1) Fish like this
2) Fish like this
3) And fish like this
Rogue Nightmare. Steelhead Beware.
With a Saturday morning off and fly-only regulations in just three short weeks I sat down at the vice to bang out a few choice patterns.
The Rogue Nightmare is a fly that can be both swung and dropped under a bobber.
Steelhead beware ...
Fly-Only on the Rogue River is just 48 days away!
But who's counting anyways.
Dry Fly Steelhead Fishing
One of the most exciting times in fly fishing is nearly upon us on the beautiful rivers of Southern Oregon and Northern California. Near the end of May and certainly in the first
few weeks of June huge Salmonfly (Pteronarcys californica) and Golden Stone Fly (Hesperoperla pacifica) will make their way across the river bottoms and up stream-side vegetation to molt, mate, fly and lay their eggs on the water’s surface.
All stages of this hatch are of interest to trout and trout anglers alike, but for die-hard steelheaders there is an additional angling opportunity to practice our spey casts while skating big dries to half pounders and spring steelhead on the Klamath River.
If you have been fortunate enough to observe a salmonfly or golden stone hatch (they both typically happen at the same time) the observant angler notices these bugs have distinct preferences for when they fly or when they stay glued to the bank. Further observations illustrate that while one evening there may be thousands and thousands of the these clumsy fliers in the air, it’s when they fly low, quivering their wings just over the surface and touching their egg laden abdomens to the water that we often have our most memorable fishing sessions.
This action can be imitated in a number of ways with both single and double handed rods and is a combination of trying to mimic these natural movements while at the same time breaking one of our most important dry-fly rules: The drag free drift. For single hand anglers try raising your rod tip high, allowing a little downstream belly to form in your line and quiver your rod tip. For spey anglers, the tantalizing action of a salmonfly dancing across the water surface makes a subtle “v” wake which fortunately, is the same presentation made when skating a dry fly, down and across. I’ll also angle my cast slightly upstream and get a few feet of dead drift before allowing my fly to come under tension and begin it’s skittering swing.
On the few rivers where strong salmonfly hatches and spring steelhead coincide, skittered and skated salmonfly drys can be very effective and fun at bringing fish to the surface. The Klamath River in Northern California is one such venue with the added bonus of eager half-pounders and trout ensuring action throughout the day.
Best fishing is during the last week of May and first few weeks of June before the weather and water get too warm for ethical fishing. In the mean time, fishing is good and the weather is pleasant! Please drop us a line to learn more or book a day of dry fly steelheading.
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!
Summer Steelhead Report
I recently took my first Summer Steelhead scouting trip to get a feel for what was in the river and where. Over the last few weeks I've been roaming far and wide, searching for fish. My most recent trips have taken me to the Willamette, just a few hours north of the Rogue Valley. I also sampled a day on the North Umpqua in a section I spent a few winters guiding for winter steelhead. In one of the same pools I consistently found fish when the water was big and green I found a player willing to rise twice to my skater on two different attempts. After this, I'm happy there are just a few more weeks of trout fishing for me before my brain and time shifts back to swinging flies for steelhead full time.
Summers First Chrome
A fine Native Rogue River Cutthroat
Its raining hamburgers for the trout
Mr. Time Sexy loops throwing on the North Umpqua
A little adventurous streamer fishing never hurt anyone
It looks to be the start of my summer steelhead season. Give me a call at 760-424-9682 or e-mail worthingtonflyfishing@gmail.com to get your day!