Howdy,

We’re still in “wait” mode here – no baby yet – but getting closer.  I’m getting excited to meet my new son/daughter.  Wanna know a great way to drive people crazy?  Don’t find out the sex of the baby!  It really upsets some people, but it makes the baby pools more of a challenge.

In between baby prep chores (setting up changing tables and other baby related furniture and gadgets), I’ve done some fly tying and some fishing.  The weather has been spotty with rain, hail and some periods of sunshine.  While testing out some new spinning lures I’ve started building, I have hooked into a few big fish.  One that got to my feet before spitting the hook was a steelhead buck around 30″.  Reached down to tail him and he took off on another run and spit the hook. 

I’ve had a few other brief battles and only seen flashes.  I’m guessing that it’s probably an equal mix of Coho (Silver) Salmon and some late Steelhead.  Both species are staging at the convergence of the North Santiam and the Little North Santiam, waiting for the smaller river to rise, then they’ll blow up it and be gone.  With the weather we’re getting, this should happen any day now.  The Little NF is expected to move from 200 CFS to 1,000 CFS with this next storm.  It’s been coming up all week with both the north and south channels around the island rising.  Since Coho retention opens on November 1, this storm system is perfect timing for these fish – they’ll be able to move upstream and spread out to begin spawning.  Like I said, good news for the Coho, bad news for an angler on Baby Watch.

Riverwood's new line of Big Game Spinning Lures

Fly casting for trout is still productive, just a bit more technical.  The weather (again) has made things more interesting.  One tactic that most fly anglers are very aware of is to follow up a rain shower with tiny Blue Wing Olive (BWO) flies.  By “follow up” I mean start casting as the last of the raindrops (or hail stones) fall. 

A number of tiny bugs hatch on the grey, overcast days.  A rain or hail storm will knock many of these bugs out of the air and onto the water surface, littering the area with drenched bugs.  Fish are quick to take advantage of this and will sip the easy prey off the surface.  You’ll just see the noses of the fish and tiny swirls.  The action will be fast and furious, then tapper as the weather clears. 

Biot Body BWO

The fly pictured above is a variation of mine that’s fast becoming my favorite BWO pattern.  Tied on #16-#20 hooks, depending on the local hatch, this fly passes well for a BWO, PMD or Midge.  I use 3 fibers of duck flank (Mallard or Woodduck) for a tail, an olive goose biot of the body, olive antron dubbing for the thorax and a mix of blue dun and grizzly hackle to finish it off.  These bugs are so small that there’s no need for a wing, the hackle simulates things just fine by itself.  Following a hail storm on Tuesday evening, this bug was hooking fish on every 3rd or 4th drift.  Once the sun came back out, the action slowed and I switched back to the October Caddis and managed another fish before dark.

Don’t let the weather get in the way of fishing!  Put on some weather appropriate clothing and go fishing!

Tight Lines,

Dave