The Fate of Your Fly

The villain from Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men, Antone Chigurh, soliloquizes rather elegantly especially for a homicidal psychopath regarding fate when he encounters a gas station clerk, He proceeds to explain that the clerk's fate is about to be decided by a flip of a coin. In wonderment, he details that the clerk and coin have traveled through time, distance and happenstance to converge on that very moment when the clerk might live or die. I've often pondered the same peculiarities of fate when placing a fly in front of a fish especially a migratory fish. I'm amazed that my plans placed me on that flat, at that tide, at that moment in order to place a hunk of fur and feathers in front of that tarpon, bonefish or permit who at that moment in time decided to be in that same place possibly ignoring other similar offerings but now wants to destroy my offering. Wow. I think of all the preparation that we take, all the money we spend, all the gear prepping we do to essentially deliver a fly to that fish. Kind of crazy when you consider that all that effort and dollars are consumed to insure a 1-0 hook gets to its fated destination in front of Mr. Bucket Mouth. All these factors we fine tune to near perfection but for some reason we all will frequently skimp on the most critical aspect of this dance of angling fate, our cast.

Candy

In June, I will be making my yearly foray to the Keys to chase tarpon and I will be doing daily drills like a prospect awaiting the NFL draft, Here's a few thoughts on what I need to work on and thought perhaps it might be helpful to share. First off, I find that for a few weeks, getting out every day for 10 minutes is much more beneficial than a last day or two marathon session of panicked practice. It's best to use the rod weight that you might be using but I've also used the Redington Form Game rod if convenience is an issue. I'll need to determine at what distance can I consistently lay the leader straight out with 1-2 false casts. I like to start each "rep" with only a few feet of fly line extending out the end of the rod while holding a piece of yarn or preferably a hookless fly with barbell eyes. I'd rather know what distance I can cast to with a tight line effort than longer casts with a pile of leader like a colander full of spaghetti. Having your fly land in a pile of leader delays how much longer it'll be until the fly will appear alive, and complicate matters more so if there's any current. I'll focus on my double haul making the sure the timing and amount of haul keeps my loop tight and air resistant. If you haven't developed a double haul, here's a simple method to learn. Start by casting side arm and break your cast into halves, First, make your backcast with a double haul and allow the line to land directly behind you to its full extent. Pause for a moment, then make the forward cast with a pause as the fly lands on the grass or water. Keep repeating these half casts and as you feel more comfortable, decrease the length of each pause till eventually, the pause is eliminated then merely rotate your casting axis until you are casting overhand.

Charlie - Palometa Club

Ascension Bay Permit

I also will take time to cast directly into the wind where I find that I can really sharpen my double haul skills. One of the guides from the Palometa Club in Punta Allen, Mexico taught a technique for casting into the wind. Again, he emphasized the point of shortening the cast as long as I can get a tight line cast. In normal conditions, casting requires a nice high stop with the forward cast but if you do this in a strong wind, once the cast straightens, it will be blown back by the headwind. Instead stop almost parallel to the water but making sure not to speed up the cast. In addition, make the timing of the forward haul just a moment later with a little more speed and length. And, really make sure that you still come to a nice crisp forward stop.

When making longer casts, I've learned to employ a little bit of wrist snap in my forward and back casts. I find this especially helpful in that troublesome headwind. Most of us were taught to keep our wrists stiff like a board when we first learned flyfishing but as you progress in length of cast, you need to slightly increase the travel of your rod tip, A wrist snap can help this more efficiently and keep that loop nice and tight.

Lastly I find that practicing while trying to tighten up my forearm muscles helps me deal with big fish fever when I'm standing on the casting platform. Yes, it's exactly what you don't want to do but doing so in practice helps make me much more aware of NOT doing it during the real McCoy. Kind of weird, but it works for me.

So I'm sending out a warning to Mr. 3 digit tarpon, start prepping. I'm doing all I can by practicing my casts and my technique. Hell, I'm going to work on my left handed cast as well. I'm doing everything in my power to deliver that fly to it's fated destination. Sir Tarpon, I expect you to prep by getting yourself faster and able to jump that much higher to such an extent that my knees knock and my extremities shake. We have a date with destiny. I'll see you soon.

Charlie Chambers

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Bair’s Lodge, Bahamas

Big A$$ Cuda!

April 2014

In April I was fortunate to fish out of Bair’s Lodge again with a group of 9 clients. This was year 9 for the group at Bair’s. They really like the fishing, guides, food, lodge, hospitality and spending time with each other. Like any group of successful people they like to catch more and/or larger fish than the next guy.

Andros has more bonefish habitat than any other place I know. Because of this proliferation of Bonefish there are the predator Barracuda that lunch on the slow and the weak. These are great fish to hunt and the larger they get, the tougher it is to feed them flies. Roy has spent a lot of time and focus over the years on Cuda. He landed this monster on a popper, the day we were fishing together. Later this fish was dinner for the guide and his family.



Jerry Swanson
Fish Head Expeditions, LLC
jerry@fishheadexpeditions.com



Photo by Jerry Swanson

Fishing Report May 25th

Gorge Fly Shop Fishing Report's Page

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NEW 2014: SIMMS G3 Bootfoot Waders

Tom Larimer spends the day with the Gorge Fly Shop on the Deschutes River to go over the new Simms G3 Bootfoot waders in this video, new for 2014.

DESCRIPTION

Bootfoot Waders are BACK!

FEATURES

• Featuring GORE-TEX® Pro Shell fabric - offers the most durable waterproof/breathable fabric designed to meet the demands of professional guides and hard core anglers
• GORE-TEX® 3-layer Pro Shell Technology in upper/GORE-TEX® 5-layer Pro ShellTechnology in lower - 25% more breathable
• Patented front and back leg seams provide articulated fit, maximum comfort and mobility
• Reach-through, lined hand warmer pocket with zippered chest pocket
• Removable Tippet Tender™ Pocket with dual entry zippers & retractor docking station
• Adjustable 1.5” elastic suspenders with YKK® buckles
• Low profile belt loops with 2” stretch nylon wading belt
• Custom boot designed specifically for Simms waders. Also available in a felt sole.

APPROX. WEIGHT: 136 oz/3.85 kg
FABRIC TECH: GORE-TEX® 3-layer Pro Shell Technology in upper/GORE-TEX® 5-layer Pro Shell Technology in lower - 25% more breathable
WADER SIZES: S/7, S/8, M/8, M/9, M/10, MK/9, MK/10, L/10, L/11, L/12, LK/11, LK/12, XL/11, XL/12, XL/13, XXL/12, XXL/13
Click the Size Chart tab above for measurements.
BOOT SIZES:Whole sizes only, 7-13, EEE width. Simms states street shoe size is recommended.

Simms Waders

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Gorge Fly Shop: Unofficial Travel Guide to Hood River

In a little town tucked away in the Pacific Northwest sits a small brick and mortar fly shop ran by Travis Duddles and his team. Gorge Fly Shop has had its doors open over 27 years at the time this article was updated. Stop by and say hi and while your visiting you mind as well take a look around.

3200 Lower Mill Dr. Hood River, Oregon 97031

So you decided to travel the Gorge and visit little ol' Hood River. Now what?

WHERE TO COUNT THE SHEEP?

• Hood River Hotel
• Columbia Gorge Hotel
• Hood River Inn (Waterfront)

Vacation Rentals

• Hood River Vacation Rentals

CHOW DOWN
Some of our favorites.

• Apple Valley BBQ - Mmm mm good (4956 Baseline Drive, Parkdale, Oregon)
• Andrews Pizza and Cinema - Locally owned (107 Oak St.)
• Celilo Restaurant and Bar - Sushi bar downstairs (16 Oak St.)
• Stonehedge Gardens - Make a reservation (3405 Wine Country Avenue)
• Killer Burger - 216 W Steuben Bingen, WA (across the river and worth the toll)

Bagel shop - Morning Grub
A few blocks down from the Gorge Fly Shop is Hood River Bagel (13th Oak St.)

Fishing License (Hunting? Fishing? We'll set you up):

• Gorge Fly Shop (201 Oak St.)
• Wal-Mart

CUP OF JO
Starbucks (on the port), Dutch Brothers (on the heights), McD's Coffee (On the Port or on Cascade St.) - We got most of them just like everyone else, but if your really jiven for some coffee atmosphere and good pastry we're fond of Doppio's and we think you will to. Located 310 Oak St.

GRAB A BEER!
After a day on the river, or an afternoon with the family it's always nice to get away and try a local brew. South of the fly shop and in walking distance is Big Horse Brew Pub located on 115 West State St. A little further walk or short drive still downtown is Full Sail Brewing, be sure to try their Beer Float. And last but certainly not least is Double Mountain Brewery located on 8th Fourth Street.

NON FISHING ACTIVITIES:

• Skylight Theatre Pub - Pizza, Beer, a Movie. Need we say more?
• Mount Hood Railroad - "Murder Mystery", "Romance on the Rails", even "Polar Express"
• Waam Museum - One of the newest attractions to Hood River and always expanding.
• Hood River Fruit Loop - Great Valley, Great Fruit!
• Hood River Waterfalls

Local waters within 30-45min.

Fly Shop Hours:
Mon. - Sat. 9:30am to 6:00pm | Sun 10:00am to 4:00pm PST


Gorge Fly Shop Team
541.386.6977
Do you have a favorite thing to do while in Hood River? Let us know, leave a comment below.

www.gorgeflyshop.com

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

SMITH OPTICS: ChromaPOP (Fish in style and with purpose)

Is the grass really greener on the other side?

We've said it before, Smith Optics have been leading the Fly Fishing industry in quality optics for many years. The ChomaPOP's are no different, or are they? 

In recent years we have seen even further forward movement with great lens choices like Ignitor and Polarchromatic Copper and frame choices like Dover, Chief, and Frontman. Smith Optics sunglasses not only have great style and fit but provide incredible clarity with Techlite Polarize Glass lens technology. We have been selling these lenses for a little while now. Last year we tested the Tenet with Low Light Ignitor lenses and this year we wanted to review one of the coolest lenses we saw at last years IFTD show, but with all the cool products out we just recently where able to get our hands on a pair to test. 

Where have you been all my life...

As I waited for my pair to arrive in the mail I was forced to use a different lens, so the first thing I did after getting my hands on a pair of these Frontman ChromaPOPs was go out side and compare them with some of my other sunglasses in my arsenal, including another pair of Smiths I love but aren't ChromaPOP's.

Take the time and admire the good things in life.

FIT, COMFORT, CLARITY: All these things came into play during my initial test. The first thing I noticed was fit. The frame fit nicely on my noggin and contoured my face nicely blocking those annoying UV's and rested comfortably on my nose, did I mention they where cool? If there was ever a pair of sunglasses that made you feel better about yourself, these could be it. I don't ever leave the house with out having them close by. I may even purchase another pair just to go in the Jeep.

MEASUREMENT / FEATURES

• Med-Large Fit / Large Coverage
• Carbonic TLT Lenses
• Evolve Frame Material
• Hydrophilic Megol Nose and Temple Pads
• 8 Base Lens Curvature
• Frame Measurements 61-15-125

CLARITY:
I could go on and on about the clarity of these lenses, but there's enough documentation out there that babbles on and on - let's just say the clarity exceeded my expectations both on and off the river.

COMFORT:
Now to be fair, you can't always judge or even write a review on a product you've only seen once or twice. So for this review, we head to the the Hood, San Juan, Sandy and the Deschutes Rivers. My time spent on these rivers made me appreciate not only the fit and comfort but the lens quality as well. It felt great wearing them all day in both low light and bright sunny days. Rain or Shine I was ready!

GREENER GRASS:

"In order to see change you must open your eyes."

ChromaPOP's slogan for these lenses is "The Grass Really is Greener". So the first thing that popped into my head is if you want the greener grass on the other side of the fence... Stop bleeping on your own lawn. My point is, not everything on the other side of the fence is always better, nor greener. However, when it comes to these Chormapop lenses, the grass truly is greener and the clarity is phenomenal!

I imagine the team over at SMITH's would probably say something like: Front and center with bold charisma and distinction. The Frontman offers crisp and fresh surfacing details, plus enough head curvature and temple thickness to keep out the sun and keep you fishing all day or out on the town. - I would have to agree but add that they're just damn cool!

After putting these shades through the ringer and having some time to think about this article I'm honestly still in love with these Frontman ChromaPOP's. I plan to put them to good use in the coming months.

BUT ARE THEY FISH READY?
So did I catch my first fish on a fly because I was wearing SMITH sunglasses? Or more importantly ChromaPOP lenses? Maybe, one could argue either way. So I'll leave you with this closing thought. You can always change out a fly on the river but the last thing you want to think about is gee, wish I would have warn my other sunglasses.

Article by: Mike Prine - The Newbie
Gorge Fly Shop - Webmaster

SMITH OPTICS: LIFETIME WARRANTY

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Fishing Report May 17

Deschutes: It’s as good as it gets right now. Big bugs are out all the way from Warm Springs down through Mack’s Canyon. Mostly Golden Stones below Maupin and Salmonflies up higher on the river. Fishing has been consistent and some big fish have been reported. Clark’s Golden, Clark’s Stone, Henry’s Fork Salmon or Stone, Chubby Chernobyls and stimulators have been great on the surface. Jimmy Legs, prince nymphs and trout retrievers have been good subsurface flies. Nymphing or a dry/dropper will produce more fish than going with all surface presentations, but many of us would prefer to catch a few less fish on the surface than put on a nymph when avoidable. Look for the fishing to be good for the next week as no major temperature drops or sustained torrential rains are expected. It will be very crowded Memorial Day weekend, as some limited sections have almost sold out of boater passes as of 5/15. Remember, all boaters need to obtain a pass at boaterpass.com before going on to the river. It’s also a good way to see how crowded it will be on each section, as the number of permits sold and available is posted on the calendar.

Hood: Very limited effort has been seen, but the Columbia is still fluctuating between high and really high, backing up the run at the mouth occasionally. There are definitely Spring Chinook and Steelhead in the river. I saw a few fish at Punchbowl Falls on a little morel mushroom hunt last week. Give us a call if you need more info on fishing the Hood.

Wind River/Drano Lake/Klickitat River: Reports have been fair to good for Spring Chinook, especially at the mouth of the Wind and in Drano. The Klick has been a bit slow from the reports. The upper Klickitat is STILL CLOSED and will open JUNE 1. Only the mile or so below Lyle Falls is open (and only select days, check your regs) and has virtually no fly water. The Wind has a bit more water open for a motivated guy with a fly rod and a hankering for a Chinook, but it is still very tough access and fishing. Trolling flies near the bottom of Drano Lake in a float tube could produce Chinook, but little to no effort has been reported by fly guys.

Local Lakes: Lost Lake has been producing quite a few nice fish. It was heavily stocked last week and fishing has been really good for both recent planters and bigger “holdovers”. Laurence and Kingsley Lakes have also been kicking out some good fish. Olive and wine colored buggers, carey specials, hare’s ear nymphs and parachute adams have all been productive, as well as chironomids if you like staring at bobbers. There has been a good black carpenter ant hatch at higher elevations, as well as some nice damsels in the lower lakes such as Rowland and Spearfish. If you find yourself at a lake where they are keyed in on ants and you don’t have any, you might as well go home, so get some bigger black flying ant patterns…

Goose Lake: Heard that the road opened late last week from Trout Lake, but it is still snowed in from Carson. Fishing should be good this week. I was going to go up there Friday, but 30+ mph winds deterred me into doing some fly tying… Same as the other lakes hatchwise, although I wouldn’t expect the damsel hatch to be strong yet. A couple more weeks before the damsels and dragons really get moving up there.

Bass: Our own Greg Darling won the Kayak Shed’s bass tournament on Saturday in the Columbia. Fishboy Gabe Cunningham got 4th place. I hear that fishing wasn’t red hot, and Greg’s 20” smallmouth was enough for a first place finish. It is lots of fun if you have the ability to get out on the main river in a kayak or small boat. Focus on rocks, drop-offs, structure, and wood. Streamers have been more productive than topwater in the “Big C”. I am sure that Greg will be posting more on his experience with the bass tourney in the days to come.

Bass fishing on the John Day has been reportedly very good, with big fish and decent numbers. Overall numbers will increase and average size will decrease as it continues to warm up. I have received mixed reports on the topwater action. I have heard from a few guys that it has been good and a couple of guys have told me that they had to get fairly deep with buggers. I think it depends on the section you are fishing and the time of day. Early June is usually lights out for topwater action if you are going to plan a trip out there.

Shad: We got our first push of shad for the year. Fishing for them is tons of fun. Get a small, bright fly down deep in slower water around the mouths of the tributaries. Give it a couple of weeks for the numbers to improve, but it should be a good run. Mid-June is the best time to do it, but there should be fishable numbers within a few weeks.



If you ever have anything to add to the fishing report or have any questions about our local waters, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Sunset at Kingsley Lake

Chris Scott is at it again. Crushing bigguns is his thing…. He knows the Deschutes as well as anyone.

The Gorge Fly Shop Team

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Columbia Basin Lakes

Add caption

Sometimes, a weekend fishing alone in the desert is exactly what a person needs to reconnect with the world. Between women, roommates and flaky friends, sometimes a guy really just needs to be able to explore some new water and avoid all of the other distractions that life can throw at you. I found myself in that situation recently and packed up the Fat Cat and a couple of 5wt rods in the truck and headed up into the Columbia Basin.

The Seep Lakes are no secret to fly fishermen from the Northwest. What makes this area special is the incredible amount of water in the area. I fished five (maybe it was six) different lakes in two days and could have fished more (I went back to two different lakes twice). There were dozens of lakes that I did not explore and a few that I am itching to cast a line into.

We don't skinny dip, We chunky dunk

WARNING: The story you are about to read is not only true but embarrassing. Be advised.

Quit wading around and FISH!

Due to unforeseen events I was unable to fish for most of April. A true shame considering I still had gear I wanted to test. I hope to make up for this in May. Recent events have taught me, Fish Now, Not Later. Don't plan to do more fishing as you get older just get out and fish more. You can fish less when your dead... 

Beginners Log: Swim date May 12th, 2014
Location: The Hood River (The Mouth)
Event Time: 9 A.M.
Air Temp: 57 Deg.

This story first began on a quiet Monday morning, alarm clock rang! Bright and early - tip toed out of the house not to wake the kids, coffee in hand and down to the Hood I went. Water levels looked good, sunshine and warm weather on it's way. Just after 6 a.m. I made the trek across the river. Now I specifically remember pausing just after checking the river - At that point I decided to leave my wading staff in the truck, thinking I could make it, I've seen worse. Was this confidence or cockiness, more on this later. Today was the day to not only get on the water but to also test my new Sage One 7116 Spey Rod and Sage reel the shop just lined a few days earlier. Who knew I'd also be putting my Redington Waders to the test. Waterproof? I'll be the judge of that! 

Still fairly new to the sport, but I already decided I loved wading in rivers, as long as I'm dressed appropriately. Something about standing away from the bank and being a little closer to... lets say the action of things. Something appealing about it. Water running through your fingers, sun just about peaked over the hillside. Yep, I was fishing! Recently I made the decision and purchased myself my first ever Redington Sonic-Pro waders for two reasons, price and quality. Per a recommendation from our product specialist and a few wise words from George our Redington rep. These are the kind of guys who actually use the gear they help promote. Something to be said about that. I won't go into a full review on these Redington Waders (save that for another post) but lets just say I've been happy with them. More on these momentarily.

Clothing Optional: No I don't mean fish naked, but don't let me stop you. A key factor to always keep in mind is choose your clothing wisely. Plan ahead for the weather conditions that are and could be. Due to my current apparel I find myself running into problems with certain types of clothing. Whether it's dipping your hand in the water and getting your (cotton) cuff sweater wet by accident and the cotton not drying quick enough or t-shirts taking forever to dry due to sweat these things have been an issue at least for me.

All work and no play makes jack a dull a boy:
I'm the kind of guy who would love not to have a smart phone, but often times it's necessary to be able to access work emails and answer calls on the go. It's bad habit not leaving the phone in the truck while fishing. So my advice is, either leave your phone in the truck or get a waterproof case or waterproof baggy for it (maybe a lanyard too). You never know when or why you may need it.

Point of No Return

So where is all this leading? What's the point. Well here I was, waste deep about the middle of the mouth on the Hood, fishing both sides enjoying my time making my way closer to the Columbia. About the time I decided to make my way back to the bank I quickly noticed the water was slowly getting higher upon my waste at witch time I wasn't terribly concerned as I was about 20 feet to the bank. As I walked closer and closer the water inched higher and higher, due to the sun angle and trees on the bank I could no longer tell or see the bottom any longer. However that thought vacated my mind as I hopped to the bank. Water inching higher and closer to reaching inside my waders. At this point I could feel the current was quicker. I was about 10 feet from the bank and realized I couldn't hop backwards to escape... That oh crap moment you get before something is just about to happen... about to get real. Yeah that happened. Water quickly began to fill my waders, I began to loos my footing. No longer bobbing I was swimming, I guess you could call it swimming, more like a seal bobbing in the water with a busted fin. With one hand in the air gripping to my rod I kicked and swam with the other hand, lunging to bring myself closer and closer, the water weight affecting every move... I inched closer and closer to the bank, I made it, I grabbed the jagged rocks on the bank and began pulling myself up. Victory! No not really...

At this point, you can start laughing, I made it safely. So I slowly pulled myself up. Having never actually gone swimming with my waders on it's not something you think about training for or really have any idea what to do. You just react.  So I'm on the bank, clinching to my rod and realizing my booties and lower legs are full of water. I'm talking chunky legs (a little jiggle in my walk). The quality of the welded seems popped into my head I new I had to get these waders off soon! Luckily the truck wasn't far, I opted to make the dash. I climbed up the bank and before reaching the road I paused and looked to see if anyone was looking. I don't know if it was safety (look both ways before crossing) or embarrassment not wanting anyone to see my rendition of the incredible hulk in waders wobbling across the road. Probably a little of both. I was soaked, cotton t-shirt, nylon pants the whole nine yards. Luckily I had a few items in the truck to change out of. Better change now I thought, while no one is looking. As I sat on a park bench next to the truck, catching my breath I began stripping my boots off. With 5 gallons of water still sloshing around I was pleased with the quality of my waders.

Now normally... I never skinny dip, but on this occasion I would have to say I chunky dunked.

So did I chunky dunk in the river because I was too confident in my wading ability, or just too cocky to bring a staff along? I'll blame it on experience, or lack of. This reminds me of what Greg Darling talks about: The fact that you can't teach confidence, it's just something that happens. I'm guessing built upon by experience. I admit it, I'm new, slowly catching on. It doesn't help switching from one rod, reel or line to the next every time you hit the water. I wouldn't recommend it. Stick to one stick, one setup and learn to fish it, build your confidence. I think that's what I'm doing, but slowly. I'm having fun doing it so I must be doing something right.

Although my smart phone sits in a bag of rice, that leaves me writing this blog post outside with the waders drying inside out and drinking some of dad's booze, soaking up a little sunshine while drying off. Better slow down, maybe i'll hit the river again for round two.



Article by: Mike Prine - The Newbie
Gorge Fly Shop - Webmaster

Sage One 7116 Spey Rod Review - Tom Larimer

Tell us your story, embarrassing or not.

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Fishing Report: May 10th, 2014 (+ Special Deschutes Report)

The weather last week was the biggest factor that affected the fishing last week. It was warm, then it rained, then it was warm, then it got really, really windy, then it rained again and then it got crappy…. If the weather can stay consistent for a few days, it will really help out the fishing. 

Chris Scott of Portland with a beautiful redside from the Deschutes May 7, 2014

Hood River: The Hood has been kicking out a few Steelhead and Chinook Salmon. Same problem as always… very little access available.

The Columbia is very high and has backed up the lower runs on the Hood River, leaving a lake where the most productive water is. A shot of rain on Thursday and Friday brought the Hood up to over 2500 cfs and should bring some fish in if anglers are willing to do a little exploring and walking. It drops quick this time of year and should be low and clear again within a day or two. Typically, 1200-1800 cfs at the Tucker Park gauge is a good level. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?site_no=14120000

Fishing should be fair for early summer and late winter steelhead through May. Fishing for Chinook should continue to improve as water temps rise in the Hood and more fish show up. As always, catching Spring Chinook on the fly is not an easy task. If you are ever down for breaking out the spawn sacks, casting rods and bobbers, now is the time.

Other Lower Columbia Tributaries: The Wind, Drano Lake and the Lower Klickitat: The hatchery on the Wind River saw its first couple of fish last week, the hatchery on Drano had 242 fish as of May 6, and is expecting over 13,000, so get out there. Catching has been inconsistent. I trolled some plugs around Drano Lake for three hours and didn’t even see a hook up between the 20-30 boats circling around that evening; however, several people said that fishing had been really good in the morning. (You should have been here earlier!!!)

The Klickitat has been slow, hearing about a few caught in the Pine Tree Hole, fishing should really pick up this week. Another friendly reminder that it is only open on selected days below Lyle Falls, so DO NOT fish the upper river. There have been several reports of people fishing upstream. Please read the regulations and follow the rules so that everyone has the chance to enjoy. The rest of the river (up to the Yakama Nation Boundary) opens June 1 and should have a few steelhead and springers around when it does. The bulk of the steelhead won’t show up until August or September, and the run is predicted to be good this year.

Deschutes: Reports have been good. Salmonflies all the way up to Trout Creek. Fish were on dries down low. From Buckhollow to Beavertail on Friday, a single M’s Fluttering Salmonfly was all that was needed to consistently catch fish. Golden Stones were out too, along with some PMDs, Drakes, and Caddis, depending on the weather that hour…

Fish were not quite on the big dries up high, but its about to happen any second…. A friend of mine caught a bright steelhead way up high on a Jimmy Legs last week which made for a nice surprise. Fishing should be great for the next two weeks or so, although the crowds can get bad up above Maupin.

Sam Sickles Reports from the Deschutes

CFS 4350, water temps 54F...weather, well let's just say if you dont' like the water in Central Oregon then wait five minutes.  Rain, Sleet, hail, gail force winds, and yes calm and sunny, that's what yesterday was like.  This was my first trip on the upper Deschutes this season.  Got to the boat ramp early, put my rods together, double checked everything, loaded my boat and was so bored I asked Johnny Law for a safety inspection so I could get my sticker.

My guys showed up about fifteen minutes early, wadered up and after a brief lisence check by John Law we were off.  Did I mention we were the only boat launching from Warm Springs, crazy, I know!  Being that I hadn't been on the day stretch this year I figure it'd be a bit before we got dialed in on what the fish were eating.  First stop, nodda, second spot nodda...see where I'm going with this?  Well not so fast!

Three sticks fishing six bugs in the water we finally got our first fish about 11:AM.  This fish was extraordinary in it's proportions and skipped my first anglers set up and then crushed angler number two's jimmy legs nymph.  This is how it went most of the day, wide open river, slow fishing and all fish coming on the big rubber legged jimmy legs.  All told I think we landed ten or twelve really nice redsides, all on the big bug.  Did not hook a single whitefish which is odd givven the small beadheads we trailed behind Jimmy all day.

Salmonfly 5-9-14 (photo credit: Andrew Perrault - Gorge Fly Shop)

Here's what I know.  The adult Salmonflies and Golden Stones are present all the way up river to Warm Springs.  The fish are not keyed in on the adults yet.  Every fish we caught ate a stone immitation and every fish was gorged beyond belief.

Golden Stone 5-9-14 (photo credit: Andrew Perrault - Gorge Fly Shop)

Here's what I think.  As soon as there are more adults around than nymphs this thing is gonna bust wide open, probably next week when it warms up again.

My guys were fishing 590 and 690 Winston B3X's, Airflow Exceed lines, Sage Click reels.  I took the leaders down to 7.5 3x for the chuck and duck we were doing, definately easier to pitch than the standard 9 footers.

On a side note the access road down to TC boat ramp is in great shape!  Next report...next week.

Sam Sickles
Steelhead Outfitters

Lakes:

Fishing has been good on Laurence, Rowland, Horsethief and Kingsley Lakes. Trolling/stripping a woolly bugger or hare’s ear nymphs, or throwing a parachute adams when a callibaetis hatch goes off in the evening has been productive. Chironomid fishing should be successful on lakes.

Lost Lake was stocked on Thursday the 8th and catching has been good according to a quick call to Lost Lake Resort.

Goose Lake should be accessible within the next week or so as snow has been melting rapidly with this warmer weather. Expect good fishing when it becomes accessible.

Big Black Carpenter Ants should be flying with the first good heat of the year. Make sure you get a handful of patterns if you plan on hitting the higher elevation lakes like Lost, Laurence or Goose. Fish can go nuts on them when they are around. It’s a good option for an angler that may want to avoid the crowds on the Deschutes.

Bass fishing: Smallmouth fishing has been fair in the area although the Columbia River has been really high. Late May into Mid-June is the best time for a guy with a fly rod to catch some nice smallies from the shore of the Columbia. Reports of big smallies (is that an oxymoron?) on topwater in the John Day…. Big fish are around now, and fishing will get better. Average size will decline, but numbers will increase.

Give us a shout if you have any questions, need some fly recommendations or want more specific details about any of our local waters. 

Gorge Fly Shop Team

541 386-6977

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

San Juan Chronicles: All in One Day

It was never my intention to write a post about this day...

In fact quite the opposite...

Deer crossing just downstream of the Beaver Dam

It was just supposed to be a group of guys on a one day run and gun to the honey hole and enjoy some fishing. 

The day comes and as you can already guess things don't all go as planned. This is not stuff you can just make up.

I was invited to go along on this trip by a friend (Justin). The remaining group consists of an acquaintance (Robb), an unknown (Kyle) and of course a newbie (Tim).

Out of bed at 3am...meet the group at 4am...Of course the Newbie guy is late to the meeting spot and his buddy has to call him to wake him up. There was talk of leaving him behind but as it turns out Newbie was the contributor of lunch. Turned out to only be a small delay as Newbie lived pretty close to the meeting spot. A little gear shuffling and we were on our way.

The local Wildlife

The drive ahead of us is about 3 hours in normal conditions. Yes, you already guessed that conditions were anything but normal. Started out normal until we hit the continental divide. Are those snow flurries? Two miles later we found ourselves in a whiteout trying to maintain a 25 mph and keep the truck in-between the lines which at this point cannot be seen. This continued for about 50 miles.

Finally upon getting through the whiteout we reached the town of Farmington. Pretty close to our destination and a good spot to get some breakfast. While slurping diner coffee and discussing plans it was realized that Newbie has no wading boots. Seems to have been some confusion about the role of the stockingfoot part of the waders. Not a big deal because our next stop is the town of Navajo Dam which pretty much exists on the traffic of fisherman and with three local fly shops we should be able to get some boots for Newbie.

We reach Navajo Dam and stopped at the local Fly Shop / Diner / Hotel otherwise known as Fisheads. Newbie got some rental boots. At this point of the journey it is now my turn to contribute to the delay of this day. Realizing the night before that my fishing license had expired I attempted to renew on-line. Of course technical difficulties kept this from happening. Again Fisheads to the rescue.

While at the fly shop we inquired for the current conditions. ut oh! More bad news! This is a tailwater and as far back as the beginning of 2014 the water flow has remained unchanged...until this day! Of course! Us river veterans know that after days, weeks, months of no change the last thing you want to do is show up on the day it changes. Needless to say the fishing proved to be tough.

G. Loomis Pro4x 5106-4 Switch Rod

I was the first to catch a fish and swung a nice one out of a tail out. Big and chunky Bow but even he seemed to be having an off day according to the lackluster fight he put up. I didn't touch another fish until later that afternoon.

Justin's first on his new Sage One 4116

Justin (the friend) stuck a couple fish including this nice one. It was the inaugural catch on his new Sage One 4116 switch rod and his first Two Hand catch.

Robb scored a few fish

Tim (Newbie) and Kyle are down river out of sight. Later that day there seemed to be some concern as to what happened to these two guys. Come to find out Newbie took a dunk. With water temp in the 30's and air temp not much warmer Tim did the smart thing and got out of his waders and wet clothes to dry. I understand Kyle stumbled upon Tim sun bathing in his birthday suit on a boulder. Never know what you'll find on the stream. Advice to the Newbie...check out our Layering section...No more cotton under your waders.

The Sun had made its way to low in the sky and despite a "never quit" attitude I think we all agreed without hesitation that the time to give up and head home had arrived. The walk back to the truck that almost became a sprint was strong evidence that river had won on this day. I'm not sure of the total fish count but I am sure that the grand total was still less than the average good day for one angler...far less!

Normally on my way home from this river I drive thru a KFC grab some chicken tenders and chow on them while I proceed homeward. The group had a different
plan. Blake's LotaBurger! I admit I was excited to to have some burger grease dripping from my chin after the long day it had become. I have a general restaurant rule that you order your item the way it comes and making menu adjustments might not work out in your favor. I almost was chuckling while Justin was ordering his burger but three hours later and I had nothing to laugh about. My burger was still reminding me why I don't stop there on my way home.

Twenty hours, 400+ miles and two fish and a Blake's burger later 

I finally made it back home!

You've been there before...we have all done this!

• Hit a snow storm on the way!
• Newbie has no wading boots!
• Who's got Lunch?
• Where did they go? I don't know but he's got the keys to the truck!
• I can't believe the fishing is this bad...Its never like this...

Despite the uncountable highs and lows I would do it all over again tomorrow. Minus the Burger!

Do you you have stories like this one? We would like to hear your "All in One Day" story.

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop Internet Sales Manager | Product Specialist

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Rio Trout Lines - Defined!

Choices, Choices

The Weight Forward Floating Trout line defined!

You decide it's time for a new fly line for your trout rod. You go to your local store or online and BAM! You're hit with more choices than a fast food restaurant menu. Only difference is these aren't dollar items. Make a wrong choice and it's a spendy mistake.

But how do you know what line is right for you and your rod? There is no master list of what line is right and to complicate matters even more is some of the options are personal preference or technique specific.

My attempt here will be to break down this process into a step by step flow that can help you determine good fly line choices for your needs.

Question One -What brand, model and line weight is your fly rod?

Over the years I have been shocked as to how many anglers walk into the shop to purchase a new fly line and cannot answer any of these questions. One size fits most does not exist in fly lines.

Question Two - What is the primary use of the fly rod you are purchasing a line for? 

Example: dry fly, nymph indicator, streamer, bass bug or all around general purpose. If general purpose is your answer then we can revert back to step one and choose the line based on what's best for your rod. If your primary purpose is one of the other choices listed than it might worth looking at other options that would suit your rod and your purpose.

Question Three - What is your casting skill level? 

I've listed these questions in order of importance and while skill level may fine tune the best line match it's still going to be dictated by question one and two.

At this point if your only desire is to purchase a new fly line then call or email us with the answers to these questions and our experts will provide you with the best line possible. If you're interested in learning how we come to these conclusions then please read on.

Brand, Model and Line weight of your rod.

Why is the number one question the most important? First let's get line weight out of the way. Fly Rods are designed to load under a predetermined weight of the fly line. The fly line weight is measured in grains and consists of the first 30 feet of a fly line. In most cases it is in your best interest to match the line weight to the fly rod line weight. Brand and model help us determine the action of your rod. Fast action rods generally like a more aggressive line than a slow or moderate action rod. Quite often we hear anglers tell us that they don't like their very expensive fly rod and most often after we ask a couple questions we find that the line match is totally inappropriate for the rod. A quick parking lot demonstration with a well matched line can quickly change your opinion of a rod.

Primary use of your fly rod

If you answered general purpose to this question then most likely we just revert back to what line is a best match for your rod. If your rod is used for some very specific purposes then you might want to consider a specialty line that better suits your needs. For example a line that would be ideal for casting small dry's to trout probably won't cast a big wind resistant bass bug very well. Or an indicator line will handle the hardware and mend easily but won't win any distance or presentation awards. If your rod is used for a very specific purpose there might be a line choice that can really improve your fish-ability. Examples of some technique specific lines are provided below.

Your casting skill level?

Regardless of casting skill level, question one must still be answered first. Really well experienced casters might prefer line speed cast over a load cast. I know! I know I just threw more technical jargon at you. I'll attempt to explain that later but in general, beginner and/or intermediate casters will normally prefer the deeper loading more aggressive shorter head fly lines and experienced casters generally prefer longer and lighter lines that develop more line speed.

Load Cast vs. Line Speed Cast

While I understand this I'm not sure I'm qualified to explain it. Let's turn to the fly rod for the answers. Why do we have fast action rods? Fast action rods are capable of longer casts because they can create faster line speed. We can slow down a fast rod with a heavier line and the result will be a greater feel (load cast) of load in the rod. Most beginner and/or intermediate casters will prefer a load casting line because of the increased feel (feedback) from their rod. Really well experienced casters can detect the load feel with lighter (faster) lines thus giving them even more line speed for an even longer cast.

I turned to George Cook (Northwest Sage, Rio, Redington Representative) for a more detailed description of Load vs Speed.

“Load VS Speed” The “Casting Personality”

Every angler indeed has what I like to call a “Casting Personality”. In this, folks can and will show a preference to either the LOAD or SPEED aspect of the integration of the Fly Rod and Fly Line as a working tandem. This is not a good vs. bad perspective but rather an identifiable preference that once found will play into maximum effectiveness and enjoyment for the angler.

LOAD Caster: 

 The angler in this camp has likely been around a spell and has seen and/or fished a host of Rods throughout his career (Graphite/Glass even Bamboo). The preference for load can be identified based on a caster’s history (with rods), his expectation to/for Rod load or even in the case of a beginning angler a need for increased weight placed in the load cycle (RIO Grand Line providing a prime example here) to provide increased thrust in the cast as the caster works his way through the challenges of fly casting. Sometimes even a line speed caster will want increased load based on the fishing task at hand. A great example that I can attest to is indicator fishing with egg patterns, beads or steelhead nymphs in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In this I will often “Bump One Up” on an Indicator line on a given rod (Say a WF-8-F on a 7100-4 / 10’ 7 weight Rod) as this often proves to be the ticket to really functioning with the tool set. Roll cast, modified spey cast are greatly assisted with this bumped up format and often the mending required is enhanced as well.

SPEED Caster: 

“The Children of the Graphite Age” often fall into this, Circa late 1980’s onward when the arms race in graphite rod development went full bore in the United States. Nothing beats line speed and in this many casters want/desire maximum speed without reliance even recognition of traditional or parabolic load aspect. Often referred to as “Point and Shoot” casters that relish the high line speed produced by today’s modern rod designs.

Bottom Line is this: 

No matter which shoe fits you best “Load vs. Speed” is what matters and what makes you both confident and effective afield. The savvy often develop given parameters based on specific fishing scenarios and play Load where needed and Speed where desired, I for one fall into this . As a Fly Fishing rep of 25 years I can tell you that what I feel is important is for the caster to function well and with confidence. It is super helpful and important for the angler to seek out help and guidance in his local shop as just a couple minutes of casting generally will identify your “Casting personality” and that can and will lead to better line selection and success on the water.

George Cook
April 21st, 2014

Rio Trout Line Choices

Rio Gold

All around trout line

The Rio Gold is our number one selling general purpose all around weight forward floating line. I call this line moderately aggressive and is well suited for mod-fast to fast action rods and a variety of general purpose for anything from indicator/nymph rigs to gentle presentation dry flies. Its longer head length can carry a cast well and allows for good mending/line control.

George Notes: Geo’s favorite line as it does a host of things really well both close, mid and long range . The Gold tends to simply light up most rods and allows the caster to maximize his rods potential in a smooth yet power under control manner.

Rio Grand

Ideal for fast action rods

The Rio Grand is your fast action rod line. If you own a fast action rod that you are having a hard time casting, try a Rio Grand fly line on it. I'm willing to bet you'll find the love in your fast action rod. The Rio Grand is a front loaded short head line that will help fast rods load deep with less line out providing more load feel. We would call this a load casting line. Because of this short powerful head this line can carry some big flies so it makes a good big bug line.

George Notes: The workhorse that comes ready to play every outing. Guaranteed “Load effect” ensures that the angler is hitting his pitches both close and far. To be sure, is the fast Rod line of choice that will perform well at all ranges.

Rio Perception

My undisputed favorite

The Rio Perception is my undisputed favorite weight forward floating line. A couple of reasons have won me over. The head length is both shorter and lighter than the Grand or the Gold making it a line speed casting line, but wait, the ultra-low stretch ConnectCore actually helps to provide a sense of load feel which helps improve cast timing. ConnectCore technology also helps improve strike detection and hook sets. This line can fit a wide window of fly rod actions and seems to be most excellent with mod-fast to fast rods.

George Notes: The first of the Connect Core Trout offerings is relatively new to the scene but catching on rapidly with hard core trout anglers throughout the west. The Multi Color Coded format offers distinct strategical advantages in that the first color change at 20’ represents what I like to call the “Trouty Range” as within this 20’ of line you will likely engage 75%+ of your Trout opportunities particularly from a well rowed boat. The second color break point represents what I like to call “Load point for mid to long range”. In this the 35’ mark represents upon aerialization as easy load mark for a 50’-70’ cast. This is not only an effective built in guidance system but a wonderful teaching-reference tool for angler/instructor alike.

Rio Trout LT (light touch)

A trout fisherman's trout line

The Rio Trout LT is what I consider the true trout line. It is a rear loaded long front taper fly line perfect for subtle dry fly and emerger presentations. The taper of the head makes it easy to roll cast and can even perform single hand spey cast. The Rio Trout LT is best for moderate action trout rods.

George Notes: Aa Ha, the Trout Fisherman’s Trout Line. When presentation/accuracy and delicacy meet on the curve this is the call as the “Go To” line in both Weight Forward and New /Old School Double Taper in line weights 2 thru 5. Spring creeks, focused dry fly game, spinner falls, ...anywhere when the "1st shot is your shot at success" this is your line.

Rio Indicator II

Handles the hardware

The Rio Indicator II is your special purpose nymph line. If your primary purpose is fishing nymph/indicator this is the line you want. The long head length has an aggressive front taper which allows easy turnover of indicators and heavy flies. The long back taper allows for excellent mending control. The orange high-vis tip provides easy strike detection. These lines generally work well with most moderate to fast rod actions.
George Notes: No better line for the job at hand of getting all the “Junk In The Trunk” moving and turned over into the intended target area. Today’s nymph-indicator rigs pose challenges to today’s angler and this is THE LINE to maximize success when fishing such setups be it Trout or Steelhead.

Rio Power Fly

Heavy metal

If the Rio Grand is Rock and Roll then the Rio Power Fly is Heavy Metal. Many anglers today have embraced the modern ultra-fast action rods and are pushing the fly size to monstrous proportions. The Power Fly's short aggressive front taper easily casts large streamers and terrestrials. The Rio Power Fly is best for fast to ultra-fast action rods.
George Notes: This is a fantastic choice for the Angler visiting Alaska or British Columbia for Silver and Chum Salmon in that it will excel at hucking the “Big Nasties” like Wogs/Lead Eye Leeches and similar concoctions that get it done in the North Country. Can double as a pretty nice west coast Bass line as well.

I recently heard someone say "There are no bad fly rods today, just bad line choices." I believe there is a lot of truth to that statement. I hope this article helps you find the right line for you, your rod and your fishing.

For information about lake lines read; Get InTouch with Rio Lake Lines

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop Internet Sales Manager | Product Specialist

"Fly Fish the World with Us"