12/28/03

"And when you get all done, add fish"

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

Winter continues to have her way. The rivers are up and then they are down. If you are like many. It is not a matter of going when the rivers are optimum. You go fishing when you can get away.

Fishing overview:
Not so bad: Salmons are gone now. They are now replaced by some hatchery winter steelhead. Not large numbers, but enough to give you the excuse to be fishing, and fishing is better than not fishing. Even in the winter time.

In our world of automation, I think our greatest tool of everyday steelheading, has got to be the USGS stream gauge stations. Checking river heights is what I do everyday, and heck I live right above the North Fork of the Stilly.

Typical Guy Thing: I am not one to admit things very often, but even I have to admit, a couple of the Sky and Skagit pools, have actually gotten better after the floods.

Winter Steelhead Flyfishing:
In my opinion, the very most important ingredient in my steelhead fishing success is fishing the right lines in the right water. Bottom Line (no pun intended): If you can't fish where the steelhead are, you aren't going to catch them. Especially in the winter, when the rivers are typically high and cold. I shudder to think of all the chopping and cutting I have done over the years trying to come up with a decent winter flyline. I am relieved we finally found a commercial one in the Yancy. Trust me, when you flyfish steelhead as a occupation, throughout the year, you see pretty much every line out there.

Stilly, North Fork: Air Temps 35 degrees to 45 degrees. Water Temps around 39 degrees at 10 am. Water visibility-high above French Creek, moderate below Boulder Creek, and fishable below Deer Creek (unless it warms up. Fish below Deer Creek, if the water flows stay down. Above Hazel when its up. The winter hatchery fish are coming in pulses. Car hopping is more productive than floating, but floating gets you away from people.

Flies & Gear: Streamsideflyshop.com

Sauk River: Maybe by next spring. Going to need a year of flushing to move that much sediment.
Skagit: Pretty good. Air temps 30-40 degrees, water temps. 37-42 degrees. Visibility excellent above the Sauk, and fishable below. I try not to get my hopes up too much. Seems like every year we get a pulse of fish and I am thinking, "Here we go!" and the bottom falls out. So far so good.

The Skagit has fish.
Water flows of course are regulated by money, I mean, the dam releases. The river has been very fishy for both winter hatchery steelhead, and the Dollies.

When I wrote about a buddy who witnessed the Dolly killing last week, I had several other guys wrote and told me the same thing. Maybe we just can't stand fish population prosperity. When did we come to the conclusion we had a better idea on running the resource than nature? Oh Well.

Skykomish Winter Steelhead School: January 16, 17 or 18. Our 5th annual Skykomish winter steelhead schools is coming up. This is what Dr. Aguilu had to say about his 2003 Sky School experience. Thanks Steve.

Merry Christmas & best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/21/03

"Christmas Time Rivers"

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

The holidays find the north sound rivers down and fishable. Cool weather has kept the snow locked up where it should be......in the mountains. Waters have been running cold and fairly clear, excellent for winter flyfishing.

Skykomish River: 2,880 cfs as of Sunday Morning. Chums and silvers are all but gone, but winter hatchery steelhead are coming in better numbers than we have seen for a while. Even hearing rumors of a few wild natives showing. Now that is pretty cool! The defined gravel bars and easy wading (most places) makes the Sky, a friendly steelhead flywater .

Fishing strategies: While fishing around winter gear anglers, I have mentioned I prefer to fish the softer colors such as blues, blacks and purples in marabous and Practitioners. Any of your silhouette colors will work. As the Sultan River still has some color, if it rains, try fishing upstream, from High Bridge to the Sultan River.

Here is another tip: Fishing pressure tends to move steelhead to the edges, especially in clear water. Most anglers don't bother fishing the riffley heads and few will fish the broken wake in the tailouts. Fish high and low in the pool when the steelhead are trying to hide. You will be surprised. Our January steelhead schools will cover much of this. (More on that at www.flyfishsteelhead.com)

Stilly, North Fork: 1600 cfs. @ Deer Creek. River is down. All the pools are fishing. The little stream has got some new winter hatchery steelhead., but staying with them from day to day, is the trick. The lower river doesn't have a lot of great holding water, anyway, so these hatchery brats can really cover some water. Bottom Line: If you don't find where you left them from the day before, get on your horse and move around.

Flies & technique: Bobbers work but we prefer swinging flies on sink-tips. Poor Mike has had a Christmas rush on his Yancy lines. Take heart. I promise we will have some to demo in our up-coming Sky Winter Steelhead school.

Sauk: Good news. The waters are finally showing a little green. Bad news: Even the 1991 flood didn't destroy the holding water, like it did last fall. Wouldn't waste my time, yet.

Skagit: 5,000 > 6,000 cfs. The late running Silvers and Chum, this winter, are in their final chapter. It was a very good run of fish.

Sad: A buddy stopped in a local takeout the other day to witness four guys in a big sled being checked with seven dead Dollies, smallest had to be over 23". Imagine if we could make the Skagit a selective fishery? A world class fishery! Maybe then we could say " If we error, we would like to error on the side of our wild fish".

Skykomish Winter Steelhead Schools: January 16, 17 or 18. Our 5th annual Skykomish winter steelhead schools are just around the corner.

What a great idea! We always deliver a bunch of Gift Certificates for our guide trips and fishing equipment at Christmas time. This year we seem to be sending out a lot more Gift Certificates specifically for our winter steelhead schools. Welcome! Glad to have you. I will post the class availability, next week

Wasn't fishing for compliments, but thanks none the same:
I wrote a small blip on popularity last week. To all those who took the time to write in and extend an appreciation, thank you very much. It was touching.

Merry Christmas & best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/14/03

Rivers have settled into their winter scene. It is beautiful, but it is cold. Water temps are hovering around 39 degrees. Air temps on the Skagit, Sky & Stilly vary from day to day, but are about the same as the water.

Precipitation is being locked up in the mountains. River water height on the over-all have been moderate to low, this past week. Look for more of the same if it stays cold out.
Skykomish River: 2,830 cfs as of Sunday Morning. Chums and silvers leaving quickly, winter steelhead are coming in spurts. The Sky may be the most user friendly flywater of all our North Sound streams. With winter anglers on the prowl, I have mentioned I prefer to fish the softer darker colors because it "Shows them something different." Our Blue/Purple marabou is good, so is Black Bart, which nothing more than a black & purple woolleybugger, with an orange face. A size # 2 is about right. Mike says steelhead are moving through in spurts.

Stilly, North Fork: River was running dead low with maximum visibility above Boulder Creek, but the little stream has got some new winter steelhead. Air & water temps around 39 degrees. Flies & technique: Swing your winter flies, "low & slow", adjust your leaders to water conditions, if you want to move a fish who has seen everything.

Sauk: Hey! Sauk is actually showing a little color other than puke brown. Cool! Even above the Suiattle is less than fishable, in my book, but it is trying! Maybe in a month or so.

Skagit: I continue to marvel at the late running Silvers and Chum, this winter. This is getting pretty late, and yet the quality fishing continues. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Water & air temps are hovering in the upper 30's. A very pretty winter scene. Eagles are showing, life is good. Dollies are coming out of their tributaries in spurts. Should the WDFW actually manage for this wild Char, instead of the "not the steelhead, consolation prize", we could have a world class fishery. I marvel how well this char does, in this kill fishery. Someday I would like to see us move beyond, "Why do we kill them?" "Because we can."

A little biology: Find the eagles, you will find the Chum. Find the Chum, and you will find the Dollies. Your flies in a egg-sucking model are more effective now. Both Steelhead and Dollies are keyed into the salmon spawning. As the spawning dies out, the flesh flies will take over. Think Alaska rainbows. It's like that.

Skykomish Winter Steelhead School: January 16, 17 or 18. Our 5th annual Skykomish winter steelhead schools are coming up. You have heard all the hub bub about the Yancy multi-tip. Come demo all our trick flies and gear. Let Jonathan, Mike and I take the mystery out steelhead for you. Much of the lecture notes in class, are taken from the 40 stories and articles I have written over the past 17 years of guiding flyfishers into steelhead.

Speaking of writings:
Met a gentleman in a little Flyshop the other day. He was from Darrington. Now, Darringtonites have a reputation custom of North Carolina, and proud of it. A simple, hard working, honest people, and I love them for it. This gentleman was not quite the profile but we won't go into that.

Anyway, he introduces himself, asks if I am Dennis, (which I get a lot, but enjoy because I always enjoy talking about flyfishing.)
Often the subject comes up about my writings and he mentions his favorite is the story about Charlie. Seems like every angler has a mentor and I guess as it is Christmas time and all, I am thankful for Charlie. He was mine.

Like Charlie, I am not interested in being popular. Certainly don't want to come across as the "All-knowing". Heck, I am just a hick from Arlington. who happens to fish for a living. Don't mind sharing a bit, what works for me and my guys. Hope you enjoy it.

Merry Christmas,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/07/03"School Potpourri"

What did fresh Chum, pot bellied Dollies, bright Silvers and a mystery steelhead all have in common?

Our Skagit Fall Flyfishing Schools.

I still marvel the Skagit River even stayed in shape, with all the winds and rains we have been having.

Snake bit: We were going through a strange turn of events. The weather fronts would push through, and knock out our rivers on the days we were scheduled to fish, then fall back into fishing shape, on the days we had no clients. Oh well. It's not like we don't guide year round, but when the rivers are fishing well, I just as soon be out.

Early Christmas Present: After the death and destruction of the Skagit drainage floods, I figured it was "toes up" for the Skagit, for the winter. A really nice late pulse of both Silvers & Chum have moved in, and yes, much has changed on the river frontage, but nature has bounced back. Always does. Amazing.

The Stats: Flows were running in the mid 5,000 cfs range on Friday. A dark day, and very fishy. We swung flies with Eggsucking Cop Car and Black Bart being our top producers. Nymphing the Egg-n-Shuck was golden. We tried to keep the lecture going, but we have found the fall fishing school, is more fishing than "Show & Tell". Funny, nobody seems to mind learning new flies and techniques for taking each species, when they are handling fish. Great time.

Saturday: The Dam boys released the water early, and the morning flows were running 9,000 cfs. We focused on our "High Water lies" but the fish were moving hard and fishing was slow. Did allow us time to demo flies, lines, and technique. The water settled and began to drop around noon, and from there until evening the fishing just got better and better. Maybe it was all that wonderful teaching, were pumping into the boys? Ya think?

Anyway: The fall classes are over, and I am reminded again, of how much fun they are to do. Much Kudos to all who came, and of course Mike and Jonathan who really makes it happen.

Look for the Skagit fishing to continue. I have no idea how long it will last, but up thru Christmas is not unrealistic.

Helpful Hint: When I am fishing winter conditions and I know there is a bunch of gear guys out, I prefer fishing black, blues, and purple. I figure all the florescent green and orange eating fish are caught.

Skykomish: 5,500 cfs. Mike was fishing the Sky early on, and it has the fish, but with the Skagit fishing so well, you don't leave fish to find fish.

Mike and I generally spend our days bouncing between the Skagit and the Stilly up through the holidays. The Skykomish River is a good winter steelhead flyfishing gig.

January: Look for details in our Skykomish Winter Steelhead Flyfishing School January 16, 17 or 18. Classes are already filling. Hmmm.

Popularity: My Papa once told me, "Son, you can't be successful in life without a few dogs barking at your heels". Sage advice. Mike, Jonathan & I have decided to let the others strive for popularity, (or an attempt to make others look unpopular). I am not going to swing at a pitch in the dirt. People are not dumb. They see right through the dribble. Me and my guides do fine, just fishing. I am not going to reduce myself to bad-mouthing others. If a few choose to do it. That's their problem.

Most people are great, and life is too short.

As we approach another winter steelhead season, you might want to review our Stories and Articles section. Many of the How-to articles I have written are specifically about taking winter steelhead on the fly.

Maybe I will see you on the river next week. Be sure to stop by and say hi.

Happy fishing, happy holidays.

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/30/03


"Holiday week"

Rivers came back to fishing shape thru Thanksgiving. Jumped back out, over the weekend, coming back, again. For some reason, I think we are going to be in for one of those roller coaster winters. I just pray the snows will stay up in the mountains where it belongs. Cool temperatures help.

Waters were in early the week, went out over the weekend, and dropping back, as we speak. Look for a couple feet of visibility, and fishable flows. The egg-sucking Cop Car, Black Bart, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport will be taking fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies are the drill.

Skagit: Flows hovered around the 10,000 cfs. I guess the good news is, there is plenty of water behind the dams.
Dollies are moving, Chums are spawning with a few new fish still moving in, while Coho continue to pass thru. Not perfect, but it works.

Sauk: Heaven help the Sauk.

N.F. Stilly: Today is the last day of the fly season for the North Fork. Won't be the numbers of old summer fish in Fortson this year, but the early winter steelhead appear to be up. Christmas is the timing for the bulk of the winter fish, if they are coming.

Skykomish: We had good fishable conditions for the Sky until Thanksgiving. River jumped pretty good, but should be falling in if the weather stays cool. This is the traditional time for all the winter boys to be out searching for the mystery winter steelhead. Dolly population seems to be climbing on the Sky. Thats good. Don't plan on being alone, though. Guys can take in only so many football games on TV.

Fishing our rivers is a matter of watching those weather patterns.

Our Steelhead & Salmon classes for this following weekend is the postponement dates of Dec 5, 6 or 7. Everything is a go, but watch for emails if we need to make an adjustment.

2004 Calendar:

Alaska Steelhead: May 1-15. Happy to send details for the serious.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead: March & April
We look to spend a good deal of time out on the coast again, this spring.

The Queets & beyond:
We have one of the few permits to guide in the Olympic National Park. The Queets is our trophy stream. The "Chosen" is our other pet waters. By April 1, we will gravitate to the traditional rivers around Forks. Some of the most popular streams there, are not particularly good flyfishing streams if you are looking to fish off your feet. Ask your guide if you are going to be wading or fishing out of the boat. Here's a timely article called Choosing a guide. Who to book a day with, who to look out for.

We are now in our holiday time. Here's wishing the best for you & yours.

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/23/03

"Holiday time"

Sometimes I really hate it when I am right. A week ago, the rivers were down and fishable. I remember fretting about the weather patterns pushing in off the coast. Those storms did hit and the rest was history.

The only real fishing this week, was up at the Jeff's ponds. These waters (west of Pass Lake) are spring fed, and as the lakes are protected, we were fishing. May only be trout, but at least we were fishing.

Mike, Jonathan and I got a chance to play catch-up, taking care of all the fix-its that accumulate over the course of guide year. Didn't like it, but needed to.

A good time for reflection:

Here is a recent letter Mr. Terry Nuzzo wrote to me about his fishing day with Mike.
Lovely letter, Thank you. Mike & Jonathan are the best things I have done for my business. I am lucky to have them.

Gone in a blink:

Our fall Steelhead & Salmon classes for this weekend were lost in the high waters. The good news/bad news: Even though all classes were full, not everyone can make the postponement dates of Dec 5, 6 or 7. If you wanted in, now is a good time to check on availability.

By class time: Look for the Chum and Coho to continue. Even more Dollies coming into play, and a better shot at winter steelhead. We will teach the same gig, but will accent the schools more to the Dolly/winter steelhead. Of course we will still demo our FLHS as well as our Yancy multi-tip systems. Yes, the trick flies, too.

This week:
Best bets are the Skykomish early in the week. Gold Bar to Monroe is the deal. Water looks good with a couple feet of visibility, and fishable flows. Black Bart, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport will be taking fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies both have their place.

Skagit is slow about coming in, but if the snow levels stay down, the Rockport to Marblemount area should fish by the end of the week. Try your dirty water flies. I like the Cop Car series, Black Bart, and the articulated boys. Dolly fishing should be very good.

North Fork Stilly: Waters are coming in. Last chance before the gear boys hit the river. Same flies and presentations as Skagit and Sky. If the water clears, maybe add Mrs. Black.

2004 Calendar:

Alaska Steelhead: May 1-15. Yup, we are headed up again this year.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead: Mar 1-15 , April. Booking

Bonefishing Mexico: Jan 26-30 /February 2-6 Cool.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/16/03

"May be short lived"

Our guide week:
Monday the water was in. Mike fished the Stilly, Jonathan and I were off. Tuesday the rains hit, and all three of us were blown off our guide trips due to high water. Cold temps and dry weather brought the rivers backs, and Wednesday Mike fished his boys on the Sky, while Jonathan and I fished the Skagit and the Cascade Rivers. Thursday, Mike was off and Jonathan and I both fished the North Fork Stilly. Friday, all three of us fish the North Fork. Saturday, Mike stayed on the North Fork Stilly.

Seemed like The high water early in the week brought in more new fish as we were fishing the week on the falling water. This is our grab bag time of year, due to multiple species of fish.

I wrote last week about the conditions of the post-flooding rivers. Looks like things are going to be a little different this week. We are scheduled for precip. but river flows will be a matter of how cold will it get. If the rain turns to snow in foothills, the rivers will stay in, (maybe). If the weather stays warm and rainy, count on rivers becoming unfishable. Watch your river levels (www.flyfishsteelhead.com) for that.

Skykomish: 2,390 CFS. @ Gold Bar The Sultan is kicking yuck, and water visibility is about 18". Silvers, Chums, Dollies, and even a bright winter hatchery steelhead. Look for pockets of fish, from Sultan to Monroe. If I don't see fish rolling and playing in pool, I move on.

Above the Sultan: River has shifted around a bit, but gravels look good. If you fish the good flywater, you should find the fish.

Sauk: No fishing. No visibility.

Skagit: 9,300 CFS. Low visibility and high water above Rockport has made fishing a large flies deal. The articulated leeches in Black, green, purple, pink and the Cop Car series, are good. Fishing is from Marblemount to Rockport. Lower river below the Sauk is a no go. Chums & Silvers, some beautiful Dollies coming out, and winter steelhead rumors.

NF Stilly: Boulder is still putting in some color but the cold weather has made the entire river fishable. Our target is steelhead and Dollies but all species can get in on the act. Release them gently.

Black Bart, Mrs. Black, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport are taking the North Fork fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies both have their place. Water is getting cold. Slow down your flies.

Jeff's Ponds
Didn't fish the private waters this week, but I have a gig on this coming Wednesday, let you know.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
All classes are full. If you didn't get (or can't find) your itinerary, no worries, just give me a holler. We have no problem filling a fly order and bringing it to the class.

Caution: We have no idea what this weather is going to do to our river conditions, this week. Watch for a late email for any school updates: Right now, everything is a go.

More Calendar:
*Look for a Skykomish Steelhead School in Mid January: No Dates set.
*Olympic Peninsula Spring Steelheading: Yes, we are booking for 2004

Bonefishing Mexico: Jan 26-30 /February 2-6
Can't wait. Ask us about the video.

Hard to say if we will be fishing by the week's end. Depends on the weather. But we are fishing, now.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/09/03

"May you live in interesting times"

Still getting used to all the post- flood changes:

Here is my synopsis: Best to worse.

Skykomish: Moved some pools around. Overall, very stable watershed. Very Ironic as it is the closest watershed to the city.

Stilly NF: Yup, it jumped around, but it does after every high water. Some pools are better, some are worse. It's a wash. Maybe a bit more wood in the water. Tricky floating, especially in sections above Deer Creek.

Skagit: Not since the 1990 flood, have I seen this much change on the Skagit. Turbidity & silt makes even the upper watershed in the Skagit a tuff gig. Below the Sauk.......forget it.

Sauk: Only the Deforest Creek slide on Deer Creek rivals the vast destruction on our once lovely Sauk. There are so many environmental events that would need to take place it is hard to even know where to start. We would need consecutive high waters to the flush the enormous amounts of silt and sand which have covered every bar and filled every pool from Darrington to the mouth. This is assuming the point source stops loading, and there is no guarantee, here. Bottom line: It's a mess. I don't foresee the Sauk to be back for a while. Sad.

Our time this week has been split between the Skykomish, Skagit, NF Stilly and our Private Lakes.

Sky: Good numbers of Chum, and even better numbers of anglers. Try fishing colors other than green. Our purple Micro Eggsucker is good in the clear water. High Bridge to Monroe has fish. Coho are also around. They like Mrs. Black when the water is clear and Cop Car when its dirty.

Skagit: Low visibility has made fishing large flies the gig. The articulated leeches in Black, purple, pink and Cop Car, are good. Fishing is from Marblemount to Rockport. Lower river below the Sauk is forget it. Chums & Silvers.

NF Stilly: Boulder is still putting in some color but the cold weather has made the entire river fishable. Interesting phenomena: It used to be, we never caught Searuns above Deer Creek. Oh sure, the occasional fish, but nothing consistent. Now we actually go out looking for them. They are on the BWO. Pretty cool. Some late summer steelhead around, too. Jonathan reports that one of his boys landed and taped a lovely 21" SRC above Hazel. Awesome!

Mrs. Black, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport are taking the North Fork fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies are the deal. Water is getting cold. Slow down your flies.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
All three days are full but always good to check on availability.

Bonefishing Mexico: Jan 26-30 /February 2-6

Us guys admit we spend too much time sneaking off on various fishing destinations. We would take the gals, but what would she do?

Our Mexico "Snorkels & Bonefish" (http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/myweb/mexico/hishers.htm)is a his & hers trip. Mike & I lead the boys off wading bonefish flats. My lovely wife escorts the womens off doing her favorite girly things. We did this last year and had a ball. Of course, these are custom packages so we always allow time for your sweetie to fish. Who knows? Maybe her first fish on a fly will be a Bonfish!
Totally cool!

Happy fishing into the holidays,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/02/03

"Right place, right time"

While I headed home after our Grande Ronde camp-outs, Mike stayed over to guide through the end of October. Here is what Lee had to say about his steelhead guide day with Mike. At 26 years old, the kid is scary good. Glad he is on my team.

According to Mike, the GR fished very well with moderate flows and good numbers of steelhead. Weather continued mild....... until the day Mike headed for home, then the arctic blast came in, and temperatures dropped like crazy. Blacks, blues, and purple leeches and woollybuggers on sinktips were getting it done.

Growing Pains: We are expanding. Some 90% of our 2003 GR anglers have already committed to return for our 2004 expeditions. The entire month of October in 2004 will be dedicated to the Grande Ronde steelhead.

If you thought all the fishing on the GR was at the river mouth, a wilderness float may be just what you are looking for.

Should you be interested, just drop me an email. Please specify if you would like more information on one of our multiple day Camp-outs, Wilderness Floats, or daily guide trips. Join a group, or organize your own. Happy to have you.

On the home front:

NF Stilly

Floated from Whitehorse bridge to Hazel. The effects of river flooding was only surpassed by the 1990 winter flood. This is extremely technical water, and unless your boating skills are exceptional, I wouldn't even try it. Sad.

Skykomish: Some changes, particularly in the Gold Bar to Sultan region, but seems to be intact. Should be business as usual. Chum salmon are in, and they like steelhead water, so there you go. Cop Car, and Black Bart are good Sky Chum chasers.

Sauk: I have been reluctant to float the Sauk. Reports to me, it may have been the hardest hit by the high waters. Scouring, sweepers, channel changes are all part of the gig.

Here is one for you. I thought 100 year floods were supposed to be an anomaly, Like every 100 years. Maybe we need to redefine heavy flooding. I will sojourn out on the Sauk this week. Update for next week's fishing.

Skagit: As dam controlled, the Skagit had the best chance to handle the heavy waters. (A dampening effect) Well, it was short lived and as the Dams filled to overflowing, it was all downhill from there.

A silver lining?

While the loss to Humpies and Chinook to the flood is devastating, the later returning Coho and Chum got a free pass card, and headed for home. River life will right itself, it always does. It just may take a while.

The cold weather has the rivers on the drop. Fishing is improving. It's the way it is.

We don't get large Chum returns on Humpy years. It has to do with the spring time competition of juvenile fry between Chums and Humpies, in the saltwater nursery areas. Flies & technique will be the same as last year.

As with many species, Chum can be very color and presentation conscience. The other day, Chum Sport ( a variation of Chum Candy) was the ticket for the Stilly Chums. Black Bart, Cop Car, and Micro Egg Sucker in pink was good for Skagit fish. That's my point. Some days all they want is cerise, other days it's green, or purple. Play the colors.

Presentation: One day they want it actively stripped, other times it has to be dead drifted or nothing......there you go.

You can see many of our trick flies at Streamsideflyshop.com http://streamsideflyshop.com/flies.htm. Mike should have his Fall Salmon Sampler out this week. (I promised him a few days off after a month's guiding on the GR.)

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
This is our multiple Species one day Schools that are so popular in our fall fishing. As we speak: (Please confirm by email before sending a deposit! Thanks.)
Friday: one slot
Saturday: Full
Sunday: two slots

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10/26/03

"Life turns on a dime"

In the aftermath of all the flooding, it is a small solace to know life goes on. It's the way it was, it's the way it is, it's the way it will always be. That's life.

As I have waited impatiently for north sound rivers to return to normal flows, Mike is giving me daily reports of fine fishing over on the Grande Ronde River. The GR continues to cool, but the fish and fishing remain consistent. Boys will fish surface presentations in the evenings, but swinging flies along the bottom during the day, is the gig. This what Rob B. had to say about his Grande Ronde experience.

Might as well keep an open mind.

Some rivers change little after high waters, some change a lot. Personally, I like some change, (gravel recruitment) but scouring and channel change is bad. I enjoy reading new water, and consider it to my fishing advantage. When you grow up on the Stilly and Sauk Rivers, you better get used to it, because they are going to change!

Anyway, now that the high waters are over, I will be out fishing again this week. Fishing should be good. Watch those river flows. The Skagit and Sky along with the upper North Fork above Boulder Creek will come in first, then the Sauk and the Lower Stilly. There are so many species available now. It is good to know each species preferred flies, lines, and holding water.

Presentation is the other key. The better you can understand a species, the better to get next to him.

If you are planning a float, be extra careful. There are going to be many channel changes as well as river obstacles. The first thing you teach your 16 year old daughter in driving is, "Now honey, don't stare out over the end of your hood, see what is coming up!" Such is running rivers.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
This is our multiple Species one day Schools that are so popular in our fall fishing. The Friday and Saturday classes are full (check for last minute cancellations) but Sunday still as some room. Love to have you.

Watch for Mike to put up our Fall Season Sampler which is a compilation of our best Dolly, Steelhead, Coho, & Chum Salmon flies by Nov. 1 at www.streamsideflyshop.com (Poor guy gets home the day before from the Ronde)

Hmmm..... The other day I was asked an age old question.

After 17 years of guiding in waters from Alaska to Mexico, I would have to say I probably spend half my guiding year, on the Skagit River and its' primarily tributary the Sauk. The other half is wondering around the Western Hemisphere. In 2003 I only put in a total of 23 days on the Stilly, against over 100 on the Skagit drainage.

I Still get the guy who asks, "I thought you pretty much just guide the North Fork of the Stilly?"

Mixed emotions: As the Stilly deals with "Suburbia" I guess I don't fish it like I did as a boy or even as a young guide, but I will always remember the stream, as it was. My home river.

Life indeed, turns on a dime.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10-19-03

" Fall is when the Grande Ronde River has her favorite dress on."

Still scrubbing the Eastern Washington dirt from under my nails. Jonathan and I just got back from the Grande Ronde Camp-outs.

Many Kudo's to all the guys and gals who joined us down on the GR this past couple weeks. Jonathan ran the camp, while Mike and I did the guiding gig. Far to many tales to tell. This is a Grande Ronde River synopsis I just received from my good friend and client Russ Nelson. Of course he didn't happen to mention the fact that he and buddy Mike Brown are both accomplished anglers.

My son Mike is still over there, running daily guide trips on the Ronde. He is booked thru the end of October.

A GR snapshot:

Days were warm and water was clear in early October. October Caddis were coming off and anglers did very well on our Crystal Caddis. Weather chilled, and temperatures dropped. More steelhead were coming but a little more reluctant about coming to the surface. We resorted to swinging sinktips and nymphing techniques. (No, we don't do bobbers...) Mrs. Black, and the Conehead series were very effective. We fished the surface in the dry fly water.
Leaches and buggers will always dredge up a fish as the water goes cold. I like blacks, blues and purple.

According to my numbers, our CPUE (catch per unit effort) was up this year. Another high note was the number of well conditioned wild fish we found. The number of "first caught steelhead" by our anglers was very gratifying.

From blitz to blizzard:

I really disdain the "How many/ How big" talk anglers get sucked into, sometimes. I will tell you; after a nice day of fishing, a few of our anglers really got into some active fish in one of our canyon pools. The very next day, Mike and I had the one day off of the whole time, so of course we went fishing. I won't go into detail but I will tell you, outside of a few days fishing Alaska tidewater, it was the fastest steelheading I have ever seen, (and that includes BC). To spend that magic morning on that one pool, with my son was priceless.

The weather was unsettled on many days, and to tell you the truth the warm days didn't return until the day before yesterday, but the fishing was good.
I will keep you posted on Mike's reports from the eastside.

Has it been raining?

I should have figured. It seems like every Humpy year we follow up the salmon return, with some serious high waters. Looks like the tributaries are going to get A Lot of Pinks this year, cuz that's where they will be spawning now!

Coho will be in, and early Chum are on their heels. If we can get this high water down, should be plenty of fish to go around, in the local rivers.

Speaking of salmon:

My sweet wife has been booking up all our fall steelhead/salmon/Dolly schools

The Nov. 21 & 22 schools are all but full so we are adding the 23rd too.
We had a great time in this class last year. Looking forward to it.

I have been fishing and guiding the GR since the late eighties, so each year going back, is like visiting an old friend. I have to admit though, it's nice to be home, too.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Dickson Camp-out

10/12/03

"Just in time"

As you read this, Mike, Jonathan and I are running our multiple day camp-outs on the Grande Ronde River.

Flows are moderately low, temperatures are falling, and steelhead are swimming.
As we left the west side of the mountains, the Puget Sound rivers had already responded to the rain. I think we can say fall is turned the corner.

I love the fall. All nature is in a scurry, trying to ready for winter.

Fall is when:
The hatchery steelhead will transition back to their hatchery waters. Some anglers mistake this as another run of fall fish. It is more like they are "reorienting" from their imprinting waters back to the hatchery pools.

SRC can now shuttle their way up into their natal tribs. If we hit a dry spell after this pulse of water, look for fine tributary fishing for Searuns.

The Olympic Peninsula streams will get tons of SRC. Very good time to venture. Just have to watch for that dry spell. Did I mention the Coho?

Humpies are spawning

Dollies finally got their spawning water. They will be back lean, mean and hungry!
October is Coho Salmon time. Don't bother with the salt. The Silvers will be hell bent for home.

Look for destination areas, where fish are headed.

Desert steelhead are headed home: The east side hasn't seen the rain, but the cooler temperatures will move the fish. Dam counts are impressive. Looks like another fine year.

All our Grande Ronde camp-outs have been filled, seems like forever, but Mike has Oct. 22, & 24, daily guide trips, still available as we speak. Looking to spend a few days on the Grande Ronde?

A day with good flyguide will get you off on the right foot.

I wrote an article called Choosing a guide. Works for all waters, all the time.

Can I comment on that for a minute? Going into XYZ flyshop and looking for an endorsement for some OTHER guide service, is like going the Chevy dealership, asking about Toyota trucks. Most reputable guides will have some kind of Testimonial page, are a client referral list, you can check out. Do yourself a favor, talk to the people who actually fish him. Don't put the poor shop guy on the spot, when he himself may be looking for his next trip......

Fall Fish: SRC are here, Coho coming and Chum Salmon right behind them (with Dollies coming out of the tribs.) Special fish, specialty fishing.

Streamsideflyshop.com is dedicated to flies and equipment, specifically to different species. Look for Mikes Fall sampler by November 1. Right now he (and me) are stuck out on the Ronde. Our flies have descriptions of what species they fish.

My courageous wife Dawn, is holding down the bookings et al while we are gone.

Speaking of bookings: Our Steelhead/Coho/Dolly/Chum/ schools Nov. 21 or 22 are already filling. We had a ball last year, should be fun again. And you said winter fishing wasn't any fun!

Anyway, we are getting ready for another trip going out, back to the GR.

Best of fishing,
Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10/05/03

" Just another day on the pond"

As another Humpy season comes to a close, we say good-bye to the Pinks for another couple years. As we have been chasing them since the second week of August, you would think I would be tired of the Humpies by now. Not the way we fish them.

I try to reflect the collection of episodes being played out every day. So many guys, so many fish. I get a kick out of watching an angler come into the day, still trying to figure why he is standing there with his trout rod and a floating line, when Everyone is telling him, anything less than an 8 wt. and a sinktip, is just not going to get it done.

Instead of boring you with guide blather, here is a lovely letter I received from Rod. To set the tone: Our season was just under full swing, I still had a few openings in a couple of our group gigs. I think I titled the client newsletter "Skagit River gone Alaska". Here is Rod's reflections of the day.

Humpy days are in transition now. In another week or two, and the Skagit River will be taken over with spawning Pinks. All those fish crowding our pools will ripen, and fill the riffles with spawning fish. These are all wild salmon. Didn't cost us a thing. Just had to let them spawn. What a great concept.

If the early hatchery Coho are any indication, looks like the Silvers are going to have a good year. The Stilly has a bunch as does the Skagit and Snohomish in the lower rivers. Better take your heart medicine. The hatchery Coho are so-so biters at best, and they can drive you nuts. Fish jumping and playing all around you. Almost makes you want to fish with a net. Heck, I probably have more guide notes on lower river Coho than I do any other species. One day you will nail them, the next day with the same conditions, you don't get squat. The keys to the game seem to be: avoid the crowds (fishing pressure knocks them off the bite) fish an incoming tide in the lower rivers, and concentrate on wild fish. Wild Coho, as in most salmonid species, are much better biters than the hatchery pukes.

If this rain happens, look for SRC to squirt up into the tributaries. These little waters that are open will have some of the finest small river fishing of the year, because generally only the spawning sized SRC will make the final run. Fall colors, big SRC in small streams, pretty cool.

Me? Mike and I finish up a couple guide days on the Skagit, and head over to the Grande Ronde River in mid week. Gee, not like I look forward to that! I will only stay over to do the camp-outs thru October 20. Mike will handle daily guide trips from Oct. 20 until the first of November.

Flies: He still has a few Grande Ronde Samplers, left.(www.streamsideflyshop.com). These are our own pet fly patterns for the Grande Ronde, Deshutes, and Methow River steelhead.

Yancy & Brent Carlson are headed for BC to fish the K. and the Bulkley. Crystal Caddis, GR, and Mrs. Black are just a few of the flies they will be packing up. Mike and I will fish the Dean & Bulkley with the boys next year. Just have to work it around our guiding schedules!

If you get a chance, check out Surface Flies For Steelhead. I know if it sounds uppity, but once you get your confidence up for raising steelhead, I swear it will make sinktipping feel like trolling. Try it, you will love it.

We are getting asked already if we are planning to do our annual Dolly/Chum/Coho/Steelhead school this Fall. Yup!

Haven't nailed down all the details yet, but we have booked out

| Nov 21 & 22 for the daily schools. (Cost $150.)

Have a lovely fall.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike, and Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/28/03

"And a river runs through it"

Won't blow you any smoke, the local rivers are full of Pink Salmon. Not like that is any astounding news. Chinook salmon are spawning, Dollies are trying to. Silvers are entering rivers, SRC are congregating around their natal stream mouths, and more Humpies than you can count. Does my heart good to see our streams full of fish. Did I tell you fall is my favorite season? Busy but beautiful.

I could give you my 2 cents on why we are getting fish back to our rivers (has to do with economics) but you don't need my blather.

No small mystery Mike and I have been camped out on the Skagit River. Been there since the first of September. Our last trip is on Oct 8, and Oct 9 we head for the Grande Ronde River for fall steelheading.

We don't use a lot of superlatives about our Skagit fishing. I love the guy who came out the other day.

"Dennis, I was trout fishing the other day and I fished hard until dark for one little 12" trout. Is today going to be like that?" He questioned.

"Well, no, probably more like Alaska". I answered. It was.

Toshi is a wonderful, unassuming kind of guy. I think he has been out on about every type of flyfishing school, I have ever offered. I am lucky to call him my friend. This is an anecdote about teaching his wife to flyfish the Skagit. It's pretty funny.

"Dennis,

I took my wife out for Skagit Pinks yesterday. She never fly fished (we tried, but

she always ended up reading a book or taking a nap while I fished), let alone she never caught a fish in her life. I showed her where to stand, where to cast (she can master about 30'), and how to retrieve the fly, just as you showed me how. She was into a fish after a few casts. We had our 2 years old son with us, so we could not stay as log as we wanted. But about little over an hour of fishing. she hooked six fishes and landed four. Needless to say she was a happy camper. There were many people fishing including over a half a dozen fly fishers. And I think you get a kick out of this. There she was my wife, who can barely cast a 30', splashing and snapping a fly on her back cast, one out of two of her forward cast looks more like pile of fly line than a cast. Yet she was into fish consistently. A fly angler 50 yard up steam from us was swinging double handed rod, making beautify 80 ' cast, but never hooked a fish while we were there. Almost everybody was standing where we were fishing, and casting into the fast current. I think the double handed rod guy got a little irritated by the look he gave us every time my wife hooked a fish. I don't blame him either, since every time she hooked a fish she get excited and yelled, and then our son get excited and screamed "fish, fish, fish." A couple boys down stream from us got observant, and start watching what my wife was doing and listening what I was saying to my wife, and they start catching also. I guess this is the reason I like to fish with you, I learn. How do I know I learned something? For one thing, I start catching more and consistently on my own. But the best indicator is that if I can teach someone else into fish with confidence why and how, then I consider I learn something what you taught me.

Thanks Dennis!
Toshi"

Holy Shnikies! Have you seen all the October Caddis coming off. My wind shield hasn't looked like that since fishing the Snake at Jackson Hole, during a 4th of July, Salmonfly blizzard, this summer. Summer steelhead, Dollies and SRC will be all over them. October Caddis, Muddlers and Stimulators get it done. Crystal Caddis is my favorite O.C. pattern, for surface steelhead.

As the Grand Ronde River is just around the corner, take a few and check out The Grande Ronde and Mrs. Brown. This is my fall favorite fall stream.

Many thanks:

To all the anglers who have joined us this last month.

To the guys Mike & I have met. Some really great guys while camped on the river who stopped by just to say hello.

To the patience of all the emails and phone callers while we were happily stuck out in the bush.

To my lovely wife who endures all.

Best of fishing,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/20/03

"Old Friends"

I used to think guiding was all about the fish. Then I decided was about pretty fish in pretty places. After more years than I care to remember, I have finally come to the conclusion, its about friendships.

Mike and I have just concluded another week. Pretty fish, fun fishing, and stunning fall colors. But mostly its about spending time with people we care about over the years. That's the good stuff.

I think it would be really hard to describe a single incident, as the highlight of the week. Rains have returned (at least for our side of the mountains. Anadromous fish are swimming, life is good.

As I mentioned last week, great time to think outside the box. Along with about a gazillion Humpies swimming thru, the saltwater beaches are showing more and more Silvers now. Clousers, Shrimp and baitfish imitation patterns will get it done.

SRC are moving into the river systems (dodging all that crap being thrown at them). Spiders to Royal Wulfs are getting it done. Staging time at tributary mouths are good bets to find them.
Stilly is the Stilly. Same OLE Same OLE.

Sauk is finally starting to clear with the cool weather. You can find quality fishing below the Sauk/ Skagit confluence, again. Yeah!

Skykomish/ Snohomish: Look for some tributary steelhead fishing as the water cools and rises. About Time!

Grande Ronde is our October fishing. Hope a little of this rain gets over there. Early Oregon fish are starting to show. Looking forward to that.

Fall is falling, life is good.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/14/03

"Think out of the box"

Mike and I spend most our river days, guiding. No mystery there. Schools are kind of fun, and we try to schedule something about a weekend a month. In my world there is steelhead and then there is everything else, that's me. Most schools and guide trips are some kind of combination of steelhead and some other species. I think the best of guiding is seeing old friends, again. We are really looking forward to a fine fall.

I tell my anglers every day I guide, I try to accomplish one of two things:

1)Learn something new or

2) reinforce something I have known. Personally I think we anglers have a hard time getting better, because we don't attempt to think outside the box.

Case-in-point:

It used to be Mike & I would flyfish Pink Salmon with sinktip lines. Still do on occasion, but fishing the floating lines will not only find the more aggressive fish, it is just a lot more fun, and you just don't snag one. We moved to bobber fishing (excuse me, indicator fishing), and then to greaselining them in the surface. Finally, we began skating flies for Pinks, and still do when conditions are right. (it is my favorite method, because it is my preferred for steelhead.)

The other day, I stumbled into a new wrinkle on accident. I put my guy over a quiet pool, and before I could explain how to skate his fly to the fish, he did what he always does back home in Montana. He dead drifted the dry over the fish. I was about to open my big mouth, when this pretty little hen Humpy lifts up and eats the fly, before I could say anything. Don was happy, I was stunned. Fortunately, I was smart enough, not to say anything. He rose three fish in that pool. All on dead drifted dries. Hmmm.....

You can believe or not, that's up to you. I have already built some new experimentals to fish next week. I don't divulge patterns, but I am just pioneering here, too. Experiment.

Stilly onslaught:

Stilly got it's rain, and the river is full of fish. It is pretty cool to watch the SRC guys slip in and around the shadows chasing some lovely Searuns, while everyone else is in Humpy Mania. My most favorite fly this year is a rolled Muddler with a cone head. Try it, it's awesome! Water is clearing and cooling. Move around to avoid the zoos.

Saddens me to see so many guys throwing crap that everyone knows is going to snag. If we can have every restriction know to man on the Stilly North Fork, can't we at least try a hook restriction in the mainstem? The stilly Coho is a stunning fish, but the hatchery fish are poor biters. Wild fish won't be until later. I think the river should go C&R Oct. 1 to protect these wild Silvers.....but that is just me. Try flies in Orange/white or black/white. It is nice to see people out enjoying our waters.

Skykomish & Snohomish River:

Haven't been over there, but I hear there are a bunch of fish. Same flies and techniques should work. Just find some quiet fish.

Skagit River, top to bottom:

Lower river has enough visibility to enjoy some great fishing below Lyman. Upper river opens for Humpy kill on Monday the 15th, so I expect more pressure up there. Not sure why someone would want to eat one up there. Some Silvers are showing, and few steelhead are around. SRC is hanging around now in the lower river. Chinook are upriver spawning now and that is pretty cool. Lots of Humpies, of course.

Mike and I will fish locally until October 6th, and then off to the Grande Ronde. Mike is fishing the GR until Oct 30, but I will head home after the camp-outs, to fish the North Sound rivers, again.

Life is tuff, but I guess someone has to do it.

Best of fishing my friend,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/7/03

Stilly Tidewater, Humpy gets his respect.

So how would you like your Humpy? We have your saltwater beach fishing: We had a really fun gig out in the San Juan Islands. Totally cool. Locals think you are an idiot to actually be flyfishing their beaches, and for Humpies? What the heck you want those things for? Humpy Killers, Pink/White Clousers, and Humpy Chasers all were doing it. Did I ever tell you how badly I hate Buzz Bombs?

Maybe the saltwater beaches are not your gig. The Tidewater show: can be nothing short of spectacular when, when winds, tides and evening shadows all come together.

Local sports writer told all about the hot fishing in the lower Stilly in the local rag. Unfortunately, he was right. There are Humpies everywhere. Finding a piece of quiet water to fish them, now that can be another story.

We just finished a couple days of our popular Tidewater Schools. Let me say thanks for all the guys who participated. I think I can speak for Mike as well as myself, "It was our pleasure".

The good on the good: It would have been enough, just to have the Pink Salmon, coming in droves, (didn't say they were always easy to catch!) but the Searun Cutthroat are doing well too. Size is down a little. All your traditional SRC patterns work. Until the waters cool (this rain?) look for them in the snaggy areas along side a good riffle. They need the oxygen. No, I think the real bonus is the Tidewater Coho coming in. Many of these are hatchery Silvers, and can drive you crazy as a poor biter, but enough of them do, and they will kick your but# when it happens!

I wrote an article on Flyfishing Pacific Salmon in Freshwater, that Chris S. has published on his site, that shows off one these bad boys, http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/columns/flyfishing_salmon.htm. We chase the wild tidewater Coho in late October, when we return from the Grande Ronde. They are a great biter.
Read why.

You will hear a lot of talk about which flies will take Silvers in freshwater, but my favorites are the # 6 green/white Clouser, the same one I use for SRC beach fishing, and my all time favorite is a GR pattern we call "Mrs. Black". (Members Only fly) Warning: Presentation is everything.

So there you have the Stilly tidewater fishing. Humpies, Silvers, and SRC all in the same trip. With the dark weather finally moving in, if that river raises even an inch, the river is going to go stupid with fish. Does my heart good to see people having fun. For you solitude seekers (like me), move around. The quiet water is still there.

Now I am going to ask you three things in your fishing.

1) Be courteous, the guy next to you may not have your ethics, but he is just trying to have fun, too. Let's not promote flyfishing as total snobbery.
2) If there is a question about crossing somebody's private property, Ask, never assume.
3) Nothing shuts down fishing access faster than slobs leaving their trash, pack something out.

Enough said.

Mike and I will be busy for the next month chasing these salmons, SRC, and even the odd steelhead kicking around.

October Steelhead: Thanks to all who are lined out for our Grande Ronde steelhead camp-outs and daily guide trips. Looks like another special season.

Oh, Mike has his Grande Ronde Sampler with our favorite GR patterns including Mrs. Black, GR, and even Crystal Caddis in this set. Check it out at our on-line Proshop at Streamsideflyshop.com

Life is tuff, but I guess somebody has to do it. After seventeen years as a full time steelhead flyfishing guide, I still can't imagine doing anything else.

Release them gently,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9-1-03


"Oh Dear"

Mistake #1

I have been toying with doing a Saltwater school for some time. Even though my eternal pursuit will always be in steelhead, I enjoy all types of flyfishing. Saltwater beaches became a natural.
So I see a window in my calendar a couple months ago, looks a like a perfect weekend, I slot out and begin outlining a Saltwater School for the weekend of August 29 & 30. I hold my saltwater beaches sacred, so I didn't even advertise it on my website. Only by client newsletter to a selected few. (not to be confused with the Tidewater school coming up next weekend.) I assumed Labor Day weekend was the following weekend. I assumed wrong.

Mistake # 2, or "It's not my fault".

My good friend runs another website. I check in on occasion. Somebody inquires about Skagit Humpies so I read it. Some GUY answers back, describing in full description including directions, how to get to get to a beach we were planning to fish first thing school morning!

The set up:
So we go there anyway. (Jonathan, and I fished it a few days previous. There was like four guys on the whole beach.)

The Friday school comes. We walk into the "jam show". Guys everywhere, but half where throwing Buzz Bombs, so you figure they probably weren't reading a flyfishing report.

Anyway, so me and my little group of six manage to find some beach, and we kind of huddle off by ourselves (the best we can). It was a perfect tide on a great morning, so we started fishing right off the get-go. We will lecture later.

A Flyboy (who I didn't know) walks up and asks, "You conducting a flyfishing school?" No introduction, no nothing. Sounds more like an accusation.

I look down the beach at some 150 guys. Oh dear, Hope he didn't think all these guys were mine.....Oh well.

It was really good to see my friends in this school. Some were coming back in a few weeks to fish the Skagit with us, others were anticipating the Grande Ronde Camp-outs. These are the guys I live for. Thanks for coming boys! Thanks too, to Paul. He took some stunning photos. Holler at me if you made this trip and want a photo attachment sent.

Mike is playing on a house boat in Lake Shasta, as we speak. We both have been fishing the local rivers last week. Flies & lines are all the usual.

Fishing is good.

Our Tidewater schools (September 5 & 6) are full. We have done these the last couple years and have had a good time with that. If you are lined up, but lost or didn't receive your itinerary, just say so. We will fix you up.

As I mentioned, all our Grande Ronde Camp-outs are full for 2003. If you think you might be interested in this steelhead trip, we have begun a waiting list for next year. Happy to have you.
Our Grande Ronde River daily guide trips are scheduled from are from Oct 20 >30. Prices start at $150/angler day. Happy to send itinerary of trip. Flies and fly outfits are included, of course. (Space limited)

If you are off to pursue desert steelhead, Surface Flies For Steelhead, is a good read. Mike runs our virtual Flyshop. If you have any equipment questions or needs, you can contact him at, www.streamsideflyshop.com

Days are getting shorter, nights are cooling. Fall is here.

Best of Fishing,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8-24-03

"It's that time"

Just returned from a few days out at Neah Bay. Did some damage on Green/white and Pink/white Clousers in the rips, but a weather front moved in and chased us up the straits to Sekiu. We could fish with flies in the surface at first light, but as the sun hit the water, the bait went down. So did the salmon. We ended up fishing our heaviest lines, hooking Silvers and Pinks to 40 feet of water. The Neah Bay digger flat gets it done. Pink flies were the ticket here.

I think the funniest episode was fishing an elderly gentleman, Bob. He had this ancient Sears & Roebuck kind of rod as a back-up. (His good rod was stolen right out of our boat at Big Salmon Resort) (Another story)

Anyway, so it is bright out and we are doing a variation of Fly mooching, using the boat to allow the fly to go almost right down, then bringing it up, and Bob's rod really goes down. I mean this fish buries it! Pow! the rod snaps right above the cork, and the salmon is still on. He grabs the forward portion of the rod with both hands and I take the severed rod handle and reel and we do this duo of him fighting this hot fish, stripping it like a Montana trout, and I take up the slack as he works it in, and give up the line on the runs. I run the reel, Bob handles the rod. We started laughing so hard we almost blew the hook-nose, but we landed it somehow.

Bottom Line: Tons of Silvers and Humpies all through the straits. Get your fly in front of them. It's a slam dunk.

Back at home:

Yuck! The Suiattle is running the color of Mauve soup, messing up all the downriver pools, not only in the Sauk, but almost to tidewater on the Skagit. Cool weather tones it down, and hot weather pukes it out. Mike was forced to fish way up above, or almost down in the salt.

Standard flies are working for the Humpies & Dollies, so that is that. The Humpy Killer is a good tidewater fly. Mike & I will be bouncing from the Saltwater beaches to Tidewater to upstream, depending on water conditions, this week. I enjoy them all.

Our Tidewater schools look to book out early. September 6 has couple slots. The focus on this class is SRC, but we will cover the salmons too.

Brian wrote a nice tribute about Dickson Flyfishing. Thank you very much.

As I mentioned, all our Grande Ronde Camp-outs are full for 2003. If you think you might be interested in this steelhead trip, we have begun a waiting list for next year. Happy to have you.

Our daily guide trips from Oct 20 >30. Prices start at $150/angler day.

October Dates: 10-20 2 slots, 10-23 3 slots 10-29 & 30 3 slots

Happy to send itinerary of trip. Flies and fly outfits are included, of course.
Is it really that time again? Blackberries are ripe, Transparent Apples are falling, must be SRC time again.

Best of Fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8-17-03

"Humpy heaven"

You can take your pick. Now we have flyfishing along our beaches. Whidbey Island is my choice. Fish it small and keep it pink. Tidewater fisheries are happening. Dollies, Pinks, and SRC are all about the show. I think the fish have given up on the illusion of a rain, they are coming anyway. Snohomish. Stilly and Skagit systems all have fish. Tidal changes are the best action.

Looks like I will head out for one more Neah Bay foray, before settling in the river scene. Mike will continue fishing local waters. He is having way too much fun.

The rivers are moving a good number of Dollies. This wild Char is a fall spawner, and a real shining light, in the local fisheries.

Summer hatchery steelhead is as about as bad this year as it was good last year. Go figure. The good news is, the Columbia Tributary steelhead are moving thru in great numbers. Guess some of those fish are headed for the Grand Ronde. Our Camp-outs are all full, but Mike and I have decided to stay over and run daily guide trips from Oct 20 - 30. We still have a few dates left. If you haven't fished the GR, you should. I will post any openings next week.

Tidewater School for Sept: 5 or 6

We have had a great response for this SRC/ Multiple salmon species class.

I love tidewater fishing and this one looks like a dandy. (space limited)) I will post any available slots next week.

If you get a minute, read Guides & Hats. It is a funny little satire, only a fishing bum can truly appreciate.

Nights are cooling, leaves are turning in the foothills, and the fish are swimming. Just doesn't get much better than that.

Best of Fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/10/03

"It's that time"

Some guy grumbles, all we did were hero pictures, holding fish. So we stopped doing that. Other guys started complaining they knew we were catching fish, but we weren't showing any. Ok, so now we are back.

I got so excited the other night. It actually rained for a couple hours. Got up the next morning and we were so far out of saturation, there wasn't even a mud puddle. It is raining now. I think fishermen naturally complain, anyway, but the Pacific Northwest lives on precip. Heres hoping it comes gently.

Does look like we are in for a change of weather, that's good.

Mike and I continued to play from the salt chuck beaches to the lower rivers this week. More Pinks showing all the time. Dollies continue to migrate to their fall spawning grounds, Searuns are staging, and summer steelhead are still poking along. Life is good.

I like the ocean fishing at Neah Bay. (Watch for the hook-nose at Sekiu in September) Try trolling and casting Baitfish poppers. It's a hoot! I love the Whidbey Island and Hood Canal Beaches, estuaries of the Snohomish. Stilly & Skagit Rivers (incoming tide fishing best). We will continue upstream as rivers get that rain, (I hope) and on we go. And you said we weren't going to have any fun. As you well know. Our 60 some fly patterns found at streamsideflyshop.com originate from our fishing in our local waters. If you have any questions on what is what, you can drop Mike an email thru his site.

Humpy patterns. Humpy Cherise is found onsite. Humpy Chaser is located on the Members only page. Our Humpy Skater pattern is a dry fly for Pink Salmon. This fly is like beyond Cop Car. We don't give them up. Almost every other fly is on site, but not this one! I won't tell you clients have to snip it off at the end of the trip, but we don't sell them. You have pet patterns too, right?

Flyfishsteelhead.com Why share guide secrets is an article you might find interesting.
Due to popular demand. We have now added a Tidewater School for Sept: 5 or 6
Lots of guys are fishing the beaches. Many more fish the rivers. We can have awesome river/estuary fishing, particularly when the rivers are low & slow. Tidewater fishing is cool. May be the last frontier.

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October

The Bad: All our camp-outs for 2003 are full.

The Good: We have now added some guide days for the later 10 days of October. Mike & I still have few prime dates left. If they are not taken in the next couple weeks, I will post the openings.

Leaves on the Vine Maple are starting to turn. Big leaf Maple will be next. Fall is coming, I hope I am ready.

Best of Fishing,

Dennis

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/3/03

"Go with the flow"

Fishing continues at Neah Bay. Coho rips are good and the Humpies are definitely in the game. Most anglers do not realize Pinks generally travel in the top five feet of the water column. They slap on their weights or down rigger, and fish below the salmon. A floating or intermediate line is all you want. Find the school and you are golden. As with any schooling fish, if you realize you are in them, try to stay to the outside of the seam, and fish the edge of the school. You will catch a lot more fish and you won't put them down. You can play the colors as long as it is pink. I fish smaller rather than bigger, I fish sparser, rather than bulky patterns. Pink/white flies are golden, especially in the fog. Look for Coho and Pinks playing in rips off Wada Island, and Garbage Dump. Fish the surface.

Spent a few days in Hood Canal, fishing local Haunts from the Skokomish River estuary down to Quilcene Bay. Hot weather warms the low tide waters and pushes the bait and salmon out from the beach until the salmon feel freshwater. The cooler temps, the last few days have helped. Found SRC stacked huge one morning, off a local stream. Caught a handful with surface dries, then switched to a tiny baitfish pattern I call "Chum Fry" and absolutely crushed them. It has been a long time since I was able to stand in one spot, and release over 20 ocean bright SRC.
Some were dandies, too.

Anyway, fishing was volatile this week, and will remain so, until we get that bloody rain. Seems like the whole world is waiting for the rain.

River Fishing is all about finding cool, quiet waters. If you thought all the rivers are running too warm, you are wrong, many (OK, most are), but there are some notable exceptions. Only problem is, many of the cool rivers are glacial fed, so the visibility is shot. Pays to poke around.

The Dolly/Bulls are on the move, but the Suiattle River is kicking some major silt so you might want to fish in the Darrington area, or Rockport upstream, on the Skagit.

The tidewater pinks are starting to show in the lower Stilly, Snohomish, and Skagit, but so far I would stick to the saltwater. Tidewater beaches will only get better as salmon stage.

Pray for that rain,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/27/03

Fresh & Saltwater:

Well, let's see. Maybe we should start with the saltwater.

Neah Bay:

Kings are happening again on the ocean side, but I do not like fishing ocean kings, so I hunker back and amuse myself with the Silvers & Pinks playing in rips off Wada Island, and Garbage Dump. I have written tons about the flyfishing so just let me say; the fish are in. Hot weather always means coastal fog, so come prepared.

Speaking of Pinks: Humpies may be the most user friendly of the salmon lot do to their habit of cruising in large tight schools within the top five feet of the surface, near shore.

I love wading beaches with my 5 wt. and the Floating Line Head System. I won't get into reading water and presentation, but if you treat the salt like a river, and the presentation pretty much the same as river fishing, you are going to get Pinks. These guys are made for beach fishing. Be courteous of private property. If there is a question about where you are fishing....ask.
If you thought Cop Car was a secret, you ought to see our Pink flies, jeez.

River Fishing is all about finding cool, quiet waters. If you are into the creek fishing, now is the time to head out. Sauk Drainage has tons.

The Dolly/Bulls are on the move, but the Suiattle River is kicking some major silt so you might want to fish in the Darrington area, or Rockport upstream, on the Skagit.

The tidewater pinks are starting to stage in the lower Stilly, Snohomish, and Skagit, but so far I would stick to the saltwater. Watch for that freshet. Yeah, as if that is going to happen, anytime soon.

Life is good, fishing is good, just have to mix it up, a little.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/20/03

"Here today, gone to Maui"

A few weeks ago, I was up in the Kamloops region, chasing trout. Last week found me traveling around eastern Idaho,Washington, Montana, and the Yellowstone region of Wyoming. Canada was all about lakes, but in this last gig, all I fished was streams. I poked around spring creeks such as the Salt River, for cutthroat and browns. My wife Dawn and I fished an amazing stonefly hatch on the Snake below Palisades Dam for more cutthroat. Jackson Hole is Jackson Hole, and the water was high, so we had to revert to nymphs along the bottom, but we still had fun. All in all, I am officially trouted out for a while, but a wonderful diversion from chasing steelhead. Mike of course, was running all the guide trips as well as his virtual flyshop
Speaking of steelhead, we are just finishing up our 6th annual Stilly Steelhead Schools. Again, want to thank all those who came out. If you don't have your promised lecture notes by next weekend, give me a holler.

Rivers are low, fish are congregating in a few areas, but probably best not to get into specifics, sorry.

On a happy note: Indications are good for a big Pink Salmon return. Saltwater reports are looking up. Coho are showing at Neah Bay. A really fun fishery, and a great change of scenery. If you are planning on going out, check out my article called Neah Bay. We also have some of our trick flies online at Streamsideflyshop.com My personal all around favorite cast-n-retrieve flies year in and year out, has got to be the Clouser brothers. Green & White for Coho and Pink & white for Pinks and Coho. We tie ours a little smaller and sparser than many shops. I think it gives a better action, as well as a better imitation of the candlefish.

The flats of Hood Canal has fish. I prefer light rods and shooting heads (FLHS) but of course that's me. Where steelhead don't really care about what is out in front of him, as long as it acts right, salmon can be VERY particular to size and color. Fly Action is the other parameter. I wrote a bit about Hood Canal Chums (Chum Candy), and of course the Coho of Neah Bay, some day when so inspired, maybe I will write about saltwater Pinks. I love doing saltwater Pinks.

Seems like very year we are asked about doing a Saltwater Flats school for salmon. I am chewing on it.

In the mean time: SRC are beginning to stage around river mouths. Need that rain. Dollies have really taken over the show on many of our north sound watersheds. Hatchery steelhead are down, but wild summer steelhead have shown in surprising numbers. Just have to think outside the box.

A few years ago, my webmaster Sandy, (who owned an Oregon based flyshop) and I wrote an article titled, Flyshops are not created equal. Having said that. It is my opinion, that if you get less than satisfactory service from whatever business, don't brood about it, you may have just caught them on a bad hair day. If it really bothers you, simply take your business somewhere else. Life is too short.

Enjoy your summer, the rains will come when they do.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/13/03

Summer steelhead

Well, as Dennis is taking some time off playing in Jackson Hole and harassing the surrounding rivers I am at home doing the work. Doesn't feel like work right now.

I would rate our fishing this week as excellent. Had to get a little tricky and fish some different water though.

We fished the good clear water spots in the early morning and went to the lower vis water later. In the clear water we tied on a Mrs. Black and hooked a nice summer fish that eventually broke us off. Dirty water was black and Cop Car.

Looks like we may get a little rain. May get some fish to move on the skinny rivers.

Chased some cutts on the lower stilly last week. Looking forward to doing that again later next week. The Royal wolf was our hottest fly last year. Didn't get any steelhead to rise but the water fished good.

It's a good time to get outside even if you don't throw some line.

See ya on the river,

Mike D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/6/03

"Careful what you wish for."

I am never going to complain about a rainy June, again. I figured I have seen pretty much all the local scene has to offer, but this low water deal is really something. The good news is, it has forced me to fish in places, I have meant to, for years.

This is what I know:

Skykomish River @ Gold Bar: 1,960 CFS Steelhead filter in, better fishing in the upper river. Wild fish beginning to show. Need rain.

Skagit River @ Marblemount: 5,500 > 6,500 CFS Water visibility 6', Dollies & Kings, few steelhead. Fish throughout system.

Stilly NF 520 CFS Steelhead remain in lower system, few Kings to Fortson. SRC beginning to show. Huge Dollies in a few pools. Water is very clear above Hazel slide. A rain would bring in more fish.

Sauk River: 3,400 CFS. Water Visibility 3', Dollies from mouth to the Whitechuck.
Story: I think one of the funniest episodes I have witnessed in some time happened the other day.

I was out with three delightful anglers from Hawaii. Fait, Les, and Barbara were not only new to steelheading, but new to flyfishing, period. As luck will sometimes happen, I was demonstrating the Yancy sinktip to Fait, in what I thought was innocuous water, and a steelhead grabs, fish on. I kind of shrugged my shoulders while the fish is pulling line.

I say "Mind taking over, here?" Handing rods off in flyfishing is kind of bad form, but it wasn't intentional fishing, and (she was more than happy to!)

So Fait is fighting this steelhead and Les comes running out of the water, races over to the boat for his camera, and starts trying to take pictures as he comes. He's fiddling and playing, playing and fiddling with his toy, while Fait plays the big fish, like she has done it all her life.

Les finally gets close to us, a little frustrated he can't get this bloody camera to work, and I look over and say,

" Er, Les?" "The pointy end goes out the front".

He was trying to look thru the view finder with the camera pointed backwards. Now that is what I call, excited! We had a lovely day.

Stilly NF Steelhead School: July 18, 19, or 20th. All our classes are full. Thanks for joining. If you weren't able to get into this class, contact me for our next or if you would like to put together one of your own group.

Our next schools will be later this fall.

Neah Bay silvers are just around the corner. Humpies will also be in the fray. If you are thinking about heading out, check out our how-article Neah Bay. Yup, Mike even has some of our pet patterns at www.streamsideflyshop.com

"Popular is nice, but we would rather be good."

Best of fishing,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/29/03

"Rain?"

As I go over the USGS river gauging it sounds more like September than July 1. Due to the unseasonably nice June weather, our Cascade Mountains snow pack has gone to zip. Rivers have moved to summer low.

Actually, I am hoping to jinx myself, and bring in the rain. We could use it. But then......

The Skagit at Marblemount: 5,000 - 7,000 CFS. Nice flow Water very clear above the Sauk confluence. Hearing of a few upriver Dollies.

Skykomish River at Gold Bar: 3,160 CFS. A few steelhead in the Reiter Ponds area, some wild fish starting to show. Nice to get a pulse of water, to bring the 2 salt hatchery fish in. We have left Skykomish guiding until August 1.

Stilly NF: 643 CFS. The 2 salt steelhead are moving in, just in time for our 5th annual Stilly Steelhead School. (More on that). The low water conditions don't sound like much for the upper river, but the fishing in the Deer Creek to Arlington area is picking up every day. We got spoiled last year, but this summer appears to have the makings of a good fishing season. We will see.

The Deer Creek steelhead are also coming in. Both Traditional wet flies such as the Green Butt Skunk & GR, and dries like our Crystal Caddis, Rusty and Orange Bombers are golden, now. If you were looking to try out that FLHS, this is the time to do it. Mikes two clients even got into some SRC yesterday. (We often take a small pulse of SRC that come in with the first salmon run). Our # 8 Steelhead Royal Wulf, was the ticket.

Jeff's Ponds: Josh fished the lakes for the last time for the summer, last week. They did very well on a #16 tent-winged Caddis, black.....but he says it's time. No reason to stress the fishes. We will be back as the water cools this fall.

Stilly NF Steelhead School: July 18, 19, or 20th. Our 5th annual school is upon us. Here is the status as we speak:

Friday: Full (Standby status)
Saturday: Pos. two openings pending deposits
Sunday: Two openings

Because you asked:
Hey, check out our new 1/2 day Summer Steelhead Guide Trips. These will be offered July 15 - August 30. NF Stilly. Should be fun.

I would never say, "we have the only flies, lines, or techniques for catching steelhead", but if you're stuck, check us out, we do it every day.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/22/03

"And it's the running and the screaming!"

Fishing continues on the local scene.

Not a lot of fish in, but not a lot of rod pressure, either. Here is the scoop.

Skagit River: River is still in full runoff. Water visibility is 5 feet. Dollies and SRC are around but mostly in estuary waters. (Illegal to fish for Dollies in the salt chuck.) Baitfish patterns and such like Dickson's Candlefish, sculpin, Chum Fry, and green/white Clouser minnows are good. Incoming tides best.

Sauk River: Cool weather has brought the Sauk back. Sauk has a small number of wild summer run steelhead, but more of an incidental fish. There will be some lovely small stream fishing later this summer above the anadromous fish blocks. Dollies will be heading up while last years fish are heading down. Bull trout will just hang around. Pretty cool but the Suiattle glacial till can wipe out the middle/lower river on any warm spell. Streamers best, but all the trout and char will get onto the hatches, too.

Skykomish: Water is perfect for a High Bridge to Sultan gig.......but don't expect a lot of summer steelhead, yet. One of Mike's boys hooked a dandy 3 salt steelhead yesterday, but the smaller two salt steelhead which will make up the majority of the population is just trickling in. If you are not accustomed to fishing clearwater tactics, better stick to fishing early and late. Haven't seen a wild summer Sky fish, yet. Watch for 2 salt hatchery fish to come in on the next high water after the July 4th.

Surface fishing: Long leaders, floating shooting heads (our FLHS) and long leaders to 3x G max fluorocarbon. Riffle hitched wets, Crystal Caddis, Rusty Bombers can all catch fish, but its the wild steelhead that really get it done.

Subsurface: Wetfly swing with multi-tips is the most consistent producer when you are searching for few fish because the hatchery fish are reluctant to come to the surface but both wild and hatchery steelhead will stop flies skimming over the stones. Line presentation of "low and slow" doesn't go away. Use clear water tactics.

Stilly: Summer low. Where Mike has been abusing the Sky fish, I have been guiding around the N.F. Stilly as well as the Skykomish. Chinook salmon are moving in. Steelhead tend to get pushed to heads and tail-outs when the Kings move in, so fish accordingly. If you fish above the Hazel slide, you are already into low water tactics. Summer Steelhead-North Fork Strategies as well as Surface Flies For Steelhead are both good reads. We have already gone to smaller flies for the season. The purple Conehead as well as the green/black Conehead are taking fish. Bubbleheads, bombers, and Crystal caddis can move the Deer Creek summer steelhead.

The other day: One of the boys spotted a nice fish down below a log, dropped a large Stonefly nymph to him. Steelhead wolfed it down, and shot off downstream......but the next pool wasn't for some 300 yards! We were all pretty tired by the time we could catch up. Reminds me of fishing with Steve out on the O.P.

Story: I was fishing a fine gentleman from Austria out on the Olympic Peninsula for five days, a couple of summers ago. We fished some pretty streams. Water was low and clear in early August. Steelhead were there but really spooky. Steve was fishing his way down a lovely pool, when this little steelhead comes up and does this beautiful head and tail roll over the waking caddis. Line tightens and this fish goes nuts. After a short but violent battle, she comes in.

I am pretty stoked, Steve is a little shaken.

I finally ask him if everything is OK?

He turns to me and says, " You know Dennis, we are fishing a fine little river, in a secluded bit of heaven. I am swimming my fly along, watching it dance and play along in the surface. I mean, life is good. All of a sudden this steelhead crashes over my fly,........... and then its the running and screaming!"

I just smiled and said, "May you never get over it."

Stillaguamish Steelhead Flyfishing schools: July 18, 19, or 20. Our sixth year.
8-10 hour clinics cover sinktip fishing in the morning and surface presentations in the afternoon. Come as you are. We have all trick flies and gear. Heck, you can even rent your waders. Classes filling. I will give an update on class availability next week. We have gig, again.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike www.flyfishsteelhead .com

& www.streamsideflyshop.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/18/03

Mike and I have been guiding the past week on the Skykomish and Stilly Rivers for summer steelhead.
I never know if its a good thing or not:

When the fishing conditions become more challenging, anglers leave the river. There are not as many steelhead, but we get to fish all the pools we want. Typical gig. Always seems like there are one or two pools that consistently hold fish. Happiness is when they are not a popular fly pool. More fish, more angling pressure, fewer fish, fewer fishers. There ya go.

I would tell you how well I have done, but:

A) you probably don't want to hear about it......or wouldn't believe it, anyway.

B) Nothing is more annoying than have some nimrod brag about wonderful fishing, and won't give you, jack information.

C) I will probaly jinx myself

Mike & I have a huge advantage over most. We fish every day (well, almost everyday)

Bottom line: Steelhead are there, but you really have to hunt for them.

I am floating with a couple big-time fly boys and one tells me a motto he has developed over years of chasing big fish.

" If I have to choose between fishing and having fun......I choose fishing".
I laughed. I told him he must be referring to coastal winter steelhead flyfishing. Weather alone, can kick your teeth.

Skagit River: 8,940 CFS. @ Marblemount: Spring flows and few fish. Dollies around soft current edges.

Sauk River: 5,030 CFS @ Sauk. Water has dropped but Suiattle kicking silt. Poor fishing.

Skykomish 3,960 CFS @ Gold Bar. Nice pools from High Bridge down to Monroe, but only a few consistently hold fish. Watch for 2 salts to come in on the next high water after the July 4th.

Stilly: 863 CFS @ Deer Creek. Summer time lows. Snow pack has come off real fast. Like the Sky, the Stilly has steelhead spread throughout the system, but the better pools are few and far between.

Rose our first summer run to a surface fly the other day. The pool is nothing more than a boulder patch depression, but for some reason the fish like it there.

Russ had hooked a large fish in the pool above, so we were feeling pretty good. Mike fished down first with a Crystal Caddis, but no go. Russ follows up with a Rusty Bomber and as his fly skitters over the holding lie, there is a silver flash just under the surface. I figure the fish has rejected the fly, when a little hen with a head about the size of my fist pokes her head completely out at the end of the swing (I love it when they do this) and turns on the fly. Russ is starring out over the reflected surface, hears me yell "Hold it!" Only he thinks I said "Get it out!." Pulls the fly right away from the steelhead. My bad.

Mike B. ends up hooking an awesome 28" pot bellied Dolly downstream on a Cop Car. Pretty cool.

Flies and such:

Water temps are good for surface fishing and as the wild Sky and Stilly fish move in, I would look to do that. Riffle hitched wakers and skaters are fun as are the Butt Skunk series. Your Floating lines and long leaders are good. We are pretty high on our FLHS, for surface fishing.

Subsurface is a safer bet because hatchery steelhead are more reluctant to come up for surface flies but whack streamers and nymphs along the stream bottom. Yancy Lines are the best multi-tip flylines for subsurface fishing, but of course I am going to say that, I helped build it. Blacks, blues, purples, and reds are good summer steelhead colors.

Stillaguamish Steelhead Flyfishing schools: July 18, 19, or 20. Our sixth year.

8-10 hour clinics cover sinktip fishing in the morning and surface presentations in the afternoon. FLHS and Yancy line demonstrations, lecture notes, trick flies including Cop Car, and much more. Who knows, maybe you will even meet your new steelhead buddy? Very popular class.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

www.flyfishsteelhead .com

www.streamsideflyshop.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/8/03

Another summer steelhead season

Early in the week found Mike and I guiding the Skykomish & N.F. Stilly for steelhead. I thought I was doing well with Hal releasing a 33" summer hen one day, and a 29" hen on the next on the lower Stilly.

One of Mike's boys on the Skykomish topped that with a 34" 3 salt summer steelhead that just about smoked him. Ah, .......there is something about steelhead.

Hot weather has been kicking the snow melt but affecting each watershed differently. We focus our fishing on the above mentioned Sky & Stilly in the summer months.

Skykomish River: 8,000 > 9,000 CFS Morning temperatures, Lower 50's

Top flies: subsurface winter patterns. Low and slow.

Skykomish success seems to be who you talk to. There are fish around. Not as many as last year, but the river temperatures are running in the lower 50's, flows are moderately high and the "High Water" pools from High Bridge to Lewis Street are fishing well. Too many sleds out, but what's new. Not a lot of cloud cover, but with the snow melt and 4 feet of visibility, the happy fish are lying in predictable taking places. Early summer fish aren't fussy about fly patterns. It is where and how you fish them.

Stilly, North Fork: 1,150 CFS, Morning temperatures mid 50's

Stilly is fishing well below Deer Creek. Flows are down, so the canyon is good. Fish are spread out so best to cover a lot of water.

Hazel to Fortson is summertime clear and best to revert to low water tactics. Yes, there is life beyond dink bobbers and jigs, but scale down those flies and leaders to compliment the gin clear waters.

Sauk & Skagit: Running full tilt with snow melt. Both rivers are blown below the Sauk confluence. Not much summer hatchery steelhead on these rivers.

Skykomish Steelhead Schools:

Thanks to all for a wonderful 3 days of schools. If you didn't get your lecture notes from the class, just holler. Also, if you weren't able to get in, take heart. We will be conducting our Stilly steelhead classes July 18, 19, or 20. We will go over winter/spring techniques in the morning, and surface fishing flies and tactics in the afternoon. Wonderful primer for the boys booked for the Grande Ronde campouts this fall.

That's about it, all guiding from here. It's a tuff life but somebody has to do it, right?

Best of fishing
Dennis

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6-3-03

A Fishing Story:

So there we were, casting and stripping white and white/yellow bunny leeches along the drop-offs and snags at Pass Lake. Now, we have had your big browns stacking up minnows along the boat launch shoreline at daylight, gig. We have also had your hook a dink (new plant) and have a monster brown do the Ling Cod, on the little sea bass thing, which is pretty cool, but that has happened to me about once. No, this was your typical Pass lake Brown day. We started near the boat launch, and began working our way down the lake to the inlet on the east end.
By noon, we had done all that. Landed a couple lovelies, lost a couple more. Even caught a few rainbows on midges at the other end. It was time for the long row back. Heaven forbid, we would actually remember to bring our lunch. We were in our float tubes, and we were hungry.
I decided if we were going to paddle all the way back to the put-in, I was going to at least troll. I changed my head to a my deep troll, but just used the 4x leader I had been using for midge fishing rainbows along the far shoal.

On a whim, I decided to put on the biggest baddest looking thing in my box. The water was flat, and the sun was bright, by now. I chose an old chewed-up Cop Car, left over from Skagit Dollies. I tied it on the deep sinker, chucked the whole thing out on the water, (in a semi pile) and started paddling for home. When the line came light, I had probably gone about twenty feet, when the rod goes down , in that slow pull, when you know you have hooked the bottom. I was mumbling to myself of why I didn't at least wait until I had paddled out into deeper water before letting the line out.. I was ready to reef on it, when the line shuddered. I struck.

Now most fish will just take off. Rainbows are fast, browns are deliberate. This was more like Chinook walking off with the bait. The flyline just sort of unpeeled off the reel. I tightened into the fish a little more. He shook his head, and swam like he had a slow date to somewhere. I decided to reel up on him, which I did. All this accomplished was I found myself directly over the "whatever", and he began towing my boat around in a lazy circle.

My buddy, Jackson finally came back to see why I was lagging behind. I have to admit, I was feeling a little stupid.

He sees the flexed rod but it is not doing much. He gives me that look like, "Have you reduced yourself to fighting the lake bottom"?

I just shrugged. Nothing happened really. This "thing tows me around for about ten minutes. I could make it swim, but never managed to get it more than few feet off the bottom. Once in a while, it would shake it's head. After that the 4x simply parted and the fish and Cop Car were gone.

I looked at Jackson, he looked at me, neither said a word. We just headed in. I didn't bother to put on another fly.

Jeff's Ponds:

Both Mayflies and Caddis hatches continue. We handle some lovely fish.

The bad news is: I never made it over to the Yakima River. I will be headed over to the east side for a couple days next week, but it will be to fish a piece of water that opens June 1.
I did manage to fish the saltwater beaches in the North Sound. We found some dandy SRC to 18" and a couple awesome Dollies, but according to WDFW regs., you can't fish FOR Dollies in the salt. Kill them up on the Skagit, but not even fish for them in the salt. Go figure.

Anyway, tons of Chum fry are working the nursery areas, and the predator fish are in hot pursuit. I have developed a little minnow pattern I call "Chum Fry". Works great. When searching, I like the green/white Clouser minnow, or my "Dickson's Candle Fish." The Woolhead Sculpin is excellent if the bait isn't showing. The Floating Line Head system, and a 12' leader is golden.

Rivers are about to open. Spring run-off is finally breaking loose. Another summer is about to begin. Life is good.

6th Annual Skykomish Steelhead Schools: June 6, 7, or 8th.
Looks like everything is a go. If you haven't received a school (or guide trip itinerary), just let me know.

For those who couldn't make it into the Skykomish River classes, we will be offering our Stilly summer steelhead classes, in mid July. Watch for that.

Thanks to all, for making www.flyfishsteelhead.com the most actively read fishing report at www.washingtonflyfishing.com!

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Josh

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

5/25/03

"Mellow Mellow"

Life is a kick back for a few more. Kind of the calm before the storm. Guiding is up on Private Lakes. Mayflies and Caddis are coming off. Trout are taking both adults and nymphs, and life is good. Next week I get to spend a few days over on the Yakima, my guys tell me it has been fishing really well. Right now we are fishing the saltchuck beaches when not entertaining Jeff's Ponds.

Saltwater fishing news notes:

1) The saltwater beaches around Camano Island are holding both SRC and Dolly Varden. Candlefish and Chum fry are the ticket, but a great "big fish" sleeper that both species just love is the lowly sculpin. Mike has a super bullhead pattern, which you can find on our "Pro Shop" site. I like to fish it on our type 2 mono-core line.

2) Find combinations of current, eel grass, and rocky shorelines and you have a gig. Areas vary but I like the incoming tides as a rules, and the hour before to thru high tide. Dark days are best.

3) Fish with tennis shoes and don't get them wet. I fish quickly thru an area, and if I don't see baitfish and swirls, I am off to new waters.

Alaska & Washington: Mike and I will be fishing the local rivers in June. Looks like I will be headed for Alaska to chase rainbows, later on.

Cop Cars in Alaska? CC originated as a tidewater King salmon fly. Little did we know.

Here is what Andrew of Aspen Colorado has to say about his steelhead trip to SE Alaska.

Mike,
I just got back from Alaska. Great trip! We utilized the U.S. Forest Service Cabins and fished for about ten days. The Cop Cars that you sent worked great! Excellent Fly! By the end of our trip I was selling Cop Cars to the other guys after they witnessed the results. One of the other guys would fish a hole with no success, I would step in with the Cop Car (and my superior abilities) and catch one out of the hole the other guy just fished! We were all amazed. This one particular chromer hit the Cop Car and swallowed it forcing me to cut the leader off, which I have never seen when fly fishing (good thing it was barbless).

We caught many steelies, Dollies, and even rainbows on the Cop Car. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you again for you excellent service and excellent product.
Have a great season!
Andrew P.
Vail, Colorado

6th Annual Skykomish Steelhead Schools: June 6, 7, or 8th

As the hometown river to many Seattlites, it is no small wonder so many anglers are interested in this fly-friendly river. Pontoon rafts, trick flies, Biologists' lecture notes on reading water & line presentation, casting demo's comparing Yancy lines with Rio & Airoflow and so much more! (space limited)

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Josh www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

5/18/03

Sandy sandals, a foggy brain, and box of tan Gottchas, are simple reminders of the ten days of playing in the Cancun sun and water. It was a business/family trip, and everyone had their part. Boys fished while girls visited the shopping, the snorkeling, shopping, the Tulum ruins, more shopping.....you get the idea.

I have never fished down in the Yucatan, this late in the year. Catch & Release is still a new concept down here, but the locals are so friendly and humble. If the loco gringo wants to play with his food, so be it!

Anyway, we found bonefish and barracuda. (I will spare you the story of trailing my flyline and shrimp pattern behind the boat, and the next thing I know, my bone fish rod ( a 5 wt. with a FLHS, which works great, by the way), launches out the back of the boat heading for parts unknown. The only reason I get my rod back at all, is because there is no shock tippet on this line and the cuda shreds the leader and fly.) See, I told you I would spare you the story.

Permit 2 Dickson 0. I haven't been able to catch a permit. I mean on a fly, no smelly jelly or nothing.

Me and Josh are setting up our pontoons shoreside, when Josh goes," Hey Dad, Check this out!"

Now we have had bones and cudas parading around our little bay, but this is a black-tail, and he is feeding. Normally, I only see permit about the time they see me, and if they are already leaving......you can forget about it. So I grab my permit rod and a raghead crab, and sneak in behind the mangrove. Josh climbs up on a vantage point, while I watch the permit work his way around the cove. I am hoping I can come up with some kind of feeding pattern of this fish. Bonefish can skitter but permit are the essence of "random" feeding. This guy is everywhere. I luck into a good cast, the fish sees the fly and is all over it! He's mudding like crazy but the line doesn't come tight. I do the slow strip strike, feel the fish and as I begin to tighten......the hook pulls away. The fish is gone. In my haste to get to this fish (while setting up our boats), I simply never sharpened the hook. I always sharpen the hook. I get another shot the next day, but the fish spooks at 60 feet, while the fly is still in the air. Hmmm. The Bonefish become the feel-good fish.

May days are 10 degrees hotter than 70's and low 80's of January and February, and the great numbers of winter bonefish are gone to cooler waters, but hey, we came back home to night time low of 39 degrees in Arlington, so there you go. Wading miles of flats of kick butt fish is definitely my way of spending a winter. We will be back next January.

237 e mails are waiting for me. Most of it will be junk, but the rest of it is work. I will do it tomorrow.
The next couple weeks will be split between fishing saltwater beaches, Jeff's Ponds, and doing the Yakima.

June 1 starts the serious fishing again. The steelhead junkie in me is already looking forward to it. There is steelhead, and then there is the rest of the world.

6th Annual Skykomish Steelhead Schools: June 6, 7, or 8th

Looks like we may have some room on the 7th or 8th. I will know more tomorrow. Thank you all for your patience while me and the family have been away.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Josh www.flyfishsteelhead.com

5/11/03

" Oala!"

Dear Mom,

Mike, Josh and I along with Dawn, Amber and Lilly are down in Southern Mexico now. Weather is hot but Caribbean beaches are awesome, and the Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon are swimming.
Us boys are fishing early and late, girls are having fun, finding all the girly things, and hanging out in the sun. Another world from the cold and gray of the Pacific Northwest. I will be expounding all our expedition adventures, in next weeks fishing report.
We remembered the sunscreen but forgot my good book. Tell you all about the trip, when we get home.
Love Dennis

In the mean time:
6th Annual Skykomish Steelhead Schools: June 6,7, or 8th

Our summer steelhead season is just around the corner. Still a few slots in our Skykomish steelhead Schools. If you are still having trouble with steelhead or you just want to learn your home river .......or you want to try that Yancy Line or that shooting head for your 5-6 wt., come see us. We even include lecture notes, now!

Guide trip availability: June 4, 19 or 21

Two funny anecdotes during the summer steelhead seasons.
Allen & The doctor's wife who wouldn't fish.

Thank you for making www.flyfishsteelhead.com the popular flyfishing steelhead report that it is!

Best of fishing, mon

Dennis

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

5/4/02

" May Days"

Wow! How do you get all that in a week?

Winter steelhead season recap: Mike and I seemed to do a little better this year than last, for caught numbers of steelhead. That was good. We were out most week days, so it was easy to fish the many water fluctuations we experienced this year on the Sauk and Skagit.

With the numbers of anglers out, and two of our top steelhead streams down, (Skykomish & Stilly), I don't think the fishing was ever "easy". Did see some bruiser fish though. Guiding pressure was significantly down. Not sure what to make of that.

The good news is; the summer steelheading on the Skykomish and Stilly was awesome from the June 1 opener, last year. Mike and I are already looking forward to another great summer!

How much fun is that?

Every spring the Pink (only off the odd year brood) and Chum fry outmigrate in the spring. I have been watching the predatory fish, smash these little fellers as the fry are flushed out of the river system for years. It has been going on steady for the last month.

My curiosity finally got the best of me so I built my own version of a Chum Fry. We fished it on floating lines in the classic steelhead pools, when and where we were watching these bad boys taking the fry.

As one might suspect, we caught mostly Dollies. These fish ranged from 16" to 25". We also rose 2 adult steelhead, and a surprising number of well conditioned Searun Cutthroat. All on the Chum Fry pattern. The Floating Line head system and 5 and 6 weight rods were the ticket. Our top day was two anglers who rose and hooked 23 fish, and landed 17 of them.

Now for the 14 foot doublehander 9 wt., Dollies in the surface, doesn't sound like much, (about like taking the same rod to the Yakima) but grease lining in the surface on your trout rod is a hoot! Just be sure to use a Ox tippet, in case a big buck steelhead decides to come up!

Mystery Lake:

Mike and I just finished our Lakes Classes in Eastern Washington. Mystery Lake is a distant cousin to the myriad of Pothole Lakes located in this region.

We got to fish choronomids, leeches, damsels (brown not green!) and all three stages of the Calebatis Mayfly.

Guide trick: A little wrinkle I came up with while fishing "masking hatches" in shallow bays for really spooky fish is; instead of a bobber and nymph, go with a parachute Adams, as a indicator, and the appropriate nymph on point. We had a sparse Mayfly hatch going, but midges were still being selected by the trout. This combo not only didn't scare the fish in presentation, but many feeders took the dropper fly. Of course this dropper gig, is the oldest thing on the Yak, but it is surprising how few I see use it, on the trout lakes.

Anyway, I could tell you of my lawn chair on the revamped Pontoon raft gig, but I think I will write the story......someday. It was pretty funny. Schools were fun. Boys got away from the crowds, caught some lovely fish, and learned the ways of the lakes trout. Mike and I are already looking forward to next year.

"Here today, go to Maui".....well Mexico, anyway.

The boys and I will be headed off to Mexico, again. Ascension Bay will be the destination, and Bonefish, Permit, and Tarpon are the quarry. We are bringing the girls down. The idea is to create a "significant other" trip, where me and the boys handle the guys (fishing) while Dawn and Amber occupy the ladies. He fishes and she plays, sounds about right, yeah? Let you know what we come up with.

In the mean time:

Skykomish River Steelhead Schools: June 6, 7, or 8. Classes are filling!

Probably the most popular schools we do. For many anglers the "Sky is their home waters". After the banner return of summer steelhead the last two years, I would bet on it, too. Mike has some open days in early June. I got to admit. Warm weather steelheading sounds really good about now.

You can find the trick flies and great gear at Streamside flyshop.com . Stop by and check out the Yancy or the FLHS for steelhead, too.

Best of fishing,
Dennis

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

4/27/03

"Winding down, starting up."

As the late winter wild steelhead season comes to a close, it is a good time to reflect. Mike and I caught a few more steelhead this year than last. It would be nice to think we are better at it, but I doubt it. Perhaps our clients are better, or our line systems are just that much more effective, perhaps. I like to think there is more steelhead this year, but I think that maybe the advent of more high waters and dropping rivers simply presented more available steelhead.

Spring has sprung, temperatures are creeping up. In the words of John G. "Trout live in beautiful places"......so do steelhead.

The Sauk has fish but rod pressure pushes them into "No fly zones". Even the gear guys struggle to find them when the steelhead go into hide and go seek. The good news is, this fish are big. I don't recall a year when so many of the steelhead were 3 salt fish averaging in the teens!

Who Cares?

Saw Bob York fishing his single handed rod, so was Harry L. Mike and John were swinging double-handers. Obviously, there is no right and wrong way to fish. Just handle steelhead with care.

The Skagit of course has its fish too. The late run that shoots up to Bacon Creek is coming through. Of course, most of the late run will be staging in the middle river, and unavailable in the C&R waters. Poachers yes, C&R, no.

Blake Stedman brought out his own group for a steelhead school. Wonderful guys and good time. First rule you teach in coaching is: "Never tell them what you don't want."

So we are down on the Skagit, the dam is releasing water, Sauk has a little color in it. We show up to fish a little hidey hole, where Hal and I planted some big dark stones a couple weeks ago. Steelhead have been holding there. Its pretty small, so the group is kind of watching Blake fish a light sinktip and a Cop Car. He is working his way downstream to the stones.

I say, "Now Blake, if he grabs it, just preset. When he starts shaking his head, strike down and across. Whatever you do, DON"T strike back upstream. You will only take it out of his mouth, if you do". Fish grabs, Blake strikes upstream. I was kicking myself......

How cool is that?

Chum fry are flushing out on their outmigration. Every larger species including Dollies, Searun Cutthroat, and even wild steelhead and Coho smolts are chewing on them. Roderick Haig-Brown put it well, "A river never sleeps."

Alaska Steelhead:

Mike took off to Prince Whales Island to chase some Alaska steelhead. He and his cronies, fished some familiar waters like the Thorn, and Eagle Creek. They also did some exploring into some reverent waters. Said they found fish but the still early in the run. If you love steelhead, and don't mind a little bushwhacking, PWI is a pretty cool area to fish. Lawyer flies, and egg patterns were the ticket.

May is trout time:

The reports are the Yakima is fishing well. Everybody is going to talk about this, so nothing new, here.

Mystery lake: May 1, 2, or 3

Mike and I will finish up on the Sauk/Skagit this week, and grab the little rods and head across the mountains. Hard to get a report on this lake, but I have a buddy who lives over there and says the Calebatis is coming off in 16's and 18's. Emergers, duns and spinners all have their place. Can't wait. Holler if you need another itinerary and Map.

Last call: Both Friday, May 2, and Saturday, May 3 have an opening. If you are tired of the crowds at Rocky Ford or Nunnelly-Lenice, check this one out. We take off Wednesday evening so you would have to let me know ASAP.

Articles and Stories: Some of the funniest episodes I have had over the years, has happened on BC lakes. Check out Mouth to Mouth Combat or The Fishing Dog.

Skykomish River Steelhead Schools: June 6, 7, or 8.

Probably the most popular schools we do. For many anglers the "Sky is their home waters". After the banner return of summer steelhead the last two years, I would bet on it, too. A Skykomish summer steelhead guide trip in June is also a great gig.

Somebody has to do it. Mexico

After chasing steelhead for the last 6 months, Mike, Josh and I will take the girls and head down south of Cancun Mexico for some R&R chasing Tarpon and Bonefish. Ahhh, there is something about wading flats......Girls shop and we fish, how does it get better than that?

Anyway, Fishing is fine, Spring is here, and just as one fishery is winding down, more fishing is starting up. Life is good.

Best of fishing,

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

4/20/03

Kind of a "Catch 22" out fishing right now. The clear water and rod pressure has the steelhead doing their disappearing act right now. Anglers who are not going to adapt to clear water fishing, are probably not going to find any steelhead.

Fished the Sauk early in the week, and then the Skagit until Saturday. Fishing was "OK", but you had to work for them. Fortunately, I had Hal. We had planted stones in the early season. Steelhead found them, but we really had to adapt our fishing. Hal has no problem telling other anglers, we don't catch jack. Works for me.

A few things to consider in this clear water fishing:

1) Fish where the fish are: The steelhead have been running big this year with plenty of the fish in the mid teens and above. Anglers need to focus their attention in big fish pools. Those shallow soft current lies are just not going to hold clear water steelhead. Not the big guys. Look for deeper pools with large rocks near shore. These are places where large steelhead feel secure. Casting out in the middle of the river is a waste of time. You can't get your fly down, and slowing it down, is just about impossible.

2) You are not going to get away with the same rigging you were catching steelhead when the water was dirty. Learn to adapt your flies, leaders, and sinking tips, especially when the light hits the water.

3) If you are seeing the same guys in the same pools, morning after morning, you can bet they are finding fish. They wouldn't bother to be there if they didn't.

Mike is fishing steelhead up in Southeast Alaska right now. I haven't heard from him yet, but it is a world class fishery. I am sure he will be back with his stories.

Spring has sprung:
Water temps are finally coming up. Mid 40's is the rule. A lot of chum fry coming out of the Skagit system now. Dollies, Searun Cutthroat, and even Coho smolts are getting fat and happy, feeding on the outmigrants. Spring is definitely in full swing.

An angling technique:
Cold water takes is all about our approach to fishing steelhead in the winter/spring months. This is what one angler wrote about his fishing experience with the technique.

Dennis'

Just wanted to send you a quick note in regard to your method for fishing for steelhead in cold water . Your technique definetly works . I've been fishing for steelhead for some years and have always hung a loop . Admittedly I fish for summer runs more than I fish for winter's . But I found out last November while fishing the Deschutes ( for summers ) that even then fishing directly from the reel ( my hands were too cold to react properly ) really does work . But your technique really becomes important in cold water. Using this method I hooked (and landed ) two wild hens almost back to back from the same drift this last weekend . I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your insights and observations on your web site .

Jeff's Ponds: I got a chance to fish with Josh and some really fun boys on our private lakes on Saturday. Howard started out strong on the first lake, Jeff and Brig, kind of clicked along all day, and Seth hooked some nice fish including a couple real pigs in the Trophy Lake. Poor Howard who did so well in the lower lakes, couldn't buy a fish up at Trophy, (as everyone else was swimming a big fish). Howard ended up the day at the Rock House Lake, and just spanked the rainbows as the fishing day was winding down. Such is fishing. Pheasant tails, Copper John's (thank you Seth) and dark hare's ears were the ticket. I was hoping for a surface rise but the cold wind kept the flies from popping.

Eastern Washington Mystery Lake Schools: May 1, 2, or 3 . Space limited.

Annual Skykomish Steelhead Flyfishing Schools: June 6,7, or 8th. I apologize. I promise to put something together soon.

Summer Steelhead: June- August If you felt like you got beat around the lips this winter/spring on steelhead, take heart. The last two summers on the Skykomish and the Stilly North Fork was just awesome! Ask me about the details. I will give you a straight scoop.

Best of fishing,

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

4/13

"Spring showers"

Temperatures are warming, trees are leafing, summer robins are back, even the Skunk Cabbage is poking out. Did I mention the Skagit Tulip fields? Yup, I would have to say spring almost officially here.

Water temps are still in the lower 40's. Standing out the river will remind you pretty quick.
Mike and I poked around quite a bit ourselves, this week. One day we would float the upper Sauk, the next day we would hike in a few pools in the lower. You can't hardly call a water condition, because on any given day, it can change from poor visibility to gin clear and back to dirty water, in the matter of hours.

Remember playing "Red light, green light" as a kid? Seems like every time the water would go dirty the fish would get active and move. Moving fish are taking fish. I really don't think it matters when you get on the water right now. Every time the fish move.....they bite.

Sometimes this week, Mike or I would take our boat(s) and fish the Skagit. My favorite Skagit water is from Birdsview down to Lyman, but it is never open this time of year. (Don't even get me started on that one.) My next favorite Skagit section is from Marblemount down the Rockport. Lovely pools, lots of Dollies, but doesn't hold the steelhead of old. I never regret this float because we can often find a steelhead, and it is such a pleasure to fish. Water is always too clear for me but, we seldom find much pressure except in a couple walk-in pools, and it is so pretty. If you need a steelhead though, fish below the Sauk. More consistent fishing.

Last week I mentioned about a guy who went off on his guide. It reminded me of my own experience with an anecdote I titled The Cranky Client. If you haven't seen it, it's my male clients favorite story. (The women like The Doctors Wife Who Wouldn't Fish)

Anyway: So the rains are here. With a pretty good snow pack coupled with warm rain, hard to say what the fishing will be like, but you can bet your pet G.P., the rivers are going to rise, and the steelhead are coming with them.

Many anglers have already bolted for the trout waters, and the hardcore steelheaders are happy to see them go.

Mike is headed for Alaska steelhead, here soon. Prince Whales Island is fishing well. I will fill you in on his report as it comes in.

Olympic National Park is asking for comments on proposed wild steelhead release, fishing regulations. John Meyer (the Parks biologist) is a personal friend of mine. I knew John, in the days when he worked for US Fish & Wildlife and I was a bio. working for the Stilly Tribe. You already know my views on wild steelhead release, and our privilege to recreate them. Here is the VP. Rich Simms letter to the Wild Steelhead Coalition.

Crashed Files: Slowly but surely: Thanks so much for the many clients who have sent in your e- mail address after my computer crash. If you haven't been in contact for a while, assume I don't have it.

Eastern Washington Mystery Lake Schools: May 1, 2, or 3 . Classes are filling up.

Here is the Scoop: Reports are Mystery lake is fishing really well, right now! Totally cool.

May 1 - full

May 2 -1 slot available

May 3 - 2 slots available.

Annual Skykomish Steelhead Flyfishing Schools: Getting a lot of inquiries already. Look for more information of this very popular June 6, 7, or 8th school next week!

Number two son Josh and I will be fishing Jeff's' Ponds. The fishing continues with midges, leeches, and some early Mayflies coming off.

Best of fishing my friends,

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

4/6

"Life is good"
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 shot way upstream in the last high water.

Skagit River: Anything from Bacon Creek on down should be golden. Water is really clear above the Sauk. Longer fluorocarbon leaders and fishing early and late, with the light off the water is a good bet. Fish those riffly heads. One of the biggest mistakes I see, is anglers wading in at the top of the run, then pulling 80 feet of line off their reels (because they can cast that far) and end up swinging their fly well downstream of the riffle holding steelhead.

The Sauk: also has fish throughout the system. I don't think it is any mystery that the majority of the fish are up in the Darrington area, but there appears to be fish all the way to the mouth. Does my heart good to see these lovely wild steelhead, and especially good that we can enjoy them with minimal impact. I believe in steelhead. I also believe in recreation. We as anglers need to protect both the fish and the privilege to fish them. Life is good.

The Suiattle is slipping slides, so it is not unusual for the Sauk below to drop from "too clear" to "real dirty" and back again, all in the same day!

The Sauk is a more technical river as to wading and fishing, than the Skagit. Fishing the right sinking heads for the right waters, is much more important than what fly you put on. Cop Car is still probably our top producer, but after that, we have caught them on about every color in our box.

A sad:
Mike was down on the Skagit talking with his clients at days end, when one of the fly guide boats comes in to the boat launch. He tells how this "Client" comes stomping out of their boat, swearing and ranting like a spoiled kid. This guy made it a point to tell every guy within earshot, how he fished for two whole days and didn't touch a steelhead, with this blanky-blank guide. The guide was ashened.

As Mike and his boys were standing closest (unfortunately), this guy turned and asked how Mikes guys had done. When Mike explained the fishing was a little slow, this angler turns to Mike's anglers like, "you must be mad, too". Mike said his boys just turned back to Mike and continued their own conversation. The guy was left to himself.

Take a few minutes and read: Choosing a guide. Life is too short.

I don't think anyone can guide for too long, without running into a guy with a bad hair day. It happens. But I happen to believe, Mike and I have some of the best clients we could hope for. Here is what Scott had to say about his day, and even though he is a fine angler, he didn't even touch a steelhead that day.

My Point? With bombs flying, and soldiers dying, Here I am free and spending quality time with angling friends. I hope we can all appreciate each other as well the surroundings we fish.

Fishing continues:

Don't put that steelhead rod 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.

Crashed Files:

Thanks so much for the many clients who have sent in your e mail address after my computer crash. If you haven't been in contact for a while, assume I don't have it.

Number two son Josh is holding down Jeff's' Ponds. He says the fishing is good with midges, leeches, and some early Mayflies coming off. Real fishing in a real setting......without the crowds.
Eastern Washington Mystery Lakes Schools: May 1, 2, or 3 . Classes are filling up. I will give rundown in next weeks' fishing report.

Best of fishing,
Dennis Biologist

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

3/30/03

"Old Friends "
Hal is a airline pilot for one of the remaining major carriers. He is stationed out of Honolulu. He comes out and fishes for the late winter steelhead with me each spring. All told, I guess for nearly 3 weeks, but that is spread from winter through spring.

I always look forward to a "Hal week" for a couple reasons. First, he is a dear friend of mine. (He reminded me the other day, we have been fishing together for some fourteen years.) Second, he can really fish. If I can put him over a steelhead, he will probably catch it. We started telling stories of our adventures over the years the other night after dinner, and went on for half the night.

Anyway, it was a week with Hal and we poked around both the Sauk and the Skagit.

This is not an easy report to write because the word is; "there is not a lot of fish around". Possibly true but after seventeen years of guiding, I am not a bad fish finder, and Hal is certainly a good fish catcher. I think we found a steelhead or two on most days. All, lovely fish. The Sauk gets the early portion of the run, so if we weren't fishing the Sauk, itself, we were fishing the Skagit below it.

Too funny: (excuse me while I digress)

So I was teaching our latest Skagit Steelhead Flyfishing School, and I here I am explaining "Steelhead Run Timing". How it is important to remember to show up to fish, when the fish do. The class, Mike and I were standing on a Skagit flybar just below the confluence of the Sauk.
"We focus our attention in the early portion of the steelhead run, below the Sauk river, because the early fish of the Skagit drainage go up the Sauk". I said.

Wayne looks puzzled and says, "Are you saying that the steelhead coming up right now are Sauk fish?"

"That's right," I explained.

"And the Sauk River comes in right up there?" He asked, as he is pointing upstream at the confluence.

"Yup" I concur.

Wayne goes, "Well how in the world would the Sauk River steelhead bypass the Skagit River, and go up the Sauk?"

Six guys found themselves staring at Wayne......

This is what Vincent had to say about his fishing on the Olympic Peninsula.

You have to read the story of Allen found in the Articles and Stories section. It is like Wayne, part 2.

Back to Hal:
Water Temps hovered in the lower 40's, so it was important to fish pools where you could really slow the fly down. Sauk took a pulse of fish early in the week, and fishing was excellent for few days. By weeks end, the steelhead were in the upper drainage. Pressure has been relatively light in the Skagit, so it was easy for Hal and I to poke around and cover water. The Dam people have been releasing water each day. This always gets the fish moving, so it is good to have "low water pools" (before dam release) as well as "high water pools".

The Sauk fishes best when there is color in the water. I will start out with bright and black flies when the water is dirty, and revert to soft colors likes blues, purples and burgundy, as the water clears. I will also go to longer, and fluorocarbon leaders, smaller sparser flies, but you do whatever works for you. You can find of trick steelhead flies at Streamsideflyshop.com The Yancy multi-tip is still the best single handed multi-tip I have seen.

Mike and I keep tabs on each other almost every day. He really likes the Sauk. I fish both the Skagit and the Sauk. Mike has also had a good week.

A guy stopped me on the river the other day because I was using Mikes red raft. He wanted to know if I was the guide who landed two fish in the pool up above the other day. I said, no that was my son, Mike. The boy is doing very well.

I ran into another guide friend on the river the other day. We got onto the subject of rule changes we would like to see. He mentioned if he had his way, there would be no fishing from a boat, in the upper Sauk. When I asked him why, he said some of the plug pullers can hook up to twenty steelhead a day. He would like to see it stopped.

Now I happen to know most of the gear guys up there, and I have never heard of these twenty fish days. I asked him if he knew of this first hand. He said no, but that's what he has heard. I explained that in my experience as a biologist and a guide over the past twenty years, I have never witnessed, not read any documentary, where sport fishing pressure has ever limited successful spawning, as long as anglers were required to fish baitless and barbless. Even though it might fit my bill, as a flyfishing guide, we simply can't afford to fragment our sport fishing community by imposing rules based on urban legend. Infighting simply hurts us all.
April brings in the most steelhead. As spring brightens, anglers are already bolting for trout waters. Good time to be out on the river. More pools mean more fish. Hal is back in a couple weeks. He will like that.

Crashed Files:
Thanks so much for the many clients who have sent in your e mail address after my computer crash. If you haven't been in contact for a while, assume I don't have it.

Fishing Licenses: Don't forget to pick up your new fishing license. Expires March 31.

Number two son Josh is holding down Jeff's' Ponds. He says the fishing is good with midges, leeches, and even some early Mayflies coming off. Real fishing in a real setting......without the crowds.

Eastern Washington Mystery Lakes Schools: May 1, 2, or 3 . Ask about our new gig.

God bless us all,

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

3/23/03

"Faster than the Stock Market "

Mike and I have fishing the Sauk and the Skagit, respectively. Typical steelheading, but the weather fronts, have the north sound rivers raising and dropping like crazy!: We both found fish this week, and both had to work for them. These weather fronts have really kept us on our toes, but if you know where to fish under those conditions, you can be golden. Here is what Thomas had to say about his day out with his Dad and I.

Our Schools were cut short due to some hellish weather, I mean we are talking gale winds, torrential down pours, hail, we had everything. Not sure if we were saw sunshine. Anyway, get back me and we will pick up where we left off.

Speaking of which: Help! Managed to crash my client files and lose everything. So here is the deal. If you are a client and haven't been in contact in the last two weeks, could you please drop an e-mail, so we can go back to business as usual? Sorry for the hassle.

Fishing pressure has been moderate on the overall, for both the Skagit and the Sauk, although I did see a bunch of campers and power boats pull into the Howard Miller Steelhead Park, on Saturday.

When you are out on the river every day, you are going to see all kinds of behavior. Most of it is good, some of it is not. I wrote an article on River Etiquette. Golden rule is still the good rule. A kind more gentle fishing attitude, is always appreciated.

Look for fishing to continue on both streams. Upper Sauk has fish but be careful for rowers, lots of sweepers. Excellent water to get away from the walk-ins, though.

Love tell you things have changed in flies and gear.It has not. Yancy lines flat get it done.Water temps. still in the lower 40's. Reading water and presentation is key. Look for water with rocks and soft current seams. Steelhead only look for protection as water drops and clears. Mike and I are both doing well on the traditional flies as well as the articulated leeches. Find these bad boys at Streamsideflyshop.com.

Private Lakes:

Mike and I will be chasing steelhead around the Sauk, and Skagit, until its closing April 30. Number two son Josh is holding down the fort at Jeff's' Ponds. He says the fishing is good with midges, leeches, and even some early Mayflies coming off. Our half day gigs are still the most popular. I miss it, but that is what May is for, right?

New!!! Our Eastern Washington Mystery Lakes Schools: May 1, 2, or 3 . I apologize. I haven't even changed the Lakes page yet. We have changed locations. Nunnelly is still very good, but we are headed to Mystery Lake. Excellent fishing on public waters, in the same area, but much less fishing pressure. I will only send details et al, after deposit. Don't worry, the secret is safe. If you still had your heart set on Bobbie....we will work something out, but if you are into sight fishing (I am), this is way better. I promise. Schools are based on Mayflies, Leeches, and Choronomids strategies.

Will Rogers once said, " A stranger is a friend I just haven't met, yet."

If we haven't met yet, I would like to.

God bless,

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

3-16-03

"Monsoon Mary"

Mike and I were scheduled to spend our last week out on the Olympic Peninsula. That was the plan. Our Pacific Northwest weather had other ideas, and we aborted the gigs, and ended up fishing locally. We fished mostly the Skagit, as the Sauk was pretty much gone for the week. Mike spent his time handling daily guide trips, (and did pretty well), but I was fishing a fine gentlemen from Savanna Ga.. Dr. Olson is a delightful man, enjoyed his 14 foot doublehander, and we even handled a few lovely fish to twelve pounds. By Thursday, even the upper-upper Skagit was out, so we called it a trip.

Clyde told me he heard Washington is known for rain, now he could attest to the fact. I asked him if he had a good time. He said he had a great time.

"Good, I said. "Because I think the weather we just experienced really sucked." "If you can enjoy the monsoon we just fished through, you will love the out here, under more normal conditions."

Good News:

Mike and I both found fish. We also saw steelhead roll. The Sauk is still a little high this morning, but should be dropping in for the week. Skagits' early fish move up the Sauk. Should be fine fishing but a caution. These sustained high waters change pools and even channels. Watch for new log jams, blind alleys, and especially those little sweepers, just over the water. First thing you teach your 16 year old daughter as she is learning to drive is:

"Now honey, look down the road. Don't be staring over the hood, if you want to see what is coming along." So goes the river. It will have changes, watch for them.

More Good:

Many Kudo's for all those who flooded calls and emails to the WDFW about the Chehalis River fishing regulations proposals. Latest I heard, the department has now adopted a wild steelhead release. I honestly don't know why, we have to drag WDFW along into this century, kicking and biting, but if thats what it takes,...... thanks for being there, boys!

Fishing high waters:

Flies, lines and presentations are not a constant. Remember to fish the soft water in lower visibility. One of the hardest concepts for my schoolers is; I fish my lightest sinktips and flies, when the flows are up and the visibility is down. Why? Because that is where the steelhead are, in the gentle flows. They don't need to hide in heavy water, in high water conditions.

Speaking of schools: Here is what Jason had to say about his Chosen River school.

Skagit Steelhead Schools: Mar 22 & 23
Schools are locked and loaded. Saturday class has a late opening. We were sitting around the lunch table, in our last school. Bill asks me how long we have been doing the schools. I look at
Mike and say;

"I guess about five years, now."

He says, " And you do some sort of set of classes almost every month, right?"

I say, "We do now, it is one of the hottest things we do".

Bill asks, " Don't you worry about running out of anglers to teach?"
Mike says, "If anything, our schools are more popular now, than when we started". Guys realize they only have X amount of time. They don't have two years to struggle along and hopefully get good at it."

Guys are right: Schools is not about being lazy, its just being smart. That is why most of your better shops and outfitters have them. Nobody wants to get frustrated and quit.

Private Lakes:

Mike and I will be chasing steelhead around the Sauk, and Skagit, until its closing April 30. Number two son Josh is holding down the fort at Jeff's' Ponds. He says the fishing is good with midges, leeches, and even some early Mayflies coming off. Our half day gigs are still the most popular. I have got to figure a time to get up there. Yeah, like when?

Our Eastern Washington Lakes Schools: May 1, 2, or 3 are getting attention. This is a fine reprieve after chasing ironheads for the last six months. (not that there is anything wrong with that! A lovely fishery. Schools are based around learning to fish Mayflies and Chironomids.

Every time I float the upper Sauk I think of my old friend Charlie. If you can admit you are kind of a Steelhead Flyfishing Junkie, you might enjoy reading about Charlie. He was my legend.

Anyway: The boys and I are busy on the waters, steelhead were traveling through this last high water. Life is good. Maybe I will see you out there.

Best of fishing,

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

3-9-03

"Best office in the world"

Mike and I spent late last week doing our Olympic Peninsula Steelhead Flyfishing schools. All went well, Boys had a great time. Kudos to all for coming.

Tuesday thru Friday was spent on the Chosen River area. I apologize for all the cloak and dagger, but fishing pressure is where you find it. People can't help but wonder, and there will always be those who guess. Nope, its not the Hoh, and no its not the Hoko. Best to leave it at that.

Waters were low early in the week, although the rain squalls moved thru faster than the fish. We really worked early on in the week for our steelhead, but the rains brought the steelhead, and we tagged them, when they were in. Such is the life of the coastal steelhead. Blues, purples, and reds worked well in the clear waters. Cop Car, and Blacks did the trick when the dirty waters came.

It seems that the more I fish throughout the years, the more I appreciate the fine angling friends, I spend time with on the water. You know who you are, I won't embarrass you in print.
We saw some really handsome steelhead. Some were hefty, some were not. God never created a bad steelhead....although sometimes I think we get close with our hatchery practices, at times.
A hot topic in the Steelhead world, is the return of the wild Chehalis steelhead. As a biologist, I sometimes marvel at the extent fisheries management will rationalize into the decisions we make.

How fitting:
A few years ago, I wrote an article called Kill & Close: I try not to use this fishing report page as an editorial section, but if you are interested in my views on the subject of the Chehalis management fiasco, remember, I wrote this long before, this current WDFW management proposal, was ever brought to the table.

Back to the Fishing:
Mike and I are headed back to the coast for another week. That is, unless the monsoons chase us off.

Clients booked: Keep tabs on the Flyfishsteelhead.com > Check River flows > to see if we are fishing. I will report nightly to my wife Dawn, (360 435 1043) for fishing emergencies.

Fishing calendar:
Skagit Flyfishing Schools: (space limited) "A two year apprenticeship in a days fishing". Why so popular? Don't take my word for it. Check out theFlyfishsteelhead.com > Testimonial section. See what anglers who have actually fished with Mike and I, think about our gigs. A personal instruction guide day. No problem, we do tons.

Mike and I are back to the Sauk and Skagit after the 16th of March. I understand the fishing has been a little slow. This upcoming rains should get things moving.

No Schools in April due to the volume of guide trips, but we are on-line for our Eastern Washington Lakes Class, May 1,2,3. I will describe availability in the next few weeks.

Appreciate you dropping by.

Best of fishing to you all.....

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

3/2/03

Sauk Fishing, Skagit Schools, Jeff's Ponds.

Our fishing is totally tied to the river conditions, but the rivers levels have been a volatile as the weather. Seems like we will come off a high water, rivers will drop into prime...for a bout a day, and slip right into gin clear. Fishing seems to be all about following the water clarity.

Skykomish reports were really smoking but as the water went to total visibility, the wild steelhead that weren't killed (suppose to be wild steelhead release) went into hiding. I guess the plunkers down on the Snohomish have been doing awesome the last few days. Plunker fishermen, stationary weight, bait and barbed hooks, poor enforcement and suppose to wild fish release? Who is the brainchild behind this one? Don't even get me started. At least the rivers will be closed to all but the poachers, after Feb. 28th.

Stilly: Haven't spent time much here. Heard of some early wild steelhead, but this system tends to have a later run, due to the fact of a long running February kill fishery, until recent years. River won't open until June.

Sauk: The large dominant males are sneaking in, but the clear waters have made it an early morning and last light, show. Blacks, reds, and purples seem to be the best colors, but of course, it is not about the fly. It's reading the water, and presentation.

Skagit: Later February usually finds me poking around the Birdsview > Lyman area. I really like this flywater, new fish, and all the upriver steelhead have to go by. Most days will see good dam releases from the Baker River, which will add some much needed color to the river. I will make you a deal Mr. WDFW. You allow a baitless/barbless fishery in this middle river, and me and every other boat guide will come along and snip every poaching line from every lawn we see poaching along the river!

Coastal Fishing: By the time you read this, Mike and I will be out on the Peninsula, running schools and handling guide trips. I look forward to this every year, and we can have some pretty amazing fishing when everything lines up, right. Plan is to be home on the weekends into the 16th of March.

Skagit winter steelhead flyfishing schools: March 22 or 23

Finished our Monday class in lovely weather. Great guys, thanks for coming. Anglers are asking for a two day class, so they can have a day of "application" along with lecture, demonstration, on understanding steelhead, reading water, and presenting the fly under various water, and lighting conditions. Boys say the lecture notes, really help.

Skagit winter Steelhead School Availability: Saturday 3-22 is standby only, Sunday 3-23 has a couple openings.

Jeff's Ponds: Josh has been doing the 90 acre Private Lakes gig, (east of Mt. Vernon) while Mike and I have spent our time chasing steelhead and doing steelhead schools. He says they have been handling Rainbows to eight pounds, so they must be doing pretty good. Chironomids, beadhead Pheasant tails, flashbacks, Lightning bugs, and mini leeches, are doing the drill.

Sauk/Skagit C&R March >April 30.

Mike and I will be back in the action on our local waters after March 16. We will focus on the lower and middle Sauk, but move around following the water conditions and steelhead progression. (Space limited)

Eastern Washington Lakes Schools:
We don't do any Steelhead schools during April due to the large volume of guide trips, but we will have our annual Eastern Washington Lakes Schools. May 1, 2, or , 3. We try to coordinate our arrival with the Mayfly hatch at Bobbie lake. Awesome! Come join us. Lots of fun.

Best of fishing to you all.....

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

2/23/03

"Water was good, weather really sucked"

is the way I would describe the fishing week. The good news is, there are fair to good numbers of native steelhead showing in the Stilly, Sauk, Skagit and Skykomish rivers. These are not your anemic hatchery pukes, but the large dominant wild steelhead, that always enter first.

I have been getting reports daily of fly catch steelhead from ten to over twenty pounds!

These waters would be my picks:

1) Upper Skykomish: Highbridge to Sultan. The early fish travel farthest, and these are the waters the steelhead are headed for. River levels (5,770 cfs. @Goldbar) are in fine shape, and the Sky is showing as many early fish as any of our North Sound streams. Fishing will close next Friday (the 28th) so get a shot while you can. Blue/Purple marabou, is my favorite, dark day, clear water fly. Pink Stinker which is a cerise marabou with a purple collar is my bright day/ bright water fly.

2) Sauk would be my number two stream. All three sections are holding fish, but it pays to cover water. These fish are moving. Visibility is down a little, so I like the Cop Car series, and black leeches. Colorful flies work well if the sun breaks out.

3) Skagit is a close third, because it flyfishes almost as well as the Sky. More on this in a minute.

4) Stilly is fourth but very quietly getting it done. This stream usually doesn't turn on until after the April 15th flyfishing begins, but as the stream will be closed to everyone but poachers until June 1, we are not going to get a shot at these lovely fish, either. Rob released a 37" buck the other day.

Swinging winter flies for the wild native steelhead is not rocket science. Here is a few observations I have found over the years>

1) Bob York, a steelhead legend put it well. "Steelhead are not difficult, if you can fish them first". The guy that is telling you to sleep in, let the water warm, is quietly scooping your water, taking your fish.

2) Choose your waters wisely: Some pools fish well only when the water levels are low, some, when the rivers are running full, and few, at most water heights. Log the water and lighting conditions when you seem to have the most success. You will soon learn what is what. Focus on water you can bring the fly in, "Low & Slow".

3) Wild steelhead are not picky about flies. Find something that suites you, and fish that fly with confidence. As soon as you catch a steelhead on it, you will be convinced "This is the fly!"

4) Different water/lighting conditions will find steelhead holding in different waters. Think Security. A steelhead is trying to conserve energy, but he has to feel safe. Know his comfort zone, under different visibility.

5) Steelhead flyfishing is about doing, not just an end result. If you don't enjoy the pursuit, go back to something else.....but know this. If you hook up, it can change your angling life.......

Flyfishing Show:

Pretty fun, or at least it was to me. I think the highlight was seeing so many of my angling friends. Clients & business buddies, the rest of it was just a bonus. I liked the show, I hope they do it again. What, we live in the Pacific Northwest, and we don't do steelhead?......please.

North Sound Steelhead Streams Open?

Poor press: The combination of a dismal winter hatchery steelhead return, and the closures of the Stilly and Snohomish system streams, have left anglers the idea, all our North Sound waters are either closed or not worth the effort. False and False.

The Sauk/Skagit systems will be open thru April 30. Returns of the early wild steelhead look promising. (See above)

Skagit River Steelhead Schools: March 22 or 23
We have now added lecture notes! If you have taken any of the 2003 Steelhead Flyfishing

Schools and haven't received the lecture notes, just drop me an email, and its done!
We did our Friday school. The high point had to be Gary wading out and hooking a dandy steelhead on his very first cast!

Low point was the weather was so miserable, it even chilled Mike to the bone, and he never gets cold. Of course, the day started out a balmy 45 degrees, with sprinkles, and ended sleeting showers. Boys said they had a marvelous time.....but that was those who could speak coherently (Just kidding). Monday class is locked and loaded.

"Because you Asked" We postponed out Saturday and Sunday classes so we all could take in the Flyfishing Show. Our Make-up dates are:

Saturday Mar.22 - 1 slot

Sunday Mar. 23 - 2 slots

These classes will be held during the C&R season, so even more steelhead should be available. Cool!

Flyfishing Calendar:

Mike and I will spend the week around the local waters, including Jeff's Ponds (fishing very well, by the way). Or, maybe we will see you on the river.

March 1 >16

We head over to the Olympic Peninsula for the next two weeks, coming home on weekends. Mike and I start fishing the Sauk/Skagit C&R, March 17 and continue this very popular fishery until its closure April 30. Looks to be another fine season.

Attention: Last minute cancellation on Chosen River, Olympic
Peninsula, for Weds. March 5, ........will work you a deal.


Eastern Washington Lakes Schools:

It is time already?

We don't we do any Steelhead schools during April due the large volume of guide trips, but we will have our annual Eastern Washington Lakes Schools. May 1, 2, or , 3. Come join us. Lots of fun.

Best of fishing to you all.....

Dennis www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

2/16/03

"Rivers are coming up or going down"

You got to love this winter, almost! It rains for a while, some fish come in, the season goes to drop dead gorgeous and waters go to gin clear. Cold mornings and beautiful afternoons. A few days of lovely weather, and the rains come again. Other than the fact that we need that snow pack, I would take these winters, anytime!

Busy time.
Lets see, Mike and I are scurrying around. Between the Lakes fishing well, our Skykomish classes finished last weekend, and our Sauk River classes going on as we speak, did I mention the guide trips on the Sky and Sauk river?

Here is a really nice letter Steve sent regarding his school day.

Dennis and Mike,
What a great day on the river! As a physician, I have to take CME courses to keep up on developments in medicine. Now I have a new requirement... CFE (Continuing Fishing Education). In spite of over 15 years of experience I am amazed at what I learn (and yes, relearn) every time I am out with you. Also, seeing the other guys in the group, some of whom had never fished for steelhead on a fly before, light up when they hooked or saw a big silver bullet for the first time was a real bonus. It was infectious and inspiring. It is these men and women that will form the ranks of sportsmen to help protect and promote this fishery into to the future.
Last but not least, I had forgotten the quiet beauty of the big rivers. This has been a particularly difficult week for me (flu season, managed care and long hours). Yet I came home a better man. As the ad says: Spey rod... $650, Pontoon Boat... $750, articulated cop car $24/doz... a day on the river with old and new friends... priceless. These things are the best medicine of all.
Thanks for sharing your head with us.
Steve
Thank you Steve, On behalf of Mike and I, the pleasure was all mine.

"Back on the waters"
The Sauk/Skagit C&R (Mar/April) this spring. Thank you Pete Castle! I fish these waters throughout the year, and I still marvel how beautiful they are. WDFW projections are up a bit this year, and by the number of early returning native steelhead to our north sound rivers, I would have to agree.

Skagit River Schools: Feb 21 & 24
"Because you asked"
We are having our Friday Feb. 21 class as usual. (one slot remaining, as we speak)
We have postponed the Saturday & Sunday classes, so we can attend the new Flyfishing Show, in the Meydenbauer Center, next weekend. I will be down on Saturday, but I don't do the booth thing, anymore. Gratefully, I don't need to. But come down! Should be fun.
We will have our Monday Feb 24 Skagit school class. (2 slots available)
Our Skagit School weekend has been postponed, until March 22 & 23. Our Skagit winter steelhead schools are quite popular.

The Olympic Peninsula guide trips *(March 1- 15) are all booked. (* Mike has a Mar. 5 cancellation opening.)

Olympic Peninsula Schools:
If you haven't received your itineraries for your trips, just give me a holler. Looking for another fine year!
Sol Duc: Feb. 28 - Full
Hoh River: Mar. 1 - Full
Clearwater: Mar 2 - 1 slots available
Queets River: 3 - 2 slots available
Sauk/Skagit guide trips:
Dennis: some April dates available
Mike: a few late March, April dates available.

Best of fishing,
D www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

2/9/03

Mike and I have had a great time poking around the Skagit and Sauk rivers, coming off this last high water.

Waters went from flood stage to low and clear in a matter of a few days! I went thru the gauge heights and river levels (Flyfishsteelhead.com > Check River Flows ), I consider fishable et al. in last weeks fishing report. I also went over which flies I like to fish under different water/lighting conditions. Might want to check that out, too.

Anyway, it is really good to see a nice pulse of native steelhead, coming in on our local streams. The winter time rule that never goes away rule is; focus on pools where you can bring the fly in "low and slow". Here is another Dickson tip: "Steelhead tend to lay waters you can't quite see in." At first light, last light, and dirty waters, you might as well fish with really short leaders. Steelhead will be laying in soft currents close to shore (if the rocks are there) because, there is little visibility, in these water/lighting conditions. I consider short dark leaders in bright water conditions a waste of time, unless you are fishing choppy turbulent flows.
Kudo's: Saw a couple gear boys hook a really pretty steelhead, in one our Sauk pools. He played the fish well, swam it into shallow water, and released it, as expertly as any fish I have seen. Pretty cool.

Not so Kudos: We pull our little pontoon rafts into the shore at the Sauk River take-out. Fly boy fishing down in the tailout sees us, wades out of the water and comes walking up. He passes within six feet of us without even a nod, let alone a hello. (Gave a look like someone had shot his mother) Up to the top of the run he goes.
Kathryn turns to me and says, "Whats wrong with that guy?" River rage?
Instead of listening to me prattle on about a good days fishing, I thought I would share with you Jason's fishing trip. Hope you enjoy it.

Mike, How are things? A bit slow for me on the fishing but the day it
started to rain, I was on the #### river. I had a remarkable
day for myself. At about 9am i approuched this run and fished it just over
half way down, now im in tail out with about 80 yards left, Dont know if it
was fate but i happened to look slighty down stream and seen a chromer roll.
A bit excited i continued fishing, cast, then step down a couple feet, and
cast again. Then bam!! a fish hit hard, took me for a good 5 seconds then
off. wow, Now Im all excited. I finished the run and walked back up to
fish it again knowing there is fish there. Now there is a drift boat above
me on the other bank and a gear fisherman down and across. I continue to
fish and they were all watching like, what does he think, he is not going to
catch steelhead on a fly. The best thing happened five min later. I was
fishing low and slow felt the grab, gave him preset, and he went swimmin,
hooked himself hard and went crazy. Jumped out of the water and was tail
walkin and just burnin my drag, awsome, I kid you not the one guy yelled
out as I was fighting the fish, holy shit thats a big fish, I contined the
fight and after about a long 2 or 3 min the fish got the best of me and
broke my 12lbs test. I was disapointed but happy at the same time. The
fish was estimated by me and the other fisherman at the upper teens. Not
landing a fish but one of the best days flyfishing for steelhead i have ever
had. Me flyfishing and hooking steelhead right in front of the bait and
gear guys, I was lovin it. lol. To sum all this up I was using the yancy
line and it was great along with the flies you sent, I am fond of the cop
car and the bead eyed black string leech.

P.S. 3 days befor this trip i was on a different run on the #### river alone
and had a steelie hit like a freight train at the end of a run. I landed
that fish (a native) about 9 lbs. and had a guy snap that photo, nice fish

Your steelhead class was very benficial to me and im wanting to learn more. Thanks
you for all the info. and tell your dad thanks also. if he wants to read
this email for kicks, he helped me hook 3 steelhead in 2 days with the
learnings i got in the class, the yancy line, plus your good flies,
thanks again Dennis and Mike.
jason

"Back at the ranch"

News Flash: Late cancellation in Friday Feb. 14 class. Contact Dennis.

Skykomish Steelhead School - rescheduled

By the time you read this, we will be in the middle of our make-up dates for our Skykomish Steelhead Schools. Stay tuned for our latest episodes next week.
Our Sauk River Schools are next weekend. All slots are full, but take heart. If you were hoping to get in a school gig, our Skagit Schools have a couple openings for Friday (Feb. 21) and Monday (Feb. 24)
Also: We are adding two more weekend Skagit Steelhead School dates in March. Think March 22 or 23.

The Olympic Peninsula guide trips (March 1- 15) are all booked for both Mike and I but we still have Sauk/Skagit guide days open, (Mar 17-April 30).

Olympic Peninsula Schools:
Sol Duc: Feb. 28 - Full
Hoh River: Mar. 1 - Full
Clearwater: Mar 2 - 2 slots available
Queets River: 3 - 2 slots available
The Olympic Peninsula guide trips (March 1- 15) are both booked for Mike and I, but we still have some guide days open, in March & April, if you are flexible.

Best of fishing,

D www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

2/2/03

Flyfishing: Trivial and yet therapeutic

It is hard not to reflect about the Challenger tragedy, yesterday. A time to reflect, a time to resolve.
As I write about our fishing adventures of the week. It, somehow feels trivial, yet therapeutic. For many, flyfishing is a much needed time-out when reality becomes too real.

I am lucky, I love what I do. I love where I work. I so much enjoy the people Mike and I get a chance to spend time with. People who respect, appreciate and enjoy the same things we do.
It saddens me when we can't talk well of one another. Life is too short. Surely, there is room for all. I pray we can all look for the goodness around us.

Skykomish Flyfishing Schools
This is what Joyce had to say about her school day.
"Want to thank everyone for a wonderful time on Saturday. Hoping I remember most of the information and techniques that were demonstrated. You sure made it look easy and I feel very confident in my ability to actually catch a Steelhead now --- as you can tell by my booking a guided trip with Mike. I was so impressed with the way the school had something for all skill levels and the techniques were able to be used immediately. Did I mention it was fun? Thanks again.
Joyce

Skykomish Steelhead School - rescheduled
We have already rescheduled for this coming February 9th and 10th. Everyone is in the same class (Sunday is Sunday, Monday is Monday. (All information as before) We are looking at a rain today, but then a drying spell to the weekend. Let's hope!

BTW: 2 guys couldn't reschedule for the 9th, so if you want to join us, let me know, ASAP.

Week's Fishing:
Not sure I chose the better part. Mike spent his time on the Skagit. He had some fine trips fishing for Dollies, and winter steelhead. Their big day was hooking 2 steelhead, and 13 dollies. Egg-sucking Cop Car and Black Bart were doing the damage. He fished below the Sauk when he could, and above, when he had to. Multiple sinktips as found in the Yancy, varied from pool to pool. Low and slow is always the ticket. Leaders depended on visibility (not temperature). Our new string leeches really eliminate the short strikes, when the clarity goes up. As the native steelhead move in, the fishing should only improve.

As we speak: and it is raining. Go to flyfishsteelhead.com > River flows.
Skagit is moderate flow, and the Sauk is in....I would fish below the Sauk. If the Sauk goes above 9,000 cfs, fish above the Sauk. Flies already mentioned.
Sauk: At 6,700 cfs. It is fishable, but if it goes above 8,000, head for the Skagit.

Skykomish: Sky is at 10,900. I don't fish it above 10,000, and with the rain, probably headed the wrong way. Watch for it to drop in time for our schools next weekend. Cool!

Stilly: Fishable above Hazel, but quite possibly will go out......again. Like to fish is below 3,000 cfs.
Flies for various water conditions:

This is a quip from our upcoming Spring 2003 newsletter:

Spring Steelhead Flies: http://streamsideflyshop.com/flies.htm

We have added both string leech and articulates to our fly selection. We have fished with all of them. Awesome!

My fly selection is determined by: water clarity, outdoor lighting, and stream flow. The flies selected below can be found at Streamsideflyshop.com
click on blow-up for greater detail. The # should eliminate any confusion.

Dark day/ Dark water: I like Whites & Blacks

Traditional Cop car # 1013- anytime water visibility is under 4 feet.
Cop Car String leech # 1016- Water vis. is over 4 ft. stops short strikes
Copcar Articulated # 1015 - Large profile for turbulent waters, big water situations

Little bruise # 1006: Soft water lies, especially at daylight and dusk.
Big Bruise #1006: Bigger water, new aggressive fish, dark days
Egg face Black string leech # 1049: Soft water, dirty water, dark days
Black Articulated Brass eyes # 1048: Turbulent, dirty water, dark days

Dark days/ clear water:

Blue/Purple marabou Traditional # 1001: 4-10 ft. vis. soft to moderate flows. Dark days.
Blue/Purple Bunny string leech # 1018: Same conditions as traditional but turbulent flows
Red/Orange marabou # 1018: Bright or dark days, 4 ft vis. or above

Bright day/ Dirty water:

Hal Smith Special # 1011: under 4 ft. vis. Great in brownish water
Cop Car series (see above)

Bright day/ clear water:

Pink Stinker # 1028 4 ft. vis. or above Temporarily out of stock
Red/Orange marabou # 1018 (same)
Humpy killer # 1007 (same)

Black Bart: # 1032 Anytime!

Dennis' fishing week
I puttered around our private lakes. Bankers hours, lovely Bow's to 8 pounds. Choronmids are coming off, but these boys like to eat the adults as well as the pupae. Eight pound rainbow, rolling over a #16 parachute Adams, is definitely a toilet bowl flush, kind of take!

Anyway, fishing is good, and will continue. If you are looking for a description, simply go to the home page, and click on the Private Lakes picture for the photo essay.

Pick your poison:
The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17
*Schools are filled, *(Friday has an opening)

Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24 This year upon request, we are doing something kind of fun. The Feb. 21 & 22 classes are now our "Advanced Flyfishing School " Same school curriculum, but we take it to the next level. Focus is on reading low and high water conditions, adapting different presentations for various pool conditions. Class availability outlined next week

Olympic Peninsula guide Trips: "Chosen River".
Dennis is totally booked
Mike was booked.....March 13 opening, from cancellation.

Sauk & Skagit River guide trips: March 16-April 30 (Space limited)

While you are out shopping for a guide this time of year, you might want to check out, Choosing a guide.

Here are 5 other North Sound guides that I would recommend: Tell them Dennis sent you.
Johnny Boitano 509 962 3455
Rob Ensley 360 676 1321
Rod Bush 206 399 7145
Josh Hopp 360 653 2317
Scott Harrison 360 387 6994

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

1/26/03
" The natives are coming?"
Early last week was spent almost entirely up at the private lakes. Rivers had blown, and winds were gusting all day. Didn't matter.

Many of you know Bill. We have a standing guide day once a week. Have done so for 16 years. Even though we have spent the majority of that time, chasing steelhead and salmon on the fly, Bill really enjoys the private lakes. So do I.

As the winds were boiling out of the southwest. We just spent the day, fishing sheltered bays on Hearts, Trophy, Rock house, and Mirror lakes. Handled some nice fish.
As we drove out of this 90 acre estate, I turned to Bill and went, "Do you realize what happened here?" "The rivers are high, and any lake in the region, would have been blown off, but not here. Pretty cool, huh?"
Bill just nodded.

Skykomish Steelhead Schools:
Let me share a letter I just received from Rick about his school day.
"Dennis,
I had a great time learning from you and Mike.You're right to ask guys to bring pen and paper as you cover a lot of info in a quick amount of time. Hoping that your next classes also get into the fish that are coming into the system. We really lucked out having the river in shape, and I am glad that we were able to fish as much as we did. It's been a few years since I have thrown a steelhead fly (casting is not a term I would call what I was doing. Maybe "chucking" the fly would be more appropriate). The information that you presented made sense, and it will make it easier for me to leave my drift gear in the truck next time I go.I read your article on reels. It's a shame that there isn't a retro kit that could be put into the Lamson 3.5 reel to solve the problem. Keep up the fine work that you and Mike are doing with your schools. I would like to book a trip with you two one of these days. Until then tight lines and watertight waders! Best Regards, Rick W."

Rains and monsoon, jacked the Skykomish up but not out. We spent Friday and Saturday doing the school thing. *Sunday is blown, Monday has no chance. I think this our fifth year for the Skykomish winter steelhead schools.

Our clinic always started out with a fair amount of river lecture. How flyfishing steelhead effectively is not; dressing like a downtown flyshop. (Steelhead don't care.) How casting 100 feet, may impress a lot of guys, but probably isn't going to get you another fish. (New anglers are usually relieved to hear this.) It is not about a magic fly, and finally; its not about a ton of luck. It's understanding steelhead, where he lives, where he swims, and presenting a winter fly "low and slow".

I explain that, about half of what you read and video on traditional steelheading, I agree with. The other half is pure smoke and mirrors. I have been teaching anglers into steelhead for some 17 years. You may view my ideas as my opinion, others will call it a lot of experience. I am a biologist. I am interested in "Cause and Effect", "Stimulus and Response". Tradition is fine, as long as I can prove it. If something else works better, I will go with that.

Second part of the day is a lot of demonstration. We work on presentation. Reading the water, and line control. We show the class how to manipulate their sinktip, when and how the keep it off the stones. Also, how to get it down, and still under control. All principles work with single as well as double handed rods.

We always try to end our day, with anglers fishing, guides critiquing line control. Guys get pretty good about picking out the flywater by the end of the day. Pretty cool.
Anthony is a great guy. (I think most of our flyfishing guys are).

We are fishing a pretty pool that fishes well, in high water. We have spent the day, and done the drill. Its fishing time. I would love to tell you he was fishing one of our flies, but that's OK. It was a purple Eggsucking leech. Looked good. Love to tell you, he was fishing a Yancy line, but it didn't matter, he was getting it done. I was coaching from his shoulder, reminding him to preset not strike, if the line comes tight.

Guide fish:
As Anthony's fly just slowed in the seam water, the rod just folded. I am thinking, "Steelhead!". No need to preset here, this is not the bottom!

His rod began bucking that of a large male steelhead, swing his head, kind of pulse. I am thinking. "Native?"! Out of reflex, Anthony strikes upstream (which pulls the hook out). Sure enough the hook pulled, just as the large fish began to take line.

I moaned, but Anthony was just thrilled. He explained it was only his third steelhead to the fly. He can do it now.

I remember the letter a client sent me the other day. "Whether I catch a steelhead that day or not, teach me well and I will catch them, eventually". I like that.

So we will be doing a make up on February 9, for the Sunday lost. Monday is rescheduled for Feb. 10

Kudo's and thank you for all that came on Friday, and a special thanks for Yancy for helping out with Mike and I, on Saturday. For Sunday and Monday classes, think Feb. 9th and 10th.

As if that wasn't enough.
Mike and I will continue to split time between Steelhead trips schools, and of course our lakes trips.

Sauk & Skagit Steelhead Schools are just around the corner.
The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17
Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24
Olympic Peninsula Schools: Feb 28 > March 3rd. A different river on four consecutive days. Sol Duc River - Feb 28th, Hoh - March 1 Clearwater - March 2, Queets - March 3
Sauk Schools:
Friday: 2 openings
Saturday: Full
Sunday: 1 opening
Monday: 3 openings
More on Skagit and Olympic Peninsula schools as we get closer.

Olympic Peninsula guide Trips: "Chosen River".

Dennis is totally booked

Mike was booked.....March 3 & 4 opening, from cancellation.

Both are booking guide trips on North Sound Rivers as we speak.

Ask Dennis has its gig, check it out.

Thank you for the nice comments and feed back on the "New Look" of Flyfishsteelhead.com Home Page.

Glad you enjoy it.

Thank you too, for a tremendous response to Mikes new winter steelhead flies. We have some awesome patterns in articulated, string leech as well as the traditional patterns. The thumbnail to blow-up is much appreciated by the fly-tiers.

Members only: If you are client, but can't remember how to get into the Members Only page, just drop a line. If you on our client list, you are golden.

Look for good things on our rivers. The best fish that swim our rivers, are just coming in. Winter native steelhead. Just gets better from here.

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

1/26/03
"Good to have option 2"

Rivers are headed out.....again. I hate it sometimes when I am right. We never seem to have the same winters twice in a row. By my feable calculations, we are about due for a warm and rainy one.

The rivers were fishing very well, when they were in.
Sauk had steelhead and Dollies, Skagit is much the same. Stilly began finding a few fish, and even the Sky got a squirt.

Me? Mike took off for a ski trip for a week, and I spent most of my time poking around the local waters, and up at Jeff's ponds.

Biggest trip of the week was an R&R day with my 82 year old Papa. We never botherd with any of the other eight lakes, on this 90 acre complex. We went directly to the trophy waters.

I set him up with a Denny Rickards Sealbugger with a beadhead. These big rainbows love to cruise edges, so we tied on our 3x florocarbon leader and fished floating lines. Never even stepped into the lake except to net a fish. Gentlesmen fishing.

I won't fill you in on all the gory details but it seemed every time I looked up, Dad was being towed around by another monster rainbow. These triploids never see a pellet so the only food they get is from these spring fed lakes. Right now it is mini leeches and young dragonfly nymphs. Fish ran from your eastern Washington bows to nearly ten pounds. Most averaged closer to 4-5. Only thing I felt bad about was we never got to fish some of my favorite waters on the other lakes.

Poor baby.......As another 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.

I would look for a pulse of winter hatchery steelhead in on this rain, Suppose 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.

Flyfishing Schools:
As you probably know, we added a Monday onto our Skykomish Steelhead flyfishing school. Filled in about two days.

All our attention is on our Sauk, Skagit, and Olympic Peninsula Schools. I think this is our fifth year now. Here is the scoop:

The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17

Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24

Olympic Peninsula Schools: Feb 29 > March 3rd. A different river on four consecutive days. Sol Duc River - Feb 29th, Hoh - March 1 Clearwater - March 2, Queets - March 3

Ask Dennis has a several topics.
I revamped Cold Water Takes. This new approach for winter steelhead, revolutionized our approach to fishing winter steelhead.

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 they show up.

Best of holiday fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

1/18/03

"Just another day on the pond"

Last week was spent almost entirely up at the private lakes. Both Mike and I were busy, running trips to Jeff's Ponds. Good thing this place is big. Some 90 acres and six lakes later, it was easy to fish some waters, while resting others.\

Now that was cute:
Mike was running a 3 angler gig. Conrad, Meledie and I were doing a photo shoot, so we simply fished and took pictures at a couple of the lakes that Mike wasn't working. Conrad was playing the fisherman (which I think he really enjoyed) Meledie, is the professional photographer, and I am me. Conrad seemed to just about be able to hook another nice rainbow on Que., which, of course was good for the photo opt.

Mike and boys were enjoying themselves. Now Mike and I always like to finish the day up in our trophy waters. Oh, Skeet shooters pond have nice fish, and Hearts Lake (has an island out in the middle shaped like a heart) has some monsters, but trophy is where the big boys flat, get it done.
As Mike finished his boys half day and drove out, he mentioned they hooked three dandies, right off the bat, all on the little leeches patterns. Cool.

Conrad, Meledie and I, had pretty much ended the pictures gig. Decided it was a good time to take Mikes' place up on the lake, and fish a little (more) to wind up the day.

Meledie had been so busy on the camera all day, she really hadn't fished much. I set her up in what I call monster bay, (long story) with a Conrads Lightning Bug, and she fished away. Large rainbows occasionally rolled around her picking off Choronomid adults. She was getting a little frustrated.

All of a sudden, her line takes off and she lets out a war hoop I am sure Mike could hear clear down on the other end of the 90 acre property. Some tugging on her end, some splashing and tugging on the other, and she finally lands a handsome fish. Conrad did the releasing and I smiled from the other side of the lake.

Meledie went quieting back to her fishing, while Conrad hiked the trail back to the point he was fishing. The place was stone quiet......when out comes another huge war hoop! (I din't know women could yell like that.) Not much question what that is. Poor Conrad had just got back to his rod down the five acre lake. Out he tromps and back to Meledie, he goes. The ritual plays out. She actually let him cast a few times the next time, and we reeled up and headed for home. Such is fishing.

A New look: Flyfishsteelhead.com
It has got to be pretty evident, that Flyfishsteelhead.com has a new look. Chris Scoones gets all the credit for the work. Take your time and look around. It is still a work in progress but tell me what you think.

Back To Steelhead:
Our Skykomish Steelhead Schools are coming up January 24 > 27th. We should be all set, but if you have any last minute questions, just drop me a line. These early season clincs are perfect for this time of year, because anglers can learn the waters and techniques, so when our natives come......Bam! You are golden.

My favorite spring time river the Sauk, and its mother stream, the Skagit, both schools, taught in February, have some openings. Might as well learn the nuances of these great rivers, if you are planning to fish the late winter native steelhead during the up-coming Catch & Release, right?

As you get ready for the real fish to show, take a look at a couple articles I have had a chance to update - Flylines are what catch fish and Flyreels: Good ones and Bad Ones are nice reads.

Selling tons of trick flies and Yancy lines. Check out it out at Streamsideflyshop.com
The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17

Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24
|
Olympic Peninsula Schools: Feb 29 > March 3rd. A different river on four consecutive days. Sol Duc River - Feb 29th, Hoh - March 1 Clearwater - March 2, Queets - March 3

Oh, Don't forget to drop by Ask Dennis

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

1/12/03

"Dollies save the day"

Winter hatchery steelhead continue to play the disappearing act. Are they late? Are they not coming? How can the 2002 summer hatchery fish boast of the best return in twenty years, on the Stilly, and the winter hatcheries, be such a bust?
Fortunately, I have been following the correlation between the hatchery winter steelhead, and the wild native late winter steelhead, for many years. In my twenty years as a Biologist, I can give you my expert opinion.......there isn't one.

Many a year, I have seen this winter hatchery joke steelhead, produce virtually zilch, only to have the wild native steelhead come in like gang-busters. Take heart boys, the natives will be coming. I wrote about it, in Ask Dennis.

Dollies, on the other hand, are doing great! Does my heart good to see this wild Char finally get some respect, which leads me to my next question. If we are so into protecting the indigenous Bull Trout, (Dolly resident....we think), why are we killing them? Wouldn't the more prudent behavior be, make them part of the wild fish release? Just wondering.....

Anyway. We had a good day this week on Dollies, and a not so good. We have some new winter flies coming out, we call our "bad boy" series. We now have the traditional Cop Car, a Egg-Sucking Cop Car, a String leech Cop Car, and aN Articulated Cop Car! We also have the string leech , and articulates coming out in some other pet winter patterns, as well.. Cop Car series of course will be in the Members Only page, but many others will be there for the general public. We are doing the camera work as we speak.

Deadly Damage:
The fish simply brushed the weeds. From their crouched position, Harry and Mike could only imagine the fish, cruising the shallows, in the evening shadows. Distance is not important here.......accuracy is. Harry cast his bead head bugger just off the tules and let it settle. As this shoal is less than three feet deep, the floating line, long leader to 3x fluorocarbon, is all that is needed to bring the fly in the zone. The line twitched.

Mike says in a horse whisper, "Hit it!"

The water erupts into a six pound rainbow. Another act in the play begins.

Jeff's Ponds continue to be the highlight of the winter. Banker hours, floating lines, large rainbows cruising shallows, in solitude of the western forest. Our mini leeches, young dragonfly nymphs, and a new fly for these waters, Conrads version of the "Lightning Bug" are all taking fish. Only complaint we get, is it is just about impossible to fish more than a few of the eight lakes & ponds, in a day. That is OK, these spring fed lakes will stay open throughout the winter. Next time we will fish a different lake.......

Back To Steelhead:
We are closing in on our Skykomish Steelhead Schools coming up January 24 > 27th. The Sky schools are all booked, but take heart. My favorite spring time river the Sauk, and its mother stream, the Skagit, both schools, taught in February, have some openings. Might as well learn the nuances of these great rivers, if you are planning to fish the late winter native steelhead during the up-coming Catch & Release, right?

How come our streamside schools are so popular, compared to the traditional flyshop schools?

Just Like Golf:
If you were learning to play golf: Would two nights at the Pro-Shop and a few hours on the driving range, make you a golfer?

We actually take you to your favorite course and teach you how to play each hole. Recommendations & Endorsements are filled with anglers who were so frustrated with steelhead, they were ready to quit. We never said, ours was the only way to fish steelhead, but if you are having trouble catching them, come learn what we do,.....it works for us.

Flyfishing Schools & Guide Days:
As I mentioned, my all time favorite stream in the spring, is the Sauk. Well, maybe 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 will be over teaching schools and guiding these Olympic Peninsula waters from February 29 thru March 15. Mike has a few dates left after March 10 for the coast. We then head for home, fishing our North Sound rivers thru April.

Here is the scoop on the schools:

The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17

Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24
|
Olympic Peninsula Schools: Feb 29 > March 3rd. A different river on four consecutive days. Sol Duc River - Feb 29th, Hoh - March 1 Clearwater - March 2, Queets - March 3

Flylines Catch Fish is a good read for winter steelheading.

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

1/5/05

"Good to have option 2"

Rivers are headed out.....again. I hate it sometimes when I am right. We never seem to have the same winters twice in a row. By my feeble calculations, we are about due for a warm and rainy one. Looks like we may get it.

The rivers were fishing very well........when they were in.

Sauk had steelhead and Dollies, Skagit is much the same. Stilly began finding a few fish, and even the Sky got a squirt.

Me? Mike took off for a ski trip for a week, and I spent most of my time poking around the local waters, and up at Jeff's ponds.

Biggest trip of the week was an R&R day with my 82 year old Papa. We never bothered with any of the other eight lakes, on this 90 acre complex. We went directly to 4.5 acre trophy waters.

I set him 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, Dad was being towed around by another monster rainbow. These triploids have never seen a pellet so the only food they get is from this spring fed lake. 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 another 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, Suppose 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.

Flyfishing Schools:
As you probably know, we added a Monday onto our Skykomish Steelhead flyfishing school...... Filled in about two days.

All our attention now, is on our Sauk, Skagit, and Olympic Peninsula Schools. I think this is our fifth year now. These schools filled early last year. I suspect the Stilly and the Sky closures for the last season fishing would have something to do with it. C&R is locked and loaded for the Skagit system. Can't wait!

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. A few more than that for the North Sound streams.

Here is the scoop on the schools:
The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17
Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24
Olympic Peninsula Schools: Feb 29 > March 3rd. A different river on four consecutive days. Sol Duc River - Feb 29th, Hoh - March 1 Clearwater - March 2, Queets - March 3

Ask Dennis has several topics this week.
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 they show up.

The over-all doesn’t look good. Read Emergency closures.


Best of holiday fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

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