Great day on the river with Cody, his dad, and their friend Mike. Cody out fished us all once again.
Summer Steelhead
The Desert Steelhead | Life & Challenges
The fingerprint of this south-central Washington river is the native desert steelhead. Forged by the challenges that impede its migration home this sage giant knows only power and pursuit. Over time gargantuan obstacles shape the very DNA of this arid river dweller. Its ability to face and triumph over adversity forges its admirable character.
We know that the biggest and strongest fish have to face the largest challenges as they make their way up river to spawn. Over time these obstacles shape their genetic makeup and the outcome is a beautiful part of our handcrafted world.
The native steelhead causes me to think. What makes him so admirable, is it the reality that he was designed to shoot the narrows, run massive rapids, live in difficult conditions, travel unbelievable distances, and fulfilling the calling of his life.
Yes, the obstacles and challenges one faces if willing to overcome can produce unbelievable beauty.
The great Creator seemed to have designed it this way for us all. For those who overcome will produce a bounty of great admiration.
Always Believe
Tim
ps. run the rapids, jump the narrows, travel great distances, preserver through difficult conditions, bring joy to others, this is the calling of our lives…when the Lord holds us in heaven, may we be admirable to Him!
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts…” Romans 5:3-5
The Steelhead Doc
Ken Faw spends his time serving in the community as an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. His passion is investing in people. During his time in the office at Evergreen Hospital he oversee’s a major medical division and helps hundreds of people every week.
Preparing for the Dean River
Learning is the beauty of any pursuit in life. As we learn our skills improve, our knowledge deepens, and our opportunities increase.
Subtly Leads To Success
In summer conditions its important to remember that subtly can be very important. When a river is gin clear and had lots of pressure the profile and presentation of your fly can make a big difference.
On Saturday afternoon I fished the Cowlitz River. With lots of jet boats running up and down fishing eggs, shrimp, plugs, spinners, and a variety of different techniques I decided to go with a small wet fly. I knew the fish had seen lots of big presentations and must have been feeling the pressure.
Three Boys In The Boat
The relentless pursuit from 13 year old Michaelo gave him the opportunity to catch his first steelhead. His trip in June was postponed due to the drought but that didn’t get this kid down. Fishing conditions had improved later in the summer and a week ago we headed to the Cowlitz River in search of steelhead.
Part of my job as a guide is to give grandpas, dads, and grandson’s the best possible opportunity. So we picked a Saturday afternoon in August to hunt for Michaelo’s first big steelhead.
Determination Steels the Show
The day started out with much anticipation as many of my trips do. I met the guys in the Totem Lake Mall parking lot and we made our way down I-5 to spend the day fishing the Cowlitz River.
We launched the boat at blue creek.
High Noon Pay Off
I was down in the count, as early in the morning a Steelhead grabbed my fly on the hang-down. The take was like this: pluck, pluck, grab, head shake, head shake, splash, splash, run towards me, slack. Gone. I’m down 0-1.
I shook my head in frustration as a nice steelhead launched itself horizontal with the river. “Thanks buddy,” I muttered and took a few steps up river to start fishing again.
The morning sun was already beating down all in its path. The sand was hot. The rocks were hot. My dog hid in a shady tangle of brush. The water was warming and I was the last spey fisherman within the two miles of river I covered. Am I crazy? Maybe. Am I confident? Yes. (Read my brother Dave’s article “A confident angler catches the fish”.)
So there I stood, the last spey wielding wizard, in direct sun, with a short head spey line and traditional fly. Just the way I like to fish. “This is the last run. It has to happen here,” I said to myself as I stepped into the water. Pleased that I had the run all to myself, I worked it meticulously. Nearing the last and most promising looking section, a spin fisherman steps in below me. Five cast later, he puts a steelhead on the bank. He makes a few more casts, loses his lure and leaves. Two other spin fishermen step in as well, but further down. “No way,” I mumbled. But as I watched, I noticed they were not fishing the water very well. They left and I kept my rhythm, cast, swing, three steps.
Before long, I was almost to the end. I mean, really–the river turns into a giant white water rumble 35 yards below my fly. Next cast, BAM! Fish on, no questions asked. No plucks. Just all fish mouth. A few minutes later, I had a nice hatchery hen to the bank. I look at my watch, 12:00 pm on the dot.
I could have hung my hat hours earlier with the rest of the spey fishermen, but I didn’t. I could have changed my line and fly, but I didn’t.
I was rewarded.
Always Believe.
A Confident Angler Catches the Fish
You’ve heard it said that confidence is everything when it comes to catching, landing and releasing steelhead. Every season this idea grows and grows on me as I learn more about flies, fish and reading water. I’m sure general confidence is helpful, but I’d like to make a few recommendations that may help your confidence grow in the area of fly choice.
Let me start by stating that I used to carry the kitchen sink while out steelhead fishing, knowing that I may have to change my fly multiple times throughout the day. If one was not working, I’d loose confidence in it. If I went through three or four flies I would find myself in a bit of a neurosis, trying to dig to find that just right pattern. The truth is any fly with a hook will work, but some flies just seem to work better than others.
After spending countless hours on the vice I’ve learned that contrast, profile, and movement are the three key ingredients to a fly that will entice even the most reluctant steelhead. Warning, just because a fly looks super buggy at the shop doesn’t mean it will fish that way. Many flies are tied for the shop, not for the river. In order to achieve profile and movement a fly has to have the perfect mix of material. As I look back through my old boxes of flies, I find myself wanting to bust out my scissors and cut out material in order to reduce the amount of feathers or dubbing. I’ve learned that less really means more when it comes to flies. The new rule of thumb is: Less material, especially less of the same kind of material. Don’t ever tie on two of the same feathers, especially marabou. Why? It may appear to provide profile, but it won’t have the correct movement because marabou likes marabou, so it sticks together. Build profile with strong shoulder of dubbing or hackle, then tie your marabou in sparsely. You’ll be pleased with the difference in profile and movement.
The best day I’ve ever had steelhead fishing came when I put on a size 7 sparsely tied skunk pattern. The fish just couldn’t seem to leave it alone. Here’s why a small fly beats a big fly in clear water conditions most days. First, it’s subtle…I believe steelhead often act like a playful cat, chasing something down out of curiosity and then swiping at it. Something small triggers a fish’s curiosity. “What was that little thing that just swam by?” They then go in search of it and often times decide to take a swipe. A big fly triggers a completely different set of instincts for a fish, the protector, aggressor instincts. In clear water, fish are less likely to get super aggressive, as they don’t feel as safe. A small, sparsely tied fly will become your go to pattern once you begin to experience the curiosity of steelhead. You’ve probably seen videos of fish coming up and hitting at flies, only to return again and again on consecutive casts.
I’ve included a picture of one of my profile flies. I tie it in such a way that the materials repel each other, so that the front hackle actually bounces off the dubbing ball creating a large profile and lots of movement in the water. Additionally, the black head provides a great contrast to the purple body for low visibility situations. I have great confidence swinging this fly, plus I know no one else is swinging it because it cannot be purchased in the store and I have yet to see anyone build a fly that has the same compilation of materials as this one. So, when I step into a run that has already been fished, I’m casting with 100% confidence in my choice of flies. I’m sparser, buggier and better contrasting than most of what the fish have seen ahead of me.
Nymph Swing
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!
