February 2016 Fishing Report

It's mid February and winter steelhead season is full on!  Our nw rivers are getting a lot of rain this year and that has translated into good fishing conditions on many nw waters.  Right now we have a mix of both hatchery and wild steelhead on many top Oregon rivers like the Wilson, Nestucca, Clackamas and Sandy Rivers.  Smaller waters with decent runs of wild steelhead are showing fish on the Kilches, Trask, Salmonberry, Nehalem among others.

Top producing strategies are sinking tips with spey rods and big flies.  Getting your fly down is key this time of year.  Look for big patterns that have profile and movement for best results.  10' T-11 sink tip is an important tool for the winter fly rodder.  Combine this with a skagit fly line and you are in business.

Water levels have been high but that doesn't mean un-fishable.  Look for softer edges out of the fast water flow.  Sometimes lighter tips and unweighted flies swung into the willows are the recipe for success.

The Clackamas River has produced good results with Barton to Carver being a top section.  On the Sandy the bite was hot lower in the last month but recent surges of high water have fish spread throughout the system.  Coastal waters have seen fish spread through the system for most rivers.  Look for best results lower in the river with low water and anglers tend to do better higher up with high flows.

Expect continued quality fish to arrive in the next 6 weeks.  Prime time is on- don't miss it!

All in a Days Work- February Steelhead on Oregon's North Coast

Guided fly fishing trips can be a blast- being the guide doing the work can also be a blast!  Great days with fun loving clients and good fishing always produces a vibe that is invogorating to a fly fishing guide.  This years winter steelhead run on Oregon's North coast has been excellent with good numbers of steelhead returning to their natal waters to spawn.

A recent trip with John and Dennis was just such a trip.  Great weather, great company and excellent fishing conditions with cooperating steelhead.  What more could a fishing guide ask for!

Dennis with the first fish of the day a mere 20 minutes after we started.  A wild fish that fought like crazy! The statement is so true-the "Tug is the Drug!"

The second fish Dennis landed...

John doing his best to keep up with a hot chrome fish that eventually won this battle!

Dennis is all smiles!

John finds one for the BBQ-a hatchery steelhead to take home.

Good water conditions and fresh arriving steelies - a great combination!

Come fish with the experienced guides of the Water Time Outfitters Team.  We have been fishing and

guiding Oregon's North coast for over 20 years.  See more at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

River Report Feb 12, 2014

Looks like the rain dance we were working on finally did the trick.  Rivers are swollen now with over an inch of rain overnight hitting the North Oregon coast.  With the good snow pack we had over the weekend the now much higher freezing levels combined with warm rain is melting snow fast.  Looks like next week for some rivers and possibly the weekend for others depending on what we get for more rain.  Should be good numbers of fish around when the water gets back in shape.  Here are some graphs of local rivers:

Nestucca River

Wilson River

Nehalem River

Find more info on fishing Oregon waters at: 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's North Coast Rivers - mid December Report

Rivers on the North Coast of Oregon have had a big shot of rain over the last week and are finally starting to drop into shape.  As these rivers fall, chrome bright winter steelhead are charging up to their natal homes.  Rivers like the Kilches, Neccanicum and NF Nehalem are fast to drop and clear.  The Nestucca, Wilson, and Trask are soon to warrant effort as well. 

 Notice how clear the fins are in these early arriving fish. 

 

Get more info on fishing Oregon's North Coast at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Lunch Under the Eagles Nest

One of my long time clients from San Diego was here recently fishing the coastal steelhead waters of Oregon.  For late March he was surprised to see so many chrome bright wild steelhead.  This year and most years that however is the norm.  We fished rivers like the Wilson, Trask, NF Nehalem and Kilches.  Fishing swung flies and indicators we had success on both strategies. 

Fat rain pounded down hard several hours as we worked the riffles and runs.  We saw few other anglers and had the rivers virtually to ourselves.  Floating in our raft we encountered waterfalls, eagles nests and steelhead rolling in several areas.  The fishing wasn't easy but the throbbing head shakes we did find were rewarding and exhilerating.  Fighting wild steelhead in wild places leaves you with an awe and respect for the finned creatures that live there.

Overhead an eagle glided near the tree tops peering down in approval as we plied the waters.  What a treasured place. 

We stayed at our local river house cabin, relaxed with a cold beer, listened to Bob Marley music and tied a few flies.   Being in Tillamook, OR we had to have some Tillamook icecream of course!  The Wilson river in the back yard and 5 other rivers only minutes away.  We could choose to float two different rivers in one day if we wanted.   

Come and join the fun for great Oregon steelhead fishing.  www.watertimeoutfitters.com