Spey Weekend with Jon Hazlett September 9-13, 2016 @ Rogue Steelhead Lodge

Join Brandon Worthington, Jon Hazlett and Steve Eadie for three days guided steelhead fishing on the Upper Rogue River, Oregon.

This trip will focus on all things steelhead and Spey with an evening presentation and a full immersion of spey knowledge. Come learn from the Pros!

Spey Weekend @ Rogue Steelhead Lodge with Jon Hazlett

Trout on the Mind

There is a time each season to turn the page. But at least for me it's just a few pages. Fresh Summer Steelhead will be back in two months on the Rogue, and I can't wait!

Trout season is vamping up in the state of Jefferson with many options for fishing. Locally, the Salmon flies and Golden Stones are working their way up river on the Rogue. While the main stem is still closed for another week, the Holy Water is open and fishing well. Farther south, folks are getting in their casts on rivers like Hat Creek, and Sacramento among others.

Recently I headed north to fish a river I had only wet a line in many years ago. The Mckenzie is what all the guide books say it is. Beautiful, clear, cold and productive. The native Redband trout here are as pretty as anywhere I've seen. They're also incredibly strong for their size.

Mckenzie Redband Trout

Mckenzie Redband Trout

Craig Nielsen with one of dozens

Craig Nielsen with one of dozens

But even with the all the Trout fishing to be done, never discount the Klamath for a nice day out swinging flies for steelhead. Bevan, all the way from Tasmania wanted to swing flies and is pretty darn accomplished for not having any native salmonids to target! We had a really productive day with four good fish hooked and several other yanks. The Klamath never ceases to amaze.

Bevin from Australia for some late spring chrome on the Klamath

Bevin from Australia for some late spring chrome on the Klamath

Bevin BENT with some late Spring Chrome!

Bevin BENT with some late Spring Chrome!

Third Sunday Spey put on by The Ashland Fly Shop

Third Sunday Spey put on by The Ashland Fly Shop

Third Sunday Spey, put on by the Ashland Fly Shop this Sunday was a success too. A few guys showed up and got tuned up. This is really one of the coolest things a shop can do to keep people stoked on getting out on the river with the long rod. 

Ashland Fly Shop Delivery Service

Ashland Fly Shop Delivery Service

Rogue River Salmonfly Hatch

Just around the corner, the upper Rogue River opens for general trout fishing. I'm booked opening weekend but have some dates scattered through out the last of May and early June if you are interested in a float trip. Awesome fun!

760-424-9682

 

Sage Pulse Fly Rod Review

Guides Perspective

For a short window each year, I put chasing Steelhead on the back burner and search out the best Trout fishing I can find.

Having started out as a trout guide on rivers like the Williamson, Wood, and multiple sections of the Oregon Klamath, my backdrop of rivers required rods from the dainty 3wt to the powerful 8wt. But my work horse is the 9' 5wt, the quintessential trout rod.

For me, a 9' 5wt needs to be able to perform the three major techniques of trout fishing. It must cast tightly and accurately with the dry; It must lift, look and lob the bob; and lastly, it must handle the deep load of a double sculpin rig without you needing to duck (flinching is okay).

I recently picked up a new rod that I hoped would be capable of the tasks. Here's my review. Enter the Sage Pulse 590-4.

Putting the Pulse through the paces

Putting the Pulse through the paces

Impressions

This rod looks pretty cool. With interesting olive oil green blanks, it's not too flashy in the sun, but it's still a head turner. It has a simple look which I like, but my favorite feature is the full wells grip. I just love a little extra purchase for my thumb when I'm really cranking into a cast.

I put pressure on this rod right away. The particular river I fished for two days requires diverse tactics. I made this rod do it all. It hucked streamers, gracefully grunted through tandem streamer duty, lobbed the bob and swung soft hackles.

Action and Power

I like fast action rods. But I also have lost too many fish on stiff rods when a big fish bounces on the line and there isn't enough flex in the blank to absorb it. I would definitely put the Pulse in a fast action rod category, but it's more crisp than stiff and has a smooth flex you can feel all the way down to the cork.

It's really smooth with a small fly like a soft hackle or dry. When you start to load it up though, It didn't strike me as a rod with the most reserve power. I have fished other five weights with the same rigs and a few rods come to mind that handled the upper end of what you should do with a 5wt better. (Orvis H2, Sage One) Even though it flagged under a really heavy package, I really appreciated the flex for more normal fishing situations.

Crisp. Responsive. Twangy. Quick. Agile.

Lines for the Sage Pulse

I have fished three different lines on this model; The Scientific Anglers GPX Sharkskin, an Orvis Hydros Textured trout line and the new Rio Single Hand Spey Line. (I love textured fly lines.) The only real difference between the first two lines is that the GPX taper is a half-line size heavy, so it will load a rod a little more.

As I mentioned before, I found this rod to be more crisp than stiff, so I ended up liking the hydros textured line over the GPX. This rods has a nice personality, so I didn't need to bog it down too much with a heavier line. And the Single Hand Spey line? Well, thats just fun. . .

Conclusion

I like it. The rod has grown on me, and if you fish it in it sweet spot with a single dry fly or soft hackle, a moderate nymph rig or a single streamer, it's sweet. Really, thats a pretty diverse set of fishing scenarios, so it passes the test for me. This rod gets it done.  And, it's also only $450.

A hefty Redband bent the Pulse to the cork

A hefty Redband bent the Pulse to the cork

P.S. Trout fishing in Southern Oregon is a blast. If you're interested the waters this rod was tested, learn more.

Tight Lines

Klamath River Recap

Here's a brief slideshow of my last month, spent mostly on The Klamath River. I have to admit, I was a little spoiled. Being run out of the Scott River Lodge, a five-star accommodation with Chef's cooking allowed me to focus on the best parts of being a Steelhead Guide. Thanks to all the fine folks I had the pleasure of fishing with, Tailwalker Fly Fishing,  Mike Folden of Freedom on the Fly, and Craig Nielsen of Shasta Trout.

The more time I spend on a river, the more it seeps into my core. Like when it rains on a cotton sweater, at first the drops bead up, temporarily warded. But as the mist continues, the drops coalesce and become larger before sinking into the fabric leaving a dark trace of where they had rested, just above the surface.

The more time I wade a river and feel its tug behind and around my legs, the more memories and fondness I have for it. After these last four weeks on the Klamath River, I am more drawn there than ever before.

Georgeous Klamath River Hen. I got a kiss on the Cheek for this one.

Georgeous Klamath River Hen. I got a kiss on the Cheek for this one.

Rivers have many sides, as complex as any personality. At times, the river had a predictable steady mood. In others, secretive, key thrown out of reach and lost.

Though I'm more inclined to think it was this family of otters...

Art's First Steelhead on the Swing

Art's First Steelhead on the Swing

Deep Breath

Deep Breath

Who says you can't swing flies from the boat?

Who says you can't swing flies from the boat?

Hey Derek, I think the term is "Corked!"

Hey Derek, I think the term is "Corked!"

Mike Folden with a Freedom on the Fly Klamath Buck. Check out his awesome lodge on the Scott River, The Fin & Horn Lodge.

Mike Folden with a Freedom on the Fly Klamath Buck. Check out his awesome lodge on the Scott River, The Fin & Horn Lodge.

It was this big!

It was this big!

Well, maybe this big

Well, maybe this big

When you seek Steelhead, no matter the river, there is always an element of variability. I have come to expect and look forward to it. It's what makes Steelhead angling so satisfying. That you can't walk up to a piece of water and say, "there's a big one here, eating zebra midges that lives behind that rock," may not be for everyone. But for those that like surprise encounters with something new, because each Steelhead we find is almost always a new face, it's the promise your fishing will never be stale, and each opportunity you get with these magical creatures will be memorable.

Source: Worthingtonflyfishing.com

Rogue River set for a great Fly-Only

Fish Counts: 1054 Water Temp: 61

Fishing on the Upper Rogue River has been quite good as of late. A few weeks back I noticed fish seemed to be kegged up in a few likely spots. Flows were low, temps were higher (but still acceptable) and more than a few people new where to look.

Case and Point. Keith with a standout!

Case and Point. Keith with a standout!

With a bump in the flows to encourage Fall Chinook Salmon to begin their migration, I took a recon trip out to the coast with Kellen Igou (who knows more than a few things spey) http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/blog/fly-fishing-gear-conservation-news/kellens-bugged-out-brindle-bug/ 

While time and place didn't come together for us on that trip, nothing beats 2am starts and mid day naps. Yawn.

First Light.

Back up river however the flows have shaken the fish up and dropped the water temps a bit. Fly only is a week away, the Fall Chinook have arrived and we are finding these...

What More do you Need?

What More do you Need?