John Hazel’s Steelhead Rig

John Hazel and his wife Amy own and operate Deschutes Angler Fly Shop and Guide Service in Maupin, Oregon.  John is a renowned angler and guide in the Northwest, and has spent many a day swinging flies through famous runs on the Dean looking for steelhead.

Deschutes Angler is hosting a week at BC West this year, and a few spots remain available.  Have a look here for more information about the shop’s week on the Dean.

If John was headed out on the Dean on any given day, you just might find him fishing this rig.

The Summary

• Winston 7133 BIIx
• Airflo Compact Skandi, 450 Grains, for dries above the canyon
• Airflo Compact Skagit, 570 Grains, for tips
• Hatch 9+ reel

The Detail – Dry Line Rig

• 200 yards of 30 pound dacron backing, tied to the spool with an arbor knot
• Bimini twist in the running line end of the backing
• Scientific Anglers .021 floating monofilmant running line, attached to the backing with a double overhand knot and a loop-to-loop connection
• Double overhand knot in the shooting head end of the running line
• Airflo Compact Scandi, 450 Grains connected loop-to-loop to the running line
• 14′ Airflo Floating Polyleader, attached to the Skandi head with a loop-to-loop connection
• 5 ft of Maxima 12lb Ultragreen leader attached loop-to-loop to the polyleader with a double overhand knot
• Umpqua Steelhead Skater #6 tied on with a double turl knot

The Detail – Tip Rig

• 200 yards of 30 pound dacron backing, tied to the spool with an arbor knot
• Bimini twist in the running line end of the backing
• Scientific Anglers .021 floating monofilmant running line, attached to the backing with a double overhand knot and a loop-to-loop connection
• Double overhand knot in the shooting head end of the running line
• Airflo Compact Skagit, 570 Grains, attached to the running line with a loop-to-loop connection
• 12′ T-14 with braided mono loops in both ends, attached with 8 pound Maxima Ultragreen and nail knots, coated with Aquaseal
• 30″ of 15 lb Maxima Ultragreen, attached to the T-14 tip with a double overhand knot and a loop-to-loop connection
• Solitude Miles Davis #8, tied on with a double turl knot

The Commentary

• “I’ve always liked fishing a combination of skating flies and wet flies on the water above the canyon.  We’ve always had a guests fish through the water above the canyon first with a dry line, and then cover it with a sinktip.  In the course of a week, most guests will pick up a fish or two on the dry, and that’s pretty neat for everybody.”

Sounds good to us.