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TROUT, SALMON & STEELHEAD
FISHING
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Great Lakes vs.West Coast
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Kype Magazine VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2, 2009 Kype Magazine Castle Douglas Productions.LLC PO Box 2024 Anacortes, WA 98221 360.299.2266 Streamside@kype.net
CONTENTS OF KYPE Publisher’s Cast..........................................................4
www.Kype.net
Jig Fishing Series........................................................6
Kype Staff
Sockeye on the Fly.......................................................8
Publisher: George Douglas Editor: Jeff Warden Staff Writers: David Gantman Dake Schmidt Michael Steiner Gary Porter Sid Snow Jimmy Mac James Pierce
COPYRIGHT Kype Magazine Copyright © 2009 Castle Douglas Productions LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. May no part of this publication or DVD be copied or reproduced in any way without written permission from the publisher.
Steelhead Alley..........................................................10 Float Fishing with Center-Pin......................................12 Great Lakes vs. West Coast.......................................14 The Miracle Mile.......................................................18 Spey Series..............................................................20 Fishing Flies From a Noodle........................................22 The Kype Vise...........................................................24 River Bandit..............................................................26 Seafood at its Finest..................................................28 In order to find huge, brown trout in North American rivers, you must find a situation where there is a large body of water with feeder streams. The fish will then run the tributaries during their spawning periods. The Great Lakes System provides this special formula that produces MONSTER BROWNS! Hooking fish between five and ten pounds are common, but there are outstanding chances for fish reaching the high teens, sometimes tipping the scales over twenty. This brown trout was caught by Justin Haug last November while center-pin fishing a small stream in western NY. The fish took a blue roe bag presented under a float. He was using a five inch Mykiss Centerpin attached to a custom built, 13 foot Rainshadow float rod. Justin was using 4 lb. leader, as the stream was almost gin clear and the fish were kind of spooky. After snapping a few pictures, he released this fish to live another day. Justin explained this big male was one of about 20 fish landed that day between himself and one friend—a mix of browns and steelhead on a fine autumn morning. This Brown is definitely sporting a nice Kype! See Justin’s article on page 12.
Publisher’s Cast The Greatest Fisherman BY
GEORGE DOUGLAS
“I
’m the greatest—king of the world!" came out of the mouth of a young fighter, Muhammad Ali. Was he really the best fighter in the world? Probably not. George Foreman was a better, meaner, and more powerful puncher, and probably could have taken Ali four out of five fights…but that was not the case one night in Zaire, Africa. "Tonight, you are the greatest hockey team in the world," said Herb Brooks, to his young USA hockey team, just before they took to the ice against the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. The Russian squad would probably beat that USA
WHAT
squad, nine times out of ten...but that was not the case this special night in Lake Placid, NY. I’m well aware that there are better fly fishermen than myself. I know there are better oarsmen as well, and anglers who work a noodle rod better, pull plugs better, spey rod, float rod, and tie better flies. But, is there someone out there that can do it all? Is there one fisherman who can take salmon and steelhead, utilizing all those techniques without a weakness? Are they tough enough to fish in freezing temperatures? Do they have the endurance to hike a couple miles through the brush? Do
IS A
they have the personality and the appreciation for the outdoors—all necessary to be a successful guide? Have they devoted themselves to this sport, making it their career, and do they have the desire to take his or her skills to the next level, into a class of their own? If so, that person talks my talk; walks my walk, and although I acknowledge there are great anglers out there, when I approach the river, I do so as the greatest fisherman in the world. Based on that statement above, you may interpret it as arrogance, and it may lead you to say, "He is a legend in his own mind." EXACTLY!
KYPE?
A kype is a hook that forms on the lower jaw of a male trout, salmon or steelhead, during spawning periods. This is their badge of power and dominance that is unique to only these species. It's an explanation point, similar to the rack of a male deer— a sign of a warrior—a sign of strength. Only the brutes, only the stout, only the herculean bucks will display this emblem of pure power. These kype-busting bucks are known to burn out drag systems, shatter graphite, and snap leaders as if they were a strand of hair, and with such a mark of strength, thus—the title of our magazine, KYPE. 4
Precisely, my point. It is my wish that everyone approach the river with that same element of confidence. Confidence is my greatest tool. Don't think for a second that my plug rods will fire without me knowing they will. You have to believe in yourself. You have to believe in your knots, in your presentation, in your drift. When you doubt, you open the door for failure to enter. My objective is to instill confidence in my readership, to develop the right mindset for battling these menacing metalheads. On your next trip to the river, approach it as though you are the best. No fish will
It’s all about how you look
out-wit you. There are no anglers who can out-fish you. You are the greatest fisherman in the world. With that mindset, you’ll cast better, drift better, fight better, and overall, fish better. However, many fishermen fail after a few hours pass with zero action. Yet, this is the moment of truth—this is when you gird up your loins and become more focused, more confident, and more patient. Your confidence must be strong to the end. There have been many days guiding, when my clients landed a fish or two during the last hour of the trip. You may say to yourself, “Man, it’s not about the other
anglers, it’s about the fish. Who cares who is the best.” The truth is, I do. I’ve guided in areas that were extremely competitive, where fishing was all about who was the best guide on the river. It was that Competitiveness that led me to go to great lengths to be the best angler I could possibly be, and still motivates me to hold to my lifelong commitment in expanding my knowledge base, and striving to outdo each and every level I reach. Through my pursuit of attaining this goal, you, the reader, will benefit as I pass my experience and newly learned knowledge, tips, and techniques on to you through the pages of Kype
Magazine and our video footage. Do I really believe I am the greatest fisherman in the world? I’ve certainly been
humbled by many large steelhead, to the point I’d never make that statement—but, heck, I’d never dare admit it to myself.
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Jig Fishing Series Float Fishing Jigs, Part 2 DAVE GANTMAN hen I think of float fishing I can't help but remember a mild summer afternoon on one of my favorite local steelhead runs. While hiking the halfmile long trail, I couldn't help but get the feeling it was going to be a good evening of fishing. The weather was comfortable, the water conditions were low and clear, and I was carrying my float fishing rod. This particular spot starts with a nice riffle and drops into a slow moving, glassy run about 100 yards in length. Due to the abundance of snags and weeds on the bottom of the river, most fisherman overlook BY
W
this fishing hole. It's near impossible to drift-fish, and because of the low clear water, spinners and spoons could spook whatever steelhead were in the area. I knew, however, that fishing a float rod with a small jig was going to be my ticket to success. I suspended a pink and white 1/16 oz. River Rat Steelhead Jig about a foot above the weeds. Systematically working through the run, I managed to land four summer steelhead in the two hours before dark. W HY F ISH J IGS ? The ultimate goal in the pursuit of any species is to
BIG DOG
Photo by Dave Donofrio
6
catch more and bigger fish using the most simple and effective method possible. For steelhead, float fishing is widely considered to be just that. In the previous article, I explained that success in steelhead fishing is about increasing percentages during time spent on the water, as well as having confidence in the strategies and tactics being implemented. Using the float-fishing method, you can accomplish seemingly endless drifts where your chosen bait is in the targeted zone nearly 100% of the time. It's a very visual and interactive way of fishing which will keep
your interest and add to the enjoyment of the steelheading experience. SETTING UP To get started with floatfishing jigs, all that's required is a float, swivel, leader material, split-shot, and jigs. You can catch plenty of fish using just these basics. Getting a little more technical with our tackle choices allows us to increase our percentages while on the water. I like to use a rod with a length from 9 to 11 feet, and a line weight of 8 to 10 pounds.
This helps in casting light set-ups and provides good line control. A rod with a little extra length also allows you to play large fish on light leaders, which can prove necessary in some jig-fishing conditions. The main line that I prefer for float-fishing jigs is 15 to 20 lb. braid, or what it is also called spectra. This type of line has a very thin diameter for its breaking strength and it casts with very little effort. The line will also float, which allows for much easier line manipulation when attempting to achieve a proper drift. Attached to the main line you can use either a fixed or sliding float. If using a sliding float, a bobber stop will be necessary to adjust the proper depth, but be sure to always place beads on your line just above and below the float to act as bumpers. Below the float you should have a barrel swivel between the main line and the leader. The leader can be either monofilament or fluorocarbon, 8 to 15 lb. Your leader should, however, always have a smaller breaking strength than your main line. This helps avoid losing your entire set-up when snagged. On the leader, you need to have enough weight to balance the float. For example, you have a 3/8 oz. float and an 1/8 oz. jig—this would mean you need a 1/4 oz. of weight above your jig to balance the float. This weight, when
Photo by John Fabian
David Gantman with a beautiful Oregon Steelhead hooked on a jig. spaced evenly along the leader, helps the jig ride directly below the float. Now the rod has been properly set up—you're ready to fish! FISHING THE JIG To begin fishing your jig, estimate the depth of the water, and set the float 12 to 36" above what you estimate the bottom depth to be. Cast up-stream to the head of the desired pool, run, or riffle, starting with short casts. Reel in the slack as the float drifts down in front of you. Before opening your bail, lift your line to straighten any slack. Now allow the line to peel freely from the spool. This accomplishes what is called “the dead drift.” The dead drift allows the jig to float with the current at a natural speed. Each cast made, should be made further and further out, systematically working your drifts further
away from the bank. This allows you to cover all the water without spooking fish. Float-fishing jigs is a quick and effective way
to work through fishing spots. You can cover lots of water and feel assured that fish are not being missed. If you haven't gotten a bite, change the jig to another color and/or size and work through the area again. If your float gets taken under, close the bail, reel down, set the hook, and hold on! Applying these tactics for float-fishing jigs, you should be able to go out to your favorite steelhead waters and be successful. Look to future articles in the Jig Fishing Series for more in-depth and detailed information about jig fishing. To contact the author visit RiverRatJigs.com
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Sockeye on the Fly BY
DAKE SCHMIDT
T
he months of May and June on Kodiak are a good time to watch dirty snow melt, new buds of green grow, and get some time in at your favorite metalhead hole. There's nothing better in life than spring steelhead fishing on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Wait! Scratch that! There is nothing better than spring steelhead fishing on Kodiak AND coming home with your first two dime-bright sockeye of the season. Also called red salmon, sockeye seem to lead the pack when it comes to all species of Pacific salmon. From what they eat, where
they spawn, how they fight, or taste on the dinner table, the red salmon is in a class all by itself. For me, those first two fish are the representation of a ribbon cutting ceremony, the beginning of a spectacular salmon season. Sockeye are the only salmon that spawn in lakes (or feeder creeks into that lake) and typically spend their first 1 to 2 years of life there, feeding almost entirely on plankton alone. After leaving the lake, they head off to the wide open ocean where they spend another 1 to 2 years of their life.
Finally turning around, they make a hasty run upriver through the gauntlet of hooks, lead, and line. For the salmon that make it to the lake, their f o c u s becomes finding that one special mate to keep the cycle of life flowing. One of the best places to target red salmon is the Pasagshak River, a 30 mile drive from town. The scenic drive along the coast is
SOCKEYE SALMON
Dake Schmidt
8
Dake lands this nice chromer with a Super-Secret Sockeye Fly.
impressive. Lush green mountains rise from sea level, while Dake Schmidt bright
chrome sockeye cruise the bay, jumping from time to time, announcing their presence. In Kodiak, sight fishing is king and without a good pair of polarized glasses you might as well be fishing blindfolded. Spotting these fish takes place in water depths of 8 inches to 3 feet high, directly at the mouth of the river where fresh water clashes with the salt. This is where technique and presentation is everything. Like hungry bears, fishermen stand on the banks, rod in hand, squinting into the gin-clear water in anticipation for what lies ahead. Then it happens. Downstream, people start flipping their lead and hooks furiously into the river, announcing to all upstream that a school of fish has arrived. As the
the attic. Reds, pinks, purples, and black work well year round for most species of fish, but here on the Pasagshak River, fishing for sockeye, chartreuse is my weapon of choice. An excellent angler, Kadie Walsh, created a pattern called the Super-Secret Sockeye Fly—simple, but effective—and ever since its introduction I have come home with fillets for the freezer and an aching shoulder. In my mind it looks like a juicy presentation of organic goo that these adults feed on as fry and smolt in their earlier years. The most important thing here is a super sharp hook, like the Gamakatsu Octopus #4 in green. Using chartreuse thread, and in this order stack a pinch of each of the following: UV Minnow Belly, Chartreuse Fishhair, and lastly, Chartreuse Krystal Flash. Now give it a whip-finish, and fish on! Weighing in between 6 to 10 lbs. these salmon are built for speed and power. With thick backs and broad
tails the agility and energy they can produce is unrivaled by most other sport fish. This all becomes apparent when your drift comes to a dead stop, and then all in one motion, your fly line darts back up-stream and the sound of your line ripping
through the water will send shivers up your spine and adrenaline throughout your body. Sockeye are notorious for erupting out of the water and thrashing recklessly through the air, while often throwing the hook in a flash. Only experienced anglers CONTINUED
ON PAGE
30
Kodiak Island, Alaska Walk in / Wade Trips For Coho, Sockeye, Pinks, Rainbows, Dolly Varden and Steelhead.
Guide, Dake Schmidt (907) 486-7000 dakenak@yahoo.com
• Custom tours available • Site Seeing • Museums • State Parks • Wildlife and Bird Viewing
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Trout • Salmon • Steelhead
school moves up the river, their polished, chrome sides mirror the surroundings, making them eerily invisible except for their ghostly shadow in the current. Now is the moment of truth, where lead, line, and fly need to work together to produce a clean drift, edible presentation and solid hook-up. I can’t stress enough how important lead is in the equation of hooking salmon—or any other species for that matter. Position your lead (I prefer the split shot type) about two feet or so from the hook. Accuracy is everything as the strike zone can be under one square foot. These fish are running the last leg of a 4 year marathon and the action is so fast, one must be everready as the fish move up into your stretch of the river. You'll want to cast ahead and across them. As the lead drops, it drags the fly down in a sweeping motion towards and across your finicky target. Sockeye only take a second or two in the swift current, deciding if the offering is tempting enough to illicit a strike. If not, keep casting and adjust your swing, estimating where your fly will hit bottom in relation to the fish. In Alaska, most flies, beads, and jigs are made from loud obnoxious colors and materials that more resemble things stripped off a clown's costume, or an old feather boa from a trunk in
9
The Unpredictable Steelhead Alley BY
MICHAEL STEINER
T
HIGH WATER SUCCESS
he Great Lakes tributaries has some awesome fishing opportunities, some of the best in this country and Canada. There is a region off of Lake Erie known as “Steelhead Alley.” Nicknames can often be deceiving. In this case, however, it is very appropriate. The Lake Erie tributaries is an excellent fishery, however, it can be tricky due to the rough weather which creates fluctuating water conditions and various adversaries. It's typical to start your day on a low and clear stream and by the afternoon be fishing a high, fast and stained stream.
10
Having said that, and as an avid fly fisherman, my goal is to inform you of some tips and techniques that will help you prepare for anything Erie's "steelhead alley" has to throw your way. First of all, you must know multiple techniques to catch fish—depending on the conditions. When I approach the river I consider the water level, clarity, and speed, and formulate my plan. What type of water will I fish? Which fly to begin with? What size leader will I use, and how much weight will be needed to target the fish? All these aspects must be
adjusted to compensate for the conditions at hand. If I am looking at low and clear water conditions with light flow, I will go with a light presentation. For example, I may use size #14 single egg as my point fly, tied on 4X tippet, and a size #16 nymph tied on 5X as my dropper fly. I would use as little weight as possible with no indicator, using a standard high sticking technique so I can detect subtle strikes. When I arrive at the stream and find a good flow and the perfect color, I may use the same flies but increase the sizes a bit. Instead of a size #14, go
Michael Steiner fights off high and stained water and lands this big buck.
with #12—same with the dropper, bump it up to #14. Also you may want to increase your tippet diameter. I suggest fishing with the heaviest tippet that conditions permit. Steelhead are big and strong, so use every advantage you can. I’d also increase the amount of weight to get my flies to the desired depth. You want your flies in the strike zone as long as possible, and the correct amount of weight will make that happen. Another good technique in moderate flow is to use a strike indicator. This not only helps detect subtle strikes, but also allows you to control the depth of your flies. Once again, keep your flies in the strike zone as long as possible, that way your entire drift is effective. My personal favorite steelhead technique is fishing streamers, when conditions are right. When the water is a little high and stained a B.H. Woolly Bugger can do amazing things. I fish them in many different colors, my favorite being white, then black, then olive, in that order. When fished properly under the right conditions, there's no telling how many hookups you may have. I have
caught more steel on this fly than any other in my box. Although this fly can be fished in any water conditions, adjusting your presentation to the conditions is important. For moderate water conditions, I like to dead drift just like a nymph. Because of the size, color and materials used for this fly, its natural presentation is effective. In low water I like to strip the fly in traditional fashion. This will make up for lack of flow, and usually triggers strikes from your bigger, more aggressive fish. When the water is fast, I like to slow-twitch this fly during the dead drift, adding extra movement which entices the fish nicely. I also have good success fishing buggers on the swing. The extra speed you achieve at the end of the
drift, triggers very aggressive strikes. If you don't fish buggers often, try it! You won't be disappointed; this is a great weapon to add to your steelhead arsenal. Another tip, is to make sure you have a good fly selection. Be prepared for the different conditions you may encounter. Egg patterns and Crystal Meth flies work great, but think outside of the box. Throw some different patterns in the mix—try black Hares Ears, Copper Johns, in any color wire you can find. Maybe even try the Steelhead Hammer. (Great pattern! Look it up online!) There are a ton of good patterns out there via the world wide web, use the information at your finger tips. Now for a couple tips for fishing the Erie tributaries...The first and most important tip, "don't get stuck with the crowds." If
there are a lot of people, that‘s a good indication of pressured fish, who often get lockjaw. Make sure you stay mobile and leave your options open. If you’re willing to walk, you’ll find and catch fish! Remember to fish the river thoroughly, even cover water the other anglers pass up. Just because you can't see fish or there's not a group of people fishing that area, does not mean there are no fish holding in that location. Take your time and make a few casts and you might be surprised. Fish the pocket water and the riffs, if it looks like it could hold a fish, try it! One of my last tips is for high muddy water, which can be a horrible sight for anglers arriving to the river, especially if you have driven hours to get there—give it a chance. Stay on the bank
NETTING STEELHEAD As in fighting fish, a net job cannot be rushed. The fish must be clearly done fighting or you’re going to be taking a big chance. More fish are lost at the net then during the fight, and this is usually caused by poor judgement, carelessness or impatience. Always aim the net for the head of the fish, as this will force the fish to swim into the net if he exerts a final burst of energy. By approaching the fish from the back, the fish has a chance to swim out of the net. Usually, you only get one chance at netting a steelhead so you have to make it count. Never take a wild stab at a fish. The number one rule of thumb is to never consider taking a swipe, unless the fish’s head is completely out of the water. Make sure it is a clean swipe, aiming the fish directly into the center of the net.
and look to fish the slack water. Steelhead will move up-river in short bursts, then will duck out of the current to rest. Metalheads will often hang close to the banks and will use anything that will break the current for relief. Fish behind any structures that are visible and close to the bank. Use large, bright, highly visible flies. This might save the day and help you get some steel on the line. There are many good tributaries stretching from Ohio across Pennsylvania and into New York State, and up through Canada. As you make your way around the lake, be willing to try different techniques. You don't know what's going to work until you try. Adjusting to conditions and overcoming the obstacles thrown at you by Mother Nature, will make you a better steelheader. Photo by Justin Haug
A nice, fresh hen after a good net.
11
Kype-Tales Float Fishing with Center-Pin BY
JUSTIN HAUG
I
CENTER-PIN
t was about ten years ago when a good friend of mine and I were on one of our yearly fishing trips. I noticed what appeared to be a large bobber of some kind attached to his line. I immediately began laughing, and shouted to him, mockingly, “You know, we’re not out here trying to catch sunfish!” He shouted back in a monotonic voice, telling me I should just fish, and at the end of the day we’ll compare results. His unwavering confidence made me wonder if I’d have to eat my words by day’s end. The day went on with both of us having a very good outing, but in the end he out-fished me nearly two
Photo by Justin Haug
12
to one. At dinner that evening, he began telling me how this float fishing idea worked. I found it intriguing, after seeing his success on the river. He explained that the objective is to present your offering to the fish in a more natural way, trying to match the exact current speed. We all know these fish are very smart and any advantage we can get on them is a big plus, so I was game. We went back to his house, and he gave me one of his floats and showed me how to set my spinning rod. We met up early the next day, and I was excited to try out my newly learned tactic. We hit the water, and not even four casts later, my
friend is locked into a bright chromer. I fished for over an hour, without any luck, as he continued to catch fish. At this point, I was totally frustrated and wanted to go back to the way I knew how to fish—bouncing my offering off the bottom, as I had always done. He yelled over to me and said “Just stick with it, and it will happen.” I continued another twenty minutes, feeling more confident with each cast, and then it happened. I had cast into a perfect seam and watched as my float made its way through the run, and toward the tail-out, the float disappeared. I set the hook, and up came my first float fishing steelhead. It was not
a monster, but it was one fish I’ll never forget. From that point on, I was hooked. I fished the rest of the season with my newly found technique, and became very comfortable with that approach. During the off season, my friend and I spent time planning our first steelhead outing of the new season, when he turned to me and said, “Wait ‘til you see what I show you this time!!” He refused to reveal what he planned to show me, telling me I’d have to wait for our first trip. The weeks flew by and our first trip was suddenly upon us. I anxiously arrived at his house in the pitch darkness of early morning, and he loaded his gear into my car. It was almost light when we got to the water’s edge, and I asked him what he wanted to show me. He hands me his rod and says, "Look at that reel." It looked like a typical, large fly reel. He then explained it was a center-pin, and it was an even better way to fish, by allowing you to float through the entire run with a drag-free drift. Then he taught me how to cast his setup.
I’ve been hooked on center-pin fishing ever since. When you have a pool all to yourself, you have the option of standing at the top of the run and drifting your bait the entire length of the pool, completely dragfree—providing a more natural presentation. The rods needed for this type of fishing usually range from 11 feet up to 17 feet. The length of the rod is determined by the size of the water you’re planning on fishing. Most center-pin
anglers prefer a 13 foot rod, as they seem to be very versatile, accommodating most rivers. As far as the reels go, there are many options and sizes to choose from. You can go with an entry level, factory-made reel for less than $200, or you can go with a handmade reel that can cost upwards of $700. Get your hands on a float fishing set up, and you too will find this a very effective technique, increasing your hook-up rates tremendously.
A special thanks to one of our subscribers, Justin Haug of Elizabethtown, PA. Justin submitted this article and some great photos, one of which landed on our cover. Thank you Justin, great job! Send Your Fish Tales and pictures to Streamside@Kype.net
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13
Steelhead Great Lakes vs. West Coast BY
SIDNEY SNOW
W
e love hearing the feedback and questions from our readers and subscribers, so please keep them coming. This question came in from EJ Ravago, from Gurnee, IL. Q. Who has better steel? Great Lakes or the West? Be honest! I won't tell....
MONSTER BROWN
A. I’ve had the opportunity to fish Great Lakes tributaries, as well as many west coast steelhead rivers. In order to write this article fairly, I cannot compare the Skeena system to Steelhead Alley—I must consider all regions of the Great Lakes, and from California up through Alaska on the west,
14
and compare aspects of each.
various
Salt vs. Fresh Water The first and foremost difference is salt water fish, compared to fresh water fish. Although Lake Ontario has access to brackish/salt water, through the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes are otherwise fresh water. It is the largest fresh water system on the planet, as they hold over six quadrillion gallons of water collectively. The difference in steelhead, regarding the water type, is not as apparent as one might think. Splitting hairs, yes, one may say that
the fish from the salt water may have that extra little zip. However, I’ve landed 20 pound metalheads from both regions, and, to tell you the truth, both provided the fight of a lifetime. I don’t believe that after landing a 20 pound steelhead from a Great Lakes trib, anyone could say that it didn’t fight hard enough. Stocked vs. Native The steelhead fisheries in both regions have their share of hatcheries. Although steelhead were introduced to the Great Lakes and are, consequently, unofficially native to these waters, again, the difference is generally unno-
EJ Ravago lands a huge brown with a huge KYPE!
ticeable. The Great Lakes now have a wild run, along with hatchery fish--same as the west coast. Regulations The regulations tend to be more stringent on the west coast. Politics overshadow the banks of these west coast rivers. It is baffling that there are more regulations on one fishing angler holding one fishing rod, then there are on netters who extend huge nets across the entire width of the river, leaving no passable doorways for fish to move upriver. Go Figure. Fishing Pressure The Great Lakes tributaries are only a few hours drive from some of the most populated regions on the continent...New York, Chicago, and the entire surrounding area, which is home to millions of people. That, combined with the fact that the rivers are relatively short, leads to an obvious outcome: High fishing pressure. On the opposite side of the continent, you have a smaller population fishing much longer rivers. Don’t get me wrong--there are plenty of rivers on the west coast that are packed with anglers—and also,
Photo by Justin Haug
Great Lakes
Photo by Dake Schmidt
West Coast
anglers from the east coast have the option of hiking back into secluded tributaries of untouched water. There is also the option to fish in harsh weather, where you can count on
less anglers and usually more fish. In a sense, fishing pressure makes little difference to the more experienced angler, since the more fishing experience he or she
Amphibian Skin The Cure for Fair-Weather Fishermen
has, the more likely they’ve tapped into some great back-stream fishing havens. Also, an experienced angler knows the in’s and out’s of fishing a river full of rods, and can
therefore be successful in spite of the onslaught of obstacles—a topic worthy of an article in one of our future issues. Anglers new to the sport, CONTINUED
ON PAGE
29
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15
Pathfinder Res.
White Bluffs
Rainbow Hole Tow-Truck Hole
Miracle Mile Ranch
N. Platte River The Miracle Mile
Goose Island Hole Haystack Hole Cable Hole Cottonwood Hole
Bridge
High Tension Hole
Crane Fly Pool Kidney Stone Hole Spinner Flats Carpenter Shop Hole
Hog Hole
Kortes Dam
N. Platte River The Miracle Mile BY
GARY PORTER
It all started when we had to go to a meeting in Chicago. Our plan was to fish and do some filming on our way back to Washington. I was new to the production team and didn’t know what to expect having never set foot in the state of Wyoming. We were on I-80 seemingly forever, a sixteen hour drive with one overnight in the fun town of Lincoln, Nebraska. Not much to do on the long drive other than drift off into a state of bewilderment at the realization that there was a Flying J gas center every time we needed gas, yet there were none in between. “Hmmm, did they plan it this way?” rossing Nebraska, my curiosity grew as we approached the Wyoming border. “Welcome to Wyoming, brotha,” said George with a smile, and he was right, the terrain, the sky, the feel, was exotic. I quickly grabbed my cell phone to call my fiance’ and tell her we were finally there. Think again—no service to my cell company in the entire state of Wyoming. That was the first of many surprises to come. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Wyoming, but it has
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the tendency to baffle you each step of the way—from elk running in front of the truck, to driving along the edge of cliffs that have no bottom. And the storms. Wow. Now, those were some storms. An hour or so after crossing the border, we drove through Cheyenne and hit a storm that was nothing short of ferocious. First of all, the rain was so heavy we couldn’t see a thing, forcing us to pull over. We bolted into a convenient store, and we were shocked at the temperatures this storm brought in. It was freezing.
The drive to Hanna, Wyoming brought a variety of weather; torrential downpours, snow, sleet, wind, bright sun, a strange calm spell, lightning, thunder, and temperatures ranging from freezing to sixty degrees. We never saw anything like it, but we continued to drive toward Hanna, which would lead us up to the Miracle Mile. Well—not so fast. In Hanna, we quickly learned that the road up to the Mile was so muddy it would swallow the truck without leaving a trace of
us. We would have to drive all the way around to Rawlins and head up toward the Seminoe Dam. What a drive, though. Beautiful. Thick woods and a twisting dirt road, with a small wooden guardrail protecting you from the reservoir nearly a mile below you. As you emerge from the forest and head down to the Miracle Mile, you feel like you’re entering a scene from the Planet of the Apes. Miles of a sage-brush prairie with unique rock formations, randomly situated, and on the horizon, large mountains scrape the sky. When we reached the river, we got out and looked over its only bridge. I noticed the grimace on George’s face, noting the river conditions were high and brown. This water is movin’, he said. Our sound tech suggests we head up towards Casper and fish the Gray’s Reef area. George responded, “It’s high, fast, and muddy, but
the fish are here.” So we stayed in the area and looked around for good holding water, and were hoping to find an area with an obstruction to block the whipping wind. At the Rainbow Hole, a rock hill across the river acted as a shelter for us, and since it offered different types of water, George could fish the riffs above or the slow pool below. In case you haven’t viewed the film yet, I won’t give away the details of the day we had at this incredible spot, but George was right—the fish were there. All that was needed, was simply to go out there and work hard for them. Quite often, mother nature throws a curve ball at us fishermen. We can bail out of the batter’s box or keep our ground and fight off the pitch.
One thing to keep in mind, spin and bait fishing is legal here. I am certain that casting spinners or nightcrawlers would be very productive, compared to matching the hatch. But for you fly fishermen, be sure to nymph fish with an orange scud. The store there at the
Mile has a decent selection of flies and other terminal tackle. Overall, this area will keep you on your toes, but don’t let that discourage you from coming to one of the best trout rivers in the country. Spending a couple nights on this river and seeing the fish jump, the fish caught,
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the sunsets, the storm clouds and the North Platte flowing through this alluring terrain, was exhilarating. At times on the bank, it felt like this was heaven. I recommend this trip to any troutsmen who wishes to experience something out of the ordinary and catch fish at the same time.
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Spey Series
Part 1
Every Day is a Spey Day BY
CHRISTOPHER LESSWAY
I
20
sided acrobats, fishing with a two-hander (more commonly called a spey rod), has become an increasingly popular way to fuel our addiction. Twelve years ago, a friend of mine bought a spey rod. I thought he was crazy. Why would anyone want to learn to cast that behemoth of a rod. I was content with bouncing nymphs and egg patterns along the bottom. I caught plenty of fish this way and had fun doing so. I was set in my ways, and that was that. I figured I'd let my friend flail away with his new rod, while I caught fish, but a couple of years
later, after seeing more and more people on the river using the long rod, I decided to attend a spey gathering to see what this craze was all about. A spey gathering is where two-handed rod aficionados get together to exchange information, ideas and try new rods and lines. What I witnessed changed the way I viewed spey fishing. I watched an elderly gentleman make a cast of about 120 feet with no effort whatsoever. He made it look so simple. Not a single false cast or back cast was required. The fly line sliced though the air in a tight loop
Photo by Chris Lessway
THE SPEY CAST
f you’re anything like me and you love to steelhead fish, you probably already know it's more than just a hobby. Steelhead fishing is an addiction and a lifestyle. Do you find yourself calling in sick to go fishing? Do you send your rent check in late, because you needed a new pair of waders? Do you find yourself waking up at 4 in the morning, just so you can be the first one to arrive at your favorite steelhead run? Do you obsessively check river levels? If you answered yes to any of these questions, admit it— you're an addict like me. While there are many ways to fish for these silver-
Maximizing the coverage of water with a nice spey cast.
that seemed to never end, before gently falling to the river below. I was awe struck. I needed to learn this style of casting! I called my friend and told him I wanted to borrow his spey rod. After a barrage of heckling and unnecessary "I told you so’s," he eventually handed the rod over. I took it down to the river and made one battered cast after another. After thrashing the water and spooking every fish a mile up and down the river, I decided to buy a couple videos and books on spey casting. I put away the nymphs and egg patterns, bought my own spey rod, and totally dedicated myself
to learning this method of casting. For the next year, I fished exclusively with my spey rod. It had become a challenging, exciting, and new way to catch these chrome torpedoes in which we spend our lives pursuing. My casts were not perfect, however, a fishable cast doesn't have to be perfect. Spey casting is essentially an advanced aerial roll cast. It was named after the River Spey in Scotland. The origin of this technique of casting and fishing with two-handed rods dates back to the middle of the 19th century, where salmon anglers in Scotland were faced with the challenge of rivers that were wide, fast, and had trees and brush running all the way down to the rivers edge. These obstacles left no room for backcasts. To face these challenges, anglers used long rods from 15 to 20 feet long, and made of lance, ash, and greenheart woods. They were extremely heavy and wearisome to cast. The first spey cast developed from a roll cast—and over time, it formed into "true spey" casts. These casts, known as the single spey and the double spey, are still commonly used today. To be a successful angler, one had to cover as much water as possible by swinging the fly at a downstream angle across the river, while keeping the fly in front of the line, as to not startle the fish. With these long two-handed rods, anglers, on a good day, were able to roll their line out 80 to 90 feet.
A gentleman named Alexander Grant, a native of the Spey valley, took the art of spey casting to an extraordinary level. Using a 21 foot rod, he had created out of greenheart wood, he was able to roll cast a mind blowing 65 yards. How about that for some distance casting? It was about fifteen years ago that the "spey craze" came to the Northwest United States, Canada, and eventually the Great Lakes region. Steelhead anglers began to see the benefits of casting a two-handed rod. Long casts of 80 to 100 feet plus, could be made with relative ease and without any false casting, which in turn, meant the fly spent more time in the water. Anglers no longer had to worry about if they had room to make a back cast. With a longer rod, line control became that much easier. More efficient mends were made and longer drifts
could be achieved. These advantages opened up water that was previously only accessible by boat. Fishing with a spey rod in the winter became invaluable. Anglers could set a fixed length of line and not have to strip any in, resulting in less ice build up in the guides, and warmer hands. Since the invasion of the two-handed rod in North America, rod and line manufacturers have developed newer materials into their designs, which in turn, make spey casting more efficient and effortless. Due to these newer designs, more modern casts have been developed, such as the Snake roll, the Snap-T, the Wombat, and the Perry Poke, just to name a few. Salmon and steelhead anglers are not the only ones bitten by the spey bug. Trout anglers are using shorter and lighter versions of the two-handed rod while fishing with indicators,
throwing streamers, and skating dry flies. Nearly every rod company today makes some kind of spey rod. If you do decide to take up spey casting, talk to your local fly shop and find out what rod is good for you. I urge you not to get caught up in the technical jargon and semantics. Hire a guide and learn the basics. There are many great books and instructional videos also available. Study these and get out on the water. By learning how to cast the two-handed rod, you will find that you've gained access to waters and fish that were previously impossible to reach.
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One from the Vault Fishing Flies from a Noodle BY
GEORGE DOUGLAS,
WRITTEN IN
raditionally speaking, flies should be fished with fly rods. However, fishing flies from a spinning system is a deadly technique for both salmon and steelhead. Spinning flies can provide more opportunities as an angler can fish any type of water. The average fly fisherman will have trouble fishing deep pools with a fly rod. When the angler drifts through a deep pool, the fly line will start to bend from erratic underwater currents. These loops create a large disadvantage to the angler due to the amount of slack in the line, making it very difficult to detect a strike and allow a strong hook set. More difficulties can occur when choosing to fish an outer slot. For example,
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the river contains a fast shoot down the center of the river and a slower slot on the outer edge toward the far bank. The average fly fisherman will experience drag when targeting the outer slot. When the fly line is casted and the line lays on the river's surface, the current from the centershoot takes the line and drags your presentation out of the slower water, creating a completely unnatural drift. A fly fisherman can raise the rod tip in an attempt to keep the fly line up and over the faster water, but this can be difficult to achieve when the center shoot isn't directly in front of you. Also, by raising the rod tip too much, an angler can experience a slight drag from the weight of the fly line, which will
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cause the drift to consistently pull toward the angler, causing yet another unnatural drift. Fly fishermen also experience difficulty fishing to distant destinations. Long casts are often impractical and provide a poor drift. This factor will sometimes result in them wading out to water depths up to their armpits in an attempt to get closer to the target. This practice is unsafe and frowned upon by many river anglers. Spinning flies can eliminate these problems since the monofilament can cut through currents, not allowing the river to affect the drift. This fact, plus the ability to cast long distances, is the deadly combination that allows anglers to get their flies into all water types.
Spinning flies requires the use of weight at least a few feet above the fly. The weight will hold the fly in a natural drift not allowing currents or the high rod tip to drag the fly. In order to spin flies effectively, the angler must have the right equipment. For both salmon and steelhead a long limber rod is best. The length and flexibility of the rod allows for lighter line, which contributes to more strikes. Steelhead, Coho, Browns and Atlantics will require a 9.5 to 11.5 foot noodle rod, with ultra-light to light action. For Kings, a beefier rod is needed to provide enough strength to battle these bruisers. Reels with excellent drag systems will last a long time fighting these dynamic fish. Use a reel that balances with the rod you're using and one that feels comfortable to you. When fishing Great Lakes tributaries for steelhead, I use 4 to 6 pound test leader and an eight pound main line. For Kings, I'll run a twelve pound main line with an eight to ten pound leader. On the West coast, I use stronger equipment to accommodate a larger vol-
hook-set must be accelerated to bury the hook and to beat the spit. Your hand should move from the position of being out and extended, to back behind your ear. A very slight whipping sound should be heard. Casting out, 5 to 10 yards up-river from where you're standing, the weights should hit the bottom directly in front of you, or slightly up-river. This is ideal, as casting too far up-river will result in many snags and hang-ups. During your drift, you want the weight to graze the bottom of the river. This is very similar to the way I fish eggs—the only difference is the level of the rod tip. Fishing flies, the rod tip is pointed straight out, level with the water. The rod is practically pointing directly at the fly throughout the entire drift. You need a direct line, from the finger that’s on the line, to the fly, in order to feel those barely perceptible hits. Move the rod down with the drift, but as the rod moves in a downriver direction, gradually direct the point of the rod down closer to the water. At the end of the drift, the rod tip should be pointing down-river and one to two feet above the river surface. Fishing flies with spin gear is not allowed on the fly fishing sections of many rivers. Be sure to read the rules and regulations regarding this technique.
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ume of water, and larger fish. The rig is simple. Use a barrel swivel between the main line and leader. The leader should be between three and six feet in length, depending on conditions. The clearer the water is, the longer the leader should be. Apply your split shot above the swivel. If you do prefer using slinkies, use a three way swivel instead of the barrel swivel. Connect the slinky to its own loop on the three way swivel, by attaching it with a snap or from a drop leader. The key to this technique is being able to detect a strike, especially with steelhead that will hit flies very lightly. Steelhead will eat small aquatic insects and eggs without moving an inch. The pickup will often be a quick breath in, almost like a sucking effect. If the angler doesn't feel this, the fish will spit the fly out and probably become spooked. Always have a finger on the line to feel every little nook and cranny. I use the pointer finger on the hand that holds the rod. If you're not used to this, after much practice, it will become second nature, and will allow you to distinguish rocks from fish. Many times the hit will be a slight tap...tap...tap, and sometimes it’s just the fact that your line has stopped drifting. Detecting the pick-up immediately is imperative to ensure a good hook-set. With these longer rods, the
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The Kype Vise Thunder Fly TIED
BY
ELIZABETH BARREDA
he Thunder Fly was designed by the Mahoney brothers, John & Pat, of New York State. The fly is named after the great steelhead phrase, “Heavy Metal Thunder,” which this fly tends to produce. Steelhead love this fly in all parts of the continent. This fly has taken steelhead from the Great Lakes, all the way to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, as well as up the coast of British Columbia, and into Alaska. One of our staff took a trip to Montana and ventured the mighty trout rivers in the “Big Sky Country.” He spent a half-day attempt-
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Leader Dispenser
ing to “match the hatch,” to to use a peach colored (or no avail. Glancing into his lime), stretch thread or fly box, he grabbed a something similar for this Thunder Fly just for kicks— particular color scheme. nothing to lose. Within a few Tie on two black goose casts, the Big Sky started to biots for the tail, to create “thunder”! a forking This fly effect, could be Within a few casts, the similar to considered a stone fly Big Sky started to an eggtail. Then, “thunder”! sucking wrap the nymph, but t h r e a d a little different. Is it an around the shank, so the egg? Is it a bug? It’s hard to bottom half of the hook is say how fish think, but per- peach. Right where the haps in their moment of tail of the fly begins, tie questioning, they strike. on a piece of florescent Start creating this fly green larva lace. Wrap by using a size 6 to 10 the lace over the peach Mustad #3906B. Be sure thread and tie off half
way up the shank. Next, cut a piece of peach chenille, and pull the fabric off one end to expose the string for easy and neat tying. Tie the chenille on, just above the larva lace and create an egg-shaped ball. Be sure not to make the egg too close to the eye, because there is one last step remaining, and you’ll need the room. With this in mind, tie on two more goose biots for wings. Just as the tail, be sure the two biots are facing the same direction with the tips curving backwards. The wings should be in a Vshape and not too long. Do not exceed a half of an inch.
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This fly can be tied in several different color combinations. Other effective combinations are tied with black thread, white biots, red larva lace and black chenille (see the ad on page 30, where this fly was used). Another, is an olive pattern, which is extremely effective—use olive thread, tan or white biots, olive larva lace and olive chenille. These half buggy, half eggy flies will trigger light hits, mostly sucked in by steelhead. Many times, the fly will be stuck directly in the fish’s tongue and throat area. This can be good and bad at the same time. It indicates that the fish are aggressive toward it, but may also cause the line to rub along the teeth of the fish, causing breakage in the line.
Photo by Dake Schmidt
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River Bandit Prepare for Battle BY
JIMMY MAC
R
emember last year’s Superbowl, when Tom Brady received that horrific delay of game penalty in the last few minutes of the game? He’s in a “hurry-up” offense, and approaches the line of scrimmage. The crowd is roaring, and the Giant defense is showing blitz. Brady needs to call a play, but he’s fumbling around trying to get the play sheet out of his back pocket. Too late, however! The whistle blew, and the Patriots are hit with a crucial five-yard penalty. Well, for those of you
who know football, you’re probably scratching your heads in the realization that the above scenario never happened—nor would it ever happen. Tom Brady would never put himself in a position where he’d have to fumble around in his pockets in an attempt to retrieve his play information. The game is
too important. The stakes too high. As a true professional, he, along with many other quarterbacks, wear a specially designed wristband to keep their plays at their fingertips, where they are easily and instantly accessible. The same concept should apply for river fishermen. No need to approach
your “line of scrimmage” on the river bulked up in gear, and fumbling in and out of your vest pockets—trying to free up your hands to tie knots or get leader! Now there’s a solution that will enable you to kiss your fumbling days good-bye! Kype Magazine is proud to announce that our publisher, George Douglas, has
KYPE WATERPROOF FISHING GEAR EXCERPT FROM ISSUE 1 Most rain jackets can weigh you down and can be very restrictive, hindering free motion, which is especially needed for fly casting, not to mention the annoying sounds the material makes with each move, and can be very hot and uncomfortable Furthermore, when an angler places a rain hood upon their head, it blocks his or her ability to utilize valuable senses. In an attempt to find a solution, I searched diligently for material that would live up to my standards and would be part of my everyday fishing attire, whether it is raining or not. It had to be completely waterproof, stretchable, warm, comfortable, soft, quiet, yet tough enough to endure brush and abrasions. Finally I was able to create Amphibian Skin which met all of these qualifications and more. That is why I am proud to manufacture and offer this product to our readers. 26
See the ad on page 15
KYPE BACK ISSUES
inches of leader for the next pull. We recommend small Maxima leader spools. Be sure to keep the plastic casing on the spool. River-Bandit is best worn on the arm you reel with. It contains velcro for adjustable size and allows you to replace the fly foam if it wears out. Approach the river prepared to touch-down a trophy trout or steely!
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Did you m iss the firs t issue of Ky pe Magazi ne?
just launched a new product that he designed, called River-Bandit, a wristband for fly fishermen to store their flies and encase leader material, right at their fingertips. River-Bandit is made from Amphibian Skin, a waterproof material that will ensure your flies are protected and dry. Now, when you need a fly, you simply secure your rod under your arm, and tear the velcro panel open, exposing your flies and leaving both hands free! To get leader, which is conveniently located on the forearm, just pull out the amount needed and clip— be sure to leave a couple of
Make sure you have every copy of Kype 2009 Volume 1 Issue 1: DVD: Fishing For A Dream. The Publisher of Kype Magazine searches for his new guide. Shows the vigors of preparation in guiding. Then off to the river for some great steelhead and trout scenes. Kype Magazine, Issue One: Starts off with an introductory article, then moves into informative articles on jig fishing, bead fishing, trout in Yellowstone, simple techniques for metalheads, and more. Back copies of Kype are 19.95, includes shipping to US and Canada. Place your order at Kype.net Castle Douglas Productions PO Box 2024 • Anacortes, WA 98221
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SeaBear Seafood at its Finest STAFF REPORT
I
n 1957, fisherman, Tom Savidge, and his wife Marie, built a backyard smokehouse and began selling smoked wild salmon to local taverns from their home-based business in Anacortes, Washington, which is also presently the home to Kype headquarters. With that, Specialty Seafoods was born, (later renamed SeaBear after the Native American legend). Local tavern owners and their patrons loved Tom's
smoked salmon, and requested that he find a way to preserve it longer. Tom took their challenge seriously, and created a whole new idea in packaging…the Gold Seal Pouch, for which he, later, received a patent. The Gold Seal Pouch preserves the salmon naturally, requiring no refrigeration until the pouch is opened. This breakthrough in packaging, opened the door for customers, mostly tourists
from Washington's San Juan Islands, to have the ability to bring Tom's salmon back home with them, or to ship it to family and friends throughout the country. Word spread rapidly about their smoked wild salmon and the new packaging concept, and business was on the boom. Today, SeaBear ships wild salmon products to customers in all fifty states. Tom and Marie remain dedicated to the
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same principles they founded the company upon, decades ago—producing great products, applying a creative approach to all they do, putting their customers first, and keeping an open ear as to what customers want. The Smokehouse at SeaBear maintains the tradition of award-winning quality and it stands behind the quality of their products with an unconditional Fisherman's Oath guarantee. SeaBear has offered the best of wild Alaskan salmon since 1957, which is highlighted by numerous industry recognitions (the Grand Prize in Alaska’s Symphony of Salmon and the Bronze Medal at the International Seafood Show, for example), as well as coverage in leading media, such as Prevention, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Fitness Magazine, QVC and Parade’s What America Eats. Seabear sells a variety of Pacific Northwest seafood, but their focus is wild salmon for entertaining, healthy eating and gifts. They feature traditional northwest smoked salmon fillets; wild salmon dinner fillets: appetizers such as beer-garden smoked salmon,
smoked salmon chowder, and much, much more. Our staff recently toured SeaBear's facility. Upon entering the building, we were struck by just how huge the operation is—fish being cleaned, some prepared for smoking, others filleted and packaged—all departments working together as a team. The staff was courteous and friendly, and went out of their way to make us feel welcome, assuring us that they'd be most happy to answer any questions we might have. You can't help but be impressed by the level of cleanliness at SeaBear. You could eat off the floor. Last, but not least, we
were shown the grade salmon used in their products—and believe me— these are first-rate selections. That's what makes SeaBear different—they begin with only pure, premier, natural, wild salmon (less than 1% of all Alaskan salmon meets their specifications), and the end product is delicious seafood delivered to your door. Visit our website, at Kype.net and order some of the finest, non-perishable SeaBear products listed in our product section, and for fresh, refrigerated options or gift baskets, frozen berries, and fabulous desserts, go to our “links page” and click on our direct connection to SeaBear.
GL vs. WC FROM PAGE
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however, usually start where the crowds are, but over time, they will begin migrating off the beaten path into their own honey holes. Quantity This is a tough one. There have been days in both regions where I locked into banner days, hooking over thirty fish. There are regions of the upper west coast where the steel is so thick, the river looks like solid metal. Okay—yes—a bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point—the rivers are loaded. Conversely, some Great Lakes river bottoms are wiggling with steelies--and that’s not an exaggeration. If I were to make a call at this moment, considering all rivers in all regions of the US, I’d have to say the Great Lakes have the edge. Quality and Size West Coast takes the nod in this category, as metalheads are tipping the scales over thirty pounds! This can be a problem for those of us, including me, who choose to fish light gear, which can be all fun and games until you lock into a monster, twenty-five pound buck, who can eat you alive and leave you with your backing wrapped around your head. Great Lakes steelies will
rarely get over fifteen pounds, however, Lake Ontario will produce some bigger girth with fish exceeding twenty pounds. Serenity This is a big one in my book. To get out into pristine wilderness and fish God’s Country is invigorating, to say the least. Douglas firs line eight-thousand foot, snow-capped peaks, and luscious, blue-green tinted pools lay between sets of rapids. Quite the site—and only to be found out west. Obviously, the landscape of the Great Lakes is different, but, to give it a fair shake, there are awesome streams that cut through some beautiful terrain. As you walk through the woods of upstate New York and Pennsylvania, you are overcome with the feeling that you are in a sportsman’s paradise. There is nothing quite like a hike to a back-woods stream in this region. In Conclusion Obviously, I have mixed feelings, as, I’m sure, you do. After all, we’re talking about two gorgeous areas, both home to America’s greatest source of steelhead. But, before reaching a final conclusion on these pages, post your opinion on the Kype Facebook page. No doubt, they’ll be solid arguments on both sides of the fence, and after reading your postings, we’ll conclude the outcome in our next issue. 29
FROM PAGE
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are skilled enough not to get schooled during their blistering and knucklebusting runs, and it doesn't matter to them which direction they go. I've had fish bolt upstream only to run aground on the sandy bank, beach themselves high and dry, and then flip back into the water full speed ahead. Other times they'll head for the safety of the salt water, and this is where you'll get your exercise walking, jogging, and stumbling through fishermen and their lines. By this time in the fight, you can hear your drag screaming, watching your
Kadie Walsh displays a nice 8 lb sockeye on the Kodiak Island road system—Buskin River. fish with meat the color of candy apples—job well done! Hopefully you realize what great table fare they make, and to that, all
I can say is, olive oil, a hint of soy sauce, a little ginger and pepper, and throw it in the oven and get your bake on!
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Photo by Dake Schmidt
Sockeye
fly line disappear off the spool. Rest assured, you’ll eventually hear the clicking sounds as your backing knots, (which by the way, probably haven't seen the light of day in months or years), go shooting through the eyelets. As you watch your backing get towed through the crashing waves, wondering which move to make next, this is truly a time of desperation. Hungry seals and the draw of the ocean's current are plenty enough to break you off, end your fight, and have you slowly walking back with your head hung low, empty handed, knowing you were beat by the best Kodiak has to offer. If you're lucky enough to land one of these prize
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Fishing Adventures Photo by Dake Schmidt
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Kype Fishing Adventures has an affiliate program with some of the best fishing guides and lodges on the planet. Give us a call and let our experienced staff customize your next fishing adventure. We take great care in recommending appropriate fishing destinations to our clients. If needed, we obtain the lowest airfare and best flight schedules to each destination we represent. We handle all arrangements from airline tickets to netting the last fish of your trip.
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Suggestions for your next fishing adventure... Washington State: Majestic rivers pour through lush and pristine wilderness. Fishing under snowcapped peaks and hooking into big steelhead and salmon.
Oregon is jam packed with river after river that are world class fisheries. Some of the most beautiful rivers twisting through picturesque terrain.
The Skeena River System in Northern British Columbia. One of the biggest runs of Salmon and Steelhead in the world. First class all the way.
Great Lake Tributaries for 10 to 20 pound Brown Trout. 40 pound Monster Kings. And up to 20 pound chrome Steelhead. All in your east coast, back yard.
Yellowstone National Park Region: Some of the best trout streams in the world, all within 100 miles of each other. This trip of a lifetime awaits you.
Fishing Alaska, need we say more? Untouched, remote territory teeming with huge runs of fish. Don’t put this trip off any longer.