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

Fly Fish Steelhead Seminar - Portland Sportsman Show

Want to improve your game chasing steelhead with the spey rod?

The annual Portland Sportsman's Show is being held Feb 5-9 come see Rob Crandall; editor of Flyfishing & Tying Journal and owner of Water Time Outfitters present "The Missing Pieces"- The Cold Water Quest for Swung fly Steelhead.  Rob will be presenting in the Fly Fishing Theater and on the "Steelhead River" most days of the show.

Stop by the booth and say hello, Water Time Outfitters booth will be along the fly casting pond.

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

Amazing North Coast Steelhead

March is prime time for big wild fish on Oregon's coastal rivers.  Some incredible tough fighting fish are showing.  Here's one a client caught this last week.  Visit www.watertimeoutfitters.com for more info.

Clackamas Summer Steelhead

Clackamas River Summer Steelhead start entering the river as early as February and reach full stride in May, June and early July.  Here is a photo of the Clackamas River near McIver Park in late June.

To find out more about fishing the Clackamas River visit our website: 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 

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.