Sandy River Fishing Report - January

The Sandy River has continued to produce good numbers of winter steelhead for anglers who have toughed out the rough weather December and early January has dished out.  The hatchery at Cedar Cr (a tributary of the Sandy) has already seen a decent return and has begun to recycle fish back down river to the Lewis and Clark boat ramp.  Recycled fish can be identified by a single hole pounch found inthe right side gill plate of the fish.  In addition good numbers of wild steelhead make a showing in Janaury.  Fishing is best from the hatchery down to Lewis and Clark with much of the pressure centered around Oxbow park.

A typical rule of thumb for the Sandy River is when snow levels are below 4,000 feet fishing conditions get good.

If you decide to hit the Sandy try the Crandall's Provider in Black and Blue- the wild fish of the Sandy seem to especially like this fly. Find this fly at: www.spiritriver.com or at Royal Treatment Fly shop 503-850-4397

The Guides Choice- A Fly Pattern for Winter

One of my favorite patterns for the green waters of winter is the "Crandall's Guides Choice".  This pattern is commercially produced for me by Spirit River.  It has combines color and movement to get results during winter flows.  First, I tie this pattern with a small lead eye, I like white because it gives a spot of color that stands out.  When water clarity is low colors that really show up are key.  Some of my favorites for low visibility (low clarity) is fire orange and cerise.  These make a powerful combination and represent squid colors steelhead are used to eating out in the ocean for the last several years.  The movement of the extended rabbit fur tail is excellent combined with the flowing/swimming motion from the specially designed wing of ostrich herl.  

Try this pattern or one like it on the green waters of winter where you fish!  I think you'll like it.  Find this pattern at:  www.spiritriver.com  or Royal Treatment Fly Shop in West Linn, OR 503-850-4397

Please note: when tying this fly rotate the hook opposite of the photo above.  Spirit river has now corrected this problem but hook point riding up is best.  It reduces nasty snags and is better on the fish you hook.  Thanks!  Rob Crandall

Oregon Steelhead- Fish of a Thousand Casts- Winter Spey Addiction

Fly fishing for winter steelhead in Oregon can be a challenge whose reward is often found after a lot of hard work.  Steelhead are often known as the fish of a thousand casts.  Oregon has many rivers that offer excellent steelhead fly fishing through the winter and spring months.

Not far from the city of Portland, Oregon are a number of great rivers.  The Clackamas and Sandy Rivers offer miles of great spey water.  1-1/2 - 2 hours away from Portland there are dozens of rivers along the Oregon coast that offer winter steelhead fishing.  Here we look for the best water conditions on rivers like the Wilson, Trask, Nehalem, Nestucca among others.

For more information on steelhead fishing winter and spring in Oregon visit www.watertimeoutfitters.com The professional team at Water Time Outfitters will help you make the most of your time on the water!

September Steelhead - Oregon's Deschutes River Ups and Downs

The fishing update on the Deschutes River consists of typical steelhead fishing reports from a season that has been plauged by murky waters of White River dumping silt into the lower river - the mecca for steelhead fishing in August and September.  Recent coolings in our weather has helped but more frequent fall rains have continued the off and on clearing of the lower river.  Most days the water clarity is good enough to warrant plying the waters and even in reduced visibility we've been catching a decent tally - when the water clears to a clear vision of your boots in waist deep water watch out and double check your drag.  Our last day the water cleared enough to see boots in thigh deep water we tallied up 9 hookups for the day.

Swinging flies is the most productive way to cover a lot of water on a big river like the D.  The thrill of the take is unmistakable and addictive thing.  With off colored water we have done well with sink tips and Spirit River flies in the Crandall versions of:  The Wedding Dress (blue and Cerise), Devils Candy and The Provider have all yeilded great results.

We've even found a few willing chinook on recent days.  Some of these salmon are huge and large splashy jumps reveal their presence.  Steelhead typically don't mix well with thier smellier cousins and often are found higher in riffle water or deep in tailouts when chinook are around.

Trout fishing seems to be doing well with the cooler water and decent hatches of PMD, some Blue Winged Olives and sometimes blizzards of midges.  We also know fall is here as October caddis have been showing too.  Water flows have been very consistently around 3800 cfs out of Pelton Dam.  The upper river runs clear free from the effects of White river.

Marty Smith working the camp kitchen

It's that time of year when we operate our camps on the lower Deschutes River; launching our jet boats from Mack's Canyon and setting up residence for 10 days at a time on the most famous steelhead waters of the Deschutes.  Camp life is great when you've been fortunate enough to get a camp with great steelhead water and good protection from the wind.  It's also a life saver for a fishing guide to have Super Man of running camp Marty Smith keeping things running smoothly.  However, I can attest; even Marty can't help when a guide leaves his best pile of boot socks at home-yet that's another story (big thanks to client Kevin L for saving the day there!).

For a taste of adventure visit our website: 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! 

Steelhead Fly Patterns by Rob Crandall

I have finally put some of my favorite fly patterns out there in the commercial world.  These flies have been great producers for me for many years.  Each pattern has a specific use and water clarity application.  In generall there is a pattern for low and clear water, medium green to darker green waters.  All these flies work on steelies nearly year round.  I use them on the Oregon Coast, Clackamas and Sandy Rivers and the Deschutes River in summer and fall.

You can now use my secret guiding patterns that produce result for my clients on a daily basis.  Flies are available at great fly shops like Royal Treatment Fly shop in West Linn, OR 503-850-4397 and online at: https://spiritriver.com/new-flies

Good luck on the water!
Rob Crandall

Devils Candy- This is a killer leech pattern that has seductive flash and appeal.  Works especially good on low-clear water conditions or on fish that have been in the river a while. 

Guides Choice- this pattern is a favorite in the green waters of winter steelhead fishing.  Cerise and Orange colors show up well and move and swim in the water.  This is a go-to pattern in winter.

Promise Keeper: this pattern is a great combo of cerise and black with a bit of flash.  It is a top producer most of the year.  Works especially well in them medium green to clear water conditions.  

Crandall's Provider:  Black and Blue has always been a traditional color combo for steelhead that gets results.  This pattern uses Ostrich herl tied in Intruder style to get movement and action in the water.  Always a go-to pattern on any blue sky day or medium to clear water conditions. 

Crandall's Steelhead Nightmare:  This fly I had the hardest time turning over to the commercial side.  It is an all time best producer for me and it is hard to beat for both winter, spring, summer and fall fish. Black and red are great colors for steelies add in the white lead eye and there is a definite color contrast and eye grabber for steelies.  

Crandall's Wedding Dress:  This fly is much better that the traditional "Prom Dress" pattern in that the flash body of the fly articulates and really moves.  This fly is a killer anywhere aggressive steelhead live!  

September Fishing Report - Deschutes River

Things are going good and fall is here.  I’m loving the bit of cooler weather.  The leaves are changing color and the Deschutes canyon is calling out – “It’s Steelhead Time!”  Trout fishing has been good too with an assortment of trout tasty treats.  We are seeing good numbers of Mahogany Duns, midges, some caddis 16-20, occasional bwo’s and the October caddis are starting to show.  Trout food this time of year is mostly very small.  We found some good trout fishing mid-day in the back eddies and mid-mornings in the riffles. 

Steelhead of course are the main target this time of year and fish are spread through the system.  We have been fishing with the jet sled in the lower 22 miles of the Deschutes.  Fishing has been very good with consistent results most days.  A mix of both hatchery and wild fish are in the river now.  We have had good success swinging flies with floating lines in the morning and evening.  Our best patterns have been standard flies like green butt skunks, streetwalkers and fly dejour.  

Of important note for floaters on the upper section of the Deschutes.  Whitehorse Rapid has a log jammed into the rocks in the upper section (worst part) near “can-opener rock”.  This could be very hazardous and we highly recommend scouting this before floating.

For a great fishing adventure visit: www.watertimeoutfitters.com and see more info.  

Trout are busy finding mayflies in the eddies.

Seattle Seahawks fans ready for a great day on the river!

 Hatchery steelhead caught in full sun

Fish on!

On a sad note, the fires earlier this year have destroyed many miles of river habitat in the section from Kaskella to locked gate.  The remaining green grassy spots not burned by the fires have been destroyed by cattle in this section both on the reservation and below it.

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

Oregon's Clackamas River & A Steelhead for Jim

A great day on the water with Joel La Follette of Royal Treatment Fly shop and Jim Drew.  A beautiful sunny day in March, great water conditions and some feisty steelhead.  What could be better?  This trip we caught both winter/spring run stock of steelhead and the early Skamania run summer steelhead.  We were using spey rods with sink tips and some specially tied flies by Rob Crandall.

See more fishing opportunities on the Clackamas river near Portland, OR at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Steelhead Fly Selection

I can't seem to get fly design out of my head...

Use the right flies for winter steelhead and catch more? Some guides will tell you the fly doesn't matter. When a steelhead wants to eat your fly it will. I like to optimize the visibility of my fly and consider other environmental factors when it comes to fly selection.

First, bright fish in warmer water will hit most any fly. Give them a highly visible pattern in green water that has movement and draw. As water drops and clears fish move more slowly into a river system. Darker fish that have been in the river a while are often the only ones around. Low clear cold conditions slow down migration. For these fish that have been there a while go with darker patterns. Black/blue, black/red, purple are more likely producers in this water scenario.

What ever fly you choose, pick one you are confident in. A fly that has movement and profile for winter waters are often best producers. 

www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Clackamas River Steelhead - Guide's Life

Living next to the Clackamas River my whole life it has been a challenge to get things done; who wants to go mow the lawn when the river is so close?  I am blessed to have an occupation that is also my passion.  The guides life isn't all fun on the river but it sure is a great place to call my office.  Since I was 5 years old, I have plied the waters of the Clackamas River.  Now a full time fishing guide, I get to share the love and passion for the river and it's fish with those who fish with me. 

Fly fishing the Clackamas is my favorite way to catch steelhead in the winter and spring.  We fish both swung flies and indicator strategies.  To maximize our time on the water we often swing flies through the good runs and then drift with indicators through the steelhead travel routes to intercept both wild and hatchery steelhead. 

We float the Clackamas in drift boats like Clackacraft's made right here in Clackamas, Oregon.  Drift boats give us versatility and stealth that jet boats don't have.  When the water is too high or an angler cannot wade we can swing flies right out of the boat.  We also can easily choose to fish dead-drift patterns out of the boat if fishing the swung fly has been very slow virtually eliminating down time.  The other asset of the quiet boat aside from not polluting gas and oil into our precious resource is the stealth it provides.  We can sneak into quiet riffles and shallow water spots inaccessible to big boats.

On the Clackamas River you may see, otter, beaver, deer, osprey, bald eagles, canadian geese, and a variety of ducks. 

The Clackamas river is located just 1/2 hour from the Portland airport.  Many lodging options are available.  Corporate events, weddings, business travel of all kinds bring anglers to the Clackamas River.  Whether an advanced fly fisher or a beginner we can help you make the most of your time on the water. 

Come join the fun!

Rob Crandall
www.watertimeoutfitters.com or email:  wto@ccgmail.com