Pacific Fly Fishers' Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Blog

RIO InTouch Big Nasty Review

 

Since my last blog post on the RIO Coastal Quickshooter I have received many comments regarding a floating line option for Puget Sound sea run cutthroat fishing. No, there is not a floating version of the Quickshooter in the works at RIO that I know of. The floating line choice for many anglers who use neutrally buoyant or top water flies in Puget Sound has been a shooting head line such as an OutBound for its ease of casting and a forceful punch though the wind. However, as with all shooting heads, the lack of back taper decreases line control.

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Tying the Pass Lake Minnow

Pacific Fly Fishers' Pass Lake Minnow

Pacific Fly Fishers' Pass Lake Minnow has been a popular and productive fly for imitating Fathead Minnows in Washington's Pass Lake.  In this article, learn how to tie the Pass Lake Minnow.  Includes the photos, instruction and necessary materials.

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Invention of the RIO Coastal QuickShooter

RIO Coastal QuickShooter Fly Line

RIO's new Coastal Quickshooter fly line has been an instant hit with Puget Sound cutthroat anglers.  Read about the ideas and process of developing the line from Pacific Fly Fishers' Capt. Ben Zander, who created the idea and helped RIO to make the line to his specifications.  The RIO Coastal Quickshooter is an intermediate sinking line with a clear head and chartreuse running line.  It shoots like a laser beam into stiff beach winds and keeps the fly in the fish's zone.

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6mm Fly Tying Foam

6mm Foam Fly Tying Foam

In recent years, the use of thicker forms of foam have become much more prevalent in the world of fly tying.  Saltwater poppers like the Tequilla Popper, the popular Morrish Mouse (pictured), numerous bass poppers, and even steelhead skaters are utilizing thicker foam to keep flies riding high and creating more surface disturbance.

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Double Pupil Lead Eyes

Fluorescent Double Pupil Lead Dumbbell Eyes

New from Hareline, these Double Pupil Lead Eyes are a great substitute for tying Christmas Island Special bonefish flies.They look fantastic and the fluorescent colors (Fl. Pink, Fl. Orange, and Chartreuse) are super bright.

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Float Tube vs. Pontoon Boat

Few things can impact the success and enjoyment of fly fishing more than having a way to get out on the water.  Whether you are fishing rivers or lakes, having a way to float the river or get out on that lake will usually make your day more productive and fun.  Often, anglers start with a float tube or pontoon boat since they are both fairly inexpensive and don’t require a lot of storage space like a drift boat does.

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Simms Cold Weather Gloves

Fall has finally made its way into Western Washington. The temps are dropping and most anglers are starting to think about chum salmon and steelhead. As we get further into winter the need for warm comfortable clothing comes into mind. We have a saying here at Pacific Fly Fishers, happy hands equals happy fisherman. Here we break down the new line up of gloves from Simms. All have angler specific functions and all will keep your hands toasty throughout long cold days on the river.

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New Dubbings

We've added some new kinds of dubbing here at Pacific Fly Fishers.  And we also have a number of others on clearance sale for $0.99.  Check them out.  We have new dubbings for dry flies, nymphs, steelhead, and even a dubbing that makes very cool small baitfish streamers.  Here is a list of the new dubbings:

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Lenice Lake - Hold the Wind, Please.

When I arrived at Lenice and opened the door of my truck, it was immediately pulled from my hand, blew open and shook the truck as it reached the maximum limit of the hinges. “Whoa, it’s a bit windier than I thought it was”, I said to myself.

In the parking lot, a customer and friend of PFF watched me roll in and came over to say hello. He regrettably informed me that the lake was fishing pretty slow and that it had been windy all morning and he was heading home. I could certainly see the wind hadn’t let up as I began packing my boat with the eight million fishing goodies I like to have with me in a day of fishing.

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Video: Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Filming the WDFW video on Banks Lake while fly fishing for smallmouth bass. Watch the video.

I recently had the opportunity to help with the filming of a short video on fly fishing for smallmouth bass on Banks Lake. The video is part of a series of videos the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is producing to promote the amazing variety of fisheries found in Washington.

Bruce Bolding (WDFW Warmwater Fish Program Manager, Olympia, WA) and Danny Garrett (Biologist and video producer extraordinaire, Mill Creek, WA) were the representatives of WDFW and the ones producing the video. David Williams, author of the soon to be released book, Fly Fishing for Western Smallmouth, and I were the anglers in the video.

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