How to tie one of my favorite Winter Rogue River fly... "Punch in the Face!"

I have tried a bunch of patterns over the years, some worked some didn't. Those years of experimentation taught me there are several different characteristics that lead to catching fish on the Rogue.

 The most important characteristic is weight. I have found that I can adjust the depth of weighted flies by line tension, but its hard to control a neutral buoyant fly--even on the end of a sink tip. You will never catch a Steelhead if you can't present the fly in a way that will produce a strike regardless of color or movement. This is where the wire came in. In the early days I couldn't match conditions as the only color I had was copper,but nowadays, with all the colors on Uni Wire you can tie a fly to match any condition.

This is the second most important characteristic...Color. The fish has to be able to see your offering. There are times when fish will  key on one color or another, but most of the time I have found that color plays an important role in what the fish can see.   From Silver for bright and sunny days, to black and blue for low light conditions and everything in between Uni has it covered.  

Besides weight and color, movement is an important characteristic. Steelhead can be like your house cat at times...to get your cat to attack you have to add more movement to your taunting. The thin body profile that the wire allows helps the hackles pulsate...they are unrestricted by the thick chenille bodies that traditional patterns boast.   

Now that you have seen some of the thought behind my wired patterns tie some up and give them a try....you'll be surprised how they will become one of your go to patterns. I have included a video showcasing my favorite high off colored water wired fly, Punch In The Face. Its Black and Blue color provides the shadow and low light color that the fish can see. Its one of my alternative flies for people who don't like to cast intruders....Get out there.....

  

Southern Oregon Is on Fire-- Rogue River Holy Water, and Williamson River Report.

Rogue River Salmonfly Hatch

 

Bob hit the dry fly world with a storm. It took him a couple of fish before one came to the bank, but it didn't take him long before he was able to see a beautiful trout up close and personal.  Good job Bob, your fishing like a pro. The Rogue River Salmon Fly Hatch continues to impress.

 

 

Williamson River Report

From Good Friend and Great Guide Brent Hublitz

"Wow! What an opening weekend on the Williamson. The water is low, clear, and the fishing is better than fantastic. I ran trips the last three days and there are more than enough fish to have some fun (large one’s too.) Swinging leech patterns on a slow sinking intermediate line has been the most productive technique. I will post some pictures of this weekend in the next day or two, but for now it’s time to go get some rest."

 

Salmon Fly Hatch and the Rogue River equal Fat Trout! Holy Waters for sure!

I love watching huge trout go bonkers over dry flies. Predators of the first degree: just their ferocity gets my heart pumping, but watching a 20 inch monster of the deep flash your multiple times in a fifteen foot drift is an adrenaline overload!  Now do this over and over and by the end of the day you’ll be an adrenaline soaked mess that is smiling ear to ear. Welcome to the Salmon Fly Hatch on the Rogue River my friends.

Pulling Hard

This fish was burping from being such a salmon fly glutton!

This Salmon Fly has good taste!

A place to relax.

My most favorite new video!

I love this Video!

Another Great Rod From LTS

When a certain rod matches you its pure Magic! That is what I am finding with the LTS rods. I'm not sure what they are made out of, but they are nothing short of amazing in my book. Donna, from www.fishon-sports.com let me play with yet another LTS....The Most striking of all them...the 1309-4 Across! Check out my review below!

Rogue Up River Kings

Ok, if any of you have followed me for a while you know that I have a passion that I haven't filled yet. After 43 years on God's green earth, I have yet to hook and land a up river, Rogue River Springer on a fly. I have hooked them, mostly by accident,  but I haven't even came close to landing one yet. Part of the reason for this is that I haven't had enough practice.  Part of the reason I haven't had enough practice is that my average hook up, to year, ratio is .0008 to one. Part of the reason for such a low hook up rate is that I think my fly is fishing where the salmon hold, about .053 seconds out of every 8 hours on the river, due to the high spring run off associated to these jems of the northwest.

This year is different,  2014 will be the year this passion will be filled, because I have came up secret weapon number 57.  With olé 57 I have a hypothesis to prove, but if I learned anything from 2 to 56, and kindergarten, it's that you have to keep your fly down...maybe I have the kindergarten lesson backwards...anyhow if you are going to catch a Chinook you have to be on the bottom. That's where olé 57 comes into the picture.  Olé 57 is a fly I would like to call Slowfish...kinda named after the lure with the exact opposite name...The Slowfish will get down.

The Slowfish is as big as my hand and made out of materials that allows it to be casted with something slightly less than a crane, but I guarantee it will get down.

Like all my other secret weapons I have yet ti iron all the details out--like will graphite hold up to the strain of  a Mack truck, as studies have shown that is the equivalent resistance that this fly will place on any rod: And if so how much of the river will it take with it. I am also a bit leery of packing the rod that this beast will require, as I'm afraid that much graphite whipping around in the atmosphere might alter the signals from the GPS satellites, sending our Air Force to attack Fiji instead Afghanistan- I kinda like Fiji!

Anyhow wish me luck, and don't let this secret leak to any of the Chinooks you know....Nate

What's that? You want to know about secret weapon number 1. Oh we don't talk about that around here. It's mere mention, creates hate and discontent around my house, as we haven't been able to handle our house cat since...even to wash the Chartreuse dye out.

So,  go ahead and copy this pattern if your man enough. 

Secret No.57 the Fly Known as Slowfish!

December is still producing!

The Rogue amazes me! We started catching summer steelhead in July and continue to get them into February. That's 7 Months, ya 7 Months. The end of March brings Winters into the upper system so there are virtually fish in the river most of the year. What other River produces such runs? I didn't get out today but here are a couple Rogue Summer Runs that one of the local fish smacker hit today. Good job Jordan!

Run & Gun!

Wild Hen (Summer Run !?!)

Proud Papa!

What happens when the lady of the house goes shopping and leaves the boys at home on a day off? We go to the Rogue and swing some flies. We loaded up the rods and headed to the top of the river to try out a couple of new patterns that I wanted to fish. I took Gage to the top of the run, tied on my prototype fly, and pointed out the rocks to pay attention to. Gage, rolled his eyes and told me,"Dad I know, I'm not a little kid anymore." I thought, ya kid, I would listen if I were you. But, I smiled at Gage, and headed to the next run below. I about made it to my run when I heard, "Dad, Fish On!" I looked up river and sure enough Gage had a nice fish making a good run. By the time I got back up the river he had the nice hatchery fish subdued. "Griller Dad, I told  you I know where they are." Gage said when I got there. I took some pictures and congratulated him nonchalantly, but I couldn't be prouder as my son has turned into a steelheader, he is reading his own water and catching fish out of it. He went on to hook and a hog just a bit further down the run. I tied on a "prototype" and hooked a couple of my own but they didn't get me near as excited as Gage's! To say I am a proud papa is a understatement.

Locked and Loaded!

Swinging "his" water

Gage with a well read fish!

Following suit!

A couple for the grill!

 

Hatch!! Sorry to make winter longer!!

This will make you count the days to The Williamson River Hex Hatch!