Skeena River Fishing Tip: How to Tie with Lady Amherst Feathers

When I first started tying big, west coast Steelhead flies, I was intrigued by several qualities of the Lady Amherst feather. First, its fibres were heavily mottled and helped create long, tentacle-like plumes that are common on many Steelhead flies and, second, it had good movement when swung on a tight line. However, it was also a material that I found exceedingly difficult to work with. I didn’t (and still don’t) like splitting the stems of feathers, and tying the fibres around a hook just didn’t create the hackle-like effect that I was going for. Moreover, the fibres tended to collapse and stick together. That all changed when I bought a deluxe dubbing loop twister and saw a video on youtube. By using the dubbing loop twister and one of Marc Petitjean’s material clips (in his Magic Tool set), I’ve been able to create Steelhead flies with flowing Amherst hackles that are both functionally and aesthetically appealing.

Getting ready to add the Amherst hackle

Step 1: Create a dubbing loop with your thread. To tighten the loop, be sure to wrap the thread around the loop 2-3 times.

Adding the dubbing loop

Step 2: Wet your fingers and isolate the fibres you’d like to use. Stroke the fibres from the base of the stem to the fibre tips, this will help isolate the fibres from one another.

Step 3: Place the large Magic Tool material clip on the fibres and cut the fibres at the stem. The Amherst butts should extend approximately a ¼” from the tip of the clip.

Adding Amerherst fibres to the dubbing loop

Step 4: Attach the deluxe dubbing twister in the loop, and add the Amherst fibres. Try to keep the length of fibres extending past the outside of the loop to a minimum.

Step 5: While holding the material clip with your left hand, spin the dubbing loop twister several rotations. Release the material clip off the fibres, and the Amherst should spin around the loop, forming a hackle. Spin the dubbing twister again, further locking the fibres in place.

 The Amherst hackle formed

Step 6: As you wrap the Amherst hackle, continue to stroke the fibres backwards, so they lie towards the back of the fly.

Step 7: Tie off the dubbing loop, and trim excess Amherst butts.

The finished fly with two Amherst hackles - ready to fish for Steelhead!

Skeena River Fishing Tips: Fishing Sink Tips

Matching your sink tip to the prevailing water conditions can help you present your fly effectively to Steelhead like this.  jeffbright.com photo

Sink tips are an integral part of a fly fisher's arsenal when presenting the fly to a Steelhead or Salmon, yet there are many misconeptions as to when you should fish them, how deep you need to be, and so forth. And, while Steelhead seem to break every rule in the book at times, these 5 general principles will usually serve you well on the river:

1) Consider the water temperatures, time of year and the fish you're searching for. During the Winter, Steelhead are often lethargic and most times won't aggressively chase down a fly unless it swings past their nose. This is particularly true for those fish that may have been in the river for a few months (exception: fresh, Winter run fish can be quite aggressive despite cold water temperatures). So, err on the heavy side when fishing sink tips in cold water, particularly in deeper pools and runs. Late Summer and Fall run fish can be very aggressive and willing to actively chase down a fly because of warmer water temperatures, so it's not necessary to fish deep in the water column. In this case, a Type 3 or a type 6 is usually all that's needed.

2) Make sure that you're not down too deep. If you have to unsnag your fly every other cast, your sink tip is too heavy for the water in front of you and will prevent you from fishing it effectively. The sink tip should touch the bottom every once in awhile to let you know you're in the zone, but not much more.

3) When not to use sink tips? When fishing small, clear coastal rivers in the Spring, heavy sink tips can often spook wary Steelhead. In this case, a long leader with a small, weighted fly that is cast well above the target area will help you avoid spooking finicky fish. Same goes for Winter fishing when river flows are at seasonal lows.

4) Bring a range of sink tips with you on fishing trips. You never know what to expect on the river and from pool to pool. A wide range of tips, including Type 3, Type 6, and varying lengths of T-14 and T-17 will enable you to cover a broad range of depths and currents. My personal favourite is the Descension Sink Tip system developed by Dustin Kovacvich and the other Nicholas Dean Lodge guides, which include varying lengths of lead core (LC-13).

5) Match your sink tip to the pool you're fishing. This might seem a rather obvious one, but many anglers will simply fish the same tip from pool to pool, regardless of the depths and current speeds. Each pool has its own seams, features, and current speeds, and keeping your fly in the strike zone requires a dynamic approach. If you feel that you're not getting down enough, go a little heavier. If you're getting snagged every other cast, lighten up.

Our Italian Partner - Le Reve House Adventures!

Two happy Italian clients with a bright chrome Steelhead caught on the Skeena during early August.

At the core of our business, we work very closely with several outstanding booking agents, who are committed to providing the best fishing trips and value for their clients worldwide.  Over the past three years, we've partnered with Stefano Gay of Le Reve House Adventures to introduce many enthusiastic Italian anglers to the epic fishing available in Terrace on the Lower Skeena River.  Whether it's been fly fishing on the Kalum River for monster Steelhead, spoon fishing for Coho or backtrolling for the largest Chinook Salmon in the world on the Skeena, Stefano has helped introduce many clients to the world class fishing available in Terrace. 

Based out of Vancouver, BC, Le Reve House Adventures specializes not only in coordinating fishing and travel arrangements for clients at our lodge, but also ecotours and other outdoor pursuits.  If you're considering a trip to our lodge or would like to do some whale watching or hiking near Vancouver, I encourage you to get in touch with Stefano at info@lerevehouseadventure.com.

Fishing Deep With Lani Waller - by Jeff Bright

Lani and Nicholas Dean head guide Dustin Kovacvich discussing fly selection streamside prior to stepping in the water.  A very knowledgeable, yet humble man, Lani is the type of angler who speaks with passion when it comes to Steelhead and the journey we take as anglers in pursuing them.  Jeff Bright recently had a chance to interview Lani on his Steelhead fishing experiences, and can be found in the latest issue of Chasing Silver magazine.  

In early April 2009, we had the good fortune of hosting legendary angler, Lani Waller, for a week as he pursued fresh Spring Steelhead in lower Skeena valley rivers.  During this time, several clients - and certainly Dustin and myself included - enjoyed his company and his stories when it came to Steelhead fishing.  Particularly those of memorable fish, legendary pools and all the little things that make for a great fishing tale.

Through his many articles, books (the latest of which is titled "A Steelheader's Way") and popular Steelhead fly fishing videos produced in the late 80s - some of which featured fishing on the Babine, a popular upper Skeena tributary - Lani has garnered much respect in the fly fishing community and has no doubt become one of the leading experts in his field.  

 

During his Spring Steelhead trip at the lodge, Jeff Bright had the chance to discuss some of the finer points of Steelhead fly fishing, ranging from tackle and techniques, to conservation and his philosophical approach to these migratory fish.  Jeff's interview, titled "Fishing Deep with Lani Waller" can be found in the recent issue of Chasing Silver magazine, a relatively new magazine based out of Finland.  Tight lines! 

Adventure Steelhead Fishing with Jeff Bright!

Jeff Bright with an 18 lb late Spring Steelhead caught on one of the larger coastal rivers we fish. With warming air and water temperatures, these bright fish can be extremely hard fighters. Jeff Bright Photo

Our Adventure Steelhead fishing program on remote rivers off the northwest BC coast is one that you've probably heard me talk about from time to time. Large Steelhead in small, untouched rivers, where angling pressure is minimal or altogether non-existent, with opportunities for sight fishing are but just a few of the virtues this fishery has to offer the adventurous angler. And, joining us nearly every step of the way in discovering this fishery - from stumbling over deadfalls, baring evil devil's club and arriving back to the lodge in the wee hours of the night - has been author, photographer and Steelhead Flyfisher, Jeff Bright.

Jeff has utilized his dedication and passion for Steelhead fly fishing, combined with his artistic talents as a writer in producing a first rate article on Steelhead fishing on the remote coast, which can be found in the premier issue of the online magazine, The Contemporary Sportsman. It is a pleasure to read and does well to capture the experience and excitement of fishing for Steelhead on small, remote coastal rivers. Enjoy!

Skeena River Fishing Tips: the Hawaiian Punch

The Hawaiian Punch may look like one of the more outlandish Steelhead flies you've ever seen, but the fact that it shows up well in murky or slightly stained river conditions on the Kalum and Skeena Rivers, combined with its fish-catching abilities has made it one of the most successful flies in our fly boxes . Rodney Daw Photo

In conjunction with our Skeena River Fishing Reports for 2010, we've decided to include a section on "Skeena River Fishing Tips" to help give our readers information and direction on the best techniques, tackle and presentations when targeting Salmon and Steelhead in northwest BC rivers, like the mainstem Skeena, Kalum, Kitimat and Copper. So, whether you're a spey caster who loves swinging large Intruder flies or a trophy Chinook angler after the giant leviathans of the deep, there will be something for you to enjoy which just might help you land that next big fish you've been dreaming about.

For this week's Skeena River Fishing Tip, we'll be looking at the Hawaiian Punch, a true standout wet fly pattern for Steelhead and Salmon that our guides and clients have used with great success. The pattern was devised several years ago by lodge manager and head guide, Dustin Kovacvich, when he was experimenting with flies to target the large Steelhead...

on the Kalum River. When Dustin first arrived onto the Skeena scene in Terrace 15 years ago, he had been very successful during the months of August and early September using a bottom bouncing rig that consisted of orange, chartreuse and cerise yarn. Combining this colour combination with materials that impart movement in the water - a key consideration when tying Steelhead flies - namely, rabbit strips and marabou, Dustin figured that he had the making of a great pattern. After a few successful outings and several Steelhead hooked on the fly, Dustin started having clients fish this fly with confidence on rivers such as the Kalum, and Skeena which have a slightly murky, glacial green colour, or, during high water conditions when visibility is reduced. The recipe for the Hawaiian Punch is as follows:

Hook: Eagle Claw 1197N Sizes 1 and 4 or substitute
Thread: Fire Orange
Tail: Fluorescent Chartreuse Rabbit Strip
Body: Cross Cut Fluorescent Orange Rabbit Strip
Hackle: Cerise Pink Marabou
Topping: Pearl Flashabou

Variants: Bead head, tube fly, or Intruder style

Lastly, if you've wondered how the fly got its unique name, it was named by guest Nick Anderson because it reminded him of the little guy on the Hawaiian Punch can with the funky hair! If you're planning on fishing the Skeena River near Terrace BC, or fishing your home Steelhead waters, be sure to give the Hawaiian Punch a few casts - I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results! For more information on recommended gear while fishing the Hawaiian Punch on the Skeena system, be sure to check out our Fly Fishing Gear and Equipment lists.

Tying Steelhead Flies at the Franklin Club

First off, I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope that you enjoyed some quality time with family over the holidays! When I was back in Ontario doing just that, I had the opportunity to stop in at the Franklin Clubto give a presentation on Fly Fishing techniques in the Skeena River system, and tie a few of my personal favourite Steelhead and Salmon flies. The Franklin Club is celebrating its centennial year, making it one of the oldest fly fishing clubs in Canada! In fact, Rick Mercer recently ventured to the Club as part of his quirky, but very humourous Mercer Report. Check out the video page on the Mercer report site, and click on Episode Number 8. Below are a few of the flies I tied, with photos courtesy of Franklin Club member Rodney Daw.

My version of Ed Ward's popular Intruder series of flies, dubbed the "Terrace Intruder." The two toned pink colours in this fly make it stand out particularly well in glacially stained waters, making it a perfect fit for both the Copper and Kalum Rivers.

Flash and bright colours are two of the most important considerations when designing Coho flies. Hence, the simple name: Coho Flash Fly. This fly, in a variety of colours works well when fished down and across with an increasingly fast stripping tempo.

The Grantham Sedge is our go to fly when searching for aggressive Fall Steelhead on the surface. An ingenious tyer named Ron Grantham found that by tying the wing on a piece of weed wacker cord protruding from the hook shank will help keep the fly waking longer than most other flies. Adding a few turns of red dubbing at the butt can be a great addition.