Updated 4/7/2008

Get Your License Online
You have spent countless hours at the vise.  Fur, feather, thread and sharpened steel combined with precision (… or not). You are ready to put your creations to the test. You have run through your gear, checking line and leader, boots and waders, but have you picked your fishing license?

With Washington’s license season running from April 1 to March 31^st, anglers can be caught off-guard. With Washington’s W.I.L.D. online system, it’s easy for anglers to get the licenses needed to be legal.

The whole process can be completed in about 5 minutes. You will receive a temporary 10-day license. The formal license will arrive via mail in about a week. The only catch is the catch record card. If you plan on targeting steelhead, salmon, halibut or sturgeon, you will need to wait for the catch card to arrive to be legal.

Neighboring states also offer licenses online with Oregon being an exception. For a list of Oregon agency offices and retail outlets selling licenses, click here. For Idaho and Montana click the appropriate link:

• Montana online licenses

• Idaho online licenses

Stop Poachers
Poaching, in our context, is fishing in closed waters, out of season or with illegal gear. It is a serious problem that appears to be on the rise as populations in the northwest increase.

Some poaching comes from ignorance. Anglers assume an area is open fishing simply because they see others fishing. Too often its a case of the blind leading the blind. Someone sees others out and assumes the water is open.

Other times it is with full knowledge of the law and the hope of not getting caught. These poachers know enforcement officials are stretched thin. They rely on this as part of their plan. What they don't realize is everyday people can be part of the enforcement.

Whether getting out to fish or just enjoy the outdoors, review the state’s regulations on waters you will be around. Be informed. If you observer someone fishing closed waters contact the the appropriate poaching hotline:

• Idaho: 1-800-632-5999

• Montana: 1-800-TIP-MONT  (1-800-847-6668)

• Oregon: 1-800-452-7888

• Washington: 1-800-477-6224

Add the numbers to your cell phone address book. This way they are ready to go.  By contacting the state, they are made aware of the issue and can dispatch officers if available. If not, they can use the info to allocate resources in the future.

It is often recommend to avoid direct confrontation with someone who is poaching. Telling someone about the legality of their fishing some can sadly escalate from a polite conversation to heated words and sometimes to a physical confrontation.

Protecting our resources is a responsibility we all share.

Local Knowledge - Local Service
How often do you go fly fishing on new, virgin water without asking someone what it has to offer? Likely never, right? Well, the best information can usually be found at the local fly shop. These are the folks that fish day in and day out, regardless of the weather and what's hatching. They fish and talk to people each day about the fly fishing conditions on their local waters. They have the knowledge and the right flies, right line, right leaders, rods, reels and other gear to make your fly fishing excursion the best it can be.

For a comprehensive listing of northwest fly shops, be sure to check out the Fly Shops section of NorthWestTrout.com. We try to include links to all fly shops in the northwest region that have a web presence and promote them versus the big box chains or low-cost, low-service virtual shops.

In addition to fly shops from our region, you  can also you'll find links to many of the major gear manufacturers, state agencies and other resources in the Gear section. Do you research there and then stop into your local shop. Buy some flies, tying materials, tippet, and what not. It's a small price to pay for the knowledge you'll receive in return.

Support your local fly shop.

Tie One On
For centuries, anglers have crouched over a bare hook, attaching all manners of fur, hair, feather, and thread in hopes of fooling fish. Some date fly tying or hook dressed with feathers all the way back to the days of Rome. Time has shown it can be a rewarding pursuit - especially when a self-made fly brings a nice fish to hand.

Flies of yesterday might be hard to recognize when placed next to our modern creations. But the basics of fly tying remain as do many fly patterns. It's rare that an angler's fly boxes are not stocked with some of the time tested standards - Wooley Bugger, Adams, Ant, Hopper, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Hare's Ear, Royal Wulff, Soft Hackles, and Muddlers.

Many of today's flies are variations of old standards. Many times they simply employ different colors and, more than not,  newer materials. Just as few fish with bamboo exclusively, flies are no longer constrained to solely natural materials. Rubber, foam, vinyl, mylar and other man-made materials are common place.

One of the most popular flies used during One-Fly contests is the Chernobyl Ant. Made up of closed cell foam and rubber legs, this fly consistently produces strikes and is built to last a long time. Foam is also a key component in another great, easy-to-tie fly - the foam beetle. This little wonder (shown in the flash clip to the right) is solid producer and should be in your tying list. For more on fly tying, please visit the Forums.

How Are Your Observation and Investigation Skills?
Many factors add up to a successful day of fly fishing. Some, like the forces of nature, are out of our control. Wind, rain, snow, cold and so on can play havoc with anglers. However if one pays attention to nature and investigates a bit, their luck can improve. With a few simple tools and procedures, anglers can deduce what trout are feeding on.

Brush up on your detective skills and investigate what insects and other water dwellers Mother Nature is offering up to the fish. Read more in this article on observation, sub-aquatic insects and matching the naturals.

<--- And don't forget to check your river gauges for the latest on Fall flows.  See side bar.

What Floats Your Boat? Glass? Wood, Aluminum? Air?
With the higher waters of spring just around the corner bank anglers are in for a challenge. Sometimes a floating the river is the only way to go.

A new or used drift boat is a big purchase. One should research the various manufacturers' offerings. It can be a daunting task. We try to help by listing over 40 boat and float manufacturers on the Gear section of the site.

You'll find links to the major boat builders like Clacka Craft and Hyde, smaller custom builders like NordWest and Montana Boat Builders, and then there are some builders utilizing the latest materials in solid offerings from Boulder Boatworks and Hog Island.

For those looking for solo rides, pontoon/cataraft makers are included as well.

Take some time and research. Ask questions both of the manufacturers and owners. The Forums section is a great place to start. You'll find a variety of opinions when it comes to boats. The wood vs. aluminum vs. fiberglass debate alone can almost approach the fever pitch talk of truck owners in that endless Chevy vs. Ford vs. Dodge debates.

Desktop Downloads
Looking for fly fishing desktop wallpaper? Be sure to the check the Downloads section for desktop wallpapers and other downloads. Images includes pictures from the Cedar River, a summer backcountry trip to Yellowstone National Park and Slough Creek as well as a North Fork Lewis rainbow trout just below the surface with a parachute Adams in its lip.
 

Other images are from all around our region including rivers such as Montana's Clark Fork, Rock Creek and Big Horn, along with images from Washington's Lewis, Sauk and Yakima Rivers, and a few others tossed in for good measure.

NorthWestTrout T-shirts still on SALE!

We need to clear these out before new designs can be ordered.
Prices per shirt dropped.  Plus on orders of 3 shirts or more you get 
FREE Shipping & Handling.

NorthWestTrout.com Shirts Available - Perfect Fly Fishing Attire
Looking for a great fishing shirt? We've got the answer. No, its not something from Sage, Orvis, Cabela's or Sportsman's Warehouse. Try on a shirt designed and screened right here in the northwest.

Choose from one of two NorthWestTrout.com t-shirts designs. The Logo shirt is available in blue dusk or forest green. The Catch & Release athletic design comes in the classic grey heather fabric and shows your devotion to conservation via catch and release.

These 100% cotton shirts are great year round - solo or as a base layer. These are not the light weight rags found at t-shirt shops. These are quality Gilsan heavy weight cotton shirts. And many report increase catch rates while wearing them. Don't believe us? Try asking some owners on our Forums.

Wear them on your next fly fishing outing, day with the kids, ball games or whatever. Not so great for a  formal occasion, but perfect for casual Fridays. Let your coworkers know you're an angler. Click on the Store section for styles and sizes available.

It Almost Happened again...
On a cold overcast Sunday morning in early 2006, I found myself along the banks of the Snoqualmie River. The water was the color of a dusty green chalkboard - not the most promising conditions for steelhead but a morning fishing is still a morning fishing.

Trying to get away from the gear crowds at the mouth of Tokul Creek, I pushed up river towards a gravel bar hoping for a wayward hatchery brat that missed the left turn into the creek. I had a small 15-yard wide side channel to cross. It wasn’t much more than knee deep slow moving water but the visibility was less than six inches. Rocks just below the surface were barely discernible. The water wasn’t particular strong on this part so outside of not seeing the bottom wading was easy or so I thought. With two steps to go, it almost happened. I slipped. Not much but enough to give you that sensation you’re going down and it’s going to hurt.

It has been years since I fully shipped water in my chest waders and it was basically intentional. The day had been warm and long. Rather than wade back up stream to my original crossing point I pushed across a deep section with the outcome clearly in my mind. The cold water of the McKenzie lapping over the wader tops was refreshing. I didn’t mind. It wasn’t a lot and helped cool me down.

Today, I would have regretted it. The air temps hovered around 35. The water had to be in that neighborhood as well, maybe a bit south of that. Not that I would have likely filled the waders in the shallow side channel, it still it would have not been fun what with the big rocks that inhabit the Snoqualmie. I was looking at possible sprains, breaks or at least solid bruises. Thankfully, I regained my balance.

Looking back on my wading slips and near misses a majority happens in those last few feet of water – either reaching shore or a mid-stream gravel bar. The finish line is in sight so I guess I let up a bit on concentration. That’s when the law of gravity, slick rocks and old felt combine to bring me down.  

I’m thinking more and more about purchasing two things – CO2 armed inflatable vest and a wading staff. Both would give my family and I more peace of mind.

A wading staff is almost a third leg. Not meant for bearing the bulk of your weight, it gives you additional balance as you make your next step. The keys to safe wading is keeping your strides short, making sure each foot is solidly planted, and being mindful of the current’s power and depth.

Here are a few links to some of the more popular wading staff offerings. Check with your fly shop for availability and additional recommendations.

FishPond, Folstaf, Hodgman, Orvis, Simms, Waterworks-Lamson, and William Joseph.

Check out the forums for a poll of members to see if they use a staff, their recommendations and other information.

Fly Fishing Fiction
For many, time on the water is a respite from the hectic pace and noise of the modern world. For one man, his fly fishing time is precious. Here is a short story on finding balance in today's ever changing world. Click here to read the story.

Talk to Us
Do you have a great photo of bruiser brown trout? Or care to share the details of a recent outing to your favorite water? Feel free to submit photos and reports of your fishing outings. Please see the Contact section. 

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