HEADSHAKE

August 2013

Orvis Bellevues Exclusive Newsletter

Pink Fishing 101 Improve your casting, the Easy Way!

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Orvis Bellevue 10223 NE 10th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 (425)452-9138

In This Issue
Upcoming Schools and Seminars.. 2 Carpocalypse 2013. 4 August Outlook.... 5 Pink Salmon 101... 6 Yakima River Forecast.. 7 The Secret Sauce-Improving Your Cast. 8 Western Montana Forecast.. 10 Tie of the Month-SF Baitfish. 11 Featured Getaway-Hubbards. 12 Hosted Travel.. 15
Be sure to like us on Facebook for up to date fishing reports, pro-tips, upcoming seminars, and fishing outlooks. Click the link to go to our Page.

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From the Shop

They say time flies when youre having fun which explains why I dont remember much of July. The month has been a blur of working in the shop and being on the river. Im personally very much looking forward to our August fishing opportunities. I will be in Montana the first half of the month but by the end of the trip will certainly be chomping at the bit to come home to Washington. We have a lot of great stuff coming up early this fall for trips and instruction. For hosted travel we would love if you would join us on the Deschutes chasing steelhead in late October. If you want to sharpen your skills, be sure to check out one of our great schools coming up.
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Upcoming Seminars and Schools

At Orvis Bellevue our greatest passion is sharing our fly fishing knowledge and skills with others. We offer a variety of schools, seminars and personal instruction to help you advance as an angler and be more productive on the water. Our courses are designed to give anglers the skill set they need to be more confident in their skills and knowledge. If you ever have any questions or would like to schedule a day of personal instruction dont hesitate to call 425-452-9138.

Thursday Knowledge Hatch

Improved Trout Tactics
Thursday, Aug. 22nd 6:00pm
This month Fishing Manager Jason Cotta will be talking about how to take your trout fishing skills to the next level. This is a must see seminar for anglers of every skill level. Topics covered will include finding fish, sub-surface and surface presentations, matching the hatch, and fly selection.

Intro to Fly Fishing

September 8th $150 (Limit 6 Students)
Join the Orvis Bellevue staff for a day of learning to fly fish. This course will cover casting, knot tying, fly selection, basic entomology, Stillwater tactics, and how to read moving water. This full day course is held at a Private Ranch in North Bend and will include both classroom and on the water instruction. This is a great course for new and novice anglers. All equipment, lunch, and beverages will be provided. Class size is limited to 6 students so call 425-452-9138 to reserve your spot today.
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Fishing Puget Sound Coho $100

In-Store Presentation September 14th 8am On the Water Clinic September 15th $100 (Limit 6 Students)
Puget Sound is an extremely diverse fishery that gives anglers an opportunity to catch a variety of fish species. Join renowned saltwater expert Leland Miyawaki for a two day school that will teach you how to fish the beaches more effectively. The first day of the course will be in the classroom covering where to go, species to target, time of year, fly selection, and gear. The second day will be on the water where students can put their new found knowledge to use. Students must provide their own tackle and wading gear.

Intro to Steelheading
September 22nd $175 (Limit 6 Students)
Join Fishing Manager Jason Cotta and steelhead master Leland Miyawaki for a day of learning to catch chrome. This course will cover where to go, fly selection, rigging, single hand tactics, two handed tactics and reading the water. Held on the Skykomish River, this course will be a half day of classroom instruction and a half day on the water. This is the perfect class for novice to intermediate anglers. Flies, terminal tackle, lunch and beverages provided. Students must supply their own wading gear and rod outfits. Call 425-452-9138 to reserve your spot.

Intro to Fly Tying Series $150

September 12th, 19th, & 26th 6-7 p.m.
Nothing is more rewarding that catching a fish on a fly you tied. This three night class series is designed to teach students the basics of fly tying. All tools and materials provided. Students will also receive a free Silver Label Tying Kit at the time of the class ($189 value). Class size is limited to 6 students. Call us at (425)452-9138 to reserve your spot.

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August Outlook
If you thought July was a great month to be on the water, you are in for a real treat this August. Fishing opportunities abound this month locally and across the west. The problem you may find is that there are so many options, its hard to figure out what to do. Our recommendation, fish as much as possible!!! Trout anglers this month will find a variety of opportunities on moving water and still waters. All of our local streams will still be fishing well although they may drop into lower summer flows. The Forks of the Snoqualamie will fish well this month and a standard dry/dropper is all one needs to consistently catch fish. This month will be your last chance to fish the Cedar river as it closes at the end of August. The Yakima will remain at its summer flow between 40005000cfs. This makes wading in the lower canyon treacherous at best but there are still many walk and wade opportunities from the Cle Elum up. Try access points like Easton or Bullfrog if you will be fishing from the bank. This is a great time of year to float the river if you have access to a boat or want to hire a guide for the day. Big dry flies up against the bank will draw vicious strikes throughout the day. Trout anglers also shouldnt forget the North and South Fork of the Sky, as well as their tributaries. While a little farther from the shop, these streams dont receive as much pressure as some of our local fisheries. For anglers willing to travel, there are plenty of great rivers in Montana, Idaho, and Oregon you can be on within 4-7 hours. If saltwater runs through your veins you couldnt ask for a better month to be on the beaches. Millions of pink salmon have begun entering the sound and can be caught at a variety of places. Give us a call at the shop to find out what beaches have been fishing the best. Searun cutthroat fishing will continue to be good this month. Try throwing small baitfish patterns on an intermediate line to catch these feisty fish. Anglers will also start seeing coho salmon in the salt at the end of the month which are an absolute blast on the fly rod. Steelhead fishing will continue to improve as more summer run fish enter the systems. When fishing low and clear water be sure to adjust your fly selection accordingly. Small traditional steelhead flies such as Green Butt Skunks, Silver Hiltons, and Purple Perils will be your ticket for success. The best time to fish steelhead in August will be early or late in the day when the sun is low. It is at these times when fish become more active and are on the move. During the heat of the day fish will keg up in deep runs making it a great time to switch to a double nymph rig or beads. Carpaholics rejoice when the temperatures are in the 100s on the east side of the state because it will bring a lot of fish up shallow. If you are looking for a new challenge, head over to Vantage for a day of sight casting to monster fish. The best time to fish for carp is between 11-5 when the sun is high allowing you to see into the water. Check the forecast before making the drive and fish elsewhere if it is going to be cloudy or windy.
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Pink Salmon 101

In last months newsletter we ran a featured article on fishing for pink salmon so this may be old news for some of you. However, with our email list growing daily and the number of people chasing humpies this year we thought it would be good to have another brief overview of where to go, how to fish, and gear to use. Pink Salmon, or Humpies, are the smallest and most abundant of our five Pacific Salmon. Pinks average five pounds and what makes them the most fun for fly anglers is that they eat flies. Pinks have a two-year life cycle, meaning that they only return to their natal rivers in odd-numbered years. It has been estimated that this years return will be between 4 6 million fish. If ever there was a time to get into beach fishing Puget Sound, this is it! If you can fish for pinks, you can also fish for coho and sea-run cutthroat. For sure, there will be positive reinforcement! Around the middle of July the action begins at the entrance to the Straits at Neah Bay and Sekiu then Port Angeles and into the central Sound. Keep tuned to the various information channels for the latest reports.

Public Beach Access

Marrowstone Island Ft. Flagler Kitsap Peninsula Point No Point Whidbey Island West shore from Ft. Casey State Park south to Bush Pt. Ala Spit Everett Kayak Point County Park Mulkiteo State Park Picnic Point West Seattle Lincoln Park South Sound Browns Point Browns Point

Recommended Gear
Rod: 10 7-8 wt Reel: Saltwater Rated Large Arbor Line: Saltwater All Rounder Access Intermediate Hydros Striper Intermediate Leaders: 9 0X for floating lines 5 0X Tippet for sinking lines Other Accessories Stripping Basket Stripping Guards Hook Sharpener Flies: (Anything Pink!!!)

The rivers that will host Pink returns

Nooksack (154,000) Skagit (1,200,000) Snohomish system (988,000) Stillaguamish (410,000) Green (1,350,000) Puyallup (1,240,000) Nisqually (765,000)
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Yakima River Forecast

"August on the Yakima is a month of tough choices for fly anglers the water is high and fast, the smaller fish dominate the topwater as they aggressively feed to get bigger - we like this, but it changes your strategy if you going after wild, freshwater fish. With many other choices this year, including pinks in the Sound, salmon in the rivers, and mountain creeks fishing very well, the Yakima can lose some of its luster, as anglers look other places and towards Fall. This makes it a perfect time to fish the Yakima, early in the morning, and late in the afternoon until dark. Caddis, caddis, and more caddis. And hoppers - terrestrials at the banks also grab the larger fish's attention. Think stout leaders, twitchy drifts, and accuracy - this is no layman's task and plan on losing a few flies in the trees, and remember where you did it. I find hundreds of perfectly good flies in the trees in September while walking the banks of the receding river. See you out there!" Derek Young

Planning a Trip?
Make your next trip down the Yakima a memorable one with Orvis Endorsed Guide Derek Young. Click on the logo to check out his website for more information and to book online.

Derek Young Emerging Rivers Guide Service (425)373-6417

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The Secret Sauce

Improving your Casting, The Easy Way
By: Bill Zytkowicz
Improving your casting! The easy way!
One thing I get asked by new fly fisher people is, how do I get better at fly fishing? How do I get past the initial frustration of how to get the line out and fish more! There is no one easy answer, but one of the things you can do is to get out and practice! The key of course is to practice the right way. Fly casting is about getting the line out accurately and as far as you need to for a given situation. Notice I didnt mention distance, since your distance will vary based on where you are fishing, what species you are fishing for and what obstacles you have in your way. So how do I improve my casting? You need to understand what you need to do. 1. Stopping and pausing understanding that a fly cast is about the stop and the pause is step one in understanding what you are doing when you cast your setup. If you watch someone who cast well, youll see that they arent working very hard and when its done right its amazing how easy it looks! 2. Rod loading simply, this is the bend in the rod! The reason I can cast a fly that has almost no weight, is that Im using the head of the fly line to load the fly rod. Unlike conventional fishing gear where I have weight at the end of the line and use it to sling shot my gear out to where I want to fish. 3. Balanced casting stroke when I start a cast, I start with an initial pickup of the line and then get the line moving. I want to keep my casting stroke balanced and appropriate to the amount of line that I have out. For a short cast, I have a short stroke and for a longer cast I lengthen my stroke. I generally start off with a new caster and have them stop the rod at 10am and 2pm imagine that 12 oclock is directly above your head. The key is to keep your casting stroke balanced and use your arm and shoulder and not your wrist!

A bent rod, is a loaded rod.

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Private Casting Instruction

Just like lessons from a golf pro, taking a couple hours of casting instruction will greatly improve your skills and increase your productivity when on the water. Whether you are a beginning angler, or seasoned veteran, we will be able to help you diagnose your casting stroke and improve your skills. Call us at the shop to schedule your lesson today! (425)452-9138.

4. Appropriate application of power just as a balance casting stroke is key, you also have to use the appropriate application of power for your cast! Most beginners start off with too much power and try to power the line through the cast, however what you want to do is to use the rod (pull it) and let the line load (bend) the rod and cast the line for you. With a short amount of line, you can use less power. So the short answer to this problem is to cast slow and when you start your cast, lift the rod to get the line moving and break the surface tension on the water and then use a gradual acceleration to a hard stop! (Think of how you accelerate when you leave a stop light while driving, if you press down on the accelerator gently your tires dont slip. However if you press down hard, particularly on wet pavement, you tend to spin your tires.) 5. Slack or more appropriately, lack of slack! Remember slack in your line is bad! The reason you lift the rod before you start the cast, is to remove the slack in your line and to break the surface tension on the water. When you do that, you can use a lot less power on your initial pickup and cast much easier!

After understanding what you are doing, the key is to get out there and practice. Practice a couple of times a week, for 20 minutes, and practice the right way and your casting will improve dramatically! We have plenty of books and videos in the shop to help you with this, private instruction is also available and can shorten the learning curve immensely! Now get out there and fish! And give us a report when you get back. Tight lines! Bill Zytkowicz

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Western Montana Fishing Forecast

Linehan Outfitting Company 482 Upper Fork Road, Yaak MT, 59935
Western Montana August Forecast Flows on most western Montana rivers continue to drop due to hot, sunny weather so heres the straight skinny on the major drainages. Above all keep in mind information is your best asset and is always at your disposal. Check websites, call shops and outfitters, and do your homework before hitting the road. Theres still plenty of great fishing to be had across the state. Heres a quick look at the northwest part of the state.
KOOTENAI RIVER Flows: 14,000cfs General Water Conditions: very good Hatches: caddis, pmds, green drakes, midge, aquatic moths, terrestrials Flows from Libby Dam just came down after six weeks of high water. Heavy rain in late June filled the drainage and flows were high until last week. 14,000cfs is terrific and the entire river is in great shape. Pmds are still popping in the evening and spinners are on the water in the mornings. Caddis are still thick in some areas and green drakes are still around as well. With hot, dry weather, hoppers are growing fast and terrestrials will become increasingly important as the month progresses.

(406)295-4872

MISSOULA AREA Flows: lower than normal General Water Conditions: Although flows are lower than normal the biggest concern is high temps in the afternoons. Fishing is still very good but mostly concentrated to the early and late hours of the day. Hatches: pmds, caddis Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Clark Fork River flows continue to drop. Conditions are still hot and dry but fishing is still good especially early and late. For now there are no restrictions but that may change. Water temps in the afternoons are now hitting 70 degrees and lots of guides and outfitters are getting off the water by early afternoon so as not to stress fish. Your best bet for the Missoula area is to contact local outfitters and shops to get the most up to date information. Headshake Magazine Page 10

Tie of the Month

Clouser Minnow
Tying Steps
1. Secure hook in vice and create a thread base over the hook shank. 2. Tie in the dumbbell eyes on the top of the hook using x-wraps. 3. Secure a bundle of buck tail on the top of the hook shank in front of the eyes. This bundle will be the bottom color of the fly. 4. Fold the bucktail back over the dumbbell eyes and secure to the hook behind them, (I like to use red thread for this step to emulate gills), coat the tying thread behind the eyes with head cement and let dry. 5. Turn the hook over in the vice. 6. Tie in several strands of krystal flash in front of the dumbbell eyes. 7. Secure a bundle of buck tail to the hook, in front of the eyes. 8. Trim excess buck tail, cover butt ends with tying thread, and finish the fly off with a whip finish or several half hitches. Coat thread with head cement.

Color Combinations
The Clouser Minow can be tied in a variety of colors/sizes based on target species and water conditions. Try a few of these color combos on your next trip out. Chartruese/White Olive/White All White All Black Pink/White

Materials
Hook: 9034 Size 6 to 3/0 Thread: 3/0 Eyes: Sized to match hook Belly: Bucktail Flash: Krystal Flash Top: Bucktail

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Featured Getaway Hubbards Yellowstone Lodge

Paradise Valley, Montana
Fly Fish and explore one of Americas iconic landscapes with a small group from Orvis on our Montana fly fishing trip. Hubbards Yellowstone Lodge is a working cattle ranch located just a few miles from the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park, overlooking Montanas Paradise Valley and its Yellowstone River. The lodge has been hosting anglers for years and has twice been recognized as the Orvis Endorsed Lodge of the Year. Their expert fly fishing guides are delighted to share some of the best trout streams in the Rockies with our group, and July is a perfect time to visit the area for some Montana fly fishing. Theres also horseback riding and other activities for those who dont fly fish, so its a well rounded western ranch experience at this Montana fly fishing lodge. The Location Paradise Valley, Montana, is right in the heart of some of the best fly fishing in the Rocky Mountains. We will be staying at Hubbards Yellowstone Lodge, near Emigrant, Montana. Conveniently located for guests traveling from the East and West Coasts, guests arrive by flying to Bozeman, Montana where they can rent a car and drive to the lodge, or have Orvis Travel arrange a private transfer. The drive is approximately 1 hour, through the scenic Paradise Valley of the Yellowstone River. The trip is a perfect start to a Rocky Mountain experience. With daily flights on several carriers, Bozeman is very easy to get to. Most flights will arrive midafternoon so most guests will arrive in time for the welcome reception and dinner at the Ranch. Hubbards Yellowstone Lodge has twice been recognized as the Orvis Endorsed Lodge of the Year. The lodges central location allows guests and their fly fishing guides to access a wide variety of waters within an hour and half drive, including the well-known Yellowstone River, Gardiner River, Slough Creek and Soda Butte Creek. Whether western style float trips are your preference, or you would rather wade a small mountain stream, this area has it all. Non-anglers will appreciate the lodges proximity to Yellowstone National Park, only 30 minutes away. A variety of guided outdoor activities are available for non-anglers to choose from, all of which can be set up directly with the lodge upon arrival.
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The Fishing Hubbards Yellowstone Lodge was selected for this trip because of the areas natural beauty, the lodges personalized service and its location in the middle of Southwest Montanas best Blue Ribbon trout streams. The lodge is just a few miles from the Yellowstone River, and a short drive from the fabled trout streams of Yellowstone Parks northeastern corner. In addition to these wellknown trout fishing gems, the lodges guides have access to some of the lesser known and more hidden away streams and mountain lakes. The lodge even has its own trophy trout lake, Merrell Lake, located right next to the lodge.

Yellowstone River Yellowstone National Park Spring Creeks There are so many trout streams and lakes in the region that we cant possibly list them all here, but you can be sure the guides will take you to the best of them, based on the fishing conditions and your individual angling preferences. Youll have opportunities to float some of the famous rivers, fish a technical spring creek, or visit a mountain lake. Its hard to imagine a better location in the Rocky Mountains for fly fishing, and youll have access to it with an expert fly fishing guide who calls these his home waters. Nowhere in Montana are the fly fishing opportunities as great as you will find near Hubbard's Yellowstone Lodge. Merrell Lake is a 90-acre lake on the property with trophy rainbow and brown trout, and there are many other fishing destinations within a short drive of the lodge. The lodge offers fly fishing trips on the Yellowstone River, the many waters of Yellowstone National Park, the world famous Spring Creeks, small creek fishing on Tom Miner Creek, and horseback trips to Ram's Horn Lake. Besides these well known fishing spots, there are dozens of other rivers, streams, and lakes in the area. The guides at the lodge have years of guiding and fishing experience that are invaluable for any fly fishing trip. The men and women that will take you fishing know the intricacies of all the waters in the area and the unique history of the region. The guides can assist novice anglers as well as seasoned veterans. Their courteous manner, knowledge, and fun-filled attitudes will put you at ease and provide the best environment for a great fishing trip.

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Non-angling activities There is more than fly fishing and horseback riding. There are hiking trails all over the ranch, and Hubbards guides are always happy to get out and stretch their legs with you and show you around. Wildlife is abundant, with elk, deer, birds of all shapes and sizes, bears, and more. Yellowstone National Park is just down the road, and offers several days worth of sightseeing. The lodge can arrange all types of trips into the Park. White water rafting is nearby on the Yellowstone River. And the nearby towns all have great shops and historical sites for you to see. Theres lots of horseback riding at Hubbards, and the ranch can accommodate beginning and expert riders. There are trail rides as well as free riding, which allows advanced riders a chance to let their horse run, and you can even participate in helping move cattle if youre inclined. The ranch has over 20 square miles of land and is steeped in horse culture, so its an exceptional place to ride.

Reserving your space is easy.

Call Orvis Travel and place your deposit by credit card. 800 547-4322 The deposit is 25% of the trip cost unless otherwise stated in the itinerary. Sign up online at www.orvis.com/resform. Once you have completed the reservation form you can call us with your credit card deposit. If we are unable to confirm space, your card will not be charged. 15% discount on Orvis merchandise when you arrange your trip through Orvis Travel . You will received a VIP customer card for booking a trip through Orvis Travel and it entitles you to a 15% discount on Orvis merchandise from the time you book until long after your trip is over.
Each Orvis angler has been package outfitting includes: travelers since 1856 and you can find all the specialty clothing, luggage and gear you need 4 nights accommodations and 3 mealsWhen daily at Hubbards in our catalogs, stores and website. you book though Orvis Travel you will never pay a booking fee and will Yellowstone Lodge save on every purchase. We also supply you with a detailed packing list so you know exactly what to take. 3 full days of guided fly fishing for anglers on a variety of area waters, including float trips, wade trips and stillwater fishing Access to the lodges private waters (Merrell Lake) Fly Fishing equipment (rods, reels, line and waders) Guided horseback riding on the ranch (available al a carte for non-anglers) Not included in your package: Airfare to Bozeman, Montana Rental car Private transfers to the lodge on arrival and departure days ($200/car, roundtrip) Meals before checking in or after checking out of Hubbards Flies (available for purchase on-site) $5 per person per night accommodations tax (payable at checkout) Gratuities Alcoholic beverages Items of a personal nature, phone calls, park entry fees and fishing licenses. Guided non-angling activities, which can be arranged on-site Trip Cancellation insurance Headshake Magazine Page 14

Hosted Travel
Embark on your next fly fishing adventure with our experienced staff. Hosted trips offer anglers the comfort of knowing their trip will run as smoothly as possible under the watchful eye of one of our professional staff members. These trips also give individuals the opportunity to fish destinations near and far for less than when booking on their own. Please feel free to call us anytime with any questions and to book your next adventure today.

Deschutes River with Deep Canyon Outfitters $1125

October 24th-26th

Join us for a three day wilderness float down the lower Deschutes River with Orvis Endorsed Deep Canyon Outfitters. The Deschutes is legendary for its steelhead runs with multiple fish days a very common occurrence. On this trip you will camp in style with spacious tents and first class meals. Package price includes 3 days guided fishing and meals. There are only 5 spots available on this adventure so be sure to sign up early.

El Pescador Belize $3695

February 16-22nd 2014 Includes: 6 nights lodging, 5 days guided fishing, Free H2 rod!!!, 15% Discount Card, All Meals, Local Alcohol This part of Belize is one of the best places to get a saltwater Grand Slam: bonefish; permit; and tarpon in one day. The flats are extensive and the lodge is well located so you dont have to travel far to be on the fish, although they go on endlessly north to the border with Mexico. El Pescador caters to fly-fishers, but there are some great non-angling activities available as well. Theres excellent snorkeling, an extensive barrier reef, a dive shop and the option to take excursions to Maya ruins on the mainland. Its a good place for your first saltwater trip and theres an onsite coach to help you master sight casting on the flats. The large numbers of bonefish mean youre chances of success are excellent, and light tackle gear is available.
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