Steelhead Fly Fishing Clinic

How to fish for winter steelhead, basic theory to actual practice.


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Winter Steelhead Clinic

Winter Mayfly Hatches

Early Christmas Shopper

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The Fly Fishing Shop is becoming dressed for the holidays! 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!!

Winter is here.  Time to think about winter steelhead and the coming holidays.  Our native fish traditionally start showing up around Thanksgiving.  There are more of them by Christmas and even more by New Years. There are great fly fishing opportunities in the rivers of Northwestern Oregon. Early Winter is a favored time of year with the holiday festivities and runs of bright new fish.    

We are putting up our decorative lights for the holidays and of course we are always ready for
 bright new fish.
Sunday, November 16, 2003   9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
At: The Fly Fishing Shop and local neighborhood.
Free! 
Annual Winter Steelhead Fly Fishing Clinic

Lots of help from veteran guides and instructors.
Mark Bachmann Brian Silvey Ron Lauzon
Mark Bachmann
38 years of steelhead fly fishing success.
Brian Silvey
In-demand steelhead guide.
Ron Lauzon
Teaches college credit classes.
Patty Barnes John Jones Mark Meriwether
Patty Barnes
28 years of steelhead fly fishing success.
John Jones
Skilled casting coach.
Mark Meriwether
Skilled fly tying instructor.

Learn from expert guides and instructors the art of catching winter steelhead 
with
your fly rod.

This is the first of a series of free events that will prepare you for 
catching winter steelhead consistently on local rivers.

Featured will be class room & field instruction by:
Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey, Patty Barnes, 
 
Ron Lauzon, John Jones and Mark Merriwether.

Subjects covered will be: general theory, fly presentation, fly casting, 
rigging for winter conditions, knot tying, fly selection and fly tying.
We will also show you how to stay warm and comfortable
 while you are fishing in the winter.
Refreshments will be served all day!
The Party and Food are Free !!!
The place is called "Steelheadquarters".
It's easier to say than "Steelhead headquarters".

****  Agenda  ****
9:00am - 10:30 Slide Presentation 
Sneak Preview of the Spey Clave Video

Bachmann
12:30 - 1:00 Basic Fly Casting
Jones
1:00 - 1:30 Choosing a single hand 
steelhead rod.

Silvey
10:30 - 11:15 Basic Theory
Silvey
2:00 - 3:30 On-the water demonstrations.
Bachmann, Silvey, Lauzon
11:15 - 12:00 Rigging for Winter Steelhead
Lauzon
3:30 - 5:00 Fly Tying
Meriwether, Silvey

An Opportunity For Some Terrific Winter Dry Fly Fishing
Water flows in the lower 100 miles of the Deschutes River have very been stable for the past two seasons.  There have been no scouring winter floats.  As a result weed growth in the river has proliferated....and so have some populations of aquatic insects that feed this aquatic growth.  Late fall hatches of baetis mayflies have been the best that we have ever experienced.  Bright days, dull days, clear water, muddy water...it hasn't mattered.  The trout have been up every day from noon until dark.  MB 11/08/03.  

Baetis Dun picture by Jim Schollmeyer from the book "Hatch Guide For Western Streams". Baetis Mayflies are an extremely widespread genus.  Several species  are multi-brooded and may have two or more generations  per season.  There are at least five sub-species that hatch from Oregon streams and lakes.  Hatches can occur nearly any time of year.  This makes them common trout food and therefore very important to fly 
anglers.  Baetis are found in both the western and eastern United States.  The Latin name is the popular name used by the angling public. They are also commonly called  blue-winged olives.  However Baetis can also have tan or gray bellies.  Trout can be very selective and prefer one shade over another.  Most Baetis look gray on the water and can be quite deceptive.  It pays to catch a hatched insect and examine it closely under magnification.  Baetis are small, #16–20, but they hatch in big numbers.  The best hatches occur on over-cast, rainy days.  Hatches can start in late morning and extend into early after noon.  
Baetis nymphs are swimmers.  They inhabit many water types in streams, but prefer weedy riffles and runs.  Use a "kick screen" in the morning.  If you find Baetis nymphs with wing pads that are very dark, chances are there will be a hatch during that day.  Nymphs will start getting restless in the morning.  This is a good time to pound the bottom with Baetis Nymph patterns.  Nymphs start drifting down the river and swimming to the surface in the late morning.  Some nymphs might make several attempts to reach the surface before they actually make it.  These insects are very small and don't provide much food value unless they can be taken easily in a large quantity. The best places to fish are where riffles with small graveled weedy runs enter slow pools or slow back-eddies.  The nymphs leave the bottom of the riffle and drift along the bottom for a distance.  Then they swim to the surface by undulating their abdomen.   They like to emerge in areas of the river where the water velocity slows down.  These do however emerge through out the river.  When the nymphs reach the surface of the water, their wing pads break through the meniscus.  They can hang there for several minutes as floating nymphs.  As the skin splits down the back of the head and between the wing pads the dun starts to emerge through this tear. At this point the insect can neither swim nor fly.  It is completely helpless and a perfect target for trout. The hatching duns can collect in quieter flows in very large numbers.   The trout know where these conditions regularly occur and also collect in large numbers.  Feeding is usually slow and quiet.  Look for snouts and fin tips.  Target individual fish with pin-point casting.  
Baetis Nymph Baetis Quill Body Cripple Baetis Extended Body 
Baetis Floating Nymph Baetis CDC Dun Baetis Hair Wing Dun
Baetis CDC Emerger Baetis Dun, Traditional  Baetis Twilight Parachute
Baetis Sparkle Dun Baetis Thorax Dun CDC Angel Wing Spinner
Baetis Hackle Stacker  Baetis Loop Wing Paradun Poly Wing Spinner

Baetis Nymph
Baetis nymphs are swimmers.  They prefer weedy riffles and runs.  Use a "kick screen" in the morning.  If you find Baetis nymphs with wing pads that are very dark, chances are there will be a hatch during that day.  Nymphs will start getting restless in the morning.  This is a good time to pound the bottom with Baetis Nymph patterns.  
This is a Rick Hafele pattern and the most popular Baetis nymph we sell.
Item Description Size Price To Top
9000-16 Baetis Nymph 16 3 for $5.25
9000-18 Baetis Nymph 18 3 for $5.25

Baetis Floating Nymph
When Baetis nymphs reach the surface of the water, their wing pads break through the meniscus.  They can hang there for several minutes as floating nymphs.  If this happens in slower water, trout can target them at this stage and ignore emergers and duns.  A must have fly for summer hatches.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1018-18 Baetis Floating Nymph 18 3 for $5.25
1018-20 Baetis Floating Nymph 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis CDC Emerger
As the skin splits down the back of the head and between the wing pads of the nymph, the dun starts to emerge through this tear. The wings will start to unfold.  This wing mass increases the visual mass of the insect and makes it easier for the trout to see them.  At this point the insect can neither swim nor fly.  It is completely helpless and a perfect target.
This is the best floating emerger pattern available. 
Item Description Size Price To Top
1007-16 Baetis CDC Emerger 16 3 for $5.25
1007-18 Baetis CDC Emerger 18 3 for $5.25

Baetis Sparkle Dun
Baetis duns slide from the inside of the nymphal skin out onto the surface of the water.  Their wings assume an upright position while the shuck still hangs from the rear of the abdomen.  Some are exhausted and are trapped with this shuck attached.  They become easy prey for trout.  this is a proven fly for Baetis hatches, winter and summer.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1016-16 Baetis Sparkle Dun 16 3 for $5.25
1016-18 Baetis Sparkle Dun 18 3 for $5.25
1016-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Hackle Stacker Sparkle Dun
This dainty pattern was designed by bob Quigley and is especially useful on spring creeks where trout are particularly selective.
Item Description Size Price To Top
Q1021-16 Baetis H.S. Sparkle Dun 16 3 for $5.25
Q1021-18 Baetis H.S. Sparkle Dun 18 3 for $5.25
Q1021-20 Baetis H.S. Sparkle Dun 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Quill Body Cripple
Some nymphs expire before they are able to clear their nymphal shuck. They slowly die while part below and part above the surface film. This fly can be very useful both during and after the hatch as scavenging trout glean the surface of crippled emergers.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1025-18 Baetis Quill Body Cripple 18 3 for $5.25
1025-20 Baetis Quill Body Cripple 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis CDC Dun
This lightweight low floating dun will bring strikes fished wet or dry.  Fish this fly dry during the hatch or wet in the surface film a drowned dun after the hatch is over.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1012-18 Baetis CDC Dun 18 3 for $5.25
1012-20 Baetis CDC Dun 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Dun, Traditional
This old pattern is still very effective under a wide variety of conditions.  I can be fished as a high floater with all of the hackle intact or the bottom of the hackle can be snipped off with your leader clipper to set the fly closer to the water.  I the extreme, the hackle and wings can be trimmed down to form an emerger pattern. 
Item Description Size Price To Top
1019-14 Baetis Dun, Traditional 14 3 for $5.25
1019-16 Baetis Dun, Traditional 16 3 for $5.25
1019-18 Baetis Dun, Traditional 18 3 for $5.25

Baetis Thorax Dun
This pattern positions the wing coming out of the thorax which gives the fly a life-like silhouette and balance.  The tail is tied in as a "V" and the hackle has been trimmed on the bottom for even more realism. This is a very popular style dry fly for both anglers and trout.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1011-16 Baetis Thorax Dun 16 3 for $5.25
1011-18 Baetis Thorax Dun 18 3 for $5.25
1011-20 Baetis Thorax Dun 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Loop Wing Paradun
This quill body, loop wing parachute is an especially good match for Baetis with lighter colored bellies.
Item Description Size Price To Top
Q200-16 Baetis Loop Wing Paradun 16 3 for $5.25
Q200-18 Baetis Loop Wing Paradun 18 3 for $5.25
Q200-20 Baetis Loop Wing Paradun 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Extended Body Compara Dun
This low floating fly has a highly visible fluorescent green wing spot.  This is a very good fly for visually impaired anglers or tough seeing conditions.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1013-18 Baetis Extended Body Compara Dun 18 3 for $5.25
1013-20 Baetis Extended Body Compara Dun 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Hair Wing Dun
Many of the Baetis that hatch in the late fall and winter from our local streams have gray banded bellies.  This quill body hair-wing-dun is a very good match.  It is an extremely hard fly to see on the water, so we have added a fluorescent orange wing spot. If the trout are extremely selective, you may trim the wing spot.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1021-18 Baetis Hair Wing Dun 18 3 for $5.25

Baetis Twilight Parachute
This is another hi-vis dry fly. Remember that Baetis like to hatch on dark overcast days.  These are conditions which make it tough for the angler to distinguish his fly from the real ones.  Being able to see your fly can be a critical factor for success.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1022-16 Baetis Twilight Parachute 16 3 for $5.25
1022-18 Baetis Twilight Parachute 18 3 for $5.25

Baetis CDC Angel Wing Spinner
Baetis emergence and spinner falls may happen during the same period of the day.  One "hatch" can mask the other.  Duns are easy to see.  Low floating or submerged spinners are very difficult to see.  Some times when you see hatching duns and rising trout, but can't get strikes, the fish may be feeding on spinners.  This fly may be fished dry or wet.  It matches olive color spinners.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1014-18 Baetis CDC Angel Wing Spinner 18 3 for $5.25
1014-20 Baetis CDC Angel Wing Spinner 20 3 for $5.25

Baetis Poly Wing Spinner
Some Baetis spinners, especially the ones that hatch during the late fall and winter, are gray toned.  This fly can be fished dry or wet and can extend your productive fishing time.
Item Description Size Price To Top
1024-18 Baetis Poly Wing Spinner 18 3 for $5.25
1024-20 Baetis Poly Wing Spinner 20 3 for $5.25

Have you made your Christmas list ??? Early Christmas Shopper
Christmas Shopping is easier when you start early.
Bargains are more readily available.  Custom items take time to build.
That is why many smart anglers have already started their Christmas Shopping.
Here are some shopping  ideas for you.
Brand New !!!
"Spey Casting Secrets"

Spey Casting Video: 120 minutes, VHF Format
Will become available November 25, 2003.  
Captures 10 of the world’s finest spey casters, imparting their wisdom, tips, secrets, and techniques.
All wholesale proceeds will go to support the Native Fish Society in its efforts to restore native steelhead and salmon runs in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest.
Order early to reserve your copy!
OUR HOME WATER !!!
Item Description Price To Top
VIDEO-CHR "Spey Casting Secrets" Spey Casting Video  $29.95
GREAT VALUE !!! $9.95 Fishing Vest
$39.95 is what our competition sells this vest for when they put them on sale.  You will be astounded at the quality of materials, craftsmanship and features in this vest.  Some vests with the same features sell for over $100.
The design of this vest makes it handy for 
fly fishing, spin fishing, photography etc.  It is so affordable 
that you can have several and organize each for a different task. We have lots. Two sizes only.  
These are great for small adults, large kids and grand kids.  
Fits teenagers & women.
Item Description Size Price To Top
VEST-M-CHR Christmas Vest, Medium M $9.95
VEST-L-CHR Christmas Vest, Large L $9.95
Custom Wheatley Fly Box
Now you can give a genuine English made Richard Wheatley anodized aluminum fly box that has been customized just for you.  The 9601 Series of Wheatley boxes come in 6 colors and with 4 different foam pad inserts or 3 different fly clip inserts.  To simplify your choice, we have chosen the popular insert configuration. You pick the aluminum shell color (below).  Or you can pick different inserts and we will assemble the box for you and ship it to your friend (gift wrapped).
Box measurements are:  6" High  x 3 5/8" Wide  x  1 1/8" Thick

STOCKING STUFFER !!!

Item Description Color Price To Top
FLYBX-1 Custom Wheatley Fly Box slotted foam one side, ripple other side Black $25.95
FLYBX-2 Custom Wheatley Fly Box slotted foam one side, ripple other side Silver  $25.95
FLYBX-3 Custom Wheatley Fly Box slotted foam one side, ripple other side Green $25.95
FLYBX-4 Custom Wheatley Fly Box slotted foam one side, ripple other side Blue $25.95
FLYBX-5 Custom Wheatley Fly Box slotted foam one side, ripple other side Gold $25.95
FLYBX-6 Custom Wheatley Fly Box slotted foam one side, ripple other side Red $25.95
ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS PRESENT !!!

Custom Winston-Abel Outfits
Must be ordered by: 11/16/03.
Have you ever wanted to give the ultimate fly fisher's Christmas gift.  Here it is.  These outfits combine the latest rods from Winston with a custom "Winston green" Super reel from Abel.  These are arguably the finest fly fishing outfits available. Imagine if you gave all three outfits as a matched set?

Item Description Price To Top
WIN-ABEL-3 Custom Winston-Abel Outfit, Winston B2X386 rod, Custom Winston Green Abel Super #2 reel, 
Mastery XPS WF3F line & backing.
$1,020
WIN-ABEL-5 Custom Winston-Abel Outfit, Winston B2X590 rod, Custom Winston Green Abel Super #5 reel, 
Mastery GPX WF5F line & backing.
$1,095
WIN-ABEL-8 Custom Winston-Abel Outfit, Winston B2X896 rod, Custom Winston Green Abel Super #8 reel, Mastery ST WF8F line & backing. $1,255

December 14, 2002, Sunday, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Annual Christmas Party
It's also a fly tying celebration!
Food, presents, prizes...
Guest tier is none other than
Harry Gross 
(2003 Oregon FFF Fly Tier Of the Year). Harry will be tying classic feather wing streamers.  These beautiful, graceful flies, though comparatively unused in the Pacific Northwest, are deadly on larger trout and other species.   Classic streamers are some of the most beautiful flies.  Bring your tying gear and join us.  We promise not to run out of food the whole day.

If you would like to read past "Insiders", click Archives

Your commentary is always welcome.  Drop us a line: flyfish@flyfishusa.com

 The Fly Fishing Shop HOME. The Fly Fishing Shop, Welches, OR

1(800) 266-3971

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www.flyfishUSA.com

Fish long & prosper
,
Mark & Patty

 


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