silliness of using grizzly hackle, in your hair, while on American Idol. So consequently all us poor defenseless fly-fisherman had nothing to tie size 26 gnats with. So congratulations, you sir, are Creekside's Epic Fail of 2011.

There's our best and worst of 2011.

In other news the westside rivers are coming back into fishing shape, especially the Snoqualmie and Sky. So head on out and get some steelhead that are within reach of Seattle.

I hope everyone had a great New Year and here is to a very fishy 2012.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

We Now Return To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

2011-12-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

Apparently a lot has happened since our last post. The holiday season has entered phase two (you know, scream at the TV while cursing the BCS, drinking beverages, and watching things go boom in the night air), the "I'm So Ronery" guy from that Team America movie died (the real one, I'm sure the puppet is just fine), steelhead have decided to move into pretty much every system with a connection to the saltwater, I made it back from Texas, and it's raining...wait ignore that last one...it was doing that before.

As for the lack of posting. I was gone the past few weeks and since I wasn't doing anything fishing related and was otherwise indisposed, our blog went dark. Now that I am back, let's work on getting back to semi-daily posts, instructions and such. Shall we? I think we shall.

First order of business. And quite honestly the most important piece. The winter issue of The Drake Magazine has come out and as usual, it is nothing short of spectacular.

The steelhead are coming! The steelhead are coming! I come back from Texas and everyone tells me how awesome the steelheading has been, well, just about everywhere. The OP has been great and the Snoqualmie, oh mah gawd, the Snoqualmie has been producing. You know it's a good year when the Snoqualmie hands out fish like a Vegas streetside flyer dude. I suspect if the weather holds up, the fishing will only get better. Everywhere west of the mountains has been fishing good to great so, you know, maybe you should peel yourself off the couch and get after it.

Lastly. There is a new movie coming out soon that seems intriguing. It's called Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. It seems borderline chick flick territory (Not that there's anything wrong with that! Put down the spey rod! Put it down!) but it has fly-fishing, albeit weird two-handed overhead British style fly-fishing and an interesting plot. Anyway here is the trailer.

That's all I have for today. Coming up tomorrow will be a new fly-tying 101 session and the blog shall be kept up as much as my wee little brain can handle here from henceforth.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and/or Holiday season. I hope you didn't eat half the house and can still fit out the front door and all that good stuff.

We shall return back to our regular scheduled programming now. Also. If there is a fly you would like instructions on how to tie. Post a comment to this and we shall load it into the queue and possibly even make a video for that specific one on this blog.

That's all for now, carry on and may the Force be with you.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

The "RG3 Won the Heisman!" Report.

2011-12-11T14:59:00.000-08:00

So I apologize for the lack of posting lately. We here at Creekside have been, swamped, inundated, hammered, wait, forget that last one, that would indicate irresponsible drinking. Anyway, we've been busy. Christmas is near, Hanukkah is upon us, Festivus is, umm, wait, I know this one...sometime? It doesn't help that I am leaving for Texas, Charlie is going to Cali, people are flying all over the place to eat food, open presents and hang out with family. Basically we have been terrible at focusing on the blog and keeping it updated.

On a second note. Yesterday the college football world finally did something right and actually gave the best PLAYER in the land the Heisman Trophy and thank the lucky stars it wasn't some guy from an SEC football team. So congratulations Robert Griffin the Third aka RG3 and Baylor (now the Huskies get to face him. Hahaha. Oh sorry, my inner Coug made an appearance there.) at least college football got something right this year. So how does this tie into fishing you ask. Well let me tell you.

We don't have the best weather here in Washington during the winter, especially during La Nina years, but the winter fishing can be spectacular. Whether it be the Yakima for trout, Rocky Ford for triploids, or the Olympic Peninsula for Steelhead, this state boasts some spectacular fishing opportunities to break up the winter doldrums. So while we may not BC (arguably the best place for steelhead), or Belize (tropical wonderland) or Argentina (Sea-run browns, their summer is during our winter). Just because you aren't in the best place doesn't mean you can't be the RG3 of winter fishing. (See, I told you I would tie it in somehow.)

Here's a few notes from aboot:

The OP: The Bogie has some early hatchery brats and the run should start to pick up steam. Fish have been caught, the weather has been decent and people haven't ran out there yet so you may have some runs to yourself. The Wynooooooooochie is starting to get it's regularly scheduled influx of early fish and has also been fishing,

The Yakima: This gem of holy trout water located in...oh ok I'll stop with the flowery writing. It has been producing nicely the past couple weeks. Pat's stones, SJ Worms, midges, BWO's, caddis, and sculpins are the name of the game this time of year. And patience. Lots of patience. And warm clothing. Oh, and Whisky...or beer...or hot cocoa. We've got the winter guide rates in place too, just in case, you know you wanted to venture over and catch some fishes but don't want to wade.

Skagit/Sky/Snoqualmie: Ok so this just in...the Snoqualmie is actually fishing well. Oh crap, someone get that man some smelling salts! Are you back with us? Ok, good. Fish have been caught on the Snoqualmie this year, fish around the Tolt or up and down David Powell Road. Fish have started showing up in the Sky and skagit, especially up by Cascade Creek on the Skagit and the Wallace on the Sky. So swing away kid or nymph, if that's your bag baby.

Rocky Ford: I haven't heard much but it always fishes well this time of year due to lack of pressure and warmer water then surrounding areas. Yes, it will be cold. But where isn't around here. Fish scuds, leeches, and smaller midge patterns for success. Oh and if anyone goes over there, bring us back a report.

That's all I have for now. Keep sending us fish pics for our website and Facebook. Oh and if you didn't know we had joined the land of the Social Media, we have and stuff. Here's our Facebook. You can also email photos to us at info@creeksideangling.com.

This will probably be my last blog post as I head to Texas for a week.

Until next time.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

Sculpins Attack! Fly-tying 101: #7 Robinton's Sculpin

2011-12-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

So we've taken a short hiatus fro the blog here at Creekside this past week due to people running all over the place preparing for things like Christmas, Festivus, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa (does anyone actually celebrate Kwanzaa? I don't even know), birthdays (two of us here at Creekside have December birthdays) and flying across the country to visit friends, loved ones and relatives. I will take this time to apologize for our lack of posting on the blog but we've been....fishing and busy...ok you got me...it's just fishing. Fine, fine. It's plain laziness. Happy now?! Sheesh.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, today we are happy to present another fly-tying 101 course with our first full length fly-tying video produced via an iPhone and featuring our very own Shop Pro Charlie Robinton. This week we will feature a custom fly created by Charlie using a new product by Fish Skulls called Sculpin Helmets. The video is a bit long but we are slowly working out the details on how to create a video so bear with us as we progress. So without further adieu. Fly-Tying victim #7 Robinton's Sculpin.

Supply List

Hook: B10S #2, Fish Skull Articulated Shank

Thread: UTC 140, Black or Olive

Body: Olive Barred Variant Crosscut Rabbit

Wings: Barred Olive Grizzly Marabou Tips

Legs: Barred Rubber Legs

Collar: Olive Deer Hair

Throat: Red Angel Hair

Head: Sculpin Helmet

Step 1: Tie your thread on the B10S hook wrap. Zap-a-gap and wrap the cross cut from the bed towards the head, leaving enough room to tie the fur off near the eye.

Step 2: Strip off the Marabou at the base of the post off two feathers. Tie in the feathers on each side of the trailing hook. The we are going to tie in some rubber legs in a fashion that allows them triangulate back behind the hook. Cut them so they are not longer then the trailing hook. Whip Finish.

Step 3: Now we are going to slide the trailing hook on the Fish Skull Articulated Shank. Place the shank into the vice and tie on your thread, wrapping it tightly over the area where you slide the trailing hook on.

Step 4: Zap-a-gap and begin wrapping some more crosscut forward about 3/4 of the way. Cut excess and tie down.

Step 5: Strip off the marabou at the base of two more feathers. Tie to each side again. Then tie more rubber legs in the same way you tied the ones on the trailing hook. Tie off. The rubber legs shouldn't be longer then the shank.

Step 6: Tie in angel hair on the underside of the fly. Cut it short of the shank, so that it gives the appearance of a colored throat area.

Step 8: Cut deer hair, clean out excess fibers, and stack in a hair stacker. Tie to front of shank tightly. You may need to do several clumps or just one. This is up to you. Cut the deer hair down in a tapered manner. Wrap in front of the hair tapering down. Whip Finish.

Step 9: Zap-a-gap the front of the deer hair and the thread. Slide the Sculpin Helmet over the hair and hold it there for a few seconds allowing the glue to set. We like to take red thread and tie it in in front of the helmet to create a block in case the glue fails. (It most likely will not but better to be safe then sorry) Whip finish that....and viola!

Ok so. Here we go. If my instructions weren't clear enough or you need a visual reference. Here is our first featured fly-tying video with many more to come we hope.

If you have any questions feel free to contact us via email, phone or simply leave a comment here and we will respond as quickly as possible.

On another note I have been informed that our Class Page has been updated with a multitude of new beginner and advanced classes. So peruse that and if something strikes your fancy or there is something you would like to learn that isn't listed you can tell us and we can probably set it up for you. Stay tuned for some more upcoming classes, videos and events at Creekside.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Creekside Angling Winter Rate Special!

2011-12-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

We here at Creekside Angling are happy to announce that for the dates of December 1st through the 15th of March we will be offering special winter rates for trout fishing on the Yakima River of $275 for 1 or 2 people! This includes flies, leaders, tippet material and if you can't provide your own rod/reel we have those too. These trips will be bring your own lunch and last around 6 hours on Washington's only blue ribbon trout stream. Snacks, water and soda will be provided.

The Yakima in winter can be a perfect time to float. The water is low and clear and the fishing can be excellent. However it is eastern Washington and it will be chilly so don't forget to bring warm clothing and some waterproof gear and a thermos of coffee may not be a bad idea either. The scenery isn't bad either.

The fishing has been good on the Yak and the weather hasn't been terrible at all so give us a call here at the shop (425-392-3800) if you would like to set up a trip and we can get you rolling on a mid-winter excursion that breaks the doldrums of fly-tying and watching the BCS nightmare known as bowl season.

Tomorrow should bring a post entailing our first full-length fly-tying lesson featuring Shop Pro Charlie Robinton! Learn how to use our new Sculpin Helmets to tie a killer Yakima winter staple, the Sculpin. So stay tuned for that and enjoy the slice of nice weather we are having. Get out and angle!

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

Circle 3 Spring Creek. This Month's Featured Destination.

2011-11-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

We are more then just a fly-shop here at Creekside Angling Company. We have stable of wicked good guides and a couple top notch destinations to fulfill all of your fishing urges and addictions. Not to mention our frequent classes and personal instruction to help improve your ways in everything fly-fishing.

Every month we feature a destination on our website of places we have fished or really, really want to fish. Since we are in the thralls of a La Nina winter and it's waves of never-ending, soulcrushing weather, this month's featured destination will be a happy summer place in southwestern Montana and is perfect for you spring creek fanatics, like our owner Pete. If casting dry flies, to large hungry trout, in water that is about 15-20 feet wide is your cup of tea then this place may be your Mecca. Here's a video to wet your appetite.

For more information, you can talk to us here at the shop or go here Circle 3 Spring Creek. We are excited to offer you these premier destinations to get your fixing fish...err....your fishing fix. I apologize, I apparently need more coffee or Mountain Dew.

We may post a little fly-tying instructional video later today, so keep your eyes peeled for that! It will be exciting! Perhaps some humor!

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

This Is What the Rock Is Cooking, Fly-Tying 101: #6 Skintilla

2011-11-28T13:04:00.000-08:00

With the La Nina winter finally here, most of us shut down our fishing for the season, hunker down in the house and start tying flies for the upcoming spring/summer/fall. Sure we come out of hibernation for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, make a show of being alive then recede back into our caverns. Fishing only crosses the mind of those that chase steelhead or those of us that need to get that fishing fix and stumble over to the Yakima on one of the few days when the sky opens up and reveals that precious commodity known as the sun.

There are other options however to the hermit type existence lived by Pacific Northwest fly-fisherman. Rocky Ford comes to mind. A spring creek that flows through the basalt and sagebrush,loaded with large fish that eat small flies, especially in the winter. The Ford produces well in the middle of winter when all the rivers are blown out. . It provides the option to fish, it may not be the warmest, but it's an option when you get the Cabin Fever. Small flies are the name of the game. Midges, scuds, and serendipities. I learned of this fly during my time down on the San Juan and have used it up here on the Yakima and the Ford with success. And this fly is an excellent one to add into the mix. So here we go with fly tying victim #6. The Skintilla.

Supply List

Hook: Daichi 1120 #18-24

Thread: 8/0 Uni, Olive, Red, Black, Grey or Blue

Bubble: Mini Glass Bead, Peacock

Rib: Brassie Ultra Wire, color can vary

Step 1: Choose a color of thread. I would stick with olive or black. Tie the thread on the hook. Build up the body by wrapping thread back towards the bend then back towards the eye.

Step 2: This part is the only tricky part. Cut a piece of ultra wire. Fold one end back towards the other. Slide the bead over both strands of ultra wire and let it run down the bend. Place the looped section near the eye of the hook, leaving enough space to tie a head. Tie down the ultra wire in front of the bead, making 1 loose wrap and then 2-4 tight wraps. Then wrap behind the bead with one loose wrap and 2-4 tighter wraps. Cut the loop of wire in front of the bead off.

Step 3: Cut one of the strands of ultra wire that protrudes behind the bead. Wrap the thread over the other strand of ultra wire back towards the bend. At the bend wrap the thread back forward towards the bead, building a tapered body up to the bead. Make one wrap in front of the bead and leave it for now.

Step 4: Wrap the strand of ultra wire forward towards the bead over the body to create a ribbing. Wrap to the bead then make one more wrap in front of the bead. Tie the ultra wire off, trim it and build up a head. Whip finish and place a dab of head cement.

Color Schemes: This fly is simple to tie and can be used in multiple colors. I focused mostly on Olive thread and green wire, but red/red works, black/silver, black/black, black/green, black/red, red/silver, gray/silver, gray/green, gray/red, blue/blue, blue/green, blue/silver. I'm sure there are others that would work, but those are the main ones I have used.

Where it Fishes: It's pretty much all I used on the San Juan. I had a box filled with these in different sizes and colors. But I have used it during a BWO hatch on the Yakima, the Ford, the Gunnison, Flat Creek, and I'm sure it will work on any spring creek you can think of. I haven't had much of a chance to fish it here in Washington outside of the Yakima but it will work anywhere there is a BWO or Midge hatch and the fish are targeting those food groups.

As always our tying lessons can be found on our Tying Page. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment and we will answer it with all possible speed.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Partytime in Dollywood

2011-11-26T13:32:00.000-08:00

Dollywood.An amusement park built around a country singer that made an appearance in our fishing report at the start of the month. Seems kind of silly but that's America for ya. While Dollywood is in Tennessee and a helluva long ways away we here in the Northwest have our own version of Dollywood come the wintertime. While it may not have the roller coasters, concerts, sticky buns or elephant ears, most fly-fisherman prefer our Dollywood to the real one. Where is this Pacific Northwest Dollywood, this magical winter play-land for fly-fisherman? The Sauk and Skagit Rivers of course. The quarry you are chasing. Dollies.

Yesterday Johnny Steeltrout and I headed up to Dollywood with a friend in search of the ever aggressive Dolly Varden. We started on the Sauk near Government Bridge, swinging rabbit strip and marabou creations the size of small birds in the color of the snow lining the surrounding hills. The river was a little high and slightly milky but it didn't seem to affect the fishing much. The Dollies are in and eating. There is some proof below.

This was our average size for the day. Excuse Johnny's facial expression I believe he was trying to imitate the fishes displeasure at being fooled. Flesh wasn't the only color working as evidenced in this photo. Black leeches were also working. I was using a large Loop Sculpin in olive with the egg sac on the head.

We seemed to have good luck casting out and stripping back across rather rapidly. Swinging was also working, but you have to be patient. Most of the strikes were happening at the point of the swing known as the "hangdown." That is the end of the swing, just let it sit straight out below you for a few seconds before stripping it in to reset you cast.

Remember that Dollies seem to prefer shallower water then you may be accustomed to fishing. Fish the 2-3 feet deeps sections of runs and tailouts. Look for Chum redds and fish behind them. An intermediate tip should be enough to get the fly down, dollies will move for meat but you could try a type 6 if you would like.

The best flies are 3-4 inch long flesh or olive colored leech type patterns. The bigger the better honestly. I was using the Olive Loop Leech, Johnny switched back and forth between a black hot head MOAL and some Chartreuse and white contraption. Andrew was fishing a white marabou fly with a peach colored Schlappen face that was incredibly effective. Pretty much anything big and ugly will work as long as it has movement and/or is stripped fast to illicit the chase response.

It was cold and beautiful in Skagit Land. The fishing was good. The company was outstanding and we dealt with a plethora of different weather but it was worth it for some big fish.

So come on down to the shop. Pick up some supplies and go chase some dollies in the cold, clear waters filtering through the towering mountains covered in snow. It's called the American Alps. I will leave you with some video.

Get out and angle.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins

-RB

Negate the La Nina Effect

2011-11-23T17:01:00.000-08:00

We heard it all fall. La Nina is coming! La Nina is coming! Farley may have said that El Nino was Spanish for the...Nino. It means boy, but if any of you think La Nina is some cute little girl you got problems. More like the little girl from the Exorcist. Anyway, I know what most of you were thinking. Pft...La Nina...HAH! Whatever man...it ain't nothing, until oh...this past week. That's when she strolled in and gave you swift kick to the mommy-daddy button before you even knew what was going on. BOOM! 3 feet of snow, 4 inches of rain, blown out rivers, Chum salmon spawning on Highway 2, some guy in Carnation began building his ark, etc. Don't believe me about the Chum Salmon? Queue that footage Ace!

Feel silly now? We were talking about La Nina and her nasty little self. Waterproof clothing? Of course. But you don't want to look like the Gordon's Fisherman or the dude from I Know What You Did Last Summer sans hay hooks, right. Well we have what you need here at your local Creekside Location.

We just received a huge order of Simms outerwear, waders, boots and knick knacks sure to help you with negating the effects of La Nina. We have the full range of Guide Jackets, the fleeces, gloves, waders and boots.

Like this Simms Guide Jacket. Perfect for battling the elements and torrential rains that come with winter fishing in the Pacific Northwest and it's pretty stylish too. I mean as far as waterproof raingear goes.

Or how about this Rivershed Sweater for those of you looking for something to keep warm during those bitterly cold days chasing trout on the Yakima or Steelhead on the Grand Ronde in February?

This is just a peek at the stock of products we have just waiting to meet your wintertime fishing needs. We even have flies and other accoutrement's that you may need on your adventures chasing fish during the season of the witch...err...La Nina.

So if you don't feel like staying cooped up all winter with the in-laws or significant other, watching HGTV or playing World of Warcraft or whatever else it is you crazy kids do these days. (Please no elaboration, we get it ok?) But don't feel you have the right gear to make the fishing experience more enjoyable then staying at home drinking tea and watching Golden Girls reruns. Come on down and hit us up with whatever questions you may have, try some stuff on, create the X-Mas list and hand it out to whoever may be slightly acquainted with you, and get geared up for La Nina winter.

On another note. The Muppets come out tonight! Hooray! Swedish Chef is back in action. Speaking of chefs...tomorrow is turkey day. I will be stuffing my face with pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and possibly some beer, watching football and doing nothing in general. I hope most of you that read this are not one of the few stuck with working at supermarkets or Wal-Mart and forced into slavery. If so...disregard what I just said about my Thanksgiving...

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone and be safe. We shall reopen on Friday at the normal place and time. Sneak on over as your significant other raids the local Black Friday spots if you want to keep your sanity.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins

-RB

Eat the worm! Fly-Tying 101: #5 The San Juan Worm

2011-11-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

Winter time in the Northwest means a fluctuation of temperatures and weather. One day the rivers may be low and clear, the next they could be colored and carrying houses, cows, Auntie Ann and other instruments of civilization towards Davey Jones Locker. For those of you diehards that don't react to a snow storm as the Snowpocalypse or a torrential downpour like you should start cutting down trees, collecting animals in pairs and building an ark, this fly will help you prepare for the times when the water is off-colored and high.

There are multiple ways to tie this fly and everyone has their personal variation that they believe will work for them. We will go over the basic pattern and then get into some of the more complex variations. Overall this fly may be the easiest fly to tie in the world, unless you are fishing the Juan and using size 24 bare red hooks....yes, it works, trust me. Anyways, as I was saying, this fly is easy to tie, can be used in multiple applications and is a good all-purpose fly to have in the box. So without further adieu, fly-tying victim #5 the San Juan Worm.

Supply List

Hook : Daichi 1120 #6-20

Thread: 6/0 Uni, Color should match Vernille

Body: Vernille, Any Color or Pearl Core, Any color

Rib: Flashabou or crystal flash

Bead: Optional, but any Cyclops bead will work.

Hackle: Optional, Partridge, Pheasant Rump, Guinea

There are multiple variations of this fly. I will do the simple version first. Then walk you through some of the variations, which aren't too difficult but can be confusing.

Step 1: Tie down thread to hook. Cut a piece of vernille, you usually want it long enough that it is twice as long as the hook shank. Wrap thread back along the hook shank to the bend. Tie in the vernille so that about half of the vernille is hanging off the back of the hook shank. Tie over the vernille to attach it to the hook then make a couple of wraps behind the vernille so that the tail sticks up.

Step 1a: Slide a bead on the hook and place it near the eye. Slide the vernille through the bead. Make a wrap behind the bead and in front.

Step 1b: If you are using pearlcore instead of vernille. Slide through the bead or just tie it down in front of the bead and another section behind. Near the bend, tie in a piece of flashabou/crystal flash and wrap over the pearlcore all the way to the bead.

Step 2: Wrap the thread forward along the hook, making a few wraps up over the vernille to attach it to the shank. When you get to the eye. Wrap over the vernille and make a few wraps in front to make the vernille stand up.

Step 2a: You can tie in the hackle at this point if you choose to do so. Tie it in tip first behind where the vernille/pearlcore goes up, make a couple wraps and tie off. If using a bead and you wish to add some hackle, tie it in front of the bead tip first and make a couple wraps, tie off.

Step 3: Whip finish in front of the vernille. Cut thread, and then take a lighter and burn the ends of the vernille slightly. If you are using pearlcore you will have to superglue the ends instead of burning them.

Colors: Red, pink, green, olive, blue, purple, blue, burgundy, black, root beer, and chartreuse. the most effective colors are pink and red, especially on the Yakima in early spring. Purple can be effective as well. Blue and chartreuse seem to work better in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. You can mix and match colors as well, making the tail a different color then the front. Those versions generally work better when tied in with a bead to cover the transition.

Where it Fishes: Pretty much everywhere. They work better in cloudy/murky water, but I have caught fish on this fly all over the west. Alaska, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Utah and New Mexico. Such infamous rivers as the Yakima, Rocky Ford, Rock Creek, Flat Creek, South Fork of the Snake, San Juan, Green River (in Utah), Klickitat, etc. The bigger versions can work for steelhead as well as trout and you can tie them down to a size 20.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to ask. All tying lessons are located on our Tying Page.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins

-RB

Brews for Fishy People

2011-11-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this special blog report!

IT'S WINTER! I REPEAT, IT'S WINTER! AGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

Ok, do I have your attention now? Good. Now that we have that nonsense out of the way. Since winter is here and for most of gluttons for punishment that means freezing our tails off in a driving sleetstorm, throwing flies the size of purple coated land mines in water the consistency and color of chocolate milk for a fish that may or may not even exist. (Yes steelhead. No, I think all photographs are fake just like the Sasquatch ones. Land one in front of me and prove it. I dare you.) And since fly-fishing entails some sort of imbibing, usually of alcohol, especially in the winter months, I thought we would list a couple top notch local brews that can be found near your favorite iceflows, err...I mean rivers.

These brews will help you dethaw from that plunge you took in that one spot on that one river because you thought it would be better if you just stepped on a boulder in a raging current to get that one perfect drift, but instead pulled a Micheal Phelps and decided to swim after the fish instead.

Anyway. Here are some beers to ponder the one that got away over. They are not ranked because if they were you know Rainier would be at the top of this list...duh.

Avalanche Winter Ale- One of Snoqualmie Brewery's finer seasonal ales. It's tasty and not too heavy so that you can enjoy more then one if you so choose. If you go to the Taproom after a long, cold day on the river you can enjoy it with some top notch food too. They have plenty of other types of beer to sample as well and if you love beer, they are all terrific.

509 Style- Hidden in the comfy confines of the Greater Ellensburg Metropolitan Area (Go ahead laugh, that was the point), is a quaint little brewery known as Iron Horse Brewery. Known for their Irish Death or Double Rainbow brews, the one that really kicks off the ice after a brutally cold day on the Yakima is the 509 Style brew. It is dubbed the brew of the Eastside and is tasty, I promise.

Strait Stout- If you dig the dark beers for the dark weather then you are in luck. Port Townsend Brewing produces this stellar dark beer to improve your mood after driving all over the OP fleeing from vampies, werewolves and tweeny heart throbs, trying to catch chrome in a rain that feels like you are standing in a bucket upside down. This beer will strike warmth into that cold bitter heart of yours as you drive home from the madness.

So there you have it some alcohol to warm your soul on your midwinter fishing extravaganzas. I mean who doesn't love some tasty brews whilst out throwing a fly doing your best to become a meat popsicle. All these beers actually beat my normal fly-fish trip beverage of Rainier and Mt. Dew. No not together, sheesh. I have class you know....although...that could be interesting...hmmm.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Toss in a Copper, Fly-Tying 101: #4 Copper John

2011-11-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

We all know those coin fountains, wishing wells, puddle of water, that have signs like toss in a copper, make a wish. Fly-fishing for trout in the winter can resemble this. Big and cold water, tossing microscopic flies to different lines as the snow/rain falls down, de-icing your guides, and freezing your extremities in general, it can seem like your tossing flies in and making a wish, praying to a deity, whatever you wish to call it. (I refer to it as the "Bring me Fish" dance, which along with attracting gawkers, helps rush blood to those numb extremities.)

To help qualm those feelings that range between There are no bloody fish here to What the hell am I doing out here, today's fly-tying lesson revolves around a fly that can be used in multiple applications and is perfect for those mid-winter days on the Yakima and many other western trout rivers. Fly-tying victim #4, The Copper John.

Supply List

Hook: Daichi 1550 #12-22

Thread: 6/0 Black Uni

Bead: Gold or Copper Cyclops, size to fit hook

Tail: Goose Biots, Black

Body: Ultra Wire, Brassie or Small, See colors below

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Wing: Pheasant Hackle

Shellback: Pearl Flashabou

Step 1: Slide bead on the hook. Wrap thread on hook, work evenly back to the bend. Take two goose biots, tips out the back of the fly, cross them over each other near where the bend in the shank begins, make one loose wrap of thread over the X'd portion, then two more wraps and pull tight. Clip the butts off the goose biots.

Step 2: Grab a piece of ultra wire, tie it in over the biots, wrap your thread forward, leaving some space behind the bead. Wrap the ultra wire forward tightly and tie it in, leaving space for the thorax, which should cover about a quarter of the hook's length.

Step 3: Tie in two pieces of flashabou. Leave them for now. Tie in 2-3 pieces of peacock herl, wrap thread all the way to bead. Form a herl rope. To do this, take the strands of herl, and twist them tightly, but not so tight as to where they will break. Once you have a rope, wrap forward to the bead and tie off. Clip excess.

Step 4: Tie in pheasant hackle fibers on each side of the thorax. Pull the Flashabou forward over the top of the thorax and tie down. Whip Finish. You can epoxy the flashabou shell back as well, either way will work.

Where it Fishes: Trout water of any type. The Yakima, Cedar, Snoqualmie Forks, Greenwater, Naches, etc. They work well in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and New Mexico. Fish them under a Pat's Stone or San Juan worm in the winter for maximum effect. Use smaller sizes in low water or during midge/BWO hatches and the larger sizes in murky water and during caddis or the smaller summer stonefly activity.

Ultra Wire Colors: Copper, Red, Lime, Black, Blue, Purple, and Gold. Red, lime and copper seem to be the most effective here in our local waters, although I have caught a few fish on purple in the Yakima in early spring.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins

-RB

Connect and Wild Steelhead Coalition Event

2011-11-09T12:35:00.000-08:00

CONNECT

Presented by Wild Steelhead Coalition and Emerald Water Anglers

FROM THE MAKERS OF "DRIFT" AND "RISE"

From Chris Patterson and Jim Klug - the filmmakers who created the highly acclaimed movies DRIFT and RISE comes CONNECT, the most ambitious, large-scale fly fishing film ever made. Continuing in the tradition of the multisegment, multi-story format that Confluence Films has become known for, CONNECT introduces a number of new locations, exotic species, and compelling characters that epitomize and exemplify the sport of fly fishing. Shot on location in Japan, Yellowstone National Park, the Yukon Drainage of Alaska, the flats of Cuba, the coast of Maine, and in the wilds of Tanzania, Africa, this feature length movie will once again transport viewers around the world in search of new waters and exhilarating travel experiences. CONNECT features well-known anglers Greg Vincent, Jeff Currier, Jimmy Bartschi, Craig Mathews, Masa Katsumata, Brian Porter, and Captain Eric Wallace, and more than a dozen different fish species, both freshwater and saltwater. As with DRIFT and RISE before, the cinematography, sound, and feel of CONNECT come together in a visual masterpiece that promises to re-set the bar for fly fishing films.

100% of the proceeds for this event will benefit the Wild Steelhead Coalition, specifically their current work with restoring and protecting the Elwha River wild steelhead runs.

Tickets for the event will be $10. Please plan on buying your tickets early as we expect this event to sell out quickly. We will have a round of great prizes to raffle off, including gear and guided trips. If you plan on participating in the raffle bring some cash, we can't accept credit cards for raffle items. For more information on the Wild Steelhead Coalition, please check out our website. Also follow our Facebook page for updated info on the group.

It shall be a great event for all. For the full details go here, Connect, Seattle Premier Event. See y'all there.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Fly-Tying 101: Receiving Total Consciousness, #3 The Dali Llama

2011-11-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

However you have seen the fly spelled, and there have been a multitude of spellings. The Dali Llama, Dolly Lama, Dalai Llama, etc. It's all the same fly. A simplistic concoction of rabbit fur and flashabou tied to a hook with a jumbo conehead that just catches fish, well, pretty much everywhere. I have used it with success chasing big bows in Alaska, Wyoming, Colorado, Washington, Montana, and Oregon. And every time you tell others what you are using to a fellow fly-fisherman, it almost always requires you to channel a little Spackler.

"The flowing robes, the grace, bald....striking. So, I'm on the first tee with him. I give him the driver. He hauls off and whacks one - big hitter, the Lama - long, into a ten-thousand foot crevasse, right at the base of this glacier. Do you know what the Lama says? Gunga galunga... gunga, gunga-lagunga." Carl Spackler- Caddyshack

In the fly-fishing world there are a few flies that are big hitters. The Adams, MOAL Leeach, Wooley Bugger, Ice Cream Cone, and Hare's Ear all come to mind as staples in every fisherman's box. This fly should be added to that collection. It catches trout, bass, steelhead and salmon. So tie one up, tie it on and go angle with it. And remember when you catch a fish, to repeat the following, "In the immortal words of Jean Paul Sartre, 'Au revoir, fish'." Fly-tying victim #3, The Dali Llaaaaaaama.

Supply List:

Hook: Gamakatsu B10S #2-4 (Both front shank and for trailer hook)

Thread: 140 UTC or 3/0 Uni, match color to base rabbit

Head: Nickel Conehead, Jumbo sized

Body: Crosscut Rabbit, any color

Tail: Rabbit Strip, same color as crosscut

Second Tail: Rabbit Strip, any color

Wing: Saltwater Flashabou, Pearl

Articulated Attachment: Backing #20-40, preferably gel-spun

Step 1: Slide the cone on the hook. Slide the backing between the conehead and hook shank, through the eye of the hook and back through the conehead. Tie down with thread and Zap-A-Gap. Pinch backing, slide through trailer hook eye, pull loop over the bend of the hook and pull it tight. Set length of trailer by pulling tag end of backing through the eye until you achieve desired length, tie down tag end to front hook, glue.

Step2: Wrap thread around the trailer hook. Tie rabbit strip that matches the crosscut color you have decided to use on the underside of the hook shank of the trailer hook. Wrap near the bend of the hook 5-6 times, pull tight, then avoiding wrapping over the fur, wrap the thread along the shank to the eye, give 4 tight wraps and whip finish.

Step 3: Run the rabbit strip along the backing. (Some guys will thread the backing through the rabbit strip as well, but this way is less time consuming. Either way is effective.) Tie in rabbit strip at the bend of the front hook and glue. Tie in crosscut, glue the shank and wrap forward to the back of the conehead, tie off.

Step 4: Tie in a different colored rabbit strip, cut so that it is just slightly shorter then your articulated hook, making sure that it is directly opposite of the trailing hook gap. Tie in two pieces of flashabou on each side of the fly. Whip finish and viola!

Color Schemes: The most popular colors are Olive/White, Black/White, Purple/Pink, and Pink/White. But much like the MOAL you can create any type of color combination you would like. I like the Baby Blue/Purple personally but remember there is a reason Olive/White and Black/White are sold in fly-shops. They are the best color combos.

Where it Fishes: This fly fishes pretty much everywhere. I have used it in Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Oregon, etc. I know they work in BC as well as on the Olympic Penninsula for steelhead and trout on the Yakima. You can change the sizes around to match where you want to fish and have at it. And remember:

"So we finish the eighteenth and he's gonna stiff me. And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice."

As I stated earlier, all the posts regarding our tying will also be followed up on our tying page via our website. You can go there and see previous flies by clicking, Creekside Tying Page.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins

-RB

Catch Magazine Issue #20

2011-11-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

The latest issue of Catch Magazine, one of our favorite online rags (Can you still call it a rag? Whatever, we are.) just released their latest endeavors and as usual is phenomenal. You can check it out here.Catch Magazine.

In other news, the initiative to ban the proposed Pebble Mine passed, however the State of Alaska is now suing to have it invalidated. Read up on that here. Epic Fail.

Dolly season is starting on the Sauk and Skagit. So come in and get some info, flies and gear to prepare for that as it starts to pick up steam.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

How to Survive the Zombieapocalypse

2011-10-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

Apparently there is a Zombieapocalypse in our future. It's so close that even the CDC has published a Zombie Survival Guide. I mean the chances of a Zombieapocalypse actually happening are probably less then nil, but around Febraury here in the Pacific Northwest, a lot of us do start to look like this.

Must. Get. Out. Of. The. House. Rivers...blown...out. Agggghhhhh, Braaaaaiiiiiiinsss.

Also this could happen if the proposed Pebble Mine gets approved. I almost guarantee that will result in some sort of Zombie type apocalypse. What does this have to do with fishing you ask. Well I shall tell you. In the event of a Zombieapocalypse, the fish will most likely turn too. You know, kind of like what the Pinks look like, only worse. So how do you keep safe during this impending doom? We have the answer here at Creekside.

"I. Know. Fly. Fishing. Like...Whoa!"

For the month of November we are offering a deal that will help you be better prepared for those zombie changing months of winter here in the Pacific Northwest. If you come in and buy one the rods you see young master Keanu holding, better known as the new Sage One series. We will throw in a Scientific Anglers GPX or Sharkskin fly line for free. Yes that's right! Free! Nothing will help you survive the Zombieapocalypse better then the One's graphite technology that leads to highly accurate long casts. It is their most accurate rod and one of the smoothest casting rods I have ever used. And with a top notch fly-line the rod will then be complete. So all silliness aside let's recap:

If you buy a new Sage One fly-rod, we will throw in a SA GPX or Sharkskin fly-line for free. That's an $80 value, free!

This deal will last the entire month of November or until supplies last. So come on down, try one out and stock up for the upcoming months of fly-tying, steelheading and rain. Get the boomstick of fly-fishing and use it's accuracy to slay some zombies...err...fish.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.
-RB

Disclaimer: The Sage One is not guaranteed to actually impede zombies, vampies, werewolves, aliens, disgruntled spouses, or any other supernatural creature. Deal runs through November 30th or until fly-line supplies last.

Ice, Ice, Baby. Fly-Tying 101: #2 Ice Nymph

2011-10-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

A lot of today's flies are regional. They tend to only exist in certain locations, mainly because people who guide/fish in those regions are told this is what works here by people like, well, me. After spending a summer guiding in Southwest Colorado, on rivers like the Juan, Animas, Gunnison, Florida, etc. I picked up flies that I hadn't seen before that worked really well. This ice nymph is one of them. I use the blue on the Yakima in a size 18 and caught a lot of fish. Surprising because I was told by multiple people that it only works in Colorado/Utah/Wyoming. HAH! Well it works here too. So here we go with our second victim of the week. The Ice Nymph, no not those little white haired chicks you see in fairy tales and bad B movies, but the little nymph that sparkles in the water. You can tie the body in any number of colors, but for this exercise it will be in blue.

Supply List:

Hook: Daichi 1150 #16-22

Thread: 8/0 Black

Tail: Black Saddle Hackle Fibers

Body: Holographic Flashabou, Blue

Rib: Silver Ultra Wire, Brassie

Thorax: Black Ice Dub

Head: Black Cyclops Bead, Mini

Step 1: Slide bead on to the hook. Wrap the thread back over the shank to attach it, cut excess tag off. Wrap back evenly to bend so the thread builds an even body base layer. Cut off a clump of hackle fibers, tie in at the bend butt first. You want the tail fibers to be about as long as the hook shank.

Step 2: Tie in ultra wire under between the hook gap at the bend. Cut 2-3 pieces of flashabou, tie in flashabou right where you tied in the tail fibers. Wrap the flashabou forward to right behind the bead head, tie off. Wrap the ultra wire forward in the same direction you see in the photo above.

Step 3: Tie in a dubbing loop. Place a pinch of the ice dub into the loop and spin. Wrap the dubbing from where you tied in the wire and flashabou, forward to the bead. Tie off the loop, cut the excess, whip finish, and you are finished.

Colors: You can tie this fly in multiple colors. Keep the tail and ice dub black and just swap out which flashabou color you are using. Purple, Olive, Pearl, Blue, Red, Root Beer, Pink, and Lime Green are some of the colors you could try. I prefer the Holographic Flashabou, but the normal stuff works just as well.

Where it Fishes: This fly fishes for trout in multiple applications. It works on rivers in Colorado, Wyoming and Montana, but for those of you looking for it to work closer to home. I have used this fly on the Yakima with extreme success, especially dropped below a stonefly nymph like a Pat's. It will work on the Snoqualmie Forks, Cedar, Greenwater and other rivers where a BWO hatch is fairly prevalent. The smaller sizes would probably also work on the Ford.

As I stated earlier, all the posts regarding our tying will also be followed up on our tying page via our website. You can go there and see previous flies by clicking, Creekside Tying Page.

Until next time.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins.

-RB

Moooooaaaaal. Fly-tying 101: #1 The Moal Leech

2011-10-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

For some reason Fly-fishing is along the same lines as today's electronic craze. Everyone rushes out to grab the newest fangled device because somehow it will improve your daily life. "I just got this iPhone 5GSTX. It's amazing! It tells me when I should actually communicate with another human being...in person..." Anyway...fly-fishing is the same way. New flies, lines, rods, waders, jackets, dynamite, err...I mean...nets, yes nets. When they come out someone has to have it. This doesn't happen as much with other items as it does flies. I believe "A River Runs Through It" summarizes it best. He tied on some new fangled fly the size of a chicken and heaved it out there. New flies make appearances throughout the year and when they do people always want them.

Sometimes newer isn't better but we are starting a new blog tradition here at Creeky. Twice a week we will be choosing a fly and giving instructions on how to tie it up, how to fish it and where to use it. So let us proceed with our first victim, the Moal Leech. You will probably need two vices for this fly or if you have an articulated attachment for your vice ignore that.

Materials:
Thread 6/0, 3/0- color matches the front crosscut color
Zap-a-Gap
Backing 20-50lb (Gel Spun works best for the threading)
Crosscut Rabbit Strips (Many color combos, which we will dive into)
Flashabou- Multiple colors, personal favorites are Holographic pearl, blue, purple and red
Gamakatsu Octopus Hooks #2
Gamakatsu B10S #1-4
Large Coneheads- Silver, black, pink, or orange
Optional: Lead wire, Schlappen, Guinea, Beer (preferably Rainier)

Step 1: Place vice on table....Ok I keed, I keed. Seriously though put the vice on the table. Take the Gama B10S hook, slide conehead onto hook, run backing through back of conehead to the eye, feed the backing through the eye and then back through the front of the conehead. Tie down your thread and over the two pieces of backing. Zap-a-Gap the shank and let it dry for a minute.

Step 2: Pinch the backing and thread it through the Gama Octo Hook, pull that loop through and over the hook bend and pull it tight. Set your fly length by taking the tag end of the backing (the one not glued to the shank already). Once you have determined your length, run that tag back to the hook, tie it down with thread and Zap-a-Gap.

Step 3: Choose your crosscut color combo. We generally like pink/purple, blue/black, purple, black, etc. I will get into those later. After you chose your color. Zap-a-Gap the backing, pinch the crosscut onto the backing just in front of the trailing hook eye, and wrap forward, crosscut fibers angling towards the back of the fly, pinching down each wrap to secure the crosscut via the Zap-a-Gap. If you are doing a dual colored fly follow the instructions in 3b. If not, wrap all the way to the conehead gluing the shank periodically.
Step 3b: Once you get one wrap on the shank, pinch it down, cut it, and tie back over the crosscut a bit with the thread. Add your next color, making sure you are wrapping it the same way, tie it down, hit it with some glue and wrap forward to the conehead.

Step 4: Cut the excess rabbit off, tie it down with a few wraps of thread. Take your Flashabou, cut 3-5 strands out, tie it on one side of fly, trim so it is the same length as the fly. Repeat this process on the other side.

Step 5: Take some rabbit from your front color, pull the hairs off the strip, and dub it on your thread. Wrap tight to the conehead, whip finish and trim. Cut the front hook at the crosscut wrap with a pair of metal cutters. Your fly is read to fish.

Options: There are a multitude of color combinations and optional things you can do with this fly, which is what makes it one of the most versitile flies on the market today. You can fish it for winter steel, summer steel, trout, bass and salmon. You can change the length of the fly by changing the length of your backing. You can swap out the dubbing with guinea or schlappen and give it more contrast. Some guys slide a bead above the trailing hook and wrap crosscut around that. The options are endless.

Popular Colors: Purple/Pink, Red/Orange, Black, Purple, Black/Blue, Olive, White, Flesh/Red, Purple/Baby Blue, Cerise/Pink, Pink. You can basically decide what colors you want and make them your own.

This fly is super simple to tie and has so many applications it would be a folly to not at least, have some in your box, especially you steelheaders.

We also have a fly-tying page on our site where you will be able to peruse this info at your own leisure, considering we are updating the blog a lot more frequently now and I know scrolling down is taxing... You can go here to find it Fly-Tying Corner

Until next time.
Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Skip Morris Tying Seminar

2011-10-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday December 13, Skip Morris (author of ten fly-fishing and -tying books

including FLY TYING MADE CLEAR AND SIMPLE, WESTERN RIVER HATCHES, and TROUT FLIES FOR RIVERS to name but a few) will return to our shop to conduct a 2 ½-hour tying/fishing
clinic. The title of the clinic is "Tying and Fishing Flies for Mayfly Hatches," and that pretty much says it.

Skip will provide you a handout with dressings and photos of the flies and information on the major mayfly hatches of the West. During the clinic he will switch from a Powerpoint presentation to tying (with a videocamera and a television to really show what he's doing) and back throughout the evening. The
photos show the insects and the imitations as Skip explains how the hatches work and how to fish the flies effectively. During the tying segments you'll see his technique close up projected on a screen from video camera live. Skip's been performing and polishing photo/tying clinics for years and they're very effective learning tools and entertaining.

Ask questions, take notes, enjoy the show.

Clinic starts at 6pm. Cost is $35 per person and space is limited. Please call Issaquah @ 425-392-3800 for more info or to sign up.

The Up, UP and AWAY: Winter Destination Post

2011-10-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Pacific Northwest is renowned for it's lovely winter weather. If your definition of lovely is wet, cold, dark, foggy and did I mention wet? For most of us (I exclude myself from that generalization due to RSA otherwise known as Rampant Steelhead Addiction) the only things that consider that weather lovely are sasquatch, vampires, werewolves and the common mixture of all three otherwise known as a steelhead addict. For those of you that feel like this cat come January:

I know exactly what you are thinking right now. That cat has about as much chance of landing dry as Paul Wulff has of keeping his job. Anyway I digress. We were talking of places to get away to. Here at Creekside we do our best to cure the mid-winter blues by offering an ever expanding selection of getaways. Some to warmer inclines, others may just be a short jaunt away from the snarl that becomes Seattle to chase fish, drink some beer and have a general hoot of a time, eh? Here are some places we offer to get you out of the house and away from those chores, watching the Seahawks, tying 40 dozen size 18 elk hairs, etc

North Andros Fly-Fishing: Bonefish, Permit, Tarpon, Snappers, Cudas, etc. It's warm, it's friendly, and it is called the bonefishing capital of the world for a reason. Between the guides and the accommodations, nothing melts away months of a cold Northwest winter then Mai Tai's and sandy beaches.

Andros South: Bonefish, bonefish and more bonefish. This place has it all and if you ever get tired of bonefishing (pfft...yeah right...like that would happen) you can go explore on some hikes to see lakes and cays around the lodge. The guides here can work with anyone and ensure that your experience is one to be remembered.

Turneffe Flats Resort: Looking for a place to get out to in the winter but your significant other won't let you go without taking her? This is the perfect place for both of you. You can go chase permit, bonefish, tarpon while he/she goes diving, swimming, Eco tours, etc. The perfect mid-winter vacation for both of you.

Fly-Fish New Orleans, Redfish Charters: Jumbo Redfish on the fly, guides that have fished the area for 20+ years, New Orleans. Need I say more? Didn't think so.

Flygal Adventures: BC Winter runs. With April Vokey and company. You've seen all her fish pics right? She knows what she is doing and so do her fellow guides. Every steelhead addict wants to fish BC for steelhead, myself included. I know it won't be very warm, but it's BC for steelhead and it gets you the heck out of the house. I think you can deal.

OP Steel with Troy Dettman: So one a little closer to home that won't cost you an arm and a leg to travel to. For true steelhead addicts the Olympic Peninsula is as close to BC steel as you can get. Yes, it will be cold and most likely rainy and if you're not careful you could be some tweeny hearthrobs lunch, it's totally worth it for jumbo chromers. Troy knows his stuff and you might even get to fish with me. Yeah, yeah. I'm not as pretty as April but what I lack in looks I make up for in wit...I think.

If you are looking for the ejection seat for mid-winter, give us a call or drop on in and we can get your getaway rolling. Whatever your heart desires, even if it's just a trout trip on the Yakima we can do that too. We promise you won't end up like that cat above if you get out to one of these places, but if you stay at home this winter....who knows....

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins

-RB

The "Albums that Make Driving to Fish Enjoyable" Post

2011-10-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Between driving all over the state to steelhead and commuting back and forth over the pass 4 days a week, I have been blowing through my iPod's substantial music storage. It got me thinking (since we have nothing new to report that you haven't already heard) some of the best albums to crank while driving to your favorite locales. These are generally best used to drown out your buddies incessant mumbling about having to wake up at 3:30am and pay for gas, the ring of your cell phone because your significant other or boss has called 40 times wondering why you aren't home to rake the leaves or at your box finishing those TPS reports, or your attempt to break up the monotony that is driving to fish.

So here are my top albums to listen to while driving to fish.

Steelheading Trips: Whether I am driving to the Grand Ronde, OP, Klickitat or "insert steelhead destination here", I tend to listen to music that is more melancholic most likely preparing me for the myth that is Steelhead and what I am more likely to catch. Rain, fish that hang just to the left/right/up/down of where I cast and fellow fisherman babbling incoherently about the way it used to be and/or the one that got away that was absolutely huge (it was actually a whitefish or minnow but their current state of mind refuses to allow them to compute that fact), more rain, vampires, werewolves, a rainier stealing Sasquatch, etc. Anyone who steelheads knows the pain of it all too well. Also, Metallica at 3:30am just isn't my cup of tea even it does drown out the babbling of my fishing partner who claims he has caught fish on dead drifted dry flies in January and that it is the only "true way" to fish for steelhead. Whatever, maybe I will turn on Metallica.

1. Arcade Fire "The Suburbs" and "Neon Bible"
2. Sister Hazel "Fortress"
3. Kings of Leon "Come Around Sundown"
4. Pink Floyd "Echoes: The Best of Pink Floyd"
5. Brad Paisley "American Saturday Night" (Play this to scare away the vampires, trust me they are hippy vampires and country music makes them burst into flames, just sayin.)

Trout Fishing: Since I live in Cle Elum driving to trout fishing doesn't normally take an extensive amount of my day before I am on the river but when I travel back to Jackson Hole, Durango or Montana I have certain music that keeps me awake the entire 12-20 hours it takes to arrive at my destination. I honestly have no rhyme or reason to my musical choices on these trips, in fact I generally just put the iPod on shuffle and let it roam free, but eventually I do decide to find an album and go with it. I have rules associated with music played driving to trout fish.
Rule #1. Lady Googa or whatever her name is, is not allowed on the radio or in any conversation Exception: The Lonely Island song with Justin Timberlake from SNL.
Rule #2. A Prince or Michael song can only be played once a trip. If you attempt to break this rule you risk being left in the middle of nowhere without a cell phone or sleeping bag.
Rule #3. Whining about the music will only cause it to get louder until your babbling can no longer be heard.

1. The National "Terrible Love"
2. Gorillaz "Plastic Beach"
3. Led Zeppelin "BBC Sessions"
4. Metallica "Black Album"
5. The Mountain Goats "Tallahassee"

Ok. So you have some of the music that I listen to while travelling to fishing locales. I could have thrown in Iron and Wine, Mumford and Sons, Various Country Artists, LCD Soundsystem, etc. But those are the most listened to albums on my iPod. Oh, and if you are ever in Alaska, and on a Beaver, I recommend something loud like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Megadeth. It helps cut out the drone of the airplane.

I would be interested in seeing what y'all's choices are for this. Comment below with your choices or on the Facebook page when this shows up. Also you can tell me my musical choices suck or belong to a crazy person or whatever. It's completely fine, I won't hold it against you...much.

Until next time.
Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Yakima River Report: Carpet Bomb Edition

2011-10-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

Young Frank and I joined the flotilla army on the Yakima River Canyon yesterday for some guiding. We were two of about 40 boats, carpet bombing the entire region with a mixture of dry flies, streamers and trapped air technology. I'm assuming with the amount of watercraft searching the area for signs of both aquatic and non-aquatic species (there are hunters using boats on the river to find animals) to harass is why the fishing was a bit slow. Don't get me wrong, we still caught fish, but only a couple of consequential size.

We found that the smaller nymphs were working better and if it's something they haven't seen the better chance you have at fooling them. Streamers were working as well. We got two fish over 18 inches and a bunch ranging in the 10-12 inch area and a ton of fingerlings. For now I would recommend staying away from the lower canyon until the carpet bombing has eased up and focus on the upper stretches near Thorp or Cle Elum or the Ensign Ranch Boat Launch.

For flies I would use the following:

Nymphs
Pat's Stone Orange or Black #6, 8
WMD October Caddis #6
WMD Black #6, 8
Lightning Bugs #18-20 in blue, pearl, green or purple
BH Sparkle Pupa Olive #18-20
Glo Bugs in pink, orange or red/yellow

Dries
Orange Stimulator #6, 8
BWO Cripple Olive #18-20
RH Crystal Stimulator #6, 8
M's October Caddis #6, 8
BWO Sparkle Dun Olive #18-20
Q's Marabou Cripple Olive #18-20

Streamers
Sculpzilla Olive, Tan or White #4, 6
Dali Llama Olive/White #6
Weirs Sculpin Olive #6

That's all I have for now. Have fun fighting the masses in Lower Canyon or the cold crisp autumn air in the upper reaches. Fall is a perfect time on the Yakima to stalk fish and get away from that significant other who is hounding you to clean the gutters, rake leaves, fix that porch rail...

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Chrome Report: Klickitat Edition

2011-10-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

So I have been chasing chrome all over the state since I wandered back in from Alaska in September. The Ronde, the Snoqualmie (just because it is where our casting lessons take place and I can fish for an hour before I head home) and the Klickitat. The Ronde was slow due to low water and semi-high water temps, but with the recent rains, the reports have gotten better. More fish have moved up from the mouth and are holding in the usual places, you know, just left of where you placed your cast.

I headed down the past two days to hang out with Johnny Steeltrout and few of the other boys over at the Steelhead Ranch on the Klickitat. Johnny and I put in two hard days of fishing on the river with good results.

Granted we were doing some super long floats and mostly fishing under trapped air technology but we did swing and get a few tugs. Earlier this week a young lady landed about an 18 pounder on the swing and there have been other reports along the same nature. The water clouded up a bit with the rains which made the fish less skittish and more willing to eat. We were fishing the usual suspects. ESL's in purple or black, stoneflies, and beads on the nymph rigs. For the swinging use the Hobo Spey black/orange or black/chart, blue/black Loop leeches, black/purple or black moal leeches with an orange conehead, intruders in black/chart black/blue black/purple black/orange black/red. I would use a deep sinking line either some t-8 or t-14 a type 6 is about as light as I would go.

The fishing has been good and if you want someone to guide you we recommend the guys over there at The Evening Hatch and their Steelhead Ranch because not only will you catch some fish you'll also enjoy the conversation shared with them and have yourself a good time in general.

So if you would like to begin your quest to catch that elusive steelhead, head on into the shop and we'll set you up with what you need to get after it, either on your own or with a guide.

I think there may be a Yak report in store for Sunday so keep reading....if you dare.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Snoqualmie Brewerys' Save Bristol Bay Night

2011-10-08T13:40:00.000-07:00

Our buddies over at the Snoqualmie Brewery are putting together a little shindig for Bristol Bay on Thursday October 13th @ 7pm. Here is the flyer with more detailed info. Head on over have a brew and help stop the Pebble Mine.

A Grand Ronde report is forthcoming.Soon, very soon.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Here...We....Go....AHHHHHHH!

2011-10-03T11:55:00.000-07:00

So there is a vote tomorrow on the Pebble Mine. Something we should all be paying attention to. Here is the article about it in the Alaska Dispatch.

Pebble Gold Mine: A Vote For Southwest Alaska's Future?

We here at Creekside are against this and after working in Bristol Bay this summer as a guide has only strengthened my opposition to this epic bad idea. Largest open pit mine in the world on the largest remaining wild salmon run in the world? Did we mention it is also located on one of the most active faultlines in Alaska too? What about this sounds like a good idea? None of it.

It's amazing how the movement to stop Pebble is finally picking up steam and garnering some attention. If you are new to this and haven't heard about it, here's some information on some conservation groups that are working to stop the mine from happening and even a letter from Maria Cantwell. And some information on Salmon Conservation groups in our neck of the woods.

Save Bristol Bay

KEEP WATER CLEAN: Renewable Resources Coalition

Maria Cantwell's Letter

Washington Conservation Groups

Save Our Wild Salmon

Coastal Conservation Association

We have free stickers here at the shop that look like this

So stop on in and gear up for fishing. The Steelheading on the dryside is startiing to get hot, hot, hot! I am heading out to the Grand Ronde and the Methow this weekend. So I'll make sure to keep y'all updated on how it's fishing.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Toxins
-RB

Hot Fall Fishing and How to Capitalize

2011-10-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

This fall in Washington is shaping up to be a stellar year to chase whatever your heart desires. From the dry fly destroying bows and cutthroat on the Yakima to the heart attack inducing, light fire to your reel runs of the steelhead on the (insert name of dryside steelhead river here) to the stalking jumbo chrome while peering through the fog wondering if that shape is a Sasquatch (hide the Rainier!) or one of those sparkly vampire type things that now apparently have infested Forks to well you get the idea. This state has some of the most diverse fishing you will find anywhere.

And to complement that diversified portfolio of fishing opportunity, we here at Creekside Angling have a full stable of guides that can complement any type of experience you are looking to have. Wait?! Creekside has guides you say? Why yes, yes we do.

And unlike many places that give you the "OMG the river is ON FIRE RIGHT NOW! COME DO A TRIP!" spiel even though the rain is coming down in buckets and you have to dodge farm houses, trees and the occasional ark while on the river casting into water the consistency and color of melted chocolate. We will tell you whether a trip is worth your time and hard earned money.

So stop by or drop us a line (that means phone call not actually dropping line on us at the shop) and we can get you pointed in the right direction on your dream trip or just plain trip to experience the fly fishing diversity of Washington. Oh, I mean you can email us too or go to the website here to peruse our guides and trips.

http://www.fishcreekside.com/guides.htm

Btw. The Yakima is actually on fire right now, as of yesterday. Eggs, flesh and sculpins up high above Cle Elum and Crane Fly dries down in the Farmlands and Lower Canyon. And I have heard that the Methow, Klickitat and Ronde are all fishing well. So get out and angle.

Feed Fish Flies
-RB

Methow and Wenatchee open, right....MEOW!

2011-09-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

Not much to say other then what I did in the blog title. The two best swing rivers on the dryside of the state within reasonable travel time of you crazy yahoos in Seattle have officially opened as of right meow. Here is the posting from WDFW so you can read the actual regulations.

https://fortress.wa.gov/dfw/erules/efishrules/erule.jsp?id=1111

We have all you need to go satisfy your self inflicted pain that is known as steelheading. Hobo speys, moal leeches, traditional wet flies and skaters. If you feel like nymphing we have stones, egg sucking stones, ESL's and even...erg...beads. You want we've got it, but hurry I expect this news may cause a mad rush.

So come in right meow and get your steelhead fix on the dryside rolling.

Am I saying meow? Of course not! Do I look like a cat to you....

Feed Fish Flies
-RB

The "Sorry-but-we've-been-too-busy-fishing-to-post"...umm...post.

2011-09-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

So since the last post we've lost two mainstays here at Creeky to geographical relocations. Brett and Johnny Steelhead have both moved further south and we wish them luck on their travels. All is not lost however, if you wish to see them one last time, both are out fishing their butts off on dryside steelhead rivers for a few more weeks.

Speaking of fishing, we have been doing a lot of it. I just returned from a summer of guiding in Alaska and throwing beads at trout to a whole different ballgame on the Yakima of, well, throwing beads. Yes, I said it, beads. The King spawn is on above the Teanaway on the upper Yakima. You can fish glo-bugs, ESL's, 6-8mm beads of the Natrual Roe or Dark Roe variety and get that Alaska fishing experience right here in your own backyard without the Get-Yourself-Divorced pricetag. There are some large rainbows and cutty's sitting on the beds pounding eggs. If this isn't your cup of tea, Orange Stimulators, Yellow Humpy's, Elk hair caddis, Crane Fly's and BWO's will work for dry fly fishing and sparkle caddis, Pat's stone in brown or black, and Baetis nymphs in 18-20's. You could try twitching hoppers in the Lower sections and get fish as well. With the water levels be aware that floating the upper sections are treacherous and a raft is recommended or else you get to play pin ball with your driftboat, especially the Ensign to Bullfrog section.

Reports from the Ronde and Klickitat have been good. The Ronde is better down low at the moment but there are fish around, you just have to angle and find them. The Klickitat went dirty but dropped back into shape and turned that wonderful "Steelhead Green". Beads, ESL's, and black stones for the nymph show and if you prefer swinging (I know I do) HoBo Speys, moal leeches, Pick yer Pockets, Smaller Intruders, and some Silvinator Tube Fly's are your best bet.

There you have it my first blog post in over a year. I will try and not fish so much so I can update this more frequently, actually, that's a lie, it's steelhead season, I will update it whenever I get a chance but no promises. Come meet the new guy, Charlie Robinton and pick his brain for info and/or harass me. We love to talk, almost as much as we love to fish.

Get out and angle.

Feed Fish Flies
-RB

The Lost Report

2011-07-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I spent a couple hours writing an unusually long and informative fishing report the other night, only to have my computer disconnect from my Wi-Fi and lose it all. Nevertheless, the show must go on so here is my brief synopsis of what I wrote before.

The Cedar and SF Snoqualmie have been fishing well. The MF and NF Sno are dropping in nicely too, and a few folks have had some decent fishing in both. For the Cedar, Stonefly nymphs and a variety of droppers such as King Prince, Anato May Hares Ear, and Lightning bugs have been good under a bobber. For dries, Caddis, PED's, Sallies, and Golden Stones are worthy. Throw the big dry such as Chubby Chernobyl in the evening if fish aren't rising, you will be suprised what you might find. For the Forks, all varieties of dry flies including but not limited to Elk Hair Caddis, Stimulators in all flavors, anything with Wulff in the name, anything with Adams in the name, and any other buggy/attractor type pattern will catch fish. If they aren't eating dries, fish nymphs. Smaller Stoneflies with any dropper in your box will get it done.

The Yak is fishing very solidly from top to bottom. Nymphing all day has been excellent, nymphing in the evening has been rockin'. Dry fly fishing has been mediocre to great depending on the day. We've caught fish on all kinds of big bugs, though nothing worth writing home about. PMD's and Goldens are cooling, Summer Stones and Hoppers and warming. However, if you are a die hard dry fly guy, you can fish either of the above and catch some fish, though nymphing you will rack up numbers and bigger fish.

The most exciting news I've heard in the last few days is that the humpies are well on their way. A few early ones should be nosing their way down into Puget Sound in the near future. The guys at Neah Bay and Sekiu have been catching quite a few, not to mention the King fishing has been pretty stellar. I talked to a gentleman this morning that said it's been so hot that he doesn't even have time for a cup of coffee between fish. They're throwing Kings back left and right to find the right keepers. So, for us that means the humpies will be here soon. Time to start prospecting the beaches and finding your good spots, because by the time the fish get here you won't want to be wasting your time figuring out where to go.

Thanks for reading, the next post will be all fish porn, a photo essay of sorts, stay tuned.
-JW

Happy 4th of July Update

2011-07-03T16:11:00.000-07:00

Here's a happy early 4th of July to you and all of you and your families. The sun is finally shining on a regular basis and it appears that summer is beginning to roll along. As for the fishing, the rivers have started to mellow out and fishing has become a little more consistent then it had been the last month or so.

Locally, the Cedar and South Fork Snoqualmie have been the front runners. Both are clear and flowing at a reasonable clip and dropping steadily. Folks have been doing well nymphing for the most part, but some dry fly action is to be had. As for the Cedar, main hatches include but are not limited to Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, and PED's. On the South Fork, there are a few mayflies, yellow sallies, but caddis is the predominant hatch through the summer.

The Yakima had a minor push of water a few days ago, but has since dropped very hard and is in great shape. Hatches are Goldens, PMD's, Yellow Mays, Caddis, and look for Summer Stones to be starting up very soon. Dry fly activity has been pretty consistent as of late. Big and bushy such as the Chubby Chernobyl in gold, pink, red, and purple color schemes have been a great dry to throw in the heavy flow. They also hold a dropper very nicely. Glommers, Larimers Golden, Amy's Ant, Tantrum, among others have been worthy as well. Droppers should include Silvey's Pupa, Lightning bugs(pearl, gold), Princes(Holo, King, Formerly known as), Crackback PMD's, CDC Pheasant Tails, Petrified Pupa, among others. Nymphing has been good as well, Pat's Stones in various color schemes in #8-10 followed by any of the above nymphs have been productive. Bring along some caddis and PMD dries and emergers in case you find some rising fish. PMD activity will come mid-day and look for caddis activity near dusk(by dusk we mean the last hour before dark).

Steelhead-wise, the Sky and Snoqualmie are worth a shot. There are fish, it is up to you to find them. Put in the necessary time with your fly in the water and you will find them. Winter-style tactics still apply; sink tips and larger profile flies such as Loop Leeches, Hoh-Bo Spey, and Fish Tacos. Keep taking your water temps though, we will start to creep up on the magic floating line temperature pretty quick as runoff subsides and hot weather continues. We just got a huge shipment of awesome Idylwild summer patterns, they are the best commercial tied summer-run patterns we have seen. Come check 'em out.

For all you Alaska-goers, come swing by as we have a good selection of King flies such as Jumbo Critters, Guide Intruders, and Foxee Prawns. The Jumbo Critter in Chartreuse and Blue is a must have, as is the Guide Intruder in Chartreuse/Black. We're fully stocked with tons of awesome Simms t-shirts as well, they have really put out some cool designs and artwork on their shirts this year and let's face it, you can always use another t-shirt. The trout bins are stocked with the latest and greatest dry flies and nymphs, come stock up for what is shaping up to be a great summer and fall.

That's all for today, all of us at the shop wish you and your families a Happy and Safe Independence Day. We'll be back open for business on the 5th.
-JW

Long-Winded Update 6-18

2011-06-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, I've been slacking big time on writing this, I apologize. Hopefully this entry will be filled with all kinds of good info to make up for it. The last entry I left you with saying I'd have a summer steelhead report, and fortunately I have 2. One a little better than the other.

We ran down to the Klickitat for a couple days, the water was really high but fishable when we got there, but the first night a little rainstorm rolled through and got all the feeder creeks dumping mud, leaving us with maybe a foot of visability. We gave it a shot anyways and all we had to show for it was one fish hooked for all of a couple headshakes and gone. It wasn't all a waste, it was good to be back on this awesome river and we checked out the different channels, the trees that have been washed out or relocated, and it's a fun river to row at 3500 cfs. We woke day 2 to find the river in the same shape as the day previous, so we packed up and headed back to Eburg. The Yakima was beyond gone, and the only fishable water around was a Yak tributary around Cle Elum(take a stab at that one), so we dumped our boat in and floated the bottom end and out into the Yak, and found plenty of willing cutties and bows, including a couple really nice ones around the 17-18" mark(pictured below). It was a fun float, and was nice to make a decent day of fishing out of nothing.

Now for the better report, we went down a few days ago to our favorite Grays Harbor area river in search of some early summer fish. A few guys have been fishing it, but certainly not even close to the pressure this river gets in the winter. Reports were a fish being caught here and there. The cool thing about this river is it is damn controlled, so it was clear(really clear for that matter) and nice and low. They dump about a quarter to half of the average flow of the winter time in the summer and fall, the lowest I've fished it in winter was 1300 cfs with the average being about 2000, and on this day the river would be at 500. It was pretty neat to see the little winter slots and traveling water that were completely out of water, and with the water being so clear we were able to spot all kinds of cool structure within the deeper pools and runs that will definately come in handy in the winter seasons to come.

As we had predicted on the way down, the fish were either holed up in the bigger tanks, nosed up in riffles and broken water, or tucked up in hard traveling water that provided some cover, though we did roll over one in a glass tailout of pea gravel with no structure or cover in 2 feet of water in the middle of a bright sunny day(wtf was he/she thinking?). Also, longer casts out front and away from the boat with the bobber rigs is also important in these conditions. We found some fish though, got a few to the net and a few got away prematurely. They were all chrome as can be and fought really well, most jumping a few times and peeling off some great runs that their wild bretheren would be proud of, though we did land one wild one. Due to the nature of this river at these flows and the length of float required, we bobber fish mostly. There are a few nice pieces of swing water in the float, but hucking bobbers is a great way to cover all the little slots and buckets under the trees that these fish hold in. Couple shots below.

If something like above interests you, come down and talk to me or give me a call at the shop. I'd be happy to share some info with you or take you fishing down there, it's a really fun way to spend a nice summer day and will only improve as the summer moves along. On a good note, the Yakima is now back in shape and rockin' and rollin' at typical summertime flows. The catching has been pretty good the last few days, think Golden Stones, lots o' caddis, and PMD's and Drakes on the right days. Get after it, the fish haven't seen much in the way of flies the last month or so so you can get to pounding on 'em pretty good.

I'll be holed up in the shop for the next several days, so there won't be any reports from me. It's up to you guys to go make a report and then come tell me so I can fish vicariously through you! Anyways, until next time and thanks for reading as always.

-JW

Opening Day!

2011-06-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well, it is finally here. The first official day for fishing the local moving water. However, many know that it isn't always easy, as generally we find ourselves fighting high water and snow runoff. This year is no exception. For the most part, the rivers are fairly high and off color, but that is not to say they aren't fishable. Especially if you are after some early summer steelhead, get out there and swing a fly in the high, milky, muddy water. You would be really suprised to find how well their eye sight adjusts and how much more grabby they can be. Step in up to your knees, and if you can see your feet, start fishing. As for tactics, you will be fishing winter style with sink tips and bigger flies like Fish Tacos, MOAL Leeches, Pick Yer Pockets, etc.

The Sky definately has some fish spread throughout, the Skagit is always fun as you can put a spankin' on the dollies and also fish for steelhead, and I certainly would consider giving the Snoqualmie a shot. Yes, I know, they stopped planting smolt 2 years ago, therefore there will be no Snoqualmie hatchery origin fish, but who says that fish always go up the correct river? There have been a few Skykomish fish known to poke their heads up in the Sno, particularly in the early season....

As for the Cedar, our little urban trout stream, it is running a little high at the moment but I am guessing it is pretty clean. Wading can be tricky, but the early bird usually gets the worm, the worm being large trout in this instance. Pack some sculpins, stoneflies, worms, some lead and a bobber and get to work. Just be careful wading.

As for lakes, they are fishing about par for the course. Mostly good reports from all local lakes as well as Eastside desert lakes. The saltwater is certainly worth your time, a nice misty morning with the sun coming up over the horizon and not many people around is good for the soul.

That's all I got, the summer season has officially begun. No restrictions on where you can fish and where you can't (unless you are the two guys who got ticketed for poaching at Reiter Pond yesterday with 4 dead fish on the bank). So we'll say hardly any restrictions just to be fair to those two dudes. Have at it, be safe, and as always we'll be around to help with gear, flies, and point you in the right direction. I will have the first official summer steelhead report of the season next week, stay tuned.
-JW

Memorial Day Update

2011-05-25T10:16:00.001-07:00

Overall, the Yak is coming back into shape throughout. The upper river around Cle Elum is in good shape, but runnning a little high. The Farmlands is still a little murky and pretty high, but definately fishable. The canyon is still a little too dirty and high. So, my recomendation would be to stick to the Cle Elum area for now. We did the Farmlands yesterday, and overall we worked really hard but had a decent day, hooking around 12-15 fish and getting a few less than that in the boat. Again, we urge you to be very cautious floating the river. At these flows, it is a lot of work and there are some very dangerous spots. The East Cle Elum launch is tricky with a lot of water, you have to be on your toes to get over into the creek mouth. A few folks have misjudged it and been taken downstream past the takeout, and theres no getting back up. In the Farmlands, there is a major bloackage at the weir a mile above Irene Rinehart. You can portage to the right over the rocks or through the bushes, but its a pain in the ass. There is also a very tight spot 4-5 miles belove Irene that you have to row, no portage option. Please be careful, with these flows it is very dangerous and unless you are really good on the oars, hold off until the water drops some more and settles. Overall though, the river is coming back and we should be into full summertime fishing mode in the next week or two.
-JW

Bass Attack

2011-05-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the lack of posting lately. Brett had been down in Belize for a week or so and I've been really tied up watching NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs amongst many other fine television programs. I will tell you one thing, it has definately not been because I've been fishing. I did manage to make it over to Lenice with a few buddies for a couple of days last week, and we found some pretty decent success. Nothing over the top, but pretty consistent fishing and nice sunny weather. The method of operandi was chironomids anywhere from 1-20 feet under a bobber. Leeches, damsels, and calibaetis nymphs trolled and stripped slowly caught fish as well. The highlight of the two days was a 3 or 4 hour period back in the islands where we were able to pick off a number of fish on either hatching midge patterns or calibaetis emergers/adults/floating nymphs. I will say that it appeared to me that chironomids are still the name of the game. If you are heading over, go prepared with a load of chironomids including a variety of smaller #16-#22 in black, rust, and most certainly olive. Our best bug day 1 was black #20 and day 2 was #16, 18 olive. Word on the street was a few guys did pretty well on bloodworms as well.

Overall, reports have been quite good from all of the desert lakes. Local lakes have been solid as well. Aside from trout, many of our lakes have began fishing quite well for bass. Head Guide Chris Senyohl has been putting his time in on a bunch of local lakes and doing quite well. Below is evidence of just that.If your interested in switching things up a bit and perhaps learning a bit about how to catch largemouth and smallmouth bass on the fly, give us a shout and book a trip with Chris. You will have a great time, learn a ton, and catch some fish. With not much else going on right now, it's the perfect time to learn about some of our other fisheries. Now is primetime so jump on it before it's too late.

Oh, and as for the Yak, the lower is still a mess but the upper is fishable but moving pretty fast. Wading is pretty much out, floating is really the only good option at the moment. So if you must, go fish the upper. Otherwise, stick to the lakes and such for another little while.

-JW

Going, Going, Gone....

2011-05-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

The Yak is gone for the time being. It hung on until Saturday when this rainstorm worked its way over the hill and dumped from Cle Elum to E-burg. The last week or so the fishing had been solid. For the most part we were restricted to the upper river, mainly above the Teanaway, which has been the main proponent of keeping the lower river a little out of wack. The Cle Elum area has been a busy place for guide traffic over the last week, but the fishing was pretty solid. Even the upper canyon below the Teanaway had fished OK. Expect the upper river to come back considerably faster than the lower. This morning the graph peaked and has began to drop at Cle Elum to just under 4K, we'll see if that is temporary or not. We may sneak in a day or two before full summer runoff.

For me, it's a great time to get everything organized and get the summer stuff ready to go. When the river comes back, we will likely be well into a couple different kinds of caddis, pmd's, goldens, early summer stones, the tail end of salmon flies, drakes on the upper, and probably some others I'm forgetting. For now, we'll be stuck on the lakes but fortunately they are fishing quite well. Lenice or similar is the destination for Thursday-Friday, we'll let you know how it goes. Couple from the other day below.

-JW

Another Day in Paradise

2011-05-06T13:40:00.000-07:00

Spent the day on the upper river with CJ. One of those wierd days, had a front moving through, which may or may not have affected the bite, but the bite was definately off. Snow you ask? Yes, it sprinkled a little snow for a few minutes. There were a few bugs around, some March Browns, some BWO's, Midges, and a few Skwalas. We looked down in the raft to find a big female skwala that was a true #8 and bordering on a #6, odd for this time of year. Usually they're tapering off and the ones you see are #10 and #12. Sometimes when the bite's off, you just gotta keep fishing the water. Fish it, then fish it some more. Though the bite wasn't stellar we wound up finding around a dozen solid 14-18" fish that wanted to eat. Best bugs were Pats Bl/Br #6, Purple Holo Prince #16, and Flashback PT #12. From the sounds of it, the fishing throughout the river has been a little off the last few days. The water conditions are perfect and the weather has been fine, it's just been a little funky. You just have to keep plugging away, fish the water hard, and stick to your guns. It'll pay off in the end. You could just accept the fact that the bite is off, fish half-assed, and go home unsatisfied. Or you can work hard, fish hard, and wind up turning a bad day into a decent or even good day, the choice is always yours. That's my 2 cents for the day.

Brett just touched down in Belize at some point in the last 24 hours for a week of fun in the sun. I'm expecting a report with a some photos of giant Tarpon and Permit in the next couple days, we'll see.

Thanks for reading, till the next one

-JW

Yakima 5-2

2011-05-03T11:38:00.000-07:00

Well just as it seemed the weather was about to turn, we got hit with another day of mostly cold, windy, and rainy weather. Got to sneak out for a day of goofing off with buddies Josh and Lex. We fished Bristol to Green Bridge, known also as the "Thorp Wind Tunnel". Lucky for us, the wind wasn't much more than a constant 5 mph with some rain mixed in, though it got a little gusty at times. Nymphing was pretty good, though a little sluggish in the AM. We saw a few BWO's and Midges, but nothing worth writing home about. Had it not been for the constant light wind, it would have been a great day for BWO's or March Browns: dark, cloudy, and rainy. Most productive flies for us were Pat's #4-8 black and black/brown. We got a few on some different smaller nymphs as well, such as the Anato-May #14, Flashback PT #16, King Prince #14, and Red Brassie #18, but 90% of the fish were on the Pat's. The water was 39 degrees at Bristol and warmed to around 42 mid-day near the homestead, still cold stuff dumping in at the Teanaway. Reports were good from the weekend, the river fished pretty decent throughout. Saturday was a little tough for some, as the bite was a little lean paired with some strong winds, but most folks did some good on Friday and Sunday. Here's a few from the day, we'll be back at it Thursday and Friday with a report to follow.
Thanks for reading,

-JW

Is it Spring?

2011-05-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

It finally feels like spring. It's May 1st, and this is the first day where its warm(relatively speaking), the sun is shining, and there's even a little bit of pollen in the air. The lowland lake opener was a big success. We had a number of customers in this morning who fished our local put and take lakes, and excellent fishing was had by all. The method of operandi was trolling buggers and leeches near the surface. After stocking, the fish generally stay in the first few feet of the water column for a few days if not a week or two(yes, it's sad to say, but they still think they're in a fish tank at a hatchery that bottoms out at 3 feet). Therefore, an intermediate or floating line is generally all you need.

Haven't heard much from the folks that were headed to the Yakima this weekend, but there were plenty of them. If I had to guess, the fishing was probably pretty darn good. They finally stopped releasing water out of the resevoirs last week, and the river is down to a nice, comfortable level with good clarity. Get it while it's good because who knows how long it will last. Skwalas, BWO's, March Browns, and a few caddis are buzzing around right now. Even though we have been fooled by mother nature to think its mid-March, it is May 1st and the Mother's Day Caddis hatch is not far away. We just got some killer new caddis pupa in stock. Hogan's Petrified Pupa and Silveys Beadhead Pupa to name a couple, along with quite a few members of the Prince nymph family. Psycho Prince, CDC Prince, King Prince(my favorite for grannoms), Beadhead Prince, and the standard unbeaded are all weapons that should be in your arsenal from now throughout the entire summer.

Below is a nice one from a few days ago. As George Cook would say, "she's a fat pig". 22 inches with some serious girth, it's the biggest fish I've laid eyes on in person this year on the Yak. I'll be on the water tomorrow and will try to give a report on Tuesday.

Thanks for reading and enjoy the sunshine while it lasts. -Johnny

Billy Pate

2011-04-27T15:25:00.001-07:00

For those who know of the legendary angler Billy Pate you'll be saddend to know he passed away. He had been in a nursing home of late suffering from Alzheimers. Billy Pate was a famous and pioneering saltwater angler who held numerous world records. This is certainly a huge loss to the fishing world and he will not soon be forgotten.-BW

Squidro

2011-04-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

So the next wave of steelhead flies is here. Synthetics are becoming more and more popular in all aspects of fly tying not only for the many color combos, but for their durability and versatility. Check out the video of Scott Howell's new fly, which is a rubber legged knock off of his Signature Intruder. The purists may roll their eyes, but I think it's a neat idea. Cheaper, more durable, quicker to tie, and flat out fishy. Anyhow, check out the video below.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6mh9i7l3rw

-JW

Happy Easter Update

2011-04-10T13:30:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates the last two weeks, I found myself having a slight lack of motivation paired with some computer issues, hence no reports. I've also misplaced my camera cord, therefore no pictures on this report either. Once I find it I'll post a pile of 'em. On the last report, I left off saying I was headed to the Missouri for a couple days with young Ricky. We did exactly that, and were able to spend 3 days fishing, encountering wind, rain, snow, hail, sun, and all of the above. Typical spring Montana weather I suppose. The fishing was very good, as it usually is on the Mo. You can pretty much catch 'em at will under the bobber, and the streamer fishing was decent for us as well. Typical tailwater stuff; sowbugs, czech nymphs, midges, bwo's, and some other flashy pink stuff got it done for us. We dedicated the majority of our time to streamer fishing, and dredging the bottom slowly on a type 6 tip yielded some good results, 10-15 eats a day. Top dog was the Skiddish Smolt, followed by the JJ special, Electric Sculpin, Urchin, small Home Invaders, and of course Sculpzilla. Big props to the guys and gals at Headhunters Fly Shop, they have a great little shop and will give you the straight scoop with what's going on. For any Missouri river needs, definately give those guys a call, they will go out of their way to help make your trip a success.

Now back to reality, the Yakima is very high but is fishing quite well. If you know the river well, you will get 'em(no suprise that this category is mostly guides). Many have given it a go over the last week and have found it tough. No doubt it is tough, the river is very big. Wade fishing is pretty tough right now, even on the upper river. Your typical spots will have a ridiculous amount of water going through them. Think outside the box, pick your spots wisely, and focus on finding the softer water with direct current flow. You can eliminate 85 percent of the water right now. Let the water tell you where to fish, and focus your efforts there. Think about exploring some side channels, too. The bugs haven't changed much, stones and worms have been the most productive. Other bugs of note are King Prince #14, Holo Prince #14, Psycho Prince(purple) #14, Anato May #12, Lightning Bug #14 and #18, Rockworms #14, CJ(chartreuse) #14, CJ(red) #16, and a few other I am probably forgetting. Streamers have been hit and miss. There are March Browns, BWO's, Skwala's, and a few caddis on the river.

Also a head's up for those of you who float the river, there is a major blockage right above the weir a mile or so above Irene Rinehart Park. It is not passable, and the portage is very tough and a little dangerous. We would not recommend floating this stretch. The take out at East Cle Elum is also very tough right now. Unless you are a very experienced on the oars, I would hold off until the flows drop a little.

On a high note, lakes around the state seem to be fishing quite well. Pass, Lone, Rattlesnake, Alice, Beaver, Lenice, Lenore, Dry Falls, Nunally, Merry, and the list goes on an on. The fishing has been consistently good all around. Chironomids lead the way, followed by trolling buggers and leeches. Damsels, Dragons, and Calibaetis are next on the menu.

We have had some very good reports from Puget Sound as well for Sea Run Cutts and Resident Coho. Brett has had a couple good mornings at some beaches right in Seattle, however good reports have come in from beaches all around the sound.

Chris just wound down his season on the OP. All in all, it sounds like it was a little wetter than usual, but the fish numbers were excellent. He got fish everyday, and had some great days thrown in the mix. It sounded like the swinging was pretty good this year as well, probably due to the higher than normal flows on the rivers. He's now back to guiding over here on the Yak, Puget Sound, lakes, among other places.

Happy Easter to you and your families from all of us here at Creekside! Thanks for reading,
-JW

So our up and down spring continues...

2011-03-28T17:33:00.000-07:00

Well, theres not a whole lot to say besides I think were all a little sick and tired of this rain. It's officially spring, but it sure doesn't seem like it. The Yakima has been up and down, clean one day and dirty the next, but had been fishable every day until about 5 or 6 days ago. Some days we've had to work really hard for them, and some days they come a little easier. That's fishing. We've been on literally every stretch from Cle Elum to Roza over the last couple weeks before it blew out, and they were all fishing pretty well. Bobbers continue to rule, with some days bringing some good dry fly fishing. Streamer fishing, especially from the diversion up, proved effective. The typical fair, including Pats Stones, Worms in every size, shape, and color, small lightning bugs and PT's, midges, and various sculpin and zonkers have worked. As for dries, lots of patterns have worked, anything from big foam junk to realistic, low riding patterns, just depends on the day. The river is currently on the drop but still a few days out at least. 2800 cfs at Cle Elum and a little over 7000 cfs at Umtanum, cut those both in half and we'll think about fishing it again. But I imagine as soon as it comes back, BWO's and March Browns will be around. So think about tying up your Soft Hackle PT's, CDC PT's, March Brown Spiders, red and black Copper Johns, Lightning Bugs, and any of your other favorite mayfly nymphs in #12-14 for the browns and #16-18 for the BWO's. For dries, your standard March brown and BWO parachutes will work, along with some quigley style cripples and you're good to go. Just a friendly reminder, always be cautious and safe when floating the river. If you are unfamiliar with a stretch, always ask about blockages or tight spots. Even think about hiring a guide to show you a stretch and places to be careful. There are a couple of pretty tight spots on the upper river around cle elum, particularly just above and below the East Cle Elum boat launch. There are also one or two tight spots down in the farmlands. Don't hesitate to give us a call, or any shop for that matter, and ask about a particular stretch. Especially after the high water event the last week, you can guarantee some stuff has shifted around in the river, new blockages are very likely, and stretches you thought you knew can be totally different. No matter how good you are or think you are on the sticks, its always good to be prepared for what is coming. There are always a few who flip their boats, lose all their gear, and people drown on a regular basis. Don't be that guy(or gal).

Well, I'm getting out of here for the rest of the week. Sometimes the urge to leave and go fishing hits, and there's no satisfying it until you do. The Missouri is one of my all time favorite places to fish, and I try to fish it a few times a year. For those of you that have fished it, you know how good it is. For those that haven't, I highly encourage you to visit. Its just a quick hour and a half over the hill from Missoula, and being a tailwater, you can always count on stable river conditions. By no means is it peak season over there; the water is still cold, weather has been wacky, but reports are that the nymphing and streamer fishing has been avg-great depending on the day, and a little bit of midge action on the surface has made an appearance on the calmer, cloudier days. The bonus of going this time of year is it should be a lonely river, especially mid week. We should have Wi-fi, so for those of you that follow the blog, we'll try to update every night with a short report and photos of some big browns and rainbows(hopefully).

Thanks for reading

-JW

Montana Stream Access Law Preserved

2011-03-23T17:55:00.001-07:00

You may or may not know but Huey Lewis (of The News) and other large scale landowners have been leveling attacks on Montana's Stream Access Law that designates all river corridors as public property. The point of most recent contention rests along Mitchell Slough in the Bitterroot Valley. The issue however, applies across the state and now another precedent has been set as HB309 the potential revision of the law that would have restricted angler access to many rivers was defeated in the Senate yesterday. A host of anglers in Montana and elsewhere sounded the alarm and anglers from far and wide wrote, called and showed up to express their opposition. Awesome! -BW

Read more about it here: http://ravallirepublic.com/news/local/article_73c66d67-ba62-5175-9af0-68c8f84771d0.html

Snotel

2011-03-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

This graph lists the snow water equivalent in the mountains for this year. This gives you an assessment of the snowpack and Overall looks like we're in pretty good shape for water. I can't post the graph now here on the blog for some reason. HTML error or something? I don't know. Anyway, check it here. -BW

2011-03-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

Yakima update: The water has been up and down and mostly brownish the last week. And cold too. Right when the Skwala dryfly fishing kicked off we had a delay of game due to inclimate weather and now the water temps are back down sub 40 degrees. The good news is she's leveled out and now dropping and clearing. So the weekend it should be well worth your attention. The dryfly game will be back next week in force. Look for about 42 degrees. The nymphing will pick back up no matter what. Rubberlegs in black, brown/tan, brown/black and olive. San Juan Worms all across the board for a dropper. Not much mayfly activity yet though the BWO's should be moving soon. Below are a two photos from a couple weeks ago, I don't know why Josh is so happy touching me but they're a couple of nice fish at least. Get to it! -BW

Dry Fly Time!

2011-03-12T23:37:00.000-08:00

Well folks, it appears as though the time has finally come. SKWALA TIME ON THE YAK! Ok, before you get too excited there are a couple of catches. Some of our lousy weather has managed its way over to the eastside over the last few days, causing the river to rise and dirty a little bit, especially below Wilson Creek. Where will our early skwala dry fly fishing likely take place? Yes that's correct, primarily below Wilson Creek and down in the canyon. Water temps are primed, there are some bugs, and the trout are trying to look up, however it seems to us that the last few days of off color water has prevented the dry fly fishing from taking off. Can you still get 'em on a dry in dirty water? You certainly can. Will you crush 'em? Maybe, maybe not.

So if you have been chomping at the bit for some early season dry fly fishing, well it is the time. Are the conditions as perfect as we would like? Not really for throwing the dry. If you like to nymph, then it's great. If you like to do both, that's even better. Just remember, go out with an open mind, maybe have a nymph rig as well as a dry fly rod. If your really into it, maybe a 3rd rod rigged with a streamer. Maybe nymph your spots and prospect with a dry on the go. Maybe even run a worm under your big foamy homebrew skwala, especially when fishing those skinny banks that your nymph rig always seems to hang up in. When the conditions are less then ideal, remember to slow it down, fish smart, fish methodically, and if you aren't getting 'em, switch it up. "It" could mean a lot of things: bugs, weight, depth, water type, and the list goes on and on, but the bottom line is that the fish didn't go anywhere. Switch it up.

Well that's our 2 cents for the day. We had a lot of folks by the shop this week headed out to the Yak this weekend. We hope you got 'em. If you didn't, maybe reading this will have you better prepared for your next outing. We'll keep you posted as conditions change.

Remember, we're running our March Madness Skwala Specials. $300 for a full day of fishing. The same as any other guide trip except you bring your own lunch. This means flies, shuttle, tippet, equipment, and your guides wisdom are included. These trips will run through the end of the month. Call us at the shop for more info.

-JW

OP and Yak Reports

2011-03-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

So Brett made it back from the coast just before everything blew out. He bounced around on the Bogey, Hoh, and Clearwater. The weather held in, and the rivers were in great shape. Five solid days of guiding, fish hooked on the swing, fish hooked on the nymph, what more can you ask for?

As for me, I was out on Sunday with Jamie and John on the Yakima. We fished in the farmlands section, and it was perfect day around 50 degrees and barely a breath of wind. No skwala dry action to speak of yet. We didn't throw the dry on the go, though we did throw it at a couple of midge eaters to no avail. The fish are still on the stone and worm program, however they were starting to come off the worms a bit and more towards the stone. Water temps were fluctuating between 38 and 42 degrees, which is prime for the skwala nymph to become more active. There was a decent midge hatch mid-day as well. Any day now the bugs will be hatching and we'll be throwing the dry, it's just a matter of a couple warm nights to get it going. I heard a rumor of some decent dry fly activity yesterday afternoon in the canyon, so who knows, maybe it's started already, ya never know until you get out there and give it a shot. Below is John with a couple of solid yakima trout. Thanks guys for a fun day.

Bugs:

Pats Stone #10, #12

Twenty Incher #8. #10

Mercer's Skwala #10

John's Skwala #10

Worms #10, #14

WD40 Olive, Black #18

Brassie Red #18, #20

-JW

We're in the Middle of It

2011-03-04T16:07:00.000-08:00

So as the title indicates, we're in the middle of it. Reports from the Forks area streams have been very good. The Hoh, Bogey, Sol Duc, Calawah, Queets, among others have fish throughout. Brett is over guiding in Forks for the next few days, so hopefully he'll give me up to date reports through the weekend. Our head guide Chris will be there as well. The Grays Harbor area rivers have been producing quite well too. Swinging or nymphing, the fish are there and there is plenty of fun to be had. After all that is the point right? To have fun? For me it is.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of fishing with a good buddy Andrew on a Grays Harbor area river. We've spent many days fishing together over the last few years, but the last 6 months or so have found it difficult to get out. He's a very good angler, and was rewarded on this day by hooking a good number of fish. We had a blast despite the snow, hail, rain, and 30 mph gusts blowing through. It felt like Montana in March, the weather changing every 20 minutes. Here are a couple from the day.

-JW

The Mostly Highs

2011-03-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

WDFW just released 2011 salmon forecasts and despite the overall state of the Puget Sound being poor there are more highs than lows. It's a Humpy year folks and we're looking at another solid performance. They're calling for 6 million returning to the Sound so there'll be plenty to go around. The Chinook forecast is slightly stronger and the coho forecast is just shy of a million. The fishing can't be much weaker than last year so I'll be looking forward to that. The ever pathetic Sockeye fishery looks so-so but not enough for a fishery.

The Columbia Chinook forecast looks good too and though no numbers have been released that is an indicator of steelhead returns too so pray for another good year in the Columbia/Snake Basin, we've been spoiled lately.

Don't worry friends good weather and SPRING! is almost back and this should just get you more revved up to fish now! Read more below. -BW

WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

March 1, 2011

Contact: Pat Pattillo, (360) 902-2705

Strong runs of Columbia River chinook,
Puget Sound coho and pink salmon projected

OLYMPIA - Fishing prospects look bright this year for chinook in Washington’s ocean waters and the Columbia River, according to preseason salmon forecasts released today at a public meeting in Olympia.

Opportunities for anglers also look good in Puget Sound, where coho and pink salmon runs are expected to be strong this year.

Forecasts for chinook, coho, sockeye, pink and chum salmon mark the starting point for developing 2011 salmon-fishing seasons in Puget Sound, the Columbia River and Washington coastal areas. The forecasts were developed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and treaty Indian tribes.

Fishery managers have scheduled a series of public meetings over the next few weeks to discuss potential fishing opportunities before finalizing seasons in mid-April.

A meeting schedule, salmon forecasts and information about the salmon season-setting process are available on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/northfalcon/ .

Phil Anderson, WDFW director, said department staff will work closely with tribal co-managers and constituents to develop fisheries that meet conservation objectives and provide fishing opportunities on abundant runs of wild and hatchery fish.

"We will continue to design fishing seasons that not only meet conservation goals for salmon, but also minimize impacts to other species," said Anderson. "It is important that we take into account the entire ecosystem when managing our fisheries."

Anderson noted that state budget reductions are also a factor in designing fisheries that can be managed effectively with a reduced staff. State general-fund support for WDFW was reduced by 30 percent in the current budget and is expected to drop even further over the next two years.

As in past years, salmon-fishing prospects in 2011 vary by area:

Columbia River: About 760,000 fall chinook are expected to return to the Columbia River this season. That’s about 112,000 more chinook than last year’s return and would constitute the fifth largest run since 1948, said Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River policy coordinator for WDFW.
More than half of the chinook forecast - about 398,000 salmon - is expected to be "upriver brights" headed to the Hanford Reach area and the Snake River. That would be the second largest run of upriver brights since 1964, when fishery managers began keeping records, said LeFleur.
"This should be a good year for upriver brights, which provide some of the best in-river fishing opportunities for anglers," LeFleur said.
While the chinook run is expected to be up, the forecast of 362,500 Columbia River coho is similar to last year’s projection.
Washington’s ocean waters: Anglers can expect an ocean fishery for chinook and coho salmon this summer similar to that in 2010, said Doug Milward, ocean salmon fishery manager for WDFW.

"Last year, fishing was good for chinook and fair for coho," said Milward. "The number of salmon available for this summer’s ocean fishery is expected to be similar to last year, so anglers should see another good year of fishing."

Nearly 250,000 hatchery chinook are expected to return this year to the lower Columbia River. Those salmon, known as "tules," traditionally have been the backbone of the recreational ocean chinook fishery. The 362,500 coho salmon bound for the Columbia River also account for a significant portion of the ocean catch.

Puget Sound: Coho and pink salmon returns to Puget Sound are expected to be strong this year. About 980,000 coho are forecast to return to Puget Sound streams, about 367,000 more fish than last year’s forecast.

In addition, nearly 6 million pink salmon are expected to return to Puget Sound this year. That forecast is 3 million salmon below 2009’s record return but still an abundant run, said Steve Thiesfeld, Puget Sound salmon manager for WDFW. Most pink salmon return to Washington’s waters only in odd-numbered years.

"This is shaping up to be a really good year in Puget Sound for both coho and pink salmon," said Thiesfeld, who noted that an additional 17 million pink salmon are forecast to return to Canada’s Fraser River this year. "A portion of those Fraser River fish will make their way through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the San Juan Islands boosting opportunities for Washington anglers."

Summer/fall chinook salmon returns to Puget Sound are expected to total about 243,000 fish, slightly higher than last year’s projection of 226,000. Most chinook fisheries in Puget Sound likely will be similar to last year, said Thiesfeld. However, fishing opportunities in the Green (Duwamish) River and Elliott Bay could be limited by a low forecast of wild chinook, he said.

Thiesfeld said a Lake Washington sockeye fishery is unlikely this year. The sockeye forecast is about 34,600, well below the minimum return of 350,000 sockeye needed to consider opening a recreational fishery in the lake.

State, tribal and federal fishery managers will meet March 5-10 in Vancouver, Wash., with the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) to develop options for this year’s commercial and recreational ocean chinook and coho salmon fisheries. The PFMC establishes fishing seasons in ocean waters three to 200 miles off the Pacific coast.

Additional public meetings have been scheduled in March to discuss regional fishery issues. Input from these regional discussions will be considered as the season-setting process moves into the "North of Falcon" and PFMC meetings, which will determine the final 2011 salmon seasons.

The PFMC is expected to adopt final ocean fishing seasons and harvest levels at its April 9-14 meeting in San Mateo, Calif. The 2011 salmon fisheries package for Washington’s inside waters will be completed by the state and tribal co-managers during the PFMC’s April meeting.

All Kinds of Updates and Yak Report

2011-02-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

Just a few updates of some of the events going on here at Creekside.

-Spey Lines with Rio and Sage rep George Cook on Wednesday, February 23rd. George is kind enough to make an appearance every spring to help sort out all of the confusion surrounding spey lines. Skagit, scandi, switch, running lines, tips, and all things spey will be explained. And even if you know it all, come on down for a night that is always entertaining and full of humor.

-Introduction to Fly Fishing Classes with Dan Lemaich. This class is always a huge hit, and Dan does it only twice a year at a private lake on Camano Island. It is a one day class on Sunday, March 20th from 9AM to 3PM. He starts from square one and goes through equipment, knots, flies, casting, and hopefully by the end of the day you will be catching fish. Cost is $125.

-Introduction to Fly Tying with Brett Wedeking. Upcoming dates are March 15, 16, 17 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM. All materials are supplied, and you will leave with a good understanding of all of the basic tools and techniques required to start tying flies. You will tie a wooly bugger, elk hair caddis, parachute adams, pheasant tail, and hares ear. Cost is $80. We have a couple spots left for this class, but will be scheduling some more dates for April.

-Isaak's Ranch Private Lakes. We have our dates for this spring at Isaak's, anad they're starting to fill up quick. April 15th and 16th are full, but the 17th is wide open and May 13th has 3 spots left. If you haven't been before, just ask someone who has. It is one of the best trophy trout destinations in the northwest with trout averaging 20-22" and ranging all the way up to 30". There are two lakes, and both have profound hatches. Early dates will see primarily chironomid hatches but stripping leeches and buggers is productive as well. The May date should see some calibaetis action, mostly subsurface, but the chance of catching them on dries is certainly a possibility. Scuds, damsels, dragonflies, and more round out the action. Below are a couple of photos from last spring, the left being an average 22" lower lake fish and to the right a nice 27". Give us a call if fish like these might interest you.

Yakima Update 2-17: The fishing has remained strong with nymphs and streamers. The recent cold weather has cooled the water off a bit, ranging anywhere from 35-40 degrees on any given day. The fish are still in winter water, and seem to be pretty podded up on soft insides and slower walking speed water. When you find one, there are usually more. Look for a few warm nights to get the skwalas going. The nymphs are definately moving around a bit, but nothing much to speak of yet on the surface. Same bugs as the last report except bring some midges, especially on the upper river. Below is a nice upper river rainbow on a warm sunny day last week.

We are offering our "March Madness" trips on the Yakima. Like the name suggests, these trips will run through the end of March. Included is a full day float for 1 or 2 anglers, flies, equipment, your guide, and all of his wisdom. You will bring your own lunch. Cost is $300. Split that between you and a buddy and you're talkin' $150 bucks a piece for a full day guided trip. Take advantage of great early spring fishing on the Yakima, it truly is the best time of the year to catch the larger fish of the river, and not to mention the Skwala dry fishing is right around the corner. Give us a call at the shop to book your trip!

Yakima 2-8

2011-02-13T15:09:00.000-08:00

The Yak is fishing quite well at the moment. Water temps are ranging from 38-42 degrees at the moment, and the nymph and streamer bite has been very good. We saw our first two skwala adults of the year in the Farmlands section, and had a couple of trout eat our thingamabobbers, and oddly enough they were the hot pink ones. We threw a dry for a short while, but failed to rise any trout.

Above, a nice healthy bow that fell to a Sculpin that may or may not have been dead drifted... Fish like these are very typical of spring fishing on the Yakima. Remember, water temps are still cold, so adjust your style of fishing and the type of water you fish accordingly.

We're just a short while away from what should be a great spring Skwala season. As soon as the water temps bump another couple degrees and flows drop, trout on dry flies should be going on. In the meantime, nymphing should continue to produce, especially with the higher than normal flows for this time of year.

We'll be back on the water tomorrow with another report to follow.

Best Bugs:

Pats Stone (variety of colors) #8-12

San Juan Worms (Red, Pink, Wine) #10, #16

Sculpzilla (Olive, Natural, White) #2, #6

Weir's Sculpin #4

FB Pheasant Tail #18, #20

WD-40 #18, 20

-JW

Winter Steelhead

2011-02-06T11:19:00.000-08:00

So hopefully this will be the first post of many in 2011 that gives you, the reader, a look into the fishing expeditions of the staff and guides here at Creekside. We are always out fishing, whether it be for Steelhead, the Yakima for Trout, or a Puget Sound Beach for Sea-Run Cutts. We'll try to update this weekly, giving the most up to date conditions, flies, and techniques used. So here goes the first of '11.

Since all of our local Puget Sound rivers are now closed to Steelhead fishing, our options are limited to either the Olympic Peninsula's coastal rivers or the Columbia tributaries east of the mountains. All complaining aside, we are fortunate to be just a few hours drive away from Forks, where numerous rivers within a 50 mile radius harbor some of the best runs of native Winter Steelhead in the lower 48.

A buddy and I had a couple days off during this last week, so we packed the truck and boat and headed west. We had a few good days of weather, so all of the rivers were in great shape, and reports from a variety of sources told us that there were plenty of native fish throughout all of the systems.

We floated a couple of rivers over 3 days, and found plenty of fish. The water temperatures ranged from 37-39 degrees, and the weather varied from bright, sunny, and 50 degrees to an outright downpour, which is to be expected in this part of the state. Here are a few pictures of some fish we were able to put our hands on.

Pardon the cheesy grip and grin shots, we'll try for some more well-rounded photos in the next entry, but after all we've never claimed to be professional photographers.

This is the time of year all steelheaders look forward to. Battling high, cold water and ever changing weather conditions in search of these fish can be tough, but sometimes it all comes together and the results are well worth it. If your new to the game, get in touch with us. Our head guide Chris Senyohl has guided these rivers for 15+ years, and knows them as well as anyone in the northwest. He guides strictly on the Forks area rivers from February through mid April. We also have a few other trusted guides we can put you in touch with.

Until the next report, thanks for reading

-JW

More Evidence Farmed Fish Harm Wild Fish

2011-01-07T11:26:00.001-08:00

Check out this Wild fish Conservancy video produced up on Vancouver Island. The evidence all over the globe, including here in Puget Sound, is mounting that net pens and farmed fish are a major culprit in the decline of anadromous fish populations. Boooo net pens. B

Winston

2010-12-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

We have a limited amount of new Winstons, the Passport, GVX, BIIX Spey, BIIIX. They are cranking them out of the factory as fast as they can so if you want one get it soon because no one knows when more will be available as they are very popular. Come down and cast one and fall in love. B

Temple Dog

2010-10-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

No, not the band. That's Temple of the Dog, with Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell. I'm talking about the weird, furry critter from Tibet that has great properties for trout and steelhead streamer patterns. Well, anyway we now have a reliable supplier of the stuff and hence are stocking it in a variety of tasty colors. Stop by and check it out. -BW

Fish Skulls

2010-10-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

Since we're beginning 6 months of straight rain you'll be tying lots of flies. So you should come in and check out Fish Skulls. It's basically a metal helmet for your fly and the added bonus of cool, prismatic eyes. We have them in different colors and sizes. They will make your flies look cool, especially if your thread heads don't look so pretty. -BW

Gande Ronde

2010-10-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Just got off the river for 5 days. Fishing well over all. Only one day with no fish. Skaters, Small wets, bigger stinger flies or tubes. It's all working pretty well right now. No one was roping 10 a day but hitting 1-5 was common. Busy with anglers but not crazy crowded. Water temp was steady about 57 in the daytime. Little bit of rain in the forecast this week should be good for moving fish around as long as it doesn't pour. Air temps look stable too so get to getting. -BW

Steelhead Scandi

2010-09-16T13:32:00.001-07:00

Hot off the presses, we just received some of the new Rio Steelhead Scandi lines. This is billed as the be all end all summer, floating line. It's based on the specs of John Hazel's ACE Vision line that everyone loves so much but no cutting and splicing. Instead just add water. Come and get it. -BW

Wenatchee

2010-09-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

As of Monday the 13th the Wenatchee is still slow. Johnny and I floated Cashmere to the mouth, swinging floating lines and tips and a little nymphing and neglected to hook any fish. Well, that's not true, Johnny roped a squaw and I landed a couple small rainbows but... It's still early though in the scheme of things and traditionally the Wenatchee doesn't pick up until the end of the month. But you know what I'll take 80 degrees and sunny, floating down a river any day! -BW

Steel-trout

2010-09-09T11:05:00.000-07:00

The Methow and Wenatchee opened yesterday. Yes, for steelhead fishing. This is not a guaranteed season every year so take advantage of it while you can. Go angle. We have the flies, leaders and the rest of it to give you the excuse to go. Do it! - BW

A free flowing Elwha? Finally? Maybe?

2010-08-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

The Elwha may finally be a free flowing river again... I mean sure they've been saying that since I was wee lad, just learning to fly-fish with pops on the Greenwater. But they actually gave the contract to a Montana Firm to remove the two dams that have wrecked the salmon runs on the Elwha. They say maybe in 30 years the run could recover....

Fantastic. Here's the link to the article in the Seattle Times.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012733909_elwha27m.html

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

-RB

Flatlined on Flat Creek.

2010-08-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

So I know I promised you a Juan report in my last blog post but unfortunately I did not make it down to the Juan before I left Durango two days ago for Jackson Hole.

Why didn't I fish the Juan? The weekend we were going to head down there we caught wind that the entire state of Texas had just descended upon the river and began their convulsive rowing of circles through Texas Hole because some guy told them of a 10lb Brown he had seen brush past his fly two years previous. We decided to skip the show of 10-gallon black hats, never before used Cabelas waders, and hearing "Golly!" and "Y'all see that one?!" once every 25 seconds, to fish the Animas. And slay fish we did. Hopper + caddis nymph dropper = mega fish. Keep that in mind if you decide to sneak out of Washington and fish Colorado during steelhead season.

I, once again, digress. My first day back I went right for the throat of fishing in Jackson. That's right I went right after Flat Creek. Good 'Ole Flat Creek. Dirty, rotten no good son of a....ahem. Sorry about that.

The fishing was slow (as it usually is. If you don't have patience or like to work for your fish. Go fish the Buffalo Fork.) but I got into 6 fish. Unfortunately none of them were monstrous. The biggest was 20 and it took a size 22 grey RS2 that was trailing along behind a Red Turk's Tarantula. Most of the other fish were taken on an assortment of smaller, green bodied hoppers as well as one on a black marabou leech with red and green flashabou tied back from the head the length of the body.

From what I could gather talking to some other fly-fisherpeople (I say people because a few were women...no need to discriminate by saying fisherman.) Hoppers, Quigley Cripples, red and green bodied Turk's Tarantulas, leeches and midge patterns were catching fish sporadically throughout the day.

With Flat Creek you know it always depends on what the fish is feeling like at the moment your fly goes by. Flat Creek trout are definite drama queens. You got to cater to their needs. And no...you cannot use explosives.

Ahhhhh...It's good to be back in Jackson.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

-RB

SPEY DAZE VOL. V

2010-08-11T18:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, this Saturday, August 14th on the Snoqualmie River at the bridge in Fall City. Festivities kick off at 9am and go most of the day. Mostly we will be just hanging out casting rods and lines but there will be a few choice presentations through the day you'll want to check out. Loosely it looks like this

Charles St. Pierre-Spey Casting Fundamentals and the new cast the "T-Poke" 10am

George Cook-Switch Rods and Northwest Style Casting 1130am

Aaron Reimer-Myths of Spey Casting 1pm

We will have coffee and donuts in the morning until it's gone. Lots of gear to check out from Sage, Echo, Redington, Winston, Scientific Anglers, Airflo, Rio and even Simms, the stuff that keeps you dry and comfy while your fishing your spey rod.

See you there. BW

Want to buy normal flows...

2010-08-05T20:40:00.000-07:00

So you know that issue you Washingtonians were having earlier this summer with rivers being blown out and the fishing being near impossible? Yeah...welcome to monsoon season in Durango. Wicked violent thunderstorms in the morning, afternoon, night...yeah they come out of nowhere, drop like 3 inches of rain in 25 minutes and turn the Animas into the color of a red Crayola Crayon. So yeah...but at least we have the Juan. Oh? Was that a low blow? So sorry.

Anyway, Brett informs me that I should continue to write on this here fancy internet, blog doohickey because he is too lazy...err...I mean busy, right busy, to do so. So you will get a steady stream of me from now on. This is your fair warning to go read something else. No? Well you can't say I didn't warn you.

Since I won't be fishing the Juan until this weekend (oh ho! The hits just keep coming!) I will just pleasure you with some more places to fish this summer.

1. Elk Creek, Colorado: This is on my "to do" list, in the numero uno position (for those of you that don't speak Spanish, that means the number uno). This was featured in Fly-Fisherman a couple months back. You know, it's Rocky Ford on steroids. The creek is literally 15 feet wide in places and holds browns up to 8lbs in it. You hike into the meadow sections and fish terrestrials, midges and I was told...*gasp*...that a San Juan worm in purple would work. Once I get the time off I will definitely be heading to this place and so should you...I mean it only took me 22 hours to get here from Cle Elum and that was with a sidetrip to Jackson Hole on the way down...

2. Flat Creek, Jackson Hole: Hey guess what?! Flat Creek opened up on the first of August! Want to fish for jumbo cutty's with giant elk breathing down your neck just north of scenic Jackson Hole? Yes...yes you do. I would wait...oh about 7.65 more days though. Why wait you ask? Because that is when the 512 people that slept in their cars on July 30th to get out on the creek at midnight will actually decide it is time to take a shower, shave and stop slapping the water with every fly on God's green earth. My tips...use a red wire San Juan worm, midges, spinner cripples and yes...even a black wooley bugger or leech pattern has had success in tricking these giant fish of legend.

3. Green River, Flaming Gorge, Utah: I mentioned in the earlier post right down there that I stopped here on the way up to Jackson and just hammered fish, well...apparently you can tie on some big new fangled foam fly the size of a chicken (ok maybe a small rodent, sue me for exaggerating) and catch fish. I have only that one experience to go on, but I may go back. Alright, alright! I will go back...sheesh...you people are so touchy. Hey! Put that down! I said I was going back. Terrestrials, chernobyls, stones, assorted nymphs, including a SJ worm...should do the trick. Fish near the dam or if you have a boat do the float...there are assorted access points all downriver from the dam as well for you poor folks like me who have to rely on wading to fish.

And on that note. I am going to end this now with the promise of a Juan update after this weekend. I don't know when...I don't know how...but it will happen. This is more assured than steelhead actually not being mythical. Until that happens.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

A report from Jackson Hole...

2010-07-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

So...I went up to Jackson Hole this past weekend to visit a friend and do some fishing/look for work (which coincidentally involved fishing...for the most part.) The fishing was unbelievable and so too was the job market. It appears I will be going back to freezing my bum off in the winter, keeping warm by tying flies and drinking Snake River Brewing's finest, and most likely counting down the days until the ice on the river thins enough to sink a nymph through.

Oh by the way. The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam was on fire. I stopped for about an hour on the way up from Durango and hammered some very large fish on a very large black Chernobyl pattern.

Anyway, I digress, as I was saying the fishing in Jackson was ridiculous. I fished the Buffalo Fork and the Snake near Wilson. 20+ fish all on dries. Yellow Sallies (yes, there is that fly again. I tell you it works, use it) size 18-20 Mahogany Cripples, beetles, ants and hoppers were the name of the game. I fished mainly the Yellow Sally with the Cripple trailing behind going "too-lah-roo-la-roo-la" Then. WHAM! A fish would slam it with the force of one of those hurricane-type thingy's they have down south.

The Snake is somewhat wade-able, it definitely would be way easier from a boat, but still doable with your own legs. It was at around 4000 CFS but it braids all through the Park and around Jackson, which means just pick a tasty looking side channel and have at it. The Buffalo Fork is easily waded at the moment but the reason I left the isolation of that river was due to a Grizzly deciding to join me for some early morning dry fly action. I hadn't realized up to that point that I could walk on water. Had I known that I wouldn't have bothered with wading boots....

Anyway. I would say it's time to travel. The fishing has been as hot as the weather here in the landlocked, anadromous-free, trout filled states of Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Stop in at the Creekside shop on the way out here, load up on some flies, leaders and maybe some bear spray (it doesn't really work, especially if you spray yourself but still, you just never know) brag to Brett about where you're going and don't forget the Rainier.

WhyRainier you ask? Why to pay me for this top-notch information...

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

I have officially hijacked this blog

2010-07-21T22:09:00.000-07:00

So. Since Brett has failed at updating the blog since June. I take this over with a list of things to do with the rest of your summer. Oh yes...I am back.

First things first. Fishing should be your top priority. Your significant other be damned...that 500 mile backpacking trip you should complete in three days according to her...forget about it. I have much better plans.

1. The Juan. Aka the San Juan. As always should be tops on the list. I mean comon'...where else can you hook 20+ fish that are 18+ inches in 4 hours on 5x tippet and a size 20 zebra midge? No where! That's right...no where. Just do it. (yes I stole that from Nike, get over it.) Use either a zebra midge or a Skintilla....Skintilla equals a size 20 chocolate colored bubbleback midge...it's like 5 wraps of brown thread with a silver wire rib and a small glass bead. You will slay fish all day. Promise.

2. The Yak. Yes if you wish to stay closer to home well....fish a hopper. Should be amazing right now as it usually is. I have heard that in the summer if you fish a Yellow Sally you can slay fish, but that is just a rumor that has been disputed by many. (However with my 20+ years experience fishing the upper portion...it works...just sayin'.)

3. The South Fork of the Flathead. Sure you have to drive 50 miles up a dirt road. Sure it is in Montana. Pretty sure you will hammer fish and quite possibly a really large bull trout if you get lucky. But I mean...it is sooooooo far. Just say...Hey! It's wilderness...there will be no one around to see you get ignored by me completely. Well maybe don't say that, but you catch my drift.

4. Yellowstone National Park. Ok so you can drop her/him off at civilization and book it for the Lamar, Slough, Yellowstone, Blechler and if you feel real frisky, you can just hike/horseback ride the 50 miles (I recommend the use of a horse) into the Thoroughfare area of the park. It is the largest road less area in the continental US, but trust me the fishing is totally worth it. Big fish...spawning....you will cry from pure joy fishing there. Also...go to Tower Falls...hike the steep trail to the river...fish there...you will not be disappointed. Trust me. That was my spot...you share it with the bears and elk....And that is it. Oh and the fishing is awesome too.

5. Harass Brett. He may pretend he hates it and sure he is a bit uppity, but I mean...can you get better fishing info from anyone but Brett, Dan, Johnny or Pete...I mean Keith is a longshot but still. Harass and garner info from a nice comfy shop in Izzy. Can't get any better than that right? Well on second thought...

My hijack of the thread is over. Enjoy the summer and hopefully Brett decides to update the blog more than once a month after this.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic.

PS: I have been slaying fish on the Animas here in Durango on the Wier Sculpin...so Brett may actually know what he is doing...

Reiter Ponds

2010-06-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Reiter is open over 6 weeks early. And we thought there were no more steelhead. Ha! Get some. -B

FISHING RULE CHANGE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

June 10, 2010

Reiter Ponds section of Skykomish River opens June 12

Action: Open the Reiter Ponds section of the Skykomish River to recreational fishing.

Effective date: 8 a.m. June 12, 2010.

Species affected: All game fish, including steelhead.

Location: Skykomish River from 1,500 feet upstream to 1,000 feet downstream of the Reiter Ponds Hatchery outlet.

Reason for action: The Reiter Ponds Hatchery has collected enough summer steelhead broodstock to meet production needs.

Other information: There is a night closure and anti-snagging rule in effect. Also, fishing from a floating device is prohibited.

Dolly Varden/Bull Trout - minimum size 20 inches may be retained as part of trout daily limit.

All other trout - minimum size 14 inches, daily limit two.

Other game fish - statewide minimum size and daily limit. That information can be found on page 27 of the 2010-11 Fishing in Washington sportfishing rules pamphlet.

Public access through the Reiter Ponds Hatchery grounds is allowed daily between 6 a.m. and dusk. However on opening day fishing does not begin until 8 a.m. to ensure an orderly fishery. On Aug.1, this section of the Skykomish River reverts to rules listed in the sportfishing rules pamphlet.

Information contact: Jennifer Whitney, District 13 Fish Biologist (425) 775-1311.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.

Bright thing in the sky

2010-06-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

So it's supposed to get sunny this weekend and stay that way for like a week. I guess I'll believe it when I see it. Most of the rivers are still brownish locally. I had a report from the upper Sky what gear guys are taking fish in the high water. When it's off color and high the fish run on the edges in only a couple feet of water so feel free to get out there with your sink tip and a big fly. No one else is so you won't have much competition and you might be surprised how many fish are actually in the system.

The Cedar is running biblical so stay tuned on that one. The Yak is up over 3000cfs in the Canyon but fishing well. Bring a boat or your aggressive wading skills. PMD's, caddis, golden stones, Yellow Sallies, Cahills, Green Drakes (upper river). Lots of good nymphing too.

Chopaka still rules the lake world. Go now.

Feed Fish Flies-B

Open 'er Up

2010-06-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

Today is the general river opener folks. Of course a few rivers opened up on June 1st, WDFW likes to confuse anglers, today is the day. Except just about everything within a day's drive of lovely Issaquah is punched. I was on the Snoqualmie this morning teaching a casting class and it is brown town. Look for things to get fishable in the next week and in good shape in maybe two weeks.

If you want to angle go to a lake. Chopaka, Chopaka, Chopaka. Best callibaetis fishing on the map. Lenice is closer and has hungry fish too. Puget Sound is even closer and has hungry fish.-B

Wild West

2010-05-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Check out this article on extreme bass fishing in Texas. I think I'll stick to battling the bait guys on the Skykomish, it's safer.-B

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37422274/?GT1=43001

New Rules

2010-05-05T18:39:00.001-07:00

So the new WDFW regs went into effect this week. There are a few changes and you can check them out on the WDFW website. The best thing around is Rattlesnake Lake changed to catch and release fishing and is open year round. The bad thing is that apparently all streams and beaver ponds in the Puget Sound area are closed unless otherwise posted as open, to protect salmon and steelhead. So what does that have to do with beaver ponds and streams that are tributaries to the Snoqualmie above the falls? No anadromous fish up there. WDFW can't possibly list every stream up there right? How does this work? As if the regs weren't already complicated enough. Sigh... - BW

Pamphlet includes new fishing rules
that take effect May 1 around the state

OLYMPIA – Anglers planning to fish in Washington past the end of the month should be aware that nearly a hundred new fishing rules will take effect starting May 1.

The new regulations, affecting everything from catch limits to fishing tackle, are included in the new Fishing in Washington rules pamphlet, published by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for the 2010-11 season.

The free pamphlet will be available later this week at WDFW offices and more than 600 sporting goods stores and other license vendors statewide. It is also posted on WDFW’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/regulations.

“We strongly advise anglers who have been using last year’s fishing pamphlet to pick up a new one,” said Craig Burley, WDFW fish division manager. “While many regulations remain the same from year to year, some significant changes are about to take effect in fisheries throughout the state this season.”

Those changes include nearly a hundred new rules adopted last February by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, a nine-member citizen panel that sets policy for WDFW. Prior to taking action on those proposals, the commission conducted a series of public hearings and considered more than a thousand comments received from anglers and non-anglers throughout the state.

Key changes are summarized on page 11 of the new rules pamphlet. For example:

All rivers, streams and beaver ponds in the Puget Sound area are closed to fishing, unless otherwise stated in the rules pamphlet. This approach allows fishery managers to provide greater protection for juvenile anadromous fish in many of the smaller unnamed streams.
Anglers can now purchase a two-pole endorsement, allowing them to use up to two lines when fishing in most lakes statewide.
Fishing for all species of rockfish will be closed in most areas of Puget Sound to protect declining populations.
Harvest of sea stars, shore crab and other “unclassified marine invertebrates” is prohibited to protect these beach dwellers.
Barbless hooks will be required during salmon fisheries in Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay to protect wild fish.

Burley recommends that anglers check the new pamphlet for any new rules that might apply to their favorite fishing spots.

One worth noting is Rattlesnake Lake in King County, which opened to trout fishing April 24 with a five-fish limit, but will switch to a catch-and-release fishery when the new rules take effect May 1.

“That’s the kind of change that anglers need to know about,” Burley said. “By checking the new rules, they can avoid surprises in fisheries around the state.”

Hope for Bristol Bay

2010-04-26T22:57:00.000-07:00

This might be the first positive, political step toward prohibiting the construction of the Pebble Mine. Please contact your congressmen in support of this.-BW

Trout Unlimited, Together With Hundreds of Fishing and Hunting Groups, Applauds Call for Federal Protection of Bristol Bay Watershed

April 23rd, 2010 · No Comments

(April 22, 2010, Anchorage, Alaska) – Trout Unlimited and the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska, along with nearly 300 hunting and fishing groups, today welcomed news that the current and former chairmen of the House Interior Appropriations Committee have urged the Bureau of Land Management to protect federal lands near Bristol Bay, Alaska, from hard rock mining.

Chairman Jim Moran (D-VA) and former committee Chairman Norm Dicks (D-Wash.) have asked the Bureau of Land Management protect 1.1 million acres near Bristol Bay, home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery.

“We fully support keeping this high-value habitat that’s critical to Bristol Bay’s rich fisheries off-limits to mining, and we applaud Mr. Moran and Mr. Dicks for taking a stand and urging the BLM to do the right thing,” said Tim Bristol, director of Trout Unlimited’s Alaska Program.

During the final days of the former administration, BLM developed a management plan for federal lands in Bristol Bay. The plan recommended opening for mining some 1.1 million acres that is crisscrossed by miles of pristine rivers and tributaries and that provides prime spawning and rearing habitat for Bristol Bay’s famous salmon runs.

For three decades this land was closed to mineral development. But in 2008, BLM opened it up to hard rock mining and oil and gas exploration despite widespread public concern about the potential harm to the area’s abundant salmon, trout, bear, caribou and moose populations.

The management plan is especially problematic because the 1.1 million acres lie adjacent to the proposed Pebble gold and copper mine. This colossal mine is but one of several potential mining developments on nearby lands. If Pebble and other mines are allowed to proceed, these projects risk exposing Bristol Bay’s commercial, sport and subsistence fisheries to toxic mine discharges. The combination of Pebble, plus potential mineral leasing on BLM land nearby, would pose a grave risk to Bristol Bay’s sensitive freshwater habitat that supports fisheries that are valued at more than $400 million annually.

Last August, nearly 300 sporting groups and businesses, including the Sportsman’s Alliance for Alaska (SAA,) had urged BLM Director Bob Abbey to keep the mining prohibitions in place. SAA’s director, Scott Hed, said today that he is heartened by Moran and Dicks’ action.

“From catch and release anglers to big game hunters, from fly rod makers to firearms manufacturers, the hunting and angling community has deemed the Bristol Bay region a place worth fighting for. Seeing this sentiment shared by members of Congress is very encouraging – and a sign that our message is being heard,” said Hed.

Now, if we could just stop killing wild steelhead...

2010-04-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

...we might get somewhere with great non-profits like the Hoh River Trust working to protect spawning habitat one of the last pristine rivers left in the lower 48.-BW

Trust protects 7,000 acres along Hoh River

After nearly 10 years of work and more than $11 million, one of the largest single conservation efforts in Washington has permanently protected some 7,000 acres of land along the Hoh River.

The Associated Press

SEATTLE —

After nearly 10 years of work and more than $11 million, one of the largest single conservation efforts in Washington has permanently protected some 7,000 acres of land along the Hoh River.

The Seattle Times reports the lands purchased, plus those already protected within Olympic National Park, conserve nearly the entire length of the Hoh.

The effort, begun in 2001, was funded by a combination of federal, state and private money, totaling more than $11 million. The work was led by the Western Rivers Conservancy and Wild Salmon Center, nonprofit-conservation groups based in Portland.

They created the nonprofit Hoh River Trust in 2004 in Seattle.

Yay for Rock Creek!

2010-03-30T13:01:00.000-07:00

Maybe the state of Alaska should take a hint from Montana and block the Pebble Mine. -BW

Court Rejects Rock Creek Mine In Northwest Montana

Grizzly bear, bull trout habitat at stake
March 29, 2010
Missoula, MT -- In a major victory for bull trout and grizzly bears of northwest Montana, a federal judge today rejected the U.S. Forest Service's approval of a massive industrial mining operation on the edge of the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness Area.

The court ruled that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Forest Service Organic Act in approving the Rock Creek Mine, which would have bored under the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness in the midst of popular recreational areas and key habitat for bull trout, grizzly bears and other sensitive wildlife species.
The case marks the third time that lawsuits brought by members of the public have succeeded in invalidating federal agency approvals for the Rock Creek Mine project.
"This third strike against this mine should end the game," said Jim Costello of the Rock Creek Alliance, one of the groups involved in the lawsuits. "We've said all along that this mine simply cannot be built without contaminating the region's waters and pushing the Cabinet's fragile bull trout and grizzly bear population in Rock Creek to extinction. It's time for the government to stop this merry-go-round and start working to protect our region's waters, trout and bears."
"This mine would smother important bull trout spawning grounds under tons of sediment and disrupt thousands of acres of habitat for the region's tiny grizzly bear population, all while threatening to drain the water out of lakes in the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness," said Earthjustice attorney Tim Preso. "The federal permit blocked today was issued by the Bush administration and we hope the Obama administration will have a different view about undermining a federal wilderness area."
The proposed mining operation would have removed 10,000 tons per day of copper and silver ore from under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness seven days a week for 35 years. The resulting loss of more than 7,000 acres of habitat would be devastating to the few grizzly bears that survive in the Cabinet Mountains.
The mine also would have dumped up to three million gallons of waste water each day into the Clark Fork River and threatened to destroy the bull trout population in Rock Creek, a tributary of the Clark Fork.
The proposed Rock Creek Mine faced vehement opposition from a coalition of local, regional and national conservation groups, along with local business representatives, public officials and ordinary citizens.
The groups that challenged the mine are Rock Creek Alliance, Cabinet Resource Group, Clark Fork Coalition, Earthworks, Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited, Idaho Council of Trout Unlimited, Pacific Rivers Council, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Natural Resources Defense Council, Montana Wilderness Association, and Great Old Broads for Wilderness. The groups were represented by lawyers from Earthjustice and the Western Mining Action Project.
Contact:
Tim Preso, Earthjustice, (406) 586-9699
Jim Costello, Rock Creek Alliance, (406) 544-1494
Natural Resources Defense Council, (406) 222-9561

Do You Smelt What the Rock is Cooking?

2010-03-17T16:27:00.001-07:00

Yeah, whatever, we don't need smelt. It's not like salmon, steelhead or sea run cutts eat them. Psshhhaahh! -BW WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE Print Version NEWS RELEASE 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

March 16, 2010
Contact: Brad James, (360) 906-6716

Statement on the listing of eulachon smelt
as a 'threatened' species under the ESA

The following statement from Phil Anderson, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), concerning the listing by NOAA-Fisheries of eulachon smelt as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

"The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) supports the listing of Pacific smelt as threatened under the federal ESA. The decline of this important forage fish species over the past two decades is a serious concern and one that deserves our best effort to reverse. During this time period, WDFW has worked closely with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to reduce the harvest of smelt to low levels without a positive response from the smelt resource. The information compiled by NOAA-Fisheries during its status determination indicates that climate change, poor ocean survival conditions, lack of adequate freshwater flows and predation by seals and sea lions have combined to threaten to smelt throughout their range from northern California to Alaska."

"WDFW will continue to work with NOAA-Fisheries, ODFW, and the Cowlitz Tribe to identify corrective actions that will lead to recovery this important resource."

CATCHAPALOOZA

2010-03-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

So we'd like to thank Ryan for all his years of service, or well his 10 months. Good luck in Colorado. Traitor (not really, though we might call the cops if he steps foot on the premises)... Really though this post is about our little Flyfishing Fest in North Bend we're calling Catchapalooza.

On Wednesday March 10th, we are hosting an event at the North Bend Theater with special guests Brian O'Keefe (you've seen his photos, they're all over anything outdoor related) and Todd Moen (a filmmaking friend with more talent in one eyelash than my whole family has) from Catch Magazine will be on hand to share some films and photos and talk to you about all the cool places they've caught fish and if you want tell you how you can do it too. Jack Mitchell of The Evening Hatch will be there as well giving a presentation on Fishing in Washington. We all stand to learn a thing or two from him on our fair state.

The event begins officially at 7pm but please come early to bs with the presenters and tell us how much you love us. And drink beer. Yes, beer will be available with a donation to Trout Unlimited. The event is technically FREE but we are trying to raise money for TU so if you are feeling generous and have a pile of cash spilling out of your pockets then by all means...

See you there. Oh yeah, and Skwalas are popping on the Yakima...

Feed Fish Flies-BW

The Last Best Top Five (Kinda, Sorta, Maybe)

2010-02-27T10:03:00.000-08:00

Sadly today is my last day here at Creekside. In about two months I am off to the wilds of Mexican food, snow bunnies, large trout that eat microscopic flies and yes, even, crazy mountain bikers. Where is this wonderland you ask? Why no, it is not Vancouver, BC. Try again. Jackson Hole? Been there done that. Ok, ok I will tell you, just put down that log you call a spey rod. It is the magical land of Durango, Colorado where I will be fishing such rivers as the San Juan, Animas, Florida, Green and others, err...well I will stand there and tell others where to cast and with what fly. Yes, I realize there is no steelhead or salmon. No, I will not go into withdrawal...ok maybe I will a little. I have already completed my application to SSA (Salmon and Steelheaders Anonymous), so I should be ok. Let's be honest though, there really wasn't any steelhead here anyway...duh.

Whilst working at Creekside I have garnered the ability to BS with the best of them, obtained and increased the urge to fish for the mythical steelhead in a driving snowstorm and sub-zero temperatures, been fascinated by the amount of fishing knowledge Dan has in his head (and the amount he has most likely forgotten along the way. Someone, please write a book about this man), and had the fact that all women are crazy injected into my soul by Brett. While the later may in fact have nothing to do with working at a Fly Shop, it is still an inscrutable cold hard fact that I will take with me, so I thank Brett for clearing that up for me. Some apparently are less crazy than others. ( I still don't believe it by the way, so if any ladies read this put the pitchforks and rope down. I was just kidding. I swear.)

I enjoyed my time here and sucking the knowledge of all things fishing from Dan, Brett and Pete and interacting with many of our wonderful customers. So before I leave for the landlocked state of Colorado, I shall leave you with my last Top Five list. I know, how very High Fidelity of me.

Top Five Fishy Places to Live

1. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - In light of seeing the Olympics just 3 hours north of us, yet tape delayed by NBC so that we have to stay up until midnight to watch for results we already got from that fancy doohickey the internet, this makes my #1 spot. And no, it's not just because April Vokey lives near there, remove mind from gutter please. Can I continue now? Good. This city is like what Seattle used to be. Drive 2 hours east, north, south, northeast, southeast, etc and you are most likely standing on, near, or in water that has fish, be it salmon, steelhead, trout or sturgeon. It would be like putting Seattle in the middle of the Olympic Peninsula, only better. Unlike Seattle however, these fish actually exist and you can actually catch them. I've seen photos. (I'm not allowed in Canada see...I umm...let's not get into that.) The scenery is awesome and of course in the winter when you get bored of world class steelheading you can go do some world class snow sports, plus the people are a hoot...eh?

2. Jackson Hole, Wyoming - I lived in this mecca for almost 4 years. Doing everything I could to not turn into a meat popsicle in the winter while I waited for the thaw and fishing to begin again. Once you get past the fact that it's one of the most ridiculously expensive places to live in the US and that you will remain poor, it's actually quite wonderful. Within 2-3 hours of this place (depends on traffic through the park, July snowstorms and of course bison) you have all the rivers in the park (Firehole, Yellowstone, Madison, Gardiner, Lamar, Soda Butte, Slough Creek, etc.), the Snake River, South Fork of the Snake River, Henry's Fork, Green, Hoback, Gros Ventre, Salt, Flat Creek...ok grab a map would ya?! I can spend all day listing the epic fishing. You get the picture. The people here are awesome, the beer is good, great arts culture, and well, the nightlife is crazy. I was sad to go, but my liver thanked me. My suggestion...take up skiing so you don't get addicted to World of Warcraft waiting for the winter to end...

3. Bozeman/Livingston/Ennis, Montana - I'm sure that any of these three you've heard of or visited. Again with the epic fishing within a couple hours. Yellowstone National Park is right there, the Madison, the Missouri is within a reasonable drive, the Bighorn, spring creeks, Rock Creek, and others. Plus, it's Montana, you honestly cannot go wrong living in Montana. It seems that their drainage ditches have more and bigger fish than any river here in Washington. Plus if you ever get bored with the area around here, you can just go to Idaho or Wyoming, it's just a short jaunt away. Oh and did I mention Simms is located here...

4. Naples, Florida - You thought I was just gonna chill on the West Coast for this huh? I string you along with a couple Western cities than BOOM! Florida comes at you like a spider monkey. Naples is on the Gulf side of Florida and sure while you have to contend with hurricanes every once and awhile, it is soooo worth it. The Everglades sit dead south/southeast of Naples and of course you are within a couple hours of the Keys. So Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Permit, and Bonefish are on the plate down here, oh and also that elusive hanging chad (sorry you can't mention Florida without a Bush joke. It is a fact.). And it is almost always wicked warm, which is a nice change from the "OMG it's still raining" springtime here in the Pacific Northwest. The problem with moving here is, your friends from here will start calling in November and not relent until June, begging for a place to stay for 3 days which than turns into 5 months. Just a fair warning, your house will smell like the inside of the bait cooler down on the beach if you allow this to happen.

5. Christchurch/Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand - And this is my dream place to move if the bloody wankers ever make it easy for someone like me to gain citizenship into their country. I mean comon...you let Elijah Wood in, why not me?! WHY! I don't think I need to tell you about the fishing here, you've all seen the films, magazines, photos...Hell, Gollum's buddy even caught a damn jumbo in Lord of the Rings, pulled him right outta the boat. If a halfling can do it, so can I, so can you. Sea-run Browns, Rainbows, and multitudes of other fish would make me very happy to leave the US and become a Kiwi. Well and the beer, mountains, golfing, surfing, proximity to Australia....Can you tell I want to move here? Maybe I can pick up the accent too, I hear it works wonders on the ladies...

There you have it. An extensive Top Five and my last one for this lovely company. I have enjoyed the time and opportunities granted to me here. Peace out, catch you on the flip side and if y'all get the itch to leave Washington and come to Colorado, don't. I keed, I keed. But no really.

Thanks again to Pete and Creekside for putting up with me for as long as they did. Peace out.
-RB
Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

Your favorite river may be closing this week

2010-02-16T15:07:00.000-08:00

Thank you WDFW for the further mismanagement of our state's fisheries and scapegoating the recreational fishermen. But hey we can still fish the Wallace and the falls pool on the Snoqualmie even though no native steelhead spawn up there. -BW

WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE NEWS RELEASE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
February 12, 2010Contact: Bob Leland, (360) 902-2817

Steelhead fishing will close Feb. 18 in five river systems around Puget Sound

OLYMPIA – Steelhead fishing will close Feb. 18 in five major river systems in the Puget Sound area to protect wild fish, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced today.
The closure will affect the Puyallup, Nooksack, Stillaguamish, Samish and Snohomish rivers and their tributaries.
Pre-season estimates developed by the department indicate that returns of wild steelhead will fall far short of target levels in all five river systems, said Bob Leland, WDFW steelhead manager.
“This is the fourth straight year that we’ve seen a downward trend in wild steelhead returns,” Leland said. “These closures are necessary to meet the conservation objectives of our statewide steelhead management plan and comply with provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).”
Wild steelhead in the Puget Sound region have been listed as “threatened” under the ESA since 2007. Although anglers are required to release any wild fish they catch in those rivers, some of those fish inevitably die from the experience, Leland said.
Rivers closing to steelhead fishing Feb. 18 include:
Puyallup River system
Puyallup River mainstem from the 11th St. Bridge in Tacoma upstream to Electron Power Plant Outlet
Carbon River from the mouth to Hwy.162 Bridge
White (Stuck) River from the mouth to R Street Bridge in Auburn
Nooksack River system
Nooksack River from the mouth to the confluence of the North and South Forks
North Fork Nooksack from the mouth to Nooksack Falls
South Fork Nooksack from the mouth to Skookum Creek
Middle Fork Nooksack from the mouth to headwaters.
Samish River system
Samish River from the mouth to the Hickson Bridge.
Stillaguamish River system
Stillaguamish River from sloughs south of Marine Drive to forks.
North Fork of the Stillaguamish from the mouth to Swede Heaven Bridge.
South Fork of the Stillaguamish from the mouth to the Mt Loop Hwy. Bridge (above Granite Falls).
Canyon Creek from the mouth at the South Fork of the Stillaguamish to the forks.
Snohomish River system
Snohomish River from mouth (Burlington-Northern railroad bridges) to the confluence of the Skykomish and Snoqualmie rivers including all channels, sloughs, and interconnected waterways.
Snoqualmie River from the mouth to the boat launch at Plum Landing (~1/4 mile below Tokul Creek).
Skykomish River from the mouth to the forks.
North Fork of the Skykomish from the mouth to Deer Falls (about ¼ mile upstream of Goblin Creek).
South Fork of the Skykomish from the mouth to the Sunset Falls Fishway.
Pilchuck River from mouth to the Snohomish city diversion dam.
Sultan River from mouth to the diversion dam at river mile 9.7.
Tolt River from mouth to the confluence of the North and South Fork.
Raging River from the mouth to the Highway 18 Bridge.
The Wallace River, Tokul Creek and Snoqualmie River above the boat ramp at Plum Landing will close Feb 28.
Reopening dates for all of these waters will be noted in the 2010-11 Fishing in Washington fishing rules pamphlet.

Modern Spey Lines-A Seasonal Approach

2010-02-03T18:00:00.001-08:00

Hey you, spey dude. Having trouble deciphering all the technical mumbo jumbo regarding today's spey lines? Or even if you have a good handle on it and you just like free stuff, you need to come down the the Issy shop on Wed. Feb. 17th @ 6pm for a clinic from Sage/Rio/Tibor sales rep. George Cook. will conduct a free clinic on today's myriad of spey lines and how to find the right lines for you. We will also raffle off a couple of lines for you to put to use after the clinic. And you'll be guaranteed (not really) to catch more fish llike the one in the picture, just minus the teeth and neopreone waders. No need to sign up, just show up. If anything George Cook is always entertaining so it'll be a good time. Call Issy for more info 425-392-3800. Word. - BW

Yakima Salmon Plans

2010-01-30T10:19:00.000-08:00

Earlier this last year I wrote about Sockeye Salmon returning to Lake Cle Elum for the first time in like 100 years. We also had a decent (and by decent I mean more than 50, which technically is abysmal) steelhead count up over Rosa Dam and of course a good Chinook return due to the hatchery. Now we are getting word that they might actually build a fish passage through the Lake Cle Elum Dam so that sockeye and other salmon/steelhead can get downstream to leave and upstream to spawn in one of their native grounds. Of course when I say one I mean that Keechelus and Kachess won't be happening anytime soon eventhough they were natural sockeye holdover lakes before the dams were put in and there will be no fish passage built on either of those dams or on the Easton Dam anytime soon, but hey, 1 of 3 is good enough for baseball so it must be for the Fish and Game Dept too, right?

I also here tell that people are opposed to this because they are afraid that these returning salmon will destroy their precious trout fishery. I'm from Cle Elum, grew up there, fished before and after the current chinook fishery was put in and I will say that the upper river is more healthy now than it was before the return of the salmon. The fish are bigger and more active and omg...they are hatchery fish! So are every other Columbia River salmon/steelhead...remember those dams on the Columbia? They killed almost every wild fish we had until the hatchery systems and ladders were implemented. So I don't want to hear about how hatchery fish are ruining our wild fish...in the Columbia system...most of those wild fish are technically hatchery fish that spawned in the wild. Get over it.

Yes I understand hatchery fish spawning on wild fish and the whole genetics thing, but do you really think the genetics will be any better with 250 fish coming up the river? Mull that over.

I digress, my main point is salmon = nutrients in the system, which in turn equates to bigger trout once the initial surge is over and the system rebalances closer to natural levels. So calm down. The salmon were there before and the trout did fine, so it will be again. Anyway. Here's the article.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010922245_fishproposal29.html

-RB
Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

Fail People are Fail

2010-01-28T10:24:00.000-08:00

Yeah you know it. People who transport a boat from an area that is infested with Zebra Mussels (ie, Meeeeechigan) to a place that doesn't want them (ie, everywhere, including Washington) and has said Zebra Mussels on the boat they are transporting. Than when told to wait for WDFW to show up and disinfect the boat, takes off and than is arrested in Blaine trying to launch the damn thing.

Well, stupidity was never something some Americans failed at, especially this one apparently. Here's the article.

-RB
Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

January 26, 2010
Contact: Sgt. Eric Anderson, WDFW (360) 902-2426
Michael Boska, Kittitas County Prosecutor’s Office, (509) 962-7520

Arrest warrant issued in zebra mussel case

OLYMPIA – An arrest warrant has been issued for a commercial trucker from Michigan charged with transporting invasive zebra mussels into Washington state aboard a 50-foot cabin cruiser.

David Derderian, 44, of Fraser, Michigan, was charged in Kittitas County Lower District Court last November with unlawful transportation of a deleterious exotic species and making false statements to law enforcement officers.

The court issued a warrant for Derderian’s arrest when he failed to appear for his arraignment Jan. 13, said Michael Boska, deputy prosecutor for Kittitas County.

“We appreciate the court’s help on this case,” said Bruce Bjork, chief of enforcement for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), which sought the initial charges against Derderian. “We need to do everything we can to keep zebra mussels and other invasive species out of this state.”

Zebra mussels are small, freshwater mollusks that can quickly infest lakes and rivers, threatening native fish species and public water systems, Bjork said. Since the 1980s, when zebra mussels entered the Great Lakes in ships’ ballast water, they have spread to more than 20 states, including Michigan.

The invasive mussels often spread by attaching themselves to boats and trailers. Washington state law prohibits the transportation of aquatic invasive species on boats or trailers and allows state authorities to stop them for inspection.

The charges against Derderian stem from the delivery of a Sea Ray cabin cruiser from Lake Michigan to Washington. Derderian was hauling the boat when he was stopped Nov. 14 by the Washington State Patrol at the Cle Elum truck scale on Interstate 90.

State Patrol commercial vehicle officers found zebra mussels on the boat and alerted WDFW, which has special equipment to decontaminate boats carrying zebra mussels. But Derderian left with the boat and continued to Blaine before the WDFW officers could arrive at the scene, according to the department’s report.

Bjork said WDFW officers later intercepted Derderian in Blaine and stopped him from launching the boat. Based on Derderian’s statements and actions, they then asked the Kittitas County Prosecutor’s Office to press charges.

WDFW has also referred the case to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service for consideration of federal charges for interstate transport of the invasive mussels, which would be a violation of the Lacey Act.

“We are pressing for federal charges in this case,” Bjork said. “It’s essential that we have people’s cooperation in our efforts to keep zebra mussels and other invasive species out of Washington. Besides the risks to fish and shellfish, these invaders have already cost industry, government and private citizens billions of dollars in damage to water and hydropower facilities in this country.”

For information on zebra mussels, see http://wdfw.wa.gov/enforcement/ on WDFW's website. To report zebra mussel sightings, call 1(877) WDFW-AIS.

Dropping Acid in the Mix

2010-01-21T13:27:00.000-08:00

You know that giant soup of plastic twice the size of Texas in the Pacific. Or maybe the overfishing that is leading to the eminent demise of multiple species of fish, including our lovely steelhead and salmon. Or the rising sea temperatures that are raising toxic sulfide levels off the coast of Africa, South America and Indonesia, killing fisheries and causing the sea to be as barren as, oh say, the Skagit River today.

What else could I tell you that could make it worse you say? Well, here ya go. I am going to throw some more metaphorical gasoline on the preverbial fire.
-RB
Feed Fish Flies not Plastic

Pacific's rising acid levels threatening marine life

A sweeping 15-year study of pH levels in the Pacific Ocean confirmed that upper reaches of the sea are becoming increasingly more acidic.

By Sandi Doughton
Seattle Times science reporter
Related
Archive Oysters in deep trouble: Is Pacific Ocean's chemistry killing sea life?

The most extensive survey of pH levels in the Pacific Ocean confirms what spot measurements have suggested: From Hawaii to Alaska, the upper reaches of the sea are becoming more acidic in concert with rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

"If you see these changes across an entire ocean basin, you can be assured it's happening on a global scale in other ocean basins around the world," said Robert Byrne, a marine chemist at the University of South Florida and lead author of an upcoming paper in Geophysical Research Letters.

Ocean acidification is a threat to shelled creatures and other marine life, and is a leading suspect in the ongoing crash of Pacific oyster populations in Washington.

Byrne collaborated with Seattle scientists on the survey, which was 15 years in the making. The team first measured acidity along the 2,800-mile sweep of ocean between Oahu and Kodiak in 1991. They returned in 2006 aboard the University of Washington research vessel Thomas G. Thompson, working around the clock in shifts to collect and analyze nearly 1,500 water samples over two months.

It's the first time measurements have been taken across such a wide area, said co-author Richard Feely, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle.

"The fact that we saw this very significant change over the last 15 years is a reminder of how mankind is affecting the oceans at an ever-increasing rate," Feely said.

In addition to contributing to a global greenhouse effect, some of the carbon dioxide from cars, factories and power plants dissolves in the ocean, creating the same carbonic acid that gives soda pop its tang. The process makes seawater slightly more acidic, and also gobbles up carbonate, a basic building block of seashells.

The result can be an environment where shells dissolve, destroying plankton, marine snails and other small creatures that sustain the rest of the marine food web. Acidified water also can kill fish eggs and larvae.

Byrne and his colleagues developed a more precise way to measure pH, using a dye that turns from purple to bright yellow as acidity increases. On board the ship, they used instruments called spectrophotometers to measure the color change and nail pH levels 10 times more accurately than possible before.

Debby Ianson, an ocean climate modeler for Canada's Institute of Ocean Sciences who was not involved in the project, said the approach is a good one. "We need studies like this," she wrote in an e-mail.

As expected, the researchers found acidification was strongest in the top layer of water, closest to the atmosphere. Normal seawater is slightly alkaline, with a pH value of about 8. Over the past 15 years, average pH levels in the top 300 feet of the ocean dropped 0.026 pH units. That sounds tiny, but is equivalent to a 6 percent jump in acidity, Byrne said.

Working a thousand or more miles off the West Coast, the scientists took samples down to the ocean floor. They found no change yet in acidity at the deepest levels. But as carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere continue to climb, natural mixing eventually will raise acidity throughout the water column, Byrne said.

Analysis of air bubbles trapped in Antarctic ice cores show that atmospheric carbon dioxide already is higher than anytime in the last 800,000 years, and the same is almost certainly true of ocean acidity, Byrne pointed out. Since the start of the Industrial Age, the scientists calculate that the acidity of the world's oceans has increased by 25 to 30 percent.

Under a business-as-usual scenario, Feely said, ocean acidity could triple by the end of the century.

Ianson cautions that extrapolating future rates of acidification is difficult, because the ocean and atmosphere are so complex.

Still, Byrne said, the trend is clear.

"We're seeing unprecedented rates of change in the atmosphere, and we're going to see changes in seawater in lock-step with that," he said.

The Slippery Slope Gets Slipperier

2010-01-16T10:38:00.000-08:00

In another couple years the rivers will be open all year long because there won't be anything left in them to incidentally kill. Thank you WDFW, for constantly punishing the lowest impact user group on our rivers for the sins of everyone. Better get some now if you want any at all. - BW

WDFW FISHING RULE CHANGE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov

January 15, 2010

Closure of Skagit and Sauk rivers to fishing

Action: Close the Skagit and Sauk Rivers to all fishing.

Species affected: All game fish species

Location and effective closure dates:

Skagit River from the mouth upstream to Highway 536 (Memorial Hwy. Bridge) at Mount Vernon will be closed Feb.16, 2010 through April 30, 2010.
Skagit River from the Highway 536 (Memorial Hwy. Bridge) at Mount Vernon upstream to the Gorge Powerhouse will be closed Feb.16, 2010 through May 31, 2010.
Sauk River from the mouth upstream to the Whitechuck River will be closed Feb. 16, 2010 through June 4, 2010.

Reasons for action: The closure will reduce incidental hooking mortality on wild steelhead. The 2009/2010 forecasted return of wild winter steelhead to the Skagit Basin is expected to be below the escapement floor of 6,000.

Other information: The rivers will reopen to fishing as listed in the 2010/2012 Fishing in Washington Sport Fishing Rules.

Information Contact: Region 4 (425) 775-1311.

Fishers must have a current Washington fishing license, appropriate to the fishery. Check the WDFW "Fishing in Washington" rules pamphlet for details on fishing seasons and regulations. Fishing rules are subject to change. Check the WDFW Fishing hotline for the latest rule information at (360) 902-2500, press 2 for recreational rules. For the Shellfish Rule Change hotline call (360)796-3215 or toll free 1-866-880-5431.

This message has been sent to the WDFW Regulatory Information mailing list.
Visit the Emergency Fishing Rule Website at: http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/fishregs.htm
To UNSUBSCRIBE from this mailing list: http://wdfw.wa.gov/lists/unsubscribe.htm

Can You Identify This River?

2010-01-14T13:03:00.001-08:00

If you are the first one to identify this river and the state it's in you win a dozen trout flies of your choice. Email your guesses to info@creeksideangling.com Creekside employees and anyone else we deem shifty are not eligible. Good luck. - BW

Skip Morris Tying Clinic

2010-01-06T11:40:00.000-08:00

Skip Morris, yes the galaxy wide known author and angler, is coming to the Issaquah shop for a super cool tying clinic, Lake Tying and Fishing. Skip is an expert tyer and lake fisherman. The tips and tactics will fly faster than you can think. Best to bring a pen and paper. Clinic is Tuesday Jan. 12th, 6pm-8pm+. Cost is $35, space is limited and registration is required. For more info or to sign up call the Issaquah shop 425-392-3800. Word! -BW

Holidays, Triple Play

2009-12-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

Now for the third and final edition of Holidays, The Wish List. I've covered movies and books for the long dreary winter months. I know right this instant you are perusing the web looking at photos from Belize, Ascension Bay, Argentina, New Zealand, and the Bahamas, than consequently looking outside and a fever has got a hold of you. No, not the Swine Flu, or the one that needs more cowbell. This fever is the need to be someplace sunny and warm and despite the claim throwing fly line to cruising fish while the significant other lays on the beach sipping Mai Tai's, and no, this place is not Philly. (Yeah I know the show says it's always sunny, but it lies.)

Here is some gear that can help you pack your garage to your destination of choice. Whether that would be the Olympic Penninsula (not sunny either) or the wilds of Patagonia, this gear will get your fishing stuff there in one piece and might even hold some other amenities.

Gear

1. Outcast Neff Bag (LG and MD) - A good heavy duty bag for carrying around waders, boots, jackets, and other apparel. This bag will hold up under the worst conditions and won't cost an arm and a leg. They are also large enough to fit a small animal in or a fishing partner that is too poor to afford the plane ticket, but is crying about not being able to join you.

2. Sage Kit Bag - A large center compartment has plenty of space for stuffing it full of your bajillion fly-boxes and plenty of outer pockets for leaders, tippets, reels, chewing gum, beer, soda, and whatever else you can think of. It comes with a comfortable shoulder strap for easy carrying and works perfectly in boats and as a carry-on (if you can convince the TSA you aren't going to hijack the plane with that 1/0 tarpon fly.)

3. Simms Gear Bag - A nice bag that can hold your technical outerwear and a lower vented compartment for your waders/boots. A couple outer pockets will hold your gloves, hats and whatever else you decide to throw in there. Works perfectly for getting your frozen body parts out of your waders, stuffing them into the bag and than tossing said bag into the trunk as you high step to the front seat and crank the heat.

4. Fishpond Arroyo Chest Pack - Perfect for those long hot days in Ellensburg, Missoula, Yellowstone or Island Park that you are wishing were coming a lot sooner. Also perfect for when you are hiking through the wilds of Patagonia, Kashmir, New Zealand or wherever else you are dreaming of going. This pack is light and has enough space to carry 2 boxes plus any other terminal gear you can think of (you know tippets, leaders, beer). Just a fair warning, this pack will not fend off bears, cougars, misquitoes, etc.

Well. Thanks for coming out. I know most of you are now stringing together massive wish lists to hand to your significant other or friends or dog. Just take some deep breaths the Holiday season is almost over and than it's more college football mayhem (yes, I too think the BCS is crap), New Years, and than Steelhead season begins, Yay!

Have a good holiday season, eat lots of food and be merry with your friends and family.

Feed Fish Flies, not Plastic
-RB

Holidays, Part Duex

2009-12-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

So I listed a previous blog post "Holidays, Part One" so that obviously means there would be a second post sometime in the near future. Well the future is now, err I guess that would make it the present...or whatever. You catch my drift. The weather has warmed up a bit from the "OMG! I can't text you because my fingers are frozen!" level to the typical Seattle winter trist of "Rain, drizzle, overcast, wind, rain, mist, rain." Take lots of vitamin D, keep the fridge stocked with beer/soda/wine/fruit juice, coffee pot pumping out gallons of black sludge all day and your fly-tying desk stocked, and you'll be fine. Promise. Winter Steelheading is coming, you have to prepare for the torture.

Until that day comes and this Holiday Season ends. (Yes, holiday. I went over this already.) I have some books you may want to indulge yourself, or others with, until the steelhead begin laughing at your poor excuse of a fly in 20 below weather.

Books

1. Trout Flies For Rivers - A book by the venerable Skip Morris and his wife Carol Ann, which includes flies from the west that work everywhere. It has step by step instructions, material lists, a DvD and it may even have the kitchen sink (not sure still looking). This book is perfect for your ventures into the basement when the Seahawks are losing 400 to 0 on Sunday morning and rain is coming down so hard you feel like you're in "Rambo: First Blood", only replace the jungle with conifers and the hostiles with your significant other. (Oh by the way, Skip Morris will be in our shop giving a clinic on Tuesday, January 12th. It's $35 and the best way to spend your sick day. Promise.)

2. Inventing Montana, Dispatches from the Madison Valley - This enigmatic book by Ted Leeson is, as I've been told, one of the better reads. Incoming insertion of a blurb about it from Amazon.com....Oh come on you think I would do that to you?! Sheesh. This book follows Leeson and his friends that return to the Madison every year to stay at a ranch house and intertwines fishing, geography and why the Montana of our youths (oh yeah, I went there) has become our Mecca in the world of fly-fishing. This is a perfect read when the Sonics are losing 100 to...err...wait we don't have basketball anymore....nevermind. Just read it ok?

3. Olive and the Little Woolly Bugger - Looking for a good kids book? This is it. Kirk Werner, esteemed writer and fellow Wazzu alumnus (yeah I went to that school too.) Has created a fun, entertaining and well illustrated book that follows a Olive and her friends around. The illustrations alone are worth picking the book up. Yes I read it. You did see where I went to college right? (Ha! Beat you to that joke didn't I?) But really, for those of you trying to create smaller fly-fishing fanatic version of yourselves, this book is the perfect gift.

4. A River Runs Through It, A Good Life Wasted - If you've read these books than you know how good both of them are and should probably read them again. Or you could share the joy with your less, shall we say, bookish friends and buy them the book for these long winter months when all they do is cry at you on the phone about how they can't fish and they are going crazy and therefore are beginning to infect you with their crazy talk of fishing when the Skykomish has made the yellow line on Highway 2 it's main channel. Books save lives. True story. Write that down.

You don't want that, niether do we. Turn the cell phone off, brew some coffee and sit down in the basement with the music up so you can't here your significant other banging on the door to get your butt upstairs and do the dishes. I mean sheesh, don't they realize it's the winter and you must prepare mentally for the upcoming fishing season? The thoughtlessness...I tell you.

As always, Feed Fish Flies not Plastic.
-RB

Holidays, Part 1

2009-12-08T15:51:00.000-08:00

Ok. So it's that time of year. When Mother Nature turns from a nurturing, warming, motherly woman to the slap you in the face, Catholic nun schoolteacher, cold, hard, witch of a woman who likes to rain down frozen hell on your fishing time. While this cold snap may darken your spirits and turn you into Frosty the Abominable Fisherman or the I-Organize-My-Fly-Tying-Desk-Five-Times-A-Day Dude it also means it's the holiday season. Yes holiday, not Christmas, not Hanukkah, Festivus or whatever it is you celebrate. (I personally like the Rainier season, take that as you will.)

And for you gear or movie or book or pack rat junkies, we have some things that may ease your "I don't care if it is -50 outside and the wind is blowing 40 mphs with snow pellets the size of small missiles, I am fishing that bloody river now!" guys or gals.

DvD's

1. Rise- From the same dudes that brought you Drift. Their newest film will captivate you with some interviews and footage from premier fishing places around the world. From the worm hatch in Florida for Tarpon to the fly-line painter in Idaho to the wilds of Venezuela. The movie produces weather/travel envy in even the best of us.

2. Best Videos of Catch Magazine- A new DvD produced by Todd Moen highlighting the best videos from our favorite online rag (can we actually call it a rag since it wastes no paper? Well I just did so deal with it!) Catch Magazine has some of the best fishing photos I've seen and the videos are pretty top notch too. Excellent footage of fishing locales that will make you drool. From New Zealand to Oregon Steelhead, this video has excellent cinematography and some absolutely stunning footage. Perfect for those cold, winter days when your eyes are fried from tying 50 dozen flies in your dark basement.

3. Skagit Master with Ed Ward- A hot new ticket for anyone wanting to learn the intricacies of spey casting and spey flies. Following Ed Ward a world renowned spey caster and tyer, he will teach you different casts, how to swing a fly and anything you may need to learn about catching steelhead on a two-handed rod. INterviews with other guides and beautiful cinematography highlight this film and even better $1 of the DvD sale goes directly to Western Rivers Conservancy.

4. Rivers of a Lost Coast - A chilling documentary narrated by one of my personal favorite actors, Tom Skerritt (you know the dad from A River Runs Through It...for you younger bucks Viper from Top Gun), that exposes the ugly truth about the downfall of the Northern California Coastal Rivers. It follows Bill Schaadt and includes interviews with Lani Waller, Russell Chatham and host of other steelheaders. Plenty of archaic footage and some vintage photos, this movie is done with the kind of feel and narration that will captivate your attention.

Well there's some stocking stuffers and/or anti-pyschotics for you in these days ahead when the addiction kicks in but the weather/wife/dog/frostbite/old football cheerleading injury just won't let you get out on the river.

Enjoy the cold.
Feed Fish Flies, not Plastic.
-RB

Klickitat River Closing

2009-11-27T16:39:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that the season on the Klickitat River ends November 30th. The fishing has been great up to this point on the river and as of Wednesday the water was low with 5-6 feet of visability. Plenty of steelhead and coho still cruising around and the steelies are even taking swung flies.

For swung flies a moal leech (black, black/blue, purple, or one with a hot pink cone over a black body) is your best bet. Use a deep 6, 8 or t-14 setup to bounce the fly off the bottom and induce a strike. If nymphing is your game a size 6 black or purple Egg sucking leech with a glow bug or pegged egg dropper is going to catch you fish. The most effective color of the egg is a mottled orange, although a cotton candy/light pink color will also draw the ire of the chromies and even some coho.

Get out before it closes and have fun.

Feed Fish Flies, not plastic.

-RB

It's Gonna Cost Ya

2009-11-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

As if WDFW's budget wasn't already slim enough. Hopefully these new dollars will actually go straight to fisheries management and not into the general fund. -BW

November 17, 2009
Contact: John Long, (360) 902-2733

Columbia River salmon, steelhead
endorsement will take effect April 2010

OLYMPIA – Starting April 1, anglers who fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries will be required to purchase a new endorsement that will help maintain and improve fishing opportunities throughout the basin.

The Columbia River Recreational Salmon and Steelhead Pilot Program endorsement was authorized by Senate Bill 5421 during the 2009 Legislative session. The annual endorsement was one of several license fee changes approved by the Legislature earlier this year to help offset a $30 million cutback in state funding for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The total charge of the endorsement, after transaction and dealer fees, will be $8.75. The endorsement and recreational fishing licenses for the licensing year that begins April 1, 2010 can be purchased beginning Dec. 1, 2009.

Funds generated from the endorsement fee will support the evaluation of selective fisheries in the Columbia River Basin, said John Long, WDFW’s statewide salmon and steelhead fisheries manager. Funds also will be used for other management activities, including fisheries enforcement, data collection and monitoring.

Selective fisheries allow anglers to catch and keep abundant hatchery fish, which are marked with a missing adipose fin, but require that they release wild fish.

“This program is designed to support current selective sport fisheries for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River and its tributaries, and – to the maximum extent possible – expand those opportunities in the future,” said Long.

The endorsement will be required, along with a fishing license, for anglers 15 years of age and older to fish for salmon and steelhead on the Columbia River and its tributaries when open to fishing for those species.

WDFW, working with the Columbia River Salmon and Steelhead Recreational Advisory Board, has proposed a list of rivers, lakes and other waters in the Columbia River basin where the endorsement will be required. That list, available on the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/crss_endorsement/, is one of more than 100 proposed sportfishing rules for 2010-12.

The entire sportfishing rule-proposal package can be found on the department’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/regs/rule_proposals/index.htm.

More Friends Fighting the Pebble Mine!

2009-11-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

Local restaurants are teaming up to inform their patrons about the most hated idea in the flyfishing world. No, not snagging chums, the Pebble Mine. Support the local eateries listed in this article (especially Tilth mmmm, soooo tasty) because they are supporting us too in our battle against the evil Pebble Mine. Word! -BW

Chefs serve salmon with warning on fishes' future

Seattle diners who order the salmon will get their meal with a message next week.

By MARY PEMBERTON

Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska —

Seattle diners who order the salmon will get their meal with a message next week.

Chefs at more than a dozen restaurants are cooking up fish dishes that come with a special side: a warning that the creature's future could be threatened by a giant gold and copper mine proposed for Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska, home to the world's largest sockeye salmon runs.

Kevin Davis, co-owner of the Steelhead Diner, is an avid catch-and-release fly fisherman who recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he lobbied for permanent protection of Bristol Bay.

"Wild seafood is a rare and special commodity," Davis said Thursday. "When I heard the news about the Pebble Mine and how it could potentially affect what is probably the world's remaining strongholds of salmon, I became very concerned."

To encourage his customers to help in the cause, the Steelhead Diner will feature three dishes using Alaska salmon: Tomato-Crusted Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon, Meyer Lemon-Crusted Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon and Hot-Smoked Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon Cheesecake.

Trout Unlimited is strongly opposed to the mine because of its proposed location near the headwaters of two rivers that produce large runs of sockeye and king salmon.

Conservationists fear that toxic mine wastes could drain into the waters of the region's world-class trout and salmon streams and ultimately into Bristol Bay, which Trout Unlimited says provides nearly half of the world's wild sockeye salmon to consumers.

"We are trying to get salmon consumers, chefs and restaurants and anybody who buys and appreciates wild salmon on their plates to think about where the salmon comes from, in this case Bristol Bay," said Elizabeth Dubovsky, Trout Unlimited's WhyWild program director. "This is one of the last pristine ecosystems we have left."

She said participating restaurants have been sent a range of materials, including salmon recipe cards for diners and table displays with information about Bristol Bay and the Pebble mine.

John Shively, CEO of the Pebble Partnership that is promoting the mine, said the chefs don't understand the Pebble project and don't appreciate what it could do for the people of the region.

"I don't think that chefs in Seattle from high-priced restaurants have any idea of how hard it is for people in rural Alaska to live there," he said. "Therefore, I find it a little bit disingenuous that they would eliminate this potential economic opportunity without even understanding what the project is like."

Chef Seth Caswell, owner of Emmer & Rye, said one of his reasons for joining the Savor Bristol Bay campaign - which starts Sunday - is concern for Alaska Natives who rely on Bristol Bay salmon for food.

"A whole culture could be wiped away," he said.

Caswell said his menu likely will feature Bristol Bay salmon with a garnish of locally grown wild grains and mushrooms. He's also considering raw fish dishes, perhaps salmon thinly sliced and cured in lemon, salt and pepper.

"It is more a flavor, almost like getting a whiff of the sea," he said.

Caswell said he hopes the dishes will inspire his patrons to buy and prepare Bristol Bay salmon for themselves.

"The power of purchasing sends a message," he said.

Savor Bristol Bay salmon week coincides with Pacific Marine Expo 2009, the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast, and Trout Unlimited has an exhibit at the show.

The participating restaurants are: Art of the Table, Chiso, Emmer & Rye, Flying Fish, Persimmon, Ponti Seafood Grill, Rover's Restaurant, Steelhead Diner, Tilth Restaurant, Tilikum Place Cafe, The Pike Brewing Co., Palace Kitchen and Etta's Seafood.

Your Tax Dollars at Work (in a good way)

2009-11-14T12:19:00.000-08:00

These federal stimulus dollars are being spent properly. Now if we can only get "the man" to ban all netting in the Sound we'd be on our way. - BW

Old gill nets: silent killers of the Puget Sound

Old gill nets littering the sea floor are the silent killers of the Puget Sound.

The Associated Press

KINGSTON, Wash. —

Old gill nets littering the sea floor are the silent killers of the Puget Sound.

But thanks to federal stimulus money, an ongoing effort to remove old fishing gear has picked up the pace.

The Northwest Straits Derelict Fishing Gear Removal Program received $4.6 million in stimulus dollars this summer. Now four boats and about a dozen paid divers are working on the problem full-time. The organization's goal is to remove 90 percent of the estimated 4,000 nets sitting in the Puget Sound by December 2010.

The group estimates that over the last 30 years, nets have been responsible for the casualty of 30,000 birds, 110,000 fish and almost 2 million invertebrates.

Sockeye in the Yakima System

2009-10-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Yakima Tribal Nation and other biological entities in the state. The Yakima River system, which I was told had one of the largest sockeye runs in the Lower 48, is beginning to see a return of sockeye to the Upper Cle Elum River basin. It only took them...100 years...so not that long....

Remember my blog post earlier about internet terms? This is one of those moments where you scream diaf at the Bureau of Reclamation. 100 years... Ridiculous! You say? Ludicrous! You say again? Preposterous! I say...You know for being the most advanced country on Earth, we sure don't learn from mistakes very fast. I mean, come on. Sample conversation of the BoR's early thoughts on dams...

BoR circa 1910: "We put the dams up and the fish disappeared, we can't figure out why."

YN: "Your dams killed the run."

BoR: "Yeah right. You obviously know nothing of dams."

BoR 100 years later: "Wow. Our dams did kill the fish. Our bad."

Anyway. Here's the article.

Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife News Bulletin

Feed Fish Flies not Plastic
-RB

An Ocean of Trash

2009-10-29T10:50:00.001-07:00

You know that great song by The Arcade Fire Ocean of Noise? Well replace noise with plastic or trash and you get the great soupy mess we have in our Pacific Ocean right now. We keep wondering why our fish are dying or not returning. We blame the gillnetters (yes they are a major issue), Global warming (maybe just part of the planet's carbon cycle, maybe greenhouse gases, maybe a mixture of both?), and excessive habitat degradation (no side comment here). This is a major issue that needs to be discussed. It is killing fish, zooplankton, birds and apparently working it's way up the food chain.

Rolling Stone's 1090 (Oct. 29, 2009) issue has a great article on it by Kitt Doucette unfortunately they have not linked it on their site yet. So you may have to go buy the magazine to actually read it. There is also a wikipedia site dedicated to it (yes, I know...wikipedia is sometimes full of crap, this one is legit), an actual website dedicated to cleaning it up, Good Morning America, A great youtube video featuring Capt. Charles Moore, and even Oprah (bleh but hey...use people with power to get things done...amirite?)

Wikipedia Article

Stop Trashing Our Ocean

Good Morning America Clip

Capt. Charles Moore Interview

Enjoy and get involved. I mean only if you like fish and stuff.

Feed Fish Flies not Plastic.

-RB

New section of the Methow to Open

2009-10-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

So they opened another section of the Methow starting October 21. You can keep 4 hatchery fish over 20 inches and must fish selective gear and no boats with a motor. Enjoy. This rain should be pushing the river levels up and getting some fresh fish to push into the systems.

-RB

October 15, 2009

Additional section of the Methow River to open for steelhead fishing Oct. 21

Action: Open the Methow River from the second powerline crossing upstream of Pateros to the first Hwy 153 Bridge.

The daily limit will be four adipose fin-clipped, hatchery-origin steelhead, 20-inch minimum size
Mandatory retention of adipose fin-clipped hatchery origin steelhead

Selective gear rules apply, no bait allowed

A night closure is in effect for the duration of the fishery

Release any steelhead with one or more round holes punched in the caudal (tail) fin

Boats with motors are not allowed

Location: The Methow River from the second powerline crossing upstream of Pateros to the first Hwy 153 Bridge.

Effective date: Oct. 21, 2009

Species affected: Steelhead.

Other information: Anglers are required to release all adipose-present steelhead. Any steelhead caught with an intact adipose fin may not be removed from the water and must be released immediately.

Reason for action: Sufficient numbers of wild steelhead have moved up-river from this section, allowing anglers additional opportunity to harvest adipose fin-clipped steelhead with minimal impact to wild fish. The fishery will reduce the number of excess hatchery-origin steelhead and consequently increase the proportion of natural-origin steelhead on the spawning grounds. Higher proportions of naturally produced spawners are expected to improve genetic integrity and stock recruitment of upper Columbia River steelhead through perpetuation of steelhead stocks with the greatest natural-origin lineage.

Information contacts: Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624, Bob Jateff, District 6 Fish Biologist, (509) 997-0316

They Said it, Not Me

2009-10-13T12:48:00.000-07:00

So the WDFW says the pink salmon are doing so well because, and I quote, "We don't manage it." Hmmmm...interesting thought. I think maybe it has something to do with Pinks being viewed by commercial operations as "junk fish", but hey what do I know? All the environmental factors/dam improvements haven't helped the coho, chinook or steelhead returns any. Soooo...yeah. Here's the story.
-RB

Angler's delight: Record run of pink salmon
Returning pink salmon have swarmed the trap-and-haul facility on the White River near Buckley. More than 470,000 have been moved to spawning grounds.

By Mike Archbold
The News Tribune

Biologist Steve Fransen calls the record pink-salmon run that has area anglers whooping for joy "nature at its finest."

He's not exactly sure what's happening, but he's impressed nonetheless.

"Fish are always trying to tell a story and we don't speak their language," Fransen said.

The pink run is doing so well "because we don't manage it," joked Mike Scharpf, area fish biologist for the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Like Fransen, he can't fully explain this year's massive run.

There are no management plans for pink salmon. There are no hatcheries.

These are wild salmon whose numbers have exploded in Puget Sound and on many rivers.

The record pink run is on display in the trap-and-haul facility on the White River near Buckley below the Mud Mountain Dam.

Since August, crews have collected more than 470,000 pinks and transported them to their natural spawning grounds above the dam, using specially designed tanker trucks. Their fingerlings will head downstream through the dam's tunnels to Puget Sound and the ocean.

Those pinks will return in 2011 and with any luck, set another record.

"I do believe this is a record number of salmon hauled at any facility in the country in a single season," said Fransen, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pinks, which have a two-year life cycle, return in odd years on the White River.

The previous record for pinks at the dam was 127,541 in 2007. In 2003, only 13,190 came home.
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Their numbers may be growing but the market for them is still small. Pink salmon, which average about 4 pounds, are considered oily and aren't served in restaurants. Instead, they are often canned, smoked or salted.

Chinook and coho are the prize salmon, but their numbers aren't growing.

Last week, pink salmon were still swarming into the trap-and-haul facility.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates the Mud Mountain Dam for recreation and flood control on the White and Puyallup rivers in South King County and North Pierce County. It was completed in 1948.
The trap-and-haul facility was built at the same time at the White River Diversion Dam near Buckley that for nearly a century has diverted water into a flume to Lake Tapps for hydroelectric power and recreation.

Every hour, 750 pinks are lifted up in the water-filled hopper at the diversion dam and emptied into three tanker trucks. They're hauled 13 miles upriver around the dam.

Record numbers of fish have meant increased costs. Andrea Takash, a spokeswoman for the Corps in its Seattle District Office, said the Corps received an extra $460,000 in federal stimulus money to handle the pink-salmon run.

Takash said the Corps is designing a new diversion dam and a larger trap and haul facility with three hoppers. The Corps also traps and hauls native chinook, coho and steelhead.

"Efforts like these serve to substantiate the feasibility of trap-and-haul fish passage alternatives when fish ladders (at dams) are not feasible," Fransen said.

He admitted the size of the pink-salmon return this year to the Puyallup and White rivers took him by surprise, even with the forecast of a record 5.1 million pink salmon returning to Puget Sound this year. While pinks have always been present in the White River, there were few of them.

Jeff Dillon, a biologist with the Corps at the dam, said conditions in the river have improved in the past 10 to 15 years, particularly increases in instream flows needed to support fish.

For decades, the White River served mainly to provide water for Lake Tapps and the hydroelectric project there. Flows were almost nonexistent in the late summer and early fall when the pinks returned.

The low flows also hurt other salmon species that called the river home, though in much smaller numbers.

Dillon said the removal of Tacoma Public Utilities' pipeline crossing, which acted as a partial barrier, also has contributed to the pinks' success.

Improvements at the dam have made it easier for fingerlings to pass back through the dam.

Fransen also suggested that small climatic changes that have expanded the pink salmon's range in the Pacific Ocean have helped the overall Puget Sound run.

The lesson of the pinks is simple.

"They are a good example of the resiliency of salmon if environmental factors can bounce back," Fransen said.

Snake and Grande Ronde

2009-10-08T10:11:00.000-07:00

The state has again increased hatchery steelhead retention this time on the Snake and Grande Ronde Rivers. Remember the possession limit is twice the daily limit. Possession meaning in transport, cooler, etc. Check the regs for a more accurate description of what that means.

The Wenatchee and Methow Rivers have both mellowed out after the initial surge of fisherman but so has the fishing. A good rain would probably pick the fishing back up and push some fish into the river but we've been hearing it's been slow.

-RB

October 6, 2009

Retention limit of hatchery steelhead changed in Grande Ronde, Snake Rivers

Action: Allow the harvest of five (5) hatchery steelhead per day in the Snake River and a portion of the Grande Ronde River.

Effective date: Oct. 7, 2009 through March 31, 2010 in the mainstem Snake River from its mouth to the Oregon state line (including the boundary waters with Idaho).

Oct. 7, 2009 through April 15, 2010 in the Grande Ronde River from the County Road Bridge to the Oregon state line.

Species affected: Hatchery steelhead

Fishery Location and Harvest Rules: In the mainstem Snake River from its mouth upstream to the Oregon border (including the boundary waters with Idaho), the daily hatchery steelhead limit will be five (5) of which not more than three may be equal to or greater than 32 inches total length).

Grande Ronde River within Washington. 1) From the mouth of the Grande Ronde River to County Road Bridge (approximately 2.5 miles upstream) release all steelhead. 2) From the County Road Bridge to Oregon state line the daily limit will be five (5) hatchery steelhead per day, with no upper size restriction.

Reason for action: A large number of hatchery steelhead is returning to the Columbia and Snake River basins. Only a small number of these returning hatchery steelhead are needed for broodstock purposes, therefore all excess hatchery steelhead can be harvested. Removal of excess hatchery steelhead will reduce potential adverse effects on ESA listed wild steelhead.

Gear Restrictions: See 2009-2010 WDFW Fishing Rules pamphlet for applicable gear restrictions within southeast Washington waters open to steelhead fishing.

Other information: Anglers are encouraged to retain all hatchery steelhead they catch when it is legal to do so. This regulation change for steelhead angling ensures consistent daily sport fishing limits in boundary waters of the Snake River with Idaho, and adjacent areas of the Snake and Grande Ronde rivers with Oregon.