mar - apr 2003 trout line newsletter, tualatin valley trout unlimited

8/9/2019 Mar - Apr 2003 Trout Line Newsletter, Tualatin Valley Trout Unlimited

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How to Get Tickets : Contact Seth Isenberg at [email protected] or callhim at 503 293 3290 evenings

Protect our Rivers and Our Fish: Our Future

CHAPTER MEETING But a heightened awareness of the shortness of life does seem toencourage us to put more emphasis into enjoying life andrecreational passions. It does encourage you to work to preservethings of value that will last long after your passing. Those atNicks memorial seemed most impressed with how much time heinvested in his passion, sailing, even though he did contributegreatly as a school teacher. So trout, steelhead, and salmonfisherpersons made promises to spend more time in wonderfulplaces fishing. Simply enjoying a pleasure of this short life. Wealso promised to do more to protect and preserve the incrediblefishery resources of our region so that all future generations willhave the benefits of their magic regardless of the crazy nature ofthe world and its possible futures. We promised to not waste thelearning from Nicks leaving. But to make it work for our benefit,our health and helping the world.

Methodist Church - Wesley Hall12555 SW 4th St. Beaverton

Chapter Meetings are held on thesecond Thursday of eachmonth at7:00 pm with a social get-together and the formalmeeting at7:30unless otherwise noted in the newsletter . Board of Directors Meetings held just prior to our monthlyChapter meeting at 5:30pm Round Table Pizza, Beaverton.

Thursday, March 13 7pm As Nick knew, peace in the world starts with peace inside eachand every individual. So celebrate and invest in your prioritiesthis year. Enjoy and contribute David

Carson Lord, Oregon Trout &Brian Wegener, Tualatin River Keepers. Two organizations that are extremely importantto the protection of Oregon and Portland rivers.

NEWSLETTER TO GO ONLINE

We are moving off of the US mail list so you

will receive your newsletter Online. For threereasons: ONE, this saves the chapter a bunch ofmoney we can use for other things. TWO, youllget to see pictures in color. You can read onscreen or print out your own color copy.THREE, we use less paper and ink. That helpsfish, right.

Thursday, April 10 7pm Rick Hafele, DEQ biologist and bugexpert, back by popular demand. Presentinghis brand new Video!A very valuable speaker for the fisherman aswell as the fly tyer!

Please get your email address to Seth in orderto get your newsletter at the TU web site. It willbe posted every two months as usual alongwith old copies archived. Well send out anemail when each issue is posted.

Editors Column.

During these turbulent times it is easy to get distracted by thetroubles of the world and to forget about the simple pleasures offishing. With World War a topic, it is easy to ignore more simpletopics of concern such as a clean stream or an ancient salmon orsteelhead run.

You also need to contact Seth if you mustremain on US mail. We will maintain a limitedmailing list. Seth is at [email protected] 293 3290 eve.5838 SW Vermont St. Portland 97219

However, the sudden unexpected death of a supposedly healthy,fit friend, recently clarified for us that life is short, there is noguaranteed future, and one should invest in their most importantpriorities. These priorities probably do include becoming activeabout national and international concerns of global concern

To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North Americas Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds


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Fish this fly just sub-surface with slow foot-long pulls. If you areusing light tippet dont hold too tight when you strip the fly backsince the takes are often very strong. The pattern probably worksbest in lakes that have traveling sedges and/or termites of whichThree Creeks has both. We fished it in September, but thetraveling caddis is a late June pattern. I hope to get over and fishit that time of year as well. This pattern has also worked for meon the Deschutes, fishing it on the swing Give it a try. Itdeserves a spot in your flybox. Alex

Tualatin Valley Web Sitewww.oregontu.org/tvtu

TU-TV Website is up and Going! Thanks to Brian Gengeand Seth. Seth will consolidate info for review. Send photos etc.

Fly of the Month: The Sunken CaddisAlex Barkume

This months pattern is a pattern I call the SunkenCaddis. This pattern was a result of information given to me by afriend who often fishes Three Creeks Reservoir out of Sisters.My friend had described how the late season hold-over rainbowsand brook trout came readily to a dry caddis, but only after itstarted to sink. Eager to unlock the secrets of this lake, I tied upseveral Sunken Caddis and joined up with my friend. Once I gotpaste taking in the magnificent scenery, I started to pay attentionto the lake. It was fairly calm and I strained to see if anythingwas hatching. Nothing much seemed to be happening but myfriend assured me that the caddis would bring fish. I tied on aSunken Caddis and started to work my way out into the lake. Ihadnt kicked more than 10 yards out when I had my first strikeand a hefty 16 inch rainbow soon came to the net. We workedour way across the lake taking several more good fish. On thefar side of the lake are some weed beds. The caddis pattern reallystarted to come on. We ended up doing quite well that day and Inow carry this pattern with me all the time. I am quite confidentusing it when caddis are around.This pattern is another working fly, i.e., it is easy to tie, durable

and yet effective. Heres the recipe:Sunken Caddis

Sunken Caddis

Hook: Tiemco 5212 sizes 12 & 14Thread: Brown, 8/0 Uni-thread The fly tying round-up at the last meeting was very successful.

There was some very successful teaching and learning as well astall tales spun. I didnt know flies came with guarantees! Plan fornext year.

Body: Burnt Orange Hares Ear dubbing (couldalso use other colors as needed

Hackle: Brown saddle hackle palmered up to thethorax. (you can use poor grade hackle here)

Wing: Small clump of Partridge fibers.Thorax: Brown or black hares ear dubbing.Collar: One or two more wraps of the brown saddle

hackle.

1. Tie in a saddle hackle by its tip just above the barb.2. Dub in a tapered body with the hares ear dubbing3. Palmer the hackle up to the thorax (about 1/3 of the way

back from the eye of the hook) and tie off.4. Tie in several Partridge body feather fibers in for the

wing. Extend to the point of the hook.5. Dub in the thorax and then put in 1 or 2 more wraps of

saddle.

To Conserve, Protect, And Restore North Americas Cold Water Fisheries And Their Watersheds 6. Tie off a small neat head and whip-finish.
http://www.oregontu.org/tvtuhttp://www.oregontu.org/tvtu


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Upcoming Speakers 2003 Speakers:

May 8 Derek Fergus, Lake fishing strategies(followed by two day workshop onthe water)

June 12 Henry Hoffman, Shad on a fly

July 10 Ron Lauzon, Two handed castingclinic at Cook Park on Tualatin River

August No meeting Vacation

Gambling for SteelheadRod Lundberg

I started praying early this year. Its one thing to schedule a tripto the coast for the weekend for winter steelhead, then bag itwhen storms roll in and bring the rivers to flood stage. Its quiteanother to book a flight to the upper Midwest for the week ofHalloween - two months in advance. All you can dois pray.

Theres always the risk of getting frozen out, my dad wouldsay, for the fourth time in as many years. For the record, frozenout means that while the river may still be a fishable 38 degrees,the air temperature is something less than that, enough so thatthe ice forming in the guides and on the fingertips tends tocomplicate things. Or blown out.

During the fall, anything is possible in northern Wisconsin. Somedays its been so warm that Ive ended up stripped down to a t-shirt, with neoprenes rolled down to the waist and caches of hats,fleece, and rain gear strewn along the riverbank.

But historically the peak of the run occurs just before that, so itsa good time to be on the water. And he had been right, all threeyears. The weather had been a mixed bag, but the river had beenblown out only one day between those three trips. And therewere fish. And not once had we been frozen out.

But its your call, clearly intending to exonerate himself. Forsome reason I was worried about this fourth one. He seemed to

be, too. I rolled the dice.I rationalized that the trip was more about spending time withfamily, that it wasnt about catchingfish so much as fishing, that itwould be a nice break from work, that we could find other thingsto do if we couldnt fish. All bs, of course. This was about big fishon small water. OK, maybe a little bit nostalgia; you know,fishing with Dad in the old stomping grounds

Dread, horror, and trepidation are all really good choices todescribe my reaction to the extended forecast as mid-Octoberarrived. A cold front a seriously cold front was gathering

forces in the Arctic, poised to pounce on the Great Lakes.Overnight lows in the teens. Highs maybehitting the freezingpoint. My luck had finally run out.

Or so it seemed. There appeared to be a brief opening duringwhich fishing might actually be possible at the beginning of theweek as warmer air was predicted to push its way north. Did Isay warmer? Thirty-six degrees is tropical when compared tothe rest of that forecast. As my departure date neared, thiswindow narrowed, widened, disappeared, shifted, and delayedoften enough that I was having nightmares with weather maps. Amore practical type might have said, Why worry? It will be whatit will be Very funny. Mr. Practical hadnt dropped $300 for aplane ticket and a weeks vacation on a gamble for steelhead.

Finally, the time was near enough that I knew I would at least getsome fishing in, though I also knew that I would get somesuffering in, too. The character-building kind where your handsand fingers are so cold and numb for so long that when they evenbegin to think about warming up they ache. This is caused, ofcourse, by the self-loathsome refusal to take enough breaksduring the day to ensure that there is in fact still warm blood inthe limbs. Some of us hit that threshold later than others.

We drove up Monday morning and arrived on the river at noonto find overcast skies, air temperature in the mid-30s, blessedlylittle wind, and five fishermen who truly believed there wasnt asingle steelhead in the system. They trudged into the parking lotor we crossed paths on the trail. Bait, yarn, flies, and lures. Atleast thats what they told us. I was a bit disheartened, but mydad was pretty excited. Apparently thats when he catches fish.When the other guys have been hammering steelhead, he doesntdo a thing. Timing, I guess. Plus, we would have the rivervirtually to ourselves.

He was right. In the last three hours of the day, I hooked andlanded three fish up to 25 inches. A nice way to break in myvirgin 7-weight. My dad hooked - but lost - three as well. Oddly,I had my barbs pinched and he didnt. The water temperaturewas either 38 or 41, depending on whose thermometer youtrusted. We fished the deep, slow runs and pools thinking thatthe fish would be settling into their winter lies, dead-drifting



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large rubber-legged peacock hearl nymphs as near the bottom aswe could get.

One interesting observation I had while fishing was that my dadwas using the more typical pea-sized split shot under his strikeindicator, while I was using two of the much smaller BB size. Myreasoning was that in the low water, the fish might be more waryof something so noticeable bouncing along next to the fly so Iwanted to minimize the lead profile. Results? He seemed to hookmost of his fish in the morning, while I hooked all of mine exceptone (at noon) no earlier than mid-afternoon. I suspect that he wasgetting deeper and into the strike zone right in front of the fish, soit was just a matter of them opening their mouth for a convenientmorsel as they were waking up. Breakfast in bed, so to speak. Imust have been getting a more natural presentation, but the fishwere having to move further to take my fly, something theywould be more willing to do after the water temperature hadrisen some later in the day. But also a time when they might bemore alert to a big chunk of lead drifting towards them, sincethey seemed to avoid his presentation more than mine. Hardlyscientific, but definitely some food for thought for next year. Wealready have the cabin booked for Halloween Week 2003...

I hooked and landed a fourth fish the next day around noon, andat four-for-four I was feeling invincible. Steelhead number fivetook care of that a few hours later when it cleared the waterlooking all of 30 inches so it was probably more like 28, but stillhuge for this river and started digging into the hole under asnag. As I maintained pressure and calmly, maybe evennonchalantly, began reeling up the stripping loop, the line wentslack and I found myself facing serious disappointment for thefirst time of the trip.

The weather factor finally entered the fray on Wednesday. Thepuddles were starting to ice over, and on the river that day wetskin = bad. Lots of hand-warming breaks. My dad actuallyhooked a fish right away but it jumped once and shook loose. Iwent 6 hours without a trace of a steelhead, but was stillconfident as the ice began forming in my guides as late afternoonsettled in. After all, Id hooked three fish on Monday and two fishon Tuesday. Certainly I could manage just one fish onWednesday?

Rod

Antelope Flat Reservoir OutingSure enough, I finally hooked into steelhead number six in a deepand narrow run. It grabbed at the very end of the drift, just as thefly was lifting off the bottom. My last fish was the mostmemorable because I felt it only twice. Once when I set the hook,and once when it snapped my line. In the painfully brief, franticmoments in between, it shot out of the deep pool straight at myfeet, as evidenced by my strike indicator approaching at mach-1speed beneath the water surface. It then did a 180 as it neared thesand bar I was standing on and torpedoed back into the pool. Mymotor skills were rather depressed at that point and I couldntflip the switch from strip really really really fast! to NO let

line out really really really fast! quickly enough and, well, youget the picture. They are amazing fish.

May 30th June 2 nd Friday Monday

Andy will be leaving around noon on Friday, May 30th forAntelope Flat Reservoir. Take the Paulina Highway out ofPrineville to Pine Creek Road, a distance of about 25 miles.Follow Pine Creek Road to the campground and the reservoir,another 8 10 miles. The red TU flag with white lettering will beflying in Andys site.

The reservoir is an early desert fishery that holds 12 to 15 inchrainbows, with the occasional 18-inch fish that can be caughtwhile tubing. If the wind comes up making tubing unsafe, fishingfrom the shore can be productive.The next morning, puddles were frozen solid with clear skies and

wind that was blowing at about 20. With only a token debateabout trying to fish, we packed up and headed south, grateful forwhat opportunity we had been given.

On Saturday night, Andy will fire up the barbecue and cooksome meat and have a green salad. If you would like to bringchips, a desert or other goodies to blend in with the meal, itwould be appreciated.

Please join us for one day or several days of fishing andsocializing with TU members.

Special One Day Clinic.Fishing and Tying Western Hatches with SkipMorris and Rick Hafele

March 9, Glenn Otto Community Park, Troutdale, OR9:30-3:30

Two of our favorite speakers are presenting this clinic. Fly fishingand fly tying writers and experts. Excellent teachers present on



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how to recognize, fish and tie patterns for some of the keyhatches of the West.Contact Rick Hafele in Portland



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Trout Unlimited buys renewable energy Andso can YOU. Trout Unlimited has purchased-through theBonneville Environmental Foundation's Green Tags program-anamount of energy from renewable sources sufficient to power itsfive national field offices in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. About99 percent of energy purchased through BEF's Green Tags comesfrom new wind power generated within the region, with theremainder from solar. "This is our small attempt to demonstrate

the positive link between clean, affordable energy andsustainable salmon and steelhead runs to counter the falseimpression many folks seem to have that they're mutuallyexclusive," said Alan Moore of Trout Unlimited. "We hope thatothers vested in the future of this region's salmon and steelheadheritage will recognize that link and follow our lead."

2. Oregon Wilderness- There is continued work on developingplans for protecting many Oregon road less areas. Right now thecoalition groups are developing plans for each area. TU willworking on 4 areas (John Day, Clackamas, Rogue, and MiddleCoast) and is developing plans now. Stay tuned.

3. Goal 5- Metro is working on the ESEE( Economic, Social,Environmental, Energy) part of the Goal 5 process. They havedeveloped Economic and Environmental studies with the other 2on their way. Public testimony will begin this summer.Developers and businesses will be working hard to remove theprotection of the significant habitat.

In fact, for a small monthly increase in your PGE bill, you too candesignate that most of your consumed power will be generatedby renewable sources. This simply requires filling out a simpleform and submitting it. It then shows up on your monthly bill. (Imade the switch myself several months ago. The salmonappreciated it. TV Ed.)

Moore said that Trout Unlimited is promoting alternative sourcessuch as wind and solar in the interest of diversifying to a broaderset of energy resources, not in the interest of making hydropowerobsolete. "This isn't about replacing the Columbia-Snakehydrosystem with windmills," said Moore. "This is aboutencouraging the demand for clean sources like wind and solar todiversify our energy portfolio." Originally from the PortlandBusiness Journal.

4. ODFW Hatchery Management plan- ODFW is currently doingworkshops, which TU is involved in, on their proposed HatcheryManagement plan. After they process feedback from theseworkshops they will take public testimony with final decisionbefore the Commissioners in August. More later. Tom Wolf

Membership Renewals. I urge everyone to let Erleprocess your renewals. Our chapter ( #633) receives $5 for everyrenewal that we process. Some chapters around the country aremaking thousands of dollars doing this. If just half of ourmembers did this,wed make an extra $1200 a year. Send the renewal form withyour 8 digit ID, name, address, and check to our Membershipchairperson, Erle Norman: 6152 SW Nevada Ct, Portland, OR.97219 Phone number is 503-293-6006 Ask Board members for membership applications.Some news on the Cold Water Conservation

Front in Oregon. Tom WolfSalem events- Things are already heating in Salem. Two billsof concern to TU are HB 2376, which would eliminate OWEB andtake the money on use it for maintaining hatcheries. It has notmade it to any committee yet.The ODFW fee increase, HB 2260, will go before committee onThursday. ODFW wants to use the fee increase primarily forhatcheries-not what they promised us at the budget meetings.One thing that could ruin ODFW's plans is that the legislatorsdon't like the fee increase-they see it as a tax. Also they feel that itwill cause less people to buy licenses. I will have more on thislater.

On another front, conservationist's are still upset about formerODF chief Jim Brown's appointment as Governor Kulongoski'sNatural Resource advisor. This has caused some resentmentagainst the governor and doesn't bode well.

Also, Oregon Department of Forestry has announced temporaryrules that would suspend restrictions against logging on steepslopes above streams. They are not taking public testimony onthis but TU has signed onto a letter protesting this with otherconservation groups.



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What I learned convinced me even more to purchase myfeathers on-the-skin whenever possible.Book information: Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, NewYork, 2002

ISBN: 0-375-70966-5 Price: $15.95

Seth with Winter Giant

Book Review by Jerry HeppellSibleys Birding Basics

By David Allen Sibley

A book review on a birding book might seem unusualfor a fly fishing newsletter, but this book is not a speciesidentification reference. This book is interesting to me because Iam a birder and a fly tyer.

TU Outings: Lets Go Fishing

May 9&10 Derek Fergus: Private LakeFishing Clinic at Wild Winds

Sibleys Birding Basics is about the process of birdidentification, about bird taxonomy and about how birds are puttogether. Though the book uses mostly song birds (passerines)for discussion examples, it also includes waterbirds, shorebirdsand raptors. What it does not cover is chicken-like-birds(pheasant, turkey, quail and grouse), which are important to flytyers, however, much of what is included on other birds can beapplied to the chicken-like-birds.

May 30th through June 2nd Antelope Flat Reservoir Andy

June 14 &15 East Lake AlexWhat interested me was that almost one-third of the book isdevoted to feathers. Feather specific chapters include:Understanding Feathers, Feather Arrangement and ColorPatterns, and Structure of Tail and Wings. These chapters arethorough and detailed. They discuss types of feathers, structureof feathers, color patterns and characteristics of feathers (orfeather groups) from different parts of the bird. For example,feather groups on a bird are separated from each other by bordersof bare skin on all but waterbirds. Feathers on ducks and geesebelow the water line are continuous and dense for insulation.

Saturday, June 28th Hide Away Lake .Andy

Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20thLinton Lake Andy

September 18th through the 24th



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Thursday through the following WednesdayThe Fall River Andy

October 18th and 19th Saturday and SundayThe Crooked River Andy

Contact Andy at [email protected]

Tualatin Valley TroutUnlimited Chapter2002 OfficersPresident:

OpenPosition

Vice President : Hank Hosfield

[email protected]

Treasurer: Rod Lundberg [email protected]

Board of Directors:

Eric Thompson - [email protected]

Tom Wolf - 640-2123 [email protected]

Dick [email protected] 503-636-3877

Jerry Heppell [email protected]

March/April 2003



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Andy [email protected]

503-646-2375 Seth Isenberg (503) 293-3290

[email protected]

Alex Barkume - [email protected]

Membership ChairErle Norman - 293-6006 [email protected]

mar - apr 2003 trout line newsletter, tualatin valley trout unlimited

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