Green Drakes, Trout School, Summer Steelhead School

Green Drakes - The West's Second Super Hatch
Where, when & how in Oregon!
Text by: Mark Bachmann & Josh Linn
Photos and Video by: Josh Linn & Marcy Stone

Josh Linn examines a wild Redband Trout that took a Green Drake dry fly...

Proven Green Drake Fly Patterns
Epoxyback Nymph	Cripple	Paradrake
Crown Jewel Nymph	Hair Wing Dun	Quill Body Parachute
Film Critic	Hackle Stacker	Spinner
Victory Drake	Loop Wing Paradun	Book
B.D. E. EXT Dun	Ultralight Emerger	Video

Fishing Green Drake Hatches
These large insects are "trout candy" on our western streams. Green drakes are the largest mayflies that provide fishable hatches in our fast local rivers. In the Pacific Northwest region, look for them toward the end of the giant stonefly hatches; May & June on most rivers, but some spring creeks such as Oregon's Metolius River has strong late summer hatches as well.. Hatches occur during mid-day and are usually easily visible. Windless, cloud-cover days are best. Green Drakes are large insects and evidently taste really good to trout. When Green Drakes hatch in good numbers the trout forget all other foods and target drakes only. A dense hatch of Green Drakes can bring the largest trout to the surface. But, Green Drakes are fickle and somewhat unpredictable. Some days have heavy hatches others very light. Some regions of a stream will have more insects than others. Green Drake hatches are something that the fully armed angler prepares for, even though it may not be the main target. However, if you ever encounter a major Green Drake hatch and are unprepared you will remember it with sorrow.

Get In On The Green Drake Action

Green Drake mayflies like to hatch from moderate flows and moderate water depths...

Green Drakes hatch late May through June starting at lower elevations and progressing to higher elevations. Some very high elevation streams are reported to have Green Drake hatches as late as mid-September. Some streams have much heavier hatches than others. Even some parts of glacial and mountain streams have decent hatches, but spring creeks usually provide the densest and most reliable hatches.

Male Green Drake from The Metolius River...

Green Drakes are in the mayfly family, Drunella. There are several subspecies that can vary in size from #16 to #8. The largest varieties are called Grandis and the smaller ones are commonly referred to as Flavs. These pictures and text are about Grandis and related sub species, which are commonly tied on hook sizes #8 to #12. Extended body and parachute dry flies are very popular.

Female Green Drake from The Deschutes River...

Green Drakes produce trout feeding periods on nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners. Dry fly action is most sought after. Both naturals and artificial flies are easy to see on the water, by both fish and anglers. The flies are normally easy to cast. Look for action in riffle water of moderate, depth. Flies are best fished with absolutely no drag from your line or leader.

This Redband Trout ate a Green Drake Parachute...it obviously had been hooked before...

The most famous hatches of Green Drakes happen on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River in Idaho. Washington's Yakima River and the Deschutes in Oregon get reliable hatches of Drakes. An upper Deschutes tributary the Metolius has become the most famous Mecca for anglers in the Pacific Northwest that follow Green Drake hatches. Spring creeks and tail-waters provide the best action, but some mountain and valley streams have surprisingly good hatches of Green Drakes, such as the upper Sandy River tributaries. Some sections of very large rivers such as parts of the Willamette have very good hatches as well.

Green Drake Mayflies...close up and personal...

		Green Drake Epoxyback Nymph Green Drake Mayflies are the largest mayflies that hatch from our faster west coast rivers. They often leave the water in dense enough hatches to create good rises. They also create interest for a couple of hours before each hatch. Green Drake nymphs are big and very rough looking. Pound the bottom with this fly early in the morning. Fish it unweighted during the earliest stage of the hatch or as a dropper during the hatch.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
11925-08	Green Drake Epoxyback Nymph	8	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

Quigley’s Crown Jewel, Green Drake Western Green Drakes nymphs are one of the West’s largest mayfly nymphs. They are super crawlers that prefer streams with swifter currents, although they can also be found in spring creeks where current areas are formed by obstructions. Green Drake nymphs are lousy swimmers and when dislodged struggle clumsily, drifting along with legs spread making an undulation motion hoping to regain contact with the substrate. When hatching, they crawl up substrate obstacles toward the surface and release into the current swimming downstream to gain speed. Just before reaching the surface they turn 180 degrees and spread their legs into a pronged fan position.
This move, combined with the natural buoyancy of their internal air bubbles and gases helps them to shed their nymphal skin and hatch. Many Green Drake nymphs are a brown to olive brown in color. I fished this nymph successfully for years before adding the green bead and flash to the thorax making the pattern even more effective. The Crown Jewel nymph now contrasts a dark, ribbed body against the swelling, shiny, gaseous looking thorax. A double trigger effect, pronounced silhouette and color changing thorax. As a general rule the Green Drake hatches usually start mid-morning to early afternoon depending on water temp and weather. Before the hatch begins, use the Crown Jewel to target water located behind swifter currents in spring creeks and above riffles in free stone rivers. Trout will key into these areas as they wait for the nymphs to release downstream in the faster water. If I don’t get bit on the dead drift, I let it swing to the end, and then I slowly retrieve the fly using a very small twitch, stop, twitch technique before recasting. For larger and deeper runs swinging the Crown Jewel with a sink tip can be quite productive as well. During the peak of the hatch I continue to fish the Crown Jewel as a dropper below a high floating drake dun. I use this pattern outside the Green Drake hatch as a general attractor nymph. Due to its buggy insect appearance it can also imitate smaller stone fly nymphs, crawling sedge nymphs or dragon fly nymphs. I have taken fish with this pattern in the rivers of Patagonia, as I believe it can have similar appearance to a small Pancora, the South American crab type crayfish. Text by: Bob Quigley, Fly photos by: Mark Bachmann
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
SIG0279	Quigley's Crown Jewel Green Drake Nymph	10	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

Quigley's Film Critic, Green Drake This pattern is deadly on the most selective of situations on spring creeks, tail waters, lakes and placid pools. I use this pattern as a better replacement for my original Quigley Cripple and fish it in the same situations which is when the hatch is on. It’s no secret among long time hatch fisherman that we have developed more educated trout
in water that is receiving ever more angling pressure. The film critic certainly fills the bill as a new surface film pattern, for me and all who have tested it. The pattern is essentially a floating half-submerger, 1/2 nymph, with a true to the natural thin and segmented body. The pattern has an emerging shedding shuck look to the tail that adds even more realism for selective trout. Aside from greater visibility and floatation the stacked hackle and forward wing suggests mayfly in the escapement mode, ready for flight, but is hung in the film hence the name. The flies in this series land delicately on the stacked hackle, tilting the wing up and forward providing great visibility for the angler of all levels of experience and capability. Text by: Bob Quigley, Fly photo by: Mark Bachmann
Item/td>	Description	Size	Price	To Top
SIG1635	Quigley's Film Critic Green Drake	10	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Ultralight Emerger Some times Green Drakes emerge from the nymphal shuck while they are still submerged. Usually they emerge as written above. As the dun pushes through the opening in the back of the nymph it assumes a hunch back pose. This fly was designed by Mike Huffman and is similar to his famously successful Ultralight Hex Emerger. This fly floats because of the sealed cell foam on the back of the fly. You should dress the deer hair wing with fly floatant. Spit on the lower part of the fly so it dangles below the surface of the water.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
03106-08	Green Drake Ultralight Emerger	8	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Cripple Sometimes the emergence doesn't go according to plan. The dun gets stuck in the nymphal shuck and runs out of strength before it can pull free. It is neither a water or air breathing insect. It dies half in and half out of the water. It is a cripple. It becomes fresh meat for the scavengers. Its an easy enough target to interest big, selective trout. Grease the hackle and deer hair wings. Spit on the soft absorbent body and tail. This is a particularly effective fly on slick water places.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
2007-08	Green Drake Cripple	8	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED
2007-10	Green Drake Cripple	10	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

Quigley's Victory Green Drake Crippled and awash in the surface film, this fly is so vulnerable that trout find it very hard to resist. We like to put fly floatant on the slayed wings and let the heavy body go untreated. Fish it like any dry fly. The Victory Drake is at its best in broken water.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
SIG1648	Quigley's Victory Green Drake	10	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

Yeager's Neversink Green Drake Yup, it's lighter than water, so even if it gets pulled under by the current, it will float back to the surface. The fly fishes well suspended in the fill or ride on top of it. some anglers like to cut a notch out of the bottom of the hackle so the fly stands straight up on the surface of the water.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
SIG1678	Yeager's Neversink Green Drake	10	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED
SIG1677	Yeager's Neversink Green Drake	12	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake B.D. E. EXT Dun The hardest part about fishing this fly in a dense hatch is it's hard to tell your fly from the real ones. It floats because of the foam body, but you will want to dress the fly with floatant for the best performance. The B.D.E. EXT Dun will float in the fastest flows, but it also fools 'em on slick spring creek water. Limited supply.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
03108-08	Green Drake B.D.E. EXT Dun	8	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Hair Wing Dun These hefty mayflies are a big enough bite to bring trout up in rough, fast moving water. To fish this kind of water takes a different fly than fishing smooth water. Here the fly doesn't have to be as realistic, but it needs to be extremely buoyant. It also need to be very durable. The hair wing dun carries a lot of floatation in the wing as well as hackles and large body. Grease the whole fly, but with just enough to coat the fly but not weight it down or change its color. Dave's Bug Float works well on this fly.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
2005-10	Green Drake Hair Wing Dun	10	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED
2005-12	Green Drake Hair Wing Dun	12	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Hackle Stacker The Hackle Stacker is a fly that will fool trout even when the water is slick and slow moving. It is often good to position your self up stream of a rising trout. Use a downstream slack line cast to bring the fly to the fish tail first before the leader. Long tippets are a real help. If the fish can not be approached this way and the cast has to be made upstream, be sure your tippet sinks before it comes into view if the trout. Because this fly is made from soft deer hair, it is good for a limited number of fish. Buy a number of spares.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
Q1073-10	Green Drake Hackle Stacker	10	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED
Q1073-12	Green Drake Hackle Stacker	12	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Loop Wing Paradun Very similar to the Hackle Stacker, except that the loop wing is more prominent. This fly is also a slightly different color and will better mimic certain hatches, as there are variances in tones from stream to stream.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
Q212-12	Green Drake Loop Wing Paradun	12	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Paradrake This is the most popular Green Drake dry fly we sell. It closely resembles the major hatches on the Deschutes, Metolius and Sandy.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
2010-10	Green Drake Paradrake	10	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED
2010-12	Green Drake Paradrake	12	3 for $7.49	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Quill Body Parachute This fly is gaining popularity, both in the Pacific Northwest and the rocky Mountain states. The body is wrapped with a turkey biot feather which gives a very realistic, segmented look to the abdomen of the fly. Since this is the part of the body that most heavily impacts the surface of the water, it is highly visible to the trout. It is slightly more durable than bundled deer hair bodies of the extended body paradrake flies.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
2004-10	Green Drake Quill Body Parachute	10	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED
2004-12	Green Drake Quill Body Parachute	12	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

		Green Drake Spinner Some reference books will tell you the Green Drake spinner-falls occur only in the dark and are of no consequence to the angler, but I have encountered several. My first Green Drake spinner-fall was in the mid-1970's on the pool upstream of Bridge 99, on the Metolius River. We had arrived too late for the hatch the day before, but I had noted some very large Green Drake spinners with a few trout rising to them. I caught a couple spinners and put them in a jar. Later at the cabin, I tied three flies using stiff poly
yarn for the wings. That morning the hatch had been very sparse, but the hatch the day before had been very heavy, and this day's spinner-fall was equally heavy. The trout went nuts and my new fly was an instant success.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
2015-08	Green Drake Spinner	8	3 for $5.85	SALE ENDED

Deschutes River Trout Fly Fishing School
With fly-fishing authors and instructors Rick Hafele and Mark Bachmann
July 20, 21, & 22, 2011 on the Deschutes River Sign Up NOW!
Report from 2010 School

The Deschutes River Trout Fly Fishing School, sponsored by The Fly Shop in Welches, Oregon, is a unique opportunity to take your fly fishing skills to another level and do it in a secluded setting on a world class trout stream with world class fly fishing instructors.

First, the location for this program is special. Students will be brought in by a large comfortable jet boat to a roadless section of the Deschutes River to a completely set-up campsite. “Camp” will include all the amenities including electricity and a classroom for slideshows and instruction. The Deschutes River is well known as a first-class trout stream with incredible scenery, and in late July insect hatches include caddis flies, mayflies and stoneflies. Trout fishing will be augmented with the first arrivals of World Famous Deschutes River Summer Steelhead Run. With long days and pleasant temperatures it’s a perfect time to be on the river.
Anglers of all skill levels are welcome!

Second, the instruction for this program will be extensive, hands-on, and fun. It will include:

Tackle: You will get first-hand help with your tackle, making sure it is balanced properly with the correct fly line and leader, so you can make proper casts and presentations.

Tactics: Fishing nymphs, emergers, and dries will be discussed in detail and demonstrated and then you will get individual guidance and help with each method. The basic applications of both single-hand, and two-hand (Spey) rods will be explored.

Pattern Selection: You will get in-depth instruction in how to decipher the often-confusing world of pattern selection. What insects are abundant and important? What are the trout actually feeding on? What patterns will effectively match the insects and look like food to the trout?

The Biology of Trout and Bugs: Getting set-up with proper tackle, tactics, and fly patterns is where most classes stop. But in this class you will also learn about the biology of trout and the insects they eat. Using the teaching facilities at camp, engaging slide shows will be presented that cover how to recognize key insect hatches important across the west, how insects behave, and how that behavior affects trout feeding and your fly-fishing tactics. But don’t worry, you won’t need a biology degree to grasp this information, and you will come away with a whole new level of understanding of trout and bugs that will improve your fishing and your appreciation of the places you fish.

Application: Since you will be camping on the banks of the Deschutes River, there will be ample opportunity to apply the information covered throughout the program and get help when needed. This also means you will have a chance to catch some of the Deschutes wild redsides and maybe even a steelhead!

Mark Bachmann has been a professional Deschutes River fly fishing guide and instructor for 30-years. His camps and equipment are legendary for being the most luxurious on the river. His knowledge of the river and his attention to detail are second to none.

Finally, the guest instructor for The Deschutes River Fly Fishing School will be Rick Hafele.

Rick is one of the best-known and accomplished fly-fishing authors and instructors in the West. He spent his professional career as a freshwater biologist and has a master’s degree in aquatic entomology. He has also been fly fishing for more than 45 years and has applied his knowledge of biology and fly fishing by authoring and co-authoring many important books like Nymph Fishing Rivers and Streams, Western Mayfly Hatches, The Complete Book of Western Hatches, and An Angler’s Guide to Aquatic Insects. In addition he has written the Entomology column for American Angler magazine for 30 years, plus is the instructor in many well-known and effective instructional DVD’s including Anatomy of a Trout Stream, Fly-Fishing Large Western Rivers, and Nymph Fishing Basics and Advanced Nymph Fishing. While Rick has a great deal of knowledge and experience, he also has the ability to share that knowledge in a clear and entertaining way. There’s no better way to learn than by having fun while you do it.

This special program will be limited to just 4 STUDENTS. Whether you have been fly fishing for one year or 30, this unique in-depth learning experience in a truly special setting will give you the knowledge and skills to catch trout that could take years to get on your own, and give you a chance for some excellent fishing to boot! Sign up now.

All-inclusive price (3-days food, 2-nights in camp, jet boat ride to and from camp, plus 3-days of instruction) is $1295.00 per person.

Day 1 (July 20) –

8:00 am: Pick-up at Mack’s Canyon on Deschutes River
9-10 am: Unpack and get organized at camp
10-12 am: Morning class room session: Tackle set-up and casting
12-2:00: Lunch, relax and fish
2-4 pm: Nymph fishing slide show and on-stream instruction
4-6 pm: Your chance to fish nymphs
6-7:30: Dinner and slide show (Fishing Top to Bottom)
7:30-dark: Go fish and/or relax

Day 2 (July 21) –

8-9 am: Breakfast
9-11 am: Mayflies and stoneflies (slide show and on-stream collecting)
11-12 am: Reading the water discussion
12-1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30-3:30: How to fish emergers slide show and on-stream instruction
3:30-5:30: Your chance to fish and get help as needed
5:30-7:00: Dinner and dry fly fishing presentation
7:00-dark: Go fish

Day 3 (July 22) –

8-9 am: Breakfast
9-11am: Caddisflies and Diptera (slide show and on-stream collecting)
11-12 am: Relax and fish
12-1:30 pm: Lunch
1:30-5:00: Last chance to fish and get personal help and instruction

5:00: Jet boat ride back to Mack’s Canyon.

You will be pampered!
You will stay in a very comfortable tent camp on the water.
A Camp Person will be available at all times to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
All cooking and eating will be done in a spacious screen-house.
Comfortable sleeping cots and pads are supplied in double occupancy tents.
All food & non-alcoholic beverages are included.
Price includes Deschutes Boaters Pass.

Bring your own sleeping bag, clothing, toiletries, waders, rain gear, rods, reels, flies & tackle.
Price does not include Oregon Fishing License.

Date: July 20, 2, 3, 2011
4 students only! TWO SPOTS OPEN !!!
First come, first served.
Price: $1295 per person.
3-day, The Deschutes River Trout Fly Fishing School, with Rick Hafele and Mark Bachmann, July 20, 21, 22, 2011, Payment in full $1,295.00

Item	Description	Deposit	To Top
TROUT-SCH-07-202122-11	3-day, The Deschutes River Trout Fly Fishing School, with Rick Hafele and Mark Bachmann, July 20, 21, 22, 2011,	Payment in full $1,295.00	SALE ENDED

Deschutes River Summer Steelhead Spey School
Your next step toward excellence!

Deschutes River steelhead guide for over 30-years, author, photographer, shop owner, web master of the top ranked fly fishing web site in North America, consultant to the biggest and best fly tackle companies in the world.

FFF Certified Master Fly Fishing Instructor, fly line designer for Scientific Anglers, Sage pro staff & author of two renowned books. Al Buhr is always one of the most popular presenters at the Sandy River Spey Clave. His casting & fishing talents are truly legendary.

Top gun fly tackle authority, casting instructor, photographer, videographer & legendary camp cook.

Baseball coach, casting & fishing coach, 40+ years experience on the Deschutes River.

The popular PhD School format has been refined to fit all skill levels of students.
Don't wait to sign up. This school is at the highest level of professionalism.
This school features four guides, two big jet boats, and the best camp on the river.
Mid-September is prime time for Deschutes River steelhead fishing.
You will graduate with extensive proprietary knowledge of steelhead fly fishing
and Spey rod casting.

We will camp on prime water and we will have boat access to about 12-miles
of river that will present a diverse array of angling opportunities and challenges.
Classes will be held mid-day. You will fish with a guide each morning and evening.
Brunch and dinner will be served at times to give you the best fishing periods.
This will give you the best advantage for hooking as many steelhead
as possible during your stay with us.
Nothing teaches you more about fishing than being where
fish are being hooked and landed.

You will learn all aspects of Spey rod fishing with both floating and sinking-tip lines.
Learn how to locate steelhead water and how to approach it.
Watch an expert guide as he fishes and discloses the secrets
and proven methods that put fish on the beach.
Get a lot of hands on help (4-guides for 8-students) so that you too can be productive.
Save yourself years of experimenting on your own.

You will be pampered!
You will stay in a very comfortable tent camp on the water.
A Camp Person will be available at all times to make your stay as comfortable as possible.
All cooking and eating will be done in a spacious screen-house.
Comfortable sleeping cots and pads are supplied in double occupancy tents.
All food & non-alcoholic beverages are included.

Bring your own sleeping bag, clothing, toiletries,
waders, rain gear, rods, reels, flies & tackle.

Price includes your Deschutes Boaters Pass.
Price does not include your Oregon Fishing License, which may be purchased online.

Price: $1,895 per person.

Non-Refundable Deposit: $1,000

Balance Due: $895 by 07/01/11

Meet at Mack's Canyon Camp Ground at: Noon 9/18 arrive back at Mack's Canyon a Noon 9/21. Date: September 18, 19, 20, 21, 2011 8 students only ! First come, first served.
Do to the logistical nature and the demand on these schools, deposits are transferable to other students, but not are not refundable.
Item	Description	Price	To Top
SPEY-SCH-091821-11	4-day Deschutes steelhead school with Mark Bachmann, Josh Linn, Ron Walp and Al Buhr, September 18, 19, 20, 21	Deposit $1,000 Non-Refundable	SALE ENDED

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