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RiverWise Anglers is now happy to be able to offer custom rod building to our customers! Not only that, I am very happy to be able to offer Custom Pieroway Renegades as well! Thanks to our partners with jerryfrenchflyfishing.com , pierowayrods.com , and aquaflies.com I am now able to offer you completely custom Renegades! Same great blanks designed by Jerry French that we can fully customize and personalize to your specifications. Contact me via email if you are interested in commissioning your own custom Renegade or any other custom fly rod build you have in mind. bryanstinson@riverwiseanglers.com

Where to begin? Once again, I have let over a year go by without taking the time to sit down and do some work on this blog. Last I posted was in February of 2019 and here it is April 2020! So much has happened over this span of time. So, like I said, where to begin?

The winter season of 2018/2019 as most of you already know was dismal as far as the fishing was concerned. We received very little rain over the majority of the season giving us some pretty tough conditions to deal with. That, on top of almost no fish returning made for my worst winter steelhead season yet. This of course is speaking in terms of catch rates, in terms of experience gained and friendships gained it was phenomenal. There is always a silver lining to the worst days of fishing if you look hard enough. The long periods of low clear water and low fish returns forced us all into trying new things and new spots to fish. The low water allowed us to fully study the river bottom giving us some very valuable info that could benefit the seasons to come. All in all, the fishing was not much to write about, but we made the best of it and learned more about our rivers.

The major highlights of winter 2018/19 was getting to go up and fish the Skagit River with Jerry French. The Skagit River has been closed to fishing for the winter run steelhead and more for nearly ten years. The previous year they had opened a spring catch and release only season, which they again did this 2018/19 season. I was absolutely blown away by the size and majesty of this river system. Steelhead runs and gravel bars miles long suitable for several anglers to spread out more than comfortably.

Matt and I made our first trip up to go fish with Jerry in the beginning of the catch and release only season. This trip was on one of the coldest days, if not the coldest day of the year. Early morning air temps were in the teens and the water not too far behind that. For most anglers this would have been a stay indoors kind of day, but we had made the long drive up and we were not going to miss out on getting to fish such an iconic steelhead river with an equally iconic guide.

We began our float by having to first break free all the ice that had built up on Jerry’s raft, eventually making our way to the first run of the day. I took the top end of the run and Matt took the bottom and tail out. I fished my way through the head of the run back to the boat, which may as well have been a full steelhead run on its own, I had a couple nice grabs from the bull trout that were around. As I was fishing parallel to the boat and chatting with Jerry as I went along, we were watching Matt below us and watched him get hammered by a more than feisty steelhead in the tail out. Quickly, Jerry and I realized something went haywire as we watched Matt go from fighting a fish to yarding in his running line and shooting head with sink tip and all by hand…his reel had frozen solid and the fish broke his mono running line freeing itself and nearly taking all of Matt’s tackle with it. Needless to say, Jerry and I were a bit giddy, this was in the first run of the day, on a day you wouldn’t expect any action due to the temperatures and there was active fish around while we were the only boat out. This was going to be a good day. Our assumptions were correct, it turned out to be a great day despite the conditions and by the end of it, Matt had hooked and landed his first ever Skagit river winter steelhead, as well as his largest winter steelhead to date. Just before Matt hooked this beauty of a fish, Jerry while standing in the boat and guiding Matt through the run says to Matt, “You’re going to get a grab once you are standing directly under those powerlines.” Sure as can be, exactly where he said, Matt got the grab and it stuck.

We made several more trips up to the Skagit throughout the remainder of that season, taking the jet sled up with us. We had some great times and learned much about this legendary river and I look forward to hopefully being able to fish more winters to come out there.

Winter 2019 eventually gave way to spring and it soon was time for summer steelhead and trout to be on the menu. We made plenty of trips over to the Deschutes having our fun catching loads of hungry trout and camping out under the stars. Which, by the way if you haven’t done, is the only way to camp on the Deschutes. Right under the stars on cots. There are too many trips to the Deschutes to retell them all here, so I will let the photos tell most of those stories for now.

Of course, I also made a few trips down to the land of steelhead dry fly magic, the North Umpqua river. Unfortunately, the past couple summers I had been fairly busy with guiding and didn’t get to spend as much time down on the NU as I normally would. This particular summer season of 2019 was also impeded a bit by my wife and I moving into a new home and all the typical duties that come along with that. So here too I will let the photos kind of tell the stories of those few NU trips.

In August of 2019 Matt and I had another fun opportunity to head back up to fish the Skagit River to fish with Jerry for late summer steelhead and Pink Salmon. We of course took the jet sled up with us and were able to anchor it right at camp each day allowing us to get up and go in the mornings without having to deal with boat ramps and launching each day. This was an especially fun trip for Matt and I as we had not fished for Pink Salmon before. We made up for lost time real quick having plenty of Pinks around for us to play with. Some spots we would fish would yield us 6 or 7 fish at a time! Being steelheaders this was too cool for us, being that we are more accustomed to 1 fish or so in a day if any at all.  The fishing was spectacular, hanging with good friends at camp was incredible, and the trip will be a favorite of mine for years to come.

Soon summer gave way to autumn and autumn into winter and it was go time yet again. A fresh new winter season was ahead of us and this one looked more promising than the previous with plenty of rain coming in. Our hopes were high for the 2020 winter season. Early on we started getting into fish and the rivers were in prime condition. Then more rain came. Soon the rivers were high and muddy and instead of complaining about too little water, we were hoping for a break from the rain. We had the 2020 Winter Steelhead School coming up and things were looking bleak with all the rivers in the area blown out and no end in sight of the rain. Leading up to the School I was worried we would end up with low clear conditions and fishing would suck for our students. That definitely wasn’t the case. The original plan was to be on the Clackamas river for the school, as the house we had booked for the students and guides was river front on the Clackamas. However, the Clack was blown out and unfishable as our students arrived, so with our fingers tightly crossed we made the decision to move over to the Sandy River. The Sandy too was high and for the most part blown out, but the water clarity was perfect! So, we pushed ahead full steam and put our boats in and went for it. That decision paid off big time, we of course had the entirety of the river to ourselves since everyone else had stayed home assuming it was blown out and unfishable. We had more action on those couple of days than maybe all the rest of the season! In just about every run we fished someone was either running for a net or shouting “fish on!” This was definitely the overall lesson for the students as well as us guides…you will never know if you don’t go. We made some great friends on this trip and had a lot of fun getting drenched on the river catching fish. I cannot wait for the next one!

This pretty much catches us up, the remainder of the season there was some good days fishing with clients and friends and some more fish brought to hand. Things were looking good for business as we neared the peak and best of the winter fishing. Then Corona came. None of us could have ever expected what was coming. First travel was cut off, then one by one more business was shut down and services closed. Now here we are in the beginning of April stuck at home hoping for the best. Most if not all the country is for the most part locked down. Restaurants closed, parks closed, boat ramps closed etc. etc. At this point I’m not sure any of us know what more to expect from this situation. Staying home to help slow the spread of this thing is the best thing we can do now. I know this isn’t what anyone, let alone fly anglers or outdoor enthusiasts wants to hear, but we have got to do it. I know better than most just how frustrating and tough it is to not be out fishing with clients and friends, hell even just to be able to have friends over for a barbeque now that the weather is nice even, but we have to do it for now. I know lots of us across the country are out of work and wondering how we are going to keep the lights on or keep the kids fed. This is scary, but I do believe that it will pass. I hope you all are doing well and keeping healthy. I always look for the win in any situation, for the silver lining. We can use this extra down time at home for something positive, like learning new things that maybe you’ve put off because you didn’t have the time? Read that book you’ve been meaning to, go online and learn a new language or skill maybe. Tie boxes full of flies for the up coming seasons of fishing. Take care of the yard stuff you’ve been putting off. Whatever it may be for you I hope there’s something good you can focus on while we wait this thing out. And when this thing is over and we can all see each other again I will see you on the river!

Stay safe and healthy, if you’re in need don’t hesitate to reach out. If you need to chat call or email.

Lastly, please, please, please when things get back to somewhat normal, please book trips or classes with your local guides who have been severely impacted by this if you can. Support your local fly shops in any way you can. We are all in this together.

Cheers and thank you!

Bryan

2018 Highlights

Feb 19^th, 2019

Well welcome to Winter 2019! It’s a little late to be said but I’ll say it, nonetheless. So, let’s get down to it, it has been quite some time since I last sat down to write out some blog stuff for the website. Much has happened in the last year. We wrapped up the 2018 winter season on a high note and it was one of my better winters. Not only did we get to shake hands with a fair amount of our favorite anadromous friends, I was blessed to have had the chance to meet and fish some great folks! Thanks to all of you who came out and fished with me in 2018!

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Spring and Summer 2018 I had the incredible opportunity to go work with/for a friend and fellow guide/outfitter on Oregon’s most renowned trout and steelhead river. What an experience that was! The trout portion of the season was excellent, filled with lots of large hungry red band trout eating dries all day long. Then about mid-summer the area was hit hard with several wildfires making for some tough camping or even closing the river in sections or all together.  In that time, I learned volumes on guiding here in the PNW and even more about that river and the fish in it. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity and experience. Thanks TJ and crew!

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As usual I made my share of trips down south to my favorite paradise, the North Umpqua, when I could. Seemingly it was a busier year there than normal. But of course, the river was nonetheless beautiful for it.

Fall 2018 brought me back home to the Clackamas in search of solitude and summer fish, on into what looked like it was going to be an epic Coho salmon season. There was plenty of fish around, but they weren’t biting. As most Clack anglers would attest of this past season.

Not long into the early beginnings of the current winter steelhead season I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase a new jet sled!… Thank you wife! Having the jet sled is a game changer here on the Clackamas River. This gives us the ability to effectively and efficiently fish more water in a timely manner.

Also, of note this winter, my good friend Matt and I took a trip up north to the fabled Skagit River for the winter catch and release season. We were very fortunate to be able to spend the day being guided by the man himself, Jerry French. The conditions were frigid and sunny which meant there wasn’t a soul in sight. And rightly so, it was damn cold. But we didn’t mind the solitude one bit, especially not even when it was interrupted a time or two by some tough little dolly’s and nice bright hen! Huge thank you to Jerry for an amazing day on an amazing river!

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Which pretty much brings us up to date on what’s been happening. Now lace ‘em up and go fish!

Thanks for tuning in…

Bryan

One of the best things about being on the river so often is that I continually receive little reminders about small things that have a major impact on your fishing. Such as taking breaks and making sure to EAT!

Today I fished an angler who received just that, a good reminder that if you don’t stop to eat while out on a full day of fishing you’re going to get frustrated. Not only that but then your casting goes to crap, you stop thinking critically, and the next thing you know you are cursing fly fishing and the world to only leave with your tail between your legs. Unnecessary! Its like anything else in the world of chasing steelhead with a fly rod. You spend so much time, effort, and money perfecting your game only to be derailed by such a small and easily overlooked thing. Fortunately for my angler he had me there to remind him and that was that. He took his time out like a champ and got some food and WATER in him, got right back up and fished the day out no worries. Thus, I was inspired to write this little piece. I too am guilty of the insanity of staying up all night the night before a trip tying flies and watching videos getting all pumped up when I should have used some of that time to prepare the days meals and ready my gear. Then get a good night’s rest. We all do it. That’s steelheading. My advice is make snacks, breaks and meals part of the program. Designate a spot for lunch, and hold to it. Maybe a spot on the river that you wouldn’t be distracted by or tempted to just fish. If you didn’t prepare any meals or snacks just take the extra time to hit the mini mart on the way to the river and get something. Sacrificing being the first on the river to make sure you have fuel for the day will always pay off, fish or no fish.

So, to sum it up, don’t let the little things throw a big wrench in your day considering all you put into learning and spending on this sport. Or any sport for that matter. Remember as die-hard steelhead chasers, we essentially are athletes. We burn a lot of energy trying to stay up right walking through river currents and steadying ourselves on slippery rocks. If you are the oarsman you’re burning twice that! So again, make that part of your program just like anything else that plays a part in your overall success as an angler. You’ll thank me, you’ll thank yourself. Peace.

Bryan

This past week and a half have been just crazy. We’ve been in the middle of a move and I have thrown a lot of good fishing in the mix with a bunch of great friends old and new. The week started out with driving out to eastern Oregon to pick up a friend to come help with the move. So, since I was there already of course we had to go fish the fabled Grande Ronde River for some summer steelhead in the dead of winter. And dead of winter it was, there was about two feet of snow on the ground and portions of the river itself had begun to freeze over. However there still was just enough water and flow not frozen that we had good opportunity to find some steelhead.

The next float it was me who got lucky and I landed a nice little hatchery to take home for the smoker.

 

                    Such an awesome day with some great folks

Now it came time Mahlon (friend from eastern Oregon) needed to be getting home. Darn we thought…we’ll have to go fish the Grande Ronde again. I mean…since we’re out there anyway… This time we headed for the town of Troy Oregon knowing from watching the levels and weather that the river was going to be just perfect. And it was. Mahlon being quite the angler on his home waters showed me up again and landed another nice wild summer steelhead of about 8 pounds. Unfortunately, no camera was handy during the landing and safe release of that fish, but it was nice and bright with just a hint of trout coloration to her. Beautiful. The next morning, we awoke to find that our perfect water had blown out from somewhere high in the system and muddy swiftly churned and flowed down the river and dashed our hopes of finishing such a great week with just a couple more fish. So, we packed up and headed home to Mahlons for some much-needed chill time and fly tying. And most importantly tons of rest!

2018 has begun on a great high note. Keep all your fingers crossed the weather continues to give us good windows of good water and calm days and this winter should shape up to be one for the books…at least compared to the last winter season of 2017 that is of course. We all remember that mess. So, get out there when you can and just maybe you too can have a great start to the winter season. There’s plenty of fish continually coming in so give me a call and let’s get out for what’s shaping up to be one hell of a winter for steelhead!     

See you on the water

Bryan

Don’t give up

Winter is the most difficult time to fish for steelhead with a fly. That’s just how it is, and as seasoned steelheaders we understand that. You’re battling the elements, heavy winter flows, muddy water and more. This all makes for some discouraging times. But don’t give up. Fish the run from top to bottom and remind yourself that each next cast could be the one. Maybe even the one of a lifetime.
Its all too easy in these times when you may go several days without a sign of life in the river to start to question whether you know what the heck your doing or not. I see a lot of new anglers come to this point and waste a lot of time trying to figure out which fly or what sink tip or line to use etc.… I learned from a good friend in those times to just put one on and fish. Don’t give up. Keep wading through the run. Its far more important to keep your fly in the water than deciding which color to go with.
So, when you get to that point of mental defeat just tell yourself that you can’t give up, that the next cast is the one. And if not that one, it’s the one after that and so on. Don’t give up. Finish out the run, finish out the day and keep moving. The extra effort will pay off several times over.

See you on the water.

 

 

Swinging flies for steelhead: cast, swing, step, repeat. But doesn’t a steelhead fit into that mantra somewhere? Well it should, after all that’s the goal right? Well let’s talk the simple yet overlooked items when swinging for steel.

Before we start, let me start by saying you’re probably just like me. I over analyze and obsess about steelhead. While I’m no super steelhead catching machine; I have been swinging flies for quite a while now I have picked up on the one hard and fast rule for steelhead fishing: There is no magic bullet for swinging up steelhead. There is no one thing that will help you catch more fish than everyone else; no shortcut to steelhead spey superstardom status that everyone seems to be chasing these days.

With all that said, there is still plenty to be done that can help to drastically improve your odds.

1) Fish Prime Time. While its true that you cant catch fish from the couch, you are also unlikely to catch fish swinging a fly during the “off” times.

2) Don’t casterbate. Learn to swing the fly. It doesn’t matter if you can cast 120 feet, if you can’t properly fish a 120-foot cast.

3) Fish water you can effectively cover. This is what guides do best, they fish water repetitively that they know can be covered effectively with a fly.

4) Pick a fly; a simple fly! Don’t try and reinvent the wheel. With so many great flies available there is no need! Get a box together that covers the bases; big, and small, bright and dark, weighted and un-weighted.

5) Be prepared. There is no universal setup as there are strengths and weaknesses to each rod/reel/line/tip combo. Its best to a short rod, a long rod with several line and tip combinations available.

Monday Dec 4th 2017

The weather and water levels were perfect. I managed a late start solo float last minute Monday morning into the afternoon. What a beautiful day it was! And best yet, there was 0 people on the river! I had the entire stretch between Barton Park and Carver on the Clack all to myself. There is definitely some winter steelhead entering the system. I managed to hook and lose a couple out of the boat and landed a small steelhead swinging leeches.

Although the fishing didn’t end up being red hot, it was still such a treat to get out on the river by myself with minimal gear on such a peaceful float. However it is still early yet for the big numbers to be around there is plenty out there to make it worth the trip.

Coast

Tuesday Dec. 5th 2017

After getting in such a peaceful solo trip on our local waters, I teamed up with RiverWise Angler Matteau McCreary and headed for the North Coast. We stopped in for some indicator action on the North Fork Nehalem River and had found some solitude and a fish or two that again didn’t want to commit. Again it was setting up to be a gorgeous brisk winter day on the coast.

The sun warming the trees as it burns off the mist and fog from the cold morning.

 

After a while we lost our solitude on the NF Nehalem so we headed south and found it once again on some of the Wilson’s finest swing runs. Again water levels and clarity is perfect. We didn’t end up fishing as long as we would have liked, Matt had to work so we left with plenty of fishable daylight vowing to return armed with the raft before the river drops too low.

To sum up the last 2 days I would say we are off to an interesting start to the winter season. Still early yet with some fish to be found although you may have to work for them a bit harder being fewer in the systems. Look for the next good rain to bring the rivers back up after they inevitably drop as we have a good stretch of dry weather hitting us now. Fish or no fish nothing beats spending the day playing on the river, especially in December with weather like this. Thats all I have for now. Keep and eye out for more reports as the week goes on. See ya!

Bryan

Thats right, think big.

This morning when I woke, I did as I always do. Check the weather apps, then the river levels for every dang water system in the state. Perfect, the Sandy was on the drop and would be fishable today. I got right to getting my gear ready to go, all the while I just kept thinking….”Big…Im going to get something big…” It was the same on the drive as I made my way through traffic and increasing rains, I kept envisioning hooking into a massive wild steelhead.

After swinging through a couple runs with no tugs I made my way down stream to hit one last spot before giving up and heading home. Minutes into this last run I was hooked up…And it was BIG. I began to get nervous when my rod started creaking, as it bent nearly in half, and I watched the last of my backing burning through. But I was determined to see this monster, and after a long brutal battle I finally had my hands on this thing. But it wasnt a steelhead! A fall Chinook sat craddled in my hands gasping for breath. I gave it a good rest and we both sat there quietly composing ourselves from what had taken place.

Moral of the story. Think big and you may just get it.