I returned to the river yesterday looking for rising fish, which didn’t happen. What I found were a variety of bugs floating down the river without fish eating them. Most of them were blue wing olives (BWO), a small mayfly that can hatch almost any month of the year. That got me thinking about my fly…
This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Borden Special. This sea-run cutthroat fly was created by Bob Borden in the 1960’s for the Alsea River, OR. Bob started Hareline Dubbing in Monroe, Oregon. Hareline is a wholesale provider of fly tying materials. You’ve probably used some of their fly tying materials. I tied and…
As I mentioned in last week’s Normal Fishing Season Ends post, someone flipped the switch on November 2 and the weather has dramatically changed. In fact, we’ve had a little snow recently. That tells me it’s COLD outside. In fact, it’s 26 degrees this morning as I finish this week’s post. So I’m returning to the…
This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Dotterel. It was interesting to me as I read about Thaddeus Norris (1811 – 1878). He authored The American Angler’s Book (1864) and American Fish Culture (1868) and had a significant impact of fly fishing in America. Norris recognized the difference between British and American stream, rivers, and lakes as well…
Today is the last day October and the normal fishing season ends. Why would I say that? I believe fishing changes after November 1. It’s like the fish gods flip a switch. Hatches wane as fewer fish rise to fewer flies. Last year the weather cooperated a little more and I was able to get…
This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the Royal Wulff TBT. This is another fly I found while reading Mike Valla’s terrific book entitled The Founding Flies – 43 American Masters, Their Patterns and Influences. Lee Wulff (1905 – 1991) created the Royal Wulff in 1930 along with the Gray Wulff and White Wulff. The Gray Wulff…
Fall fishing can be great. And last week, I wanted to get back and try a little fall fishing at East Lake. It was worth the trip. Here is a picture of a Rainbow Trout caught in the cold, windy weather. But read on for the whole story. My wife and I enjoy fishing East…
This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is a Mamba Black Rufus TBT. The Mamba Black Rufus TBT is a local fly pattern developed by Bob Gaviglio of Sunriver Fly Shop in Sunriver, OR. There is a series of Rufus flies, including the CJ Rufus, Brown Leech Rufus, Mamba Burnt Orange Rufus, and a Brookie Rufus…
This week’s post is about 3 basic dry fly styles for mayflies. I recently wrote a blog about Parachute Flies and that got me thinking about the variety of fly styles available to the fly fisher to imitate the adult mayfly stage. I thought it might be good to provide the options available with only one…
This week’s Throw Back Thursday Fly is the CDC & Elk TBT. The CDC & Elk is a fly Hans Weilenmann created in 1992. It combines the proven properties of an Elk Hair Caddis developed by Al Troth with CDC feathers for the body and “hackle”. I tied my first CDC & Elk flies after completing…
