Fly Fishing Insider Newsletter featuring Idaho Fly Fishing

IDAHO

(the hard way) or...

You Can’t Always Get What You Want (but... you get what you need)

All The Fly Fishing Shop Guys (& gals) get out fishing a lot. It's part of our job you know. It’s Fall, temps are dropping and the fish should be feeding everywhere in the Pacific Northwest. It is THE time to be trout fishing. I hit the road for a week of wandering around fishing and visiting with my Dad, who happens to live near Boise, Idaho. Did you know that if you draw a circle that represents a 50 mile radius with Boise as the center, you will find about 40 places to trout fish. And if you made it a 100 mile radius, well, you cannot live long enough to fish them all properly. I had heard rumors of the MALAD river,

south of Boise. The reports said, "Large, stupid fish, in great numbers". Right next to that is Billingsley Creek, right there at the Snake River, Clear Lake (at Crystal Springs Golf course) right next to the hatchery at Haggerman. It’s a pay to play, fly fishing only lake that is separated from the largest hatchery in the USA by a concrete wall. I believe that the hatchery uses the lake as a dumping ground for brood stock and all manner of excess fish. It’s one of those places that you should try to get too at least once,
because you are going to catch a lot of fish!

So, I am on the road to Haggerman, Idaho, driving at Grand Prix speeds (75+), and if you should slow to, say 74 mph, traffic gets congested. You get used to it, but it sure seems fast for awhile. We travel about 120 miles to the Malad river, at least the lower stretch, where it flows into the Snake. In about 20 minutes I release 6 fish, though they were small (willing though!). We decide to take a look at the upper section, where the fish are rumored to be larger. We made a quick stop at Billingsley Creek (a state park) which is a classic spring creek. We decide to continue to the upper Malad only to discover that the car no longer feels like cooperating. The battery goes dead. The wheels no longer turn. A fellow fisher was able to give us a jump start, and we headed down the road about three miles to Haggerman, population 637. I stop at the Food Mart/ Chevron to ask about finding an auto parts store. A local fellow lets me know that there isn’t one anywhere near Haggerman, seeing as how it’s Sunday. He inquires about the problem, and we step outside to take a look at the car.

After a few moments, he lets me know that he has just installed a new battery in his other vehicle just last week. If that’s the problem, we could follow him to his house and make a swap. I haven’t asked for anything, but he offered right away. We get to talking and looking and decide that the best course of action would be to take (the car has at this point died) the alternator and the battery to TWIN FALLS, about 70 miles away, in order to have them tested. We should charge the battery first, so he runs across town to borrow a charger that we can use. He returns with a borrowed charger, though at this point we think that this procedure is going to take too long, so we should just remove the alternator and battery and take them to Twin Falls. My response is to say thank you for what you are doing, but I am sure that you have other things to do with your Sunday. Well, he says, yes, there are other things that he should be doing, but this is just one of those times that you get a chance to sorta make a pay back for the times you needed help and depended on the kindness of another person. Makes sense, and while I am no saint, I have been on the giving end (as I am sure many of us have been) also. Feels good when something comes back to you right when you need it. Gary is this fellows name, and he has a few tools with him, but not quite all that we need. I have my Dad (he is 80, and my half brother) and I am concerned about how he is going to hold up, when another fellow shows up, wondering what we are doing, and offers his help. He leaves and returns in very few moments with the tools we need to work on the car. I ask in the Food Mart if dad could stay inside for awhile. Of course he can. No problem, it’s just that there is no need as Gary has asked Lewis (the newest arrival) if he would instead take Dad and brother down the road to the public lakes where they will be able to sit in the shade, fix their lunch and get on about the business of fishing. Sure. Off they go. About this time another fellow asks if he could be of some help (but there’s no room around the car at this point as there is three of us working on it), but I did not think so, so he offers a few tips and lets me know he is available if we change our minds. Wow!

With the broken items in Gary’s vehicle, off we go to Twin Falls, get the parts (Gary of course called ahead to make sure they were in stock), make the buy, and we are back on the road to Haggerman. I am a bit concerned, as the windows are down in my vehicle (they are electric, and we removed the battery) and there is more gear in the car than the car is worth. I mentioned this before we left, but Gays tells me “this is Haggerman, there won’t be any problems”. There aren’t. Matter of fact, all of the tools are laying right where we left them in front of the car. We unload the parts and a new fellow walks up and asks if we need any help. “Not right now” I tell him, but remember to thank him anyway. He lets me know he will be around for awhile if I need anything. Three of us put the car back together, and of course it runs fine. The person in the store lets us clean up in the washroom and we go off in search of Dad. I practically have to force Lewis to accept any money (I know he is not working and he used up some fuel and time accommodating us) and I really do not mind paying him. Gary would not even consider taking any money for the effort (I somehow know he would not) but, I had mentioned that I was going down the Soutrh Fork of the Boise on Friday and he wondered if there was any way he could follow us in his boat, and perhaps we could show him something about one of his own state’s rivers. Of course he could (I would have let him take my place in the boat!).

Well, I did not get much fishing done that day, but it turned out good anyway. Thanks to a number of strangers (and one of them a fly fisher!) in a tiny town called Haggerman. If you feel the need to break down away from home, I would suggest that you head for there. It is really refreshing to find people that ask to help a stranger in need, just because it is the right thing to do. Dosn’t change the world, but it does make you feel better about living in it.

Oh, on the way home to Oregon, I ran across a fellow that needed a jump start on his vehicle. It was kind of obvious what he needed, so I pulled up next to him and the first thing I said was “I have cables in the car, let me get them out.” Just felt like I should help, if you know what I mean.

On fishing trips, catching fish is not the only good thing that can happen to you.
And this was a good trip.

Very large trout and steelhead will eat October Caddis.

October Caddis Hatches
Big fish on the surface is the attraction.
The Pacific Northwest has some spectacular giant caddis hatches. Most of these hatches are in the fall, but some cold spring creeks have hatches through much of the winter and into the spring as

well. The fat bodies of winged adults are in colors that range from light tanish orange to yellowish orange to bright orange to burnt orange. Wings are usually gray but there are also brown tones. There are apparently a number of different sub-species in what is commonly called October Caddis or Fall Caddis or Giant Caddis. Most belong to the family Dicosmoecus. They range from California to Alaska.
The larva of these giant caddis build tube-like cases. During the winter months when the larva are tiny, these cases are made from vegetable matter attached to a foundation of silk. As the larva grows in size through the spring months they abruptly switch to cases made from small gravel. You can observe these larvae crawling around on the streambed dragging their cases with them as the forage for algae and decaying plant and animal matter. During the the summer months of June and July Dicosmoecus larvae are important trout foods. Daily behavioral drift cycles occur in the early afternoon, usually peaking about 4:00 P.M. They are one of the few families of caddis that leave their cases before behavioral drift cycles. This makes them extremely enticing to large trout. In August these larvae seal themselves in their cases and by September they are ready to emerge as adults.

Emergence occurs from late afternoon until dark. The pupae usually swim and crawl to shallow water, but some emerge mid-river. Many actually crawl from the water to hatch on rocks along the shore. Even when adults are not active, you can tell if October Caddis have been hatching by observing their shucks on stream margin rocks. If prospecting with a dry

October Caddis often crawl out onto stream side rocks to hatch, leaving their discarded shucks as evidence.

The evidence of October Caddis shucks suggests the choice of an October Caddis Pupa as the right fly.

October Caddis pattern doesn't turn up any interest, try a pupa pattern. Pumpkin orange color is usually the best. Try fishing your pupa suspended from a dead drifted dry fly. This technique can be very productive late in the evening when both egg laying adults and hatching pupas are both active. Steelhead as well as trout can be fooled by this trick.

Egg laying occurs in the afternoon and evening. The big fate juicy females flop around on the water exuding their eggs. They are a prime attraction for fish of all sizes. Fishing a big orange body dry fly can be productive any

Adult October Caddis.

October Caddis adults hiding from the heat of mid-day.

time of day if you fish in shady spots under overhanging trees. Some caddis are active during moderate temperature days. Most of the big caddis rest in the shade of vegetation throughout hot days. These caddis are perfectly camouflaged to hide during the day and wait for evening flights.

		October Caddis, Dry October Caddis is the big fall hatch. This pattern has a tightly stacked elk hair wing for maximum floatation and feelers for realism. It may be fished dead drift in the usual dry fly fashion or skittered across the surface.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
5045-08	October Caddis, Dry	08	3 for $5.75

		Tied Down Caddis, Orange One of the most popular Pacific Northwest trout fly patterns of the 1950-1970 era. It is no less effective now. Sometimes called the Full Back Caddis, it is deadly for representing both large caddis and stone flies. May be fished wet or dry.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
5070-06	Tied Down Caddis, Orange	6	3 for $5.25
5070-08	Tied Down Caddis, Orange	8	3 for $5.25
5070-10	Tied Down Caddis, Orange	10	3 for $5.25

		Improved Sofa Pillow This fly is generally use as a stone fly imitation, however it is also a very good October Caddis. May be fish as is or the hackles may be trimmed from the bottom to expose the body more.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
6075-08	Improved Sofa Pillow	8	3 for $5.25

		Tungsten Bead Head Pupa Trout and steelhead will target October Caddis pupas. Fish the fly up and across on a slack line to allow it to sink, then as it passes down stream raise your rod to bring the fly slowly to the surface. May also be used as the point or dropper fly on a two fly cast while fishing for fall steelhead.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
18120	Tungsten Bead Head October Caddis Pupa	6	3 for $5.85
18121	Tungsten Bead Head October Caddis Pupa	8	3 for $5.85
18122	Tungsten Bead Head October Caddis Pupa	10	3 for $5.85

		Peaking Cased Caddis Larva Trout often intercept cased caddis larvae as they are drifting down the river. The time to fish this pattern is during the spring and summer months while the larvae are growing in the river.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
9115-06	Peaking Cased Caddis Larva	6	3 for $5.25
9115-08	Peaking Cased Caddis Larva	8	3 for $5.25
9115-10	Peaking Cased Caddis Larva	10	3 for $5.25

Wrong dates were published on Simon Gawesworth PhD Class!
Previously advertised as September 27, 28, 29, 30, 2006,
but actual dates are: September 14, 15, 16, 17, 2006

This will be Simon Gawesworth's fourth appearance at PhD.

4-day Spey Rod
Steelhead PhD Class
Spend 4 days on the Deschutes River with:
Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey and
Simon Gawesworth.
September 14, 15, 16, 17, 2006
September is prime time for the stretch of river we will be fishing.
This school intends that you will graduate with extensive proprietary knowledge
of steelhead fishing and spey rod casting.

We will camp on prime water and we will have walking and boat access to miles
of steelhead runs that will present a divers array of angling problems to be solved.
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 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 does not include Oregon Fishing License.
Meet at The Fly Fishing Shop at 7:30am arrive back at 6:30pm.
Date: September 14, 15, 16, 17, 2006
6 students only !
First come, first served.

Price: $1895 per person.

Non-Refundable Deposit: $399

Balance Due: $1496 by 08/01/06

Item	Description	Deposit	To Top
ST-PHD-2006-1	4-day PHD steelhead class with Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey and Simon Gawesworth, Total Price is $1,895 - September 14, 15, 16, 17, 2006	$399

Andy Murray on Scotland's Tweed River with a big Atlantic Salmon springer.

4-day Spey Rod
Steelhead PhD Class
Spend 4 days on the Deschutes River with:
Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey and
Andy Muray.
September 27, 28, 29, 30, 2006
Same format as the PhD class offered above except with Andy Murray instead of Simon Gawesworth. If your time and pocket book allows, you might consider doing both classes and double your fun and experience. Don't worry, we will take extra special good care of you for the two days between classes.

Date: September 27, 28, 29, 30, 2006
6 students only
First come, first served.

Price: $1850 per person.

Non-Refundable Deposit: $399

Balance Due: $1451 by 08/01/04

Item	Description	Deposit	To Top
ST-PHD-2006-2	4-day PHD steelhead class with Mark Bachmann, Brian Silvey and Andy Murray, Total Price is $1,895 - September 27, 28, 29, 30, 2006	$399

Mark Bachmann lands a nice steely that ate a Moose Turd.

Moose Turd Waking Fly
Hook: TMC 7989, #6
Thread: Black 3/0 Uni
Tail: White Calf Tail
Body: Black Dyed Deer Hair
Rib: none
Hackle: none
Wing: White Calf Tail
Head: Black, Very Small
Tying Instructions: The bundle of white calf tail is stacked to bring the tips as even as possible. The tips will form the tail of the fly and

the butts of the hair will form the forward facing wing. It is imperative to wrap the calf tail to the hook very sequrely and evenly so that it does not turn on the hook shank as the deer hair body is spun on over the top of it. Lift the forward facing wing 45-degrees to the hook and then wrap the wing base for approximately 1/8" to stiffen it and hold it in place. Wings with larger volumes of hair create more resistance and thus more lift in the currents. Bulkier flies tend to wake better in rougher water. For the body choose

deer hair that has a fairly coarse texture. Remove any under-fur. Be sure to the hair is dyed all the way to the hide. Even the butts of the hair and trim off the tips. The base of the hair is much more hollow than the tips and will spin and flare better. The black deer hair is spun over the foundation crated by the calf tail. While spinning the deer hair body, you may have to help it around the hook because of the bulk created by the calf tail foundation. Pack the deer hair bundles tightly. Trim body to a fat tapered cigar shape. Denser bodies are slicker when trimmed and will slide across the surface of the river more esily.
Washington angler, Bill McMillan is credited with developing this "bomber" style steelhead waking fly called the Moose Turd. The Moose Turd has perhaps become the most popular steelhead waking fly used in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. The starkly contrasting black and white colors make this fly visible in nearly every light condition. The stiff up-turned front wing gives this pattern a lot of lift so that it slides across the current. As with most waking flies, Moose Turds perform best when riffle hitched and fished across glassy tail-outs. Moose Turds also fish well without being "hitched". They are often effective even when fished on textured surfaces. On the average, smaller Moose Turds will out fish larger ones.

Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
02184-06	Moose Turd Waking Fly	6	3 for $7.25
02184-08	Moose Turd Waking Fly	8	3 for $7.25

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