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: Abort, 1/2 day, or fish the full day.
Brian asked me what I was going to do if they aborted......I said I would probably put the boat in and fish. He looked at Todd and said, "That's it, we are fishing!"
We went fishing. At this water height, there aren't many classic pools, more like "edges".
"That is why we call it fishing"
We took a few minutes and arranged rods, leaders.....yada yada. I was happy to note Brian had purchased a Yancy line since the Skagit steelhead school back in February. Todd would fish one of my rods. Nothing like having confidence in equipment.
So Brian wades out, gets into position, and begins to fish. Second cast the rod goes down. Fish on.....and that fast......fish off. It all happened so quickly, I don't think any of us really had time to assimilate the event. I knew it was a lost opportunity, so I tried to sound like it happened every day.......not Brian's once in a life time. I suggested he change up his fly, to show the fish (that one was not coming back) something different, and go again.
I moved Todd down to the top holding water of the pool, lest some nimrod decides to plop in, right in the best spot, and move a fish, out of the best water......before we can work our way downstream, to it.
Todd and I no more position ourselves. We hear a holler......and Brians line is somewhere out in the mid river.
I mumble smiling, "No way....."
Todd reels up and we hoof it back to the top of the run. Sure enough, Brian is in perfect position, for fighting this steelhead......but someone forgot to tell the fish.....he is all over the place.
Any steelheader will tell you. Some steelhead are bloody hot, some bloody not. I couldn't hardly imagine a better steelhead, for a first time fly-catcher. After the epic battle, this drop dead gorgeous 9 lbs. summer steelhead, comes to hand.......(only my camera was left at the truck), Brian will send me the shot, so you know I wasn't even lying.
Brian just beamed, all day. Pretty cool.
The picture you see in the caption, is me and George. He catches lots of fish, I caught this one......it is a wild summer fish, so until Brian sends his hero shot.....here you go.

More mumblings: All our rivers shot out of site, with the heavy rains, coupled with the even heavier snow pack, runoff. Things are coming back, though Look for more fresh steelhead in all our north sound rivers. Life is good.

I don't think fly color really matters right now. We have been catching fish on; black, blue, orange/ red......just about everything. Do need to understand, high water pools.
With the wild steelhead showing already.......my 5 wt. and FLHS is locked and loaded. Any who think fishing the smaller rods for steelhead is not good conservation, should read my article on "Playing and Landing Steelhead" (Stories and Articles section). Anyway, we are waiting for the waters to drop and warm, for good surface steelheading.

Stilly Steelhead Schools are all full,..... again. One of my past students put it well.
He says, "I know why your schools are so popular, Dennis.......They work." I think Brian would agree. If you didn't get a school itinerary, by email....give me a shout.
Also, If you didn't get in one of the classes, the instructional guide day, is an option.

Two new Schools:
We are looking at two very hot fisheries to school: Searun Cutthroat "Tidewater to Freshwater" and Yakima River fall trout "Top to bottom" featuring Johnny B. Figure Mid to later September.....will keep you posted.

Ask Dennis: WDFW and steelhead groups are pushing for the Grandy Creek Steelhead
enhancement project. I explain the reasons I believe it is a bad idea.
Next week in Ask Dennis, I will share Jeff's experience in Alaska with Tidewater Kings, the Yancy line system, and Cop Car.

Jeff's Ponds is all finished for the summer. We won't open this 90 acre facility again until the fall cool weather comes. Keep you posted.

Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 Space limited. Looks to be another fine year.

Best of fishing ,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/23/02
"Now that's what I am talking about"

Skykomish River
The waters have receded (a little) so we are to fishing as usual. Mike is on the Skykomish, as we speak. Fishing is good from Highbridge down to Monroe. High water pools are the rule. Sinktipping is the gig, until the snow water flushes......which will be, hmmm.....in about a month. Blues, blacks, and red/orange marabous are all working.
Skagit River is our "Get Away" river. It doesn't get the steelhead plant of the Skykomish or the Stilly NF.........but what a lovely place to hang out......and it will surprise you, with its fish. Enough said. Can you spell Cop Car?

Jeff's Ponds is all booked as we wind it down for the summer heat. Quite pleased how well these lakes have fished, but we won't open the facility again until the fall cool weather comes. Keep you posted.

Stillaguamish Steelhead Schools: July 12, 13, 14, 15
Watch for your Stilly School itinerary out this week, if you haven't received one......give me a holler. We will certainly get a cancellation or two (always do), so it never hurts to inquire. Several have chosen to put together their own school day.......that's cool, summer dates are getting limited though.

Many good questions in Ask Dennis again this week......I also wrote an editorial on why the Grandy Creek Steelhead Enhancement Proposal is such a bad idea.....Now if Mikey can stop fishing long enough, to get it up on site......(He runs Ask Dennis)

Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 Classes are getting it done. Can't wait to unleash our Neah Bay Digger super fast sinking flyline.....awesome. Watch for itineraries.

Steelhead are in the rivers, Searun Cutthroat are in the estuaries, Dollies are everywhere.......
Bottom Line: If you ain't fishing.......you ain't fishing.

Best of fishing ,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6-16-02
" Here and There"

The hot weather has really cut loose the snow pack. Muchos water in the streams. The Stilly North Fork is still fishing well. There seems to be some confusion amongst our anglers. Where it is true, we did not get our hatchery summer 2 salts, for last year....... things are all back on line, and the bottom line is: The North Fork has hatchery steelhead. Look for low gradient pools, and soft water edges above Deer Creek , for your best action. Winter sink tips and your faster heads to get down, is still the way to go. I don't think color really matters.......just bring it in "Low and Slow".
Skagit River is where we got chased off to........ when the Skykomish shot up and out. The Suiattle hasn't kicked in quiet yet, but the Sauk is pushing tons of water (read river levels), and I don't anticipate it coming down for weeks. Skagit, summer hatchery fish, with some late winter natives, are still showing. Upstream Dollies flat get it done.....wonderful fishery with a little solitude. The Picket range in the foothills of the North Cascades is just stunning. Bacon Creek clear down to the confluence of the Sauk is my first choice. All marabous including Cop Car are working. Caution: Those monster Skagit Chinook will eat Cop Car......great way to loose a fly.
The Skykomish is "out" (unfishable) as we speak. Look for very good fishing from High Bridge down to Monroe when the cool weather finally drops the river back down. You can fish it comfortable at 10,000 cfs........but fishes best below 8,000.
Jeff's Ponds continues to click. This weeks photo is Blake and his lovely ten # hen taken on a floating line. Mayflies, Caddis, Damsels, and Water Boatman are still the order of the day..We are fishing up to six different lakes each day, on this 90 acre property.
Stillaguamish Steelhead: July 12, 13, 14, 15
I promised you a rundown on the availability for this very popular steelhead school. Watch for your Stilly School itinerary out this week.
Friday full
Saturday 2 slots
Sunday 1 slot
Monday Full
We are also getting inquiries about anglers putting together their own group, as a school day. You bet, we have several booked already this summer. Ask for details....
As I have mentioned, we will focus in this class on floating line presentations......but will include a sinktip review. We will cover Skating, riffle hitching, as well as the wet fly open loop. Come see why we are so high on the Floating Line Head System, for surface steelhead. Many of our Grande Ronde bound anglers are taking this class......great primer.
Don't forget to check out Ask Dennis for frequently asked questions. Tons of great questions this week........
Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 Classes are now filling as we speak. I will keep you posted in the next week or two, on availability. When I get a minute......I will write the casting presentation, portion of the article; Neah Bay.
I am often asked, of all the 40 articles and stories I have written on site, which is my personal favorite? I would have to say the story of "Charlie"....... He was kind of my mentor.
Best of fishing ,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/09/02
" I pretty much knew that"

The rivers are running at full runoff right now. The Stilly North Fork in the upper river, is fishing well.....and it has fish. Fish your winter sink tips and your faster heads to get down. Blue/purple marabou works well with the light off the water.

Skagit River is quietly getting it done. The Suiattle hasn't kicked in quiet yet. Good mix of summer hatchery fish, with late winter natives still finishing up. Bacon Creek clear down to Grandy Creek is worth the shot. All marabous including Cop Car are working. Fish above the Sauk when Suiattle silt cuts loose

Sky is high but consistent: Chris landed a gorgeous 18 # summer male the other day. These 3 salt fish aren't the best biters......but they definitely one of the hottest fish that swim the river, taken right out of saltwater. Highbridge down to Lewis Street is getting it done.

Jeff's Ponds is happening. Blake ended up with the top fish of the week with a lovely ten # hen taken on a floating line. Mayflies, Caddis, Damsels, and Water Boatman. Fishing varies from lake to lake (we are fishing up to six different lakes on this 90 acre property) but the over all is very good.

Skykomish Steelhead Schools: Schools finished up well. Dave e mailed me, the day after his class and told me of his success the very next day on the Stilly.......couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Anyway, thanks to all who participated.......Mike and I enjoyed having you.
Summer Chosen: Mike, Yancey, and I will be headed over to our Summer Chosen River, to fish for the week. I will be out of town......but promise to get right back to your e mails as soon as I get back.

Stillaguamish Steelhead: July 12, 13, 14, 15
This is our 5th year for this popular class. Next week I will give you the run down on availability. With both hatchery and wild steelhead showing already.....I am kind of stoked. We will have a focus in this class on floating line presentations......but will include a sinktip review. We will cover Skating, riffle hitching, as well as the wet fly open loop. Come see why we are so high on the Floating Line Head System, for surface steelhead. Many of our Grande Ronde bound anglers are taking this class......great primer.

Don't forget to check in Ask Dennis for frequently asked questions.

Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 is around the corner. If we have even a sampling of the Coho we had last year, this will be another banner year. I will outline space availability in the next week or two, in this fast growing ocean waters fishery. Read www.flyfishsteelhead.com > Stories & Articles > Neah Bay. We are now selling our hottest new shooting line. The Neah Bay "Digger". This fast loading, fast sinking, head system, is developed specifically for flyfishing the Neah Bay rips.. (along with our trick Coho flies).....we will have it available in 8-9 wt. models, at our schools.......

Do we even dare start talking about Searun Cutthroat? If you are planing your BC lakes trips......read Mouth to Mouth Combat.....or The Fishing Dog. Enjoy your week.

Best of fishing ,
D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/02/02

" An otherwise perfect plan"

My wife and I spent a few days this last week, in Idaho. I had all kinds of visions of lovely streams, teeming with large, innocent trout. Between a heavy snow pack, and warm wet weather, all my favorite haunts, went downstream (and over the banks).......
Oh well, my poor wife always deals with the fact that I am gone for about half the year.......we had fun.

Jeff's Ponds are in full swing. Bugs are pretty much doing. Mayflies, Caddis, Damsels, and Water Boatman. Fishing is good.

Skykomish Steelhead Schools: School is now in session. Mike and I are conducting our fourth annual Skykomish Steelhead Schools. Water is very high but dropping. Course covers both sinktip techniques (Yancey multi-tips) and our Floating line head system. One of the boys brought a Rio line system......so we let the guys cast it, and then ours. Sorry, no comparison. (See Ask Dennis) Anyway, it is fun to be back on the Sky and really fun to be back out steelhead fishing. There are fish around......looks like this summer has the makings of a fine summer run season.

Stillaguamish Steelhead: July 12, 13, 14, 15
Good buddy Tim, stopped by on the way home from the Stilly. Said he hooked two bright summer fish. Stilly water is dropping, too. Yeah!! We will have a focus in this class on floating line presentations......but will include a sinktip review. We will cover Skating, riffle hitching, as well as the wet fly open loop. Come see why we are so high on the Floating Line Head System, for surface steelhead.

Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 is coming up. I will outline space availability in the next week or two, in this fast growing ocean waters fishery. Read www.flyfishsteelhead.com > Stories & Articles > Neah Bay. We are now selling our hottest new shooting line. The Neah Bay "Digger". This fast loading, fast sinking, head system, is developed specifically for flyfishing the Neah Bay rips.. (along with our trick Coho flies).....we will have it available in 8-9 wt. models, at our schools.......

Summer Steelhead are us: As I have mentioned, we are fishing summer steelhead in several regions this summer, fishing both the Stilly and the Sky, along with some Saltwater/freshwater combo trips out on the Olympic Peninsula. North Fork Strategies is a good read.

Best of fishing ,
D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information

5/19/02

"Blown Away"
High winds and high waters, knocked us not only off the Yakima River, but aborted our week's fishing, in the Quality Lakes.......Bummer. We retreated back to Jeff's Ponds and took it out on our private lakes rainbows, for the rest of the week. Mayfly; duns, cripples, and emergers got attention. A small black caddis, emerging pupa......did I mention the damsels or the water boatman? Anyway, lakes are wind protected......and the fishing was good.

Skykomish Steelhead Schools: June 1-3 Mike and I will demonstrate both sinktip techniques (Yancey multi-tips) and our Floating line head system. We should have both lines for demonstration. Again, We will cover sinktip fishing (read Stories & Articles > Flylines catch fish) in the morning, and surface presentations in the afternoon (Surface presentations For Steelhead)......better plan on a big day.
Stillaguamish Steelhead: July 12, 13, 14, 15
More attention on our Stilly class, as our streams will open, June I. Yeah!! We will have a focus in this class on floating line presentations......but will include a sinktip review Preparing for one of our Grande Ronde outings? We will cover Skating, riffle hitching, as well as the wet fly open loop. G.R. and Crystal Caddis are just two of our client flies we will be showing off. Come see why the Floating Line Head System blows away the other line systems so highly touted.

Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 Many anglers are just beginning to take advantage of this totally under utilized saltwater fishery. (Neah Bay is a great how-to article primer) Space limited class..... We are now selling our hottest new shooting line. The Neah Bay "Digger". This fast loading, fast sinking, head system, is developed specifically for flyfishing the Neah Bay rips..(I think you are really going to like this one).....we will have it available in 8-9 wt. models, at our schools.......

Summer Steelhead are us: We have broken up our summer, fishing both the Stilly and the Sky, along with some Saltwater/freshwater combo trips out on the Olympic Peninsula. We have guide trips, schools, and riverside over-niters. Probably best if you inquire specifically for details, happy to help. The Cranky Client is a fun read, about an episode in my first year as a North Fork Stilly, flyfishing guide.....

Best of fishing thru the summer,
D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information

5/19/02

"Life is good"

Trout chasing continues: Seems like we have two lives going on right now......west side on our private waters, and east side between the Quality lakes and Yakima River.

Jeff's' Ponds: Mayflies and Caddis are the gig. No monsters this week but did see some very nice rainbows. Floating line show. Because we are asked: Next available bookings are after June 12th.

Speaking of June 12th, Our summer steelhead, Chosen River has had a cancellation for June 12. Floating lines and Eastern Washington wild steelhead.

Yakima Rainbows: Watch those river levels......much is reported daily on the Yak, but it is fishing well. Caddis, BWO, and even some PMD's....(Gee, are we sounding like the military?) The Quality Lakes/ Yakima River outings are working.....cool. Only 45 minutes a part.

Quality Lakes: Mayflies, Choronomids, and some damsels moving.......watch for masking hatches, trickier than you might think. Some lovely fish for the efforts, though. Read Hansville Jims story. [Sandy, I will send jims letter...just cut and paste it in].

Skykomish Steelhead Schools: Locked and loaded. Seems like every year we do more and more of our steelhead schools. Humbled by their popularity...... We will demonstrate both sinktip techniques (Yancey multi-tips) and our Floating line head system. We will have both lines for demo and sell......let me know if you are thinking about buying one. We will cover sinktiping in the morning, and surface presentations in the afternoon......better plan on a big day.

Late cancellation on June 1.
June 2 - full
June 3 - full?

Stillaguamish Steelhead: July 12, 13, 14, 15*
Focus in this class is floating line presentations......but we do an hour long sinktip review in the morning. This is a very popular class *15th is already full. Wonderful primer for those preparing for one of our Grande Ronde outings. G.R. and Crystal Caddis are two of our client flies we will be showing off. Again, the FLHS, will be available for demonstration, and sale......

Neah Bay Flyfishing Schools: Aug. 1,2,3,4 Last but not least is our Ocean adventures. Without sounding like more walking advertisement.......Check out the Neah Bay page from either the Flyfishing School Page or directly from the Home page at www.flyfishsteelhead.com

Getting many inquiries about our fast loading, fast sinking, head system, for flyfishing the Neah Bay rips.......this line is the best I have seen.....we will have it available in 8-9 wt. models, at our schools.......If our Coho show anything like they did last year........
Neah Bay Schools are booking as we speak. Dent your fun meter.

Best of fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

5/12/02

First of the week found us on our private lakes fishery. Beadhead, flashback Pheasant tail
nymphs were the ticket. Floating line show. Fishing was excellent. Next we moved over to the Yakima, and spent one of those perfect days, fishing with Johnny Boitano, down in the Canyon. Water was September low, and it allowed us to wade fish which I really like. We caught fish on everything.......seriously. I will fish surface flies whenever possible (Gee, where have you heard that?) so I started with attractor/flashback nymph combos, Johnny and Mike fished with double nymphs under a float......er, indicator. High light of the day was the BWO hatch around 1 PM
that lasted about an hour.......really cool. We started seeing “What else they would hit”, I even caught a fish on about the second cast with a streamer......then I took it off. I enjoy surface stuff.
Just a perfect day.

Went off to the Quality Lakes and fish Friday and Saturday for our school. Students always marvel how big, strong and educated these fish can be! I was a little disappointed in that the May fly hatch kind of sputtered........but it was a doctorate in Choronomid fishing. Mike and I spent day 1 with our 2 & 3 weight rods......Yeow! Handled some really nice fish......broke in some really nice fish! Weather was good.......anglers were really impressed with the lakes (always are). Thanks to all that came....... Life is good.

More classes in May 23-25 weekend. (www.flyfishsteelhead.com has details) Next week will be more of the same.......Many anglers are enjoying the One day on the Yakima River, next day on the Quality lakes guided combo. This is so cool....... These waters are only 45 minutes a part.

By the time May finishes, I will be itching to get back on the steelhead streams, again. The Skykomish Steelhead Schools have a couple slots.......if you looking for that big fish, this summer. June 2 has an opening

Our Olympic Peninsula Saltwater Coho/ Summer Steelhead river fishing combo’s are getting a lot of attention........I will explain that gig, next week.

The Fishing Dog and Mouth to Mouth Combat, are two funny stories, about flyfishing the Canadian lakes. Look in the Stories and Articles section at www.flyfishsteelhead.com

Have way too much fun,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

5/5/02

"Coming & Going"

Finished up the Sauk / Skagit Catch & Release. More fish are coming now. Thank you Mr. Castle for allowing us an opportunity to fish. Sure, we had our tuff days, and there were times it seemed we were All out there.....but hey, sometimes it is the bad days that make us appreciate the good ones. We were fishing, and we did find some big fish, memories. Maybe next year, we can open up more native release waters.......it took all of us out there to demonstrate, we are not just an after-thought fishery. Kudo's to all that worked so hard to make it happen. Remember, 90% of what happens in steelhead management is politics.....glad to see those who view us, "as helping". We are the future.

With more new snow in the mountains......no one can accuse us of having a drought this year. Reservoirs are full. We are back.

Speaking of back......I floated the North Fork Stilly from Fortson down to Whitman Bridge, the other day. Winter floods were not kind. You are going to see a lot of changes in the stream corridor. It is going to take a while before this snow water, allows the flows to recede to summer levels. Last year it came a month early......this year I expect it will be at least a month late. Pray the snow pack comes off slowly.

In Ask Dennis, I am asked where would I look to find early steelhead. I would fish the hatchery waters around Fortson, first.....seems like every year, the hatchery steelhead shoot on up to their imprinting waters, faster than the year before. With the volume of water the fish will get, to help travel.......they will jet. The summer wilds will coming later, when the water drops and warms.....this is a good time to fish below Deer Creek.....of course, any time the water is clear enough to fish, its a good time to fish below Deer Creek. My favorite water in early June is the Skykomish.

I get asked all the time, if the spawning escapement is so poor......why are we catching so many dark wild winter steelhead in the Sky and Stilly, when it opens in June? When management has killed off the early portion the runs, year after year........nature responds by producing later fish. The other explanation of course is perhaps, the steelhead population wasn't as small as hoped......I mean "projected."

Anyway, I look for good summer steelhead returns in both hatchery and wild, for both the Stilly and the Skykomish Rivers. For you North Fork floaters......be careful! As I mentioned, there has been many river channel changes, and with the flows up.....you better be good on your sticks.

Quality Lakes Flyfishing Schools: May 10-12 23-25

Our early Eastside guide trips were hampered in the unseasonable weather. We are hoping for good fishery this weekend. Everything is locked and loaded......if you haven't received your itinerary, let me know! May 10 has an opening as we speak.....May 23 has 2.

Skykomish Steelhead School: June 1-June 4

This is our fourth year of running these Summer/Winter steelhead schools. Very popular. These are our openings.
June 1- full
June 2 - 2 slots
June 3 - 2 slots
June 4 - Full

We are already getting asked about our Stilly summer schools......and Neah Bay, and are we going to do some summer steelhead again this year, out on the OP? Are your Grande Ronde trips filling up?.......

Look for more info, in next few weeks.........right now we are enjoying chasing the trout around.......very cool.

Best of fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

4-28-02

“Season Finale”

Even the snow in the foothills can’t stop spring from doing its thing, here along the rivers. Steelhead seem to be picking up as April 30th approaches. As I reflect back on the season, I can honestly say, I have never had a spring quite like this one. We have worked hard for our fish, but they were big.........and more large Dollies, than I can ever remember. A good Dolly population says the ecosystem is working, the upper watersheds are healing. We should be protecting .......not killing them. Smolts are flushing out, but pink & chum fry are down due to winter high waters. That’s what we get, the good and the bad.

Feels good to be fishing. We need to come out with a monitoring system for logging angler activity, during the C&R. We shouldn’t have C&R......we should have wild steelhead release. Kudo’s for all those (especially Duggan and the WSC) for promoting the wild steelhead release fisheries. Kudo’s for WDFW Bio., Pete Castle for pushing for the opportunity to allow us to fish........and still allows the steelhead to spawn. I pray we can get some enforcement on the rivers in May. If all goes well, our Skagit spring fishery will demonstrate, that a selective fishery.....even with depressed numbers of fish, has virtually zero impact on the numbers of steelhead back to the spawning grounds Boys, it is the best chance we have of ever seeing the spring fisheries back on the Stilly or the Sky. We are on the right tract, here. I will be out floating the rivers, watching the steelhead spawning, hope you will , too. The more eyes, the better we can protect them.

I saw some rude behavior by anglers who definitely know better.......I saw other anglers who were kind and gracious......I hope I promote the latter. Some anglers treat each other as if there is only X amount of turf.....and the only way they can win, is for the others to lose........too bad. Too bad, I think we need more good anglers.......not less, if we are going to protect our resource. Enough musings.

May time - is trout time - for Mike and I. We will be splitting time between the lakes and stream.

Our Eastern Washington Quality Lakes Schools looks like another dandy. We still have a slot in each of the May 10 & 11 classes. May 12 is full.

May 23 has 2 openings.....May 24 & 25 are full.

Our Floating line head system works great for distance casting with a floating line. We will be sure to bring one to demo.

Yakima River trout: Johnny Boitano and Mike will be running the trout fishing throughout the summer. Ask me for date availability: Johnny reports the Yak. is back to fishing well.....

Skykomish Steelhead School: is just around the corner.... this comprehensive clinic will cover A to Z in steelhead flyfishing. We will spend the morning demonstrating sinktiping.....and the afternoon, on surface presentations. Flylines Catch Fish and Cold water takes are good sinktip articles (find in Stories & Articles section)......Surface Flies for steelhead is a good preview for top water steelhead. The Floating Line Head System (FLHS) is all about making your 5 or 6 wt. rod into a summer steelhead machine. Totally awesome.

Sky class availability:

June 1: 2 slots

June 2: 2 slots

June 3: 1 slot

June 4: full

Summer Steelhead Guide trips: We generally split time between the Stilly, North Fork, and the upper Sky. Both streams should fish well. Limited date availability:

Grand Ronde Steelhead Guide Trips and Campouts

I promised I would date availibility for our October surface steelheading. Availability is always Dynamic (first come- first serve)......please check before sending a deposit.

4 day campout: Oct. 3-6th Bogans to mouth 4 slots

Oct. 8 guide day

2 Day Campouts

Oct. 9-10 Flyfishing School 2 slots

Oct. 11-12 3 slots

Oct. 14 -15 1 slot

Oct. 16-17 2 slots

Oct. 18-19 Full

If you want to get a preview for an anticipated up and coming Flyfishing School.......just click onto the school page from the home page. We have had many requests to bring our schools out on video....we are chewing on it. Now, if only we had time......

Happy fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

4-21-02

Hal & Dennis Skagit steelhead

" Fifteen minutes of heaven"

Hal and I have fished for years. We have fished in Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. He is my kind of man. He has the time and means to fish anywhere in the world. He is really only interested in two fish. Tarpon and steelhead. I look forward to our weeks of fishing, every year.

Jackie and Hal had been out for a couple days. Fishing wasn't easy.......we were working for every fish to the fly. We ended up on a pool, that I had planted stones earlier this year. Other than the fact, other anglers have also enjoyed this drift.......it was a good place to fish. It was late afternoon. Another pool, another lovely day. We saw a large fish roll, in the lower slot.......then another right in the stones. Hal was fishing his Hal Smith Special......Jackie pretty much, just likes the Cop Car.....Gee, I wonder why.

Hal doesn't miss much, he had just worked his way into the stones......the rod goes down. By the surge of the rod, it's a really large fish. Luck wasn't with him though, because after a short dramatic fight, the steelhead managed to break the leader on a strong downstream run...... bummer dude.

In the mean time, Jackie was fishing into the lower stones, (I don't think she was even aware of Hal's fish) when she hooks up........She beaches a stunning three salt hen. Anther fish rolls........ Hal all but sprints back onto the water, makes a cast and Ms. steelhead comes flying out. I haven't seen this since the Situk River in Alaska! He lands a stunning hen fish. The pool quiets ...... it's all over. The next day, the fish were upstream.

I stand corrected: Maybe it was just because I wanted it so badly........In the past two weeks we have bent out two of the Gamakatsu T10 3H fly hooks......and broke another, in David's first steelhead. Not kidding. Mike said he has just checked David's hook, and on the very next cast, the rod went down.......and the steelhead was smoking line. (Guide fish) The line went slack.......when David stripped it back in the Blue/purple was still there, but the hook point up was completely broken off. Not acceptable. Back to the drawing board on fly hooks.

The high water has brought the fish in. I don't know why I am surprised. Anytime you manage for the early portion of the run, as a kill fishery.......nature is going to respond by producing more fish later in the season. Worked on the Skeena in BC, worked on the Situk in Alaska, and certainly produces later fish, in our north sound streams. I don't have time to explain all the reasons why I believe our streams should be open, year round.....but Ask Dennis will explain one good one. Poacher Joe.

Anyway, fishing is good. Move around a little, find some quiet water, enjoy the spring and loveliest prize......the late winter native steelhead. And thank you Pete Castle. You know, there is not many resources, where we can enjoy.......and then put it back, unharmed. Kudos, to guys like Mr. Castle, who can think outside the box. Maybe it will catch on, like it did, in Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia and Alaska.......I know.... it's not rocket science.
Late cancellation on April 26th.......Mike has April 29th open.

Quality Lakes Flyfishing Schools are filling up. I get asked all the time......why would I want to spend the same money on a public waters, I do for the private pay-for-play fishery?
Simple: Because the private waters, you will pay every time........learning the public lake...you pay once.
Anyway, here is the availability, as we speak:

May 10th 2 slots
May 11th 1 slot maybe......(will know by this Monday)
May 12th 3 slots

May 23rd 2 slots
May 24th full
May 25th full

Trout guiding: May We are currently booking for Jeff's Ponds, the Yakima River & Basin Lakes. Looks like a busy time.

Skykomish Steelhead School:
June 1, 2, or 3. Very popular, single days, school will cover both surface and sinking line techniques: We will have not only the Yancey, single spey system, but also our Floating Line Head System......the ability to make your 5 weight rod into an awesome steelhead outfit. I apologize for not getting out information sooner, I have been camped out on the river.......classes are quietly filling, Keep you posted.

Summer Steelhead trips on the Stilly & Sky are just around the corner....looks like the Stilly is back and Sky summer fish have been quietly getting it done. Ask about our overnighters....

Grande Ronde Oct. Steelhead: I promise to outline date availability for our campouts and day trips in my next fishing report.

Best of fishing to all,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

4-14-02

"April Showers"

Hmmm.......Just when the fishing pressure has fallen off.......the steelhead have entered. It would be too easy to get in the zone, so nature jumps in and blows the rivers with a warm Chinook.

It is simply a waiting game now.....good fishing to be had, but a rising river, and a falling rain.

Guide Rule # 4. "Teach your clients what to say". Nobody hardly bothers to asks the guide, how the fishing is......they know, they will never get a straight answer. No, they will slide on by, and ask the client. I simply inform clients, this will probably happen, just say
"Not much....a couple Dollies". This seems to appease everyone.......and you never get the third degree, about where, when, and on what...... works great.

Been slipping into a few Sauk pools......but mostly fishing the boulder patches on the Skagit. The fish we are finding are big........but I marvel at the number of Dollies. This Bull Trout thing has me pretty nervous. I can almost see allowing a harvest (I said almost) on the wild Anadromous Dolly.....but if some of these char are actually older resident fish.......it would simply make sense to release everything, wild. Will we ever get over this mentality..... "we kill them,......because we can"? How many times, has this idiot thinking gotten us into trouble?

Anyway, we are continuing to see great numbers........we have handled more Dollies in the 26-28" range in 2002, than any year I can remember.......so cool.

Both steelhead and Dollies are hitting a wide range of flies.......I like leechy looking things with Bunny fur and marabou.

We just finished our last Skagit River Steelhead school for the season. I always get a kick out of, how the dynamics of each class Mike and I teach, how variable the angling expertise, and personalities are. We teach a ton a of classes.......really enjoy watching anglers "get it." Other than presentation, and "steelhead simulation", everything we discuss, is found in the how-to articles, found in our Stories and Articles section.

We have been dedicating a day a week, up on our private waters, Jeff's ponds. Is a 5 acre lake considered a pond? Hmmm....... If this rain continues, looks like we will be spending more time there, this week.

Speaking of lakes, our Eastern Washington Lakes classes are filling, ask for availability.

I don't have any additional details on our upcoming Skykomish Steelhead classes.......but anglers are asking.................if you scroll over to the www.flyfishsteelhead home home > schools, it will give you dates & times.

Yup, we are booking summer steelhead trips for both the Stilly, North Fork and the Skykomish River. Descriptions are found on home page. Busy time.

Not to early to book your lodging for the Grande Ronde campouts and guide trips......check your sent itineraries.

Best to you & your fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

4/7/2002

"Some days you eat the bear.......other days the bear eats you."

Fishing Pressure: You can always tell how the fishing went over the weekend, by the pressure on Monday. Right now F.P. is as variable as the weather. One day, everyone is out,........ then nobody out the next. I have seen a Tuesday swimming with anglers.......Saturdays as empty as a grave yard......go figure. Many anglers have beat feet to the Yakima River and beyond.

Stakes are high: Not a big numbers years. Probably not going to get many steelhead opportunities........so you hope your leader is sound, your hook was sharp, when he bites. Big fish: What the steelhead are lacking in numbers, they are making up for in size. Our steelhead this season are primarily the mid teen 3 salts.......maybe others are catching to 8-11 pound 2 salt fish.......we are not.......but oh, we have found some dandies!

Daylight Saving Time has come again....... I am riding along with my wife. I happen to mention, trout season is coming up.....She says " How can you tell? I mean, when do you ever stop fishing?" Wife of a guide.....poor girl.

I like trout season for two reasons: Its a wonderful respite after chasing steelhead around for the past months. Secondly, most anglers bolt, just when a lot of steelhead are just entering the rivers. I call it the "Magic Week". Anglers are gone......fish are there.

Looks like we may get water out of this rain. Good, a nice freshet will cut the visibility and enter some new fish.

I really don't think the fly matters right now. Be mobile and cover some water. Temperatures are starting to rise now. The grabs are getting more vicious now, Don't hang on to the line, simply set your drag, and let the steelhead pull the line off the reel. "Reels don't fail me ....anglers do". No lacking for snow pack this year...thats good.

Hey, if you want to see first hand how many steelhead are spawning in our natal waters, check this out:

Stilly, North Fork: Float from Fortson down Whitman bridge. Expect to see most of the redd action (graveled out spawning areas) between Boulder Creek and the Hazel slide. Redd life shortens as water temperature rises, but if you are floating every couple weeks thru May.......like I will, you will start to get a pretty good idea, what the population really looks like.

Skykomish: Float from High Bridge down to Monroe. Look for graveled out areas above and in the tailouts. Again every couple weeks, should give you a pretty good handle.......

If you would like for me to explain redd life et al.......just drop me a line.

Why do it? Because the better our own information is, the better informed we come, the better informed we become, the better we control our resource management......this is how the Wild Steelhead Coalition was born.

Skagit Steelhead school: Last call for our April 13th Steelhead school. Looks to be a dandy.

Oh My Gosh: Not done fiddling......I have taken a cross from the conventional steelhead sinktip, crossed it with the Yancey line......and now have developed what I call the Dickson Winter Steelheader. It can spey cast like the Yancey multi- tip but casts far easier (far better, in my opinion) than the single handed multi-tips, I find on the market. Really like it!! Better suited for the 7 wt. or the slower action 8 wt. rods, than the Yancey...which is still a wonderful line!

Trout season is looming around the corner. Traveled up to Jeff's ponds over the weekend. Both Large and small Choronomids were coming off. We fished several of the lakes. Many rainbows. Our bookings start in May.

Our Quality Lakes Schools in eastern Washington is filling. Remember, if you can't get in, we also book daily guide trips too. Our goal is to fish the Mayflies and midges in May. I have only been fishing these waters since high school........I am not going to tell you how long ago that has been!

We have been getting tons of inquiries about summer steelheading: For the record: we will be fishing again, the Stilly and the upper Skykomish rivers. June thru August.

The Grande Ronde River campouts (2 and 4 day) along with the guide day itineraries, are almost out........Trips are filling.

But.......I am getting ahead of myself. Looks like another busy week.

Best of fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

4/01/02

“No where to run.......no where to hide”.

The good news is, we are fishing. The bad news is........we are ALL fishing. With the other
local rivers shut down......the Skagit system is the only gig in town for chasing steelhead,
unless you head to Forks.

Martha Stewart Flyfishing: Take a beautiful watershed, lovely pools, the most high tech
equipment, and a mountain of enthusiasm.......and when you get all done.......add fish.

Oh, there are a few fish around, some real dandies too.........but you are hard up against it, when the fishermen out number the fish.

I feel you.........I watch anglers and guides struggle to come up with a gig, that allows them, a reasonable chance at fish. The dawn patrol is patrolling........the late bunch is trying to find a rested fish, guys are fishing waters they haven’t fished in years......all for a little solitude and a reasonable chance. But.......we are fishing, at least we are fishing. The fish seem to be scattered throughout the system. The middle river has reports of rolling fish, but this Birdsview to Lyman waters.......(some of the finest flywater in the entire drainage, in my opinion) closes each year, after the kill fishery is finished. Huh?

Rumblings are, that maybe the C&R waters may be expanded next season to include this prime steelhead water..........now that would be awesome!.......but don’t quote me on it,... it's only what I have heard. WDFW Pete Castle is a fine biologist.......nice to have someone who can think outside the box. Kudo’s.

Fishing:
Anyway, the upper Skagit above Rockport is dead......Rockport to Baker River is spotty.

The upper Sauk from Darrington to The Suiattle has a few fish but good luck beating to the local boys putting in at the private access at Dan’s Creek. The Suiattle River to the Government bridge, is bring your own rock, and the Government Bridge to the Skagit confluence is fleeced by the Dawn Patrol on the top end meeting to sleds coming up from the Skagit River at the bottom. Brutal.

Flies: any to all will work......if you can get it in front of an undisturbed steelhead. Blue,
black and reds are particularly effective right now. Morning water temperatures have been
in the upper thirties......but it looks like it should be coming up with the slightly warmer,
longer, days.

Skagit Steelhead schools: Just finished our last March Steelhead School.......we will have a
final on April 13th. There are two slots available, as we speak

May:
Our Lakes schools are getting a lot of attention now. This is our fourth year of running
these classes, oh and if you are not into the group thing, we also guide these waters......Ask for date availability.

Jeff’s Ponds: Information on our private lakes fishery, east of Mount Vernon.

Don’t forget your fishing license and steelhead punch card expire today!!!!!!!

Yeah, but we are fishing.......

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

3/24/02
"Zig & Zag"

When everyone else zigs........zag. It is not like we didn't see it coming. Unless you feel like fighting the crowds at Forks,..........You will be working around a lot of anglers on the Skagit/Sauk system. Better anglers are finding the occasional fish, everyone else is not. They are big though. Kudos of Gary B........lovely mid teen buck, can't wait to get the pictures back.

Kudo's for all those anglers who have gone out of their way in the best of river etiquette. wrote about it, in the Stories & Articles section. I like to think the wild steelhead release fisheries, brings out the best in our anglers. Gear and Fly.

Yes, but we are fishing........My only regret, (well, maybe not my Only regret.......) is I wish we had the WDFW checkers were out now. (Mike and I have been out nearly every day,.......saw a WDFW truck, once.) I hope they are logging angler hours, and catch/unit/effort, the way they do during the kill season. I wish WDFW would see the commerce pumped into the local economy, from anglers arriving from all parts of the continent........maybe then, they wouldn't write us off, as some special interest, elitist group.

Gear guys....it has got to irritate you just a little, get lumped into the fly flinger group.......because heaven knows.......no "normal angler" would ever participate, in a C&R fishery.

Maybe....... when WDFW sees the steelhead still arrive successfully to the spawning grounds.........they can realize, you don't have to kill, to recreate. They can too, come to the conclusion, that even an intense C&R fishery, has virtually no impact on a steelhead population.......even a depressed one. I marvel a very simple biology seems to escape our best scientists........."Fish them all you want, just release them alive." Is there hope for our Skykomish and Stilly fisheries?

After the arctic blast, early last week that dumped a foot of snow in Marblemount.......in one night!........the weather has settled, and for the moment.......nature has hinted of spring. Water temps have dropped as low as 37 degrees, day time highs around 42 degrees. Look for water where you can bring the fly in "low and slow". Mr. steelhead is going to need it, in his face. Look for the fish to become more active, as the weather settles, particularly if we can get a few warm days. I have written several articles on how to "change up" when the water/lighting, fishing pressure, conditions, change. A few weeks ago, this was important........when the fish are out-numbered by the fishermen.......it's vital.

Our next Skagit steelhead school is scheduled for March 29th. Same time, same location.......if you somehow didn't end up with your itinerary.......drop me a line. This class is full. April 13th is our final class, and it does have a couple openings.

Putting the final touches on our new Trout Page. It will include Jeff's Ponds (ten minutes East of Mount Vernon). Also look for our popular lakes schools.

After some great feed back, we have added both single guide days and an extended four day campout on the our October Grande Ronde Steelheading.......way too much fun.

Good to see you on the river,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

3/17/02
Go Figure:

The weather blew us off the coast, so home we came. Bill Jam and I, spent a lovely day north of Arlington fishing a series of private lakes, we call Jeff's ponds. Rainbows to 6 lbs. A # 20 Midge was coming off........but wind drifted seal buggers and bead headed PT nymphs were very consistent throughout the day. As we have the exclusive booking to these waters......you are going to hear a lot about this facility. Think May.......right now we are all over the steelhead.

Go figure:

Mike is out with some guys on the Skagit.......all he can do to scratch up a couple Dollies. Same day, I am on the Sauk. Even though, Wild Steelhead Coalition friends Carl and Duggan each find a steelhead.......my boys go blank. Bad day for Mikey and Dad. Next day we decide to switch.......Mike does the Sauk. His boys were into two lovely fish, including a real pig, that after tearing off downstream, turned tail.......ran upstream and fell on the tippet, on his second jump.......20 feet out in front of them! Mike estimated this male steelhead, in the mid twenties!

My fellas and I were on the Skagit.........very first pool we were into fish. Dollies and steelhead both creamed Cop Car and Big Bruise. Couldn't wait to tell Mike........and then had to listen to him, tell his big fish story. May have to drown that boy. Needless to say, he was stoked.......

Fish are in pods.....some days you will find them, some days you won't. Guess that is why they call it fishing. Fish the good water.......fish it well, and move on.

Tried to offer another steelhead school. Mar. 29th....... Class filled in about 4 hours. Ask Dennis will talk about Brians impressions of his Skagit school day.

Yancey multi- tips sell themselves. It is so funny, after a steelhead school day lunch, typically, Mike will string up five of our client rods so the group can each try this flyline........Some guys will catch on to the "Modified Spey Cast" really fast. (They always want to buy the line) a couple will have to work at it a little while........but eventually pick it up........and someone, just doesn't get it. Never has, never will. They literally run back for their own rod! Here's the kicker: You can never tell, who is going to make it. Some of the best single handed casters, don't get it. Many rank beginners.......end up looking like a pro.

So cool: In our last class, we have this guy who was brand new.........I mean, couldn't cast 25 feet, if the rod begged him, all night long. He picks up the Yancey line.......in ten minutes he is casting nearly 70 feet! Happy? He wanted the whole bloody outfit! Rod, line, reel........everything. Pretty cool. We won't sell the line, until you try it, though.

Steelhead School again? We will offer one last day...... Skagit steelhead school April 12th. Positively last one for the winter. Look to the www.flyfishsteelhead.com home page for upcoming 2002 flyfishing schools on steelhead, trout and salmon.......

Anyway, some days it really feels like spring.......other days the weather is trying to kick your teeth in. But we are fishing, thanks to Pete Castle, we are on the Skagit system, and we are fishing.

Best of Fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

3/7/02

"Not sure.......but I think I just passed myself".

Just returned from Olympic Peninsula schools. Happy to report the rivers were in fine shape.......anglers enjoyed the waters and the fine weather. Kudos to Lindsey for rolling a nice steelhead on the Hoh and Roger's birthday hen on the Queets. These intensive one day clinics are not really about how many fish we catch.......its about how to catch the fish....but I never squabble when it happens! I guess the one school complaint I get is; we cover so much material........spend so much time dispelling myths,...... impressing steelhead instead of each other......students feel like they simply can't take it all in.......Some anglers have suggested lecture notes.....others, a video. Hint: Most of our "Show and Tell" school material, is found in the how-to steelhead articles, located at www.flyfishsteelhead.com Ahhh.......if I just had more time.

Thanks to all that joined us. Mike and I had a great time, showing you these waters......

Skagit Classes are rescheduled for this weekend........Last time it was a flood.....Here's the deal. If you don't receive an e mail from me the night before your class....assume we are going to have school.......bundle up! I smell an "Adventure" brewing!

Guide Trips:

Mike is fishing the Sauk/Skagit C&R steelhead fishery thru April 30th.

I will be back out on the Coast to fish the "Chosen" (which is fishing well) thru the end of next week....(Mar. 13th on the Chosen had a cancellation).....then all trips are also back on the Sauk/Skagit C&R fishery, here at home.

We will be chasing steelhead thru April 30.

May is our "Trout Month" Watch for some interesting wrinkles in our fishing calendar, both guide days, and schools......coming up.

Thank you for your patience in the Yancey Lines and also our flies......Hook Line and Sinker (360) 651- 2204 has all but the secret guide flies. So does Swedes Flyshop, in Woodinville. (425) 487- 3747 Yup! The flies are really there........if they haven't sold out!

Anyway.......the weather is all over the board........the steelhead are all over the waters......and my sweet wife is not sure, if I have just come in or about to leave.....Oh well,.....its that time, again.

Best of fishing,

Mike & D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

2/24/02

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

So I am driving along with my wife, and she asks how the steelhead schools are going?

"Great", I say. "The Sauk is the river that had me the most concerned because it can go out, with a serious rain. The Skagit would take a monsoon, because it is dam controlled".

Well, guess what? Unless you have been on another planet.......the rivers met the streets.

All but one of the Skagit schools had to be rescheduled......(March 8 -10th.)

For all the Angies out there......I just received from Paul (A Sauk River Steelhead student) one of the most comprehensive evaluations about his day on the Sauk River, I have ever had. Both the good and the bad.... Thank you Paul.

Skagit/ Sauk Catch & Release March 1- April 30th. Will be nice to have at least a couple of our home rivers back on line. One of Mike's guys landed a nice fish the other day on the Sauk. Chris lost a huge fish on the Skagit.....then landed another farther downstream. Hal Smith Special...did the trick.

This upcoming C&R fishery has more implications than you might realize. It essentially becomes a showcase of the zero impact that a C&R recreational fishery can have on a depressed stock. Fortunately, Pete Castle is a good biologist, and he won't let politics get in the way of biology. Skagit system performs well.....could speak well for fisheries on neighboring streams. Stream counts not withstanding.

Chosen River OP. March 5 & 6th cancellation, now available.

Anyway, we are fishing! And thats good.

Hook, Line & Sinker (360) 651-2204 has those hard to find.....but the best fly hook on the market, Gamakatsu T10 3H......and the T10 6H fly hooks. I have already told you what hooks to stay away from......

Flylines catch Fish, and Coldwater Takes are good reads.

Thanks again for all who have taken the steelhead schools thus far......hope you learned lots. Those trips come up.......don't pray for anymore rain, please.

Best of fishing,

D & Mike

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

2/17/02

"Now that's something you don't see every day........."

Quite the week: Fishing with Keith and Louie, in the lower Skagit, Keith hooked the largest Dolly Varden......I have ever seen. Well over 30 inches, this male for literally four inches across the back! Should be getting pictures back shortly! Steelhead are sneaking in.....Dollies are lurking, and life is good.

Sauk Steelhead schools are winding down. Some really wonderful times. We are all enjoying the lovely weather, and our stunning river. Never seem to get beyond the humorous incidents.......

Clarence was involved in our "steelhead simulation". We were working on, steelhead bite detection, preset, and setting the hook....... Clarence presets......and sets the hook so hard he ends up, flat on his back with his feet up in the air! Now that is what I call setting the hook! Later, I put him and Steve on a pool I call "The Flats". Clarence lets his fly swim to the hang down......the line pulls tight......he presets. Now according to the demonstration, the steelhead is suppose to shake his head, before taking line. Clarence presets.....and the fish just spins and takes off! It caught him so off guard, that by the time the fish had peeled off line and threw the hook.......Clarence realized, he never had set the hook! Oh well.....

We will finish up the Sauk on the 18th.......a few days back to guiding, then over the Skagit Schools; Sunday and Monday the 24th &25th of February, each have an opening, as we speak.

We will head over the Olympic Peninsula.....all schools are filled. Our guiding begins the next day, March 5th.......

Ah, life is ruff.......but someone had got to do it.

Best of fishing to you all,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

2/10/02

"It was the best of times.......it was the worst of times" Charles Dickens

Washington State Wide Steelhead Release was rejected by a 5-4 vote by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife commission. As the determination of the Skagit drainage C&R fishery is still on the table.....it probably not prudent of me to comment, at this time, on why I was not surprised, the statewide release, failed. It was a valiant effort......next time.

Good news: Robert and I stumbled into a wonderful, large dominant steelhead......estimated 20 pounds. Awesome fish!

Bad news: I caught it following him thru the pool.......the lower Sauk. I would love to tell you we had floated in on our pontoon boats.......we didn't. I used my 13' raft/ motor, and did what I said I would never do.....took a power boat up the Sauk. I am not very proud of that. This has become such a common practice among sleds and such, you poor floaters will never have a chance, at these lower pools. Still say the Sauk should be closed to motors.......but that is just my opinion.

Good news: More wild steelhead are sneaking into the Snohomish, Stilly, and Skagit systems. I absolutely marvel how despite efforts to kill off these great fish in the name of Maximum Sustained Yield (MSY)....these noble steelhead, defy all odds. Amazing.

These native steelhead are large, and aggressive to the fly. Oh speaking of flies, you can now find nine of our favorite winter steelhead patterns, in Swedes Flyshop 425 487-3747 in Woodinville, and Hook, Line & Sinker, 360 651-2204, in Arlington. Darrel also has wader rental!
Oh.......Don't go in asking for Cop Car, Mrs. Black, or Black Bart.......no shops have them. These flies are client only....... found only on our winter steelhead schools and guide trips............ You can breathe now, guys.

Yancey Multi-tip flylines are completely backlogged. The shops are starting to help out. If you want to at least see the line first hand......stop by the shop(s)

Speaking of Schools and Guide Trips:

Sauk River Steelhead Schools: Feb.14th, 15th & 17th are filled. Feb. 16th, and 18th each have an opening.
Skagit Schools: Feb. 21, 22 & 23 are full. Feb 24th now has two opening and the 25th has one.

Peninsula Schools:
Mar. 1 Bogey school is maxed.
Mar. 2 Hoh school has one slot
Mar. 3 Clearwater has 2 slots
Mar. 4 Queets school has one slot available

Be sure to drop a line, if you have not received your itinerary!

Lots of great questions found in Ask Dennis, this week.......and I thought life was busy, now.

Best of fishing, .....and I will see you on the river.

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

2/3/02

"Successful guiding is nothing more.......than fishing every day and paying attention."

Dennis Dickson

Got to love this gig. Still winter out, yet the native steelhead are sneaking in. High waters are pushing the steelhead past the nets, and up the rivers. Stilly, Sky, Skagit, Sauk.......all four of our home streams, are recording natives.

But the big one got away.......Lost a dandy on the Skagit the other day, one of the boys landed a upper teen fish on the Sky......so tempted to use a replacement shot.....because nobody had a camera! Grrr! Oh well. Heard tell of a gear guy who caught a monster fish taped and released, in the upper twenties! Kudo's to the angler.......and Kudo's for releasing him alive.

Speaking of which: If I am not mistaken, WDFW commissioners vote on Wild Steelhead Release Feb. 9th. Keep your fingers crossed and hold your breath, this would be a land mark ruling that could change our Northwest steelhead, and steelheading, as we know it.
And so many of you, are the reason, why. Let's not count it yet. Politics sometimes has very little to do with the truth......but we are hopeful.

I would love to tell you, the fishing is really different this year.....but the fishing is fishing. Scout your pools. High waters always take away some pools, and build others. Look for the sweetwater. Swim your flies low and slow. Flylines Catch Fish and Coldwater Takes are good reads. wwwflyfishsteelhead.com > Stories & Articles section.

Locked & Loaded:

Our annual 6 member Steelhead flyfishing schools are all but filled. Goes like this:

Sauk School
Feb 14th -full Feb. 17th -full
Feb 15th -full Feb. 18th - 2 slots
Feb. 16th -full

Skagit Steelhead School:
Feb. 21- full Feb. 24th- Full
Feb. 22 - full Feb. 25th - one slot
Feb. 23 - 2 slots

Olympic Peninsula Schools:
Bogey: - Full Clearwater- 3 slots
Hoh - Full Queets - 2 slots

Do watch for last minute cancellations......

I think the ultimate compliment has been the number of anglers who have come back to take another school on a different river. Mike and I have way too much fun. Our mission is simple: Help you take the mystery out of steelhead flyfishing.

100% when we take the puppy home. Shouldn't be fair. We let our clients fish their rods and lines for the first part of the day. Somewhere around noon, we bring out our rods set up with the Yancey line. You guessed it, so far in the past two weeks, every angler who has casted this line.......ten minutes later, they want one. Do you have ANY idea how many lines we are talking about, between steelhead winter schools and guide trips thru April, if even half the anglers we fish, decide to purchase? Beginning to wonder, what have we gotten ourselves into?

Sauk & Skagit C&R:
Again nothing is for sure but much thanks to WSC and their tireless workers.......this fishery may be on tract.....when I know, you will know.

If you are booked for any of our guide trips or steelhead schools, and you Have Not received a confirmation and itinerary.......please drop me an e mail. I will get one right out. Life definitely gets busy from here.

My papa once told me......... Dennis, if you are going to be successful in life, better count on a few dogs, barking at your wheels. Such is life.......even in flyfishing.

Best of fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

1/27/02

Going to get interesting now.........

Hatchery returns up on the Skagit system........same for the Stilly.......same for the Snohomish system. The good news......Our salt water fisheries, such as Bush point, are seeing great numbers of steelhead, according to Darrel at Hook, Line and Sinker. More good news......I can't even recall a year, when the hatchery steelhead Was Not out performed by the winter wild fish. Wonderful news for the Skagit system.......will be lost opportunity, for a wild steelhead fishery, for the Stilly and the Sky.

Looks good for the Skagit C&R.......should know for sure, real soon.

Mike and I have been spending our time, between the Skagit, and the Sauk rivers. Both Dollies, and the occasional steelhead, are making for happy campers. Fish the winter pools, where water is placid, and depths are rocky but not too deep......give you your best chance to bring the fly in, low and slow. Anticipating a good week, as the cold weather is coming off the latest high water, should be bringing in our dominant male wild steelhead.

Steelhead biology 101: If anyone is wondering why the upper Skagit steelhead numbers have fallen off, its pretty easy. Fisheries management has been locked into MSY, which is in to kill and close, for the last .....forever. As commercial netting, coupled with WDFW sanctioned fisheries, (sorry boys, plunking is designed to do one thing.......kill fish, another issue), has cropped off the early runs......and is the early runs which travel the farthest......which is the upper Skagit River.

Rivers are fishing well, when they are in......but it is cold. Steelhead make it all worth while.

Sauk & Skagit Steelhead Schools are filling up: Many of the dates are filled now.....probably best to contact, if you want to get in......be flexible in your dates, we do are best.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead schools: Space limited

Guided Trips: We have steelhead trips available for both the Olympic Peninsula "Chosen River" as well as the highly anticipated Skagit/Sauk C&R fishery........(Final Determination anticipated in the next couple weeks). Keep your fingers crossed!

Many great steelhead questions coming ......found in Ask Dennis

Hard to say what this weather will bring, but one thing is certain.......the steelhead are coming.

Best of fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

1/20/02

"Here and There"

I apologize: I was planing on putting up a warm water, fish picture......but the pictures just came in, and the scanner went fritz. Grrrr..............

Back at the ranch: OK, who let the water out? So there I was, scanning the weather news from our hotel room, and I see, Pacific Northwest.......65 degrees and rain. I moan. My wife walks out of the shower, with her hair up,and asks me what was the matter. I told her we were in for a major league flooding back in Washington state.......guess I was right.
Rivers are down and fishing, by the time we get home.

Really not what you think: I know as soon as you hear Bahamas, you immediately think Bone fishing.......but it really wasn't that kind of trip. Any of you flyfishing junkies who have been married for more than 20 years, can tell you.......your wife puts up with a lot. From stray hooks, in the carpet......bits of marabou throughout the house, reels and lines, drooped across the kitchen table, waders draped across a chair in front of the fireplace.......should I even talk about the boats and gear that migrate from the garage, on a daily basis? Being gone, six months of the year........I owe her......big time. Anyway, this was her trip, and a perfect excuse for me to get away from what I do every day. She allowed me exactly one hour each day, on the lap top, to stay connected with Mike, and put out any business emergencies.

Reality hits: After a couple weeks in the sunshine, I would love to tell you,I wanted to be back at home, standing up to my waist in ice water........NOT!

But wasn't long (like two days back in Washington ) before I was back on the water, back in the groove.

High waters always do their thing, and this one was no different. You gain some pools, you lose some pools......thats what rivers do. Mike has been splitting time between the Sauk and the Skagit. I fished the Stilly and the Skagit, this past week.
This is that "in-between time". The hatchery steelhead run is winding down, and the wild component is about to start. Feb.1st is the unofficial date. We haven't seen any wild fish yet......probably this week, maybe....but the hatchery scene was decent and a few of my clients are reporting large fish encounters. Dollies continue.....good to see.

Follow your flows: I like to fish the Skykomish and Skagit when the rivers are high, Stilly, when its low, and the Sauk, anytime...........

3rd annual Winter Steelhead Flyfishing Schools:

The six person Flyfishing schools are doing great! Many of the comments in Recommendations and Endorsements are pertaining to the steelhead schools.

Here are the openings as we speak:

Sauk River Steelhead Flyfishing Schools:

Feb. 14th - Full Feb. 16th - 2 slots
Feb. 15th - 2 slots Feb. 17th - Full

Skagit River Steelhead Flyfishing Schools:

Feb.. 21st - 2 slots Feb. 24th -1 slot
Feb.. 22nd - 1 slot Feb. 25th - 3 slots
Feb.. 23rd - 2 slot

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead Flyfishing Schools:

March 2 Hoh River - 3 slots
March 3 Clearwater - 2 slots
March 4 Queets - 2 slots

Steelhead Guide Trips: Dennis & Mike

Stilly-Sauk-Skagit February - Space limited

Olympic Peninsula "Chosen River" are space limited March 1- April 15th

Sauk and Skagit River C&R - No final determination from WDFW as of yet.......Should know more in next few weeks.

Statewide Wild Steelhead Release: WDFW Commission is suppose to Vote Feb. 9th! Keep you posted.

Best of Fishing,

D

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

1/6/02

Dennis is in Florida/Bahamas......Although he will not have a fishing report through the 13th.....he and Michael are still answering E mail. Thank you for your patience.

For information on booking a trip see "Rates and Booking Information"

Archived Fishing Reports - lots of good infomation

Curent report

January 2005 - December 2005
January 2004 - December 2004
January 2003 - December 2003
January 2002 - December 2002
January 2001 - December 2001
January 2000 - December 2000
January 1999 - December 1999
Sept. 98 to Dec. 98 reports here
May 98 to August 98 reports here
January 98 to April 98 reports here

Home