SilverDoctor

You should hit it dead on Greg. Touch bases with me before you go, I'll give you the latest from my friend Nick.

You're dead right there. a quality pair will match, cheap wings won't and will be hard to tie in.

this is from a Steelhead newsletter I get. Update from Chad Black of Nicholas Dean Lodge Weather good. Water good. While fishing has not been "fast and furious," those anglers willing to put their time in have been rewarded with colours of chrome. The Skeena River has been producing the most Steelhead hookups and some decent Coho fishing, although its tributaries have been producing fish as well. In fact, a couple of experienced Spey fishermen even raised 10 Steelhead "players" to the dry fly, though most fish did not connect. On a few of the Skeena tributaries, the dry fly can actually be more productive than wet flies in clean, low water conditions. Update from Nicholas Dean Lodge Dustin Kovacvich guided a group of three anglers from Ontario. Fishing for Steelhead and Coho was fantastic! They landed 20 Steelhead plus numerous Coho. They were fishing the Ontario "high-tech" float fishing system with 14-foot noodle rods and center-pin reels. The rods were actually modified 14 foot Spey fly fishing rods. They "bumped up" their tippet strength to 12-pound test to handle our bigger fish. Chad Black reports their fly fishing guests were having great success also. Good news re the fishing. All rivers are in GREAT shape and the weather is fantastic! I have spoken with just about all of the guides I book trips for they are very pleased. Seems to be plenty of Steelhead in the Skeena River now and lots of Coho showing up in the tributaries.

Nice fish we of couse need a full report. ha ha. what flies etc. All the jucey bits.

Humm looks like great fly tying materials also.

I'm with Toolman on this one Pfleuger Trion's or President series. Awsome reel with a great reputation.

The one that's better is the one that you want to use, you like or are familiar with. I'm a Mac user but I'm a Graphic designer. Mac's make up about 93% of the graphics trade It has a very small portion of the overall market. I guess if I was an accountant I'd be using a PC.

Have to add to my list of vises. Just picked up a Nor-Vise from Dave at fishtails. I've admired them for years and decided to treat myself. Thanks Dave. some of us tend to collect a new vise every now and again but you do have to remember that all it does in the end is hold the fly hook. There are brands that people prefer but the quality among major makers now is great. Even a lot of the "knock off's" are pretty good, but not as good quality as a major brand. A solid vice should last a lifetime. If a vise can't hold the hook it's pretty much garbage. Some inexpensive vises tend to be made of soft metal that will crack, break or will get grooves in the jaws over time. They should also be solid and tight with no wiggle or play. It should sit on your tying area in a solid manner. Whether it is a clamp type or pedistll. Don't be shy about applying the "try before you buy rule". Most fly shops out there will let you play with a couple of models if you are a serious buyer. Ask the shop first of course. Talk to other tiers and take your time before purchasing. Just because a vice is the most popular at the moment doesn't mean it will suit you. If you are new to tying try something simple at first. Or go and take some lessons with someone who will provide tools and materials. No sense laying out a few hundred dollars on a vise and find you don't really tie much, or don't like to do it. You can buy a lot of flies for the price of some of setting yourself up in the hobby. Some of the old classic tiers never used a vise. Carrie Stevens a revered producer of classic streamer patterns never used one. I've seen a few who tie Atlantic Salmon flies by hand adn do a stunning job. I've often used other tools in a pinch to hold a hook when I am on a trip and don't have access to my portable kit. Pliers with a few elastic bands will work. Another great little items in a pinch is an X=Acto Knife. The chuck makes a great hook holder and I carry one in my kit to hold a hook like a third hand. Great when you eyes get experienced and you need a steady platform to tie leaders to small flies. Well I got to rambling a bit here. Guess I should gather these thoughts together and post an article.

The fish are there like everywhere else in the Bow.

Hello all, I've been tying on a Renzttti Traveler for about six years adn really love it, it's the cam style. I started tying on a Universe rotary (one of the first rotaries) in the early 60's and used that for about 20 years. Still use it occasionally. Owned and tied on a Regal vice for a couple of years. Not a rotary but certainly on of the most solid vices I ever tied on. My son decided it was his. The peak is an really good looking vice and I mat pick one up. I'm also looking at a Nor Vice. They have a few new features I like teh look of like the new tapered jaws.Always wanted on and with the us and Canadian dollar the way it is is has become affordable. Have a couple of other ones. It is funny that guys may have a dozen fly rods but often only have one vice. I often use a second vice to hold a Steelhead or salmon fly I am working on over time. One thing I do own by Nor is their excellent Automatic Bobbin. I love it and will be buying a second.

Try just putting a bit of cement on the thread, about 4 turns worth then whip. works great.

That will be a happy Thanksgiving. Give her hell for me guys.

I wish I could go again this year. Ah to be ritch and fish all the time. I count myself lucky for being able to hit these rivers many time in my life. Every time I get back I get the "migration" urge again. Steelhead get under your skin.

Teh prime runs should be in in about 3.5 to 3 weeks. My friend Nick usually emails me.

You can reinforce it by wrapping it around your tying thread before wrapping it on.

Yep, you’re right, good eye the moose is on the Skeena, You obviously have been up there as I surmised with a handle like mykiss (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Me and my fishing partner had been talking with locals up there for weeks before out trip. The Skeena was quite high. It was certainly in fishable” condition but we heard there where not a lot of Steelhead taken when we where there, mostly Coho and pink. That’s why we headed for the Copper (and the fact that is my favorite river). It was running clearer. The guys said runs where starting there and we found fish in the lower part of the river. I heard from a buddy that they where getting some rain which will get fish moving up the system. The Skeena has dropped about 3 feet since I was there. They figure the major runs are about 2 weeks away. Are you heading up there?

A warm welcome to you. I've been looking at UK patterns and love the classic and new variation ties. I also collect and fish old Canadian patterns especially those from western Canada.

It should work. You do have to watch tails. They tend to wrap around the hook shank. Just a tip. I found sizes in 3 to 6 to be good but my friend nick had good luck with 1 to 3 salmon hooks. Keep the ties sparser. Pm me if you want.

I tie and fish a lot of tubes also. I just string the mono through the tube. Tie a Surgeon’s End Loop. Then run the loop end through the eye of the short shank hook and over. The knot in the Surgeon’s End Loop will usually create a stop at the end of the tube. If you are using larger tubes that may slip through the tube add just a glass bead above the knot. This system makes it easy to adjust the position of the hook in relation to the end of the tube. It also makes the hook run horizontal to the tube which is very important. This is the way a lot of the steelheaders run their rigs. Humm... Acupunture tubes. Save me a few.

Wonderful pictures. I love the fall. I have to try ot get out next weekend and take some pictures. Unfortunitly I have to work this weekend. Love the bridge shot.

Isn't that a Winnipeg indicator?

I also tie it with the classic mallard wing but the hair wings are much tougher and take more abuse.

Actually it's tied in the classic manner with Squirrel. With all the focus on new flies people often forget about the classics.

Good eye for hooks man. it actually just fell away as soon as I touch it.

We where blessed with a solid run of Steelhead. I've been there when the water is dead one day and positively boiling the next. Nothing like when I was young and hit the rivers with my Dad. I would be embarrassed to tell you how many we released in a day (yes some fly fishers did catch and release in the 60's). I was lucky to know the water up there. But we quite easily have beeen up there just for the scenery. I must say that the Spey rods did make a big difference.