Bamboo near Stevens Pass

[Dave Westburg]

Took my 7'6" Sharpes Norm Thompson bamboo rod to an abundant fish high lake at 4,100 feet near Stevens Pass. Did well with size 14 wet flies (leadwing coachman, coachman, professor, black gnat) fished off a floating line.

Many of the cutts had orange or slightly reddish bellies.



The fish tore up flies. Here's a leadwing coachmen before and after being fished. This was a day on which it would have paid to spin the peacock herl on some gold tinsel before tying it on the hook



These high lake cutts where within a couple feet of the bank. I think they were looking for terrestrials or nymphs in the shallow water.

 

[troutstalker]

Amazing scenery! What weight is that sharpes?

 

[Dave Westburg]

It's a 5 or 6 weight. I have seen 7 and 7'6" Sharpes rated anywhere from 4 to 6, depending on the year they were made. Pretty sure the Sharpes Norm Thompson tapers were a true 6 at least that's what the Norm Thompson catalog says.

 

[Dave Westburg]

This hike was maybe couple miles each way and a thousand feet elevation gain. Lots of jewels like this in the cascades. We saw one other fly fisherman in the morning and only 2 other hiking parties all day.

 

[troutstalker]

Ok. I was going to guess a 5 or 6. I don't seem to see many 4's. 5/6 seems to be the standard. It's a really nice looking rod. It must be really fun to fish.

 

[Dave Westburg]

My one quibble is the handle. It's a tapered handle and gets quite small. Maybe too small for my hand. I tell my wife that this is her fly rod because of the small handle...but I'm the one that seems to fish it most.

 

[troutstalker]

Haha...way to put it to work! I have a few superfine's with pretty small grips but love to fish them anyway.