Glad to be Back on the Water

After 5 days of the Sportsman Show it was nice to be back on the water today.  After an afternoon spey casting lesson working the in's and out's of the double spey, single spey, c-cast, snap-t and others Wes had about 30 minutes left to focus on his fishing.  The water temperature was 41-1/2 degrees with the water level hovering at 13' (at the Estacada gauge).  Finally after a tough battle this beauty was landed.  We were almost locked in at the park because this hard fighting wild fish did'nt want to give up!  Rob Crandall.    www.watertimeoutfitters.com  Steelhead Fly Fishing: The Tug is the Drug!

Clackamas 1/2 Day Special Winter Steelhead trips

Today, a first for Royce- a winter steelhead on the fly rod!  We offer 1/2 day float trips on the Clackamas River custom tailered to what you want to do.  Today Royce wanted to learn to spey cast and try a few spots for steelhead.  We worked on spey casting most of the morning and fished our way to the boat ramp.

This dandy wild fish gave him a run for his money and at that Royce was only out $125 for a 4 hour trip.

Get some friends together and enjoy this before work special or afternoon on the water for only $100 per person.  $125 for a single.

Call Rob for details 503-704-6449

www.watertimeoutfitters.com  Check out Steelhead Fly Fishing: "The Tug is the Drug"

Steelhead Fishing the Clackamas River

Having grown up on the Clackamas River I have seen a lot of changes in the river.  Over the years the run timings have changed, the pressure has changed and of course the river bed has changed.  Many years ago I used to catch bass and bluegill in ponds that became the new river channel in the 1996 flood.  As a river changes the angler needs to keep up to speed to be at best prepared for fishing success.  Here is a current breakdown of important aspects about fishing the Clackamas River for steelhead.

The Clackamas River has both hatchery and wild steelhead.  Various strains of steelhead are in the Clackamas River nearly year-round.  For our winter steelhead runs we basically have 3 strains to pay attention to.  First returning is the Eagle creek strain.  These fish return to the Eagle creek hatchery a tributary of the Clackamas river.  Prime time to catch these fish in the Clackamas river is from Dec 15th through January.  Our other steehead in the Clackamas are our wild steelhead.  These fish start into the river as early as December but are most prevalent in the months of Feb, Mar, April and into May.  These fish spawn in upper basin tributaries and some are main stem spawners.  Gravel reintroduction by PGE in 2012 should help restore some historic spawning areas that have had less than desirable gravel sizes for years.  The third strain of fish found on the Clackamas system are the broodstock steelhead.  These hardy fish are based off the wild run.  Wild fish are trapped at the Casadero dam fish trap and some are used for this hatchery program.  As it has been described to me by biologist Todd Alsbury these wild steelhead are live spawned and returned back into the river. The broodstock steelhead are released at various locations on the river. 

                                      (An early summer run from 2011- note maxillary clipping)

The other steelhead stock in the Clackamas system are our summer run fish.  This strain is called the Skamania summer run.  These are early returningsummer fish that often start showing up in March and then build into early June.  These are aggressive strong fighting fish.  They do not spawn until the following winter/spring and enter the river with a healthy layer of life sustaining fats.
 

The way we tell the difference in these stocks of fish is by the fin clippings.  Broodstock steelhead are currently only adipose fin clipped.  Hatchery summer steelhead are adipose and maxillary clipped and Eagle creek fish have an adipose and ventral fin clipped.

Clackamas River Video Clip: http://youtu.be/0kPfngl8zmk

For more information on fishing the Clackamas River visit our website: www.watertimeoutfitters.com  or see other blog postings on this blog site. "The Tug is the Drug!"

Before Work Special- 1/2 Day Guide Trips

 

Water Time Outfitters offers a special package for those intrepid anglers who aren't scared to show up a bit late for work.  We call it the BEFORE WORK SPECIAL.  This is a special rate on a 1/2 day float trip mid-week on the Clackamas River. 

This 4 hour session is on key peices of good water on the Clackamas river.  Water that we catch fish in on a consistent basis.  Your session is custom fit to your needs.  This can be a spey casting lesson, a casting tune up, a basic class teaching you where to start and how to read water.  It can be an indicator fishing strategy class or just a guided fishing trip, what ever you want it to be. This is for you!

We are offering this special week days only and through the winter season on the Clackamas River.  Dates are limited and first come first serve.  We are offering morning and afternoon sessions. 

What a great way to start your year and stay tuned up on your casting! 

Fee for 4 hour float is $125 for 1 angler or $100 per person for 2 or more.  (Up to 3 anglers per session)
Call Rob Crandall 503-704-6449 to reserve your spot. 

www.watertimeoutfitters.com
 

Clackamas Low and Cold

It's been almost 2 weeks with out any rain to speak of.  Cold and clear or foggy days with-out rain for extended periods in December seem a bit strange.  The forecast calls for an extended lack of rain for another week or so.  This means we must adapt our approach for steelhead success.

Water is low and clear and fish are hanging close to the bottom.  Fish migration is slow at best in these conditions with water temps around 34 degrees.  Fish your fly deep, smaller and darker patterns tend to work best.  Flourocarbon can be helpful. 

Eagle creek strain hatchery steelhead are showing in the Clackamas now.  Some wild chromers are also being caught.

Look for the action to get better with a warm rain.

Good luck on the water!

Deschutes Chromers

Steelhead fishing is full swing on the Deschutes river and the fishing has been great.  Each day on the water is a fresh new opportunity to find more steelhead and getting a steelhead to take the swung fly is one of the best fly fishing experiences there is!  If you haven't done it you certainly must try. 

Steelhead are spread out in the entire lower river.  Water conditions have been stable with good flows and clarity. 

Thank you to all the particpants of our Deschutes river steelhead workshops this season.  You guys were great!  We plan to offer more sessions next year. 

Wild fires have created a lot of smoke in the canyon earlier in September and the lightning storms of late August really started a lot of fires.  The Razorback Fire was quite destructive upriver from Maupin.  Most of the fires are out now and we are still discovering new areas that have burned. 

Be safe on the water and experience the "swung fly Steelhead"!

Winter in Summer- Steelhead and High Water

Winter water levels are still persisting on the Clackamas river here in June! It has been a high water year all season and so far our summer steelhead fishery is no exception.  High waters around the state and in the mid-west have created dismal conditions for many fisheries.  Fortunately the Clackamas water clarity has been fishable much more than many other drainages. 

This dandy chrome bright summer steelhead was hooked on a 8 weight Z- Axis switch rod with a 10' sink tip.  Our silent approach with the drift boat allowed Jeff to easily swing the fly into position for a rod wrenching take.  Line sizzled off his Nautalis reel as this fish kicked it into high gear throwing water spray everywhere. 

Water temp today was 53 degrees.  If you want to catch a steelhead on the swing in the Clackamas, this is perhaps one of the very best times to do it.

Good luck on the water!

The Goose, Eagle and Uncle Fuzzy's Steelhead

The Goose, the Eagle and Uncle Fuzzy’s Steelhead

A fine morning on the Clackamas River with Uncle Fuzzy started with so much sun that we decided to go west instead of east as we headed out from the boat ramp.  The morning glare and sheen on the water was too much for our NW rain adjusted pupils.  As we say in Oregon, “We don’t tan, we rust .“  Our quest was two-fold; to chase steelhead with the swung fly and test run the brand new jet sled. 

The boat handled nicely and performed well.  Each bend and turn in the river presented a new challenge to the newly crowned captain. Uncle Fuzzy (aka Scott Richmond-founder of Westfly.com) learned quickly as we maneuvered the slots and riffles of the Clackamas.  Learning a new river at 30 miles an hour is a precise game and being in the right slot is imperative.  Intricate river knowledge of each gravel bar and turn make learning the new transportation mode much safer.  Still the process of learning at these speeds is not for the faint of heart.

The morning sun warmed us as we worked our way through the run.  It’s been a long, wet, cold spring here in Oregon and today’s sun was just what the doctor ordered.  We were fishing with spey rods, the “long rods” of European origin.  Double handed 13-1/2’ long sticks that easily launch large flies and sink tips for NW steelhead.  Type 8 sink tips 13’ long and short leaders with tandem tube flies were the recipe we employed for seducing chrome steelies.

The fish we were after are the summers of spring, summer steelhead that arrive in the spring months.  These fish are hatchery origin and of the Skamania strain.  They live in the river for nearly a year and have added fat packed on to survive their long stay in freshwater.    This added fat is like steroids for fish and often only a few short seconds after a hook up to one of these beauties anglers are left standing in jaw dropped amazement of what just happened. 

The second run we fished Uncle Fuzzy found his fish.   “Fish on!” I heard as I worked the run below.  Looking upriver I saw Uncle Fuzzy was fast into a fish and a hot one at that.  His rod thumped aggressively as furious head shaking ripped line off the reel.  Several short runs and then the first jump- an aerial display of steelhead strength.  Four feet in the air the chrome steelhead twisted and turned.  As it hit the water spray went flying.  Then it was over just as quickly as it had started.

Uncle Fuzzy stood there trying to collect himself replaying the moments of his encounter over in his mind when another encounter happened all at once.  A shadow passed across me, it was an immature bald eagle immense at only 30 yards away and diving at the water.  It all happened so fast, I didn’t know what it was after, I assumed a fish.  A large boil thrashed the water just before the eagle hit the water it’s razor sharp talons extended.  The eagle veered off to the trees and disappeared.  My assumption that the big predator was after a fish was wrong as we watched a goose emerge from the scene.  It had apparently dove under water at the last second to avoid the eagle. 

Now the goose apparently dazed a bit flapped its wings and started to fly.  It’s eyes must have been crossed as it flew a bee-line escape right into Uncle Fuzzy’s brand new boat.  Feathers and flopping, honking and thrashing about on the edge of the boat commenced as Uncle Fuzzy and I watched in amazement.  The goose finally bobbled off and flew away the eagle hidden in the trees and Uncle Fuzzy’s boat with a brand new dent.

You might survive a ride in a fast boat with a new captain on the Clackamas River just watch out for the geese!