Oregon Ranch Water- Private Access Rainbows

Water Time Outfitters section of private access river has been fishing very good lately.  Water levels have dropped and are much lower than last year at this time.  The fish are healthy and strong and we have been having some great fishing.  We float this section with a raft and cast for rainbow trout from the boat.  We mostly fish streamer patterns or nymph fish with some good dry fly opportunities on any given day.  Trout have been averaging 12-14" with fish to 20" fairly common.   The possibility of a truly huge rainbow is there as well.  (We have landed them to 25"). 

A small river with the feel of Montana with no one there makes this a great adventure you need to try.  Find more info at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Deschutes River Report

Fishing has been good on the Deschutes.  This year seems to have some larger than average fish in the mix.  Floating Warm Springs to Trout Creek is still yeilding fish on the surface taking golden stonefly patterns.

Other hatches going at this time are: pmd's, caddis, midges, and occasional green drake. 

www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Untouchable Steelhead- Clackamas River Chrome

It's June on the Clackamas river, the ducks and geese have their fluffy young next to them, the river foliage is in vibrant colors and the summer Steelhead are in.  The Clackamas River near Portland, Oregon is stocked with Skamania strain summer steelhead.  These fish return each year to the waters of the Clackamas full of vigor and power.  These summer steelhead are different than winter steelhead. Winter fish come in sexually mature and ready to spawn.  Summer fish won't spawn until next year in February/March.  This means they spend a lot of time in fresh water.  Their genetic map however prepares them for this long stint in the green waters of the Clackamas; they are full of fat upon arrival.  It is this fat that nourishes their body for the long stay in the river.  What this also means is that these fish are the literal rocket ships of the river. 

Extremely tough fighters these chrome bright fish are often jumping 5-6 times before they yeild.  Line sizzling runs are common and many times these fish move so fast that you swear you have lost the fish as a running steelhead comes right at you, the line going slack only to retighten as it passes you and cartwheels across the water.

The early arrivals of this stock show up as early as March but the majority of these fish come in during June and July.  Right now these fish are perfectly chrome with clear fins and great sport on a fly rod.

Our favorite strategy is to swing flies with spey rods casting Skandi or Skagit fly lines.  As the water temperatures warm we use floating lines.  Our favorite flies are patterns that have a lot of movement in black, pink, red etc...

Come join the fun, just out of Portland for amazing hard fighting summer steelhead.

Water Time Outfitter's guides have been fishing the waters of the Clackamas river for over 20 years.  See more at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com or call Rob Crandall 503-704-6449

Deschutes River Summer Steelhead Workshop

                      

This workshop is designed to get walk in fly anglers comfortable with a variety of spots and techniques that will put them into fish on the Deschutes River between Maupin and Max Canyon.

Here is how it works. We start at the crack of 9:00 am at the ranch house (located just 2 miles from Sherars Falls) with coffee and donuts. We’ll review maps that will give you at least 24 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 fish a few spots. At this time we 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 ½ dozen 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 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!

Available Class Dates:  July 28

                                      August 18

                                      Sept 22

Workshop cost is $100 including lunch and is limited to 6 anglers. Call 503-704-6449 or email wto@ccgmail.com to reserve your spot.

Deschutes River Caddis Fly Workshop

2012 Caddis Fly Workshop

Deschutes River Caddis Flies-Mystery Solved

Water Time Outfitters has the perfect package for fly anglers plying the Deschutes River during the summer.  Have you ever been there and experienced frustration-struggling for success while trout readily ate naturals? Or seen so many bugs on the water and not one rise to your dry fly? We explore these problems and offer solutions in this one day class. We'll meet on the water at 9am armed with coffee and donuts. We will have a detailed discussion of the caddis fly hatch, how it works and what patterns produce. Then we'll spend some time on the water revealing our tricks of the trade for best success. We provide a full lunch, an entomology session and an afternoon fishing session in this action packed day.

This class is taught by Rob Crandall, Water Time Outfitters guide and editor of Flyfishing & Tying Journal magazine.

Special Class offering is only July 21, prepayment is required to reserve your spot, fee is $100. Please email or call to enroll. 503-704-6449 or email: wto@ccgmail.com

Father, Son Fishing Trip- River Lake Combo

Not far from Portland, Oregon are several angling treasures that have started many a new angler into fly fishing.  Oregon has some great outdoor opportunities and one of the best it has to offer is fly fishing.   Water Time Outfitters offers beginning fly fishing trips for those who want to get out and wet a line for the first time.  Building lasting memories and hooking new anglers on a lifetime passion is one of our favorite things. 

Our new friend Jay called and asked about getting him and his boys started in fly fishing.  We designed a custom package for him and his sons.  The first day would be at Rocky Ridge Ranch where we would fish one of the 3 private lakes with big rainbows and then stay at the lakeside cabin.  The following 3 days would be a float trip on the wild and scenic Deschutes River Canyon.  These options would give the group of father and 2 sons lasting memories, some great fishing, whitewater, epic scenery and new fly fishing skills.

Visit www.watertimeoutfitters.com or email us at: wto@ccgmail.com to ask about a custom trip for your family and friends. 

Here are some of the pictures from their trip.

Deschutes Salmon Fly Report

May 26, 2012

Fishing on the Deschutes River has been excellent for the past week.  Weather fronts have presented different fishing situations but the variety of available insects and current hatches have kept the wild Deschutes River Redband trout with full bellies. 

The river rose a bit this week rising from around 4600 cfs to approximately 5200 cfs. 

Currently salmon flies and golden stones are available from Maupin to Warm Springs, a range of over 40 miles.  However, the farther downstream you go the fewer the number of adult salmon flies.  Golden stones are more predominant near Maupin and the numbers of those are starting to wane. 

Top patterns for this hatch have been:  Chubby Chernobyl, Norm Woods Special, Moorish fluttering stone, sofa pillow and stimulator patterns. 

This dandy rainbow what caught on a golden stone dry fly pattern cast under a tree with a bow and arrow cast by first time fly angler- Jay. 

Other hatches to be aware of now are the PMD (pale morning dun- mayfly) hatch which has been getting going around 10:30 and sputtering out around 3-4pm.  Some days this hatch can be very intense.  We recently had some rain during mid-day that really had the right combination of temperatures to bring off the hatch.  Fish were rising everywhere and especially liked an emerging PMD pattern. 

Caddis are showing as well and not to be ignored as the adult salmon fly wanes in the next few weeks this morsel will soon become the staple. 

See more info at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com  Water Time Outfitter guides have been fishing the Deschutes for over 20 years.