Fly Fishing Insider Newsletter featuring Fishing For Trout

Fishing For Trout in Flooding Rivers
	Recent warm Pacific storms have put most Oregon rivers over their banks. While many are unfishable at the moment there have been windows of opportunity when the rivers drop to certain levels. Obviously if a river is running swiftly through the streamside vegetation it is going to be very difficult to find a place to fish. But if the river is at a level where calmer water is reachable beyond the vegetation, fishing is not only possible, but can be extremely productive. High, fast water tends to condense fish populations because there is less water flowing at comfortable speeds. Often the best
water speeds occur right against the shore line where the fish are easiest to cast to. During periods of high water there is a lot of bed-load-shift on the bottom and sides of the river channel. Along

with the movement of gravels and soils many aquatic trout food organisms are washed down the river. This is called catastrophic drift. The superabundance of food can put trout on the bite. As a river rises the soft parts of the bottom sift first. Weed beds and the soft silts that support them tear loose from the stream bed. This is the prime habitat for leeches and aquatic worms. As the water continues to rise and the velocity increases the smaller gravels start to move. Some of these gravel can contain the eggs of salmon that spawned when the river was at its lowest. These gravels also

Often the best fishing is close to the bank.

contain many aquatic invertebrates such as mayfly and stone fly nymphs, caddis and crane fly larvae. Large stonefly nymphs are a good bite for even the largest river trout. Try fishing a heavily weighted stonefly nymph on a dropper with an egg fly. This kind of rig is often referred to as "steak & eggs". Or replace the egg with a worm...sounds pretty basic. Who can deny that both worms and eggs catch trout in high water. Now you can use your fly rod, avoiding the mess and turn you catch loose unharmed, if you wish.

Fly Fishing Worms

Worms occur in dense populations in many silty stream and lake beds. During times of floods, catastrophic drift can expose many worms to waiting trout. During these high water periods a San Juan Worm drifted along the bottom can be deadly. On local rivers "the worm" is a very productive fly during winter months.

San Juan Worm, Red Some aquatic worms are reddish. We have never seen any worms as bright as these flies, but don't let that fool you. There have been lots of trout caught on this pattern.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
12280-12	San Juan Worm, Red	12	3 for $2.95

San Juan Worm, Tan Most Aquatic worms are tan in color. This pattern seems to work best in streams and lake that have very clear water.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
12290-12	San Juan Worm, Tan	12	3 for $2.95

Egg Flies
Millions of salmon spawn in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Alaska and the Great Lakes Region. These eggs become the food for many species of game fish.
Egg flies are very important for catching fish on many rivers.

Spawning Steelhead, Sandy River tributary.

FISH EGGS AS FISH FOOD
Eggs from spawning fish make up a substantial percentage of the seasonal biological drift in most streams. Eggs may be liberated into the natural flow of the stream either by errant currents during the spawning process or by

catastrophes such as floods. In areas where fish are spawning, eggs are often more prevalent than aquatic insects in a foraging trout's diet.
Deschutes Redsides dine all winter on white fish eggs. Alaskan rainbows get a seasonal boost from the roe of spawning salmon. Trout and steelhead often congregate down stream of the redds of spawners of their own race. All salmonids, especially Rainbows, Cutthroats, Dolly Varden and Rocky Mountain white fish are egg eaters.
Fish eggs come in many sizes and colors. White fish eggs are 1/8" diameter and are transparent yellowish pink. Eggs from spawning resident

Eyes Steelhead Eggs.

rainbows are usually 3/16" in diameter and are translucent yellowish orange. Steelhead eggs are about 1/4" in diameter and exhibit the same coloration as their land locked cousins. Coho salmon eggs are nearly identical to steelhead eggs. Chinook salmon eggs are the same color but range to nearly 3/8" in diameter. Chum salmon eggs are slightly larger but lighter in color.

All eggs change color as the embryo inside them develops. Trout and salmon eggs go through a similar metamorphosis. First the tiny eyes of the fish inside the egg forms a dark spot. Then the darker reddish-orange yoke sack starts to form. In later stages the silvery form of the fish is seen through the outer membrane of the egg.

If the egg is unfertilized it dies quickly and turns an opaque whitish-pink. Silt collecting on the outer skin of the egg can give it a grayish cast. If the egg is allowed to drift long enough, it will be attacked by fungus and algae and become greenish. Trout and steelhead may become selective to these different egg nuances.

Hot Glue Eggs are formed by applying colored hot glue to the hook shank and turning the hook to form a bead. A marabou tail is added to make the fly legal as a fly. The tail can be easily removed.

"Glo Bugs" (and McGlo-Bugs) have been proven as the fly fishers premier egg imitation from California to Alaska. They are tied from a special high loft yarn. This yarn is placed on top of a short hook, parallel to the shank and secured with several wraps of strong thread. The yarn is compressed under the wraps of thread. The two ends are pulled up tight and clipped close to the hook. The resulting release of compression forms a spherical ball with all of the yarn fibers radiating from the hook. When soaked in water, many colors become translucent.

		Hot Glue Egg, Natural Salmon These eggs are very natural in the water and have accounted for many trout and steelhead. The whippy marabou tail adds movement and might simulate an egg that is coming apart or has membrane attached to it. This color simulates a dead egg that has been rolling down the river for awhile.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20462-06	Hot Glue Egg, Natural Salmon	6	3 for $4.50
20462-10	Hot Glue Egg, Natural Salmon	10	3 for $4.50

		Hot Glue Egg, Natural Steelhead This is an egg and sperm fly. Who knows if such a thing occurs in nature. Regardless this is a very effective fly that seems to work best when the water is very clear.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20470-10	Hot Glue Egg, Natural Steelhead	10	3 for $4.50

		Bead Head Hot Egg When fishing behind spawning salmon, a single egg that sinks quickly is often an advantage. Trout can become very selective when egg-drift is dense. Alaska guides found that a transparent plastic bead would often out fish any Glo Bug. However, in order to get the bead down to the fish, weight often had to be added to the leader. This weight some times spooked finicky fish. This transparent egg has a brass bead in side it for weight and will sink rapidly.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
070070-04	Bead Head Hot Egg	4	3 for $4.50
070070-06	Bead Head Hot Egg	6	3 for $4.50
070070-08	Bead Head Hot Egg	8	3 for $4.50

		Eggo, Pink Originally tied by Ken Morrish for steelhead on the Rogue River. Eggos are tied around nickel plated brass dumbbells that have reflective pupil and iris inserts...an eyed egg. We have seen nothing in nature that correlates to to this fly. However it is a very effective pattern in many circumstances.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20480-04	Eggo, Pink	4	3 for $4.50

		Eggo, Red During very low water periods on the Sandy River, both colors of Eggos are deadly steelhead flies. Try fishing your Eggo suspended under a strike indicator. Eggos are equally effective as dropper flies when fishing for trout during high water periods on the Deschutes.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20482-04	Eggo, Red	4	3 for $4.50

		Glo Bug, Champagne with Pink Dot Glo Bugs evolved on Northern California steelhead rivers. Anglers in Alaska quickly adopted them. They are made from a special high loft yarn that when tied to the hook with extreme pressure is trimmed to make a little ball. When wet the ball turns translucent and simulates an egg well enough to fool most egg eating fish. This color simulates a dead egg, and is very effective at times.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20597-06	Glo Bug, Champagne with Pink dot	6	6 for $6.95	>
20597-10	Glo Bug, Champagne with Pink dot	10	6 for $6.95

		Glo Bug, Golden Nugget with Steelhead Orange Dot This is the most popular color that we sell. It simulates a fresh egg and is easy for foraging fish to see.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20595-06	Glo Bug, Golden Nugget with Steelhead Orange dot	6	6 for $6.95
20595-10	Glo Bug, Golden Nugget with Steelhead Orange dot	10	6 for $6.95

		Glo Bug, Peachy King Having a selection of Glo Bugs in different colors is an advantage. We notice that when drifting the same stretch of river on consecutive days that the fish often have a preference for different colors of glo Bugs each day.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20599-06	Glo Bug, Peachy King	6	6 for $6.95
20599-10	Glo Bug, Peachy King	10	6 for $6.95

		Glo Bug, Pink Lady with Flame Dot A little darker than Peachy King and a little lighter than Golden Nugget.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
20594-06	Glo Bug, Pink Lady with Flame Dot	6	6 for $6.95
20594-06	Glo Bug, Pink Lady with Flame Dot	10	6 for $6.95

		McGlo-Bug, Iliamna Pink This fly evolved in the Iliamna Lakes region of Alaska where big rainbows fed behind spawning red salmon. It started out as two wraps of pink chenille wrapped on a hook. Anglers quickly found out that a fly tied out of special yarn gave a more natural appearance.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
99720-10	McGlo-Bug, Iliamna Pink	10	6 for $6.95

		McGlo-Bug, Late McRoe Eggs turn opaque when they die. This is also a pretty good white fish egg imitation.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
99721-10	McGlo-Bug, Late McRoe	10	6 for $6.95

		McGlo-Bug, Orange This is the natural color of a fresh trout egg.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
99722-10	McGlo-Bug, Orange	10	6 for $6.95

		McGlo-Bug, Tangerine This bright color is easy for fish to see.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
99723-10	McGlo-Bug, Tangerine	10	6 for $6.95

Native Fish Society Auction and Banquet

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Ambridge Event Center

Dear Friend:

Register now and help the Native Fish Society celebrate its 10th anniversary with an evening of fun and philanthropy at the 2006 Auction and Banquet. The Auction and Banquet will be the best yet with plenty of great auction items, some new and fun activities, great food, camaraderie—all to happen Saturday, February 18 at the convenient Ambridge Event Center.

Located just north of the Convention Center, on the Max line and with plenty of free parking, the Ambridge Event Center is the perfect spot for our 10^th anniversary celebration. The Banquet and Live Auction will be held in a spacious ballroom with plenty of room for mingling and conversation. We expect 300 people at this year’s event and the Ballroom will handle that many with plenty of room to spare and still affords great visibility of the auctioneer and auction items.

The Silent Auction and Raffle will be held in an adjoining room of nearly the same size. You will be able to access all auction and raffle items easily and without crowding and have all the room you need to move in for that last minute bidding!

New this year will be a Super Silent Auction that will feature a variety of great, one and two day fishing trips, fine gear and a number of wonderful non-fishing items. The Super Silent Auction will be held open through dinner and into the Live Auction to give you plenty of time to bid on and to protect items that you just can’t live without!

The Live Auction will be smaller and will include the 35 best and most exciting items. There will be great trips, the finest of gear, a few incredible houses and cabins in great locations made available and plenty of great non-fishing items. We will also have photographs of each Live Auction item projected onto a large screen as each item is auctioned so that you can better see the value of what you are bidding on.

Go to www.nativefishsociety.org/events for a taste of the fine goods that will be auctioned at this year’s event and visit the website often for updates of auction items.

A Few Surprises, Entertainment, Fine Wines and Great Food

We have a few fun surprises planned for the evening (but we can’t reveal them all now!) PLUS Lange Estates Wineries again will provide complimentary wine at each table to accompany a delectable plated meal. For dinner, you have your choice of three options: baked halibut fillet in a delectable white wine mushroom sauce; a tender roast beef with hot au jus sauce; and, layered vegetarian lasagna in a creamy white sauce with ricotta and mozzarella cheese. The full menu is available at www.nativefishsociety.org/events.

Don’t Miss Out. Purchase Your Tickets Today!

Tickets are just $45 per person in advance and $60 at the door. You must pay before the day of the event to secure the $45 price so why not register and pay now and avoid the last-minute cost and hassles.

To register call, Anne Tattam at 503-977-3133 or go to www.nativefishsociety.org/events and use our secured, on-line registration form. VISA, MasterCard and American Express are all accepted, as is payment by check if you register by phone.

Reserve a Table and Bring Family and Friends

You may also reserve a table of eight or ten and bring along family and friends. Tables may be reserved through Anne Tattam at 503-977-3133 or on-line www.nativefishsociety.org/events. You may pay in advance for the entire table at $45 per person or have individual guests pay for their own tickets. Reserving a table is a great way to make sure that you sit with friends and enjoy their company during the fun-filled evening.

Please Join Us!

Whether you come alone or bring a group, please join us on February 18. The Auction and Banquet brings people together who care about our native fish, raises desperately needed funds for our efforts in protecting and restoring our threatened native fish species and is a whole lot of fun! Register now and join us.

Enjoy this special holiday season and see you on February 18.

Paul Franklin, Auction Chair

P.S. Reserve your spaces on-line today at www.nativefishsociety.org. Visit the website often for updates of the great auction items that will be available February 18!

	*	Search	Catalog	Trips & Schools	Bargains
	Our Waters		Order Info	Weekly Newsletter	Events

Hot Glue Egg, Natural Salmon	Glo Bug, Peachy King
Hot Glue Egg, Natural Steelhead	Glo Bug, Pink Lady
Bead Head Hot Egg	McGlo-Bug, Iliamna Pink
Eggo, Pink	McGlo-Bug, Late McRoe
Eggo, Red	McGlo-Bug, Orange
Glo Bug, Champagne	McGlo-Bug, Tangerine
Glo Bug, Golden Nugget	New lower prices !!!