Deschutes River Steelhead - August September 2013

The weather has been hot, cold and in between but the steelhead season so far has been consistently good  for summer run steelhead since early August.  Water Time Outfitters plies the cool waters of the lower 22 miles of the Deschutes river for summer steelhead in August and September not far from the central towns of the Dalles and Maupin Oregon.  Steelhead migrating from the ocean veer into the cool waters of the Deschutes for respite from warm water in the Columbia River.  Often upper Columbia basin steelhead will stray into the Deschutes (up to 100 miles) only to back out later and continue their migration up the Columbia River.  The lower part of the Deschutes River is the perfect collecting pool of the entire Columbia basin run.  Run sizes of 200,000 to 600,000 chrome steelhead migrate each season up the big river slicing through the edges of Oregon and Washington a large percentage of these fish stop in for a visit in the Deschutes Rivers cooler waters before finishing their journey to rivers like:  Salmon, Clearwater, Methow, Snake and others.

On the lower Deschutes anglers use many methods for producing results on steelies 5-20lbs.  Our favorite strategy is to swing flies.  This is an extremely effective approach to the big water of the lower D.  Here long flats and wide swaths provided the ideal current and boulder combination for perfect hangouts for steelhead. Fishing floating lines and traditional flies like: Green butt Skunks, Purpil Peril, Streetwalker, Muddlers and the like get aggressive fish in the shade of morning and evening.  During the full sun hours sinking the fly deep with sink tips is the preferred strategy.  (That or a nap in the shade waiting for evening).

Deschutes River steelhead move aggressively to the swung fly.  When they grab the fly there are often large boils or even a spray of water on the surface.  An exciting way to fish!

Customer Don L. proudly holds a strong wild steehead

Jet boating is the preferred way to access the lower 22 miles of the Deschutes

Fishing in full sun with a fly rod is the trick on the lower D. 

Fish counts at Sherars falls just 9 miles below Maupin indicate what is moving upriver and when.  The fish trap samples approximately only 1/4-1/3 of the run

New T-Shirt for Fishermen

The Tug is the Drug!  It's so true if you love to fish you know what we are talking about.  This T-shirt is the perfect gift for the fisherman who has it all.  Available in L, XL, XXL this shirt is a durable 6.1 oz pre-shrunk cotton shirt with a comfortable fit and sharp look.  Wear your sport!

Cost is only $19.99 including shipping in the USA.

Click here to find out how to order:   http://www.watertimeoutfitters.com/section.cfm?wSectionID=4459

Oregon's Best Never Heard of Trout Spot

Trout fishing in Oregon offers a great diversity of venues for the fly fishing angler.  From the rain-forest rivers of the coast, the lush Willamette Valley streams to the high desert jewels east of the cascade mountain range-Oregon has a lot to offer.  One little known stream known as White River is just one of those jewels.  White River flows from the glacial ice of Mt. Hood east into the big waters of the Deschutes River.  Along the way it gathers nutrients from smaller tributaries.  Once it enters the big valley on ranch lands it has morphed from a mountain stream to a lush valley river with hatches, hoppers and sculpins.  The reason most people have never heard of great fishing on White River is that most of the best waters are on private grounds.  National Forest lands in upper reaches offer access and BLM lands below White River Falls State Park offer access to the river.  In between private lands dominate the landscape and access is exclusively on private land.  Here landowner's control access as they control not only the high water mark but the land below the water as this is not classified as a "navitable" river considering there is a 150' water fall on it.   Decent fishing can be found below White River Falls and public access is allowed here.  A trail leads down river below the falls and toward the Deschutes River.

Come join Water Time Outfitters on a unique float trip on one of Oregon's little know sweet spots.  We float a section of White River all on private grounds and inaccessible to the public.  Here trout fishing like fishing anywhere can be tough and rewarding or hot and amazing on any given day.    Good numbers of smaller trout in the 8-14" range are available.  Some days the big fish will yield the shade of undercut banks and find your fly.  These fish can be as large as 25".  Float in a raft with our local guide, enjoy a bbq shore lunch with all the fixings and experience a river full of trout and wildlife untouched by the crowds.

Click the arrow below to see a short video of fishing WHITE RIVER.

See more information at:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com

Beginning Fly Fishing Class - July 27

Start your fly fishing right with good fundamentals and fun!  This introduction to fly fishing is a great course for the beginner, a gift, or fun for the whole family.  A professional guide of 20 years Gil Muhleman shares his love of fly fishing instructing this starter course.

This one day session starts in the classroom at Royal Treatment Fly Shop in West Linn.  After our introduction to fly fishing, knot tying, rigging and fish behavior we’ll head to our local water.     There we’ll cover beginning fly casting, fly fishing techniques and strategies for trout.  A get started class information packet is included.

This class covers:

•             Fly fishing terminology                                             

•             Fly fishing knots

•             Proper rigging

•             Equipment

•             Fly selection

•             Fly casting

•             Entomology

•             On Water instruction

Don’t let the mystery of fly fishing keep you from enjoying a great sport.  Let us help you untangle the myths of fly fishing and get started right. 

For this 8 hour course rods and reels are provided.  Bring your waders/boots, fishing license, and lunch. This special class is being held:  July 27th, 2013.

Class Fee:  Only $65.00

Class sizes are limited - please reserve your spot in advance.  Call Rob at 503-704-6449 or book your spot by calling Royal Treatment Fly shop at: 503-850-4397.  

See more about what we offer 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

Salmon Flies Get Smashed on the Deschutes

It's that time of year for the annual salmon fly hatch on Central Oregon's Deschutes River.  Big black stones and tasty golden stones are hatching in big numbers and trout are noticing.  These are the biggest of stoneflies found on the Deschutes.  Prolific hatches in May bring the biggest fish to the surface.  Trout lock on these big bugs like a line backer chasing down a "Big Mac".  The surface take is often a smashing slash of water spray.

The fly patterns we use are big and that makes seeing the fly easy.  It is a fun time of year to fish for trout.  Favorite patterns are Norm Woods Special, Stimulators, Sofa Pillow and the now famous Chubby Chernobyl.

Fishing these big bugs under trees and around foliage is most productive as clumsy bugs often crash out of the overhang and into the water.  Once on the water they flutter and skitter anxiously trying to avoid the maw of the trout.

Check out this video fishing salmon fly dries from earlier in the week on the Deschutes River.

Want to see more on fly fishing Oregon's Deschutes River?  Visit our website:  www.watertimeoutfitters.com