Small River Glass Success and the Chewuch River
Nestled at the base of the Pasayten Wilderness, north of Winthrop, Washington, are the cold, clear waters of the Chewuch River. The Chewuch is the beginning of a modern day success story with its contribution to natural rearing of Methow River steelhead and salmon. Natural preservation of its headwaters in the Pasayten Wilderness and quality land management by its neighbors lends itself to a pristine river shed surrounded by the beauty of the high desert meeting the pines.
To preserve the spawning habitat of the Chewuch, her waters have been closed to steelhead fishing for decades. One of the grand gestures we’ve done to help preserve these wild fish shouldn’t we all have a sacred refuge? Luckily, we can still enjoy these holy waters even just for a brief time. For the past 10 years or so, the river has opened the Saturday before Memorial Day through August 15th, with the fishable days often limited by runoff (well into July-except in recent history).
The best and most epic days I can remember from my childhood fishing the Chewuch came in late July to August with the arrival of hoppers. Hopper fishing on the Chewuch has a long history, filled with local lore of epic cutthroat caught with massive boils on twitched Dave’s hoppers. Now with the adaption of foam flies, it’s taken hopper fishing on the upper Methow and Chewuch to the next level. I’m not here to bore you with a lecture on the effectiveness of hopper fishing in the summer months. Instead, I want to explore the form and function of small river presentations, where old technologies meet new era innovations.
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve been able to have a trip worth mentioning. Lately, most of the fishing I’ve been able to manage has been the hurried trip here and there in vain attempts to ease a mind that’s clouded with a million projects and commitments. This type of fishing rarely has the desired effect one is looking for. Keith could tell I was on the ragged edge and needing a true mental vacation that engaged the active mind in a complete and calming way, and with that, he teed up a trip where we headed out with only fiberglass rods and only a dozen flies each. The theme of this trip was simple: getting back to the roots of what makes fly fishing such a worthwhile craft.
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Recently, we’d both picked up Echo Glass Trout Switch rods. Keith decided on the 4108 (10’8" 4wt) and I ended up with the 3106 (10’6" 3wt), and to make things even better, Keith picked up the new Echo Big Water Glass 690 (9’ 6wt). We lined them up each based on our target method and the bugs we decided to use.
The 4108 was throwing the OPST 225gr Commando Head on 30# laser with MOW tips and sculpin patterns. I’d lined the 3016 glass with a 3wt Airflo and a 10’ mono leader to delve into my recent wet fly infatuation. The 6wt single hander was the go-to dry fly rod, ready to seek action with the latest in foam hopper innovation hot off the vise.
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The mile walk into the fishing grounds was just what an aching spirit needs to shake off the cloud and embrace that bright clearing of perspective, filled with sunshine and fresh air. At our feet were thousands of grasshoppers as we walked the meadows, which led us to the first run of the day. From browns and tans to bright greens and in all sizes, it just screamed this was going to be a glorious day (no matter how good the fishing). Easing to the bank of the river, the first piece of quality holding water was clearly displayed: a deep pool along the cut bank bordered by a riffle and still tucked into the shade. Neither of us where rigged as we made it to the river, deciding instead to let the moment choose the approach, so we would avoid leaving the truck with an eager angler’s predisposition but without a doubt, this was a dry fly moment.
While Keith strung up his 6wt with a hopper pattern, I unwound my rig and tied a double wet setup straight from the pages of a Davy Wotton article. After the jokes about knots and vision were out of the way, Keith wasted no time drawing the residents from the depths and shadows with his special hopper concoction. The ease of which the Echo Glass single hander performed was incredible, an effortless transition of energy from caster to fly. It was easy to see how the forgiving fibers of the glass rod eased the casting stroke of the angler, allowing the focus to be directed at the fish with precision. Once the fly hit the edge of the pool, a twitch or two later, the first victim came to surface: an eager resident rainbow big on heart, but sized to the stream. Three more of his brethren fell victim to the same approach until the jig was up, and there were no more takers.
With all the inviting water stretching out before us, it was decided to divide and conquer. This was followed by an agreement that, if either of us was to find an overabundance, we were to let the other know so they could partake. I ventured upstream to a picturesque run tailored to a wet fly swing. Before I could work the head of the line out, I had already hooked 2, 10"ers, and by the end of the run countless more grabs and takes, but nothing pushing more than 12". While I paused for a leader check and a quick CLIF bar, I heard, "you better get down here."
I rounded the bend to see a smile, a bent rod, and dancing trout. "Wow, nice take," I exclaimed as the fiberglass rod bent nicely to protect the 5x tippet. Keith landed and released the fish and sat down to take a break while informing me of the density of fish he’d encountered. "You’d better get in there now, because when I get up, you’re going to have some solid competition."
I swung the double wet rig through the head of the run and caught another 10" fish. After releasing it, I quickly tangled into a low hanging branch. After tearing off my flies, I pulled out my tin to see a little smolt pattern stuck in my wader pocket. The game had officially changed: the 3wt "glass switch" was burning pinpoint single speys in search of a more carnivorous prey.
The beauty of the Echo’s baby glass, two handed rods is how much it feels like a true "Spey" rod. At first, I thought it was just another gimmick, but after today, I realize how much of an effective tool and joy they are to fish. Even little fish are fun to catch and 16"ers are a blast. The Airflo Switch Float is beautiful line to present a fly with it turns up to size 8 buggers over well, but really excels swinging soft hackles, winged wets and caddis pupa. I love throwing single Speys, and I snake roll cast whenever I can, and the switch float loves those casts.
It wasn’t long before the little smolt pattern locked the lips of a 14" resident rainbow with a shock. The little glass rod lit up with a surge, as the fish jumped about in its new predicament. Once landed and released, Keith and I both commented on how well the glass rods cast and fish like the big sticks which rule the fall. My glass rod has become the perfect fishable companion used for everything short of a size 14 dry fly, but heck I might have to give it a shot one day.
We eased down the rest of the run trading fish, the most effective method still being Keith’s Wonder Hopper on the twitched over slick, deep water. Every once in a while, he’d leave one for me to pick up on the swing.
Stop by the shop for a cup of hot Bluestar coffee, and if you hang in there long enough, you might be lucky enough to get the recipe and a sample of the amazing bug that worked so well for your next hopper trip up the Methow.
All the Best,
Luke
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