Joe grew up in Gresham, OR and began at an early age pursuing winter steelhead fishing on the Sandy R. using typical drift gear of the time.   Upon entering high school, I began dabbling in swinging flies for trout and summer steelhead on the Deschutes R., using single-hand glass fly rods. Once I felt the tug of my first steelhead on a fly (skunk pattern), I never looked back and by the time two-hand rods started to catch the attention of fly anglers in the PNW, I switched and became dedicated to spey fishing for steelhead.  It was at this time that I started tying traditional wet steelhead flies.  While I enjoy tying these types of flies, including typical patterns such as a skunk, green-butt skunk, max canyon, steelhead coachman and purple peril’s, I quickly found that I wasn’t satisfied and learned to tie other flies, including flies tied on shanks and tubes.

Susanne decided to give fly tying a try after watching Joe over the years turning a pile of feathers, fur, tinsel, thread and hooks into beautiful works of art.  It was now my turn to create such a wonder.  I headed to the local fly shop and with some coaching from Joe as to suitable colors, I carefully chose my materials.  A few days and several modifications later, the Hocus Pocus fly pattern was born and has proven to be effective in the pursuit of summer steelhead on the swing, particularly in early morning and warmer water conditions.  My Hocus Pocus pattern is now our “go to” early morning fly on the Deschutes R. and other Columbia R. tributaries.

We believe the best part of being behind the vise is experimenting with materials and color combinations and determining what works and doesn’t under specific water and weather conditions.  Most of all, there’s no better feeling or substitute for hooking steelhead on your own fly pattern!