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Transcript of Steelhead Salmon Trout | Kype Magazine Version 2.2
www.eastforkfly.comfly fishing lifestyle & product photography
"I don't remember the actual moment my fly
fishing & photography hit head on, but I knew
when it did I was a goner."
—Rich Schaaff
"I don't remember the actual moment my fly
fishing & photography hit head on, but I knew
when it did I was a goner."
—Rich Schaaff
www.eastforkfly.comfly fishing lifestyle & product photography
This issue features a very talented photographer, Rich Schaaff.
Rich is a fly fishermen who frequents the East Fork of the Lewis
River in Washington State. His photography is exceptional and cap-
tures the beauty of fly fishing, fly fishing products and the subtle
details that surround the sport.
Rich uses a variety of different looks that include classy black and
whites, sepia’s, full color, and a unique color / grayscale hybrid as
seen on this issue’s cover.
This issue of Kype also sports a new layout and design, and Rich’s
photography compliments it perfectly. As you turn through the pages
of this issue, keep an eye out for his photos that are scattered through-
out. Also, be sure to visit his impressive website at
www.eastforkfly.com
The actual flies were tied by Mike Nutto who appropriately named
the fly the “Nutto Stone.”
Publisher’s Cast..........................................................4
When Browns Attack..................................................6
Rod Breakers on the Alagnak.......................................8
Ted Williams, The Legend...........................................10
Learn What Trout Really Eat......................................12
Spey Clave on the Sandy River....................................14
The North Umpqua....................................................16
Kype Nation..............................................................20
Press Release...........................................................23
The Kype Vise............................................................30
Kype MagazineCastle Douglas Productions.LLC
PO Box 2024Anacortes, WA 98221
www.Kype.net
Kype StaffPublisher: George DouglasStaff Editors: Kristen Bailey
Lem James
COPYRIGHTKype Magazine
Copyright © 2010 Castle Douglas Productions LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. May no part of this publication or
DVD be copied or reproduced inany way without written
permission from the publisher.
Kype MagazineVOLUME 2, ISSUE 2, 2010
What is a Kype?A kype is a hook that forms on thelower jaw of a male trout, salmonor steelhead, during spawningperiods. This is their badge ofpower and dominance, that isunique to only these species—asign of a warrior. From thismark of strength comes the title ofour magazine, KYPE.
WA
SHIN
GTO
N
The Fly Fisher5622 Pacific Ave SE # 9Lacey, WA 98503360-491-0181For all your fly fishing needs, stop in and see us
Boggan's OasisAnatone, Wa.(509) 256-3372www.boggans.comSteelhead fish on the Grande Ronde River
Steve's Guided AdventuresPro Fishing GuideWashougal, WASalmon & Steelhead360-835-7995Stevesguidedadventures.com
“Keeping it Real.”by George Douglas
KYPE FishingMagazine
Bio:Publisher of KypeOhio Steelhead GuideHall of Fame AuthorFly Tier
Type of Fishing:Fly, Spey, Spin, Pin & Plug
Location:1/2 the Year, Great Lakes1/2 the Year, West CoastFilming everywhere else
Website:KypeMagazine.com
Contact Info:[email protected]
We are coming to the end of our nine month fishing excursion. Of course with any-thing there are ups and downs, and that certainly proved true being on the roadthis long. Living out of suitcases and a truck full of product, fishing gear and cam-era equipment is not for the weary. Publishing in and out of hotel rooms and in thepassenger seat passing through multiple states can be exhausting as well.
However, these challenges do not come
as complaints. To have the opportunity
to travel to the best fisheries, that
included an amazing spring guiding
season in northeastern Ohio, was an
experience of a lifetime. The clients
this year were awesome, great people,
lots of fish, and good times. This fish-
ery was explosive and I plan to return
to guiding in Ohio for every spring and
fall season.
I n the past, I have written about fish-
ing with confidence, but at the same
time, there must be a desire to expand
your knowledge base and to experi-
ence things that may be outside your
comfort zone. Similar to any industry,
the fishing industry can have a lot of
hot air blowing around at times.
Generally speaking, everybody knows
everything. You hear a lot of big names
being thrown around along with the
same ole industry blather. Being in and
among this, it is my observation that
many fishermen, and even some pro-
fessionals in the industry, are guilty of
Plato’s Cave.
The allegory of the cave was used
by the Greek philosopher, Plato. His
intention was to illustrate human
nature in regards to knowledge and
education.
Plato describes a fictitious group of
people who have lived as prisoners in
a cave their entire lives. The people
would watch shadows projected on a
wall when things passed in front of the
fire behind them. According to Plato,
the shadows were as close as the pris-
oners would get to seeing reality. He
then goes on to explain how the
philosopher is like a prisoner who is
freed from the cave and comes to
understand that the shadows on the
wall were not reality at all. He can now
perceive the true form of reality rather
than the mere shadows seen by the
prisoners.
Sometimes anglers become legends
in their own mind, but only in what
they see and do every day. For exam-
ple, they may call themselves expert
fly fishermen, but wouldn’t know the
difference between a Perry Poke and a
4
WA
SHIN
GTO
N Steeldreams Guide ServiceSteelhead Fishing on the Snake & Grand RondeClarkston, Wa.509-869-9694SteelDreamsFishing.com
Triple “S” Guide ServiceFishing SW Washington & OregonContact Lee Freeman to discuss yourfishing adventure today.503-312-9844salmonfishingnorthwest.com
Brazda’s Fly Fishing - # 10393Trout & Steelhead Fishing on theOlympic Peninsula in WashingtonFly Fish Montana with Jeff this [email protected]
Within those
regions comes a
plethora of
technique and
various styles.
5
pizza pie. Why? There is no need for a
Perry Poke on their local water.
We are living on a planet that has
amazing fishing opportunities. There
are outstanding fisheries from Russia
to Canada, from Europe to Chile and
everything in between. Within those
regions comes a plethora of technique
and various styles.
If you’d like, I can give you shad-
ows on the wall all day long, and I may
be more successful in doing so, but
that is not the true reality of steelhead,
salmon and trout fishing—hence our
new slogan, “Keeping it Real.”
This year I was inducted into the
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame as
one of forty eight legendary communi-
cators in the freshwater arena. This
great honor reflected my dedication to
this sport as I started at a very young
age and have continued for the last
twenty, plus years. During those years
I positioned myself in and among
some of the best fisheries on the conti-
nent—and now have my sights on
some of those mentioned above.
In lieu of this achievement, Kype
Fishing Magazine announces our new
Hall of Fame section in each issue, fea-
turing legendary anglers who share
this honor with me. Also, I’d like to
announce my latest contribution to the
sport with my new book: George
Douglas’ Fly Fishing: FISH LIKE A
GUIDE. (A short excerpt of the book’s
introduction follows).
In the meantime, I will continue to
bring you an awesome product that is
raw and real. So if you are stuck in
your cave, stop being your own prison-
er and come on out and see the reality
of Kype Nation.
Sincerely,George Douglas
Excerpt: Fish Like a GuideIn 1903, an author by the name of
Wallace Wattles, wrote a book called
“The Science of Getting Rich.” His
book did not only focus on how many
zeros one could add to their net worth,
but also about how to become rich in
all facets of life.
He talked about “thinking and doing
things in a certain way” which I found
very applicable to nearly all that we
do, including the art of catching fish.
If you do things in a “certain way”
on and off the river, you will become a
better angler, I promise.
Guides do things in a certain way.
You can spot them a mile away. You
can tell by the way they move, the
decisions they make, their preparation
and strategy—and it is all geared for
one thing, catching fish consistently.
In this book, I will shine light on
those traits, to grant you access inside
the mind of a fishing guide, allowing
you the opportunity to emulate their
moves and inherit their thought
process that can place you into the
upper echelon of fly fishermen. KYPE
Pre-order Special at
Kype.net $14.95
cover
art
subje
ct t
o c
han
ge
Photo by Richard Schaaff
NEW
YORK Davis Sport Shop, Inc.
120 Route 17Sloatsburg, NY 10974Steelhead & Salmon Gear845-753-2198www.davissport.com
Urban AnglerThe Source for Everything Fly Fishing206 Fifth Ave. 3rd Fl. New York, NY 10010212-689-6400
Orleans OutdoorOak Orchard and Western NYTrout and Salmon fly, float & spin 1764Oak Orchard RdAlbion, NY 585-682-4546www.orleansoutdoor.com
A How-to on Nighttime Mousingby Chris Lessway
When BrownsAttack
Bio:Michigan Fishing GuideFly Fishing InstructorTube Fly TierGuide for North BranchOuting Club
Type of Fishing:Fly Fishing / Spey Casting
Location:Michigan Trout and Steelhead Rivers
Website:OutForTrout.comFullersnboc.com
Contact Info:[email protected]
I have been fortunate enough to grow up in Michigan where there are plenty oftrout fishing streams nearby. The Au Sable and the Manistee Rivers are two of
my favorites. Both streams boast great hatches and are home to leviathan browntrout. Come the beginning of July, most of the major hatches have come to an end.The Hex hatch maniacs have packed up camp and put away their headlamps.
Anglers begin to concentrate on throw-
ing terrestrials and streamers in hopes of
landing a trophy brown. While these two
methods can be successful, an even more
reliable approach many anglers tend to
overlook is nighttime mousing. That’s
right: don’t put away that headlamp just
yet! The crowds are gone and the fish are
still hungry. With warmer and humid
days this time of year, the bigger fish
prefer to feed at night and this is the time
to catch them.
It was the end of July. A friend of mine
who was new to fly fishing called me up
and told me how he was becoming frus-
trated. He complained that all he caught
were small trout and he was ready to
give it up. I assured him there are ways
to catch bigger trout. “Ever heard of
nighttime mousing?” I asked. After a
bout of laughter on the other end of the
line, I took that as a no. So I told him to
grab his gear and come on up to the Au
Sable for the weekend.
Temperatures were in the mid 80’s all
week long and the nights were hot and
humid as well; all perfect conditions for
mousing. We launched the boat at dusk.
By the time we arrived at the first hole,
darkness had settled in. I gave him a
quick “how-to” on mousing, then hand-
ed him a rod rigged with a mouse pat-
tern. After methodically covering the
first hole with no luck, he became a little
discouraged. With a pat on the back, I
reassured him to relax. “We have plenty
of river left to fish.”
The next hole we came to was a long,
flat, and log laden pool just above a rif-
fle. I told him to cast to the bank. No
sooner than the fly hit the water, there
was a thunderous crash of water. “Set the
hook!” I yelled. “Fish on!” he
exclaimed. After a stint of rod pumping
runs up and down the river, a 22-inch
slab of a brown trout came to the net.
“High five!”
Throughout the night we continued to
move plenty of fish, hooking a few and
missing even more. By the time the night
was said and done, we landed at total of
3 fish between 18 and 22 inches. My
friend’s discouragement had diminished
and he became a believer.
6
While many anglers have heard about
fishing with a mouse pattern, only a
handful has actually tried it. Having
worked in different fly shops, I always
got a chuckle out of customers who
would come in and pick up a mouse pat-
tern out of the fly bin and ask, “What the
heck do you catch with this?”
Just to see their reaction, I would reply
“Catfish.” All joking aside, fishing a
mouse pattern at night is going to be your
best shot at catching your biggest trout of
the year, and will provide you with edge
of your seat, explosive excitement!
PRESENTATIONPresentation is a very important aspect
of mousing. Your casting angle and fly
placement are crucial. There are a couple
different ways to fish a mouse pattern.
The first way is to cast across stream, as
tight to the bank as possible. Once the fly
hits the water, you want to make slow
strips with short pauses in between.Sometimes I like to twitch my rod tip
and give the fly a popping sound whileletting the fly drift in between. A secondway to fish them is to swing the fly downand across, similar to swinging a fly forsteelhead. With this method, you stillwant to cast your fly tight to the bank, butat a 45 degree angle. You do not need toworry about stripping or popping your fly.You want the current to carry your fly outand across, while creating a small wake.
While both methods can be effective,I still prefer the first one when possible.This method seems to bring up biggerfish, as it gives a more realistic presenta-tion of a mouse swimming in the water.Do not limit yourself to just one style; letthe situation and conditions determinewhich presentation to use. If you come toa stretch of river where it is too narrow tocast across to the bank, go ahead and tryswinging the fly. Remember, you are
searching water and trying to elicit astrike. If a fish does hit, do not set thehook like you would on a dry fly. Mostof the time you will just pull the fly awayfrom the fish. Use a strip set. This ismore effective, and if the fish is nothooked, it will leave the fly in the water.Brown trout are very aggressive.Sometimes they will come back and hitthe fly multiple times.
When casting, don’t worry about
being delicate. You want that fly to
smack the water in hopes of getting the
attention of a fish. I don’t know how
many times I have had a fish hit my fly
almost immediately after it hits the water,
way before I could even get one strip in.
WATER & CONDITIONSDuring the day, fish seek out shelter in
whatever kind of structure they can find.
(Boulders, downed trees, sunken docks
and logjams.)
At night time they tend to let their guard
down and move out to feeding lanes and
sometimes even the inside of a river
bend. Just because you know the water is
shallow in a particular area, do not
be afraid to cast there, especially if
there is good cover nearby. You will
be surprised where fish tend to hold
NY
CH
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All Season’s Sports3733 RT. 13Pulaski, NY 13142Salmon and Steelhead Gear.NY Fishing Licenses.315-298-6433
Fat Nancy's Tackle Shop3750 RT. 13Pulaski, NY 13142Right off the Pulaski Exit.Everything you’ll need.315-298-4051
Photo of some mouse
flies the author uses.
After a stint of rod
pumping runs up
and down the
river, a 22-inch slab
of a brown trout
came to the net.
“High five!”
7
SALM
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Y
SALM
ON
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Salmon River Sport Shop4826 Salina St.Pulaski, NY 13142On Salmon River’s “Town Pool”315-298-4343Salmonriversportsshop.com
Whitaker's Sport Shop and Motel3707 Rt.13 Pulaski, NY315-298-6162Check out our web site at:www.whitakers.com
Steelhead Lodge & Empire State Outfitters3178 Rt. 13 Pulaski, NY (866) 948 4371steelheadlodge.comOverlooks the Salmon River!
The Pursuit of Chum Salmonby Josiah Darr
ROD Breakers onthe Alagnak
We’ve all had those days where your hands are shaking on the steering wheelwhile you cruise home from the river due to the unreal day you just had. It
was like you couldn’t do anything wrong. Every cast was perfect. Every swingwas through the slot. Every spot you knew there should be a fish, there was. Itfelt like the clouds parted and a golden ray of light was shining down on youwhile a chorus of angels belted high notes every time you loaded up another cast.
For one day you had achieved fishing
nirvana. I’m sure it was amazing, and a
day you’ll never forget, but if you
weren’t fishing chums on the lower
Alagnak River while they flooded in
with the tide, you may not exactly know
what nirvana looks like.
Since I was old enough to know
which end of the rod to hold, I’ve been
chasing salmon and steelhead around the
west coast from Bristol Bay to Southern
Oregon. It’s a lifelong pursuit that has
never been quenched, nor will it. But
somehow, not through my own doing,
I’ve been blessed with the opportunities
to fish hallowed waters,
the kind of places where
men spend their lives
dreaming about while
knowing it’s never going
to come true. Again, let
me reiterate. I was most-
ly lucky and blessed to
get these chances. But
what I will say is out of
all the places I’ve made
a cast, there isn’t a more Man vs. Beast,
survival of the fittest, two men enter one
man leaves, fishery than fly fishing
chums on the lower Alagnak.
The Alagnak River is roughly 70
miles long and pours out of Nonvianuk
and Kukaklek Lake, coming together to
form one of the richest salmon and trout
rivers on earth. Rainbows the size of a
grown man’s arm rip apart and swallow
baby red voles as they skitter across the
river in the spring. One grizzly after
another peels green headed sockeye like
ripe bananas on gravel bars while Bald
Eagles pick at the discarded skeletons.
These are your daily viewing pleasures
in the braided upper river. Just a boat
ride from the tidewater to the fork with-
out even making a cast is enough to
excite any fishermen, but it’s the long
meandering sandbars in the lower river
where the real battles take place. Docile
looking sandbars, no more threatening
than a soft whisper from pretty girl,
quickly turn into something resembling
the first scene in Saving Private Ryan
8
Bio:Columnist for STS Magazine
Free Lance Outdoor Writer forMultiple Publications
Avid Steelhead and SalmonFisherman
Type of Fishing:“Whatever it takes to get bit”
Location:Dark Coastal Canyons inOregon
Rivers Surrounding Forks, WA
Bristol Bay Region, Alaska
Contact Info:[email protected]
SALM
ON
R. N
Y
Angler's LodgeFor Those Who Enjoy A Secluded NaturalSettingAltmar, NY 13302(315) 298-6028stonehouseinnlodging.com
Brenda's Motel and Campground644 County Rt. 48Altmar, NY 133021 mile from Pinneville Br(315) 298-2268
Fox Hollow Salmon River Lodge2740 State Route 13 Altmar, New York 13302 Roger Wolfe - (315) 298-2876Foxhollowsalmonriverlodge.com
Chards of
graphite go flying
in every direction
and a bewildered
fisherman is
simply standing
there...
9
when the Americans take the beach at
Normandy. It’s flat out awesome fishing.
As July rolls along, fresh chums start
filling the Alagnak every time the brackish
water mixes in the lower river. By the mid-
dle of August every sand bar in the lower
15 miles of river is so blanketed with
Chums, quietly floating over the inside
corners of the river, that looking at them
scattered across the sand is almost unnerv-
ing. Some are so chrome they’re mistaken
for Silvers, while others are completely
covered in their own unique camo pattern.
As they scatter like cockroaches
exposed to sudden light out from under-
neath the boat, you can’t help but think
to yourself, “Am I really going to fish
this? Am I really ready for this? Like
really, seriously ready? This is going to
be epic…EPIC!! Did I bring enough
flies and leader?” All these questions are
about to be answered when you coast up
to a sand bar, grab your rod, wander out
on the slowly tapering bar until you’re
thigh deep and lay out a cast.
The fly choice isn’t too critical when
fishing over hundreds of fresh nickel-
bright chums that have been pouring one
after another, immediately replacing
each other, but something long and
stringy in fuchsia or baby pink or a com-
bination there of with a touch of flash is
a place to start. You could try other col-
ors, but you’d be wasting your time.
We all know casting flies this gaudy is
more of a chuck and duck technique than
the prissy stuff you saw on A River Runs
Through It. Flies this big cast like hell no
matter what, so tapering your leader is
not only a waste of time, but it will add
those little blood knots to the line. The
knots aren’t so bad for normal fish, but
when you try to tail a thrashing chum,
those little knots will pull through your
wet hands and take a chunk of skin out of
the creases in your fingers in seconds. It
will hurt for days and only tube after
tube of Super Glue in the freshly torn
open wounds will be able to save you.
Trust me, it’s bad.
Don’t bother being the elitist fly fish-
ermen when you pick your hooks either.
A hook with a long enough shaft that you
can grab with your pliers, not forceps,
while a thrashing chum tries to dislocate
your shoulder really helps. Don’t even
think about using barbs. You’ll be
relieved if one comes off once in a while
since you’ll pretty much have another
fresh contender every time you make
another cast.
Something resembling a sharpened
piece of bent rebar is about the only
thing that will stand up to the onslaught
of hatred and aggression these flies are
about to be put through. Many of them
still won’t make it though more than one
fish, but those are acceptable casualties
that died honorable deaths. Besides, you
probably tied them as fast as possible the
night before with chewed up Super
Glued fingers while working through a
Photo by Josiah Darr
WES
TERN
NY
Best Western Crown Inn & SuitesFish Oak Orchard by day and hit Batavia Downs by night!Batavia, NY585-344-8882
Clarion Hotel Marina & Conference Center30 Lake Shore Drive EastDunkirk, NY (716) 366-8350
Marshall House Bed & BreakfastThe place to stay when fishing SpruceCreek and the Little Juniata River.For reservations call814-632-8319
on the Field and on the Waterby George Douglas, Sr.
TED Williams,The Legend
Bio:Outdoors Enthusiast,FishingHikingSkiingSnowshoeing
Type of Fishing:Fly and Spin Fishing
Location:Great Lakes Catskill Mountains
Contact Info:[email protected]
I n 1930, San Diego, California was a small city of about 100,000 people. A skin-ny kid named Ted had just finished playing baseball with a group of friends and
was now headed out to Coronado Island with a fishing buddy to fish Mission Bayfor albacore. He would spend the rest of his life alternating between both loves,baseball and fishing.
Ted Williams would later trade in his
homemade bamboo fishing pole for the
most advanced fly fishing equipment in
his quest for what he called the big
three: Tarpon, Bonefish and Atlantic
Salmon.
During baseball’s off-season,
Williams lived at his home in the
Florida Keys and would fish for Tarpon
and Bonefish with a few of the top
guides that rented out their services,
especially in the area of Islamorada,
Florida. Early mornings would find Ted
and his guide hunting for Tarpon with
the light tackle that made his catch that
much more challenging and exciting. It
was also one of the trademarks of fish-
ing with Williams. Tarpon, due to their
large size, were easier to spot in the
early hours of the day. But later, when
the sun was higher, the hunt changed to
spotting Bonefish on the flats. Spotting
fish, presenting the fly to the fish, and
enticing the strike was the technique that
Ted loved. Releasing each fish that he
caught was a must.
In those early days, Tarpon and
Bonefish were plentiful and Williams
had much of the area to himself.
Coming to the Florida Keys and renting
a guide for even a day was an expensive
venture, even in the mid 1940's. But
Williams had found a new home and six
months a year, fishing in the Keys was
his new passion. And passion it was
because just like hitting a baseball,
Williams the perfectionist, would
approach fishing with everything he had
within him. The results were obvious to
anyone around him. Due to Williams’
presence in the area, Islamorada soon
started calling itself the “Sport Fishing
Capitol of the World.” But by the mid 1950's something
occurred that would change Williams’fishing world for the rest of his life. Hewas still playing baseball at this timewhen he received an invitation from theMiramichi Salmon Association. Theyhad, of course, heard all the stories aboutWilliams, his love for fishing and thepurest that he was concerning everythingthat had to do with the challenge of flyfishing. Of course, their motive was also
10
PEN
NSY
LVA
NIA
PEN
NSY
LVA
NIA
Elk Creek Sports StoreLake City, PA 814-774-8755 Cast a line from our shop & grab the hottestFlies on Steelhead Alley!
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Screaming Reels Guide ServiceGuiding "Steelhead Alley” in Ohio, New York & PA!Bob WilliamsCall 216-491-9543www.screamingreels.net
"The Tarpon may be
a better fighter, the
Bonefish a faster
swimmer, but all
things combined
there is no better
opponent for the
consummate
angler than the
Atlantic Salmon."
—Ted Williams
11
promoting the area and the pursuit of theelusive Atlantic Salmon. Nothing wouldpromote the area more than the arrival ofTed Williams himself. Williams hadnever fished for freshwater fish of anykind before but for some reason, hebecame interested and accepted the invi-tation. The river was the Miramichiwhich crossed the Canadian Province ofNew Brunswick. For two months in latesummer, the salmon make their spawningrun down the river, later returning to thesea. Williams found that this was a differ-ent kind of challenge in his fishing life.With Tarpon and Bonefish, the challengebegan with the hunt to first sight the fishand then make the presentation. But thiswas very different. With Atlantic Salmon,there was no sighting the fish in the vari-ous pools where the fish tended to restwhile on their journey. It often requiredhundreds of casts before a strike. Ofcourse, Williams did have some of thechoice pools along the Miramichi to fish.One of his favorite pools was called the“swinging bridge.” Access was affordedto him that others did not have. ForWilliams, this was imperative. He wasnot about to have others fishing aroundhim. His tolerance of people was notalways the best whether he was on thebaseball diamond or while fishing. It didnot take too much for Williams to leapinto a cursing tirade. Like everything elsethat Ted did, cursing was like an art form.Nobody was better.
Williams also found that these fishwere a lot more selective in what flythey would take and how it was present-ed. In fact, the Atlantic Salmon actuallywere not feeding while in the river. Thefly would be taken for whatever otherreason, such as annoyance or other reac-tion. This also made the challenge muchmore difficult. He would spend hours
making his own flies, each one, a littledifferent color and style. But Williamsloved tying flies. It wasn’t just a part ofthe whole fishing experience.Outsmarting the Atlantic Salmon withhis own creation was one thing, but healso used fly tying as an escape. Heoften would retreat to his fishing room,which contained all his fly tying equip-ment, when he was stressed and neededthe escape. He found it very relaxing.Even while Williams was still playingball, he could often be found tying fliesin his apartment in the city that he wasplaying in at the time. Williams eveninvented a number of his own flies. One
Ted Williams receiving his
enshrinement into the
Freshwater Fishing Hall of
Fame. This award was
delivered to the Hitters
Hall of Fame in Hernando,
FL. by Larry Colombo.Photo courtesy of the
Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame
PEN
NSY
LVA
NIA
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Wingate by Wyndham Erie, PA8060 Old Oliver Rd. - I-90/Exit 24Tell them Kype Magazine sent you!814-860-3050Close to Elk and Walnut Creek with allthe modern conveniences.
Has This Ever Happened to You?by Michael McAuliffe
EATLearn WhatTrout Really
Bio:Owner: Rise Form Studio/RiseForm Fly Fishing GuidesNJ Fly Fishing Guide Fly Fishing InstructorAuthorFly Tier
Type of Fishing:Fly Fishing everywhereFilming everywhere
Website:riseformstudio.tv
You did your homework. All winter long you studied your hatch charts,researched the best patterns, tied flies, and figured out where and when to
fish. You fastidiously gathered all of this information in the hopes of constructing anepic season of fly fishing. It is early afternoon on a crisp April day. You have confident-ly positioned yourself downstream of the fast water that the Epeorus Pleuralis inhabits.
You tie on a Quill Gordon just as the
first bugs begin to struggle free of the
surface tension. The trout should start
eating any minute as the flotilla increas-
es in numbers. After an hour of watch-
ing the big mayflies pour by unmolest-
ed, you concede defeat. Naturally you
wonder, “What did I do wrong?”
Conventional wisdom would have
you believe you’ve done nothing
wrong. Many of our trusted advisors
coin phrases to justify why the fish did-
n’t eat on a particular day, or better yet,
why we can’t catch them all the time.
Does this sound familiar? I thought so.
Don’t feel bad, I’ve been there; and
now I intend to chronicle how I stopped
falling victim to angler’s theories, hatch
charts, speculation, conjecture, and the
pontifications of “experts.”
Long before I began guiding profes-
sionally, I simply wanted to be a better
angler. I did all of the things mentioned
above and continually came up short of
my expectations. The simple truth of
the matter is that hatch charts represent
a small view of the complex relation-
ship between trout, food sources,
behavior, and environment. It is a com-
mon and accepted belief that trout do
90% of their feeding sub-surface. So
why do we put so much stock in writ-
ings that primarily detail feeding behav-
ior and food sources that are visible on
or above the surface of the river? If you
are from my region, the Mid Atlantic
States (notably NJ and PA) and your
interest is fishing dries flies in the
evening, hatch charts are a fantastic
tool. They should put you in the ball
park and guide you to what trout are
eating during a window of time and
what flies you should have in your box.
However, for the rest of us that fish
beyond May and June Evenings, many
of the hatch charts I’ve seen leave out
much of a trout’s primary food sources.
If you want to consistently catch more
Trout, especially on tough days, you
will need to educate yourself through
observation made on the stream.
Looking Beyond the TextHow did I learn to see beyond the
Hatch Charts and get the complete pic-12
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I watched and
learned from John
Heaney how to safe-
ly and effectively
pump a trout’s
stomach.
13
ture? Enter my good friend and fellow
NJ Fly Fishing Guide, John Heaney.
John is the one of the best fisherman I
have ever had the good fortune to share
a stream with, and he taught me that the
greatest tool a fly angler can arm him-
self with is a regiment of focused obser-
vation. The tools we use for our
research are a seining net, stomach
pump, notebook, and digital camera
with a macro function. Armed with
these devices we started cataloguing
what the trout were eating during every
month of the year. I like to jokingly call
this the Salmo Gastronomic Index for
New Jersey.The first step to understanding a
trout’s diet in a particular river is by
looking at what food sources are pres-
ent. There are several simple ways to
quickly identify what food sources are
available. The first is to look at and
under submerged rocks along the side of
the stream. The second is to pull up a
few submerged sticks or trapped leaves
and examine the insect life you are find-
ing. A good course of action is to spend
a few hours sampling at least once a
month. It is important to do this in
diverse types of water. Varied insects
and food sources inhabit slow/silty,
moderate, and fast/broken stretches of
water, so make sure to sample a diverse
cross section of habitat. I like to pick 3
spots on a body of water with landmarks
that will not be erased by floods, and
sample the exact spot each time. I would
also recommend you do this in the same
stretches of river you fish the most.
Remember to put stones, leaves and
sticks back where you find them, as they
are important parts of the ecosystem.
If it is legal in your area, a seine or
kick net is a better option. Have one
person hold the net or screen a few feet
downstream while you disturb the
streambed with your boots. The current
will carry and trap macro-invertebrates
in your net. Make sure to get good clear
pictures of what you find. Now you can
catalogue and research your findings in
a notebook.
The second and most revealing
observations you can make are through
the use of a stomach pump. Over the
course of a little more than one fishing
season, I watched and learned from
John Heaney how to safely and effec-
tively pump a trout’s stomach. This is a
subtle art that takes a lot of practice. I
would strongly recommend you seek
out someone with a few years experi-
ence if you intend to employ this tech-
nique. It is very easy to harm a trout if
you do not do it properly.
To get stomach samples, you need to
catch the “right” fish. We like to pump
stocked fish in the 12-14 inch range. It
is very easy to harm a smaller trout, due
to the size of the stomach pump and the
opening between the gills. A larger fish
Photo by Richard Schaaff
OH
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Woodstock for Fly Fishermenby Klint Borozan
SPEY Clave on theSandy River
Bio:Former Fishing Guide SW Montana and AlaskaSteelhead & Salmon Fly TierOutdoor Writer
Type of Fishing:Spey Casting for Anadromous Species.
Location:Michigan, Alaska, Montana, Florida.
Contact Info:[email protected]
I can only assume that John Keats was talking about spey casting as hepronounced, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” If you are a stalker of
the Anadromous, especially in the Northwest, you likely know about thegreat fishermen this area has produced, as well as witnessed them cast. I amfar less of an artist and more of journeyman when it comes to spey fishing.
Left to my own resources, I can catch just
about anything. That has been my focus.
But my focus has changed forever. As my
life progresses, I want to become more
the artist. When you see a truly inspired
spey caster, it is that “joy forever” that
never passes.
Enter the gentlemen of the sport: Steve
Rajeff, Simon Gawesworth, Mark
Bachmann and Charles St. Pierre.
Like many, I joined the ranks of spey
casters as my need to cover more water
became top of mind on the really big
rivers in the Northwest, where the
Steelhead and Salmon take over every
year. Books are good, but only if you
have a good starting point of reference
and a solid foundation in “sustained
anchor dynamics.” If I am going to do
something, I want to really go after it, and
measuring against the best is the only
way to live. I love to practice the things
about which I am passionate. Spey cast-
ing is one of those things I can and will
do all day. On the big rivers, I don’t stop
for rain or lunch. Other than to learn
something special, from someone spe-
cial; the only thing that stops me is to
watch a true master, gently, but powerful-
ly, rolling 100 feet of line across the river.
A thing of beauty it is.
So let’s shift gears. Yes, it’s beautiful.
Yes, it’s fun. And yes, these folks are gen-
tlemen of the highest order. But it’s very
cool. And it’s not just for men. But…
what specifically do you do to move it
forward in your arsenal of attack? You go
to the Woodstock of Spey Fishing: The
Sandy River Spey Clave. This year
marked the 10th Anniversary of the event14
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15
spawned (no pun intended) by Fred
Evans and Mark Bachmann. At the initial
event in 2000, it had about 50 attendees.
In 2010, over a 3 day period, it likely had
over 400 to 600 people per day casting
and testing the newest rods, new line
technology, poly-leaders and more.
Spending some real time with many dif-
ferent rods and line set ups on the very
fine water of the Sandy River is a treat
well worth the trip all by itself. But what
is it about the format that is the really
exciting? Very simple. I can articulate the
formula very succinctly: You show up.
You go to real-time, live, on the river
clinics, from the best players in the
world. You go try a set up from Echo,
Sage, Winston, G. Loomis, Burkheimer,
or Loop, and get free advice and lessons
from the world’s best, all day long. It is
basically cultural immersion training
over 3 days. It is great for people of all
abilities, especially beginners, and even
experts. And most importantly, it’s very
constructive. Not one soul there laughed
at my D-Loop position!
My sampling of the clinics to took me
to everything from dealing with very long
sink tips, the new MOW systems, tradi-
tional long belly casting, summer run
steelhead dry fly presentations using long
bellies, and a wonderful assortment of the
Skagit Casting models for every possible
situation from guys like George Cook,
Mike Kinney, and Mark Bachmann. The
only person unaccounted for from previ-
ous years was Dec Hogan, but he moved
to Salt Lake City to be with the love of his
life. I think that deserves a hall pass.
Friday began early with the ladies run-
ning the agenda. I expected pink waders
and hats from the Kentucky Derby. But
honestly, the women’s presentations were
as professionally done as any I have ever
seen. They were great communicators
and very kind, giving lessons and cri-
tiques to both men and women tirelessly
until it started to get dark on the river. If
you ever get a chance, Amy Hazlett, from
Deschutes anglers, is truly a fine teacher
of all aspects of both Skagit and Scandi
casting styles, as well as an outstanding,
Photo by Richard Schaaff
OH
IO
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A River Set in Stoneby Lem James
The NorthUmpqua
Bio:Staff Editor,Kype MagazineAvid Angler and Hunter
Outdoor Writer
Type of Fishing:River fishing for Salmon andSteelhead
Location:Steelhead Rivers of OregonNorth Umpqua River
Contact:[email protected]
Unique among rivers, the North Umpqua is a river set in stone. The basalt for-mations have rigidly defined the channels, holes, fish and the storied history.
This same rock bed still defines the river’s flow, creating a unique fishing and boat-ing experience on the Umpqua. Understanding the basalt rock formations is key tounderstanding how to fish and boat this river.
Many rivers go through small areas of
hard igneous rock cast in lava during cen-
turies gone by, but the Umpqua is defined
by the rock it winds through almost from
its inception through to its tidewater.
The North Umpqua River starts at
Maidu Lake near the summit of the
Central Oregon Cascades. Near the lake
you can take a stride or hop across the
“river,” which is more of a rivulet at this
point. The lake has a shallow sloping
bottom and a population of brook trout
that congregate mostly toward the deep-
er water in the middle. A fisherman will-
ing to wade deep and cast long might
reach them. Better to bring a float tube.
The North Umpqua trail winds from
Maidu Lake downstream through sever-
al miles of subalpine forest into a stretch
of elk meadows and cut bank trout
stream. I will leave it up to you to dis-
cover if there are any fish there.
Although it looks fishy enough, some-
thing tells me it is limited to a few small
brown trout that stray upstream from the
confluence with another small creek just
above Lemola Reservoir. The brown
hole where the creeks meet is famous for
its crystal clear water, large brown trout
and, picky fish. I have managed to catch
fish here, but it’s tough. This joining of
two creeks marks the beginning of river-
like water, and ends several hundred
yards later in Lemola Reservoir.
The upper section of the river is the
main component in the North Umpqua
Hydro project, a WWII era electric
power generation project. There are
three Dams on the project: Lemola,
Toketee, and Soda Springs Dam. Each
impoundment, and the waters in
between to some extent, has self sustain-
ing populations of brown trout along
with some rainbows and brook trout. I
have stood in one magic meadow and
caught several nice brown trout, a
brookie and a rainbow without ever
changing position. The rainbow looked
like he might have been chewed on by
some of the larger browns but, still all
three species in one place is pretty cool.
My favorite go to rig for fly fishing in
the brown trout waters is to cast a para-
chute adams with a 6-10 inch dropper to
16
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Also unique to the
North Umpqua is
the propensity of
the steelhead to
accept top water
offerings.
17
a size 18 or smaller chironomid. The
nymph usually gets the take, while the
adams acts as an indicator and catches a
fair amount of fish.
Below Soda Springs Dam, the North
runs unimpeded except for one low rise
dam all the way to the Main Umpqua
and the ocean. The next 30 miles down-
stream to Rock Creek are designated fly
fishing only. There are trout present and
some anglers that target them, but
downstream of Soda Springs Dam
marks the beginning of big fish water!
This is notorious steelhead water.
Although the North has steelhead and
salmon up to Soda Springs Dam, almost
half of the wild steelhead spawn in
Steamboat Creek. Steamboat Creek
comes into the Umpqua, and the waters
under Steamboat present a strong flow,
and a solid run of wild North Umpqua
Steelhead. The waters below Steamboat
Creek hold fish throughout the summer
and are referred to as the camp water
section for the fishing camps that were
established there during the early to mid
1900s. Most rivers see profound change
throughout the course of 100 odd years.
The North Umpqua has remained sub-
stantially unchanged due once again to
its bedrock foundation. The camp water
section in particular has a rich history of
famous writers, presidents, dignitaries
and almost every big name in fly fishing
lore. All these anglers have fished the
same rocks, ledges and runs with very
slight variation over the last century.
Also unique to the North Umpqua is
the propensity of the steelhead to accept
top water offerings. On most Pacific
Northwest Rivers, a fish can, if rarely,
be taken using top water popper and
skating methods. The North Umpqua
presents a real opportunity to catch fish
using skated flies (current video clips at
www.scotthowellfishing.com). Scott’s
clients often object when he explains
that skating flies will be the first order of
business. Scott explains that on the
Umpqua, top water flies have an even
chance of catching fish. For many fly
angles this is something akin to the
highest attainment in the fishing uni-
verse. Indeed catching steelhead on any
fly on the Umpqua is a high attainment.
These fish don’t come easy and some-
times they don’t cooperate at all.
However, the rugged beauty of the
North Umpqua and the chance at wild
fish keeps the diehard solidly hooked!
Over the years the North Umpqua has
spawned its share of steelhead flies. The
skunk and the green butt skunk being
perhaps the most prolific. These are wet
flies that swing with the best. The skop-
per is a custom steelhead popper, and
other small poppers are the cutting edge
of skating flies. Muddler minnows are
also very popular and claim a great
respect in the local fishing community.
The Rock Creek hole is the lower end
of the fly fishing only area, and the
Photo by Richard Schaaff
ORE
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18
entire Rock Creek area presents
almost a fishery unto itself. The
Rock Creek fish hatchery pumps an
amazing number of native strain
hatchery steelhead, coho and chi-
nook into the North Umpqua. Upon
their yearly return, the waters
below Rock Creek are prime hold-
ing ground for thousands of fish
and hundreds of anglers. The Rock
Creek area is primarily fished with
bait, corkies, yarn and various
lures. Swinging bait or fishing with
a slide bobber accounts for hun-
dreds of fish. At the peak of the
runs, many drifts and holes are
elbow to elbow with fishermen. As
with most such fisheries, many fish
are caught by the local top guns. A
good feel for soft bites and great
egg cures carry the day.
Downstream from the Rock Creek
Swift Water area, the river once
again changes back to a remote
fishery. Much of the land along the
river transitions from public land to
private ranches and the drift boat
waters begin.
The steelhead and salmon on the
North Umpqua also make their way
up guided by the ancient basalt
pathways. Unlike freestone rivers,
fishing the Umpqua channels has as
much to do with ancient geology as
current hydrology. The fish are
finning through sections of seem-
ingly flat water in 12-50 foot deep
channels, which are sometimes vis-
ible from the surface. Swinging
your presentation closer to the bank
in high water won’t help (most of
the time) because the fish are still
channeled up. The opportunities are
here, and once you learn the river it
stays substantially unchanged over
time. North Umpqua fishing is
challenging and rewarding. Top
hands drifting yarn balls or eggs
from drift boats often catch and
release 20 fish for two anglers dur-
ing peak runs! If bringing 20 steel-
head to the boat doesn’t get your
excitement level to the red zone,
I’m not sure what I can do to help,
unless of course chinook come into
the picture.
Fifteen to forty pounds of ocean
hardened spring chinook can leave
some anglers dazed from sleep
deprivation and sheer adrenaline.
There are a very few fly fishermen
who target chinook. Most of the
North Umpqua fishery is focused
on drifting presentations of cured
salmon eggs, and running hardware
such as quickfish and wobblers.
Although in season late April
through July, many chinook run
long stretches of the river very
quickly. The hatchery fish stack up
below Rock Creek where they get
their due attention from the locals.
Boat fishing can be productive
from the mouth of the North at
River Forks up to the dam at
Amacher Park. Most anglers back
bounce eggs or sand shrimp and
eggs working them back into holes
where the fish hold. Spring chi-
nook can be tough, so expect to put
some time in or fish with someone
already adept in the techniques.
Lone Rock boat launch is a
wooden drift boat slide located just
above the town of Glide on Lone
Rock Road. This uppermost boat
section consists of several runs and
smooth stretches, and begins the
winter steelhead side drifting
water. Some fishermen run plugs
with some success. Side drifting
with eggs or yarn balls accounts for
most steelhead success on the boat
water from Lone Rock Launch
downstream through several drifts
all the way to River Forks boat
ramp at the confluence of the North
and South Umpqua. Fly fishing in
the boat fishing areas is very rare.
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19
Scott Howell guides these sections
fishing indicators and wet flies.
You will encounter local anglers
accessing the river in drift boats
and pontoon rafts. Pontoon boats
definitely have a place in this fish-
ery. Their mobility and stability
allow them to handle some of the
water that keeps out a high percent-
age of the drift boats and almost
excludes jet boats altogether. Still,
much of the fly fishing is concen-
trated upstream in the fly only
water.
Colliding Rivers boat ramp and
the short 3 hour (while fishing)
drift from Colliding Rivers to the
unimproved Gravel Quarry take
out represent a good chance at fish
and the ONLY moderately easy
drift boat water on the upper North
Umpqua. The Amacher Park to
Hestness Landing float includes
easy rowing but some complicated
kicker motor work in order to fish
the most productive stretches more
than once. Floating through from
the upper stretches to Whistlers
Park boat ramp represents only
moderate challenges and experi-
enced rowers should be up to the
challenge. Whistlers Park to Page
Road presents a very long day trip
with one dangerous rapid at Dixon
Falls. The North Umpqua has a
strong flow, a healthy gradient and
a few extra tricks up its sleeve with
the ledge rock nature. Although the
upper reaches of the fly only water
seems to be typical boulder strewn
fast water river, the river quickly
develops the nature it keeps down
to the Pacific Ocean. Bedrock
ledges and outcroppings channel
the river, making challenges for
boaters and bank anglers alike.
Hard bedrock ledges can lurk just
under still water or channel the
entire river through small intense
channels. The easy meandering
ways of a freestone river will not
prepare you for the Umpqua. Only
time on the Umpqua will teach you
the hazards and nature of the river.
Colliding Rivers, Dixon Falls,
and Burkhart Rapids claim drift
boats and even jet sleds on a con-
sistent, sometimes yearly, basis.
These descents claim the boats of
the most experienced rowers on the
river and should be given due
respect. The easier rowing water
has fishing opportunities and thrills
enough for most drifters. A bad
entry or a missed stroke of the oar
is a small chance to bet your boat
gear and safety on. Drift boaters
who have mostly rowed on flat
water should do some pre scouting
and information finding before
attempting any North Umpqua
drift.
The emerald waters and rugged
beauty of the North Umpqua are
without parallel in the world of
steelhead and the men who fish
them. From the notorious fly only
waters to the drift boat waters and
their epic potential, days spent on
the North Umpqua are seldom
wasted and never forgotten. The
surging run of bright fish will etch
the memory in stone as well.
Written by Lem James with Scott
Howell. Scott Howell loves to
answer questions about fly fishing
in Southern Oregon. Drop him an
email or cast him a line.
(541) 608-0403
KYPE
Photo by Brazda’s Fly Fishing, WA
MIC
HIG
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Fishing Co.8460 Algoma Ave NERockford, MI 49341616-866-6060www.troutmoor.net
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Jeff’s Guide ServiceDrift & Jet Boat - Fly & Spin FishingMuskegon River – Steelhead & Salmon616-204-4999jeff@muskegonriverguide.commuskegonriverguide.com
Staff Report Fish KypeNation
Bob Toman is one of the most well respected fishing
guides on the west coast. He has been guiding profes-
sionally since 1968. His guiding season in Oregon
focuses on three primary locations, the Clackamas
River, the Deschutes River, and Tillamook Bay. Bob
also owns and operates Toman's King Camp which is
three-hundred and fifty miles southwest of Anchorage
and lies on the Nushagak River.
Bob Toman Guide Service
Oregon Sportfishing
503-658-6493
Clackamus & Deschutes Salmon & Steelhead fishing
www.bobtoman.com
20
Angler's Lodge
For Those Who Enjoy A Secluded Natural Setting
Altmar, NY 13302
(315) 298-6028
stonehouseinnlodging.com
Fox Hollow Salmon River Lodge
2740 State Route 13
Altmar, New York 13302
Roger Wolfe - (315) 298-2876
Foxhollowsalmonriverlodge.com
Salmon River, Pulaski New York
Bob Toman Guide Service, Oregon
As in any magazine, the advertisers are the ones who make it all possible. We would like to start this sectionto provide some extra exposure to our advertisers and to shine light on the different professionals and
personalities in the steelhead, salmon and trout arena. Our advertisers have devoted their lives and careers tothe sport of fishing. Please keep them in mind for your future trips and gear.
The Salmon River has been an east coast favorite since the 1970’s. As of late, the fishery has stepped up a
notch as the N.Y. Department of Environmental Conservation lowered the daily limit of steelhead from
three down to only one. This change has proven success as the thriving steelhead run will show. The river also
receives a large run of browns that are usually mixed in nice with the steelhead. Of course, the fall salmon run
is what made this river famous—and the runs of kings and coho continue to storm-troop the river each year.
The lodging on this river is plentiful. Nearly every corner has a fishing lodge of some sort. Although some
are better than others, they all place you in close proximity to the river.
The two lodges featured this issue are located near Altmar, which is a prime section of the river. Be sure
to check out these lodges for your next trip to the Salmon River.
Mike Whittle is the new owner of J&J Guide Service
that features fly fishing trips on the world class Pere
Marquette River and Big Manistee. These are two of
Michigan's heavy hitters, especially the Pere
Marquette. This river is a gem and is world renowned.
Mike and his staff of guides hold the most permits
for guiding these river systems, allowing them to
accommodate a couple of anglers to large groups.
J&J River Guides Inc.
Baldwin, Michigan
Fish the Big Manistee & Pere Marquette
231-578-0946
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21
Some of the biggest and baddest steelhead can be
found on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula.
Some of the top rivers in the country lay in this pris-
tine territory. The landscape ranges from rain forest to
the Olympic Mountains—it is truly remarkable.
Jeff Brazda, owner of Brazda’s Fly Fishing, runs an
impressive guide service within this region. Be sure to
check out his website at brazdasflyfishing.com
Brazda’s Fly Fishing - # 10393
Trout & Steelhead Fishing on the
Olympic Peninsula in Washington
253-307-3210
www.brazdasflyfishing.com
Brazdas Fly Fishing, Washington State
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Photo by Dake Schmidt
Trip Booking ServiceT h e s k y i s t h e l i m i t
Another amazing area of the country is the
Livingston/Bozeman Montana region. All the big trout
rivers seem to flow through this area; The Gallatin,
Madison, Jefferson, along with the Missouri Rivers
and their tributaries. Rob Olson runs a guide service
on these rivers, but mainly focuses on the mighty
Yellowstone River for wild trout. He offers driftboat
trips as well as walk/wade trips and has over two
decades of exploration knowledge in the region with
fifteen years of adventure and fish guiding experience.
Rob Olson : Montana Outfitter #8976
PO Box 2382, Livingston, Montana 59047
406.579.3619 - [email protected]
Montana Guide, Rob Olson
Alaska River Adventures, Copper Landing, AkMost outdoorsmen from the lower forty-eight dream to
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anglers with a great choice to make that dream come
true. His lodge and guide service is in historic Cooper
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Alaskariveradventures.com
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Photo by Dake Schmidt
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Ashtabula county is thereigning king of SteelheadAlley. Many of the otherregions of Steelhead Alley havethe fish, but also have muchmore fishing pressure.
It is one of the reasons whyGeorge Douglas has chosen thissection of Ohio for his guideservice. He will be running drift-boat trips every spring and fallon the mighty Grand River andbank guiding on some of theother tributaries. He is workingwith a few different lodges in the
area to accommodate his clientsand readership. One in particularis Tony Zala’s Steelhead AlleyFishing Lodge located inGeneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio. Thelodge is very comfortable and isperfect for fishermen. Separatebedrooms, kitchen, large livingroom, and a very cool yard withpicnic tables and a fire-pit.
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Fetha Styx has announced an
expansion of its partnership with
the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the
Coastal Conservation Association.
Fetha Styx is a Redmond, Wash.-based
manufacturer of high-performance
fishing rods with a social conscience.
Under the new agreement, Fetha
Styx will manufacture and sell a line
of rods featuring the CCA brand
with models for salmon, trout, and
“big game” fish such as sturgeon. A
portion of the proceeds from each
rod sold will go to support the work
of the CCA-PNW. This line of rods
will only be available via retailers
located in Washington, Oregon, and
Idaho—the areas in which the CCA-
PNW operates.
Since 1984, the national chapter
of CCA has worked to advise and
educate the public on marine
resource conservation and steward-
ship issues. The PNW chapter,
which works to raise awareness of
marine and fisheries sustainability in
the Northwest, has had a significant
impact raising millions of dollars
and improving the region’s fish pop-
ulations while helping Northwest
fisheries implement alternative har-
vesting methods. CCA-PNW
includes 25 local chapters.
This partnership aligns with Fetha
Styx’s corporate initiative to make a
difference with every rod they sell.
Each of the company’s rod series is
affiliated with a charity—anglers
can take pride in knowing the pro-
ceeds from each purchase contribute
to environmental and social solu-
tions. In addition to the CCA-PNW
series, Fetha Styx offers True Hero,
which supports the families of fallen
firefighters and police officers.
Earlier this year, Fetha Styx began
their partnership with CCA-PNW by
joining with North Fork Composites
to create a select number of limited
edition rods, which are available
exclusively for members through
CCA-PNW auctions.
For more information on CCA-
PNW, please visit ccapwn.org. A
full listing of rods available from
Fetha Styx can be found at
fethastyx.com. KYPE
Fetha Styx Announces Expanded Partnership
best in class, guide for Steelhead. She
worked with me extensively on
cleaning up my Single Spey. I don’t
use it as much unless I am in Oregon
chasing summer run steelhead, and it
needed fresh coat of paint. That was
my first day.
My favorite encounter came on
Day 3, where I was able to secure the
precious time of Simon Gawesworth.
Again, I consider myself a spey
orphan who can fish. But Simon has
both the soul of an artist and the abil-
ity to produce casts that rival the art
in the Louvre. As the head of line
design at Rio, he is also a brilliant
technician, but most of all, a very
kind teacher. One look at my single
spey, and he reduced the errors to
very simple things that really made a
difference in distance and accuracy.
The key take-aways will be things I
practice forever. To get this kind of
instruction on casting, equipment,
and line set ups for three days would
cost quite a bit for equivalent instruc-
tion. To get it for free: priceless.
If that is not enough, the food is
supplied gratis by a local restaurant
that rivals any place I have been. It is
far and away the friendliest event you
will go to all year. If you go to the
website, www.flyfishusa.com/spey-
clave.htm you can see the agenda and
the entire format. It really is not com-
parable to a trade show, given its
level of personalization. Having it all
demonstrated, with help provided to
remove the quirky stuff people bring
into their cast, on a big and beautiful
river like the Sandy, is a very special
treat.
I think their theme statement on
their brochure says it all: “If you are
a big stick, spey casting mojo, you
will be welcomed at the Sandy River
Clave...
You will be even more welcomed
if you are also a humble teacher. At
this Clave, beginners are as welcome
as experts. We all learn from each
other. Here the two-hander is a com-
mon bond...to be shared.”
On that day, the fraternal order of
fly fishermen got bigger and better.
KYPE
at night. Stay away from the faster,
broken water and concentrate on the
soft, slower moving water.
The moon phases are also key to
your success. Some of my best days
have come when the moon is less
than half full. When there is a full
moon, I tend to have my best luck
early in the night, before the moon
rises above the treetops and lights up
the river like a runway. On nights
where there is a new moon or cres-
cent moon, the fishing can some-
times be good all night long. If you
are unsure about the moon phases,
get online and do some research. In
the long run it will pay off.
YOUR GEARIf you hook a large brown trout
when fishing near cover, guess
where it is going to go? You got it,
straight for the logs, and all the bet-
ter reason to leave the four and five
weights at home. I typically like to
use a 6 or 7 weight rod. Hooking
fish over 20 inches is not that
uncommon, and you want to be able
to turn that fish away from the twist-
ed piles of lumber or what have you.
Another reason I prefer to use a
heavier weight rod is that many
mouse flies tend to be big, bushy,
wind resistant flies. That six or
seven weight is going to turn that fly
over and make casting much easier.
Sometimes I will even go as far as
over lining my rod by one line
weight, especially if I am casting a
really large bushy fly. This will also
help to turn your fly over.
When choosing a leader, you do
not have to be fancy. I like to use a
short stout leader of 12 to 15 pound
test and about 3 to 4 feet in length.
Sometimes I will even take an old
dry fly leader and cut about 5 feet or
so off. You do not have to worry
about stealth. It’s dark outside and
the fish can’t see your line. The
extra heavy leader will also come in
handy when you snag your fly up on
a log or tree limb. I rarely lose many
flies when mousing.
THE FLIESDeer hair, foam and more deer
hair; all are important materials too
look for when choosing a mouse
pattern. Mouse, frog, steelhead
bombers and gurgler patterns are all
good choices. Just because we are
“mousing,” does not
mean the fly has to
look like an actual
mouse. We want a fly
that creates a wake
and sometimes
makes a little noise.
When casting across
the current, I prefer
to use a gurgler style
fly, as these tend to
make a good popping
sound and draw a lot
of attention. When
swinging my fly
down and across, I like to use a fly
that rides low in the water and cre-
ates a good wake. Using more buoy-
ant flies can cause the fly to pop up
out of the water when the fish hits,
making it harder to hook the fish.
Having a variety of flies in different
sizes with you will increase your
success. Don’t be afraid to change it
up a bit.
SAFETY AT NIGHTNighttime mousing does not
have to be a daunting experience. If
you are unsure about the whole
nighttime fishing venture, bring a
friend along or hire a guide. There
is no better way to learn the water.
If you do decide to go at it alone,
always be sure to let someone
know where you are going. Learn
the area of river you plan on fishing
by scouting it out during the day.
The more you know the river, the
more confident you will be while
wading at night. A few essential
items to bring include a headlamp
with extra batteries, a wading staff
and eye protection. Be sure not to
skimp out on the eye protection.
There’s something to be said about
casting large flies with sharp hooks
in the dark.
While fishing at night is not for
everyone, it is an experience in
itself. The rushing sounds of the
river flowing through a riffle, the
fireflies sporadically dancing
though the tall grass and trees,
along with the quietness of night
equal tranquility at its finest. The
river becomes and entirely differ-
ent place. If you love solitude
and targeting large predatory
trout, then throwing these over-
size hairballs at night is your
ticket to the show! KYPE
24
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25
fifth of Crown Royal, so there could
be a small margin for operator error.
Maybe….
At least an 8wt and a reel with
perfectly smooth drag loaded up
with a floating line on top of plenty
of heavy backing and small or medi-
um lead eyes flies is all you’ll need
to start fight after fight on the river.
The technique for hooking these
fish is almost too easy to be called
fishing. In fact the hardest part of
the actual fishing is casting the big
glob of lead eyes, bunny fur, a nee-
dle sharp hook, and marabou into
the river over and over without
knocking yourself out or impaling
yourself in the back of the neck. It
happens a lot more than you’d
imagine, another argument for barb-
less hooks.
Once your electric pink fly hits the
water, (“Turd Fly” was the name
they were given by a well known
magazine publisher, who unfortu-
nately will remain anonymous even
though he possessed a tremendous
amount of l.o.f.t.) it’s as simple as
letting it swing. No mending
required. All fly fishermen will mend
anyway because, well, they just can’t
help it. But it doesn’t matter.
As you follow your floating line
with the tip of your rod, your mus-
cles should start to tense like a
boxer before the bell rings. There’s
seriousness, focus, and mental
preparation setting in that winds you
up like a mousetrap waiting to snap
until, there it is. A huge pulse shoots
up your arm and through your
shoulder as your line stretches under
the immediate weight. You’ll want
to strip the line
hard with your off-
hand to bury the
heavy hook before
lifting the rod tip.
Now that you’re
hooked in, the hurt
really begins.
Anyone who’s
ever fished big
Chinook or Native
Steelhead knows
that at some point
they’ll eventually wear out. It might
be a while, and they might rip line
off your reel 10 different times and
do half a dozen aerial cartwheels,
sending your heart through your
chest each time, but sooner or later
they’ll let you turn their head and
direct them to hand. A chum will
never do it. Never. They literally do
not have not a stop button. Their
head will never turn towards you,
and their tail will never do anything
other than pressing them away. It
takes more pulling than you would
ever think to get one of these fish in
and released. There’s so much
pulling, in fact, that in 3 years of
guiding the Alagnak I’ve seen at
least 20 rods broken by fish. In all
but one of them, a chum was the
culprit. It’s a death certificate for a
rod when I see clients slide their
hand up towards the first guide to
gain leverage after becoming tired
and frustrated with a particularly
angry and uncooperative fish. It
doesn’t matter how expensive the
rod is. It also doesn’t seem to matter
how many times you tell yourself or
tell a client not to do it, it’s going to
happen. When it does, the result is
almost always the same. I’ve seen it
right before my eyes so many times
it’s actually become humorous.
“Stop!!! Don’t slide your
hand……” KERSNAP!!! Chards of
graphite go flying in every direction
and a bewildered fisherman is sim-
ply standing there staring at 3 feet of
a 9 foot rod in his hand, thinking to
himself, “Wow. This rod is brand
new and it cost me $900 bucks.
There’s no better way to break a rod
than that. Totally worth it!”
If tying into bright chum after
bright chum after bright chum, all
with the intent of completely
destroying your favorite rod while
you helplessly hang on sounds like
something you’d consider fishing
nirvana, then you and I are on the
same page. Absolute war with one
fresh fish after another on fly rods
from dark till dark is not only possi-
ble, it’s an everyday thing on the
Alagnak. Those of us lucky enough
to have done it are counting the days
until we get back. Those who
haven’t had the chance to chase the
greatest fly rod fishing imaginable
need to be adjusting their schedules
and saving money for the trip of a
lifetime and a few extra rods just in
case. You’re gonna need ’em. KYPE
MIC
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26
was called the “Bear Hair,” and another was called“The Spotlight” which had four colors in it. Williamsthought that he would put all the different major colorsin one fly. Hunting deer was a big deal in the area ofMiramichi and Williams would tell all the hunters togive him some of the hide so he could use the deer hairfor fly tying. His favorite fly was the “Conrad” whichhe tied on a #6 hook.
After a few trips back to the Miramichi, Williams was
totally hooked. Islamorada was out and Blackwell, New
Brunswick was in. He bought one track of land and built
a cabin on. It wasn’t just the fishing. He loved the peo-
ple, the land, the cool, crisp air and pretty much the
whole atmosphere of the place. He had found a new
home and would fish there the rest of his life until he
could no longer do so. He often stated that if he had only
one fish to fish for, it would be the Atlantic Salmon. Of
course, being a representative for Sears, Williams
would fish with his own line of reels from Sears with
150 yards of 20 lb. Dacron line for the backing. To that,
he added #8 torpedo fly line, and 6 to 8lb. test leader.
His rod was an 8 1/2 foot split bamboo fly rod.
The river was two hundred miles long with numer-
ous tributaries that also offered great fishing. There
were no rapids or dams, just meandering river with
abundant pools and plenty of Salmon. Williams owned
one of these pools in front of his cabin. Morning, noon
and evening he could usually be found casting into his
pool. The Atlantic Salmon Hall of Fame was located in
Doaktown, New Brunswick and it didn’t take long
before Williams was inducted.
Fishing with Ted followed a certain routine. With
guides or friends, everyone knew the routine. Williams
entered the pool first and he would make the initial
casts into that pool. When Williams moved, then you
could fish where he had left. If that routine was not fol-
lowed, one could feel the glare that was coming at you.
Or worse, one could hear the infamous streak of pro-
fanity coming from him. Either way, it was certainly
wise to use caution. There is a story of a person on a
boating dock in Homosassa, Florida who asked one of
the boat Captains if they ever saw Williams around the
area. The Captain answered, “Yes, sometimes. Do you
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27
want to meet him?” The person answered, “Sure.” The Captain stat-
ed, “Well, he is right over there on that other dock.” The person
walked over, wearing a Ted Williams tee shirt which he had pur-
chased at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. When Williams saw the
man with the shirt, he rather strongly tapped him on the chest say-
ing, “Where did you get that -------- -------- shirt?” Williams had a
big issue with people buying illegally sold memorabilia with his
name or picture on it. When the person said that he had bought it at
the Hall of Fame, Williams’ demeanor completely changed. He pat-
ted the person on the back and even signed the shirt for him.
As the years passed by, he remained an almost constant visitor to
the Miramichi. No other fishing or fishing location even
tempted him. The passion for the fish and the river extended
beyond to the point where anyone that kept an Atlantic
Salmon rather than return it the river as Williams did, was in
his words, the equivalent of murder. He was the ultimate
purist and no one should be otherwise. But after approxi-
mately thirty years of fishing on the Miramichi, Williams’
health was deteriorating. He found it more and more
difficult to put the waders on and get into the river in
pursuit of the Salmon. In the fall of 1993, he left the
area and never returned.
Writing a few words about the fishing life of Ted
Williams, of course, is only part of his life story,
although a very important part. His huge accomplish-
ments in his baseball career were groundbreaking in
their time. Williams’ military record in two wars and
his charitable work were all done without any fanfare.
His passion for life, including fishing, was legendary
and those of us who are connected to the fishing world
can all the more appreciate his con-
tribution to the sport. KYPESubscribe to Kype
FREE !with a subscription
to Kype Magazine
Subscribe now for one year (4 issues)of Kype Magazine & DVD Combo
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28
is much stronger, harder to control, and also likely to
be injured in the process. After netting the right sized
fish, make sure to wet your hands before handling a
trout. Get a little bit of water in the tube of your stom-
ach pump, and turn the trout upside down. This will
disorient the fish and should stop it from struggling.
This is the critical point at which we choose to pump
or just release a trout. If it continues to wiggle or the
slightest resistance is felt when inserting the tube, we
release the fish without sampling. If the tube slides in
easily, we gently squeeze the bulb and allow just the
water to be pushed from the tube. In one steady
motion, slowly back the tube out while letting go of the
bulb. If you do this properly, it should take eight sec-
onds for the entire operation from net to release. If you
miss and do not get a sample, release the fish and try
again on the next one. If you did it right, you will see
bugs in the tube. Squirt the contents into a white dish
or container and photograph your findings. These
stomach contents will reveal something that most ento-
mology texts are missing, concrete facts. Stomach con-
tents are not debatable, and you will undoubtedly dis-
cover times when the trout are not focused on the
mayfly that has landed on your shirt, but rather, some-
thing you did not see.
In collecting our data we were able to get more
information than we imagined because several of us
were doing this concurrently. We would schedule trips,
send emails, and indulge in many long-winded phone
calls to share the data with each other. Our good friend
and fly tying guru John Collins was also a valued com-
patriot and conspirator. He was a huge asset in identi-
fying insects, and developing new patterns that better
represented our local bugs. This is when things really
got interesting.
The Big PayoffThe most surprising revelation that we encountered
with our studies was the abundance of midges in the
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Issue 2, Movie: Miracle Mile
Issue 3, The Road toSteelhead Alley
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Photo by John Collins
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29
stomach samples. There are lots of great tail water and
limestone streams in our general region that are
famous for their midge populations. To this point,
Chironomids were barley even mentioned in relation to
our local NJ freestone streams. Month after month, we
would find countless tiny midge pupa and larva in our
samples. As it turns out, there are month long periods
in our local waters when the trout feed almost exclu-
sively on midges.
Our stomach samples also revealed that caddis lar-
vae appeared much more frequently than we would
have imagined. We knew our local trout ate caddis lar-
vae, but we had no inkling that it would present itself
as the major food for the entire winter and a great deal
of the spring. Once we began fishing imitations of the
Hydropsyche and Rhyacophila (both commonly
referred to as Green Rock Worms) in the winter, our
catch rates went through the roof. Our winter sessions
turned into some lights-out fishing, rather than a des-
perate move to get out of the house.
After a few years of us using these techniques and
recording our findings, we discovered one last revela-
tion. Our local trout do not eat that many mayflies!
Sure, trout will opportunistically eat a mayfly nymph
that is well presented. There are also some events in
the year that get the trout feeding on mayflies like the
Sulphur, Slate Drake, and Blue Wing Olives. However,
the fact is that our NJ Trout are mostly eating scuds,
caddis, stoneflies, and midges. Looking at our sample
results, caddis and midges are the predominate species
in almost all of our local trout water. Based on what
many of our clients and people who attend our lectures
tell us, representations of these bugs are not their “go
to” flies. I believe this is due largely to the simple fact
that midge larvae/pupa, and caddis larva are not easily
seen when looking at the streambed. Chalk it up to out
of sight, out of mind. Once anglers understand the
importance of these “other” food sources, fly selec-
tions change and catch rates go up.
I would implore any fly angler that reads this to
change your habits slightly. Spend a few minutes
observing the water and insects before and during any
lull in your fishing trips. Always take the time when
you are finished to record your findings. If you estab-
lish small changes in your routine, just by adding a few
minutes of curious observation, you will catch more
trout and become a more capable angler. KYPE
Photo by Richard Schaaff
GEO
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The Iris Inn Bed & Breakfast191 Chinquapin DriveWaynesboro, VA 22980540.943.1991www.irisinn.comIn the heart of Virginia's Trout Country
Featured Tier, Aileen Ellisby Aileen Ellis
PMDThe SplitCase
Bio:Demonstration Fly TierOwner of MKFlies.comFly Fishing Artist
Type of Fishing:Fly Fishing
Location:Nampa, Idaho
Website:www.MKFlies.com
Contact Info:[email protected]
I first discovered this pattern among flies from “The House of Harrop” (ReneHarrop) at my local fly shop. The Split Case PMD has proven to be an effective
fly on the Owyhee River and the South Fork of the Boise River. I am confident thispattern will produce similar results on your local water. The yellow breaking outfrom the thorax imitates the PMD beginning to emerge from its nymph body.
30
Start the thread, making sure to make
smooth, even wraps.
Tie in the Duck Mallard Wood Duck
feather fibers and the Gold Wire.
Lightly dub evenly 2/3 of the way uptoward the hook eye.
Make four even wraps with the Gold
Wire.
Cut a small strip of the Nymph Stretch
Skin. Trim the tie-in end in an angle and
cut the black strip down the middle.
VIRG
INIA
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DU
CTS
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RecipeHook: Daiichi 1720
size 20 – 16 2x long
Thread: 6/0 Black
Tail: Duck Mallard
Wood Duck
Abdomen: Rust
Brown Fine Dubbing
Rib: Small Gold Wire
Thorax: Nymph
Stretch Skin in Black
and Yellow
Legs: Duck Mallard
Wood Duck
Tie in the yellow Nymph Stretch Skin.
For hooks size 18-20, I cut the yellow
strip in half making them more narrow.
Add a small amount of dubbing.
While adding a little stretch, pull the yel-
low strip behind the hook eye (leave
enough room for the legs and black strip
to be tied in afterward) and tie in.
Tie in legs using feather fibers from the
Duck Mallard Wood Duck.
While adding a little stretch, pull
both sides of the black strips and
tie behind the hook eye. After tying
in the black strip, cut off the excess
and add a smal l drop of head
cement.
Tie in the black Nymph Stretch Skin.
Directions, top of next column.