Sandy River Spey Clave, Casting Contest, Trout Leaders, Sage 4200 Reels, Mother's Day Caddis

Last Up-dated 05/09/11 2011 Agenda Women's Day Beginner's Casting Event The Deal On Rooms

Assume that the basic format will stay the same as 2010, with exciting changes. 2011 Clave will start Friday morning with a special ladies' program followed by: "Pot Luck and PowerPoint" What is the Sandy River Spey Clave? It's a gathering of anglers interested in two-hand fly rod fishing. It provides a format for the exchange of Spey casting & fishing information. It's a free Spey casting college open to everyone. It's a show for your entertainment. It's a place to rub elbows with the best Spey casters and steelhead anglers in the World! Has been termed, "The Woodstock of Spey casting events"! This year there will be a number of fly tackle rep groups to put on a show specifically for the Spey casting fraternity. Jon Covich (Winston, Outcast Boats) George Cook (Sage, Rio, Redington, Tibor) Eric Nuefeld (Simms, Ross) Garry Sandstrom (Hardy, Scientific Anglers, Royal Wulff) Dick Sagara (Temple Fork Outfitters Rods, Wheatley) Mike Perusse (G. Loomis) Kerry Burkheimer (C.F. Burkheimer Rods) Gary Anderson (Anderson Custom Rods) Kevin Thompson (Nautilus) Bruce Berry (Beulah Rods, Hatch Reels, Pro Tube) Tim Rajeff (Echo, Airflo) Bob Clay (Riverwatch Bamboo Rods) Bob Meiser (R.B. Meiser Rods) Rich Stuber (Watermaster Boats) Fish Rite Boats Clackacraft Boats

Meet These Northwest Fly Fishing Instructors & Guides:

Mark Bachmann
Al Buhr
Steve Choate
Bob Clay
Adrienne Comeau
George Cook
Nicole Darland
Simon Gawesworth
Judy Graham
Katharine Hart
Hawkeye Hawkins
John Hazelett
Jeff Hickman
Scott Howell
Travis Johnson
Tom Larimer
Josh Linn
Jennifer Mitchell
Scott O'Donnell
Steve Rajeff
Marty Sheppard
Mia Sheppard
Brian Silvey
Charles St. Pierre
Marcy Stone
Anne Tattam
April Vokey

May 13-14-15 there will be a number of "on-the-water" casting/fishing programs each day.

The plan is to provide a weekend that will entertain and inform you.
If you are interested in meeting other steelhead Spey fishers and hope to learn a lot about Spey casting and more about steelhead fishing, the Sandy River Spey Clave is for you. The event will start at Oxbow Park on Friday morning the  13th of May and conclude on Sunday 15th. Exhibitors may set up on Thursday May 12.

This time of year there should be plenty of Summer Steelhead. Most years it is also the peak of the Spring Chinook run.
The days are long and the weather is warm.
This event was first proposed by The International Spey Page and Discussion Group.
If you are interested in Spey rod casting and fishing, we would strongly recommend that you join this warm friendly group.    Spey Discussion Group

There is no charge except for the Oxbow Park entrance and camping fees. Oxbow Park Entrance Fee is $5.00 per vehicle. Overnight camping is available at Oxbow on a first come, first served basis for $20 (up to six people per site).
No pets (dogs) are allowed in Oxbow Park.

All lunches are hosted by El Burro Loco & The Fly Fishing Shop

Thoughts About Leaders & What Trout See
By: Travis Johnson
Sitting on the bank of a high-desert pay-to-play lake can provide quite an educational experience. Watching trout feed and swim in their natural environment is entertaining, also very informative. Trout rarely move as fast as you would think, nor do they seem to miss anything worth noticing. They seem to spy on everything with all seeing eyes. You can definitely tell when a fish is receptive to a food item, and also when it is not interested. You also find out that fish which live where there is a fair amount of angling pressure become preceptive in ways to avoid being hooked.

One windless day a client and I watched a number of trout cruising and feeding in cattail ringed bay. My fishing partner got very excited at the chance of catching a few of these lovely fish, but I elected to stay on my watching perch and observe the fishing, and how these fish would react to the fly. He walked part way around the lake and stealthily slipped through some cattails. He was cautious not to send any ripples across the glassy smooth surface of our arm of the lake. None of the fish that I could see seemed alarmed in anyway. I then started to quietly give casting directions because he could no longer see the fish, "Thirty-five feet, 11 o'clock.
He slings a smooth cast across the bay toward an unsuspecting trou. His cast lead the cruising fish fair distance, and the fly landed lightly on the water. As the big trout swam closer toward the fly, I watched with heavy anticipation. The fish's slow methodical style was interrupted a couple of times as it checked out suspected food items. When the fish finally came to my partner's fly, he slowed and then came to a complete stop. Slowly the fish lifted toward the fly. Then the it turned on his side and with one eye within inches if the fly, inspected it like a CSI crime scene investigator. Finally, not seeing what he wanted, swam off never even looking back. I thought we had had that fish in the bag. As the morning wore on, I communicated more instructions across the pond as new fish were encountered. Each presentation met with similar results. My client got one quiet refusal after another. Changing flies seemed to be a good option, but each fly was greeted with the same result.

Finally completely puzzled, and thinking I might fair better than my friend I entered the water with rod in my hand. My results were much the same. Flies were changed enough times to run out of 5x tippet. So I changed to the next size smaller, which was a spool of 6x Rio Fluoroflex^® Plus.
After tying my favorite stillwater midge pattern to the end of the new 3-foot long tippet, I searched for a target in my immediate area. A large fish came cruising slowly toward me, and the fly landed four feet in front of it. Without hesitation the fish charged and devoured the offering never slowing and seemingly without the earlier observed cautious eye. A quick tussle and back to fishing. The same result happened with the next fish, and another. My buddy still on the 5x monofilament program, comented that I was some sort of stillwater god. That being far from the truth, I had to attribute the success to the finer tippet. After making the proper changes to his leader, he became successful too.

Over the years I have seen other similar scenarios unfold in other kinds of fishing situations, not always trout if you catch my drift. The truth of the matter is fish don't usually resist what they don't see. Proper leader construction in technical fishing situations is often one of the keys to your success. I have also watched Deschutes River trout come up and follow a fly the reject it. Changing tippet size form 4x to 5x, and watch the same fish come up on the next cast and crush the same fly can convince an angler that leader diameter can make a difference. The lesson is to have all sizes of fresh tippet in your vest, and be ready to adapt toany situation, and you will find yourself holding more fish. Check out these resourcorses:
FlyFishUSA Leader Selection Understanding Leader Design

Sage 4200 Series Reels
Black	Bead Blast Bronze	Platinum
Matching the level of design from the makers of the world's finest fly rods, Sage introduces the 4200 series reel. The award winning 4200 is machined from 6061 T6 aircraft grade aluminum and features Sage's fully sealed SCS Floating Tripod drag unit for smooth, maintenance-free performance. A precisely calibrated, one-revolution drag knob allows for quick, reliable adjustments you need to hook an play the big ones. We beleive this is the best new reel for 2011. Nothing else touches the Sage 4200 Series for value in the $300 price range. It would be hard to believe that any other reels at any price can match the 4200 Series for looks. Doubtful that any other reels at any price can exceed the performance of the 4200 Series. Right now we have a full stock sizes and colors. You better order now, because they probably won't last long.

Model #	Diameter (in.)	Lines	Sage Fly Line	Weight (oz.)	Yds./Backing	Extra Spool	Price
4230	3 1/4	3-4	Freshwater Taper WF-4-F	3 3/4	100/20-lb.	$145	$289.00
4250	3 5/8	5-6	Freshwater Taper WF-5-F	4 1/8	100/20-lb.	$150	$299.00
4280	4	7-8	Freshwater Taper WF-8-F	6 1/8	200/20-lb.	$155	$309.00
4210	4 1/4	9-10	Freshwater Taper WF-9-F	7 1/2	200/30-lb.	$160	$319.00

Floating Tripod Drag In Sage 4200 Reels
The Floating Tripod Drag is one of the more unique configurations of Sage's Sealed Carbon System and stands by itself in the field. The Floating Tripod consists of a carbon disk riding on stainless steel rotors supported by a triangle of three smaller carbon disks. Like the three legs of a stool, the system is perfectly balanced and incredibly low weight, providing smooth resistance through its full range of settings. As with all of Sage's SCS (Sealed Carbon System) configurations the Floating Tripod is sealed and impervious to outside elements such as sand, grit and salt, requiring no maintenance beyond simple rinsing...tough, smooth, waterproof!

Sage 4200 Reels & Spools, Black
The Floating Tripod Drag is one of the more unique configurations of Sage’s Sealed Carbon System drag technology. It consists of a carbon disc riding on a stainless steel rotor supported by a triangle of three smaller carbon discs. perfectly balanced and light-weight, providing smooth resistance through its full range of adjustment. The one revolution drag knob is numbered, offering quick and precise drag adjustments. The black finish on the 4200 Series is highly polished, much like reels costing $700-$800.

Item	Description	Color	Price	To Top
322-4230RBK	Sage 4230 Reel	Black	$289	SALE ENDED
322-4230SBK	Sage 4230 Spool	Black	$145	SALE ENDED
322-4250RBK	Sage 4250 Reel	Black	$299	SALE ENDED
322-4250SBK	Sage 4250 Spool	Black	$150	SALE ENDED
322-4280RBK	Sage 4280 Reel	Black	$309	SALE ENDED
322-4280SBK	Sage 4280 Spool	Black	$155	SALE ENDED
322-4210RBK	Sage 4210 Reel	Black	$319	SALE ENDED
322-4210SBK	Sage 4210 Spool	Black	$160	SALE ENDED

Sage 4200 Reels & Spools, Bead Blast Bronze
The Floating Tripod drag is sealed so anglers don’t have to worry about the troubles that arise from sand, dirt, and salt. To clean the reel, simply rinse it off. This feature will appeal to anglers who fish in environments where the reel is wet a lot of the time, such as deep wading or hard rains. The unique Bead Blast Finish is non reflective for a showy, but stealthy presence.

Item	Description	Color	Price	To Top
322-4230RBR	Sage 4230 Reel	Bead Blast Bronze	$289	SALE ENDED
322-4230SBR	Sage 4230 Spool	Bead Blast Bronze	$145	SALE ENDED
322-4250RBR	Sage 4250 Reel	Bead Blast Bronze	$299	SALE ENDED
322-4250SBR	Sage 4250 Spool	Bead Blast Bronze	$150	SALE ENDED
322-4280RBR	Sage 4280 Reel	Bead Blast Bronze	$309	SALE ENDED
322-4280SBR	Sage 4280 Spool	Bead Blast Bronze	$155	SALE ENDED
322-4210RBR	Sage 4210 Reel	Bead Blast Bronze	$319	SALE ENDED
322-4210SBR	Sage 4210 Spool	Bead Blast Bronze	$160	SALE ENDED

Sage 4200 Reels & Spools, Platinum
Made from fully machined anodized 6061 T6 aluminum, Sage‘s new 4200 series reels are tumble-polished and then inspected by hand to ensure there will be no issues with durability, strength, or corrosion resistance. The reels were engineered with a new, lightweight design to help reduce casting fatigue when spending long hours on the water. Easy on/off spool allows for quick line changes. The Sage 4200 is likely to be the most popular new reel series for 2011. Why not? Sealed disc drag, smooth operation, maximum durability, fantastic looks and an affordable price. What's not to like?

Item	Description	Color	Price	To Top
322-4230R	Sage 4230 Reel	Platinum	$289	SALE ENDED
322-4230S	Sage 4230 Spool	Platinum	$145	SALE ENDED
322-4250R	Sage 4250 Reel	Platinum	$299	SALE ENDED
322-4250S	Sage 4250 Spool	Platinum	$150	SALE ENDED
322-4280R	Sage 4280 Reel	Platinum	$309	SALE ENDED
322-4280S	Sage 4280 Spool	Platinum	$155	SALE ENDED
322-4210R	Sage 4210 Reel	Platinum	$319	SALE ENDED
322-4210S	Sage 4210 Spool	Platinum	$160	SALE ENDED

Mother's Day Caddis
By: Rick Hafele

If you are a serious fly fisher, Nature and modern culture have dealt you a most difficult situation - go fishing during one of the best caddis hatches of the year, or be with your mother or family on Mother’s Day? Should be easy to decide - right? Well if it is either your mother or wife also like to fish and think spending a day casting to thrashing trout is a great way to spend Mother’s Day, or you are a fishing bum living alone in your van. The big mistake was calling this caddis hatch, “The Mother’s Day” caddis. Come on! With a name like that how can you possibly claim you got excited about the fishing and just forgot it was Mother’s Day? This just isn’t fair play.
Fortunately, contrary to Hallmark and other retailers, Mother’s Day lasts just one day, while the Mother’s Day caddis hatch usually lasts two weeks or more. So, once you get through with your Mother’s Day festivities there should still be time to find some trout feeding on this little caddis.

To start let’s get the name for this caddis straightened out. Technically the Mother’s Day caddis belongs to the family Brachycentridae and the genus Brachycentrus. Thirteen species of Brachycentrus are known in North America, with hatches of different species occurring from April through August. The one species that causes such family challenges on Mother’s Day is Brachycentrus occidentalis, or B.o. for short (hey, why not?). This is almost a completely western species, with great hatches found throughout the Rocky Mountain states all the way to the Pacific Coast. Some also live in the Midwest, but their populations tend to be spotty and rarely produce important hatches. Another species, Brachycentrus americanus, is more widespread, with good populations from the east coast to the west coast. It also produces some excellent hatches, but they are less concentrated and occur early to mid summer, well after any conflicts with Mother’s Day. Both of these hatches are sometimes referred to as the American Grannom.

Like many species that prefer Western streams, B.o. larvae find fast to moderately fast water with a cobble to boulder bottom to their liking. This is a bit unusual for case-making caddis, especially case makers that use lightweight plant material for their cases. B.o. construct neatly tapered four-sided cases, sometimes referred to as chimney shaped, out of narrow pieces of plant material cut and laid transversely. Their total length when mature is about a half-inch long. The shape and size of their cases make them rather easy to distinguish from other caddisflies when you pick up a rock from a riffle.

To feed B.o. larvae attach their cases to the top and sides of cobble stones with sticky silk thread. Once attached they lift their relatively long hind and middle legs up into the water and strain drifting food from the current. The key to safety is staying attached to the rocks, which isn’t always possible. Sometimes larvae purposefully move downstream by rappelling from one rock to another on a length of silk thread. Gary LaFontaine describes imitating such behavior by using a white colored tippet, an interesting idea that I haven’t personally tested. One thing I do know is that the larvae drift periodically in good numbers while still in their cases and trout have no problem eating them case and all at such times. This means fishing a case-like nymph pattern is well worth your time.

Pupation occurs inside the larval case while it is still attached to bottom rocks. Until the pupa completely mature there isn’t any larval drift or available pupae to eat. But once pupation is completed the pupae cut out of their cases and begin the ascent to the surface. This is what angler’s are willing to miss Mother’s Day for. The numbers of B.o. in many Western streams can be huge, so when they start emerging trout gorge on the rising pupa. Plus, these hatches typically occur mid-day from say around noon to three. So if you live close to a good trout stream you might be able to wish your Mom happy Mother’s Day in the morning and catch the fish action in the afternoon.
B.o. pupae run a size 16 (occasionally an 18) with bright green bodies and dark almost black wingpads when mature. Like other caddis pupae they swim well, so a Leisenring lift or wet fly swing that imparts a rising or swimming action to your fly generally works best. You’ll will be fishing in riffles or the runs below them, and often getting strikes with your fly hanging downstream in the current, which can result in missed strikes or broken tippets. To avoid this don’t strike when you feel a fish hit your fly. Instead point your rod at your fly and gently pull your rod tip to the side towards the bank. Their are many excellent pupa patterns for this hatch. LaFontaine’s sparkle pupa, soft hackles, and flymphs are just a few I have had good success with.

Adult B.o. are also a size 16, but much darker than the pupa. Their bodies are mostly black with just a small green band on each side of the abdomen, and their wings are dark-gray to black. While most fish concentrate on rising pupae during the hatch you can also get into some good surface action with adult patterns. Fish dry flies dead drift or with a slight skating action.
After mating on shoreline vegetation females often return en masse to lay their eggs with heavy activity occurring most often in the late afternoon. While many caddis females dive underwater and swim to the bottom to lay their eggs, B.o. females most often lay their eggs on the water’s surface. A spent caddis pattern can be deadly during this activity. Because most females on the surface are dead, a dead-drift presentation will usually be most effective.

Now is the time to go forth and find out if B.o. is emerging on a stream near you. It’s a great hatch, one you shouldn’t miss, and one that hopefully won’t destroy family relations on Mother’s Day. Maybe calling it the May Day caddis would help? Ya, probably not. Happy casts!
P.S. For more up-to-date fishing info checkout the new online e-zine by Dave Hughes, Skip Morris, and me, called HookedNow. You can see a free issue and subscribe at www.hookednow.com.

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