Fresh OP fish

UPDATE - NEW O.P. steelhead School added on March 24th. Contact Mike For info.

"Careful what you pray for"

Mike has been chaffing at the bit, gearing up for another early spring season out on the O.P.'s , Queets river. Not many anglers and fewer guides work these Park waters.

The word out, that the fishing has already heated up. We were just looking for that rain. Never say that about out there! There is real reason they call this area a rainforest.

Should you venture out, here are a few of our favorite winter steelhead fly patterns.

Articulated Pink Leach
Articulated Egg sucking Cop Car
Purple Egg Articulated Sucking leach

Keep them big and wiggly. Big native steelhead are not shy. Especially the tidewater Queets fish.

As far as the equipment goes, bobber fishing does work, but not like it does in the canyon rivers further north. The Queets is a gently flowing big time swing water, so if you have a passion to fish your sink-tips, this is a river to do it.

I like the versatility of the multi-tip system. Just as not river flows the same, neither do the pools that live there. Knowing when and where to change up your heads can spell the difference of a big fish or no fish.

I could write a whole article on leaders but suffice it to say, my rule is; a foot of leader length for every foot of visibility. Fortunately, the Queets is glacial so a short and stout leader is just fine. Twelve to fiften pound tippets are good. Forget the florocarbon stuff here. Go for the an abrasion resistant leader like Maxima or the like.

The Queets wading is relatively easy in most runs, but the casts can be moderate to long. Mike will have the spey rods along so if you haven't done this yet, you probably will. I am just saying!

Back on the home front:
I will be handling the flyfishing newbies in both out casting classes & the Lakes. around Arlington.
Trout are starting to move now. Micro leeches are the order of the day. Remember; "the Ledge, the edge, the hedge". The humingbird 120 is a wonderful horizontal fish finder. You should see it in action!

Guys can't talk about their waters without a serious discussion about their boats. For  the 40 stories and articles on fishing I have written over the years, here is one of the most popular yet controversial. Rafts VS hard-bottom boats

Fishing is already taking off in both lakes & rivers so it looks to be a fine spring. Spring: My second to my most favorite time of the year. Life is good.


Best of fishing,

Dennis & Mike Dickson
www.flyfishsteelhead.com

Quick update - The reports for peninsula steelhead are looking great. I have a couple guys looking for partners on March 6th and 7th to split the trip with. I also have some great dates open in late march that I'll give $50 off on. Due to popular demand I am adding a O.P. School on March 30th. Also a lot of guys over look fishing in April. The weather is a bit nicer and there is still some nice fresh fish.

Let me know if interested.

Mike D

Streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com

425-330-9506

 

 

February 6 2013

 

And so it goes.

 

Well, I am back to writing weekly fishing reports again. I hope you find them informative if not entertaining.

 

The Puget Sound river season is coming to a close early, again. The bright news is, The Queets on the Olympic Peninsula is posed to have another stellar year. If you have a large steelhead in your horizon, you might want to hook up with Mike ASAP. His dates are booking fast. 425 330 9506

 

Me? I get to guard the home front conducting the Casting classes & Lakes Schools for the next few months. You can read all about it in the Flyfishing Made Easy program. Teaching 300-500 fly anglers a year. Guiding isn't All we do!

 

So the river reports:

 

The Skagit in the Rockport area is fishing the best. (5000-6000 cfs. @ Marblemount). Hatchery winter steelhead was short lived at best but the Dolly fishing has held up. Its hard to beat Cop Car for taking these fish, but anything big and wiggly will get a bite. 

 

So many fly anglers have gone to swing fishing with tips but I maintain it is still the most misunderstood technique for taking winter fish. Here is an updated article I originally wrote some 10 years ago called Flylines are what catch fish.

 

Next reports will be relayed from Mike out on the coast.

 

Speaking of which:

 

Dickson Flyfishing will host a second seminar at Cabelas

Topic: Swing Fishing for winter Steelhead, Olympic Peninsula and beyond.

 

We have decided to make this one into a workshop with 10 different displays covering everything from fly-tying to spey rods & equipment. We will have plenty of experts there to answer your questions, plus lots of hands on do-dads.

Mike will be on hand to show his Queets River video, while I will host the show. Here's the Scoop.

 

Where: Cabelas @ Tulalip

When: February 23

Time: 5-7 PM

 

Come as you are. It's free!

 

Best of fishing,

 

Dennis & Mike Dickson

www.flyfishsteelhead.com

 

Sky Hatchery Steelhead 1/7/13

Been fishing the local Puget Sound rivers. They are in pretty good shape and showing a few fish.
I'm Starting to get geared up for some Peninsula wild steelhead. Tying up those big articulated flies and updating my fly lines. Should be another great year. There are still some weekend dates available. We are also doing a few full day steelhead schools.

We are doing a presentation at the Tulalip Cabela's on January 26th at 5pm. Join us!

Join our Facebook page! 

Want to get schooled? Check out our fishing schools http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/2002flyfishingschool.html 





Happy fishing,

Mike D

Fellow Anglers,

Salmon fishing is winding down and we are switching back to Steelhead. Hatchery steelhead is happening now and we are starting to book for our Peninsula trips now.
This is a favorite for our guys looking for those big wild fish, we got a few last year in the 20# range last year!
The Sky has been getting a few more fish. With all the rain we have been getting the local rivers for the most part have been in pretty good shape but watch those river levels. 

Need that perfect gift? Pick your price and your and giftee can use that as credit towards anything we do.
 http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/giftcerti.htm

Want to get schooled? Check out our fishing schools http://www.flyfishsteelhead.com/2002flyfishingschool.html 

Happy fishing,

Mike D

Big Stilly Cutty

We got some rain... so much that I can't fish for a day or two. Kinda sucks cause the Puget Sound rivers were is killer shape yesterday. A few feet of visibility, lots of fresh coho, few chums, some big sea run cutts, dolly varden and a few steelies around. The other day we caught 3 of those species and even a nice true rainbow (that I am starting to see more often) on the Stilly.

Stilly Char

The Skagit opened for a 3 fish kill for coho. Looks like the numbers are pretty good. I'd rather see a smaller number to harvest so we can keep the spawning numbers up. I have heard fishing is pretty decent though.

The Sky salmon always seem to be a bit more tight lipped to me and it get a little more crowded so I try to focus on other rivers.

The Methow just opened for steelhead. Should be a ok year. Not as many fish as a couple years ago. You have to keep your hatchery fish and once you get 2 you are done fishing for the day.

I have room for 1 person on Nov. 10th for a salmon/dolly varden trip on the skagit. $150 pp if interested. I am also starting to book out dates for the spring steelhead fishing on the O.P.

Join our Facebook page! 

Get some,

Mike D

Chris's fish

I love the sun but a little rain would be nice. With river flows and damn counts low on the Grande Ronde fishing has been tough. We had a few decent days and dad has been getting some on the lower river but guys are putting in some hours to get some action. We have caught some nice fish skating some bugs. Kudos to Blake for getting a 13lb wild fish that kicked his butt for 25 mins till he got payback with a dandy fish pic. A buddy of mine just got back from the Klickittat and fished hard for 4 days and didn't touch a thing. Most rivers around are experiencing the same problems... even the Yellowstone in Montana!

Word on the street is that the Methow may open soon. Don't quote me on that though. They may add a no fishing from a boat rule that I have mixed feelings about. Mostly to cut down the bobber boys. I'm not big on added restrictions to a river that has a bunch already but I will mostly swing fish anyways. It may help moral between bankies and floaters and keep to more traditional fishing techniques.

I am booking for salmon trips now! We will be doing some full day schools for Coho,(Chums if open) and dolly varden and what ever else hits. Booking now for Nov. 10th. 3-4 anglers per guide.

Those early guys looking to get there favorite dates for O.P. Spring steelhead I'm taking deposits now.

Lately our facebook page has been getting more updates - Join us and check it out.

Interested in half day classes let me know.

Mike D
streamsideflyshop@yahoo.com