All you ever wanted to know about local striper fishing with Lee Haskin
LifeStyle Center
5105 W. Cypress Ave, Visalia
Schedule Nov 2, 2018:
5:00pm Dinner with speaker – Denny’s 200 S Akers St., Visalia
6:30pm Tying flies with speaker – 5105 W. Cypress Ave, Visalia
7:30pm Presentation
BIO: Lee Haskin began his fishing career in the late fifties, at about 10 years old. He learned to tie flies from his father, and an old Herter’s fly tying manual, and soon was flyfishing, side-by-side with his fly-fishing father, on trout waters throughout the California Sierras. However, in 1967 Lee caught his first striped bass at the mouth of the Pajaro River, just prior to moving to Long Beach to attend college. After settling in to college, Lee discovered the many species of fish that would readily come to the fly. His primary target was the Bonita, found in the San Gabriel River, near the college.
After reading about Bob Edgley blue shark fly fishing in Monterey Bay, in the late 1960’s, Lee was focused on catching yet another species on the fly. Many trips out of Capitola, CA yielded numerous blue sharks, as well as rockfish in the kelp beds.
In the early 1970’s Lee began to fish San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay, with a primary interest in catching stripers with top water bugs. About that same time Lee and old friend and mentor, Del Brown, (talk about good company!) began fishing the South San Francisco Bay for stripers. Del and Lee fished from Coyote Point to Candlestick Park throughout the 1970’s. However, in the early 1980’s, the San Francisco Bay’s incredible striper fishing dropped off, and Del began his world record run for permit. At this time, Lee concentrated his efforts once again on the San Luis Reservoir and O’Neill Forebay, targeting the flats and islands along Highway 152 on the O’Neill Forebay, and also, depending on the season, along the dam and many accessible coves, fishing from a float tube. Lee has fished these areas successfully since the 70’s.
Although Lee enjoys catching stripers throughout the year on his own flies, specifically Lee’s San Luis Smelt, he is particularly fond of throwing his favorite gurgler patterns along the weed beds of the O’Neill Forebay.
Lee found that his Gurgler Series could fill a niche with top-water loving fly fisherman around the world, and enjoys introducing people to this versatile pattern. A number of Lee’s fly patterns incorporate foam in the design, including the Neutralizer Series, which has become very popular for tarpon, redfish and snook. His commercial fly tying business keeps him busy filling fly orders for folks all over the world. Fortunately, he still has time for travel, from Alaska to Honduras. Lee particularly enjoys fishing saltwater locations and developing patterns for each fishery he visits. |
