SilverDoctor

Yep she is getting chilly. The weather was cool and drizzly but great for fishing. Do do need the extra layers. I like wool as even if it is wet it's warm. The trees where starting to turn here and there. If you have any other questons give me a shout.

Too bad you couldn't make it, I've canceled many a trip in the past. Life gets in the way. But the fish will be there for next time.

And then use even bigger stinkin streamers. :lol:

Well like the saying goes “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry”. Such is life. I had planned a Steelhead trip of the Skeena this year. But once we got to Kelowna my wife’s dad was quite ill. We spent time with the folks and I did a fly tying demo at one of the shops there. Toward the end of the week things looked better and the wife said do your thing, but I would only have a day and a half to spend chasing steelies. My friend Nick and I flew out to Terrace. I normally like to drive having access to my truck that way but time did not permit. Nick had a distant friend who had a boat and as pre arranged was glad to run us upriver. My goal was to fish the Copper river (Zymoetz). I have fished the Skeena system with fly rod many times, growing up in BC and having had a dad who lived to fly fish helps a lot. It is familiar ground. There is something about the fall that sets me into migration mode. I think I have somehow inherited genes of those wild fish who seek the distant rivers. We where greeted in Terrace by a great guy who went out of his way to give us a hand. Aside from a bit of cash he asked me for a few flies and at the end of the trip I gladly gave him most of his request. Nick insisted on the other half leaving me quit flyless coming home to Calgary. We ran upriver early morning in an on and off drizzle. Reached the Copper and after a couple of k’s he dropped us on the shore with our rods and packs of essentials and possibles. You know this country is where God decided to hide beauty. It is the high wild where the river flows like silver ink through black timber. It’s fine mists inspire. We hurriedly assembled out Spey rods and parted up and downstream although Nick joined me hurriedly on the up walk after having a close encounter of the Silvertip Grizzly kind. He figured she was either getting romantic or hungry, and neither suited him. We did count 8 of his brothers that day. We fished the broken water and found fish quickly in slower water below and especially in front of large boulders tail outs or sections of river just above rapids. We saw during the course of the day over 20 pods of fish. We cast intruder tube flies, blue charms, tail gunners, General Practioners Spratly Spey and a variety of others. We had dozens of hits. A few spectacular takes on waking flies tied riffle-hitche style. Brought 3 fantastic fish to hand that where a chore to pick up. And a joy so see. Lost 5 Steelhead close in after great fights one at my feet which almost knocked me over adn left me with a sore knee. The event of the day was one large Coho that most have hit the 30 pound mark. This baby ran me to my backing till I could see reel steel twice before straightening out the no: 3 blue charm hook. A souvenir that I will treasure. We where picked up late in the evening and it was back to the world. Our “guide” had a great day also with a few of my borrowed flies. With all the fish I was really glad to have the Pfluger President. A reel with solid and quality drag is a must. We also sharpened hooks at every opportunity. This is important. I sit here this evening back in Calgary fairly exhausted this week. My shoulder hurts from the constant fish. A good hurt. I daydream a lot reflecting back on the trip and will sketch and paint my experiences through the winter. I’ll be tying Steelhead flies for myself and a few clients and with every fly I will think back on this trip.

Most nights you have some sort of light to work with. A bit of moonlight, starlight or lights form the city if you're in town. It does take a bit of time for your eyes to adjust to the dark. There have been nights when it has been pitch black when I position myself by flashlight and cast and wait for the slurp. Sound fishing alone. Swinging is nice as you can feel teh take if you know what to look for. I tie my night caddis with a large white antron post and keep my casts in a familiar area. I think you will find with a lot of the guys who stalk at night, they usually fish a stretch that they have gotten to know in the daylight like the back of their hand. So no mystery as far as the drif and the take.

Snails.... need..... to.... be..... fished... toooooo...... slow... for... my... taste.....................................................

pm me

The easiest adn safest is the use throw away rubber gloves. be sure to work in a well ventilated area.

Then pull off the cork that is fracturing carefully, slap a bunch of two part epoxy in and you're in business again.

What color intruders where you using?

It definitely is a rebuild on the handle. Unconformity it usually means a full strip down of the cork handle including a re wrap of the guide. A good sized job. You might try to do it yourself if you're handy with tools. pm me if you need more info.

Cost of materials to date $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.00 Time to learn to tie to date about 48 years. Feeling I get when taking a wily brown on my own flies, teach someone to tie, or come up with a new pattern... priceless

They are kind of teardrop shaped. they form on the hook quite well and have a very streamlined shape. A lot of the guys that tie Czech Nymphs use them for the fast sinkers. Not cheap though.

Skid Bitches have been great for me this year. Standard streamers haven't worked well although the doc's Dodger bead eyed streamer I gave you Toolman worked great for me with quite a number of large browns and rainbows. Teh best for me have been classic north country wets in tandem and triple flies.

Bought a bunch in BC last year. They work great. All out now so have to look arround for more this winter.

I will make it a point to post when I get back. I've had most of my large fish on Intruders. I'm at work now and won't have time tonight as I'll be packing to leave in the morning.

More than likely but as you said, to each his own.

Heading out to BC Saturday morning. Visting with the folks in Kelowna then off to the Skeena on my yearly trip (actually probably the copper) for a couple of days. Tied up Golden Demons, Red Butt Skunks, Montreal Silver but mostly intruders plus a few others. Post when I get back.

I phoned Togens and found out from the gal at the desk that the hooks come out of China. I will not buy anything from that country. I'll stick with north American and British products. I normally buy all my materials from various local suppliers unless it is something not stocked or they can't bring it in.

I always pinch split shot with forceps. Makes for a solid hold. Also be sure to push the leader material right to the back of the split shot hinge. Some varieties are also softer than others and open easier. They can also be dislodged if banged into rocks or on a snap cast.

I only use a hopper dropper rig in shallow water next to the bank (less than 24"). And only when I see good rises. I fish other methods like high stick, swinging or indicator otherwise.

You forgot the part about casting and eating of the haggis while chanting the secret ritual broge "we seek thee yon bonney, little trout" and of course the casting of the blarney.

I love Partridge, It suites my needs in the shapes I like. This winter I want to try Togens hooks out of BC.

By the way flattening the stems is great for display flies to get everything to lay right but for fishing flies fracturing the stem by flattening can weaken the stem. I was chatting with a tyer in BC last fall who stopped doing that after client complaints his flies lost feathers.

I use a mini pair of needle nose pliers at the bench as I tie. The trick is to keep horizontal as you squeeze and only use enough pressure to pinch the barb. That said some brand of hooks are more brittle than others. I got a batch of tiemco's a few years ago that fractured every time you pinched barbs. I have been using some Partridge hooks lately that are barbless. The perfect way to go, unfortunitly not all hook makers offer barbless.