Wow, what a different winter it's been! We have water! I think the last couple of seasons have been easy in comparison. Hell in a lot of cases, I didn't have to even check the flows before going out, they were just steady and some color from the tribs just made it perfect.I'm only reminiscing a little though because we have a good snow pack, ample precipitation and full reservoirs. But for us, both Applegate and Lost Creek have enough water that when we get a large weather event, they open up the gates, and it's not the rain and tributaries that pushes us off, but the out flow from the dams...

Unfortunately the Applegate has been more or less a bust. Few fish-able windows and just a few good fish to show. I suppose it's a nice respite for the fish because they have been fished pretty hard over the last several years in low water. Still had a few chances though

Could have done with a few more mornings like this

I'm happy to have the Klamath in my book, and it's been a saver producing some really nice fishing days. Regarding the K but on a different, yet extremely cool note, the Klamath basin had enough water this year for a system flush. This would naturally occur of course if there weren't 5 dams on the mighty K, but as it stands, more than a couple of factors have to align for this cleanse to happen.. With Klamath Lake full, enough snow pack and a precipitation event together, Pacificorp, NOAA and the Bureau of Reclamation set up a cleansing flow of 11,000 cfs from Iron Gate Dam. My hydrologist friend explained to me it takes 8,500 cfs to clean river gravel and 10,000 to really turn it over, scour it and rid the stream bed of the disease "Ick" so have a drink to a healthier Klamath system after this event .

I'm looking forward to the next several weeks and the tail end of winter steelhead season. It looks like the last few days of the month and most of April will offer up good fishing conditions just in time for a block of trips I managed to reschedule in hopes of more favorable conditions.

For now though, a few days on the North Coast for vacation (yes i'm bringing the boat) and then back at it.

760-424-9682

Chase the good water