Sport fishing column for Oct 29 to Nov 5, 2012

Many casting contests began as early as 1864 in New York? during the first two decades of the 20th century, distances increased to? 134 feet?

The long casts used in steelheading captivated and motivated Hedge and his friends. Hedge was also tutored by another local ? Maurice "Mooch" Abraham ? Abraham began practicing a double-haul technique on the Willamette River after hurting his shoulder ? then introduced the technique to his fellow steelheaders and coached hedge in the technique in the early 1930s.

During the early 1930s,? Hedge experimented with splicing his own lines with as many as seven different sections? practiced the double haul, and developed skills and strategies? As he practiced at,? Sellwood pool before his many friends, he broke the world record by? 7 feet in four successive casts?

Hedge left Portland for his first national casting completion in August 1934? He set a new world's record with his longest cast of 147 feet? It was at this event that Hedge introduced the double haul into competitive casting?

Hedge was invited to compete in France and England in 1937. He defeated the reigning European champion, Albert Godard, by 9 feet in Paris, and in London he surpassed the previous record of 123 feet with a cast of 151 feet?

These statistics have been taken from the book "Fly Fishing Pioneers & Legends of the NorthWest," authored by Jack W Berryman.

Some of you may find this column different than what I normally write, and it is for a point. Over the last few years I have seen a rise in the belief that long (double handed) rods are the answer for those who want to make long casts. Not so; one only need to look at the distance of 243 feet, that Steve Rajeff has achieved with his single hand rod, for testament enough that it is technique, not rod length that makes the cast.

The Report

Our lower mainland lakes are slow. For better success try a dead slow troll or retrieve with: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Coachman, Zulu, Wooly Bugger, Dragonfly Nymph, Damsel Nymph, Sixpack, Doc Spratley, Pumpkinhead, or Baggy Shrimp.

Fishing on our interior lakes is also slow. Try the above recommendations from mid morning through mid afternoon with: Chironomid, Bloodworm, Halfback, 52 Buick, Pumpkinhead, Big Black, Micro Leach, Coachman, Green Spratley, Damsel nymph, Dragon nymph, Carey Special, Souboo, Sixpack, or Baggy Shrimp.

The Fraser is fishing well for coho, chum, spring, and cutthroat. For coho try: Eggo, Coho Blue, Christmas Tree, olive Wooly Bugger, or Bite Me, Rolled Muddler. For chum try: Christmas Tree, Big Black, Flat Black, Bunny Leach, Holliman, dark green Wooly Bugger, or Mat Green. For spring try: Eggo, Big Black, Flat Black, Wooly Bugger, Kaufmann Stone, Squamish Poacher, or Popsicle. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Professor, Anderson Stone, Zulu, American Coachman, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Black Gnat, Chez Nymph, and Irresistible.

The Harrison is good for coho, chum, spring and cutthroat.

The Vedder is good for coho, chum, spring, rainbow, and cutthroat. For rainbow try: Kaufmann Stone, Big Black, Black Gnat, Souboo, Zulu, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Chernobyl Ant, Foam Hopper, or Irresistible.