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.
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.
From Hareline, these Double Pupil 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. Offered in either lead or brass for the perfect sink rate.
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.
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:
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.
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.
It’s late spring in Western Washington and June 1st signals the opener for our local rivers. Summer-run steelhead fishing has finally arrived. Although the calendar might say it’s the sixth month and New Years is January 1st, I tend to count my years starting mostly with the steelhead seasons. So June 1st to me is the start of a new year for fishing tallies.
Michael Bennett, and Mason Denger finally talked me into my first trip down the Yakima river in 5 years. It ended up being the best upper river day I have ever had. A handful of big fish to the hand, and plenty of missed opportunities to boot. The dryfly action wasn’t super, so we spent most of the day nymphing using Pats Rubber Leg Stones, Prince Nymphs, and Graphic Caddis.
Michael ended up pulling up this beauty cutthroat on the Prince Nymph. But the Graphic Caddis has seemed to be the go to fly if there has been any type of caddis hatch going on.
Pacific Fly Fishers hosts trips all over the world. Our most recent one just concluded, by Ben Zander, was on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The trip was a success and is recommended to any angler wanting to pursue baby tarpon on a fly rod.
The trip started with a flight to Cancun, easy enough, followed by a 5 hour van ride to Tarpon Cay Lodge in San Felipe. We were greeted by our lodge host Bato with a tray of Margaritas that I think must taste exactly like holy water. Tarpon Cay Lodge is a three story building, the tallest in San Felipe, that boasts fantastic Mexican decor and air conditioned rooms that sleeps weary anglers well.