A note from Grandma Froggy

Gabe admiring a sweet rod!

My young grandson moved to Hood River at a young age. He and I fished for trout, bass, salmon. I was able to teach him the basics of fishing.

Gabe was 6 or 7 years old when he started dropping in at the Gorge fly shop. He asked lots of questions, admired lots of flies.

Gabe asked the shop to put pictures of him and most any fish he caught in the store window. The Gorge fly shop did that for him .

Make your own Caption!

The shop even helped Gabe out from time to time with flies and equipment. For no reason other then to be nice and support a little boys interest in fishing.

The little boy is now a 15 year old young man and is a fine fisherman. He still drops by the Gorge fly shop frequently.

I drop by from time to time when I need a new rod or reel . I find quality and reasonable prices. I can't resist a few new flies while I'm at it.

Thanks, Gorge fly shop,
Grandma Froggy


Learn more about Gabe in "What's up with Gabe".

Gorge Fly Shop

"Fly Fish the World with Us"

Palometa Club: Never Ready...

My Tropical Fly fishing adventure trip is booked...Now what do I need to make this a great trip!

Greg Darling: Photo taken on 2009 Trip

While this may sound strange to some but for me getting ready for a fishing trip is fun in itself. The planning, anticipation and gear preparation is exciting. Its the years of learning the sport, learning the species and collecting gear that now it comes down to using the knowledge to put together all the stuff that will make a great trip without hauling a truck load of gear to the airport and spending all your fun money on luggage fees.

This Trip is taking me to sunny tropics on the northeastern edge of Ascension Bay to the Palometa Club in Punta Allen, Mexico where the Permit are big, Bonefish are plentiful and Margaritas are waiting for you when you arrive back at base after a day of adventurous fishing.

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Tips and Tricks for Traveling Fun

John Garrett: Traveling Fun

Traveling Fun

One could certainly wax poetic and become mired in philosophy while trying to channel your inner Norman in order to understand this obsession with fly fishing. But at the core,fly fishing is so much damn fun. And we spend thousands of dollars for travel fly fishing because it’s really really fun. Last month, I covered what to pack to remedy our medical woes when abroad, and this month, I’d like to suggest tips, tricks and gadgets to maximize the fun aside from the fishing aspects.

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Find the rest of this story and future articles in our Travel section at Gorge Fly Shop.

Ready for the Deschutes Stonefly Hatch?

Larimer Outfitters | Deschutes River

Are You Ready for the Deschutes Stonefly Hatch?
The world famous Deschutes Riverstonefly emergence is primed for mid May. Are you ready for the hatch? Here’s a quick checklist of gear you’ll need to have before you hit the water.

How to Get Started Fly Fishing: Part One

Greg Darling: Pond Fishin'

Mention Fly Fishing in a room full of people and inevitably someone will respond with "I always wanted to do that but don’t know how to get started”. If I had a Dime for every time I heard this, well, I would have a pocket full of dimes. But the question remains how to get started? It seems almost an enigma to the beginner. Sort of like a secret society and unless you have friends that fish or grew up fishing with family, well it can be a bewildering undertaking. But the fact is it really is not that tough. Sure there is the terminology barriers to iron out, entomology to get a masters degree in and don’t forget tradition...you must know tradition! or be cast out!...all fun aside, lets get started... [continue reading]

Thinking of Hiring a Steelhead Guide?

I don't think I have ever enjoyed a fully-guided steelhead trip before. That would be nice, come to think of it. Having a prepared streamside lunch wouldn’t hurt my feeling any. Nor would digging into someone else’s gear bag for a selection of flies and tips and different lines to try out. And it would be satisfying to have someone recommend where to fish and offer up the intricacies of a particular spot, like telling me about where the bucket is and what type of speed on the fly to apply. No I’ve never had a guided steelhead trip, unless I was to count all the ones where I was actually guiding. 

If that is the case, then I guess there have been a few. But I’m not entirely sure if I was a great guide all the time. You have your days when things just flow appropriately and you start thinking that it has all come together, and at times, these feelings start settling in just moments before you crash the boat and your client loses his favorite hat. Ebbs and flows, highs and lows… but for the most part, if you are going to guide, you’ve got to roll the best you can with what mother nature and the clashing of fates, has in store. The cards you’re dealt, so to speak. And yes, your clients for the day can have a big influence over what type of hand you will play.

Where am I going? Well, I have been thinking recently about what constitutes a really good steelhead guide, and I thought I would write about that. But now, I think I’ll leave that alone for now and take a different spin. I think I’ll write about what makes a good client, instead. After all, we know a guide should be courteous, helpful, have the appropriate gear, safely put you in the fish zone and show you how best to fish it. A teacher. Yeah, the list goes on and on. But, as a client, you need to understand how to make the most of your day. It’s your money and you do have a large influence over the day’s success. Despite what you might think, your guide is not a miracle worker and no matter how big the smile is on the outside, your guide may not be smiling on the inside. And guess what, if your guide is not smiling on the inside, that is not an ideal situation. Although it might seem silly to assume, the plane fact of the matter is that if your guide does not like you, then your guide will not go the extra mile for you. And it is in this extra mile where it sometimes feels like a miracle has been performed. I know that is bold to say, but I stand by it. Steelhead guides choose their occupation based on the need to be in the environment they love. They are happiest when it does not feel like work, but rather it is just another beautiful day in paradise with good company. You are one of the main variables that determines the success of Their Day, which in turn has a substantial influence over the success of Your Day. What do you call that, Synergy? Maybe, but if you are considering a guide trip, here are some things to take under advisement so as to make the most of this golden opportunity.

Casting into the Evening Sunset

Story By: Janice Kornbrath



Before I met Rich, oh so many decades ago, my idea of fishing was hanging a worm from a hook and dangling it off a dock into placid waters. I did that at Girl Scout camp when I was a kid . . . those were fish that gobbled up bread crumbs and leftovers from lunch in the mess hall. Not exactly sport fishing. Then I met Rich and blah, blah, blah . . . we moved to Alaska where wild fish were plentiful, and we could get away with hurling all sorts of contraptions at them and still land fish - salmon KINGS, and flashy silvers, and (unfortunately) humpies. It was all fun (except for the endless humpies for which I earned the name, The Humpy Queen). I attended a “build your own fly rod” class through the community school program, and - yes - I built my own fly rod. A sorry affair if I do say so, with lots of gaudy orange guides and which couldn’t cast worth a dang. Or was that operator error? I suspect a bit of both. But it was cheap and I was poor and it did catch fish.

Skagit Lines: Which One is Best for Me?

Just because it says Skagit on the box, doesn’t mean that they all cast identically. For instance, when we talk about the big guns in skagit lines, namely Rio, Airflo and Scientific Anglers, they are all tapered just a little differently. Yes, Skagit lines are designed to handle dense sink tips and cast in relatively tight quarters. But finding the right one to suit your style and fishing applications may demand a little more thought.

Here’s the deal: Each one of these brands has an outstanding line. However, you first need to answer a few of your own questions when deciding which one is the perfect fit for you.  So let’s start off with:

Where am I fishing most of the time?

The idea behind this question considers the amount of casting room you have for most of your fishing. If you are constantly finding yourself pinned up against the shoreline with very little room to open up for a cast, then yes, one line does perform better than another. However, if you are normally fishing with adequate room -for instance, from sweeping gravel bars - then you might consider a different line to match your style as a caster.

Trout Streamer Tactics: Slow and Low

One of the nicest brown trout I ever hooked on the Madison River in Montana came while I was trying to untangle my line from around my feet. We were drifting down a stretch of water that I had fished numerous times over the years upstream from the town of Ennis. I was casting out the back of the boat when I realized my line was coiled around my legs and somehow hooked on damn near everything else. It was a real birds nest back there so it took a long time to pull myself back together and bring my attention back to the sculpin that had been lazily trolling along behind the stern. Feeling a snag, I thought, Dang that figures, I hooked a rock. Serves me right.

We were still drifting downstream but the line seemed to be leaving the reel faster than the rate that we were moving. In fact, a lot faster. I’ll never forget that fish, but perhaps the reason for that is not the fish, but because I learned a monumental lesson that day. The irony is strong here, for as I was struggling to get back to fishing how I thought I should be fishing, the fly was fishing exactly how it should have been fishing. Looking back, I don’t think I could have found a brighter silver lining tangled up in that web of frustration.

Hurts So Good

Hurts so good

...in the miserable annals of the Earth, you will be duly enshrined.
- Lord John Whorfin from "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension."

I’m at the age where I feel like a comedian doing the same routine every day. Meaning, certain questions are met with regular, practiced answers. This approach to what often feels like an endless stream of queries, applies as well to my fishing. If you ask me about how my day of fishing went despite being handed a brutal steelhead beat down, I’ll reply, “Well, it could have been worse... I could’ve been working”. For being educated by several higher institutions of learning, I can sure be prone to ignorant utterances.

The Spirit of the River

This post comes to us from one of the most passionate steelhead anglers that I have ever known. Thank you Michael, for your thoughtful words.

Leading to the Spirit

When I am on the river I connect with much more than myself. I am not there just to fish but to learn... to learn about the simple beauty and connectedness of all life.

The last few times I have been on the river fishing for winter steelhead, I have noticed myself being more in tune with nature. I find myself looking for birds and other critters; listening for the call of the Raven or a Bald Eagle. I find myself sitting down and watching the piece of water I am going to fish; looking at the different currents and the speed of the river and gazing into the surrounding landscape. Being present and being open to the environment helps to foster this connectedness, and helps me to both learn and be challenged by these special places.

Kids Need a Good Start

If you don’t already know, the average age of anglers is getting older every year. This means less and less young anglers are getting into our sport. This is the case for all types of fishing including fly fishing. This is not only going to affect the fishing industry, but drops in licenses sales means less money to manage our favorite fisheries.  This can be attributed to many things… More kids being raised in the city, some in single parent families, and fewer parents are exposed to it, so naturally, fewer kids are getting to go fishing. You can also blame technology; kids are glued to TV’s and video games more than ever. It is up to us to get kids interested in fishing.

Maddie getting her line wet

Over the last 5 to 6 years I have enjoyed taking my daughter, son and two nephews fishing. Watching their excitement grow reminds me of when I was that age. It does not matter what we are fishing for or how, as they are just so excited to go.

Good Morning Columbia River Bass

Columbia River Morning

I got out on the Columbia River last week with resident Bass Guide, Greg Darling. When he offered the invite I started to drool because well, the Columbia is so vastly beautiful, and I wanted to try something different. The thought of standing barefoot on the bow of a boat and casting and stripping flies to Small Mouth Bass warmed up my insides. Yes please, broaden my horizons! I get caught up in the same old things sometimes – chasing those species that just never seem to release you. Barbed. And although you learn something every day out there, the diameter of the learning pipe is so much wider when trying something new. Info just comes gushing in and you do your best to try to hold onto it all amid this refreshing new experience. Or how about this: Would it be fair to say that it’s good to start with a dry sponge sometimes?

I have dabbled in this fishery before. But being too busy with the Trout and Steelhead scene has left me little time to branch out. As it turns out, this big old river that runs by town, the Columbia - one of the largest drainage ditches in the world – is home to a few Bass. Well maybe more than a few and maybe home to some really large Bass at that. Oh yeah Greg, I would love to. You bet.

Streamer Fishing for Trout - Sink Tip and Full Sink Fly Lines

Trout and Streamer

If you like to streamer fish, it is best to have some sort of sink-tip line with you. Keep one strung up on another rod, or simply load one up on an extra fly spool.

The benefits are huge.

Why? Well, for one, casting is far easier. When fishing tips, we do not need long lengths of leader. Between 3-5 feet of stout mono is adequate. A short leader means that it is easier to turnover furry, sometimes large and weighted streamers. The transition from fly line to fly is much smoother, and less likely to break down on the cast. Heavy flies or flies that don’t cut through the air very well on the end of a long leader/floating line setup can be a pain to cast.

Furthermore, these lines are dense; so they add weight, and naturally help to flex or load your fly rod. You can really feel the rod come under load which makes for a lot of stored energy and adequate timing on the forward stroke. On the forward cast, as a result of the added density, the line holds its form and forward momentum extremely well. The result is a nice accurate cast to the target.

Fishing With Gabe

Gabe doing what he does best.

As a fishing guide you meet many interesting folks along the way. Many are retired or have demanding careers or just everyday people who are willing to try something new. We share some stories, catch some fish, enjoy a day on the water and sometimes you’ll see them next year or maybe never again and so goes the life cycle of a fishing guide.

But every once in a great while, someone comes along that reminds you why you started fishing in the first place. Someone who takes you back to the excitement that hooked you so many years ago; someone that not only wants to be a good angler but also lives to fish. Someone with a free-spirited, pure passion for the sport and a willingness to push boundaries and break though that secret unwritten code of what an angler is supposed to be. Someone that takes you all the way back to the beginning, so many years ago - that first spark, the first fish, the first memory of what would become a lifelong quest.

Someone that…Well, I could go on and on.

Few things in my fishing career are as rewarding as sharing a day on the water with 13 year old Gabe. I first met Gabe about 5 years ago while working the counter at Gorge Fly Shop. You could feel the energy radiating from him like a solar eclipse that could only be handled in short bursts. Then, fishing questions shot at you faster than the gossip from a teenage girl, and five minutes later, your brain is swirling and you are wondering what just happened. But you dare not try to soften the energy because you know that inside lives a dream that you recognize.

Sink Tips, Polyleaders, Versileaders - A Buyer's Guide

Find more info like this on our store page; Fly Fishing Buyers Guides

Sink Tips. Polyleaders. Versileaders.

So what’s up with all this talk about tips and sink tips and polyleaders and so on? Well, it can be complicated but we can work through it. Let’s first start by going over the major difference between a tip and a poly/versileader.

RIO Sink Tip Kit

Polyleaders and Versileaders are both words coined by their respective manufacturers. Polyleader – Airflo. Versileader – RIO. Ok, think of these as taking the place of a conventional, mono leader however unlike conventional leaders there is actually a polymer coating that surrounds the inner, mono core. These leaders come in various densities, lengths, strengths and sink rates. Just like your mono leaders, they loop onto the end of your fly line and they are tapered so as to eliminate “hinging” and encourage smooth turnover. They have more overall mass – starting thick at the loop and tapering down to just the mono core at the fly end. So think of these as a leader - A leader that attaches to your fly line the same way a conventional leader would.

A tip on the other hand...

is an extension, or meant to be a part of your fly line that is either fused or looped onto the fly line. Some fly lines are constructed to perform with the addition of a tip. A good example of this is the Rio VersiTip II Fly Line for single hand rods. This particular fly line comes complete with a range of interchangeable tips that match your needs for the situation. Lines that are built to cast tips are very versatile because you may fish it as a floating line or at different depths in the water column.

Switch Rods - What's All The Buzz About?

bent 11 foot 7 weight switch rod

Switch rods get the blue ribbon for fly rod versatility. You can overhead cast them. You can spey cast them. Furthermore, they are the ultimate roll casting machines, so it is no wonder that they are taking the fly fishing world by storm.

What makes a switch rod a switch rod? It really comes down to their length, which falls somewhere between 10 ½ and 11 ½ feet. Also, their cork handle extends below the reel for two-handed applications. These rods are longer than traditional single hand rods and shorter than spey rods. Being right in the middle, anglers are able to cross over into both realms if they so choose.

Fly rod manufacturers typically provide switch rods in the 5 – 8 weight range, but there are 4 weights available. Trout anglers tend to hang out with 4 -7 weights, depending on size of the fish and the size of the water. Salmon and steelhead anglers prefer rods sized between 6-8 weights.

Keep in mind that switch rods are larger than their single hand cousins. Normally, about 2 sizes larger - so a 5 weight switch rod is really comparable to a 7 weight singlehand rod of the same construction. In order to balance out a switch rod out with the right fly reel and single hand line, be thinking about two sizes up, generally speaking. For a complete rundown on fly lines for switch rods, check out Fly Lines for Switch Rods.

When would a switch rod come in handy? Well there are a number of scenarios, but let’s simply break down the advantages across different angler groups. Then we’ll finish up by talking about their disadvantages…

Fly Fishing Reels - A Buyer's Guide

Hatch Finatic

Yes, it’s true, fly reels can be just as expensive as the actual fly rod in hand. Certain reels can go upwards of a thousand dollars or more, but this sort of dollar outlay is rather luxurious. A more frequent price range for fly reels is between $60 – $600. What determines this price? Well it really comes down to the quality of materials used, the design and the size of the reel. The fly reel is an important part of the equation because it houses, and manages the actual fly line. Line comes in, line goes out – it is a continual process in fly fishing so anglers do need a well functioning reel to oversee this process. Whether you are stripping line out for a longer cast or trying to manipulate a presentation, line should peel off the reel smoothly without getting tangled. Also, let’s say that you hook a fish and it’s off and running… The fly reel must maintain tension and keep the line spinning off the fly spool in a somewhat, controlled fashion. Line management is key to landing fish and keeping you fishing efficiently. So what are the important considerations when choosing the right fly reel? Let’s go over them.

MATERIALS

Most fly reels on the market today are made from varying qualities of aluminum. Higher end models are machined from aircraft-grade stock, while lower end models are poured into a mold – resulting in a cast-construction. Keep in mind that although the price is right, cast aluminum is more liable to break than fully machined aluminum reels. Another important consideration is the finish on aluminum reels. Manufacturers speak of Annodizing or Allox Finishes. Most are either Type II or Type III finishes that create a protective layer to the surface of the metal. Annodizing helps to protect the reel from gouges or dings and fights corrosion which can be especially prevalent when fishing in salt water. Type II anodizing is more common than type III because it is cheaper and can be dyed with a broader range of colors. Type III is toughest, but usually only available in black or dark gray finishes.

I Dream of The Henry's Fork

My mind wanders back the meandering wake to that glassy water where the fish lay. And the bugs that hover there, long enough to hold off the mouths and the end of it all. I spent many hours there on my bum, my legs crossed, scanning the water for Mayfly regattas and spent wings collapsing.

Often the road there, would take me over Teton Pass and into that fertile country that lay to the west of the spires. Falling and twisting down into the green valley… Even through cracked glass, I could often make out the distant bulges of the Centennial and the Lemhi Ranges whose collisions rise over seventy miles distant. Windows down, there is bluegrass picking and wind throughout the cab of the truck. And best to stay alert on this twisted trail that winds though fields of potatoes and barley.

There are scattered heaps of rusted machinery by the side of the road. A too-ripe shack with no glass has the words “Cold Beer” peeling from its side. Little white houses and red barns with white trim are swallowed by the swaying prairie as the road continues on to the ancient caldera that is Island Park, Idaho. It is still my most favorite path to travel.

Passing over the bridge out of Ashton, Idaho, I get my first whiff of her – that unmistakable cool, buggy scent of wet earth and moving water. And there she be, still moving – rippling and smoothing her way towards the Snake’s other half and then onward; further until she fills with Steelhead and Salmon that come home from the sea.

To speak of origins: A rain drop meets Yellowstone and slithers down into the earth. It finds another and grows and finds more and strength becomes her and the water it flows clean and cold through a labyrinth of volcanic rock that came stone a million years before. And at the end of her underground path, out of the side of a modest hill on the western flank of the park, she is unveiled: streaming from the earth she is uncovered; she is beautiful, distinguished, banded, and witnesses tell it so.

The Henry’s Fork of the Snake River begins where Buffalo roam. Could a drop be more fortunate? How about me, could I be more fortunate to wade into her arms or sit on her banks and watch the clouds pass over? This is where my mind flows. When the present loses character, I drift upstream between the crests of a widening wake that may start with a nose.

A friend took me here long ago. We drank beer while watching the river and he told me that if I can catch fish here, then I could catch fish anywhere. I remember being anxious at the possibility of casting line as we continued to sit and watch. I grew restless that day, waiting. More sips of beer and salami slices down our hatches among chatter of bugs and rise forms and how best to approach a ripple that would hopefully ripple once more.

Easy Hook Removal

We were on the Aroostook River in that dense Maine country. Andy and I were casting flies into a shaded, foamy pool when my Elk Hair Caddis blew off target and dove into my finger. I pulled on it but it held firm and so I really reefed but to no avail, that fly was in there good. We were both green fly anglers at the time so he was as amazed as I, that it wouldn’t pull free. My eyes watered and I muttered those angry words that teenagers do as I struggled with this frustrating little prick in my finger.

Andy’s Grandpa was down around the bend and more than likely, catching fish. That’s probably what one did on a river after having spent more than 60 years on them. I wondered about the price of knowledge as we continued to catch none and me, dutifully lassoing the air with a fly stuck in my finger.

Later on, I swallowed my pride as Andy’s Grandfather took my hand and freed the fly. As it turned out he knew about this sort of thing.

That was about 20 years ago and since then, I have repeated this technique many times on myself and others. And it’s also something you can easily talk your buddy through when you need that third hand or another set of eyes. Want to know how? Ok, It’s easy.

Let’s say you stuck one in the top of your leg and the point is no longer visible. So what you are left with is the metal that just starts it’s ninety degree bend, the shank and then the eye of the hook. Now it’s better to pinch those barbs down but regardless of barb or no barb, I’ve never had this technique fail. Anyways, clip some strong tippet from your spool. I like to work with a long piece, so I’ll snip off about 20 – 24 inches of strong, yet supple tippet (Maxima 10 lb, Powerflex 0X, or whatever you have on hand). Then double it over (not necessary to double it if it is stout enough) and slide it around the bend of the hook and grab a hold of both ends. Wrap your index and middle finger around the line and then draw back pressure lightly so the line naturally seats in the deepest part of the bend. Next, pull ever so slightly against the hook to find just the right angle of entry (This should be real close to a 180 degree from the eye of the hook). Then, using the thumb on your other hand, depress the eye of the hook firmly down into the skin (This dislodges any bumps or barbs in the hook). Snug up the tippet and then yank abruptly on the angle that you have lined up with the hook shank.

Was gonna stick myself, but thought better of it

Like I said, I’ve never had it fail. I should mention that when you are pulling one out of somebody else, it helps to inform them: “Ok, I’m gonna count to three and then I’m gonna yank.” But instead of yanking on three, yank on two and boom, it’s already out by the time you should have said three.

I had a buddy call me up one time and said he wanted to come by so that I could pull a fly out of his face. I said that of course, come on by. So later, he walked through the door with this giant Sculpin stuck sideways in his nose. He seemed a bit unsettled, so I asked him if he wanted a beer before we got to the task and he said that that would be good. But after a few minutes of sitting there and trying keep a normal conversation going, I just came out with it:

“We got to get that out man, I just can’t look at your face anymore.”

It was out on two and we got back to the task of drinking some beer.

Have a good time out there,

"The Gorge"

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