Cowlitz Steelhead Question

[Steelheadgreen]

Hello from a Rookie fly guy. I am just getting started in this new adventure called fly fishing and I have a few questions. I am used to drift fishing eggs or pulling plugs from a drift boat. I am determined to hook some steel on a fly this year. What I need to know is what sort of bugs are in the Cowlitz? I have a an uncle in southern Oregon who is a long time fly guy who can tie up some flys for me. He wants to know what sort of bugs are in the Cowlitz? Does the Cowlitz have Salmon flies? Are there any hook restrictions we need to know about?

I am probably going to target the summer steelhead more than the winter fish. Any help here would be greatly appreciated... :pray:

Thanks and have a great holiday...

[sherretb]

Are you nymph fishing under a indicator, or will you be swinging?

[Steelheadgreen]

Are you nymph fishing under a indicator, or will you be swinging?


I will probably do some of each until I figure out whick I prefer. I will be borrowing my uncles gear until I figure out which I prefer. My uncle wants to know if they have Salmon fly nymphs on the Cowlitz? He want to know what sort of patterns work well so we go we are least in the ballpark when we go fishing.

Thanks for the reply...

[stoneflyguy]

The Cowlitz is my bread and butter. If you want to target steelhead I don't think I would look at a particular bug but take a look at some wet flies. As a guide I have a few go to flies that I have a lot of confidence in, but there isn't really a bug that i use because of a particular hatch. The #1 bug on the Cowlitz for me would be the October Caddis but I don't necessarily use it to target steelhead. I catch steelhead on stonefly's year round but I would be wasting a lot of time if I just used one pattern or bug. I actually use flies that could imitate several diffrent things. Here is what I would use and not in any particular order. You should have in your box, Lady Caroline, Freight Train, Fly Dejour, Black Matuka, Black Wooly Bugger, and string leech in various colors. If your stuck on wanting to use a bug try the October Caddis and focus on Sept. Oct. and early November. This is my 2 cents and this is what helps me pay the bills.

Jeff

[Steelheadgreen]

Jeff,

Thank you so much for the advice. This is exactly the info I was hoping to get. Not looking for any ones secrets just sound advice on what sort of flies we should try.

The Cowlitz is my bread and butter. If you want to target steelhead I don't think I would look at a particular bug but take a look at some wet flies. As a guide I have a few go to flies that I have a lot of confidence in, but there isn't really a bug that i use because of a particular hatch. The #1 bug on the Cowlitz for me would be the October Caddis but I don't necessarily use it to target steelhead. I catch steelhead on stonefly's year round but I would be wasting a lot of time if I just used one pattern or bug. I actually use flies that could imitate several diffrent things. Here is what I would use and not in any particular order. You should have in your box, Lady Caroline, Freight Train, Fly Dejour, Black Matuka, Black Wooly Bugger, and string leech in various colors. If your stuck on wanting to use a bug try the October Caddis and focus on Sept. Oct. and early November. This is my 2 cents and this is what helps me pay the bills.

Jeff