Nymph Swing

Seth Burke • 7/19/157/21/15

I love casting two-handed fly rods. Swinging traditional flies on a
floating Scandi line. Standing knee deep in 100-yard runs cobbled with basketball-sized boulders. Stepping up to the challenge when the river taunts me to cast a little farther, a little farther.

Not all rivers are this way.

Sometimes a fisherman needs to sit and listen to the river. Observe. Absorb. Try something different and break the chains of tradition.

Give it a try and you might be rewarded like I was today.

My brother Dave, also known as “Red”, perfecected the Nymph Swing years ago as we began our journey into fly fishing for Steelhead. He started with a single hand rod but now prefers fishing two-handed rods. This technique can be used with either.

Select a long leader, the length of your rod or three to five feet longer, and your favorite buggy flies for the water you are fishing. I like to start with small weighted natural flies fished in tandum. A Steelhead Price Nymph and a Copper John. Start at the head of the pool or run, as summer Steelhead like the oxygenated water. (Don’t underestimate how far up they will hold in the head of a run.) Cast up stream, holding your rod up to keep a tight line. As the flies drift down current slowly lower your rod and begin following the flies. Then lower your rod completley and allow the flies to swing all the way to the bank.

It’s pretty simple, but what makes someone an expert with this technique is their fish sense. Stay connect to your flies. Use a sensative hand. Listen to and feel the river. If you need more weight, you can add a split shot or fish a heavier lead fly. A weighted Egg Sucking Leech can be an effective lead fly. Sometimes Steelhead will grab your fly early in the drift or as your flies transition into the swing. Where ever this happens, be ready. It can be violent.

Enjoy!

Silent Salmon

Timothy Burke • 7/19/157/16/15

Bottom of the 9th with on a few minutes of day light glistening on Puget Sound Captain Sloan faithfully worked his cut herring in 150 feet of water. Dropping the mooching rig down till it bumped off the bottom, several cranks on the reel to avoid the sharks and flounders Sloan held the line steady. As the line tightened under the wait of a feeding fish all went silent. I looked over to see the captain focused and determined, then the magic began…Fish on!

Brite Eye’s & Salty Sea’s

Timothy Burke • 7/12/157/16/15

Heading down the Oregon coast you’re bound to slip through the cozy coastal town of Newport. Early Sunday morning the Gaynor boys and I skipped church and headed for the open seas. We jumped in the 28ft North River Seahawk Os named “Brite Eye’s”. Cruising out of the harbor we were determined to do some salmon fishing. Much to our surprise within minutes of placing the rods in the holders the left rod tip started to throb frantically revealing the hoochie rig was under attack.

The day ended up with 5 beautiful coho in the boat, calm seas, and some vey satisfied fisherman! One thing that really stuck out was captain Mike Gaynor Sr. said he “always expects to catch his limit”! Fishing with confidence is a big part of being successful!

Always Believe

Best Fishin Buddies

Timothy Burke • 6/25/15

I think about all the wonderful times I have had on the river with my family and friends. A simple stream, a radical river, or even a small creek provides the context for great relationships. With my latest trip being the day before Fathers Day I had the privilege of having Chiyang and his 11 year old son Cody in my boat for the day.

I forgot what it was like to be 11 and go fishing. There is a sense of optimism and delight in every cast. The youthful passion is contagious combined with a relentless hunger for fish, fish, and more fish.

The Day was filled with laughter, conversation and stories of past fishing trips and different experiences. One of the highlights came for me at the end of the Day when 11 year old Cody asked me to teach him how to cast a fly rod. With much enthusiasm we began the beautiful art and disciplines of fly casting. He was a natural, patient, and relentless. Cody has a wonderful future ahead of him guided by his loving Father Chiyang!

Hand in Hand

Timothy Burke • 6/10/156/12/15

John and Amy climbed into the drift boat hand in hand ready for a husband wife adventure. In the first deep run a sudden take on the far left rod caught everyone motionless and put us down on the count 0-1.

The morning was magical with gin clear water and blue bird skies. The osprey circled looking for a morning meal while dipper birds chased each other up and down the banks. Boulders slipped passed us as we slid into a run of cloudy clay banks and downed tree’s. Under the stain of the current rods danced playfully in the early summer air.

Amy called out, “John whats wrong with your rod” as the tip drove deep into the swirling water. John screamed “fish on” grabbed the rod and set the hook fervently. At that moment the chaos started as he plunged into his fish pack clamoring and crying out for his go-pro camera. “Amy take the rod while I get the go-pro” was his frantic logic as Amy grabbed the rod and fought the rising steelhead. With boils, runs, and reel screaming action she held on for dear life. The long and aggressive battle was won by Amy she tamed the wild beast.

The story goes, John hooked it, Amy fought it, John landed it, and Amy captured it on photo. A beautiful story of an amazing couple enjoying life together Hand in Hand!

Always Believe

Red’s Redside

Timothy Burke • 6/7/156/12/15

As the sun dips blow the canyon wall humming bird sized salmon flies clutter the evening air. As they dip down to lay their eggs on the cool water film the hungry redside’s lurk below. It’s a frantic thrash as the large trout choke down their evening meal.

The fly line stretches out a lonely bug drifting nimbly down the curling currents. The white tuft of it’s silhouetted profile makes even the keenest eyes squint in the dusky light. With a wisp it’s gone buried deep in the jaws of its nemesis.

On the Move

Timothy Burke • 3/29/156/12/15

With heavy rains and fish on the move staying in one run paid off for Todd and I. A willing hen tucked on a gravel shelf in the head of the drift and a lively buck in the belly of the run kept swung flies entertained and fisherman happy!

Big Carl

Timothy Burke • 3/28/154/2/15

In the bottom of the 9th (end of the day) with little energy left my buddy Todd hooked the fish of a life time. His tenacious spirit and persistency lead him to a 25 minute tug of war against an Olympic Peninsula giant. The battle ended in a fury of mixed emotions. With me on the oars trying to reach the shore in time to keep the giant steelhead from traversing the rapids. Todd reached down grabbing the tail of the fish to find out it was to large for his hand to grasp, in a split second the monster turned on its way to the deep. So in a last minute effort Todd pounced like a bob cat on the fish, water splashing, rod flying, the tussle ended in the blink of an eye and the fish swam away to it lair below. We named the 25 lbs steelhead “Big Carl” after a local friend who stopped over for a chat right before we hooked the fish. Battle pictures below…

Scout Trip

Timothy Burke • 3/20/15

I spent a day on the river with one of my best buddies and fishing mentor JR Hall. We had a great trip with plenty of action. We hooked 5 fish and lost two monsters. One of the greatest priveledges was to share life, stories, and enjoy a common interest. For me personally its been a difficult week with my dad (best fishing buddy) in ICU so it was nice to get away from the iv’s, breathing machines, smells, and anxiety of a sick loved one and loose myself on the river. Thank you JR and please pray for my dad Tom Burke!

Biggest Fish in Washington

Timothy Burke • 3/7/156/12/15

This Lake Tahoe native looked at me after landing a nice winter steelhead and said, “thats the biggest fish I have caught in Washington”. We had a blast yesterday telling stories, discovering new water, and I got to see the Californian take an unintentional dip in the water :). I feel blessed to spend a day with a great friend in a place created with us in mind!