One in Winter

Ryan Peterson a travel sales representative for The Redding Fly Shop took a break from fishing for a while to video his buddy Rich Zellman, a guide from the State of Jefferson a few years back. This is what they ended up with. I got to say I like it.

I have a couple good friends that fished with Rich a few years back on the North Umpqua and they had nothing but good things to say about Rich. Check out Rich Zellman's Steelhead Water.

Scott Howell discussing the etiology of the Ska-opper with Leland Fly Fishing. It is interesting hearing him talk about popping and twitching flies for steelhead. I have found some success with this method over the last few years as well as seen it work for others. Do not ask me why dry fly takes are on my mind in February, but its there. Guess I will have to tie some dry flies now. You can see more in Skagit Master II.

Echo 3 Spey Review

so now after a couple days fishing/casting the 6, 7 and 8...here have been the thoughts on these sticks from both myself and the Mike of Steel. 

-they all feel at least a line size lighter in hand than you would expect 

-theres a couple minor details that Echo thought of (square rod tube to prevent runaway rods, alignment dots on the reel seat) that just give you that warm fuzzy feeling inside.

-nice work on the cork and grip lengths, and down locking reel seats on the 7 and 8 (this is something im surprised more companies have not already done, especially for two handers), with the uplocker on the 6, probably due to a shorter rear grip

-they each have a different personality...which leads into a short description of each as follows:

the 6127: great size at 12'7'', perfect for small to mid sized rivers where youre throwing smaller flies and lighter tips...surprisingly crispy for a 6 with a quick tip and smooth flex all the way down...great summer stick for dry lines and small flies. such a light stick. 

what id line it with: scandi: 360-390 rage: 420 skagit: 420-450

food it reminds me of: a fresh batch of taco time mexi fries with habanero powder.

the 7130: if you liked the classic and even the solo speys, this is the lighter, similar version with that same kind of "take-your-time-but-dont-be-late" action. while im sure this will get dry line time, i would definitely use this as a summer tips rod, and into the fall for when river temps drop and were not quite into the big fly, big tip game. 

what id line it with: scandi: 420-450 rage: 450 skagit: 450-510 

food it reminds me of: butter. anything with butter....like melting over a warm batch of cinnamon buns where the entire bun is the consistency of the middle.

the 8134: the bang stick. this is the stick ive been waiting for from echo...while the TR8 was a pretty good meat lobber, this E38 is lighter, has a faster recovery, and is gonna do some work for me this winter. with a quick tip, progressive even flex into the mid, and backed by a scarlet johansson booty, this rod needs a mission down deep. a crispy big fly chucker for all your t-whatever needs. 

what id line it with: scandi: 510-540 rage: 540 skagit: 540-570

food it reminds me of: chicken fried steak. with a side of steak. and steak fries. with bacon gravy. 

check please. =)

Echo 3 Spey

B. Chou

The Differences in Winter Fish

One of the amazing this I like about steelhead is unless you fish a hatchery pool, you really never know what you are gonna get. That is of course if you get anything at all. Just like women, they come in all shapes and sizes. However in this game we are not that picky. Then again there are guys who are not that picky either. This chunky monkey is why we get out on the water regardless of high flows. 

If this was in the late Summer or Fall, I would think that this is a summer fish, even a Skamania by the look of the body morphology. But alas, I have never seen a Skamania on the coast and with the full body on this one, it has to be a winter steelhead. Oh and yes that is a spinning reel in the background. 

There is a not a lot to say about this egg wagon. She is by far a winter hen and a prime specimen at that. Other then a slight gash on its back, it was perfect. 

Here again you may think this also is a Summer fish, but again I believe it to be a winter due to location, quality and girth. It took a swung fly in the same location as the above fish and it really doesn't matter. The dark color and rosy cheeks are awesome.

Well they do not get much brighter then this and this is what we are all after. This buckaroo caught on a Columbia River Tributary is what brings us back every year. Awesome fish Benny!

Dark, big, mean and full of color. Though not chrome, we all want to catch fish like this. Swung monster bucks like this do not come every year. Well except for Chou.

t
The fish everyone dreams about on a river no longer open in the later Winter and Spring. A true nate of epic proportions and quality not matched anywhere else. They do not get any better then this!

This one is easy, long, skinny, Skamania, still full of piss and vinegar, but very much last years summer steelhead. Still a nice fish for New Years day, but not what we are looking for in the winter.

The body morphology of steelhead is amazing. Each river or strain has their own slight changes in characteristics that make them all special. They also have different obstacles to face and risk factors in their upbringing that make them unique. Each of these fish were caught this month by a number of different anglers from low clear water to high almost flooding streams.

Today's Steelhead Fortune

Even though Chou will tell you that fortune cookies aren't real Chinese food, there is a time and a place for them, and the wise steelheader must know when to take action.

2012 F3T Official Selection

Fly Fishing Film Tour 2012 from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.


The Fly Fishing Film Tour is on the road again, check out their dates.


"Geofish: A Mayan Prophecy" trailer - by MOTIV Fishing | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.






"THE ARCTIC" trailer - by Beattie Outdoor Productions | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.






"The Kodiak Project" trailer - by LDR Media | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.






"Hatch" trailer - by Gin Clear Media | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.






"Clearly B.C. - Fall Bullies" trailer - by Todd Moen | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.






"Doc Of The Drakes" trailer - by Bryan Huskey | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.






"FLY a Legacy" trailer - by Ronnie B Goodwin | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.







"Sipping Dry" trailer - by Sharptail Media | Fly Fishing Movie from The Fly Fishing Film Tour on Vimeo.

More Lessons from Twenty-Eleven

 

Inspired by Mike's list of lessons learned, I thought I might share my own.  2011 was a great year on and off the water.  Here's to a great 2012 as well!

Take Care!
Matt

---

In June, skiing is one of the more fun things you can do on the way to your fishing spot.

Photo: B. Chou

Sometimes, a single hander and a 30 foot cast will outfish a double hander and a 130 foot cast.

On the river, walk-off homeruns are awesome, and calling your walk-off shot is legendary.

NEVER give up. 

Salmon do actually eat flies.  If they are there, and you aren't getting bit, then you are probably doing something wrong and it's time to change it up. 

A wild kelt may grab harder, run faster, and jump higher than a chrome fish fresh from the salt.

On any given day, a beginner can out-fish any experienced steelheader.

Long lines and long rods are fun as hell.  OK, so that was a lesson I learned in 2001, but it's worth repeating.  Give it a try in 2012!

After 10 years of steelheading, there is still A LOT to learn!

Another lesson I learned a long time ago... There is more to my version of the fishing life than steelheading.

Alaska was pretty much put on the Earth to make all of the fish and fishing we have down here look like stock-pond, corn-kernel-dunking lameness.

Megatron has no known weaknesses.

Having at least four rods rigged is sometimes a great idea.

Fly fishers come in all sorts and demeanors, and seem to express their personalities through their way of fishing.  If you don't pay close attention, the loudmouthed egomaniacs may be the only ones that you ever notice. 

Fly matters.

Fly doesn't matter.

Greed is a powerful and terrifying force. 

Steelie Mike is the odds on favorite for Kelt King 2012.

My fishing buddies are all turning out to be even better dads and moms than steelheaders.  If you've fished with these folks, you know that's something special.  :)