"Central Washington Fish-In 2005 - Fly Angler's OnLine Travel"

CENTRAL WASHINGTON FISH-IN 2005

By Deanna Lee Birkholm, Publisher FAOL

By popular request, there will be another Central Washington Fish-In! This one is set for May 6-7-8, 2005 (Mother's Day weekend) and will be held in Ephrata Washington, the same as the last couple of years. EVERYONE is welcome, if you read FAOL, you're invited!

Here's the place - The Oasis Park in Ephrata, Washington - great park owned and operated by the city.

This Fish-In was originally organized by "Linemender" - Cary Morlan (right) and (left) Steve Zweber - "Z". Here they are ready to fish Rocky Ford Creek. Actually they were wonderful guides as well.

Looking at the map makes it easy to see why this region was picked. Rocky Ford Creek is a C&R barbless spring-creek fishery, with big trout - typical of the one lower in this page. There are several lakes close which have trout and panfish. Something for everyone!

JC and I were not the only people not camping last year, we stayed at the Best Western Rama Inn a mile toward town. Very nice, complimentary deluxe continental breakfast, microwave, frig, coffee pot (not to mention the indoor pool and Jacuzzi®) 509-754-7111. We stayed there again later in the summer, and recommend it highly! They have given us Special Rates so make sure you tell them you are with the FAOL Group!

As it is with all Fly Anglers OnLine events, there are no fees, no charges for this Fish-In. You are responsible for your own reservations (recommended at the Oasis Camp Ground and motel) food, transportation and license. Oasis has reserved an area just for the FAOL people, so when you make your reservation make sure you tell them you are part of the FAOL group. (It's more fun if everyone is in the same area.) The toll-free reservation phone number for Oasis is: 877-754-5102.

A potluck is planned again for Saturday night after fishing, last year was everything from oysters to dutch-oven desserts. The photo above only shows part of the group! Don't panic if you aren't able to cook something for the group, the local Safeway in Ephrata had lots of goodies!

If you'd like to fish one of the "pot hole lakes" for Lahotan trout or panfish, you can fish successfully from shore, or bring your PFD!

Here are Jonathan's (ffb) recommended flies for panfish on the lakes:

Dry Flies:
San Gabriel Fly sz.10-12.
Foam Spider sz. 12
Assorted panfish sized poppers
Nursery Hopper: (Email ffb flyangler@charter.net for recipe and picture).
Wet Flies:
Wooly buggers sz.10-14
Marabou Miss in chartreuse, and also fuschia/hot-pink: (especially good for crappie).
Soft hackles such as Partridge and Orange sz.10-12.
These are all the flies that I used last year with great success for bluegill, crappie, and even one yellow perch. Your standard trout flies, drys and nymphs, should work as well. ~ Jonathan Sherwin

The star of the Central Washington Fish-In is Rocky Ford Creek. This is public water, catch and release, fly only! It's famous for big rainbows - and everyone who attended last year DID catch fish!

Here is a partial list of flies for Rocky Ford Creek from "Z":

Streamers: wooly buggers in black, olive, white in sizes from 8 to 12 (weighted with a bead head).

Nymphs: scuds, olive, tan or orange in sizes 12 to 16.

Mayfly nymphs: - just about any will do, have a range of colors and sizes down to 20.

Brassies: - red or brass, down to 16.

Drys: I prefer standard mayfly patterns, sizes 14 to 20 parachute and standard tie. Have some that are light (pmd's ect) and some dark (adams ect). Check out the F-100 (a past Fly of the Week that Linemender ties). JC and LF had good result with a gray Wally Wing, also in the Fly of the Week Archives.

I do most of my fishing on the Ford with drys, and typically find a fish that is working the surface and float the fly over it. Some days an Adams works well, other times it's something else. I have noticed they prefer thin bodies and sparse hackle. ~ "Z"

Co-host Cary Morlan has sent his suggestions for flies for 'the ford', add these to your list:

My friend Z has pretty much covered all the basics for "The Ford" As for myself; I pretty much stick to dries. Good sight fishermen have tremendous success with scuds and nymphs. I would mention that it works best if your scuds are weighted. Bounce them along the bottom until just in front of the targeted fish and after a pause, a subtle lift in front of the nose generally prompts a gentle take. Scud fishermen will catch greater numbers of fish than I, but I am happy to put one fish on the bank a day after watching with knees knocking as that pig lifts his carcass off the bottom to sip my delicate little bugs.

Scuds are usually the only wets I fish and only when I am afraid of going home fishless. Yes, fear drives me to deviate from my patterns. I have tried buggers and streamers, and remain unconvinced that I can have any success with them, but that is me and my lack of willingness to try something I have no confidence in.

Dry flies, and the surface take, motivate me to spend countless hours casting over fish. I too like to look for working fish but have on many occasions, simply by being persistent, coaxed fish to rise to my offering. Frequently it is many casts over a fish, until I am fortunate enough to hit the dead drift that allows the fish to rise with the least effort, and accept my offering.

The flies I have the most success with are all small 18-22 and include:

Griffiths Gnats
Adams
BWO's
PMD's
Spinner patterns in black, cream, and rust
F-100s
And my new favorite is a Cream Spinner I received from Skilled Fisherman in last years midge swap.
I will also use emergers but I dress them to fish in the film.

The regulations have changed so it is now legal to fish droppers. All flies must be barbless and the local gendarmes have been known to stick flies in the sleeves of their sweaters to see if they snag when removed, so be sure of what you tie on.

I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new. ~ Linemender

This really is a fun time with a great bunch of folks. If you plan on attending, drop me a note and I'll put you on the Going List! publisher@flyanglersonline.com.

Going List!