What a year!
We had memorable fish, the best company and great river conditions as a daily theme. As we turn the page on 2018 and into 2019 we’re looking back on some of our favorite shots and moments from another year on the river.
It was and will continue to be simply amazing out there. Thank you and cheers to 2019!
Rogue River Fly Fishing Report
Early November fly fishing been a continuation of late October conditions with high pressure, perfect blue skies and low and clear water. Steelhead a spread out throughout the upper and middle river with more trickling in. Most days we have seen several opportunities per person in our boats with several fish being sizable! We could use some rain, and a mix up of the high pressure would be great. We are hopeful for the storm we see in the extended forecast.
Our fly fishing guests have been enjoying the river with both nymphing and spey/swung fly tactics, finding the bite to improve over the afternoon as temperatures rise.
Fly Fishing on the Klamath river has been good to great with our fly fishing guests being presented with many opportunities at adult and half pounder steelhead each day. Nymphing continues to be most productive, but then, when is it not? Colder nights have begun to drop water temps and we are beginning to find more steelhead in what I would call “traditional” steelhead water.
Flows are near average seasonal lows and fish are responding well to egg patterns as we approach the tail end of Salmon spawning season. The fall colors are excellent, bright oranges, yellow and reds. November and December are some of our favorite months on the Klamath River.
Climbing the grade of Siskiyou Pass from Ashland, OR headed for the Wild and Scenic Klamath River, we emerged out of the Rogue Valley fog and into the brilliance of Mt Shasta, bright with the alpenglow, south of a cloudless sunrise.
At the bottom of the draw between the two mountain ranges and states, the river is visible only briefly as an alluring ribbon of tea colored water and swaying chartreuse weed beds before it disappears west around a volcanic corner and through the gates of the Klamath Mountains.
Following the river and looking forward to a wonderful day fly fishing for chrome, bright steelhead and half-pounders our building anticipation was aided by the morning buzz delivered by steaming mugs of French pressed coffee.
The canyon walls steepened and the presence of Autumn was everywhere. Salmon anglers sat in drift boats, bouncing roe in their favorite haunts. Furthur Oak trees just touched by the oranges and yellows of autumn mixed with the emeralds and reds of the pines. Rugged peaks rose above it all, some still showing scars of recent fires and the patchwork of renewal fire brings. The river was glorious, reaching out as if to say “My fish are here, my fish are back”
Stepping into the Klamath for me is like stepping back in time where life is simple, the river provides and fishing is what it should be. But Impacted by dams, drought and poor water management, the Klamath steelhead and salmon numbers suffered have suffered historically, especially in 2016 and & 2017. But all indications now are pointing to a strong return in 2018 and 19 - Mostly thanks to better water management that flushed out disease and favorable ocean conditions.
As I stepped into my first run of the day, I couldn’t help but be filled to the brim with optimism. Could this legendary river in the mythical state of Jefferson finally be back?
I began my first cast with a snap T. It was my first whirl with a new stick, a Jefferson Rod Company 12’6” 5wt Spey rod, and this standard snap-T cast seemed like the best way to put it through the paces. Then not five swings into the run and my mind already pondering other casts to try, I was rudely interrupted by a fierce yank and deep head shakes. I was not expecting a fish here but the growls of my reel and deep bend of the rod told otherwise, a reminder to not throw it in there until your ready…
The Chinook that came to hand was a beautiful wild hen. Bridget masterfully tailed her. My wife has probably handled more fish in her fisheries career then I ever will. We kept the fish wet and snapped a few pictures. Bridget estimated it was 800-900 mm, or 30 + inches for us non-metric folks, and her belly was softening, indicating she was soon to spawn. Not what we were after, but it’s rad when a nookie cranks on a swung wet fly just under the surface!
It didn’t take long for the river’s renewed life to become apparent after that first run.
We floated over our first tailout and like little kids, we exclaimed “there’s one, there’s another!” The Salmon were podded in groups of several dozen fish and clearly visible, especially to Bridget’s keen eyes. We saw hundereds upon hundreds darting to and fro, mostly uprover.
After such an entrance, fishing was an after thought, we floated through the first mile of river marveling in the unmistakable Salmon scattering in all directions, musing about the amazing life cycle of these fish and taking in the beauty and abundance the river showed.
Wild and Scenic Klamath Fly Fishing Trips
Stopping at one of my favorite runs, a piece of water about 200 yards long and with consistent depth and speed to hold steelhead year-round, my second cast came tight to a fish that erupted out of the water, leaping to eye level before throwing the fly as fiercely as it had taken it. I estimate it was in the mid-20’s, very large for a Klamath Steelhead and hotter then hell.
Our next stop was a run named Holy Cow, fished often and affectionately by a few local guides. Perhaps you know of it too? Just a few little grabs here but a nice run to air out my new Jefferson Rod and decide what the right balance is for a skagity/scandi line. Look for a full rod review in the coming weeks on this awesome, locally built, light spey rod!
Klamath River Spey Fishing
Lunch on the river was a casual affair and right on another of my favorite pieces of water. We enjoyed homemade chili and cornbread by Bridget with a good NW beer. Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are the best. Confined to the boat, Tucker was anxious to stretch his legs on land, so after eyeing what must have looked like a patch of river side grass, he plunged head first off the boat and unsuspectedly into a mat of river slime. You should have seen the look on his face when he popped up!
After lunch we continued to fish. At the end of the lunch run my fly came across a juicy rock where I hoped the take would happen. But It just continued swimming, unmolested and untouched. How many hopeful moments like this in steelheading have ended this way!
I began to step down, stripping my fly in just with just a few casts to go, when the hammer came down and the loops I had collected raced back through my fingers, out the guides and on to the reel with a loud “ZZZZEEEEEE!”
FISH ON!
It doesn’t happen all that often but steelhead do take on the strip from time to time.
The vistas and fine fishing on the Wild and Scenic Klamath continued, seductive water around each bend taking us deeper into the canyon and the mythical state of Jefferson. It’s not the steepest and it’s not the deepest but it is one of the most magical places to fish in California.
Working water and in no particular hurry we continued to sample some of the rivers best holding lies. This section we floated holds everything from deep and bouldery runs to shallow spawning gravel and everything in between. We fished half-assed and joyfully sometimes serious, sometimes not. In most runs we fished we were rewarded with hard-pulling, adult, wild steelhead and a few half pounders. Doing my due diligence on this scouting trip I even lobbed a bob in a few buckets and was delighted to experience a couple of incredibly hot steelhead peel line and go totally nuts. It’s beginning to feel a whole lot like the Klamath is back.
The last run of the day and one of my favorites on the whole river is split by an island with a smooth surface and a perfect speed. Enough depth forms just in the middle to consistently hold fish and they feel comfortable in the shade made by the old growth trees on the banks.
I cast my waking fly across for a quick skittering swing, the fly waking a subtle vee and as it approached the sweet spot a perfect buck erupted on the fly, ripping 40 yards off quickly and assertively. Another line-peeling run and a few more eye level jumps brought the fish to hand. Admiring it’s perfect proportions, the buck had just a touch of blush on his cheek and the beginnings of a red stripe but still dark on the top and chrome underneath. This fish had traveled over 100 miles from the ocean and would remain in the river for months before spawning. Fresh steelhead like him will arrive in the Klamath throughout the Fall, Winter and Spring.
Reeling up and walking back to the boat I couldn’t help but smile as a sense of contentment and satisfaction washed over me. It was a good day and the fishing was as it should be. The cares of every day melt away, the company is good and the river provides.
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.
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
Deep Breath
Who says you can't swing flies from the boat?
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.
It was 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.