Howdy,

As you cruise around the internet looking at fish porn, have you ever looked close enough realize that a certian species of fish can look drastically different depending upon where it’s caught?  Take Cutthroat Trout for example – fish caught in Oregon, Washington and Idaho will be called Cutthroats, but upon closer examination, you’ll find 4 or 5 entirely different fish.  In fact, there are as many as 15 sub-species of the Cutthroat Trout in the Western US.

“Oncorhynchus clarkii”  is the the latin name of the species, with subspecies such as:  

• Coastal cutthroat trout O. c. clarki, also known as “sea-run” cutthroat
• Westslope cutthroat trout O. c. lewisi 
• Bonneville cutthroat trout O. c. utah, native to tributaries of the Great Salt Lake.
• Lahontan cutthroat trout O. c. henshawi, western Nevada
• Paiute cutthroat trout O. c. seleniris, endemic to eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains
• Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout, named O. c. behnkei .
• Yellowstone cutthroat trout O. c. bouvieri, native to the upper Snake River, Yellowstone Lake, and Yellowstone River, Idaho and Wyoming.
• Southern Rockies O. c. virginalis
• Colorado River cutthroat trout O. c. pleuriticus, native to tributaries of the Green and Colorado Rivers.
• Greenback cutthroat trout O. c. stomias, native to the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers in eastern Colorado; designated as threatened.
• Rio Grande cutthroat trout O. c. virginalis, native to New Mexico and southern Colorado.

On the surface, about the only thing they have in common is the Orange or Red Slash on the bottom jaw that gives them their common name (unless you get all scientific, then they have a lot in common).

Yellowstone Cutthroat - O. c. bouvieri

Rio Grande Cutthroat - O. c. virginalis

Lahontan Cutthroat - O. c. henshawi

Westlope Cutthroat - Spawning Colors - O. c. lewisi

Greenback Cutthroat - O. c. stomias

Colorado River Cutthroat - O. c. pleuriticus

Sea Run Cutthroat - O. c. clarki

Riverine Coastal Cutthroat - O. c. clarki

Notice the two bottom pictures.  You’ll see that these fish not only look very similar, but are also designated as the same sub-species.  They are essentially the same fish, yet only the fish in the top photo lives part of it’s life in saltwater and part of it’s life in freshwater – hence the common name of “Sea Run Cutthroat”.   The fish in the very bottom photo is a “Oncorhynchus clarkii clarki”, but lives it’s entire life in freshwater and can be found in many Oregon and Washington coastal rivers.

Their ancestors and sea run cousins travel hundreds of river miles annually, but this “freshwater only” fish stays fairly close to their birthplace in comparison.  However, when compared to other freshwater trout species, this fish is very migratory, covering several miles of a particular river and exploring other tributaries of the same river system during it’s lifetime.   This particular fish is common in the North Santiam, my home river.

The cutthroat trout is also commonly known to cross-breed with rainbow trout  to create a hybridized fish known as the Cuttbow.  The rainbow trout markings are usually dominate is this hybrid fish, but if you look close, you’ll find the red slash on the lower jaw.

Cutbow Trout

For more detailed and scientific information about the Cutthroat Trout, visit Wikipedia.

For a more romantic look at the cutthroat trout, visit Derek “Cutthroat” Young’s Fly Fish the Yakima Blog.

Tight Lines!

Dave

Howdy,

When a door closes, a window (or two) opens.  – Mary Poppins

As things wind down on the coastal streams, the inland rivers begin to see thier returns of Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead.  Mountain streams and smaller rivers will begin opening soon for trout season (some on April 24, others in Mid-May).  Caddis, Mayflies and Stonefly Adults are hatching in abundance at times with the warmer weather.  Won’t be long until there are just too many fishing opportunites to be had, and too little time to take advantage of them all.

Siletz River, Oregon

Report date: 04/19/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 3 – Fair
Winter Steelhead time is running down on the Siletz. Tough year with the weather the way it’s been. Best to fish the upper reaches now.
Species to fish for: Steelhead
Flow: 1,200 @ Siletz
Wading difficulty: Normal
Water clarity: Excellent
Current hatches: no
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Clash Hairwing, Spey, Dee and Leech patterns
(Updated 04/19 4:25 PM)

Breitenbush River, Oregon

Report date: 04/19/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 2 – Good
With the river open for trout fishing on April 24, the river looks looks to be in great shape. Go armed with a good selection of nymphs, soft hackles and smaller dry flies. A klinkhammer is always a good choice on the Breitenbush!
Species to fish for: Rainbow Trout
Flow: 945 cfs @ Detroit
Wading difficulty: Normal
Water clarity: Excellent
Current hatches: Adams,Baetis,Black Stonefly,Blue Winged Olive,Brown Caddis,Green Drake,Little Black Caddis,Speckled
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Caddis Larva, Rusty Squirrel, GRHE, Partridge & Orange SH
Dry flies to use: March Brown Emerger, Biot BWO, Klinkhammer, Brown Wulff
(Updated 04/19 4:34 PM)

North Santiam River, Oregon

Report date: 04/19/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 1 – Excellent
Big numbers of Spring Chinook are moving in. Summer and Winter Steelhead counts look strong as well. Careful with those steelhead smolts. Give them a shot to head for the ocean and come back as Adults!
Species to fish for: Chinook Salmon,Cutthroat Trout,Rainbow Trout,Steelhead
Flow: 3,170 @ Mehama
Wading difficulty: Difficult
Water clarity: Excellent
Water temperature: 42 @ Mehama
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Brown Caddis,Caddis,Early Brown Stonefly,Giant Stonefly,March Brown,Speckled Caddi
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Santiam Stone, Clash Hairwing, Bunny Leech
(Updated 04/19 4:23 PM)

Little North Santiam, Oregon

Report date: 04/19/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 1 – Excellent
This time of year most of the fish will be in the upper reaches of the river pairing up and looking for spawning beds. Best to leave the spawners alone, but targeting the usual group of “onlookers” can be productive.
Species to fish for: Rainbow Trout,Steelhead
Flow: 1,200 near Mehama (dropping)
Wading difficulty: Difficult
Water clarity: Excellent
Water temperature: 45 degrees near Mehama
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Egg Sucking Leech,Leeches,Little Yellow Stonefly,March Brown,Small Golden Stone,Sp
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Clash Hairwing, Spey, Dee and Leech patterns
(Updated 04/19 4:20 PM)

Picture of the Week:

Santiam River Native Cutthroat

 Tight Lines!

Dave

Howdy,

Western dry fly anglers can celebrate spring with the arrival of Caddis hatches.  Sure, there are BWO’s, March Browns, and a variety of stoneflies in the air, but the caddis hatch on some rivers is so prolific that all other bugs seem insignificant.  Such is the case here on the North Santiam. 

Soon after a few consecutive warm days in April, the little speckled caddis begin to appear.  By little, I mean equivalent to a size 14-16 hook.  The shoreline is crawling with them.  Bump the bushes or wiggle a tree branch and a cloud of them scatter in all directions.  A standard Cuttwing Caddis or Double Wing EHC will serve you well.

Caddis Fog

All  Caddis varieties have the same basic profile in the air and on the water. Wings extending beyond the body when at rest, fluttering madly while in the air.  It’s said that caddis are able to drink and that’s the reason they dip to the water surface so often.  Most other bug species (mayflies, stoneflies, etc.) are only on the water surface for 1 of 3 reasons – 1) to allow their wings to dry after emergence, 2) to deposit eggs, 3) when they die and fall there. 

Following close on the heals of the the speckled caddis is the bigger tan/grey variety.  These bugs are equivalent to a size 10-12 hook.  Again, the Double Wing EHC is a good choice, along with the Goddard Caddis (my personal favorite).

In my opinion, choosing a caddis fly imitation is not as critical as choosing mayfly or stonefly patterns.  I’ve had sucess with a variety of caddis patterns over the years.  Because the hatches overlap, size is not as important and the color just needs to be “close enough”.  Right now for example:  Both the small speckled and medium sized tan caddis are available to trout.  I can choose just about any caddis adult pattern - EHC, Double Wing EHC , Cutwing, Goddard, Trude, etc. – in size 10-16  AND in just about any shade of Grey, Tan or Brown and get a fish to rise to it. 

Here on the Santiam, the caddis species hatch throughout the spring, summer and fall months.  Starting with the tiny speckled fellas and progressively getting bigger as the season wears on until the grand finale’ of the year brings out the Fall (or October) Caddis – the grandaddy of them all. 

October Caddis

For a number of years, these big caddis had me baffled.  I’d had OK luck using Stimulators and large Goddard patterns, but never really felt I was getting the most from this hatch.  I’ve tied a number of experimental flies, using a variety of materials, but never felt I got it just right.  However, this past fall I began collaboration with Yakima river guide Derek “Cutthroat” Young of Emerging Rivers Guide Service.  Together we brainstormed on perfecting a pattern to imitate this hatch.  I tied up 5 or 6 completely different patterns and sent them up to Derek for testing.  He reported back with details of what he liked and didn’t like about each pattern.  He also contributed some ideas of his own based on his observations of the bugs over the years.  After a couple more “back and forth” shipments and trials, we settled on a pattern and Derek gave it a name – “The Yak Caddis”. 

I tied up a dozen of the final versions and shipped them north to Derek.  I tied one more and headed for the river.  The smell of head cement still lingering on the fly as I tied it to my leader.  On the first cast, with only 10 seconds on the water, the pattern was slammed by a pretty little Santaim Native Cutthroat Trout.  Better yet, after releasing the fish and giving the fly a shake, it still drifted nicely in the surface film on the next cast.  The fly fished very well for me over the next couple days.

The Yak Caddis takes it's first Santiam Fish

Derek’s first experience with the new pattern was even more memorable.  I’m a little fuzzy on the details, but will try and relay the story as close as I can.

Derek was taking a 1st time client on a trip down the Yakima River.  This fella was primarily a Czech Nymph angler and somewhat new to dry fly fishing.  Derek took him to an area of the river with your basic riffle, run, pool configuration to show him the basics of working the water with a dry fly.  Derek made his first cast into the seam at the base of the fast water and WHAM!  A very nice 18″+ Yakima Cutthroat inhaled the fly.   Needless to say, Derek and his Guide Client were both very impressed with the fly and continued to catch fish with it on the rest of the trip.

We had a winner.  My quest for the killer October Caddis pattern was over. 

I could not have done it without the input, testing and analysis from Derek Young though.  Remember, I was kinda stuck for ideas and had been working on it for a couple years – never getting it right.  Derek made it happen by bringing fresh ideas to the table.  He pushed me to think “outside the box” and try things differently.

Late last fall, we submitted the fly pattern to Orvis (as Co-Developers) for consideration for inclusion in their fly catalogs.  The hatch ended, months passed,  and we just kind of forgot about it all.  Earlier this week I received a message from the head of Product Development at Orvis.  He was in Wyoming fishing the Shoshone river and had one of those epic weekends catching 14-18″ western slope cutthroat trout – many of them on our pattern.  Obviously the pattern works just as well as an Adult Stonefly imitation as it does as a October Caddis imitation!  He also informed me that Orvis would be picking up the pattern for future catalogs. 

If you’re still reading along, you’re probably feeling a little ripped off right now.  You thought this was going to be some killer insight into fishing with caddis flies and it turned into me bragging about the Yak Caddis.  Please accept my apologies, but I’m pretty excited about all this.  It’s kind of a big deal for me.  A small-time, online fly shop guy having one of his patterns picked up by the giant that is ORVIS.  It’s my blog and I’ll brag if I want to…………..

I’m done bragging now and will get back to fishing caddis flies. 

In summary, grab your favorite pattern from the fly bin and hit the water.  The caddis flies are here and trout are waiting to inhale them.  Get a good selection of colors (tan, grey, brown, olive)  and sizes (8-16) and you’ll be able to match the hatch throughout the fishing season.  On those rare days when nothing is happening on the surface…. don’t give up on the caddis….. just think “under the surface” and tie on a soft hackle, rusty squirrel or hare’s ear nymph.  On a river system like the Santiam – caddis are available ALL the time and in all stages of the life cycle – larva, pupa, adult or ovapositor!

Tight Lines!

Dave

P.S. – When next fall rolls around, remember the Yak Caddis – let one fly and hang on!

Howdy,

Here’s the latest local river reports:

North Santiam River, Oregon

Report date: 04/09/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 1 – Excellent
The river is a bit on the high side, but there are a lot of fish in the river this early in the season. Good numbers of Winter Steelhead have been in for a while and fresh Spring Chinook and Summer Steelhead are moving in.
Species to fish for: Chinook Salmon,Cutthroat Trout,Rainbow Trout,Steelhead
Flow: 5,540 cfs @ Mehama
Wading difficulty: Difficult
Water clarity: Excellent
Water temperature: 41 @ Mehama
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Giant Stonefly,March Brown,Midge,Spey Pattern,Stonefly,Western Green Drake,Western
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Clash Hairwing, Spey, Dee and Leech patterns
Dry flies to use: Brown Wulff, Grey Adult Midge, Bivisible
(Updated 04/09 10:43 AM)

Siletz River, Oregon

Report date: 04/09/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 2 – Good
River levels look great and now is the time to fish the Siletz. We’ve had a couple weeks of high water that should have brought some fish in. The river is dropping and clearing.
Species to fish for: Steelhead
Flow: 2,150 cfs @ Siletz
Wading difficulty: Normal
Water clarity: Good
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Eggs,March Brown,Spey Pattern
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Clash Hairwing, Spey, Dee and Leech patterns
(Updated 04/09 10:35 AM)

Little North Santiam, Oregon

Report date: 04/09/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 1 – Excellent
The river is dropping and clearing nicely follow the rain from the last several storms. The water is on the cold side of the scale, so putting a fly in the right place will be critical. The fish are spread throughout the river.
Species to fish for: Steelhead
Flow: 987 cfs near Mehama
Wading difficulty: Normal
Water clarity: Excellent
Water temperature: 40 near Mehama
Current hatches: Black Caddis,Brown Caddis,Bunny Leech,Eggs,Gray Caddis,Medium Brown Stone,Midge,Salmonfly,Tan Caddis
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Santiam Stone, Clash Hairwing, Bunny Matuka
Dry flies to use: Brown Wulff, Grey Adult Midge, Bivisible
(Updated 04/09 10:39 AM)

Sorry, no picture this week.  Still working on my casting stroke – not many fish rising in the back yard!

Tight Lines,

Dave

Howdy,

As I was looking around the guts of this blog today, I noticed that I have reached the milestone of 100 posts.  Hard to believe that I have actually reached this point.  Even harder to believe is that over the past year and a half, people out there have read and even commented on some of those 100 ramblings – loaded with spelling errors, improper use of grammar and for the most part, not very interesting content. So to all you loyal readers (and folks who stumbled here on accident) - Thank you!

Yesterday afternoon I was fortunate enough to spend some time with two well know Oregon flycasters – Mary Ann Dozer and Dwight Klemin.  To explain how I got to that point, I need to back up a bit……………………. 

For the past year or so I’ve been toying with the idea of becoming a Federation of Fly Fishers Certified Casting Instructor.  Through my online fly shop (www.riverwoodflies.com) and our guide business (www.oreoutdoor.com), I’ve run into several folks who want to learn more about the sport of fly casting.  Being self taught and full of bad habits, I’ve never felt qualified to “teach” anyone.  I’m always willing to “show” people the way I fly fish, but that’s not the same as teaching someone the sport (or art) of fly casting.  In the past month or so I’ve gotten more serious about pursuing the certification.  I signed up and attended a workshop at this year’s NW Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo in Albany, Or.  I’ve downloaded lots of information from the Federation of Fly Fishers website (www.fedflyfishers.org) and actually signed up to take the test in Ellensburg, Wa. at the end of this month.   After the workshop in Albany, I was feeling a little intimidated and  asked the instructor his opinion on my chances  of successfully completing the task in a little over a month.  He put it very plain – “NO”.

Needless to say, I returned from the Expo feeling pretty lost and confused as to how to proceed.  As luck would have it, I received an email from Mary Ann and Dwight (Expo Education Committee Co-Chairs) as a follow up to the class I attended.  Part of the email contained an invitation to meet with them to assist me in my pursuit!  We set up an appointment  so that they could assess my current skills  and then we’d decide how to proceed from there.  It didn’t take long and they came to the same conclusion as the instructor at the Expo – I was NOT ready to take the exam. 

However, they either felt sorry for me, or saw some potential and immediately took me under their collective wing.  (It could have also been because I live ON the river and can provide access – Dwight seemed to get a brief twinkle in his eye when I mentioned that…..) It really doesn’t matter why or how, all I know is that I have a clear path towards my goal and even better – I will have some great help in getting there.  They spent some time with me, giving advice and guidance on things to work on to correct some of my learned behaviors. It’s amazing what real “teachers” can do for you.  Subtle changes in the grip, exercises to practice, and different methods of explaining the basic methods of fly casting where piled on me in our short time together.  My head was overloaded by the time our session was over.

I am not ready to become a Certified Casting Instructor …….. yet.  But with the help and guidance of my new friends, I will get there.  As a sign of my committment, I have sworn off of fishing until I correct a couple of the basic errors in my cast.  According to Dwight, it takes 21 sessions to “unlearn” a habit and 7 sessions to “relearn” the proper method.  For a guy that fishes 5 or 6 times a week, this should be plenty of motivation to get to work.

Thank you Dwight and Mary Ann!

Tight Lines,

Dave

Howdy,

The following are the local river reports for the week of April 5, 2010:

North Santiam River, Oregon

Report date: 04/05/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 1 – Excellent
River level has stabilized this week and looks great for the weekend. Spring Chinook, Winter Steelhead and Summer Steelhead numbers are climbing steadily. Gunna be a great year from the looks of it!
Species to fish for: Chinook Salmon,Cutthroat Trout,Rainbow Trout,Steelhead
Flow: 3,050 @ Mehama
Wading difficulty: Difficult
Water clarity: Excellent
Water temperature: 41 @ Mehama
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Giant Black Stonefly,Little Black Caddis,Olive Caddis,Salmonfly,Spey Pattern,Spott
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Santiam Stone, String Leech, Spey and Dee Patterns
Dry flies to use: March Brown Emerger, Biot BWO, Bullet Head Stonefly, Goddard Caddis
(Updated 04/05 10:52 AM)

Little North Santiam, Oregon

Report date: 04/05/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 2 – Good
The river began clearing and dropping quickly following the rain the past couple weeks. Fish are spread throughout the river, but more so in the upper reaches this time of year.
Species to fish for: Steelhead
Flow: 962 cfs near Mehama
Wading difficulty: Difficult
Water clarity: Excellent
Water temperature: 42 near Mehma
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Brown Caddis,Giant Black Stonefly,Little Black Caddis,March Brown,Spotted Caddis
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Santiam Stone, Clash Hairwing, Bunny Leech
(Updated 04/05 10:48 AM)

Siletz River, Oregon

Report date: 04/05/2010
Report by: Dave Carpenter
Fly fishing outlook: 2 – Good
The river levels are dropping following the Spring Break rains we had here in Oregon. Look for it to be in great shape later in the week.
Species to fish for: Steelhead
Flow: 3,110 @ Siletz
Wading difficulty: Normal
Water clarity: Good
Current hatches: Blue Winged Olive,Brown Caddis,March Brown,Salmonfly
Wet flies (nymphs) to use: Eyed Egg, Clash Hairwing, Spey, Dee and Leech patterns
(Updated 04/05 10:43 AM)

Picture of the Week:

 Tight Lines!

Dave

The April 2010 flies of the month are as follows:

Trout Fly of the Month

Grey Fox Mayfly

Grey Fox Mayfly

Recipe:

• Hook:  Standard Dry size 12-16
• Thread:  Grey or Yellow
• Tail:  Ginger Hackle Fibers
• Body:  Cream Dubbing (red fox)
• Wing:  Mallard Flank
• Hackle:  Grizzly and Ginger hackles

This is a great go-to fly, east to west,  and is sometimes used as an attractor when light colored mayflies are abundant. The Grey Fox mayfly pattern was originated by Catskills legend Preston Jennings. Developed as an eastern fly pattern but very effective for Western tan/brown mayflies as well.

Steelhead Fly of the Month

Silver Heron

Silver (or Grey) Heron tied by Stu Farnham

Recipe:

• Hook:  Alec Jackson Spey Size 1.5-5
• Thread:  Black or Grey
• Body:  2/3 Flat Silver Mylar, 1/3 Black Angora
• Rib:  Oval Silver
• Body Hackle: Heron Substitute (Schlappen)
• Collar:  Guinea
• Wing:  4 Grey or White Hackle Tips

Syd Glasso was a flyfisherman and flytyer of incredible talent from Forks, Washington.  Mr. Glasso tied flies that were in a class all by themselves. He was able to create effective and beautiful flies using traditional materials, but in a way that was truly his own.

The “Heron” Series of flies were all basically the same design.  Silver or Gold Tag and Rib.  Silver, Gold or colored floss body, short wool thorax, spey body hackle, hackle tip wings and waterfowl throat.

Mr. Glasso enjoyed both summer and winter runs in the Sol Duc, Calawah, Hoh, and Bogachiel Rivers in the area. His flies were finely tied with very slim bodies, long hackles, low set wings and finished off with smallest and neatest heads.

Tight Lines!

Dave