Steelhead Guides

Flyfishing Guide Trips
Stilly-Sky-Skagit Rivers

Winter Steelhead Flyfishing

Grande Ronde Steelhead

Video

Stories & Articles
by Dennis Dickson

Gift Certificates

*Pay for a guide trip online*

Home

12/30/07

"A New Day"

Winter continues to have her way. The rivers are up and then they are down. If you are like many, it is not a matter of going when the rivers are optimum - you go fishing when you can.

Fishing overview:
Not so bad: Salmons are gone now. They are now replaced by hatchery winter steelhead. Not large numbers, but enough steelhead in several rivers to give you the excuse to be fishing - and fishing is better than not fishing - even in the winter time.

The key to making the right trip is checking river heights (is what I do everyday, and heck I live right above the North Fork of the Stilly.)

I am happy to report - a couple of the Sky and Skagit pool have actually gotten better after the high waters.

Winter Steelhead Flyfishing:
In my opinion, the very most important ingredient in my steelhead fishing success is fishing the right lines in the right water. Bottom Line (no pun intended): If you can't fish where the steelhead are, you aren't going to catch them - especially in the winter, when the rivers are typically high and cold. I shudder to think of all the chopping and cutting I have done over the years trying to come up with a decent winter flyline. I am relieved we finally found a commercial one in the Yancy. Trust me, when you flyfish steelhead as an occupation, throughout the year, you see pretty much every line out there.

Stilly, North Fork: Air Temps 35 degrees to 45 degrees. Water Temps around 39 degrees at 10 am. Water visibility-high above French Creek, moderate below Boulder Creek, and fishable below Deer Creek (unless it warms up. Fish below Deer Creek, if the water flows stay down. Above Hazel when its up. The winter hatchery fish are coming in pulses. Car hopping is more productive than floating, but floating gets you away from people. Here is what Jeremy had to say on Washingtonflyfishing.com about his day on the Stilly.

Jeremy's steelhead

Sauk River: Maybe never quite the grand lady she once was, but every once in a while. A noble fish in a noble river. February is a great time to start looking for the wild winter Sauk steelhead.

Skagit: Pretty good. Air temps 30-40 degrees, water temps. 37-42 degrees. Visibility excellent above the Sauk, and fishable below. I try not to get my hopes up too much. Seems like every year we get a pulse of fish and I am thinking, "Here we go!" and the bottom falls out. So far so good.

The Skagit has fish.
Water flows of course are regulated by money, I mean, the dam releases. The river has been very fishy for winter hatchery steelhead, and that's a good thing.

So many kudos for all of you Washingtonians who have come up in defense of our wild Char. You make a difference.

Best of fishing through the Holidays,

Dennis, Mike & Jeremy

www.flyfishsteelhead.com.

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

December 23, 2008

"Christmas Fishing"

"As we get older, we become more like ourselves." Seems like every year the clock turns just a little bit tighter. Time moves a tad bit faster. After so many years of playing as a Biologist and steelhead guide, I wonder if I haven't simply used my occupations as an excuse to play outside. I look at my young Dickson guides, and reflect that it really wasn't so many years ago, that was me. Amazing how life turns.

I have to be honest, with holiday and friends around, I haven't spent but little time on the water. Mike & J. do. Found a few of those cold but crisp days, between storms out on Jeff's Ponds. We get a little spoiled here, on this 90 acre property. Right now we are fishing four of the six lakes. The half day gig, is about the perfect length for this winter fishery. Mohair leeches, and dark dragonfly nymphs were the ticket this week, and all the anglers saw some lovely fish. Largest was a fatty rainbow around eight pounds.

Rivers haven't responded with a lot of winter hatchery steelhead, but the local streams as well as the Olympic Peninsula rivers are starting to get a few fish.

Skagit (4,200- 5900 cfs @ Marblemount) is one that quietly gets it done. There is just enough new steelhead coming in, to make your trip, a good reason to get out of the house. Dollies would be another, but of course we can't talk about that. Black Bart, egg-n-shuck, and the Cop Car series are the best producers.

Skykomish River (2,470 cfs. @ Gold Bar) but is a freezing level away from a real change. Water is low and very fishable as we speak. Watch out if the temps go up! Mike & J. played hooky the other day. Mike swam this nice winter hatchery fish up around High Bridge.

North Fork Stilly: (2,410 cfs @ Deer Creek) It's OK, but takes a lot of local gear action. Fish it on a falling river if you can. Somber colored flies will take more reluctant steelhead.

Sauk River: (2,750 cfs @ Sauk) Not much of a hatchery steelhead stream. Better wait until after the new year for the wild steelhead to show. (My favorite!)

Guide note: When the fish are in and I know the gear guys are hitting the steelhead hard, the "show them something different" really comes into play. Your winter flies in "Off colors" such as black, purple, and blue are great searching flies. Just remember to fish them "Low and Slow."

Kudos to Salmonfly.net Always a quality flyfishing source.

Speaking of quality sources. Puget Sound Fly Company is a breathe of fresh air. We send customers down to this fly shop, all the time. Highly recommend them.

Flyfishing Schools Calendar: "When you decide you want to be in that 10% that catches all the fish"

I have to apologize: These classes filled so quickly, sometimes Sandy and I don't have time to up date the web pages. The following is the correct dates for 2008.

As for now:
We continue to fish our winter rivers and of course our private lakes. Tying warm weather saltwater flies like crazy. Life is good.

Sound like another year is rounding the corner......

"We are here on earth to do good for others. What the others are here for, I don't know."
- W.H.Auden

Best Fishes,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com.

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/16/07

Dickson guides have been splitting time between the Stilly and the Skagit, too. Olympic Peninsula is also working. Me? Most of my water time has been up at our private lakes. Perfect. Fishing is very good.

As we were fishing the Skagit the other day, we checked out some water I haven't fished for a while.....but will again in later February. Water was low.....but fishing well. Some of the pools have changed since the high waters, so reading water is paramount.

Kudos for those who have been vocal about protecting the wild char. Don't think your efforts have gone unnoticed. Managers are quick to point out that target harvesting had nothing to do with the decline. All drought and habitat loss, they say. Yeah, they used to say that about harvesting our wild steelhead. That worked out well. I say, "I don't care how we got to protecting them, just as long as we do." Here is the Dolly Editorial I wrote a couple years ago.

I was wondering: Think we should include the Dolly/Bull as a target species during the March-April C&R on the Sauk and Skagit? That would be cool.

Rivers took a small pulse of rain last week. Snow levels are hovering in the foothills, steelhead came in on the flood waters. Everything is fishing and life is good again.

Water is cold, even for December, so bringing the fly in "Low and Slow" is the rule. Even though steelhead will lay in many types of water......there are only those pools that you can flyfish effectively. Recognize this water and concentrate your efforts there. Good Karma is a nice read, helpful when you are standing up to your wazzoo in ice water.

A concept we teach in the past ten years of winter steelhead schools is; presentation is more important than the fly on the end of your line. Also, if you thought that drawing steelhead to your fly was as simple as casting as far as you can, and throwing a really big mend, you would be wrong. Over casting sinktips is probably the number 1 mistake I see on the Skagit, and I guide it year round.

The rivers are prime, the water is clear. You have a choice. You can go fishing, or follow your sweetie around the mall. Any questions?

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. "
~Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas, Man.

The Dickson Boys www.flyfishsteelhead.com.

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/9/07

"Just when you thought it was safe to get back into the water"

Poor Chum. The Dog Salmon never come back in big numbers in Pink Salmon years. Coming off the flooding rivers we just took, is just not going to help.

The good news is due to cold dry weather rivers have dropped like a stone, and all are back into fine fishing shape. Even the commercial netting can't compete with amount of volume and debris the rivers gained, so the incoming winter steelhead got a free pass for a few days.

While we were out: The high rivers gave us all the excuse we needed to hole up this week at our private waters above Mount Vernon. Our spring fed lakes are protected from winter storms so guiding here was an easy gig.

The large late season rainbows are feeding on leeches and dragonfly nymphs right now. We will see the occasional choronomid coming off, but nothing to get serious about until next spring. Speaking of spring, here is a wonderful goto fly that seems to transcend the winter blues. There is 1000 names for it, we just call it our Redheaded damsel.

We generally fish it along the drop-offs and edges with floating lines at the lakes, but I have also found it effective on most lakes I fish, if fished along the weed tops.

Now that the rivers are back:

Look for the winter hatchery steelhead to be heading in. Dogs to be finishing up, Whitefish et al. to be gobbling eggs. Mike's Egg-n-shuck is still one of my favorites.

Christmas time angling: winter steelheading is a long time tradition in the Pacific Northwest. That means we are going to be sharing our waters with anglers of all gear type. As a very long time fisheries biologist as well as fishing guide, I am embarrassed at times by the attitude of fly anglers who has fished long enough to know better. Here is an article I wrote some years ago called River Etiquette. Besides, it's Christmas.

So there you have it, a guy can only tie so many Tarpon leaders and Bonefish flies while the rivers are out. Dreaming of far-off waters and warmer climes is what keeps us endurable. Such is my winters.

"Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is a little like expecting the bull not to attack you because you are a vegetarian."
— Dennis Wholey

Christmas time, and proud of it,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com.

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12-2-07


If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes

Early in the week, I was fishing our private lakes. Here is one nice fish. This one was taken on a large dragonfly nymph. Leeches were also effective.



By late in the week our arctic blast came through and our Pac 1300 looked more like this.



Fishing & forecast

Rivers are low & cold as we speak. Temperatures are supposed to rise above 50 degrees by Tuesday so watch for the rivers to bounce. Should be more new winter steelhead in the systems when it does. Cool!

Speaking of cool: Our Skagit Winter Steelhead School Feb 8 or 9 hasn't even got out of the gates, and already filling for both dates. The really cagey guys are pointing their sweeties toward giving the Gift Certificate including the 2008 Grande Ronde Campout. Perfect.

Here is what Chris had to say to Mike about our latest steelhead school. So glad he had a good time. We try.

"Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect."

-- Oren Arnold

Best of fishing,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com.

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/25/07

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

"Dead low" would be an accurate description of the North Sound rivers right now. The cold dry weather continues but the weather doppler says that change is coming. Rivers are marvelous. They are either rising or dropping. Nothing static here.

Skagit: Time for the early winter hatchery fish to be poking in. If you get the fishing itch for a new fish and can't make it over to the Olympic Peninsula, fish the middle river. Very pretty water in there.

Mike's favorite big water fly is his articulated Bad Dog. You know the drill. Fish it low and slow.

The upper Skagit is receiving a good pulse of Dolly/Bulls coming out right now. The 27" char one of Mike's clients released was a dandy fish. Fish any fly that is egg-sucking, because that is what the Dollies are doing.

Sauk: Very low. Not much going here.

North Fork Stilly: Last whack at the hatchery summer steelhead before the river goes to bait December 1.
Plenty of Coho and Chum around, but remember you can't fish for them. Release any one you get gently for he is almost home.

Cold Water Takes is a good read this time of year. I have heard all kinds of wives tales on steelhead bites and how to hook set. If you are happy in what works for you, go for it. We spend a lot of time going over presentation et al in our upcoming Skagit Winter Steelhead Schools Feb. 8 or 9.

Many guys are booking this very popular school through our Gift Certificates.

Because you have asked: We have now added the Grande Ronde Campout in these gift certificates.

Very cool. Nothing like getting something for Christmas you really want!

I would certainly be remiss if I didn't mention our 90 acre multiple private lakes gig, east of Pass Lake.

Triploid rainbows for 8 pounds are moving. Mostly to leeches and Dragonfly nymphs, but they are definitely up for the challenge. We continue to book, Monday through Fridays. I recommend the 1/2 day for winter fishing.

Fishing Forecast:

If the weather stays cold and clear, don't expect to many new fish entering the rivers. If these rains materialize, look for shot of early winter hatchery steelhead to head for home.

Best of fishing,

Dickson,

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

425 238 3537

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/18/07

"Dog Days of Thanksgiving"

Fishing continues as the rivers have settled back in, again. More rains are forcasted. The weather is always bumpy this time of year. We will see. All species are happening. From waiting period Coho, to upriver summer steelhead, everything is in the mix. Our guides and I are bouncing from river to river right now.

The Stilly will take a few more days to get back into fishing shape. Freezing temperatures will help. This time of year, the Fortson area is the best for summer steelhead. Careful where you step. Chum salmon are spawning now.

Only the Skagit has been down in fishing shape. Mike & Jeremy handled the Skagit Schools this time, while I took care of some family matters. Thanks again to all who made another successful set of outings. Mike and J. were pleased with the boys into Dogs, Dollies, & Silvers, while they schooled. All species doing well. Even a gazillion white fish. Think they will ever be a sport? Both floating and sinktip lines have their place. I have to tell you, after the many years of chasing these fish again; it really helps to be able to focus on the specie in front of you. I constantly marvel how each species has their own idiosyncrasies. Mike says their three top flies in the schools were
Egg-n-shuck ,
Black Bart
and the Egg-sucking Cop Car. Skagit is dropping, fish are looking up.

Orin Barlond & Skagit Chum
Guide Jeremy Floyd

If you are looking for a change of pace, Hood Canal tidewater chum fishing is fun. Here is an article I wrote a few years ago called History of the Hoodsport Fishery

I have been getting phone calls and emails asking what we can do to stem the tide, should WDFW management discontinue their summer steelhead hatchery program. Good question, wish I had an happy answer to any of our problems facing Washington steelhead. Hatchery or wild. I don’t.

I can tell you this: Take all your committees and organizations, your five year cycles and symposiums, and any discussion that doesn’t put you face to face with the Tribes, and all you have is talk. This is not about placing blame, we are passed that. This is about finding solutions.

What’s coming up:

Look for a few hatchery winter steelhead to poke their way in as we head further into the holidays. The Skagit is full of Chums now, and Silvers are pushing way up into their natal streams. That is cool.

If you do take a winter steelhead guide trip, tell your guide there will be no Dolly killing in the boat that day. We have to start somewhere.

Jeremy spent some time back over on the Ronde last week. He said the water temps were down to 37 degrees. No wonder we spend our Grande Ronde time in October!

Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won't come in.
--Alan Alda

A happy Kudos to all of you that have made Dennis Dickson, Flyfishing # 1 in the world!
(Google search steelhead flyfishing guide)

Best of fishing,

Dickson

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

425 238 3537

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/11/07

"Careful what you wish for"

Our guide week:
We started the week mumbling about the low clear water. Boom, the monsoon hit and blew Dickson guides right off the water. Just like that, all the rivers are back and fishing. Life is good again.

Seemed like The high water early in the week brought in more new fish as we were fishing the week on the falling water. This is our grab bag time of year, due to multiple species of fish.

NF Stilly: (1,800 CFS) Stilly went out of shape the other day but fell back nicely. Boulder Creek is still putting in some color but the cold weather has made the entire river fishable. Our target is summer steelhead but all species can get in on the act. Release them gently, and careful what is biting. The purple conehead bugger and Mrs. Black are our two top flies this week.

Skykomish: Sorry, don't spent much time on the Sky this time of year but it can be a fine dog show. Too many sleds.

Sauk: No fishing this week, but it is fishable

Skagit: 4,300 > 7,400 CFS. Water jumped due to the rain but as the Skagit is dam controlled, all is good. The articulated leeches in Black, green, purple, pink and the Cop Car series, are good. Fishing is from Marblemount to Rockport is the drill. Remember to release all the Dollies. We need to do what we can to protect this wild Char.

Wenatchee River: Jeremy is over there chasing steelhead as we speak. Haven't heard from him which isn't unusual when he is fishing. Have a report by next week.

Jeff's Ponds
Private waters are fishing well. The rainbows handled the summer just fine and doing the same. Leeches along the edges are the drill for these bruisers to eight pounds.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 16 or 17
The classes were full, but due to a couple late cancellations we have room for two on Friday, all locked for Saturday. If you didn't get (or can't find) your itinerary, no worries, just give me a holler. We have no problem filling a fly order and bringing it to the class.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jeremy www.flyfishsteelhead.com

425 238 3537

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/4/07

"California Dreaming"

Just returned from a week’s fishing in Northern California. Jeremy could barely contain the superlatives as he described his hometown steelheading. I had no choice, we had to go.

Mike, Jeremy & I flew out of Seattle, destination Eureka California. Our goal was to fish the Klamath & Trinity rivers for steelhead. We have Dickson clients who live down there, so for years, I have heard of fabled stories of "half-pounders" and adult steelhead. Multiple fish & floating lines are suppose to be the rule. Interesting.

As we floated and fished for the next few days, Jeremy didn’t lie, the fishing was solid. We were in the middle of no-where. I naturally assumed northern California was like the rest of it. Wild fires, people and smog. I was so wrong.

Imagine this: We are fishing a drop dead gorgeous Klamath run at sunrise, steelhead are rolling, and it’s about 55 degrees air and water. Yesterday the air temperatures got up in the mid-seventies. I am thinking, this is my idea of November steelheading. I swear it had the look and feel of Cle Elum Washington, in mid September. It was friggin awesome, only the river is the size and character of the upper Skagit. Perfect.

I tried lots of flies in lots of presentations over the next few days of fishing, so did Mike and Jeremy, but this morning was a total grease lining show.

I fished my single-handed 5wt., our FLHS, on a 12’ leader tapered to a 3x Grand Max. flouro tippet. a # 8 Silver Hilton, dressed low water. Line and presentation complimented the air clear water conditions we faced. I won’t bore you with a lot of details, but I rose about a dozen fish, hooked 8 and brought 5 to hand. All half-pounder steelhead, which remind me an awful lot of fishing the Cowlitz Sea-run Cutthroat, but these wild steelhead run and jump more. I rose a heavy fish down in the tail-out but it came unpinned as it broke into the chute below. I had to admit, it was impressive. Jeremy didn’t say much. (He didn’t have to.)

Klamath River Fishing:
I found that: The wading was challenging at the least. No wonder the local guides fish their clients from a boat. (Mike and I kindly refused just because, but I know why they do it.)

If you fish for the half-pounders (like you would dry-line steelhead) and treat each adult steelhead as a bonus, then you are going to be really happy.

If you over gun with big rods, ski the youngsters to hand, looking for a big steelhead, you came for the wrong reason. Matching rod to fishing is everything. Always is.

Personally, I couldn’t get over the weather and the scenery. Stunning. I remember one afternoon on the Trinity River, where Mike and I were a little worn out of every day fishing. (Jeremy wasn't, he is like a friggin energizer bunny), so we just laid down in the sunbaked gravel bar, and had a nap. It was the first of November, and we were sprawled out down to waders & tee shirts. The sun was not quite hot. Perfect.

Mike & Jeremy with half-ponders

So the Klamath River reminds me of the upper upper Skagit River, in size and volume. Some amazing fly-water, but wading is slick in places. I used my wading staff a lot. The section of the Trinity where we fished was in the lower river, near the Klamath confluence. This watershed is about North Stilly size, very clear, with good substrate. With Jeremy playing the guide, we hooked both adults and half-pounders (which are wild, by the way). My only regret is I would have liked to spend a day or two more, floating the Trinity. We float and waded on the Klamath, just like we do at home. Having Jeremy there to point out every good pool, didn't hurt either.

Can I see what Jeremy gets so fired up about these rivers? Oh yeah. I couldn't help thinking how sucky the weather et al, gets back home in Washington right now. I could get used to this November steelheading down south.

Local Fishing:
I can always tell when it's this time of year. The fishing can be as volatile as the river levels. I get a flood (bad pun) of emails, from guys who know if there is anyone idiot enough to be out fighting the fall/winter elements, it has got to be the Dickson boys. Always happy to answer questions. This is what you will find.

The NF Stilly: (470-CFS) Definitely in the lower freezing levels, which have produced an early dry and cold period. The Stilly is a relatively small drainage, and can drop pretty quickly. Look for Chums & Coho in the mainstem clear to the tidewater, and a mix of older summer steelhead, with a few early winter hatchery fish in the North Fork, as the water has dropped to summer low. Sinktips and winter marabous like ""http://www.streamsideflyshop.com/pinkstinker-pic.htm"" have given way to the small and flashy like Jonathan‘s Coho Green .

Speaking of Pink Stinker:

The Skykomish (1,700-CFS) is a pretty stable watershed, and not a bad "Dog Show" but we may have to wait for the next pulse of rain to really bring them in. Right now the water is dead low. Many anglers swear by the chartreuse but it has been I experience, that cerise/purple in our "Pink Stinker" is a great Chum color combination, for the Sky fish. (Also one of my go-to winter steelhead flies, so there you go.) Fish it greaseline, with a twitch for the Dogs. If you are snagging fish, stop casting down & across, as you do for steelhead, they don't like that.

Skagit: (5,700 CFS) This river is very "IN" right now. Coho, Chum, and some big Dolly/ bulls are in there. Watch your regs for retention, though. If you are a Dickson Member, the Cop Car series, is a great dirty fly if we get that rain. Right now, I have found any of those egg-sucking flies such as the "http://www.streamsideflyshop.com/blackbart-pic.htm" is awesome, now that the water has dropped and we have the visibility. I maintain the fly isn't as important as the presentation in the right zone.

Oh Yeah: Looking forward to our annual Skagit school-winter November 16 or 17.

Looks like we just have room for two in the Friday school, Saturday is full. Itinerary is included.

So I am home. Fishing is fishing. Guys are rebooking for the Grande Ronde again next fall.

Bahama Bones & Tarpon are only a couple months away. Tuff gig.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike, & Jeremy
425 238 3537 www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Oct 28 2007


"Here today gone, to Maui"
By the time you read this, Mike, Jeremy and I will be getting ready to crawl onto a plane, this time for Northern California. These are Jeremy's old stomping grounds. He has turned into quite an excellent guide, and we are lucky to have him working for Dicksons. If he says his home waters is that good, that is something I got to see. Plan is to fly down on Monday, fish until Friday. J. says he hasn't slept since he got home from the Ronde.

After 20 some odd years in the business, my being gone doesn't even phase my good wife, anymore. Not sure that is a good thing? Mike and Jeremy's women? Hmmm, that's a little different.

Fall in the Pacific northwest:

After the big rain, we are back into dry and cold. Rivers were a little swollen, but dropping like crazy. The good news is the fish are coming. I check out my River Flows every day, that I am home.

North Sound Streams: A lot of spawning Pink salmon this year. With a little luck, the eggs will make it beyond the critical egg stage. Pinks are trying to wrap it up, Coho are in, Chum are coming in, SRC will start heading up their natal tribs, Dollies will be coming down from spawning......and they will be hungry. Things are definitely on the go. Stilly North Fork: Air temperatures have dropped into the 30's. Brrrr.....

Steelhead flies: As you would probably imagine, egg patterns are a good choice with both Chinook and Pinks are in post spawn. Mike's Glue Egg-n-shuck We are seeing Coho all the way up into the upper reaches of the North Fork, and some really large Searuns are hanging around the steelhead waters. Remember, only the hatchery steelhead are legal. Leave everything else alone.

The lower North Fork Stilly was fishing well right until the high water. Deer Creek and Boulder Creek both blew out. Tons of Coho this year, and wild ones, too! The Stilly tidewater is falling back into smoking, and this time the big bad Chum dogs, will be joining the mix. Good times.

The Skagit River: The upper Skagit between Marblemount and Sauk River confluence is actually back up to high normal flows:

The Skagit River Humpy run was "OK," but at least we maintained a viable stock. Now it is time for the Chum & Coho show. We do our best chum fishing in the standard steelhead waters. Techniques differ a bit from the standard wetfly swing but they will bite. I think it is really hard to beat the egg-sucking leech patterns.

The big Dolly/Bulls are coming out soon. They will be all over the Chum spawn & carcass. (think Alaska rainbows).

Speaking of which: Check out our 2007 Steelhead, Salmon & Dolly school November 16 or 17. Latest head count. November 17 class is full but Friday the 16th still has a couple openings.

I already forewarned you: Guys have been asking about this particular school since before we even headed to the Grande Ronde, back in September. The guides and I really enjoy this multiple species gig.

The Cascade River has a bunch of hatchery Coho in it right now. Fish the small flies for them as the water clears.

It's not just about the North Sound Rivers: Good time to be hitting those Hood Canal trib. mouths, as the Chum will be smelling for home. Better prepare for a jam show. That why my guides & I will be splitting time between the Stilly, Skagit and the Sauk, this winter. It's a cold time, but a quiet time........until you hook a Chum headed south.

I will write more specifics on the home rivers, as we get further into the early winter show. I promise to tell you all about my take on the Klamath and Trinity steelhead fishing, when we get back.

Many have read some to all of my Stories and articles. One of my favorites is "Guide Hats."

Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility and commitment.
--Ross Perot

Best of fishing,

Dicksonwww.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10-21-07


Mike & Jeremy have just rolled in after their 20 straight days on the Grande Ronde. Mike seems to be well pleased with his 2007 Cabins & Camp-out expeditions. They wanted me to thank the 48 anglers who joined their 3 day expeditions. Good times. Here is what Dennis R. had to say about his camp-out experience, with Mike & Jeremy.

The Grande Ronde is up a little now, and the temperatures are dropping. We are already planning for our 2008 trips. To tell you the truth, we have been booking for 08' season for the last couple months. Happy to send dates & details for next year.

We will have some Chum & Coho guiding in the next week, but it is our Northern California Klamath River steelhead the next week following, that has me excited. Jeremy says as good as the Ronde was, the Klamath is better. I got see this for myself.

I guess the Stilly has been awesome for Coho in the past few weeks. The lower river is out right now, but if we hit a dry spell, the bad dogs of Chumsville should be along with them. This has got to be good.

A lot of Anglers will be hitting the Skykomish River as the waters fall back in, but my attention will be on the Skagit River. There is something about the North Cascade mountain stream.

Our Skagit Fall Salmon & Steelhead School Nov 16 or 17 is quietly one of our top schools, year in and year out. Looks like this year is no different. Our Saturday school is full but we still have a couple slots left in the Friday class. My favorite Skagit Chum fly is Black Bart. Steelhead love it, too!

So watch your river levels. We will have to fight off the local fish until next week. Tell you all about these California fish when we return.

Here is to dreaming about the Ronde for another year,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

425 238 3537

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10/14/07

"God didn't build enough Octobers."

Still digging the Grande Ronde dirt from under my finger nails right now. I purposely came back from the Ronde after only a couple weeks this year. Too many biology projects I tell myself. Have to tell you, it feels a little weird. I wouldn't normally be back for another week or so, but the Dickson guides are doing the Cabins & Campouts drill over there, so they don't need me. (I must be getting old).

Had a wonderful time of my own, doing a series of wilderness campouts with some very close angling clients, I have been fortunate enough to know. I so look forward to seeing them on the Grande Ronde each year. Has it really been since 1990?

As I was packing, I told my good wife I had to head over to the east side for work on the Ronde again this year.

She simply looked at me and said, "Going over to play in the dirt with your buddies?"
Wives know, they always know. So I will confess, for all the fishing from Alaska to Mexico I do each year, the GR is a huge favorite.

Jeff plays the spey

As mentioned, Mike & Jeremy are still up in the upper Grande Ronde doing the Cabins & Campouts gig. I would check in each time I came off my lower river campout. Sounds like they have been doing very well. Boys will be back on the Seattle side after Oct. 21st.

The fishing:
The Grande Ronde is still a little warm. Steelhead are coming in by fits and spurts. Our standard steelhead flies are working along with "One eyed Willy" & "Dandy's Divine."

One eyed Willy represents a small olive green crayfish with brownish orange claws, prevalent on the GR. I simply tie it up as a Woolly Bugger with small lead eyes. I then lop off a dumb bell eye which makes it swim lop sided. Gary H. called it my "pity fly." The fish hit it because they are trying to put it out of its misery. He is probably right.

Anyway, I am now back on the West side for another year. As a fall fishery, the Grande Ronde always reminds me another year is coming to a close.
"No rest for the weary."

Mike and Jeremy have exactly one week from when they return to get ready for a week's steelhead trip down into Northern California. The Klamath River Jeremy's home stomping ground. The "steelhead half-pounders" is the quarry. I have clients who live down there, and they have raved about it to me for years. Jeremy is the perfect excuse.(Here is Jeremy's Guiding profile) Keep you posted on that one.

Back at the ranch. I have a mountain of emails to go through. For those inquiring about our
Skagit Fall School Nov 16 or 17 Thank you for your patience, right back to you.

About Life:
You can understand and relate to most people better if you look at them
-- no matter how old or impressive they may be -- as if they are
children. For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much --
we simply grow taller. Oh, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and
wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the
child we always are, whose needs are simple, whose daily life is still
best described by fairy tales.
--Leo Rosten

Here is to living the dream.

Best of fishing,
Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10/7/07


"Now there is something you don't find every day"

Pardon the interruption. All the guides are over in southeast Washington, doing the Grande Ronde 3 day campouts. If you are interested in our 2008 GR season, we have been booking it for the past month. Happy to have you.

My sweet wife Dawn will guard the fort while we are out, answering emails & phone calls.

If you are inquiring about our November 16 or 17 Skagit Schools happy to get back to you on that. Right now there are slots available for either day.

Back to you with more stories of the Grande Ronde!

Best of fishing,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/30/07

"Fishing is spelled October"

Hard to imagine another September has come and gone. Jeremy, Mike and I have all been busy on the guiding scene.

Weather hasn't been so fabulous.......but the fishing has been awesome. Multiple rivers, multiple species. Very cool. Rivers smell of salmon now. Absolutely amazing how nature works. Studies now conclude, that the very carcass of the adult fish provide the nutrient loading for the juveniles the following spring. God always seems to have an answer.

Pinks are mostly gone now from the lower rivers. Spawning has commenced. Lets hope the weather Gods are gentle.

Searun Cutthroat fishing is really good on the Stilly right now. The traditional flies aren't so hot but Pink salmon egg patterns, somber Carey Specials, and little muddlers are all killer.

Speaking of Stilly: Looks like an awesome return of wild Coho are returning this year. Seen fish already to 15 pounds!. The Skagit is flat getting it done. Here is what Craig had to say about his recent Westside flyfishing day with Mike and I.

Almost makes we wish I was around for the October show, but of course the Grande Ronde River calls. For all the fishing throughout the world I do, there must be something about the Grande Ronde. I seem to spend half my year looking forward to it, the other half reflecting back on it. May every angler have a Grande Ronde in his/her life.

We have been booking for the GR trips of 08', for the past month or so. We started doing the GR in 1990 so you can do the math. For those new to the Grande Ronde, please read The Grande Ronde and Mrs. Brown

Watch for the SRC to head up their tributaries........right now they are huddled around the mouths waiting for this rain. It is our one chance at large trout in a small stream setting, here in western Washington. Pretty cool. Salmon are in, Coho are staging.......too many choices......way too many choices.

By the time you are reading this, Mike and Jeremy are heading over to the Grande Ronde, I wander that way in a few days.

Did I mention Skagit Chums of November?

Best of fishing,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/23/07

"Its all good, baby"

I guess you could say, Fall has fell. Shorter days, colder nights, leaves are turning on the mountain hillsides. Ahhh.... life is good.

It is almost impossible to describe all the flyfishing scenarios right now. The saltwater beaches are showing more and more Silvers now. Clousers, Shrimp and baitfish imitation patterns will get it done. Tidewater and upriver fishing is moving slowly from Humpies to Silvers. Waters are cooling and the summer steelhead are looking up. Searuns are quietly doing their thing. Good time to start looking off the tributary mouths. With all the salmon spawning, many SRC are now moving to egg patterns.
The Sauk is finally starting to clear with the cool weather. You can finally find quality fishing below the Sauk/Skagit confluence, again. Yeah!

Skykomish/ Snohomish: Look for some tributary steelhead & SRC fishing as the water cools and rises a bit. Working around all the Humpies in the river is the trick.

Grande Ronde is our October fishing. We are booking for 2008 as we speak. Mike & Jeremy will be doing the upper river again. I will be camped in the lower Ronde, playing in the dirt.

Fall/Winter Salmon & Steelhead Flyfishing Schools Nov 16 or 17
Once this Skagit school was simply an afterthought, now it has quietly become one of our most sought after clinics. Word is still out if the Skagit will be open for a Dolly kill. We will adjust the school accordingly.

Kudos to you: A very humble thank you for making Dickson Flyfishing, the # 2 ranked flyfishing guide service in the world. (Google search Flyfishing Guide). Read Testimonials to find out why.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jeremy

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/16/07

Bear Attack attack.

So my buddy [Steve] and I head off to Alaska for a week of fishing. We ended up fishing a bunch of rivers in Southeast. Amazing country and the wildlife was outstanding. Bears, wolves, seals, it just went on and on. Pretty cool.

We heard about this one lake that was supposed to have some monster cutthroat in it so we of course, had to check that out.

On our way out we were hiking a fairly short but steeply pitched forested game? trail. The evidence of half torn salmon carcasses, and bear feces reminded us, we were not alone. The fishing wasn't so much but the scenery was stunning. We came to a Hemlock blow-down over the trail. Steve disappeared into the foliage and I hear, "Whoosh!" then "Ahhh!" by Steve. I hear some crashing around but nothing that really sounds "animal." I yell, "Man you all right? (Notice brave Dennis hasn't gone plowing into the forested wonderland of brush and tree.)

Steve says with a gasp, "I just sprayed myself !" I think Bear Spray. I remembered he was carrying the can on his belt and apparently the trigger guard came off, and a limb had pulled the trigger. I waited a minute, but as I crawled into the blowdown, I immediately started gasping, eyes and nose were like on fire. For all the many times I had played around bear country and pepper spray. I have never seen it in action. Nasty.

So Steve has spray all up the inside of his waders and jacket. Gave him an orange hew.

His eyes, nose and lips were already swelling. I led him to a swamp, and had him rub everything down with a cake of mud including face and hands. If it wasn't so tragic, he looked pretty funny. I figured the pepper spray had done it's job, it was simply a matter now, of wiping it off. Steve had found a spring and was going to clean up.

I was gathering up his fishing gear when I hear, "Ahhh!!!" (and then a bunch of stuff I can't write down.)

I looked over and exclaimed "Steve, you didn't grab that Devils Club did you!?"

He said weakly "Yeah..." His right hand was now full of prickles.

As we stumbled him off the mountain, he looked like a Halloween party gone bad, he was nursing swollen eyes, swollen lips muck caked facial, and a hand full of stickers.

When we got to the sea shore, he stripped everything down washed up in saltwater the best he could, and even went potty.

Steve puts everything back on but you could still smell the acrid odor of pepper spray. Nasty stuff. His poor eyes were all pouched and runny, his nose was inflamed, and his lips looked like a botox job gone wrong. This of course, while he was picking stickers out of his right hand. Not good shape. Steve stands up.

He leans a bit over and says, "You know, that spray must have gone right thru my waders."

He begins flinching and stammering around like a three year old who has to go the bathroom really bad. It hits me.

"Steve!", I yelled "You didn't touch your _______!" It hit him full well why his Pee pee was on fire. The Bear Spray hadn't come off his hands.

I couldn't help it, as busted up as he was, I just started rolling in laughter. That poor guy.

As the captain pulls the boat up, one look at Steve and he says "Man, what happened to you!" Steve could "bearly" sit down.

Back at the ranch:

Mike and Jeremy have been busy fishing the Stilly Tidewater for Humpies and SRC and the North Fork Stilly for SRC.

The lower river has been excellent for the salmon but only so-so for SRC. The North Fork has produced some lovely Searuns.

Look for all the river systems to get a healthy return of the Pinks. We use primarily floating lines but all is good.

I think all the Searuns are wise to the spider patterns. The longer they are in freshwater, the more they revert back to their trouty ways. Searun Cutthroat Tactics explains it all.

Life is good. Look for more fish to enter the rivers. If you are not out fishing, you should be -

and remember, "God didn't build enough Octobers"

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/9/07

Dennis is in Alaska chasing silvers till late next week so I’m holding down the fort here. That’s ok with me cause fishing is great. Lot’s of fishermen but lots of fish too. We are mostly fishing the salmon with a few src’s here and there on the Sky and Stilly. The pinks are still looking fresh and we have seen a couple early silvers too. I have to say thanks to Jeremy for helping with the schools. We had a great bunch of guys.

We are fully booked for the Grande Ronde and are looking forward to a good time there.

We have a few guys looking for partners for some up coming trips. The 13th 18th and the 29th.

Time to get caught up on the NFL I missed to day….Happy fishing,

Mike Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

September 2, 1999

Labor Day Humpy:

As a sportsman, a guide, or Biologist. Doesn't matter. Does my heart good to see the returning fish.

It's an easy time to write. All the rivers have got fish. Sure, you are always going to get those that talk about here or there, who or what is good sport, but for me, I think our best chance in saving our rivers is tied to preserving our privilege to fish. All stems from involvement. People get passionate about that which they have a vested interest. Now try to explain that to Dickson as the 100th friggin buzz bomb flies past his clients flyline on an otherwise lonely beach. I keep trying to tell myself. "It's all good."

Stilly is flat out cooking, right now. Lots of fish but the boat show may give you a better chance at a little angler separation. Don't forget the lowly SRC in all the Humpy mania. Here are a couple guide tips for Searuns.

1)SRC are probably the most "light sensitive" fish I know. It is the one fish I look for during thunder showers. Every time a thunderhead rolls in and the sky goes black, it is dinner time.

2) SRC are the only river fish in our region with yellow fins. Even if I am just floating through, if I catch a dink (pre-spawner) I always check to see if its a SRC. If it is, cast in there again. The SRC are schoolers. The next one could be Mobey Cut.

Most of the fish I release are 10" to 13." A few from 14" - 16" and only a few monster fish to 20." Large fish used to be the rule. Not now.

3) Instead of leaving a pod after your fly goes stale, try resting them for a few minutes and try something totally different, like a dry > wet or vise versa. You can really fool them sometimes.

Stilly Tidewater Schools Sept 8 or 9th. The Saturday class is full but we did have couple cancellations for the Sunday gig. Mike & Jeremy will conduct these classes, as I will be up in Alaska for a week on a different gig.

The Skykomish has a gazillion fish but the crowds are there to match them. Look for it to only become more so.

Skagit: Our new guide Jeremy Floyd was running one of our scenic tours from Dickson Outdoor Adventures the other day.

He confirmed lots of Pink Salmon already up in the Rockport area. As this section is some 50 plus miles from the mouth, you don't have to be a Biologist to deduct, this number of fish showing this high, by September 1, means for a whole bunch of fish are coming but........

The Skagit River is closed to Humpies (river sport fishing, anyway, commercials is an another matter) so anglers need to follow the rules. If you have a problem with how the river is managed, take it up with Olympia. They write the rules.

The upside is, the Skagit will open for Coho September 16.

How many times do we get to complain about having too many fish? Now that is a dilemma I can handle.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/26/07

"Next year if summer comes on a Saturday, I am going fishing"

Just like that? I mean, one day we are finally enjoying warm days and blackberry pie, and the next find the fall rains and maples are turning.

Not all bad: I love the fall. As soon as we take that first good rain, all kinds of things start happening, not the least is the different anadromous species moving into their river systems.

You have been hearing me chat about the tidewater fishing. Man, when those river bound fish smell their natal streams, they can flush through the bays in a New York minute, and head for home. Every river estuary is unique unto itself. Anglers can spend a life time, studying the when, where, what species, for each watershed. If you haven't done it, there is a whole new world for you, and here is the good part. You will be more likely to rob Fort Knox than get any of your B-B buddies to divulge their truly secret haunts. The upside is, when you find your gig, you will probably have it to yourself. Way cool.

OK, now I will give you newbies something. Take on a river system, find a few access points down around tidewater, grab a tide book and some favorite flies (you will probably end up building some of your own), and spend some float time. You can be amazed how little rod pressure is spread out in these lower river reaches. All the local boys ask is you keep it low down.

Who said anything about rain?

What it did do, was flush all the fish out of the bay, and up into the rivers.......that is good, because the netting can get pretty intense, when fisheries know the fish won't enter when the rivers are low and warm. The rain couldn't come at a better time. Even the upstream steelhead, will perk up, as the water cools.

Really haven't found a really good crossover pattern for Pinks, Coho, and SRC. Maybe somebody has. Presentation is as unique, meaning we at Dicksons don't fish Pinks like we do Coho, like we fish SRC. My advice is to know which species you have out in front of you, and experiment - then target the targetable.

North Sound Rivers:

The Snohomish system: Definitely getting it done. Good bet. Water is back down the high water on Aug 22. Lets see; we caught silvers, pinks, & SRC.......sometimes all on the same trip! We fished nothing but floating lines, both surface and wet flies. Totally cool.

Stilly: The Humpy thing doesn't kick off until Sept. 1, but our SRC forays are finding Silvers, Pinks along with the targetable Searuns, so all looks good. Stilly took another bump in the water levels from the rain, but all should be good in the next day or two if this weather pattern settles down.

Skagit: Not much to look at yet, but we will be more in tuned as we approach the Sept 16 Coho opening. Anyone who has fished the Skagit in the fall knows it is a lovely place to be.

Flyfishing meets polically correct:

"If I ran a school, I'd give the average grade to the ones who gave me all the right answers, for being good parrots. I'd give the top grades to those who made a lot of mistakes and told me about them, and then told me what they learned from them. "

--Buckminister Fuller

Best of fishing,

Dickson

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/19/07

"East meets West"

Mike has been fishing the lower reaches of the Skykomish for SRC and Pink salmon. He says the fishing is excellent. Both floating line and sinktips are getting it done. Anglers should try the Humpy Chaser for the salmon, and anything that swims for the Cutthroat.

Speaking of cutthroat: A dear friend and I traveled into northeast Washington to flyfish a lovely stream for a couple days. Kind of a busman's holiday. Hoppers were moving and the rainbows and cutties were looking up. Even a Columbia steelhead decided to get in the act, wolfing a hapless Madam X. That's a lot of fish for a 2wt. (Another story)

Never thought I would glad to see the rain. Perfect timing as the Pink Salmon have been staging along the river mouths. The tidewater show is about to commence. The rain will pull them right into the rivers, and what is good for the salmon is good for the SRC. Check your regs for specific openings.

Might be a good time to brush up on your river salmon flyfishing. Check out Flyfishing Pacific Salmon in Freshwater.

Our very popular Stilly Tidewater School Sept 8 or 9 still has a couple openings. Early scouting shows fish are coming in. Better wait to see if this rain is going to do anything, before heading out. Hard to say if the rivers will go out of shape.

"And the hits just keep on coming!"

Best of fishing,

Dickson Flyfishing outfitter & Biologist www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/12/07


"Pick your poison?"

I guess this week's fishing report says it all. As many of you know, it is hopper time on the Yakima and Methow Rivers. Upper trib fishing for wild cutthroat and rainbows is on the money. Also great time to be doing the ocean thing. I won't try to blow you any smoke, the West coast of Vancouver Island is the place to be.

Humpies are making the scene along the Washington beaches. Staging areas adjacent to good return rivers are the gig. Finding a quiet section of water from the buzz bombs and beer parties can be the challenge. Pays to know someone with private property.

Mike was fishing the tidewater section of the Stilly the other day. He reports there isn't a lot of Searun Cutthroat (SRC) in the river yet, but certainly some dandies. Here is a how-to article I wrote about SRC fishing called Searun Cutthroat tactics

Anglers should watch for that next good rain. The SRC always seem to be on the tails of a good Humpy run, and the Stilly is projected for a fine return of Humpies.

There appears to be a misconception amongst some anglers that once the Pink Salmon are established in the river, they are not good sport. Here is a piece I recently wrote in response to an ugly "old wive's tale" that upriver Pinks are poor sport.

The question of flyfishing river Pink Salmon is as much a biological, as fishing sport.

I think it is easy to say that any anadromous species, whether it is salmon or steelhead caught in or near saltwater, is better sport than a fish taken upstream, but that is only part of the picture.

Physiological condition: Some streams are small and turbulent. Fish entering in these systems get "banged up" pretty easy. As in most species, they also concentrate on propagating instead of biting things.

Some of our larger river systems carry both water depth and volume. They are more like a moving lake. The Columbia, the Snake, the Skykomish or Skagit River would fit this bill. We have caught very bright Pink Salmon 50 miles up the Skagit, 25 miles up the Skykomish River. Nature's way of preservation.

Cindy & Dennis Humpy Salmon 50 miles from Saltwater (05 photo)

Selection: Now imagine fishing for a salmon from 4 to 10 pounds, with a 4 weight flyrod and a floating line. Flyfishing with surface flies or barely subsurface. Anglers are naturally selecting the strongest most aggressive Pink Salmon in the pool. Wonderful sport, and if anyone hasn't tried it, I wouldn't poo-poo it until you have.

Grande Ronde is October time:
Those Dam counts! Have you seen the number of steelhead crossing the lower Granite Dam? Now of course these are returning fish to the Clearwater, Salmon, and Grande Ronde but the numbers are back and everything is looking up. Speaking of which, if you have never taken the opportunity to fish the Ronde, take a minute and visit our Grande Ronde Slide show. If you are still convinced nobody was catching GR steelhead last fall, check out Mikes GR video. It was all shot from the 07 season!

"And that's all I have to say about that"
Forest Gump

Best of fishing,

Dickson Fisheries Biologist, Flyfishing Guide for www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/5/07


"Life is a beach"

It's that time again. Seems like it was just few weeks ago we were bundled up for coastal steelhead in the winter scene. Now it is shirt sleeves and stripping baskets. Maybe that is what makes life in the Pacific Northwest.

Tidewater Humpies is a gig unto itself. I won't go into my do's and don'ts. There are plenty of qualified gents to do that. The Puget Sound Fly Company do a nice job. If you are traveling in the South Sound region, check them out.

For those of us on the North end this year - that is going to be the waters associated to the Snohomish & and Stillaguamish River systems. Both watersheds are looking for a bumper crop of the scrappy little biters, but remember, you can't keep any river fish until September 1. (Check your regs for specific waters et al.)

September 8 or 9 is our Stilly Tidewater School. Sorry for the confusion with Deer Creek, I must be getting really old.

Some are in a bit of a panic due to Pink Skagit closure. No biggy. Here is what Dickson Flyfishing has planned.

August will find us fishing beaches and estuaries. SRC is the primary target, Pinks where we can.
September 1 is the official kickoff for the river fishing. We will begin in the Stilly tidewater program September 1-15

We plan a week's guiding on the Skykomish in mid September, then flit back and forth amongst the Stilly, Sky, and Skagit Rivers from September 20 - Oct 1. (The Skagit opens for Coho September 16 in the Rockport area, but the good fishing for them is normally after Sept 19.) We have an awesome trick fly for this one!

Our typical river gig for salmon is little flyrods and surface and barely subsurface flies. Why is that important? Only the brightest, strongest, and most aggressive biters come up. Best of the sport for both salmon & steelhead. The guy who has the most fun, wins!

Speaking of steelhead: Rounding the corner now for our annual Grande Ronde 3 day Campouts $579. Come see why we have the most popular October gig on the river. Our Testimonial section is full of GR people. Happy to send references if you want to talk with any. Anyway, if you are flexible we stll have room in a couple campouts.

The Humpies are showing up and the GR steelhead are around the corner! Life doesn't get better than that.

From Larry the Cable Guy:

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

Best of fishing,

Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7-29-07

"Getting that time"

Seems a little odd that the answer to the summer doldrums would be to look downstream. OK, so the summer steelhead in the local waters has been less than stellar. The good news is the Searun Cutthroat are entering and the little anti-hero Humpy salmon will be right on his tail. I call him the anti-hero because many hard core steelheaders, wouldn't be caught dead fishing for Humpies. In Alaska, they just "get in the way." Well buckaroo, that is a nice problem for Alaska to have, but down here, it is another story.

I am blessed. I enjoy all kinds of fishing. I mean, I like carp fishing in Bank's Lake and the Columbia. I get jazzed up about shad fishing on the lower Umpqua, that is until the river goes down, and the Smallies are busting anything that hits the water. I love fishing anything that swims and eats in estuary waters, and for the lower Stilly, that usually means, SRC, Coho, and the lowly Humpy salmon. The fishing heats up in August and goes right on through September. Not a bad gig.

I enjoy fishing our FLHS for my 5wt. I think it really lets the fish show off. Different rivers have different bite periods so I pay quite bit of attention to the tides. For the Stilly, it is the incoming tide, but to be real honest, I have caught fish on all stages.

I have a favorite fly for SRC and no it is not in the spider family, but freely admit, I will use them, too. Mine imitates a baby whitefish, and that is all I will say about that. The article I wrote titled Searun Cutthroat Tactics is a timely read. I will catch the occasional Coho and Pink salmon on the SRC fly but it is incidental at best.

My favorite Coho pattern is a variation of "Mrs. Black" and my goto fly for Humpies in the tidewater is a silly little thing, Mike calls the "Humpy chaser." http://streamsideflyshop.com/flies.htm

OK, I will also admit having the best friggin fly on the planet is still only half the gig. You still have to know how the present it right to get the consistent hookups, and that varies from species to species. My advice? Either spend a day with a guide who specializes in this style of fishing, or get out there and spend some serious line time. Figuring stuff out is half the fun anyway.

That's the way I see it.

Talk does not cook rice.
~Chinese proverb

note: We have a guest that needs a partner for a trip on the stilly this Wednesday.

Best of fishing,

Dennis Dickson, Flyfishing Biologist www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/22/03

"Something old, something new."


Just returned from a ten day gig in Canada. I love the Fernie BC region rivers. The Elk was just coming down. Stoneflies were still the gig for the Westslope cutties but I would say the really good fishing is still a couple weeks away. Didn't get to hit my other two favorites, but a lovely stay, nonetheless. We left BC and traveled up into the Banff National Park in Alberta where I did something a little different this year. I fished the Bow River up around Canmore instead of down around Calgary. Big Stones, Goldens, and little stones were the order of the day. As usual, all I caught were browns but no big ones, this trip. Stunning country. All in all, I am officially trouted out for a while, but a wonderful diversion from chasing steelhead.

Mike of course, was running all the guide trips as well as our annual Stilly steelhead schools. Want to pay a special thanks to our newest guide Jeremy Floyd who covered for me while I nurse a sore back. (Must be getting old)
Mike says the schools went real well, but they had to extend it until today to get everybody in. I will hear this evening how the fishing went. Again, want to thank all those who came out.

Rivers are low, fish are congregating in a few areas, but probably best not to get into specifics, sorry.

On a happy note: Indications are good for a big Pink Salmon return to most Puget Sound streams. Saltwater reports should looking up. Coho are showing at Neah Bay, but it hasn't been that good for several years. Skating flies for Rockfish around the Kelp beds is a really fun fishery, and a great change of scenery. We also have some of our trick flies online at Streamsideflyshop.com My personal all around favorite cast-n-retrieve flies year in and year out, has got to be the Clouser brothers. Green & White for Coho and Pink & white for Pinks and Coho. We tie ours a little smaller and sparser than many shops. I think it gives a better action, as well as a better imitation of the Candlefish.

The flats of Hood Canal should start getting some fish. I prefer light rods and shooting heads (FLHS) but of course that's me. Where steelhead don't really care about what is out in front of him, as long as it acts right, salmon can be very particular to size and color. Fly Action is the other parameter. I wrote a bit about Hood Canal Chums (Chum Candy), and of course the Coho of Neah Bay, some day when I get so inspired, maybe I will write about saltwater Pinks. I love doing saltwater Pinks.

Seems like very year we are asked about doing a Saltwater Flats school for salmon. I am chewing on it.

In the mean time: SRC are beginning to stage around river mouths. Need anymore rain? Dollies have really taken over the show on many of our north sound watersheds. Hatchery steelhead are down, but nothing new there. Wild summers will be showing with this rain.

Speaking of wild steelhead. Fall is just around the corner. Surface Flies for steelhead is a great primer for those getting ready for our surface rising steelhead on both our local waters as well as the Grande Ronde in October.

Humpies will be coming in, the GR just around the corner. Life just doesn't get better than that.

"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive IS the special occasion."
~unknown

Best of fishing

Dennis & Mike Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7-15-07

Kalama dates: Booking now - 20th - 26th. For the past 4 years this has been our most successfully summer steelheading fishing, most of which is sight fishing. There is also the occasional king salmon caught too. There is camping/motel facilities nearby.

We are in full swing of summer conditions. Days like these it’s nice to grab a chest pack and do a little wet wading.

We aren’t getting as much run off and the rivers are starting to drop to usual summer lows. There are some kings around in the sky from Sultan down, in the north fork of the Stilly and up on the cascade.

Watch your regulations while fishing. There are some steelhead around and have heard a few decent reports for the stilly. Look for more adiposes to show from now on.

I usually start getting a little smaller with my flies throwing in a few rubber legged nymphs and buggy flies here and there.

We always get a lot of people out to fish for the pink salmon when they come in. We have already booked quite a few dates. If this is something you have been thinking of doing with us you will want to book as soon as you can to get the better dates. This is a great fishery for families, work partys, or buddy guide trips where there is more catching than fishing most of the time.

We will do beach fishing, lower estuary fishing and conventional river fishing (Mid-late August for beach fishing and September to October for the rivers).

We have a couple slots available for our stilly school this weekend.

Most of the Grande Ronde is booked up with a few slots available.

The North Fork of the Stilly is bouncing around 749 cfs.

The Sky has dropped to 2,660 cfs at Sultan.

Have a great summer,

Mike Dickson and boys. www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7-8-7


"Getting that time"

Started off the week fishing the Skykomish River. Never found a good reason to leave the Sultan to Monroe area. Pick the low water pools, concentrate on the riffley heads. Type 4 sinktips and summer time marabous, Floating lines and the Crystal Caddis, riffle hitched and skated, of course. I have never ceased to be amazed, how much better the wild fish rise, than the hatchery steelhead. Congratulations Dan and Gary.

Fished the Stilly North Fork towards the weekend. Water is clear below Deer Creek, but the flows are good, and the wild steelhead are coming in. Boulder Creek is kicking a little color, but the upper river is gin clear. Way too many hatchery steelhead smolts coming out. Is that possible? A couple near misses on Thursday.

And that is why we call it fishing. Timing couldn't be better for our Stilly School. Flies? Everything that works on the Grande Ronde or the Deshutes, will work here.
Contact Mike for details @ 425 330 9506.

Here is the scoop:

Skagit River: 14,000 cfs gone, way above fishing height

Sauk: 8,000 cfs High and poor. Have to wait for Skagit system to flush the snow melt.

Skykomish: 4,500 cfs nice fishing height. Most fish starting to make it into the upper river, but lower is good.

Stilly: Summer time levels. Deer Creek area best bet. Lot of hatchery smolts in upper river

I will be fishing and hanging out in the Cranbrook BC area on a busman's holiday this following week. Mikey has the home gig.

Stilly Tidewater has really become a gig in early September. SRC, Coho and Humpies are the drill. Very cool fishing. (Space limited)

Guess we can't leave without mentioning the Grande Ronde. Everything points to another stellar year. Don't forget to make your reservations, prior to campout.

I refuse to start talking Dollies and Chum. Makes me cold, just thinking about it.

Best of fishing,

D

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/1/07

"Tell it like it is"

We used to say in Alaska, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes." Our weather this week in the north sound (this whole year) has been all over the friggin board. Oh well, fishing is always better than not fishing. A guy could do worse.

The rivers are in a fishing well but I would have to say the fishing is only, "so-so." The July 4 is the normal kickoff to the 2 salt hatchery summer steelhead arrival, so I guess the good news is it should be "any day now."

This is what I know:

Skykomish River @ Gold Bar: 1,960 CFS Steelhead filter in, better fishing in the upper river. A few wild fish beginning to show. Water is at a good height. More fish would be nice. Try a Blue/purple marabou on the sinktip. Let the waters warm up for the surface show. My favorite fly is one I originated for the Grande Ronde. I call it Crystal Caddis

Skagit River @ Marblemount: 9,700 CFS Water visibility 6', Dollies (closed) & Kings, few steelhead. Fish throughout system. Water was down but the dam guys are back to releasing again.

Stilly NF 1,050 CFS Stilly took a shot of rain yesterday. Steelhead remain in lower system, few Kings to Fortson. SRC beginning to show. Huge Dollies in a few pools. Water is quite clear above Hazel slide. Another rain would bring in more fish?

Sauk River: 6,230 CFS. Water Visibility 3', Dollies from mouth to the Whitechuck.

Story: I think one of the funniest episodes I have witnessed in some time happened the other day.

I remember being out with three delightful anglers from Hawaii. Fait, Les, and Barbara were not only new to steelheading, but new to flyfishing, period. As luck will sometimes happen, I was demonstrating the Yancy sinktip to Fait, in what I thought was innocuous water, and a steelhead grabs, fish on. I kind of shrugged my shoulders while the fish is pulling line.

I say "Mind taking over, here?" Handing rods off in flyfishing is kind of bad form, but it wasn't intentional fishing, and (she was more than happy to)!

So Fait is fighting this steelhead and Les comes running out of the water, races over to the boat for his camera, and starts trying to take pictures as he comes. He's fiddling and playing, playing and fiddling with his toy, while Fait plays the big fish, like she has done it all her life.

Les finally gets close to us, a little frustrated he can't get this bloody camera to work, and I look over and say,

" Er, Les?" "The pointy end goes out the front."

He was trying to look thru the view finder with the camera pointed backwards. Now that is what I call, excited! We had a lovely day.

Stilly NF Steelhead School: July 20 or 21st. Classes are filling nicely. Thanks for joining. If you aren't able to get into this class, contact me for our next or if you would like to put together one of your own group.

Our next schools will be later this fall.

Neah Bay black rockfish are happening. Great fishing around the Kelp beds when the friggin weather decides to lie down. Humpies will also be showing in the next few weeks. If you are thinking about heading out, check out our how-to article on Neah Bay.

Yup, Mike even has some of our pet patterns at www.streamsideflyshop.com

If I can get enough time to breathe, I will try to write a How-to article on Pink Salmon-Flyfishing beaches.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

-Mother Teresa

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6-24-07

"So there you go"

Mike is out on the Stilly North Fork again, today. So many memories tied to our home river. More on that. My wife went with me to Vancouver Island by way of the San Juan Islands. I saw some new places, revisited some old. Some of the fisheries are a little sensitive, but suffice it to say, it is a lovely place.

Anyway. Boys have been out fishing. Rivers are all over the board for this time of year, but there are steelhead and Kings around if you can look in the right places.

Stilly North Fork: (1,050 CFS)

The 4th of July is the unofficial start of the hatchery 2 salt steelhead as well as the Deer Creek native steelhead, for the Stilly basin. Here is a funny episode about swimming dogs for steelhead.

These Stilly wild summer steelhead will show soon, and simply improve through out the summer. Searun Cutthroat are a fall fish. Watch for the consistent fishing to start in August.

Right Now: Focus your fishing from Deer Creek downstream. These wild summer fish take surface flies very well so if you have never taken a steelhead on top.......well, you're just letting the best part of life, pass you by. Our Grande Ronde Favorite, *Crystal Caddis, works as well as any.

The Skagit system (11,600) is pretty high right now. The big snow pack does not allow for upper tributary exploration but the gear boys are getting the hatchery Kings. These fish are not great biters but if you do chase them, try pink marabous. They seem to like pink. The Skagit below Rockport is surprisingly fishable as we speak, with the Sauk flows down. Our guides say the fishing is so-so.

The Sauk (5,870 CFS) and holding. It has dropped in nicely, but I won't run off to the tributary mouths as yet. Wait until August for the upper river native trout fishing to get going. A #14 Royal Wulf, with a Hears ear dropper can be golden on a 2 wt. August show.

Skykomish system: (4,400 CFS) Water was down but bumping up a little due the rains in the last 24 hours, with a few kings around, steelhead is spotty. Good time to fish the salt. Speaking of which.

Neah Bay continues to get it done. Very weather dependent. Rockfish are the drill, but Ling cod and Kelp Greenling are fun, if you don't mind going down for them. If you haven't skated surface patterns for the Black Rockfish, it is really fun. Look for current edges that push the bait right up into the kelp. We have had fish come completely out of the water after our flies. Too cool.

Had the WDFW had been on the ball a few years ago, they would have realized the world class recreational fishery potential, and saved this slow growing fish, in the process. When somebody turned the commercials loose to harvest this fragile ground fish resource in the metric tons, for pennies a fish, somebody should have went to jail. Enough said.

Southwest Washington Waters: Seems like every year we spend a little more time down fishing the southland waters in the summer. Fishing pressure can be intense in places and times, but generally predictable. Think Zig & Zag. It works.

Flyfishing Schools:

North Fork Stilly Steelhead Flyfishing Schools 2007 July 20 or 21 A very popular mid summer school

Hey, seems like the new wave is our Custom Steelhead Schools. Smaller class size, flexible schedules, and more personal attention. Cool.

Fishing Forecast:

Look for the best summer steelheading in July to come from the Southwest Washington streams. If it is anything like last year, it should be pretty good. The OP summer streams are over rated, in my opinion, but I really like it out there.

Odd year fall means Humpies and they can be really fun in salt and fresh. Humpies on surface dries? Leave it to Dickson. Too many scenarios to count. Mike has the trick flies at http://www.streamsideflyshop.com/

Kudos: It is because of you "Dennis Dickson Flyfishing" is rated in the world's top 3 under "fishing guides." (Google search) Thank you so much.

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Best of fishing,

Dennis Dickson B.S. Fisheries

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/9/07

Mike here,

Dennis is up in B.C. for the week. Well It's week two of our opener. The rivers popped up with some run off and a little rain. They are on the drop right now.There should be a few more new fish starting to show. We have seen a few old winter steelhead around in the tail outs and heads of the runs but didn't bother with them.

We caught a cutt on the upper north Fork of the stilly that was a nice surprise. Little early to count on them. But really looking forward to getting into them in a month or two.

This time of year I still use my bigger flys when I have even a little bit of color in the watter. Good searching patterns. Most of the new fish haven't seen much pressure and will hit a lot of things might as well give them something they can see good. In the real clear water that gets pounded day after day you can scale the fly down and get tricky.

If you do get into situations to where you can see fish I have always done best nyphing a fly right at them making them hit it or move out of the way of it.

The Stilly flows were at 1,190 yesterday which is pretty good. I like them below 1600.

The Sky has dropped to 4,990. Not sure what the latest with the clarity is. Was a little dirty last I saw. Generally the higher you go the clearer it gets.

It's that time of year that we have 5 months or so of weather where you don't freeze your ass off. Get out side and make the most of it.

Happy fishing,

Mike D and boys. www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/3/07

"And then there was Snowmelt"

There is something about a river. Lakes are fun, the saltwater is fine, but wading a stream for steelhead. Now that defines me. Only another hopeless steelhead bum can appreciate it. How is it, we just get our rivers open again, and immediately hit with a big snowmelt?

June is always a magical time, if not volatile. Seems like we can usually count on a nice little pulse of new summer steelhead as the season turns to summer.

Our local rivers opened Friday. Fishing found us guiding the Skykomish & N.F. Stilly for steelhead. I thought I was doing well with Bill releasing a nice summer hen one day, and a lovely buck the next on the lower Sky. Now with the warm days come the snowmelt, snowmelt means swollen rivers, and we are back on the beach, again.

The hot weather that has been kicking the snowmelt is affecting each watershed little differently. We focus our fishing on the above-mentioned Sky & Stilly in the summer months. The Skagit, not so much.

Fishing Rundown:
Skykomish River: 12,000 CFS Morning temperatures, Lower 50's. The fishing was at "High Prime" on Friday. Saturday was getting iffy, and now the river is out. The top end of Sky fishing for us is 10,000 CFS, so you may have to chill a bit to let the Sky come back into shape. Too much snow water right now.

Top flies: subsurface winter patterns. Low and slow.

A bright spot: The Stilly North Fork
Mike had a good day floating the upper Stilly last Friday. Access is the key, and most of it is private. The river is a little high but the visibility is good. It doesn’t get the snow pack the higher elevation streams do. He and his client were the only floaters he saw. Caution when floating above Deer Creek. Regs say no fishing from a the boat.

Stilly, North Fork: 1,750 CFS, Morning temperatures mid 50's

Stilly is fishing well above Deer Creek. Flows are up, but the canyon is good. Fish are spread out so best to cover a lot of water Hazel to Fortson is summertime clear but don‘t let that fool you. That water is moving! Yes, there is life beyond dink bobbers and jigs, but keep moving to find the next pod of fish. Mike says some of the pools are better, some changed for the worse, such is the life of the Stilly after winter floods.

Skagit: 10,700 CFS. Warm weather has triggered the runoff so again we have to wait a bit to flush some snow water. The upper river will clear the quickest. Look for fishing above the Sauk confluence.

It doesn’t seem to matter how much you mention, of all the factors that effect steelhead success, or how the fly on the end of your line, usually isn’t one of them, everyone wants to know which fly you are using.

Here is an article I wrote a few years ago on my views of steelhead and flies. I hope you enjoy it.

Dolly Politics: Or, I don’t care how we get there.
The Skagit now has a closure until Sept 28 2007, for the keeping of the Dolly/Bull. WDF&W biologists swear is isn’t from over-harvesting. Who cares how they get to the right answer? Last year all you heard was how great this wild char population was doing, all of a sudden we don’t have enough. Sound familiar? So here is the drill. All this is just noise if they don’t stop the kill season from October through March. It is during the winter months when few hatchery winter steelhead are around, that the guides are filling the cooler with Dolly/Bulls so the client can go home with something. Do this: Tell your guide you will not kill any Dollies on your guide day next winter. Spread it around. Guides catch on pretty quick.

Humpies:
I never bring up Humpy Salmon to my clients from Alaska. Up there, they just get in the way. Down in Washington, the fish are bigger, all fish populations are smaller, and given the opportunity of catching fish or not catching fish, this little salmon fills a wonderful void. I marvel how everyone thinks they have Humpies figured out. That is until you see the guy down the beach out catching you 10:1. River fishing becomes even more so as Dickson’s have even developed surface skating patterns for taking Humpies in the surface. Humpies have quietly been the most popular gig we do this side of the Grande Ronde. Think August & September.

It is hard to imagine but the Grande Ronde Campouts are only a few months away.
If anyone wonders why out 3 day expedition is only $579/angler trip, it’s easy. We at Dickson’s guide year round. We don’t have to make all our money in October. We simply pass the great deal onto you.

That's about it, all guiding from here. It's a tuff life but somebody has to do it, right?

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike Dickson www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

5/27/07

"Another day on the pond"

Ahh, a quiet week of trout fishing before the rivers open again. It’s pretty hard to to go elsewhere when we are swimming the la