Articles

Elwha River Greets Largest Chinook Salmon Run in Over 20 Years

by Chad Shmukler - Wednesday, Nov 27th, 2013

A returning Chinook salmon jumps at the former Elwha Dam site (photo: Matt Stoecker).

Could it be said that the Elwha River has become the celebrity figurehead of the growing trend of dam removal in the United States? And if not, should it be? Since dam removal efforts began just over 3 years ago, the Elwha has show the world much of what can happen -- and happen quickly -- when impediments in a river are removed. The images have been dramatic, not only at the two dam removal sites, but all the way to the mouth of the Elwha where it meets the Pacific Ocean. Most recently, Olympic National Park officials released information which indicates that the river is seeing the largest run of chinook salmon in over two decades.

According to park officials, "biologists representing Olympic National Park, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and NOAA Fisheries navigated over 13 miles of the Elwha River and tributaries with the goal of counting all the living and dead adult Chinook and map the spawning salmon's redds. Biologists walked and snorkeled the river from Glines Canyon Dam to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, as well as the lower portions of three of the river's tributaries - Indian Creek, Hughes Creek, and Little River." Park officials noted that the returns were "the largest run of Chinook salmon since 1992".

Allen Fly Fishing Releases New Xa2 Rod Series

by Colin K. Breck - Thursday, Nov 21st, 2013

The all new Allen Xa2 fly rod.

Allen Fly Fishing has just made available its latest rod series, the Xa2. Based on Allen's most popular rod to date, the Xa, the new series is intended to deliver all of the performance and versatility of its predecessor by utilizing proven tapers while leveraging improved materials. The Xa2 is also the second rod available out of a series of products for which Allen is moving to production to the states. The new Xa2 series rods are hand rolled in Pennsylvania, by rod builders Allen is calling a "masters of the craft".

According to information released by Allen, "The original Xa series was our best selling, most popular rod series since it released in 2011. We have taken everything that both us and our customers loved about the series and built an entirely new rod ... each finished with the utmost attention to detail. The Xa2 series, like its predecessor, is about versatility. If you're the type of angler who likes to switch tactics, and don't like packing multiple rods, the Xa was designed with you in mind. From our small stream specialized 6'6" 3wt, the classic 9' 5wt, or any of our 10' nymphing rods, there is a rod for any situation."

Reading Rapids: The Secret River

The river within the river

by Gary Borger - Wednesday, Nov 20th, 2013

A surprising number of stout brown trout were taken from the less than knee-deep "secret river" (red dots) that lines this stretch of the Gardiner River (photo: Tom Estilow).

Rapids are a place of extremes -- extremes in water depth, extremes in bottom erosion, extremes in even current speeds, as we shall see. Rapids are always better places to be searched carefully by the fly fisher -- carefully in terms of wading, and carefully in terms of making certain that no good water goes unexplored.

Rapids are tough places to put a fly down and expect it to float with any sort of dead drift. But there are some tricks to it. First comes reading waters, then comes the fishing. In all rapids, there is a "secret river". It may be quite narrow, and then again it may be fairly wide. It's the easy water, the place one can toss a fly without much need to do more than use a Harvey-style leader to get a good float. During the salmon fly hatch [on Montana's Madison River] (and every other hatch for that matter), the fishing can be fast and furious in the secret river, and it's the first place I hit. It's the water right against the bank -- you know, that stuff one wades through to get out there into the "real" river. But think about it for a moment: Where's the best place for an energy-conserving trout to park itself while getting food in the easiest fashion? That's right: In the slow water next to the shore where the stoneflies are hanging on every bush like overly ripe fruit.

When guiding anglers on the Madison, my long-time friend, Mike Lawson, tells clients to cast into all those places where one wouldn't normally fish -- in other words, the secret river. Those that pay attention to his advice find out very quickly that Mike is a shrewd water-reader, indeed. Most anglers use the secret river as their wading lane, when in fact, it should be their fishing lane.

Thomas & Thomas Introduces its NS II Series of Fly Rods

by Marshall Walker - Saturday, Nov 16th, 2013

The all-new Thomas & Thomas NS II series.

Thomas & Thomas has announced a new line of fast action rods based on their very successful NS series of fly rods. Considering their roots, the new series is aptly named the NS II.

The NS II rods are equipped with titanium silicon carbide and universal snake brand guides, and feature a newly tweaked fast action, high modulus, clear graphite blank and reduced ferrule profiles. Unlike its predecessor, the NS II has been crafted with all types of fly fishing in mind -- from big rivers to vast still waters.

"The NS was originally conceived as a distance trout rod with big western rivers in mind," explained Mark Richens. "But as reports came back from the field we knew it was being used for much more than that. We envisage the NS II finding favor across the globe for trout, salmon and steelhead but also saltwater species. If you are looking for one rod that will span the spectrum, most of these rods are equipped with salt proof components and make a great choice for freshwater anglers that make occasional forays in to the salt."

Review: Simms Rivershed Boots with StreamTread

by Tom Estilow - Friday, Nov 15th, 2013

The Simms Rivershed boot with StreamTread.

SIMMS Rivershed boots with Vibram StreamTread soles were first introduced in 2009. The fact that this workhorse wading boot is still on the market over four years later is a testament to its well-rounded feature set and quality construction. After outings to everywhere from local streams to the backcountry of Yellowstone, the Riversheds never failed to deliver. Besides typical wading, these boots were used for wet wading in many situations with either wool or neoprene socks. Size 11 Riversheds clock 66.5 ounces with generic studs installed, which is just over two pounds on each foot. While this may sound heavy, in reality the boots are perfect for hiking long distances on trails and river banks to reach the next fishing spot. Lighter boots can be had, however the Riversheds offer well-rounded durability, comfort, and protection in and out of the water.

At $179.95 these aren’t the least expensive boots on the market, but when it comes to a balance between price, quality, and functionality it’s hard to beat the Riversheds.

Features

SIMMS details the materials and construction of the Rivershed boots to highlight the main selling points of the design. The company states that a “full perimeter of burly rubber” fuses “exceptional support” and durability. The pull-on heel strap simplifies putting them on, and tightening the laces through metal hardware makes for a comfortable fit. Here are highlights of the official specs:

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