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October 22, 2004
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Summer Steelheading is still prime as the water settles back into shape for perhaps even a few more ventures with the floating line. In clear water fish hot orange patterns like the fall favorite or polar shrimp. Cloudy water or super dark days may call for a simple, stark, black fly like a black general practitioner. The reliability that all of the purple bugs offer is often hard to resist as that type of color tends to fish well in all water conditions. The Grand Rhonde, and the Methow in particular have been redifining 'a day' of steelheading for throngs of people for whom expensive gas is an insufficent deterrant. The reports are such that they have the potential to elevate ones expectations to an unattainable level...it is very easy to spend the entire ride pre-living an epic day of fishing, only to have reality dampen, if not crush, the dream. Whatever that means. Chum Salmon, the walk-off home run of knuckle-busters, will enter
or has entered some/all local river systems as the cool and rainy
weather comes to our region to stay. The dogs have already shown
in modest numbers in the Snohomish system. We predict that one more
good push of rain will in turn push a load of bright chum into the
Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Green and Skagit to name a few. We've already
had reports of decent numbers of fish in The Sky & Snoqualmie
with a mixed willingness to eat flies. Fish a sinking tip line and
have a variety of fly wieghts available so as to cover the water
in more dimensions...i.e. bring some barbell eyed flies, as well
as some without. Your ability to get your fly to the proper depth,
which is likely near the bottom, is as important as wearing a cup
playing catcher. The Yakima baetis have been doing their part to give us a very
consistent fishing opportunity for the past few weeks, and this
should continue through the end of the month. Starting with a #18
copper john barr nymph fished behind a biggish bead head prince
(#8 or #10) is a great way to start covering water for the day.
By late morning it could be time to swing tiny soft hackled pheasant
tails at the end of a long and fine leader in preparation for then
going with a surface presentation. When fish start to rise in the
mid day to hatching blue winged olives, a cripple dun that rests
half in and half out of the water is an effective pattern. But it
could be time to go straight to the standards: the blue winged olve,
the blue winged olive parachute or the blue winged olive sparkle
dun. The natural insect is a #18 or #20. Larger b.w.o. flies probably
will not even catch you a little foolish fish right now. Lakes: Here in the last week of the trout fishing season, virtually
all reports from both local and eastern Washington lakes has have
been favorable. Light angling pressure and mild weather (for the
most part...) have kept the fish active and anxious and as willing
to take a fly as the umpire squad for the ALCS is to override a
bad call. We've had good reports from Lenice and Nunnally, as well
as random potholes and Lenore anglers who reported having gone 4
for 4 with 6 rbi's, but in reality probably only went 3 for 4 with
a sacrifice or a bunt or something...maybe a stolen base. Which
isn't bad.* Woolly buggers in black, brown, olive or creative combinations
thereof stripped and jiggled on a long sinking line will draw strikes.
Chironomid larva or pupa are present (always), and are a factor
these days, and are usually a reliable insect to try to imitate.
Their color varies, as does size, so mix it up- swing away and you're
bound to connect at some point. Damsel and dragonfly nymphs are
present throughout the year, though their level of activity drops
off as the weather and water get colder. But even the fish aren't
stupid enough to turn one down just because it's October. *(Note: for the purposes of this analogy, and in an effort to keep with the mindlessness of the constant political rhetoric we're being inundated with, suffice it to say that 3 for 4 is really very good, or at least meant to be. Anyway, most people are pretty honest, so the guy that fished lenice probably really did go the angling equivalent of 4 for 4. The point is that the fishing is good.) We still have a few coupons left for Two Free Nights at the Freestone Inn in the Methow Valley: Spend $500 at your favorite Creekside location, and receive a coupon good for two nights at the Freestone. (some restrictions apply). These coupons are only available through the end of October. Need a rod? Pay your spouse/partner back with a nice trip to the Methow and stay at the Freestone. Seth Taylor
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Creekside
Angling Company |
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