The Evening Hatch 08' Holiday Newsletter

Photo series of the Month - 'The Release'...

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Tip of the Month- When swinging the fly with any type of line (Dry,Sink Tips etc... ) mends are not always needed. More importanly, after the cast is made the line may need to be 'adjusted' (which is mend-like) to make sure the line is basically 'in-line'. From that point on, just let the fly fish!

Tip position might be more of the important factor to consider. Once you have adjusted your line so that there are not major belly's in the line then there are two major tip positions to consider.
#1 As the fly swings, the tip of the rod is leading the line across...this is sometimes referred to a 'greased line' style. The tip of the rod is on a path toward the bank. This gives the fish a broadside look at the fly without utilizing a riffle hitch.
#2 The other tip position would be to keep the tip of the rod above the fly .... so in essence 'holding the tip' out into the flow of the river as opposed to leading it toward the bank. The fly is then presented to the fish in a 'less broadside' fashion and often times I refer to this technique as 'creeping the fly'. This technique can slow the swing presentation down considerably.

I am a big fan of #1. However, it isn't always the most effective. I guess the cool thing about fishing the fly on the swing for steelhead is that you get to fish the way you like!

(Note: There are more variations to swinging a fly then mentioned above)

The Upper Columbia for 2009 - Get your dates down on the Calendar for 2009 now! Prime time seasons are as follows;
Feb 22 - April 10 ...which is just around the corner!
June 20 - July 30
Sept 1 - Sept 30

Contact Jack @
email - guidespeak@live.com
phone - 1.866.482.4480

The Upper Columbia - We have expanded our packages on the Upper Columbia to include more days based on demand...Come spend a day with us on 'The best trout water you've never heard of' - American Angler April 08'

The Yakima - Our Home Water since 1988 - Featuring day trips and multiple day programs in our Overnight riverside cottage which is literally 'waterside'. The overnight package is a great program for family, friends and/or a corporate gathering combined with fishing. Yakima rates will be increasing for the first time in 3 years.

2008 Rate - $385 plus tax for a full day - includes lunch, flies, equipment and all the guide's wisdom

2009 Rate $405 plus tax for a full day - includes lunch, flies, equipment and all the guide's wisdom

Klickitat River at 'The Steelhead Ranch'
Klickitat River Steelhead - Come fish summer run Steelhead with us...Check out our programs here! The core of our program is from Sept 1 - Nov 20. This is some of the most beautiful landscape and fun fishing you will experience! Read about the Steelhead Ranch in 'The Angling Report'

2008 Fishing Synopsis
The Yakima
.....Started out a bit rough with some unpredictable days in the early season. However we managed to get some good fishing in. (Over the years many of the guide staff would say their favorite time to fish the river would be during Feb through April 15)
.....June came around with the overall stabilization of the river based on irrigation and run-off. The Lower Canyon fished average to good with Caddis and PMD's and the Upper Proper and Upper Flatlands were average to good with Salmon flies and Drakes. The Farmlands and Upper Canyon fished average at best during this time.
.....The Late Summer/Fall was good to great throughout the entire river with the dry fly fishing being a bit slower in the Lower Canyon then we would like to see. The Upper Canyon was Two Thumbs Up during this time frame.

Favorite Patterns for the Year# 4-10 Glomers
# 4-10 Pats Stones
# 8-12 Super Dupers and Double Wombats - just kidding!

The Klickitat - Hands down a great season with multple tactics used to dupe the steelies including dry flies, nymphs, and subsurface swing patterns. One of the best days we had this year nymphing was the last day it was open, Nov 30th ..... The numbers we hooked that day were ridiculous utilizing egg patterns. The swing fishing for the entire season was good. Of course the numbers on the swing didn't compare with the nymph fishing.

Favorite patterns for the year
#4-10 Natural Muddlers
#6 Rusty Bomber
#8mm 'Bead'
#6 Hairy Pink Weeny
#2 Blue Hawaiin
#8 The Anniversary October Caddis

The Upper Columbia
The early season (March 1-April 10) was fabulous on the swing, cold but fabulous.

The middle season (June 20-July 30) Caddis, Yellow Mays and Drakes were the main fare and there were some epic rises. Sharp-shooting with a dry...doesn't get much better!

The late season(Sept 1-Oct 10 started out great with good terrestrial action and a few October Caddis. The first few days of October were good but then she took a dive when it comes to numbers of fish. The weather was unpredictable and the bug activity light.

Favorite patterns for the year
#4-8 Bow River Bugger
#6-8 Al's Mr X
#8-12 Rusty Hair Wing Dun
#10 Rusty Brown Soft Hackle
#14 Tan and Olive X-Caddis

The Special as always with our Upper Columbia and Klickitat Programs...Bring six and pay for five!!!!