Judy Harris
Hey All! I’d like to add Trout Spey and One Handed Spey casting instruction to our 2022 Education Calendar. Do we have any members who would like to offer up casting instruction in this specific style? If so, please reply on this thread and I’ll contact you.
Rodney Bryan
I plan to start hitting the salt in the next few weeks, and I would love any intel any of you salty members are willing to share. I have experience but haven’t been in the salt in a few months so at a minimum, I need some intel on where NOT to go.
Jeff Norman
There is a coastal cutthroat hatchery and boat launch at Blue Creek, about 7 miles west of the barrier dam. This is the only stretch of river where you can catch and keep fin-clipped coastal cutthroat, with a limit of 5. During the winter steelhead runs, there might be 60 motorized sleds in the area. This time of year is quiet. We saw only one other boat, and they were throwing gear for summer-run steelhead and Chinook (they caught a 20 pound Chinook). There’s a nice 5 mile float to the next take-out, which took us about 6 hours. We fished mainly from the boat, with October Caddis. We also wade-fished a couple of stretches and I had a lot of action using a trout Spey rod and a Purple Joe. These fish are aggressive on the take, and put up a nice fight. My largest was about 16 inches, but I have seen them up to 20 inches. They start appearing in late August through October. Once the November rains raise the river, they’re harder to locate.
Terry
The Yakima River is optimal right now as the flows are just below 1400 CFS. I drifted it this week and had fair luck till the barometric pressure dropped and the wind kicked up to over 30 mph. I only recall one other time when the wind forced me off the river early. When the weather report for Ellensburg say windy, best to stay away.
That said the lower Yakima River canyon is a special place with stunning scenery and abundant wild life. The river was clear and crowds manageable with 5 boats and 2 bank anglers on the six mile drift from Red’s Fly Shop to the Big Pines campground.
I generally fish the river at least once or twice a week from now till the middle of October. Weekends are generally too busy in September however I would consider a weekend trip in October. If your interested in joining me I only have a couple requirements. You must be vaccinated, meet me at the boat ramp so we have a second vehicle to shuttle, and be willing to take take turns on the oars. If you have never rowed a drift boat on a river that’s OK as the lower Yakima Canyon is not difficult and I have drifted it hundreds of times and helped numerous people get comfortable on the oars.
If anyone is interested in joining me the let me know.
Ron Olsen
A great day on the Sound Sept 3 with Bill Courshon and intrepid President and Chief Guide Rodney in hot pursuit of the hordes of migrating pink salmon. This was a trip from the auction bought by Bill, with Ron in tow as guest. And no disappointment as many silver bullets responded to our casting to the leaping schools. Brought back a limit, and now smoked and ready for the table.
Super thanks to Bill and Rodney!!!!
Ron Olsen
Beautiful day at the ‘snake today. I was second one on the lake this morning at 8:45 and motored my way out to 50′ of water watching the fish finder. There is no shortage of fish…. maybe too many as they are not growing much. Best fly continues to be the micro red leech, Brian Chan style tie fished vertically. Fish were hooked between 45 and 15 feet, majority at 25 to 30’. One at 14″ the rest 10″ to 13″. One sucker, of course the largest fish of the day!!! No other fly anglers, only the one troller . Osprey had a good day, and by the time it got warm and I left, parking lot was full and the inflatable crowd was large. Great well used park.
Tight lines, Ron
Ron Olsen
Had a fun day at Leech with Joe Coakley and Kyler Ries on Friday July 9th. Leech was its usual self. The chosen few regulars were doing well, and it was very site specific. Along the north shore tight to the logs, the far end chironomid hole, and south east shore. The ‘bows were schooled up, or hiding under logs. Very little surface activity but damsels everywhere. No nymphs however. I got a few under the indicator on a #16 brown mid, and red micro leech. But most came on the Rickards callibaetis #14 gray. Classic 15″ strip and pause. Cast next to logs, to the edge of the reeds, and over the darker, deeper part of the lake when the breeze created a covering ripple. Time of day didn’t matter. Clear, calm, warm. That kept the ‘betis in check. A dozen fish, five bows, all right around 19″, brookies 6 to 13″.
Tight lines, Ron
Joe Coakley
I visited Blackman’s Lake on Monday and was searching for bass. I am totally new to bass fishing and am inspired by the huge fish I see fellow club member Francis Huynh and his brothers catch at random. The water temperature was in the high 70’s and felt like bathwater. All of the fish on my Garmin 4 Fish Finder were stacked at the opposite side of the lake to the left side (facing the water from the launch). I got one tug and that was it. I even switched to trout gear on my second rod and the Olive Willy got the tug. BTW: the 2020 article written in Windknots is my new guide for searching new bass waters. (Great job to our great editor Dick Lange! ) I worked the docks to the left side of the launch then the lily pads, only busting off one fly. Question for any bass gurus’ out there: when do you decide to use a popper vs. a surface fly and how do you select the fly you decide to fish? I have scoured the wonderful book written by past OFFC Guest Speaker David Paul Williams and the patterns appear to be endless in choices. Any help would be much appreciated as I have no idea how many of you Bass Masters may be hiding in the lilies.
Ron Olsen
On Tuesday June 8 six of us met at Rattlesnake to explore the concept of vertical/dabbling for trout. We had a fine day with light winds, just a brief rain shower, and lots of fish in the lake. This is something I have been trying out for several years, and while I do see some of the ‘snake regulars really knock them out, I do get my share and attempted to share that knowledge with David, Bob, Bruce, Kevin and Terry.
We met about 8:30 and were on the water and searching for fish. Found them with Garmin Striker 4 CV in 46′ and anchored up. Used a Type 7, measured depth using forceps, and then cast and let line go vertical, so flies just off the bottom. I used my usual initial Rattlesnake searching patterns, a blood worm below a grey boy snow cone, both #14. Let them sit on the bottom, then inched them up very slowly. After about a half hour of nada, someone turned the switch on it was basically nonstop action for two plus hours. Game on! I never really had to switch patterns which is unusual. Keep working those flies up, as some takes were at 10’. Others watched, and followed technique and got into fish with balanced leeches (red, white and black), blobs, and a few other flies. The anchoring and keeping the fly stationary with very slow upward movement was key to takes, which were often VERY subtle, and sometimes rather violent; the tug is the drug…. I would guess I had at least 40 to 50+ takes and managed to set on enough to keep it interesting. Trout ran up to 16″ most 10 to 11″, and one sucker at 17″. Answered questions as they came in and encouraged all to keep at it as it is a learning curve. Sometimes that paint just doesn’t seem to dry….
Some eventually switched to trolling which also produced fish. And one other small highlight, a pair of eagles stole a trout from an osprey, fun to watch the aerial battle.
Tight lines, Ron
Joe Coakley
I have a fishing pal (non-member) who has invited me to fish Grimes Lake sometime in July. Does anyone have any intel on this lake. He said it is only open for a very short season.
