SANDY RIVER PHOTOS

SILVEY'S BEAD HEAD CADDIS PUPA

This is one of my best patterns on the Deschutes River during the summer months when we have our big caddis hatches. You can fish this fly many different ways but my favorite is fished as a dropper under a dry fly.

So if you are tying this winter to get your trout fly box ready for summer fishing give this fly a try.

Material list

Hook: TMC 2487   #14

Thread: Brown 8/0

Gold bead

Body Material: Pearl Core Braid Tan

Legs: Tan grizzly marabou

Wings: Starling feathers

Head: Rust Brown dry fly dubbing

Antennae: Partridge or Hen hackle 

SANDY RIVER

Here are few shots from the Sandy river this week.

The water is getting low and very clear but we managed to hook a nice hatchery fish that came off next to shore. 
This Ouzel decided to land on my boat and watch everyone fish for a few minutes.

JUMPING STEELHEAD PHOTOS

Over the years I have tried numerous times to get what I think is the hardest photo to get, a steelhead jumping.

Last year on the Deschutes I was able to get 3 different shots of steelhead going airborne.

WAITING FOR THE GRAB

 Had one of my favorite customers out on the Sandy river Yesterday with no love from the Steelhead gods.

The river came up just a little and turned the bite off but there was plenty of signs they were around by rolling in about every run we fished.

The Sandy river has been producing some great fish this year.

The Sandy season usually starts in December and fishes great through May.

HOW TO TIE AND RIG A TANDEM TUBE FLY

     

There has been several people that have emailed me lately to show how I tie and rig a Tandem Tube Fly.

If you have never seen this fly before here is a quick explanation on why its such a great fly.

First as you will see it is fairly fast and easy to tie

The key to it is the 2 different tubes, the front tube is small and stops on the Mono knot and the rear tube is large and slides over the knot.

So you get a great Articulated fly that is very easy to cast and tie.

With all the varieties of colors of Rabbit, Marabou, Hackle and Cones the combinations are endless.

MATERIALS

Front tube: Froden Extra Small tubbing

Black Rabbit

Rainbow Flashabou

Kingfisher Blue Schapplen

The cone is regular cone not a tube cone

Rear Tube: Froden Large tubbing

STEELHEAD POLL

                                                             WINTER STEELHEAD
                                                               SUMMER STEELHEAD

Since most of the rivers are once again to high to fish I wanted to see which would you prefer to fish for and catch.

I personally love to catch any steelhead on a fly but I think winter fish are on top of my list.

Winter Steelhead are usually bigger and a lot tougher with the changing water levels and water temps.

Here are the results of my poll out of 30 people

Summer Steelhead     2 votes

Winter Steelhead      18 votes

Any Steelhead you can catch 8 votes

Carp                            2 votes 

Thanks for voting !

SPEY LINES

The best way to pick a spey line for your two handed rod is try to get out on the water and try several different lines and grain weights.

Just because somebody told you that was the line to buy for that rod doesn't make it the best and only line to use.

Alot of times when I am out guiding , I am standing watching my client cast and thinking that new line they just bought is not the right line for them.

Then its my job to some how nicely tell them that line sucks and then set them up with a better line. It doesn't mean they are instantly throwing 90ft cast just because I gave them the line I like on that rod. When you have the proper line on it, the rod should be easy to cast with little to no effort. Anybody that has done enough steelhead fishing knows it can be long day of casting before you even get a grab. 

There is some great resources online that will give you great info on what rod you might have and what lines and grain weights that work best.

Its still a good idea to go to a fly shop and see if they will let you demo some lines on the water.

For new spey casters it can be difficult to know if the line they have is right, until they have a better understanding how a spey cast works. 

Here are some sites to check out if you think the line you have is not the right line.

Pay close attention to the grain weight of the line and the length of the head. 

SIMON GAWESWORTH SPEYBORN

AIRFLO LINES

SPEY STYLE FLIES

With the rivers being to high to fish the last couple of days I decided to tie some spey patterns.

Hopefully the rivers will be in shape soon, so I can put these in front of some steelhead.