David Roberts

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

Saturday started out to be cold and foggy, but TC and I both needed a day out on the water, and although I got to the water and forgot my waders, (got sidetracked on the way into the guides shack to get them) instead of going back after them Tom had to set up the boat and push us off. (may have to remember that trick).  It turned out to be a pretty nice weather day, and in the sun was warm (at least a lot warmer than it has been).  As we got down river it was apparent that Big Butte, are first big trib was putting in a good amount of turbidity, and was coloring up the river. The first of my favorite spots showed nothing, the second there was another FF in a pontoon boat sitting in my spot (how dare him, it’s my river). The man was a gentalman and said he had been in there quite awhile and invited us to join him. We did stop and talk awhile and TC did take a fish there. We went down to one other run before it got to late, and hit a couple of good pods of fish and a good hatch of March Browns,  it made the day although just being on the water was enough for me, I was glad TC didn’t drive all that way without fish. Maybe I will get out this week once or twice again. (maybe more)

See you on the water, or in the Guides shack,

David

At this time it is foggy outside and cold, that means its clear, and Friday would have been a better day to hit Olives. Well Tom could make it up today so we are heading out and see what we can find. To get to fish with a friend is worth the day. Oh hell just getting on the water is worth the day.  The Cabin fever sitting in tying flys everyday is getting to me, and all Linda said was good get out of the house before you drive me nuts.

A couple of questions to you folks outthere. Would anybody be interested if I did a few fly tying step by step on here? 

I hope to to Jim Long’s site on the links this weekend, he is the guy that does great vidio’s, like the Jefferson Jurnals, and Bob Quigly’s DVD’s. 

Not much else to write today but after TC & I get off the water I am sure one of us will screw up to make a story.

I hope to see some of you at the SOFT (Southern Oregon Fly Tyers) meeting this Tuesday the 12 th of Feb.

Dave’s web-nerd here… Check out the fly tying page. Buy Dave’s flies. Now.

Fish love ‘em, and have been known to turn down naturals after being seduced by a Dave Roberts Cripple…

There lie’s the problem. I am trying to start a web site to help my guiding and custom fly tying, but also to have fun trying to write about fishing up here. But the damn weather won’t let me go fishing! We had two more day’s of snow then it rained and blew out the river, then it snowed almost all day yesterday, and now its raining again. OK enough crying will get back to the tying bench, and keep the fingers warmed up. This Month signals the show season for those that like to go to them (I love them) so I have been fine tuning some patterns that I will be tying there. Also getting a big back log of March Brown Patterns for the shops, and for folks that read this (ah here comes the add) I want to start something for the custom tying section here. I normally charge $24.00 a doz. for fly’s, but I want to do a “Hatch special”. I will be charging $20.00 a doz. for the hatch at that time (or what I am tying for what is coming up).  So for those that do not tye let me know. I will be doing Catskill style Dry’s, and a Quigly Cripple that work well for me on the Rogue. They have been tweeked to match the color of the March Brown’s on the Rogue that have a slight light green cast to them, unlike any other March Brown I have come across. I hope  in the future to be able to keep a good supply of all the hatches coming up, and other fly specials.

Now for trips coming up, if the weather and water cooperates I am now booking half day trips for mid Feb. & March, March Brown Hatch’s. Also June and the Salmon, and Golden stonefly hatch season is starting to book up, please let me know. This is my favorite time on the Rogue. Most of the time the fish are not big, (but we do hit an early Steelhead sometimes). it is hot and heavy fishing all day.

For those who want to read some real writing, go to a new blog I found on Troutunderground, http://flyfishchick.com She is just starting up, but I think she is going to be a refreshing new side to are sport.

David