Spring Fly Fishing in Southern Oregon

Southern Oregon + Northern California Fly Fishing Report

As the rivers in our area continue to fish well for winter steelhead, warmer, brighter days signal that the end of the season is in sight. Between storms and as waters clear, the observant angler can look in shallow tail-outs and see the occasional fish digging redds and dropping eggs.  It's a special dance to witness and one I hope goes well for the fish who are ensuring their legacy and our continued opportunity to fish.

As waters warm through the spring months, wild trout in the Klamath and Rogue become much more active and feed on the bounty of aquatic insects and baitfish.

Both the Rogue and Klamath Rivers see strong hatches of golden stoneflies and salmonflies early in the season. On the Rogue, most fish are small but Cutthroat to 20 inches or more can show themselves from the deep over hanging branches of the upper river in May.  Dry fly fishing in the early mornings and evenings can be non-stop action and trips are a perfect addition to a spring weekend in Ashland, OR.

Meanwhile, on the Klamath River, swarms of stoneflies, caddis, and damsel choke the reeds and air, but the fish seldom feel the need to surface for them. Turbid waters, bouldery chutes and heavy water require skilled subsurface presentations. Serious anglers love this fishery and are often rewarded with high quality Redband Trout. We fish out of framed fishing rafts and the whitewater between fishing ensures a high adventure fishing trip.

Worthington Fly Fishing guides both the Rogue and Klamath rivers in Southern Oregon and takes pride in sharing exceptional guiding and outstanding days on the water. Join us in 2018 to kick off your trout season!

Plan Your Trip

760-424-9682

WorthingtonFlyFishing@gmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

Southern Oregon Steelhead Report

The Holidays are always a great chance for me to sit back, relax and be grateful for all of the amazing people, family and opportunities in life.

In a lot of ways, a day steelheading is like so much of our day to day. We know that at some point, we are going to get an opportunity. We hope it will be how and when we want it, though we understand that much of it is out of our control. We simple do our best to set it all up so that when the opportunity presents itself, we can capitalize on in.

As a guide, I do my very best to decrease the randomness, increase your likelihood, and maximize opportunity. (I think thats why so many of you trust me to take you out time and time again!) I am so grateful for the opportunity! Thank you!

The last few weeks have seen great consistent late fall fishing. Some of these photos illustrate that. Though as the seasons change, so do the fish, the locations and the way I pursue them. It's time to get into winter steelhead mode. Take a look at my winter and spring fishing program to get a better idea of whats just around the next bend at Worthington Fly Fishing. Follow along on my instagram and Facebook. The real adventures are about to begin. This is the season of the highest highs and the lowest lows, the season that cuts the fat from the everyday angler and challenges you to take advantage of opportunities for some of the greatest rewards you can find in the angling world.

Byron & Derek Joined me for two days on the Rogue River. They were not disappointed!

More Rogue Steelhead Stoke

As always, the Upper Klamath Produces!

This one ripped! Nice one Spencer!

Happy Fall, Happy Turkey eating. 760-424-9682 & Worthingtonflyfishing@gmail.com

Worthington Fly Fishing with Jefferson Rod Co. at Rogue on the Fly

Join Brandon Worthington at the Jefferson Rod Company Booth this Saturday, October 1st at Rogue on the Fly! I'll have a spread of both single hand and spey rods for you to give a cast. Come see why these are some of the finest casting rods made anywhere.

Rogue on the Fly is a free steelhead event held at Indian Mary Park on the beautiful Middle Rogue river and is a steelhead centric event with vendors, presentations, steelhead olympics and live music and food. I should also mention its free FREE! See you there!

Summer Steelhead - Rogue & Klamath River Report

Rogue River Summer Steelhead

3:45 am starts. Taking advantage of the early mornings. Steaming mugs of good coffee, stringing up with our head lamps, and beginning our casts before we can even see our lines...

Fly-Only on the Rogue River - Mark your Calendar!

We're just weeks away from the most anticipated time on the Rogue River. Fly Only regulations begin September 1st! This is when the river begins to quiet, and the most beautiful time on the upper river. We are set for a couple of great months a head of us! With good fishing beginning in June this year, our summer fishery has kept us after it and I am so excited for how it has set up the fall.

Around the bend - Rogue and Klamath Steelhead

September is one of my favorite times to chase steelhead on the Rogue. It's when many of our fish make their big push. The leaves are just turning, the weather and water conditions are very consistent and so is the fishing!

As October rolls around, fish concentrations increase and fishing remains fantastic. October is the traditional month we mark our calendars to get after it, though I find fishing is often better in the shoulder months of September and November! I'll be making my transition this year to the Wild and Scenic Klamath this year October 15th. I have a few late October Rogue days but its a tough sell to get me to come back to the October-Rogue-bobber show when we can wake dries with six weights all day for all wild steel on the Klamath!

If you would like to join a guided trip during Fly-Only on the Rogue or on the Wild and Scenic Klamath river in November, I have some great dates available in both September and November. Drop me a line  HERE

Until then, good fishing and tight lines!

Chase the Good Water

 Wow, what a different winter it's been! We have water! I think the last couple of seasons have been easy in comparison. Hell in a lot of cases, I didn't have to even check the flows before going out, they were just steady and some color from the tribs just made it perfect.I'm only reminiscing a little though because we have a good snow pack, ample precipitation and full reservoirs. But for us, both Applegate and Lost Creek have enough water that when we get a large weather event, they open up the gates, and it's not the rain and tributaries that pushes us off, but the out flow from the dams...

one of the good ones

Unfortunately the Applegate has been more or less a bust. Few fish-able windows and just a few good fish to show. I suppose it's a nice respite for the fish because they have been fished pretty hard over the last several years in low water. Still had a few chances though

 Lights out bright

probing the pool

Could have done with a few more mornings like this

I'm happy to have the Klamath in my book, and it's been a saver producing some really nice fishing days. Regarding the K but on a different, yet extremely cool note, the Klamath basin had enough water this year for a system flush. This would naturally occur of course if there weren't 5 dams on the mighty K, but as it stands, more than a couple of factors have to align for this cleanse to happen.. With Klamath Lake full, enough snow pack and a precipitation event together, Pacificorp, NOAA and the Bureau of Reclamation set up a cleansing flow of 11,000 cfs from Iron Gate Dam. My hydrologist friend explained to me it takes 8,500 cfs to clean river gravel and 10,000 to really turn it over, scour it and rid the stream bed of the disease "Ick" so have a drink to a healthier Klamath system after this event .

A Klamath Krusher

I'm looking forward to the next several weeks and the tail end of winter steelhead season. It looks like the last few days of the month and most of April will offer up good fishing conditions just in time for a block of trips I managed to reschedule in hopes of more favorable conditions.

For now though, a few days on the North Coast for vacation (yes i'm bringing the boat) and then back at it. 

Searching

Drying off but ready for more 

Snap it

760-424-9682

Chase the good water

It's An Official Winter Steelhead Season

It's officially Winter. El Nino is official. And it's raining like a sunofabitch. I'm glued to the flows as often as possible. Checking, re checking, comparing forecasts with other forecasts, and hoping it all lines up.

This is the stuff that cuts the fat off the casual Steelhead Fly angler and chisels the die hard. The conditions aren't perfect. In fact, they've been marginal at times. But you still go. Because the fish are there. And they're here, and they will keep coming. Only you would never know if you stayed at home and hoped for the flows to drop into what the conventional wisdom states is "Go" time.

In a winter like this, don't wait for the report. Because by the time you do, it's already over. The water bumped, or the fish moved. I'm finding windows, because there are always windows. Fish like you mean it, and you might just be surprised.

Yeah Buddy! That's a lot of water in the background.

It's more than just the fish we're after

Stuart Swung one up from the milk shake

There was a fish on that inside edge...

D-Loops for days

February is around the corner. It's one of my favorite months to chase Winter Fish. Give me a call or e-mail if you want to join me on the hunt!

760-424-9682

Worthingtonflyfishing@gmail.com