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Tube Flies have gained
popularity for many kinds of game fish. Recently this type of fly
has become extremely popular for winter steelhead. Originally
designed so that a smaller hook could be used with a large fly to cut
injury to wild steelhead, this configuration also proved itself as a way
to land a higher percentage of fish. The January 14 Winter
Months Round Table features a demonstration on how to tie tube flies
for steelhead. Also in attendance will be Jim Muck and
Bob Hooton from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to answer
questions pertaining to |
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Steelhead No fish creates more human passion than the steelhead. Its natural range is the North Pacific Rim from Baja California to the southern tip of |
| Russian Kamchatka. It has been transplanted to nearly every state in the Union and to all continents except Antarctica. Steelhead are anadromous, which means that the spawn in freshwater, but spend part of their growing period in saltwater. If salt water is not available, they quickly adapt to an entirely freshwater environment. Where lakes are available they replace the ocean part of the life cycle. |
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However, where no large bodies of still water are available, steelhead can remain in flowing water their entire lives. Some individuals may stay in their parent stream for their entire lives even where larger bodies of saltwater or freshwater are available. Steelhead which do not have a saltwater component in their life cycle are commonly called Rainbow Trout. In all of its many forms, steelhead are very desirable to |
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humans. At present far more steelhead are
raised in hatcheries than are produced naturally in the
wild. In recent years wild steelhead stocks are in decline
throughout their entire range. This is apparently true of sea run hatchery
steelhead as well. Probable cause is depletion of the Ocean food
chain brought about by the over harvest of shrimp, krill &
squid. Man made changes in native spawning streams and competition
and genetic intervention from hatchery programs are also held responsible
for declines in wild steelhead. Over harvest by both commercial and
sport fisheries have had negative effects. In recent years harvest
by all factions has been heavily curtailed. Rebounds in returns of
wild fish numbers to the Deschutes River lends optimism that long term
catch and release management does work. However, even when runs are in a depleted condition they draw considerable angling activity. This is because steelhead fight hard, are beautiful to look and the rivers where wild steelhead return to are places that are comfortable to humans. If you would like to know more about steelhead from a scientific point of view, please attend the January 14 Round Table. If you would like to know more about fly fishing for steelhead, check out Steelheadquarters. |
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Marmot Dam Fish Counts |
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Tube flies have gained new popularity for winter
steelhead. |
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Renzetti Tube Fly Vise This rotary tube fly vise is very easy to use, will handle tubes up to 4 inches long, and comes with a 1/16 inch diameter mandrel. The vise also has a rotary locking knob conveniently placed and yet out of the way. Lifetime warranty against defects in workmanship and material. This is the most popular tube vise out there. Buy on line. |
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is supported by sales through The
Fly fishing Shop on-line Catalog. |
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* Sandy River Fishery Information Bank |
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1(800) 266-3971
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