Bamboo Switch Rods on the Salmon River, Idaho

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I’ve been out on the Salmon River this week with my 10′  6″  5 wt hollow-built switch rod trying to entice some of the larger fish that might be lying to ambush a fly presented in ‘just-the-right-way’ to them.  I’ve been swinging weighted streamers on intermediate leaders through the deeper runs.  I’ve also been trying skating an assortment of large dry flies on the surface with furled switch rod leaders from Cutthroat Leaders through the calmer water.  Here are a couple  of the fish I was able to get to the bank for photos.

A nice Bull Trout that took a #6 Black Wooley Bugger with a weighted gold conehead.

A nice Bull Trout that took a #6 Black Wooley Bugger with a weighted gold conehead.

A beautiful native Cutthroat Trout that took a #12 foam bodied Black Caddis skated across the surface of a shallow run.

A beautiful native Cutthroat Trout that took a #12 foam bodied Black Caddis skated across the surface of a shallow run.

The Pumpkinator – An October Caddis Dry

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We’ve started seeing a few October Caddis showing up here in Stanley and I wanted to come up with a new dry fly imitation that would float well and could be easily seen in fast water.  Here is what I came up with that a number of fish have been interested in….The Pumpkinator!

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The Pumpkinator

The Pumpkinator

The Pumpkinator

Hook:  #12 – 2X long

Thread:  Red

Body:  Orange Ice Dub

Rib:  Gold Tinsel

Overbody:  Orange Foam

Underwing:  Orange Crystal Flash

Overwing:  Light Tan Sparkle Yarn

Legs:  Orange and Black Rubber Legs

Hackle:  Brown

Bamboo Rods on Noname Creek.

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Earlier this week we got the chance to hit Noname Creek (sorry, I’m sworn to secrecy) about 2 hours from Stanley in search for some hungry Cutthroats with our good friends, Noel and Sue, from Australia.  Noel has one of my 8′  3″  Signature Series 5 wt fly rods so that was his weapon of choice.  Sue doesn’t fly fish but came along to enjoy the day on the stream and lend a hand with a net when needed.  Mary Ann and I each took 7′  0″  4 wt rods.  The trout were happy to take just about any dry fly we put their way and we were successful landing many nice fish.  Here are a few photos from our day.

Noname Creek

Noname Creek

Noel and I ready for battle.

Noel and I ready for battle.

Noel landing a nice Cutthroat.

Noel landing a nice Cutthroat.

A nice bend in my bamboo rod.-

A nice bend in my bamboo rod.-

Mary Ann with a nice Cuttie.

Mary Ann with a nice Cuttie.

A "Calendar Photo" of one of our catches.

A “Calendar Photo” of one of our catches.

Great Guys in the Fly Fishing Industry

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I attended the 2015 IFFF Fair in Bend, Oregon last week, and I wanted to highlight 3 great guys in the fly fishing industry who were also there.  Mike Morin owns Cutthroat Leaders.  Mike makes and sells furled leaders that are a tremendous match for bamboo fly rods, and I use his leaders as often as I can.  Mike Avery is Snake River Net Company.  He is a great craftsman and makes and sells custom nets and fly boxes.  John Noble is Scaly Designs.  John is a skilled artist and crafts wonderful and unique rod tubes and fly fishing art. I recommend them highly.  Here are a few photos from their booths at the show this past week.

Cutthroat Leaders - Great furled leaders for fly fishing.

Cutthroat Leaders – Great furled leaders for fly fishing.

Snake River Net Co. - Custom nets and fly boxes.

Snake River Net Co. – Custom nets and fly boxes.

Scaly Designs - Beautiful and unique fly rod tubes and fly fishing art.

Scaly Designs – Beautiful and unique fly rod tubes and fly fishing art.

2015 International Federation of Fly Fishers Fair in Bend, Oregon

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I’m excited to be at the 2015 annual fair of the International Federation of Fly Fishers in Bend Oregon this week.  I’m teaching a class in “an Introduction to Bamboo Fly Rod Building” on Tuesday, and will have a booth at the vendor fair on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  There is so much to do, so please stop by if you’re in the area.

2015 IFFF Fair in Bend, Oregon