Tag: spey rod

SAGE 7120-4 X Rod–Review

SAGE X Series—7120-4 Jeff Mishler February and March is prime time for winter steelhead here in Oregon. The rods I use are 8 weights for two very good reasons: 1) I’m usually chucking heavy sink tips and weighted flies so the 8 weight rocks that gear. 2) I’m often fighting a wild fish that I […]

SAGE 7130-4 MOD Review

SAGE 7130-4 MOD One spey rod. Choose just one….. That is a tall order. In fact, it might be easier to hypothetically design the perfect spey rod in your mind, then wiggle a bunch of commercially made sticks to find the one that conforms to your idea of perfect. Good luck with that. The absolute […]

Casting Switch Rod in Tight Quarters

Most of the time, we are dealing with less than ideal casting conditions.  Here are some simple tips to deal with the brush.

A Reflection

March 2013 Winter Steelhead You know how it is: Winter creates unpredictable water conditions, but everyday family life hands you so many variables that planning a two day foray to the coast and being lucky enough to see perfect water conditions coincide with your hall pass is luckier than holding a winning Powerball ticket. This […]

Another Casting Flaw…D Loop Crashes On The Water

by Jeff Mishler I spent some time last week helping a new-to-the-sport angler/buddy work on his casting.  My initial intent was to find a fresh steelhead for him, but his casting flaws brought the line, leader and fly down from the sky in a heap, keeping his fly too close to his casting position for […]

New Skagit Master 4 clip on Youtube

Check out this new clip Tom Larimer and his good buddy Dave Pinczkowski hit their favorite rivers in the fall hoping to connect with a few steelhead. Tom talks about water temps and presentations.  

Check your $%#&!

by Jeff Mishler In the dinner tent of one of our Russian steelhead expeditions, Pete Soverel proclaimed to the weary clan of weather beaten anglers, “If you loose the fish because the terminal gear fails, that’s operator error”.  Interpretation: You failed the process of landing the fish if the leader parted, because you didn’t check […]

Trouble Shoot Your Spey Casting Flaws

July 18, 2013 Casting Issue: Your fly nearly takes your hat off on the forward stroke. This is common when these things happen: 1) You place the anchor too far away from your casting position while thinking, “If I just move it farther away, I’m safer”. The tendency then, is to put too much power […]

Skagit Master 4 Teaser—pass it around

  I’m busy with the edit.  Hope to have it finished and out the door by April 1.  No guarantees.   Tom did a great job as did all the anglers in the show.  The Midwest is a cold place in winter, I’ll tell you that much.   JM

Skagit Master 4 Filming in the Midwest

After two weeks of chasing Midwest steelhead, I’m quite happy with how Tom Larimer and his band of steelhead buddies pulled through.  We suffered through the lowest water conditions since 1944.  That’s steelheading.  Fortunately, we caught some fish.  Swung flies through some excellent water using the latest Airflo Lines and Sage ONE Rods.  The WaterMasters […]

Skagit Master Affiliate Network! Make $ from your site!

The great thing about Affiliate Networks is that you don’t have to do anything to make some $$$ other than post the link on your page in a place where people easily see it.   The more Skagit Master DVD sales you generate, the more you make.   12% on $39.99 is about $5.  I’ll […]

The Water Master

  Home I’m a boat guy.  The problem with boats is that one craft cannot do it all.  My myriad of pursuits require specific capabilites.  But since this site deals primarily with all things steelhead, if I had to chose one watercraft to use twelve months a year here near my homewaters, it would be […]

Skagit Master 3 ships this week!

  To the many who have pre ordered, you should receive your order within 7 days if you live in the US. Thanks for the overwhelming interest.  I’m very interested in your feedback about the show. The Skagit Master membership site will include SM3 in the Skater Package and Full on Intruder package later this […]

Some Reading Material While You Wait For the New Site

Tyler Corke Chapter 2 No Name River #4, BC By Jeff Mishler Lunchtime I angled the sled into some quiet water at the head of Patterson’s Run and came off step.  I nestled the bow in behind a band of rocks and Tyler dropped the anchor off the bow, gave it about two fathoms of […]

Great Info on SAGE TCX 11’9″ switch rods!

I was cruising through The Fly Fishing Shop’s newsletter and saw the review of the Sage TCX 11′ 9″ switch rods.  Mark Bachmann has done a great job putting together the right lines for these sticks.  Heck, while you’re there buy some gear…We gotta support the good shops. Check out his thoughts: http://www.flyfishusa.com/newsletter/current/

Those Urban Summer Steelhead….

It’s hot. But the water is cool from a wet summer. The fish are here. Urban summer steelheading in the PNW is something I’ve avoided because I don’t like fishing around a ton of people, but we spent the day trying to flip that into touchable awesomeness. Amazing that with so many fish around, no […]

How To: Whatever You Want To

I’ve been working on a “How To” video channel for steelheaders interested in taking their skills to the next level. We produce the Skagit Master DVD’s to help you move up the ladder by refining angling skills using the latest rods, lines and flies. SM3 promises to do the same, but with your fly tying […]

Winter is Winding Down

You wouldn’t know it with the rain we continue to get.   Fortunately, the fish are late, still coming in numbers and the crowds are off chasing bigger chrome stuff.   It’s my favorite time of the year, this late spring thing.  You have the river to yourself, and the fish cooperate if you can […]

Winter is Marabou time

I forgot how much movement marabou produces when the water is cold, off color and the current not too heavy.  Fished these this weekend and love the look. JM