Water Time Outfitters 2013 Highlights of the Year

It has been a great year with fantastic clients like you!  We just wanted to thank you for your participation in our 2013 season with Water Time Outfitters.  It has been busy with some amazing highlights.  We are glad that you could be a part of it.  We look forward to spending time on the water with you in 2014.  Here are a few of the many highlights from the year.

The first one of the day.

The BIG ONE!

Clive Furrows of San Diego with several amazing wild fish from one exceptional day on the N. Oregon coast.  After many years fishing BC and around the world Clive landed his biggest steelhead ever on a #7 weight spey rod.  By the measurements this fish         easily went 23.3lbs. Congrats Clive!

Congrats to Adam Straw who landed his first steelhead on the fly rod this year on the Clackamas River.  He was swinging a marabou spey pattern with a sink tip and hooked two in one morning.  Adam had that smile on his face for at least a week!

Jim Drew (photo to right) snuck this dandy chromer out of the run right behind a fly fishing legend.  He did it so non-chalantly that I had to give him mega credit.  His friend and fly fishing guru wanted Jim’s fly after the dust settled from the camera shutters. 

New guide in training- my son Tanner at the tiller on the jet sled.  Oh yeah, he landed a steelhead that day too!

Happy New Year!

 Fly fishing for shad in June was a definite highlight- what a blast!  We did ½ day trips morning and evening for shad and averaged 40 hook ups each 4 hours.  We had many doubles, saw huge sturgeon jump right in front of us and even caught some dandy smallmouth bass. 

 Tanner Crandall got in on the action and hauled in this whopper shad. (Left)




Jon Hill worked over the shad pretty good but was surprised when he brought in this red eyed devil- a      hard fighting Smallmouth Bass.

Deschutes River Trout fishing was good this year.  We had so much fun!  A favorite trip was hanging out in one camp for three days.  There were so many caddis in July- the word blizzard comes close to describing it!

Don Lewis and Henry M. had a productive trip on the lower D. this year in early September.  Don commented: “What is wrong, I can’t get this one in”… that’s because it’s a big strong steelie in it’s prime Don!

Jeff Evershed hit it just right this fall on the lower Deschutes; one of those rare days when it is overcast and a bit rainy.  We stopped counting after he had 10 hookups on steelhead.  Fish were rolling everywhere! 

  

An epic morning on the Deschutes(right), we watched 30 bighorn sheep across the river, had deer 15 yards away and landed this dandy steelhead and lost one the first stop of the day!

Thanks again for all the wonderful days on the water this year.  There are so many, many more stories and pics that are also highlights.  

All the very best to you and yours for 2014!

From the Crew at Water Time Outfitters: Rob Crandall, Gil Muhleman, Marty Smith and Kenny Kiley  

Christmas Gifts for the Fly Angler

It's that time of year and if you need a gift for a fly fisherman look no further than Water Time Outfitters for the outdoor getaway your loved one NEEDS!  Give the gift of water time, that precious resource that there never seems to be enough of.  Today's life has so many stresses, why not put it aside for a day or so and enjoy the bliss of nature, a fish throbbing at the end of the line and no cell phones.

Water Time Gifts to consider:

Guided Fishing trips:  Ranging from half day to multi-day camping trips these range from $125-175 and up.

Fly Fishing Classes: Trout and steelhead fly fishing beginners have a lifetime passion ahead- get started right in a great sport!  Price ranges from $65 and up.

Steelhead Workshops:  A great primer to the season, the new angler or someone new to town.  We show you where to go and how to do it. $100

Guided Shad Fishing Trips:  Excellent for the new angler or for the works too much guy who can squeeze in 4 hours of action packed fishing!  $125-$175 per person.

Drift boat workshops:  How to row a drift boat safely.  4 hour session takes you down the river in your boat covering rowing and safety.  $175 for one or two.

Gift Certificates:  This one covers it all- let your loved one choose from the options above and more to customize the outdoor experience they are craving!

WTO T-shirts - The Tug is the Drug!  See our T -shirts on our website:  Fishing T-Shirt

See more on our website:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Swung Fly Steelhead Mysteries- Free Seminars

Ever feel like winter steelhead are a mythical creature?  Come join us for a FREE seminar exploring the mysteries of swung fly steelhead.  We'll discuss fly pattern selection, the right gear, your approach and hopefully discern the missing pieces in your approach.

Come join us at the Royal Treatment Fly Shop finding the "missing pieces" of swung fly steelhead fishing!

Dec 14, 2014    10:00 - 11:30 Am

See the video trailer for this info packet seminar:  http://vimeo.com/81014079

2014 Seminar Dates:
Jan 11
Feb 15
Mar 15

The Perfect Christmas Gift for the New Angler

            This Steelhead Fly Fishing Workshop is a sure hit for the angler on your list!

If you are new to Steelhead fly fishing or new to Oregon, Water Time Outfitters offers the perfect Christmas gift that is so superbly unique it will definitely be a Christmas highlight - we call it our Winter Steelhead Workshops.  We offer our workshops through the prime fishing season on several of our favorite Oregon rivers.  Most locations are close to Portland or with-in a two hour drive.  These classes offer something for anglers of all levels but most of all it's the where-to-go info on the hot spots that everybody loves!  Get something memorable for the fisher person in your life this season with this one-of-a-kind workshop.

How it works:  We meet on a weekend at a convenient location near the water with coffee and donuts. We’ll review maps that will give you at least a dozen productive steelhead runs that you can drive and walk to often these are spots we personally fish. With coffee in hand we’ll discuss the maps in detail as well as run timing, river topography, ideal water levels, fish behavior and favorite fly patterns.

Then when we’ve reached proper caffeine level we’ll grab a bunch of gear and head out to the water.   We will tour the river from the bank-bound-angler point of view showing you the sweet spots with public access.  On the water we will cover: fishing techniques, fishing strategy, reading water and more. This is also time to talk about lines, rods and rigging. We’ll have plenty of spey rods and nearly 20 fly lines for you to try out and get a feel for different systems. We will have plenty of spey rods and switch rods for you to try out.

If we actually catch a fish it will be by accident. The purpose of this workshop is to give you the tools you need to find, read, and properly fish good steelhead water the actual fishing will be secondary.

Around 1pm we’ll break for a hungry man’s lunch and and then head on to some more spots with steelhead water you’ll want to drool on!

Classes are offered on our favorite rivers with great fishing not far from Portland:  

Steelhead Workshop Classes offered in 2014:

January 18th  -Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop -instructor Rob   Crandall 

January 18th - North Coast Class- Trask, Wilson, Kilches meets in Tillamook, OR - instructor Gil Muhleman

February 22nd - Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop- instructor Rob Crandall

March 22 - Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop - instructor Rob Crandall

Workshop cost is only $100 including a hot lunch and is limited to 8 anglers. Spots fill fast, pre-payment required to hold your spot.

Call Rob Crandall 503-704-6449 to reserve your spot.

See more about our company at www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Other great gift ideas from Water Time Outfitters:  WTO T-shirts, Wall Calendars and Gifts

Clackamas River 2013 Update - Wild Run Steelhead Struggle

The run of wild winter/spring Steelhead returning to the upper Clackamas basin is struggling to recover despite the sanctuary of the entire upper Clackamas River basin above NF dam.  The total fish returning above NF dam as counted by PGE (Portland General Electric) who manages the fish trap facility at NF dam was only 868 steelhead for the 2013 run.  A poor return by most comparisons.  Last year, 2012 the run was a meager 1,249 fish. 

Wild steelhead have many different life histories and spawn in different sections of the Clackamas basin.  Perhaps more fish spawned lower in the river drainage this year and were not counted.  The upper Clackamas basin continues to struggle with meager fish returns as management and conservation groups squabble about studies and what they mean.  Meanwhile, wild fish numbers stagger along with 2,000 or less fish most years in the upper basin.

Fly Fishing For Shad- Portland Oregon

The excitement and thrill of a hard fighting Shad is fun for anglers of all skill levels and ages.  Water Time Outfitters offers a unique half-day fly fishing trip in Oregon City - just minutes south of Portland, Oregon on the Willamette River for Shad.  Cast flies from the platform of a steady jet boat and tease the strike of one of thousands of shad swimming up river.

Each spring in the month of June the Willamette and Columbia Rivers are flush with American Shad. American Shad were introduced into the Sacramento River system in California in the 1800s. Shad have spread throughout many river systems on the West Coast of North America. There is currently a large shad population in the Columbia River. In recent years, shad counts at Bonneville dam on the Columbia River east of Portland have ranged from over two million to over five million fish per year. Spawning shad return to the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in May and June. Unlike many introduced species, it has not been confirmed that American Shad have serious negative effects on the environment or other native fish species in the Columbia.

Fly anglers love to catch Shad; they are often called the "poor man's Tarpon" because they are strong fighters and exhibit thrashing jumps like a giant Tarpon.  Shad typically weigh 3-5 pounds but have been caught up to around 8 pounds.  They are known for their aggressive takes and spirited fight.  While some find Shad a delicacy most in the NW practice catch and release or use Shad for Crab bait.

Light tackle is best for Shad and when water conditions allow- use of a 5 weight rod maximizes the fight. Floating lines with sinking tips are the norm but with high water some heavier sinking lines might be required.
Most days fly fishing action is consistent if not brisk.  Some 4 hour sessions experienced anglers can expect to hook 10-30 fish per person.

Fly selection is usually quite simple; being in the herring family and primarily a Plankton eater, flies should be small.  Bright flash and varied colors from orange, red, pink, chartruese, yellow, white among others work well.

                                                   Doubles while Shad fishing is common!

To see for yourself what it is all about come join Water Time Outfitters on the Willamette River for a fun 4- hour session fly fishing for Shad in June.  All the gear is provided and waters and soft drinks are in the boat. If your just learning this is a fun way to get started.  Anglers of all levels enjoy the battle of the shad.

Four Hour Fly Fishing Session:

1- angler  $200
2- anglers $300
3- anglers $375

To book your spot today call Rob Crandall at: 503-704-6449

See the other great fisheries that Water Time Outfitters guides visit:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Clackamas River Steelhead - Guided Jet Boat Trips

Guided Jet Boat Steelhead Trips – Clackamas River

On the Clackamas River we target winter, spring and summer steelhead just minutes from the Portland airport. Long runs, choppy riffles and sweet hidey holes are everywhere on the Clackamas if you know where to look. With perfect water for the swung fly, chrome fish arriving daily and a mountain view the Clack is the perfect choice for the spey rod angler. Variety and options abound on the Clackamas. With the speed and versatility of the jet boat we can cover many different sections of the river often without other anglers; during low water times the drift boat comes in handy.

We fish the Clackamas from February through June.

Guided jet boat trips cover the best waters of the river, timing our fishing locations to optimize our results. Full day trips may cover many miles or just a few depending on where the fish are; the mobility of the jet boats helps us "stay in the fish". Hot riverside meals are served with your full day of fishing with the jet boat.

Make the most of your time on the water, come fish with Rob Crandall on his home river. Rob grew up on the banks of the Clackamas and has been guiding it since 1992. He knows the river intimately and loves to introduce anglers to the hardy steelhead of the Clack.

Guided Jet Boat Trips -	One angler (w/lunch)	$400
	Two anglers (w/lunch)	$495
	Three anglers (w/lunch)	$650
Jet Boat Half Day Special -	One angler	$175
	Two anglers	$300
	Three anglers	$375

Book your trip now - call to reserve your spot or more details: 503-704-6449  see our website: www.watertimeoutfitters.com  

Deschutes River Fishing - October 2014

It's been a super busy season for Water Time Outfitters on Central Oregon's Deschutes River this fall.  Each day our guides our working the best water to help our clients find the treasured steelhead.  Our strategy is to swing flies with spey rods for the ultimate steelhead fishing experience.  The fall season is a favorite and many of our guest are repeat customers that have been living the steelhead dream with us for over 15-20 years.  Camps are comfortable and warm with the necessary amenities to make camping riverside the best possible experience.  Meals are hearty and served hot in our canvas dining tent.  The overall river experience in this 32 mile stretch of wild canyon is an amazing opportunity not to be missed.  Each day we see wildlife such as:  otter, mink, Golden Eagle, deer, ducks, osprey and big horn sheep. 

Recent conditions: the water has been in good shape but bumped up the night before last (Oct 29th) to 4410 cfs near Madras.  The water temperatures have been around 50 degrees.  The last few days the night time temperatures have been in the 20-30's and the warm part of the day has been 50-60 degrees.  Most of October it has been much warmer and pleasant with most days reaching around 70 degrees or more.  For trout anglers the season on the upper section closes Oct 31.  Below that consider blue winged olives mid-day. 

The swung fly technique is one of the most addicting ways to catch as Steelhead.  A tight line is held against the current as the fly swings across. Cast, swing, step is the montra as we work through the run looking for the aggressive take of the steelie.  "The Tug is the Drug" is our favorite saying.  (See WTO's "Tug is the Drug" Teeshirts on our website: Click Here

                            Water Time Outfitter guide Gil Muhleman and "Victor Two Casts"

Spey rods are the "weapon of choice" for fly fishers on the Deschutes River.  Covering water is the name of the game for the swung fly technique. If you haven't tried a spey rod, they are essentially 2 handed rods that are commonly 12'6" - 13'6" and really make casting easy.

Client Matt S. holds a dandy steelhead he caught using a Vision- Cult 13'3" #7 Spey rod. 

 

For more information on fly fishing the Deschutes River near Maupin, Oregon; visit our website at:

www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Portland Area Spey Casting Classes

Water Time Outfitters teams up with Royal Treatment Fly shop offering spey casting classes on the Clackamas River not far from Portland, Oregon.  Classes are 3 hours teaching the science and art of delivering the fly with the spey rod.  Joel La Follette of Royal Treatment Fly shop offers a sound history of spey casting to get the class started as students prime for the class with a historical perspective rounded out with coffee and donuts.  Rob Crandall of Water Time Outfitters offers a guides perspective on spey casting and efficiently delivering the fly for more productivity on the water. 

Joel La Follette discusses fly lines

Spey casting on the Clackamas River

Join us monthly on the Clackamas River to learn or advance your spey casting skills and proficiency.  See more details at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com or call for the next available class 503-850-4397.

Winter Steelhead Fly Fishing Workshops 2014

Want to learn how to catch winter steelhead on Oregon Rivers?  Water Time Outfitters offers a special workshop just for you!  These workshops are designed to get walk in fly anglers comfortable with a variety of spots and techniques that will put them into fish on the Oregon's best rivers.

Here is how it works. We start at the crack of 9:00 am at a designated location near the water with coffee and donuts. We’ll review maps that will give you at least a dozen productive steelhead runs that you can drive and walk to often these are spots we personally fish. With coffee in hand we’ll discuss the maps in detail.

Then when we’ve reached proper caffeine level we’ll grab a bunch of gear and head out to the water.   We will tour the river from the bank bound angler point of view showing you the sweet spots with public access.  On the water we will cover: fishing techniques, fishing strategy, fly selection and more. This is also time to talk about lines, rods and rigging. We’ll have plenty of spey rods and nearly 20 fly lines for you to try out and get a feel for different systems. We will have plenty of spey rods and switch rods for you to try out and different lines to try on your own rod. If you need some basic spey casting lessons there is usually a little time for that as well.  

If we actually catch a fish it will be by accident. The purpose of this workshop is to give you the tools you need to find, read, and properly fish good steelhead water the actual fishing will be secondary.

Around 1pm we’ll break for a hungry man’s lunch and then head on to some more spots with steelhead water you’ll want to drool on!

Steelhead Workshop Classes offered in 2014:

January 18th  -Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop -instructor Rob   Crandall 

January 18th - North Coast Class- Trask, Wilson, Kilches meets in Tillamook, OR - instructor Gil Muhleman

February 22nd - Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop- instructor Rob Crandall

March 22 - Clackamas & Eagle Creek meets at Royal Treatment Fly shop - instructor Rob Crandall

Workshop cost is $100 including meals and is limited to 8 anglers. Spots fill fast.
Call 503-704-6449 to reserve your spot.

Good News for Oregon Salmon

Record Runs of Fall salmon surge up the Columbia River.  Nearly 1,000,000 fish in the run!

Check out the related story at:  http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/09/fall_chinook_salmon_run_on_col.html

Fall Steelhead on the Deschutes River

October on the Deschutes is the fall steelhead fisherman's favorite.  Amazing canyon views meet the eye and the excitement of whitewater gets your attention but the line ripping thrill of hooking steelhead is really what gets the anglers heart pounding!  Water Time Outfitters offers guided multi-day fly fishing trips for steelhead on the Deschutes River's most remote waters.  Here we see deer, mink, otter, geese, ducks, and bighorn sheep.  This wild section of canyon is very different from the busier waters of the lower Deschutes.  Here big rapids like the three mile long Whitehorse Rapid limit the amount of boaters in this 32 mile segment.  Excellent steelhead runs stretch out before you with columnar basalt cliffs high above.  See more about this trip at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Recent Photos from October:

Deschutes River Steelhead - August September 2013

The weather has been hot, cold and in between but the steelhead season so far has been consistently good  for summer run steelhead since early August.  Water Time Outfitters plies the cool waters of the lower 22 miles of the Deschutes river for summer steelhead in August and September not far from the central towns of the Dalles and Maupin Oregon.  Steelhead migrating from the ocean veer into the cool waters of the Deschutes for respite from warm water in the Columbia River.  Often upper Columbia basin steelhead will stray into the Deschutes (up to 100 miles) only to back out later and continue their migration up the Columbia River.  The lower part of the Deschutes River is the perfect collecting pool of the entire Columbia basin run.  Run sizes of 200,000 to 600,000 chrome steelhead migrate each season up the big river slicing through the edges of Oregon and Washington a large percentage of these fish stop in for a visit in the Deschutes Rivers cooler waters before finishing their journey to rivers like:  Salmon, Clearwater, Methow, Snake and others.

On the lower Deschutes anglers use many methods for producing results on steelies 5-20lbs.  Our favorite strategy is to swing flies.  This is an extremely effective approach to the big water of the lower D.  Here long flats and wide swaths provided the ideal current and boulder combination for perfect hangouts for steelhead. Fishing floating lines and traditional flies like: Green butt Skunks, Purpil Peril, Streetwalker, Muddlers and the like get aggressive fish in the shade of morning and evening.  During the full sun hours sinking the fly deep with sink tips is the preferred strategy.  (That or a nap in the shade waiting for evening).

Deschutes River steelhead move aggressively to the swung fly.  When they grab the fly there are often large boils or even a spray of water on the surface.  An exciting way to fish!

Customer Don L. proudly holds a strong wild steehead

Jet boating is the preferred way to access the lower 22 miles of the Deschutes

Fishing in full sun with a fly rod is the trick on the lower D. 

Fish counts at Sherars falls just 9 miles below Maupin indicate what is moving upriver and when.  The fish trap samples approximately only 1/4-1/3 of the run