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

Summers First Chrome

A fine Native Rogue River Cutthroat

A fine Native Rogue River Cutthroat

Its raining hamburgers for the trout

Its raining hamburgers for the trout

Mr. Time Sexy loops throwing on the North Umpqua

Mr. Time Sexy loops throwing on the North Umpqua

A little adventurous streamer fishing never hurt anyone

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!