Monday, December 23, 2013

"A Chance Of Rain"


Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide.
Catch and Release, Fly Fishing Only!

"A Chance Of Rain"


"Winter's Hope" 
(Courtesy of  Marty Howard)
   
   We have had an uncommonly mild and dry autumn this year. The winter solstice week has brought us a little much needed rain, and the Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers are rising in flows today. The winter (hatchery run) steelhead season has been pretty slow out here so far, with only  a few fish caught off and on since Thanksgiving. Most attribute this to the low water we have had all of this past autumn. The winter solstice has brought back some moisture, and we have gotten some brief warm up periods, and a little rain, enough to stir things back to life. The weather pattern we are in right now may set us up for some good fishing conditions during the rest of the week, and possibly into the New Year.

"A chance of rain"

      It is a honking, blustery cold and windy winter day on the peninsula today. We expect it to be milder ahead, briefly anyway. Normally, November is the wettest month of the year here. This fall it just didn't go that way. Though this first week of winter feels pretty normal to me- a little wind and rain, some fresh water in the rivers, snow in the mountains, and an encouraging spell of weather to follow, and "a chance of rain", at least in the forecast. We hope the fish will follow suit. Sometimes when it's been a protracted period of low water, and once we do get some rain and stronger flows, the fish come upriver pretty quickly, perhaps quite a few. And these fish can be fun to catch. So maybe this will be just what was needed to get the fish moving, to shake out the cobwebs, and get us back on the rivers. Winter is the prettiest time of year here, the rain forest is so lush, green and vibrant. The jade colored waters entice.

"An endless series of occasions for hope"

     Good local bets for targeting the hatchery steelhead are going to be on the Sol Duc, Bogachiele, Calawah, Quillayute-  usually downriver of the hatcheries. And that is where you will run into all of the other people who are fishing for them too, on foot and in boats. Thick as thieves, thick as flies . . . And some of them will be just plain thick. I like to get away from all of that, and get upriver a little. Sometimes there are plenty of hatchery strain steelhead well upriver, especially early in the season, even in the rivers that do not have hatchery runs formally established on them.

   And you will encounter far fewer people.

   Remember that the Sol Duc river has been set aside for natural reproduction of wild steelhead now. And so hatchery strain steelhead smolt planting has ceased, as has the Snyder Creek Hatchery program. But on the Sol Duc River, being integral to the Quillayute River System, it is not at all surprising that we can still catch hatchery steelhead there.

Winter run.

   This is why I prefer walk and wade fly fishing here. It is not that I don't like rowing, I certainly do, and I have thousands of river miles behind me on many lower 48 rivers, here, in New England, in Alaska, and Kamchatka Russia too. But I feel that the boats are too many and the manners too few here. And that's not what I got into this game for. This is one of those unintended consequences of hatchery fish production- there is a tendency for people to take the fish, the rivers, and their fellow fishermen for granted. I try to see each one as a gift. And I hope that you will too. And please remember that when you are fishing with me- all wild fish are to be released without avoidable injury. So now, let's dust off our spey and Skagit rods, clean and lube our reels, sort out our sink tips and shooting heads, check all of our rigging knots and connections, make sure to have fresh new tippet and leader materials, then go spin up some really pretty and bright flies, and let's go fishing!

 Happy Holidays to you! 
Gift Certificate Trips available year-round!


 
"Last cast"

    We'll be walk and wade fishing these beautiful Olympic Peninsula rivers all winter.  Our early winter-run Steelhead are coming into the Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers with each spate that we are having, all through early winter so far. If you would like to plan a fishing date with me- do it well ahead of time. Winter sea-run Cutthroat beach trips as well.

Remember: Catch & Release, Traditional Fly fishing Only! 
    Beginners welcome. Full instruction available. Complete support assured. Use of equipment available. Picnic lunch and soft beverages provided. Celebrating over 33 years of international fly fishing adventures!

    Please call or write for booking details:

Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Licensed Washington State Guide.
Certified Fly Casting Instructor.
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award.
U.S.C.G. Cert. BLS/BBP/HIV/CPR/First Aid.
Private and public presentations.
Row Boat Picnics on a local salmon estuary.

Telephone: 360-385-9618

Email: littlestoneflyfisher@mail.com

Web: Little Stone Flyfisher

Like us On Facebook! www.facebook.com/LittleStoneFlyfisher


 

   


  

Monday, December 9, 2013

Arctic December Surprise



Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide
Catch & Release, Fly Fishing Only!

   Arctic December Surprise

Counting spawning Coho.
   
    December 9th update. 

    Ever since Thanksgiving weekend the Olympic Peninsula coastal steelhead rivers have been drawing down in flows, beneath a deep freeze that has lasted most of the last two weeks. It has been very cold and dry. And This does slow down the fishing. But despite these low and clear, cold conditions, the winter run hatchery steelhead are showing up on time, and the fishermen are catching them. And we do expect that the fish will follow their usual schedule, and continue to be showing up in their greatest numbers through Christmas and New Years day. 


Working a winter run.

   Just in time- RAIN! The arctic weather is going to be progressively moderating all week ahead here, as warmer air moves in, and we do see some blessed rain on the horizon. It looks to be coming in slowly, with Thursday and Friday likely seeing some more significant rainfall and a warming trend. No doubt the rivers will come up to some degree. The rivers and the fish need this rain. And we fishermen will appreciate the warmer temperatures too. This week should be good, and getting better, if we get the minor rainfall each day or night or so, along the way. I don't think anyone can yet say how next weekend will be. It could go either way by then. Even if the bigger water does come up to become an issue, there are often many upriver spots, and smaller waters, that are open and approachable for this fishing. I am looking forward to some cloudy, dripping wet weather myself. And these fish will become more reactive to a fly with a warming trend too. Just be sure to get it in front of them, deep and slow.

   We'll be walk and wade fishing these beautiful Olympic Peninsula rivers all winter.  Our early winter-run Steelhead are coming into the Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers with each spate that we have been having, all through autumn and early winter so far. If you would like to plan a fishing date with me- do it well ahead of time. Winter sea-run Cutthroat beach trips as well.
Remember: Catch & Release, Traditional Fly fishing Only! 
    Beginners welcome. Full instruction available. Complete support assured. Use of equipment available. Picnic lunch and soft beverages provided. Celebrating over 33 years of international fly fishing adventures!

    Please call or write for booking details:

Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Licensed Washington State Guide.
Certified Fly Casting Instructor.
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award.
U.S.C.G. Cert?BLS/BBP/HIV/CPR/First Aid.
Private and public presentations.
Row Boat Picnics on a local salmon estuary.

Telephone: 360-385-9618 / International Toll Free: 866-793-3595

Email: littlestoneflyfisher@mail.com

Web: Little Stone Flyfisher

Like us On Facebook! www.facebook.com/LittleStoneFlyfisher


    

Monday, December 2, 2013

December, and Murphy's Law on the Olympic Peninsula


Your Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guide.
Catch & Release Fly Fishing Only!



December
  Our winter steelhead season is beginning with a blast of cold arctic air today, directly on the heels of a brief end of Thanksgiving weekend storm that dropped a lot of wind, snow and rain in the Olympic Mountains on Sunday, and drove the river flow gauges straight upwards in the span of one day. Right now- now that it is Monday and you are back at work- all of those river gauges are on the drop, and our waters are approaching a steep return to normal seasonal flows. You will want to be here to greet the next push of winter run steelhead that will be riding this most recent spate in these rivers. There are already winter fish upriver. Freezing temperatures will likely hold at very low elevations for some days and nights ahead, so the conditions will only improve as these rivers calm down. It will be cold enough to improve water clarity quickly as well. The smaller waters, and some upriver reaches of the coastal rivers and streams are already in good shape for fishing today. Most of these December winter run steelhead are hatchery origin fish, and there are plenty of them.


What a difference a day makes . . .
Or, "Murphy's Law of Winter Steelhead Fishing."

  So if you were able to fish here this weekend- you encountered some very low flows, gin clear water in many places, and some hard to catch fish. And you would have had plenty of company on the water as well. Surely the Fish Gods are laughing at all of us now, as today's turn of events sets the stage for a week of nearly perfect conditions for anyone who wants to swing a steelhead fly out here this coming week.

  If I were you . . . I would be calling the boss and letting him know that I was too well to be working this week. But then, that's just me. And I don't mind sleeping in my truck in the rainforest and living on peanut butter and coffee. And swinging flies on the bright waters of winter here, catching chrome bright winter run steelhead, while everyone else is at work. Your mileage may vary.

  Just Saying.


We'll be walk and wade fishing these beautiful Olympic Peninsula rivers all winter.  Our early winter-run Steelhead are coming into the Olympic Peninsula coastal rivers with each spate that we have been having, all through autumn and early winter so far. If you would like to plan a fishing date with me- do it well ahead of time. Winter sea-run Cutthroat beach trips as well.

  Remember: Catch & Release, Traditional Fly fishing Only! 

 Beginners welcome. Full instruction available. Complete support assured. Use of equipment available. Picnic lunch and soft beverages provided. Celebrating over 33 years of international fly fishing adventures!

Please call or write for booking details:

Bob Triggs
Little Stone Flyfisher
P.O. Box 261
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Licensed Washington State Guide.
Certified Fly Casting Instructor.
Trout Unlimited Aquatic Educator Award.
U.S.C.G. Cert?BLS/BBP/HIV/CPR/First Aid.
Private and public presentations.
Row Boat Picnics on a local salmon estuary.

Telephone: 360-385-9618 / International Toll Free: 866-793-3595

Email: littlestoneflyfisher@mail.com

Web: Little Stone Flyfisher

Like us On Facebook! www.facebook.com/LittleStoneFlyfisher