Waiting for winter (steelhead)

CFS crew:

I hope both your close relationships and pocketbook made it through the past week's feasting in great shape. I'm pleased to report a few days off meant that I could get to the river.

We had a shot of rain, and then rivers dropped, so I went with a pal to check and see if any winter steelhead had arrived. If there were, we didn't find them. We had bluebird day, but we weren't able to swing up any chrome to go with it.

I did, however, manage a resident rainbow on my size eight pheasant tail soft hackle. That's right: I'm committed to the bit. After reading in Pheasant Tail Simplicity that Patagonia boss Yvon Chouinard has caught many an anadromous fish on a big PT soft hackle, I figured why not give it a go.

Does that make catching a steelhead on a swung fly, one of the more challenging achievements in fly fishing, even harder? Or, does it simplify things? Only time will tell if this offering will tempt. On this outing, it was a small (but spirited) little 'bow that ate on the dangle.

Save the date for TroutFest 2026

We're six months out from TroutFest, so here's your official save-the-date reminder. I hope you'll put May 28-30th in your calendar, and plan to join us for some fishy fun in Maupin.

We're still in planning mode, but once again we've got a group reservation at Maupin City Park. We'll be welcoming any all CFS-inclined pals to join, fish with us, and take part in all the festivities.

Check out last year's TroutFest updates to get a sense of what we'll be in for. Stay tuned for a more formal announcement and to reserve your place.

Ten Foot Leaders ➰

Ten(-ish) fishy links to start your week with trout in the tabs.

Events 📆

There's just one spot left for Winter Term at PCC. Thanks to everyone who signed up. If you're still on the fence, snag that last spot! (link)

Mindset 🧘‍♂️

📽️ When I was in college I spent a semester in a medieval town called Caceres, in Spain's Extremadura province. The town was renowned in part for its storks, which would hang out in the old city and clack their bills back and forth to each other all day. That sense memory came flooding back when I watched the trailer for The Tale of Silyan, a new documentary about a Macedonian farmer who develops a relationship with an injured stork. (link)

Environment ⛰️

The water was 43° where I was fishing the other day. When it gets that cold, fish behavior changes. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks breaks down the basic of how aquatic ecosystems change in the wintertime. (link)

Tools 🎣

📽️ You may know him as a key member of the Deschutes River Alliance's in-house science team, but did you know once upon a time Rick Hafele starred in an excellent primer on how trout find food, and the different ways we adapt, as anglers, to their feeding behavior? Enjoy "Anatomy of a trout stream" and some classic Deschutes looks. (link)

Tools 🎣

📹 If you've got your vise set up and tools laid and need to remember the basics, Brian Flechsig from Mad River Outfitters unearths an oldie-but-goodie, reviewing his "10 Basic Rules of Fly Tying" that are still as relevant today as they ever were. (link)

Technique 🤺

They may consistently fish bamboo and traditional Catskill-style dry flies, but the poetic angler behind Bright Waters Catskill has to admit that there's plenty of room for evolution in approach to fly tying, specifically regarding fish displaying preference toward insects in vulnerable life stages. (link)

Another week, another casting banger from John Juracek in Flylab. This time, John breaks down the fundamental mechanics of the overhead cast, that is, how your arm should move (or not). Take a look, and heed his call: let your shoulder do the work, and keep your elbow and wrist out of it. (link)

Conservation 🌲

After the federal government blew up a tenuous intra-state/tribal plan engineered toward Columbia river salmon recovery, conservation groups have renewed litigation, including this effort to increase dam drawdowns during smolt outmigration. Tony Schnick at Oregon Public Broadcasting has the lowdown. (link)

In one key Columbia tributary, the Washougal River, an unknown derelict dam's removal has already started to pay dividends. Hannah Wallace tells the story in Reasons to be Cheerful. (link)

Tanvi Dutta Gupta reports from California's North Coast for High Country News on conservation efforts in Mendocino county, specifically the Navarro River, where the first fruits of habitat restoration are taking root. (link)

Community 🏘️

What can't Flylab do? The all-star pub continues its great coverage of the wonderful characters in angling, this time with angler and artist Stu Tripney, of Stu's Superior Flies. Stu's madcap adventures and exceptional outlook are a good reminder that for all the seriousness folks bring to fishing, first and foremost it should be fun. (link)

More from Current Flow State

Here's more of what's been happening recently:

Understanding all the differences with measurements in fly fishing can feel like it requires a math degree, or some sort alchemy.

Dig in to understand the main measurements, how they work, and where they came from. And then, forget what you learned and just go for what feels right.

Get the lowdown on the standards

Nets are for protection. They protect two things: the fish, and the angler's ego. Read the CFS lowdown about net styles, the perils of netting fish for your friends, and why nets are an essential carry to make sure you've got it bagged up

Get the net-net here

Pheasant tails and pleasant tales: The Craig Mathews Q&A

From tenkara-wielding biker gangs to roadkill feather ghouls to Yvon Chouinard’s “stroke”: A conversation with fly angling icon Craig Mathews never disappoints. Hear how Pheasant Tail Simplicity is creating a new generation of fly tiers, observation as the key to angling, and much, much more.

Current Flow State Fly FishingNick Parish

Angling legend Craig Mathews offers six tips for beginning fly tiers

Blue Ribbon Flies co-founder and co-author of Pheasant Tail Simplicity offers six tips for beginning fly tiers to get the ball rolling behind the vise.

Current Flow State Fly FishingNick Parish

Which Orvis stores are closing, and which are staying open?

A phone survey of Orvis’ U.S. retail stores revealed which are due to close at the end of 2025 and which will remain open and refocus on fly fishing and wing-shooting.

Current Flow State Fly FishingNick Parish

Fly fishing woodworking projects and making your own gear

On upstate New York streams, tying tenkara flies, fly fishing woodworking projects, functional design, and building your own fly fishing tools

Current Flow State Fly FishingNick Parish

Routine, discipline, and purposelessness

Routines, purposelessness, wrist action, and our Member Drive fish reveal

Current Flow StateNick Parish

Casting a fly rod for the first time? Mind your wrist.

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or recovering gear angler, wrist control is critical to learning to load and cast a fly rod properly.

Current Flow StateNick Parish

Is private equity ruining fly fishing gear?

A surefire sign your favorite outdoor brand is doing the old private equity shuffle? A Grateful Dead collaboration.

Current Flow StateNick Parish

That's it for this week! Current Flow State is a weekly newsletter from me, Nick Parish.

What's your go-to winter steelhead fly? Tell me on Bluesky 🦋, Instagram 📸, YouTube 🎥, or the Fishcord 💬.

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