" BrownFish "

" BrownFish "

by 

kuchynkaPHOTO

Westside

" Westside "

I never get over the beauty of steelhead flies these days. The vibrant colors of the new dyed natural and synthetic materials give you every combination you can imagine to work with. Of course the steelhead still seem to migrate back to the favorited colors of blue, purple, black, chartreuse .

Skylight by Chris Pritchard

Sit back and enjoy this absolutely captivating time-lapse photography shot by Chris Pritchard.

Chris captures some beautiful scenery and photography work if terrific. Make sure you watch this on your large HD monitor, to take in the magnificent colors.

" Skylight " bu Chris Pritchard

Partridge and Wire

Wire and Partridge

Hook: Umpqua C550BL 

Thread: Gossmer Silk 

Body: Hot Orange Twisted Wire

Soft Hackle: Partridge

Euro Golden Stone

           Well Tim Flagler does it again with another brilliantly simple guide fly. Oh so, simple

and wickedly effective. So easy to twist a dozen of these up while dinner is being made.

Get a little jiggly with your stone....

electric leech

Electric Leech

Hook: TMC 5263, Sz: 4       

Bead: Silver Tungsten

Thread: Black 6/0

Body: Enrico Pugliso / Sanyo's Chromatic 3" Brush - Midnight
Tail: EP Black Brush
Collar: UV Ice Dub - Steelie
( Brush out all materials real well )

Floatfisher's Artist of the Day - Susan Luckey Higdon

" Clear Creek "

" Clean Gravel "

" Riffle"

Susan Luckey Higdon is inspired by the crystal clear waters of the Northwest, the Deschutes River in particular, and her husbands passion for fly-fishing. She paints native trout in their underwater world in a sort of borderless landscape. Color, pattern and unique perspective form the basis of her paintings. her goal is to capture the quicksilver flash or the swift passing shadow of fish in their environment and depict the mystery of their world.

Susan's paintings have been selected for the prestigious Pastel 100 and juried into shows by such iconic artist / jurors as Wolf Kahn. Gicl'ees from her underwater world series featuring native trout can be seen nationwide in McCormick & Schmick Seafood Restaurants and her paintings are in numerous corporate and personal collections. 

Corkin' It

My favorite pose, when the rod is bent all the way into the cork with a fish, I am not impartial , it can be tropical or cold water. No picky... 

Ice Wing Caddis

As the water starts to warm, and the bug life intensifies, better get a few of these twisted up.

It does not get any easier or more effective. Everyone keeps coming up with there version , but this 

is pretty damn simple and effective. Don't reinvent the wheel.

Ice Wing Caddis

Hook: Allen N204 BL or TMC 2499, Sz: 12

Bead: Tungsten 2.8 MM , Copper

Thread: UTC 70 , Olive

Body: Midge Tubing- Olive , Pearl Tinsel - Large

Wing: UV Ice Dubbing - Olive Brown

Collar: AZ. Synthetic Dubbing - Dk. Hares Ear

The Art of Dean Crouser

Bright, exploding water colors, fish faces and flies. This Vibrant art does nothing

but put on in the middle of the river thinking of the last release or the next fly to tie on.

 " Rainbow "

" Green Butt " 

 " Fresh One "

 " Tarpon "

More work from Dean can be seen at www.Crouserart.com

Shake Down on the Ditch

Time for the shake down float to get the cob-webs out, make sure we did not forget how to row, 

and catch a few fish. Water flows were low at a nice 298 CFS, so being crafty on the sticks would be a necessity as many rocks are exposed and just waiting to by hit. 

Well, there was no rust on either Mary or I as the first run was flawless, even the low challenging rapids proved not challenge. Rigged with just a hopper, dropper, dropper rig, the fish decided to play relatively quick. The buffet line was open as stones, midges and baetis were all on the menu, and the browns and rainbows were eating equally.

What a joy to be back on the water, catching fish on our favorite river. 

Let the season begin.....

MM Good

" MM Good "

by 

kuchynkaPHOTO

Tweenner

I hate the in-between time of hatches, as I have become (spoiled) to fishing large flies. The water is cold, and fish still pretty much keyed in on the winter foods of midges and large stones. I just don't get the trill of fishing this small stuff anymore and really don't like tying it either. 

But it works and the fish are eating it. The Tweenner Time. 

Come on Baetis...... 

Gettem' Tied

Mother's Day or the Tax Day Caddis hatch is not far way on many of the western freestone river. Of course there are a few great hatches in the way before we get to these. BWO's are right there and just waiting for the right conditions. In some area's the Skala's will also start appearing too.

Ready, Set , GO......

Wild , Wild, West

Not to far from the windmill and beautiful setting is a very nice riffle and run filled with some

spectacular brown and rainbows. I love windmills. 

" Glass on the Rocks "

" Glass on the Rocks "

by 

kuchynkaPHOTO

little pupa

little pupa

Pure Beauty

just a couple miles from the pacific ocean the beautiful specimen

 is ready for release, thanks for letting me visit you.

STEEL

" Johns " by kuchynkaPHOTO

" Johns "

by kuchynkaPHOTO