Photoshoot on the Metolius River

I got the chance to spend a day on the Metolius River this week with Meryl Schenker (http://merylschenker.com/), a friend and an incredibly talented professional photographer from the Seattle area.  I had asked Meryl to help me with some new photographs for my WEB site.  We had a great time on the river, shot some great photos, and even caught some feisty rainbows.  I have a goal to re-design my WEB site in the next couple of months, utilizing several of Meryl’s great photos.  So stay tuned, hopefully I’ll be able to get that done.  Here are a few photos from our day.

A quick selfie with Meryl and me.

A quick selfie with Meryl and me.

Pondering where to fish!

Pondering where to fish!

A pretty little rainbow that took a #14 Tan Ant Pattern.

A pretty little rainbow that took a #14 Tan Ant Pattern.

Sharing my bamboo fly rods on the Metolius River

I had a great time this week getting out with our friends from the Seattle area, Kelli and Russ, on the Metolius River.  After a couple of hours of fishing, I asked them if they wanted to try my bamboo fly rods for a bit of dry fly fishing….and got very quick “you bet” from both of them.  I put a 7′  6″  5 wt rod in each of their hands and we fished together for about 45 minutes.  Although the fish were very interested in our dry flies, we had a great time.  While I haven’t converted them over to bamboo just yet, they got a taste of what it’s like.  Here we are on the stream with our rods.

Kelli and Russ trying out my bamboo fly rods with me on the Metolius River

Kelli and Russ trying out my bamboo fly rods with me on the Metolius River

Bamboo Rod Fishing with Tony Bellaver

My friend and rod builder extraordinaire, Tony Bellaver of  Alpenglow Fly Rods in the San Francisco area was visiting central Oregon this week, and we were able to get out on the Metolius River yesterday for some fly fishing.  I took my 8′  0″  5 wt slow action Spring Creek Series rod that is especially good for small dry flies and delicate presentations.  Tony took out a 7′  6″  medium fast action quad…a very nice casting rod for the Metolius River.  The weather was gorgeous and there were plenty of caddis and mayflies out, but the trout weren’t very cooperative.  In fact, I only saw one fish rise all day.  But, it was great to see Tony and get the chance to hit the river with him.  Here are a couple of photos of our day.

Tony and I on the Metolius River.

Tony and I on the Metolius River.

Tony working a dry fly with his quad fly rod.

Tony working a dry fly with his quad fly rod.

Scenes From Yesterday on the Metolius River

Mary Ann and I got out again on the Metolius River yesterday for a couple of hours of afternoon fishing.  There was a great hatch of BWOs but fish weren’t coming up for the adults.  But, we did pick up a few rainbows on #18 BWO soft hackles.  Also saw quite a few winter stones climbing around on the snowy backs.  Here are a few photos from the day.

This little guy was checking out my bamboo rod.

This little guy was checking out my bamboo rod.

A great close-up photo of the BWOs that were hatching.  It looks like I should be tying these flies with orange thread for the correct head color.

A great close-up photo of the BWOs that were hatching. It looks like I should be tying these flies with brown thread for the correct head color.

A #14 winter stonefly crawling around on the snowbank.

A #14 winter stonefly crawling around on the snowbank.

Some fellow anglers on the river, but I suspect these guys were looking for salad rather than meat.  Four eating lunch...One watching out for them.

Some fellow anglers on the river, but I suspect these guys were looking for salad rather than meat. Four eating lunch…One watching out for them.

 

Another Beautiful Day Fly Fishing on the Metolius River.

It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday so Mary Ann and I got away from the house for a little fly fishing on the Metolius River.  We’re so lucky that this wonderful free flowing stream is open all year and only 30 minutes from our house.  With 4 inches of snow on the ground and 29 degrees, we fished the stretch known as the “water wheel area”.  Although there were a few BWOs and midges out on the water, we didn’t see any surface activity so it was a nymphing afternoon.  Here we are on the river, and a feisty native rainbow that Mary Ann landed on a stonefly nymph imitation.

Dave and Mary Ann on the Metolius River.

Dave and Mary Ann on the Metolius River.

The Metolius River in January

The Metolius River in January

A nice little native rainbow

A nice little native rainbow