Smile for the camera. Maybe the last Fall Buck I will see until next year
Lots of ups and down with the holiday season. With the weather and fishing that is! Flows bumped, and bumped, and bumped, receding nicely. Winter fish are on the move, still a bit lower in the systems. But there coming, sooner than we think. Iv'e been on the South Coast a few days here and there...
Flows are perfect now, and fishing is good! It's only the start of the season, and it will hold through April. They're around, just follow them up.
Pure Gold
We have had some nice days bouncing back and forth between the Klamath and Rogue the last several weeks. Before the most recent set of rains, both the Klamath and the Rogue were consistently offering up a few nice fish each day. Paying attention to the flows has allowed me to find continued success recently even though large swaths of river have been blown out.
The above hen was a gorgeous Klamath Fish. A really nice late push of fish like these kept our focus for a few weeks.
A morning session on Thanksgiving before the feast produced one spunky wild hen and an encounter with a zombie...
No tail Tuesday, Bob Anderson with a late season Rogue Egg wagon
Another beautiful Klamath hen. Shiny and fresh
The last week and a half have seen real changes in weather patterns. Many of the Southern Oregon rivers approached flood stage making finding good water difficult. Even high up in the systems there was still quite a lot of color.
Looking back on the Siskiyou Mountains. That's the most Snow iv'e seen in a while...
Ted Sadlowski fished with me a day on the Klamath and the Rogue. Each day produced some quality, late season fish.
Hardly even off the boat.
It's holiday time now. It's raining, the rivers are up a bit but when they drop back in.... We'll see you out there!
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.
Another one of Brad's beautiful Wild Steelhead
There have been some really good days and some tough days. Here's an analogy for swinging flies for steelhead: You're in a room with a cat and you have a string. You start wiggling the string at your feet and the cat bounds across the room to take a swipe at it. Translation? A good day for swinging flies. Not alot of thought to it, just get it out there, come tight and let it rip. We dream of those days.
Now sometimes, you start wiggling the string and the cat just stares at you...
You move a little closer, and it still just stares. Finally, you wiggle that thing in front of its paws and it finally becomes a player. Translation? A tough day swinging flies where the fish are hunkered down and you have to plant your fly in their face for a second.
These are some of the hardest fish for the average swing angler. It means slowing down, fishing deeper and really understanding on each swing what your fly is doing down there. If you don't, well, I suppose that's where I come in. There are hopers and hunters.
Brad tight on #3
The last month went from Indian summer, 80 degrees and stale to a new pattern of Fall weather. A bit of rain this week really helped the fishing. Make sure you pay attention to stay in the game...
Here's a Tip: think about your mend. And think about how much your mend and rod movement, moves your fly.
Pretty damn good for day one!
Brad just got it done...
Jim Carter: first Steelhead, first time swinging flies
True admiration
Teal, the days boat captian
Secret weapons are good to have on hand
I suppose that's enough photos for you to get the idea. I had several days with guys with out photos. Those were some good ones..
I think I'm about done on the Rogue for the Fall. Maybe a few days later in November once this next batch of fish pushes in. For now though, I'm down to the Klamath. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday look good. Rain in the forecast too.Sweet! Tight Lines.
Paul and Ken, fishing bros, firing them out there by day two
It's safe to say it's Steelhead season on the Rogue and Klamath. And man, it's been a FUN couple of weeks too. Here are a bunch of photos, in some what sequential order of lately. Many of them are first Steelhead, first Steelhead On The Swing and first Rogue River Steelhead...
Getting it dialed
Fish the green
Tug is the Drug
Little ripper in fast water
Yeah, that's another one
Just have to add, Paul got six fish in three casts. Insane.
Ken Too, AM Hen
Dennis, bent after a morning of searching
The annual fundraising dinner was super fun and successful. I am really pleased to have had a trip to offer to their silent auction. Amazing local food and many great folks, organizations and businesses volunteering their time, services or trips to help an organizations that ensures we have wild places in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Check them out if you haven't. kswild.org
My mind is creeping a bit. The Klamath is clearer than I have ever seen right now, just gorgeous. The Salmon are surging up, still fresh, not on their reds quite now and the Chrome is just behind... It's only going to get better, and you don't have to fish T-14 right now either. Sweet.
Looking back up on the Klamath
The glassy tail-outs are filling in. After jockeying, rolling, and jumping, many of the Fall Salmon are doing what they came here to do now. They travel 150 miles to spawn and die in the same gravel that they emerged from. I make a point to stand up and observe each flat as we drift down to our next run. The Salmon's timeless ritual never gets old to me. Each day, more and more of these ever darkening torpedoes drop down from the safety of the deeper pools for one final dance.
But not all of them!
Dylan maxing out a 7wt.
There are still some pretty damn snappy fish out there. This big guy took an intruder right on the hang down. He didn't want to move at first but eventually he came in.
Sure looks good in that http://www.pnwlandingnets.com/
Rogue Chinook
We may have also gotten completely burned by a hot Steelhead a bit earlier in the day, but since that fish was having nothing to do with staying on a hook...
Beautiful Scenery Around Every Bend
Is an absoloutly fantastic time to be out on the river. The Oregon Ash along the banks are just beginning to show their receding color. A deep green, slowly loosing its depth, not yet fall colors, but soon. The air is crisp in the morning, the surface of the water dances in the first rays of sun. It's quiet too. The Salmon crowds have left, no more 0 dark thirty hustle and bustle at the ramps, just a slow trickle of the quiet side of angling.
Bright Mornings, Brighter Fish.
The Steelhead are here. You have to want them, as they are never an easy fish. This isn't Trout fishing in Montana. Stay focused, because each cast, each swing, each drift could be the one that makes a slow day become your most memorable.
Leonardo Didn't Think it was Gonna Happen...
The water is on the drop again, the Chin-Hooks are dropping down on their Redds. It looks like it might be time for one last hoorah with the Scandi lines. Maybe even a Skater.
One final note: There are a lot of things happening in the Rogue Valley right now. First, if you value clean water, and pristine natural places, attend the public meeting in Grants Pass, wear blue, and stand up against nickle strip mining in our headwater streams. http://smithriveralliance.org/action-alerts/
You may have also noticed if you are out there much, the Discovery Tours operator out of Touvelle Park is quite disrespectful to the common fisherman, and other recreational users. Comments of your experiences and interactions would be greatly appreciated on this matter too. (541) 582-1118 Ex. 22 or http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkFeedback&parkId=72
One last cool note. Rogue On the Fly! Check it out! http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/rogue-on-the-fly/
Jami Montesi, barefoot, with a great Rogue River Wild Buck
September 1st is a significant day to me for a couple of reasons. For one thing, the Upper Rogue is now under fly only regulations, and I couldn't be happier. It's nice to know if you get out early, that there is a very strong chance your fly will be THE FIRST thing that fish sees that day that interests it. It's not some sardine wrapped plug, or a gob of roe and yarn. Just a clean, hopefully personally tied attempt to catch that fishes attention, elicit a curious response, and awaken the predator. YANK!
September 1st is also the date that, for the last two years running I found my first hatchery Steelhead. Now, I shouldn't take all the credit for this one, as I was just the one on the sticks, making sure we could get with in casting range. But since I had the pleasure of of removing this fin-clipped prowler from the system, I'll take the tally mark.
Another Wild Fish of the Week.
The flows are still up a bit, so this week getting flies down a bit has been helpful. More salmon have moved into the system too. Today we saw the first few (just a few) lower down in the tailouts staging. I bet they're gonna fill in fast over the next few weeks. Cheers!
Fish Counts: 1054 Water Temp: 61
Fishing on the Upper Rogue River has been quite good as of late. A few weeks back I noticed fish seemed to be kegged up in a few likely spots. Flows were low, temps were higher (but still acceptable) and more than a few people new where to look.
Case and Point. Keith with a standout!
With a bump in the flows to encourage Fall Chinook Salmon to begin their migration, I took a recon trip out to the coast with Kellen Igou (who knows more than a few things spey) http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/blog/fly-fishing-gear-conservation-news/kellens-bugged-out-brindle-bug/
While time and place didn't come together for us on that trip, nothing beats 2am starts and mid day naps. Yawn.
Back up river however the flows have shaken the fish up and dropped the water temps a bit. Fly only is a week away, the Fall Chinook have arrived and we are finding these...
What More do you Need?
The morning started out Smokey. Not nearly as bad as last week where it was hot and dry and I should have been wearing a mask. But it still lingered in the still morning air. Sounds like the Stouts fire is getting contained, slowly but surely.
The Salmon guys were all jockeying at their put in as I crossed the bridge. I'm so glad I don't play that game...
I had the pleasure of taking Craig Neilson of Shasta Trout out for some Early Steelhead. Of course, wanting him to get into them, I made a pretty bold move right off the bat and anchored in a spot that past experiences have taught me to avoid. One of those spots I know holds fish, but you take a chance and it's awkward swinging from the boat. I felt the anchor lock in a slot as soon as it touched down. We had to cut the rope after a few minutes fighting to get it back. No fish there either.
This beautie came a few runs later. I stumbled out of the boat when I heard the reel sing. I don't think Craig had made more than three casts, maybe half of his shooting head out.
After a celebratory beer, I stepped out and not half a dozen casts later, chatting away, not paying any attention, WHAM! And then slack. So it goes. Don't throw it out there til' yer' ready.
Nice.
We finished the day swapping rods and lines. I cast a few of Craig's Anderson Custom Rods and they cast as nice as they look. He tried out the Douglas DFX 7116-4 I have been demoing. All Before noon.
Go get em'