Adventures in Steelheading

South Coast Oregon Steelhead Fly Fishing

After two days of tough fishing and low and clear conditions, when Jamie showed up for his trip I had to be blunt. We had the opportunity to push the envelope and find some un pressured water where the fish MIGHT be grabby. But it was going to be tough. I laid out my thoughts and Jamie agreed...

We got stuck - we hit rocks, we were in and out of the boat and behold, we caught bright fish! Thoroughly spent after our adventurous first day and with the looming weather front finally at our door, we opted for a more standard float, hoping the rising river would bring in some fresh salty fish for day two...

We started the day to rain, wind and a steadily rising flow. By mid-day we were into two small but bright fish, 50 mph gusts and sheets of driving precipitation. We uttered silent thanks to Gore Tex products for keeping us warm and dry and we kept at it. The river became an alluring emerald green, and as we got closer to the salt, we began to see them. First one in a tail out, then a pair on an edge. These were fresh fish, drawn up from the sea with the swelling river. Our excitement peaked with the first big fish, a hen, and an absolute gem.

We continued down, the tribs really pumping now and the green river looked exceptional. On our last run, the take out just a minute down stream, we found a buck to match our earlier hen, thick shouldered and dime bright! After fish like these, there's no need to make another cast, we let the sweet taste of a couple of great and hard earned salty fish linger as long as we could...

It's raining now, and the river is too high and to fast to fish. But thats the Winter Steelhead game. When it drops, I'll be here, ready to go. Let me know if you want to take a shot

 

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

Rogue River Fishing Report @ Ashland Fly Shop

It summer Steelhead time! Here's a fresh report from the other day with Ashland Fly Shop owner Will Johnson!

Rogue River: Steelhead, Spey, Swinging flies

What a nice time to be out fishing on the Rogue River. Water temperatures are perfect for wet wading, the mornings are cool and crisp, and there are even a few dandy fish around.

I'm still seeing consistent fishing. While the North and other Rivers are becoming stale, many of the Rogue fish are bright and feisty, willing to chase. We're having a lot of fun out there.

Why We Love Summer Steelhead

It's early mornings and hot coffee. There's a slight chill we know will quickly burn off, but hopefully not before we get into our casting groove. The first tail out is promising, but the not so subtle waking fly is not. At least not here, for this fish. But each run is a new opportunity to match your fly to the fish and make it grab. This is the run where the fish feels metal, your reel sings, the rod bends and the net plunges.

Here is a shot that is burned into the back of your eyes but it was only a split second, a small portion of the experience.

It's summer steelhead season now. Wet wading, light lines, long casts and great jumps.

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!

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

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

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

Tight Lines