Page 26 - North 40 Outfitters

Another Day Full of Adventure Today is my birthday.  I turn 38 years old.  As my father and I make the run out to the permit flat, I can’t help but think about all the fishing adventures we have shared together.  He first took me fly fishing when I was six years old, and I can remember it like it was yesterday.  I can picture the Touchet River, in eastern Washington, teaming with stocked brown trout.  I can picture getting snagged in every tree around me, while he made perfect casts into a run full of feeding trout.  I can remember how frustrated I was getting snagged and tangled until finally he made a cast for me, handed me the rod, and I felt the powerful pull of a brown trout.  Since then, we have traveled all over the country, and the world, chasing fish with fly rods.  For my college graduation, he took me on a trip to Ala...

Steelhead Rivers There are blown out conditions on all rivers right now. They are well over any fishable cfs. Flooding is happening on the South Fork of the Clearwater. You’ll want to stay away from all of these rivers, dangerous conditions. Trout Rivers Rain has brought all the rivers up, hurrying the process of snowmelt. We have rain predicted in the forecast for the next week. Fishing is highly unlikely until the rivers level out and maintain a steady cfs. Lake Fishing Winchester Lake has 95% of the ice gone. Water conditions are very murky, yet, folks are still catching fish. Idaho Fish and Game plans on stocking 6,000 fish between April 15th and 19th. Here in the next week, it will be a good time to go catch some hatchery trout. Also, Manns Lake has some fishing potential right now at the moment. Water conditions are murky as well...

I went back at it today with fellow angler, Jim. Our guide from before, Darrel, was under the weather, and we had to fish with a different guide. Jim and I were definitely apprehensive, as our chances to catch a permit were halfway done for the week. Ever wonder how to book a fishing guide for your next trip? Learn here. We started on a windy flat first thing. Clouds were blocking the sun overhead, making sighting the dark tails of the permit even more difficult. Plus, the wind chop also made it difficult to see nervous water and push-water. It seemed that, right off the bat, our guide was getting discouraged, making Jim and me just as worried. Sighting Permit We decided to relocate to a flat and hunt around for a school of permit. The clouds and wind still plagued us. After motoring around for a good 45 minutes, using the best sun angle...

Day three greets us with a much-needed onshore wind that will help keep us cool through the hottest part of the day.  After a quick breakfast, consisting of chorizo egg tacos, we head out to the dock as the boats pull up.  I am once again greeted by our head guide, Rojo, who hands me lunches to split up between the boats.  The lunches smell of fresh tortillas accompanied by jerk chicken and veggies. Casting at Giant Belizean Permit Our guide, Darrel, is a self-proclaimed permit expert.  He lives and breathes permit fishing and prefers to only chase these fish, all day.  That is more than fine with my father and me as this was our goal for the week, to cast at giant Belizean permit. Seems like permit have PhDs. Read all about North 40 Hosted Trip: Belize - Day 1 here. Pulling up to the first area, we begin to scan the calm waters on ...

Crimson Prince Jig Nymph Jig nymphs are becoming very popular these days. I enjoy the jig format, along with the larger hook gapes. The crimson prince jig nymph is a great imitation for fall isonychias, slate drakes, and other assorted nymphs. With the red collar, it can be used in colder waters as an attractor pattern, giving it just enough pop with just enough realism. Material List: Hook: Trutta Goods Upside Downie #14 Bead: Hareline 1/8" Slotted Tungsten, Copper Tail: Ringneck Pheasant Tail 1/8" Abdomen: Larva Lace Nymph Rib, Brown Color: Wapsi Peakcock Herl Dyed Red Wing Case: Stripped Goose Biots - White Video Transcription Intro to the Crimson Prince Nymph I'm Taylor Hess with North 40 Fly Shop in Ponderay, Idaho. Today we're going to be tying the Isonychia Jig Nymph, or Crimson Prince. It's a great pattern for imitating any...

Coeur d'Alene River The Coeur d'Alene is flowing at 3,200 cfs at Enaville today and going up.  The river has been fishing very well.  Lots of great reports came in last week and over the weekend.  From drift boaters and walk-waders alike.  The river is going to go through the roof soon with the upcoming rain that is forecasted though.  So, the next two to three days should be fine but after that, it is hard to say. Streamer fishing has been fantastic.  Bigger sculpins in black and olive have been the go-to patterns.  There are a few skwallas out as well.  So, a big bushy stimulator or a chubby chernobyl with a bead head dropper will get it done.  Nymphing has been producing too.  Bigger stonefly nymphs with a smaller bead head dropper will work great as well.  San Juan worms are a great choice too.  If you are lucky enough to...

Steelhead Rivers High and off-colored for all of the big rivers around the area. With rain predicted around the area, you can expect the rivers to rise again. The South Fork of the Clearwater is in fishable shape as of 04.02.2019. I have not gotten any reports from anglers. I would imagine that double beaded stonefly nymphs and an egg pattern or bead is what are effective for them. Trout Rivers I have heard that the Lochsa River is fishing well at the moment. A few skwalla’s have been flying around. There will be more of these predominantly on the sunnier days. Also, mayflies should be coming off on the cooler days too. Fishing a blue winged olive pattern can be productive if you find some rising fish. Keep in mind that rain is coming, and the rivers will most likely be high by the weekend. Flies you’ll want to use are the rogue foam...

Missouri River The weather is here, and the fishing is beautiful.  It’s fishing license season.  Fly sales are finally surpassing fly tying materials as people take to the waters.  Many people are looking for fresh fly lines and stocking up on flies, leaders, and tippet.  New rods, reels, waders, and boots are heading out. April is the month that the fly fishing season really kicks into gear as more and more opportunities unfold.  To start the month, the Missouri is an excellent choice.  Soon, we’ll have ice out on all the lakes and it will be hard to decide from many great options. Trout Spey Swinging flies continues to be productive with more and more brown trout in the mix.  Lots of colors and styles of flies are working.  Every fly I’ve tried over the past month has gotten grabs.  If it looks like a minnow, leech or cr...

Omak Lake (WA) As great as it feels to be outside on a bright sunny spring day, it is not the best weather for fishing. I had a chance to hit the lake the other day after a meeting but, I must admit I was skeptical about how the fishing would be. I got to the lake around noon and the sky was clear with the sun bright overhead. I still figured if I could hook up on just one fish it would be worth it. After three hours of fishing and changing flies more times than I can remember, I only had two takes but no hook ups. That’s okay, it was still good to get on the water. The good news is, if you can call it that, is that there is weather coming in this weekend with cloudy days and some rain in the forecast. Temperatures should not be too much lower than what they have been. Most of the reports that I have been getting have indicated that th...

Taylor Hess also contributed to this story. Calvin’s Day Taylor went fishing today.  I didn’t.  I was able to take the day off and spend it with my family; swimming, sunbathing, paddleboarding, followed by poolside snacks and drinks.  It was an amazing start to the day. While sun-bathing, I noticed several large fish swimming around the dock that resembled bonefish.  They were about three to four pounds and in schools of five to 10 fish.  As I watched them feed and looking at the “NO FISHING” sign on the dock, I did what any normal fishermen would do.  I ran back up to the room, grabbed my 7-weight, told my son Landon that we were going fishing, and got him on the front of a paddleboard.  We were about 2.3 minutes into our DIY Belize bonefish expedition when we saw our first bonefish.  Landon threw a perfect cast and with...

Day One: Permit Fishing in Belize The anticipation was palpable as the sun crested the horizon on our first day in Belize.  The guides were set to meet us on the dock at 7:00 a.m.  It was only 6:00 and everyone was jittery with excitement, making last minute fly changes and hoping the guides would be early.  The light wind off the ocean helped calm us down as we waited on the dock sipping the last of our morning coffee. At 7:00 a.m. three boats pulled up, everyone jumped up, and we were ready to go.  We divided into teams of two people.  Two groups would pursue bonefish on their first day to hone their casting and presentation.  My father and I decided to strictly chase permit, the “Holy Grail” of the flats, according to our guide Darrel. Want to book a guide with confidence? Here's how. We motored for well over an hour to a r...