Yeti

It all depends on the condition of the hook. if the hook point is still good and wouldn't need sharpening and there isn't any rust, I just throw it in a box of "to be disassembled" flies and get to them at a later date. A lot of times I will just farm old flies for the bead heads or eyes.

I use a Griffin Odyssey Spider vise. They are about 90.00 now and I really like mine.

i use ross fly rise reels for my 4 wt. good enough in my opinion. Im not super tough on my trout gear so the cast aluminum isnt an issue for me.

For what it's worth, I have read that you generally want to use borax for birds and salt for fur in preservation. I use borax on any birds that I shoot and want for tying. I feel like it does better than salt. As for mammals, it's my opinion that it's a waste of time and energy to just try to tan one to two rabbit hides. Especially since the dyed ones are soo cheap.

 

I second what utyer said about tfo rods. I have personally used the warranty and ordered pro deals from the factory. They have great customer service. Their gear rods are awesome too, especially since Gary Loomis is designing them.

I thought Gary Loomis was helping with their spin rods, not their fly rods?

 

Regardless, I agree that TFO is a really good rod for the money. Least expensive warranty program in the industry as well.

 

You're right. its just the gear rods. I have some of them too. awesome!

Are you casting a single or two hand rod?

Its a nice looking fly. I have only spent the time to really tie a few classic salmon patterns but it looks like you need to shorten things up a little. The tags look a little far back in my opinion.

I second what utyer said about tfo rods. I have personally used the warranty and ordered pro deals from the factory. They have great customer service. Their gear rods are awesome too, especially since Gary Loomis is designing them.

Some prawn intruders for the North umpqua in the morning!

I was a fisheries observer on commercial fishing boats in Alaska for a few years. It's amazing the types of different fish that live at such extreme depths.

I tied these up for the incoming winter steelhead season.

Just my 2 cents, my buddy has had some issues with his Ion reels. He had an 8 wt that the drag clutchfailed. No drag. He had it replaced and it did it again. I wouldn't purchase any of the Ion reels.

If I can remember correctly from a wildlife diseases class back in college, I think the virus cannot survive very long after its host dies (lower body temperatures, environmental exposure, etc.)

"utyer, are you sure all steelies feed in the fresh? I was sure the summer runs on the west coast of BC don't eat anything? At least this is what i have been told *shrug*."

I have fished summer steelhead for a few years on the Mckenzie river in Oregon. I have seen them take insects off the top and in the subsurface. Other summer steelhead rivers like the Deschutes, Umpqua, and the Grande Ronde are famous for fishing dry flies for summer steel. Post spawn steelhead tend to be a little more aggressive on their journey back out to the ocean. There has been some speculation that steelhead are actually quite inquisitive while in rivers; surfacing to inspect a drifting leaf or twig at times. Brighter colors may imitate colors naturally seen on prey items out in the ocean. So, maybe it's a combination of the natural insect shape and instinctual color attraction. In the end, there is still a lot unknown about steelhead behavior.

I have never caught one myself, but I know there are some states that actually stock them. I know Utah has them in some lakes and streams and I think Idaho has some as well as Oregon might in the south eastern corner of the state. Other than that, I have heard the trinity alps in California are in their native range. from what I have read, a larger one is in the 8-10 inch range. Gorgeous fish for sure. They have always been on my bucket list. Just be aware, what some people call "golden trout" are actually albino or other color versions of rainbows called "Palominos".

I thought I'd give them a shot and just sort of threw the fly together from some different recipes I've seen. Please make any suggestions to help improve the flies.

Thank you

They look nice. I like the body color. You may have some flotation issues without hackle on the body depending on the body material you used. I have had fair success with a black elk hair caddis type or even a blackish-brown stimulator in the appropriate sizes. Still, some great looking flies. I have also had good success tying on a size 20 egg dropper off the stimulator during these early months.

Here is my favorite.

I tied some up in black and in yellow on some size 12's. The fish couldn't leave them alone on the Mckenzie the other day. Definitely my new favorite pattern for stones.

My friend and I have taken part in a "midget fishing tournament" or two in years past.

Fly fishing the evening away on the Mckenzie River in Oregon. I have a bunch of other photos in the slideshow. Check them out and let me know what you think!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28967969@N08/2698367289/in/photostream/lightbox/

I like the finished product. I was thinking of undertaking a similar project. I have a lot of furniture grade cedar that I got from my grandfather. Do you like having the sides of your bench enclosed? Does it help keep things contained? By the way, the trash slot idea is cool. I might have to copy that one.

upper proxy falls in Oregon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28967969@N08/2699191868/in/photostream

I have always spelled it "wooly". I double checked with the high school literature teacher girlfriend. She agreed. I'm not gonna argue when she says I'm right.

Here is my simple but effective bugger. I caught a few smallmouth on it this summer.

black marabou

pearl crystal flash

black chenille

chartreuse saddle

tungsten bead

I like the pink and black pattern. I made one with some cerise and some pink rubber legs. Hope the fish like it too!