Category Archives: Steelhead
Burning Chrome
By Louis Cahill The sun never rises. Not today, at least not here on the Deschutes River. The light is an eerie yellow-orange. The air is hot and dry, and the wind is howling. It’s unsettling. You’d expect it to feel like fog or overcast but it...
Nets, Go Big or Go Home
I received an email from a reader the other day asking advice on steelhead nets. I thought it was a topic worth some discussion. We put a lot of thought into rods, reels, lines and flies but often the piece of equipment that seals the...
The Bobber Conundrum
THE OTHER DAY I RECEIVED THIS EMAIL FROM A READER. *** "Just wanted to bring up an issue that has been eating at my soul for years! I just can't wrap my arms around the thought of using a bobber. That being said, I know that when...
Dean River Chinook
By Jeff Hickman IT'S TIME FOR THE BIG BOYS. With the rapidly increasing popularity of Spey fishing, targeting Chinook salmon has also recently become hot. These large powerful anadromous fish have always been attractive to fly fishers in areas with strong populations. But with modern spey...
Spey Casting Diagnostics Checklist
By Jeff Hickman SPEY CASTING IS A PROCESS REQUIRING SEVERAL STEPS TO BE FULLY COMPLETED IN A SEQUENCE. To effectively and consistently make good spey casts you need to focus on these steps, especially when learning. But even veteran and advanced two-handed casters also need to focus...