Well, I had a 10 day trip all set to start my dry fly season to a famous river north of me, then work went to poo poo and I became extremely short staffed and that trip is now a memory before it started, since I will be working doubles for the foreseeable future. so hopefully I can salvage some top water time come sept/oct.so please everyone post up here so I can live vicariously through you all

 

Keep us posted on your fall adventures Cameron!

This was the best surface shad season in the last several, but it pretty much has ended. We have a long weekend trip to WA to check out colleges / rowing programs for my son, but I doubt there will be steelhead opportunities on that trip. Probably won’t have a shot til Oct, so I’ll take a seat next to Cameron and watch the rest of you.

We will have to get together when you come back to Oregon

After shipping out some of @808steelheader flies to the winner of the fire relief auction, I was awe struck at how cool the bivisibomber is in hand.

I tied a few up(pretty rough) and am looking forward to trying them out next month. Hopefully I’ll have a fish to contribute to this thread.
View attachment 402392

Great looking bivisi-bombers! Keep us posted on how they work. Glad that you like the pattern, you may have noticed when you sat at the vice, they are a bit of a pain to tie. Trying to crowd all that material at the front of the fly takes getting used to.

@thegreydrake >>> the "rusty" one on the right is really sexy-fishy


Mike

Agreed Mike, rusty looks good!

Todd

 

This was the best surface shad season in the last several, but it pretty much has ended. We have a long weekend trip to WA to check out colleges / rowing programs for my son, but I doubt there will be steelhead opportunities on that trip. Probably won’t have a shot til Oct, so I’ll take a seat next to Cameron and watch the rest of you.

 

2 of my nephews rowed in HS, 1 got a scholarship to UW but dropped out because of covid, but is still in the engineering program there. DenWor54 had a kid go to LSU with a scholarship for rowing, and another friend has a son rowing in Michigan I think, and doin very well.

Want to build some shoulders, start rowing crew!

 

One “half-pounder” type on the NU to a skated muddler. Raised a real fish, producing a prominent bulge behind the same bug. It would not return.

That’s it.

 

You are deadly with your muddlers, more surface action to come!

 

I guess starting a thread on dry fly fishing helps. Got this one today. Came up and gulped a #6 purple and black bivisi-bomber.

Was using my 14'4" 7wt Quantum, 510gr Beulah Aerohead with a SA System 11 reel.

 

I guess starting a thread on dry fly fishing helps. Got this one today. Came up and gulped a #6 purple and black bivisi-bomber.

Was using my 14'4" 7wt Quantum, 510gr Beaulah Aerohead with a SA System 11 reel.

View attachment 402389

Was that on your local water, Todd? We were up your way at the end of June while my son was at an OSU program, but spent most of the time at the coast. Didn’t bring any fish poles…

 

Beautiful fish, Todd. Congratulations and thanks for sharing! Will be scratching the surface in Sept with high hopes! Cheers, Chris

 

Thanks Chris, hope September produces for you!

 

After shipping out some of @808steelheader flies to the winner of the fire relief auction, I was awe struck at how cool the bivisibomber is in hand.

I tied a few up(pretty rough) and am looking forward to trying them out next month. Hopefully I’ll have a fish to contribute to this thread.

 

@thegreydrake >>> the "rusty" one on the right is really sexy-fishy


Mike

 

Superb thread Todd. Congrats on the chrome hen! She is a beaut. Details on the take/fight?

Nathan

 

Thanks Nate,
I was fishing a section of choppy water and as the fly approached the dangle the steelhead appeared with a big gulp and was on immediately. She took off on some runs and a jump with some back and forth on the inside. She ultimately succumbed to aggressive side pressure on the rod.

My first dry fly steelhead to hand each season is always sweet. Our rivers have been running high until recently so hoping for more surface action as our steelhead settle into their summer lies.

Todd

 

The steelhead gods did everything they could to get me a fish today. I tried to head down to one of the runs in town, but found all the roads to the run blocked off. There is a big marathon, part of the track championships today. The day I finally decide to get out and wake a fly I was being thwarted, or so I thought.
I quickly changed plans to head up river.
It turned out I was being guided to the sweet spot. I ended up in a brawl with a very bright steelhead which made a spectacular three foot leap from the water during our match. Unfortunately shortly after the leap it landed near some old concrete and rebar which sits in the river. As I tried to steer the steelhead away from the hazard it came unbuttoned. But boy what a rush to hook a surface steelhead on my very ugly version of a steelhead Caddis, riffle hitched, on the surface.
Thanks for inspiring me to get back out, Todd.

 

Awesome Terry! Sounds like a thrilling encounter good that you got out.

Todd

 

7/18/22, evening:
I was fishing a sz6 bright green bivisi-bomber (the Grinch) through a soft glide when this thick shouldered hen broad sided the fly with an explosive rise. The steelhead was instantly on the hook and off to the races. She made several blistering runs with some thrashing on the surface and stubborn bulldogging in close. I was able to get a hold of my leader with the rod over the head trick and got this beauty to the beach for a photo op.

With the broad profile, color, and down and dirty fight, I initially thought this steelhead was a buck, but upon closer inspection, realized it was a hen.

I have been in the mode of trying to get into dry fly steelhead using gear that have not yet gotten shaken by a hookup. I accomplished breaking in my Sage 8150 brownie with an exquisite handle built my the master Steve Godshall. I was also using a Speyco Symmetry that I got last year. I found the Speyco reel to be a great tool for fighting a steelhead. And of course handles made by Steve Godshall totally transform the feel and performance of any rod. The line was the Carron Jetstream 65. 8/9, 725gr, a very smooth casting line.

Anyways, getting steelhead on top just never gets old.

 

Nice Todd. You're on fire!

Nathan

 

Thanks Nate, will take the fire when I can get it!

I fished Todd's bivisible on Saturday, no players unfortunately, I can see that thing very well, such a great bug Todd!

Thanks Brian, glad that you are liking the Bivisi-Bomber. Gotta admit, with that fanned elk wing, it is the most visible surface fly that I have come up with.

Todd

 

I fished Todd's bivisible on Saturday, no players unfortunately, I can see that thing very well, such a great bug Todd!

 

Todd, you tied me a Grinch, and I still have yet to swing it. Now I’m more looking forward to it. Thanks for the motivation to get out there and go for it! And great words and fish, man. You are an artist.

 

Thanks Andrew, yes, go for that surface grab, it's always life changing when a steelhead comes up to destroy your fly. Tell us the story when it happens!

 

Way to go Todd. It looks like the steelhead are definitely in a playing mood right now. Sure hope this trend continues.

 

G’Day,
Unfortunately I had to return to the city for a business transaction just as the run of grilse was happening and dry flies were starting to be taken rather than just being slashed and boiled at under on the surface by summer salmon. I’ll have to resume the pleasure of skating a Bivisi Bomber through Jim’s Run in my backyard in a couple of weeks when I return to Mann’s Mountain.
Regards from the Restigouche....Jim

 

Wished I was going to be there with you Jim! Please report on how the bivisi-bombers do with the Salar on the Restigouche!

Great idea for a thread. I had honestly never had any luck on a dry for Salar until this year. I got to spend about 5 days total fishing for them and landed 1 big buck and 2 grilse but I lost a lot more than that. The water was low but very clear (it's usually root beer coloured when its high) and still quite cool. The fish became very active once the sun hit the water around 8am in the morning. There was no rhyme or reason to the colours as one day it would be natural and orange bombers and the next it would be Carter's bugs and the next would be dark green and white. The surprising fly was one tied in the colours of the Ukrainian flag as it seemed to elicit the most strikes (including big trout) but I couldn't ever hook up. I have to say that this is the best season I've ever seen for dries including those fishing around me. The fish were willing and able to hit anything whether they were swung or dead drifted. Given that the water is warming up quickly, I'm not sure how much this will last. I'm on the East of Canada btw....

Cheers,

Jim

Thanks for the dry fly Salar report, sounds like fun!!

Todd

 

Great idea for a thread. I had honestly never had any luck on a dry for Salar until this year. I got to spend about 5 days total fishing for them and landed 1 big buck and 2 grilse but I lost a lot more than that. The water was low but very clear (it's usually root beer coloured when its high) and still quite cool. The fish became very active once the sun hit the water around 8am in the morning. There was no rhyme or reason to the colours as one day it would be natural and orange bombers and the next it would be Carter's bugs and the next would be dark green and white. The surprising fly was one tied in the colours of the Ukrainian flag as it seemed to elicit the most strikes (including big trout) but I couldn't ever hook up. I have to say that this is the best season I've ever seen for dries including those fishing around me. The fish were willing and able to hit anything whether they were swung or dead drifted. Given that the water is warming up quickly, I'm not sure how much this will last. I'm on the East of Canada btw....

Cheers,

Jim

 

Inspiring thread, Todd!

 

A little jumpstart to get us through this current Pacific Northwest heatwave:

Last week, it was an honour to banter and laugh with good pals around a steelhead river campfire. These fellows are fishy, funny, and fantastic company. Steelhead were raised, hooked, and showed themselves to these dryfly anglers. My only disappointment is not being able to fish with each member of the Clan Surface Attack. But certainly, the campfire recaps of the days events did not disappoint.

My oldest is now 18 and heading into her sophomore university year this fall. She's non-stop and doesn't understand the benefits of a "nap" (which is customary at this particular camp in-between dawn and evening fishing sessions). I love fishing with her but also struggle to keep up with her energy. For example: she'll want to fish the morning session, then go on a hike all afternoon, and then fish the evening session. Deliriously, I go along with the game plan artificially squeezing out excitement for a day hike. But, time is fleeting and family memories need to be forged.

One morning, Emma wants to fish a specific pool that I haven't been to in years due to a nonexistent steep trail being lost by fire and subsequent overgrowth.

I can see the river from high up on the road but am leary of taking her down there...I turn around to get back in the rig and she says, "C'mon, dad. We can do it. If we can't make it down all the way to the river we'll just hike back up and find another place to fish".

Surprised by her resolve, I hesitantly agree to her enthusiasm.

We made our own trail. Ducking under limbs, scanning for poison oak, skidding down loose dirt, clambering & balancing downhill over burnt logs.

A sigh of relief from her dad when we make it down without incident.

At the top of the pool, I get her set up and point out where steelhead would probably hold. My flybox opens up and she immediately chooses a black&blue&purple muddler tied by @SLSS . "I like that one...it's pretty", she states. I tell her it's the River Rambler Muddler.

The muddler is waking, dipping, popping up erratically on the film soon after her casts (of note, that's why I think muddler-type flies are so effective: they swing like struggling drowning prey which creates predator reaction from fish nearby).

About 5 casts in, the Rambler Muddler nears the hang down...that's when it happens: a steelhead just crushes it and takes off across stream with the old StJohn reel sounding off havoc...but, alas! The hook never found a secure spot and the line went slack.

Emma and I looked at each other with saucer eyes...she exclaimed "Whoa!" And I yelled "What?!". Talk about a rush. Another great surface attack leaving us breathless.

We tried a comeback routine and even tried a hitched Lemire Black Diamond tied by @sculpin swinger but to no avail.

The aftermath of straddling over burnt timber

She closed out the pool in fine fashion but the river left us wanting more...

I think I've taken 10 naps since that trip but none of those naps are as memorable as the moment when the steelhead smashed her fly.

 

The muddler is waking, dipping, popping up erratically on the film …

This is why I’m loyal to hitched hair, it dances all on its own. Good to see life in that pool. I noticed the gateway sugar pines were dead. I skipped it but stumbled through regrowth to others. Fish are looking up. Here’s my nature-art installation to mark one spot

 

@fshnazn I dig it man! great times with your whole clan. Thanks for sharing Emma’s story.

Let’s do it all again soon! just you and me…..

 

I am honored that my fly was swung on an iconic river by someone who had access to your wallet, or could have waited for you to tie one up just for the occasion!
Thanks for sharing, and for bringing a bit of me on your trip.

 

@SLSS Great story Rick! And it’s all true!! I’ll definitely cherish our shared experience and look forward to many more

 

@JMoon means a lot from the mic-drop story master. To many more.

 

Adrian and the rest of the NU gang, thanks for a couple of wonderful stories. Nice to “join” you and live vicariously through you. It looks like October before I’ll lay a cast on steelhead containing water, so please keep these coming.

 

This thread is amazing and inspiring! I’ve loved reading through these stories and am looking forward to fishing some of these waters next year.

 

Stuck in a recertification class today and I keep thinking about @SLSS 's fish.

(I had to sneak this in while the instructor had her back turned)