Streamer Tips from Orvis.com

Orvis rod designer Shawn Combs is a streamer fanatic.
Photo by Jim Logan

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Streamer Tips

Summer Permit Fishing

For a long time now, I've wanted to get away and do some summer (July or August) Permit fishing. Until this year it just never came together given that it's our busiest season in the shop and it's pretty tough to get away.


This year, an old friend asked if I would join him for a week he had booked from August 27 to September 5 at The Palometa Club and I couldn't help myself. This wasn't an option until 2015, when Dick and Kaye Cameron, owners of the Palometa Club, opened their first ever short summer season. The first year was very well received and the many stories told by guides of massive schools of Permit on the flats during the summer proved to be true. The success of this first season led to what I'm sure will be a permanent mid-July to end of August summer season at P.C.

In the past, we have never done any shop trips to the Caribbean region for a few reasons: As we live in an area where we only get about 100 days of reasonably nice weather to trout fish most of us want to take advantage of it, a lot of people are a little (or a lot) hesitant about the heat during July and August, and weather can certainly affect you. Should an organized storm like a tropical depression or hurricane occur just before or during your trip it can make for pretty tough fishing. 

Anyways, for those who are somewhat afflicted with Permititus, the summer offers the possibility of Permit Shangri La so off we headed this past August. Our arrival presented just what was expected, high 30 Celsius temperatures without the ever present trade winds of the fall and winter months. In fact, for the first four days, it was so calm you could not tell where the water ended and the horizon began.

The stories turned out to be true. Our first four days offered up an incredible number of shots. With the mirror calm conditions it made for pretty high test fishing to very spooky fish. I saw fish that were led by about 10 feet slowly swim toward the fly and then, when they reached the tiny rings caused by the fly landing, left much more quickly than they came.
Even with the tricky conditions, between two of us we landed 13 Permit in our first two days. Pretty amazing Permit fishing!
And what's really cool is that most days we were the only angling boat on the entire bay. We have it all to ourselves, except for a couple lobster fisherman here and there. really cool!

As for the elements, it's kinda hot. If the weather is stable you won't have much wind so you better have really good breathable clothing and you'll drink water like you never thought possible.

Our final four days were a little more challenging. What became Hurricane Hermine traveled out of the Atlantic, making landfall in Florida. Even though it was a long ways away, a low of that magnitude affects the weather for great distances around it. Our weather wasn't that bad, just unstable. Wind speeds went from almost zero to around 12-15 knots (actually perfect for Permit fishing). Unfortunately, the wind direction became highly unstable, switching directions as many as three times a day and there was a lot more cloud (the enemy of any flats angler). This made for some somewhat unhappy Permit. In the span of a day, it went from fish everywhere on the flats to pretty slim pickings.
We still caught fish, but it certainly wasn't the "gong show" of the first four days. When it was all said and done, the pair of us landed 18 Permit. With the usual oopsies and at least one hooked fish cut off on something, it should have been more.

Would I go back during the summer? Hell Yes!, even if you get a couple days of stable weather you're going to see Permit shots like you've never seen before. Ascension Bay is the most prolific Permit fishery I'm aware of year round, but summer is another game entirely. And when you factor in the most dialed in Permit guides I've run across, it's P.A.P. (Permit Affliction Paradise).

Should you try it? If Permit fishing turns your crank you really should do this. The only downside I know of would be for those who can't handle heat. You're going to have to be prepared for about two hours every afternoon where you're going to be a little warm. But it's really not that bad. Plus all of the reason why I would go back in July or August in a second. 

The only thing with this summer program is that it's kind of a limited edition thing. They only run 3 boats a week (instead of the core season 6) and it's very well subscribed (full). If you want in on it I would get it booked sooner rather than later.
 
 

 

Easy Dropper Knots

How to Tie the Instant Dropper Knot from Zach Matthews on Vimeo.

Fall Specials

Stop by the shop, or go to CP Online Store 

to check out our fall specials.

OPST Commando Heads and Tips

Re-supplied our Commando Heads and received the new Commando Tips from Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics
Just in time for Steelhead Season

Stay Tuned To This Network

In case you were wondering why there hasn't been much content for a few days, all of our social media personnel are currently chasing rubber lipped life ruiners!

Fishing Reports - August 25

Bow River Report – August 25, 2016

Water conditions are much different than in the past weeks. Levels down in the low 60 CMS range, and lots of visibility.

Started to get some Hopper eats last week. It’s not fast and furious, but we have gotten some nice fish in cool places on the foam bugs of late.

The nymph fishing continues to be good. A small Leech pattern is a good idea as part of your nymph rig.

Still getting some very nice big fish on streamers.

One interesting item of note. A few people have been catching a good number of fish on Boatmen already. Seems a little early, but nothing has been quite on target this summer.

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  Tricos, Few Caddis, Hoppers, Water Boatmen

Dry Flies:  Chewbakka Hopper, More-Or-Less Hopper- Tan or Peach,

                  Quigley’s Flag Ant, Flying Ant-Black or Cinnamon, Parahcute Caddis

   

Nymphs:   Tung Stud-Olive #14, B/H Pheasant Tail, Hotwire Caddis,
                 Prince Nymph, Chamois Leech, Crystal Bugger,
                 Peacock Boatman #14

Streamers:  Taupe Leech, C/H R/L Bow River Bugger, Wooly Bugger,

                    Near Nuff Sculpin, Kreelex Minnow.

Crowsnest River Report – August 25, 2016

The Crowsnest is very low, clear, wadeable, and technical here and there. The terrestrial stuff (ants, hoppers) are in full swing. This is the most user friendly way to catch fish there right now. If you find rising fish, prepare for small flies, light tippets, and maybe a number of fly switches.

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  Yellow and Lime Sally Stones, PMD’s, Caddis, Hoppers, Ants.

Dries: Purple Haze, E/C Caddis, Yeager’s Foam Caddis,Helen Keller PMD,

          PMD Stacker Cripple, Chewbakka Hopper, Point Guard Hopper,

          Quigley’s Flag Ant.

Nymphs:  Tung Stud-Olive, B/H Pheasant Tail, Holo Prince, Prince of Darkness
  
Streamers: Medusa, Ice Pick Streamer

High Country River Report – August 25, 2016

All of the high country streams continue to fishing very well. Lots of dry fly stuff going on.

Still Green Drakes around, as well as Caddis, PMD’s, and terrestrials.

If you find fish being a little picky try a small BWO pattern like the

Film Critic-BWO or a small Parachute Adams

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  PMD’s, Caddis, Green Drakes, Hoppers, Ants

Dries: Chewbakka Hopper, Point Guard Hopper,  Elk Hair Caddis, 

          Neversink Caddis, PMD Thorax, Neversink Green Drake,

          Parachute  Adams.

Nymphs:  Prince of Darkness, B/H R/L Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail
  
Streamers: Ice Pick Streamer, Medusa.

New Hard As Hull Products

Finally, from Hard As Hull, Hard As Hull Thinner. 

Keep your H.A.H. at just the right consistency.

Also, from H.A.H., Hard as Hull Penetrator, for when you don't want a gloss finish but want the cement to soak and bond materials. Perfect for all your nymphs and works great for bonding the hair and eyes on Clousers.

Big Game Rod Sale

Sage SALT 890-4 and 1090-4 rods 

now $650 while supplies last.

Fishing Reports - August 18

Bow River Report – August 18, 2016

The river continues to clear over the last number of days. Other than a radical drop in flows earlier in the week to allow for debris removal the flows have been fairly stable.

The big news of the week would be that we are aware of, and have proof, of fish being caught on dries. Instances of rising fish on Tricos and the few Caddis still around have occurred in the last few days. The really big news is that there have been some fish caught on HOPPERS! Hopefully the Hopper fishing continues to improve.

The nymph fishing continues to be good. A small Leech pattern is a good idea as part of your nymph rig.

Still getting some very nice bg fish on streamers.

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  Tricos, Few Caddis, Hoppers

Dry Flies:  Chewbakka Hopper, More-Or-Less Hopper- Tan or Peach,

                  Quigley’s Flag Ant, Flying Ant-Black or Cinnamon, Parahcute Caddis

   

Nymphs:   Tung Stud-Olive #14, B/H Pheasant Tail, Hotwire Caddis,
                 Prince Nymph, Chamois Leech, Crystal Bugger

Streamers:  Taupe Leech, C/H R/L Bow River Bugger, Wooly Bugger,

                    Near Nuff Sculpin.

Crowsnest River Report – August 18, 2016

The Crowsnest is very low, clear, wadeable, and technical here and there. The terrestrial stuff (ants, hoppers) are in full swing. This is the most user friendly way to catch fish there right now. If you find rising fish, prepare for small flies, light tippets, and maybe a number of fly switches.

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  Yellow and Lime Sally Stones, PMD’s, Caddis, Hoppers, Ants.

Dries: Purple Haze, E/C Caddis, Yeager’s Foam Caddis,Helen Keller PMD,

          PMD Stacker Cripple, Chewbakka Hopper, Quigley’s Flag Ant.

Nymphs:  Tung Stud-Olive, B/H Pheasant Tail, Holo Prince, Prince of Darkness
  
Streamers: Medusa, Ice Pick Streamer

High Country River Report – August 18, 2016

All of the high country streams are fishing very well. Lots of dry fly stuff going on.

Still Green Drakes around, as well as Caddis, PMD’s, and terrestrials.

If you find fish being a little picky try a small BWO pattern like the

Film Critic-BWO or a small Parachute Adams

Remember #KEEPEMWET

Hatches:  PMD’s, Caddis, Green Drakes, Hoppers, Ants

Dries: Morrish Hopper, Point Guard Hopper,  Elk Hair Caddis, 

          Neversink Caddis, PMD Thorax, Neversink Green Drake,

          Parachute  Adams.

Nymphs:  Prince of Darkness, B/H R/L Hares Ear, Pheasant Tail
  
Streamers: Ice Pick Streamer, Medusa.