Christmas Party

Winter steelhead are here! No lack of water in our rivers west of the Cascades so far this winter. Quite the opposite has been true. Torrential rains have pounded the Pacific Northwest and most of our rivers have been out of shape much of the time.  However, during the little windows between storms, pretty fair fishing has been available.  Even though all local hatchery stocks are taken from indigenous wild fish, which are supposed to be spring spawners, there have been hatchery fish available early this winter.  These could be

optimistic signs that we might have good runs this winter.  The long term weather forecast is that this winter will be warmer and wetter than usual, which means that our local rivers will be high most of the time.  This can work to your advantage if you are a fly angler.

Pick Your Spots:
Forget about the spots you fished when the river was low.  You will now be fishing in places that were much too slow and shallow.  These are normally inside curves near the tail of a run.
Wade Shallow:
In high water steelhead often hug the willows or even travel through them.  Wad with your backside touching the willows. Wade carefully.
Fish Close:
Since most of the fish will follow the edge of the river, there is no need to fish long casts.  Ballance your tackle accordingly.  Short heavy heads are often the answer.  Long bullet shaped D_loops are not an advantage as they can get tangled in the willows.
Fish Slow:
In extreme high water, fishing spots will often be fairly small.  Move slowly and fish carefully.
Fish Big:
When the water is colored with silt because of high water, big flies are easier for fish to see.  The best flies are often 2 1/2" to 4" long and an inch and diameter when wet.  Black & blue, purple and hot pink and orange combinations are proven.  Dress some of your flies with liberal amounts of flash.  There is no need for fine leaders in this game.  Fifteen pound test is average.

Report from Baja Big Fish Company in Loreto Mexico says that:  Dorado are normally gone by November. This year is an exception, as the Dorado have remained at center stage for the last several weeks. The offshore water is still fairly warm at 76-79 (F) but it's cooling rapidly now and sailfish and marlin are starting to leave. But, the shorelines and the water inside the protection of the islands has remained warmer (currently 76-80F) for an extended period of time, and the result of this is that the Dorado

are staying inside of it. The shorelines N. of Isla Coronado are holding Dorado and they can be caught literally a stone's throw from where the mountains meet the sea. There are also Dorado along the shorelines at the mouth of Puerto Escondido to Rattlesnake beach and they are likely to be in many protected coves around all the Islands.  The Dorado along the shorelines are extremely finicky right now when it comes to flies. You can expect some refusals. Of course they'll readily take the chummed Sardinas. Olive and white deep eyed minnows and Mark's Sardinas have been the answer.
We're getting similar reports from Gary Grahm at Baja On The Fly about Magdalena Bay on the west side of Baja. He says: Herds of dorado cruising under the boats and not a small fish in the bunch! Marlin gang-banging the teasers until the artificials are removed, and then pouncing on the flies that replaced them as though they were a Thanksgiving turkey. Welcome to Magdalena Bay in November. Guides and clients alike climb off the boats like zombies shaking their heads and mumbling, “I don’t believe it.” Action has been from below the Thetis to the Double 100s for the marlin and almost anywhere for the dorado.  In the esteros (estuaries), the action has been good as well for grouper and sierra. Our guest, Alan Hyman, managed to connect with a dandy16-pound snook on his last half-day of fishing. All-in-all it has been a crowd pleasing kind of week.

Tracing the geological and railroad history of the Pacific Northwest, Leon Speroff evokes the Age of the Railroad in his newest book, The Deschutes River Railroad War. With intricate detail, expert understanding and amusing anecdotes, he brings to life this fascinating true tale of the race to expand railroad service from the Columbia River up the Deschutes River to Bend, Oregon.

When the two railroad barons, James J. Hill of the Great Northern and Edward H. Harriman of the Union Pacific, both set their sights on the Deschutes River Canyon for building a railway to Bend, neither man could have foreseen the massive expenditure of money, time, energy and human lives that characterized their mad rush to the finish.

At the heart of this gripping story is the essence of the American West and the magnates, workers, immigrants and settlers whose impact on the region would usher the age of railroad transportation into the twentieth century.

 Color & B/w photos; 8x11 inches, 220 pgs.

Combined value: $783.89

Special Price: $769.95