"Dope On a Rope" (Leech On a Leader)

This spring while fishing a few new to me stillwaters attractor patterns have been the bread and butter when it comes to locating fish.This pattern hasn't only accounted for finding the fish, but catching quite large, and aggressive trout as well.The fly is tied sparse to look lively in the water, and has lead wraps on the front 1/3 of the body to give the fly a distinct leach like "swim"  the bead and dubbing catch light and adds some attraction as well.I also tie this pattern on a curved shank hook in smaller sizes for indicator fishing and it can be just as effective.Also works in olive/orange, and maroon with the same red bead (my favorite). If you are looking for a pattern to use when searching for trout this fly will get the job done, and because it is some simple to tie, and is durable, can be a time saving alternative to tying woolly bugger type patterns with hackle and all of the extras.








Black/red Simi seal leech







Hook: TFS 5263 sizes 8-12
Thread: utc 70, wine
Bead: red silverlined glass
Tail: black marabou (sparse)
Body: Black/red arizona simi seal
Rib (optional) small red ultra wire
Weight: small lead wire (wrap front 1/3 of shank for good action)

Stillwater Sunday

       On Sunday, Sam and i were invited to fish a private trout lake in the hills outside of town. The lake,formerly a bass/panfish fishery, was stocked with trout  last year.It is a healthy body of water with all of the components needed to sustain a trout fishery, but knowing large bass inhabit the lake made me question the lakes potential.We arrived a little before 9 and started fishing from float tubes.Water was murky with 2-3 ft visibility and a muddy tint, surface temp in the mid 50's.Fishing a new lake can always be frustrating because you never know what the fish are eating, and where they are at in the lake.Luckily there was a map showing how deep the lake was, making it easier to find feeding fish.


I started out with a clear intermediate sinking line and a size 10 black/red simi seal leech and worked the shoal area to the east of the channel that runs down the middle of the lake, side by side with jay and his wife slowly trolling our patterns. Not long into the morning we began to hook into some fish but not a ton,action was consistent.After about half an hour of bites and jay still hooking good amounts of fish, i narrowed down an area that seemed to have lots of fish.I anchored in 14ft of water to the side of the channel, and rigged up with a two fly chironomid rig, with a maroon pupa on the point, and a small red bloodworm on the dropper. Almost immediately after my patterns sunk it was bobber (indicator) down! it pretty much remained the same way on and off for the next few hours, with the bite picking up then dropping off for a bit here and there. Depth really seemed to matter, as the fish were cruising a narrow water column about  1-2ft off the bottom.I stayed in the same general area the whole trip with good success, and after lunch sam and jay both joined me for some chironomid fishing and the action continued until we had to call it quits. The day ended with several large rainbows to net for us all. What an excellent day on the water, and more to come as the lakes over eat open up soon.

Filling The Box

       Starting to fill my box as a lot of lakes and streams open in a few weeks like i mentioned before. With school daily ive had to split my tying time up into two segments, but ive been able to get a good amount tied.I am heavily focusing on chironomids for stillwater fishing at this time and will be for the next few days, though nymphs for the favorite stream will have to be a focus because it opens soon as well.Lots of time at the bench ahead preparing for a low water year here in oregon. 18 days and counting

Stillwater Mode Activated

Spring has arrived and along with it a whole host of opportunities.Lakes are icing off, and hatches are starting.Music to the ears of any avid stillwater trout angler as he knows the time has come.Flies are being tied by the hundreds, and unfortunately the local fly shops run short of materials often (haha) ive been fortunate enough to fish two awesome lakes in the past week, and had the chance to catch 6 different kinds of trout.It was a very long week of riding in the trucks, tying leaders, and fortunately, hooking lots and lots of fish, having my personal best day on the favorite late winter lake with two good friends.

After that trip sam and i headed east to a desert lake and spent our time in windy conditions stripping leeches for lahontan cutthroat, which was an incredible experience.  in 4 days of fishing last week i only broke off two fish (both lahontans while stripping flies) but none while chironomid fishing in the other lake. My hook up to land ratio has been incredible and i can only hope it continues.With a few weeks of hard school work on my plate it is time to take a break from the water and tie flies, before the central Oregon lakes open up and begin to fish well. Full fly boxes and tight lines ahead.

Photo credit: Sam Brost-Turner

Gear Review: Cabela's Three Forks Outfit

      Being a student on a budget i am somewhat "limited" when buying gear- especially rods,reels, and line.In January i planned to start my winter steelhead season but i didn't have a rod, and i had 80 bucks to work with.I was very doubtful i would find a rod that works even halfway decent for that price.Reluctantly i picked up the 9 ft 8 wt 4 pc cabelas three forks rod,with a prestige plus reel  and a prestige plus floating line. The setup was on sale, and i figured  "this sucks but it's what i have to work with" not being able to rely on the usual echo or redington which i am accustomed to fishing had me down a bit.The reel, to me was the best part of the setup at first sight.

    The rod actually looked halfway decent aesthetically, but the real test was a trip to the north oregon coast for some wild steelhead.Big heavy water absorbent nymphs ,giant thingamambobbers, and fast water nymphing. Very challenging technical fishing and can really ask a lot from both rod and angler. Overall i was very impressed with the rod, it was a little on the stiff side, but it was actually a good thing for the application, allowing for long hauls with heavy flies. It loaded well on roll casts and double halls far better than expected, though not "up to par" with similar rods by both echo and redington, it preforms well for the price.The reel is the high point of the setup being very well put together, durable, smooth, and okay looking as well. THe first trip with the setup i ended up hooking a strong wild fish, that unfortunately came off.

The line was not up to par at all, and was the most dissatisfying part of the outfit. It commonly sunk mid drift even in soft water, and caught dirt and grim quicker than most fly lines ive used, which is common of scientific anglers fly lines in my experience (cabela's line are made by scientific anglers) i would have to say, it impressed me for sure, but i would consider it a good backup setup or beginners setup at best. If you have the money get a better setup, go for it. if not, this setup  will save you until you can get one.I feel the smaller sizes of this outfit preform better for their respective purposes, like the 4 and 5wt models, which in my opinion would be great back up rods, or a second to bring with rigged up with a different fly.  In general they are a good value, but not too good to pass up.

Apologies & updates (IMPORTANT)

       Hey all, as you have noticed i have been on and off for the past several months, barely posting and what not. Through the whole time, i wasn't able to access the blogs email account, and sadly, not reply to any mail. I offer my sincere apologies to anyone who sent us mail over that course of time, emails are currently being sent though months behind. School has been rough and my time was more focused on it than anything in life.

    So please, feel free to email us with any questions and or comments with confidence from now on, as the problem is taken care of.  Pacific Northwest Fly Fishing is back full time, and with a bang. Fly tying videos, some more short films by the one and only Sam  Brost-Turner, and some much needed gear reviews. In addition for 2014 we hope to add links and reviews to local guides and outfitters to help find you the best of the best for your next fly fishing trip.

     A big thanks to those who have stuck around, as my time has freed up, spring is here, and fishing time has arrived. With a mild snow pack this winter many lakes east of the cascades are beginning to ice off or the snow has melted on access roads. It sure gives me a case of the jitters as the central Oregon fishing season is about under way.

A few short float tube trips to the favorite mountain lake have held us over until c-o turns on for the spring,

Here are some pictures, and once again, thanks for hanging in there folks, it was a long vacation!!!

Brandon Hill

Spring break rules

After a pretty slow winter steelhead  season for sam and myself we decided to hang up the 8wts and go after trout to start our spring break. Luckily there are few waters open this time of year, though it requires a drive. We fished two days with slower than normal action but did manage some nice fish and of course the non fishing campire activities were just as fun. But when you do have a slow few days on the water and you can see the trout, and know they are feeding, you are left to wonder what you did wrong. Though fishing was slow were had a great time and ill take it over sitting at home any day. There really is nothing better than hooking some beautiful wild trout with a good friend.

Wild rainbow trout

This trip reminds me we are close to the snow and ice melting off lakes up in the cascades and good fishing is in the near future.With a low snow pack things are sure to be difficult this year, but there will be no lack of fish and bent rods. With that in the future, all i can do is tie some flies and play the waiting game