September 2015 | VOLUME 9, ISSUE 1 | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | #fishingischeaperthantherapy
Trout Unlimited NW Women’s Weekend UPCOMING SPOKANE WOMEN ON THE FLY EVENTS
September –
Tuesday 9/2 Spokane Falls TU Monthly Meeting
Saturday 9/12 Clark Fork One-Day Float & Fish
Saturday 9/19 10am-2pm Women’s Fly Fishing 101 Class
October –
Tuesday 10/6 Spokane Falls TU Monthly Meeting
Friday – Sunday 10/9 – 10/11 NW TU Women’s Weekend
Friday 10/30 Fly Tying Evening 6-9pm
By: Heather Hodson, Flyer Design: Deanna Camp
What better way to spend a fall weekend then
socializing, learning and spending some time on the
water? Learn to cast, present the fly and improve your
knowledge to catch & release wild fish on the beautiful
Yakima River.
Join Spokane Women on the Fly and the Yakima
Headwaters TU Chapter to focus on learning and
socializing with other like-minded women in Cle Elum
Washington 10/9/15 – 10/11/15.
Weekend Event Details
Friday Evening – Social Time at the “Brick Saloon”
in Roslyn WA
Saturday Morning – Classroom
o Entomology
o Rigging (hands on)
o Reading Water with Line Management
Saturday Afternoon – Yakima River Clean-Up
with the Yakima Headwaters TU Chapter
Sunday Morning/Afternoon – River time with
both single and two handed casting instruction
with “On the Water Tactics”
Cost - $50.00 (donations are gladly accepted)
Lodging – See Event Details for Lodging Links
Event Details - http://www.spokanewomenonthefly.com/trout-unlimited-northwest-womens-weekend/
Space is Limited to 25 Women. Sign Up Today!!!
Heather’s Monthly Tip Water temps are starting to cool, focus more
on the deeper pools and slower riffles.
Page 2
Monthly Mend
Tiger Muskie on the Fly By: Connie Tedrow
Smoke from nearby wildfires hangs heavily in the air as
Spokane Women on the Fly arrive at Curlew Lake State
Park for a weekend guided Muskie outing. Dave Dana,
aka “Muskie Dave”, our guide from Silver Bow fly shop in
Spokane, has agreed to guide 14 ladies of Spokane
Women on the Fly. Big Muskie and Tiger Muskie are his
specialty and he is one of the better known Muskie
guides in the Northwest.
Names are drawn: two women will go out for 1 ½ to 2
hour shifts, casting 10 and 11 weight rods to these
predatory fish that Dave calls the “Kings of the Lake,”
and the “Top of the Food Chain,” and who are
exclusively meat eaters. We have also brought pontoons
and kayaks for fishing the lake in between outings and
Dave chuckles and says to “yell loud” if we hook a
Muskie on our own, and if help is not available, to cut
the leader. He suggests we fish in pairs for safety, and
he is not kidding.
Dave intends to fish from sunup to sundown Saturday
and as long as people want to fish on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the first two women return with tales of a
huge fish following their fly. It sounds as though the
fish was as long as a bathtub with a massive head and
broad back. A few drinks and the freedom of the
outdoors brings out a festive giddiness to the group as
we turn in for the night full of expectations.
The rods are heavy. The lines are heavy. The flies are
heavy. Casting the line out the required 30 foot
minimum can be challenging. Having that drenched,
flashy pig of a fly on the end of a sinking line wanting
to drop straight to hell keeps your loops tight and low
over the water. We strain to find a successful rhythm
that will send our flies to meaningful distances.
That morning, toward the end of our allotted time, a
large Muskie trails a fly line. We don’t see it in the
water until it is close to the boat. Attempts are made to
jerk the fly, figure eight the fly, push the rod tip into
the water as deep as possible – every conceivable fly
and rod movement ever considered is attempted - but
we have missed an opportunity. The big fish has
vanished.
Then the last outing of Sunday, in the early afternoon,
a miracle happens. The 10,000 cast quota has been
met and a beautiful Tiger Muskie is landed. Gail Bailey
is tossing out a big streamer “Uncle Charlie” type fly
and she feels a sudden hit on her line, then a low tug
and she sets the hook. A small Tiger Muskie (in Tiger
Muskie standards) darts away from the line pressure
and after hitting the reel set to a hard drag he jumps
completely from the water, writhing and twisting. The
heavy rod handles him adroitly and he is brought to
the boat, landed and photographed.
Page 3 Monthly Mend
By Heather Hodson
Fall Spawning Fish Etiquette
Fall is in the air. Days are getting shorter, weather is
changing, water temperatures have started to decrease,
and foliage colors have started to change. Fall fishing
can be an incredible time to get out. Kids are back in
school, the fair weather fishers start to stay indoors and
the fish can be quite active. With fall fishing also come
some ethic decisions. To fish or not to fish during the
spawning season?
Browns, Brook Trout, Arctic Char, Dolly Varden,
Mackinaw (lake trout), and Bull Trout spawn in the fall.
Their eggs generally stay in the gravel until spring and
then emerge. Many rivers close at certain times of the
year to protect the spawning fish. Spawning trout are
already stressed and vulnerable, it's best not to fish to
them during this time.
The Inland Northwest main trout species are Westslope
Cutthroat and Rainbow trout. Both of which, spawn in
the spring. We are only a few hours of Western
Montana where trophy Brown Trout reside. In the pre-
spawn phase, usually in September, these fish are
starting to prepare to spawn. They do this by moving
up to spawning waters and begin to consume extra
calories to allow energy needed during the spawn.
This can be a good time of year to catch some
aggressive “big” fish.
Many of us, including myself, need a refresher on
identifying spawning beds and spawning fish.
How to Identify Spawning Fish
Fish hug to a site and refuse to move even if
disturbed.
Large numbers of fish are concentrated in
shallow water over a gravel bottom.
Fish are darker-colored than normal. Their
bellies are dark instead of a light, silvery color.
Fish will fight sluggishly because they’re
expending most of their energy on spawning.
Don’t walk through a spawning bed. If you have
identified spawning fish or a spawning bed (redds),
make sure to go around them. The eggs are located in
the hump of gravel and are not buried in a hole. See
the “How To” column for identify redds.
Don’t target a fish that is actively spawning: These fish
are already under a lot of stress. It’s best to direct
your focus on deeper pools, and the immature fish
sipping on mayflies in the back eddies.
http://onlinefishinglog.com/blog/23/Spawning-Trout-and-Redds
By : Sean Visintainer – Silverbow Fly Shop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNiYv08ZEhA&feature=youtu.be
During the Fall as temperatures begin to change, so should the water that you are fishing. Most trout move out of their
summer time holding lies into the main pools in preparation for the cold winter months. You can sometimes find a
couple trout in the smaller, moderately fast pockets, but most will move into the slower deeper sections.
If I had to sum up what kind of water would be the "ideal" it would go
like this...
Ideal Fall water would be... Currents that are "walking speed pace" or slower.
Main pools and runs.
Softer current seams as the riffles dump into the pools.
Deeper water.
Not near your cozy couch and TV. Get outside.
Reading Fall Trout Water
Page 4
Monthly Mend
Gadget Geek
Tossing meat, twitching, jerk stripping, dying drift,
dragging stripping, swinging. No, we’re not talking about
a backstage party after a Miley Cyrus concert. It’s streamer
time. Time to hunt for big, aggressive trout with big,
aggressive flies. I like to fish streamers all year, but for
most people fall is the prime time to chuck streamers.
When I choose a streamer line the first questions I ask
myself is “where are my target fish going to be sitting and
what do I want my fly to be doing?” Here are a few lines
I’ve used and how they shine:
Airflow Streamer Max Short - $84.99
http://www.airflofishing.com/
Aggressive Skagit like head, allowing larger
streamers to cast more easily
Floating line allows it easily handle
Hard to cast across several different currents due
to the larger head
Airflow Streamer Max Long - $84.95
http://www.airflofishing.com/
Designed by Steamer Guru, Kelly Galloup
Go to Streamer Line for medium/large size rivers
30’ sinking head transitioning to an intermediate
running line
Cast and start to retrieve right away
Rio Streamer Tip Fast Sink - $59.95
http://www.stillwaterflyshop.com/
Closeout at Stillwater Fly Shop
Medium Sized Rivers – St. Joe & CDA River
Easy to cast close to the bank, making your strips
into the boat or the shore, and getting it right
back in the zone quickly
For a complete Streamer Line Review by Bjorn go to
http://www.spokanewomenonthefly.com/bjorns-product-
review/
How to Identify a Spawn Bed (Reds):
http://onlinefishinglog.com/blog/23/Spawning-Trout-and-Redds
Spawning Beds (Reds) are the nests of spawning trout. In the spring Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout spawn and the
fall Bull, Brown, Brook and Lake Trout Spawn
How to Identify a Red
Clean oval patches of small to medium-sized gravel typically 2 to 3 feet wide.
Gravel is lighter-colored than surrounding gravel.
Small depressions and mounds in the gravel indicate nest sites and eggs.
What Type of Water Can Reds Be Found In
Riffles: 1 to 3 feet in depth with ample current to provide oxygen to the eggs
Gravel Bars: gravel bars allow eggs to sit among and below small rocks with
clean water flowing over them.
How to Identify Spawning Fish
Fish hug to a site and refuse to move even if disturbed.
Large numbers of fish are concentrated in shallow water over a gravel bottom.
Fish are darker-colored than normal. Their bellies are dark instead of a light, silvery color.
Fish will fight sluggishly because they’re expending most of their energy on spawning.
By: Bjorn Otsby – Catch Fly Fishing Fly Deisgner
Page 5 Monthly Mend
Mahogany Dun
Fall is finally near, the water levels are low and clear and the fish have earned their PHD in imitation flies. The Mahogany Dun, "Paraleps" are a fall hatch that requires a little more technical presentation. This hatch occurs in both the spring and the fall. Due to the spring run off or several other spring hatches, the Mahogany Dun hatch is usually fished in the fall. As the nymphs start to mature they travel to slower moving water. Therefore, most hatches occur in slow, almost slack water near shore. The Dun's (adults) will be found in long slow runs, giving the fish time to slurp them up. The slurp usually is not an aggressive take. Lifecycle of a Mahogany Dun: Mahogany Dun's have 4 stages to their lifecycle; Nymph, Emerger, Dun & Spinner. Presentation: While fishing all lifecycles, keep in mind that because you're fishing slower water and the fish have had a chance to see many artificial flies throughout the summer. Because of the fish are well educated and will have plenty of time to inspect your fly, it's best to sneak up in the fish as much as you can. Your presentation should be subtle and not disruptive to the water. Nymph - like most hatches fishing nymphs (subsurface) can be very productive, especially about an hour before the hatch. Emergers - Duns tend to emerge just below the surface, this is a good time to fish an emerger or floating nymph pattern. Duns (adult) - Cast only to fish you see feeding, cast above the fish to allow the dun to drift by the trout. Casting near the bank can be very productive. Consider a downstream presentation so the fish see your fly before the leader and fly line. Spinners - Mahogany dun spinners tend to land with their wings upright, rather than the typical spread-eagle posture. So a dun imitation can do double duty.
Match the Hatch
Mahogany Dun Nymphs Mahogany Dun Adult
Hare’s Ear Nymph
Mohagany Parachute
Prince Nymph
Mohagany Dun Extended Body
Parachute Hare’s Ear
Mahogany Dun Emerger Cripple PMD
West Fly Fishing - http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/entomology/mayfly/mahogany.shtml
What’s Hatching...
Click here to find the closest location to purchase Catch Flies. http://catchflyfish.com/locate/
OUR FLIES JUST TASTE BETTER!
By Heather Hodson
Page 6
Monthly Mend
Where can I fish in September?
The water is warm, the sun is bright and the fish have
seen thousands of flies but us anglers are still itching
for more and with fall just around the corner
September can be a great month. Temperatures may
vary from day to day hopefully with some cooler days
for some great fishing on lakes and rivers. A
reminder “Hoot-Owl” restrictions might still be in
effect so please double check before you head out.
Check out Silver bow’s Fishing Report for the
updated information.
http://www.silverbowflyshop.com/fishingreports.
1. Area Lakes
Newman Lake - smallmouth fishing
Pend Oreille Lake - small bass fishing (late
evenings work best)
Curlew Lake - bass, trout or tiger musky
High Alpine Lakes -
Washington - http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/high_lakes/
Idaho - http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/fish/?ge
tPage=251
Montana - http://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/
2. North Fork of the CDA River (Kingston ID)
Fishing from Prichard and downstream
are best
Small Stimulators, Purple Haze, X-
Caddis, October Caddis, BWOs
3. St Joe (Avery Idaho)
Above Avery to Gold Creek is the best
Pink Hoppers, Caddis, PMX Style
Patterns, Ants, Lightning Bugs
4. Northfork of the Clearwater (4hrs)
Good fishing and cast to deeper slots,
riffles and oxygenated water
Hoppers/Dropper Rigs, Caddis, BWOs
Great dry fly river with big foam leggy
bugs
WDFD file for fishing rules.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01590/wdfw01590.pdf
By Sara Cochran
Kelly Creek Event has been Cancelled!!!
Due to the risk of fire in the nearby canyons of Kelly Creek, the outing has been cancelled. Instead we will be doing a
1 day float on the Clark Fork River. See the closed Facebook Event for more details or email us.
Rising Nippers
Spokane Women on the Fly Rising Nippers have arrived. Head to the Silverbow to pick-up and pay for your order.
12th Annual Spokane River Clean-Up – September 19th 2015 – High Bridge Park - 9am
The Spokane Falls TU Chapter is looking for leaders to help with the River Clean-Up. Please contact Stewart Maxon at
[email protected] for more details.
Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited Chapters Offering Women Free Memberships for 2015
Are you new to TU and want to be a part of the amazing organization? If so, please let either
Hilary or Heather know so we can get you signed up. You can also email us at
[email protected] to get more information.
Tales, Tangles and Tightline Blog
Heather Hodson, Northwest Fly Girl, has created a blog for her personal adventures, women
specific articles and anything else she feels like writing about. She currently is writing a
series, “Chase the Rainbow”, about her Alaska Adventure this August. Part 1 is ready to view.
http://talestanglesandtightlines.blogspot.com/
SWOTF and Trout Unlimited News
Page 7 Monthly Mend
September – Tuesday 9/2/15 6 – 8:30pm Spokane Falls Trout Unlimited Monthly Meeting Heather Hodson and Britten Jay will be present on their Alaska Adventure in August Friday-Sunday 9/11 & 9/13 Kelly Creek Camping/Fishing Weekend CANCELLED Wednesday 9/9/15 7 – 8:30pm Spokane Fly Fishers Monthly Meeting St.Francis School Steve Temple will be presenting “Secrets of the Clark Fork”. Saturday 9/19/15 10am-2pm Beginner Women’s Fly Fishing Class Silverbow Fly Shop Final women’s class offered this year at Silverbow Fly Shop. The class discusses gear, knots, where to fish, what to look for, entamology and we finish the 4hr class with an hour of casting practice.
October – Friday-Sunday 10/9-10/11/15 Yakima Headwaters Trout Unlimited Women’s Weekend Spokane Women on the Fly is partnering with the Yakima Headwaters Trout Unlimited for a Northwest Women’s Weekend. What better way to spend a fall weekend then with a group of like-minded women, socializing, learning and spending some time on the water? Learn to cast (single or Spey), present the fly, and improve your knowledge to catch & release wild fish on the Yakima River. http://www.spokanewomenonthefly.com/trout-unlimited-northwest-womens-weekend/ Friday 10/30/15 Hackle and Hops Fly Tying Event It’s back. Space is limited to 15. Brng your tying tools and let’s get twisting.
Upcoming Event Details
10 Fun Facts about Rainbow Trout
1. Rainbow trout is a member of the salmon family.
2. A group of rainbow trout is a hover.
3. Trout eat insects, crustaceans and small fish.
4. Rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Rainbows are found
primarily in freshwater and steelheads are seagoing.
5. The ocean living trout, steelhead trout, are anadromous, like salmon. This means they spend most of
their adult life in the ocean before returning to their stream of birth to spawn. However, unlike salmon
which die after spawning, steelheads return to the ocean and may spawn 2 or 3 times before they die.
6. The coloration of rainbow trout depends on their habitat, age and whether they are getting ready to
spawn. This variation is reflected in the names, rainbow and steelhead, as rainbow trout tend to be
colorful while steelheads become more silvery, or steel, colored (helping them blend into the ocean)
7. Trout is the oldest fish aquaculture industry in North America. The first trout hatchery was started in the
1880s both for recreational stocking and with some interest in bringing fish to the market. Commercial
scale trout farming for the food fish market began in the early 1900s and began growing rapidly in the
1960s.
8. Today, all rainbow trout found in stores is farm raised. Limited amounts of wild steelhead may be
available.
9. Rainbow trout were originally native to North America west of the Rockies and parts of eastern Asia. It has
been introduced to freshwater rivers and lakes throughout North America due to its popularity as a game
fish. It is one of the most popular game fish for recreational anglers in North America.
10. Rainbow trout are a great option for aquaculture as they grow quickly and have a good range of
environmental tolerances.
By Sara Forsythe - Coeur d' Alene Adventures www.cdaadventures.com and Adventures with Western Waters www.westernwaters.com
Spokane Women on the Fly Brag Page On and Off the Water River Therapy
Cindy with a Silver Salmon in Alaska
Jane with a Beautiful Montana Brown
Heather with a beautful Alaska Leopard Rainbow Trout
Sara with a Curlew Lake Small Mouth Bass
Shelley with a Curlew Small Mouth Bass
August Silver Women’s Fly Fishing 101 Class