12/28/03

"And when you get all done, add fish"

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

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

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

In our world of automation, I think our greatest tool of everyday steelheading, has got to be the USGS stream gauge stations. Checking river heights is what I do everyday, and heck I live right above the North Fork of the Stilly.

Typical Guy Thing: I am not one to admit things very often, but even I have to admit, a couple of the Sky and Skagit pools, have actually gotten better after the floods.

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

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

Flies & Gear: Streamsideflyshop.com

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

The Skagit has fish.
Water flows of course are regulated by money, I mean, the dam releases. The river has been very fishy for both winter hatchery steelhead, and the Dollies.

When I wrote about a buddy who witnessed the Dolly killing last week, I had several other guys wrote and told me the same thing. Maybe we just can't stand fish population prosperity. When did we come to the conclusion we had a better idea on running the resource than nature? Oh Well.

Skykomish Winter Steelhead School: January 16, 17 or 18. Our 5th annual Skykomish winter steelhead schools is coming up. This is what Dr. Aguilu had to say about his 2003 Sky School experience. Thanks Steve.

Merry Christmas & best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/21/03

"Christmas Time Rivers"

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

The holidays find the north sound rivers down and fishable. Cool weather has kept the snow locked up where it should be......in the mountains. Waters have been running cold and fairly clear, excellent for winter flyfishing.

Skykomish River: 2,880 cfs as of Sunday Morning. Chums and silvers are all but gone, but winter hatchery steelhead are coming in better numbers than we have seen for a while. Even hearing rumors of a few wild natives showing. Now that is pretty cool! The defined gravel bars and easy wading (most places) makes the Sky, a friendly steelhead flywater .

Fishing strategies: While fishing around winter gear anglers, I have mentioned I prefer to fish the softer colors such as blues, blacks and purples in marabous and Practitioners. Any of your silhouette colors will work. As the Sultan River still has some color, if it rains, try fishing upstream, from High Bridge to the Sultan River.

Here is another tip: Fishing pressure tends to move steelhead to the edges, especially in clear water. Most anglers don't bother fishing the riffley heads and few will fish the broken wake in the tailouts. Fish high and low in the pool when the steelhead are trying to hide. You will be surprised. Our January steelhead schools will cover much of this. (More on that at www.flyfishsteelhead.com)

Stilly, North Fork: 1600 cfs. @ Deer Creek. River is down. All the pools are fishing. The little stream has got some new winter hatchery steelhead., but staying with them from day to day, is the trick. The lower river doesn't have a lot of great holding water, anyway, so these hatchery brats can really cover some water. Bottom Line: If you don't find where you left them from the day before, get on your horse and move around.

Flies & technique: Bobbers work but we prefer swinging flies on sink-tips. Poor Mike has had a Christmas rush on his Yancy lines. Take heart. I promise we will have some to demo in our up-coming Sky Winter Steelhead school.

Sauk: Good news. The waters are finally showing a little green. Bad news: Even the 1991 flood didn't destroy the holding water, like it did last fall. Wouldn't waste my time, yet.

Skagit: 5,000 > 6,000 cfs. The late running Silvers and Chum, this winter, are in their final chapter. It was a very good run of fish.

Sad: A buddy stopped in a local takeout the other day to witness four guys in a big sled being checked with seven dead Dollies, smallest had to be over 23". Imagine if we could make the Skagit a selective fishery? A world class fishery! Maybe then we could say " If we error, we would like to error on the side of our wild fish".

Skykomish Winter Steelhead Schools: January 16, 17 or 18. Our 5th annual Skykomish winter steelhead schools are just around the corner.

What a great idea! We always deliver a bunch of Gift Certificates for our guide trips and fishing equipment at Christmas time. This year we seem to be sending out a lot more Gift Certificates specifically for our winter steelhead schools. Welcome! Glad to have you. I will post the class availability, next week

Wasn't fishing for compliments, but thanks none the same:
I wrote a small blip on popularity last week. To all those who took the time to write in and extend an appreciation, thank you very much. It was touching.

Merry Christmas & best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/14/03

Rivers have settled into their winter scene. It is beautiful, but it is cold. Water temps are hovering around 39 degrees. Air temps on the Skagit, Sky & Stilly vary from day to day, but are about the same as the water.

Precipitation is being locked up in the mountains. River water height on the over-all have been moderate to low, this past week. Look for more of the same if it stays cold out.
Skykomish River: 2,830 cfs as of Sunday Morning. Chums and silvers leaving quickly, winter steelhead are coming in spurts. The Sky may be the most user friendly flywater of all our North Sound streams. With winter anglers on the prowl, I have mentioned I prefer to fish the softer darker colors because it "Shows them something different." Our Blue/Purple marabou is good, so is Black Bart, which nothing more than a black & purple woolleybugger, with an orange face. A size # 2 is about right. Mike says steelhead are moving through in spurts.

Stilly, North Fork: River was running dead low with maximum visibility above Boulder Creek, but the little stream has got some new winter steelhead. Air & water temps around 39 degrees. Flies & technique: Swing your winter flies, "low & slow", adjust your leaders to water conditions, if you want to move a fish who has seen everything.

Sauk: Hey! Sauk is actually showing a little color other than puke brown. Cool! Even above the Suiattle is less than fishable, in my book, but it is trying! Maybe in a month or so.

Skagit: I continue to marvel at the late running Silvers and Chum, this winter. This is getting pretty late, and yet the quality fishing continues. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Water & air temps are hovering in the upper 30's. A very pretty winter scene. Eagles are showing, life is good. Dollies are coming out of their tributaries in spurts. Should the WDFW actually manage for this wild Char, instead of the "not the steelhead, consolation prize", we could have a world class fishery. I marvel how well this char does, in this kill fishery. Someday I would like to see us move beyond, "Why do we kill them?" "Because we can."

A little biology: Find the eagles, you will find the Chum. Find the Chum, and you will find the Dollies. Your flies in a egg-sucking model are more effective now. Both Steelhead and Dollies are keyed into the salmon spawning. As the spawning dies out, the flesh flies will take over. Think Alaska rainbows. It's like that.

Skykomish Winter Steelhead School: January 16, 17 or 18. Our 5th annual Skykomish winter steelhead schools are coming up. You have heard all the hub bub about the Yancy multi-tip. Come demo all our trick flies and gear. Let Jonathan, Mike and I take the mystery out steelhead for you. Much of the lecture notes in class, are taken from the 40 stories and articles I have written over the past 17 years of guiding flyfishers into steelhead.

Speaking of writings:
Met a gentleman in a little Flyshop the other day. He was from Darrington. Now, Darringtonites have a reputation custom of North Carolina, and proud of it. A simple, hard working, honest people, and I love them for it. This gentleman was not quite the profile but we won't go into that.

Anyway, he introduces himself, asks if I am Dennis, (which I get a lot, but enjoy because I always enjoy talking about flyfishing.)
Often the subject comes up about my writings and he mentions his favorite is the story about Charlie. Seems like every angler has a mentor and I guess as it is Christmas time and all, I am thankful for Charlie. He was mine.

Like Charlie, I am not interested in being popular. Certainly don't want to come across as the "All-knowing". Heck, I am just a hick from Arlington. who happens to fish for a living. Don't mind sharing a bit, what works for me and my guys. Hope you enjoy it.

Merry Christmas,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

12/07/03"School Potpourri"

What did fresh Chum, pot bellied Dollies, bright Silvers and a mystery steelhead all have in common?

Our Skagit Fall Flyfishing Schools.

I still marvel the Skagit River even stayed in shape, with all the winds and rains we have been having.

Snake bit: We were going through a strange turn of events. The weather fronts would push through, and knock out our rivers on the days we were scheduled to fish, then fall back into fishing shape, on the days we had no clients. Oh well. It's not like we don't guide year round, but when the rivers are fishing well, I just as soon be out.

Early Christmas Present: After the death and destruction of the Skagit drainage floods, I figured it was "toes up" for the Skagit, for the winter. A really nice late pulse of both Silvers & Chum have moved in, and yes, much has changed on the river frontage, but nature has bounced back. Always does. Amazing.

The Stats: Flows were running in the mid 5,000 cfs range on Friday. A dark day, and very fishy. We swung flies with Eggsucking Cop Car and Black Bart being our top producers. Nymphing the Egg-n-Shuck was golden. We tried to keep the lecture going, but we have found the fall fishing school, is more fishing than "Show & Tell". Funny, nobody seems to mind learning new flies and techniques for taking each species, when they are handling fish. Great time.

Saturday: The Dam boys released the water early, and the morning flows were running 9,000 cfs. We focused on our "High Water lies" but the fish were moving hard and fishing was slow. Did allow us time to demo flies, lines, and technique. The water settled and began to drop around noon, and from there until evening the fishing just got better and better. Maybe it was all that wonderful teaching, were pumping into the boys? Ya think?

Anyway: The fall classes are over, and I am reminded again, of how much fun they are to do. Much Kudos to all who came, and of course Mike and Jonathan who really makes it happen.

Look for the Skagit fishing to continue. I have no idea how long it will last, but up thru Christmas is not unrealistic.

Helpful Hint: When I am fishing winter conditions and I know there is a bunch of gear guys out, I prefer fishing black, blues, and purple. I figure all the florescent green and orange eating fish are caught.

Skykomish: 5,500 cfs. Mike was fishing the Sky early on, and it has the fish, but with the Skagit fishing so well, you don't leave fish to find fish.

Mike and I generally spend our days bouncing between the Skagit and the Stilly up through the holidays. The Skykomish River is a good winter steelhead flyfishing gig.

January: Look for details in our Skykomish Winter Steelhead Flyfishing School January 16, 17 or 18. Classes are already filling. Hmmm.

Popularity: My Papa once told me, "Son, you can't be successful in life without a few dogs barking at your heels". Sage advice. Mike, Jonathan & I have decided to let the others strive for popularity, (or an attempt to make others look unpopular). I am not going to swing at a pitch in the dirt. People are not dumb. They see right through the dribble. Me and my guides do fine, just fishing. I am not going to reduce myself to bad-mouthing others. If a few choose to do it. That's their problem.

Most people are great, and life is too short.

As we approach another winter steelhead season, you might want to review our Stories and Articles section. Many of the How-to articles I have written are specifically about taking winter steelhead on the fly.

Maybe I will see you on the river next week. Be sure to stop by and say hi.

Happy fishing, happy holidays.

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/30/03


"Holiday week"

Rivers came back to fishing shape thru Thanksgiving. Jumped back out, over the weekend, coming back, again. For some reason, I think we are going to be in for one of those roller coaster winters. I just pray the snows will stay up in the mountains where it belongs. Cool temperatures help.

Waters were in early the week, went out over the weekend, and dropping back, as we speak. Look for a couple feet of visibility, and fishable flows. The egg-sucking Cop Car, Black Bart, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport will be taking fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies are the drill.

Skagit: Flows hovered around the 10,000 cfs. I guess the good news is, there is plenty of water behind the dams.
Dollies are moving, Chums are spawning with a few new fish still moving in, while Coho continue to pass thru. Not perfect, but it works.

Sauk: Heaven help the Sauk.

N.F. Stilly: Today is the last day of the fly season for the North Fork. Won't be the numbers of old summer fish in Fortson this year, but the early winter steelhead appear to be up. Christmas is the timing for the bulk of the winter fish, if they are coming.

Skykomish: We had good fishable conditions for the Sky until Thanksgiving. River jumped pretty good, but should be falling in if the weather stays cool. This is the traditional time for all the winter boys to be out searching for the mystery winter steelhead. Dolly population seems to be climbing on the Sky. Thats good. Don't plan on being alone, though. Guys can take in only so many football games on TV.

Fishing our rivers is a matter of watching those weather patterns.

Our Steelhead & Salmon classes for this following weekend is the postponement dates of Dec 5, 6 or 7. Everything is a go, but watch for emails if we need to make an adjustment.

2004 Calendar:

Alaska Steelhead: May 1-15. Happy to send details for the serious.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead: March & April
We look to spend a good deal of time out on the coast again, this spring.

The Queets & beyond:
We have one of the few permits to guide in the Olympic National Park. The Queets is our trophy stream. The "Chosen" is our other pet waters. By April 1, we will gravitate to the traditional rivers around Forks. Some of the most popular streams there, are not particularly good flyfishing streams if you are looking to fish off your feet. Ask your guide if you are going to be wading or fishing out of the boat. Here's a timely article called Choosing a guide. Who to book a day with, who to look out for.

We are now in our holiday time. Here's wishing the best for you & yours.

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/23/03

"Holiday time"

Sometimes I really hate it when I am right. A week ago, the rivers were down and fishable. I remember fretting about the weather patterns pushing in off the coast. Those storms did hit and the rest was history.

The only real fishing this week, was up at the Jeff's ponds. These waters (west of Pass Lake) are spring fed, and as the lakes are protected, we were fishing. May only be trout, but at least we were fishing.

Mike, Jonathan and I got a chance to play catch-up, taking care of all the fix-its that accumulate over the course of guide year. Didn't like it, but needed to.

A good time for reflection:

Here is a recent letter Mr. Terry Nuzzo wrote to me about his fishing day with Mike.
Lovely letter, Thank you. Mike & Jonathan are the best things I have done for my business. I am lucky to have them.

Gone in a blink:

Our fall Steelhead & Salmon classes for this weekend were lost in the high waters. The good news/bad news: Even though all classes were full, not everyone can make the postponement dates of Dec 5, 6 or 7. If you wanted in, now is a good time to check on availability.

By class time: Look for the Chum and Coho to continue. Even more Dollies coming into play, and a better shot at winter steelhead. We will teach the same gig, but will accent the schools more to the Dolly/winter steelhead. Of course we will still demo our FLHS as well as our Yancy multi-tip systems. Yes, the trick flies, too.

This week:
Best bets are the Skykomish early in the week. Gold Bar to Monroe is the deal. Water looks good with a couple feet of visibility, and fishable flows. Black Bart, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport will be taking fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies both have their place.

Skagit is slow about coming in, but if the snow levels stay down, the Rockport to Marblemount area should fish by the end of the week. Try your dirty water flies. I like the Cop Car series, Black Bart, and the articulated boys. Dolly fishing should be very good.

North Fork Stilly: Waters are coming in. Last chance before the gear boys hit the river. Same flies and presentations as Skagit and Sky. If the water clears, maybe add Mrs. Black.

2004 Calendar:

Alaska Steelhead: May 1-15. Yup, we are headed up again this year.

Olympic Peninsula Steelhead: Mar 1-15 , April. Booking

Bonefishing Mexico: Jan 26-30 /February 2-6 Cool.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/16/03

"May be short lived"

Our guide week:
Monday the water was in. Mike fished the Stilly, Jonathan and I were off. Tuesday the rains hit, and all three of us were blown off our guide trips due to high water. Cold temps and dry weather brought the rivers backs, and Wednesday Mike fished his boys on the Sky, while Jonathan and I fished the Skagit and the Cascade Rivers. Thursday, Mike was off and Jonathan and I both fished the North Fork Stilly. Friday, all three of us fish the North Fork. Saturday, Mike stayed on the North Fork Stilly.

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

I wrote last week about the conditions of the post-flooding rivers. Looks like things are going to be a little different this week. We are scheduled for precip. but river flows will be a matter of how cold will it get. If the rain turns to snow in foothills, the rivers will stay in, (maybe). If the weather stays warm and rainy, count on rivers becoming unfishable. Watch your river levels (www.flyfishsteelhead.com) for that.

Skykomish: 2,390 CFS. @ Gold Bar The Sultan is kicking yuck, and water visibility is about 18". Silvers, Chums, Dollies, and even a bright winter hatchery steelhead. Look for pockets of fish, from Sultan to Monroe. If I don't see fish rolling and playing in pool, I move on.

Above the Sultan: River has shifted around a bit, but gravels look good. If you fish the good flywater, you should find the fish.

Sauk: No fishing. No visibility.

Skagit: 9,300 CFS. Low visibility and high water above Rockport has made fishing a large flies deal. The articulated leeches in Black, green, purple, pink and the Cop Car series, are good. Fishing is from Marblemount to Rockport. Lower river below the Sauk is a no go. Chums & Silvers, some beautiful Dollies coming out, and winter steelhead rumors.

NF Stilly: Boulder is still putting in some color but the cold weather has made the entire river fishable. Our target is steelhead and Dollies but all species can get in on the act. Release them gently.

Black Bart, Mrs. Black, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport are taking the North Fork fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies both have their place. Water is getting cold. Slow down your flies.

Jeff's Ponds
Didn't fish the private waters this week, but I have a gig on this coming Wednesday, let you know.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
All classes are full. If you didn't get (or can't find) your itinerary, no worries, just give me a holler. We have no problem filling a fly order and bringing it to the class.

Caution: We have no idea what this weather is going to do to our river conditions, this week. Watch for a late email for any school updates: Right now, everything is a go.

More Calendar:
*Look for a Skykomish Steelhead School in Mid January: No Dates set.
*Olympic Peninsula Spring Steelheading: Yes, we are booking for 2004

Bonefishing Mexico: Jan 26-30 /February 2-6
Can't wait. Ask us about the video.

Hard to say if we will be fishing by the week's end. Depends on the weather. But we are fishing, now.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/09/03

"May you live in interesting times"

Still getting used to all the post- flood changes:

Here is my synopsis: Best to worse.

Skykomish: Moved some pools around. Overall, very stable watershed. Very Ironic as it is the closest watershed to the city.

Stilly NF: Yup, it jumped around, but it does after every high water. Some pools are better, some are worse. It's a wash. Maybe a bit more wood in the water. Tricky floating, especially in sections above Deer Creek.

Skagit: Not since the 1990 flood, have I seen this much change on the Skagit. Turbidity & silt makes even the upper watershed in the Skagit a tuff gig. Below the Sauk.......forget it.

Sauk: Only the Deforest Creek slide on Deer Creek rivals the vast destruction on our once lovely Sauk. There are so many environmental events that would need to take place it is hard to even know where to start. We would need consecutive high waters to the flush the enormous amounts of silt and sand which have covered every bar and filled every pool from Darrington to the mouth. This is assuming the point source stops loading, and there is no guarantee, here. Bottom line: It's a mess. I don't foresee the Sauk to be back for a while. Sad.

Our time this week has been split between the Skykomish, Skagit, NF Stilly and our Private Lakes.

Sky: Good numbers of Chum, and even better numbers of anglers. Try fishing colors other than green. Our purple Micro Eggsucker is good in the clear water. High Bridge to Monroe has fish. Coho are also around. They like Mrs. Black when the water is clear and Cop Car when its dirty.

Skagit: Low visibility has made fishing large flies the gig. The articulated leeches in Black, purple, pink and Cop Car, are good. Fishing is from Marblemount to Rockport. Lower river below the Sauk is forget it. Chums & Silvers.

NF Stilly: Boulder is still putting in some color but the cold weather has made the entire river fishable. Interesting phenomena: It used to be, we never caught Searuns above Deer Creek. Oh sure, the occasional fish, but nothing consistent. Now we actually go out looking for them. They are on the BWO. Pretty cool. Some late summer steelhead around, too. Jonathan reports that one of his boys landed and taped a lovely 21" SRC above Hazel. Awesome!

Mrs. Black, Egg-n-Shuck, Micro Eggsucker(pink), and Chum sport are taking the North Fork fish. Dead drifting and swinging flies are the deal. Water is getting cold. Slow down your flies.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
All three days are full but always good to check on availability.

Bonefishing Mexico: Jan 26-30 /February 2-6

Us guys admit we spend too much time sneaking off on various fishing destinations. We would take the gals, but what would she do?

Our Mexico "Snorkels & Bonefish" (http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/myweb/mexico/hishers.htm)is a his & hers trip. Mike & I lead the boys off wading bonefish flats. My lovely wife escorts the womens off doing her favorite girly things. We did this last year and had a ball. Of course, these are custom packages so we always allow time for your sweetie to fish. Who knows? Maybe her first fish on a fly will be a Bonfish!
Totally cool!

Happy fishing into the holidays,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

11/02/03

"Right place, right time"

While I headed home after our Grande Ronde camp-outs, Mike stayed over to guide through the end of October. Here is what Lee had to say about his steelhead guide day with Mike. At 26 years old, the kid is scary good. Glad he is on my team.

According to Mike, the GR fished very well with moderate flows and good numbers of steelhead. Weather continued mild....... until the day Mike headed for home, then the arctic blast came in, and temperatures dropped like crazy. Blacks, blues, and purple leeches and woollybuggers on sinktips were getting it done.

Growing Pains: We are expanding. Some 90% of our 2003 GR anglers have already committed to return for our 2004 expeditions. The entire month of October in 2004 will be dedicated to the Grande Ronde steelhead.

If you thought all the fishing on the GR was at the river mouth, a wilderness float may be just what you are looking for.

Should you be interested, just drop me an email. Please specify if you would like more information on one of our multiple day Camp-outs, Wilderness Floats, or daily guide trips. Join a group, or organize your own. Happy to have you.

On the home front:

NF Stilly

Floated from Whitehorse bridge to Hazel. The effects of river flooding was only surpassed by the 1990 winter flood. This is extremely technical water, and unless your boating skills are exceptional, I wouldn't even try it. Sad.

Skykomish: Some changes, particularly in the Gold Bar to Sultan region, but seems to be intact. Should be business as usual. Chum salmon are in, and they like steelhead water, so there you go. Cop Car, and Black Bart are good Sky Chum chasers.

Sauk: I have been reluctant to float the Sauk. Reports to me, it may have been the hardest hit by the high waters. Scouring, sweepers, channel changes are all part of the gig.

Here is one for you. I thought 100 year floods were supposed to be an anomaly, Like every 100 years. Maybe we need to redefine heavy flooding. I will sojourn out on the Sauk this week. Update for next week's fishing.

Skagit: As dam controlled, the Skagit had the best chance to handle the heavy waters. (A dampening effect) Well, it was short lived and as the Dams filled to overflowing, it was all downhill from there.

A silver lining?

While the loss to Humpies and Chinook to the flood is devastating, the later returning Coho and Chum got a free pass card, and headed for home. River life will right itself, it always does. It just may take a while.

The cold weather has the rivers on the drop. Fishing is improving. It's the way it is.

We don't get large Chum returns on Humpy years. It has to do with the spring time competition of juvenile fry between Chums and Humpies, in the saltwater nursery areas. Flies & technique will be the same as last year.

As with many species, Chum can be very color and presentation conscience. The other day, Chum Sport ( a variation of Chum Candy) was the ticket for the Stilly Chums. Black Bart, Cop Car, and Micro Egg Sucker in pink was good for Skagit fish. That's my point. Some days all they want is cerise, other days it's green, or purple. Play the colors.

Presentation: One day they want it actively stripped, other times it has to be dead drifted or nothing......there you go.

You can see many of our trick flies at Streamsideflyshop.com http://streamsideflyshop.com/flies.htm. Mike should have his Fall Salmon Sampler out this week. (I promised him a few days off after a month's guiding on the GR.)

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
This is our multiple Species one day Schools that are so popular in our fall fishing. As we speak: (Please confirm by email before sending a deposit! Thanks.)
Friday: one slot
Saturday: Full
Sunday: two slots

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10/26/03

"Life turns on a dime"

In the aftermath of all the flooding, it is a small solace to know life goes on. It's the way it was, it's the way it is, it's the way it will always be. That's life.

As I have waited impatiently for north sound rivers to return to normal flows, Mike is giving me daily reports of fine fishing over on the Grande Ronde River. The GR continues to cool, but the fish and fishing remain consistent. Boys will fish surface presentations in the evenings, but swinging flies along the bottom during the day, is the gig. This what Rob B. had to say about his Grande Ronde experience.

Might as well keep an open mind.

Some rivers change little after high waters, some change a lot. Personally, I like some change, (gravel recruitment) but scouring and channel change is bad. I enjoy reading new water, and consider it to my fishing advantage. When you grow up on the Stilly and Sauk Rivers, you better get used to it, because they are going to change!

Anyway, now that the high waters are over, I will be out fishing again this week. Fishing should be good. Watch those river flows. The Skagit and Sky along with the upper North Fork above Boulder Creek will come in first, then the Sauk and the Lower Stilly. There are so many species available now. It is good to know each species preferred flies, lines, and holding water.

Presentation is the other key. The better you can understand a species, the better to get next to him.

If you are planning a float, be extra careful. There are going to be many channel changes as well as river obstacles. The first thing you teach your 16 year old daughter in driving is, "Now honey, don't stare out over the end of your hood, see what is coming up!" Such is running rivers.

Fall Season Flyfishing Schools Nov 21, 22, or 23
This is our multiple Species one day Schools that are so popular in our fall fishing. The Friday and Saturday classes are full (check for last minute cancellations) but Sunday still as some room. Love to have you.

Watch for Mike to put up our Fall Season Sampler which is a compilation of our best Dolly, Steelhead, Coho, & Chum Salmon flies by Nov. 1 at www.streamsideflyshop.com (Poor guy gets home the day before from the Ronde)

Hmmm..... The other day I was asked an age old question.

After 17 years of guiding in waters from Alaska to Mexico, I would have to say I probably spend half my guiding year, on the Skagit River and its' primarily tributary the Sauk. The other half is wondering around the Western Hemisphere. In 2003 I only put in a total of 23 days on the Stilly, against over 100 on the Skagit drainage.

I Still get the guy who asks, "I thought you pretty much just guide the North Fork of the Stilly?"

Mixed emotions: As the Stilly deals with "Suburbia" I guess I don't fish it like I did as a boy or even as a young guide, but I will always remember the stream, as it was. My home river.

Life indeed, turns on a dime.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10-19-03

" Fall is when the Grande Ronde River has her favorite dress on."

Still scrubbing the Eastern Washington dirt from under my nails. Jonathan and I just got back from the Grande Ronde Camp-outs.

Many Kudo's to all the guys and gals who joined us down on the GR this past couple weeks. Jonathan ran the camp, while Mike and I did the guiding gig. Far to many tales to tell. This is a Grande Ronde River synopsis I just received from my good friend and client Russ Nelson. Of course he didn't happen to mention the fact that he and buddy Mike Brown are both accomplished anglers.

My son Mike is still over there, running daily guide trips on the Ronde. He is booked thru the end of October.

A GR snapshot:

Days were warm and water was clear in early October. October Caddis were coming off and anglers did very well on our Crystal Caddis. Weather chilled, and temperatures dropped. More steelhead were coming but a little more reluctant about coming to the surface. We resorted to swinging sinktips and nymphing techniques. (No, we don't do bobbers...) Mrs. Black, and the Conehead series were very effective. We fished the surface in the dry fly water.
Leaches and buggers will always dredge up a fish as the water goes cold. I like blacks, blues and purple.

According to my numbers, our CPUE (catch per unit effort) was up this year. Another high note was the number of well conditioned wild fish we found. The number of "first caught steelhead" by our anglers was very gratifying.

From blitz to blizzard:

I really disdain the "How many/ How big" talk anglers get sucked into, sometimes. I will tell you; after a nice day of fishing, a few of our anglers really got into some active fish in one of our canyon pools. The very next day, Mike and I had the one day off of the whole time, so of course we went fishing. I won't go into detail but I will tell you, outside of a few days fishing Alaska tidewater, it was the fastest steelheading I have ever seen, (and that includes BC). To spend that magic morning on that one pool, with my son was priceless.

The weather was unsettled on many days, and to tell you the truth the warm days didn't return until the day before yesterday, but the fishing was good.
I will keep you posted on Mike's reports from the eastside.

Has it been raining?

I should have figured. It seems like every Humpy year we follow up the salmon return, with some serious high waters. Looks like the tributaries are going to get A Lot of Pinks this year, cuz that's where they will be spawning now!

Coho will be in, and early Chum are on their heels. If we can get this high water down, should be plenty of fish to go around, in the local rivers.

Speaking of salmon:

My sweet wife has been booking up all our fall steelhead/salmon/Dolly schools

The Nov. 21 & 22 schools are all but full so we are adding the 23rd too.
We had a great time in this class last year. Looking forward to it.

I have been fishing and guiding the GR since the late eighties, so each year going back, is like visiting an old friend. I have to admit though, it's nice to be home, too.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

Dickson Camp-out

10/12/03

"Just in time"

As you read this, Mike, Jonathan and I are running our multiple day camp-outs on the Grande Ronde River.

Flows are moderately low, temperatures are falling, and steelhead are swimming.
As we left the west side of the mountains, the Puget Sound rivers had already responded to the rain. I think we can say fall is turned the corner.

I love the fall. All nature is in a scurry, trying to ready for winter.

Fall is when:
The hatchery steelhead will transition back to their hatchery waters. Some anglers mistake this as another run of fall fish. It is more like they are "reorienting" from their imprinting waters back to the hatchery pools.

SRC can now shuttle their way up into their natal tribs. If we hit a dry spell after this pulse of water, look for fine tributary fishing for Searuns.

The Olympic Peninsula streams will get tons of SRC. Very good time to venture. Just have to watch for that dry spell. Did I mention the Coho?

Humpies are spawning

Dollies finally got their spawning water. They will be back lean, mean and hungry!
October is Coho Salmon time. Don't bother with the salt. The Silvers will be hell bent for home.

Look for destination areas, where fish are headed.

Desert steelhead are headed home: The east side hasn't seen the rain, but the cooler temperatures will move the fish. Dam counts are impressive. Looks like another fine year.

All our Grande Ronde camp-outs have been filled, seems like forever, but Mike has Oct. 22, & 24, daily guide trips, still available as we speak. Looking to spend a few days on the Grande Ronde?

A day with good flyguide will get you off on the right foot.

I wrote an article called Choosing a guide. Works for all waters, all the time.

Can I comment on that for a minute? Going into XYZ flyshop and looking for an endorsement for some OTHER guide service, is like going the Chevy dealership, asking about Toyota trucks. Most reputable guides will have some kind of Testimonial page, are a client referral list, you can check out. Do yourself a favor, talk to the people who actually fish him. Don't put the poor shop guy on the spot, when he himself may be looking for his next trip......

Fall Fish: SRC are here, Coho coming and Chum Salmon right behind them (with Dollies coming out of the tribs.) Special fish, specialty fishing.

Streamsideflyshop.com is dedicated to flies and equipment, specifically to different species. Look for Mikes Fall sampler by November 1. Right now he (and me) are stuck out on the Ronde. Our flies have descriptions of what species they fish.

My courageous wife Dawn, is holding down the bookings et al while we are gone.

Speaking of bookings: Our Steelhead/Coho/Dolly/Chum/ schools Nov. 21 or 22 are already filling. We had a ball last year, should be fun again. And you said winter fishing wasn't any fun!

Anyway, we are getting ready for another trip going out, back to the GR.

Best of fishing,
Dennis, Mike & Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

10/05/03

" Just another day on the pond"

As another Humpy season comes to a close, we say good-bye to the Pinks for another couple years. As we have been chasing them since the second week of August, you would think I would be tired of the Humpies by now. Not the way we fish them.

I try to reflect the collection of episodes being played out every day. So many guys, so many fish. I get a kick out of watching an angler come into the day, still trying to figure why he is standing there with his trout rod and a floating line, when Everyone is telling him, anything less than an 8 wt. and a sinktip, is just not going to get it done.

Instead of boring you with guide blather, here is a lovely letter I received from Rod. To set the tone: Our season was just under full swing, I still had a few openings in a couple of our group gigs. I think I titled the client newsletter "Skagit River gone Alaska". Here is Rod's reflections of the day.

Humpy days are in transition now. In another week or two, and the Skagit River will be taken over with spawning Pinks. All those fish crowding our pools will ripen, and fill the riffles with spawning fish. These are all wild salmon. Didn't cost us a thing. Just had to let them spawn. What a great concept.

If the early hatchery Coho are any indication, looks like the Silvers are going to have a good year. The Stilly has a bunch as does the Skagit and Snohomish in the lower rivers. Better take your heart medicine. The hatchery Coho are so-so biters at best, and they can drive you nuts. Fish jumping and playing all around you. Almost makes you want to fish with a net. Heck, I probably have more guide notes on lower river Coho than I do any other species. One day you will nail them, the next day with the same conditions, you don't get squat. The keys to the game seem to be: avoid the crowds (fishing pressure knocks them off the bite) fish an incoming tide in the lower rivers, and concentrate on wild fish. Wild Coho, as in most salmonid species, are much better biters than the hatchery pukes.

If this rain happens, look for SRC to squirt up into the tributaries. These little waters that are open will have some of the finest small river fishing of the year, because generally only the spawning sized SRC will make the final run. Fall colors, big SRC in small streams, pretty cool.

Me? Mike and I finish up a couple guide days on the Skagit, and head over to the Grande Ronde River in mid week. Gee, not like I look forward to that! I will only stay over to do the camp-outs thru October 20. Mike will handle daily guide trips from Oct. 20 until the first of November.

Flies: He still has a few Grande Ronde Samplers, left.(www.streamsideflyshop.com). These are our own pet fly patterns for the Grande Ronde, Deshutes, and Methow River steelhead.

Yancy & Brent Carlson are headed for BC to fish the K. and the Bulkley. Crystal Caddis, GR, and Mrs. Black are just a few of the flies they will be packing up. Mike and I will fish the Dean & Bulkley with the boys next year. Just have to work it around our guiding schedules!

If you get a chance, check out Surface Flies For Steelhead. I know if it sounds uppity, but once you get your confidence up for raising steelhead, I swear it will make sinktipping feel like trolling. Try it, you will love it.

We are getting asked already if we are planning to do our annual Dolly/Chum/Coho/Steelhead school this Fall. Yup!

Haven't nailed down all the details yet, but we have booked out

| Nov 21 & 22 for the daily schools. (Cost $150.)

Have a lovely fall.

Best of fishing,

Dennis, Mike, and Jonathan

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/28/03

"And a river runs through it"

Won't blow you any smoke, the local rivers are full of Pink Salmon. Not like that is any astounding news. Chinook salmon are spawning, Dollies are trying to. Silvers are entering rivers, SRC are congregating around their natal stream mouths, and more Humpies than you can count. Does my heart good to see our streams full of fish. Did I tell you fall is my favorite season? Busy but beautiful.

I could give you my 2 cents on why we are getting fish back to our rivers (has to do with economics) but you don't need my blather.

No small mystery Mike and I have been camped out on the Skagit River. Been there since the first of September. Our last trip is on Oct 8, and Oct 9 we head for the Grande Ronde River for fall steelheading.

We don't use a lot of superlatives about our Skagit fishing. I love the guy who came out the other day.

"Dennis, I was trout fishing the other day and I fished hard until dark for one little 12" trout. Is today going to be like that?" He questioned.

"Well, no, probably more like Alaska". I answered. It was.

Toshi is a wonderful, unassuming kind of guy. I think he has been out on about every type of flyfishing school, I have ever offered. I am lucky to call him my friend. This is an anecdote about teaching his wife to flyfish the Skagit. It's pretty funny.

"Dennis,

I took my wife out for Skagit Pinks yesterday. She never fly fished (we tried, but

she always ended up reading a book or taking a nap while I fished), let alone she never caught a fish in her life. I showed her where to stand, where to cast (she can master about 30'), and how to retrieve the fly, just as you showed me how. She was into a fish after a few casts. We had our 2 years old son with us, so we could not stay as log as we wanted. But about little over an hour of fishing. she hooked six fishes and landed four. Needless to say she was a happy camper. There were many people fishing including over a half a dozen fly fishers. And I think you get a kick out of this. There she was my wife, who can barely cast a 30', splashing and snapping a fly on her back cast, one out of two of her forward cast looks more like pile of fly line than a cast. Yet she was into fish consistently. A fly angler 50 yard up steam from us was swinging double handed rod, making beautify 80 ' cast, but never hooked a fish while we were there. Almost everybody was standing where we were fishing, and casting into the fast current. I think the double handed rod guy got a little irritated by the look he gave us every time my wife hooked a fish. I don't blame him either, since every time she hooked a fish she get excited and yelled, and then our son get excited and screamed "fish, fish, fish." A couple boys down stream from us got observant, and start watching what my wife was doing and listening what I was saying to my wife, and they start catching also. I guess this is the reason I like to fish with you, I learn. How do I know I learned something? For one thing, I start catching more and consistently on my own. But the best indicator is that if I can teach someone else into fish with confidence why and how, then I consider I learn something what you taught me.

Thanks Dennis!
Toshi"

Holy Shnikies! Have you seen all the October Caddis coming off. My wind shield hasn't looked like that since fishing the Snake at Jackson Hole, during a 4th of July, Salmonfly blizzard, this summer. Summer steelhead, Dollies and SRC will be all over them. October Caddis, Muddlers and Stimulators get it done. Crystal Caddis is my favorite O.C. pattern, for surface steelhead.

As the Grand Ronde River is just around the corner, take a few and check out The Grande Ronde and Mrs. Brown. This is my fall favorite fall stream.

Many thanks:

To all the anglers who have joined us this last month.

To the guys Mike & I have met. Some really great guys while camped on the river who stopped by just to say hello.

To the patience of all the emails and phone callers while we were happily stuck out in the bush.

To my lovely wife who endures all.

Best of fishing,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/20/03

"Old Friends"

I used to think guiding was all about the fish. Then I decided was about pretty fish in pretty places. After more years than I care to remember, I have finally come to the conclusion, its about friendships.

Mike and I have just concluded another week. Pretty fish, fun fishing, and stunning fall colors. But mostly its about spending time with people we care about over the years. That's the good stuff.

I think it would be really hard to describe a single incident, as the highlight of the week. Rains have returned (at least for our side of the mountains. Anadromous fish are swimming, life is good.

As I mentioned last week, great time to think outside the box. Along with about a gazillion Humpies swimming thru, the saltwater beaches are showing more and more Silvers now. Clousers, Shrimp and baitfish imitation patterns will get it done.

SRC are moving into the river systems (dodging all that crap being thrown at them). Spiders to Royal Wulfs are getting it done. Staging time at tributary mouths are good bets to find them.
Stilly is the Stilly. Same OLE Same OLE.

Sauk is finally starting to clear with the cool weather. You can find quality fishing below the Sauk/ Skagit confluence, again. Yeah!

Skykomish/ Snohomish: Look for some tributary steelhead fishing as the water cools and rises. About Time!

Grande Ronde is our October fishing. Hope a little of this rain gets over there. Early Oregon fish are starting to show. Looking forward to that.

Fall is falling, life is good.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/14/03

"Think out of the box"

Mike and I spend most our river days, guiding. No mystery there. Schools are kind of fun, and we try to schedule something about a weekend a month. In my world there is steelhead and then there is everything else, that's me. Most schools and guide trips are some kind of combination of steelhead and some other species. I think the best of guiding is seeing old friends, again. We are really looking forward to a fine fall.

I tell my anglers every day I guide, I try to accomplish one of two things:

1)Learn something new or

2) reinforce something I have known. Personally I think we anglers have a hard time getting better, because we don't attempt to think outside the box.

Case-in-point:

It used to be Mike & I would flyfish Pink Salmon with sinktip lines. Still do on occasion, but fishing the floating lines will not only find the more aggressive fish, it is just a lot more fun, and you just don't snag one. We moved to bobber fishing (excuse me, indicator fishing), and then to greaselining them in the surface. Finally, we began skating flies for Pinks, and still do when conditions are right. (it is my favorite method, because it is my preferred for steelhead.)

The other day, I stumbled into a new wrinkle on accident. I put my guy over a quiet pool, and before I could explain how to skate his fly to the fish, he did what he always does back home in Montana. He dead drifted the dry over the fish. I was about to open my big mouth, when this pretty little hen Humpy lifts up and eats the fly, before I could say anything. Don was happy, I was stunned. Fortunately, I was smart enough, not to say anything. He rose three fish in that pool. All on dead drifted dries. Hmmm.....

You can believe or not, that's up to you. I have already built some new experimentals to fish next week. I don't divulge patterns, but I am just pioneering here, too. Experiment.

Stilly onslaught:

Stilly got it's rain, and the river is full of fish. It is pretty cool to watch the SRC guys slip in and around the shadows chasing some lovely Searuns, while everyone else is in Humpy Mania. My most favorite fly this year is a rolled Muddler with a cone head. Try it, it's awesome! Water is clearing and cooling. Move around to avoid the zoos.

Saddens me to see so many guys throwing crap that everyone knows is going to snag. If we can have every restriction know to man on the Stilly North Fork, can't we at least try a hook restriction in the mainstem? The stilly Coho is a stunning fish, but the hatchery fish are poor biters. Wild fish won't be until later. I think the river should go C&R Oct. 1 to protect these wild Silvers.....but that is just me. Try flies in Orange/white or black/white. It is nice to see people out enjoying our waters.

Skykomish & Snohomish River:

Haven't been over there, but I hear there are a bunch of fish. Same flies and techniques should work. Just find some quiet fish.

Skagit River, top to bottom:

Lower river has enough visibility to enjoy some great fishing below Lyman. Upper river opens for Humpy kill on Monday the 15th, so I expect more pressure up there. Not sure why someone would want to eat one up there. Some Silvers are showing, and few steelhead are around. SRC is hanging around now in the lower river. Chinook are upriver spawning now and that is pretty cool. Lots of Humpies, of course.

Mike and I will fish locally until October 6th, and then off to the Grande Ronde. Mike is fishing the GR until Oct 30, but I will head home after the camp-outs, to fish the North Sound rivers, again.

Life is tuff, but I guess someone has to do it.

Best of fishing my friend,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9/7/03

Stilly Tidewater, Humpy gets his respect.

So how would you like your Humpy? We have your saltwater beach fishing: We had a really fun gig out in the San Juan Islands. Totally cool. Locals think you are an idiot to actually be flyfishing their beaches, and for Humpies? What the heck you want those things for? Humpy Killers, Pink/White Clousers, and Humpy Chasers all were doing it. Did I ever tell you how badly I hate Buzz Bombs?

Maybe the saltwater beaches are not your gig. The Tidewater show: can be nothing short of spectacular when, when winds, tides and evening shadows all come together.

Local sports writer told all about the hot fishing in the lower Stilly in the local rag. Unfortunately, he was right. There are Humpies everywhere. Finding a piece of quiet water to fish them, now that can be another story.

We just finished a couple days of our popular Tidewater Schools. Let me say thanks for all the guys who participated. I think I can speak for Mike as well as myself, "It was our pleasure".

The good on the good: It would have been enough, just to have the Pink Salmon, coming in droves, (didn't say they were always easy to catch!) but the Searun Cutthroat are doing well too. Size is down a little. All your traditional SRC patterns work. Until the waters cool (this rain?) look for them in the snaggy areas along side a good riffle. They need the oxygen. No, I think the real bonus is the Tidewater Coho coming in. Many of these are hatchery Silvers, and can drive you crazy as a poor biter, but enough of them do, and they will kick your but# when it happens!

I wrote an article on Flyfishing Pacific Salmon in Freshwater, that Chris S. has published on his site, that shows off one these bad boys, http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/columns/flyfishing_salmon.htm. We chase the wild tidewater Coho in late October, when we return from the Grande Ronde. They are a great biter.
Read why.

You will hear a lot of talk about which flies will take Silvers in freshwater, but my favorites are the # 6 green/white Clouser, the same one I use for SRC beach fishing, and my all time favorite is a GR pattern we call "Mrs. Black". (Members Only fly) Warning: Presentation is everything.

So there you have the Stilly tidewater fishing. Humpies, Silvers, and SRC all in the same trip. With the dark weather finally moving in, if that river raises even an inch, the river is going to go stupid with fish. Does my heart good to see people having fun. For you solitude seekers (like me), move around. The quiet water is still there.

Now I am going to ask you three things in your fishing.

1) Be courteous, the guy next to you may not have your ethics, but he is just trying to have fun, too. Let's not promote flyfishing as total snobbery.
2) If there is a question about crossing somebody's private property, Ask, never assume.
3) Nothing shuts down fishing access faster than slobs leaving their trash, pack something out.

Enough said.

Mike and I will be busy for the next month chasing these salmons, SRC, and even the odd steelhead kicking around.

October Steelhead: Thanks to all who are lined out for our Grande Ronde steelhead camp-outs and daily guide trips. Looks like another special season.

Oh, Mike has his Grande Ronde Sampler with our favorite GR patterns including Mrs. Black, GR, and even Crystal Caddis in this set. Check it out at our on-line Proshop at Streamsideflyshop.com

Life is tuff, but I guess somebody has to do it. After seventeen years as a full time steelhead flyfishing guide, I still can't imagine doing anything else.

Release them gently,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

9-1-03


"Oh Dear"

Mistake #1

I have been toying with doing a Saltwater school for some time. Even though my eternal pursuit will always be in steelhead, I enjoy all types of flyfishing. Saltwater beaches became a natural.
So I see a window in my calendar a couple months ago, looks a like a perfect weekend, I slot out and begin outlining a Saltwater School for the weekend of August 29 & 30. I hold my saltwater beaches sacred, so I didn't even advertise it on my website. Only by client newsletter to a selected few. (not to be confused with the Tidewater school coming up next weekend.) I assumed Labor Day weekend was the following weekend. I assumed wrong.

Mistake # 2, or "It's not my fault".

My good friend runs another website. I check in on occasion. Somebody inquires about Skagit Humpies so I read it. Some GUY answers back, describing in full description including directions, how to get to get to a beach we were planning to fish first thing school morning!

The set up:
So we go there anyway. (Jonathan, and I fished it a few days previous. There was like four guys on the whole beach.)

The Friday school comes. We walk into the "jam show". Guys everywhere, but half where throwing Buzz Bombs, so you figure they probably weren't reading a flyfishing report.

Anyway, so me and my little group of six manage to find some beach, and we kind of huddle off by ourselves (the best we can). It was a perfect tide on a great morning, so we started fishing right off the get-go. We will lecture later.

A Flyboy (who I didn't know) walks up and asks, "You conducting a flyfishing school?" No introduction, no nothing. Sounds more like an accusation.

I look down the beach at some 150 guys. Oh dear, Hope he didn't think all these guys were mine.....Oh well.

It was really good to see my friends in this school. Some were coming back in a few weeks to fish the Skagit with us, others were anticipating the Grande Ronde Camp-outs. These are the guys I live for. Thanks for coming boys! Thanks too, to Paul. He took some stunning photos. Holler at me if you made this trip and want a photo attachment sent.

Mike is playing on a house boat in Lake Shasta, as we speak. We both have been fishing the local rivers last week. Flies & lines are all the usual.

Fishing is good.

Our Tidewater schools (September 5 & 6) are full. We have done these the last couple years and have had a good time with that. If you are lined up, but lost or didn't receive your itinerary, just say so. We will fix you up.

As I mentioned, all our Grande Ronde Camp-outs are full for 2003. If you think you might be interested in this steelhead trip, we have begun a waiting list for next year. Happy to have you.
Our Grande Ronde River daily guide trips are scheduled from are from Oct 20 >30. Prices start at $150/angler day. Happy to send itinerary of trip. Flies and fly outfits are included, of course. (Space limited)

If you are off to pursue desert steelhead, Surface Flies For Steelhead, is a good read. Mike runs our virtual Flyshop. If you have any equipment questions or needs, you can contact him at, www.streamsideflyshop.com

Days are getting shorter, nights are cooling. Fall is here.

Best of Fishing,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8-24-03

"It's that time"

Just returned from a few days out at Neah Bay. Did some damage on Green/white and Pink/white Clousers in the rips, but a weather front moved in and chased us up the straits to Sekiu. We could fish with flies in the surface at first light, but as the sun hit the water, the bait went down. So did the salmon. We ended up fishing our heaviest lines, hooking Silvers and Pinks to 40 feet of water. The Neah Bay digger flat gets it done. Pink flies were the ticket here.

I think the funniest episode was fishing an elderly gentleman, Bob. He had this ancient Sears & Roebuck kind of rod as a back-up. (His good rod was stolen right out of our boat at Big Salmon Resort) (Another story)

Anyway, so it is bright out and we are doing a variation of Fly mooching, using the boat to allow the fly to go almost right down, then bringing it up, and Bob's rod really goes down. I mean this fish buries it! Pow! the rod snaps right above the cork, and the salmon is still on. He grabs the forward portion of the rod with both hands and I take the severed rod handle and reel and we do this duo of him fighting this hot fish, stripping it like a Montana trout, and I take up the slack as he works it in, and give up the line on the runs. I run the reel, Bob handles the rod. We started laughing so hard we almost blew the hook-nose, but we landed it somehow.

Bottom Line: Tons of Silvers and Humpies all through the straits. Get your fly in front of them. It's a slam dunk.

Back at home:

Yuck! The Suiattle is running the color of Mauve soup, messing up all the downriver pools, not only in the Sauk, but almost to tidewater on the Skagit. Cool weather tones it down, and hot weather pukes it out. Mike was forced to fish way up above, or almost down in the salt.

Standard flies are working for the Humpies & Dollies, so that is that. The Humpy Killer is a good tidewater fly. Mike & I will be bouncing from the Saltwater beaches to Tidewater to upstream, depending on water conditions, this week. I enjoy them all.

Our Tidewater schools look to book out early. September 6 has couple slots. The focus on this class is SRC, but we will cover the salmons too.

Brian wrote a nice tribute about Dickson Flyfishing. Thank you very much.

As I mentioned, all our Grande Ronde Camp-outs are full for 2003. If you think you might be interested in this steelhead trip, we have begun a waiting list for next year. Happy to have you.

Our daily guide trips from Oct 20 >30. Prices start at $150/angler day.

October Dates: 10-20 2 slots, 10-23 3 slots 10-29 & 30 3 slots

Happy to send itinerary of trip. Flies and fly outfits are included, of course.
Is it really that time again? Blackberries are ripe, Transparent Apples are falling, must be SRC time again.

Best of Fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8-17-03

"Humpy heaven"

You can take your pick. Now we have flyfishing along our beaches. Whidbey Island is my choice. Fish it small and keep it pink. Tidewater fisheries are happening. Dollies, Pinks, and SRC are all about the show. I think the fish have given up on the illusion of a rain, they are coming anyway. Snohomish. Stilly and Skagit systems all have fish. Tidal changes are the best action.

Looks like I will head out for one more Neah Bay foray, before settling in the river scene. Mike will continue fishing local waters. He is having way too much fun.

The rivers are moving a good number of Dollies. This wild Char is a fall spawner, and a real shining light, in the local fisheries.

Summer hatchery steelhead is as about as bad this year as it was good last year. Go figure. The good news is, the Columbia Tributary steelhead are moving thru in great numbers. Guess some of those fish are headed for the Grand Ronde. Our Camp-outs are all full, but Mike and I have decided to stay over and run daily guide trips from Oct 20 - 30. We still have a few dates left. If you haven't fished the GR, you should. I will post any openings next week.

Tidewater School for Sept: 5 or 6

We have had a great response for this SRC/ Multiple salmon species class.

I love tidewater fishing and this one looks like a dandy. (space limited)) I will post any available slots next week.

If you get a minute, read Guides & Hats. It is a funny little satire, only a fishing bum can truly appreciate.

Nights are cooling, leaves are turning in the foothills, and the fish are swimming. Just doesn't get much better than that.

Best of Fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/10/03

"It's that time"

Some guy grumbles, all we did were hero pictures, holding fish. So we stopped doing that. Other guys started complaining they knew we were catching fish, but we weren't showing any. Ok, so now we are back.

I got so excited the other night. It actually rained for a couple hours. Got up the next morning and we were so far out of saturation, there wasn't even a mud puddle. It is raining now. I think fishermen naturally complain, anyway, but the Pacific Northwest lives on precip. Heres hoping it comes gently.

Does look like we are in for a change of weather, that's good.

Mike and I continued to play from the salt chuck beaches to the lower rivers this week. More Pinks showing all the time. Dollies continue to migrate to their fall spawning grounds, Searuns are staging, and summer steelhead are still poking along. Life is good.

I like the ocean fishing at Neah Bay. (Watch for the hook-nose at Sekiu in September) Try trolling and casting Baitfish poppers. It's a hoot! I love the Whidbey Island and Hood Canal Beaches, estuaries of the Snohomish. Stilly & Skagit Rivers (incoming tide fishing best). We will continue upstream as rivers get that rain, (I hope) and on we go. And you said we weren't going to have any fun. As you well know. Our 60 some fly patterns found at streamsideflyshop.com originate from our fishing in our local waters. If you have any questions on what is what, you can drop Mike an email thru his site.

Humpy patterns. Humpy Cherise is found onsite. Humpy Chaser is located on the Members only page. Our Humpy Skater pattern is a dry fly for Pink Salmon. This fly is like beyond Cop Car. We don't give them up. Almost every other fly is on site, but not this one! I won't tell you clients have to snip it off at the end of the trip, but we don't sell them. You have pet patterns too, right?

Flyfishsteelhead.com Why share guide secrets is an article you might find interesting.
Due to popular demand. We have now added a Tidewater School for Sept: 5 or 6
Lots of guys are fishing the beaches. Many more fish the rivers. We can have awesome river/estuary fishing, particularly when the rivers are low & slow. Tidewater fishing is cool. May be the last frontier.

Grande Ronde Steelhead: October

The Bad: All our camp-outs for 2003 are full.

The Good: We have now added some guide days for the later 10 days of October. Mike & I still have few prime dates left. If they are not taken in the next couple weeks, I will post the openings.

Leaves on the Vine Maple are starting to turn. Big leaf Maple will be next. Fall is coming, I hope I am ready.

Best of Fishing,

Dennis

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

8/3/03

"Go with the flow"

Fishing continues at Neah Bay. Coho rips are good and the Humpies are definitely in the game. Most anglers do not realize Pinks generally travel in the top five feet of the water column. They slap on their weights or down rigger, and fish below the salmon. A floating or intermediate line is all you want. Find the school and you are golden. As with any schooling fish, if you realize you are in them, try to stay to the outside of the seam, and fish the edge of the school. You will catch a lot more fish and you won't put them down. You can play the colors as long as it is pink. I fish smaller rather than bigger, I fish sparser, rather than bulky patterns. Pink/white flies are golden, especially in the fog. Look for Coho and Pinks playing in rips off Wada Island, and Garbage Dump. Fish the surface.

Spent a few days in Hood Canal, fishing local Haunts from the Skokomish River estuary down to Quilcene Bay. Hot weather warms the low tide waters and pushes the bait and salmon out from the beach until the salmon feel freshwater. The cooler temps, the last few days have helped. Found SRC stacked huge one morning, off a local stream. Caught a handful with surface dries, then switched to a tiny baitfish pattern I call "Chum Fry" and absolutely crushed them. It has been a long time since I was able to stand in one spot, and release over 20 ocean bright SRC.
Some were dandies, too.

Anyway, fishing was volatile this week, and will remain so, until we get that bloody rain. Seems like the whole world is waiting for the rain.

River Fishing is all about finding cool, quiet waters. If you thought all the rivers are running too warm, you are wrong, many (OK, most are), but there are some notable exceptions. Only problem is, many of the cool rivers are glacial fed, so the visibility is shot. Pays to poke around.

The Dolly/Bulls are on the move, but the Suiattle River is kicking some major silt so you might want to fish in the Darrington area, or Rockport upstream, on the Skagit.

The tidewater pinks are starting to show in the lower Stilly, Snohomish, and Skagit, but so far I would stick to the saltwater. Tidewater beaches will only get better as salmon stage.

Pray for that rain,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/27/03

Fresh & Saltwater:

Well, let's see. Maybe we should start with the saltwater.

Neah Bay:

Kings are happening again on the ocean side, but I do not like fishing ocean kings, so I hunker back and amuse myself with the Silvers & Pinks playing in rips off Wada Island, and Garbage Dump. I have written tons about the flyfishing so just let me say; the fish are in. Hot weather always means coastal fog, so come prepared.

Speaking of Pinks: Humpies may be the most user friendly of the salmon lot do to their habit of cruising in large tight schools within the top five feet of the surface, near shore.

I love wading beaches with my 5 wt. and the Floating Line Head System. I won't get into reading water and presentation, but if you treat the salt like a river, and the presentation pretty much the same as river fishing, you are going to get Pinks. These guys are made for beach fishing. Be courteous of private property. If there is a question about where you are fishing....ask.
If you thought Cop Car was a secret, you ought to see our Pink flies, jeez.

River Fishing is all about finding cool, quiet waters. If you are into the creek fishing, now is the time to head out. Sauk Drainage has tons.

The Dolly/Bulls are on the move, but the Suiattle River is kicking some major silt so you might want to fish in the Darrington area, or Rockport upstream, on the Skagit.

The tidewater pinks are starting to stage in the lower Stilly, Snohomish, and Skagit, but so far I would stick to the saltwater. Watch for that freshet. Yeah, as if that is going to happen, anytime soon.

Life is good, fishing is good, just have to mix it up, a little.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/20/03

"Here today, gone to Maui"

A few weeks ago, I was up in the Kamloops region, chasing trout. Last week found me traveling around eastern Idaho,Washington, Montana, and the Yellowstone region of Wyoming. Canada was all about lakes, but in this last gig, all I fished was streams. I poked around spring creeks such as the Salt River, for cutthroat and browns. My wife Dawn and I fished an amazing stonefly hatch on the Snake below Palisades Dam for more cutthroat. Jackson Hole is Jackson Hole, and the water was high, so we had to revert to nymphs along the bottom, but we still had fun. All in all, I am officially trouted out for a while, but a wonderful diversion from chasing steelhead. Mike of course, was running all the guide trips as well as his virtual flyshop
Speaking of steelhead, we are just finishing up our 6th annual Stilly Steelhead Schools. Again, want to thank all those who came out. If you don't have your promised lecture notes by next weekend, give me a holler.

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

On a happy note: Indications are good for a big Pink Salmon return. Saltwater reports are looking up. Coho are showing at Neah Bay. A really fun fishery, and a great change of scenery. If you are planning on going out, check out my article called Neah Bay. We also have some of our trick flies online at Streamsideflyshop.com My personal all around favorite cast-n-retrieve flies year in and year out, has got to be the Clouser brothers. Green & White for Coho and Pink & white for Pinks and Coho. We tie ours a little smaller and sparser than many shops. I think it gives a better action, as well as a better imitation of the candlefish.

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

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

In the mean time: SRC are beginning to stage around river mouths. Need that rain. Dollies have really taken over the show on many of our north sound watersheds. Hatchery steelhead are down, but wild summer steelhead have shown in surprising numbers. Just have to think outside the box.

A few years ago, my webmaster Sandy, (who owned an Oregon based flyshop) and I wrote an article titled, Flyshops are not created equal. Having said that. It is my opinion, that if you get less than satisfactory service from whatever business, don't brood about it, you may have just caught them on a bad hair day. If it really bothers you, simply take your business somewhere else. Life is too short.

Enjoy your summer, the rains will come when they do.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/13/03

Summer steelhead

Well, as Dennis is taking some time off playing in Jackson Hole and harassing the surrounding rivers I am at home doing the work. Doesn't feel like work right now.

I would rate our fishing this week as excellent. Had to get a little tricky and fish some different water though.

We fished the good clear water spots in the early morning and went to the lower vis water later. In the clear water we tied on a Mrs. Black and hooked a nice summer fish that eventually broke us off. Dirty water was black and Cop Car.

Looks like we may get a little rain. May get some fish to move on the skinny rivers.

Chased some cutts on the lower stilly last week. Looking forward to doing that again later next week. The Royal wolf was our hottest fly last year. Didn't get any steelhead to rise but the water fished good.

It's a good time to get outside even if you don't throw some line.

See ya on the river,

Mike D

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

7/6/03

"Careful what you wish for."

I am never going to complain about a rainy June, again. I figured I have seen pretty much all the local scene has to offer, but this low water deal is really something. The good news is, it has forced me to fish in places, I have meant to, for years.

This is what I know:

Skykomish River @ Gold Bar: 1,960 CFS Steelhead filter in, better fishing in the upper river. Wild fish beginning to show. Need rain.

Skagit River @ Marblemount: 5,500 > 6,500 CFS Water visibility 6', Dollies & Kings, few steelhead. Fish throughout system.

Stilly NF 520 CFS Steelhead remain in lower system, few Kings to Fortson. SRC beginning to show. Huge Dollies in a few pools. Water is very clear above Hazel slide. A rain would bring in more fish.

Sauk River: 3,400 CFS. Water Visibility 3', Dollies from mouth to the Whitechuck.
Story: I think one of the funniest episodes I have witnessed in some time happened the other day.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stilly NF Steelhead School: July 18, 19, or 20th. All our classes are full. Thanks for joining. If you weren't able to get into this class, contact me for our next or if you would like to put together one of your own group.

Our next schools will be later this fall.

Neah Bay silvers are just around the corner. Humpies will also be in the fray. If you are thinking about heading out, check out our how-article Neah Bay. Yup, Mike even has some of our pet patterns at www.streamsideflyshop.com

"Popular is nice, but we would rather be good."

Best of fishing,
Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/29/03

"Rain?"

As I go over the USGS river gauging it sounds more like September than July 1. Due to the unseasonably nice June weather, our Cascade Mountains snow pack has gone to zip. Rivers have moved to summer low.

Actually, I am hoping to jinx myself, and bring in the rain. We could use it. But then......

The Skagit at Marblemount: 5,000 - 7,000 CFS. Nice flow Water very clear above the Sauk confluence. Hearing of a few upriver Dollies.

Skykomish River at Gold Bar: 3,160 CFS. A few steelhead in the Reiter Ponds area, some wild fish starting to show. Nice to get a pulse of water, to bring the 2 salt hatchery fish in. We have left Skykomish guiding until August 1.

Stilly NF: 643 CFS. The 2 salt steelhead are moving in, just in time for our 5th annual Stilly Steelhead School. (More on that). The low water conditions don't sound like much for the upper river, but the fishing in the Deer Creek to Arlington area is picking up every day. We got spoiled last year, but this summer appears to have the makings of a good fishing season. We will see.

The Deer Creek steelhead are also coming in. Both Traditional wet flies such as the Green Butt Skunk & GR, and dries like our Crystal Caddis, Rusty and Orange Bombers are golden, now. If you were looking to try out that FLHS, this is the time to do it. Mikes two clients even got into some SRC yesterday. (We often take a small pulse of SRC that come in with the first salmon run). Our # 8 Steelhead Royal Wulf, was the ticket.

Jeff's Ponds: Josh fished the lakes for the last time for the summer, last week. They did very well on a #16 tent-winged Caddis, black.....but he says it's time. No reason to stress the fishes. We will be back as the water cools this fall.

Stilly NF Steelhead School: July 18, 19, or 20th. Our 5th annual school is upon us. Here is the status as we speak:

Friday: Full (Standby status)
Saturday: Pos. two openings pending deposits
Sunday: Two openings

Because you asked:
Hey, check out our new 1/2 day Summer Steelhead Guide Trips. These will be offered July 15 - August 30. NF Stilly. Should be fun.

I would never say, "we have the only flies, lines, or techniques for catching steelhead", but if you're stuck, check us out, we do it every day.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/22/03

"And it's the running and the screaming!"

Fishing continues on the local scene.

Not a lot of fish in, but not a lot of rod pressure, either. Here is the scoop.

Skagit River: River is still in full runoff. Water visibility is 5 feet. Dollies and SRC are around but mostly in estuary waters. (Illegal to fish for Dollies in the salt chuck.) Baitfish patterns and such like Dickson's Candlefish, sculpin, Chum Fry, and green/white Clouser minnows are good. Incoming tides best.

Sauk River: Cool weather has brought the Sauk back. Sauk has a small number of wild summer run steelhead, but more of an incidental fish. There will be some lovely small stream fishing later this summer above the anadromous fish blocks. Dollies will be heading up while last years fish are heading down. Bull trout will just hang around. Pretty cool but the Suiattle glacial till can wipe out the middle/lower river on any warm spell. Streamers best, but all the trout and char will get onto the hatches, too.

Skykomish: Water is perfect for a High Bridge to Sultan gig.......but don't expect a lot of summer steelhead, yet. One of Mike's boys hooked a dandy 3 salt steelhead yesterday, but the smaller two salt steelhead which will make up the majority of the population is just trickling in. If you are not accustomed to fishing clearwater tactics, better stick to fishing early and late. Haven't seen a wild summer Sky fish, yet. Watch for 2 salt hatchery fish to come in on the next high water after the July 4th.

Surface fishing: Long leaders, floating shooting heads (our FLHS) and long leaders to 3x G max fluorocarbon. Riffle hitched wets, Crystal Caddis, Rusty Bombers can all catch fish, but its the wild steelhead that really get it done.

Subsurface: Wetfly swing with multi-tips is the most consistent producer when you are searching for few fish because the hatchery fish are reluctant to come to the surface but both wild and hatchery steelhead will stop flies skimming over the stones. Line presentation of "low and slow" doesn't go away. Use clear water tactics.

Stilly: Summer low. Where Mike has been abusing the Sky fish, I have been guiding around the N.F. Stilly as well as the Skykomish. Chinook salmon are moving in. Steelhead tend to get pushed to heads and tail-outs when the Kings move in, so fish accordingly. If you fish above the Hazel slide, you are already into low water tactics. Summer Steelhead-North Fork Strategies as well as Surface Flies For Steelhead are both good reads. We have already gone to smaller flies for the season. The purple Conehead as well as the green/black Conehead are taking fish. Bubbleheads, bombers, and Crystal caddis can move the Deer Creek summer steelhead.

The other day: One of the boys spotted a nice fish down below a log, dropped a large Stonefly nymph to him. Steelhead wolfed it down, and shot off downstream......but the next pool wasn't for some 300 yards! We were all pretty tired by the time we could catch up. Reminds me of fishing with Steve out on the O.P.

Story: I was fishing a fine gentleman from Austria out on the Olympic Peninsula for five days, a couple of summers ago. We fished some pretty streams. Water was low and clear in early August. Steelhead were there but really spooky. Steve was fishing his way down a lovely pool, when this little steelhead comes up and does this beautiful head and tail roll over the waking caddis. Line tightens and this fish goes nuts. After a short but violent battle, she comes in.

I am pretty stoked, Steve is a little shaken.

I finally ask him if everything is OK?

He turns to me and says, " You know Dennis, we are fishing a fine little river, in a secluded bit of heaven. I am swimming my fly along, watching it dance and play along in the surface. I mean, life is good. All of a sudden this steelhead crashes over my fly,........... and then its the running and screaming!"

I just smiled and said, "May you never get over it."

Stillaguamish Steelhead Flyfishing schools: July 18, 19, or 20. Our sixth year.
8-10 hour clinics cover sinktip fishing in the morning and surface presentations in the afternoon. Come as you are. We have all trick flies and gear. Heck, you can even rent your waders. Classes filling. I will give an update on class availability next week. We have gig, again.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike www.flyfishsteelhead .com

& www.streamsideflyshop.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/18/03

Mike and I have been guiding the past week on the Skykomish and Stilly Rivers for summer steelhead.
I never know if its a good thing or not:

When the fishing conditions become more challenging, anglers leave the river. There are not as many steelhead, but we get to fish all the pools we want. Typical gig. Always seems like there are one or two pools that consistently hold fish. Happiness is when they are not a popular fly pool. More fish, more angling pressure, fewer fish, fewer fishers. There ya go.

I would tell you how well I have done, but:

A) you probably don't want to hear about it......or wouldn't believe it, anyway.

B) Nothing is more annoying than have some nimrod brag about wonderful fishing, and won't give you, jack information.

C) I will probaly jinx myself

Mike & I have a huge advantage over most. We fish every day (well, almost everyday)

Bottom line: Steelhead are there, but you really have to hunt for them.

I am floating with a couple big-time fly boys and one tells me a motto he has developed over years of chasing big fish.

" If I have to choose between fishing and having fun......I choose fishing".
I laughed. I told him he must be referring to coastal winter steelhead flyfishing. Weather alone, can kick your teeth.

Skagit River: 8,940 CFS. @ Marblemount: Spring flows and few fish. Dollies around soft current edges.

Sauk River: 5,030 CFS @ Sauk. Water has dropped but Suiattle kicking silt. Poor fishing.

Skykomish 3,960 CFS @ Gold Bar. Nice pools from High Bridge down to Monroe, but only a few consistently hold fish. Watch for 2 salts to come in on the next high water after the July 4th.

Stilly: 863 CFS @ Deer Creek. Summer time lows. Snow pack has come off real fast. Like the Sky, the Stilly has steelhead spread throughout the system, but the better pools are few and far between.

Rose our first summer run to a surface fly the other day. The pool is nothing more than a boulder patch depression, but for some reason the fish like it there.

Russ had hooked a large fish in the pool above, so we were feeling pretty good. Mike fished down first with a Crystal Caddis, but no go. Russ follows up with a Rusty Bomber and as his fly skitters over the holding lie, there is a silver flash just under the surface. I figure the fish has rejected the fly, when a little hen with a head about the size of my fist pokes her head completely out at the end of the swing (I love it when they do this) and turns on the fly. Russ is starring out over the reflected surface, hears me yell "Hold it!" Only he thinks I said "Get it out!." Pulls the fly right away from the steelhead. My bad.

Mike B. ends up hooking an awesome 28" pot bellied Dolly downstream on a Cop Car. Pretty cool.

Flies and such:

Water temps are good for surface fishing and as the wild Sky and Stilly fish move in, I would look to do that. Riffle hitched wakers and skaters are fun as are the Butt Skunk series. Your Floating lines and long leaders are good. We are pretty high on our FLHS, for surface fishing.

Subsurface is a safer bet because hatchery steelhead are more reluctant to come up for surface flies but whack streamers and nymphs along the stream bottom. Yancy Lines are the best multi-tip flylines for subsurface fishing, but of course I am going to say that, I helped build it. Blacks, blues, purples, and reds are good summer steelhead colors.

Stillaguamish Steelhead Flyfishing schools: July 18, 19, or 20. Our sixth year.

8-10 hour clinics cover sinktip fishing in the morning and surface presentations in the afternoon. FLHS and Yancy line demonstrations, lecture notes, trick flies including Cop Car, and much more. Who knows, maybe you will even meet your new steelhead buddy? Very popular class.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike

www.flyfishsteelhead .com

www.streamsideflyshop.com

For information on booking a trip see Rates and Booking Information

6/8/03

Another summer steelhead season

Early in the week found Mike and I guiding the Skykomish & N.F. Stilly for steelhead. I thought I was doing well with Hal releasing a 33" summer hen one day, and a 29" hen on the next on the lower Stilly.

One of Mike's boys on the Skykomish topped that with a 34" 3 salt summer steelhead that just about smoked him. Ah, .......there is something about steelhead.

Hot weather has been kicking the snow melt but affecting each watershed differently. We focus our fishing on the above mentioned Sky & Stilly in the summer months.

Skykomish River: 8,000 > 9,000 CFS Morning temperatures, Lower 50's

Top flies: subsurface winter patterns. Low and slow.

Skykomish success seems to be who you talk to. There are fish around. Not as many as last year, but the river temperatures are running in the lower 50's, flows are moderately high and the "High Water" pools from High Bridge to Lewis Street are fishing well. Too many sleds out, but what's new. Not a lot of cloud cover, but with the snow melt and 4 feet of visibility, the happy fish are lying in predictable taking places. Early summer fish aren't fussy about fly patterns. It is where and how you fish them.

Stilly, North Fork: 1,150 CFS, Morning temperatures mid 50's

Stilly is fishing well below Deer Creek. Flows are down, so the canyon is good. Fish are spread out so best to cover a lot of water.

Hazel to Fortson is summertime clear and best to revert to low water tactics. Yes, there is life beyond dink bobbers and jigs, but scale down those flies and leaders to compliment the gin clear waters.

Sauk & Skagit: Running full tilt with snow melt. Both rivers are blown below the Sauk confluence. Not much summer hatchery steelhead on these rivers.

Skykomish Steelhead Schools:

Thanks to all for a wonderful 3 days of schools. If you didn't get your lecture notes from the class, just holler. Also, if you weren't able to get in, take heart. We will be conducting our Stilly steelhead classes July 18, 19, or 20. We will go over winter/spring techniques in the morning, and surface fishing flies and tactics in the afternoon. Wonderful primer for the boys booked for the Grande Ronde campouts this fall.

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

Best of fishing
Dennis