A Chromer for Bob

Our good friend and client Bob M. from the Portland area loves to chase steelhead.  At a bit over 70 years young he is still up for a good battle with a chrome steelie.  This beauty of a hatchery fish found on one of our favorite Oregon coast rivers went home with Bob for a BBQ.  Way to go Bob!

See more about Water Time Outfitters at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Winter Steelhead Season - December 2014

It is now early December and winter steelhead action is starting on the Oregon coast.  Fish returning this time of the season are often referred to as the early returning winter run fish.  These are typically the hatchery component of the winter steelhead run.  Most common rivers to find early returning winter steelhead in Oregon are the Nestucca, the Wilson, NF Nehalem, the Alsea, Necannicum and the Kilches rivers.  

Winter steelhead time of year the water is cold and requires the fly angler to get their fly down to the fish.  Sink tips or indicator riggings are most productive.  Common sink tips are T-11 and T-14 and at 10' long.  These tips are delivered with a shooting head fly line system called a Skagit line.  At the end of the sinking tip a short leader helps ensure the fly stays where is should- deep.  

Favorite patterns for winter steelhead are often larger than summer favorites.  Flies that have movement and swim with a life-like motion often get the best results.  A few of our favorites below are available at fly shops in the NW and at www.spiritriver.com 

Crandall's Guide Choice is a great fly when there is a lot of green coloration in the water. 

Crandall's Steelhead Nitemare is a producer under most water conditions.   

Crandall's Provider is a great fly for clear to medium clear water conditions.

For more information on winter steelhead in Oregon visit: www.watertimeoutfitters.com or check out our class/seminar schedule to get hands on help with steelhead success! 

Rivers of Mud- Big Rains Hit the Oregon Coast

Big rains have hit the Oregon coast and the river ups and downs have some folks a bit dizzy.  We've been working on the North Coast of Oregon chasing winter steelhead.  This week we were hit with a big front that caused rivers to sharply rise.  Fishing has been good but when fish can't see your fly your out of luck.  Looking forward to the next drop as we head into the weekend.  Rivers should be dropping and clearing as we head into next week.

Wilson River graph near Tillamook

Rowing out the boats in the mud

High water brings in the fish and as it drops and clears fishing should be good.  Here are a few fish from earlier in the week.

Oregon River Report January 2014

Oregon rivers are getting a much needed shot in the arm as far as water levels go.  Over the weekend a strong storm front moved into the N. Oregon coast and dumped a load of rain.  Rivers on the north coast shot up and blew out from the heavy rains and are now on the drop.  As they clear and drop into shape fishing should be excellent.

Before the rain a long dry spell made fishing tough.  Low and clear water put fish on high alert and fooling fish required a stealthy approach and excellent presentations.

Here is an early January 2014 steelhead caught by Ken.

Water Time Outfitter guides fish Oregon's North Coast- working waters like the Trask, Wilson, Nehalem, North Fork Nehalem and Nestucca Rivers.  Come join us!  www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Fishing Report - end of March

Lots going on with this time of year for Steelhead fishing.  It's that crazy time of year where the weather can't make up it's mind if it is going to be winter or spring.  Just yesterday we saw snow on the morning drive, sun, rain, hail, wind, sun and more snow on the drive home.  Ok, dress up in the gortex, thermals and let's got there is so much to do!  Trout fishing is just around the corner and people are already starting to talk about salmon flies.  While fishing the coast we have been seeing March Browns and actually a large stone flapping on the water before us yesterday.

Coastal steelhead:  It's been a bit slower than last year in most cases but consistent fishing since January.  We've seen a lot of low water this year and have finally received a few blasts of rain.  Each blast of rain we see some new fish arrive and breath a sigh of relief as we row the boat through more "normal" water levels for this time of year.  (Earlier in the season backs were sore as we wrestled the boats with  more "rock rowing" than anyone should have to do in a "rain forest").  Wild fish are the norm in most of our Oregon North Coast spots with hatchery fish showing on the Wilson and Nestucca.  We have a few more weeks on the Wilson, Trask and Nestucca before thing drop off.  The NF will close at the end of March.

What we've missed in a lack of numbers of fish has sure been offset by the massive size of steelhead returning this year.  I have personally seen 5 fish in the 20 plus pound range in the last 2 months and saw one swim under my boat the was truly the largest I have ever seen in real life- way over 20!!.

Clackamas River:  Rain has definitely helped encourage fish to sneak up the Clack and fishing has been improving.  We have a mix of wild, broodstock hatchery fish and some early summer runs showing in the Clackamas.  These fish will spread out through the system from the mouth of the river to Rivermill dam.  This season is just hitting stride and I will be out there most every day in the sled or drift boat plying the waters.
Here is a fish that was caught by author Don Roberts on tuesday.

Deschutes:  Trout fishing will be full swing by May with the salmon fly hatch expected perhaps a bit early than the early arrival of the last few years if we are lack luster on our snow pack.  We'll see how the remainder of spring goes.  At this point it looks like we will sneak around a big run off and have more agreeable water levels for the famous salmon fly hatch.  Look for things to break loose the second week of May around Maupin and then work upriver from there.  For right now, expect a few BWO's mid-day and some March browns to be popping.

See more fishing info on our website or other blog entries: www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Oregon North Coast Winter Steelhead Video

Click the play arrow above to see NF Nehalem Video

Here is Jeff landing a dandy wild steelhead in January on Oregon's North Coast favorite stream of Water Time Outfitters - the NF Nehalem river.   Water Time Outfitter guides Rob Crandall and Gil Muhleman float the NF Nehalem in rafts.  Serious white water makes for an exciting float with beautiful scenery including 37 waterfalls cascading into the canyon.  See more at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com