I ran accross this photo while going through an shoe box full of old snap shots.  It brought back memories of some of my early fly fishing days.  When I brought it into the office the other day, I was told I had no balls if I didn’t post it and tell the story.  I guess because it shows so many dead fish.  But, in 1972 it was a natural fishing photo that raised no eyebrows except for the size of the rainbows.

When I got out of the service in 1970, I was obsessed with fly fishing and fly tying and while looking through a Canadian fishing guide book, I read with interest and curiosity about Shushwap Lake in B.C.  It is a huge lake fed at one place by the Adams River which had one of the largest runs of sockeye salmon of anywhere on earth.  I don’t know if it still does or not.  When the sockeye fry are migrating down the Adams River to the lake (usually in May or early June), there are big hungry rainbows waiting for a greet and eat.  With some research, I found that the Egg and Eye fly was one of the best producers.  I don’t like long shank hooks when I can avoid them, so I decided to tie a tube fly version.  I remember using Q-tips (cutting off the cotton balls at each end).  They were made on a plastic tube then.  By using the tube, I could use a short shank hook.  It worked great!  I’ve used tube flies for all kinds of fish since then from salmon to sailfish.

This photo also reminded me of how my fellings about “catch and release” evolved.  If you’ll notice the date on the side of the picture (1972), you’ll realize that the C & R philosophy was a lot different then.  I first started releasing fish because I couldn’t understand the idea of catching your limit quickly (“got my limit in two hours”) only to quit fishing to clean fish and sit around all day.  It didn’t take long to enjoy releasing fish just for the sake of letting them go.  I didn’t and still don’t feel bad about killing the occaisional fish for a meal as long as I don’t believe it will hurt the fishery.  Most of the time, though, I just don’t like messing with dead fish.  I would not kill a wild steelhead even if it was legal.  I don’t feel it is right.  I have killed two steelhead – both hatchery fish – in the last 26 years because my wife and I wanted to have fresh grilled steelhead for a dinner……..they both tasted like crap.  I don’t know why.  That was 5 years ago.  I would still like to have a grilled steelhead dinner, so I might try another this fall.  But, I am not poistive I’ll do it.

Its funny how a photo can bring on such thougts.  I am not ashamed of killing those fish - we ate them in the next few days.  They were delicious.  In the early 70’s, there were very few anglers fishing the mouth of the Adams.  The few fish that were killed didn’t amount to a hill of beans.  Now, there are just too many anglers who know about it and fishers, now, are very efficient at fooling fish with flies and lures and it makes a big difference in the number of killed fish.

Another jump-out-and-slap-me-in-the-face feature of the photo is the amount of hair in it and how dark it was 36 years ago.  It was fun seeing and hearing the reactions of workmates when they realized it was me on the right.  Kind of a psuedo-hippy.  I worked at REI, Seattle at the time and fishing was a consumptive obsession with me.  I realized how much so at a party one night when I realized the only subject the others who were there thought that the only way to strike up a  conversion with me was to talk fishing.  They were mostly right.   The next day I bought a popular novel (I can’t remember what it was) to read something besides fishing and didn’t read another fishing book all the way through for 20 years.  I would read bits and peices of books and mag articles, but I needed something other than fishing to talk and think about.  Today, I am reading John Adams by David McCullough, John didn’t do much fishing that I can find out, but it is a good read.  And, I am learning way more about US history from it than I ever did in school.  Some would tell me that is wasn’t “history” back when I was in school.  Anyway, this is the way history should have been taught.

I think the importance of Catch and Release fishing is of major importance in most waters, now.  Our population is so mobile that even the fish in remote Russia, Alaska and Brazil need protection from a catch and OVERkill policy.  C & R certainly accounts for a small percentage of fish mortality, but catch and kill is 100%.  There is hardly a system on Earth safe from an extensive catch and kill sport fishery.  Let’s face it, we are just too efficient at catching game fish these days.

I am reminded to keep in touch with old friends as I look at the three of us in the picture.  I am the one on the right.  The beautiful woman in the middle is my wife (of 42 years, now), Judy and on the left is my friend Bill F.  I realize while looking at the photo that I haven’t talked to him for 16 years.  How does that happen?  We used to fish everywhere together.  I moved to a different city, but that is no excuse.  I’ll call him tomorrow.  I know just how I’ll start our conversation;  “Hey Bill, I know it is chilly today, but it’s going to be hot tomale.” Corny, I know……… but it always brought a smile to our lips and a chuckle.  We spent a lot of time in Baja, Mexico and somehow it always seemed appropriate.

Here is the fly we used: an old and new pattern version.  Try them anywhere big fish feed on smaller ones.

EGG AND EYE (the way I remember it):

Thread: Black – 6/0

Tube:  1/8″ o.d. about 1 3/8 -1 1/2″ long finished size.

Body:  Silver mylar tubing, tied off and frayed at the tail.

Throat:  Red Chenile.                                                           VIEW FROM THE SIDE (overall length about 1 3/4″.

Wing:  Natural mallard flank, tied flat over the full length of the fly.

VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM

NEW VERSION (minimalist pattern)

Thread:  Black – 6/0

Hook:  size 7 Alec Jackson – silver.

Body:  None.

Throat: Saddle Hackle fibers – Red

Wing:  Mallard Flank – Natural – tied flat.

This pattern has worked well for me in outlet streams from lakes where there is a sockeye run.  Usually in the spring, but I haveto used it year around.  I’ll be honest.  I haven’t fished it in about 10 years.  No reason, just moved on to other patterns.

One other thing I wonder about, looking at the picture.  Do you think long hair will ever come back?  How about red Chamois shirts?