Fly Fishing Oregon's Fall River
October 19th, 2011 | Fly Fishing Guide | No Comments »You may not have seen an uglier imitation of a natural bug in your life, and hopefully you never will. In fact, the world’s leading entomologist would’ve had a hard time determining what I was trying to duplicate with this fly. It was by far the sloppiest attempt at the traditional elk hair caddis pattern to date. Purely an exercise in beginning fly tying, and one of the first to come off of my assembly line known as a vice.
It was a combination of ego, sentimentality and hopeful romantic fantasy that allowed it into my fly box. Wouldn’t it be something if it worked and I actually landed a fish with my first attempt at fly tying? A lost cause you would think while looking at it. But, it felt good just have it sit in my fly box next to those store-bought, $2 apiece, professionally tied flies.
I knew the trout of Oregon’s Fall River were smarter than to accept my fly.They’ve seen, and passed on, the most meticulous artificial creations (very professionally tied ones). No matter, in time there I am, fly fishing Oregon’s Fall River, and the only one on the water.
Although some of the gin-clear river is lined with private property, there are plenty of entry points along its banks with easy wading. Fallen trees and grasses provide cover for `bows, brooks and browns. The river, at times only 20 feet across and at others 50, stretches for 8 miles along Route 42 through the Deschutes National Forest just South-west of Bend. It’s fly fishing only and when you go be sure to visit the hatchery, which is open to the public.
Waste deep at a U-shaped section of water I open my fly box to see what I have to choose from. And there it was, my Frankenstein Fly. The image reminded me of those children’s magazines you find in Doctor’s offices. The ones that “challenge” you to find the hidden mistakes in the cartoon. Well in the case of my fly box, the mistake wasn’t too well hidden or too hard to pick out.
Joseph Hollak spent nine years as a financial consultant to high net worth individuals and non-profit organizations.
Currently he is a Realtor in Central California specializing in working with real estate investors and first-time home buyers.