Headshake may 2013

HEADSHAKE Orvis Bellevue’s Exclusive Newsletter

May 2013

Deep Water Bass Tactics

Featured Fishery: Pass Lake

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Headshake Magazine Page 1

In This Issue Third Thursday Knowledge Hatch with Al Parke……..…2 May Outlook…………………………………………………..………..3 Missouri River Spring Fling .………………………………………4 Derek’s Yakima Forecast……………………………….………….5 The Secret Sauce-Going Deep for Bass……………………..6 Featured Fishery-Pass Lake………………….……………..…..7 Hosted Travel…………………….…………………..….…………….8

From the Shop For me personally April has come and gone in the blink of an eye. Travel to Oregon and Montana has kept me busy, and put a bend in my rod more than a few times. Here in Washington fleeting days of sunshine have certainly given the impression that spring is here. May is one of my favorite times to be on the water since the fish are generally pretty hungry after a long cold winter. This time of year also provides us with a myriad of fishing opportunities and pectoral pursuits. Whether you like catching sea-runs off the beach, tying in to lunker bass in your local pond, or chasing trout, May has it all. I hope this month finds you on the water, soaking in the sunshine, and putting a bend in your rod.

Tight Lines,

Jason Cotta

Fishing Manager

Orvis Bellevue

Orvis Bellevue 10223 NE 10th St,

Bellevue, WA 98004 (425)452-9138

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Page 5 May Forecast Page 3

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Third Thursday Knowledge Hatch

Al Parke-Fly Fishing Still Waters Thursday, May 16th 6pm

Join accomplished guide and signature Solitude Fly Co tier Al Parke as he shares how to effectively fish our local lakes. Al has over 50 years of fly fishing experience in

Washington. Al will be covering topics such as finding fish, presentation, times of year to fish, entomology, and

equipment. This is a must see seminar for anglers at every skill level.

Sea Run Cutthroat School $100 In-Store Presentation June 22nd 8am

On the Water Clinic June 23rd

Join renowned sea run angler and Orvis associate Leland

Miyawaki for a day of sea-run cutthroat trout fishing. This on the

water school will cover everything you need to know to start

fishing for sea run cutthroat on Puget Sound. Topics covered

include gear selection, presentation, where to go, and fly

selection. School includes lunch and beverages. Students must

supply own tackle and wading gear. Class size is limited to 6

students so be sure to sign up soon!

Fly Fishing 101

Now’s your chance to learn fly fishing basics in one of

our free fly fishing 101 classes. Free fishing lessons on

fly casting and outfit rigging.

FF101 Event Dates

Saturdays & Sundays May 4 & 5

May 18 & 19

May 25 & 26

June 8 & 9

Fly Fishing 201

If you’ve already completed Fly Fishing 101, you’re

ready for the next step. Join us for a short outing on

local water for a chance to catch your first fish! A

nominal fee for the outing may apply. Contact your

local store for more information on the outing.

FF202 Event Dates

Saturdays & Sundays May 11 & 12

June 1 & 2

June 15 & 16

Free Fly Fishing 101


May can be an interesting time to be on the water here in

the Pacific Northwest. Anglers heading out to our local rivers such

as the Yakima should check flows to make sure the river is in

shape. Many rivers will begin experiencing runoff this month so it

is always a good idea to check water conditions before heading

out. However, even when the rivers are high and unfishable our

local still waters can be red hot!!! As water temperatures begin to

rise fish will start becoming more active and looking to pack on a

few pounds after a long cold winter. Be sure to check out our

Third Thursday Knowledge Hatch on May 16th at 6pm. Our

featured speaker, Al Parke, will be talking about still water fishing

and be covering topics such as locating fish, presentation, fly

selection, and equipment. Al is an experienced guide and Solitude

signature tier so this will be a seminar you don’t want to miss.

For anglers willing to travel for trout, fishing the Missouri

near Craig Montana will be a great May option. The Missouri is a

tail water fishery that boasts consistent flows, epic hatches, and

massive brown trout. Make your time on the water more

productive and be sure to hook up with Orvis Endorsed Guide of

the Year Tim Linehan when heading that direction. Tim will be in

the Craig area for the next month and can be contacted at

www.fishmontana.com.

If the prospect of chasing trout doesn’t catch your fancy,

bass fishing will start picking up this month as well. At the

beginning of the month fish will be pre-spawn and located on

drop-offs and secondary points near spawning areas. A Depth

Charge 3D line is necessary to target fish in 10-15 of water. Check

out the “Secret Sauce” section of this newsletter for more tips on

fishing deep for bass.

Sea-run Cutthroat fishing is wide open this month as fish

begin migrating back out to the salt in the South Sound. Fish small

baitfish patterns on an intermediate line for your best chance of

success. Also don’t hesitate to throw the famous Miyawaki Popper

on a floating line for some ferocious top water takes. If you want

to learn more about fishing for sea runs sign up for our Sea Run

School on June 22/23rd.

May Fishing Outlook

http://www.fishmontana.com/


LINEHAN OUTFITTING COMPANY

MISSOURI RIVER SPRING FLING!

When: mid-May through mid-June

Where: Montana’s Missouri River

Join noted Montana outfitter/guide and twenty five year veteran

of the fly fishing industry Tim Linehan and his crew for an early

season adventure on the Missouri River in Craig, Montana. This

trip offers stunning vistas of big sky country and tackle busting

16”-20” wild rainbows and browns. Craig, Montana is a fly

fishing mecca and consists of three fly shops, a bar, and Izaac’s

restaurant which offers some of the finest food in the

state. Linehan Outfitting Company provides the guides. Local

accommodations and meals vary from motels to lodges and beers

and burgers to fine wine and dining. That choice is yours and

we’re happy to help make your arrangements.

Approximate per person daily cost/based on shared room and

shared guide, not including guide gratuities, license or travel

expenses:

Guide Fees…………………..…………………………$250

Lodging…………..……………………………………$ 60

Meals……………...……………………………………$ 50

Flies…………….………………………………………$ 25

Approximate Daily Costs…………………………..…$385

CONTACT US AT WWW.FISHMONTANA.COM OR

CALL 800-596-0034 AND THANKS FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS.

Receive 15% off all product at Orvis Bellevue prior to

your trip!!!

15% off all regular priced merchandise prior to your trip.

May not be applied to other promotions or sales. Please

contact Orvis Bellevue with any questions.

Spring Fling Linehan Outfitting Company

http://www.fishmontana.com/


"May on the Yakima could aptly be called "Maybe" and for good

reason – you may find fishable water all across the system, or

springtime melt and releases may result in challenging conditions.

You will, for certain, have to be good at matching the hatch this

month. Mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, and baitfish patterns will be on

the menu.

This is a good opportunity to work on all of your techniques -

nymphing, wet fly swing, and dry flies will all be relevant. Starting

in the lower canyon, as the water warms and the hatches start to

kick, the sight of active feeders and splashy rises will tempt you to

tie on your first caddis of the year, but watch carefully - aggressive,

splashy rises are sure signs of sub-surface feeding so present a

caddis pupa just under the surface film and don't let that leader/line

get slack! Big salmonfly nymphs should be in your box, so should

tiny olives and even skwalla’s. It truly is a big month insect wise.

Weather, flows, and bugs will have you on your toes in May. Go

prepared to fish all stages of the hatch and focus, don't be afraid to

move around, but be cautious of spawning trout. Recognize what a

redd looks like, and please don't wade or drag an anchor through

one. The Yakima is home to wild fish, and this is their time to

continue the health and diversity of this fishery."

Emerging Rivers Yakima River Forecast

Derek Young Emerging Rivers Guide Service (425)373-6417

www.emergingrivers.com


What is a secondary point? Secondary points are points located in a cove off of the main lake. These are great pre-spawn areas where bass stage up before the spawn.

It is now early spring and we are really seeing bass fishing starting to pick up. As water temperatures warm fish will start moving to pre-spawn staging areas in anticipation for a rise in water temps to move shallow and start making beds. These pre-spawn fish are often found in 10-15 feet of water along drop offs and secondary points. These fish are hungry after a long winter and are eager to pack on the pounds before they start making sweet fishy love. To target fish at this level, anglers need to know the proper lines, flies, and tactics to use in order to be successful. Throwing poppers or baitfish patterns right up against the bank will often lead to little success. It is important to get down to the fishes level and for this we need the proper line. A Depth Charge sinking line in the appropriate grain weight for the size rod you are using sinks 5-7 inches per second and will get you flies down to the bottom where the fish are. My personal preference is a 300 grain line thrown on a 9 weight fly rod. This heavier line and rod means I spend less time waiting for flies to sink and more time in the feeding zone. This setup also helps me throw larger bass flies that fish will be willing to move to. A bass will eat a third of its body weight so never feel like the fly you are using is too big. From a presentation standpoint, the best thing to do is cast beyond where you think the fish might be, count the fly down until you are on or near the bottom, and then begin a slow retrieve. Be sure to keep tension on the fly as it is dropping through the water column as you will occasionally catch a fish on “the drop”. As you retrieve the flies keep the rod tip low and wait to feel a “tap, tap” or simply weight. If you think there might be a fish, SET THE HOOK!!! Remember hook sets are free and there is no harm in doing so even if a fish is not there. My favorite flies to use this time of year are heavily weighted crawfish patterns in a variety of colors. Patterns with a lot of rubber legs that have plenty of movement are always a solid bet. When determining fly color, consider the color of the bottom of the lake you are fishing. Browns, olives, and grays always have a place in my fly box. Try mixing up fly color until you find a pattern the fish are really keying in on. Once you have caught a fish make a mental note of depth, structure, water temperature, and water conditions. Fish will often hold in similar areas and by developing a pattern you will increase your chance of success throughout the day. Bass fishing with a fly rod is one of my favorite things to do and our local lakes are chock full of them. Spring bass fishing is a great option when the rivers are blown out and you need to spend some time on the water. Feel free to give us a call at the shop with any questions you might have on targeting bass with a fly rod.

The Secret Sauce Deep Water Tactics for Bass


Hatch/Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Chirnonomids

Callibaetis

BWO's

Damsel's

Dragonflies

Leeches

Baitfish Patterns

If there is one thing there is a shortage of in Western Washington it is brown trout. However, if there is one thing there is no shortage of at Pass Lake it would be big, bad, mean brown trout!!! Located just two hours north of Seattle, Pass Lake is managed as a trophy catch and release fishery. In addition to behemoth brown trout Pass Lake also has resident rainbows and cutthroat.

Pass Lake offers year round fishing opportunities for anglers wanting to wet a line. The winter months can be slow and cold but anglers willing to brave the elements are often rewarded for their efforts. As spring comes around and water temperatures warm fish will start becoming more active with an increase in metabolism. It is in the spring that you can encounter great hatches of Callibaetis and find fish gorging themselves on size 14 dry flies. When the dog days of summer roll around fish will being concentrating on weed beds and feeding heavily upon damselfly nymphs as they make their migrations to hatch. Summer evening can also be great for midge hatches once the sun gets off of the water. Fall on Pass Lake is the best opportunity to catch one of the lakes massive brown trout. Browns will begin moving shallow to spawn and fishing large streamers near points, drop offs and structure can be very productive. As you can see any time of year, is a great time of year, to fish Pass Lake.

May Featured Fishery Pass Lake

Necessary Equipment Float Tube/Pontoon Boat Rod: 9-10’ 4-6wt Reel: To Match Rod Line: Floating, Intermediate, Type III Sink, Depth Charge 3D 5-6ips Leaders: 9’ 3X-6X Tippet: Matching Spools of Fluoro and Nylon


Hubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge September 12

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Includes: 4 Nights Lodging, 3 days guided fishing, 15% VIP Discount Card, $500

Orvis Gift Card!!!

Fly Fish and explore one of America’s iconic landscapes with a small group from

Orvis on our Montana fly fishing trip. The lodge has been hosting anglers for years

and has twice been recognized as the Orvis Endorsed Lodge of the Year. Their expert

fly fishing guides are delighted to share some of the best trout streams in the Rockies

with our group, and July is a perfect time to visit the area for some Montana fly

fishing. There’s also horseback riding and other activities for those who don’t fly

fish, so it’s a well-rounded western ranch experience at this Montana fly fishing

lodge. Reggie Harris from Orvis of Bellevue leads this trip. He’ll work with the

friendly lodge staff and expert local guides to make sure everyone has a great

experience.

El Pescador Belize $3695 February 16-22

nd 2014

Includes: 6 nights lodging, 5 days guided fishing, Free H2 rod!!!,

15% Discount Card, All Meals, Local Alcohol

This part of Belize is one of the best places to get a

saltwater “Grand Slam”: bonefish; permit; and tarpon in one day. The

flats are extensive and the lodge is well located so you don’t have to

travel far to be on the fish, although they go on endlessly north to the

border with Mexico. El Pescador caters to fly-fishers, but there are

some great non-angling activities available as well. There’s excellent

snorkeling, an extensive barrier reef, a dive shop and the option to

take excursions to Maya ruins on the mainland.

It’s a good place for your first saltwater trip and there’s

an on-site coach to help you master sight casting on the flats. The

large numbers of bonefish mean you’re chances of success are

excellent, and light tackle gear is available.

Hosted Travel Embark on your next fly fishing adventure with our experienced staff. Hosted trips offer anglers the comfort of knowing

their trip will run as smoothly as possible under the watchful eye of one of our professional staff members. These trips

also give individuals the opportunity to fish destinations near and far for less than when booking on their own. Please feel

free to call us at any time with any questions and to book your next adventure today.

Deschutes River with Deep Canyon Outfitters $1125 October 24

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Join us for a three day wilderness float down the lower Deschutes River with Orvis Endorsed Deep Canyon Outfitters. The

Deschutes is legendary for its steelhead runs with multiple fish days a very common occurrence. On this trip you will camp in

style with spacious tents and first class meals. Package price includes 3 days guided fishing and meals. There are only 5 spots

available on this adventure so be sure to sign up early.

Headshake may 2013

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