[cutthroat kid]

This my second year of dry fly fishing in the cascades and olympics
after having done beach fishing for the past 7 years.

This post is meant to be fun and helpful at the same time.

Feel free to add
Do check the eyelets of every fly you buy in shop before buying them. I have had tendancy just grab 4 to 6 caddis or royal wulfs quickly , only to discover the eyelets are some times covered up when I am on the water putting on a fly, using up valuable time

Do hydrate when you leave the house on the way to your destination and have plenty of fluids in your pack and back at the car when you get back

Keep full extra change of clothes in your car
Pay attention to CF flows and talk to local fly shops to learn what is safe
300 to 400 CF is not the same for all streams

Do find out how cool it is to twitch a surface fly after the end of a drift and see how cool it is when cutthroat still chase it like a cat after ball and string

work all shaded areas when the sun it out
work ,log jams tail outs and root wads
and back eddies over fast running seams of water buy high sticking

even work small riffle areas that look like they have fast water, The fish often take you fly because they have less time to look it and decide if it something worth eating

Learn how to roll cast really well and reach cast

Have goal of catching more fish than flies that you lose during the day
I have not met that goal yet

 

[Tugs]

Great info. I was looking to seek out distant waters this summer!


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[Tugs]

I have also made the mistake with not checking the eyelets of the flies and burns me every time.


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[David Loy]

Do carry an extra sweater, compass and iodine tablets, to make drinkable water. I drunk less on the trail than most, but A) I know how important fluids are and B) I have had "Beaver Fever". Take it from me, it's no fun! You can maybe cheat on some of the ten essentialls for a short trip, but these don't take much room and can help save the bacon. Two other things, well 3 or 4 maybe: a small tarp, like the Parawing for if a squall blows through, a hammock for the nap when that 1pm anabatic wind pipes up (I like a nap in the woods ;-), a sit pad. It's easy to go overboard, and I sometimes bring more, but I'll quit here. Truth is you only need a handful of flies (Humpys, EHCs, Stimies, Ants and a couple Buggers maybe, and a 4wt DT, and your weapon of choice that drives it. Yes, I do like some creature comforts. Fishing is just a game to play while I'm loafing in the forest.

 

[Adam Saarinen]

Spare smokes & lighter in the car always!

 

[Kilchis]

Charmin Ultra.

 

[Delete MeToo]

Keep a rain jacket in your pack. Can't tell you how many times I've been 1-3 miles from truck on a bright sunny day only to walk out drenched and cold. A little food and water too.

I like to have my fly gear in a "go bag." Pre assembled and ready to go for those days you weren't planning on going but decided to anyway.

 

[meh.meh.meh.meh.meh.]

Dropping a nymph or soft hackle under your dry fly increases your odds, of catching fish and losing flies.

 

[Sir Homey]

DO - keep up important traditions like letting your wife know what time you'll be out of the wilderness and what time she can expect a call from you saying you're safe.

Because that one time you forget...she'll call the sheriff and report you missing.

 

[David Loy]

Ditto on the TP, and a plastic trowel. Rain coat, yes. FWIW, I tripped in the woods for over 20 years and every time, without fail, brought along an old rubberized army poncho. Only used it for rain wear a few times, but it makes a hell of a ground cloth while hanging out, or taco yourself inside for a nap, and can make for a small tarp/shelter. The sub-ounce shavers would cringe but it's a great piece of kit that can cover a few bases. I've always appreciated versatile gear.

 

[Jojo]

DO - keep up important traditions like letting your wife know what time you'll be out of the wilderness and what time she can expect a call from you saying you're safe.

Because that one time you forget...she'll call the sheriff and report you missing.

Did that happen?

I took a class from this guy who also guided, Glenn. Glenn told a story about how he went fly fishing and his wife (who didn't fly fish) came with him only to hang out at a different part of the river by the truck reading in a lawn chair, just hanging out. And he had such a good day fishing a ways from her that he remembered that he totally forgot that he brought his wife with him. It was many hours later and getting dark when he finally started back and as he approached the truck she jumped in it and drove off leaving him there for a bit. She was hopping mad.

 

[Jojo]

Cut throat kid, such good advice! And this for sure: "Do check the eyelets of every fly you buy in shop before buying them. I have had tendancy just grab 4 to 6 caddis or royal wulfs quickly , only to discover the eyelets are some times covered up when I am on the water putting on a fly, using up valuable time" ...
I don't need to glasses to drive or see distances so if i forget my 2.5 readers i may as well go home because i cannot tie a fly or unhook a fish without them.

 

[seattlesetters]

Get a stream thermometer and use it.

Your absolute limit should be 68 degrees. However, if the water temp is over 65 degrees, do the fish a favor and find a cooler piece of water.

 

[Tracker]

Cut throat kid, such good advice! And this for sure: "Do check the eyelets of every fly you buy in shop before buying them. I have had tendancy just grab 4 to 6 caddis or royal wulfs quickly , only to discover the eyelets are some times covered up when I am on the water putting on a fly, using up valuable time" ...
I don't need to glasses to drive or see distances so if i forget my 2.5 readers i may as well go home because i cannot tie a fly or unhook a fish without them.

In pretty sure I use the eyelet spike on my nippers more than I use the nippers to cut actual line.

 

[Tracker]

Moose always have the right of way on the river, never argue that point with them, they don't care what you have to say.

Never stand on a beaver lodge to fish. Trust me on this.

Bring water and hydrate often.

When I go "remote" for the day, I always write down my access point and direction on the river I intend to walk for my spouse......and I stick to the plan if I'm in an area where I can't contact her to change it....always.

 

[Sir Homey]

Did that happen?

Yes it happened.

I got back into civilized lands and my phone was blowing up. The wife was livid. Luckily so little time had elapsed between me being reported missing and presumed eaten by a bear and any actual searching by the authorities that the wife was able to contact them again and inform them all was well.

I give her detailed info every time I go out. This time though...hottest day of the year to date, didn't get dark til like 10pm, I decided to linger and hike out as the sun set. I just never told her that So now, time to upgrade the PLB to a new variety that can send texts.

 

[Jojo]

Yikes!....Sir Homey.... She didn't know whether to smack you or hug you when she saw you i bet!

 

[McKivergan]

Add a small tactical flashlight, preferably with strobe and stun features. A little pricey at $60-75 but pays for itself with one use. Got mine as a gift. Never thought I'd use anything but the flashlight. I was wrong.

 

[Sir Homey]

Yikes!....Sir Homey.... She didn't know whether to smack you or hug you when she saw you i bet!

We laugh about it now, but she was pretty hot about it at the time. Years of having done it right led her to think the worst when I didn't call in like usual.
Lesson learned.

 

[Kyle Smith]

Charmin Ultra.

I like my shit tickets to match my rod. Scott all the way.