Deschutes Steelhead Spey Camp

Experience the thrill when a Steelhead takes your fly in Central Oregon's most impressive canyon!
Deschutes River fly fishing at it's finest.  See more at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

September Steelhead Fishing the Deschutes

September has arrived and with it hints of fall.  As I drove over Mt. Hood on hwy 26 recently the thermometer readout said 34 degrees- a welcome cooling from a long hot summer.  This part of the season we are setting camp on the lower Deschutes with the jet boat in the quest for summer steelhead. These fish are incredible and are in the prime of their life; athletes of pure muscle that can swim in bursts up to 35 mph. Each day we have been connecting with these amazing fish and almost every single fish is running out all our fly line and deep into the backing.  Below is a quick glimpse of camp in the morning last week.

Todd Rettman with the morning "go" medicine

The coffee was hot and welcome after just four days in camp I was getting a bit tired already and the morning sleep was hard to pry from my eyes.  The gray of dawn welcomed our two anglers Henry and Elliot. With a quick snack and something to drink they marched to their respective segements of the amazing steelhead run that we were camped on.  Todd and I prepped for the day tidying camp and preparing breakfast and lunch.  Not far into my first cup of coffee-with way too much French Vanilla creamer in it, we distinctly heard- "FISH ON!" from Henry down below camp.  I grabbed the rubberized catch and release net and ran downstream, my favorite type of excercise while on the river.

Henry was fast into a hot fish.  It ran far into this wide section of the Deschutes and jumped three feet in the air, landing with a spectacular twisting splash.  The reel surged and sang as line peeled off the reel.  Todd and I enjoyed the show as Henry wrestled with one of the finest fish out there.  Then I faintly heard it; was that a whistle?

Henry's wild Deschutes Steelie

Elliot at 72 years young was equipted with a whistle on his waders.  Todd sprinted upriver to see what his status was while I enjoyed the show- the battle with Henry and the sprinting steelhead.  Finally, the chrome steelhead sucummed to the constant bend of the long rod and we slid a wild 10lb fish into the net.  Shouts of joy rang through the canyon.  This was Henry's first fishing trip in over a year.

With the fish released and Henry back on his way to his next steelhead encounter I headed upriver to see what was going on.  I made it to camp and saw Todd.  He was wet.  "What's going on?" I asked.   "We did hear a whistle, Elliot has a fish on too!  I did'nt have my waders on yet so I waded in anyway and helped Elliot land his fish" Todd relayed.

Elliot checks off a bucket list item- Deschutes Steelhead on the spey rod!

A double to start the morning; and that is how it goes when wild, amazing, powerful, aggressive steelhead show up on camp water.  Now all I need is a double shot of coffee!

Deschutes River Report August

This month so far has been a series of ups and downs; water clarity has been good, bad and everything inbetween lately.  White River, a tributary to the lower Deschutes River has been dumping in cement like water that makes the best DQ  Blizzard look thin.  This combines with the Deschutes to create off colored water for the lower 50 miles or so.  This clarity has made steelhead fishing difficult at times.  Predicting when it will clear is anybody's best guess.  With out more thundershowers on the glacier or extreme heat the river will usually drop and clear a bit in two days.

Each day is a new test wading into the river this year as severe drought has brought the White River glacier to tears everytime it get very hot or a thundershower blasts through.

There are still lots of steelhead to be found on the lower Deschutes.  Get your fly down with a sink-tip and fish in full sun for best visibility when the water has only 20" of clarity.  Using bigger flies with lots of flash like Crandall's Wedding Dress in Cerise or Blue have worked well for us or the Devil's Candy Pattern (both available at www.spiritriver.com ).  #flyfishthedeschutes   #perfectingperformance @sageflyfish

This year's weather and water conditions have made it a year of adaption.  Try these strategies and good luck on the water!

Rob

www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Happy Thanksgiving! Deschutes Steelhead Summer and Fall Video

It's Thanksgiving Day 2014 and as I look back at this year there is so much to be thankful for.  Here is a fun video of fly fishing for steelhead in the Deschutes canyon.  When I watch this video I can't help but be thankful for such a great team of guides and such an amazing resource we have.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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.

Clackamas Steelhead Late April

We've got a taste of summer weather this week for our spey anglers swinging flies on the Clackamas river. Temperatures in the 80's have us breaking out of the t-shirts, ditching the long underwear/winter clothing mindset and reaching for the sunscrean.   Meanwhile summer steelhead are showing up on the Clackamas River near Portland, Oregon.  Water flows have been good if not on a bit on the high side.  This weeks flows have been on the drop with water levels at 13'8" on monday and dropping to 13'3" by wednesday.

On the Clackamas we use a jet boat to move from spot to spot where we wade through great steelhead wader using the cast, swing, step approach.  Water temps are rising but still the best success has been with sinking tip lines.  Common sink tips at T-8, T-11 and T-14.  Skagit fly lines and big flies combine with these sink tips to produce an easy to cast presentation that steelhead love.

Grabs are often very aggressive and explosive takes followed by line blistering runs are common for the hatchery based summer steelhead on the Clackamas.  Some of these fish fight so hard and are so fast they are litterally unlandable!  For more information on fishing the Clackamas River on the fly contact guide Rob Crandall or visit our website at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Clackamas River Summer Steelhead

Spring Chinook caught on the swung fly

Clackamas River Report

Winter hatchery broodstock numbers are winding down with a mix of wild fish still spread through the system.  River levels have been at a spring low of 12'5" recently.  Water temperatures have been rising and are consistently 44-48 degrees.  Insect activity is picking up and hatches of new insects appear most days with a salmonfly or two in the recent mix.  Smolt are outmigrating in big numbers.  Osprey have showed up and are working them over hard.  Barbless hooks are best for this time of year!  

Summer steelhead are a bit slow in arriving this year.  Hopefully strong numbers show up soon.  Reports of a few Chinook entering the Clackamas have been rumored.  

Algae is starting to grow on the rocks so bring your spikes for wading!

For more info on fishing the Clackamas River visit:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com 

Clackamas River Steelhead - Guided Jet Boat Trips

Guided Jet Boat Steelhead Trips – Clackamas River

On the Clackamas River we target winter, spring and summer steelhead just minutes from the Portland airport. Long runs, choppy riffles and sweet hidey holes are everywhere on the Clackamas if you know where to look. With perfect water for the swung fly, chrome fish arriving daily and a mountain view the Clack is the perfect choice for the spey rod angler. Variety and options abound on the Clackamas. With the speed and versatility of the jet boat we can cover many different sections of the river often without other anglers; during low water times the drift boat comes in handy.

We fish the Clackamas from February through June.

Guided jet boat trips cover the best waters of the river, timing our fishing locations to optimize our results. Full day trips may cover many miles or just a few depending on where the fish are; the mobility of the jet boats helps us "stay in the fish". Hot riverside meals are served with your full day of fishing with the jet boat.

Make the most of your time on the water, come fish with Rob Crandall on his home river. Rob grew up on the banks of the Clackamas and has been guiding it since 1992. He knows the river intimately and loves to introduce anglers to the hardy steelhead of the Clack.

Guided Jet Boat Trips -	One angler (w/lunch)	$400
	Two anglers (w/lunch)	$495
	Three anglers (w/lunch)	$650
Jet Boat Half Day Special -	One angler	$175
	Two anglers	$300
	Three anglers	$375

Book your trip now - call to reserve your spot or more details: 503-704-6449  see our website: www.watertimeoutfitters.com  

Deschutes River Fishing - October 2014

It's been a super busy season for Water Time Outfitters on Central Oregon's Deschutes River this fall.  Each day our guides our working the best water to help our clients find the treasured steelhead.  Our strategy is to swing flies with spey rods for the ultimate steelhead fishing experience.  The fall season is a favorite and many of our guest are repeat customers that have been living the steelhead dream with us for over 15-20 years.  Camps are comfortable and warm with the necessary amenities to make camping riverside the best possible experience.  Meals are hearty and served hot in our canvas dining tent.  The overall river experience in this 32 mile stretch of wild canyon is an amazing opportunity not to be missed.  Each day we see wildlife such as:  otter, mink, Golden Eagle, deer, ducks, osprey and big horn sheep. 

Recent conditions: the water has been in good shape but bumped up the night before last (Oct 29th) to 4410 cfs near Madras.  The water temperatures have been around 50 degrees.  The last few days the night time temperatures have been in the 20-30's and the warm part of the day has been 50-60 degrees.  Most of October it has been much warmer and pleasant with most days reaching around 70 degrees or more.  For trout anglers the season on the upper section closes Oct 31.  Below that consider blue winged olives mid-day. 

The swung fly technique is one of the most addicting ways to catch as Steelhead.  A tight line is held against the current as the fly swings across. Cast, swing, step is the montra as we work through the run looking for the aggressive take of the steelie.  "The Tug is the Drug" is our favorite saying.  (See WTO's "Tug is the Drug" Teeshirts on our website: Click Here

                            Water Time Outfitter guide Gil Muhleman and "Victor Two Casts"

Spey rods are the "weapon of choice" for fly fishers on the Deschutes River.  Covering water is the name of the game for the swung fly technique. If you haven't tried a spey rod, they are essentially 2 handed rods that are commonly 12'6" - 13'6" and really make casting easy.

Client Matt S. holds a dandy steelhead he caught using a Vision- Cult 13'3" #7 Spey rod. 

 

For more information on fly fishing the Deschutes River near Maupin, Oregon; visit our website at:

www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Fly Fishing for Shad - the Oregon Tarpon

Millions of shad migrate in from the Pacific Ocean each year in May and June to ascend big NW rivers like the Columbia and the Willamette river. The Willamette River and the Columbia River both flow through the city of Portland, Oregon with fish running through them nearly year round. In June scenic views of Mt. Hood, the Rose Garden, Floral parade and much more await the traveling angler visiting Portland.  It has been said, "When it is sunny and warm in Portland there isn't a prettier place."  The other bit of scenery that many Oregon visitors never see and even many of the locals miss is a close up view of the Willamette Falls.  Willamette Falls is a natural waterfall between Oregon City and West Linn, Oregon in the United States.  It is the largest waterfall in the American Pacific Northwest by volume, and the seventeenth widest in the world. Horseshoe in shape, it is 1,500 feet (460 m) wide and 40 feet (12 m) high and located 26 miles upriver from the Willamette's mouth and is the upstream barrier for Shad migrating up the Willamette River is the falls.

Shad are fun fish to catch and our favorite method is to fly fish for Shad.  This is done with fly rods that are 9' long and rated for #5 or #6 fly lines.  Our best lines are sink tip lines that sink the fly down to the fish.  Our favorite flies are flies that are small and flashy.

Want to try fly fishing for shad?  Come join Water Time Outfitters in our comfortable jet sled casting for hard fighting shad on the Willamette River in Oregon City, OR.  Find our contact info at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Clackamas River Steelhead

Steelhead fishing on the Clackamas river for May and early June will consist mainly of the summer steelhead stocked by ODFW.  This strain of fish is a hard fighting, acrobatic steelhead identifiable by the fin clip markings they received at the hatchery before release.  The Clackamas summer steelhead markings are easily recognized by an adipose fin clip and a maxillary fin clip.

Summer steelhead first enter the Clackamas river as early as March and will continue to trickle into the river system through the summer months.

Lately the Clackamas river has been running a fairly warm 52 degrees with a flow around 12'4" at Estacada. Chrome summer steelhead are caught on swung flies this time of year and aggressive takes are the norm.
Favorite fly pattern colors are black/blue, red, black & black & cerise.  See more info at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Clackamas River ODFW Survey and Fish Run Report

Clackamas River: The Clackamas River is one of those rivers where it is possible to catch hatchery salmon and steelhead almost every month of the year. Fishing for winter steelhead will begin to slow down moving into May.
Summer run steelhead will begin to increase in numbers through spring, and based on Willamette Falls counts anglers should prepare for a good return of summer steelhead to the Clackamas. The catch rates for summers were already on the increase the first week of April. The combination of good coho returns to the Clackamas and Willamette system the past couple of years, along with good winter and summer steelhead numbers to date at Willamette Falls, bodes well for anglers fishing the Clackamas from May through November.

Reports of spring chinook in the Clackamas are limited and anglers shouldn’t expect to see these fish in greater numbers until mid to late May depending on water conditions. With chinook passage over Willamette Falls increasing these fish will begin to move in as water in the Willamette slowly warms from the late winter cool down.

Anglers should anticipate a change in how spring chinook move through the lower Clackamas now that the acclimation ponds have been operating for over three years. The Clackamas has three acclimation ponds in the lower river designed to increase sport fishing harvest, and these management tools seem to be working. These sites are located along the Clackamas River and on Eagle Creek with the intention of slowing fish migration and holding the chinook in the lower river longer. The returning Clackamas River fish can be identified by an adipose fin/left maxillary fin clip while the Eagle Creek returners can be identified by an adipose fin/right maxillary fin clip. ODFW biologists welcome any reports of anglers catching these chinook as they continue to evaluate the success of this program.

If you are out on the Clackamas River this spring you might see ODFW crews working a research project on spring chinook, mainly from Barton down to Gladstone. These crews will be doing radio telemetry research on hatchery springers from May through late June. The fish will be caught by hook and line or nets, then tagged and released unharmed. Anglers who happen to catch one of these fish will be able to identify it by the wire tag hanging out of its mouth and all tagged fish must be released unharmed. ODFW would appreciate any information about the catch or the tag; they can call the number found printed on the tag or contact District Biologist Todd Alsbury at 971-673-6011.

Clackamas River- Oregon's Steelhead Hideaway Close to Home

Want to chase steelhead but not too sure about freezing your toes off in BC?  The Clackamas River right  in Oregon is home to steelhead nearly year-round and it is minutes from the Portland airport.  Not far from the large metropolitan city of Portland, OR the Clackamas River drains an 80 plus mile system flowing off the shoulder of Mt. Hood.  The variety of species in the Clackamas make it a great destination for those who love anadromous species.  That is, spring chinook salmon, fall coho, winter, spring and summer steelhead can all be found in the Clackamas River.  So, skip the long flights to BC and other regions; come visit family, take a break and go find some fish near Portland.

The Clackamas River in Spring

The Clackamas River lends itself to a variety of fishing options and there are a handful of fishing guides who offer different strategies for chasing wily salmonids.  Our favorite is to catch steelhead on the fly rod and Rob Crandall of Water Time Outfitters has done just that for his whole life.  "I grew up on the Clackamas," says Rob.  "I have fished it my whole life, finding steelhead on the fly rod is my favorite thing!"  See more about Rob Crandall and his favorite fishing at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Fish run timing on the Clackamas provides opportunities year round.  Winter run steelhead start showing in December and run all the way through May.  Summer steelhead, a incredible tough fighter, come into the river as early as March and arrive through July; staying in the river through the winter of the following year.  Spring Chinook salmon show in the Clackamas in April and are found through June.  Fall salmon make their way into the Clackamas in September and October.  These are mainly coho headed to the Eagle Creek hatchery a tributary of the Clackamas.

Summer Run Steelhead like this one provide great fishing opportunities.

Favorite methods for catching fish in the Clackamas range from bait fishing, bobber and jig fishing, to fly fishing.  "My favorite way to catch steelhead is on the swung fly."  says Rob Crandall.  Fishing the swung fly the angler sweeps his fly across the water searching for aggressive fish to take the fly.  Here the name of the game is to cover a lot of water.  Cast, swing, step down; repeat is the mantra of these anglers.

Wild steelhead from the Clackamas are tough fish!

When a fish does take the fly with the swung fly strategy the take is unmistakable!  The solid grab on the end of the line is an electrifying and addicting way to catch fish.

Find out more about catching steelhead on the fly rod at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

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