Hi Guys,

We are getting geared up for our winter/spring spring season. Starting Dec 1^st we are discounting our local trips to $300 till Jan 31st. Our peninsula trips are starting to book up and weekend dates are first to go. For 2 or more days of O.P. fishing you get a $50 discount for each day.

Fishing over there starts in Feb till May with prime time on the Queets from March – April 15^th. A few rivers will close on April 15^th. After that I will fish the Bogi and Sol Duc till May. 

Need a unique Christmas idea? Get a gift certificate! Buy any $ amount and it will be a credit that is good for a year. We will throw in a dozen flies for every certificate over $150

Streamsideflyshop.com will have free shipping from Dec – March. I have a few new flies and we are fully stocked.

For summer trout fishing look for our multiple day trout camp on the Methow River.

Happy holidays,

Mike & Dennis Dickson

425-330-9506

Skagit Coho

I have mostly been fishing the skagit in between trips running back and forth from the Methow river. 
The local scene has been pretty fun. This is that time of year that you never know what you are going to hook. In the last week we have hooked coho, steelhead, sea run cutts, dolly varden, chum and even a rainbow.
Me and Chris (pictured on the right) planned to fish the skagit last friday. I thought, on the was we would stop off and hit a little run on the stilly on our way there. We had to drive by it anyways. We stopped off and hit the nice steelie. Once we got to the skagit we hooked some salmon, Dolly's and also hit another steelead.
I do have a guy looking for a partner on the Skagit on the 18th.

The weather on the Methow has cooled off and your likely to have ice in the guides for the first couple hours in the morning. The fishing has also slowed with the cold temps. The river is still low and likely to stay low as most of the moisure just turns to snow. Hwy 20 was a pretty interesting drive with a trailer behind me, snow dumping and about a foot of snow on the road as I was headed back home. I made fresh tracks most of the way back over the pass. WDOT will probably close Hwy 20 soon.

I am starting to book for the Peninsula now.  I'll fish from Feb - the end of April. Prime time is from March - April 15th. Dennis isn't going to fish over there next season. He got frustrated with the drive and the river blowing out.

If you get a chance check out - http://washingtonanglerspac.com/

Happy fishing,

Mike & Dennis




 

John's first Steelhead

I fished the Methow the for 5 days over last weekend into early this last week. The water was real loowww and real clear but felt fishy. The fishing preassure wasn't bad at all if you float. Most days we were the only boat on our float. The weather was amazing, warmer than usual and with the fall colors and some sun it was absolutely beautiful. I would love to have a place over there some day.   

Methow Steelhead

Since I have been back I have been doing casting classes and schools. On the local scene fishing has been pretty good. There is a decent number of coho around and more chums showing up daily.

One of our guys on Wednesday class hooked a huge chum that fought like crazy. We were getting close to landing it when it made it's last run and the guy broke it off. He had only caught trout before that. Needless to say he was blown away by the fish's strength.

A good sized chum could keep you busy for a while not to mention wear your arm out.

I will be fishing locally for Coho, chum salmon and dollys in between trips to the Methow River for steelies. I do have availability for some of these trips if interested. I have a guy looking for a partner for Nov. 19th on the skagit for Chums/silvers/dollys.

I am also starting to book for the winter/spring steelhead season on the Olympic Peninsula and locally (when/if open). It would be nice if we could get our local wild steelhead runs back up in fishable numbers for a catch and release season but it looks like things are going the other direction.There is a push to shut our local rivers down 2 weeks earlier to the end of Jan. Some of my local gear friends may loose there sturgeon fisheries too. Slowly we get less and less. Instead of complaining I'll try to help. Here is a link to check out about a new political organization that will fight for anglers and our fish -  http://washingtonanglerspac.com/

 

WACPAC is a recreational fisherman supported Political Action Committee that provides funding for candidates for state legislative and state-wide political office in Washington State. Recipients of PAC funds are selected based on their willingness to listen to our message and share our vision of Conserving our State’s Marine Resources. WACPAC is committed to making Washington a world class fishery by restoring our wild Salmon & Steelhead runs and protecting our sturgeon, bottom fish and crab.

Happy fishing,

Mike and Dennis Dickson

Post G.R. 2011

Tony's Wild Steelhead

I recently got back from a few weeks of fishing on the Grande Ronde. The season was bitter sweet.

Dad ran a few trips on the lower Ronde before I got there and gave me good reports of nice numbers of wild fish they were catching. They were mostly fishing dries too.

I was pretty stoked to fish one of my favorite rivers and hit some fish. Even though the water was low when I arrived there where fish around. My first few trips went great. On my second and third trip in we had a little push of rain and hit a nice pulse of fish with quite a few hook ups.

Shortly after that I got a flu bug that took the wind out of my sail. Being booked every day I had to nut up and run the trips. There were quite a few other guides and patrons that got sick too. That time of year I guess,

Then Bill Vail, the Owner of Boggans Oasis restaurant had a serious stroke. Bill and his wife Farrell make all the lunches for the guides, host most of the client lodging, and are the heart and soul of the upper Washington stretch of the Grande Ronde.

It’s was pretty amazing to see the local community give its support. Guides, friends and local ranchers were even stopping by to lend a hand when they could. I haven’t heard the latest on Bills status but I know he will have months of rehab and wish him and Farrell the best. Even though we got another pulse of rain this last week over there the fishing was slower. I expected another nice shot of fish with the 2^nd higher water but it never came. We had to work for them.

I will be fishing locally for Coho,  chum salmon and dollys in between trips to the Methow River for steelies. I do have availability for some of these trips if interested. I have a guy looking for a partner for Nov. 19th on the skagit for Chums/silvers/dollys.

For new anglers we are running 5 hour schools and casting classes multiple times a month with availability. I did a casting class on the Stilly yesterday and saw a few salmon rolling around at Blue Stilly Park.

I am also starting to book for the winter/spring steelhead season on the Olympic Peninsula and locally (when available). It would be nice if we could get our local wild steelhead runs back up in fishable numbers for a catch and release season. Last year a buddy of mine fished the Sauk right before it closed and hooked 4 fish.

In the 2012 season also look for a multiple day trout camp on the Methow next summer.

Happy fishing,

Mike and Dennis Dickson

From Salmon back to Steelhead...

Nick's Big Ass Humpy

I have been fishing every day this month so the blog is a bit behind. More like catching! There is lots of fish and it has been killer. Mostly pinks but have caught dollys, sea run cutts, silvers, a random steelie, and a older king that peeled off most of one guys line till we broke it off.

I am headed over to the Grande Ronde for a few weeks for some steelhead this Sat. Pop's has been there for most of a week. He said that the water is low but they were finding multiple fish each day. Most on dries.

After the G.R. I will fish Chum/silvers/dollys in between trips to the Methow for steelhead. I do have availability for those, the G.R. stuff is booked up.

Fall is a good time to be a fishermen. Get out and get some!

Mike and Dennis

Pinks are streaming into the rivers now.

We fished the opener on the lower Stilly for salmon yesterday. We have a way to float/motor the lower section with some private launch access. The river way busy but guys spread out a bit.

We found a lot of bright fresh fish. Most are coming in with the last tide. You will have a spot that is quiet then all of a sudden a pod of fish will roll in and rods will go down. We saw sea lice and chrome sides. We did spot some coho and a few lucky anglers around got one. 

Now the skykomish river is open till Sultan so guys have a few more float and walk-in options there.

Last minute partner needed for September the 13th for salmon - free flies with booking.

Check out our Humpy sampler for some trick pink salmon flies. http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Pink Salmon: great for beginners, family and anybody that likes to CATCH fish: Most spots you can Keep 4 fish for the BBQ.

The Pinks are being caught around area beaches. They have been streaming into our local rivers and the lower sections of the Sky and Skagit is open tomorrow the 16th! The Stilly opens on Sept 1st.

We are booking trips now and have some good dates available. We are looking to book up to 3 people per trip. These are $150 PP. If your a single and want to get out for a good price that is a great way to go. We have lots of people looking for partners.  

Sea run Cutts - Now on the Stilly inquire for dates.

September 1-15 Stilly Tidewater Humpy/Searun Cutthroat and Skykomish river
For the killer upper Skagit Pink dates from September 16th - 30th we only have the 25th open.

Grande Ronde: Just trying to fill one spot on the 10-12 3 day trip. Let me know if you interested! This is a great river to learn to steelhead fish and to try to get a steelie on a surface fly!

Methow for Steelhead: Booking the week of October 23rd

Chum Salmon/Dolly varden: November - Looking for partners for the 18th

Tight lines,

Mike and Dennis Dickson

425-330-9506

Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

Slamming Salmon

Lower Skagit Salmon with the Thomas Family.

Ahhh... Nice to have a bunch of Salmon in the river. I spent a day trying to find some new walk-in spots around Sedro Wooley on the lower skagit. I found a few few spots but when they release water from the damn the fly bars disappear. They are releasing around 2000 cfs per day! Just a few pockets here and there. Just above Sedro the water gets better and there is some nice water but you really gotta boat it to get to the best spots. I've done a few floats in the Lyman area with success. Along with salmon we are finding a few nice dollys too.

Me and my wife also floated the lower stilly with out my rod. I wanted to see the water and see if there are some fish around. I was also checking how the water would be after the water was diverted from Cook slough and all running down the North channel. I was a little surprised, I thought there would be a lot more water. It wasn't that bad. Some beautiful SRC water and I found a few spots the pinks were rolling pretty good.

It's been a few since I've been on it but I hear the lower Sky has been fishing better. I'll be out there this week to hit it.

Check out our Humpy sampler for some trick pink salmon flies. http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Pink Salmon: great for beginners, family and anybody that likes to CATCH fish: Most spots you can Keep 4 fish for the BBQ.

The Pinks are being caught around area beaches. They have been streaming into our local rivers and the lower sections of the Sky and Skagit is open tomorrow the 16th! The Stilly opens on Sept 1st.

We are booking trips now and have some good dates available. We are looking to book up to 3 people per trip. These are $150 PP. If your a single and want to get out for a good price that is a great way to go. We have lots of people looking for partners.  

Sea run Cutts - Now on the Stilly inquire for dates.

Aug 16-30 Humpys - Skykomish and lower Skagit River trips
September 1-15 Stilly Tidewater Humpy/Searun Cutthroat and Skykomish river
For the killer upper Skagit Pink dates from September 16th - 30th we only have the 25th open.

Grande Ronde: 3 day steelhead camp out trips for 2011 are booking now: Inquire for dates. These are during the first 2 weeks of October. This is a great river to learn to steelhead fish and to try to get a steelie on a surface fly!

Methow for Steelhead: Booking the week of October 23rd

Chum Salmon/Dolly varden: November - Looking for partners for the 15th and 17th

Tight lines,

Mike and Dennis Dickson

425-330-9506

Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com



East Side Trout.... Now back to the Pink salmon.

Dallas and Julie. A Nice West slope caught at the put-in.

We had some great weather and found some nice fish fishing trout on Eastern Wa. The best part was they were only hitting dries! We tried the hopper/dropper flie combo but eventually took the droppers off cause they were just getting in the way.

During one of the trips we caught 3 different species of trout and what we thought at first was a huge trout that turned out to be just a whitefish. I have a few husband/wife combos on each trip that were a true pleasure to fish with.

One of the things I enjoy the most about this summer fishery is wet wading in warm weather, not to mention watching nice fish roll over a big dry fly.

With Cook slough closed on the Stilly (boooo, I know that they are doing this to improve the fish ladder and probably had to use some funding before they lost it but bad timing!) we have changed our lower stilly drifts so we could still fish tidewater humpys and sea run cutts.

Fresh Pinks!

Check out our Humpy sampler for some trick pink salmon flies. http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Pink Salmon: great for beginners, family and anybody that likes to CATCH fish: Most spots you can Keep 4 fish for the BBQ.

The Pinks are being caught around area beaches. They have been streaming into our local rivers and the lower sections of the Sky and Skagit is open tomorrow the 16th! The Stilly opens on Sept 1st.

We are booking trips now and have some good dates available. We are looking to book up to 3 people per trip. These are $150 PP. If your a single and want to get out for a good price that is a great way to go. We have lots of people looking for partners.  

Sea run Cutts - Now on the Stilly inquire for dates.

Aug 16-30 Humpys - Skykomish and lower Skagit River trips
September 1-15 Stilly Tidewater Humpy/Searun Cutthroat and Skykomish river
For the killer upper Skagit Pink dates from September 16th - 30th we only have the 24th open.

Grande Ronde: 3 day steelhead camp out trips for 2011 are booking now: Inquire for dates. These are during the first 2 weeks of October. This is a great river to learn to steelhead fish and to try to get a steelie on a surface fly!

Methow for Steelhead: Booking the week of October 23rd

Chum Salmon/Dolly varden: November - Looking for partners for the 15th and 17th

Conservation: Aug 21st Wenatchee River clean up. For info www.co.chelan.wa.us/nr

Tight lines,

Mike and Dennis Dickson

425-330-9506

Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com





The Pinks are coming!

July Skykomish School

The Pink salmon are starting to show on area beaches and petering into the Snohomish system now.
We are getting geared up for them now and still have some prime dates available.

Our tips start at $150 PP for 3 or more people and $175 each for 2.

Check out our Humpy salmper for some trick pink salmon flies. http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Lately I have been fishing the Kalama, Cowlitz and the Skykomish for steelhead. I am planning on making another trip down south to hit those rivers again. If you ever wanted to sight fish for steelhead on the Kalama or fish the Cowlitz  for steelies and Cutts let me know.

I am headed over to the Methow River soon to fish for trout, I love that valley and fishing there is one of my favorite summer trips. I do have a opening on the 12th and the 15th of Aug.

The Good - This should be a killer year for pink salmon.

The Bad - Somebody decided that this would be the perfect time to repair the weir and fish ladder on the Stilly. We have a huge run of pink salmon entering the stilly
and it was decided that right in the middle of this huge run of fish that it was a good time to divert the river to fix this. There is approx of 1+ mile of prime fishing water for local fishermen that
is now closed to local fishermen. Not to mention what the construction of this project is going to do to the water color. From the Standwood Redi-mix plant down stream has some great water and should be fishable if the water color isn't dirty.
We are looking into other options to be able to fish the lower stilly but this project is definitely throwing a wrench in our game. What horrible timing!

Action: Close Cook (Koch) Slough (a channel of the Stillaguamish River), the North Meander, and the Stillaguamish River from where Cook Slough rejoins the Stillaguamish to 1,000 feet downstream to fishing.
Effective dates: July 18 through Oct. 15, 2011.
Species affected: All fish.
Closure location details:
All of Cook (Koch) Slough ( the South channel of the Stillaguamish River/including all waters of the barrier/diversion dam channel). The closure begins approximately 1/2 mile West of Interstate 5), 350 feet upstream of the barrier/diversion dam and continues approximately 3.5 river miles to the downstream confluence with the Stillaguamish River. The North Meander, a side channel that connects the mainstem Stillaguamish (at Hevly Road) with Cook Slough. The Stillaguamish River, from the downstream confluence with Cook Slough (below the westernmost Silvana RR bridge) to 1000 feet downstream.
Reason for action: The repair of an in-stream weir and fish ladder on Cook Slough require the installation of a cofferdam upstream of the weir and restriction of flows to 30 cubic feet per second through Cook Slough. A fish exclusion device at the downstream end will prevent fish from entering Cook Slough.
Other Information: If work finishes before Oct. 15 and flows are restored Cook Slough will reopen before Oct. 15.

Aug 16-30 Skykomish River trips
September 1-15 Stilly Tidewater Humpy/Searun Cutthroat and Skykomish river
September 16-*30 Skagit Fall salmon
Methow trout fishing from the August 11th – 15th  (Dry fly fishing for beautiful cutthroat and rainbows. Good for beginners too)
Searun cutt school on the Stillaguamish August 27th

Grande Ronde 3 day steelhead camp out trips for 2011 are booking now: October 2-4th, 4-6th, 8-10th, 10-12th,

Check out our Humpy salmper for some trick pink salmon flies. http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Happy fishing,

Mike and Dennis
streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com
425-330-9506

Fresh Skykomish Bling!

Partner need for the 18th and Last Minute opening on the Cowlitz on the 19th in July, let me know if you interested - Mike D

Well the Sky is still a little high with a around 3 ft. of visibility. There is still a good number of fly bars that are fishing pretty good though. Looks like most rivers are trying to drop into the median river levels. You may get a good bump on a real hot day but the rivers are finally trying to drop.
We ran into a few nice fish on friday, both had sea lice! I talked to a few other fishermen that said they ran into some new fish too. Jeff got his first steelhead and Brook landed her first king salmon on the fly. I gotta admit, I was a little jealous when they left with the fish at the end of the day, they would have looked good on my new BBQ.
The Stilly has been a little high each time I went to check it out but has now dropped down to 1200 cfs - good time to start snooping around it.
We will be headed down to the kalama/cowlitz soon. We do have some availability if you lookn to get out for some summer runs.

Aug 16-30 Skykomish River trips
September 1-15 Stilly Tidewater Humpy/Searun Cutthroat
September 16-*30 Skagit Fall salmon
Methow trout fishing from the August 11th – 15th  (Dry fly fishing for beautiful cutthroat and rainbows. Good for beginners too)
Searun cutt school on the Stillaguamish August 27th

Grande Ronde 3 day camp out tirps for 2011 are: October 2-4th, 4-6th, 8-10th, 10-12th, 12th-14th,

Check out our Humpy salmper for some trick pink salmon flies. http://streamsideflyshop.com/samplers.htm

Join us on Facebook

Mike Dickson
Head Guide
 Flyfishsteelhead.com
Streamsideflyshop.com
425-330-9506  


I am in the process of adding over 20 new flies. Some starting at .59 cents. Check them out -

Sex and summer steelhead

 So there we were. Another day out flyfishing the Cowlitz river summer steelhead. New time client, long time angler, Thatcher B. poses a question:

 

"How is steelhead like having sex?"

 

Of course I wasn't sure how to respond, so I asked, "How?"

 

He said, "You don't choose them, they choose you."

 

All I said was "Ah, I get it".

 

Boy, did I get it. The water was a bit on the high side, raising and lowering by the day. Some days the steelheading was most excellent, the next day the fish were a ghost. I will be back in mid-July. Flows should be down and fishing more consistent.

 

Here is a timely write. Check it out. Pacific Salmon in Freshwater

 

Mike and I are scheduled for a most interesting July.

 

As you may have gathered form our home page, we now offer a Skagit River ecology float trip. Couple this with our ongoing steelhead flyfishing schools and guide days, and we barely put one gig down, and we off on another. They say variety is the spice of life. No lack for that!

 

As Mike mentioned in his last blog report, we are already tooling up for another big summer-fall of Humpy salmon. Goes something like this:

 

Aug 16-30 Skykomish River trips

September 1-15 Stilly Tidewater Humpy/Searun Cutthroat

September 16-*30 Skagit Fall salmon

 

(*I take off for my Grande Ronde steelhead 3 day float trips September 24, I think Mikes first GR gig is Oct 3)

 

I apologize I must sound like a friggin used car saleman, but some of these adventures are all but full. Inquire now.

 

So that's all for me. No rest for the wicked.

 

Best of fishing,

 

Dennis

Summer steelheading is underway.

NEW* I have a client looking to share a guide trip on the skykomish river on July 5th or 6th. Let me know if your interested - Mike

The rivers have been a little high but fish able. With the high snow pack it will probably last for a bit. I prefer high with some color vs. low and clear anyways.
The Stilly started out showing a few hatchery fish but it has slowed a bit now.
The sky has been producing some nice steelies all the way up to Reiter Pond. They don't come easy but if you put in a little time you have got a good shot. I have been using a little heavier sinktips because of the higher water. The gear guys have been catching just as many springers as steelies. They are hard to come by on the fly though, I have caught a few in the past while steelheading but we just got lucky.
Dad has been down on the Cowlitz for the last few days. He has been finding some hatchery fish for the BBQ. I am headed down on Sunday to fish with him. We have a few group trips to do. I do have 1 opening that I am offering $50 off on June 23rd.
We will be doing a few schools in July - check here for Calendar. (more dates to be added soon) These are designed to get newbies into the sport at an affordable price of $89 pp for a 5 hr float trip. With Huge Salmon returns and early river openings for salmon expected this year we will be doing a limited number of 4 hr float trips for Pink salmon from Sept. 1- 15 for $99 pp up to 3 anglers and the full day trips will start in Aug. and run until the end of Sept. We will be doing beach fishing, tidewater and river fishing for them, these are $150 pp, you can make your own group min of 3 up to 6 people or join a group. We also have a few guys looking for partners on some local guide trips. Inquire about dates if interested.

Skykomish school July 16th

Cowlitz school July 23rd
Methow trout fishing from the August 11th – 15th (Dry fly fishing for beautiful cutthroat and rainbows. Good for beginners too)
Searun cutt school on the Stillaguamish August 27th
Grande Ronde 3 day camp out tips for 2011 are: October 2-4th, 4-6th, 8-10th, 10-12th, 12th-14th, 15th-17th flyfishsteelhead.com/gr.htm

Here is our general 2011 Callendar

For a couple hot fly patterns Pink salmon flies - Humpy Chaser or Pink Humpy Cherise. Sea Run Cutt flies – Roller Muddler Streamsideflyshop.com
Check for some new Killer Steelhead intruder and tube fly patterns to be added soon.

Please support CCA they are doing a lot to preserve our resource's and fishing opportunity's.

Join us on Facebook

Happy fishing,

Mike Dickson
Head Guide Flyfishsteelhead.com
Streamsideflyshop.com
425-330-9506

Dickson Fly Fishing Summer Newslett

 _{Steelhead Class on the Skykomish on Saturday}

_{Summer is starting and the rivers are all open!}

_{Fishing Tip: Early summer steelhead are aggressive and not picky when it comes to flies. I use streamers in a variety of colors with some wiggle. Later in the summer after fish have been in the river a while I start scaling down the size of my flies and think Buggy!}

_{In the immediate future we will be doing local summer steelhead trips and Cowlitz/kalama trips in July. We have some new lighter spey rods so we will be single and double handed fishing. I am offering $50 off a Cowlitz trip from June 19-21.}

_{We will be doing schools on most weekends in June and a few in July check here for Calendar. These are designed to get newbies into the sport at an affordable price of $89 pp for a 4 hr float trip. With Huge Salmon returns and early river openings for salmon expected this year we will be doing a limited number of 4 hr float trips for Pink salmon from Sept. 1- 15 for $99 pp up to 3 anglers and the full day trips will start in Aug. and run until the end of Sept. We will be doing beach fishing, tidewater and river fishing for them, these are $150 pp, you can make your own group min of 3 up to 6 people or join a group. We also have a few guys looking for partners on some local guide trips. Inquire about dates if interested.}

_{Summer steelhead full day schools –} 

Skykomish school July 16th

_{Cowlitz school July 23rd}

_{Methow trout fishing from the August 11th – 15th  (Dry fly fishing for beautiful cutthroat and rainbows. Good for beginners too)}

Searun cutt school on the Stillaguamish August 27th

Grande Ronde 3 day camp out tips for 2011 are: October 2-4th, 4-6th, 8-10th, 10-12th, 12th-14th, 15th-17^th    flyfishsteelhead.com/gr.htm

Here is our general 2011 Callendar

_{For a couple hot fly patterns Pink salmon flies - Humpy Chaser or Pink Humpy Cherise. Sea Run Cutt flies – Roller Muddler  Streamsideflyshop.com}

_{Check for some new Killer Steelhead intruder and tube fly patterns to be added soon.}

Please support CCA  they are doing a lot to preserve our resource's and fishing opportunity's.

Join us on Facebook

Happy fishing,

Mike Dickson
Head Guide Flyfishsteelhead.com
Streamsideflyshop.com
425-330-9506

Let Summer Begin!

I just got back from a trip to Tofino, B.C. We did a little kayak ocean fishing and we did some lake fishing from paddle boards. One of our friends is a rep for Starboards and let us borrow a few. They actually make some designed for fishing from. Worked pretty good but we needed a anchor system. 

Dennis has been spending his time lake fishing. With the rivers about to open we are gearing up to do some local summer steelheading. _{We will be doing schools on most weekends in June and a few in July (June 11 & 12 are the earliest openings). These are designed to get newbies into the sport at a sale price of $89 pp for a 4 hr float trip. We will be introducing spey and single handed techniques.}

_{Looks like we are supposed to get a huge run of Pink salmon this season. Some Rivers are opening up to a month early and have a limit up to 4 fish pp. We will be doing some 1/2 day and full day trips doing beach fishing, tidewater and river fishing. We are booking these now.}

_{Methow trout trips dates are 11-15th.} 

Searun cutt school August 27th

Grande Ronde 3 day campout tips for 2011 are: October 2-4th, 4-6th, 8-10th, 10-12th, 12th-14th, 15th-17^th   

_{Check for some new intruder steelhead patterns to be added to Streamsideflyshop.com soon.}

_{Happy fishing,}

Mike Dickson
Head Guide
Flyfishsteelhead.com
Streamsideflyshop.com
425-330-9506

Mike Here, I just got back from Florida and the Bahamas for some much needed sun. I was only able to fish 1 day this past Monday.
A good friend and client Dallas is from Florida and gave me some tips on where to look for some bone fish. Me and the Wife woke up early to rent a car and head off to one of the Keys recommended.
We got to the general area and we started snooping around looking for some flats. I didn't see much and followed the shore till we came across a light house. It was part of the public park and open for viewing. We decided to go up and get some pictures. We get to the top and look around, snap some pics ect.

While looking around I look down and see a group of fish right down bellow us. I didn't know what they where but the area looked fishy so when we got down I thought I would investigate. There was a little sea wall that I was fishing off. I line up to make a shot at the school of fish (30 - 40 fish). I could also see a few barracudas and snappers around. The water is about waste deep with a little bit of chop on it. The water was clear but hard to tell what these fish were.


I make my first cast and I see a few fish from the group turn on my shrimp pattern. As I start stripping the fly. I start thinking, these fish kinda look like Bones. I get a hook up and the fish turns and pops my fly off. ?? - not sure why it popped off. I hook up another shrimp pattern and cast to the side of them and let the current drift my fly into them so I didn't spook them. My fly drifts right into the middle of them and I start stripping. Right away a bunch of fish turn on my fly and I get a hook up. The fly didn't stick. By now I am pretty sure these are bones and my excitement level is through the roof. I know bones can be as spooky as cats in a dog pound. I do know fish in a school will feel comfortable around each other and very competitive for food. I throw my fly back into the water and it drifts back into the active group of fish. Again a few fish follow my fly and then another hook up. Fish on! These fish weren't big bones but this one felt good on my 6 wt. I get a few runs out of the fish. As I am getting close to landing the fish it runs back and forth through the school of fish. They realize something is wrong and the school takes off. I land the fish and my wife takes a few pics of my fish.

I know bone fishing in Florida can be pretty tough so I was more than happy to just get that action.


I fished the area pretty hard for a few more hours hoping for the fish to return with no luck.


We left the area to check out another flat that a local had told me about when I fist got there.


We got to the flat to see a few other guys fly fishing. At least I'm probably in the right spot. Long story short I hooked a big bone about a hour later that broke my heart cause as my line was zipping through my guides I noticed my line had flipped up and looped around my reel. The fish broke off before I could clear my line free. I saw and spooked a few other fish before I hooked another big fish that I had on for about 10 seconds before my fly broke off again. I couldn't decide if that was a big bone or a barracuda. It acted like a bone but it could have broke off cause off the barracudas teeth. It wasn't a tension break. The water had some chop on it and was just deep enough so I couldn't really tell.


Either way it was a blast and I am re-addicted to Bones and flats fishing.

Dad is off fishing up north. Here is a pic that he took while fishing on the Cowlitz with Jackie last week.

Happy fishing,

Mike D

Late winter Steelhead'n

Fridays fish with Pat

 I Fished the Forks rivers after the 15th. Both the Sol Duc and the Bogi. The Bogi had 6+ ft of visibility with a nice emerald green and the sol Duc was pretty clear with at least 8 + ft. The flows on both were a nice median average.
Both have decent #'s of fish with a pretty even mix of new and seasoned fish. I did see a good number of reds on both rivers. I scaled down the size of my flies and fished flies with stinger hooks, a few of the fish we hooked nipped the fly once or twice before getting stuck on the tip of the nose. Clear water fish that see some pressure tend to do that. On the Bogi I fished from 101 down to the hatchery a couple times. It is a long float but and has some nice fly water. There was quite a few gear boats fishing from the hatchery down and I didn't want to try to compete with them.

I did see 2 springers caught on the Sol Duc on Sunday. One of them suprisingly enough from a fly guy drifting a bead egg. Both were chrome bright. My client Bill got into a nice tail out at th end of the day on sunday that produced 3 hook ups with one to hand. It was slow with one good grab till then.

I have 2 open dates on the Bogachiel/Sol duc due to a cancelation that I am discounting on the 26th and 27th of this month. If your interested please inquire - Mike.

I demoed a 7 wt. Echo Solo spey with a 500 grain skagit line. I was pretty happy with it. I have tried a few lower priced speys in the past and have found them bulky, heavier and sloppy. This one had a nice full flex but also not too soft for throwing heavy sink tips and weighted flies. For the price you can't go wrong. I have the 6 wt. too but haven't tried it yet.

Dennis (dad) is off to the Cowlitz in Early May, about that same time I'll be headed out of town to warmer climates in Florida and then the Bahamas. Time to get some real sun damn it!

Happy Fishing,

Mike & Dennis

Sun and fun

Here are a few pics from a much appreciated sunny day on the O.P. We only saw one other guy on the river all day. Good times.

Rumor has it that the Skagit and Sauk are showing great returns of steelhead this year. The upper Sauk also had great red counts last year. As much as I like the O.P. I really miss fishing my home waters and i know I'm not alone. Hopefully they will let us do a catch and release season up there next year.

To all the guys that are interested in the amazing fishery that is the Pink salmon run let us know, we are booking now. We will be fishing the skagit, stilly and the skykomish. We are already half booked on the skagit.
For the group trips we are doing them for $150 PP  you can make up your own group or join some groups we make up.

Happy fishing,

Mike and Dennis

Joincca.org

Busy Times:

Steelhead fly fishing is in full swing out on the Queets river right now. Tidewater steelhead and large native fish at that. Perfect.

No rest for the weary: Maybe the biggest secret of the Olympic Peninsula steelheading, is April is THE month. While all the trouties head off right lakes et al, some of the largest finest steelhead are headed for the steelhead junky towards the end of the month.

Flies:
All things big and wiggly are catching fish. Pink, purple, black, white (Cop Car) are flies of choice. Mike and I pretty much keep our steelhead leaders short and fat, in the off colored waters. The key is always the same. Bring it in "low & slow". Set your reels tight, keep your hands off the line, and hang on when they head south.
 P.s. Mike has a guy that needs a partner for april 15th on the O.P. Let us know if your interested.

Spring is springing while the vegetation's are greening up. Looks like we have survived another winter. Won't be long before the Cowlitz river summer steelhead will be headed for home. Guess we will just have to be there to greet them. I will write more on flies and summer steelhead strategies as we get closer. Mike & I are generating a new July summer steelhead school as we speak. Keep you posted.

Don't forget that new fishing licence.

Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike Dickson

Chris had a big day on the O.P. yesterday. He actually got a few others too, The little spot on the big one is sea lice - Fresh  Fish!

Steelheading in full swing!

(Me holding Dakes fish)

Me and Dennis have been on the O.P. all week hitting a few different rivers. The rivers levels have been looking good and the fresh fish have been looking better. We have been having a ball with most days producing multiple fish. Seams like the average size of fish is bigger this year and lots of chrome bright fish. Chris hooked 5 today and lost a real nice one 2-3 minutes into the fight. The fly just popped free :(
Chris is kinda torn cause we have hit the same water 2 days in a row and had planned on hittn a different river tomorrow but it's hard to leave fish to find fish. We decided we would sleep on it and decide in the morning over breakfast. I told him either way it's a win, win; your fishing!

Till next week,

Mike and Dennis

The rivers have dropped back into shape and we are finding some fish. We had a big day on the Queets the other day although the only fish landed was about 5 lbs. I had a couple guys cancel today so I did some walking in to a river that I hadn't fished much. On my third run I had some excitement. I started the run at the top thinking, it's a little swift but has a little seam that looks decent. On about my 5th cast down a huge fish just slamms my fly, I see a big flash in the water as I only have about 25 feet of line out. I pull my new 7 wt spey back to set it and snap. The rod breaks just below the first farrel. I did have my drag a little tight but not sure it that was the main reason break. The fish was still on my line so I scrambled to get the broken part of the rod and line. The fish rolls a couple times and as I get the line the fly pops free of the fish. Later I looked at my #2 octopus hook, it got bent out. That was a huge fish and I have never had a fish hit that hard with that much force. Later I went back and got my single handed rod to finish out the run. Further down the run I popped a 11-12 lb fresh fish (in the pic). That was nice, but wasn't like the first fish. We have been getting a little rain each day but it hasn't been much.  Things are lookn good and spring has sprung.

Happy fishing,

Mike And Dennis