THE TROUT LINE
Tualatin Valley Chapter News
January/February 2004
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CHAPTER MEETING
Methodist Church - Wesley Hall
12555 SW 4th St. Beaverton
Chapter Meetings are held on the second Thursday of
each month at 7:00 pm with a social get-together and the
formal meeting at 7:30 unless otherwise noted in the
newsletter
Board of Directors Meetings held just prior to our
monthly Chapter meeting at 5:30pm Round Table Pizza,
Beaverton.
Thursday, January 8, Jeff Gottfried
If you've ever dreamed about fishing in Alaska, don't
miss Jeff Gottfried's presentation on his trip to the
Kisaralek River. As a fly fishing instructor, outdoor
guide, founder of Educational Recreation Adventures,
head of Yamhill County's Forest Educational Project,
and as someone who has taken nine self-guided trips
into Alaska's wilderness, Jeff offers a comprehensive
tour of this SW Alaska tributary of the Kuskokwim
River. Jeff's program details a 90 mile fishing and
rafting adventure that included 10 species of fish, all
caught on flies, encounters with 8 bears, caribou,
beautiful wilderness, impassible waterfalls, etc. He
calls it the ultimate wilderness fishing experience on a
river where no guides are allowed to work.
Thursday, February 12,
Marc Williamson Upon attending Marc
Williamson's Crooked River program, one of our members
insisted that we invite him to present this to our chapter.
Wish granted. Marc Williamson is a noted fly tyer and fly
fishing instructor with over 40 years of experience. He's a
Pro staff member for Temple, Whiting Farms and Daiichi,
former guide, and co-founder of the Christian Fly Fishing
Round-up. He's also a native Oregonian who knows the
Crooked like we all wish we did. He'll share his secrets,
patterns and tactics for hooking the big redsides that
you've only mostly heard about that reside in this rich
tailwater fishery.
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
Editor: David Illig
President’s Column
By Hank Hosfield
By the time you read this it will most
likely be 2004, the holidays will be over
and life will resume its more everyday
breakneck pace. Some of us will try to
make good on our resolutions, be that
some fat-losing madness, or books we
mean to read, or better efforts to fix
some part of the world near to us. Mostly what I want is
to find a steady supply of the key lime pie that one of our
members brought to our December potluck. It was
fantastic. Otherwise, my resolutions are the same as
always: get out on the water with friends more often, try
not to kick the bucket. I¹m very earnest about the latter.
For the rest of you, maybe your resolutions include more
vocal environmental advocacy, becoming even more active
in TU, or teaching a child how to fish.
Looking ahead I see numerous opportunities to get
involved with Tualatin Valley Chapter activities. Although
as yet unplanned, I can assure you that by early spring
there will be a full slate of monthly club outings. In fact,
there¹s a good chance there will be a winter steelhead
outing coming up before then. We¹re also in the process
of applying for another Embrace-A-Stream grant to do
more riparian enhancement work in the Clackamas River
Basin. We¹ll need strong backs for that. We¹ll also be
involved with some educational activities, fishing clinics,
and perhaps even some fundraising events. And as
always, there will be an interesting mix of guest speakers
at our monthly chapter meetings. Plus the great company
of our membership.
So here¹s to a happy New Year of good conservation and
even better fellowship. Cheers, Hank
Remember to Sign up New Members to
Trout Unlimited. It’s a great bargain for what you
get. Lots of people aren’t members who would enjoy it.
National has removed the token we received for renewals.
However, we still get something for new member signups.
So please have people sign up through Erle rather than
some other method.

Fly of the Month RLBH Stonefly
Alex Barkume
This month’s fly of the month is Randall Kaufmann’s
killer pattern, the Rubber Leg, Bead-head (RLBH)
Stonefly. This pattern is a specialty fly. It was clearly
developed for heavy and deep water. I wouldn’t use this
pattern any ‘ol place, you’ll probably lose it. But in swift
holes with depth, where you need to get down, this is your
baby! While the standard pattern is heavy, the BH
version is a spark plug. I seem to remember seeing
somewhere that this pattern in a size 6 will weigh over
one ounce, hence the term “chuck-and-duck” becomes all
too real. However, on the slot water of rivers like the
Deschutes, Metolius and the Rogue, this guy will get you
into fish. Here is the pattern.
Kaufmann’s Rubber Leg, Bead-head Stonefly
Originator: Randall Kaufmann
Hook: Tiemco 300 or equivalent – sizes 6 and 8
Thread: 6/0 thread, color to match the body.
Weight: double-wrap of 0.035” lead wire –
flattened at the thorax.
Tail: Goose biots to match body.
Antennae: Goose biots to match body.
Rib: Swannundaze – amber or black – to match
Body: Brown or black – angora or seal (stonefly
mix)
Legs: Small black round rubber hackle.
Wing case: Three separate sections of turkey tail –
coated with Dave’s Fleximent.
Thorax: Same as body
Head: 3/16” Gold bead.
1. Thread gold bead on hook and secure against the
eye with a wrap of thread.
2. Flare two goose biots and secure on both sides of
the hook at a point just above the barb forming
the tail. Keep the biots short, about the length of
the gape of the hook.
3. Tie in the Swannundaze along the side of the
hook. Tie down along the entire length of the
body area back to the tail. Tie in with the
rounded side against the hook and with the
Swannundaze extending out the back.
4. Tie in the lead wire at the back of the hook
beginning slightly in front of the barb. Wind
forward to just behind the bead, then wrap back
over the top about 1/3 of the way back. Cut or
break off the remainder. Secure the lead with
your tying thread. With pliers slightly flatten the
thorax area.
5. Dub the body with the angora building a quick
taper. Wrap up to the thorax.
6. Wrap the Swannundaze up through the body,
spacing wraps relatively close together. Take an
extra wrap in front of the dubbed body.
7. Cut a ¼ “ strip of “glued” or lacquered turkey tail
and notch. Tie in with the notch edge facing
toward the back of the hook. Dub a bit more
angora.
8. Fold two two-inch pieces of round rubber in half.
Tie in one set along each side of the thorax. The
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
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back end should point off toward the back of the
fly. The front-end legs should face forward.
9. Repeat step #7 two more times working around
the legs.
10. Flare two goose biots and secure on both sides of
the hook just behind the bead.
11. Tie off just behind the bead head and cement.
Then dub a small bit of fur over the top of the tie
off spot, whip-finish and trim the thread.
12. Pick out some of the fur in the thorax area to
simulate legs and provide further motion.
Hints:
• Put a bead on and wrap your hooks with lead prior
to a tying session. Make a bunch while watching
TV. You’ll find the tie takes quite a bit less time
this way.
• Use thin cloth gloves or wash thoroughly after
working with the lead.
• To notch the turkey feather, fold the ¼ inch piece
of turkey tail feather in half. Make just one 45º
cut down toward the folded edge. Unfold – viola,
a notched feather.
All right, I have to admit it. I really have to force myself
to tie this pattern any more. After tying these by the
dozen during my tenure as a professional fly tier, I have
to be pretty desperate before I get out the materials.
They are too complicated to use unless very necessary (I
always hate losing one of these babies – and you’re going
to lose some of these!). Following the hints above will
help speed things a little, but don’t expect to tie a dozen
in an hour unless you are a spectacular tier.
All that being said, this fly is a necessity when deep-water
nymphing in fly-only water – where you are not allowed to
use split shot. Mike Gorman, expert Rogue guide, has a
whole nymph system built around this pattern in both
sizes 6 and 8. I can attest to the system and this
pattern’s effectiveness.
Tie this fly on the “point” (the bottom fly) and about 12”
above that tie on a Prince Nymph, Hare’s Ear or Egg
pattern. Cover the run methodically, starting close in and
working your line out until you are at the edge of your
comfort zone. Then move down a couple of steps and
start in close again. Strike at any dip or movement of the
strike indicator. You never know what you’ll find on the
other end. Tight Lines, Alex

Fly Tyer’s Corner Dick Rohrbaugh
Tips for Fly Tyers! Over the years tyers have
accumulated a lot of creative ideas. In tying, like
everything else, experience is always the best teacher.
Here are a new set of tips to try the next time you tie.
Materials In an earlier edition of this column we
talked about using organza fibers for the wings of spinner
patterns. Here’s a tip for the tails on those patterns or on
any mayfly pattern in which you use long thin fibers for a
divided tail.
An earlier generation used the fibers from spade
hackles (large hackles found on the sides of good quality
necks). Many tyers still do and find them perfectly
acceptable. In recent years, however, many tyers have
gone to microfibbets or similar artificial fibers for these
tails. If that is your choice, and if you want a lifetime
supply of them at very little cost, go to the hardware store
and buy a nylon paintbrush. One brush is all you will ever
need.
Techniques One of the problems that beginning tyers
struggle with is breaking the thread in the midst of a
critical step in the tying process. Sometimes it happens
because you are concentrating so hard on getting the
materials onto the hook the way you want them that you
are unaware of the tension you are exerting on the thread.
The next time you tie, before you get a pattern
started, attach your thread to a bare hook in the vise and
slowly increase tension until the thread breaks. Trying
that a few times will begin to cement in your mind where
the limits are.
However, you are not done yet. The breaking
strengths of threads from different manufacturers can be
very different, even with threads of similar diameter. So if
you have several brands of thread, try it with all of them
and compare the results. You will learn very quickly that
not all 8/0 threads are the same.
Tools and Equipment Have a problem losing or
dropping hooks at your tying bench? Finding them in bad
light under the tying table can be tough, especially with
hooks that are very small. They easily get embedded in
the carpet and become invisible to the naked eye.
That is why you might want to keep a good
magnet on your tying table. Use it to make a sweep of the
area under and around your tying table and you will be
surprised what you find. If you tie with a waste troll or
similar device for catching waste you might also want to
keep a small magnet in the bottom of it. That way when
you dump the waste you will not throw out all the hooks
that might have ended up in the garbage.
A magnet can also serve another purpose. Run
your scissors over the magnet lightly to magnetize the
ends of the blades (don’t over do it). That way your
scissors make a great tool for picking up the next hook to
put in the vise. If you tie a lot of 18s and 20s using
magnetized scissors to pick up the hooks can save a good
deal of frustration. Dick
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
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"Recipes for the Remainders"
Jerry Heppell
In the last issue of "The Trout Line", November/
December 2003, our editor promised a follow up to my
book review on "From Field to Fly, The Fly Tier's Guide to
Skinning and Preserving Wild Game". I have three
reference books to suggest which are listed without
review. The first helps you identify your game, the other
two provides recipes to prepare it. DISCLAIMER: I have
tested none of the recipes so do not recommend any of
them, and caution that you use them "AT YOUR OWN
RISK".
"Flattened Fauna, A Field Guide to Common Animals of
Roads, Streets, and Highways" by Roger M. Knutson,
Department of Biology, Luther College, Decorah, IA 52101.
Published by TEN SPEED PRESS, PO Box 7123,
Berkeley, CA 94707 in 1987. ISBN 0-89815-186-4 #4.95.
"The Original Road Kill Cookbook, Featuring Yellow
Line Yummies" by B. R. "Buck" Peterson. Also published
by TEN SPEED PRESS in 1987. ISBN 0-89815-200-3. $4.95
"How to Cook Road Kill, 'Goremet Cooking'" (aka,
"Meals from Under Wheels") by Richard Marcou.
Published by Prographic Publishing Inc., 324-C Keewatin
Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2X 2R9 in 1986.
ISBN 0-9692624-0-X $7.95.
Enjoy!
Rogue River Review-
Eric Thompson
One year ago in this same newsletter, I authored a piece
entitled ‘The Steelhead Process’, which was about
Steelhead fishing on the Rogue River. In that article I
offered some Steelhead basics and definitions to aid the
struggling fisherperson. Let’s see if people can remember
them: First, What are ‘The Three Rules’ of Steelheading?
(answer: You must get (1) Cold, (2), Bored, and (3)
Depressed , after you finally hook and lose the one fish
for the day). Next, what is a ‘B-Run?’ (answer: the really
bad movie you watch back in the motel room about giant
ants or spiders that devour people right down to the bone
in 30 seconds in New Mexico).I hope people remembered
these basic concepts, so they can now move forward with
the next several definitions:1- What is a ‘floating line?’
(answer: an account tied to the prime rate, which you will
need to dip into to finance your equipment and guide).2-
What is a ‘sinking tip?’ (answer: the dwindling amount of
gratuity you give the guide when you run out of item #1).
Now that you have mastered the foundations of all
fishing, I would like to report to you on the latest Rogue
River trip that Alex and I took to the same location at the
same time of year with the same guide (Mike Gorman).
Possibly the fishing had improved, or maybe we had
mastered some of the above concepts of Steelheading. It
is possible that Mike had pointed out so many things we
did wrong on the first trip, that there was nothing left for
us to do wrong on the second. Anyway, we spent two
days of about 8 ½ hours each, making runs of about 8

miles per day. On the first day, it appeared we would
have a good time when one of us landed a five-pounder on
about the third cast. Using heavily weighted flies and 1X
(about 12 lb. Strength) line, I am astonished to report that
between Alex and I we landed 15 fish that day without
losing a single one. This is a new world record for people
named Alex and Eric. Normally, I tend to lose most
Steelhead, but not this day. Most fish were over five
pounds, and some reaching nine pounds. The second day
you might guess we got skunked, but; no- we also landed
15 more of them between us. We’ve already got next year’s
trip planned. Yep, same place, same time,
same guide. Eric
A Vacation Saved Alex Barkume
My daughter Raschelle and I had resigned ourselves to the
fact that we weren’t going to be going on vacation this
year. You see, I was one of the many lucky homeowners
who purchased a home that had LP siding installed.
Oregon weather had taken its toll over the years and it
was time to replace the deteriorating lap siding with cedar
and throw some new paint on the whole deal.
As I had already spent most of my summer on the place
and still had much to do, I was ready to use my vacation
to take care of the rest of the work. I even went as far as
canceling my original vacation plans. I was feeling like it
was the only way to make sure that I finished up before
the fall rains came. However, thanks to the urging by my
good friend Hank, I reconsidered and threw together a
quick plan for a fishing vacation. That turned out to
have been a great decision!
Raschelle and I headed out to Montana to spend the first
week at Slide Inn on the Madison. We hooked up with
fellow TU member (Prof) Dick Rohrbaugh for some
exciting fishing both on the Madison and in Hebgen Lake.
Dick stays over in the valley every summer and just built a
beautiful log home overlooking some of the best water on
the river. Although Dick was busy with details around the
building of his home, we didn’t have to twist his arm very
hard to join us in some fishing every day we were there.
The consummate host, Dick never complained a bit while
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he rowed us around first the river, then the lake. What a
great host, teacher and friend.
The fishing on the Madison was starting to slow when we
arrived, the summer hatches were beginning to wind
down. All the same, there was some great fishing yet to
be had. Dick showed us some great water around the
West Fork. The evenings brought on fair hatches of size
16-18 caddis and mahogany dun mayflies. Good fish,
rainbows and browns would start rising as the sun moved
off the water. I had a great time watching Dick ply the
waters with his dries. While I did raise fish that way,
nymphing proved more reliable for Raschelle and I. In
fact, while Dick and I fished dries over some rising fish in
a gentle current, down-river Raschelle hooked and landed
several fish on a pheasant tail. One was a brown of well
over 20 inches. The places she fished would be totally
ignored during the day, as the water was shallow and right
against the bank. In the evening however, it was where
the fish wanted to be. We also spent an evening floating
the river fishing grasshoppers against the banks.
Raschelle hooked and lost a very large fish that wanted
her rubber-leg hopper pattern. We hooked a few smaller
fish as well, but in general we did better fishing off the
bank.
Gulper fishing on Hebgen was great fun; it’s my kind of
fishing. Dick took us over to the Madison Arm where we
fished over cruising trout that looked like steelhead. It’s
hard for me to stay relaxed when I see a pod of 10 or 12
big trout working a line straight for the boat! It wasn’t
long before Dick had us into fish. Small emerger patterns
on light tippets were working best for us while we were
there, as the adult Callibaetis weren’t coming off in great
numbers yet. Dick, once a casting instructor, spent a bit
of time working with Raschelle on her stroke. At one
point during his instruction, Dick laid out a good cast and
as he was handing the rod to Raschelle a very nice brown
inhaled the fly. Lucky Raschelle did a great job of
handling a large fish on light tippet and soon coaxed the
big guy in to the net.
The week in Madison Valley came to an end much too
quickly, but we left knowing that we had just begun the
adventure. From Montana we headed back toward home
and then down to southern Oregon. We were heading for
Shady Cove to fish the mighty Rogue with master guide
and old friend, Mike Gorman. I wanted to fish the Rogue
early in the season as I was hoping that we could raise
fish on a wet fly swing. Mike was willing to give it a try
and we spent the first have of the first day swinging.
I fished a dry line with my 6wt Spey rod for a bit with only
a few trout to my credit. Mike dropped us down to a nice

inside corner riffle and handed me his rod set up with a
type 2 sinking line. I tied on a Copper and Black (one of
Mike’s patterns) and started fishing, lengthening my cast
with each pass. I was close to the end of my casting
comfort zone when I felt a solid take. I waited patiently
as the fish seemed to take forever to turn on the fly. In
reality it was probably only a second or two. When it did
take off, it cartwheeled across the water like a gymnast on
steroids. This is what we were looking for.
Raschelle was next up and was surprised when a fish
grabbed her Copper and Black on the second cast. It too,
took to the air and it wasn’t long before it became
unpinned. Things slowed down a bit as the sun rose high
enough to erase the remaining shade on the water. It was
time to start nymph fishing for steelhead. This was new
to Raschelle and frankly; I was concerned that she might
have trouble with it. But I needn’t have worried, she is an
accomplished nymph fisherman and it wasn’t long before
she was into fish. These were her first steelhead on the
fly and judging by her smile, I think she liked it.
The second day picked up where we left off the day
before. Nymphing again, we had only landed one fish
when Mike dropped us into the honey-hole of the day.
Raschelle drew first blood when she hooked a nice fish of
about 5 pounds that came unpinned after a short run.
Raschelle struck again and this time, applying the
patience of Job, she landed a beauty, 6 pounds of solid
muscle. A short time later I hooked a good fish of about
8 lbs. that stubbornly stayed out in the deeper water.
Every time I would try to ease it up into the shallows, it
would panic and run a bit further down the run. We
followed that fish 75 yards downstream before I finally
started leaning on the fish. It reacted with renewed vigor
and won its freedom with a mighty twist. Raschelle
informed me that I wasn’t patient enough. Of course she
was right.
We climbed back in the boat and it wasn’t more than a
couple of casts before I hooked up again. This time
Raschelle was going to make sure I knew how to play a
steelhead and coached me all the way. All I could do was
smile. The student has become the teacher. Lucky for
me, I did land that fish, a victory that was shared by all.
And of course, what fishing trip with the Barkumes would
be worth doing without a visit to East Lake. So Raschelle
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and I hopped in the truck with our float tubes, images of
jumping steelhead still coursing through our heads, and
drove on through Crater Lake National Park and on up to
East Lake. As soon as we set up camp, we filled the tubes
and headed down to the lake. We only had a couple of
hours of evening left, but we were eager to get on the
water. It turns out that Raschelle and I had some of the
most outrageous fishing that first evening. Raschelle
handily out-fished everyone (including her dad) landing
fish almost non-stop. The fish were coming to callibaetis
emerger patterns on an intermediate line. We caught all
four species: rainbows, browns, Atlantic salmon and
kokanee.
The next day was terribly windy as a low-pressure front
moved in. It didn’t rain on us, but the waves were
whipped to a whitecap and the fish were put down.
Unfortunately for Scott and Janice Ankenbrand. They had
bid on a float-tube trip with me, and the weather had shut
things down. We caught trout, but they came slowly.
The next morning was a bit more normal as it was calm
and fish were rising. All four of us ran over to the Hot
Springs hole where fish were feeding on callibaetis
spinners. We all switched to floating lines and enjoyed
quick action if one could put the dry pattern close to the
last rise. The problem with dry fly action on East Lake is
that it is rare that you can’t tell what direction a given fish
is working. So, casting so as to catch the attention of the
fish is a game of chance. Still, if you stay with it, you will
be rewarded about 10% to 20% of the time.
The Mid-Willamette Valley Fly Fishers were holding an
outing that weekend and they kindly invited us over to
their evening dinner. Turns out that some of them had
arrived at the lake the evening we had faired so well and
had witnessed Raschelle in action. Stories of her prowess
had preceded our attendance at dinner and they grilled her
all evening until she finally divulged her secrets. She
loved it. So did they.
We all fished the next morning, fairing well on a midge
hatch just off shore of camp. Soon we had to break camp
and head for home. Raschelle and I basked in our
success all the way home and we repeatedly thanked
absent friends for a great time as well as convincing me to
take a break and go on vacation in the first place. Thanks
again, Dick, Mike and Hank, it was spectacular!

Rate of Return Rod Lundberg
We still had three hours until dinner time. Problem was,
dinner was about an hour and a half’s drive south. We’d
done some trout fishing, and my buddies would continue
to mine that vein with the little time remaining. We had
hardly hit the jackpot, but I’d hooked a few fish and felt
somewhat sated from their tugs. Hence, the predicament:
continue trout fishing with near assurance of some more
action, or break out the spey rod to swing through a
favorite run for steelhead with little assurance of
anything.
There was another problem in that I would be a guest of
guests for dinner, so I could not be the cause of any
lateness on our part. You know, first impressions and all.
In the end, there never really was ever a predicament. I set
aside the 3-weight and strung up the 14-footer with a Type
III sink tip and a bunny leech. It would have to be a
hurried trek through the boulder-strewn treachery, but
hopefully it would be worth it and I’d end up with some
prized steel on my hands.
An hour and twenty-eight minutes later, I saw one of my
buddies walking toward me on the railroad tracks just as I
was entering into the really fishy part of the run. There
wasn’t any arm waving yet, so I pretended not to see him
and rolled out another cast.
Wham! My fly had slowly, ever so slowly, been meandering
across the final arc of its swing directly below me. The fly
line snapped tight, disappearing into the boil. Steelhead
can sometimes be so gentle with their takes, but then one
of them comes along and tears my arm off with a vicious
strike.
Which, of course, I was hardly prepared for, and so with
one violent head shake, we parted company. The fish with
my fly in its jaw, me with my jaw hanging in the water.
So in the end, after hardly a few seconds of contact with
steel glory, one must ask the question: Was it worth it?
Damn straight. Rod
Fishing goals for 2004 Kevin Connolly
It’s that time of year when I set goals for myself in many
areas of my life. Lose some weight, paint the house, work
less/more, take a class, spend more time with the family –
you know what I’m talking about. Well, it’s also time to set
a specific fishing goal.
I’ve read countless magazine articles and have thought,
“that place looks fantastic, I’d love to go there”, but do
nothing about it. For me, that has to change in 2004 and
I’d like to challenge you to do the same. Consider the
following:
Pick one place you would like to go that you have never
fished before and begin to research it. Start anywhere,
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magazines, Westfly.com, local fly shops, AAA or a
friend’s recommendation. If practical, tie the adventure
onto a family vacation or business trip that is tentatively
planned. Gather information on what species of fish are
available, the best time of year to fish, what gear do you
need, passports, vaccinations, reservations for camping,
lodging, travel, guides, clothing and anything else you can
think of. If it’s close to home, a possible day trip may be
in order to scout the location.
You will find great satisfaction in gaining additional
knowledge about fly fishing, the location, meeting new
people and accomplishing a goal that was fun to
complete.
"The indispensable first step to getting the things you
want out of life is this: decide what you want." Ben Stein.
PS: My goal is to fish the Williamson River in Southern
Oregon by October 2004.
Kevin Connolly
Kilchis Fly Fishing for Chum Salmon
David Illig
Every year there is a small opportunity to catch Chum
Salmon on the fly in several Oregon Rivers including the
Kilchis and Miami. Both rivers, near Tillamook, are an
easy and gorgeous fall drive when the sun’s out. And
therein lies the problem. The two week November season
is set in the calendar of ODFW but neither the salmon or
the weather gods are informed of this. There is every
chance that either the rains haven’t come and the chum
are sitting out in the ocean waiting, or the rains have
come and the rivers are chocolate and there is no chance
to catch fish on the day you plan to fish. The best way to
handle this fishery is to hang lose and not even go unless
you hear that the conditions are at least in the doable
range. Any day planned long in advance is unlikely to
work. Call this “emergency” fishing……”I have to go
fishing today! It’s an emergency!”
Consequently, that was my plan this year for the no plan.
Hang lose looking at the weather and stream flow and
hoping to be able to run over at the last minute when
conditions were acceptable and I could sneak away. After
breaking my 8 weight last year on a chum I was ready to
use the stiffer inexpensive 10 weight I had picked up on
sale. For much of the season there was no rain. And no
salmon. But finally in the second week there was a solid
rain and then a clearing on Tuesday so I called into my
nasty boss, me, and threw the gear into the truck
Wednesday morning and headed to the Kilchis in the sun.
I took my fishing kayak and stopped to arrange a shuttle
at the fishing shop on the road to Tillamook on the
Wilson River. Its $13 and nice people there. The food is
also good in the café. I planned to put in at the fishing
bridge about 2.7 miles upstream and float to the take out
near the 101 bridge.
It turned out a good choice. A fly fisherman at the bridge
had a fish on before I even cleared the pool.
 7
Shortly thereafter I had a busy day of frequent and large
fish. Throughout the day I had somewhere between 35-40
fish on. I lost count. I managed to land a nice number and
soon was quite glad when a fish gave a nice run and then
came off…. Just early and easy catch and release. Some
of the battles with fish almost, but not quite, became
tiring. Well, my arms were tired but I wasn’t……These are
very strong fish. It’s the only time that I absolutely cannot
tell whether I have snagged the bottom or I have a fish on.
This is the first year that I didn’t to my knowledge foul
hook a single fish which is a frequent problem with chum
fishing. Snagging one of these fish in the tail or dorsal
fine is an invite to a long, long haul or a broken rod.
Several times I thought for sure I was foul hooked because
of the amount of resistance and lack of progress only to
find out that I had a good hook up in the mouth. Huge
fish. Although I’m not sure of it, I attribute this lack of
snagging to not stripping my fly in like I had usually done
in the past. I used a sink tip line with a 20lb or 30lb 3-4
feet length of tippet. No taper. I simply swung the In case you missed Hank's short presentation on Oregon's
chartreuse fly with most takes on the hang. No strip. even shorter catch-and-release chum fishing season,
here's a hefty example of what you can actually fair-hook
These fish are strong and often feel like logs until they (note: bunny-leech in upper jaw) and wear yourself out
wake up. Amazing colors. And teeth that scare you. It fighting.
would be a very interesting fishery if they were
carnivorous and liked raw human. My recommendation
would be to use a 11 or 12 weight rod just so you can Officers
relax more when you hook one so you don’t worry about President: Hank Hosfield
breaking your rod. That worry builds anxiety. Its not that 228-6553 hankh@imagina.com
these fish are so huge but they do somehow seem to know
how to really put their weight and current to maximum Vice-President Kevin Connolly
use. Maybe it’s me because I know you can catch 100 lb Kevinconnolly1@aol.com
tarpon on a 12 weight. These fish do something different. 860-6355
They were bright and fresh.
Treasurer: Rod Lundberg
I knew it was a good day when I was glad to have a 291-5308 rplundberg@hotmail.com
“small” fish on for a while just to rest my arm. I figured it
was a steelhead or large sea run cutt but I never found Board of Directors:
out. I did see a number of what I believed to be sea runs
under bushes but didn’t get any takes. The float is safe Eric Thompson 297-0718
and easy and gets you away from most people. anglingeric@msn.com

All in all a great day on a fine little river on a Wednesday. I Dick Rohrbaugh
survived another fishing emergency. rbaugh@lclark.edu 636-3877
David
Seth Isenberg 293-3290
TU Outings sbisenberg@comcast.net
Check in with officers or Board members for Outings that
pop up in Jan/Feb. Alex Barkume - 642-7024
alexbarkume@comcast.net

Andy Andrews
Send stories and pictures to David Illig for the Raddicio@aol.com 646-2375
upcoming issues. How about some warm weather trips?
We want to be jealous. dillig1@aol.com and 503 296 Erle Norman 293-6006
9050 caddis2000@hotmail.com
Membership Chair

TV TU Activities Jerry Heppell

Communications Seth Isenberg jheppell@teleport.com
Conservation Eric Thompson 639-9408
Membership Erle Norman
Newsletter David Illig
Outings Andy Andrews
Programs Hank Hosfield
“To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North America’s Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds”
 8

Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited

January/February 2004