Quick Saltwater Rockfishing Report

The other day Nikki and I went crabbing, but I also threw the rod in the car to test the waters for a little bit before the ride home. Fishing was very difficult because there was a lot of drifting sea grass, and it would prevent my type IV shooting head and intermediate running line from penetrating into the abyss where the probability for getting into a fish existed. Luckily, I was able to find a couple of clear spots every once in a while to get a nice cast in, and my line was able to sink down with about a 12 second count before I decided to retrieve back my offerings. I literally would get a one or two cast window to present my fly before the sea grass would drift by in clumps preventing my from fishing again until another opening would appear.  

A fine rockfish caught off the rocks on a conehead white bunny leech

Luckily, when I would get those few presentations in, there was an ambushing black rockfish crushing my fly. I ended up getting really nice fish also, compared to the standard sized fish I normally catch at this spot. It was the typical scenario too; where the people watching me get out of my car and wadering up with my fly rod in hand told me that there wasn't any hatch going on. I told them I knew that, and my line and fly was not relating things to a bug hatch, but more based on the food chain. I told them I was targetting rock fish, and they looked at me like I was nuts. I also told them I can do very well at times, and they passed me off like I was full of lies tall tales. I guess that is why I am the only one out there fly fishing, except one other person I know who also really enjoys it. It is nice when you have totally uncharted fisheries for your fly rod, and everyone you typically come across is only interested in trout and steelhead. Oregon is a steelhead and trout mecca for fly fishing, but we also have countless other amazing wonderful places to fish for other species.  

This rockfish fell to a 2/0 yak hair clouser minnow tied with iridescent colors 

Fall Summer Steelheading Time is Here!

Steelheading has been consistent lately, where you can assume you are going to have some action out there. It is still steelhead fly fishing; where you can assume you are going to have to work hard for each fish, and they are always considered a fish of a 1000 casts. The thing is that once the light angles change, and water temperatures start to cool back off, it causes the fish to become more active and aggressive. Coming up the spring Chinook salmon will come into the shallows to spawn, and from then on out, the steelhead fly fishing typically gets better and better before the fall rains inundate the river with swollen winter flows. Once the salmon die off after they spawn, the summer steelhead become the bosses of the water. They will become the dominant fish in the water, but for the next few weeks they must bow down to the salmon. As the salmon weaken and spawn losing the last valuable percentages of life, the steelhead sneak around them and start picking off spawn drifting down the river. 

Summer Steelhead on tight to the end of Will's line!

I have cut open hatchery steelhead to see gobs of eggs in their stomach chambers; so you can bet that these fish start to get really active from about here on out. Between swinging flies in vast runs, and nymphing slots in tight quartered spots, you can have some banner days in the fall fishing for summer run steelhead. With the Willamette Valley having a tremendous steelhead run this year, you can expect some days with consistent good catches, and the best is yet to come "fishing-wise". Fall steelheading is something I look forward to all year, and it is basically time for that. Fall is full of wonderful fly fishing opportunities; so don't miss out on what most people feel is the best time of the year to get out and go fishing. Get yourself out there to feel that tight line grab of a feisty summer steelhead!

A swung Motion Prawn claimed this summer steelhead.......

Summer Steelhead Report and Short Video

With recent weather patterns staying away from the "Heat Wave" factor, we have had better fishing conditions. Fishing has been fair typically with good moments, and it should be picking up as the fall comes closer. Days are noticeably getting shorter, and that means more shade on the water for longer, and lower light angles on the fish now. That should cause them to be less freaked out from predators like os, and the bite should consistently get better and better as time goes on. That is what happens this time of the year; where the fishing for both trout and steelhead really picks up over the next several weeks, and the best action of the year occurs between now and Halloween typically.  

After I landed this fine summer steelhead, it was time for "Go Ducks!!"

Recently on my guided trips we have been averaging at least one steelhead on the slower days, and having an occasional day where we will hook three to five fish and land about two or three. That should change when the weather pattens shift over to a more fall like weather trend; where you can expect several hooked fish days more consistently. The one fish landed days are semi standard for the hot and bright weather days; while those results would be slow for the typical outing in the latter half of September and through October. More often we have multiple steelhead days with fish biting on swung wet flies, than do we have the days where we struggle to land more than one fish once the fall weather sets in.

Bald Eagle hanging out in cottonwood on the banks of the Willamette River

The fall fishing is just around the corner and the best problem with the fall is that there are so many good fishing opportunities to try out; where it is hard to decide where and what you want to fish for. Between trout, steelhead, and fall salmon, there are too many good things to fish for!

Below is a short video clip to enoy!

Summer Heat Wave Fishing Report

Possie Bugger nymph pinned this coastal cutthroat trout

Luckily it was sort of a short lived heat wave, but the weather was baking nonetheless..... Weather breached 100 out, and several other days a drop below the century mark. We survived, and luckily the fish have too for the most part. Rumors had it that the water temperatures down by the mouth of the Deschutes River was so high that fish were having trouble surviving releases. Luckily, where I fish regularly has water temperatures that are generally not an issue. Breaching the 55 degree mark in the McKenzie is very rare and the low 50's are the norm. The Upper Willamette River's temperatures generally hover in the upper 50's and lower 60's; so you do not have to contend with what the trout in Montana or the steelhead in lower Deschutes have to face.

A nice cutthroat decided to take the nymph on the "dry & dropper rig"

We are gifted with cold water, and relatively empty fishing for the latter portion of the summer and into the fall. There is a smattering of people who frequent the steelhead spots or fish for trout in the late summer and fall, but the general heavy burst of anglers that come out for the late spring and early summer are "over it". I am no longer seeing the masses out on the water, and it is the time where you can really enjoy and dissect the waters that I enjoy to fish so much. I do not have to peer around my shoulder as much; looking for the next boat to come down and trash the next spot we were looking forward to fishing. The fishing also has been picking up with the lower angling pressure, and the water levels are maintaining at a reasonable season low this year.

This fine coastal cutthroat trout took the subsurface nymph

Hatches are about the slowest this time of the summer as they will ever be for the warm months, but they will soon be increasing; since fall is nearing. You can see smaller pale morning duns, smaller caddis, a golden stone here and there, some hoppers, midges (which are not much of a food item here), and a pale evening dun here and there. Most of the "hatch-a-tivity" is going to be in the last two hours of the day, but on the overcast mornings there will be some bugs until the sun burns through. Fishing a large buoyant dry fly with a dropper nymph this time of the year is going to be the most productive during the non-hatch times, and then match the hatch when you see the fish rising.

Another pretty spotted specimen of coastal cutthroat trout

Steelhead fishing lately is best from first light to about noon since the heat wave has struck us, but that will change soon as things are cooling back off. Some days are slower with success being one fish out there; while other days are filled with action and you can get into several fish. Swinging flies has been the best method for producing fish, and the better the caster the more likely one is going to have better success. With low clear water the fish are spooky, and approaching them from more distance is better for success currently. Anyone who cannot cast proficiently over 40 feet should practice their casting skills, because you cannot have much success swinging up fish in crystal clear low summer water unless you consistently can cover from 40 feet on out. When the fall rains will come, and churn up the water so visibility is not so great, then things will get easier, but for now casting far will yield more chances for steelhead in the southern Willamette valley area streams.

The orange gill marks represent the cutty.....

Let's hope the weather pattern stays perfect like it has been for the last few days. When you are dealing with highs in the upper 70's with overcast mornings; you can't ask for much more for fly fishing. All you have to hope from there is that the fish are willing to play and that the "bite" is consistent. From here on out the steelhead fishing and trout fishing should get better and better; since what you can call the "summer doldrums" should be on their way out......

This chubby little rainbow took the swung softhackled wet fly

Mountain View Lake Vacation - Adirondacks Fly Fishing Report From Mountain View Lake

From the 1st of August through the7th, Nikki and I headed to visit her mom and dad at their home at Mountain View, New York. They live on the edge (literally) of Mountain View Lake, and the place is set up to be paradise for the avid fisher and lake enthusiast. The house is totally cute beyond belief with decks over looking the lake with magnificent views, and docks on the water with boats ready to fish or zoom around whenever you want. The lake holds bass that range from dinky to as big as they ever come, and they compete with pike that range similarly in size. Little Pumpkinseed Sunfish roam the close to the shors and shallow edges; while perch range all around the lake. Many types of baitfish reside in the lake providing for plenty of feed for the top dogs in the lake. Some of the baitfish can get rather large, like golden shiners; so the predators that hunt them also have to be really big to eat them.

fishing the lily pads for ambushing bass....

Nikki's dad Lance has a sweet little row boat set up with a motor to zip around the lake from spot to spot probing my flies and his lures into the likely fish holding areas. We woke up every morning nice and early to temp the fish with our offerings, and my goal was to get into some huge pike and bass. Fishing trips seem to turn out differently then you plan often, and I have learned that you have to role with what you get, and not have any expectations.

Small but beautiful perch - first perch caught in my life.....

The first few sessions proved to be super tough for me on my fly rod. I was getting some takes and action, but usually landing what most fishers call 'dinks". I was losing anything substantial during the first few seconds; while Nikki's dad Lance was showing me how it is done on his local waters. He would pull fish out of spots that I just worked hard with my fly rod. I was perplexed because I have caught my fair share of big bass in Oregon and Florida with proven fly fishing methods, but they were not producing well for me in upstate New York.

 Dropping a fly from the deck produced these "Deck Fishing"

Most of the fish I caught in numbers were little sunfish and perch from the upper deck while basically dapping my flies from 10 feet above the water. I would see little 5" or less bass climb all over my little trout flies, but the bigger bass were giving me the "fin" whenever I was officially out there in the serious fishing sessions. Luckily each session was progressively better, and the full moon that we arrived on was waning down and the weather was stabilizing each day also. One of the mornings I lost a giant pike which came off after a few head shakes along with another bucket mouth bass that came off after rattling its head under the surface spitting my fly back at me. I was seeing the potential trophy fish, but they were not coming to my hand; and more of them were sightings. We even had a huge mystery fish that pulled off the drag on a spinning reel to only snap the line in with too much weeds on it. 

View from Mountain View Lake

By the fourth day, I had landed my first monster bass, but it came on a golden shiner that took a softhackled wet fly. Basically a fish that smashed live bait that was on the end of my line while I was fishing and goofing around from the bridge 50' from their house. It was pretty awesome to see the predatory aggressive manner of these bass and pike; where anything that swims can be eaten as long as it fits in their mouth. 

This hefty Largemouth Bass took a golden shiner than ate my softhackled wet fly

The other thing that was really cool was not exactly knowing what you may catch next. One fish is a largemouth, then the next is a pike, and then a smallmouth. You can catch 5 species of gamefish in Mountain View Lake in one day, and also you can even catch incidental baitfish on the flies that would catch the sunfish. I never imagined catching golden shiners on flies; only to see a huge bucket mouth come and clobber it right from the dock in front of the house (that also happened).

This fine hard fighting smallmouth bass took a stripped conehead olive marabou leech

As the trip went on, the fishing seemed to get better each morning Lance and I went out. One morning my fly rod would seem to be a bit more productive, and the next day Lance's fancy rubber worms worked on a spinning rod would produce better. We were more or less kinda of doing the same thing working long leech like things back to us from deep in the cover, but it seemed that the presentations of the two rods varied enough to seem like two different things to the fish. One morning was fun because I ended up catching Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Northern Pike all in the same morning fishing session. You would hook up and wonder what you had, but the differing fish fight's often let you know what was swimming on the end of the line.

This second pike I caught took an olive conehead marabou leech stripped in between the weeds

The funniest day was the last day Lance and I went out fishing before we went to visit some of the family relatives and left Mountain View Lake for the remainder of the trip. Lance kept on getting fish after fish in the morning, and I was not getting a sniff of action on my line. I was wondering what I was not doing right to get any hits; while he would consistently either get a hit or another fish. We were using synonymous offerings even though he was working rubber worms and I was working leech like flies. The colors and sizes were close enough, but I was not getting anything. We just wanted to see a huge bass or a huge pike before I was going to head back home, and we figured it was going to have happened several times by now. 

One of many nice bass that Lance caught while making me feel like I couldn't fish.....

Frustration was going through my mind, as I though how many times you go somewhere and have expectations of some huge awesome fish you are going to catch on your fishing trip, but it ends up not happening. I have gone to many places and ended up never catching that trophy that you thought you were going to get. Lance told me he was going to zip to a spot that we fished a few days before and then we would have to head back to make breakfast. It was sort of the last ditch effort for him to get me into a trophy bass.

A pike that we caught right from the dock in front of the house.....

It ended up being the Hail Mary of football too because after I took two casts, I glanced over the front of the boat as I saw an absolutely huge bass swim up and park. I was freaking out as I saw it, and I told Lance it was there. Of coarse too, my fly line would have to be wrapped around my rods several times; so I had no better chance to blow it than anything else. I could not believe this giant largemouth was sitting there, and I was in the perfect spot to go for it, but my rod was in turmoil with fly line barber poled around it with limited time before this bucket mouth was going to spook off.

This brown flash-a-bugger took this bass while fly fishing off of a bridge

Somehow, I carefully swirled my rod in the right motion to free the line off of it, and then toss my Whitlock's Scorpion fly past this bass. I retrieved the fly back by it, and not even the wink of a reaction. I tried a second time and the fish did not even hinder a move again. Lance was busy fiddling with his setup for the moment, and I knew it was only a matter of a few more attempts before I would have to hand the opportunity over to him to try for this bass of a lifetime.

Hexagenia Mayfly Spinner on the deck in the morning

I threw my fly on the third cast straight in front of the fish, and literally gave my fly a small irritating jig like action inches in front of it. The fish then opened up its cavernous mouth, and the water flushed into its mouth with a giant inhaling gasp along with the fly. I saw that happen and waited patiently for the fish to turn before unloading the famous "bass master" hook-set. The fish exploded on the surface and then Lance's attention was caught as he blurted out a "WOW" what a huge bass!!! I was stoked as the fish was on and it was on solid. It could only break me off in the weeds or on the motor, and we were in a relatively good spot for the weeds. The fish did totally threaten me by coming right near the motor, but Lance raised the motor up simultaneously, and the fish yielded to me also. It was bigger than I thought when I landed it, and we both were totally stoked to see that happen at the last ditch effort. Just proves that you can never give up, because you can catch that fish of a lifetime when you least expect it.

This tub of a Largemouth Bass capped off my trip - biggest one of my life so far.....

The giant bass went 21" long, and seemed to weight somewhere in between 7 and 8 pounds. It was so big that I could put my whole fist into its mouth. I also caught the fish on a 5wt fly rod, and that is a very light rod for a bass that big. Fun times!!!

Fist in this largemouth bass..... that is one serious bucket mouth!!!

We had a totally amazing trip in Mountain View, and I cannot wait to go there again sometime soon. Upstate New York is totally wild, beautiful, desolate, and has some really great fishing to experience. We were very lucky since Nikki's parents live right on a gorgeous lake with boats. I highly recommend checking out upstate New York for anyone looking to go on a vacation that is far away from any of the crazy hustle and bustle. Having no cell reception and no fast internet was something that was extremely relaxing. Especially when you are staying at a place that is literally on the water's edge.

The fishing and fun headquarters, .... or home for the Bradt's

A loon patrolling Mountain View Lake for some fine food morsels.....

Fly Fishing (Fun Style) Tournament This Weekend 8-11 & 8-12

Carp-pocalypse Reminder 

                                                                                    

This weekend will be the first annual Carp-pocalypse Tournament at Banks Lake in Washington. Clear water, shallow flats, lots of fish, and plenty of sun make this a perfect place for everyone to get together and have some fun while helping our native fish. The tourney is designed to raised proceeds for native fish restoration. All while having fun fishing for powerful elusive carp. Click the links for more details. You can sign up at the NW area Orvis stores.

Carp-pocalypse

Recent Fishing Report Update - Trout, Steelhead, Smallmouth Bass Report

Lately I have been very busy and have had little time to post blog entries. It is a catch 22 because I enjoy posting entries, but I also like guiding and being really busy too. When I am out there guiding all of the time, it gets tough to make time for posting entries to keep all of you readers up to date on what is going on. I tend to make up for the lack of summer entries in the winter when days are short and there is plenty of time to sit in front of the computer. Anyhow, lately the fishing has been relatively steady with consistent action and pretty good weather patterns for trout and steelhead fishing. As for the smallmouth fishing, it has been so so, but I tend to do most of my smallmouth fishing when the summer doldrums hit and the high pressure and high temperatures dominate the air. This summer has been very pleasant and consistent with temperature in the upper 70s and many overcast mornings (unlike the rest of the country).

My nephew with a McKenzie River Rainbow Trout

Trout fishing has been steady with lots of fish being caught each day out, but not many large fish have been caught which is semi standard for the mid summer fishing times. Typically spring and fall offer the trophy trout with consistency while the peak summer time offers numbers when you are out there. Of course a heat spell can trash that, and make the day tough to catch each fish, but we have not had that kind of fishing yet. Dry fly and dropper set ups have been the best producers along with swung softhackled wet flies in the surface film. Hatches have been mainly pale morning duns and smaller caddis with some little yellow sallies and adult golden stones. This is the time of the year when there is the least "hatch-a-tivity", but the fish are looking for food offerings and that is the reason why you can do very well with a large dry and dropper set up for your daytime fishing.

Motion Prawn claimed this early morning angler's first summer steelhead

Steelhead fishing has recently gotten a lot more consistent for me on my trips where we are tending to have multiple hookups each day out, and the crowds have been back and forth depending on the day. Fish are really taking a variety of swung wet flies and the numbers of fish have really filled into the river systems. Water levels have hit the summer lows which cause the conventional angler to lower their catch rates; while the fly guys start to shine. Nymph fishing to sighted fish has also been productive when you are not a in spot that offers good swing fishing, or if the fish is holding in a upstream of you position.

This Summer Steelhead climbed on this purple & pink tube fly

Steelhead Fly Fishing Class: Coming Up Soon

Steelhead Fly Fishing Class

Steelhead Fly Fishing is something that every Portland area person should at least experience once. After that they might be hooked though, and I personally don't know how many anglers I would want out there crowding up our gorgeous rainforest rivers. Anyhow, steelhead rivers are plentiful around the PDX area, and in fact it is way easier to be a avid steelhead fly fisher compared to being an avid trout angler if you live near the Portland metro area. That is exactly why I drive to the McKenzie and upper Willamette to do my trout guiding. Anyhow, with the vast array of amazing steelhead waters to choose from, I feel that any fly fisher in the Portland metro area thinking about steelhead should definitely take it up.   

Steelhead caught on a dead drifted dry fly on the Clackamas River

On Saturday September 8th, 2012 I will be instructing a Steelhead Fly Fishing Class on the Clackamas River.

This will be a 4 hour "on the water" steelhead fly fishing class. It will not be a "Guided Fishing Trip" and you will most likely not catch a steelhead during this class (although it is possible); since the focus of it will be to teach you "all around fly fishing techniques for catching steelhead". The class will be about what equipment is used and why, several different techniques that are proven for catching steelhead, reading water for steelhead, and a whole lot more.....There will be demonstrations of these techniques on real pieces of steelhead water with steelhead that are actually out there. The purpose of the class is to teach you how to steelhead fly fish all on your own at any river. 6 people will be allowed into the class, and the main requirement is that you already know the basics of fly fishing.

Don't you want to learn how to get into fish like this steelhead on the swung wet fly....

You can consider this class a 301 Steelhead Fly Fishing Class; because in a 101 Fly Fishing you would be learning how to cast and tie knots. A 201 Fly Fishing Class would be some basic fly fishing techniques, and this 301 class is the next step after that. For anyone who is interested in steelhead fly fishing, and wants to know about fishing techniques, equipment to use, tippet strengths, fly choices, when to do what, and what to do when; then this is the class for you. We are going to learn about swinging wet flies, skating dry flies, dead drifting flies, single handed rod uses, spey rods and uses, switch rods and uses), reading water, cracking the myths, etc, etc....The class is designed so you can go on your own to a steelhead fishery, and you will know what to do while you are out there to fish properly for steelhead with a fly rod.

Learn how proficiently swing wet flies through likely steelhead spots

In this class, I will be doing demonstrations, and I will be picking class members to participate in them as well. I believe that seeing things in person helps a lot more than reading any book. It is live in motion and in real life speed. Timing is everything in steelheading and that is not something you see in books. You will be both watching demonstrations, and you will be participating in them too; so waders and wading shoes (studs really help) are necessary. Again-It is not a Steelhead Guided Fishing Trip, but you will be learning steelhead fly fishing techniques; so you can go out on your own and you can become a proficient steelhead fly fisher.

Learn how set up what flies and nymph; so fish like this chrome bright steelhead result

-Class Will Meet At the Lower Boat Ramp at McIver State Park (directions to be emailed to class participants).
-Class will run from 10am-2pm on September 8th (meet at 9:45am to get waders on and get ready for class to start at 10am)
 -Class costs $100 per person
-Students will have to have their own waders, boots, wading staff (if needed), sunglasses, license (appropriate tags), and rain jacket (if needed)
-I will supply equipment for the class, but I recommend that you bring a rod for steelhead fishing if you already have one.
-I will bring rods ranging from single handed 8wts, to switch rods and spey rods. This way everything can be tried out and you can see what may most interest you in your future steelheading adventures.
-a notepad and pen can be helpful for taking notes
-Class is limited to 6 Students (email or call to sign up - don't assume it is filled up)

If you are interesting in signing up for this class, email me at fish@mckenzieangler.com or call me at (541)232-6360.

This steelhead was caught Christmas Day of 2011 - What a gift!!!

Brian Marz Guided Fly Fishing  / www.flyfishingoregonblog.com

McKenzie Summer Steelhead Video From 7-11-2012

This last Wednesday, I was guiding two wonderful guys who are my most regular clients; with steelhead being the main target of the day, and trout filling in after the heat and sunshine took over. It was predicted to hit 87 degrees on the weather forecast, and I can say that it was higher than that. Also very calm out; so the heat and sun did not let up on you at all. I took my shirt and dunked it under the cold McKenzie River water, wrung it out, and put it on. It would seem like a refreshing idea, but within no time, my shirt heated up and felt like a warm wet towel wrapped around me. Luckily it was bone dry in about 10 minutes anyhow. The heat did seem to affect the fishing, but we luckily got into two fish with the fly rod, and one fish backtrolling a plug in a deep tailout. Yes we occasionally bust out a rod that has a fly reel loaded with 30# backing and 30 meters of 12# test on it with a wiggle wart plug. Occasionally it has saved a day that would have been a skunking, and other times it adds on one to several bonus fish to fight on a fly rod without fly line on it. Anyhow, no need to justify my fly fishing; since I do that firsthand, and have that Rig as an extra tool in the boat. The one particular tailout is super deep and always has fish in it, yet I have never caught a fish in there any other method besides with a plug and backtrolling. I know the drift guys can get them in there, yet I cannot get down with any shooting head or indicator dead drift set up (so far).

Bruce Casting a Skagit Switch Fly Line on a Switch Rod

Nonetheless, one of the other fish was hooked up with a Skagit Switch Head with 7.5 feet of T-11 sinking line, and a leech I tied with blue ostrich hearl in the rear and black ostrich in the front. The fly had small dumbell eyes, and about a 4 foot leader of 0X Orvis Mirage Tippet was used off of the sinking tip line. It was taken while working toward the tailout in a deeper run, and the fly was taken hard, but Bruce let out a frustrated sigh when the fish's battle was short lived.

McKenzie River Summer Steelhead Caught while Nymph Fishing

Blaine's fish was hooked while drifting down from spot to spot. We were passing by a short run and I was having both guys nymph off the side of the boat with a stonefly nymph and a Trout Bead dropped off of it. The fish took a 8MM Natural Roe pattern with a size 6 hook, and it was fought with 1X Mirage Flouro (I use 0X to the 1st fly and 1X to the second; so you possibly only lose one if you have to break off). The fish stuck on for the whole battle, and we got  to enjoy it chrome ocean fresh coloration before sending it back off for someone else to enjoy again. After that the steelhead did not want to play anymore, but having three fish hooked up on a 90 degree bright sunny day and hitting the water at 9am isn't too bad......We also caught a fair number of trout after the steelhead seemed to quit biting, and enjoyed being on the water on a hot and sunny day. At least then you can dunk your hat in the water and get your feet wet instead of being in the city all hot and sweaty!  

Enjoy the Video of the fish Blaine Caught....

Trout Fishing Report - McKenzie and Willamette Rivers

The trout action over the last several weeks was very consistent, with fish being taken regularly on a dry fly and dropper nymph along with swung softhackled wet flies. Fishing a double wet fly set up is always a good way to go about it, because you can give the fish two options, and often you can crack the code easier in what the fish are keying into that particular day. You even get two fish on one cast occasionally, and that makes for a great angling story. No one will believe you when you tell them that you caught two fish in one cast.

Swinging softhackled wet flies can be extremely productive on the McKenzie River

The same occasionally occurs when fishing the dry and dropper, where a fish attacks the dry fly, and then another feisty fish decides to clobber the nymph offering. Dry and dropper is a great tactic for summertime; since often there is not much of a hatch during the heat of the day, but fish still are seeking out food. A large buoyant dry fly imitating something large like a golden stonefly or a grass hopper (ambiguously covering both - attractor style) with a Possie Bugger nymph has been the ticket for me over the last several years. It catches fish on just about every day out on the water in the summertime, and often you learn how productive the subsurface offering is. Sometimes you can catch 10 fish, and 9 are on the nymph and 1 is on the dry fly. For those of you who only fish dries, think about how many fish are not climbing on it, but are eating the nymph. A dry and dropper is a summertime must set up for trout fishing.

This McKenzie Rainbow took a swung yellow softhackle

It always blows me away how strong McKenzie and upper Willamette wild trout are. I hear things from clients all of the time how impressed they are by the shear power and fight the fish offer on these rivers. I heard someone say on a trip that the fish were picked on as little kids, and now they have attitude for it. I think it is simple as the high flows the fish deal with in the winter months only lets the strongest fish survive. The fish are the ones that make it through the swollen flooded flows that persist in the winter, and when they are hooked the 12" makes them feel like they are 16". The little rainbow above ripped me so silly, and it was maybe 13" if that. It literally made my reel scream hard with two nice runs, and when I saw the size, it was almost humorous. What powerhouse fish we have that exist in the southern Willamette Valley. They hit another level of fight once they breach the 15" mark, and the ones that top the 18" mark really implant serious memories.

Fish on ! McKenzie River - Oregon

Chubby Chernobyl dry fly took this cutthroat

This side channel was loaded with cutthroats when water levels were higher

Customer Appreciation Day at the Portland Orvis Store

This Saturday July 7th, 2012 will be a special Customer Appreciation Day at the Portland Orvis Store located at the Bridgeport Village. 

It's time for our annual Fly Fishing sale in the store. Its the one day a year that they extend the 20% off coupon for almost everything in the store including sale merchandise. There will be free BBQ from Pine Shed Ribs, free beer from Ninkasi brewing, and Eric Neufeld will be there giving a presentation on the life cycle of Caddis flies and matching them with the awesomer offerings from Idylwilde flies. I know this is late notice but that is because we are trying out a new offer from Orvis travel and they didn’t want us to spill the beans too early. If you give us a name, email, and phone number to be on the Orvis travel email list you will receive a $500.00 gift card the first time you book a trip through them! Its an unbelievable offer so even if you don’t have a specific trip in mind right now take advantage of it. For those of you on the fence about going to Belize with me the other offers still stand so you would get this in addition to the the free rod, 15% discount card, and the $200 gift card for booking with a friend. It will be the best deal on a trip to Belize you will find anywhere! There is only one catch, this is only good for one day. Come in tomorrow July 7th and take advantage of this! See you tomorrow!  

Front Side of Mailed Invite

Back Side of Mailed Invite

We hope to see you at the store this Saturday July 7th from 11am-3pm!!! Don't miss out on a great opportunity!!!

Summer Steelheading Report

Summer steelhead taken while swinging a purple and pink bunny leech

Recently summer steelhead fishing has seemingly gotten a lot more consistent in regards to having success out there. Over the last few weeks steelhead fishing was more what the reputation is, where you cast all day and maybe get into a fish, or even worse, you get a "bite". Luckily that has changed to much more productive levels, and that has made me really stoked to be guiding out there. I am not one who is all about swinging flies all day and stepping through runs to get that mythological maybe grab, or even maybe a landed fish. I like to steelhead when the odds are in your favor, and you know that covering runs will lead to hot fish on the end of your line. As of late, the fish runs are tremendous, and the fishing has gotten much better out there too. Lately the worst we have done on my guided trips is landing one fish per trip, and that is still what most consider to be a successful day of steelhead fly fishing. ODFW deems 3/4 a fish per boat to be the average catch for steelhead, and that is including all forms of rod/reel tackle (not just a fly rod). We are getting to that point in the run where the action is going to be hot and heavy from here on out until the river gets too high and dirty for fish next winter.

Fish On! Steelhead taken while swinging a Hickman's Party Boy in Black

We have been swinging flies for summer steelhead thus far, and the best patterns for me have been motion prawns, purple/pink bunny leeches, black and blue moal leeches , some invented ostrich patterns with the same color combos, and some traditional patterns like the Silver Hilton. I have also been messing around with some other patterns, but those are my go to flies for swinging where I fish at. We have been using mainly moderate sinking tipped lines and now the water levels are getting into floating line and light sinking tip mode.

This steelhead connected on the last spot of the day with a long purple string leech

The other day, I went out after an am guided trip, and I resorted to dead drifting patterns in a deep run that was loaded with fish. I could tell that the fishing was hot as a rocket due to several frequent hookups amongst the drift fisherman on the bank and in several boats on the bank of a "combat fishing" run. Well the dead drifting proved to be ultra effective, as I hooked up with a large Spring Chinook for a short lived fight as the fish charged straight at me with a fast run and let enough slack in the line to self release it. Then a few casts later I was rewarded with a feisty chromer that I landed. The fish took a 10mm Trout Bead that I was running off of a MOAB Stone with a Thingamabobber . I had the depth set; so when the indicator dunked, it was going to be nothing but fish (about 1 foot above the bottom).

10MM Pink Trout Bead couldn't be resisted by this summer steelhead; even with heavy angling pressure

A few casts later, I was tied up with another insane fish. The fish hammered my offering and gave a battle that never ended. I fought the fish as hard as I could, not letting it have an ounce of slack. I was practically closing my reel shut when I could, only letting it go when my tippet's strength was going to be compromised. After forever, the fish was seemingly getting closer to yielding, and eventually I got it into the net. It was pretty big, and was probably the largest hatchery summer steelhead I have landed on the McKenzie River so far. I have had clients land bigger fish than this one was, but I have only landed a fish that was close to this once before, and lost two huge ones several years back. Just shows that fishing in a crowd can yield goodness, and sometimes you can pick up a few fish with methods other than swinging flies. Not as fun to fish while you are fishing, but the rewards can be great nonetheless.

Summer steelhead fell to a swung  black, purple, and blue articulated conehead marabou leech

Fishing for summer steelhead should remain hot until the heat waves kick in, and the crowds should start to lessen as time goes on. Water levels are dropping into the summer low flow, and that tends to turn off the guys who prefer to use bait, hardware, and other non fly fishing methods. When time passes even more down the road the fly fishing presentations tend to take over for success, and that again causes the angling pressure to lessen. As of now, the angling pressure can be rather awful at times, but each day that passes by with low water and harder to catch fish for the conventional anglers; will cause the pressure to lighten up more and more. The less people out there fishing for these summer steelhead; the better the fishing will get.

This summer steelhead fell to a swung Motion Prawn while swinging such a short cast

The hitch is that the summer steelhead right now are hot as a rocket, and can offer the nuttiest battles you can ask for. If you want to engage in an insane battle with a steelhead that completely goes BATS on the end of your line; then get out there now. You will be fishing with lots of other anglers around at certain times, but there is a reason that people are attracted to these hot fish. They will reward you a lot more than catching many other targeted fish species. If you are into solitude and catching lots of trout, then this is probably not your fishery of choice. If you are into seeing a fish crack a four foot air, and rip you straight into your fly line backing, then to pop an air again, then you should experience this.

Large Summer Steelhead caught dead drifting with Trout Bead with heavy fishing pressure around

You cannot catch fish like this unless you are up for the challenge. You cannot expect to go out and have them climb on the end of your line. You have to work for the fish, and you have to fish with a system. Steelhead are not fish that are looking for your offering. They are out there, and you have to fish the water to eventually come onto one. When you finally pass your fly by one, you have to then hope that it is the fish that decides to play. You may get not even a drop of attention to your offering from the steelhead, and other times they decide to tie on and provide you with a battle you will not stop talking about for days......