Tag Archives: Oregon

More on Dave Hughes’ Wet Fly Techniques

Posted on by

I’ve been reading Dave Hughes’ book “Wet Flies” recently, and it’s caused me to think a lot more about how I fly fish.  On a brief outing to the Middle Deschutes River last week, I took my 8′  0″  5 wt slow action rod to swing some of Dave’s recommended patterns for the local browns.  The “Silver Invicta” in a size 14 proved to be a great fly to swing through shallower riffles, and it brought many feisty browns in the 7″ to 12″ range to the net.  I think I’ll be using Dave’s wet fly techniques a lot more in my fishing outings, especially on smaller water.  Check it out:

Wet Flies by Dave Hughes

The Silver Invicta

The browns in the middle Deschutes River couldn’t resist a swung fly.

 

More Bamboo on the Deschutes River

Posted on by

Mary Ann and I got out again two days ago on the Deschutes River to see how the Salmon Flies were doing.  I chose my 7′  6″  5 wt Freestone Series bamboo rod for the day.  While there were lots of Salmon Flies and Golden Stoneflies on the bushes, and a few flying around, the fish seemed pretty disinterested in them during the sunny afternoon.  Instead, I again caught several nice rainbows on a #18 Tan Lafontaine Caddis drifted towards the bottom.  I may have been the only angler on the river during the day who was not throwing big ugly bugs.  But, once the sun went down, the fish turned on to a #8 Clarks Stonefly on the surface.  This pattern has proved to be the most effective adult stonefly for me lately.  Even when the giant Salmon Flies are out, the trout have always seemed to prefer the smaller Golden Stonefly imitation.  Here are a few photos of our day.

Golden Stonefly

Giant Salmonfly

#16 Tan Lafontaine Caddis

Clarks Stonefly

A nice rainbow putting a big bend in my 5 wt bamboo.

One that came to the net.

Yesterday on the Middle Deschutes River

Posted on by

Mary Ann and I made it out to the Middle Deschutes River yesterday for a couple of hours to try our luck.  The water levels have been quite high but they are starting to drop…yesterday was high, but fishable.  Water clarity was good, but boy, the water temperature was very cold.  We both tried EuroNymphing techniques to tempt the fish.  Not much was hatching but we managed to pick up a few smaller browns on nymphs.

The two anglers!

A feisty brown that I picked up drifting a nymph.

A beautifully colored brown that Mary Ann got on a #16 red snowcone.

Fly Fishing the Fall River in Central Oregon.

Posted on by

Wow, it’s been a long time since my last blog post.  It seems that spending time on some home repairs from a water heater leak, getting taxes ready, and high water everywhere have just kept us off the water.  But, Mary Ann and I got out a few days ago to fish the Fall River here in Central Oregon.  The Fall River is one of our local spring creeks that isn’t impacted much by snow runoff.  I took out my 8′  0″  5 wt Spring Creek Series bamboo fly rod out for the day.   I managed to pick up a few cooperative rainbows on nymphs in the morning and dries in in the afternoon when a decent BWO hatch happened.  Here are a few photos of our day.

The Fall River in Central Oregon.

Fighting a nice rainbow that took a #16 prince nymph.

A nice, colorful rainbow to the net. This guy was about 14″.

Two new bamboo fly rods completed.

Posted on by

I just completed two new bamboo fly rods this week, just in time for the upcoming Fly Fishing Show next week in Pleasanton, Ca.  I’ll be there with a booth, and Mary Ann will be teaching classes and giving casting demonstrations.  I’ll have both of these two rods, a 7′  6″  2 piece/2 tip 5 wt Signature Series rod and a 7′  9″  2 piece/1 tip 4 wt Spring Creek Series rods at the show and available to cast.  If you are in the Bay Area, I encourage you to stop by the show….tons of fly fishing stuff, and 5 of us who build bamboo fly rods will be there.

A new 7′ 6″ 2 piece/2 tip 5 wt Signature Series Rod with black wraps and a new 7′ 9″ 2 piece/1 tip 4 wt Spring Creek Series rod with green wraps.