Dickson's Flyfishing Report
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:09 pmDickson Flyfishing Report
"Careful what you pray for"
Mike has been chaffing at the bit, gearing up for another early spring season out on the O.P.'s , Queets river. Not many anglers and fewer guides work these Park waters.
The word out, that the fishing has already heated up. We were just looking for that rain. Never say that about out there! There is real reason they call this area a rainforest.
Should you venture out, here are a few of our favorite winter steelhead fly patterns.
Articulated Pink Leach
Articulated Egg sucking Cop Car
Purple Egg Articulated Sucking leach
Keep them big and wiggly. Big native steelhead are not shy. Especially the tidewater Queets fish.
As far as the equipment goes, bobber fishing does work, but not like it does in the canyon rivers further north. The Queets is a gently flowing big time swing water, so if you have a passion to fish your sink-tips, this is a river to do it.
I like the versatility of the multi-tip system. Just as not river flows the same, neither do the pools that live there. Knowing when and where to change up your heads can spell the difference of a big fish or no fish.
I could write a whole article on leaders but suffice it to say, my rule is; a foot of leader length for every foot of visibility. Fortunately, the Queets is glacial so a short and stout leader is just fine. Twelve to fiften pound tippets are good. Forget the florocarbon stuff here. Go for the an abrasion resistant leader like Maxima or the like.
The Queets wading is relatively easy in most runs, but the casts can be moderate to long. Mike will have the spey rods along so if you haven't done this yet, you probably will. I am just saying!
Back on the home front:
I will be handling the flyfishing newbies in both out casting classes & the Lakes. around Arlington.
Trout are starting to move now. Micro leeches are the order of the day. Remember; "the Ledge, the edge, the hedge".
Guys can't talk about their waters without a serious discussion about their boats. For the 40 stories and articles on fishing I have written over the years, here is one of the most popular yet controversial. Rafts VS hard-bottom boats
Fishing is already taking off in both lakes & rivers so it looks to be a fine spring. Spring: My second to my most favorite time of the year. Life is good.
Flyfishing Seminar. We are conducting another seminar/workshop tomorrow at Cabelas. Topic is on Winter steelhead flyfishing the Olympic Peninsula. A bunch of my steelhead junky friends & I will be on hand to demonstrate gear, tie flies /answer questions. Should be a lot of fun.
Specifics:
Cabelas (Tulalip)
Saturday Feb 23
5-7 PM
Everything from Gear to boats
Best of fishing,
Dennis & Mike Dickson
http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com
425 238 3537
"Careful what you pray for"
- queetschromeIIcrop.jpg (196.69 KiB) Viewed 2031 times
Mike has been chaffing at the bit, gearing up for another early spring season out on the O.P.'s , Queets river. Not many anglers and fewer guides work these Park waters.
The word out, that the fishing has already heated up. We were just looking for that rain. Never say that about out there! There is real reason they call this area a rainforest.
Should you venture out, here are a few of our favorite winter steelhead fly patterns.
Articulated Pink Leach
Articulated Egg sucking Cop Car
Purple Egg Articulated Sucking leach
Keep them big and wiggly. Big native steelhead are not shy. Especially the tidewater Queets fish.
As far as the equipment goes, bobber fishing does work, but not like it does in the canyon rivers further north. The Queets is a gently flowing big time swing water, so if you have a passion to fish your sink-tips, this is a river to do it.
I like the versatility of the multi-tip system. Just as not river flows the same, neither do the pools that live there. Knowing when and where to change up your heads can spell the difference of a big fish or no fish.
I could write a whole article on leaders but suffice it to say, my rule is; a foot of leader length for every foot of visibility. Fortunately, the Queets is glacial so a short and stout leader is just fine. Twelve to fiften pound tippets are good. Forget the florocarbon stuff here. Go for the an abrasion resistant leader like Maxima or the like.
The Queets wading is relatively easy in most runs, but the casts can be moderate to long. Mike will have the spey rods along so if you haven't done this yet, you probably will. I am just saying!
Back on the home front:
I will be handling the flyfishing newbies in both out casting classes & the Lakes. around Arlington.
Trout are starting to move now. Micro leeches are the order of the day. Remember; "the Ledge, the edge, the hedge".
Guys can't talk about their waters without a serious discussion about their boats. For the 40 stories and articles on fishing I have written over the years, here is one of the most popular yet controversial. Rafts VS hard-bottom boats
Fishing is already taking off in both lakes & rivers so it looks to be a fine spring. Spring: My second to my most favorite time of the year. Life is good.
Flyfishing Seminar. We are conducting another seminar/workshop tomorrow at Cabelas. Topic is on Winter steelhead flyfishing the Olympic Peninsula. A bunch of my steelhead junky friends & I will be on hand to demonstrate gear, tie flies /answer questions. Should be a lot of fun.
Specifics:
Cabelas (Tulalip)
Saturday Feb 23
5-7 PM
Everything from Gear to boats
Best of fishing,
Dennis & Mike Dickson
http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com
425 238 3537