Recent content by atjohnson1111

I’m looking to fly fish the Shad run this year on the willamette. I have no idea where to start. Gear isn’t really a problem but tactics, what I’m looking for in a stretch of water, and what flies to tie are the main concern. Just looking to start a conversation and it looks like the boards...

Hey there Fred! The only question I can point you in the right direction for is the 20 inch and above Steelhead. I suggest you look up any podcasts that have the name John McMillan. He’s a biologist who basically has made Steelhead his life’s work. His dad was also a fish biologist too...

Congrats Fred!

Had that same problem when I first started bead fishing. I lost 5, yes FIVE, Steelhead in one day because I was fishing with a size 6 hook. Also I found you get more solid hook ups on a bead if you tie a snell knot for your hook. I think it keep everything inline with your float so it’s a little...

That makes a ton of sense! I found it to be more than a coincidence that most popular holes are at or near bridges. I did download that On-x app that helps determine private and public land. Oddly enough it shows pretty much every bridge as public land. So great point! I just find it crazy that...

Definitely makes sense for the Nestucca. That’s not too much of a worry because half of the upper river is covered by Fed. Land. Thank you for your input!

I hear ya troutdude! I walked the banks of the North Fork Alsea between classes (let’s be honest I didn’t go to that second class) and wandered well outside the park. I had a State Trooper waiting for me at the next hole who told me I was trespassing! I was naive and thought the law was black...

And that makes sense. I’m certainly not trying to make folks annoyed. I like the idea of splitting wood or maybe helping out in some way. And that was the main reason I posted this. I wanted to see how folks approach lands and there owners or just ways they access publicly. Like I see bridge...

I understand that. The law is very much up to the interpretation of the landowner. And more often than not people access from public land and stay below the high water mark but if a landowner doesn’t want you there the officer will ask you to leave more often than not. I speak from experience...

That’s incredibly helpful! If it helps the body of water I’m looking at is the Nestucca. The upper sections are open but it seems the really fishy parts are locked in private property. And I left the river out because exploring is the fun part. I just want to do it responsibly

Thanks for asking! Newberg.

Good day! So I’d like to start a conversation about access. I’m strictly a bank angler and finding access has been a major hang up when choosing a home water. I recently moved and the new location is literally the same drive to some previous and familiar Steelhead water and just a little bit...

Fantastic! Thanks for the heads up! Maybe one of these days we can tie in with each other and have a summer of admiring cutties of all sizes!

Those are some sweet fish! I actually bought that Les Johnson book a couple months ago and I love it. Have you watched the fly fishing northwest YouTube video with Les in it? I basically did the exact same retrieve and it performed better than I thought it would! Gales creek isn’t far from where...

Had a training down toward the coast and some co-worker buddies and I wanted to fish on our way back. My friend Don at the River city Fly shop showed me the Reverse Spider pattern so I gave it a try. After about 20 minutes of getting the retrieve down, I watched as a fat Cutthroat smashed the...