David Roberts

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

The NW Fly Tyers Expo, was bigger and better than ever. Although I tyed both days and did a stint in the Jay Fair booth, I still got to get around and see a lot of the great tyers that came to show there wonderful work. From Karen Rourk’s supper realistic, to Big John O.  & Glen W.  & Steve B. Atlantic Salmon Flys.  S. Oregon was well represented, with Morris Fruitman, Dan Kellogg, Ron Metzker, Ray Slusser, Rusty Krandle, and many more that I am brain fading right now. lots of exibits and new things to play with.

Keep your eye on the “Troutunderground” because TC will be doing a artical on Soft Hackles soon and I will do a follow up on it for our area, this should be fun.

David

For those fly tyers out there go to Tom Chandlers Blog;

The Trout Underground Fly Fishing Blog, and sign up for the HMH give a way. This is a good deal.

David

It’s getting close to where I can take a deep breath and just fish for a few days. Reedsport show was last weekend and was a blast, and got to see a lot of good friends, and eat some fantastic food, (thank you again Sheri). This weekend is packing the fly tying kit for Albany, then be ready to tye at the grandopening at the new shop in Medford (SOFLY).

I did take a day and go out to Sayer oars and paddles to have them do a repair on my main set of oars, and ended up ordering a set of the new counter balanced oar’s (Bruce is even doing to counter balance in hex for me because of being a bamboo addict) Then we started talking canoe paddles. It’s still a small company that you can talk to the owner and get what you want (even if you didn’t know you wanted it when you got there). I am over 6′ so finding a paddle that is long enough for me off the shelf doesn’t happen. I also like the traditonal beaver tail style. They make a beautiful Doug Fur shaft with a light long laminated blade, but Bruce said “wait I think I got just the thing for you”, runs to the back room and comes out with a blade they are playing with in. You guessed it, it is bamboo. He got me I ordered two, with Doug Fur shafts. We both run Navaro canoes, and he was telling me that the company had been sold and had moved back to Oregon and the young couple that was building them now was building in there shop out in Wimer, and I should go out and meet them. What a treat. They are really doing nice work, and both are in to fine detail of there wonderful water crafts. There just as bad as Bruce because they told me that they want to try bamboo for the inside bottom and trim of there boats. Jen is going to do some more reserch and let me know. ( you can tell she found a sucker.) They do have a web site, but I would contact them via e mail at, rynennavarrocanoes@yahoo.com, and Jen will take care of you. I hope to see a lot of you at Albany next weekend (7th and 8th ).

David

I got a call from a good friend and fellow guide Jim U. the other day, and said I’ll take my boat, you want to fish? Dumb question for a fishing guide. We had a great time and and got a couple fish on drys. No we didn’t hammer them and show the world that two guides can clean the river out. To me a day on the river (and not on the sticks) the sun was out and warm (another first in a long time) it was a great day, and one of the few I will get for awhile. It’s show season, so I am finding myself tying, and talking fishing, casting, and playing with some of the new fly fishing products they say we can’t live without on the water, or just look good out there (yes TC I know its hopless for me) There I beat you to it. I have done 3 thing clinics this week so far, and Linda and I head out Friday morning for Reedsport for the show on Sat. This is not a big show, but one of the better one’s out there. No other show will you get to learn and visit with the Legend of the Umpqua, Frank Moore. His casting is just amazing.

Then on March 1st. the Grand Opening of the S.O. Flyshop (on the corner of W. Main and 5th street across from YMCA, I will be tying. Then the next week Linda and I take off again on Thur. morning for Albany Or. for the N. West Fly Tyers Expo. This is our granddaddy show on the West Coast. This is the show that was in Eugene Or. for 19 yrs. and just out grew what they fairgrounds would let the FFF have. Last year was the first year in Albany, and a lot a folks where not happy with the move (I wasn’t thrilled) and like most I was thinking now that they where going to let dealers and displays in and casting ponds it would take away from the tying. I think we where all wrong, it was fantastic, and looks like it will be better this year. Now that is the 7th and 8th of March, I hope to see a lot of you up there and stop by and say hi.

Then it looks like I get to fish a few days around here and in Apr. the Mother’s Day Caddis should start to show. Then in May it is off to Wa. to the WA. FFF show (and a couple of days on the Yakama for some dry fly fishing on wild cutt’s) then seeing how it is such a long drive home I may have to rest up at my elderly age, and stop at the Metolius for a couple of days, and see if the Green Drakes are showing yet. OK so its not all just tying I will sneek in some fishing.

See ya at the show’s or on the water,

David