clacksteel
10-10-2005, 04:36 PM
Went on our annual 3 day/2 night rafting trip down the Deschutes from Mack's Canyon to the Mouth from this last Friday till Sunday. The water appeared slightly off color due to the rain on Thurs. night that blew out the White River. It was still fishable (could see my boots in knee deep water), and we fished it hard. I devoted the trip solely to fly fishing, and it payed off in the end. On Friday night as I was making my way to the end of a run, line starts screaming off my reel. By the time the fish stopped it was practically on the other side of the river. It decided to go up stream for another screaming run, and attempted some leaps. The tube fly I tied help fast. After a couple more runs, leaps, and some bulldogging I finally slid a beautiful 31" hatchery buck in the grass. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/deschutesteelhead39/Fishing/Steelhead/Deschutes%20Steelhead/FirstSteel.jpg
The next morning just below the spot I landed the steelhead I had another awesome grab that I was convinced was a steelhead. As it approached the bank I realized it was a hog of a redside that had taken me "lucky" tube fly. After a quick pic, I gently released it to continue to feed on the spawning salmon eggs. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/deschutesteelhead39/Fishing/Trout/DeschutesRedside.jpg
After landing a couple more redsides from that spot I moved on, but never hooked up w/ anymore steel. I had some more grabs that didn't result in hookups, but I was quite happy with the fish I had landed. The other people in our party landed some other fish (none of which on flies), so I would say it was a rather successful float even with the water conditions being less than perfect. The weather was a little cold and it did rain Saturday night, but it didn't interfer too badly. All in all it was a great trip, and the steelhead was just an added bonus (BIG bonus).
As for the fly...it was my first real attempt at a tube fly and I was rather content with the results. I'm not sure whether it is an original (seems as though little is now a days), but I have never seen a fly quite like it and I will continue to claim it as my own until further notice. I haven't come up with a name for it yet, but I hope in the coming days it will dawn upon me.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/deschutesteelhead39/Fishing/Flies/Steelyfly.jpg
Recipe:
Butt: Char. thread (tied on hook)
Body: "Willie's Sparkle Material" (Maroon for lower half/Purple for upper half)
Hackle: Black Schlappen
Head: Char. thread
Hook: Size 4 Egg fly hook
Tube: Small plastic (about 1.5-2 inches long)
The next morning just below the spot I landed the steelhead I had another awesome grab that I was convinced was a steelhead. As it approached the bank I realized it was a hog of a redside that had taken me "lucky" tube fly. After a quick pic, I gently released it to continue to feed on the spawning salmon eggs. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/deschutesteelhead39/Fishing/Trout/DeschutesRedside.jpg
After landing a couple more redsides from that spot I moved on, but never hooked up w/ anymore steel. I had some more grabs that didn't result in hookups, but I was quite happy with the fish I had landed. The other people in our party landed some other fish (none of which on flies), so I would say it was a rather successful float even with the water conditions being less than perfect. The weather was a little cold and it did rain Saturday night, but it didn't interfer too badly. All in all it was a great trip, and the steelhead was just an added bonus (BIG bonus).
As for the fly...it was my first real attempt at a tube fly and I was rather content with the results. I'm not sure whether it is an original (seems as though little is now a days), but I have never seen a fly quite like it and I will continue to claim it as my own until further notice. I haven't come up with a name for it yet, but I hope in the coming days it will dawn upon me.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v318/deschutesteelhead39/Fishing/Flies/Steelyfly.jpg
Recipe:
Butt: Char. thread (tied on hook)
Body: "Willie's Sparkle Material" (Maroon for lower half/Purple for upper half)
Hackle: Black Schlappen
Head: Char. thread
Hook: Size 4 Egg fly hook
Tube: Small plastic (about 1.5-2 inches long)