Here are some pics from the stonefly hatch back in June…..
More stones that hatched out...
Hold on!
Aren't these cool looking....
Another tight line!
Tight line!
A fine specimen....
Smallmouth Action! Red Hot!
This is the time of the year when it is super fun to wet wade in warm water and catch lots of smallmouth bass. This day was no exception for that case………
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It is so much fun catching mass numbers of fish like this....
These fish will take anything from poppers on the surface to dropped nymphs through the water column.
See you another time.....
The nymphing can be very successful with white rubber legged patterns. It is easy to see them get eaten and the fish love that color as well.
Once more slab....
Some pools require the nymphs to be dropped and then re-drifted; while other spots can hoax the fish with small strips. It takes a little code cracking for each spot, but once you figure it out; you can rack in the numbers.
What a handsome fish!
The fish fish very well, and they are super aggressive when you present the flies to them the way that they want it.
Steelhead nymphs work very well also.....
Just remember to adapt and to not use one method or one fly. Change it up, and change up your techniques and you will catch many fish.
When they are like this, they take a while to get in.
They are very deep bodied fish....
The red eyes are very cool looking!
Show us that grill with Mr. Wiggles hanging out
Those rubber legs again...
The trophy sized ones put up a serious battle!
Nice profile....
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What a nicely colored fish with gorgeous red eyes too!
One of the many.....
Bonefish flies work well!
This was the cookie cutter nice fish.
It's all about white rubber legs for "drop nymphing"
Two at a time...(and quite often)
So many of these...
Smile!
They do catch airs (especially when they are big)
See you later....
Summertime Cutthroats
Muddle Minnow in the grill....
Another nice cutthroat....
Classic Cutthroat Gill Markings
A dry and dropper nymph took this fish (and many more....)
Steelhead Time……………..
High water summer steelhead from the McKenzie
It is almost time for summer steelhead in the Willamette Valley, and this year is shaping up to be a good one. As of the last few days of fish counting, the numbers of summer run steelhead have been the closest to the year of 2004, where the counts were some of the highest ever recorded. Hopefully the trend of having the high numbers keeps up, and we can be catching fish with regularity in the South Valley very soon.
Willamette River Steelhead "Town Run"
McKenzie River Steelhead
The earliest steelhead tend to be some very radical fish to handle on a 7 or an 8wt rod. They literally can jump out of the water 5 feet above the water’s surface at times. They make runs that rips off line fast, and before you know it; you are 100 feet into the backing chasing it down in the driftboat. They are supercharged when you get them this early.
High water springtime Summer Run Steelhead - McKenzie
The fish are very aggressive also, and they seem to really move a lot for your fly this time of the year. The question is whether you can land them or not; since the first couple of minutes are completely out of control and the fish owns you. After that part you can fight them for a few runs, and then the landing mode is another stressful time for the angler. Once you get one of these early Willamette Valley summer run steelhead in, you will be one totally stoked angler! Watch the numbers on the Willamette Falls Fish Counts (which is linked on this site) and you will know that you have to hit the water ASAP! It’ll be time to take off from work and book a date with me to show you how to get into these amazing fish.
Summertime admiration....
This was while giving a lesson on how to cast the fly rod.....
Fish on!!! Woo Hoo!
Early morning steelhead - McKenzie River
Winter Steelheading With Supreme Natives
Late Winter March Steelhead
This is the time of the year for the largest wild native steelhead to enter their natal streams, and with the right conditions, you can possibly rope into one. Whether you can land it or not, is another story, but it will haunt you regardless. Last Sunday, I was both blessed and haunted. Haunted because I never landed my giant, but I got to play for a bit. Well I played, and he barely even noticed. Luckily I got a smaller , but genetically superior specimen two casts later.
These nates sure are beautiful gems of the streams in the forest.....
On Saturday, a friend of mine and I went out to swing some flies on a river that you have a nice chance at a trophy native steelhead. Following me down in the first pool that we decided to fish, his line became tight with a chrome rocket leaping out of the water. I was stoked for him, and stoked to see a fish come out of the water several times on several hard runs. Turns out the fish was about five pounds, but it was a gorgeous chrome bright hen on her way up to the waters that she was born from.
a possible reason for what makes them so strong....
Now that we have some rain falling, it can bring in the finale to the winter steelhead season for many of the coastal rivers. Many will close after March ends, but this last few days can possibly bring to you the trophy you have been seeking for your whole life.
hope to see you again....