Oregon's North Coast Fishing Report

Fishing should improve at water levels recede from this current weather front that is hammering the Oregon Coast rivers right now.  Forecast call for a sharp rise in the next few days but dropping trend next week.  That should spell good fishing for most north coast rivers.  Most top names are producing well this year: Wilson, Nestucca, Kilches, Alsea and NF Alsea, NF Nehalem, Necanicum and Siletz rivers are booting out their fair share of chrome this winter.

Some of the first to drop and clear will be the Kilches and Necanicum rivers.  Try bright colored patterns that are visible in green waters.  One of our favorite fly patterns is the GUIDES CHOICE. 

Watch for water levels to drop this week and be ready to hit it!

Good luck on the water!

Winter Steelhead Action Plan

Winter steelhead fishing is in full swing now in NW rivers.  We have so many options here in this amazing part of the world.  Big rivers and small are part of the landscape and sometimes your choices are tough, where do I go when?  Here are a few ideas to help you sort out the where to go when.

1.  January is dominated by hatchery steelhead runs in most of Oregon and Washington.  That doesn't mean that wild steelhead aren't around - they are but big numbers of hatchery chromers are swimming in many of the Oregon rivers now.  Tops spots:  Wilson, Nestucca, Siletz, Alsea and NF Alsea, Kilches, Neccanicum are some of the very best targets for early season winter fish.

2.  Water levels and conditions dictate when and where to hit these rivers.  This time of year flows are high low and inbetween and that impacts our fishing success.  Some rivers simply are going to be too muddy- ie...SF Nehalem much of the winter!  Watch river levels and clarity to make your best choices on where to go when.  Fish lower in the river system when long periods of low, clear and cold water exist.  When water is higher ie warmer fish higher in the river system.  Keep in mind higher up the river often puts you above tributaries that turn lower sections muddy.

3.  River clarity gauge- these rivers drop and clear fast:  Kilches and Neccanicum rivers.  Hit these first after major rain events.  Fishing best water conditions puts the odds in your favor.  After several days with out rain next look at: Trask, Wilson and then the Nestucca.  After long periods of no rain and when many small rivers arebtoo low and clear look to the larger rivers like the Clackamas, Wilson and Nehalem rivers to still offer good opportunity at success.

4.  Match your fly pattern choices to the water conditions.  If the water is green with a tinge of brown use cerise/orange in large profile that shows up.   As rivers drop and clear switch to black/cerise and Black/blue is great in clear water.  Scale down fly sizes as the water gets crystal clear and low.  We like having a selection of colors as well as weighted and unweighted patterns.

Best of luck on the water!

Rob Crandall www.watertimeoutfitters.com

August River Report- Deschutes Steelhead

It's August and it has been typically hot weather lately.  The next few days hold 97 and 99 degrees in the forecast making even the dog look for shade.  It's also prime summer steelhead time on the Lower Deschutes River in central Oregon.  The Deschutes is an important sanctuary for the entire upper Columbia basin migration of salmon and steelhead.  Many of these fish are precious and sometimes endangered wild salmon and steelhead.  The cool waters of the Deschutes river are a respite from the harsh and nearly lethal conditions found in the bath water of the dammed and nearly stagnant Columbia River, where water temps soar over 70 degrees- not a good mix for cold water fish.

This chart from August 17th shows how deadly warm the Columbia river can be and why it is so important for PGE and dam operators on the Deschutes River system to draw cool waters from the base of the dam at Pelton dam on the Deschutes river utilizing the new selective water withdrawl system put in place about 5 years ago.

Here you can see the lower Deschutes at Moody rapids near the mouth of the Deschutes where it meets the Columbia River.  The huge difference in temperature between the Deschutes and the warm Columbia river create a safe haven for upstream migrating fish where they can duck into the cool waters and revive before heading on up the Columbia river later in the fall when water temperatures have cooled and are not so lethal.
Visit www.deschutesriveralliance.org  for more information and see how you can help support proper management of the Deschutes river flows and help protect wild salmon and steelhead of Oregon, Washingtoon and Idaho.

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 

Oregon Ranch Water- Private Access Rainbows

Water Time Outfitters section of private access river has been fishing very good lately.  Water levels have dropped and are much lower than last year at this time.  The fish are healthy and strong and we have been having some great fishing.  We float this section with a raft and cast for rainbow trout from the boat.  We mostly fish streamer patterns or nymph fish with some good dry fly opportunities on any given day.  Trout have been averaging 12-14" with fish to 20" fairly common.   The possibility of a truly huge rainbow is there as well.  (We have landed them to 25"). 

A small river with the feel of Montana with no one there makes this a great adventure you need to try.  Find more info at: www.watertimeoutfitters.com