The Trout Line Newsletter - April 19, 2021
2021 Fishing Trips - Sponsored by the Clackamas River and Tualatin Valley Chapters of Trout Unlimited
World events are changing on a daily basis and we are making decisions based on health and safety. Out chapters are following guidelines as set forth by the State of Oregon and Trout Unlimited National. Physical distancing, face coverings, and hand sanitizing and all required protocols will be followed at all events. Each outing/event, will be evaluated in advance and notifications of potential changes will be posted via CRTU & TVTU websites, social media and our newsletters.
Date: April 22-25
Location: South Twin Lake Central Oregon
Campground: South Twin Lake Campground
Campsite Reservation: Not Available
Date: June 13-17
Location: Timothy Lake
Campground: North Arm Campground Campground
Campsite Reservation: recreation.gov
Date: August 5-8
Location: Gold Lake
Campground: Gold Lake Campground
Campsite Reservation: Not Available
Date: September 23-28
Location: Fall River
Campground: Fall River Campground
Campsite Reservation: recreation.gov
Locations and dates are subject to change due to weather, wildfire season, road conditions and all state and local COVID-19 / pandemic restrictions. All trips are campouts unless otherwise specified, please plan accordingly. Membership in Trout Unlimited is not required to attend, everyone is welcome so bring a friend! For up-to-date information, please check chapter websites prior to departure.
Fly of the Month - Go-To Soft-Hackle Emerger
I have my fishing buddy and former TVTU President Alex Barkume to thank for reminding me that simplest is often best. I am a sucker for the myriad of fly permutations and convolutions that appear in the fishing and tying magazines, and often arrive streamside with a variety of intricate emerger patterns I've painstakingly tied, in a "more is better" mode. That was true one day this summer on the Madison River when he and I were floating a stretch just above Ennis. We beached the pontoon boats in an area that I knew from earlier trips held a good number of browns and rainbows in the deeper, boulder-bottomed channel that gradually shallowed and slowed just below us. As I was into my fifth or so offering with little success, I became aware that my buddy just downstream from me was consistently taking fish on the swing. He had switched to his go-to soft hackle on a dry line and as it swung and rose toward the surface, he usually connected. Admitting defeat, I worked my way over and peered at a simple pheasant tail sparse soft hackle. Alex was kind enough to equip me with one, and my luck soon changed. Tie some, and I predict yours will as well.
Materials:
Hook: Tiemco 100, #s 12-16
Thread: Black or dark brown 8/0
Rib: Fine copper wire
Body: Pheasant Tail
Hackle: Grouse or partridge
1. Wind the thread to the turn of the hook and tie in the copper wire.
2. Tie in five or six pheasant tail fibers, tip first, and wind in tight turns to just a tad behind they eye. Tie off and trim.
3. Counterwind the copper ribbing wire in five or six turns to the front of the body, tie off and clip.
4. Tie in a small grouse or partridge feather (splines when wound should come to about the back of the hook) and make one or two winds (this is a very sparsely hackled pattern). Tie off, trim, and finish and cement the head.
More Information:
TVTU Website: https://tualatinvalley.tu.org/
TVTU Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/tualatinvalleyTU/
C4C Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/christmasforcoho/
