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photos I like!

The Grande Ronde. I love this river!

Mia holding and Alaskan bow.

And releasing.



Good friend Joe Ballard on the Klickitat.

Tim Crane and me having a blast on the JD!!

Here is Tegan in her younger years.

Please post a comment of your favorite photo

FOR THE SAFETY OF WILD STEELHEAD

I realize this is a great time to fish for Steelhead and what a great way to cool off when the air temperature is 100 degrees, then to wet wade with your sandals, shorts, and t-shirt with fly rod in hand. We need to remind ourselves that this is an extremely vulnerable time for anadromous fish.

"Temperature tolerances and preferences of steelhead vary among seasons, life stages, and
stock characteristics. Juvenile steelhead can typically tolerate warmer temperatures than
other Pacific salmonids (Moyle 1976). Mortality of eggs begins at 13.3ºC (56ºF)
(McEwan and Jackson 1996). At temperatures greater than 21.1ºC (70ºF), steelhead have difficulty obtaining sufficient oxygen from the water (McEwan and Jackson 1996).
The preferred temperature range is reportedly 12.8-15.6 oC (55.0-60.1 oF) (Rich 1987),The incipient lethal temperature for steelhead,calculated as the temperature ate which half a group of experimental fish die, is between approximately 25 and 26 ºC (77.0-78.8 ºF) under experimental conditions (Bidgood and Berst 1969, Kaya 1978). Warmer water requires more abundant food resources for fish survival, because of the resultant increase in their metabolic rate (Brett 1971, Fausch1984). " (Appendix C, Steelhead Life History)


"I think it’s important that we all understand that if water temperature is 66 degrees or lower, you have a better chance of hooking a Steelhead than if the temperature is 67 and above. The other factor that is key for Wild Steelhead survival, is understanding how stressed the fish become at these higher water temperatures. Sure they might move around a little bit here and there, but think how hard it will be for a Steelhead to recover after being hooked, played, landed, and released, (if you were so fortunate to do so) it might not be able to recuperate the oxygen it needs to live. " by John Smeraglio

If you care about the safety of wild fish please limit your fishing to the morning only between 4am-10am or even better wait till this hot weather passes.

Summer Steelhead Crash Coarse

Summer Steelhead Crash Coarse Class on August 8th!

The Steelhead are here!
Counts on the Columbia River are looking good. With the numbers over Bonneville Dam skyrocketing. It's time to brush up and learn the most modern techniques to taking steelhead on the fly. Learn all the necessary tools to being an effective steelheader!

This will be a four hour class covering:
Scandi Spey Casting
Fly Selection / Comeback Flies
Poly Leaders vs Sink Tips
Reading Holding Water
Presentation Techniques
Fighting and Landing Fish

The class will start at 9am and last until 1pm. Lunch will be included. Mia and Tegan will be preparing a BBQ for you to enjoy after the class. Class is limited to 6 students of any skill level. Price is $75 per student. Please call 503-944-9165 or email to reserve your spot and meeting point near the Portland area.

Bass Ninja

Roderick L. Haig Brown

General Fry

Recently I've been reading, "Fisherman's Summer" by Roderick Haig-Brown. This has inspired me to replicate a few of his flies and fish smaller, surface flies in the summer.

"A man should think when he is fishing of all manner and shapes of things, flowing as easily through his mind as the light stream among its rocks. And the mind thinks best when the body is comfortable." Roderick Haig Brown

Bobber fishing

Bobber down?





For the steelhead and me I take swinging flies to be the most pleasurable way to pursue this fine creature. Nothing against any "other" technique its just.....swinging classic style suits my desire. I also prefer to spey cast. I have fished with bait when I was a younger kid. Went back and fourth when learning to fly fish. Went through a indicator phase when wanting to catch steelhead a number of years ago. But really what it came down to, now that I have settled in my ways, is this:

I care much more about the how I catch my Steelhead than how many fish I land.

You should also do it how you want to.
If I ask why you fish with an indicator for Steelhead and your reply is to catch more fish than swinging, then why not just use a spinning rod? Just asking. In the end you should do what is most fun for you. Swing away for me.

Some good authers on the subject to look into:

• Bill McMillan
• Roderick Haig-Brown
• Dec Hogan

Swinging a fly in the Summer

Summer is a pleasant time to swing a fly for Steelhead. The warm summer breeze feels good for the bones after fridge winter days and its nice to put the stinky fleece up for the season and wear a t-shirt. Banks are lush and green with new growth and the smell of grass lingers in the air. Stepping into the river and feeling the cold water ripple past my ankles is rejuvenating.

Klamath Dam Removal

The Klamath River supports a diversity of anadromous fish. A potential victory for fish and conservationist is the removal of one of the four dams. Still a long way before the scheduled removal but the fact the funding is there, is a great success! To read more on the Klamath River see Klamath Riverkeepers .

This article was taken from Oregon Live.

A bill to fund Klamath River dam removal won approval in the Oregon House today.
The bill is part of a larger agreement to restore fish runs in the fractious Klamath Basin and offer some certainty to farmers, tribes and others who compete for its resources.
Approved by the Democrat-controlled House on a largely party line vote of 34-24, Senate Bill 76 has already passed the senate. Once the two versions are reconciled it only needs the signature of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who supports it, to become law.
"This is one step in a long process that could result in the removal of the four Klamath River dams and restore this once wild river," said Rep. Ben Cannon (D-Portland).
At its core the proposal would raise $180 million from Oregon customers of PacifiCorp, the utility that owns the hydroelectric dams. Another $20 million would come from California ratepayers.
The utility estimates it would cost their average Oregon customer an extra $1.50 a month, but the bill limits the ratepayers and state's taxpayers from paying any more for dam removal. The surcharge would show up next year and last ten years.
In addition, the state of California is expected to ask voters to approve up to $250 million in bonds to cover the rest of the tab for dam removal, which could begin after 2020.
Kulongoski introduced the bill after signing a dam removal deal with California, the federal government and PacifiCorp. But passage of the bill doesn't guarantee that the dams will come down - that would require further federal action and debate - but it does set the terms by which Oregonians will pay for it.
And opponents, like Republican Rep. Bill Garrard of Klamath Falls, contend dam removal eliminates a source of greenhouse gas-free electricity at a time of rising concerns over climate change. And it comes with too many unknowns - like the toxicity of sediment built up behind the dams - that could lead to cost overruns that come back haunt legislators.
"The people of the Klamath Basin don't support dam removal," said Nick Smith, a spokesman for House Republicans.
But the bill's supporters say removing will be cheaper than re-licensing the aging dams, and the bill protects Oregonians from footing the bill for unseen costs.
"Compared to re-licensing, this bill will help avoid litigation, cap costs for ratepayers, and save millions of dollars in the long run," said James Honey, Klamath Program coordinator for Sustainable Northwest, a Portland group that advocated for the bill.

Hooked in the Mouth

If your an avid angler this has probable happened to you once or twice. If your lucky, the hook has been debarbed and someone can pull it out the way it entered your skin. Marty has found the best way to deal with this is to pull real fast on the count of two so its over by the time you say three. Email us your story of being hooked littlecreekjd@earthlink.net.

Damsels Dancing on the Water

I've always been intrigued by the Damsel, their body color radiates against the earth tones of the John Day Basin. They flutter over the water and will stop to take a break on your shoulder, no fear they have and if your silent one can hear the wings humming of the Bluet Damselfly.

To see damsel fly patterns check out Idylwilde Flies .

S'MORES on the River

The best treat on the river, S'MOREs! These kids showed us how to do it!

Recipe for the perfect smore: First, set a chunk of chocolate on a graham cracker to be ready for the application of the marshmallow. Roast two or three marshmallows till golden brown, when the marshmallows are sliding on the stick and just about to fall off, transfer the mellows on top of the graham cracker, add the chocolate, then add another mellow and sandwich the goodies with a graham cracker on top. ENJOY!

Good to be Home.

Computer back in hands and feet on the ground. It's good to be home.