Presidents Message November 2008 - "Old Dog – New Tricks"

by Joe Filer, AFF President

At some point in all of our lives, it becomes harder to find opportunities to be introduced to new concepts or challenges. Every now and then, something comes by that you just have to try or “tackle” in come cases.
Several months ago, I was approached to share a quest with three guys who I consider fortunate to know in different ways for a few years now. Jay Forrest, Mick McCorcle, and my old co-adventurer Todd Fleming were headed to chase steelhead in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington and it sounded like fun. Jay had promised that we would meet three of the best Skagit caster in the Northwest. These were guys who traveled all over this area to show people how to reach out with this style of Spey casting.

Little did I know at the time, I was about to meet three of the most incredible teachers whose dedication to their sport was truly legendary. Mike McCune, Scott O’Donnell, and Ed Ward can all literally work magic with the long Spey rods my Scottish ancestors probably used to chase Atlantic salmon back in the day. They all made it look easy and that fact may have been instrumental in my building confidence and translating that it into some relative success.

Skagit casting focuses on using a very different line set up that emphasizes “sustained duration contact” to load the long rods ensuring (usually) an ability to shoot line out to longer distances. This casting is essential in cases where there is limited back cast room available for single-handed rods. From Double Spey casts to Circle Spey casts, we all got a quick lesson on how to get some line out with an expectation that eventually our fishing would lead to a “connection” with one of those beautiful sea-run rainbows called steelhead.

Adequate casting is only part of the equation and we all learned during the first day that fishing for steelhead was a process where days filled with relative casting success (measured in straight casts out to decent distances) and good coverage of fishy runs were their own rewards. And, this day like every day that followed was topped off with an exceptional meal cooked by Scott’s wife, Stefanie.

Conditions were somewhat “off” even if the weather was just beautiful and the scenery/wildlife seemed more extraordinary at every turn of the river. Limited rainfall had had left the Grand Ronde River very clear and somewhat lower than typical during October peak periods for summer steelhead. Fish did not seem to be moving and that made for some relatively difficult fishing. Moving fish meant “players” and that usually meant fish that cooperated.

Over the five day fishing period, our six angler group caught six fish. I was personally fortunate enough to catch two fish – a hatchery male and a wild hen. Though not real big by steelhead standards as represented on the walls of fly shops we visited on our way to the lodge, both fish were very colorful and trophies to me. We also caught a smattering of other fish from bull trout (Todd) to resident rainbow trout.

For me, these two fish represent small rewards for listening and learning from the pros and building confidence that it can happen on each and every cast when fished well, an essential element for enjoying steelhead fishing.

It was an awesome trip, one that I hope to recreate again sometime soon. I promised to leave some of the trip details for Todd to provide his perspective in his own article for the newsletter.

Back on the home front, where did October go? It’s already November and the cooler waters we fished last week have me thinking about rainbow trout here in Texas. We spent a lot of time around the table in Oregon bragging about our trout fishery. I look forward to getting after those “little” rascals sometime later this month. (Ask Todd about the steelhead we saw at the hatchery in Orofino, OR. They were inspirational and he has some pictures to prove it.)

Bill Higdon is going to come down to talk to us in November about trout fishing on the Guadalupe. I promise you it will be a tremendous introduction for those of you who are new to trout on the Guad and a refresher for those of us who have been there before. Bill is a guide who lives on the river. Enough said!

We also told great tales of our own quests for redfish. Todd tells me he is expecting to stay after them throughout the rest of the year.

We expect Ed Ward to come down to Texas in late November. He agreed to work with Jay to provide a Skagit casting seminar for all interested parties. Todd has already promised to take him kayak fishing for reds. No surprise there.

Get out and go fishing. We will be happy to share pictures or some great stories at the church any Tuesday evening……

Joe