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...

When you spend 12 hours a day in the same uniform, and when that uniform holds all your important tools where you need them to perform your job well—those clothes, and that tool belt, become more than simple “workwear”. Like any working profession, nursing is an industry where the fit and functionality of your uniform is paramount to comfort and usability on the job. When the clothes you wear become part of your job, finding the right pair of scrubs as a nurse can be like finding the “right” power tools on a construction site. Because of this, there will always be the “Milwaukee versus Dewalt” type of personal preference debate when it comes to "the right" scrubs, but no matter what, two key features in that "right" pair of scrubs are indivisible: Material: needs to be breathable, comfortable and resist stains. Fit and ...

The Grande Ronde River starts its journey in the Blue Mountains. It flows down through La Grande, Oregon making its way Northeast into Washington where it meets the Snake River at Rogersburg. This river offers a wide variety of different species to hook on the fly or conventional gear. With it being only an hour away from Lewiston, Idaho to the mouth, it is a great option for a day of bass fishing. You can also float the river from Boggans Oasis to Shumaker Grade -as well as a nice float from Shumaker Grade to the mouth at Rogersburg, Washington. Most of the float between these two sections of the river is fairly mellow, the only major concern is the narrows section that is between Shumaker and the mouth. Best Fly Patterns for Bass During the spring one of the best fly patterns to use is… You guessed it, a smolt pattern. Anything that ...

Tyler's Big Pheasant Tail The pheasant tail nymph is synonymous with fly fishing. It has been my go-to fly for a long time. I really favor it though in a larger format. The typical ones you'll see in the fly shop bins are anywhere from size 20 on up to a 12 if you are lucky. I fish in the west, and we fish big bugs often. So, I started deviating from the traditional pheasant tail nymph recipe. I tie them up to a size 8 3X long hook. I like a dubbed thorax versus the original peacock herl, and what better color dub to go with? -purple u.v. of course! Lastly, I like it to have a "hot spot." I use fire or hot orange thread for the collar. The rest of the fly uses the traditional specs. Pheasant tail for the actual tail of the fly and also for the abdomen and wing case. The abdomen is ribbed with your standard variety copper wire too. This f...

Rufus Woods (WA) Springtime on Rufus Woods has been one of my best time to hit this impoundment water of the Columbia River. With warming and sunny days, it is a good time to be on the water there. I spend most of my fishing time on the upper part of the lake. Flows have not yet increased from the spring runoff, which makes for just the right conditions to fish from the shore or a boat. When I talk about the upper part of the lake, I’m referring to the waters above Nespelem Creek. When we are out on the water in a boat, we look for seam water and areas off a couple of the islands in that area. Crayfish patterns are our fly of choice. The one pattern that works the best for us is the near nuff crayfish in either tan or olive. Working it on the bottom with what I can best describe as a crayfish scoot. Slow short hops on the bottom then...

Missouri River Spring weather is sometimes perfect, but sometimes you need to challenge the elements a bit.  Highs over the next week will be mostly in the 30s and 40s.  Easily fishable, but not warm.  The only way to tell it’s spring and not winter is that the days are longer and the sun feels warmer when it’s shining. Will you venture forth?  If you want to experience some great fishing, you should definitely consider getting out there.  Cool temperatures will keep runoff at bay.  Pre-runoff can be an ephemeral and excellent fishing window. Trout Spey Swinging flies continues to be productive in the chilly waters of early spring.  The fish are eager to eat, and small streamers continue to grab their attention.  Fishing high on the river, as in above Craig, will keep you in the rainbow zone.  Clouser’s, near nuff sculpin,...

Coeur d'Alene River The river is flowing at 3,460 cfs at Cataldo and leveling off.  This is a very big increase in the last week.  As of now the river is starting to level off but don't hold your breath.  Middle too late next week, if not sooner, rain is forecasted.  Any precipitation now and the river will make huge jumps.  Sounds like folks had good fishing in the last week, and I think if you are to float it this week, you will do fine.  By Thursday or Friday, if the forecast holds true, it most likely will be a goner.   Wading now is tougher in spots with the big increase. So, floating is going to be a better option if you can get your boat in somewhere.  Also, streamer fishing is decent now.  The main culprits getting it done are near nuff sculpins, home invaders, circus peanuts, kamikaze sculpins, and big jolly buggers.  ...