I'm in the throes of tying flies for the winter. I have no idea what I am doing, but that has never stopped me before. I'm working on flies for Steelhead (returning sea run Rainbow Trout) that will start their winter run up in the rivers in December. I'm working on tying some of Dec Hogan's Steelhead flies.
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My Fly Tying Bench |
Friday afternoon, I could not see the computer anymore to write code, so I split for the Clackamas River to practice a bit. Too early, really, for any Steelhead, but this is a different kind of fly fishing for me, so there are things to work out - like not freezing to death while standing outside in 40 deg weather and up to your waist in freezing water. Well, I did OK. My 15 year old waders leaked, so after 2 hours in the river I could not feel my feet any more and upon returning to "Mrs. Bean The Fishing Machine", my feet were soaking wet and blue. Off to Orivs Fly Shop today to get new waders today.
Below is a picture I took of the Clackamas River in the summer. The water level Friday, was closer to the trees and really moving! I could walk about a mile up the river and around the bend to the left in the picture. I didn't see any fish on the walk up, but again, too early. Around the bend was a nice riffle (washboard type rapids) running a hundred yards. Wow, the water was really moving. I tried wading out to the edge of the drop-off to cast, but even in just 24" of water, my feet were being carried off the bottom. I did have on my ID bracelet for easy body identification should I end up face down floating down river. But, I'm not as young as I once was, so backed up to safer wading.
What a trip, just like the videos! I could really get the hang of this swinging a fly. I had the usual trouble of the trees behind me, so I had to get creative with my casting. Most Steelheaders use two handed Spay Rods, and use a spay casting technique. I don't have that gear, yet, so I played around with different casts and did just fine. Thankfully, I spent a lot of time casting in high winds on the Florida grass flats, so I can cast left, or right handed. In high winds, this lets you cast on your downwind side, helping you keep the fly from catching your ear as it goes by at 100 mph on the cast. In the river it helps you get more distance from the trees. There are other cool techniques where you can setup your cast in one direction and have it 'hook' around to another spot, that really helps, too.
This trip was really about practicing and sorting out my equipment, and flies.
There are a few ways to fish for Steelhead and one is Swinging Flies. The idea is to cast 45 degs across and down river, then let your fly swing in the current moving from the middle of the river across the deep section up into the shallow section near the bank. Steelhead and Salmon will be resting behind the rocks in the slower current waiting to push on up river and here comes your fly right in front of them. The rhythm is cast, then walk down river 5 feet, then cast, and so on... That way you cover each 5ft. section of the river.
I'm not used to it, so that is way I wanted some river practice. I used both sinking tip and a floating line (where the current was less).
All in all my practice day went much better than I expected. I came back with some equipment and technique changes I need to make. I found some likely holding spots for fish, which I'll concentrate on next time.
People often ask why fish in bad weather. Easy, because you will be the only one on the river. I didn't see another person the whole time. Great!
I would like to be called a "Steelheader"; we'll see maybe by the end of the winter I will be.
