On the Water Log, January 5, 2010
Happy New Year everyone! I had planned to begin blogging regularly on steelheading after the holidays–not to mention guiding–but the big rain last Thursday and Friday knocked the rivers out yet again. We have had good numbers of fish this winter, including some nice wild steelhead, but the number of days when the conditions have been optimal for fly fishing have been fairly rare. That’s really not that unusual in Forks in early winter, of course, and we got a lot of new rain again yesterday, just as the rivers were coming down nicely. I hope to fish Friday. Maybe.
Meanwhile, I’ve been tying a lot of flies. I’m still working on my Spey flies, in particular Syd Glasso’s Sol Duc and his Spey version of the Polar Shrimp. I’m also still having my usual difficulties with the wings. I’ve also tied a few of James Garrett’s–another Olympic Peninsula fly tyer whom Trey Combs wrote about in Steelhead Fly Fishing–Red Shrimp. It’s in the vein of a G.P. but with more of a traditional steelhead upright-winged profile. I also like Waddington shanks and have tied up some Beauly Snow Flies and my own patterns. Finally, I’ve been tying a few soft hackle and traditional wet flies but substituting waterfowl flank feathers for the partridge and other upland bird feathers.
I’ll let you know when I get back on the water.