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"And then there was trout" Nature seldom sleeps here in the Pacific Northwest. It is more like it takes frequent winter naps. Spring continues give the illusion it's here, while winter refuses to lose her grip. Willows are popping, Alder, and Salmonberry are greening up. Slowly, very slowly. A little trick I came up years ago while Eastern Washington trout fishing "masking hatches" in shallow bays for really spooky fish is; instead of a bobber and nymph, go with a parachute Adams, as an indicator, and the appropriate nymph on point. We often witness an early season sparse Mayfly hatch, but midges are still being selected by the trout. This combo not only doesn't scare the fish in presentation, but many feeders take the dropper fly. Of course this dropper gig, is the oldest thing on the Yak, but it is surprising how few anglers I see use it, on the trout lakes. Lakes are still cold, river runoff is almost a daily occurrence. One day it's up the next it is dropping again. We have been fishing a few of the west-side lakes. Now I am itching to do some trout river fishing. There is just something about rivers. Normally, I should be talking about the Northsound steelhead heading upstream and Dollies & out-migrating fry heading down. Maybe next spring. I will be poking around the Yakima River next week. I used to guide this river a lot, especially in May. Will feel good to be back. Salmonfly.net Wow! Now that was a good idea. Founder Steve Burke has a classy gig. Be sure and check it out. Thank you so much for all the great response as Dickson's became a contributor. It was so nice to hear from so many of you. Cop Car is not our first fly but it definitely is a popular steelhead pattern in our circle. Try fishing it on a sinktip when rivers are running high and cold. Now, I won't steal Steve's thunder, but we hope to change gears and show off our favorite summer skating pattern, Crystal Caddis, in his July-August issue. Should be fun. As our summer steelhead season is only a few weeks away, here is a story about my first encounter with a summer wild steelhead, some 48 years ago. It is called, Life On Canyon Creek. This is the true joy in life: The being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one. The being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community. As long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can -- I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. "Life is no brief candle to me; it is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." - George Bernard Shaw Enjoy your week, Dickson, Dickson & Floyd www.flyfishsteelhead.com
4-27-08 If you want to get a preview for an anticipated
up and coming Flyfishing
School.......just click onto the link from the home page from here.
We have had many requests to bring our schools out on video....we are
chewing on it. Now, if only we had time......
4-20-08
For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information
4/13/08 "Checkmate" So there we were, enjoying better and better OP fishing as we past from the netting season, and just like that, Monsoon Mary comes rolling in and knock our coastal fishing right out from under us. Mike & I had no alternative but to retreat back to Arlington, in hopes of better weather. Mike heads back out to the Sol Duc, while I stay home and catch up on some Fish & Wildlife projects. I would love to tell you about amazing fishing on the Hoh. Sorry, it's closed. Maybe some outstanding surface Dolly fishing on the Skagit. This is the out migration of the Pink & Chum salmon fry. Oops, I guess it's closed too. Maybe the big and brawly Sauk river steelhead or mild but consistent fishing of Skykomish steelhead. Hmmm, I guess that's pretty much, checkmate.
Skagit Dolly during the 2006 Skagit spring season
The good news is our Lakes are waking up. Many trout lakes are open now. Now, if we can get the snow to stop falling around the foot hills, perhaps we can get on with spring. As the unsettled winter/spring weather passes, look for the trout lakes to be on the rise. We are holding our collective breath for our annual Eastern Washington Mystery Lake School April 18 or 19 . We are hoping for another fine weekend, this year. Jeremy is prouncing all over western Montana and Idaho as we speak. No huge trout as we speak, but it sounds like the fine trouting is enough to make him move. He says he has pictures and a report when he returns. So there you have it: Mike is heading back for the finale on the OP, Jeremy is after the last eastside trout. I am trying to get caught up with biology reports, and tie the Alaska flies for our up-coming trip, as I can. It is not easy to give up the last of our local spring steelhead rivers. Such is life these days in the North Sound. "The
measure of success is not whether you have a tough problem to deal with, but whether
it's the same problem you had last year " Best of fishing, Dennis & Mike Dickson, Jeremy Floyd
4/6/08
Mike and Dennis are currently out on the Olympic Peninsula. This morning Dennis and I talked on the phone. He mentioned that their time spent on the rivers is producing good results, and it sounded like they are having a great time. Being as nobody can do a better "Dennis" than Dennis, I will leave the OP reporting to him when he gets back.
With summer rapidly approaching I am spending a lot of time looking toward the horizon, planning the next big trip, and thinking of the possibilities. Today I am gearing up for a three state blitzkrieg that will take place over the next week and a half. The excitement of chasing 40 inch Bull Trout or big Rainbow Trout has consumed me for the foreseeable future. Well that, or until I find success. I attempted to sate myself this last week when I was in Eastern Washington by catching some (~12-20 inch) Rainbows at one of my favorite year round lakes. I had a great time. I failed miserably at sating my fixation on a really large Bull Trout, and only fueled the passion more by being left wanting yet another day. I will attempt to keep the fires at bay by tying some more 12 inch long, cone head, triple articulated "PNW Bonefish Streamers" before I head out this evening.
Our Lakes Fly Fishing School is also on the horizon. Saturday's school is filling up quickly so you will need to get a hold of Dennis soon if you want to be able to book one of the remaining slots.
See you on the water,
Jeremy flyfishsteelhead.com
3/30/08 Olympic Peninsula: Mike gets the big fish again this week. Fishing my long time fishing Buddies Ted Huber & Scott Bean (both very excellent steelhead flyfishers), Ted released this lovely fish in his multiple steelhead Day. Such can be the Olympic Peninsula this time of year. Really looking forward to April. Netting slows and by far and away the most wild native steelhead on the prowl. An interesting April phenomena: Most flyboys are tired of fighting the winter conditions and head for their trout waters. Perfect. Small wonder April is our top steelhead month. Both the pink and black articulated leeches caught fish well in the dirty Hoh. North Sound Rivers (Close March 31) We took some real rains yesterday between the snow showers, but it remains cool, so life in the north sound rivers are clicking. Both the Skagit and the Sauk will fished well in their last week week. Skagit waters above the Sauk are Caribbean clear, so you might want to fish below, but the Sauk is going to get the bulk of the run and a little color in the water can be a good thing for sink tipping. Flies are flies: Natives aren't very fussy. Fish your favorite offering low and slow. Mr. Steelhead will do the rest. The Skagit Dollies have been really looking up the last week. Awesome fishery. Dolly skater, Mike's Pink Fry, and Thunder Creek all got it done. Eight pounds was our top fish. So much fun on a 5 weight and floating line. Speaking of trout stuff. We wave good-bye to the private lakes fishery. Many good memories but none finer than T & L out the other day. Classy ladies on a weather challenged day.
T's
lovely rainbow
Much speaking of trout: Our Mystery Lake Schools April 18 or 19 are looking good. Both days still have a couple openings. My eastside source says that leeches and choronomids are back as the drill. Trout lakes are a welcome diversion from chasing steelhead every day. I know. If it's a ruff gig. Jeremy and Mike look to be handling the affairs of this one. When I am thinking about the lakes, I seem to reflect on early trips to BC. Here is a funny episode. Check out Mouth to Mouth Combat. So here is the scoop. Mike will be out swimming the OP Steelhead thru April. Jeremy chases trout. I just play around the edges. "One of the nice things
about problems is that a good many of them do not exist except in our imaginations."
Enjoy your spring....if it comes. Dickson guides flyfishsteelhead.com. 425 238 3537
3/23/08 "Fishing
is where you find it" Jeremy has been flirting around the Sauk & Skagit. The Sauk has gone so low the past few days, we aborted our Sauk gig, and just fished the Skagit. All the rain we have taken last week has just produced a snow pack in the hills. Fishing is fair. Now that The Skagit has gone into C&R. Everything is protected. Life is good. Look out: All the north sound rivers close March 31 this year. If you are going to chase steelhead in April, better make plans for the coast. The Skagit continues to be the consistent fishery, right now. I would love to tell you about the surface Dolly fishing in this salmon fry/smolt out-migration, but that's a topic for a brighter day. April is the real gig especially following a Pink Salmon year, but the river will be closed this season during the best fishing period. The steelhead fishing right now is "OK". Speaking of fishing: Our One Fly flyfishing contest April 11, looks to be in full swing. Last I heard from Jeremy (who is managing the event this year) there is a couple slots available in this open event. You can contact him @ 425 760 7878, for more details. The Kindering Center is the non-profit proceeds this year. Pretty cool. So where is Dennis? And then was trout fishing: Our multiple Private lakes gig is excellent fishing now. Winter won't loose her grip so the large rainbows are still moving to big and wiggly stuff, but the midges and mayfly will be close behind. Fish are definitely perking up! Last week our largest trout taped at nearly nine pounds!
Dennis & the Bad Boys of Dicksonhood www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
3/16/08 "There I was, minding my own business." So it is no mystery, the weather has basically sucked this week. Mike & Jeremy had a week all planned for fishing out on the Coast. Not. Weather Gods stepped in and ka bashed all that. Jeremy ended over in Idaho, and Mike headed home to fish the Skagit & Sauk. The silver lining: The high water that came rolling in early in the week brought in some new fish! The Sauk has dropped back in nicely. Water temps are in the mid 40's and the visibility is above 3', even below the Suiattle. Boys report some nasty log jams up in the Darrington area so be careful there. Top flies are anything "big and wriggly". Water is low with good color as we speak. The Skagit was bouncing pretty hard early in the week, but again has come into shape. Mike ended with two Skagit trips, back to back. The first day was skating surface flies with a sinktip as the back up. Top water stuff was on the money. The Second day was in the upper watershed. There wasn't the surface action we would have hoped for, but they hung a really nice wild steelhead that did his drill. Got to love the spring. The most common question, is also the most misunderstood. Please read Steelhead Flies: Fact and Fiction . Fishing high waters: Private
Lakes: Fishing continues for lovely rainbows, a few to 9 pounds this week.
Cool. Leeches & dragonfly nymphs are still the top producers. Some early March
Brown Mayflies will be showing soon. Very nice.
"The
liars punishment is not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot
believe anyone else."
Dennis,
Mike & Jeremy Floyd www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
3/9/08 Gotta
Love The Spring
Sunday, March 02, 2008
What a beautiful week in the Pacific Northwest. The opportunity to finally get out of the house and commune with the elements was available, so I took full advantage of it. In my travels I noticed the majority of the snow out in the scenic Sauk River Valley has melted leaving only a few patches scattered around the shady areas. It felt great to be outside again. After spending the majority of my adult life working out of doors, that is where I am most comfortable and prefer spending my time.
I would like to remind all of you about our "One Fly Only" benefit that is taking place at our private lakes on the 11th of April. The emails are coming in fast and furious thanks to some of our local fly clubs. If you would like to challenge another club, or fly shop, you will need to get in contact with Dennis soon. Thank you to all that have already signed up to take advantage of the great opportunity to help some sick kids, while taking part in an activity we all enjoy. It looks to be great competition again this year. I am excited to watch it unfold.
The rivers are still running low and clear. I was hoping to get some time in on the Stilly below Deer Creek to see if I could pick up a Steelhead before the river closed, but my plans never came to fruition. I hiked in to one of my favorite spots only to find that, even though the river was low, for some reason it was still blown out and visibility was only 6-8 inches. I hiked back out and drove upriver to find the cause. As I drove over the bridge that spans Deer Creek, one glance to the right confirmed what I suspected. Deer Creek was massive, even with all the great work that local groups and volunteers are doing to improve the water shed it was still puking out mud and silt making any waters below the confluence a safe haven from the law abiding folks until June.
We are booking up for the Olympic Peninsula. If you are interested in heading over and taking advantage then let us know. Mike runs a quality trip which I consider second to none, on several of the rivers out there.
The Sauk River is running about as clear as it can get. With my polarized glasses I had no problem seeing the sandy bottom in fifteen foot deep pools as I passed them by this week. The teaching conditions during our Sauk River Schools should be perfect if the low water continues. Showing students what is appropriate structure, and what are the important parts that make up our local river bottoms, and the physical components that make holding water areas "hold fish" will all be easily viewed. That makes our job as instructors easier when we can teach the science and reasoning behind it, while letting nature paint the mental image into each student's brain. It will also give us the opportunity to show you firsthand how we change up our game plan when conditions shift from classic steelhead water conditions, to low and clear. Saturday's school is all booked up, but there are open slots in Friday's class if improving your success on the Sauk is something that interests you.
The Skagit, while extremely clear, is still the workhorse this year so far. It is one of the more consistent producers right now. It is fishing well and with the regulated water supply it will be the best bet after conditions return to wet.
Mike and Dennis should be back from Hawaii soon. That means I get the opportunity to run down to Northern California for my vacation and renew my love affair with its amazing waterways and immerse my senses in its natural beauty. One thousand year old Redwood stewards watching over granite cobbled waterways never cease to make me pause for a moment and feel insignificant in comparison. I am already dreaming about the possibilities of what could be.
Have a great week, and be safe on the rivers! Jeremy - www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
2-24-08 Faux Spring?
With Dennis and Mike in Hawaii I get the opportunity to write the fishing report again. I take pride in the chance to write one of the most viewed fishing reports in the world. That is only made possible by all of you and I want to thank you for that.
We had considered canceling our Sauk schools this year because of the limited window for fishing. Due to demand it is back on the calendar for March 7th or 8th.
Our "One Fly" benefit which we opened to the public for the first time this year is working out better than we could have hoped. If you want to help some sick kids and have the opportunity to fish our private lakes then send an email to Dennis. There is going to be some great competition this year. Also I am running the grill for a - no cost to you - BBQ ribs or burger lunch.
This week has been incredible weather. Plants are budding and the days have been wonderfully warm. The last couple of weeks the weather has been quite cold and we have been hoping for water to help bring our wild Steelhead back into their native watersheds as early as possible. Especially because of the limited time we have to seek out their company this year.
We did receive a little water in the rivers though and the levels are currently up a bit which should increase the number of opportunities for everyone. I am excited about the small increase of water, especially after being housebound for nearly three weeks. I am definitely planning some personal quality time on the water this upcoming week.
The colder and clearer the more natural I fish. When I head out this week I am probably going to use a dry line and a weighted nymph to high-stick nymph the slots, and especially the deeper holding areas because of water clarity and sun intensity. My personal feeling on that is that I can get down faster and deeper that way with proper mends. I fish this way when conditions push the fish to seek depth which decreases the number of areas I target. Plus the added benefit of still feeling "the tug".
I admit that I am a "buggy" fly guy when the river is in the current condition and that is probably a product of fishing Northern California all through college. When fishing gets tough I revert back to where I have found success and have unshakeable confidence. Less flash, less bright and dark bead heads or lead wrap under the fly instead. A #6 black stonefly with a ½ inch marabou tail and long rubber legs will more than likely be my fly. Dark, plain, and dead sexy with all the important features of a winter Steelhead fly.
On to the fishing!
Skykomish: The River is still low. It only came up about 250cfs this week which makes it nearly, if not identical to last week's conditions.
Sauk: The Sauk is still an adventure. The top half of a lot of the "proper water speed" riffles are covered in sand. Consequently, I tend to fish lower in the riffles than normal because of this. The bottom half to the tailouts where I can actually see more than just the tips the top of rocks sticking out of the sand is where I concentrate unless the bright sun pushes the fish to depth.
North Fork Stilly: The river level is perfect as of today. The weekend fishermen received the water advantage this week.
There
are fish in the river systems. The best chance of success is to move and cover
water thoroughly and efficiently. Probably the biggest thing, after the basics,
that I stress out on the river to our clients is efficiency. The less your fly
is in the air the more time you are spending actually fishing. It is less wear
on the body and by the end of the day you may be able to cover another run or
two which directly increases your chances of hooking up. If reducing your number
of false casts, or picking up the switch casting (single or double handed) style
we can help you with that. Spending a day on the water with us will put you way
ahead in the game. Mike and I are proficient switch casters to the point that
Dennis is taking notice and is very interested in this new generation of rods
that offer incredible overhead distance (I had never cast 130 feet before this
year overhead casting) and Spey style casts (snap T, Snap C, and double Spey)
that can push 100 feet. All accomplished with light, surgically precise rods that
throw single hand weight lines. Jeremy
- www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
2/17/08 "What would I know?" As I mentioned last week, Mike & I just finished a long weekend of winter steelhead flyfishing schools on the Skagit River. Seems like everyone who reads my dribble knows me. (You poor guys have got to get a life!) Just kidding. Most, now know my son Mike. He has been guiding for me full time the last for couple years. Some of you don't know our good friend and fellow guide, Jeremy Floyd. From angling friend to fellow guide, we are happy to have him. Poor guy has been wiped out with some weird flu virus, lately. We pray for his speedy recovery. This
weeks fishing: About the fishing:
The Sultan River can add some color. I like leaches, marabous, and General Practitioners, for my winter fishing. I advocate the Dark day, dark fly theory, but there are those who do just the opposite, which brings me to the fact of: "It's not about the fly". North Fork Stilly: Medium Low: Most of our northwest rivers are free flowing, meaning there are no dams. (The Skagit is a notable exception. So anyway, they are either on the way up, or on their way down. There isn't much in between. Right now the Stilly is flirting with summer time flows. We need a rain. Boulder Creek is still kicking some color, but the upper river is high vis. Not much happening, and don't expect much until we get a rain.. Look for a shot of wild fish to show in the last week before the closure, March 1. They always do. Sauk River: Yes: When it comes to spawning, steelhead are going to find fewer gravels to spawn, but then steelhead tend to be fussy about where they lay their eggs (unlike a Pink or Chum salmon). So that is good. No: The returning steelhead have no idea the
home they left has been decimated. Numbers of returning steelhead this year won't
be down. The recruitment going into the gravel this year, now that may be a different
story.
Private Lakes: I guess the one upside to a reduced Skagit C&R season is a lot more anglers are booking for our 90 acre facility. Olympic
Peninsula: Mike looks to be spending another goodly time back on the OP again
this spring. Come watch his steelhead video - Olympic peninsula winter steelhead
flyfishing -
Of course your local Game Warden is going to vote for closing the waters, you just cut his work load in half. Ask him this: Who kills the fish? A) The river open to fishing: The poor shmuck who doesn't even know what river he is on or; B) The river closed: Joe local poacher who knows the few eyes on the river, the better for him. Solution: What we should be doing: 1) Open river sections to restrictive single barbless, C&R, and encourage all users to carry cell phones to call in fishery violators. Monitor spawning ground surveys to demonstration fishery impact. If we don't try something new, we will never get a better result. But then, I have only been a fisheries biologist for the past 30 years, what would I know.
Dennis, Mike & Jeremy
2/10/08
I snuggle into my goose down jacket a little deeper. The cold rain in the Pacific Northwest can't quite do it, so it just sleets on us all day. The guys on this gig, are playing their best, "happy to be there." Mike is doing all the talking because my body hasn't quite acclimated, from 80 degree days, but what now feels like, 40 below. This is what happens when you spend some time in the tropics. Eventually, you have to come home. Another Skagit School: Kudos to the boys this weekend for being such good sports about it. Kudos for Mike for putting it on. I wasn't suppose to be there. I came home from the tropics with a nasty cold, only Jeremy is worse. When that guy is too sick to fish, he is really sick. We found the Skagit a lovely green. For all the rain in the lowlands, it was all snow up above. Dollies came to play but the steelhead were safe. Such is school at times. Old wounds die hard: Mike was in his 14' expedition raft, I ran one of our Pac 1300's. That left a single pontoon raft. We have conducted our schools this way for the past five years. Any questions? Weird: The upper Skagit is running high but clear. Big time Dolly show. Rumors of a few natives starting to show in the lower river. Good time to hit the Birdsview to Lyman area. I like marabou's, Bunny Leeches, and GP's in # 2 to 1/0 for this gig. I tend towards dark day/dark fly & bright day/bright fly, but mostly its finding the steelhead traveling lanes and bringing in the fly low and slow. Yes, I believe many anglers over mend. Anglers need to know when to mend and how much. Sauk Time: Yup, the early fish always go up the Sauk. Great time to hook a really big fish. Water is awesome right now. Not a lot of fish yet, but this is when the big dominant males come in. No secret. Read the water, present the fly. That thought that steelhead always take the fly hard, is an urban legend. Check out: Coldwater takes. Stilly North Fork has some fish showing. The dominant winter native steelhead won't be there until long after the season has closed. If you want to see the other side of the Stilly, leave your rod at home, and float from Boulder Creek area down to Whitman in May. Spawning steelhead viewing is a great float trip. It isn't just the Deer Creek native that swims this river. Just thought you should know. Skykomish will sneak in a few early fish, now. Focus on the Sultan to Monroe pools. You won't be alone. Olympic Peninsula: Mike is booking like crazy right now for the OP. His guide trips will begin in late February and on into April. No news yet on the Skagit system Catch & Release season. Mike will be gone, which will leave Jeremy to do most of the local steelhead guiding should they open it. Me? I take my quite little following and skate a surface fly, but I wouldn't worry too much about that. I am so glad we are reexamining C&R as a management tool. You have no idea the implications for flyfishing all our anadromous species around the state. May brighter minds prevail. Sauk School cancelled: As much I love the Sauk, I think we will abort this year. Get back to me, and we will hook you up on something else. Many kudos for our new guide Jeremy for taking over the fishing report, as well as holding down the fort while Mike and I were out of the country. Get better, Man. Our loss is great when we lose our fish. Our loss is greater when we can't wade the rivers we love. Best of fishing, Dickson
www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
2-3-2008
I/27/08
"Looks like winter to me" I am not going to lie to you. Rivers are at dead low right now. Not a lot of fish moving in, but the native steelhead should be on the heels of the next warm front we get. Outside of a surface rising Grande Ronde steelhead, a big brawly wild steelhead is my most favorite freshwater experience. The rivers are back to fishing well, that is the good news. The water is friggin cold, and that is the bad. Skagit: Either fish high in the watershed up around Marblemount near the mouth of the Cascade River (which is closed) or the lower river surrounding Grandy Creek. This area will only get better as the spring progresses. Remind me again why this Skagit section is not included the Catch & Release? Don't suppose the powers-to be will make a final decision on the C&R, until we get closer to March. I will let you know, when I know. We lose twice when we drive a fish population down to the point where we can't even be out on a favorite river. Sad and preventable. Read Kill & Close. To that end; The Olympic Peninsula looks to be on schedule for another decent season. Word is, a few wild steelhead are showing all along the Coast. Cool. Mike is our OP guru. Stilly North Fork: Summer....er winter low. Surprising numbers of hatchery steelhead sneaking through. Hazel area is a good bet. Skykomish: Anything that takes in the Reiter Ponds area is the safest bet. Lower Sky around Monroe will fish if we get a high water, but good luck on that. Weather is calling for more cold. Sauk: Low & clear. Good time to scout for the up coming C&R season that may never happen. Huh? Dickson Watch: Mike & I will head off to warmer climes to chase exotic fishes this next week. 80 degree waters coupled with 80 days. Now this is my way of spending winter. While we are out for the week, Jeremy will be handling the local guiding scene. Perfect. Speaking of clients: Jeremy is not one to hold back on an opinion, and mentioned recently that for a fishing website ranked in the world level, flyfishsteelhead.com photo gallery was sadly lacking. I had to concede. This was one of those areas that for all the fishing and travels, it just didn't get up on my radar. So I did what any boss would do, I delegated. So Kudos for Mike for completely revamping this huge page. Sandy for placing it onsite and making it all work, and Jeremy for watching it through. Oh, and a very special thanks to the many many anglers who have fished with us over the years. If pictures are memories, we have a life time of angling experiences. If you haven't seen the Photo Gallery, stop by a minute. Heck, if you fished with Dickson's in the last few years, you may be in it! "Where
did we ever get the crazy idea that in order to make children do Sage advice for us all, Dicksons'
and Jeremy Floyd www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
1/20/08 Boys have been pulling water off the Skagit every day. Lower river is going to be your best shot at an early wild fish. I like the Birdsview to Hamilton run. By the number of rigs parked at Hazel, the North Fork Stilly has taken another pulse of steelhead. Hearing of more wild fish showing. Same for the OP rivers. Good to see. Skykomish is as cold as it is low. Watch for those February wilds to push their way in, if this snow turns to rain. I have mentioned that this is that "in-between time" in fishing. The hatchery steelhead run is winding down, and the wild component is about to start. Feb. 1st is the unofficial date. Will the Skagit system C&R spring fishery open this year? Good question. State will probably announce in the next couple weeks. Whatever. According to Mikes bookings, a lot of our clients are heading to the Olympic Peninsula with him, anyway. Fighting winter blues: Our private lakes fishery is doing well, even if it is only January. Leeches and dragonfly nymphs are working on this 90 acre, multiple lake complex. (Space limited) We are toying with going back to an O.P. school. Keep you posted. Speaking of spring steelhead flyfishing, I often reflect about a great angler. Please read, Charlie "Women and cats will do as they
please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea." Best of Fishing, Dickson
www.flyfishsteelhead.com.
1/13/08 "And there you have it" Winter hatchery steelhead continue to trickle in. Most of the North sound rivers are fishable, as we speak. Native steelhead are staging now. Coastal streams are seeing them, too. Try the Hoh or the Queets. The Skagit down to the Baker River, has steelhead, with Dollies passing thru. Water is low and clear above the Sauk, but some color below, so fish accordingly. Skykomish is fishing well, visibility is good to Monroe. I even hear of a few early natives just starting to show. This is that transition time where the hatchery run is winding down and the native steelhead are just poking in. Stilly: Too much snow on the ground. Saturated watershed is just too high but it is beginning to flush. Watch for another pulse of fish as the water recedes. Skagit schools are full.....again. If you weren't able to get in, might inquire about one of our custom schools. Same money, same school, just a smaller group. One of the biggest questions we are constantly asked. "If you have been offering these steelhead schools for over 10 years, why are they in such demand?" Good question. Maybe its because they produce a better angler. Second biggest question: "Can you teach double-handed?" Mike does. Guides Pick: If I just wanted to swim something, I would spend a day at our private lakes or swimming streamers on the upper Skagit. If I was serious about a steelhead, I would be booking a day with Mike in March on the Olympic Peninsula. A good all time read is Choosing a Guide I notice nobody accuses of Dickson guides of not getting their anglers into fish. All I can say to that is, "We try." Best of fishing, Dennis & Mike Dickson, Jeremy Floyd
1/06/08 "And so it begins again" Another year has come and gone. They only seem to go faster as I grow older. I let my younger guides do more of the fishing now. I think I appreciate my time spent out on the water more about the friendships we have created over the many years. Bill had a birthday the other day. He is now 82. It didn't seem so long ago, he and I were fishing throughout the land. Bill has fished with me now for nearly twenty years. Every Wednesday for some twenty years. For that I am grateful. Anyway, you didn't come here to muse over past times or even relationships. You came about the fishing. Fishing overview: Skagit: Daily dam fluctuations are the drill. Right now those swings are right on the money. Skagit in the Sauk & Cascade Rivers confluences have been surprisingly good for the winter hatchery steelhead. If we can keep taking a pulse of water that pulls the steelhead through the lower river, that should continue. Sauk River: Still too early. Valentines is the unofficial start North Fork Stilly: Little lower drainage in elevation. River jumped out of shape, but heading back, as we speak. Should be another shot of fish as the waters come back into play. Sky: Waters are low and cold, here. Were fresh steelhead earlier but fishing has slowed. Look for another pulse if we get some warmer water temperatures. Winter
Steelhead Flyfishing: My experience: Anglers care a lot more about which fly is used than steelhead do. Steelhead are not feeding, they just react. Skagit
Winter Steelhead Schools: Feb 8 or 9
Mike Dickson is a wonderful spey casting instructor. He will also teach you how to fish it, not just cast it.
Hearing rumblings of a wild steelhead or two heading into the Olympic Peninsula. Mike does a lot of trips over there each spring. "Even the blind squirrel finds the nuts once in a while" Say, we have added a completely new wrinkle to our Testimonial Section. Everyone gets tired of guide talk. Contact me. Tell me where and what you want to fish, I will send you ten names and email addresses of anglers who have recently fished with us on those very waters, you can get the straight scoop from them. How fair is that? An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life... He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil---he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego. The other is good -- he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too." They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed." -Author Unknown
Dennis, Mike & Jeremy F.
Archived
Fishing Reports - lots of good infomation January
2007 - December 2007 |
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