Rockfishing Class Pics

Well after having to postpone the class twice; we finally had a break in the wind and swells to get out there. Everyone did really well out there, and fishing got really hot during the last hour of the class. It was so good to the point where someone was hauling in a fish at all times for that hour, and we saw several doubles with multiple fish on between class members. Really fun and successful FF301 class!!!

Nice fish on large white bunny leech

Nice healthy pacific black rockfish that really pulled hard

Fishing was really hot right when the tide started to ebb

This rockfish fell to a chartreuse, white, and blue clouser minnow

Jetty Class Pics & Report

This past weekend offered two differing scenarios. Saturday was postponed to the alternate date of April 6th due to a super windy storm that rolled into the coast right when our class was scheduled. We went by the forecast which was a tough decision; since the coast was semi calm and nice for the morning hours. The class was scheduled to start at 2:45pm, so I went with the gut instinct, and we opted to go for the class on the alternate scheduled date. It turns out that Chris from Sunday's class came down with his wife on Saturday, and said it was one of those days where you could barely get out of the car to see the beach. Super windy and stormy; which does not agree well with casting shooting heads and larger flies. Postponing the class was a wise choice in the long run. 

A Pacific Black Rockfish taken on a large white conehead bunny leech

Sunday's class was a whole other story regarding the weather. Swells were small rollers; so the jetty fishing was nice since the water was relatively calm. Winds were light, and never went over 10 knots; so all of the students were able to cast the shooting heads very well. It was really nice to see the students bombing out big nice casts with tight loops. Everyone in the class fished very well, and looked really good casting off of the awkward jetty rocks. Fishing was relatively slow for what I am used to seeing out there, but that is why we call it fishing and not catching. Several students had some action from the Pacific Black Rockfish, and one of the students who did not land one said he was receiving bites on some of the presentations. There was just enough action to keep things interesting, and it was refreshing to let the students know it was ultra slow; even though we were still catching something. Nice to know that slow equals to several fish, and not zero fish like we can experience with something like steelheading.

Two of the students were lucky enough to tie into a lingcod each. One of the fish was what I would consider "leader landed"; while the other fish was officially landed. The first lingcod took a small chartruese and white Clouser Minnow tied with bucktail. The second fish was caught with a 2/0 white tungsten conehead bunny leech. Everyone was fishing with 28' long shooting heads ranging from type II through Type IV with intermediate running lines. We were using rods in the 8 - 10 wt range and one student was using a 8wt switch rod. It was a really fun class, and we were gifted with perfect fishing conditions. The fishing could have been much better, but it also could have been worse. It was a great primer to show 5 people the underutilized fishery that exists right here at the Oregon coast.

The Saturday class that was postponed to April 6th (7:30am-12:00pm) had one spot open up due to a student having to cancel out of there spot due to something that has come up for them. if you are interested in the Rockfishing/Lingcod class that will be on April 6th email me at fish@mckenzieangler.com or call me at (541)-232-6360. For more information on the April 6th Rockfishing/Lingcod Class Click Here.

Due to Popular Demand - Rockfish/Lingcod Class Day Added - 3-17-13

The same class as Saturday 3/16/13 will be offered also on Sunday 3/17/13. The original class filled up really fast; so another date has been offered. Everything will be the same format, but the meeting time will be at 3:00 pm (45 minutes later than Saturday's meeting time), and the class will end at 7:30 pm. (The backup date will be Sunday April 7th 8:30am-1:00pm - If really severe weather strikes for original scheduled date.)

White Conehead Bunny Leech took this black rockfish

There are three spots open for the class; so it is first come first serve to get signed up. Class costs $75 per person, and you have to prepay to get your spot/s reserved. Email me at fish@mckenzieangler.com or call me at (541)-232-6360 to get signed up.

For details about the class CLICK HERE, and remember this class is for Sunday 3-17-13, and the description you are reading is for the Saturday the 16th class. Saturday's 3/16/13 is full already, but Sunday was added to accommodate more people due to high interest in this type of fly fishing. 

FF301 - Rockfish/Lingcod Seminar

Fly fishing off of the rocks in the Pacific Northwest can be very exciting, and it is a totally untapped fishery for the fly fisher seeking out an alternative to the standard trout/steelhead/salmon game. You can hook fish after fish at times, and you will often be the only person out there. Some locations offer fishing where you have no idea what fish may bite your fly next. It may be a Black Rockfish, a Quillback Rockfish, a Lingcod, etc...

Checking out a Black Rockfish caught off of a jetty

You may be wondering how do I even start to target any of those fish on my fly rod? Well this FF301 is designed to show you how to fly fish for "bottom fish" in the Pacific Northwest. It is a class, and not a guided fishing trip; so make sure before you sign up that you understand that we are not going on a guided fishing trip in the saltwater. This will be a class with 5 students, and we will be out there in waders learning how to bottom fish on our own for future outings. We will be learning how to fish for these rockfish and lingcod with our fly rods, and catching them will only be a byproduct of the demonstrations, and people learning the techniques properly. We will be fishing a lot in the class, and fish should be caught, but the point of this class is to be able to target these fish species with the right fly lines, flies, and techniques all on your own.
 -My goal is to have the class participants to be able to tell me how they are successfully catching "bottom fish" on their own after they have taken the class.

Date:  Saturday March 16th  (alternate date Saturday April 6th 7:30am-12pm - If really severe weather strikes for original scheduled date)

Time:  2:15pm-6:45pm

Location: Tillamook Bay area or Netarts Bay area (to be determined according to conditions when class date arrives) - Both are similar in driving time.

Cost:   $75 per person - 5 people will be in the class

Equipment Needed:
The Basics:  Waders and Sturdy wading shoes with studs, polarized sunglasses, raingear for the elements, Oregon fishing License
Rod/Reel: A saltwater 7wt at the minimum all the way to a 10wt saltwater rod will work with a saltwater reel to match the rod. Fly lines for the class and future rockfishing trips are specialized shooting heads; so inquire about what you will need if you are serious about taking the class, and plan on doing saltwater rockfishing in the future. The same fly lines can be used for tidewater salmon fly fishing; so there are more uses for the shooting heads than just rockfish and lingcod.
-I do have some extra gear; so inquire if you are interested but lack the rod/reel to take the class. Switch rods will work for this fishing too. Ask again if you are interested, and have equipment questions. 
Flies:  The class will include several flies per person, but you may also want to pick up some flies for your own experimentation as well. If you are interested in tying up some flies for the class, or buying any to try out, then email me, and I can provide a list of some options to try out.


If you are interested in taking the class; email me at fish@mckenzieangler.com or call (541)-232-6360. 

A nice hefty Black Rockfish caught on the first cast of the day.....