"I don't remember the actual moment my fly fishing & photography hit head on, but I knew when it did I was a goner." —Rich Schaaff
w w w. e a s t f or k f ly. c o m f ly f i shing l if e s t y l e & p r od u c t p h oto g r a p h y
What is a 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—a sign of a warrior. From this mark of strength comes the title of our magazine, KYPE.
Kype Magazine VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, 2010
Kype Magazine Castle Douglas Productions.LLC PO Box 2024 Anacortes, WA 98221 360.299.2266 Streamside@kype.net
Publisher’s Cast..........................................................4
www.Kype.net Kype Staff
When Browns Attack..................................................6
Publisher: George Douglas Staff Editors: Kristen Bailey Lem James
Rod Breakers on the Alagnak.......................................8
COPYRIGHT
Learn What Trout Really Eat......................................12
Kype Magazine Copyright © 2010 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.
Ted Williams, The Legend...........................................10
Spey Clave on the Sandy River....................................14 The North Umpqua....................................................16 Kype Nation..............................................................20 Press Release...........................................................23 The Kype Vise............................................................30
T
his issue features a very talented photographer, Rich Schaaff. Rich is a fly fishermen who frequents the East Fork of the Lewis River in Washington State. His photography is exceptional and captures the beauty of fly fishing, fly fishing products and the subtle details that surround the sport. Rich uses a variety of different looks that include classy black and whites, sepia’s, full color, and a unique color / grayscale hybrid as seen on this issue’s cover. This issue of Kype also sports a new layout and design, and Rich’s photography compliments it perfectly. As you turn through the pages of this issue, keep an eye out for his photos that are scattered throughout. Also, be sure to visit his impressive website at www.eastforkfly.com The actual flies were tied by Mike Nutto who appropriately named the fly the “Nutto Stone.”
KYPE
Fishing Magazine
“Keeping it Real.” by George Douglas
We are coming to the end of our nine month fishing excursion. Of course with anything there are ups and downs, and that certainly proved true being on the road this long. Living out of suitcases and a truck full of product, fishing gear and camera equipment is not for the weary. Publishing in and out of hotel rooms and in the passenger seat passing through multiple states can be exhausting as well.
Bio: Publisher of Kype Ohio Steelhead Guide Hall of Fame Author Fly Tier Type of Fishing: Fly, Spey, Spin, Pin & Plug Location: 1/2 the Year, Great Lakes 1/2 the Year, West Coast Filming everywhere else Website: KypeMagazine.com Contact Info: Streamside@kype.net
However, these challenges do not come as complaints. To have the opportunity to travel to the best fisheries, that included an amazing spring guiding season in northeastern Ohio, was an experience of a lifetime. The clients this year were awesome, great people, lots of fish, and good times. This fishery was explosive and I plan to return to guiding in Ohio for every spring and fall season. n the past, I have written about fishing with confidence, but at the same time, there must be a desire to expand your knowledge base and to experience things that may be outside your comfort zone. Similar to any industry, the fishing industry can have a lot of hot air blowing around at times. Generally speaking, everybody knows everything. You hear a lot of big names being thrown around along with the same ole industry blather. Being in and among this, it is my observation that many fishermen, and even some professionals in the industry, are guilty of Plato’s Cave.
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The allegory of the cave was used by the Greek philosopher, Plato. His intention was to illustrate human nature in regards to knowledge and education. Plato describes a fictitious group of people who have lived as prisoners in a cave their entire lives. The people would watch shadows projected on a wall when things passed in front of the fire behind them. According to Plato, the shadows were as close as the prisoners would get to seeing reality. He then goes on to explain how the philosopher is like a prisoner who is freed from the cave and comes to understand that the shadows on the wall were not reality at all. He can now perceive the true form of reality rather than the mere shadows seen by the prisoners. Sometimes anglers become legends in their own mind, but only in what they see and do every day. For example, they may call themselves expert fly fishermen, but wouldn’t know the difference between a Perry Poke and a
WASHINGTON
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WASHINGTON
Sincerely, George Douglas
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Photo by Richard Schaaff
Excerpt: Fish Like a Guide In 1903, an author by the name of Wallace Wattles, wrote a book called “The Science of Getting Rich.” His book did not only focus on how many zeros one could add to their net worth, but also about how to become rich in all facets of life. He talked about “thinking and doing things in a certain way” which I found very applicable to nearly all that we do, including the art of catching fish. If you do things in a “certain way” on and off the river, you will become a better angler, I promise. Guides do things in a certain way. You can spot them a mile away. You can tell by the way they move, the decisions they make, their preparation and strategy—and it is all geared for one thing, catching fish consistently. In this book, I will shine light on those traits, to grant you access inside the mind of a fishing guide, allowing you the opportunity to emulate their moves and inherit their thought process that can place you into the upper echelon of fly fishermen. KYPE
Triple “S” Guide Service Fishing SW Washington & Oregon Contact Lee Freeman to discuss your fishing adventure today. 503-312-9844 salmonfishingnorthwest.com
Within those regions comes a plethora of technique and various styles.
cover art subject to change
pizza pie. Why? There is no need for a Perry Poke on their local water. We are living on a planet that has amazing fishing opportunities. There are outstanding fisheries from Russia to Canada, from Europe to Chile and everything in between. Within those regions comes a plethora of technique and various styles. If you’d like, I can give you shadows on the wall all day long, and I may be more successful in doing so, but that is not the true reality of steelhead, salmon and trout fishing—hence our new slogan, “Keeping it Real.” This year I was inducted into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as one of forty eight legendary communicators in the freshwater arena. This great honor reflected my dedication to this sport as I started at a very young age and have continued for the last twenty, plus years. During those years I positioned myself in and among some of the best fisheries on the continent—and now have my sights on some of those mentioned above. In lieu of this achievement, Kype Fishing Magazine announces our new Hall of Fame section in each issue, featuring legendary anglers who share this honor with me. Also, I’d like to announce my latest contribution to the sport with my new book: George Douglas’ Fly Fishing: FISH LIKE A GUIDE. (A short excerpt of the book’s introduction follows). In the meantime, I will continue to bring you an awesome product that is raw and real. So if you are stuck in your cave, stop being your own prisoner and come on out and see the reality of Kype Nation.
Pre-order Special at Kype.net $14.95
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When
Browns Attack
A How-to on Nighttime Mousing by Chris Lessway
have been fortunate enough to grow up in Michigan where there are plenty of trout fishing streams nearby. The Au Sable and the Manistee Rivers are two of my favorites. Both streams boast great hatches and are home to leviathan brown trout. Come the beginning of July, most of the major hatches have come to an end. The Hex hatch maniacs have packed up camp and put away their headlamps.
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Bio: Michigan Fishing Guide Fly Fishing Instructor Tube Fly Tier Guide for North Branch Outing Club Type of Fishing: Fly Fishing / Spey Casting Location: Michigan Trout and Steelhead Rivers Website: OutForTrout.com Fullersnboc.com Contact Info: info@outfortrout.com
Anglers begin to concentrate on throwing terrestrials and streamers in hopes of landing a trophy brown. While these two methods can be successful, an even more reliable approach many anglers tend to overlook is nighttime mousing. That’s right: don’t put away that headlamp just yet! The crowds are gone and the fish are still hungry. With warmer and humid days this time of year, the bigger fish prefer to feed at night and this is the time to catch them. It was the end of July. A friend of mine who was new to fly fishing called me up and told me how he was becoming frustrated. He complained that all he caught were small trout and he was ready to give it up. I assured him there are ways to catch bigger trout. “Ever heard of nighttime mousing?” I asked. After a bout of laughter on the other end of the line, I took that as a no. So I told him to grab his gear and come on up to the Au Sable for the weekend. Temperatures were in the mid 80’s all week long and the nights were hot and humid as well; all perfect conditions for
mousing. We launched the boat at dusk. By the time we arrived at the first hole, darkness had settled in. I gave him a quick “how-to” on mousing, then handed him a rod rigged with a mouse pattern. After methodically covering the first hole with no luck, he became a little discouraged. With a pat on the back, I reassured him to relax. “We have plenty of river left to fish.” The next hole we came to was a long, flat, and log laden pool just above a riffle. I told him to cast to the bank. No sooner than the fly hit the water, there was a thunderous crash of water. “Set the hook!” I yelled. “Fish on!” he exclaimed. After a stint of rod pumping runs up and down the river, a 22-inch slab of a brown trout came to the net. “High five!” Throughout the night we continued to move plenty of fish, hooking a few and missing even more. By the time the night was said and done, we landed at total of 3 fish between 18 and 22 inches. My friend’s discouragement had diminished and he became a believer.
NEW YORK
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While many anglers have heard about fishing with a mouse pattern, only a handful has actually tried it. Having worked in different fly shops, I always got a chuckle out of customers who would come in and pick up a mouse pattern out of the fly bin and ask, “What the heck do you catch with this?” Just to see their reaction, I would reply “Catfish.” All joking aside, fishing a mouse pattern at night is going to be your best shot at catching your biggest trout of the year, and will provide you with edge of your seat, explosive excitement! PRESENTATION Presentation is a very important aspect of mousing. Your casting angle and fly placement are crucial. There are a couple different ways to fish a mouse pattern. The first way is to cast across stream, as tight to the bank as possible. Once the fly hits the water, you want to make slow strips with short pauses in between. Sometimes I like to twitch my rod tip and give the fly a popping sound while letting the fly drift in between. A second way to fish them is to swing the fly down and across, similar to swinging a fly for steelhead. With this method, you still want to cast your fly tight to the bank, but at a 45 degree angle. You do not need to worry about stripping or popping your fly. You want the current to carry your fly out and across, while creating a small wake. While both methods can be effective, I still prefer the first one when possible. This method seems to bring up bigger fish, as it gives a more realistic presentation of a mouse swimming in the water. Do not limit yourself to just one style; let the situation and conditions determine which presentation to use. If you come to a stretch of river where it is too narrow to cast across to the bank, go ahead and try swinging the fly. Remember, you are
searching water and trying to elicit a strike. If a fish does hit, do not set the hook like you would on a dry fly. Most of the time you will just pull the fly away from the fish. Use a strip set. This is more effective, and if the fish is not hooked, it will leave the fly in the water. Brown trout are very aggressive. Sometimes they will come back and hit the fly multiple times. When casting, don’t worry about being delicate. You want that fly to smack the water in hopes of getting the attention of a fish. I don’t know how many times I have had a fish hit my fly almost immediately after it hits the water, way before I could even get one strip in. WATER & CONDITIONS During the day, fish seek out shelter in whatever kind of structure they can find. (Boulders, downed trees, sunken docks and logjams.) At night time they tend to let their guard down and move out to feeding lanes and sometimes even the inside of a river bend. Just because you know the water is shallow in a particular area, do not be afraid to cast there, especially if there is good cover nearby. You will be surprised where fish tend to hold
Photo of some mouse flies the author uses.
After a stint of rod pumping runs up and down the river, a 22-inch slab of a brown trout came to the net. “High five!”
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SALMON R. NY
NY CHARTERS
7
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ROD
Breakers on the Alagnak
The Pursuit of Chum Salmon by Josiah Darr
e’ve all had those days where your hands are shaking on the steering wheel while you cruise home from the river due to the unreal day you just had. It was like you couldn’t do anything wrong. Every cast was perfect. Every swing was through the slot. Every spot you knew there should be a fish, there was. It felt like the clouds parted and a golden ray of light was shining down on you while a chorus of angels belted high notes every time you loaded up another cast.
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Bio: Columnist for STS Magazine Free Lance Outdoor Writer for Multiple Publications Avid Steelhead and Salmon Fisherman Type of Fishing: “Whatever it takes to get bit” Location: Dark Coastal Canyons in Oregon Rivers Surrounding Forks, WA Bristol Bay Region, Alaska Contact Info: short_hop@hotmail.com
For one day you had achieved fishing nirvana. I’m sure it was amazing, and a day you’ll never forget, but if you weren’t fishing chums on the lower Alagnak River while they flooded in with the tide, you may not exactly know what nirvana looks like. Since I was old enough to know which end of the rod to hold, I’ve been chasing salmon and steelhead around the west coast from Bristol Bay to Southern Oregon. It’s a lifelong pursuit that has never been quenched, nor will it. But somehow, not through my own doing, I’ve been blessed with the opportunities to fish hallowed waters, the kind of places where men spend their lives dreaming about while knowing it’s never going to come true. Again, let me reiterate. I was mostly lucky and blessed to get these chances. But what I will say is out of all the places I’ve made
a cast, there isn’t a more Man vs. Beast, survival of the fittest, two men enter one man leaves, fishery than fly fishing chums on the lower Alagnak. The Alagnak River is roughly 70 miles long and pours out of Nonvianuk and Kukaklek Lake, coming together to form one of the richest salmon and trout rivers on earth. Rainbows the size of a grown man’s arm rip apart and swallow baby red voles as they skitter across the river in the spring. One grizzly after another peels green headed sockeye like ripe bananas on gravel bars while Bald Eagles pick at the discarded skeletons. These are your daily viewing pleasures in the braided upper river. Just a boat ride from the tidewater to the fork without even making a cast is enough to excite any fishermen, but it’s the long meandering sandbars in the lower river where the real battles take place. Docile looking sandbars, no more threatening than a soft whisper from pretty girl, quickly turn into something resembling the first scene in Saving Private Ryan
SALMON R. NY
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Salmon River Sport Shop 4826 Salina St. Pulaski, NY 13142 On Salmon River’s “Town Pool” 315-298-4343 Salmonriversportsshop.com
Whitaker's Sport Shop and Motel 3707 Rt.13 Pulaski, NY 315-298-6162 Check out our web site at: www.whitakers.com
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when the Americans take the beach at Normandy. It’s flat out awesome fishing. As July rolls along, fresh chums start filling the Alagnak every time the brackish water mixes in the lower river. By the middle of August every sand bar in the lower 15 miles of river is so blanketed with Chums, quietly floating over the inside corners of the river, that looking at them scattered across the sand is almost unnerving. Some are so chrome they’re mistaken for Silvers, while others are completely covered in their own unique camo pattern. As they scatter like cockroaches exposed to sudden light out from underneath the boat, you can’t help but think to yourself, “Am I really going to fish this? Am I really ready for this? Like really, seriously ready? This is going to be epic…EPIC!! Did I bring enough flies and leader?” All these questions are about to be answered when you coast up to a sand bar, grab your rod, wander out on the slowly tapering bar until you’re thigh deep and lay out a cast. The fly choice isn’t too critical when fishing over hundreds of fresh nickelbright chums that have been pouring one after another, immediately replacing each other, but something long and stringy in fuchsia or baby pink or a combination there of with a touch of flash is a place to start. You could try other colors, but you’d be wasting your time. We all know casting flies this gaudy is more of a chuck and duck technique than the prissy stuff you saw on A River Runs Through It. Flies this big cast like hell no matter what, so tapering your leader is not only a waste of time, but it will add those little blood knots to the line. The knots aren’t so bad for normal fish, but when you try to tail a thrashing chum, those little knots will pull through your
wet hands and take a chunk of skin out of the creases in your fingers in seconds. It will hurt for days and only tube after tube of Super Glue in the freshly torn open wounds will be able to save you. Trust me, it’s bad. Don’t bother being the elitist fly fishermen when you pick your hooks either. A hook with a long enough shaft that you can grab with your pliers, not forceps, while a thrashing chum tries to dislocate your shoulder really helps. Don’t even think about using barbs. You’ll be relieved if one comes off once in a while since you’ll pretty much have another fresh contender every time you make another cast. Something resembling a sharpened piece of bent rebar is about the only thing that will stand up to the onslaught of hatred and aggression these flies are about to be put through. Many of them still won’t make it though more than one fish, but those are acceptable casualties that died honorable deaths. Besides, you probably tied them as fast as possible the night before with chewed up Super Glued fingers while working through a
Photo by Josiah Darr
Chards of graphite go flying in every direction and a bewildered fisherman is simply standing there...
SALMON R. NY
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Angler's Lodge For Those Who Enjoy A Secluded Natural Setting Altmar, NY 13302 (315) 298-6028 stonehouseinnlodging.com
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Fox Hollow Salmon River Lodge 2740 State Route 13 Altmar, New York 13302 Roger Wolfe - (315) 298-2876 Foxhollowsalmonriverlodge.com
TED
Williams, The Legend
on the Field and on the Water by George Douglas, Sr.
n 1930, San Diego, California was a small city of about 100,000 people. A skinny kid named Ted had just finished playing baseball with a group of friends and was now headed out to Coronado Island with a fishing buddy to fish Mission Bay for albacore. He would spend the rest of his life alternating between both loves, baseball and fishing.
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Bio: Outdoors Enthusiast, Fishing Hiking Skiing Snowshoeing Type of Fishing: Fly and Spin Fishing Location: Great Lakes Catskill Mountains Contact Info: Streamside@kype.net
Ted Williams would later trade in his homemade bamboo fishing pole for the most advanced fly fishing equipment in his quest for what he called the big three: Tarpon, Bonefish and Atlantic Salmon. During baseball’s off-season, Williams lived at his home in the Florida Keys and would fish for Tarpon and Bonefish with a few of the top guides that rented out their services, especially in the area of Islamorada, Florida. Early mornings would find Ted and his guide hunting for Tarpon with the light tackle that made his catch that much more challenging and exciting. It was also one of the trademarks of fishing with Williams. Tarpon, due to their large size, were easier to spot in the early hours of the day. But later, when the sun was higher, the hunt changed to spotting Bonefish on the flats. Spotting fish, presenting the fly to the fish, and enticing the strike was the technique that Ted loved. Releasing each fish that he caught was a must. In those early days, Tarpon and
Bonefish were plentiful and Williams had much of the area to himself. Coming to the Florida Keys and renting a guide for even a day was an expensive venture, even in the mid 1940's. But Williams had found a new home and six months a year, fishing in the Keys was his new passion. And passion it was because just like hitting a baseball, Williams the perfectionist, would approach fishing with everything he had within him. The results were obvious to anyone around him. Due to Williams’ presence in the area, Islamorada soon started calling itself the “Sport Fishing Capitol of the World.” But by the mid 1950's something occurred that would change Williams’ fishing world for the rest of his life. He was still playing baseball at this time when he received an invitation from the Miramichi Salmon Association. They had, of course, heard all the stories about Williams, his love for fishing and the purest that he was concerning everything that had to do with the challenge of fly fishing. Of course, their motive was also
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PENNSYLVANIA
WESTERN NY
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promoting the area and the pursuit of the elusive Atlantic Salmon. Nothing would promote the area more than the arrival of Ted Williams himself. Williams had never fished for freshwater fish of any kind before but for some reason, he became interested and accepted the invitation. The river was the Miramichi which crossed the Canadian Province of New Brunswick. For two months in late summer, the salmon make their spawning run down the river, later returning to the sea. Williams found that this was a different kind of challenge in his fishing life. With Tarpon and Bonefish, the challenge began with the hunt to first sight the fish and then make the presentation. But this was very different. With Atlantic Salmon, there was no sighting the fish in the various pools where the fish tended to rest while on their journey. It often required hundreds of casts before a strike. Of course, Williams did have some of the choice pools along the Miramichi to fish. One of his favorite pools was called the “swinging bridge.” Access was afforded to him that others did not have. For Williams, this was imperative. He was not about to have others fishing around him. His tolerance of people was not always the best whether he was on the baseball diamond or while fishing. It did not take too much for Williams to leap into a cursing tirade. Like everything else that Ted did, cursing was like an art form. Nobody was better. Williams also found that these fish were a lot more selective in what fly they would take and how it was presented. In fact, the Atlantic Salmon actually were not feeding while in the river. The fly would be taken for whatever other reason, such as annoyance or other reaction. This also made the challenge much more difficult. He would spend hours
making his own flies, each one, a little different color and style. But Williams loved tying flies. It wasn’t just a part of the whole fishing experience. Outsmarting the Atlantic Salmon with his own creation was one thing, but he also used fly tying as an escape. He often would retreat to his fishing room, which contained all his fly tying equipment, when he was stressed and needed the escape. He found it very relaxing. Even while Williams was still playing ball, he could often be found tying flies in his apartment in the city that he was playing in at the time. Williams even invented a number of his own flies. One
Ted Williams receiving his enshrinement into the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. This award was delivered to the Hitters Hall of Fame in Hernando, FL. by Larry Colombo. Photo courtesy of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
"The Tarpon may be a better fighter, the Bonefish a faster swimmer, but all things combined there is no better opponent for the consummate angler than the Atlantic Salmon." —Ted Williams
PENNSYLVANIA
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Screaming Reels Guide Service Guiding "Steelhead Alley” in Ohio, New York & PA! Bob Williams Call 216-491-9543 www.screamingreels.net
Learn What Trout Really
EAT
Has This Ever Happened to You? by Michael McAuliffe
ou did your homework. All winter long you studied your hatch charts, researched the best patterns, tied flies, and figured out where and when to fish. You fastidiously gathered all of this information in the hopes of constructing an epic season of fly fishing. It is early afternoon on a crisp April day. You have confidently positioned yourself downstream of the fast water that the Epeorus Pleuralis inhabits.
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Bio: Owner: Rise Form Studio/Rise Form Fly Fishing Guides NJ Fly Fishing Guide Fly Fishing Instructor Author Fly Tier Type of Fishing: Fly Fishing everywhere Filming everywhere Website: riseformstudio.tv
You tie on a Quill Gordon just as the first bugs begin to struggle free of the surface tension. The trout should start eating any minute as the flotilla increases in numbers. After an hour of watching the big mayflies pour by unmolested, you concede defeat. Naturally you wonder, “What did I do wrong?” Conventional wisdom would have you believe you’ve done nothing wrong. Many of our trusted advisors coin phrases to justify why the fish didn’t eat on a particular day, or better yet, why we can’t catch them all the time. Does this sound familiar? I thought so. Don’t feel bad, I’ve been there; and now I intend to chronicle how I stopped falling victim to angler’s theories, hatch charts, speculation, conjecture, and the pontifications of “experts.” Long before I began guiding professionally, I simply wanted to be a better angler. I did all of the things mentioned above and continually came up short of my expectations. The simple truth of the matter is that hatch charts represent a small view of the complex relation-
ship between trout, food sources, behavior, and environment. It is a common and accepted belief that trout do 90% of their feeding sub-surface. So why do we put so much stock in writings that primarily detail feeding behavior and food sources that are visible on or above the surface of the river? If you are from my region, the Mid Atlantic States (notably NJ and PA) and your interest is fishing dries flies in the evening, hatch charts are a fantastic tool. They should put you in the ball park and guide you to what trout are eating during a window of time and what flies you should have in your box. However, for the rest of us that fish beyond May and June Evenings, many of the hatch charts I’ve seen leave out much of a trout’s primary food sources. If you want to consistently catch more Trout, especially on tough days, you will need to educate yourself through observation made on the stream. Looking Beyond the Text How did I learn to see beyond the Hatch Charts and get the complete pic-
PENNSYLVANIA
12
Freestone Fly Fishing 717-337-0734 or 717-855-8057 Fly Fishing for Steelhead Salmon and Trout. South Central & North Central PA Streams freestonefly-fishing.com
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ture? Enter my good friend and fellow NJ Fly Fishing Guide, John Heaney. John is the one of the best fisherman I have ever had the good fortune to share a stream with, and he taught me that the greatest tool a fly angler can arm himself with is a regiment of focused observation. The tools we use for our research are a seining net, stomach pump, notebook, and digital camera with a macro function. Armed with these devices we started cataloguing what the trout were eating during every month of the year. I like to jokingly call this the Salmo Gastronomic Index for New Jersey. The first step to understanding a trout’s diet in a particular river is by looking at what food sources are present. There are several simple ways to quickly identify what food sources are available. The first is to look at and under submerged rocks along the side of the stream. The second is to pull up a few submerged sticks or trapped leaves and examine the insect life you are finding. A good course of action is to spend a few hours sampling at least once a month. It is important to do this in diverse types of water. Varied insects and food sources inhabit slow/silty, moderate, and fast/broken stretches of water, so make sure to sample a diverse cross section of habitat. I like to pick 3 spots on a body of water with landmarks that will not be erased by floods, and sample the exact spot each time. I would also recommend you do this in the same stretches of river you fish the most. Remember to put stones, leaves and sticks back where you find them, as they are important parts of the ecosystem. If it is legal in your area, a seine or kick net is a better option. Have one
person hold the net or screen a few feet downstream while you disturb the streambed with your boots. The current will carry and trap macro-invertebrates in your net. Make sure to get good clear pictures of what you find. Now you can catalogue and research your findings in a notebook. The second and most revealing observations you can make are through the use of a stomach pump. Over the course of a little more than one fishing season, I watched and learned from John Heaney how to safely and effectively pump a trout’s stomach. This is a subtle art that takes a lot of practice. I would strongly recommend you seek out someone with a few years experience if you intend to employ this technique. It is very easy to harm a trout if you do not do it properly. To get stomach samples, you need to catch the “right” fish. We like to pump stocked fish in the 12-14 inch range. It is very easy to harm a smaller trout, due to the size of the stomach pump and the opening between the gills. A larger fish
Photo by Richard Schaaff
I watched and learned from John Heaney how to safely and effectively pump a trout’s stomach.
NEW JERSEY
13
Efinger Bound Brook, NJ 732-356-0604 Proudly Celebrating A 100 Years of Dedication to Sportsmen & Athletes
Tight Lines Fly Fishing & East Coast Spey Pine Brook, NJ 973-244-5990 Spey Classes Available www.tightlinesflyfishing.com
SPEY
Clave on the Sandy River
Woodstock for Fly Fishermen by Klint Borozan
can only assume that John Keats was talking about spey casting as he pronounced, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” If you are a stalker of the Anadromous, especially in the Northwest, you likely know about the great fishermen this area has produced, as well as witnessed them cast. I am far less of an artist and more of journeyman when it comes to spey fishing.
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Bio: Former Fishing Guide SW Montana and Alaska Steelhead & Salmon Fly Tier Outdoor Writer Type of Fishing: Spey Casting for Anadromous Species. Location: Michigan, Alaska, Montana, Florida. Contact Info: klintb@aol.com
Left to my own resources, I can catch just about anything. That has been my focus. But my focus has changed forever. As my life progresses, I want to become more the artist. When you see a truly inspired spey caster, it is that “joy forever” that never passes. Enter the gentlemen of the sport: Steve Rajeff, Simon Gawesworth, Mark Bachmann and Charles St. Pierre. Like many, I joined the ranks of spey casters as my need to cover more water became top of mind on the really big
rivers in the Northwest, where the Steelhead and Salmon take over every year. Books are good, but only if you have a good starting point of reference and a solid foundation in “sustained anchor dynamics.” If I am going to do something, I want to really go after it, and measuring against the best is the only way to live. I love to practice the things about which I am passionate. Spey casting is one of those things I can and will do all day. On the big rivers, I don’t stop for rain or lunch. Other than to learn something special, from someone special; the only thing that stops me is to watch a true master, gently, but powerfully, rolling 100 feet of line across the river. A thing of beauty it is. So let’s shift gears. Yes, it’s beautiful. Yes, it’s fun. And yes, these folks are gentlemen of the highest order. But it’s very cool. And it’s not just for men. But… what specifically do you do to move it forward in your arsenal of attack? You go to the Woodstock of Spey Fishing: The Sandy River Spey Clave. This year marked the 10th Anniversary of the event
OHIO
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High Tide Tavern Best wings on the strip! 5504 Lake Rd. Geneva on the Lake 440.466.7990
Fish With Jim Outfitters Fishing Steelhead Alley Fly - Pin - Spin 248-252-1277 www.fishwithjimoutfitters.com
King Arthur Courts 2 bdrms w/ kitchenette 4960 Golfview Dr. Geneva on the Lake, OH 440.466.8961
spawned (no pun intended) by Fred Evans and Mark Bachmann. At the initial event in 2000, it had about 50 attendees. In 2010, over a 3 day period, it likely had over 400 to 600 people per day casting and testing the newest rods, new line technology, poly-leaders and more. Spending some real time with many different rods and line set ups on the very fine water of the Sandy River is a treat well worth the trip all by itself. But what is it about the format that is the really exciting? Very simple. I can articulate the formula very succinctly: You show up. You go to real-time, live, on the river clinics, from the best players in the world. You go try a set up from Echo, Sage, Winston, G. Loomis, Burkheimer, or Loop, and get free advice and lessons from the world’s best, all day long. It is basically cultural immersion training over 3 days. It is great for people of all abilities, especially beginners, and even experts. And most importantly, it’s very constructive. Not one soul there laughed at my D-Loop position! My sampling of the clinics to took me to everything from dealing with very long sink tips, the new MOW systems, traditional long belly casting, summer run steelhead dry fly presentations using long bellies, and a wonderful assortment of the Skagit Casting models for every possible situation from guys like George Cook, Mike Kinney, and Mark Bachmann. The only person unaccounted for from previous years was Dec Hogan, but he moved to Salt Lake City to be with the love of his life. I think that deserves a hall pass. Friday began early with the ladies running the agenda. I expected pink waders and hats from the Kentucky Derby. But honestly, the women’s presentations were as professionally done as any I have ever
seen. They were great communicators and very kind, giving lessons and critiques to both men and women tirelessly until it started to get dark on the river. If you ever get a chance, Amy Hazlett, from Deschutes anglers, is truly a fine teacher of all aspects of both Skagit and Scandi casting styles, as well as an outstanding,
Photo by Richard Schaaff
When you see a truly inspired spey caster, it is that “joy forever” that never passes...
OHIO
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Kames Sporting Goods 8516 Cleveland Ave. N. North Canton, OH 44720 Catch it, climb it, hunt it, or ride it, we have it! 800-446-4906
Briquettes Smokehouse Pork, Chicken, Beef Brisket, & Ribs Dine-In or Take-Out In historic Ashtabula Harbor 440-964-2273 briquettessmokehouse.com
Martinis Restaurant & Lounge Spacious Lounge & Dining Overlooking the Golf Course 440-964-2800 harborgolfclubashtabula.com
The
North Umpqua
A River Set in Stone by Lem James
nique among rivers, the North Umpqua is a river set in stone. The basalt formations have rigidly defined the channels, holes, fish and the storied history. This same rock bed still defines the river’s flow, creating a unique fishing and boating experience on the Umpqua. Understanding the basalt rock formations is key to understanding how to fish and boat this river.
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Bio: Staff Editor, Kype Magazine Avid Angler and Hunter Outdoor Writer Type of Fishing: River fishing for Salmon and Steelhead Location: Steelhead Rivers of Oregon North Umpqua River Contact: Streamside@kype.net
Many rivers go through small areas of hard igneous rock cast in lava during centuries gone by, but the Umpqua is defined by the rock it winds through almost from its inception through to its tidewater. The North Umpqua River starts at Maidu Lake near the summit of the Central Oregon Cascades. Near the lake you can take a stride or hop across the “river,” which is more of a rivulet at this point. The lake has a shallow sloping bottom and a population of brook trout that congregate mostly toward the deeper water in the middle. A fisherman willing to wade deep and cast long might reach them. Better to bring a float tube. The North Umpqua trail winds from Maidu Lake downstream through several miles of subalpine forest into a stretch of elk meadows and cut bank trout stream. I will leave it up to you to discover if there are any fish there. Although it looks fishy enough, something tells me it is limited to a few small brown trout that stray upstream from the confluence with another small creek just above Lemola Reservoir. The brown
hole where the creeks meet is famous for its crystal clear water, large brown trout and, picky fish. I have managed to catch fish here, but it’s tough. This joining of two creeks marks the beginning of riverlike water, and ends several hundred yards later in Lemola Reservoir. The upper section of the river is the main component in the North Umpqua Hydro project, a WWII era electric power generation project. There are three Dams on the project: Lemola, Toketee, and Soda Springs Dam. Each impoundment, and the waters in between to some extent, has self sustaining populations of brown trout along with some rainbows and brook trout. I have stood in one magic meadow and caught several nice brown trout, a brookie and a rainbow without ever changing position. The rainbow looked like he might have been chewed on by some of the larger browns but, still all three species in one place is pretty cool. My favorite go to rig for fly fishing in the brown trout waters is to cast a parachute adams with a 6-10 inch dropper to
OHIO
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Biscotti’s Restaurant Casual Authentic Italian Dining Located in historic Conneaut Harbor, close to the river! 440-593-6766 biscottisrestaurant.com
Best Western Lawnfield Inn & Suites Great location for fishing the Grand and Rocky River. 8434 Mentor Avenue, Mentor, Oh 440-205-7378
Eagle Cliff Inn Cottages & Suites Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH 10% off for Steelhead Fishermen, Ask for Lu and mention this ad. 440-466-1110
a size 18 or smaller chironomid. The nymph usually gets the take, while the adams acts as an indicator and catches a fair amount of fish. Below Soda Springs Dam, the North runs unimpeded except for one low rise dam all the way to the Main Umpqua and the ocean. The next 30 miles downstream to Rock Creek are designated fly fishing only. There are trout present and some anglers that target them, but downstream of Soda Springs Dam marks the beginning of big fish water! This is notorious steelhead water. Although the North has steelhead and salmon up to Soda Springs Dam, almost half of the wild steelhead spawn in Steamboat Creek. Steamboat Creek comes into the Umpqua, and the waters under Steamboat present a strong flow, and a solid run of wild North Umpqua Steelhead. The waters below Steamboat Creek hold fish throughout the summer and are referred to as the camp water section for the fishing camps that were established there during the early to mid 1900s. Most rivers see profound change throughout the course of 100 odd years. The North Umpqua has remained substantially unchanged due once again to its bedrock foundation. The camp water section in particular has a rich history of famous writers, presidents, dignitaries and almost every big name in fly fishing lore. All these anglers have fished the same rocks, ledges and runs with very slight variation over the last century. Also unique to the North Umpqua is the propensity of the steelhead to accept top water offerings. On most Pacific Northwest Rivers, a fish can, if rarely, be taken using top water popper and skating methods. The North Umpqua presents a real opportunity to catch fish
using skated flies (current video clips at www.scotthowellfishing.com). Scott’s clients often object when he explains that skating flies will be the first order of business. Scott explains that on the Umpqua, top water flies have an even chance of catching fish. For many fly angles this is something akin to the highest attainment in the fishing universe. Indeed catching steelhead on any fly on the Umpqua is a high attainment. These fish don’t come easy and sometimes they don’t cooperate at all. However, the rugged beauty of the North Umpqua and the chance at wild fish keeps the diehard solidly hooked! Over the years the North Umpqua has spawned its share of steelhead flies. The skunk and the green butt skunk being perhaps the most prolific. These are wet flies that swing with the best. The skopper is a custom steelhead popper, and other small poppers are the cutting edge of skating flies. Muddler minnows are also very popular and claim a great respect in the local fishing community. The Rock Creek hole is the lower end of the fly fishing only area, and the
Photo by Richard Schaaff
Also unique to the North Umpqua is the propensity of the steelhead to accept top water offerings.
OREGON
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Four Season's Fly Shoppe 10210 Wallowa Lake H.W. La Grande, OR 97850 Specializing in Spey Rods, Reels, and Gear. 541-963-8420/888-819-7299
Bob Toman Guide Service Oregon Sportfishing 503-658-6493 Clackamus & Deschutes Salmon & Steelhead fishing www.bobtoman.com
Bert's Guide Service & McKenzie River Inn Float down the world famous McKenzie River 503-579-8236 www.bertsguideservice.com
entire Rock Creek area presents almost a fishery unto itself. The Rock Creek fish hatchery pumps an amazing number of native strain hatchery steelhead, coho and chinook into the North Umpqua. Upon their yearly return, the waters below Rock Creek are prime holding ground for thousands of fish and hundreds of anglers. The Rock Creek area is primarily fished with bait, corkies, yarn and various lures. Swinging bait or fishing with a slide bobber accounts for hundreds of fish. At the peak of the runs, many drifts and holes are elbow to elbow with fishermen. As with most such fisheries, many fish are caught by the local top guns. A good feel for soft bites and great egg cures carry the day. Downstream from the Rock Creek Swift Water area, the river once again changes back to a remote fishery. Much of the land along the river transitions from public land to private ranches and the drift boat waters begin.
The steelhead and salmon on the North Umpqua also make their way up guided by the ancient basalt pathways. Unlike freestone rivers, fishing the Umpqua channels has as much to do with ancient geology as current hydrology. The fish are finning through sections of seemingly flat water in 12-50 foot deep channels, which are sometimes visible from the surface. Swinging your presentation closer to the bank in high water won’t help (most of the time) because the fish are still channeled up. The opportunities are here, and once you learn the river it stays substantially unchanged over time. North Umpqua fishing is challenging and rewarding. Top hands drifting yarn balls or eggs from drift boats often catch and release 20 fish for two anglers during peak runs! If bringing 20 steelhead to the boat doesn’t get your excitement level to the red zone, I’m not sure what I can do to help, unless of course chinook come into the picture.
Fifteen to forty pounds of ocean hardened spring chinook can leave some anglers dazed from sleep deprivation and sheer adrenaline. There are a very few fly fishermen who target chinook. Most of the North Umpqua fishery is focused on drifting presentations of cured salmon eggs, and running hardware such as quickfish and wobblers. Although in season late April through July, many chinook run long stretches of the river very quickly. The hatchery fish stack up below Rock Creek where they get their due attention from the locals. Boat fishing can be productive from the mouth of the North at River Forks up to the dam at Amacher Park. Most anglers back bounce eggs or sand shrimp and eggs working them back into holes where the fish hold. Spring chinook can be tough, so expect to put some time in or fish with someone already adept in the techniques. Lone Rock boat launch is a wooden drift boat slide located just above the town of Glide on Lone Rock Road. This uppermost boat section consists of several runs and smooth stretches, and begins the winter steelhead side drifting water. Some fishermen run plugs with some success. Side drifting with eggs or yarn balls accounts for most steelhead success on the boat water from Lone Rock Launch downstream through several drifts all the way to River Forks boat ramp at the confluence of the North and South Umpqua. Fly fishing in the boat fishing areas is very rare.
Portland Fishing Guide.com Experience Oregon guided fishing at its best! Columbia, Clackamas, Willamette Scott@portlandfishingguides.com 503-730-3392
Brian Silvey’s Fly Fishing Guide Service Deschutes and Sandy Rivers Steelhead and Trout Fly Fishing 800-510-1702 silveysflyfishing.com
ALASKA
OREGON
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Mack's Sport Shop 212 Lower Mill Bay Rd. Kodiak, Alaska 99615 907-486-4276 SHOP ONLINE! www.mackssportshop.com
Scott Howell guides these sections fishing indicators and wet flies. You will encounter local anglers accessing the river in drift boats and pontoon rafts. Pontoon boats definitely have a place in this fishery. Their mobility and stability allow them to handle some of the water that keeps out a high percentage of the drift boats and almost excludes jet boats altogether. Still, much of the fly fishing is concentrated upstream in the fly only water. Colliding Rivers boat ramp and the short 3 hour (while fishing) drift from Colliding Rivers to the unimproved Gravel Quarry take out represent a good chance at fish and the ONLY moderately easy drift boat water on the upper North Umpqua. The Amacher Park to Hestness Landing float includes easy rowing but some complicated kicker motor work in order to fish the most productive stretches more than once. Floating through from the upper stretches to Whistlers Park boat ramp represents only moderate challenges and experienced rowers should be up to the challenge. Whistlers Park to Page Road presents a very long day trip with one dangerous rapid at Dixon Falls. The North Umpqua has a strong flow, a healthy gradient and a few extra tricks up its sleeve with the ledge rock nature. Although the upper reaches of the fly only water seems to be typical boulder strewn fast water river, the river quickly develops the nature it keeps down
Photo by Brazda’s Fly Fishing, WA
to the Pacific Ocean. Bedrock ledges and outcroppings channel the river, making challenges for boaters and bank anglers alike. Hard bedrock ledges can lurk just under still water or channel the entire river through small intense channels. The easy meandering ways of a freestone river will not prepare you for the Umpqua. Only time on the Umpqua will teach you the hazards and nature of the river. Colliding Rivers, Dixon Falls, and Burkhart Rapids claim drift boats and even jet sleds on a consistent, sometimes yearly, basis. These descents claim the boats of the most experienced rowers on the river and should be given due respect. The easier rowing water has fishing opportunities and thrills enough for most drifters. A bad entry or a missed stroke of the oar is a small chance to bet your boat gear and safety on. Drift boaters
who have mostly rowed on flat water should do some pre scouting and information finding before attempting any North Umpqua drift. The emerald waters and rugged beauty of the North Umpqua are without parallel in the world of steelhead and the men who fish them. From the notorious fly only waters to the drift boat waters and their epic potential, days spent on the North Umpqua are seldom wasted and never forgotten. The surging run of bright fish will etch the memory in stone as well. Written by Lem James with Scott Howell. Scott Howell loves to answer questions about fly fishing in Southern Oregon. Drop him an email or cast him a line. (541) 608-0403 Scott@ScottHowellFishing.com KYPE
ALASKA
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Alaska River Adventures Lodge & Guide Service Alaska’s Upper Kenai River & Kasilof River www.alaskariveradventures.com 1-888-836-9027
Mystic Waters Fly Fishing 907-227-0549 Fly fishing guides for Trout and Salmon on Alaska's Upper Kenai R. www.mysticfishing.com
Rapids Camp Lodge King Salmon, AK Legendary Alaska Fishing 907-246-8345 rapidscamplodge.com
Staff Report
Fish
Kype Nation
s in any magazine, the advertisers are the ones who make it all possible. We would like to start this section to provide some extra exposure to our advertisers and to shine light on the different professionals and personalities in the steelhead, salmon and trout arena. Our advertisers have devoted their lives and careers to the sport of fishing. Please keep them in mind for your future trips and gear.
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Bob Toman Guide Service, Oregon
J&J River Guides of Baldwin Michigan
Bob Toman is one of the most well respected fishing guides on the west coast. He has been guiding professionally since 1968. His guiding season in Oregon focuses on three primary locations, the Clackamas River, the Deschutes River, and Tillamook Bay. Bob also owns and operates Toman's King Camp which is three-hundred and fifty miles southwest of Anchorage and lies on the Nushagak River. Bob Toman Guide Service Oregon Sportfishing 503-658-6493 Clackamus & Deschutes Salmon & Steelhead fishing www.bobtoman.com
Mike Whittle is the new owner of J&J Guide Service that features fly fishing trips on the world class Pere Marquette River and Big Manistee. These are two of Michigan's heavy hitters, especially the Pere Marquette. This river is a gem and is world renowned. Mike and his staff of guides hold the most permits for guiding these river systems, allowing them to accommodate a couple of anglers to large groups. J&J River Guides Inc. Baldwin, Michigan Fish the Big Manistee & Pere Marquette 231-578-0946 MichiganRiverRaiders.com
Salmon River, Pulaski New York he Salmon River has been an east coast favorite since the 1970’s. As of late, the fishery has stepped up a notch as the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation lowered the daily limit of steelhead from three down to only one. This change has proven success as the thriving steelhead run will show. The river also receives a large run of browns that are usually mixed in nice with the steelhead. Of course, the fall salmon run is what made this river famous—and the runs of kings and coho continue to storm-troop the river each year. The lodging on this river is plentiful. Nearly every corner has a fishing lodge of some sort. Although some are better than others, they all place you in close proximity to the river. The two lodges featured this issue are located near Altmar, which is a prime section of the river. Be sure to check out these lodges for your next trip to the Salmon River. Angler's Lodge Fox Hollow Salmon River Lodge For Those Who Enjoy A Secluded Natural Setting 2740 State Route 13 Altmar, NY 13302 Altmar, New York 13302 (315) 298-6028 Roger Wolfe - (315) 298-2876 stonehouseinnlodging.com Foxhollowsalmonriverlodge.com
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MICHIGAN
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Great Lakes Fly Fishing Co. 8460 Algoma Ave NE Rockford, MI 49341 616-866-6060 www.troutmoor.net
J&J River Guides Inc. Baldwin, Michigan Fish the Big Manistee & Pere Marquette 231-578-0946 MichiganRiverRaiders.com
Jeff’s Guide Service Drift & Jet Boat - Fly & Spin Fishing Muskegon River – Steelhead & Salmon 616-204-4999 jeff@muskegonriverguide.com muskegonriverguide.com
Brazdas Fly Fishing, Washington State
Montana Guide, Rob Olson
Some of the biggest and baddest steelhead can be found on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Some of the top rivers in the country lay in this pristine territory. The landscape ranges from rain forest to the Olympic Mountains—it is truly remarkable. Jeff Brazda, owner of Brazda’s Fly Fishing, runs an impressive guide service within this region. Be sure to check out his website at brazdasflyfishing.com Brazda’s Fly Fishing - # 10393 Trout & Steelhead Fishing on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington 253-307-3210 www.brazdasflyfishing.com
Another amazing area of the country is the Livingston/Bozeman Montana region. All the big trout rivers seem to flow through this area; The Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson, along with the Missouri Rivers and their tributaries. Rob Olson runs a guide service on these rivers, but mainly focuses on the mighty Yellowstone River for wild trout. He offers driftboat trips as well as walk/wade trips and has over two decades of exploration knowledge in the region with fifteen years of adventure and fish guiding experience. Rob Olson : Montana Outfitter #8976 PO Box 2382, Livingston, Montana 59047 406.579.3619 - Rob@FishingWithRob.Net Photo by Dake Schmidt
Alaska River Adventures, Copper Landing, Ak Most outdoorsmen from the lower forty-eight dream to Alaska River Adventures one day travel to Alaska and experience the majestic Lodge & Guide Service beauty, wildlife, and the famous salmon runs. George Alaska’s Upper Kenai River & Kasilof River Heim, owner of Alaska River Adventures provides Alaskariveradventures.com anglers with a great choice to make that dream come 1-888-836-9027 true. His lodge and guide service is in historic Cooper Landing, in the mountains at the headwaters of the Upper Kenai River.
Trip Booking Service Photo by Dake Schmidt
The
sky
is
the
limit
Kype will plan your trip to any destination, FREE ! 360.299.2266 www.kype.net Streamside@kype.net
MICHIGAN
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Fairfield Inn & Suites 3701 North Country Dr. Traverse City, MI Close to the Betsy and Big Manistee River 231-922-7900
Woodland Rivers Guide Service Catering to the needs of the Fly-Fishing Angler on Michigan's most productive waters! 248.608.0908 www.woodlandrivers.com
Steelhead Alley Fishing Lodge, Ohio ore and more people are starting to hear about Steelhead Alley. Those who have frequented one river / region for the last decade are starving for something new—and Ohio seems to be the perfect remedy. Ashtabula county is the reigning king of Steelhead Alley. Many of the other regions of Steelhead Alley have the fish, but also have much more fishing pressure. It is one of the reasons why George Douglas has chosen this section of Ohio for his guide service. He will be running driftboat trips every spring and fall on the mighty Grand River and bank guiding on some of the other tributaries. He is working with a few different lodges in the
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area to accommodate his clients and readership. One in particular is Tony Zala’s Steelhead Alley Fishing Lodge located in Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio. The lodge is very comfortable and is perfect for fishermen. Separate bedrooms, kitchen, large living room, and a very cool yard with picnic tables and a fire-pit. The town itself is a huge summer destination as the strip runs parallel to Lake Erie. Although most of the town is only open May through September, it still offers a variety of restaurants and bars that are open all year. Overall, a great town, a great fishery and a great place to stay. Be sure to expand your fishing horizons to Ashtabula County, Ohio. (see ad below) KYPE
BOOKS by George Douglas Fish Like a Guide..............(Pre-Order) $14.95 The Complete Guide to the Salmon River..............................$39.95 CLOTHING, Kype Waterproof Gear Hats, Beanies, Parka’s, Fishing Shirts and Pants..........See Kype.net GUIDING on the Great Lake Tributaries George Douglas’ Steelhead Alley Guide Service ...........................See Kype.net KYPE PRODUCTS Fusion, Erupting Fish Scent................$12.95 Kype Subscriptions (with DVD’s).........$39.95 Kype Back Issues...................................$19.95 ON THE AGENDA Team Kype (seeking filmmakers) Fly & Spey Magazine Spin & Pin Magazine
www.KYPE.net
Ti r e d o f F i s h i n g i n C R O W D S ? Come to Steelhead Alley in Ohio!
More Fish, Less People STEELHEAD ALLEY DRIFTBOAT TRIPS & BANK GUIDING - FLY, SPEY, PLUG, PIN & SPIN
360.393.5901 www.SteelheadAlleyFishingLodge.com CALIFORNIA
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Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters 2705 Lake Tahoe Blvd South Lake Tahoe, CA Reserve a Fly Trip Today! 530-541-8208
Nevada City Anglers 417 Broad St # C Nevada City, CA 95959 Guided Float Trips on Feather & Yuba Rivers 530-478-9301
best in class, guide for Steelhead. She worked with me extensively on cleaning up my Single Spey. I don’t use it as much unless I am in Oregon chasing summer run steelhead, and it needed fresh coat of paint. That was my first day. My favorite encounter came on Day 3, where I was able to secure the precious time of Simon Gawesworth. Again, I consider myself a spey orphan who can fish. But Simon has both the soul of an artist and the ability to produce casts that rival the art in the Louvre. As the head of line design at Rio, he is also a brilliant technician, but most of all, a very kind teacher. One look at my single
spey, and he reduced the errors to very simple things that really made a difference in distance and accuracy. The key take-aways will be things I practice forever. To get this kind of instruction on casting, equipment, and line set ups for three days would cost quite a bit for equivalent instruction. To get it for free: priceless. If that is not enough, the food is supplied gratis by a local restaurant that rivals any place I have been. It is far and away the friendliest event you will go to all year. If you go to the website, www.flyfishusa.com/speyclave.htm you can see the agenda and the entire format. It really is not comparable to a trade show, given its level of personalization. Having it all
demonstrated, with help provided to remove the quirky stuff people bring into their cast, on a big and beautiful river like the Sandy, is a very special treat. I think their theme statement on their brochure says it all: “If you are a big stick, spey casting mojo, you will be welcomed at the Sandy River Clave... You will be even more welcomed if you are also a humble teacher. At this Clave, beginners are as welcome as experts. We all learn from each other. Here the two-hander is a common bond...to be shared.” On that day, the fraternal order of fly fishermen got bigger and better. KYPE
Fetha Styx Announces Expanded Partnership
F
etha Styx has announced an expansion of its partnership with the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association. Fetha Styx is a Redmond, Wash.-based manufacturer of high-performance fishing rods with a social conscience. Under the new agreement, Fetha Styx will manufacture and sell a line of rods featuring the CCA brand with models for salmon, trout, and “big game” fish such as sturgeon. A portion of the proceeds from each rod sold will go to support the work of the CCA-PNW. This line of rods will only be available via retailers located in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho—the areas in which the CCAPNW operates.
Since 1984, the national chapter of CCA has worked to advise and educate the public on marine resource conservation and stewardship issues. The PNW chapter, which works to raise awareness of marine and fisheries sustainability in the Northwest, has had a significant impact raising millions of dollars and improving the region’s fish populations while helping Northwest fisheries implement alternative harvesting methods. CCA-PNW includes 25 local chapters. This partnership aligns with Fetha Styx’s corporate initiative to make a difference with every rod they sell. Each of the company’s rod series is affiliated with a charity—anglers
can take pride in knowing the proceeds from each purchase contribute to environmental and social solutions. In addition to the CCA-PNW series, Fetha Styx offers True Hero, which supports the families of fallen firefighters and police officers. Earlier this year, Fetha Styx began their partnership with CCA-PNW by joining with North Fork Composites to create a select number of limited edition rods, which are available exclusively for members through CCA-PNW auctions. For more information on CCAPNW, please visit ccapwn.org. A full listing of rods available from Fetha Styx can be found at fethastyx.com. KYPE
CALIFORNIA
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Cast River Guide Service Steelhead*Salmon*Trout Fishing N Cali & S Oregon (707) 487-CAST (2278) www.smithriverfishing.com I fish From Dusk’till Dawn
Sierra Drifters Guide Service Guiding Eastern Sierra Year round Drift Boats (760) 935-4250 www.sierradrifters.com
at night. Stay away from the faster, broken water and concentrate on the soft, slower moving water. The moon phases are also key to your success. Some of my best days have come when the moon is less than half full. When there is a full moon, I tend to have my best luck early in the night, before the moon rises above the treetops and lights up the river like a runway. On nights where there is a new moon or crescent moon, the fishing can sometimes be good all night long. If you are unsure about the moon phases, get online and do some research. In the long run it will pay off. YOUR GEAR If you hook a large brown trout when fishing near cover, guess where it is going to go? You got it, straight for the logs, and all the better reason to leave the four and five weights at home. I typically like to use a 6 or 7 weight rod. Hooking fish over 20 inches is not that uncommon, and you want to be able to turn that fish away from the twisted piles of lumber or what have you.
Another reason I prefer to use a heavier weight rod is that many mouse flies tend to be big, bushy, wind resistant flies. That six or seven weight is going to turn that fly over and make casting much easier. Sometimes I will even go as far as over lining my rod by one line weight, especially if I am casting a really large bushy fly. This will also help to turn your fly over. When choosing a leader, you do not have to be fancy. I like to use a short stout leader of 12 to 15 pound test and about 3 to 4 feet in length. Sometimes I will even take an old dry fly leader and cut about 5 feet or so off. You do not have to worry about stealth. It’s dark outside and the fish can’t see your line. The extra heavy leader will also come in handy when you snag your fly up on a log or tree limb. I rarely lose many flies when mousing. THE FLIES Deer hair, foam and more deer hair; all are important materials too look for when choosing a mouse pattern. Mouse, frog, steelhead bombers and gurgler patterns are all good choices. Just because we are “mousing,” does not mean the fly has to look like an actual mouse. We want a fly that creates a wake and sometimes makes a little noise. When casting across the current, I prefer to use a gurgler style fly, as these tend to make a good popping sound and draw a lot of attention. When swinging my fly
down and across, I like to use a fly that rides low in the water and creates a good wake. Using more buoyant flies can cause the fly to pop up out of the water when the fish hits, making it harder to hook the fish. Having a variety of flies in different sizes with you will increase your success. Don’t be afraid to change it up a bit. SAFETY AT NIGHT Nighttime mousing does not have to be a daunting experience. If you are unsure about the whole nighttime fishing venture, bring a friend along or hire a guide. There is no better way to learn the water. If you do decide to go at it alone, always be sure to let someone know where you are going. Learn the area of river you plan on fishing by scouting it out during the day. The more you know the river, the more confident you will be while wading at night. A few essential items to bring include a headlamp with extra batteries, a wading staff and eye protection. Be sure not to skimp out on the eye protection. There’s something to be said about casting large flies with sharp hooks in the dark. While fishing at night is not for everyone, it is an experience in itself. The rushing sounds of the river flowing through a riffle, the fireflies sporadically dancing though the tall grass and trees, along with the quietness of night equal tranquility at its finest. The river becomes and entirely different place. If you love solitude and targeting large predatory trout, then throwing these oversize hairballs at night is your ticket to the show! KYPE
Briquettes Smokehouse Pork, Chicken, Beef Brisket, & Ribs Dine-In or Take-Out In historic Ashtabula Harbor 440-964-2273 briquettessmokehouse.com
Martinis Restaurant & Lounge Spacious Lounge & Dining Overlooking the Golf Course 440-964-2800 harborgolfclubashtabula.com
OHIO
24
Kames Sporting Goods 8516 Cleveland Ave. N. North Canton, OH 44720 Catch it, climb it, hunt it, or ride it, we have it! 800-446-4906
fifth of Crown Royal, so there could be a small margin for operator error. Maybe…. At least an 8wt and a reel with perfectly smooth drag loaded up with a floating line on top of plenty of heavy backing and small or medium lead eyes flies is all you’ll need to start fight after fight on the river. The technique for hooking these fish is almost too easy to be called fishing. In fact the hardest part of the actual fishing is casting the big glob of lead eyes, bunny fur, a needle sharp hook, and marabou into the river over and over without knocking yourself out or impaling yourself in the back of the neck. It happens a lot more than you’d imagine, another argument for barbless hooks. Once your electric pink fly hits the water, (“Turd Fly” was the name they were given by a well known magazine publisher, who unfortunately will remain anonymous even though he possessed a tremendous amount of l.o.f.t.) it’s as simple as letting it swing. No mending required. All fly fishermen will mend anyway because, well, they just can’t help it. But it doesn’t matter. As you follow your floating line with the tip of your rod, your muscles should start to tense like a boxer before the bell rings. There’s seriousness, focus, and mental preparation setting in that winds you up like a mousetrap waiting to snap until, there it is. A huge pulse shoots up your arm and through your shoulder as your line stretches under the immediate weight. You’ll want
to strip the line hard with your offhand to bury the heavy hook before lifting the rod tip. Now that you’re hooked in, the hurt really begins. Anyone who’s ever fished big Chinook or Native Steelhead knows that at some point they’ll eventually wear out. It might be a while, and they might rip line off your reel 10 different times and do half a dozen aerial cartwheels, sending your heart through your chest each time, but sooner or later they’ll let you turn their head and direct them to hand. A chum will never do it. Never. They literally do not have not a stop button. Their head will never turn towards you, and their tail will never do anything other than pressing them away. It takes more pulling than you would ever think to get one of these fish in and released. There’s so much pulling, in fact, that in 3 years of guiding the Alagnak I’ve seen at least 20 rods broken by fish. In all but one of them, a chum was the culprit. It’s a death certificate for a rod when I see clients slide their hand up towards the first guide to gain leverage after becoming tired and frustrated with a particularly angry and uncooperative fish. It doesn’t matter how expensive the rod is. It also doesn’t seem to matter how many times you tell yourself or tell a client not to do it, it’s going to happen. When it does, the result is almost always the same. I’ve seen it
right before my eyes so many times it’s actually become humorous. “Stop!!! Don’t slide your hand……” KERSNAP!!! Chards of graphite go flying in every direction and a bewildered fisherman is simply standing there staring at 3 feet of a 9 foot rod in his hand, thinking to himself, “Wow. This rod is brand new and it cost me $900 bucks. There’s no better way to break a rod than that. Totally worth it!” If tying into bright chum after bright chum after bright chum, all with the intent of completely destroying your favorite rod while you helplessly hang on sounds like something you’d consider fishing nirvana, then you and I are on the same page. Absolute war with one fresh fish after another on fly rods from dark till dark is not only possible, it’s an everyday thing on the Alagnak. Those of us lucky enough to have done it are counting the days until we get back. Those who haven’t had the chance to chase the greatest fly rod fishing imaginable need to be adjusting their schedules and saving money for the trip of a lifetime and a few extra rods just in case. You’re gonna need ’em. KYPE
MICHIGAN
25
Fairfield Inn & Suites 3701 North Country Dr. Traverse City, MI Close to the Betsy and Big Manistee River 231-922-7900
Woodland Rivers Guide Service Catering to the needs of the Fly-Fishing Angler on Michigan's most productive waters! 248.608.0908 www.woodlandrivers.com
was called the “Bear Hair,” and another was called “The Spotlight” which had four colors in it. Williams thought that he would put all the different major colors in one fly. Hunting deer was a big deal in the area of Miramichi and Williams would tell all the hunters to give him some of the hide so he could use the deer hair for fly tying. His favorite fly was the “Conrad” which he tied on a #6 hook. After a few trips back to the Miramichi, Williams was totally hooked. Islamorada was out and Blackwell, New Brunswick was in. He bought one track of land and built a cabin on. It wasn’t just the fishing. He loved the people, the land, the cool, crisp air and pretty much the whole atmosphere of the place. He had found a new home and would fish there the rest of his life until he could no longer do so. He often stated that if he had only one fish to fish for, it would be the Atlantic Salmon. Of course, being a representative for Sears, Williams would fish with his own line of reels from Sears with 150 yards of 20 lb. Dacron line for the backing. To that,
he added #8 torpedo fly line, and 6 to 8lb. test leader. His rod was an 8 1/2 foot split bamboo fly rod. The river was two hundred miles long with numerous tributaries that also offered great fishing. There were no rapids or dams, just meandering river with abundant pools and plenty of Salmon. Williams owned one of these pools in front of his cabin. Morning, noon and evening he could usually be found casting into his pool. The Atlantic Salmon Hall of Fame was located in Doaktown, New Brunswick and it didn’t take long before Williams was inducted. Fishing with Ted followed a certain routine. With guides or friends, everyone knew the routine. Williams entered the pool first and he would make the initial casts into that pool. When Williams moved, then you could fish where he had left. If that routine was not followed, one could feel the glare that was coming at you. Or worse, one could hear the infamous streak of profanity coming from him. Either way, it was certainly wise to use caution. There is a story of a person on a boating dock in Homosassa, Florida who asked one of the boat Captains if they ever saw Williams around the area. The Captain answered, “Yes, sometimes. Do you Booking Salmon River Trips!
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MONTANA
26
CrossCurrents 326 N. Jackson Street Helena, Montana 59601 406-449-2292 The Friendly Fly Fishing Experts www.crosscurrents.com
Spotted Bear Ranch Where the Adventure Begins (800) 223-4333 Orvis Endorsed Fly Fishing Lodge & Expedition www.spottedbear.com
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want to meet him?” The person answered, “Sure.” The Captain stated, “Well, he is right over there on that other dock.” The person walked over, wearing a Ted Williams tee shirt which he had purchased at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. When Williams saw the man with the shirt, he rather strongly tapped him on the chest saying, “Where did you get that -------- -------- shirt?” Williams had a big issue with people buying illegally sold memorabilia with his name or picture on it. When the person said that he had bought it at the Hall of Fame, Williams’ demeanor completely changed. He patted the person on the back and even signed the shirt for him. As the years passed by, he remained an almost constant visitor to the Miramichi. No other fishing or fishing location even tempted him. The passion for the fish and the river extended beyond to the point where anyone that kept an Atlantic Salmon rather than return it the river as Williams did, was in his words, the equivalent of murder. He was the ultimate purist and no one should be otherwise. But after approximately thirty years of fishing on the Miramichi, Williams’ health was deteriorating. He found it more and more difficult to put the waders on and get into the river in pursuit of the Salmon. In the fall of 1993, he left the area and never returned. Writing a few words about the fishing life of Ted Williams, of course, is only part of his life story, although a very important part. His huge accomplishments in his baseball career were groundbreaking in their time. Williams’ military record in two wars and his charitable work were all done without any fanfare. His passion for life, including fishing, was legendary and those of us who are connected to the fishing world can all the more appreciate his contribution to the sport. KYPE Subscribe now for one year (4 issues) of Kype Magazine & DVD Combo
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MONTANA
27
The Complete Fly Fisher Five star dining * Private riverside lodging Wise River, MT 866.832.3175 www.completeflyfisher.com
Fishing with Rob Olson Montana Outfitter #8976 PO Box 2382 Livingston, Mt. 59047 406.579.3619 www.FishingWithRob.Net
is much stronger, harder to control, and also likely to be injured in the process. After netting the right sized fish, make sure to wet your hands before handling a trout. Get a little bit of water in the tube of your stomach pump, and turn the trout upside down. This will disorient the fish and should stop it from struggling. This is the critical point at which we choose to pump or just release a trout. If it continues to wiggle or the slightest resistance is felt when inserting the tube, we release the fish without sampling. If the tube slides in easily, we gently squeeze the bulb and allow just the water to be pushed from the tube. In one steady motion, slowly back the tube out while letting go of the bulb. If you do this properly, it should take eight seconds for the entire operation from net to release. If you miss and do not get a sample, release the fish and try again on the next one. If you did it right, you will see
bugs in the tube. Squirt the contents into a white dish or container and photograph your findings. These stomach contents will reveal something that most entomology texts are missing, concrete facts. Stomach contents are not debatable, and you will undoubtedly discover times when the trout are not focused on the mayfly that has landed on your shirt, but rather, something you did not see. In collecting our data we were able to get more information than we imagined because several of us were doing this concurrently. We would schedule trips, send emails, and indulge in many long-winded phone calls to share the data with each other. Our good friend and fly tying guru John Collins was also a valued compatriot and conspirator. He was a huge asset in identifying insects, and developing new patterns that better represented our local bugs. This is when things really got interesting. The Big Payoff The most surprising revelation that we encountered with our studies was the abundance of midges in the
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Photo by John Collins
The Traditional Sportsman 814 Main St. Lewiston, ID 208-746-6688 www.thetraditionalsportsman.com
WYOMING
IDAHO
28
The Humble Fly 1183 Sheridan Ave. Cody, WY "home to thousands of lonely trout" 307-587-2757 www.thehumblefly.com
stomach samples. There are lots of great tail water and limestone streams in our general region that are famous for their midge populations. To this point, Chironomids were barley even mentioned in relation to our local NJ freestone streams. Month after month, we would find countless tiny midge pupa and larva in our samples. As it turns out, there are month long periods in our local waters when the trout feed almost exclusively on midges. Our stomach samples also revealed that caddis larvae appeared much more frequently than we would have imagined. We knew our local trout ate caddis larvae, but we had no inkling that it would present itself as the major food for the entire winter and a great deal of the spring. Once we began fishing imitations of the Hydropsyche and Rhyacophila (both commonly referred to as Green Rock Worms) in the winter, our catch rates went through the roof. Our winter sessions turned into some lights-out fishing, rather than a desperate move to get out of the house. After a few years of us using these techniques and recording our findings, we discovered one last revelation. Our local trout do not eat that many mayflies! Sure, trout will opportunistically eat a mayfly nymph that is well presented. There are also some events in the year that get the trout feeding on mayflies like the Sulphur, Slate Drake, and Blue Wing Olives. However, the fact is that our NJ Trout are mostly eating scuds, caddis, stoneflies, and midges. Looking at our sample results, caddis and midges are the predominate species in almost all of our local trout water. Based on what many of our clients and people who attend our lectures tell us, representations of these bugs are not their “go to” flies. I believe this is due largely to the simple fact that midge larvae/pupa, and caddis larva are not easily seen when looking at the streambed. Chalk it up to out of sight, out of mind. Once anglers understand the importance of these “other” food sources, fly selections change and catch rates go up. I would implore any fly angler that reads this to change your habits slightly. Spend a few minutes observing the water and insects before and during any
Photo by Richard Schaaff
lull in your fishing trips. Always take the time when you are finished to record your findings. If you establish small changes in your routine, just by adding a few minutes of curious observation, you will catch more trout and become a more capable angler. KYPE
COLORADO
29
Steamboat Flyfisher 507 Lincoln Avenue Steamboat Springs, CO Fly Fishing is our focus 970-879-6552 www.steamboatflyfisher.com
Bob's Fly Shop 406 So. Lincoln Ave. Loveland, CO 80537 Contact us at: 970-667-1107 bob@bobsflytying.com www.bobsflytying.com
The Split Case
PMD
Featured Tier, Aileen Ellis
by Aileen Ellis
first discovered this pattern among flies from “The House of Harrop” (Rene Harrop) at my local fly shop. The Split Case PMD has proven to be an effective fly on the Owyhee River and the South Fork of the Boise River. I am confident this pattern will produce similar results on your local water. The yellow breaking out from the thorax imitates the PMD beginning to emerge from its nymph body.
I
Bio: Demonstration Fly Tier Owner of MKFlies.com Fly Fishing Artist Type of Fishing: Fly Fishing Location: Nampa, Idaho
Start the thread, making sure to make smooth, even wraps.
Make four even wraps with the Gold Wire.
Website: www.MKFlies.com Contact Info: aellis@MKFlies.com
Tie in the Duck Mallard Wood Duck feather fibers and the Gold Wire.
Lightly dub evenly 2/3 of the way up toward the hook eye.
Cut a small strip of the Nymph Stretch Skin. Trim the tie-in end in an angle and cut the black strip down the middle.
Fly Box Outfitters 840 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW, Suite 568 Kennesaw, GA 30144 678-594-7330 www.flyboxoutfitters.com
VIRGINIA
GEORGIA
30
The Iris Inn Bed & Breakfast 191 Chinquapin Drive Waynesboro, VA 22980 540.943.1991 www.irisinn.com In the heart of Virginia's Trout Country
While adding a little stretch, pull the yellow strip behind the hook eye (leave enough room for the legs and black strip to be tied in afterward) and tie in.
Tie in the black Nymph Stretch Skin.
Recipe Tie in legs using feather fibers from the Duck Mallard Wood Duck.
Tie in the yellow Nymph Stretch Skin. For hooks size 18-20, I cut the yellow strip in half making them more narrow. Add a small amount of dubbing.
While adding a little stretch, pull both sides of the black strips and tie behind the hook eye. After tying in the black strip, cut off the excess and add a small drop of head cement.
PRODUCTS
Directions, top of next column.
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Hook: Daiichi 1720 size 20 – 16 2x long Thread: 6/0 Black Tail: Duck Mallard Wood Duck Abdomen: Rust Brown Fine Dubbing Rib: Small Gold Wire Thorax: Nymph Stretch Skin in Black and Yellow Legs: Duck Mallard Wood Duck