Fishing
Reports
(Jan. 2006 - present)
(Jan. 2006 - present)
|
Fishing
Reports
(Jan. 2006 - present) |
| Steelhead
Guides Skagit River Steelhead Schools Feb. 2 or 3 Stories
& Articles
Gift
Certificates
|
Mike Dickson |
|
12/31/06 For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
12/24/06 "The only thing predictable about a steelhead, is his unpredictability " Dickson As freezing levels have come down, so have our local rivers. Flooding took it's toll. Winter steelhead are showing in all the North sound rivers. We have been fishing primarily, the Skagit above the Sauk. Skagit: 4,600 - 7,200 cfs and steady. Look for winter hatchery steelhead to continue in, as the high waters fade to memory. Your standard winter steelhead patterns will get it done. Fish the soft edges where the steelhead migrate to stay out of the heavier flows. Dollies are coming out but the guides who still think they need to have something dead in the boat, will kill them. I fish flies with soft colors, like blues, purple, powder pink, and black, in contrast to all the color the typical winter steelheader is throwing at them. Sauk 4,000 cfs. Many torn river banks and channels post flood. Poor fishing visibility. Not going to be fishable any time soon, unless it gets really cold. Sauk has a few steelhead and Dollies, but good luck going after them. Find the rocks, fish the edges. Love that river, hard to see it hammered. Haven't heard of any wild steelhead showing yet, but as we get further into the winter, they should be coming. Stilly N.F: The Stilly is fishable at 2,700 cfs, but again it's the visibility thing. Not nearly as bad as the Sauk, or Skagit below the Mixer - but it was hit pretty hard, nonetheless. Be real careful if you float. Skykomish: The Sky is low, but the Sultan is dirty. Friends say the anglers outnumber the winter steelhead, 10:1. Me? Mike was fishing the Skagit preflood, and I have spent most of my time poking around the local waters, and up at Jeff's ponds. I would look for a pulse of winter hatchery steelhead in this week. The rivers will be a friggin zoo on Christmas week, we will fish Jeff's Ponds early in the week and hopefully back on the Skagit (maybe even the Sauk) by weeks' end. 2007
Flyfishing Schools: February 2 or 3 flyfishing schools: Looks real good. Always a winner. I am asked all the time, which river is my all time favorite in the spring. It used to be easy. It was the Sauk. Now I would say it is a toss up between the Upper Skagit and the Olympic Peninsula's "Chosen River" (Yes, it is a pseudonym and Yes, it is an actual river.) I have had a chance to clarify a few points in the How-to article, Cold Water Takes. A great technique in detecting the gentle bite so common in winter steelhead, revolutionized our approach to fishing winter steelhead. Check it out. Winter native steelhead.......something very romantic about that sound. I guess Mike and I will just have to handle big rainbows and Dollies, sprinkled with the occasional hatchery steelhead.......until the rivers warm up. Steelhead Symposium: Man, you have been hearing
me preach C&R forever. Is it just me or does it seem like; by the
time we go to catch & release, the river section is about to be closed
to fishing, if not already? "I never
drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it."
Merry Christmas and the best of holiday fishing to you and yours,
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
December 17, 2002 As you read this, My sweet wife and I just returned from my first (and maybe last) experience in New York. We traveled east to spend an early Christmas with my daughter and son-in law. They played the tour guides, we the tourist. If you are into the big city scene, you would have loved it. It was good to go and almost good to be back. We are without power at our home in Arlington. Right now we are living off our generator. North Sound rivers: Sauk: 7,000 cfs or below... All the rivers are on the drop. Dollies and chum are the drill. Sauk is just coming back into shape. Egg-sucking Cop Car will be the ticket. Stilly at Deer Creek: 3,000 cfs or below...(Right now it is 4,000 cfs but dropping. Gear guys are out so there you go. Try the egg-sucking CC or Black Bart. Both are good. Find the eagles and you have found chum. Find the chum and you have found Dollies. Skagit is a little trickier, because of dam daily
fluctuations. No fishing above 10,000 cfs. (from Marblemount gauge). Water
swing is from 4,000 to 8,000 cfs. So the Skagit is fishing. Gift Certificates: Really
hot item going into the Christmas cheer. Both the guide trip and schools
options are getting it done. Cool, happy to have you. By the way, much of what we teach in the classes
(specific river reading water and fly presentation is not included) is
found in the many articles
and stories located on site. Best of fishing, Dennis & the Dickson Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
Dec. 3, 2006
Bill A. and a Skagit Dolly/Bull.
Best fishes, For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
11/26/06 For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
11-20-06 "Can these numbers be right?" I just checked the river flow graphs
for the umpteenth time this week. Maybe just wishful thinking. If you
were to be out on the river right now...... The Skykomish is finally down
to fishing. I would look for channel changes and new sweepers not mention
the log jams. It has been my experience that it is often the sustained
high water that does the damage along our streams. I remember back in 1991. If my recollection serves me, and occasionally it does, I was able to fish November 13, and December 23rd the season. It was the worst fishing fall I can remember in my 20 plus years of guiding. Well, you might notice I am not saying much for this year, as we have not been out on the water since the last water of October! November 13 has come and gone. Perhaps I will circle the calendar for December 23. So there you have it. As Eric Clapton one time said, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all." Did I mention the next storm is scheduled to come through Sunday? "And the hits just keep on Coming" Until next time, Dennis and the Dickson Boys For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
11/12/06 For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
11/5/06 "Don't even think about it." Rains and swollen rivers have kept us off the rivers
for the past few days. Back in the late 70's, I stumbled onto and developed a saltwater Chum Salmon fishery called Hoodsport. This was back in a time, where C&R was a laughable concept. Why would you ever want to catch a fish that wasn't even good to eat? Besides, all Chums do is tear up your tackle.....Yeah Baby! Five years ago, I started writing about wonderful flyfishing for Dolly Varden on the Skagit and Sauk rivers. Better knowns were expounding how anyone worth his wading shoes would never lower himself to actually fish for Dollies.......they are trash fish, of course, which eat salmon eggs......Experts back peddled. For the last few days we have been enduring early winter rains, which hopefully will revert back to a stunning late fall. The weather during this time of year can change on a dime. Lovely one day, brutal conditions, the next. High waters have brought in even more Chum salmon in our Washington streams, and from freshwater to salt, anglers are out enjoying both the despicable chum and the trashy Dolly Varden. Late Silvers are showing but pretty much a bust. Get the water down, and life is good. Real good Sauk is struggling, but may get to fishable sometime....... if the cold weather comes. Dollies are on the Chum redds, already. Our glue egg-n-shuck is real good. Careful where you wade, careful where you cast! As the Chum spawn and die, the flesh flies will start up again. Chums are known for the color green, green is about my number four color. Combinations of blacks, (Black Bart), purple, (micro Eggsucker), pinks (Pink Stinker) are all good. Chum Sport which is green, is the freshwater counterpart, to Dickson's' Chum Candy. See, I told you I was a legend in my own mind...... Everybody knows Dollies and Chum won't take in the surface, so don't even bother. Way too much fun. The ghost tip makes the Yancy multi-tip and wonderful saltwater flats line. Seguar Grand max. is the best flouro. leader out there, in my estimation. Use 0x for dogs, and 3x for Dollies. Eggsucker C.C., and Black Bart (both have egg faces) are important now, because the Dollies are keying into eggs, and good luck trying to keep it away from the puppies! If you wanted to know if your flyfishing reels are up to steelhead, fish now. Chums will show you what's what. If your sweetie is having trouble coming up with a present this Christmas. Our Gift Certificate is already getting attention. Ask about applying it to our ever popular Grande Ronde Campouts. Yup, guys are booking for 2007, can you believe that? Accused of about everything, but never of not catching fish. Why? Do a Google search on Flyfishing Guide and see. "Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect
people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly,
even if they roll a few more upon it." Best of fishing, D & the boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
10/29-06 Every year we run into the Chums. Every year I marvel how strong this street kid is. When you fish for Chum with us we kindly refer to it as the Saddam Hussein Rules to Flyfishing, "The rules are.......there are no rules." Basically, when you fish for Chum, anything and everything can happen. I remember an incident fishing out along Hoods Canal, long before it became popular. We were fishing off the mouth of ****** Creek, and several nice schools of Chum were milling the area. The tide was out, the water was skinny and even 12' leaders seemed too much. Well, the boys had spaced themselves around the milling zone, casting to the schools as the salmon continued to circle the wagons. Fred hooks up on a hot fish, that grabbed his Chum Candy and stormed out of there in a huge rooster tail taking the whole school with it. This big buck started free jumping as he gray hounded away, only he didn't stop. Every jump brought him closer to Dick who was stationed some 150' away in the shallow bay. At first I (along with everyone else) thought this was pretty funny, but every jump was bringing the fish closer and closer to Dick. Moments later, this dumb Chum jumps some 8' away from Dick still heading right at him! I yelled "Look out Dick!" Too late, believe it or not, this amazing fish jumped right in his Dick's chest, knocking poor Dick into the water, and the fish off the line. I think three of us guys almost fell into the water, too (or at least it felt that way) laughing until we cried. Such is Chum salmon fishing. Anyway, rivers are dropping in, Chums & Coho are moving but only the Chumsters are biting well. The only word I can describe the Coho as, is "weird." They hid off in the ocean somewhere where nobody seemed to find them, they show up in my local streams, but simply don't want to eat. Like I said, "Weird." The rivers are in prime shape right now. If this next weather front moves in and a raised water flushes the bays, we should be primed for river fishing through to December. Look for excellent fishing in all the North Sound waters, but check your regulations. Salmon can be a lot more discriminatory in colors than steelhead. Even a different outdoor lighting can affect the bite. Probably our all-time favorite fly for the North Sound rivers is Black Bart - but the key is presentation and that part is the fishing. Speaking of Fishing: All our slots are now filled for the up coming Skagit Schools November 17 or 18. Never fear. If you didn't get in, we apologize by offering Custom Steelhead schools at the same price. Contact our top guide Mike for the specifics @ http://www.streamsideflyshop.com/ Oh, if you want to read about this top rated flyfishing guide of the Pacific Northwest, check out what Dallas had to say about his recent adventure with Mike & Jonathan. If you haven't had the pleasure to fish with either of these guys, you should. Because sometimes I even listen: Every so often, I will get a request to do a fly tying night. I have talked it over with Mike and we are entertaining the idea. We are even looking into facilities et al. as we speak. If you have some ideas, feel free to drop me a line. Love to hear from you. Such is life: "The greater danger
for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short;
but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." Best of fishing, Dennis, Mike Jonathan
& Darrel www.flyfishsteelhead.com
425 238 3537 For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
10-22-06
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
Oct 15/2006 Fishing report "God didn't build enough Octobers" Greetings to all. While Mike & Jonathan won't finish the Cabins & campout gigs until the 22nd, I have just returned from a couple weeks, running the lower Ronde Wilderness trips. As I have had the opportunity to fish these waters since 1990, I always look forward to the trip. I am lucky enough to hand pick a few of my most faithful to join me. Excellent steelhead fly anglers, whose angling skills match their impressive attitude. An outfitter's dream team(s). I have compared notes with Mike almost every day we aren't both out in the bush, and we have decided the fishing is only "OK," but the Ronde is the Ronde. No place quite like it. The weather is cooling and fish are coming. Life is good. Here is what Mr. Robert Fisher had to say about his Grande Ronde experience with Mike and Jon. We had so many episodes in the lower river, I wouldn't
know where to begin. I can tell you this: If you weren't catching steelhead
in the upper river, you probably won't do better here. I think half the fun of fishing, is coming up with a new fly, and see it actually work. Our Crystal Caddis, year in, and year out, has been a consistent producer, when riffled over steelhead in the right water. I wanted a dark version I could fish when the light was off the river.
I decided a purple adaptation (Grande Ronde steelhead
seem to love deep purple) of the CC was as good as any. We started fishing
it on our first gig. I was
Don't go looking for it onsite as yet. Mike isn't even home yet to fire it off to his fly tier. Anyway, Thanks Darrel for holding down the fort while the rest of the guides were gone. I hear the Coho are in, SRC are biting, and the upriver steelhead are doing their thing. This is the big run cycle for Chum salmon. We will be spending our time on the tidewater drill, which can be way too much fun, then move over to the Sauk and Skagit as the river rise. First time I am back home from the Ronde this early
in years, but Mike & Jon got it going. OH, our Skagit Schools Nov. 17 or 18 are on the horizon. Very popular school so you might want to jump on that. I will keep you updated on availability. Life is good, Dennis and the Dickson's www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 10/6/06 Mike and Dennis are fishing the Grande Ronde. They said "fishing is great - wish you were here." Dennis says he will have a complete report when he returns. Sandy (the web guy)
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
9/24/06 "Here today, gone to Utah" It has been one of those years. Between the fishing business and the environmental consulting, time has been in short supply this year. Mike has taken on a lot of the fishing work but still.... My sweet wife is busier than I, so finally we just had to block out some time and get away. I can't even remember the last real vacation I took in September. Oh well, maybe it was just a really good excuse to check out some Utah waters clients and friends have been quietly talking about for years. Yup, it was good for that! I won't bore you with couple details, but after 32 years of marriage, let's just say we had a wonderful time. Fishing: I promise not to give up any waters. Most of the streams I fished are fragile ecosystems with some friggin big browns in them. I was impressed, and I am not easily impressed. If I was after truly monster fish I could have stripped streamers for brawly fish moving up to spawn. That is not really my gig, so I fished hoppers and terrestrials for bank feeders. Big fish in skinny water. Now I like that. Never saw any huge fish. I also found a tailout with a lovely pod of Browns sipping on BWO's. That was cool. Had a few "toilet bowl" takes that roared my 2 wt. into submission. When was the last time you got to fish over a fish that made your hands shake? I love that. We saw 85 degree days, with snow the next. This is what happens when you are fishing at nearly 7000 feet! Sorry, I didn't take much for pictures, but I did pull out my camera when a storm cell came through that dropped the afternoon temperature from 75 degrees to hailing the size of golf balls in about a 20 minute span. Another day almost caught me in a friggin flash flood! I hadn't seen it rain like that since a spring day out in Anchorage Alaska. Anyway, it was fun, now I am home, and me and the guides have this week to get ready for another gig over on the Grande Ronde. Hard to imagine, I have been making this annual Ronde pilgrimage since 1990. If you are thinking about the gig, we have had a few cancellation in mid October.
Steelhead, SRC, Coho and a few late running Kings are the gig. The waters are dropping. He started his anglers swinging big marabou & leech patterns, but switched to nymphs and egg nymphing as the waters came down. He says that leech patterns as well as nymph and egg patterns are working well for all. Fishing has been pretty consistent.
Up and Coming: Best of fishing, Mike, Jonathan, and Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
9/17/06 "Time Flies" So another week has come and past on the North Seattle River adventures. The Stilly and the Skagit systems are the drill. Steelhead, Coho and a few late running Kings are the quarry. We started off our anglers nymphs and egg nymphing, but switched to swinging big marabou & leech as the waters turned color. Angling success has been pretty good. Mike got back from his the Southwestern Kalama waters. He reported doing very well early on, but the Fall Chinook have pushed the steelhead out of the flats and tailouts. Fishing has become tougher with the spawning Kings. Egg sucking leeches & our Egg-Shuck are the working flies. Only a couple weeks before we head over to play the Grande Ronde Steelhead. Hard to believe we have been fishing this lovely October stream since 1989. Probably my favorite fall gig. Still a few slots available on our popular 3-4 day expeditions, if you are flexible.
String Leech & Surface steelhead
Up and Coming: If you just can't get over to the Ronde this October, check out the westside Salmon gig. The article Flyfishing Pacific Salmon in Freshwater is a worthy read.
Fall fishing in the North Sound area is a special time, hope your fishing finds you well. Best of fishing, Mike, Jonathan, and Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
9-10-06
"When Fall is in the air"
Spent a lovely weekend chasing SRC in the lower Stilly in our annual flyfishing schools. Met some great guys, revisited some client friends we have fished with for many years. Very cool.
Even the big rain on day two, wasn't enough to put any color in the river. We were just too far below saturation. We modified our original plan and headed downstream for the Stilly tidewater. Only a handful of anglers were out. We had the place pretty much to ourselves.
Tidewater coho
The added bonus to this low water gig, is the early run Coho. These are not the great biters of the bigger fish that come in later October, but way much fun on your SRC trout rod. Just adjust the fly and presentation and you are golden.
Here is what long time angler Zail K. had to say about his recent guide day with Jonathan Knapp.
Only a few weeks now before we head over to the Grande Ronde. I guess the biggest question we get is, do you have to be an advanced flyfisher, to have success with these high desert steelhead? My qualified answer would be. No, not if you had Mike or Jonathan guiding you. These guys are as good as it comes. (Perhaps I may a little biased.) Did I mention Darrel?
Better start tying some steelhead Crystal Caddis, it is almost time.
Best of fishing,
Dennis and the Dickson Guides
www.flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
9/3/06 Weddings basically suck. So would the reception but at least there is food. I started off well enough, but shortly after we arrive, my wife found a girly friend, and once again, I am standing, alone. I start backing for the wall, in my zoot suite, when I see my good friend Mike, who runs the local hardware. He is a lone ranger too. Anyway, we both realize this gig is going to take awhile, so I amble up and we get caught up. He asks me about the fishing, I ask him about the store. In conversation Mike inquiries about me writing a book. He says" Hey Dennis, you ever going to write a book on fishing?" I said" Maybe someday when I slow down a little." "What will it be about?" He asks. "I think it will be titled 'If Guides would talk." Every guide has a story, in fact everybody who works with the public has a story - I will bet you have a story." Mike thinks about it for a minute and says, "As a matter of fact, I do! I just had an experience just the other day. Want to hear it?" I nodded. (It is not like either of us are going are going anywhere, soon.) He tells, " So this guy walks into the Hardware Store and is browsing around the tools. I walk up and ask him if I can help him." The Man says, " Yeah, I think I am looking for a flat file." Mike says, "OK, do you want a big one, a medium, are a small one?" The Guy ponders, "Well, I am really not sure......" Mike comes back with, "Well, maybe you can tell me what you want it for?" The Guy pauses and mumbles, "Well, I would really rather not say." Mike shrugs and says, "I am sorry, but if you can't tell what size, or even what you want it for..." "My parrot, He confesses, "It is for my parrot." Mike looks at the Man. He goes on to explain, "You see, my parrot won't eat, cuz he is mad at me. I figure if I can just shave off the front of his beak, I can shove the seeds in his mouth, and make him eat." Mike exclaims, "You can't do that! You will kill the bird." To make a long story short, The man buys a file, and leaves the store. "So what happened?" I asked. "Nothing happened for about a week, but then the other day, I am in the store waiting on this couple, and I notice, there is John. I immediately remembered the parrot! I excused myself and went over and talked with John. He was looking for something." Mike goes on with his story. "So we chat about the family, weather, et al. and finally the curiosity is just killing me and I Say, " John, I just got to ask you, What ever happened to the parrot and the flat file?" John simply says, "He died." Mike says, "Gee, I told you that would happen!" The Guy just looks at Mike at says, "No I don't think so. To be honest, I don't think the bird ever recovered when I put his head in the vice." Fishing in a nutshell. Same OLE Same OLE: Stilly took the rain we were looking for but the SRC still fishes best from Arlington, downstream. Hoppers are kicking, and Craneflies are Skittering. Even the tent caterpillars are doing. Kings are spawning now in the North Fork. Egg patterns will be good for everything with an adipose fin. (Dollies, Steelhead, SRC.) The Snohomish System has been surprisingly good this summer. The frog water of the lower Snoqualmie is very consistent for SRC. If you like pulling breather patterns, you will like it there. Try for a dark nasty day. SRC seem to be the one fish where barometric drop, means nothing. Skagit is doing its thing. Dollies are heading up. Sauk above Darrington is a good look for Dollies and wild rainbows. Fall is peaking, too many choices. Best of fishing, Dennis & the Dickson guides www.flyfishsteelhead.com 425 238 3537
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
8/27/06 Wow, hard to say where to start. The Kalama's lower river is about to go Fly-only. Very consistent for both surface and bottom fishing. The October Caddis will get going as the water cools. Watch for the Green Drake hatch, too. And you were wondering why you weren't getting any love with your spiders and bucktails..... Great time to head into the upper watersheds, now. Water is down, Dollies and rainbows are up. Skagit, Sauk, and Skykomish all have some awesome trout waters.
We are still waiting for that fall rain, but doesn't seem to matter. We have already found SRC above Oso, on the North Fork. Our Stilly Steelhead/SRC schools 8 or 9 Get a lot of attention. Looks like another fine fall for that. The Grande Ronde River Campouts must be one of my favorites. I seem to be spend half my year looking forward to them, and the other half, reflecting back on it. Our photo essay slide show says it all. From here to the serious fall rains, is the perfect time to be skating steelhead surface flies on rivers like the Stilly, Snoqualmie, Skykomish, Deshutes and on and on. The Grande Ronde, Methow, and Skeena rivers are more consistent in October. We fish a bunch of flies, but our Crystal Caddis and it's variations is a standard in the region, now. We almost always riffle-hitch this pattern on the Grande Ronde, when the October Caddis are coming off. Feel free to give a call or write if you are thinking about going out. Don't have to book a trip just to find out what's what. So much to do, so little time, Dennis and the Dickson boys 425 238 3537 www.flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 8/20/06
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
8/13/06 Can it be that time, again? Thank you for all the nice words on the fishing report last week. Appreciate it. Sauk above Darrington and the lower Skagit SRC are both getting it done. Pretty floats, no pressure. Cop Car, woolly buggers, and egg sucking leaches top producers. Speaking of which. My good friend and web master Sandy, just returned from a wonderful Alaska trip. I will let him tell you the story of the monster Rainbow on a Cop Car. I always look for the first significant rain after August 15 to push the Searuns into the river, and this is it! Coho should be coming too. If this cool, drizzly weather holds, SRC will get golden. Might be a good time to read Searun Cutthroat tactics. Waiting period Silvers will assume the position. Steelhead rejuvenate and start heading back to home waters. A Kalama section goes Fly-only September 1. Mike has been doing this gig for the past several years. This fishery has quietly become our 3rd top steelhead fishery in our fishing calendar, and for our guides that chase them year round, that is pretty good! The October campouts on the Grande Ronde is the most popular gig we do. If you haven't received the 2006 itinerary yet, be sure to let me know so we can fill you in. I live for this one. Mike, Jonathan, and Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
8-6-06 For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
7-30-06 "Some like it hot" Mike and I continue our fishing on our north sound streams. Stilly is moving into summer time low. Wild summer natives are showing, Fortson is plugged with steelhead smolts, salmon and fishers, not necessarily in that order. Plenty is water though out the drainage. Even the Skagit flows appear to slowing up a bit. SRC are playing the tides now. Dollies are moving, steelhead are in. Life is good. Skykomish River is also dropping past low and clear. Fishing has dropped off in the lower river. SRC are showing to Sultan. I guess Reiter Ponds has a ton of hatchery fish. We are still finding fish on bubble heads, riffle hitched, and wet flies, all in the surface. G.R. and the Crystal Caddis are our two top producers.......probably because we fish them the most. Both the Yancy and the Floating line Head System (FLHS) are selling really well. They are the only steelhead lines Mike and I use. The Skagit seems to have more Kings than steelhead right now. I have booked a couple days this week for this water. Might want to check the Sauk above the Suiattle River. Some monster Dollies in there. Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead Sept. 8 or 9. Mike has packed more good stuff in Ask Dennis, this week. Grande Ronde Steelhead: Real easy. Thanks to so many for the kind words about our Grande Ronde Slide show. Glad you enjoyed it. A guide want-a-be I met on the river the other day, reminded me of a story I wrote about a fishing guide I used to know. Read Guides are professional Liars. It's funny. Best of fishing, D For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
7/23/06 "And the hits just keep on coming" Well, life has settled in since the western state road trip. Mike & Jonathan have been fishing the Skykomish and Stilly waters while I have been away. All three of us have been back to guiding early in the week. I would have to say the North Stilly has taken top honors this week. The river took a pulse of both wild Deer Creek native steelhead and Fortson bound hatchery fish in the last few days. If the action continues, look for the best action from Deer Creek confluence downstream, Hazel, (above the slide), and the skinny water fishing in the Fortson-French Creek area. You are going to need to change up your tactics,
depending on which section you choose. The lower river fish will hit about
anything from surface flies (Crystal Caddis) to Woolley Worms. The water
visibility is only moderate, but the fish don't care, in fact it kinda
helps with the bright and sunny days we have been having.
Had a lovely day on the Skagit the other day. Hatchery chinook are headed for the Cascade River. Pink & white marabous are the drill, but you can't keep them. Dollies are kind of in between migrations right now, but we did handle some to 23". Bull Trout? The Sauk gets a wonderful run of Dolly/Bulls (heck, I don't even know what the call them anymore) but both the Sauk and the Suiattle are in full snow melt, and as the Suiattle is a glacial stream, it is running the color of a puke brown. Clear Creek area and above is good later this summer. Boys are telling me it is time to be heading back over to the Olympic Peninsula. I am all over that, but the Coho of Neah Bay apparently have not made their onslaught, looks like the coast may or may not be happening, this year. Come on rain! Life like Tefino: Every year more and more locals are migrating over to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Longer travel but outstanding action. I finally got around to writing the casting & flies section of Neah Bay. Al the same flies, technique and strategy works for the Canadian fish. Check out Neah Bay, (again) I never got a chance to thank all the guys who joined us on our Stilly Floating Lines Steelhead Schools. Good times for sure. If you haven't gotten your lecture notes by this weekend, just give me a holler, I am probably having a pre-senior moment. For those who were interested in the Grande Ronde Steelhead this fall, better contact me now. Best of fishing, Mike & Dennis flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information July 16, 2006 Mike & I have been walking into some of the N.F. Stilly pools. Steelhead are in, Kings starting to show. Concentrate in the heads and tailouts (because that's where the kings push everything else) Don't dead drift small black nymphs. Chinook will eat them. Steelhead are going now for the more somber colors. Greens, browns, Woolley Buggers are good. Last shot of rain brought in a decent squirt of Deer Creek steelhead. Very cool. Oso to Cisero water is the dril. Skykomish fishing is holding up surprisingly well. As the wild steelhead enter, good time to start fishing the surface. Any of Mike's Grande Ronde steelhead surface flies are good. Mine has to be Crystal Caddis. I always riffle-hitch. Rivers are dropping quickly now. Time to start probing the headwaters and estuaries.. SRC are playing in tidal water already. Cool! Try prawn patterns, spiders in yellow, orange and black. Don't leave your dry flies home either. A #10 yellow body Stimulator is a wonderful SRC pattern. Watch for sloppy rises under over-hangs. SRC love wood. Fish your tides, Low to high. Bright SRC are one of the finest fish that swim. I swear, if they grew to the size of steelhead, you wouldn't land them! Neah Bay reports are slow but still better than last year. OP rivers really need the rain Might try the Upper Queets above the campground. It's a hike but also a sleeper. Check it out. Westside trout streams are coming into play. Fish parachute Adams, stimulators, and Royal Wulfs. Keep them small. I like a two fly rig with a nymph dropper, but be careful. Easy to tangle if you are not a patient caster. Stilly custom schools: Thank you for the wonderful response to the custom schools. Mike says he had a very nice trip just yesterday, with steelhead, and Dollies on the venue.Most asked question: When would you choose a school over a guide trip? A guide trip is about taking the conditions of that day, and catching a steelhead. Angler will get a doctorate in fishing the conditions of that day. School is "soup to nuts." Covers all the conditions, from high lies to low water pools. Only complaint I get is, after a full day of floating pools, and talking strategy, and technique, anglers get writers cramp, from scribbling all day. But they do learn what lines to buy and why, how to fish, where to fish, when to fish it. If you have caught your share of steelhead, take the guide trip, if not, try the school. We end up talking schools so much, many do not realize, we spend most of our time guiding. Oh well, lovely problem to have. Dennis & the Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information July 9, 2006 "Pick your poison" Early July is a great time to be fishing the Skykomish River. Never found a good reason to leave the Sultan to Monroe area. Pick the low water pools, concentrate on the riffley heads. Type 4 sinktips and summer time marabous, Floating lines and the Crystal Caddis* (Muddler with an orange crystal flash wing), riffle hitched and skated, of course. I have never ceased to be amazed, how much better the wild fish rise, than the hatchery steelhead. Saw a couple dandies. Congratulations Dan and Gary. Floated the Stilly towards the weekend. Water is now clear below Deer Creek, but the flows are good, and the wild steelhead are coming in. The downside is many of the classic pools in the lower river are filled in. A couple near misses on Friday.......poor Tony, he could cast beautifully.......until we saw a steelhead rise, and then his casting would go to.......well, you know. As luck would have it, I just had to stop off at one more pool, on my way home. Yup, forth cast and Slurp......down goes the 5 wt. and zzzzzzzzzzzzzz! goes the reel. Just like in the movies. Frustratingly grateful, I muttered, "Where were you an hour ago?" I let the Deer Creek native go. And that is why we call it fishing. Timing couldn't be better for our Stilly School. Flies? Everything works on the wild steelhead. Good to stick to nymphs and streamers for the hatchery fish. We have gone to custom trips for our Stilly steelhead schools. Appreciate all who have signed up to learn the Stilly steelhead. Seems impossible but it is only a matter of days before the Searun Cutthroat are playing the tides down in the Silvana area. Check out: Searun Cutthroat Tactics http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/stories/src.htm Guess we can't leave without mentioning the Grande Ronde. Everything points to another stellar year. (Space limited). Don't forget to make your reservations, prior to your campout. If you haven't received your itinerary yet, just let me know. I refuse to start talking Dollies and Chum. Makes me cold, just thinking about it. Best of fishing, "D" For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 7/2/06 Mike just returned from a tidewater chinook gig in Alaska that he is still talking about. I have been busy on the Stilly & the Skykomish River plus the summer wrap-up of the private lakes. The Skagit is at medium high and fishing. Not a great surface water gig right now, but if you are fishing between Marblemount and Rockport with sinktips, Kings steelhead and upstream Dollies are around. I would call the fishing, "fair". The Sauk River is back to full run-off right now limiting the visibility in the Skagit below it to pretty much non-existent. As is, the Sauk River below the Suiattle River is not a viable factor this summer for fishing. Look for excellent trout fishing above the Whitechuck River, later this month. I would have to say the sleeper fishery right now is the Stilly North Fork. Why? I guess because everyone forgot that the slide only affects the river, downstream. The bulk of the summer steelhead fishing is from C-Post, upstream. The steelhead are there and nobody fishing. Connect the dots. The Stilly is a small drainage and already gone through it's snow pack. It is moving into the "trout hunting" mode, with smaller flies and longer, lighter leaders. Canyon Creek was not only my first steelhead to the fly, but a summer steelhead, at that! North Fork Steelhead School : July 14 or 15. As our usual accustomed waters below Deer Creek are gone for a while. we have reverted to smaller parties in our custom schools. Better suited for the upper watershed. We are looking at another fun class, this year. If you have never taken a top water steelhead before (or any fly caught steelhead for that matter), come join us for a day. There are still openings available for both dates. Love to see you out there! High lakes: There is a LOT more snow pack this year, so if you are planning to head out to the higher lakes, because you walked right in last year.....do your homework. Everything will be pushed back this year. We get inquiries all the time about Neah Bay. Another sad commentary because it is one of my favorite saltwater gigs. Bottom Line: No fish. So I have this guy call me up and says he used to go out with Yada Yada, but the Skipper is not doing it anymore........I explain it looks pretty grim for the coho season this year at Neah Bay, and his time would be better spent in other pursuits. He goes on about, well how about if WDFW opens it after all, are we going back out....I listen for a few minutes, and then interjected. "Can I give you a couple words of advice?" I asked quietly. He finally stops talking and says, "Sure." I said, "Don't go." He hung up, I am sure to call someone who might tell him something different. Amazing. Top Fall Pick: Grande Ronde 3 day Cabins & Campouts. $569. Steelhead in October. Surface fishing at its best. We have two slots left in the September 30-Oct 2 trip, and also two openings in our last expedition October 22-24. Happy to answer any questions. "Because sometimes you deserve more than what you pay for." Dennis & the Dickson Boys flyfishsteelhead.com For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
I have been on the upper Skagit. Surface fishing is good. This sun will bring another runoff. Then it will revert back to a sinktip show. Anyway, we are also getting good reports of multiple fishes moving into the O.P. waters. Mike is too happy with his fish, to leave the Sky, and I will probably just hang around the Skagit & the Stilly for a bit. Skagit River: River is going back into snow melt. Water visibility is around 6 feet above the Sauk, but lower below. Summer steelheading is spotty at best. Nice upstream Dollies on the move as are the hatchery Chinooks. Most guys are flyfishing sinktips. Big marabous in pink/white, blacks, blue, & red\orange are the most popular. Mike & Jonathan fish both surface and subsurface, my gig has been on top, when I can. Sauk River Not a lot of fishing until the water drops. Fish the big pocket water above the Whitechuck when it does. Skykomish River. Mike's guiding has been primarily on the Sky. His trips have produced both steelhead and Chinook, with the occasional Dolly/Bull. He still rates the upper Sky (below High bridge to Sultan) as fair to good for steelhead, and Sultan down the Monroe fair for steelhead but good for Chinook. Sinktips and winter flies are the drill until the summer wild fish move in. Water levels are flyfishing well. "A Dickson School isn't just a fishing day. It is an investment". That was nice. I hope so. We certainly try. Mike & I will cover our standard sinktip fishing, but the emphasis in this class is on taking summer steelhead on surface flies. If you are lined out on one of our Grande Ronde October 3 day campouts, this course is a must. Have a great week! Best of fishing, Mike, Jonathan, & Dennis "http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com" For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 6/18/06 For
information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking
Information 6-11-06 "So there you have it" You got to love summer. The new hatchery steelhead are making their way up the rivers, now. Here is the some the best bets for our North Sound rivers. Top Choice: Skykomish River summer hatchery steelhead. I like to fish from High Bridge down to Sultan River, when the water is below 3,000 cfs. From Sultan to Monroe from the river is running from 3,000 > 10,000 cfs. Right now, it is just about a dealers choice, but if you put a boat in the water, you better know what you are doing. (Goes for any of our western rivers in run off.) An added bonus to the Sky right now is the summer hatchery chinook headed for the Wallace River. It is going to be a sinktip show until the rivers come down, and the water warms. Watch for the wild fish around the 15th of July. Both Forks will get these wonderful surface rising fish. I like Woolley-buggers and marabou leech patterns for the early hatchery steelhead. Technique is the same, low and slow. I almost marvel how many anglers do this badly. If you thought sinktipping was just about gut casting to the far bank, and throwing a really big mend, you shouldn't be surprised if you aren't catching steelhead on the fly. North Fork of the Stilly would be my second choice. For steelhead, anyway. As much as I love the North Fork canyon below Deer Creek, the slide has dumped a mountain of silt into this lower river, and the hatchery fish are booking for the Fortson area, anyway. Fish from C-post upstream, and your chances go way up. Sinktips or bobber fishing. The Skagit is a mixed bag. Some of my best waters is the upper river, and right now it is loading up with hatchery kings. The adult fish are only so-so biters but Chinook Jacks are a lot of fun, and you can actually land the dang things. Dolly/Bulls are coming and going, and a few wild summer steelhead can surprise you so there you go. Sinktips are the drill. Water is still a little cold for consistent surface action but no doubt it is time to get ready.
Here is one of my most popular writes, and the new and the new & improved article even has the photos! Check out Surface Flies For Steelhead. Whether you are new to the area or flyfishing steelhead, our North Fork Stilly Flyfishing Schools July 14-15 get a lot attention. I guess we have been doing them for some ten years now. Happy to help with flies or technique. Flyfishing steelhead questions? Contact our top steelhead guide. He will be happy to point you in the right direction. Mike Dickson 425 330 9506. "Because fishing is better than not fishing" Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
6/4/06 "Now that is what I am talking about" Some get all excited when the new hatchery summer steelhead move in. I particularly like it when the Skykomish River is flowing above 6,000 cfs, in the Monroe area. It is kind of an eery site, really. When you hit the Sky around the June opener, you are going to be dealing with a good number of sleds, roaring up and down the river. The good news is with the river running high, you don't have to worry about the bankies wading over to the islands, or crossing tailouts to the other shore. Those lovely inside seams that the Skykomish steelhead love, and most boaters miss, are yours. This year was no different. There was no need to get up at 0'dark hundred. I wouldn't compete with anyone to get out to the island, unless a boat came in. Missing the month of May in Washington north waters, it felt good to be back out in familiar waters. Trees are leafed, and it was warm. Definitely summer. No mystery here. This pool doesn't seem to change much from year to year. The summer steelhead tend to hold in the same section, given the water height. All looked good. My strategy was simple, go through first with a blue/purple marabou, and follow back with something in color, if need be. Paranoia has it's place, so as tempting as it was to leisurely fish the entire run, I waded in above the money water. I fished a Yancey Multi-tip and a # 4 type sinktip. A six leader to ten pound Maxima ultra green, and I was golden. I started my casts out short working the water in front. The 4 feet of visibility told me I should pay particular attention to the hang-down (the end of the swing). About the time the running line was clearing the guides, the rod went down. Some steelhead can take scary soft. That is where a lot of fish are missed. Some fish flat out hammer it, but this buck just took the fly in full swing, nice and snug. No need to preset. It was fish. I knew it, and when I struck, he knew it. Sometimes every thing feels so right. He did his thing, I did mine, and then some minutes later, and few hundred yards downstream, he was at the shore. Another sled went roaring by, but as this guy was going about Mach 1, he barely looked over. Seems like I kinda blocked his view, anyway. A missing adipose fin told me this was a new hatchery summer buck. Cool. I wandered my way back up to my boat, found another flybox, that carried some different winter patterns, and found something I liked in follow-back situations. A red # 2 General Practitioner. I love the way these flies swim. My only wince, is I seldom fish these with clients, because I tie them myself. I tie slow. Anyway, Outside a roaring sled going by every few minutes, I pretty much had the place to my own. Life was good. I decided to start at the top of the run this time. As sometimes happens, my second cast was interrupted just as I was about to lift the fly up for another cast. I wasn't ready for what I thought was the bottom. A lovely steelhead gave a shake and a roll, (I hate it when they do this), and my red fly flew one way, and the steelhead swam the other, I figured I better pay more attention). I stripped in the line, checked out the leader & fly, and proceeded again. This time I went all the way into the third cast, and before the line and fly could tail out. The rod got thumped. Every once in a while, steelhead will really unload, and this fish jarred me to the shoulder. Gall, I just love it when they do this! She cartwheeled a couple times, and was into the backing before I could move my feet. Anyway, we went the rounds, I won this time, and she lay at my feet in the shallows. A drift boat was coming down. Looked like a good guide buddies boat. As Larry and clients moved in, I motioned him, he might want to try it here. He nodded and smiled as he quietly moved in and dropped his anchor. What the heck, I would be back to my own guiding, tomorrow. "And a river leaves no trails." Best of fishing, Dennis & the Dickson Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
May 28 Memorial Day Weekend: A Time of reflection: I constantly marvel how well this watershed remains in tact. I won't be long before the Cascade River bound, hatchery Chinook will show. Dolly/Bulls will be passing each other along the way. Some fish will soon be heading upstream, while others are still making their way back down. Roderick Haig-Brown put it well, "A River Never Sleeps." "Just Chillun" Cooler weather has brought the rivers back a bit. We always take an early shot of summer steelhead around the opener, which always teases us into thinking we are going to have one of those really good summers of hatchery steelhead. We will see. In the mean time, you may want to check out: Summer Steelhead-North Fork Strategies Look for our Stilly Summer Steelhead Schools July 14 or 15, this year. The Stilly is one of our oldest schools. We will doing our scouting to see if the Slide may push us up in the Hazel area. No biggy. But right now it is still raining. Of course it is. It's Memorial Day weekend, right. Hey Pal, it could be worse, at least this way, you are not out mowing the lawn. Best of fishing Dennis, Mike & the boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For
information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking
Information 5/21/06 "Can't have it both ways" Sorry fellas. Can't pray for a good snow pack then be surprised when we hit a few nice days and find our rivers blown up. Mike spent some time this week up on our private waters, but the swollen waters gave me some time to work on a couple consulting projects (whether I wanted to or not). Jam Show: Our summer steelhead schedule looks to be a busy one, so we went a head and aborted our *Skykomish Steelhead schools. If our rivers settle down we are hoping to do our popular high water guide trips for early summer steelhead on the North sound rivers after June 1, but I wouldn't hold my breathe. We will need some cool weather, (not atypical for June). Flyfishing high water is it's own gig, but you have to understand steelhead migrational patterns, to be successful. * We still plan on or Stilly school. Back to you more on that program. Got a call the other day from a long time client. Wonderful Man. It is just that every time we go out, it seems like we are into another episode. Now I have to tell you, after some twenty years of full time guiding, a guy begins to think he has seen it all. Never think you have seen it all. Read A Day with Allen. Fishing forecast: I look for fishing high water conditions at least through the early summer. Summer steelhead are a wonderful fish. Anyone who tries to tell you an early summer hatchery steelhead don't fight, are wonderfully misinformed. The Coho salmon fishing at Neah Bay this summer, will probably be down. The really bright spot, if you have never tried it, is skating surface patterns around the kelp holes for big black Rockfish. Better bring your 9wt. Anything less than a 12# tippet is going to get broken. We use our Skagit Skater, but I am sure any minnow imitation will work. I look for this fishery to really open up in the next few years. Awesome fun. The Stilly tidewater SRC is a lovely fishery. Watch for these fish to move in as the Transparent Apples get ripe. Wouldn't be fall without talking about the Grande Ronde 3 day Campouts $569. Have you seen the new Slide Show? Rave reviews. Our next available openings are October 20-22. Happy to explain why our trips are half the price of many of the other outfitters........ So there you have it. So much fishing, so little time. Now if this snow melt will let us get back to fishing! Best of fishing, Dennis, Fisheries Biologist/Flyfishing Guide For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
5/14/06 "Trout waters & beyond " May is always an interesting month. After my foray chasing PWI Alaskan steelhead, this last week found all the Dickson guides fishing assorted trout waters. Yakima: I wish; The river is in total runoff right now. Good luck finding that river fishable for the next month. Mike has been doing the trout gig on our private waters, while I was in PWI chasing steelhead. Haven't had the chance to ply the Olympic Peninsula salmon waters, yet. Word has it, the Sol Duc has some new Kings in it, along with a sprinkle of summer hatchery steelhead, but we are waiting impatiently for the Hoh to open back up for Kings & C&R steelhead. Try Flash flies and egg-sucking leaches with cherise colored heads. A buddy says he has been finding a pod or two in the lower river, each day. When the OP river opens for trout: Looks like the SRC are going to be in good numbers this year on the Sol Duc. A #12 yellow body stimulator, is good for the surface stuff, while the spider series gets it done for wets. Totally cool. Listen, if you are looking to head over better check your regs, kinda tricky. OP waters are low. Fish are pooled up. Flash flies, G.P.'s and marabous are the drill for the SD salmon. Hoping to sneak away and fish a couple saltwater beaches, this week. I can't tell you about flyfishing Dollies because it is not open for killing Dollies, but if you fish foamheads in the surface or sinktip Clousers on Camano Island & Whidbey beaches, you are going to find some awesome fish, while fishing for Searun Cutthroat. Stick to points and coves around the river mouths, Of Course, watch for bait. Pretty Cool. If you are looking to fish the higher elevation waters, remember, we had a real winter this year. Your lake may still be covered in snow. Do some checking before you head out. The good news is the quality lakes in Eastern Washington will be fishing farther into spring this year. A really cool deal, is to put your car topper in at Potholes and head out into the uncharted. If you don't mind exploring "other species" you will be amazed what is out there. Man, don't forget your GPS. You can be lost for days in the land of a thousand islands around Othello. Summer Steelhead Rivers: Skykomish River: A fine steelhead flyfishing stream, look for a lot of guys in a lot of boats, running up and down the river around opening day. I call them "Chevy truck commercials" because they only seem to have to two speeds, flat out, or stop..... Wait until at least mid week. More fish will be moving in, and the boating pressure falls way off. Look for the best fishing to be up around Highbridge. River is running moderate, but the snow pack release will raise the water, and all the steelhead will move to the soft current seams. (Where we like to fish) Sauk & Skagit rivers: Rivers are running moderate. Not much in the way of a hatchery steelhead. Dollies & the wild Sauk summers will intro a little later. North Fork Stilly: The little NF is running low,
but as mentioned, that will change. We always get an early pulse of summer
hatchery fish to Fortson around the June opener. Bobbers & jigs is
the norm. There is more and more late spawning wild winter fish each year
from C-post upstream to Fortson. Release them gently. Flyfishing Schools: Due to a heavy guiding schedule we have decided to forgo our June Skykomish Steelhead school. Sorry. We will make up for it with our custom steelhead schools. Happy to talk a bout that. Flylines: Flylines Catch Fish is probably the most informative article I have ever written. Guys buying or not buying multi-tips because of a loop connection is like selecting a set of golf clubs because it has better stitching in the bag. Looks good but it isn't what's critical. Just as selecting the right club or iron for the golf shot will make the gig, so it fishing the right tip for the right pool. Somebody wasn't paying attention: The number one tip that many of the old guard fished forever was the SA high-speed, high-D. This line is the equivalent of the type 4 sinktip. The most commonly used tip of the multi-tip system we use in the Yancy, is the type 4. You are right, neither Rio or Airflow even carry this tip in their arsenal. Steelhead don't care about the politically correct. You shouldn't either. Every year I get asked: So which boat would you buy? Well, I have more boats than you can imagine but we fish for a living and fish a lot of different scenarios Here are some thoughts on buying one. Rafts & Hardbottom boats. Take a look. Our summer steelhead season is almost upon us. "There is steelhead, and then there is everything else....."
Dennis & the Boys
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
5/7/06 Spring has sprung! Most of the fishermen are focused on some west side
lakes or eastside rivers and lakes now that the local rivers are closed.
You can check with the fish and game to see what lakes have been restocked
with fish and when. Spring can bring a variety of fishing conditions and
weather, got to take the good with the bad but enjoy the ride. First of
the week found us on our private lakes fishery. Floating line show. Fishing
was good.
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
4/30/06 "Would the last one please turn out the lights?"
The Chosen River watershed also quietly got it done over on the OP. Thanks to all who joined us.
24" inch Dolly/Bull with Dickson Chum Fry So the spring is past and we get to play the trout game until our rivers open again in June. Wait a minute: Those tributary mouths of Hood Canal should be teaming with Searun Cutthroat loving to ambush the outmigrating fry, along with baby Candlefish. Nothing special here. Peacock/white or green/white Clouser minnows will get it done. SRC like it fast and erratic. Watch your tides. BC lakes are always calling me this time of year. After a real winter, maybe I will hold off for a couple weeks. Bass are up spawning now. Largemouth on frog patterns are fun, but Smallies on surface stuff......now that is a fish I can get fired up about. Skating smolt patterns over the kelp holes at Neah Bay, is a major rush. Better have a 9 wt. and 12 pound tippets or you have no chance of landing these butt-ugly rockfish. Kill a couple but eat them fresh. Amazingly good. Ahhh, so much fishing so little time. Grande Ronde Steelhead: October 18-20 Campouts Whether you are new to the GR and need a great sampler of where and how to fish its steelhead, or just looking for a relaxing 3 day campout, where single anglers are actually welcome. Come join us. Best value on the River. $569. There are who fish and those just talk about it. Dennis and the Dickson Guides www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
4/23/06
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
4/16/06 "What the heck was that?" Now the good news: The Sauk River finally got it's shot of water. Sure it went to brown, but the cold weather already locked it up. River is dropping and clearing. Very good sign. Steelhead fishing is good and other than the fact the local steelheader will be out like slugs on the lawn, we should finish the spring C&R season April 30, in fine shape. There are fish through out the system. You don't have to move much. They will be coming to you. Skagit River: Also went from warm and balmy to the arctic blast. Now that the weather system is passing, it won't take nature long to make this last snitch of winter a recent memory. Both Chum & Pink salmon fry have been flushing out. Surface presentations on trout rods have been very consistent for these wild char to seven pounds, if you know where to look.
The surface rises alone are worth the price of admission. Watch for the action to continue until the C&R closure April 30. Look in the right waters and match the hatch. Your straight up Clouser Minnow may catch the occasional fish, but these fish are used to looking at the real fry. I have noticed that fooling the big boys in the last few weeks a little tuffer as their "search image" of eating the real fry, becomes more acute. If you find yourself fishing through the slashing rises of feeding Dolly/Bulls without a take, it is either your fly or presentation that is off. Again, match the hatch. Man, and don't forget your 8 wt. The upper Skagit steelhead run is getting it done this year. When was the last time you got to fish steelhead and trout all on the same day? Totally cool in my book. More trout and beyond: As the unsettled winter/spring weather passes, look for the trout lakes to be on the rise. We are holding our collective breathe that the weather Gods will smile on us for our annual Eastern Washington Mystery Lake School April 21 or 22. Happiness is a gig like last year. Totally cool. Yeah, steelhead & Dolly guiding is a tuff gig this time of year, especially with all the anglers heading over to fish the trout waters, and all.....But I guess somebody needs to stay behind. Can't have these big anadromous fish over running the place. Wouldn't be good. Best of fishing, The Bad Boys of Dicksonhood www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
4/09/06 Puget Sound Steelhead listed as a Threatened Species,
ESA, in Federal Register.
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 4-2-06
"Life is good. Very very good."
1) It is Daylight Savings Time. Fall back but spring ahead. 2) Fishing licenses have expired. Time to regear before hitting the public water again. Spring is trying to crawl out, while winter refuses to lose her grip. Willows are popping, Alder, and Salmonberry are greening up. Nature seldom sleeps here in the Pacific Northwest. It is more like it takes frequent winter naps. So many adventures to talk about for the week. I will just try to hit a few vitals. Mike and I have been fishing both the Sauk and the Skagit rivers. From Marblemount downstream to the Dalles on the Skagit. From Darrington to the Skagit confluence on the Sauk. Steelhead have been in no hurry on their journey home.
"One man's floor is another man's ceiling" The Pink & Chum salmon outmigration is in full swing now. A single handed 5 wt. with a floating line is all you need. Dolly/Bulls to 28" are wonderful sport if you gear to them as you would in any quality trout fishery. Very very cool. The Suiattle is low and behaving itself. It is often
even more clear than the Sauk. Funny what people notice: Mel Jones is from Montana. Mel swims a lovely 37" Sauk male steelhead the other day with our guide, Mike. Very cool. I really began to appreciate the kind and gracious Mel, when we fished the Grande Ronde on campout with him, a few years ago. A really neat guy. Anyway, so we post last weeks picture and what do we get comments on? Mel's hat. A river as magnificent as the Sauk, an awesome wild winter steelhead, and we talk about a guy's hat. People are funny. Guess that is what makes everyone special. We are all different. Reminds me of an anecdote I once wrote about my good friend Jackson. It is called Guide & Hats.
Man, don't put that flyrod away, yet! Mike and I will fish the Skagit & Sauk Rivers until April 30. Fishing is good and only getting better. You don't have to book a trip to find how the steelhead run is progressing. Drop a line, we would be happy to tell you what's going on. Yup, life is good.
Guide trick: A little wrinkle I came up years ago while Eastern Washington trout fishing "masking hatches" in shallow bays for really spooky fish is; instead of a bobber and nymph, go with a parachute Adams, as an indicator, and the appropriate nymph on point. We often witness an early season sparse Mayfly hatch, but midges are still being selected by the trout. This combo not only doesn't scare the fish in presentation, but many feeders take the dropper fly. Of course this dropper gig, is the oldest thing on the Yak, but it is surprising how few anglers I see use it, on the trout lakes. Quietly getting it done, Dennis & the Dickson
Guides
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
3-26-06
Hal Smith has been fishing with me for some 17 years now. I have written about our steelhead experiences many times. Jackie has been joining us for the past 5 years. Unlike many anglers, she is what you might call a "hard core". She is almost as comfortable in the early spring days on the river, as the lovely fall time. Seems like every time we fish I always marvel how technically correct she can fish. A casual observer would probably write her off as simply "lucky." I believe anglers make their own luck, and Jackie demonstrated it again this week in both steelhead and Dolly/Bulls. Kudos'. She won't be able to join Hal and I this year, for our April week of fishing. She has other obligations back at home in Hawaii. We will miss her as this is when the most steelhead swim the Skagit drainage. Fishing has been a typical winter/spring. Chum & Pink fry are migrating out now. Skagit surface fishing is excellent. Dolly/Bulls to 27" on a single handed 6 weight and floating line is mucho fun. The takes alone, can be amazing! The Sauk is our big fish fishery. Kudos to Mel Jones and his 37," 17 pound buck he swam the other day with his guide, Mike. Not bad for a Montana Boy. I am really fortunate to have some the best guides on the river. Here is what Scott P. had to say about his doublehanded rod day, with our long rod guru, Darrel Donarski. Darrel & I have been designing a "Baby Spey" for a couple years. Stay tuned on that one. Fishing & fishing forecast: Skagit River: 4,860 > 8,000 cfs every day. Water temps are only running 41 degrees. Pink fry haven't really kicked in yet, but Chum fry are coming out. They are about 400 to the pound. Gear down for the Dollies, as in any quality trout fishery, and let them strut their stuff. Fry Migration presentation is even more important than the fly. Water is gin clear. Oh, some pools fish best at low water, some are high water lies. Adjust your fishing. Now here is the good part. Fishing is very consistent and nobody is out doing it. Totally cool stuff. Sauk River: 1,950 cfs. Seems like all our precip. has gone into snow. Freezing levels and night time temperature are still down. Water temps. are a consistent 41 degrees. As result, water remains extremely low and clear but the brawly Sauk steelhead are there. If you haven't figured out how the catch them other than first & light, you are missing out. Expand your technique and you will extend your effective fishing day. "Show them something different" is the drill. I apologize for aborting the Olympic Peninsula schools this year. That was not an easy decision, but guide days will always take precedence, and April fishing for Sauk steelhead and surface Skagit Dollies is a busy time for the Dickson guides. Instructional custom schools are very popular if you are looking to improve your near at home river fishing. Happy to talk that. Mystery Lake trout school April 21 or 22. Friday is full but Saturday has some availability. This Potholes lake has the three parameters I enjoy in my Eastern Washington fishing. No crowds, no huge walk-in, and really big rainbows. Let me show you how to fish it. Fish Porn: Is it just coincidence, or does it appear that the computer geek that complains there are too many fish pictures, is the same poor guy who struggles to catch them? I don't know about you, but I never tire of a quality photo. Grande Ronde Campouts: $569 3 day trip. Singles are welcome. We will never try to hook you on "Double Occupancy." Love to have you join us. When it comes to catching steelhead on the fly: If you talk the talk, you better be able to walk the walk....... Dennis Flyfishing Biologist
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
3-19-06 "It ain't spring yet" In Alaska we often say, "if you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes". Man, are we into that kind of weather, now. Mike had a stellar few days on the OP. Best day for seven hooked steelhead. Wow! That is good. Jonathan & Darrel are in mourning after the middle Skagit closure March 15. The steelheading was very consistent. Me? I have been flirting around the Sauk & Skagit. The Sauk has gone so low the past few days, we aborted our Sauk gig, and just fished the Skagit. This is what Ron S. and his Buddy Craig had to say about their two day trip, jumping Dollies on the Skagit. Now that The Skagit has gone into C&R. Everything is protected. Life is good. It got me thinking about the "Unwritten Rules" for guides. I am sure you could come up with your short list, here are a few of mine. And you thought that guiding was just about taking a few people fishing...... Speaking of fishing: Mystery Lake School April 21 or 22. Friday class is almost full but Saturday has room. Come see how these trick fish finders & and the lowly stomach pump can be your best friend in unlocking the hatch. Fishing Forecast: Look for spring to break loose anytime. Steelhead & Dolly/Bulls are headed in opposite directions. Salmon & steelhead juveniles are doing their best to stay out of the way. Trout lakes are warming. Trees will begin leafing out soon. Spring is spring and life is good again. This is why we fish....... March madness at its best, Dennis & the Bad Boys of Dicksonhood www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 3/12/06
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
March 5, 2006
"Happy to be out" Ever notice that it really doesn't matter what the weather or river conditions are doing, fishermen are always looking for something a little different? It is too high, too low, to clear too muddy, too sunny, and on we go. I think this adage is my favorite. "When is the best time to go fishing? Whenever you can....." Guides & I have been pretty busy on the Sauk & Skagit Rivers. Something about the C&R native steelhead fishery that will do that. Roller Coasters: Man, it seems like the Sauk River is either on it's way up or headed down. Whatever happened to "holding at prime? " Sauk River: (2,500 cfs) Water is low, but if you don't mind getting up early, there are a few dandy wild steelhead throughout the system. Don't be afraid to move around. Fly selection is whatever, but I prefer a fly with a good profile and lots of action. Marabous, bunny leeches, and General Practitioners are my favorite. Skagit River: (8,360 cfs @ Marblemount) The big dam release that is going on in the upper river results in high & clear river conditions above the Sauk. Tough gig. With the Sauk running low, the lower Skagit pools are fishing well, but then don't expect to be alone. Everyone is out, looking for the that big buck. Early & late in the day, are your best times to fish. Same flies & presentation as the Sauk. Sad commentary closing the Stilly & Skykomish Rivers: Can't do much about the Stilly, that slide is nasty. Sky natives.....well, that is another story for another day.
Pretty cool. After steelhead behavior and migrational patterns, we get heavy into reading steelhead flyfishing water. We had just finished a pool, and I came down around the corner in our Pac 1300, with a couple of our guys. As we pass another angler flyfishing a nondescript piece of water, our newly steelhead experts launch into the where's and why's of reading steelhead water. I just had to smile, as it is fun watching the boys "get it" when it comes to flyfishing steelhead. We had wonderful weather but the low water conditions were tuff. If I know anything about Washington weather though, it can a change in a heart beat. So goes the fishing. Club Slide Show: Mike and I spent a lovely evening with the Overlake Fly Club. Kind and classy guys. We did a favorite slide presentation, Grande Ronde Steelhead on surface flies. Even my old friend Aaron Culley came to watch. Awesome. I remember back about twelve to fifteen years ago, I did a presentation for the Overlake guys. Think they met in a back room somewhere, and we had punch and cookies. Far cry from the banquet room and prime rib dinner we enjoyed the other night. A family oriented group, you really should check them out. Here's hoping it is spring: Our next school on the horizon is one that gets me jazzed. Be sure to check out our Mystery
Lake Flyfishing School: April 21 or 22
Dennis Fisheries
Consultant/ Flyfishing Guide
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
2/22/04
"And this is why we fish" Man, I got to tell you. If you are looking for that really big bruiser of a steelhead, this is the time to fish. As I review my notes, the last four steelhead over 40 inches I have handled all have come from the period of February 15 to March 15 each year. It is just a big fish, time. Mike was fishing with Steve on the Sauk the other day. Mike has been involved with some really nice steelhead in his short six years of guiding. He has yet to land that really big one, himself. Every steelheader that has never hit one out of the park, in Washington waters, knows exactly what I mean. So Steve is going solo that day and Mike is watching him fish. Mike has his eye on a quiet little mogul at the very top of the run, confirms with Steve and hikes on up. Three casts later his double-hander cracks down, and a very powerful fish moves off into mid stream. Then it does something we have only seen big bucks do. He hunkered in. After some serious side pressure from Mike, the big steelhead, shakes his head once, and starts poking upstream like the white water means nothing. Mike yells for Steve but before he can hike up to the action, the hook just falls out. Just as it started, it ended. Happy sad Mike. Looked like we were going to get a serious water rise that would suck those lower Skagit fish up into the Sauk. No such luck. Just as the water came up, Ma nature does the cold thing, and the waters fell right back to bone cold and stone clear. Here is the facts: Skykomish River: 1,880 cfs Too cold and too clear. The pools above Sultan have the best pools at this water height. Highbridge down is a good float. Stilly North Fork: 1,220 cfs. Don't use any word that has the word "slide in it." It is all anyone wants to talk about. Water is summer low and the few wild steelhead, are all playing hide-and-seek. Sauk: 2,320 cfs. Just when it looked like we were going to get that sweet pulse of water to bring the steelhead in...nada. Man, watch it break loose after the next good storm. He who fishes first, doesn't have to fish best. Ever notice how it is the guy who loves to expound that he "likes to wait until later that morning to fish, let the water warm up a bit," just happens to have his rig parked riverside an hour before dawn? Congratulations, you have just been scooped. Welcome to the Dawn Patrol. The only time the waiting actually works is during high water, when the steelhead feel comfortable to move all day. Skagit River: 8,300 cfs. Can't really hang your hat on this one. Seattle City Light is going to generate power anytime they can, and of course winter in Washington is high usage Fortunately, the Skagit fishes best from mid to high waters. Watch for that front this week, and head upstream. That's what the steelhead will do. Sauk River Schools: March 3 or 4 Many guys who couldn't get in this year have opted for our custom schools. Cool. You can find the description on the school page. I have sent the Sauk School itinerary out to everyone in the classes but if you are reading this and realize you don't have one, just drop me a line. Many of the testimonials are from anglers who have taken classes, check it out. Can we talk about Spring? As our winter continues it is almost difficult to discuss the warm and fuzzy days of spring. I saw a whole herd of summer robins the other day, and they never lie. I am thinking we may have snow until April. I hope the birds are right, and not me. Mystery Lake April 21 or 22 We do this big rainbow fishery every year, and seems like it is always a great time. By late April we Dickson Boys have had our fill (not)! of chasing steelhead every day. The trout gig is welcome change. Love to have you. Yeah, it is a tuff life but somebody has got to do it, right? "The only boat that never rocks, is tied securely to the dock." Best of fishing, Dennis, Mike, Darrel & Jonathan www.flyfishsteelhead.com 425 238 3537
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information 2/19/06
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
2/12/06
Man, I could get used to this. Cold as heck in the mornings but lovely as can be in the afternoons. Weatherman says we may be back into a change, but I don't care (much). It is lovely right now. Weird: The upper Skagit is running high but clear. Big time Dolly show. Few natives starting to show in the lower river. Good time to hit the Birdsview to Lyman area. I like marabou's, Bunny Leeches, and GP's in # 2 to 1/0 for this gig. I tend towards dark day/dark fly & bright day/bright fly, but mostly its finding the steelhead traveling lanes and bringing in the fly low and slow. Yes, I believe many anglers over mend. Need to know when to mend and how much. Sauk Time: Yup, the early fish always go up the Sauk. Great time to hook a really big fish. Water is awesome right now. Not a lot of fish yet, but this is when the big dominant males come in. No secret. Read the water, present the fly. That steelhead always take the fly hard, is an urban legend. Check out: Coldwater takes. Sauk River Schools March 3 or 4 are full but take heart, all you have to do is ask for our custom guide trip. Same stuff, same price, fewer guys in class, call for guide dates. Stilly North Fork has taken it's whooping. Wouldn't bother in the lower river, if you fish it at all, fish high in the watershed. Skykomish will sneak in a few early fish. Focus on the Sultan to Monroe pools. You won't be alone. Mostly doing guide trips from now through April. Guides will be bouncing from OP to the Skagit system. Always love the spring. Seahawks: Unfinished business The Dickson Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
2/5/05 "Blown Away" The monsoon Mary pretty much knocked out the fishing this week. We even canceled our Skagit Flyfishing Schools. With the Seahawks playing this weekend, not sure who is going to pay much attention to this fishing report! Winter steelhead got you the itch? Read Bait & Barbs ........a bad idea. Fishing Forecast: Look for the rivers to drop back into shape in the next couple days. One of my good friends and client Rob K. landed a lovely 38" wild Darrington steelhead the other day. Awesome. I would fish the Sauk below Darrington, the NF Stilly above Hazel, the Skykomish below the Sultan River, and the Skagit below the Sauk. Our next schools are scheduled for the Sauk. Guide trips are booking for the North Sound rivers, until the Sky and the Stilly will close the end of the February. C&R will start in March. That's about how long I can think about something besides the Seahawks! The Dickson Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
Thank you Seahawks for the wonderful season.
I will always feel you were the better team.
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
01/29/06 Dickson boys fished the Sauk, Cascade, and the Skagit Rivers this week. Mike had a very nice day getting Richard into his first winter Skagit steelhead on a fly. They not only hooked a lovely steelhead, but also a couple Dollies. I spent time at Jeff's Ponds and up on the Skagit & Sauk. We generally don't talk much about the Sauk these days but if the word is out..... Fishing was good. (More on that.) More snow than rain. You can check river flows off my Flyfishsteelhead.com > Check river flows for latest. How do you read it? If the Sky @ Goldbar or the Skagit @ Marblemount are above 10,000 cfs, no fishing. Fishing stops in the Stilly @ Deer Creek above 3,000 cfs. Skykomish River: 3,700 cfs and dropping Sunday morning. Water is down and has been all through the week. Few fish means fewer fishermen. Pools are fishing well. Boys caught fish. Pink Stinker, Blue/Purple marabous and Black Bart (found in fly section of Streamsideflyshop.com) were top producers. Watch for the Sky to continue to drop as cold front moves through. February is always a good month for the large late winter native steelhead. Be gentle, and release them alive. Skagit River: 8,000 cfs, released waters and holding. Air temp 30's Water temp 40. Vis above Sauk. 6'. The Skagit is probably the only river I know, that improves in fishing as the water rises. Dollies are smaller now, many of the big ones have been killed in the winter kill fishery. Too many of these wild Char in the 15" - 19" range with hook scars. We need to better protect this fish. Dark and wiggleys are good flies. Our new surface skater is getting it done, but that is all I will say on that. Hatchery steelhead, continue to come in spurts. Skagit winters are stunning with eagles and all. Lovely setting. Stilly, North Fork: 2,350 CFS Air temps in the 30's Water temp is around 40. Fishing slow to fair depending on who you talk to. Haven't really fished it since the slide blew. You probably saw it on the news. Pretty ugly. Fish upstream. Me? Been on the Skagit and beyond. Sauk River: 4,350 cfs. Air 30's Water 42 Fishing: Some Dollies coming out. Only a few wilds showing but they are dandies! All your winter flies will work. Sauk fish don't care. If it comes in their zone, it's dead. The Blue/purple marabou is a fly I originated for the Sauk River steelhead, back in the early eighties, Catch & Release. Someday I will share the story. Steelhead Schools: It doesn't happen often, but once in a while, as a guide, you will get a doozy out fishing. Reminded me of the story I wrote called Guides Are Professional Liars.
Sauk steelhead Schools March 3 or 4 Been a couple years since we did a school on the Sauk. Quietly guiding around, is another matter. Sauk Steelhead don't back seat to nobody! Friday class has only one slot available, but Saturday class has two. Speaking of the Sauk River! Major Kudos for Northwest Flyfishing Magazine : The Sauk River Steelhead article by Michael Bennett
was both timely and informative. If you looking to get the scoop on the
Sauk River, Look no further. Glad to see someone has the gumption to be
holding wild steelhead for photos. His depiction of Jack Cook was perfect.
Jack and I share the water on both the Sauk and the Skagit. I feel he
is a personal guy as well as a wonderful storyteller! Go Seahawks!!!!, Dennis, Mike, Darrel, & Jonathan www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
1/22/06 Seahawks
to the Super Bowl
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
1/15/06 "Might as well, Dream" Seems like with all this rain, I have been just kinda hanging out. If you need to slip your mind into other places. Come check out our new 2006 Grande Ronde Slide Show. Back to Reality: Rivers such as the Skagit, Stilly, & the Sauk are still too high to fish. Skagit: Still hovering around 11,000 cfs. Watch for this freezing level to drop. Should be some nice fishing for winter hatchery steelhead, with early native steelhead on their heels. The Dolly/Bull fishing should improve as we hit the lull between the hatchery run and wild steelhead. Most of the kill guys head for the attention of the lower river, allowing the upper river fish a little reprieve. Sauk: 9,440 cfs. Not even close. Let this cold drop the river back in. Good mix of Dolly/steelhead action on the horizon. Most of the quality fishing is going to be upstream of the Suiattle River. This is not water for the novice boat angler. Stilly: 6,680 cfs. The good & the bad. Bad: Water conditions are terrible. Good: The little North Fork drops pretty quick. Should be some hatchery steelhead showing in the upper river, when it comes down. Skykomish River: 8,260 cfs The river is in! The Sultan to Monroe stretch should be golden. Look for some river changes. Sustained high waters do that. So Sad: My good friend and comrade, Sam Ingram, said we lost the battle to keep the Sky Catch & Release, each spring. I wish it was as simple as low escapement numbers. Oh well. If you are new to flyfishing, or new to an area, might want to read "Choosing a Guide" Skagit Steelhead Schools: If you haven't gotten an itinerary, please drop me a line. Sauk Schools March 3 or 4. Thanks for the great response, to one of my favorite fisheries. By popular request, we will be sure to cover sinktipping both single and double handed rods. Mike & Darrel both do a lot of this. Just thought you should know: Back in the Sixties and early Seventies, the single handed flyrod was the traditional. I grew up on these North Sound rivers and was lucky enough to fish the fly even when your flyfishing "Legends" were throwing for steelhead with gear rods each winter.
The Dickson Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
1/8/06 Well, with the rivers flirting with flooding, not much going to happen for the next few days. Mike had a nice day on the Skagit & the Cascade Rivers before the waters finally went out. No steelhead to speak of yesterday, but the Dolly/Bull fishing was good with his winter flies. There is a great crossover between winter steelhead & the wild Char. Mike has some great flies in his winter sampler. I can spend my life explaining there simply isn't a holy grail in flies, but it certainly doesn't keep a guy from trying. Check out Steelhead Flies Faction & fiction After more than a few years as a Fisheries Biologist and a steelhead flyfishing guide I would have to say the most effective, most misunderstood concept in winter steelhead flyfishing is the sinktip presentation. Don't take my word for it. Steelhead will do that. Anyway: The Rivers are out. Check River levels from our home page www.flyfishsteelhead.com Skagit River 11,200 cfs (fishes as high as 10,000 cfs) Sauk River 10,700 cfs (back to fishable at 7,000 cfs) Skykomish River 12,600 cfs (fishable at 10,000 cfs)
New! Sauk River School March 3 or 4 We decided it is time to get back into it. Although we have been guiding every spring on the Sauk since the mid eighties, We haven't done a Sauk school in a couple years, now. It remains one of our top sleepers. Why? The brawly late winter native steelhead, that's why. Bought that big expensive doublehanded rod and still haven't caught jack with it? Come learn the presentation techniques as well as the nuances of the Sauk River holding water. Your time is too precious to waste it. Here are 60 testimonials of anglers who HAVE fished with us. Come see why Dickson Flyfishing is more popular now, than when we started our on-the-water school concept, ten years ago. Let's focus on the native fish. Best of fishing, Dennis, Mike, Darrel & Jonathan
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
1/1/06
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
12/25/05 "Going. going, gone! " Rivers are headed out. No, they are gone..... Weather has gone warm, freezing levels up. Flooding is around the corner. The good news. The rivers were fishing very well until this pineapple express. Winter steelhead are showing in all the North sound rivers. We have been fishing the Skagit below the Sauk the most. Skagit: 14,600 cfs and heading up. Only fishable up to 10,000. Look for good numbers of winter hatchery steelhead to continue as the high waters head back down. Your standard winter steelhead patterns will get it done. Fish the soft edges where the steelhead will migrate to stay out of the heavier flows. Many guys miss the boat. My guides and I will fish our lightest sinktips when the flows are up. Fish in close where the steelhead are. Sauk 12,200 cfs. Not fishable until it drops below 7,500. Sauk has steelhead and Dollies. Find the rocks, fish the edges. Love that river. Haven't heard of any wild steelhead showing yet, but as we get further into the winter, they should be coming. In twenty years as a fisheries Biologist, I would love to tell you I have seen a definitive correlation between the return of winter hatchery steelhead and their wild counterparts, but really haven't seen it. Stilly N.F. 10,000 cfs. Fishable at 3,000. Gone Skykomish: 26,000 cfs. Fishable at 10,000. Really gone. Me? Mike was fishing the Skagit preflood, and I spent most of my time poking around the local waters, and up at Jeff's ponds. Biggest trip was Jeff's Ponds. We never bothered with any of the other eight lakes, on this 90 acre complex. We went directly to 4.5 acre trophy waters. We were both set up with my version of a Denny Rickards Sealbugger with a beadhead. These big rainbows love to cruise edges, so we tied on our leaders to 3x fluorocarbon and fished floating lines. Never even stepped into the lake except to net a fish. Gentlemen fishing. I won't fill you in on all the gory details but it seemed every time I looked up, Bill was being towed around by another monster rainbow. Right now it is mini leeches and young dragonfly nymphs. Fish ran from your eastern Washington bows to nearly eight pounds. Most averaged closer to 4-5. Only thing I felt bad about was the fact, we never got to fish some of my favorite haunts on any of the other lakes. Poor baby.......As this weather front was moving in, I was thinking my rivers are probably going out. With so many protected shorelines, even this isn't a problem at the ponds. Life should always be so difficult. Back at the rivers: I would look for a pulse of winter hatchery steelhead in on this rain, Supposed to clear and drop so we will fish Jeff's Ponds early in the week and hopefully back on the Skagit (maybe even the Sauk) by weeks' end. 2006 Flyfishing
Schools: February 3 or 4 flyfishing schools: Now that isn't fair. I haven't even advertised these schools yet, and already our Saturday school is full. We may add another day for this popular fishery. We will see. I am asked all the time, which river is my all time favorite in the spring. It used to be easy. It was the Sauk. Now I would say it is a toss up between the Sauk and the Olympic Peninsula's "Chosen River" (Yes, it is a pseudonym and Yes, it is an actual river.) Mike and I have a few dates left for the coast
this spring. A few more than that for the North Sound streams. I have had a chance to clarify a few points in the How-to article, Cold Water Takes. This new technique in detecting the gentle bite so common in winter steelhead, revolutionized our approach to fishing winter steelhead. Check it out. Winter native steelhead.......something very romantic about that sound. I guess Mike and I will just have to handle big rainbows and Dollies, sprinkled with the occasional hatchery steelhead.......until the rivers come down.
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
Archived
Fishing Reports - lots of good infomation January
2005 - December 2005 |
|
E-mail
Dennis at DDDicksons@aol.com ,or
phone at (360)435-6499
copyright 1998 - 2006 Dennis Dickson, Fly Fishing Web Design and web site search engine optimization by Sandy Lockleer |
