Winter Steelhead Quick Report and Pics

All of the low water from a recent drought in western Oregon has made many anglers feel a loss of chrome mojo. Luckily that dry weather pattern during the rainy season has ended (at least temporarily). We had a nice system pass through, and it raised many of the coastal rivers to levels where the fishing has been good for the last few days, and should remain good until the rivers bottom out again, or we get another system to freshen the water back again. The good news is that the rains brought fish in, and the fishing has been good out there. The best news was that I was rewarded with the largest winter steelhead I have caught thus far, and it gave the hardest battle possible before I managed to somehow land it. Get yourself out there and hunt for some chrome!!!

Ryan landing his first steelhead on his new switch rod.....

Ryan showing off his first steelhead caught......

This awesome buck tore me to shreds in the most hardcore battle possible. Feeling the rewards!!

Sea Run Cutts were incidentally eating the trout beads, and would set off a false steelhead bite alarm!

What a chrome "egg wagon" of a steelhead!

Setting this hen steelhead off to complete her mission......

Fly Fishing Film Tour Tickets For Sale at The Portland Orvis Store

Are you planning to see the 2014 Fly Fishing Film Tour on February 8th at the Aladdin Theater on February 8th? Stop by the Portland Orvis Store to pick up your tickets for either the 5pm or 8pm showtimes.

 Tickets cost $13 at the Portland Orvis Store

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2014
February 8th - 5pm or 8pm
Aladdin Theatre
3017 SE Milwaukeee Ave
Portland, OR, 97202

I Love Fishing in Warm Weather.......

While the rivers are really low, and the people are complaining about the lack of quality winter steelhead fishing........

Winter makes me want to be doing this........

Still Two Spots Available - Fly Tying 301 Class - Advanced Fly Tying - Winter Steelhead Flies

Fly Tying 301 Class

There are still two spots available to sign up for the advanced fly tying class. The class is through the Portland Orvis Store, and it is a Fly Tying 301 Class where the focus is on tying winter steelhead swinging patterns. Stop by the Portland Orvis Store to sign up, or call 503-598-7680 to get signed up over the phone.

Winter Steelhead Fly Patterns like this are enjoyable to tie, & they will produce for you as well.

Winter Steelhead of a Lifetime!!

Right before the rains happened, and everyone was complaining about having no water, my two friends Ethan Nickel and Brandon Bischof were both out fishing with another friend Dar Isensee. They have seen lots of steelhead during their lives, but neither has ever seen a fish like before. Not until this day, when the steelhead gods answered what every fly angler wants to see at the end of their line. Woo Hoo!! Nice Catch!!

Fly anglers often fish there whole lives and never get to touch a steelhead like this one.

Ethan has caught loads and loads of steelhead, but he has not landed one like this before.

This handsome winter buck measured at 40"long x 20"girth

WINTER STEELHEAD SPEY FISHING & CASTING CLASS

Location:  On the Sandy River 

When:  Classes available February 8 or February 22nd

Purpose of Class:  Learn the basics of casting and fishing with spey rods for winter steelhead. Reading water, selecting flies, and choosing the right lines and sink tips will all be covered.

This class will be limited to 3 students per class. We will float 5 miles of the Sandy River, and practice casting on both river left, and river right banks.  During the boat ride we will learn how to choose good water for spey fishing that holds steelhead.

This is not a guided fishing trip. This class is designed to teach people the basics of fly fishing for winter steelhed with a spey rod.

What You Will Need:  Spey rods will be provided, but if you have your own please bring it.  Chest high waders and boots will be required, and a valid Oregon fishing liscense with Columbia River Basin Endorsement & steelhead tag. 

When is the Class Time:  Class will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Lewis and Clark Park  (in Troutdale) and finish up around 2:00 p.m.  

Cost:  Price is $100 per student & each class is limited to 3 students

Instructor:  Call Brandon Bischof at 541-977-2796 to sign up for the class.

Sandy River Steelhead

Fly Fishing for Bonefish, Tarpon, & Permit........

Click Link Below
Join Me In Belize!!

Click on the Video (made by The Orvis Company) Below:

If catching bonefish, tarpon, and permit in a tropical paradise setting is something you have been wanting to do, then you should join me in Belize where I will be staying at El Pescador for the Belize Bonefish Bonanza from October 27th-31st.

Click Here to Find Out More and Sign Up!!

Important Article to Read on Our Fisheries!!!

Oregonian Article On Hatchery Salmon and Steelhead Plants

Make sure you read this!! It will most likely affect where you fish in Oregon on the coast rivers ......

An example of smolts being planted into a river with a pipe from a hatchery truck

Fly Tying 301 Class: Advanced Fly Tying - Winter Steelhead Flies

We are offering a Fly Tying 301 Class at the Portland Orvis Store. The class will be an advanced fly tying class focusing on winter steelhead patterns for wet fly swing type presentations. The class will be four sessions on Wednesday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. The dates for the class are January 29th, February 5th, February 12th, and February 19th. The class will have a maximum of 6 students to sign up until it is full. You will pay $100 for the class, and the cost includes a bag of all of the necessary materials to tie the patterns during the classes (actual materials cost a little over $100 in retail value alone plus the instruction). You will definitely have more fly tying materials to play with at home besides the class time. Instruction is provided during the class to show you how to tie winter steelhead patterns that involve different materials and techniques. You will be making articulated hooks to then tie your patterns on. We will not be tying egg patterns and nymphs; so this class is specialized for those swing fishers who love to hunt chrome.

Tying winter steelhead flies with materials like ostrich produces fish & they are enjoyable to tie.

Dates:  January 29th, February 5th, February 12th, & February 19th
Time: 7:30 - 9:30pm
Location: Portland Orvis Store
Cost: $100 per student
Includes: All of the tying materials for the class (a grab bag of all of the necessary materials to tie in the class, and the instruction during the class time. 
Participation: The class will be limited to 6 students

How to sign up:
Stop by the Portland Orvis Store to sign up, or call us at (503) 598-7680 to sign up.

Amazing and Affordable Spey Rod

Recently Orvis has been fine tuning the new Clearwater Spey Rods, and now they are out and ready to fish with. I am really stoked on the action of these rods, and the cosmetics are also really sweet. The cork is really nicely done with a super slim diameter, and the rods are light as a feather. 

Click on the link to check one out:

Clearwater 13' 7wt Spey Rod

Clearwater 13' 7wt 4pc Fly Rod

 Come by your local Orvis retail store to pick one up!