The Gear

Clothing:

During the season the weather is generally 50-80F with some rainy days. Water temperatures usually range from 52-62. Chest waders with felt soles are must. All types work well with fleece pants underneath. You'll need a good raincoat with a hood. Bring a fleece jacket to wear under rain gear in case the weather is cool. Flotation devices are strongly recommended as an addition to your gear as the Dean is a typically fast-flowing Western river. We have conventional lifejackets on hand. Tackle: Rods should be AFTMA 7-9 weight, 8 weight's are the most popular. Reels should be sturdy with enough drag to avoid overunning and should have at least 100 yds. of 20 lb. Dacron backing. Lines used are both extra fast sinking (heads or sinktips) and weight forward floating so you'll need two outfits or at least a spare spool for your reel. We are a dealer for SAGE rods and reels and have a selection of Scientific Anglers, Cortland, and Teeny lines on hand. Demo & rental rods & reels are available at the Main Camp.

We carry a selection of the most popular FLIES in both dry and wet patterns. Hook sizes range from 1/0 - 4 for wet flies to 4-8 for dries. Popular wets are usually streamers in either red or black or a combination thereof. Popular dries are heavily dressed for flotation and visibility in all sorts of patterns and colors including natural. Steelhead are not actively feeding while in river so are usually not very pattern specific. They do react to novelty in terms of color and size.