February 25, 2021
Brandon Worthington presents: Guides eye view of the Upper Klamath Dam Removal to Long Beach Casting Club. via ZOOM for their monthly meeting.
An informative, interactive slide show brings you up to date on the current status of the removal of four dams on the Upper Klamath River, why the fish in this wild and scenic river are worth it and what it’s like to guide through the largest river restoration project in U.S. history.
Guest Post Written by Stephen Neal
In Wildness is the Preservation of the World - “Henry David Thoreau"
Cy stood crotch deep in the river, his rod cradled in his hand just above the rivers surface, the tip pointed at his fly. The river’s current carried his steelhead fly at that perfect walking pace down into the dangle, he waited. The first tug telegraphed itself up through the line and rod into his hand, he lingered, letting each grab go unanswered, when the reel began to unwind, he raised his rod and set the hook. Cy and Brandon our guide, both sensed that this was a steelhead with possibility. When the steelhead came out of the water in its bid for freedom, the excitement was palatable.
Cy deftly used the flex of the rod to gently manage his attached water citizen, bringing it to Brandon’s net through the fishes’ aerial acrobatics and water antics. Each leap into the world of oxygen was a thing of splendor, as the water slid off the fish’s sides and fell back into the water, each drop and spray reflected Fall’s afternoon light. The fish was a beauty, a wild buck, a nice first Steelhead, a personal meet with this creature of our earth’s rivers. It was a well-earned reward for his time spent learning new casts, knots, fly selection and line control. Cy’s hookup and landing of that Steelhead, will be a memory I will carry with fondness for the rest of my days. A shared memory of the fulness of life.
Cy and I were in Northern California we were spending the day with Brandon Worthington of Worthington Fly Fishing, swinging flies on the Klamath River to wild steelhead. Mid November, fall was in full bloom, with chimney smoke and a taste of winter in the air. The air temperature was hovering around 40 and the water registered 50 degrees. When the sun shone, we were comfy but when it hid behind a hill or cloud, a chilly quiver would creep down our spines. That cold was forgotten each time that familiar tug telegraphed itself to our casting hand.
Fishing with Brandon was like fishing with a respected friend. There was an ease and grace to his every action, his subtle nature belies his knowledge and skill. A gentile but powerful stroke or deft hand movement put the drift boat in position to take advantage of the current and flow of the river. His instructions on casting or fly placement were on point and timely and matched our skill level and improved our performance. His respect for nature, the river and the fish and preserving and protecting them were spot on, he is in a class with Marty Sheppard when it comes to guiding.
Bridget, Brandon’s wife while not on the river with us, was still present, the meal she prepared for us was first rate and Brandon spoke of her with love, respect, and admiration. They make a good team in managing and operating their guide business. If you are looking for a guide for Northern California or Southern Oregon, he would be an excellent choice. I am not alone in making this recommendation Cy, Jeff, Scott, Bob, and Kevin would back this assessment up.
Fifteen years - The six of us were on our annual trip fishing on the upper-Sacramento. Bob always on the lookout for fishing opportunities had followed up a lead and discovered Worthington Fly Fishing, it paid off well. We were all feeling a bit snake bit on the Sac, this year. For years we had heard stories from Dunsmuir locals about trout rising to October caddis in November after the usual seasonal fishermen had returned home. When Kevin told us that his oldest Son was getting married during our usual outing time, we moved our trip
back to try our hand at catching trout on October caddis in November. What we encountered instead were trout disinclined to take what we were offering. We spent a lot of time trying everything we had in our fly boxes and receiving extraordinarily little in return. So, our time spent fishing with Brandon revied our fishing spirits, that is not to say we did not have fun together on the upper-Sac.
Kevin and I were fishing Sweetbrier while Scott and Jeff were fishing with Brandon, and Cy and Bob waggled their Rods above the water around town. I got skunked, but Kevin caught three on the first run we fished then came up zero on the rest of the water. After about three hours of fruitless casting we headed back to the cabin to warm up and re-access our fishing. After a snack we decided to try the water below the cabin and set out to do so. Now things were about to get interesting.
The evening before Scott had a large rainbow roll on his dry fly at the head of the pool, below a frost burned Elephant Ear plant. As Kevin headed upriver to fish beyond the pool, he told me to not leave the water until I had thrown a dry fly to that same spot. It was not to be, I got a bird’s nest in my line on the next cast and headed back to the garage to sort out the mess I gotten myself into. I hollered at him to fish the spot, but he could not hear me over the river. When Kevin returned to the cabin, he had a fish story to tell and a picture to share. He admonished me for not fishing the spot and shared his picture of a nice hefty rainbow trout neatly wrapped up in Kevin’s line. Kevin was feeling pretty proud of himself and thankful that said fish had neatly wrapped himself up so that Kevin could land it on his light tippet. He politely accepted my excuse of my failed cast and subsequent line tangle but I think inside he was thanking God that my cast has failed and that he got to cast to the fish under the Elephant Ear plant. That would have been the end of that story but there are four other people in this group of fishermen who are about to take this fish story to a new realm.
That evening around the dinner table in the glow of the fireplace and under the influence of a little wine and Scotch, Kevin told his fish story; and Jeff was primed and ready. We had all been told Jeff’s story about how Kevin had stolen his fish 15 years ago, Jeff had hooked a monster and fought it for an eon of time and the fish had come undone and Jeff was left with a broken heart and a parted line. And the next day Kevin fished that same hole and not only hooked that same fish, but he had the audacity to land it. Jeff’s world was undone and for 15 years we have heard this tale told about how Kevin is a Fish Thief. Jeff was sure that he could now remake his case that Kevin was a fish thief, and that Scott would back him up. And as per usual Jeff retold his story of failure and betrayal and for the next forty-five minutes we pontificated, we speculated, and hypothesized about said fishing infractions and laughed uproariously. It was agreed that Jeff, first wore the fish out thereby allowing Kevin to catch it, and that Scott left his fish so disappointed in not taking his fly that it was determined to take the next fly it saw, thereby allowing Kevin to catch it.
Ah the loyalty of fishing friends and the deft hands of light-fingered maestros of rods and fly presentations, will present endless possibilities for mirth and accusations of unfair play for years to come. And so, goes our fishing discussions over diner, scotch, fireside chats, and smoke sessions. Each of us becomes the hero or the goat depending upon whom, is telling the stories. Our banter is just as great today as it was 15 years ago when we started this journey. Good fishing friends are worth their weight in gold and tall tales. I cannot close out this article without mentioning Bob Grace owner of Ted Fay’s in Dunsmuir. Bob and his fly shop are an integral part of the Dunsmuir experience. Please drop in and support Bob when you are in the area.
As always, Thank you Cy, Bob, Kevin, Scott, Jeff and Brandon and Bridget Worthington and Bob Grace of Ted Fay’s, for a wonderful and epic fishing journey in Northern California. Each of you add joy and richness to life.
Stephen
The world is out there, the journey starts the minute you leave the door, go outside and truly live.
“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind – Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
“Many go fishing all their lives, without knowing that it is not fish they are after” - Henry David Thoreau
Fall is a wonderful time to be on the water. The air is crisp, the water cool, the colors bright. The fishing can be pretty darn good too!
Join us for a memorable trip fly fishing the Rogue, Klamath Umpqua and Beyond…
Fishing small water can be a delightful passtime. I’ve found most known waters worth fly fishing also have many other miles of water worth exploring, offering smaller fish but more intimate experiences. Fishing a river system top to bottom will give you a better understanding of the watershed as a whole and hopefully, a better appreciation for the complex pieces that come together to form our favorite beats. I whole heartedly endorse exploring your favorite waters by following the river upstream as far as it will take you…
Make your own Steelhead or Trout shanks. Easy, cheap, & customizable. Tie your own flies on your own shank.
Make your own Steelhead or Trout shanks. Easy, cheap, & customizable. Tie your own flies on your own shank.
I started tying shank flies before there were too many commercial options around. So I’ve stuck with it, and made my own for years. These are solid, cheap, easy and oh so versatile. There’s something cool too about the foundation of you swing flies being something you crafted by hand. They’re all that fishier for it!
You’ll Need:
Spinner Forms: These are borrowed from the lure making world and come in a number of lengths. Creative folks can make three shanks per form. Considering most packs are 50 or more, you’ll have a decent supply. I have found these at Sporting goods stores and online retailers. You’re local tackle shop also likely has them, if they exist anymore.
Needle Nose Pliers: Do I need to explain these?
Grinder: I use a hook sharpener, though anything in your shop that fits the bill will work. When you cut the spinner forms, any ragged edges need to be filed down or you risk cutting thread while tying, or having a sharp edge on your fly which could find your line or trailing wire.
Tying Vise
I have found these home made shanks work great for barbell eyed flies if you turn the eye up, and great for unweighted flies if you leave the shank true. If you are really carful and precise with your plier and vise work, I can usually mount a 1/4” bead on too for another weighted fly option.
Happy Tying!
Bored at home because you can’t go fishing? Don’t let social isolation take a hit on your cast! Give this fun fly casting game a try!
Read more
In the not too distant future, we’re going to hit the rivers again. And when we do, you’ll have the best view in the house. Missing sharing our passion with you, we hope to see you soon!
So they say not to shake hands with people but steelhead are still ok right?!
Cause we’re still shaking hands daily...
So they say not to shake hands with people but steelhead are still ok right?!
Cause we’re still shaking hands daily...
When fishing with Worthington Fly Fishing, we provide exceptional guiding and outstanding days on the water. We are honored to not only make sure your getting the best action of the season but also a healthy, gourmet lunch! Try not to drool over today’s Mushroom and Tri Tip sandwiches on Bridget’s Grandma’s French Roll recipe!
Wild epitomized
Winter Steelheading is HARD. With colder water temperatures, fish are less active and grabby, some days can get a little frustrating. So, the first thing you need is an optimistic attitude and the last thing you need is to be cold.
Whether you are drifting from the boat huddled up around a small propane heater or waist deep rocketing your favorite intruder across a 35 degree river, Winter Steelheading can be FLIPPING COLD. Some days there’s a gnarly wind-chill, some days its dumping snow, while others are perfectly glorious, sun-filled days or a mix of all the above. We find that it’s best to be prepared for everything to ensure that your awesome day on the water isn’t ruined or even ended early due to poor clothing choices. So, we’re going head to toe, helping you stay warm this Winter Steelheading season!
Before we get too far, LAYERS. We can’t stress it enough. The worst thing that can happen is you bring too many and have to take some off. That’s not a problem, being too cold is, so here’s a layering system we use.
Layer 1
- Standard ball cap (WITHOUT a mesh back).
- Long-sleeved base layer (preferably something quick-drying as we tend to get our sleeves wet when we catch fish). A hoody that is quick-drying can be worn year round and is a perfect sunshade in the summer!
- Midweight long-johns/leggings/base layer with a tapered ankle.
- A thin sock. A running sock works great.
Layer 2
- Active fleece hoody. Bridget’s is a full-zip hoodie that was on sale at REI.
- Pant insulation layer. This can vary based on your warmth tolerance and your budget. Our number one choice for this is an insulated pant, these are a complete gamechanger when it comes to Bridget’s fortitude for winter fishing, camping and hiking. The next option we would go with is a thick fleece or fleece-lined pant. Sweatpants work in a pinch.
- Next is a nice fluffy wool sock. Be sure to tuck your pant hems into the outer sock and smooth it out as best you can. Otherwise, it might bunch and ride up when you pull on your waders!
Layer 3
- Insulated vest. These are great for someone who is going to be fairly active while out in the cold, keeping your core warm while your arms are busy catching all the steelhead!
- Brandon finds a vest indespensible nearly year round. They are great for nippy mornings in the fall and spring and because they provide core insulation only it allows for better heat regulation for the hike in, the row out, and the deep wade.
Layer 4
- Beanie that can stretch around your ball cap.
- Insulated jacket. This should really be a requirement to get on the boat in the winter.
- This is your puffy layer, or insulation layer and can be a number of different pieces including a high pile fleece, a down jacket, a synthetic puffy or even a shell with built in insulation.
Layer 5
- Waders. This is not the time of year to bring out your old beat to the curb waders. Your day could be ruined with the slightest pinhole in the wrong place. Make sure you’re all patched up before your big trip. Also, cold feet can make your whole body cold and could very well be the most important and difficult part to figure out, but I think we’ve got it down. To start, you need to make sure that your wading boots have ample room to fit your feet, enough sock insulation to keep you warm, and your wader sock. We like to go up a size in boots for this exact reason. Yes, that means that in the summer time when we’re wet wading our boots are a touch big but that’s nothing when compared to frostbitten toes.
Layer 6
- Rain jacket. Keep all the precipitation and wind out while trapping all your yummy warmth in. This one is an absolute must for Winter Steelheading. Even if you looked at the weather report and they are promising sunshine and glory, it’s still the PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Bring a rain jacket. Sometimes the wind-chill can really surprise you.
- Gloves. This one is more preference. Some people hate managing line with gloves on but we always recommend bringing a pair or even two of your favorite gloves. Bridget will guaranteed within 1 hour get her gloves wet and Brandon will have to dig out his spare pair. If you tend to get very cold hands, it might be a good idea to bring some hand warmers too.
Now, this is what we typically wear from December through March in Southern Oregon and Northern California. But every trip we go on we bring a dry bag with the following essentials, just in case:
- Cozy, large fleece/sweatshirt
- Sweatpants
- Extra gloves
- Extra beanie
- Extra wool socks
- Wool buff/scarf
We hope this helps keep you warm while pursuing the elusive Winter Steelhead. Their an unforgettable catch and we would hate for you to miss out on their glory because you were too cold.
If you’re interested in a Winter Steelhead trip with us, check out this page and contact us here.
Good luck and tight lines,
Brandon and Bridget
Many spey casting issues can be remedied with one simple fix and the use of a tool we all have, but don’t use often enough.
So when I’m guiding spey clients, where casting is a big component of the game, I try and distill casting down to its fundamental components, use a simple toolbox to fix problems, and ensure we can spend less time farting around casting, and more time actually fishing.
We know (or should know!) that good casting leads to more opportunities on the water, yet it’s still too easy to lose sight of our casting, which can lead to a whole host of issues, including blown anchors, speed and d-loop problems and trajectory mishaps.
So have you figured out what tool to use?
Yes, it’s, your eyeballs! And using them to watch what the heck is going on in your cast from start to finish is where every caster should begin to solve many of the casting problem they are having.
I see all too often, even from good anglers, poor casts are the product of a lack of observation throughout the casting stoke. They’ll set an anchor, form a d-loop, apply power to the forward stroke, and do it all blind, expecting a lazer-dart cast to fire off their rod tip into the abyss.
It works like that for some people, but not most of us, so here’s some simple ways to apply your eyeballs to your casting for better and more consistent results.
1) Watch your rod tip
Train your eyes here from the very beginning of your cast until the end. It might take a few tries to keep your eyes trained the whole time, so you can include the junction of your running line and shooting head too. The point is stay with your cast, all the way through, start to finish.
2) Open up your stance
If you are having trouble staying with your tip throughout the cast, try pointing your toes a little more downstream so your shoulders don’t get in the way and you are facing more of your d-loop. If your shoulder is getting in the way of watching your cast, you’re likely over rotating! Good casters look like they are hardly doing anything at all, and you should strive for that too.
3) Head Up
And keep your head on a swivel. In just about all spey casts, there are multiple directions involved, and you are going to have to move your head to stay with your cast and execute it. Allow your head to move as you cast, to follow your rod tip, observe your d-loop and pick a target for the forward cast. It will help your timing immensely, and even save a bad cast. By watching it all we’ll often catch the error mid stroke and can make a real time correction. Keeping your head on a swivel will also save you from annoying issues like catching your d-loop in the trees behind you. Why? Because you were watching it and saw it was about to go in there!
So watch your rod tip, open your eyes, and enjoy throwing some beautiful wedges out there!
Just a drive to the Applegate Valley is all it takes to see why a small river valley (tributary to the famous Rogue) tucked within Oregon’s Siskiyou Mountains is such a gem. It still maintains it’s rural feel even though it’s just a western step off the I-5 corridor, complete with vintage agriculture, one of our favorite local steelhead streams and a thriving group of vineyards and wineries.
As you begin to feel you’re in the middle of nowhere, just past one of the few public parks in the area, a small sign points the way to one of our favorite Applegate wineries, Red Lily, known for it’s spanish-style wines, specifically their Tempranillos.
I couldn't help pausing the car as we drove down the lane and over a small, single lane bridge spanning the Applegate river. Tasting room in sight ahead, perhaps there was a steelhead below?
The grounds, when you enter the winery are a pleasing combination of ranch style buildings, manicured lawns and picnic seating near the river where summer evenings and live music can be blissful.
We were greeted by an energetic trio of wine tenders who eagerly greeted us with warm smiles and a detail of their flights, bites and bottles.
Keen to give their signature Red Lily flight a try, “a sampling of their Spanish inspired varietals” we ordered a pair and a tapas platter to share.
Outside the pitter patter of light winter rain bounced off the metal roofs contrasting the warm fire, rough wooden furniture and cozy atmosphere inside.
Our flights arrived (in test tubes how fun!) with a quick tutorial and info card. Much appreciated, it’s fun to compare and contrast your palate.
In our flights, we added a fifth to taste, their best in class and featured wine, a 2014 Life of Riley Tempranillo (Best in Class at the 2018 Savor NorthWest Wine Competition).
Letting the specifics of our interpretation and others go, we thoroughly enjoyed each and every sample, choosing a glass of the 2014 Life of Riley for Bridget and the Lily Girl Rose Rose for Brandon.
But in all seriousness, Red Lily’s Rose was mentioned numerous times by our winetenders as a summer favorite where many evenings in the warmer months, they feature live music and a house Rose Mojito recipe that pulls folks in for miles and keeps them coming back for more. (We’ll definitely be back for those!)
After a stroll down to the river, we decided to take home a couple of bottles to enjoy later. Their award winning Tempranillo, to be enjoyed immediately and a Rose, to be kept Cold and ready for those not so distant warm and fuzzy summer evenings.
It’s fun to enjoy the Applegate for more then just it’s prized winter steelhead. We have a couple of months to enjoy the fishing here but a rear round opportunity to savor other fruits of the land.
Is that enough buffer?
I’ve always wondered how resilient streams are to erosion caused by industrial logging operations. Consider the capacity of mature old growth forest ecosystem to hold in precipitation and release it slowly. Contrast that with a mono culture of 30 year old trees next to large sections of barren earth. Water, sediment and junk just flashes into our favorite rivers after clear cuts. The barrier left along fish bearing streams is a joke. Is 3 trees and some slash really enough to prevent severe sedimentation?
Just look next time you see logging on your favorite stream or river, it’s obvious it’s to little protection.
Just saying.
We all need lumber, but common, we’re this desperate?
Tuck with a nice one!
A stunning Rogue Winter Steelhead.
As the days get shorter and the air gets cooler, you can feel an underlying eagerness lingering through our house. Brandon keeps subtly mentioning that he’s going to need a bigger net, and all his fly strategies, colors he wants to use. I open the laptop and the USGS waterdata site is automatically up. I wouldn’t even doubt that he’s started to do rain dances in the backyard. Someone is getting stoked for winter steelhead season! …If you’ve ever caught yourself an elusive, Southern Oregon winter unicorn, you understand.
Our winter program runs January - April. Drop us a line to find your unicorn!
Diablo Valley Fly Fisherman, Tuesday November 19th
The Gardens at Heather Farm, Camelia Room
1540 Marchbanks Drive, Walnut Creek
Join Brandon Worthington of Worthington Fly Fishing for a multimedia presentation to explore and learn about their seasonal approach to the best fly fishing opportunities in Far Northern California and Southern Oregon. He’ll emphasize strategies, tactics and timing for Summer and Winter Steelhead as well as endemic Redband Rainbows on the Rogue, Klamath, Umpqua and beyond.
Dining out in Ashland is a must when you come to town. Just a short stroll from any of the downtown hotels you can find a plethora of delightful options.
House-made pasta, wood-fired pizzas, balanced wines, excellent service and outdoor seating. Need I say more? Absolutely, its just that good! Brandon gets the boar bolognese every time and theres never been leftovers.
Standing Stone not only has an elaborate choice of house brews and local wines but their delectable menu is sourced from local ingredients most coming from their own farm only 1 mile away from the brewery/restaurant in downtown Ashland.
A touch of Spain in Ashland. This place has incredible tapas with excellent house drinks. Anything with their romesco sauce will leave you wanting to lick the plate clean.
Mexican done right with an Ashland touch and an excellent margarita! Quick, delicious and even nutritious if you can resist their exquisite carnitas!
Enjoy a meal and a beverage on Ashland Creek or order free delivery to your hotel room. Louie’s is great! We highly recommend their new bowls, nice and nutritious, makes for a marvelous meal.
I think the more fishing we do, the more we learn the specifics matter less, and the general idea often gets the job done. That’s the deal with the classic Muddler minnow, especially for steelhead. It’s simple, impressionistic, and can be fished and tied in a variety of ways to best suit your local waters. Here’s how to tie a varient I use on my local Steelhead waters, fished up top or with a tip on the swing.
Have fun!
Brandon
Step 1: Gather materials
-Dark Deer Hair, Diamond Braid, thread wax, maribou (any color, this one uses burnt orange) Steelhead hook. Note: If you plan to fish this on the surface, consider a lighter guage hook. Use heavy thread for this tie, I like Veevus 140.
Step 2: Snip a small clump of hair for the tail and tie in at the point of the hook below, allow it to extend past the bend of the hook a bit. Tie in several inches of Diamond braid. You will palmer this towards the eye to make the body next…
Step 3: Palmer the diamond braid up the body to the return of the eye and tie off.
Step 4: Tie in a small clump of Maribou even with the tail, then tie in a small clump of deer hair over the top of the bou’ for an over wing. Less is more here …
Step 5: Leave enough room here for a generous amount of spun deer hair for the collar and head.
Grab a liberal hank of deer hair…
Step 6: Spin the deer hair. Wrap lightly around the shank and hair once, softly, then continue a second wrap, slightly more pressure. Third wrap, harder still allowing the hair to spin around the shank of the hook and the thread to tighten up. Continue tension for a 4th wrap through the hair until the thread is clear of the hair.
Step 7: Trim hair. This is where you decide how you want the head to look. Leave a lot of hair and this thing will push a ton of water, but a tighter trimmed head casts easier. Either way, trim up the butts with your scissors and admire the result. Then, tie one on and let er’ rip!
Happy tying,
Brandon
I’ve gone thru two pairs of Patagonia foot tractor in one full year on the water guiding fly fishing. Each boot lasted about 200 days…
I’m on month 1 with this latest incarnation boot, and it impressive so far. Let’s see where the ROI is…the point is these things should last .
12 hr dry time showed here is impressive…