David Roberts

Linda and I just got back from a 3 week driving trip to and from Ohio. It was a fun trip, Boo our Lab was the best dog I have ever had as a traveling dog. I never heard her wine once (maybe I couldn’t hear her over me).  We left on Fri. the 1st. of Aug. and returned on the 21st.  I will just hit some of the highlights of the fishing and sight seeing part of the trip. After leaving Reno on Sat. morning at 4 in the morning we drove to the other side of Salt lake City and down the other side. Took a fuel stop and was looking for a area to run Boo, we came on a small stream that runs through a bunch of ranches, but the local fly clubs have worked well with them and there are gates or walk over steps for access to the stream that is full of Browns. (a new one to put on my new bucket list of rivers and streams to have to fish) after spending the night in Wy. somewhere, we made a small detour to Lyons CO. and a visit to South Creek LTD. bamboo rod shop, with Mike and Kathy, These are two great people and a class shop. Then off to fish the St. Vrains, no I didn’t hammer the fish, not even a hit, but who cares it was great water, and great area. I will get some help posting a few pictures of the shop and river, then continue the trip. I don’t want to make this to long.

About the fishing up here. I am starting to book more trips this year now that I have the time. The fishing for Steelhead is not hot and heavy, but it is early and we can hope for a lot more. For those that want to go down and fish for half pounders, there is the biggest run of them in many years, (close to 200,000 fish) e mail me and I will give you some places to fish. I don’t guide that area, but will be heading down to fish them next week. (you ready Jim?) Trout fishing on the Rogue is good, if you can keep the salmon smolts off. We have been using a little heavier bead head to get below them. The water is dropping well and the water temp is still in the mid 50’s so we are having some good dry fly fishing.  Feel free to call me on any fishing in OR. if I don’t know I will try and get the info for you.

Good Fishing and see you on the river,

David

Well it’s 3:00AM and getting the food in the ice box’s and loaded up and we’ll be heading out. So this time I won’t be slacking by not writing, I will be fishing and hope to be able to come back with lots of story’s of fishing, (and maybe catching). But most of all about fine bamboo’s old reel’s, tying and just great people.

See ya in a week, or at the show, if we haven’t met please stop by at the show and say hi. If I should know you and don’t remember, please just put it to old age I did turn 60 yesterday.

David

I love to tie, and tie with others. Yesterday as we do every Wed. a few of my cronys from SOFT (Southern Oregon Fly Tyers) met here in my fly tying room and tyed and shared patterns and method.  A bunch of these guys are going up to Camp Sherman to tie for the show and tie as a group, although all have tyed at shows all over the country.  This is a club that any of you local tyers that would want to think of joining is a lot of fun. There are no dues no officers just sharing once a month and a good source of info if you are just learning, or and old master and want to learn new things. I have been tying over 50+ years and always learn new things. We had our first swap and BBQ this last month and I came home with some real treasures, 7 new books (to me) to add to my library. (I still have a lot of room for more). Although I am a pro/custom tyer (that just means I sell a lot of flys) I still love to tie for fun and there is always something to learn. I am still planing on putting a lot more pictures up here, but still having trouble getting them up, also forget to take pictures. My guiding partner and good friend JimU, is going to help me, (when we can get off the water long enough to do it). Fishing is just to good now.

Those of you that want to start thinking of going after Steelhead its getting time the count is starting to move up, Also JimU is guiding lakes in our area and does pretty damn good. As of right now I am still stuck on moving water, and have a hard time not feeling the water moving under the drift boat or my waders. That may change with some of the trout he has been getting on the lakes.

See you at Camp Sherman, and if you are out of this area, please stop by and let me know who you are. I will be tying both days there, and if you want help casting your first bamboo let me know.

David

Just got back, but going up again. Linda and I went up the Camp Sherman for there 90th birthday party over the 4th, and had a lot of fun. Sitting around camp with good friends, and stuffing my face with all the chow. As Mike, Chuck, and I tyed at the store on Saturday, the gal’s headed for the garage sales and had a blast, and yes there was a lot more crap in the back of my P/U on the way home. We will be home this week then head back up again next week (Tue.) for the Camp Sherman Fly Fishing and Bamboo Fair. I do a lot of tying shows every year but this one is the high light of the year for me. I get to tie and visit with a lot of other tyers, and go into bamboo overload all in one trip. This is a great show for those that are bamboo nuts or those that want to find out what all the hoopla is. You can sit around with builders with no pressure. All the builders will let you go out and cast there rods. There are some great collectors there ( Dan & Kelly, Jim & Ron) that will let you know if your Grandfathers, or Fathers old bamboo or reel or other gear is worth fishing, let you know if you can retire. These guys are all great collectors of classic fishing tackle and are very honest. I am starting to get the collecting bug, so far I have just been a gatherer of bamboo, and older reels to fish, (Dan still calls me a collector) but know I am looking for some of the gadgets we use to use, and old fly tying tools. As for the fish around this area, the Salmon Fly/Golden Stones hatch was great this year and was more overlapping than I had ever seen them. The weather was a factor I am sure because although the Salmon Fly where hatching, it was cool and damp the first of the hatch so they where more in the bush’s and unless you where not working the edges where they where falling off, or just dropping off to lay there eggs. JimU, and I had some great days on the water when a lot of others waited. To tell the truth we just had cabin fever and really didn’t expect to find the fishing we did. The Steelhead fish count 656 (that was in June they don’t keep it up very well) so it’s time to start looking for them, early morning late evenings Grease Lining Muddlers, or damp fly’s, the rest of the time nymphs are the best bet. For me anyway.

See you on the water or at Camp Sherman,

David

The last few weeks I have been on the water a bunch both with trips, and just fishing with friends. Jim Ulm, (Jimu guide service). We run trips together and is a hell of a lot of fun to fish with. The Salmon Fly’s are starting to tail off as are the Golden Stones, but the fish where still looking up for them. Jim and I hit the water after 10 yesterday morning and hit fish pretty much right off the bat. I had on a new pair of waders that I won’t give a name or review until I talk to the Rep, but at this time I am not happy with them. I should have waded wet as Jim did, because it turned out to be real hot and it would have felt good. Jim had a good swim when his feet went out from under him, then he tryed to use the anchor rope to stop his decent (like that would work).  After we got down to Casey Park took pitty on me because I couldn’t wade anymore he took the oars of my boat and let me fish (that is a true friend, and thank you Jim I was pissed at those waders), and I think Jim could tell, anyway I had switched to a new Golden Stone pattern I had tweeked and it seamed to be a keeper I got into quite a few of the bigger fish, and to make things better we are seeing more native trout not just young steelhead. The last fish I got was a large wild cutt that screwed my leader up so bad I took over the sticks for the last run thru Rogue Elk Park.

Well for today it will be getting ready for a trip on Sunday and staying hid in the fly tying room and trying to stay cool. At 4 this morning it was 60 deg. already. Just wanted to thank Steve Johnson, he said the smoke was going to blow out of his area today, its up here now. I have been sitting out front all morning sense it got light and watching the Elk feeding in the field across from the house. Will try and post more and get some pictures up soon. Will be heading out Friday to Camp Sherman to do some tying at there 90th birthday party, Roger has been working hard to get old owners and friend of Camp Sherman together. Then just a week later we (Linda and I) will be going back up there for the Camp Sherman Bamboo and Fly Fishing Fair where I will be tying and casting bamboo until my arm falls off. Of course this is a big one for me because I will be turning 60 that week so I am out to prove I can still do it. Hope to see a lot of you there.

David

With the show season over for the most part,(two to go both at Camp Sherman), and high water here on my home water the Rogue. I haven’t had much to write about. I have been at the bench and tying a lot. Lately every Wed. a bunch of old farts (all founding members of SOFT) . No that stands for Southern Oregon Fly Tyers. Not what age has done to us and cold water. We get together and sit around in my fly tying cave and have fun.

Now for an add; I will be having a few class’s coming up and I want to see how much interest there is in them.

One will be on “Tying Small”, what is the best tooling, how to adapt tooling you have, hook’s, material, and where to locate them. and tying #18’s to #32’s. and yes these fly style’s catch very large fish. I have caught 3 to 5 lb. Rainbow’s very large Cutt’s and even Steelhead on fly’s 18 and smaller. Note* Thank God for a good drift boat when fighting steelhead on small fly’s and a buddy who could take over the oar’s.

The next class will be on “Steelhead Nymph’s” and like the other class’s I offer will cover much more that just wrapping material on a hook.

All class’s will be held in my fly tying cave here at home, and local shops will have the material you need to tye these fly’s. Although I will supply all material’s for the class’s you will want to be able to do them on your own when you get back to your own bench.

As for fishing reports, I will give one after Monday or Tuesday. The “State of Jefferson Fly Fishing Board” is having there BBQ and get together this Sunday June 1st. at the Holy Water on the Rogue, and on Monday we have a float for the Salmon Fly hatch, and I hope I have a good report for that on lots of fish caught. The Rogue is still up but dropping into good flow’s and we should be able to wade in some spots. Of course Mine and JimU’s boat will have the best chance of getting fish because we are both guides (yea like that makes for a sure think) don’t bet on it.

David

I know it has been to long since I wrote anything, but I have been doing a lot of fly tying demo’s, and tying class’s. Yes and some fishing. Up to the end of March,(that is when trout season closes for 2 months on the Rogue to protect the smolt’s heading to sea), so I have been working with the Big Butt, (Jerry Fosters Steelhead rod) and getting a few great fish. I have started to lay off the winter fish, because there are just to many fish redding up, and I don’t want to bother them.

I will be heading out Thursday for the FFF show in Ellinsburg WA. I will head for Maupin OR to spend the night with Bob & Laura two of my closest friends. Maybe get to hit the evening hatch on the Big D. Then Bob and I will head up to both tye at the show. Although We could drive it in one day easy, I am sure it will take me 3 or 4 days to get home, as there are a lot of rivers and streams between here and there.

As for the fishing here. The Caddis is going nuts, (but again the river is closed to trout until Memorial Day). The Salmon Fly Hatch will also start then. OK the sales pitch for the day. Those that want to get a float trip for this fantastic hatch, get a hold of me soon, because June is booking fast.

When I get back from this show I will be posting some pictures and patterns that I like for this hatch for those that tye your own.

See ya soon,

David

Well trout fishing is closed now on the Rogue for two months which is a good thing to let salmon and steelhead smolt get down river and start there long journey.  I made one last float to see what was happening, and was hit with good weather, and 3 hatch’s.  On the way out ran into a buddy and fellow Marine, and asked him if he wanted to go with me.  He is a new bamboo builder and jumps at a chance to go rod testing. We got into some great fish, and just as the March Browns started Jim U and his buddy showed up in his boat and we fished along and had a ball. Got fish in three diff. spots, on March Browns. BWO’s, and Blue Quill’s. As always the hatch just quit, and the fish stopped. We headed down and fished on gravel bar and I switched to a bigger 8wt bamboo and Dick switched to a 8wt glass rod. I got lucky and hooked up and a solid hook up of a steelhead that screamed the reel, and there is where my luck ran out, he wooped me and took off.  It was a great day.

Now for what is coming up, the mothers day caddis should be showing on the Holy Water closer to the end of the month, and if they show, it can be great fishing. Right on it’s heals, at the end of May first of June and all of june the Salmon Fly Hatch will be on, and we are planing the June 1st gathering and pot luck at the Holy Water, and I know my buddy Bastard Shay will be there.

See ya on the River,

David

For the last few days I have been off line trying to get on DSL, and thanks to JimU I am there (kinda). Starting on this thing just a couple of years ago, and starting with AOL that does everything for you, to trying to do this somewhat on your own, (if it wasn’t for Jim and Gus I’d be screwed). Jim helped all afternoon yesterday getting it turned on, and at least I can write here and find a few of my old sites I always went to.  For now you can still get me at the old e mail address   oretroutbum@aol.com  but that may change or not.

For fishing reports, I have to go to Jim because I have been under the weather sense we go back from Albany, but I am getting fly’s tyed and should be able to get some pictures TC of some soft hackles soon. About another month before the small streams to open around here, but in truth it will be late June early July before any of there are worth fishing. Thanks to everybodys help.

To Heather, please post here about the meeting and let people know where to send letters. Also contact Tom at troutunderground.com about it.

David

Laura’s Fish on the Dechutes 

I hope this is OK Laura, but I am trying to learn how to get pictures up on this, and thought you should be one of the first to be here.  For the rest of you Bob & Laura are two of my best friends and fishing partners. ( and Bob was my saveyer this last weekend at the show) Thank you brother and Semper Fi

David