December 29, 2002

"Time of reflection"

As another year comes quietly to a close, another begins.

I have to be honest, with holiday and friends around, Mike and I have spent but little time on the water. Found one of those cold but crisp days, between storms out on Jeff's Ponds. We get a little spoiled here, on this 90 acre property. I think we fished four of the six lakes, but then it was just Greg and his Dad, Ron. The half day gig, was about the perfect length for this winter fishery. Mohair leeches were the ticket, and both anglers saw some lovely fish. Largest was a triploid around eight pounds.

Rivers haven't responded with winter hatchery steelhead, as I would have hoped but, as the Olympic Peninsula streams are starting to get a few fish, that can change, pretty quick.
Skagit is one that quietly gets it done. Dollies continue to move, and there is just enough new steelhead coming in, to make your trip, a good reason to get out of the house. Black Bart, egg-n-shuck, and the Cop Car series are the best producers.

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".

We are selling a ton of Yancy multi-tips right now. We also have both the type 2 ghost tip and the type 8 super sink, to add to your arsenal. Ask about our new Yancy rod. It is a custom built 10 ft. 8wt. Rainshadow blank, lifetime warranty. Really like it.

Many of the articles I have written found in the Stories and Articles section, are about the winter steelhead flyfishing. It is time for me to update and fine-tune a few of these pieces, (this is suppose to be the slow down time of year......yeah right!) but you will get the drift. I hope they help.

One of the questions in Ask Dennis, is critiquing reels.....always a loaded subject, check it out.

Flyfishing Schools: "When you decide you want to be in that 10% that catches all the fish"
I have to apologize: These classes filled so quickly, Sandy and I haven't had a chance to up date the web pages. The following is the correct dates for 2003.

Skykomish schools (January 24, 25, or 26) are officially filled. I have sent out an itinerary to each member so if you haven't received an e mail on it, drop me a line.

Several options if you didn't get in:

We are adding another Sky class, Monday, January 27th (class is filling)

The Sauk Schools are Feb. 14, 15, 16, or 17

Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22, 23, or 24

Olympic Peninsula Schools: Feb 29 > March 3rd. A different river on four consecutive days. Sol
Duc River - Feb 29th, Hoh - March 1 Clearwater - March 2, Queets - March 3

Guide days: The schools of course, are above and beyond the regular guide days. Mike and I are happy to answer any questions.....drop us a line. DDDicksons@aol.com

As for now:
We continue to fish our winter rivers and of course our private lakes. Life is good.
Sound like another year is rounding the corner......

May you New Year be a fishy one,

D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

"Faded memories"
A few torn up Clousers, an out of season tan line, a pair of salt splattered polarized glasses......and a whole lot of undeveloped photos is all that is left of our week down in the Florida Keys.

Too many things to reminisce and nothing to do with the fishing up here in the northlands, but i'ts Christmas, so what the hey.

"Don't Try this at home"
Mike and I were fishing an incoming tide, on a canal edge, catching Jacks, Ponpino and the occasional small permit (drop dead gorgeous), when the wind picks up evening goes to black, and very large fish show up........

When a gig like this comes along, you never know how long it is going to last so you dance with the girl you came with. In this case, I am fishing my 5 wt. and floating line system. A green/white Clouser is at the working end. We start casting at huge targets, chasing the baitfish, and it isn't long before Mike hooks up. Out goes his Yancy line and up goes a really cool baby tarpon about 20 to 30 pounds. My hands starts shaking. Some of these guys smashing minnows are monsters.......

We hook a few, loose most - for one reason or another, and are basically having the time of our lives. Wind really picks up, making most of our casts almost sidearm, water turns over and the fish loose interest. Not sure how this cast was that much different - I made a cast, fish turned and I speed up the retrieve. Moby closes over the fly just like a summer steelhead over crystal caddis, and I wait until the line tightens. It does, and I give him a strong jab, he moves away, I hit him again. This time he simply answers by jumping straight up, clearing the water by 3 feet, easy. I mumble " Oh-oh". This tarpon is over 5 feet, and I am fishing my 5 wt. He jumps a towering leap and hits the water........for some reason, he is not interested in leaving the area, but jumps again. 5 or 6 leaps and 15 minutes later, I am actually thinking I have a chance here. Mike shows up with the camera, fish takes off, and comes Way out of the water. I have no idea if mike got the shot......its pitch black by now - except for a light along a dock, and a moon silhouette. I will never forget that moment. Me, Mike and a huge fish after dark. He fell on the leader (you can only bow so far) and was gone. I would love to tell you, I didn't care, but it wasn't the point. Tarpon continued to cruise while we reeled up and headed in. Way cool.

We found an assortment of fishes during our week. Some we handled, a few kicked our butts. The flats were sparse due to a cold front. Most of our fishing productivity, was along mangro and channel edges. We fished from floats boats, kayaks and Mike and his brother Josh, even went gear fishing. Mostly we waded, we snorkeled, we fished and hung out with the family. Water was still warm to me, days were warm and variable, and I only thought about work at home, when I finally climbed on the computer to put out pre-Christmas last minute flyfishing orders for Mike's Streamsideflyshop.

One last episode:
Mike and I were fishing another incoming tide catching the occasional barracuda. I had just let my fly fall down to the turtle grass, when I felt a bump. I tightened, and met resistance. I preset into a strip strike and found myself clearing line, as the fish streaked away. I struck again, and the mystery fish left the flyline for the backing, and found another gear. I leaned the 5 wt. harder, and began to palm. The fish simple found a third gear, and smoked across the flats. Most of the flyline and backing were "out there, somewhere" and the Grande max. leader simply parted. Corral will do that.

Ten minutes later, Mike hooks up, and I swear almost the identical same thing happens! Mystery fish 2, Dickson boys, zero. I explained what happened to my flats guide the next day, and he said we probably ran into either sharks, or big bones. You never know.

We are home now. Mike is floating the Skagit today. I booked to be out tomorrow. Feels cold, real cold.

Now this is funny:
Guy finds me on line, and decides to do an instant message.
He asks "So how is the Stilly fishing, thinking about going out the next day?"
I say," Don't know, I am down fishing in the Florida Keys, been gone for a week, not back home until the next weekend."
He writes back," How about the Skagit?"

Skykomish schools (January 24, 25, or 26) is almost full. Check in for last minute openings.
Guy asked Mike the other day, "Don't you worry you will run out of guys to take your schools?"
Mike answers, " As long as there are anglers looking to better their steelhead flyfishing success, we will have schools".

I have to agree, next to long time client guide trips, it's the hottest thing we do. They simply seem to be getting more popular.

Streamsideflyshop.com - Look for some new winter native steelhead flies on-line in the next few weeks.

Ask Dennis always gets attention.

Anyway, It's Christmas, and I hope a merry one to you and yours.
Best fishes,

D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

December 14, 2002

"And you said we weren't going to have any fun"

As you read this, the rivers are probably swollen, steelhead are coming in, and Mike and I along with the family, are enjoying some much needed R&R down in the Florida Keys. I love wade & sight fishing anyway, and as we got an invite by a client who lives in New York, but winters in Key West, (tough gig, right?), who is into this too.....well, who is going to pass that up?
Anyway, if you haven't caught it yet, Mike and I are probably out wading some flats, while you read this. No telephone, but we may be able to answer some email. We will be home on Dec. 21, so it's a pretty short turn around.

North Sound rivers:
Back at the ranch, Mike and I have been focusing on the Skagit down in the Baker River area. Believe it or not, fresh dogs continue to come up, Dollies continue to head down, and steelhead should be in on this high water. Check River Levels is a great way to see if the rivers are fit, from your computer. Here is a rough and dirty I use:
Skykomish: 8,000 cfs or below, on a dropping water
Sauk: 7,000 cfs or below...
Stilly at Deer Creek: 3,000 cfs or below...
Skagit is a little trickier, because of dam daily fluctuations. No fishing above 10,000 cfs. from Marblemount gauge.

Black Bart has been our number one swinging fly for Chums, Steelhead (they will hit anything) and Dollies*. *Dollies are still locked in to anything with an egg associated to it. Egg-n-shuck off floating lines way too much fun.

Skykomish River Steelhead Flyfishing Schools: January 24, 25 or 26
Schools are dong very well. One of the first things I teach in every class is this: I don't claim that way Mike and I approach Steelhead flyfishing, is the only way to fish. I do believe that 10% catch 90% of the fish. I am a biologist. I am interested in stimulus and response, cause and effect. You do this and you get that......I have no problem with traditional thought, as long as I can support it, by my experience of over 30 years of chasing steelhead, and 16 years of putting first timers, into fish. (You want to find out how good you are at something? Teach someone else!) So much of what you read today about flyfishing steelhead is smoke and mirrors........but that is just my observation.

So here is the deal, if you are having trouble catching steelhead now, you might consider including our steelhead presentation and techniques, it works for us. That's all.

By the way, much of what we teach in the classes (specific river reading water and fly presentation is not included) is found in the many articles and stories found on site. Enjoy.
Best of fishing......back in a few,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

December 8, 2002

Dog days and Dolly nights......

The all time biggest return of Chum salmon to the river, I can remember, continues on the Skagit system. Seems like all phases are happening. We have tons of new arrivals, mostly hens. We have many actively spawning fish on the redds, while the dead and dying continues to grow in numbers. The cycle goes on.

Last week I mentioned the brighter fish are there, but you have to know where to look. Fishing the steelhead runs and focusing on heads and tailouts where the salmon are not stacking vertically, is a great play, and you may find the early steelhead. Stilly and Sky are getting a few.......but we need some rain.

Longer leaders to 0X fluorocarbon tippets, and the right colors continue to make a huge difference with the fresh Chum. Eggsucking Cop Car and Black Bart are our two top producers, along with of course, our Egg-n-shuck - which accounted for a 26" Dolly on the Sauk river the other day. The Skagit is fishing well, but the Sauk river levels are dropping very low again.
Eagles are showing up in numbers, now that the chum carcasses are everywhere!

I heard the cutest one the other day.

The girlfriend of my wife was complaining that the rotting carcasses at the mouth of Jim Creek were stinking up the place. It was her suggestion, that a group from the church, go down with garbage bags and clean up the dead salmon, along the river banks! I was smiling pretty hard as I tried to explain about stream nutrient loading, why the dead salmon were important to the stream. She still wasn't convinced. I wonder where she thought she was going to dump all those dead salmon?

We are supposed to be in for a change of weather. As much as I have enjoyed the beautiful fall like conditions......we could use the rain.

Skykomish River Steelhead Flyfishing Schools: January 24, 25 or 26
Classes continue to fill. Friday is full. Saturday is filling and Sunday looks like a gig.

Getting a lot of questions about fishing both the single and double handed rods. Dickson and the double handed rod is almost an urban legend. I respond to this very question in Ask Dennis this week. Flylines Catch Fish is a good winter primer.

Mike and I have anglers flying in from different parts of the country, to take the schools, now. We like to think, "Our steelhead schools will make the novice good, and a good angler better". I know one thing, we sure have a great time.
Best fishes,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

December 1, 2002

So this is what it looks like.......

Always wondered what it would look like if the commercial fleets decided not to fish. Skagit and Stilly have more Chum salmon spawning than I think I can ever remember. Almost eerie.

The brighter fish are there but you have to know where to look. Try fishing the steelhead runs and focus on heads and tailouts where the salmon are not stacking vertically. Not only is this a great play, but a good strategy for finding the early steelhead like the one that almost spooled Mel from Montana, the other day. I would have loved to given this fine fish a photo opt. but it got done before Mel did. Even the Tioga 10, went deep into the backing. Chums will too.......but they aren't silvery torpedo's, just torpedo's.

Longer leaders to 0X fluorocarbon tippets, and the right colors make a huge difference for finding biters. We had one day searching for Dollies with the Eggsucking Cop Car, (stripping really fast) and the Chums were coming out and just slamming it! Way cool.

Dollies: Fish coming in and fish going out. Taped a 25" Dolly the other day on the Sauk, and heard of another over 28"! As the Dolly fishing will just get better, as winter progresses, this cold season in the northwest is shaping up to be a fine one. Skagit and Sauk are both fishing well, but the Sauk river levels are dropping very low again.

One thing you can pretty much bank on, in this part of the country, we never seem to get the same winter twice. It has been a while since we have had a warm rainy winter, so I am figuring on this one.......but the late, late, late, fall weather continues. Eagles are showing up.

Fishing needles in hay stacks: Finding Dollies is usually just a matter of finding the Chum. Good luck. This year the Chum salmon are everywhere, so Mr. Dolly can eat just about anywhere he wants. We have seen some real footballs already. Egg-n-shuck is very good. Also is Black Bart and the before mentioned Eggsucking Cop Car......if you can keep the Chums away! Chums will last for a couple weeks, Dollies thru the winter.

Skykomish River Steelhead Flyfishing Schools: January 24, 25 or 26
Classes are filling. More and more flyboys are getting into the winter scene. Some guys are just priming for the late winter natives next spring, others just can't stand not to be fishing. The Sky is expecting a good return of winter hatchery steelhead. We will cover tackle and swinging sinktips for both the single and double handed rods. Still not catching steelhead on the fly? Maybe we can help.

"Every day out fishing, is a day not spent out shopping"

Best fishes,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

November 24, 2002

Who would have ever thought?

Back in the late 70's, I stumbled onto and developed a saltwater Chum Salmon fishery called Hoodsport. This was back in a time, where C&R was laughable concept. Why would you ever want to catch a fish that wasn't even good to eat? Besides, all Chums do is tear up your tackle.....Yeah Baby!

Three years ago, I started writing about wonderful flyfishing for Dolly Varden on the Skagit and Sauk rivers. Better knowns were expounding how anyone worth his wading shoes would never lower himself to actually fish for Dollies.......they are trash fish, of course, which eat salmon eggs......Experts back peddled.

For the last few days we have been enjoying an early winter, which has kindly reverted back to a stunning late fall. High waters have brought in even more Chum salmon in our Washington streams, and from freshwater to salt, anglers are out enjoying both the despicable chum and the trashy Dolly Varden. Does my heart good.

Why? Because only anglers who enjoy our fisheries are the ones who become passionate about saving and protecting our fish and their waters. It truly takes a village.

Ask Dennis this week will include this very subject. (Mike of course is doing the school thing with me, he may not to be able to get to Ask Dennis until Tuesday)

Skykomish River has fallen back into shape: Anglers are out. Stilly North Fork is about to go bait, so you feather flingers might want to hit that....

Sauk is absolutely stunning right now, can't wait to get over there, and we are finishing up four days of our Skagit River Dolly/Chum/Winter Steelhead Flyfishing schools, which would be totally awesome (right now they are just outstanding) if the Chums weren't just grabbing everything we put into the water.

Dollies are on the Chum redds. Our glue egg-n-shuck is real good. Careful where you wade, careful where you cast!

Chums are known for the color green, green is about my number four color. Combinations of blacks, (Black Bart), purple, (micro Eggsucker), pinks (Pink Stinker) are all good. Chum Sport which is green, is the freshwater counterpart, to Dicksons' Chum Candy. See, I told you I was a legend in my own mind......

Way too much fun.

The ghost tip makes the Yancy multi-tip and wonderful saltwater flats line. Seguar Grand max. is the best flouro. leader out there, in my estimation. Use 0x for dogs, and 4x for Dollies.

Eggsucking Copcar, and Black Bart (both have egg faces) are important now, because the Dollies are keyed into eggs, and good luck trying to keep it away from the puppies! Find the flies et al, online at Streamsideflyshop.com

If you wanted to know if your flyfishing reels are up to steelhead, fish now. Chums will show you what's what.

Winter steelhead are around the corner. By popular demand, we are now offering a Winter Steelhead Flyfishing School on the Skykomish River. .Think mid January for this comprehensive school. Course will cover sinktipping with both single and double handed rods.

Oh, if you heard Dickson hates double handed rods......you heard wrong.

Best of fishing, best of holidays,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

November 16,

November is not October....but it's close.

Rains have come and our extended fall has enveloped into a northwest early winter. Rivers are up and flowing now. Seems like every fish in the river is on it's way to somewhere. Our job is to see if it will slow down enough to take a fly. Oh Yeah.

Stilly: More salmon continue to come in with the tides, Dollies are up in the tribs now. Summer steelhead are in the North Fork, but you have to try to get past the salmon to find them. Chum salmon are not what you might call discriminatory spawners, so be careful where you wade, while chasing the steelhead. Good to see the fish, though. SRC is also scooting up in the feeder streams, the fine fishing we had, is over for another season. Winter hatchery steelhead will be sneaking, but the quality fishing won't swing for the few more weeks.

Sauk: Quietly getting it done. Big year for Dollies and the drought kept the fish in the mainstem, until this past rain. Now they are up doing their thing, and the big boys will be back in a few. Some really monsters this year. Now that the Chums are spawning, the Eggsucking Cop Car and our egg-shuck, will be the ticket.

Skagit: Fished the lower river for salmon until the tributaries chased us above the Baker River. Wonderful fishing. Many of the chum were still dropping sea lice. Every year I marvel just how strong these fish are. Chums, like Pinks are good biters, but you need to play with the fly colors and presentation is subtle but slightly different than steelhead. If you think the Chum to be caught is that old boot, snagged in the back.......you just keep on thinking that. Streams are too crowded anyway. Black Bart, Pink Stinker, Chum Sport, and the Micro Eggsucker, all get fish. Fly colors change from day to day, so pays to experiment. We use floating and light sinktips, leader length depends on visibility, and our Seguar Grand Max is the best (more expensive) clear water tippet material I have ever used. There is a lot more places to find Chum than Swift Creek, or the Lyman bar. Explore a little. Oh, Mrs. Black will take the Coho, remember boys, It's "Pop, wipe your pants" sounds crude but clients will know what I mean. If you go into your local flyshop, looking for these flies......it isn't going to happen. Mike's Virtual Flyshop www.streamsideflyshop.com has the stuff.

Dolly/Chum/Winter Steelhead schools: Last call for this school. Wow! Must be doing something right. Anglers sometimes frustrate themselves for years, trying to catch our great fish of the northwest. Our schools flat get it done. You don't have to take my word it. Check out References and endorsements.......read from past anglers, themselves. From dead drifting glue eggs for Dollies, to stripping Cop Cars for Coho.......we are looking to have a great day for our early winter flyfishing.

The bad news: All dates are full, except Monday.......there are two slots as we speak.
Of course we will have our Yancy multitips and the very popular Floating Line Head System. Ready to see and fish the trick flies? I am stoked!

Guide days: Schools are actually only a small part (but growing!) of what we do. Mike and I are out on the water pretty much every day. You don't have to book a trip to get some straight scoop. Drop an e mail. We are always happy to help. Look for quality fishing to continue until Christmas.

Somebody has to do it, Right?

Best of Fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Nov. 10, 2002

Silver linings:
While the past few months found us experiencing the lowest water river conditions I have personally witnessed, it happened to be coupled with the finest tidewater flyfishing I have ever seen, this side of Alaska. Hope you enjoyed it, we may never see it again.

Rain means business as usual: Everything can take a sigh of relief. Dollies & SRC can make it into their tributaries. Chums and Coho are headed for the same. Nature is righting herself. All is well.......unless we wander directly into high waters.

How cool is that? Absolutely a marvel watching the Chum salmon scurrying up through each tailout, through the pools and blasting into the next run. Wave after wave of fish. Natures commotion is almost surreal. Always does my heart good to see fish.

We were up in the upper North Fork chasing steelhead, after a morning of tidewater fishing, when we came upon two guys watching the salmon migration phenomena. One guy turns to his buddy and says, "Wow! Look at all the Humpies!".
I just smiled.

As of Yesterday:
Sauk gone from bone low up to very low. Still wouldn't try to float it. Water is dark but fishable.

Stilly NF: Water height is back to normal, River is unfishable below Deer Creek, and questionable below Boulder. If you were looking to drill a very late summer steelhead in the Fortson area. Go now.

Skykomish: Haven't been there, but this rain will get the fish moving again.

Skagit: Dam guys continue to do their thing. Raise the water in the morning, drop it in the afternoon. Chums and Coho are getting it done. Rich and Scott took their new boat, and me, for a ride in the lower Skagit river. Found some lovely fish on Black Bart, and the micro egg sucker in green. Fishing was pulsey, but very good when we were into the fish. Water was very clear. Long fluorocarbon leaders on moderate sinktips found the biters. Presentation is the difference.

Dolly/Chum/Winter Steelhead schools: are just around the corner. Space limited. From dead drifting glue eggs for Dollies, to stripping Cop Cars for Coho.......we are looking to have a great day for our early winter flyfishing.

I think one of the really cool things about our schools, is lots of anglers love to fish, but only a handful are serious about steelhead. Guys get to meet others who are as passionate as they are, about this great sport. Happens every class.

It takes a village: There are an array of websites on the net. Some are personal and localized like mine. Others like Washingtonflyfishing.com are literal information highways. I would like to publicly thank Chris Scoones, and others like him, who selflessly and tirelessly (even in the face of danger of the Fun Fishing Police), they, who share their fishing sites with us all. Thank you.

Streamsideflyshop.com can cover your supply needs from saltwater flats leaders to trick flies for river Coho. Happy to help.

Jeff's Ponds: Are quietly getting it done. The big trout are stirring, and the spring fed lakes are never "out" from wind or rain.
Best of Fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Nov. 3, 2002

Must be November

Brilliant colors and icy puddles remind us that fall may be here, be winter is coming. Fishing has continued as low waters, high fish numbers continue.

Monday is not like Tuesday: Every day brings a different tide. Chum and Coho continue to dominate the scene. Rivers like the Snohomish, Skagit, and Stillaguamish are getting it done. If you ever wanted to explore tidewater fishing, now is the time to get it done. I wrote an article called Flyfishing Pacific Salmon. Might want to check it out. The Yancy line is working, but I think the better fishing, is with the floating lines and long leaders. These waters are deceptively clear. Seagar Grand Max is the best fluorocarbon on the market, and we have been fishing it a lot.
Flies are as variable as the season. One day its Mrs. Black, next day its Pink Stinker. Black Bart is a good producer, and one day, all they wanted was a Cop Car, fished under the surface.

I think a huge rush, is riffle hitching Crystal Caddis, and waking the fly across the surface. The Coho can just crush it, I think any Muddler in a 6 or 4 will get it done.

If this isn't enough to warm your waders, McKee's beach (just south of Kyak Point) is holding a ton of fish. Many of the estuary mouths have awesome numbers of salmon in the waiting period.

Pick your poison, baby! Chum Sport and ever popular Chum Candy will work here. For Coho try the Clouser Minnow in Green/white or Pink/white......but fish SRC sizes, not the big stuff.
Dolly/Chum/Winter Steelhead schools: are just around the corner. Should be a bunch of fish, to practice on.

I promised I would give an update on what dates are still available, this week. I have prepared a detailed itinerary, as your deposit comes thru. We do get late cancellations. Want to put together your own group? No problemo! We can custom build a school, just for you.
Nov 22 (Friday) full? (2 deposits pending)
Nov 23 Saturday - full
Nov 24 Sunday - 1 slot
Nov 25 Monday - 3 slots

Be sure to check out Ask Dennis.....always good stuff here.

Jeff's Ponds: Lakes have cooled and fishing quite well. BWO, midges, Dragonfly nymphs and Pheasant Tail nymphs are working. Still fishing floating lines along the edges, mostly. As most of these lakes are spring fed, we will probably fish thru the winter.

Best of Fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Oct 27, 2002
Wanted: Rain for rent

As we approach the first of November, our fall zero water continues. The fish don't care! They are coming. We fished in the upper North Fork for steelhead, and the Chum salmon continually swam past us all day. The fishing was floating line and we caught just about everything. Way cool. Our top fly was our egg-n-shuck pattern. Dead drifted, no weight and no indicator. Dollies, SRC, and even a steelhead....if you can get it by the Chum. GRRRRR.

We retreated down into the estuary later in the week. You are fishing the tides but the multiple species and nickel bright fish are worth it. Client fly, Mrs. Black, on our fluorocarbon leader, and floating lines was awesome. I always love the days when the boys are into fish so well, we have to apologize by saying," The fishing isn't always like this". Now that's a good day.
Anyway, there are tons of fish; the straits, along the beaches (try of Clousers), in the estuaries, and up the rivers. The SRC are sitting ducks right now because they can't get up their natal streams.

The good news: As water reach oxygen saturation below 47 degrees, and Stilly temperatures are in the mid forties, I simply haven't seen a prespawning mortality, or even stressed fish to hand in any species, as some would propose. The commercials are gutting salmon for the eggs (no market for the carcass), the while commutative mortality impact of a river recreational fishery is almost nil, but if we don't get our rain, ASAP, but better plan fishing the salt.
Lower Stilly is open to kill the Chum, release the Coho. If you have never fished tidal fish, do it now, it's awesome.

Fishing continues over on the Grande Ronde. They are also looking for that rain. The Snake always runs warmer than the GR, so that is a good bet, for surface fishing.

While over doing the GR campouts, I ran into a gentleman, who was a first time steelhead flyfisher. He started talking about this amazing fly he got from the local flyshop that was taking the Clearwater and Snake River fish , by storm. I about fell over when he opens his box, and sitting there, is a spitting image of our Crystal Caddis. If you want to see it, go to our Online Proshop, and look in the flies section.

You know how it goes, everyone is convinced they are the one who came with it. Whatever.
Tim will be over in the GR country to guide thru November, but these are daily trips. He is available on weekends and Tuesdays.

Dolly/Chum/Winter Steelhead schools: is shaping up to be a great one. Should be a bunch of fish, to practice on. I promised I would give an update on what dates are still available, this week. I have prepared a detailed itineray, as your deposit comes thru.
Nov 22 (Friday) 2 slots available
Nov 23 Saturday - full
Nov 24 Sunday - 2 slots
Nov 25 Monday - 4 slots

Jeff's Ponds: Spent a nice day up on the lakes this week. We fished four lakes total. Handled rainbows to seven ponds, broke in a few more. Leeches and Dragon Fly nymphs were top producers but fish were cruising the edges, so we fishing floating lines with and without indicators. Very wild and natural setting. We are booking thru the winter.
Best of Fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

October 20, 2002

Notes from the Grande Ronde:
The good, the bad, and the ugly.

After 16 straight days on the Ronde, I am still a little groggy around the edges, but here is some thoughts and reflections of 2002.

The good: The weather was lovely and warm, as we started out early October. We fished a lot of floating lines, which was totally cool. Crystal Caddis was our top producer during the day, and GR, and Twilight ( a black and white spey pattern) was our dawn and dusk fly. As the waters got colder, we gave way to swinging leeches and marabous in the morning, and left the surface stuff in the afternoons and evenings.

We did run into a few smaller wild steelhead, in the 4-10 pound range, but almost half were in the 8-11 pound category. Little more reluctant to come up, but Wow! Talk about hot fish.
The fall colors came out. Everyone marveled how beautiful the canyons are this time of year. Our fishing trips are designed to miss most of the angling pressure. Happened again.

The bad: The colder temps, meant we had to revert a lot more to weighted flies and or sinktips. The last morning temperature was a bloody 42 degrees! That is Thanksgiving to Christmas temps on our local rivers. Fish continued to stack at the Grande Ronde mouth, and the anglers made the lower river look like opening day on Reiter Ponds.

Even we canyon anglers, saw way too many hatchery steelhead this year, which are more than OK, but its the wild fish that are your abandoned surface risers.

The Ugly:
A few years ago, a prominent angling author wrote a searing article about some guys who came up to his BC waters and pounded his waters to submission with bobbers and lead eyes. I remember after the reading, I was a little miffed on how this author had the nerve to pout sour grapes while describing how the bobber boys were slaying the fish and he and his cronies couldn't hardly find the fish, swinging flies.

Several of my anglers came up from the mouth of the Ronde this year, telling stories how outfitters were moving into pools, lining their guys up, slinging bobbers and jigs, crushing the fish, while never moving, so no one else could even get onto the pool!

Listen up fellas, I go way out of my way to not to poo poo any man's sport, but it was this very type of stack up angling that got Bobbers and such, kicked off the fly-only stretch on the Umpqua River. Might want to review my article on River Etiquette.

Anyway, Mike and I weren't able to stick around and get in on some of the awesome fishing that will crank up, when the rains finally come......but I remember again, why the Grande Ronde is always one of my favorite fall fisheries. Tim will be over in the GR country to guide thru
November, but these are daily trips.

Stilly, Sauk and Skagit:
Ok, who ran off with the water? Everything is summer low. Salmon are slipping in SRC are still waiting to get up their natal streams (good fishing there) and the summer steelhead are at least enjoying the cooler waters. Guess we won't put away our floating lines quite yet.

Our Dolly/Chum/Winter Steelhead schools are rocking, I will give a latest on what dates are still available, next week.

www.streamsideflyshop.com Look for our new chum salmon flylines, salt flats leaders, and trick flies coming in. My goal is to have our top 50 steelhead, SRC, and salmon patterns, both freshwater to salt, up on site, in the next few weeks.

Jeff's Ponds are back to fishing, I have been away for while, but we will be back on the lake this Wednesday, so I will give an update on the private lakes.
Well, about time for a power nap........have to get ready to fish tomorrow.

Best of Fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Oct. 4 - 02
Well, by the time you read this, Mike and I will be well entrenched on the Grande Ronde. We will be gone until the 20th......so I am afraid you wont see any updates until the following week.
Dawn will continue to monitor the up and coming fisheries. She is such a sweetie.

Wow! Silvers are really hitting the beaches now, lower rivers too. Try and pink/white or a flor. green/white Clauser minnow......but keep them small.

Stilly steelhead is very consistent. Flies et al, are pretty much the same. Small and drab.
SRC are in the tribs and holding off the mouths. Very fine year for them. Watch for the SRC to get on the hatches......they don't all eat spiders.

Waters are cooling on our private lakes property. Jeff's ponds are fishing very well, and should continue to do so up until winter.

Now that was a good idea!
The response for the Dolly/chum winter steelhead school, Nov. 22>25 (one day classes) has been huge! Looks like lots of fun. Now, if I can fit all the info in, on a single day.

Local guide trips: Later October is a great time for a combination of salmon, Dollies, steelhead, and even SRC. We use both floating lines and sinktips to get it done.

Ahhh......another fine fall. Such is a guides life.

Hey, if I see you out, be sure to say hi.

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10-01-02
My Bad!

After many e mails from people who have supported me since I have started Flyfishsteelhead.com, I would like to publicly appologize for the poor fishing report, which was nothing more than pimping our product. I am sorry, and certainly will try to tone down the new found zealousness for our product line. Probably belongs somewhere......but not in a fishing report. For those who wrote in. Thank you so much so caring enough, to take the time.

9-29-02
My second attempt:
This week has found Mike and I running steelhead and Searun cutthroat trips on the Stilly North Fork, but I think the highlight had to be our annual steelhead/SRC flyfishing schools.

First let me say; thanks to all that came. We do these fall schools every year the Humpy's are not running, and everyone seemed to have a great time. It was bright weather, so we fished primarily dry flies. The stripping spiders guys, were amazed how well it worked. Rose fish to twenty inches. Kudo's to Larry G. for the big fish (hope to get that photo, soon). A couple dandy steelhead hooked but most of the Deer Creek entered early this year, so the action was mostly lovely SRC. Not that this is a bad thing. Our steelhead Royal Wulff was our top producer, followed by Crystal Caddis, and hoppers and Craneflies. I have a killer Cranefly that Mike will soon add to his site, but you know how production goes.

Most of the hatchery steelhead are in the upper watersheds now. Weather and water are cooling, but I think floating line presentations are still the way to go. I am fishing drab patterns now, both in the surface and along the bottom. I know it sounds redundant, but a Muddler minnow in #8 and 10's, riffle hitched for surface fishing, or dead drifted along the bottom works awesome. The one exception would be any patern that looks like an October Caddis. Seems like every fish in the river knows what this fly is.Egg patterns that look like Chinook spawn, would also work......but for some reason, I only do this for late season Dollies. International orange colored glue eggs are the ticket.

Our next instructional flyfishing adventure is the Oct 9-10th Grande Ronde campout. Focus on this trip will be surface flies and steelhead. We lost a couple anglers to business conflicts. As I will be leaving town for the Grande Ronde at the end of next week, and don't have time to send out a newsletter, I will wholesale these two slots for $350. First come first serve.

Fall fishing:
Dam counts look really good for our Grande Ronde fishing. Getting pretty stoked. If you are planning on fishing, you can find our trick lines and flies at Streamsideflyshop.com.
I have been getting asked about a quote I make in the Grande Ronde article, found in the current issue of Flyfisherman magazine. I explain when to surface dries and when to fish wets and speys just under the surface. Grande Ronde and Mrs. Brown is also a nice read.

Speaking of fall:
Every other year, Washington state bound chum salmon has a strong run. (Has to do with competition as juveniles with pink salmon). Every four years, we have a really big year class of chum, and this year is it! We have already been gearing up for the chum/coho/fall steelhead. Think later Octber/early November.

Chum/ Winter Steelhead/ Dolly Varden Schools: November 22, 23, 24, or 25. We are still working out the details, but we have had a ton of requests to do this school. Here are the dates.

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9-22 -02

"God didn't build enough Octobers".

We finally got our rain. Even though the waters fell back into fishing shape almost immediately, it was all that Silvers needed to enter, SRC to squirt up the major tribs, Chinooks to start spawning in full swing, Humpies to try and figure why they are in a year early, Dollies to head up in their tiny tribs., high in the watersheds.

And steelhead, Good news. Best summer season I think I have seen in twenty years. The hatchery fish provide so much recreation to so many, why are they constantly under attack to shut down our Stilly summer hatchery program? Oh, this will make sense. Seems last year's flood created a 12' anadromous block (a falls) up in Deer Creek, not allowing the wild summers to make it up to the cool waters of Little Deer Creek. Now WDFW could go in there and blast the fish blockage out, but because it created naturally, the fisheries group has chosen to do the prudent thing.......study it. So why can we build million dollar log jams to create habitat, but we can't take out a fish blockage, to do the same thing?
Sometimes its best not to think too much.

Summer steelhead and Searun Cutthroat continue to dominate the scene. It is good to see so many people out enjoying the fall fishing. The next time you grumble about someone fishing in your pool, remember this; It may be him (or her) that helps save your fish and fishery. There are certainly plenty who would love to take your fishing away.

This is a lovely time to fish around and up the tributaries, for SRC. Both wets like the (spiders, and reverse spiders) as well as hoppers, Craneflies, and of course October Caddis are doing well. Fish continue to enter the lower river. It does my heart good to see the fish.

The hatchery summer steelhead are spread throughout the system. Egg patterns would work, but nymphs, dries, and streamers are good to. Just keep them small. We fish only floating lines right now. Try to show them something a bit different than what they have been looking at for the past 3 months. Guiding for both Mike and I has been very consistent. We will fish the Stilly until October 2, then off to the Grande Ronde

StreamsideFlyshop.com continues to do well.

Even though our fall steelhead school happens next week, and then we get one week of westside steelheading before heading off for the Grande Ronde, we are gearing up for both saltwater and freshwater chum season. Yup, it's that time. Stay tuned for some of our trick flies and gear.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead School is upon us. Sure enough, Saturday 9-28 had a late cancellation.

Ask Dennis -You can read why we feel we have the most comprehensive flyfishing schools in the area. More good questions!

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October.
The October 9-10th campout has two openings, now. Guess the fish are milling at the mouth. Can't wait!

Best of fishing.
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9-15 -02

Fall is my favorite season.

Still another day at the park. We continue to fish the Stilly. Sometimes high in the watershed (no, not Fortson), sometimes low, but when you are finding fish, why would you leave?
Summer steelhead and Searun Cutthroat continue to dominate the scene. If you are into low water fishing, you are in it, now.

Leaves are falling and Chinooks are spawning now. Always enjoy watching nature doing her thing. Coho are playing in the lower rivers. Is that rain they promised us, actually going to happen?

Searuns are huddling around their natal tributaries. It's that time of year. Both wets like the (spiders, and reverse spiders) as well as hoppers, Craneflies, and of course October Caddis are getting it done. Ton of fish in the lower river, if this rain comes, the river is going to be moving a lot of fish.

The hatchery summer steelhead are spread throughout the system. Find dark seamy water anywhere in the North Fork, and you probably have a steelhead in it. The low water fishing is excellent. Think "long and light", small and sparse. We simply do not use our sinktip lines now, no need. Wonderful fishery.

"Say what you want to about me, just spell my name right".
Seems like every time a thread is started in some flyfishing forum about our shop or guide service, we get a flurry of activity to our site. Thank you so much!

StreamsideFlyshop.com - has become hugely successful. I am in charge of research and development. I call it the "Toyota thing". When you spend 200 days a year on the water, and have done so, chasing steelhead, for the last sixteen years, you really learn what works, what doesn't. Well, like the Yancy line, if you don't like the mouse trap, build your own!

Bottom Line: I am bringing new stuff to the site faster than poor Mike can put it up. Poor guy. Guiding everyday, and computers at night. Anyway, thank you so much for stopping by! Wait until you see the new toys coming up. Like an instructional CD (free) with your Yancy flyline or FLHS. Or our new surface steelhead leader, with a fluorocarbon tippet. Our goal is to include our top 50 fly patterns by next spring. Everything from winter steelhead streamers to Neah Bay Coho flies. Watch for our river and saltwater Chum salmon flies coming up!

Slow down Ramjet, this is a fishing report..........

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead School is upon us. Classes are full, but we are considering adding Sunday the 29th. If you are scheduled for another school date,......please don't try to jump to Sunday. You will start a nightmare.

Flyfishing schools have become the most popular gig we do. Why? Because two nights at the shop, and a half day casting on the Duwamish, doesn't make you a better steelheader. Our on-the-river schools, do. (That is why students love us, and a few others, whine.)

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October. Washington's Blue Ribbon surface steelhead flyfishing. Because if you have never taken a steelhead on the surface, you are missing the finest freshwater experience there is.
The October 14-15 campout had two cancellations.

Best of fishing.
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9- 8-02

Fall, a time of reflection.
Every week I write about the fishing around the area Sometimes it is great, sometimes not so much, but that is the way steelhead flyfishing goes.
I guess the cool thing about our steelheading this week, was that it was another day at the park. I mean:
We live where we can think and say, pretty much as we want. We don't need visa's to move from city to city, state to state. Even though our streams are not perfect, they don't exactly catch on fire, either. They hold most salmon species, char, steelhead, and Searun cutthroat. We have the fish we protect and recreate upon, in a setting, we can all enjoy. I believe in fish, always have. I also believe in recreation. I feel as a society, we need to appreciate the nature around us. Only users can fully appreciate.

There are those who would kill every fish they catch, because if you didn't take it home, it didn't happen. There are those, who believe that even though we live in our in homes and drive our cars, protecting our fish and environment, means zero impact, no resource consumption at all, including fishing.

The best bumper snicker I ever read said, "The moral majority is neither".
Common sense would tell us, the solution to people and fish is balance. For those who believe that only native steelhead should swim our waters, let me site a case:
Years ago, back when the Washington Wildlife Department was split into two agencies, Fisheries, and the Game Department. Someone came up with a great idea. We could increase our Skykomish River spawning and rearing habitat, by significant proportions, if we would truck salmon and steelhead above the south fork's, Sunset and Eagle falls. As the only fish readily available was the hatchery steelhead, (Skamainia stock) and hatchery Coho and Chinook salmon, these were the salmonids, used.

After inflicting this upper watershed with these non-indigenous fish. Pressure from various groups started yelling foul, for polluting the wild populations of the upper Skykomish River drainage, with this hatchery scum.
Department of Fisheries, I don't think paid much attention, but the Game Department stopped the plant.

Here is the interesting part. Even though the hatchery steelhead plant was discontinued, the hatchery steelhead, decided to take it up on their own, and began dong something, scientists, biologists, and environmental groups said they couldn't do.......these hatchery steelhead propagated. We know this because WDFW still trucks these now wild steelhead, above the falls each year. They have also found this past hatchery population, not only to be growing each year (last year over 1500 steelhead trucked), but according to experts, that this steelhead is actually reverting back to a typical one salt wild steelhead.
The question: If the introduction of this hatchery steelhead was so bad, why has this hatchery reverted steelhead successfully not only propagated but have actually flourished.......for the last thirty years?

Every time our anglers raise another steelhead to a surface fly under the stunning backdrop of Mount Index, I thank the Game Department for planting the hatchery steelhead in the upper south fork of the Skykomish River. Without the plant, we had no recreation.
Next time you are about to write off the hatchery steelhead program, in the name of wild steelhead, think about the upper Skykomish River. Should we talk about the North Fork Stilly program, and the fact that the wild steelhead and the hatchery fish spawning some twenty miles and two watersheds, apart? When do we address recreational value?

Moral of the story: The impact of hatchery steelhead and the recreational opportunity, should be studied, on a river by river, case by case, basis.

Ready or not:
SRC are in. Even though the best fishing is below Deer Creek we have seen them all the way up to Fortson Hole.
Happy to report the flies haven't changed much. Craneflies are out. October Caddis are flying too. Here are some of the flies Mike and I are using.

Steelhead: Crystal Caddis & muddlers, Mrs. Black, G.R., low water Skunks, Our new Steelhead Royal Wolf, nymphs and small marabous
SRC: Hoppers, Stimulators, October Caddis, Breather patterns, Royal Wolf, Craneflies are happening, nymphs, Choronomids.
Dollies: Egg patterns, baitfish, leech patterns......yada yada

More good stuff in Ask Dennis

New Zealand trout hunting: As our river are flowing at summer time lows, our summer steelheading strategies have reverted to more like, steelhead hunting. Smaller, and sparser are the rule. Chasing these steelhead on over sized trout gear is a definite dent in the fun meter.
Show me the guy who is total anti- hatchery, and I will show you someone who doesn't fish the Stilly North Fork, of the upper Skykomish river summer steelhead. Not everyone has the time or means to fish in foreign lands. Protect our recreation.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead School is coming up!
Sept. 25, 27, or 28 Our Flyfishing schools have become the most popular gig we do.
A flyfishing school dedicated to the pursuit of steelhead and SRC is one of my favorites: Be sure to contact us if you haven't received a itinerary, yet.

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October. Washington's Blue Ribbon surface steelhead flyfishing is just around the corner. You don't have to fish the GR, and you certainly don't have to fish this awesome stream, with us. But when you finally do, you are going to be hating yourself, of why you waited so long. The Grande Ronde and Mrs. Brown, will let you know, there is a lot more to the GR than just fishing down at the mouth.

www.streamsideflyshop.com has your lines and flies for the upcoming fishing!

Jeff's Ponds. Check out or private pay for play. Seven lakes in 90 acres. Bookings start in later October. Thank you for the inquiries.

Best of fishing.
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9-1-02

Where would I begin?
I could talk about Jeff and Michelle's float on the upper Skykomish River. Lovely river, lovely people.
I could certainly talk about the classy women from the Ladies Flyfishers on our Stilly tidewater pool/ upper river gig. Plenty of episodes there.
Of course, Gary's float trip for Searun Cutthroat, has got to be right up there.......but the trip of the week has got to be, Dave and his eleven year old son, Brennan. Included is Dave's comments of the day.

We were scheduled to fish the lower river, but Mike (my son and assistant) has been doing very well in the middle-upper North Fork, so......Why not?
I meet Dave for the first time, and he introduces his 11 year old, Brennan. Now I should tell you that steelhead are tuff, and most young boys just don't have the patience for it. I said "Most."
Dave couldn't find chest waders for Brennan, so he brought him hip boots......which are fine if you happen to be a tournament caster, but it can be hard to wade into river position, in hip boots. Anglers usually end up wading over the tops......wrong again, Dennis.
Due to work constraints, Dave doesn't get a lot of free time, so he makes up for it, taking his family to killer, world class, fishing areas. So here we are, on the Stilly North Fork......not that there is anything wrong with that, but destination?,...... please.

Sometimes isn't there isn't any substitute for luck, optimism, and paying attention:
I am not going to bore you with a lot of hype and hoopla......but I should tell you that; I have never in 16 years of guiding, met a kid, that could fish like Brennan. He rose steelhead to surface flies, he played steelhead on small nymphs, more suited for spring creeks, than steelhead waters. He landed SEVERAL steelhead, on my 5 wt. rod, and our FLHS line and flies.

At one point, while the boy is fighting yet another turbo steelhead, I turned to Dave (who was just as thrilled) and asked, "Can Brennan appreciate what is going on, here?"
He just shook his head.

I guess for all those days, when the guide is barely getting it done......or I should say the fish & guide, are barely getting it done. There is a Brennan and the steelhead, day.
Guess that is why we call it "Fishing".

SRC are filtering in. Seen them all the way up to French Creek. One of Mike's boys released one at 21", which is a really big SRC. Dollies are still laying in the tailouts, waiting to move up into their natal tribs. October Caddis are hatching. Fall is on the corner. Must be September, already.

As I mentioned, I have been fishing all over the region. Mike has been focused on the Stilly, NF.
Waters are summer low. Thank goodness the nights are cooling now. Rains should be coming. Salmon aren't waiting for them. They are coming, now.

Here are some of our recommended flies:
Steelhead: Crystal Caddis & muddlers, Mrs. Black, G.R., low water Skunks, Our new Steelhead Royal Wulff, nymphs and small marabous
SRC: Hoppers, Stimulators, October Caddis, Breather patterns, Royal Wulff, Craneflies are happening, nymphs, Choronomids.
Dollies: Egg patterns, baitfish, leech patterns......yada yada
Tidewater fishes: Green/white & Pink/White Clousers (small), marabous, breathers, Incoming tides in the early mornings and late evenings. Marabou Clousers.

Flies & Lines: Be sure to check out our Online Pro-shop, www.streamsideflyshop.com. We will be adding more new patterns in the next days. Both the Yancy and the FLHS are selling very well. Thank you all for coming by. We are adding trick flies all the time! For those on our client list. The membership Password is now, operational.

Be sure to check out this week's Ask Dennis.

Summer Steelhead & Searun Cutthroat guide trips:
September is a fine time for both the Skykomish and Stilly systems. We will continue float trips and walk-n-wade. Happy to talk details.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead School is coming up!
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28 Our Flyfishing schools have become the most popular gig we do.
A flyfishing school dedicated to the pursuit of steelhead and SRC is one of my favorites:
Availability:
Sept.25 - 2 slots
Sept 27th - Full
Sept. 28th - 2 slots

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October. Washington's Blue Ribbon surface steelhead flyfishing. Its even better than it sounds.
Date availability:
Guide trips: 10-3, 4 or 5
Campouts:
Oct. 9-10 2 slots
Oct 11-12 2 slots
Oct 14-15 1 slot
Oct 16-17 Full
Oct 18-19 Full
The FLHS was designed and developed for the GR.

Jeff's Ponds. Check out or private pay for play. Seven lakes in 90 acres. Bookings start in later October.

Best of fishing.
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/25/02

How weird is that?
I finally get day off so I call my Dad, to go fishing. We both love to chase Searun Cutthroat so I made arrangements to fish a farmers property down in the tidewater. Tides were right. This can be a real mixed bag. Today is no different.

As we rowed our little pontoons into a pool, there were fish rolling sporadically.
"What do you think they are, Dennis?" Dad asked.
I watched what appeared to be oversized Searuns, roll and splash. Occasional large fish would surface.

"Well, looks like a mixed bag, but I don't think you want to hear, what they look like to me." I answered.

I pulled out one of my utility fly boxes, and brought a couple marabous. I dressed our FLHS, with 13' leaders to 3x, and tied on the flies. We positioned just above fish, fishing from shore. (I hate fishing from boats unless I have to). I am thinking to myself.......
"If I am right, this shouldn't take long. We greaselined the marabous into the fish. Third cast and my rod goes down. I play the fish from the reel and shortly, I have her swimming about my legs.
"You better come look, Dad." I said. "You aren't going to believe this".
Wallowing at my legs is a hen Humpy salmon, about 3 pounds. My first even year Stilly Humpy. Pretty weird, Huh?

We were just getting into the groove, when the line came tight in mid swing. No need to preset, I just swept the rod, into the fish. This time the surface exploded and some large bright fish, was into my backing, illimediately! Pop! the 3x parted at the 100 yard backing, mark......
Could have been a steelhead, Deer Creek fish will be passing through. Could have been a big bright Silver salmon........maybe even a fall Chinook. Whatever it was, it just kicked my patutty. The sun burned through, the fog lifted, tide had turned, it was over. Estuary fishing can be like that.

Mike has been fishing the Stilly North Fork. Says they landed a monster Dolly the other day, among the steelhead, if you can fish behind the Kings. You don't want to hook a King, they just take your rig, but they do lay around the largest steelhead. Fish small, and light. Hold the steelhead, and break the salmon, if you hook one. Fishing the surface, helps.

Report the slobs snagging the salmon. They hurt it for everyone......
SRC are filtering in. Seen them all the way up to French Creek. Dollies are laying in the tailouts. Life is good. Your six weight and a floating line, is all you really need. Cool nights will trigger the October Caddis.

I have been fishing all over. Sauk, Upper Skykomish, entire Stilly. Bill hooked a dandy Steelhead in the Skagit River..........Just depends on what and where you want to fish. Good time to be out.

Recommended flies:
Steelhead: Crystal Caddis & muddlers, Mrs. Black, G.R., low water Skunks, Our new Steelhead Royal Wolf, nymphs and small marabous

SRC: Hoppers, Stimulators, October Caddis, Breather patterns, Royal Wolf, Craneflies are just starting, nymphs, Choronomids.

Dollies: Egg patterns, baitfish, leech patterns......yada yada

Tidewater fishes: Green/white & Pink/White Clousers (small), marabous, breathers, Incoming tides in the early mornings and late evenings.

Flies & Lines: Be sure to check out our Online Pro-shop. Both the Yancy and the FLHS are selling very well. Thank you all for coming by. We are adding trick flies all the time! For those on our client list. The membership Password is now, operational.

More good questions in Ask Dennis.

Because you said so:
Mike and I see anglers every day. Most new anglers to steelhead and such, come for one reason. To get better. You don't have a lot of time. You don't want the pomp and circumstance. You want someone who will stand up and say......"Do this, and don't do that." You just want to know, you are fishing where the fish are, and fishing a tackle and technique, that will take fish. No Bull, just fish. This is what we do.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead School
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28 Our Flyfishing schools have become the most popular gig we do.
A flyfishing school dedicated to the pursuit of steelhead and SRC is one of my favorites:
Availability:
Sept.25 - 2 slots
Sept. 26th -3 slots
Sept 27th - Full
Sept. 28th - 2 slots

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October. Washington's Blue Ribbon surface steelhead flyfishing. Its even better than it sounds. Next week I will outline date availability.

Jeff's Ponds. Private pay for play. Seven lakes in 90 acres. Bookings start in later October.

Best of fishing.
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/18/02
School is out......again
Mike, Tim and I just finished another four days of schools on two rivers. Wednesday and Thursday were on the Upper Skykomish River. We were conducting our Surface Presentations class. I guess you could say this is our graduate course. Thursdays class was made up entirely of anglers who had taken other steelhead classes from us. I think the really cool part was, four of the six anglers all had the FLHS on their 5 & 6 wt. rods.

By the By: I asked Young to let me borrow his 6 wt. to do a casting demonstration......which happened to be the new Sage SP series. Geezz! That is a nice rod. The FLHS rocks on this rod. Kudo's Sage.

Cool class, found fish, Mt. Index backdrop is stunning. You can read about the class in Kevin's comments in Ask Dennis.

Friday and Saturday found us on the Stilly North Fork Stilly conducting our Sinktip/ Surface presentations class. We had anglers from as far away as Mexico City, and Texas. I think the funniest incident was Saturday. We had gone thru the Sinktiping presentation, and of course, the Yancy line wowed them, again.......we lectured and demonstrated downstream to our lunchtime pool. Either this water didn't inspire the boys, or they were that hungry, but everyone was kind of standing around waiting for Tim to finish the Caesar salad. I came rowing in with a couple students from a pool they had fished upstream.

I mentioned I was surprised no one was out fishing (this awesome pool can comfortably fish all six anglers.....it is that big). Somebody mumbles, "Are you sure there is fish in there?"
As if on cue, this large fish rolls, right out in front of the rafts.......and all six guys, grab their rods and bee line for the water. Pretty funny. Wonderful guys, we had a great time.

Skykomish River: Fish are getting into the upper watershed now. We are fishing smaller flies, longer leaders and fluorocarbon tippets. Small dark patterns, riffle hitched in the surface, when the light is off the water, is golden. Crystal Caddis and assorted Muddlers are good in the riffley heads when its bright out.

Stilly fishing continues to get it done. The happy bonus is we have seen SRC from tidewater, all the way to Oso, on the North Fork. Our beadhead Spider, Skunks, G.R., Steelhead Wulf, all find happy fish. Be sure to drop by our On-line Proshop for flies and lines.

Sauk & Skagit: Dollies, steelhead and of course the salmon are swimming through. I am scheduled to be back up here for a couple days this coming week, which way cool. Looking forward to that. We will be guiding on all four north sound rivers.

Flyfishing Schools:
Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28

Classes are doing really well. Still room in most. With the SRC coming in as well as they are, and a dandy year for the wild summer steelhead......I am pretty stoked. We will swap our oars for fins, and show you how to make your pontoon raft a SRC machine as well as wading the steelhead pools!

Grande Ronde Steelhead: Have you been watching the dam counts? Boys, the fish are coming. If you don't have plans to fish the GR this year, maybe you should read, The Grande Ronde and Mrs. Brown. This October river is a must.

Best of fishing to all,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/11/02

Summer is here, fall is around the corner

Mike and I continue our fishing on the local rivers. August 20 and 22nd for some reason are open for a guide trip .......if you are into that steelheading sort of thing. Speaking of which;
Stilly continues to drop. Not exactly a mystery where the steelhead are holding, they are in the holes and riffles. Interesting phenomena this year. Maybe its because we do more of it, maybe its because it is "showing them something different". Have raised more hatchery steelhead to surface presentations, than I have in years. If you haven't done that......give it a go. Surface fishing for steelhead, in the stories and articles section, covers it all. Dollies are in. Some lovely SRC are arriving. Water is clear, we do our best with long light leaders and small lightly dressed flies.

The Floating Line Head System (FLHS) continues to be a best seller. Yancy multi-tip is a close second, and will probably over take it, when the water turns cold. Crystal Caddis, GR, the Skunk series, along with Wulfs series and breather patterns, are finding fish. Better plan on doing some hiking if you want find some secluded water. Word is out on the Stilly.

Sauk and Skagit are both getting it done. Pretty floats, no pressure. Cop Car, woolly- Buggers, and egg sucking leaches top producers.

Skykomish River needs some rain. Fished the upper reaches the other day. Very fine float but better know how to row! Same flies and techniques as the Stilly

Neah Bay: Although there is a ton of fish on the ocean side, it just isn't happening..........yet inside the straights. Everything seems to be pushed back a couple weeks. Could use another good rain.

Flyfishing Schools:
We are always getting mucho questions (and comments) about our very popular flyfishing schools. If you want to get an anglers view, people who have actually taken the class. Read References and Endorsements. Full of testimonials. Thanks guys for taking the time.
Upper Skykomish Surface Steelhead Flyfishing School: August 14-15. . August 15 class is full but 14th has room. Classic waters. Contact ASAP, if interested.
North Fork Stilly School: Aug. 16 or 17 This is the same class that over booked in July. Covers steelhead, top to bottom. 8-17 is full, 16 has an opening.

Mikes' website is busier than even we anticipated. The two most asked questions are:
What is the wait time for a line? We have both the FLHS and Yancy in stock......as we speak) You should have your order within a week.
Can I keep my heads from my Rio (or Airoflow) multi-tip and just buy the Yancy line without the heads? Yup, sure can. Check out the Online Proshop. It will take you over to Mikes site.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28 (I promised to give availability this week, but we have some many pending, I think we will hold off). Very popular class, for which I am glad. (Personal Favorite)
Grande Ronde Steelhead: Mike and I will be spending the better part of October there. Oh well, life is tuff, but somebody has to do it.

If you are curious about what a guide thinks about a guides life, read this weeks'
Ask Dennis.

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/4/02

" Now that is something you won't see every day"
So Mike from Florida is out for a couple days. He decided to buy both the Yancy multi-tip and the Floating Line Head System. We arrived at the Stilly pool, to find the river continuing to drop. Thanks to an excellent snow pack, it is still running cool.

We were going to be covering some water, so I was pretty stoked about getting on downstream to some pools that had been very productive........but that turbulent head just had to be holding fish. Ok, I have a real weakness, it is hard for me to pass up holding water. Glad I didn't.
We parked our gear and snuck up to the head of this run. It was my original intent, to have him simply fish thru with the Yancy with little bruise (it's a fly) and move on but we had the day, why not the floater? We riffle hitched the Crystal Caddis on the FLHS , and I started him off with - "What ever happens, don't strike."

So he is dancing his caddis through the whitewater head, when this 8 pound hatchery steelhead leaps completely out the water by two feet, and crashed on top of his fly! John is so shocked by what just happened, he does the very the very thing he should do........nothing. The rod goes down, the drag is already set, I simply say "Lift the rod". The fish goes nuts, John goes nuts, and I start laughing. I have seen a lot of steelhead rises in my Ten Year, but I haven't seen the "fish over the fly" move since the early eighties with client fishing the Monitor Bridge pool, on the Wenatchee River.

Anyway, he lands the fish. I was absolutely stunned he did not pull the fly away from the fish. Most anglers strike out of reflex when they see the fish at the fly, especially a violent take.
We took a few pictures with John's digital, and waded back up into position. Practically in the very spot, a large shadow appears and rolls on the fly. John see's it, and strikes. Fish feels the hook and is gone. John didn't wait. I kidded him all day about hanging in there, with the missile launch fish, but takes it away, from the deliberate rise. Such is surface steelheading.
Oh, we fished that little run everyday throughout the rest of the week.......nothing. We found them, other places, but no more kamikaze steelhead, and not there. Guess that is why we call it fishing.

Mike and I continue our fishing on our north sound streams.
Stilly has fish throughout the drainage. I think the lower river gets less pressure, Deer Creek area, not withstanding. SRC are showing. Not big numbers yet, but saltwater projections look good. Try the estuary mouths on a high incoming tide, last two hours of
last light. Find some bait, and you are golden.

Went by the Sauk on my way upstream, the other day. Absolutely gorgeous sinktip water right now. Huge Dollies arriving now. A buddy landed a seven pound fish the other day, got to get over there........

Skykomish River is also dropping past low and clear. Fishing has dropped off in the lower river. Fish are in the upper river. SRC are showing to Sultan. I guess Reiter Ponds has a ton of hatchery fish.

The Skagit is finally coming down. Moved a steelhead and some fine Dollies in the middle river. Thats the problem, too many places to fish.

Flyfishing Schools:
Upper Skykomish Surface Steelhead Flyfishing School: August 14-15. These are two, single day, surface steelhead flyfishing schools, in the upper South Fork Skykomish River. August 15 class is full but 14th still has two slots.

North Fork Stilly School: Aug. 16 or 17 This is the same class that over booked in July. Covers steelhead, top to bottom. 8-17 is full, 16 has two openings.

Mike has packed more good stuff in Ask Dennis, this week. Check it out.
Oh, I am asked if I forward all my e mail over the Ask Dennis. Heaven's no! I get tons of write. But that is good. If I am not fishing, I enjoy talking about it.

You got to come over and see Mikes' website. Chris and Mike have done a marvelous job. Streamsideflyshop.com is our virtual Pro-Shop. He is selling the Yancy multi-tip and FLHS, as fast as we can make them. (Our trick flies, too)

Ultimate compliment. Seems like when one of the boys buys either line, they like it so much, they come back to by the other! Thanks guys.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28 (I will give the update availability, next week)
This is one of my personal favorite fisheries, these one day combination classes are always popular. Anglers will learn cross-over techniques that are effective for not only Searun Cutthroat of the lower North Fork, but the totally hot Deer Creek summer steelhead. Trick lines, flies, reading water, wonderful way to learn the Stilly summer/fall fishery. Looks like another fine school. Bookings are doing very well........again.

Grande Ronde Steelhead: Is the Grande Ronde. Looks like another fine October. Dam counts are clicking, we are stoked. (space limited, date availability soon)
A large Chinook blasting his way up through an evening riffle, reminded me of an experience I witnessed between and King and an water skiing eagle. Read "Ride em Cowboy".
Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/28/02
" Here today, gone tomorrow"

"Dennis - I haven't had the pleasure of being one of your customers, but am a regular visitor to your website. I especially enjoy Searun Cutthroat fishing. I usually make a trip or two in the Fall to the Silvana area to fish reverse spiders and dry flies. I have seen a lot of debate on other
websites about how to tie the Cop Car, and nobody agrees. Just to have fun, I tied a fly that looks like a real cop car. I have attached a photo, and would be more than happy to send the real fly if you want it. I could also post it on one of the fly archives to further build on the legend of this
fly.
I hope you have an enjoyable season, and hope to book a trip with you
someday. Thank you for sharing so much of your knowledge with me and other
enthusiasts. Hope you get a good laugh out of the photo.

Mike B."

Mike and I continue our fishing on our north sound streams.
Stilly is moving into summer time low. Wild summer natives are showing, Fortson is plugged with steelhead, salmon and fishers, not necessarily in that order. Plenty is water thoughout the drainage. Even the Skagit flows appear to slowing up a bit. SRC are playing the tides now. Dollies are moving, steelhead are in. Life is good.

Skykomish River is also dropping past low and clear. Fishing has dropped off in the lower river. SRC are showing to Sultan. I guess Reiter Ponds has a ton of hatchery fish. We are still finding fish on bubble heads, riffle hitched, and wet flies, all in the surface. G.R. and the Crystal Caddis are our two top producers.......probably because we fish them the most. Both the Yancy and the Floating line Head System (FLHS) are selling really well. They are the only steelhead lines Mike and I use.

The Skagit is finally coming down, about time! I have booked couple days this week for this water. Might want to check the Sauk above the Suiattle River. Some monster Dollies in there.

Flyfishing Schools:
Upper Skykomish Surface Steelhead Flyfishing School: August 14-15. We are now offering two, single day, surface steelhead flyfishing schools, in the upper South Fork Skykomish River. August 15 had a cancellation 14th has two slots. Steelhead on surface flies? Oh Yeah.....

North Fork Stilly School: Aug. 16 or 17 This is the same class that over booked in July. Covers steelhead, top to bottom. 8-17 is full, 16 has two openings.

Yakima River Trout School "Top to Bottom" featuring Johnny Boitano. Sept. 18, 19, 20, or 21
Come join us for a day on the Yak. There isn't anybody who wouldn't like to get better. From dead drifting surface flies to nymphs, from swinging buggers & baitfish patterns along the bottom to soft hackles and emergers in the surface film....this class has it all, to make you a better streamside flyfisher. Ask for availability.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28
This is one of my personal favorite fisheries, these one day combination classes are always popular. Anglers will learn cross-over techniques that are effective for not only Searun Cutthroat of the lower North Fork, but the totally hot Deer Creek summer steelhead. Trick lines, flies, reading water, wonderful way to learn the Stilly summer/fall fishery. Looks like another fine school. Bookings are doing very well........again.

Mike has packed more good stuff in Ask Dennis, this week.

Grande Ronde Steelhead: A few guide trips and fewer campout slots still available. I spend my whole year waiting for this one. Way too much fun.
A guide want-a-be I met on the river the other day, reminded me of a story I wrote about a fishing guide I used to know. Read Guides are professional Liars. It's funny.
Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/21/02....

" Just like in the movies"

Mike and I continue to flit back and forth between the Stilly and the Skykomish Rivers. The Skagit is being flushed with snow water, and no one is going to try to figure out dam fluctuations.......far be it, they might actually post a water release schedule.

Anyway, The Stilly North Fork below Boulder Creek is being effected by the slide, and Hazel slide makes sure the water is low visibility......but the fish are there. Above Boulder the waters are gin clear and the fishing would resemble New Zealand trout hunting. smaller, sparser, longer & lighter tippets, the fish have wised up. I fish the colored waters down below, Deer Creek.
The Sky river levels are coming down. Water is also very clear, so we have been taking half our fish in the surface, already. Green butt skunk, Our own guide flies, G.R. and Crystal Caddis, have been doing the damage, riffle hitched or on the open loop. Woolly Buggers and marabous in soft colors take fish down below. We fish our FLHS in the surface and the Yancey multi-tip line system along the bottom. Works awesome. If you are interested in these trick lines and flies, check out Mikes website at www.streamsideflyshop.com

We have finished up our Stilly Schools........for now. August 16th has a couple openings, August 17th is full. These popular classes take us through sinktip presentations in the morning, (showing off the Yancy multi-tip, of course) and floating line surface fishing in the afternoon (FLHS).

Still marvel over the stigma about fishing summer steelhead with bigger trout rods. I have come to the conclusion, that those who criticize, are simply those who have never done it.

Steelhead aren't like most fish. Typically, you will fish all day to raise one to three fish. That is a lot of casting. When it happens, I want to be in a Porsche, not a Mack truck You don't need to bull dog a steelhead to shore, because as long as you can apply pressure, he will fight violently, and thus, tire himself. A great contrast is a fish like, Skagit chum salmon. When we fish these bad boys, we know we expect to hook multiple large fish, and probably spend more time fighting fish than casting to them. These, we fish on a 9 wt. You don't fish Yakima trout on a 7wt. when your 3 wt. is getting it done, do you? Flylines catch fish....but good reels land them. You want to apply more pressure on a steelhead? Leave your double pawl at home, and get a reel with a solid drag system.

Upper Skykomish Surface Steelhead Flyfishing School: August 14-15. We are now offering two, single day, surface steelhead flyfishing schools, in the upper South Fork Skykomish River. August 15 is full, August 14 soon will be. It is as good as it sounds.

Ask Dennis has more good stuff this week. Be sure to watch next week, where the Cop Car, is exposed.....sort of.

Yakima River Trout School "Top to Bottom" featuring Johnny Boitano. Sept. 18, 19, 20, or 21
Come join us for a day on the Yak. There isn't anybody who wouldn't like to get better. From dead drifting surface flies to nymphs, from swinging buggers & baitfish patterns along the bottom to soft hackles and emergers in the surface film....this class has it all, to make you a better streamside flyfisher. Ask for availability..

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28
This is one of my personal favorite fisheries, these one day combination classes are always popular. Anglers will learn cross-over techniques that are effective for not only Searun Cutthroat of the lower North Fork, but the totally hot Deer Creek summer steelhead. Trick lines, flies, reading water, wonderful way to learn the Stilly summer/fall fishery. Looks like another fine school a brewing. Classes are filling.

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/14/02
" Having way to much fun"

We are like a kid in a candy store. It has been twenty years since I have been able to go
"Gee, every river has fish, where should we go tomorrow?" The North Sound streams continue to rock. Skagit, Stilly......my gosh the Stilly, the Skykomish, all have steelhead spread through out their entire systems.

Sounds like guide talk: Better summer fishing I have seen in many years. Mike has been doing well on both the upper and lower Stilly, North Fork. I have been enjoying the Skagit and Sky, with a little Stilly sprinkled in. Speaking of Stilly.
We are in the middle of our Stilly Schools as we speak. We are going through sinktip presentations in the morning, (showing off the Yancy multi-tip, of course) and floating line surface fishing in the afternoon......and we haul out the FLHS.

How did we get here? If someone would have told me a couple years ago, we would design flylines that we hands down prefer over the most popular lines on the market, I would have said you are crazy! Now, we have steelhead students bring out X brand and cast both.......just so the class can see the difference! Got to admit, even marvels me. Oh Well.

Anyway, the classes are going very well. It is just hard to fit all the sinktip and the floating line lecture material in a single day. The lovely North Fork canyon pools, help. We have seen steelhead every day. It is a tough job sometimes. Mike and I teach so many schools, anymore.....I think we are actually getting good at it. Everyone seems to enjoy it. If you would like to see comments from anglers who have taken these trips, check out References and Endorsements. You can even drop a line to someone.

For all those who have come out and participated, Mike and I say "Thank you", we hope you come away a better angler.

By popular demand: We are adding two more Stilly Schools, August 16 & 17. Same school, same waters......news dates. These are individual days again. These classes are already filling. What is all the fuss? They are only steelhead........Yeah!

Upper Skykomish Surface Steelhead Flyfishing School: August 14-15. We have rearranged our calendar to include two days of surface steelhead flyfishing school, in the reverently fished, upper South Fork Skykomish River. This is a total floating line presentation school. Wow, this school went quick! (Space limited)

Ask Dennis has become one of the most popular pages on our site, thank you for making it so.

More Schools?

Yakima River Trout School "Top to Bottom" featuring Johnny Boitano. Sept. 18, 19, 20, or 21
From dead drifting surface flies to nymphs, from swinging buggers & baitfish patterns along the bottom to soft hackles and emergers in the surface film....this class has it all, to make you a better streamside flyfisher. Booking now.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28
And the hits just keep on coming: We found our first SRC the other day. This is one of my personal favorite fisheries, these one day combination classes are always popular. Anglers will learn cross-over techniques that are effective for not only Searun Cutthroat of the lower North Fork, but the totally hot Deer Creek summer steelhead. Trick lines, flies, reading water, wonderful way to learn the Stilly summer/fall fishery.

Ask about our new half day summer steelheading.......July - September

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/7/02

“ If I say something, I am going to jinx myself”
Almost scary........Right now, we have brought steelhead to the fly, seven trips in a row!
Not so bad when you figure half the anglers, we had out were complete rookies. Enough
back slapping........the fishing is good.

Lines that sell themselves: So I have Dan from Colorado, and Ted from Camano Island, on the Sky the other day. Really nice guys We were going to fish the Skagit, but it hadn’t come down from the last big rain........and the Sky was in......and we had been finding fish on the here, so.......
We are pool side, Ted is the novice, so he fished first. We had just gone through the preliminaries of casting the Yancy Line (my gear), steelhead presentation as Ted begins fishing, when this steelhead just creams the fly! Anyway, the fish wins but Ted (and I) are stoked, as he has already tagged a nice fish, he is ready to head off to the next frontier. We put away the 8 wt., and bring out the 5 wt. and the (FLHS). Just like in the movies: Ted catches on to the floating head system in a nanosecond, and is punching out some lovely line in no time.

The Sky has dropped dramatically in the last couple days, coupled with 8 feet is visibility, and a preponderance of wild steelhead in a last couple weeks. I put on our favorite, light off the water fly. A Grand Ronde steelhead bug, we simply call “G.R.” I am thinking, “He actually has a real shot here.......” As he fishes his way downstream to the sweet spot of the tailout, a steelhead
comes up and all but takes the rod, right out of his hand! Just as fast, GR comes flying back over
Ted’s head. He forgot the part about letting a surface steelhead, head to the bottom.....Oh well.

Summer steelheading:
Anyway, we will fish the lower Sky, until the flows drop below 4000 cfs, at which time,we will fish the upper river, and as the flows go to summer time low, we will head into the upper forks. July 23 and 26 are available. Stilly: The North Fork, is one I haven’t spent much time on. Too bad, my
fishing buddies are having very good success, from Deer Creek, all the way up to Fortson. Why
haven’t I been there? Guide rule # 3. “Never leave fish to find fish”. I have been concentrating on
the lower gradient Skykomish and Skagit rivers, which I think fish better with sinktips when the rivers are running high with runoff, than the Stilly......... That is about to change.

The Skagit remains our get away stream. You don’t want to fish here anyway. Poor fishing and the scenery sucks. The solitude borders on loneliness. Yeah, best not waste your time, here........Not!

Stilly Summer Steelhead School: Booked for some time, never have I had to turn away so many anglers. Schools start next week......way too much fun. News flash! two late cancellations for July 15th, contact ASAP, if interested.

Happy news: We are adding two more Stilly Schools, August 16 & 17. Same school, same
waters......new dates. These are individual days again. We will take the first six, each day, when the classes are full......that’s it.

Upper Skykomish Surface Steelhead Flyfishing School: August 14-15. We have rearranged our calendar to include two days of surface steelhead flyfishing school, in the reverently fished, upper South Fork Skykomish River. This is a total floating line presentation school. Learn the water, learn the techniques & flies. The word is out......a killer fishery, in a stunning backdrop, and best dang steelhead school.....

Don’t forget to stop by Ask Dennis, good topics this week.......thanks for your input.

Watch for two more flyfishing schools:

Yakima River Trout School “Top to Bottom” featuring Johnny Boitano.
Sept. 18, 19, 20, or 21
From dead drifting surface flies to nymphs, from swinging buggers & sculpin patterns along the bottom to soft hackles and emergers in the surface film....this class has it all, to make you a better streamside flyfisher. Johnny has it wired.
By the way, You can stop wondering....Johnny works for us, now. Thrilled to have him. Ask for him, specifically, when booking your trip.

Searun Cutthroat & Deer Creek Summer Steelhead
Sept. 25, 26, 27, or 28
Back by popular demand, these one day combination classes were a real hit. Anglers will
learn cross-over techniques that are effective for not only Searun Cutthroat of the lower North Fork, but the totally hot Deer Creek summer steelhead. Trick lines, flies, reading water, wonderful way to learn the Stilly summer/fall fishery.

And you thought we were not going to have any fun......

Best of fishing,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/30/02
" The feeling that never goes away"

Sometimes I think the greatest thing about my job is sharing the outdoors with people, who can appreciate it, with me. They come because they want to be there......
I think the second greatest thing about my job, is watching the joy of an angler with his first fly-caught steelhead.
Brian, Todd and I found ourselves staring at the river. Even though the day was dark and fishy, the hot summer days proceeding......produced a river level of 13000 cfs. Thats 3000 cubic feet per second, higher than I like.......Water visibility was around 2-3 feet.
I gave them the options: