Big Y Fly Fishing Blog
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Baetis, pronounced (bay-tuss), is a small mayfly that often confuses fly fishers trying to identify ongoing hatches precisely. To complicate matters, Baetis is a family of insects, and what fly fishers commonly call the Blue Wing Olive (BWO) is actually a sub-species. Generally, the term BWO is used to identify any mayfly smaller than size 16 with an olive body.
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Multi-Fly Rigs for Stillwater Fly Fishing
The Multi-Fly Rig for Stillwater Fly Fishing Lake fly fishing, or stillwater fly fishing, can be challenging for those accustomed to river fishing. Without the varying currents, it might seem slow and uninteresting, but lake fly fishing can enhance your enjoyment by adding new dimensions to your fly fishing passion....
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The Infamous Bull Trout
The Bull Trout: A Noble Salmonid in Peril The Bull Trout, indigenous to Western North America, was once celebrated as the greatest of all Salmonids. However, it began a rapid decline in the 1930s. Early naturalists praised the Bull Trout for being the most active and handsome of the trout,...
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Fly Fishing in Seattle
Seattle is a beautiful city, renowned for its great coffee, progressive music scene, and as the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies. It’s also famous for its rain and being surrounded by water, which naturally attracts fly fishers.
While the steelhead runs on well-known rivers like the Skykomish are well-documented, there are many lesser-known opportunities close to Pike Place Market that are often overlooked. If you’re willing to explore beyond trout and steelhead, you can enjoy year-round fishing in this major metropolitan area—just don’t forget your raincoat!
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Steelhead Overview
Steelhead are a fascinating and complex species, and entire volumes have been written about them. This article aims to provide a concise overview, but for those seeking more detailed information, we recommend reading one of the many excellent books on the subject or fishing with an experienced steelhead angler. If you’re feeling adventurous, going out alone can also be a great way to learn, but gleaning information and techniques from experienced anglers or guides will cut down your learning curve significantly.
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Where to Fish - Seeps Lakes, Washington
For those of us that grew up fishing in the Northwest decades ago, the fishing scene was different. Steelhead were something you chased occasionally. Maybe a trout trip every year to the Yakima, but many of us grew up fishing lakes out of a float tube. The "basin" lakes of...
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Where to Fish - Snoqualmie River (Upper Forks), Washignton
Above the mighty and famous Snoqualmie Falls, the frantic fast-paced salmon fishery of the lower river slows to a halt and gives way to an easy-going set of trout streams. The upper forks of the Snoqualmie River are intimate, fun little trout streams. Most folks fish the Middle or South Forks, but...
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Where to Fish - Rocky Ford Creek, WA
This little gem of a spring creek is located in Central Washington, near the town of Ephrata. while a solid 4 hour drive from Hood River, it is a place that we know and love from years gone by. It has a storied history and is one of those places in...
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Where to Fish in the Hood River area - Yakima River
In a state renowned for its steelhead and salmon, the Yakima River in Central Washington stands out as the state's premier (and only blue-ribbon) wild trout stream. Stretching 85 miles upstream of Roza Dam, it is home to native rainbow trout, thriving on abundant insect hatches. While the closest float...
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The Fishing Calendar for Hood River and Big Y Fly Co
Here in the Columbia River Gorge, we have a different scene. We get plenty of folks that walk into the shop and want a half-day of trout fishing, but its not that simple here. It's extremely seasonal, and each season brings a different species that we can fish for. Its a bit complicated, but variety is the spice of life.
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Where to Fish in the Hood River area - John Day River
The John Day River is one of the longest undammed rivers in the US. It flows out of the Strawberry Mountains in Southeast Oregon to meet the Columbia River about 30 miles east of where the Deschutes meets the Columbia. It is more than an hour and a half drive from Hood River, but the popularity and unique fishery of the river leads us to include this as a local favorite.
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Where to Fish in the Hood River area - East Fork Lewis River
The East Fork of the Lewis River is becoming a very popular trout fishery. This river starts on a plateau near Mt Adams, and flows south of Mt St Helens into Swift Reservoir near the town of Cougar, WA. This is near Mt. St. Helens. It is a big drive from Hood River, but it is popular enough that we need to include it in our series.