Monday the Ok was still dropping and got to just below 1000 cfs and the temperature was going back up from 34 to 38 degrees. I fished on Tuesday for a short time with just a short tug. on Wednesday. the fishing was better the water warmer I was out for just over two and a half hours with a nice tug and hook up that lasted just about 5 minutes, but didn't get to see it. Thursday I made it out for just a short while and nothing. Today I headed below Okanogan and worked some water that I haven't worked since last year.Oh now the river has changed at this spot. With the water level at 953cfs. last year I could almost walk across.this year not even 1/2 way now there is a deep channel well over six feet deep.so I didn't stay around long to fish it.
Also in my news.................
Monday night I went to the PUD meeting about the Enlo Dam up on the Similkameen River. From 2006 it has already cost just over 11 million dollars to see about the permits and that it will cost another 39-42 million to complete to generate power and it will not be paid off until some time in 2035. with a rate increase to be picked up by the rate holder by a 3% or more increase for the next 6 or 7 years.
I'm still in for removal that will cost now close to 33 million and give us the free flowing water to help lower the Summer temperatures if only by a few degrees.
Tuesday I when to see the movie Return of the River. This movie is about the removal of the 100 year old dams on the Ewha River by Port Angles. If you get a chance to see it GO. It well change your mind about what can be done to help save the future.
Wednesday Gary and I did a fly tying class for the Webelos of pack 60/20 at the Eastside school and we will return in January to do more. We had 7 Webelo's and the class went very well for them being so young. some of the fathers wanted more info and I gave them my # to call me later. I wish to give my good friend Gary a much need THANK YOU for the help and rounding up the much needed vices for the class.
Friday while I was standing in the water up to my chest swinging a fly it started snowing. It's here turning the landscape that beautiful white.
If you get a chance get out and fish take someone with you to enjoy that magic
Friday, November 21, 2014
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Call me Crazy, Loco, Hardcore, Dedicated, or whatever you like
Somewhere on the Okanogan River between here and there 8:30ish AM
20 degrees Wind is blowing from the north 3-5 mph, with gust upwards around 10+ Sun is bright and coming over the ridge behind me and the river is dropping the color looks good, I'm dress for the cold weather.
With three layers, polypropylene base, Smartwool socks, heavy weight polar fleece pants and top, Patagonia DAS pants, and of course my Nano Puff pullover. Latex gloves to shield the wind, taped on the first two knuckles left hand so I can strip in line under my finger-less wool gloves, I wearing a polar fleece half Buff on my head and neck with a hat.
When I get to the water and have my rod rigged up, then I'll put on my waders, boots and my wading jacket to cut the wind.
I suggest don't put all is on until you get to the water and have your rod rigged up unless you want to sweat to death before you get there. I've done it in the past.
At first I felt like the Michelin Tire Man, but it soon all went away while I was standing in the water.
I walked up above the top of the run, waded out just below waste deep, striped out enough line to cover the top with a sixty foot cast to swing. The water only 35 degrees. Started my descent down river every third or forth cast I took two steps. At this pace it should take me close to three hours to work the run complete.
On my sixth or seventh step and second or third cast I get a tickle about halfway thru the swing just behind a boulder in the water. Not much but a tickle. I let it swing to the end with some hang time. Cast just above the boulder and just before strip in about six inches, just as my line goes over I let the loop go. BAM set the hook FISH ON!
He turns and headed towards me I strip in about 30 feet of line to keep it snug and rod bent, then the turn down river. Before I knew it the line I stripped in was gone and I was into my reel the drag set just about right I lay my rod to the right to the left to get it to turn and out of the water with a three foot back flip and splash my line goes limp. Just for a split second I lift the rod and he is still there and heading cross water jumping and peeling line, half ways across he starts to slow down. I'm able to pick up line on the reel slowly closer and closer to me there not much left in him I slowly work my way to closer to shore and after maybe twenty or thirty minutes he is less than forty feet from me. As I slowly pull him thru some faster water he gets that last burst of energy and does an short flip and head shake then comes right to me. A big beautiful strong wild Buck about 30 inches long still chrome and the color hue on cheeks gill plates are describable. As I grab him by the tail he gets that little bit of slack the hook falls out of the side his mouth.
I spent the next few minutes making sure he was strong and ready to continue his journey looking for that mate in the spring, and the long trek back to the sea.
I walked down river and found a place to set for awhile and reflect on what just happened have a drink and chew down a Cliff bar before I go back at it. CHASING THE NEXT TUG
After being out until shortly after noon the only thing I could say that was cold and not really that bad were my toes. My face was a bit numb at times. The wind stayed at my back it was hard to cast at times with the wind gust. I had on another fish, but didn't land it (got the rush) from the tug.
If you were to ask me if it was worth it?
Absolutely Awesome Time and heading back out tomorrow!!!
hook: Gama T10-6H sz 1 with the end cut off
body :Dyed UV polar chenille (uv purple) 5 wraps
then Dyed UV polar chenille ( uv fl.Fuchsia) 5 wraps
Collar 3 waps of Fuchsia UVGuinea
trailing hook: Gama octopus circle # 4 held on with 20 Dacron
20 degrees Wind is blowing from the north 3-5 mph, with gust upwards around 10+ Sun is bright and coming over the ridge behind me and the river is dropping the color looks good, I'm dress for the cold weather.
With three layers, polypropylene base, Smartwool socks, heavy weight polar fleece pants and top, Patagonia DAS pants, and of course my Nano Puff pullover. Latex gloves to shield the wind, taped on the first two knuckles left hand so I can strip in line under my finger-less wool gloves, I wearing a polar fleece half Buff on my head and neck with a hat.
When I get to the water and have my rod rigged up, then I'll put on my waders, boots and my wading jacket to cut the wind.
I suggest don't put all is on until you get to the water and have your rod rigged up unless you want to sweat to death before you get there. I've done it in the past.
At first I felt like the Michelin Tire Man, but it soon all went away while I was standing in the water.
I walked up above the top of the run, waded out just below waste deep, striped out enough line to cover the top with a sixty foot cast to swing. The water only 35 degrees. Started my descent down river every third or forth cast I took two steps. At this pace it should take me close to three hours to work the run complete.
On my sixth or seventh step and second or third cast I get a tickle about halfway thru the swing just behind a boulder in the water. Not much but a tickle. I let it swing to the end with some hang time. Cast just above the boulder and just before strip in about six inches, just as my line goes over I let the loop go. BAM set the hook FISH ON!
He turns and headed towards me I strip in about 30 feet of line to keep it snug and rod bent, then the turn down river. Before I knew it the line I stripped in was gone and I was into my reel the drag set just about right I lay my rod to the right to the left to get it to turn and out of the water with a three foot back flip and splash my line goes limp. Just for a split second I lift the rod and he is still there and heading cross water jumping and peeling line, half ways across he starts to slow down. I'm able to pick up line on the reel slowly closer and closer to me there not much left in him I slowly work my way to closer to shore and after maybe twenty or thirty minutes he is less than forty feet from me. As I slowly pull him thru some faster water he gets that last burst of energy and does an short flip and head shake then comes right to me. A big beautiful strong wild Buck about 30 inches long still chrome and the color hue on cheeks gill plates are describable. As I grab him by the tail he gets that little bit of slack the hook falls out of the side his mouth.
I spent the next few minutes making sure he was strong and ready to continue his journey looking for that mate in the spring, and the long trek back to the sea.
I walked down river and found a place to set for awhile and reflect on what just happened have a drink and chew down a Cliff bar before I go back at it. CHASING THE NEXT TUG
After being out until shortly after noon the only thing I could say that was cold and not really that bad were my toes. My face was a bit numb at times. The wind stayed at my back it was hard to cast at times with the wind gust. I had on another fish, but didn't land it (got the rush) from the tug.
If you were to ask me if it was worth it?
Absolutely Awesome Time and heading back out tomorrow!!!
 |
| todays SH fly |
hook: Gama T10-6H sz 1 with the end cut off
body :Dyed UV polar chenille (uv purple) 5 wraps
then Dyed UV polar chenille ( uv fl.Fuchsia) 5 wraps
Collar 3 waps of Fuchsia UVGuinea
trailing hook: Gama octopus circle # 4 held on with 20 Dacron
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Fish Hard
Ya know it's hard to get out and Steelhead when:
*The last few time the river is chest hi deep when in the norm standing in the same place its only just above the knees.
*The moon is almost full.
*You cast thru a run three or four time without a tug, using either nymphs or swinging.
*You get to one of your favorite spot only to see gear Slingers working the water from the middle of the run and not moving.
*You get to the water and can't find your Ice Off Paste
*The water finally drops to safely wade out but its only 20 degrees and the wind is blowing up river at 20 plus mile per hour.
Well yesterday was just a little different:
*The river drop to a safe manageable wading level below 1890cfs.
*The temperature in the water has really dropped into the mid 40s.
*The air temperature also dropped into the mid teens.
*Nobody is in your spot.
*I have my ICE OFF PASTE,
*While striping in line to go home in the dark you get a tug and pull. even tho I didn't land it it was hopeful.
Today the weather is much different it's rite now 13 degrees but suppose to warn up to mid 20s. slightly overcast, and the forecast call for snow this afternoon.
The river has dropped even more now 1400cfs.
Water temp. is a chilly 39 degrees.
Just a slight wind from the north 3mph.
I meet up with my good Buddy Gary the only one I know crazy enough to go out in the arctic vortex and fish with me. 8:30AM somewhere close to Tonasket, Air temp. 13. and the sun is breaking thru.
With the wind on our backs to start out soon changed directions. Mild to begin with but by 9:30 blowin at a pretty good clip and littering the water with Golden leaves.
I gota pretty good tug mid way thru the top of the run. and only being after out for a short while. I pulled in my fly and took a look at it and all the feathers were striped off. (DAMN STORE BOUGHT FLIES) Changed it out and continued with one of my own close to the same pattern, down river thru the run.
Gary had been hung up on some rocks a few times with nothing and by 10:30 he started heading back up to where I was still swings the same fly. I hooked a few leaves that were now all over the river. The wind was blowin harder and the snot from my nose was freezing, guides needed more ICE OFF PASTE, fingers numb, a good cup of hot coffee sounded good.
We bagged it in. Stripped off the waders and headed out of the wind and cold for some HOT COFFEE and Breakfast. By the time we finished eatin the wind was blowin even harder. Our fishin day was over.
.
*The last few time the river is chest hi deep when in the norm standing in the same place its only just above the knees.
*The moon is almost full.
*You cast thru a run three or four time without a tug, using either nymphs or swinging.
*You get to one of your favorite spot only to see gear Slingers working the water from the middle of the run and not moving.
*You get to the water and can't find your Ice Off Paste
*The water finally drops to safely wade out but its only 20 degrees and the wind is blowing up river at 20 plus mile per hour.
Well yesterday was just a little different:
*The river drop to a safe manageable wading level below 1890cfs.
*The temperature in the water has really dropped into the mid 40s.
*The air temperature also dropped into the mid teens.
*Nobody is in your spot.
*I have my ICE OFF PASTE,
*While striping in line to go home in the dark you get a tug and pull. even tho I didn't land it it was hopeful.
Today the weather is much different it's rite now 13 degrees but suppose to warn up to mid 20s. slightly overcast, and the forecast call for snow this afternoon.
The river has dropped even more now 1400cfs.
Water temp. is a chilly 39 degrees.
Just a slight wind from the north 3mph.
I meet up with my good Buddy Gary the only one I know crazy enough to go out in the arctic vortex and fish with me. 8:30AM somewhere close to Tonasket, Air temp. 13. and the sun is breaking thru.
With the wind on our backs to start out soon changed directions. Mild to begin with but by 9:30 blowin at a pretty good clip and littering the water with Golden leaves.
I gota pretty good tug mid way thru the top of the run. and only being after out for a short while. I pulled in my fly and took a look at it and all the feathers were striped off. (DAMN STORE BOUGHT FLIES) Changed it out and continued with one of my own close to the same pattern, down river thru the run.
Gary had been hung up on some rocks a few times with nothing and by 10:30 he started heading back up to where I was still swings the same fly. I hooked a few leaves that were now all over the river. The wind was blowin harder and the snot from my nose was freezing, guides needed more ICE OFF PASTE, fingers numb, a good cup of hot coffee sounded good.
We bagged it in. Stripped off the waders and headed out of the wind and cold for some HOT COFFEE and Breakfast. By the time we finished eatin the wind was blowin even harder. Our fishin day was over.
.
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