Just dandy
What a nice time to be out fishing on the Rogue River. Water temperatures are perfect for wet wading, the mornings are cool and crisp, and there are even a few dandy fish around.
I'm still seeing consistent fishing. While the North and other Rivers are becoming stale, many of the Rogue fish are bright and feisty, willing to chase. We're having a lot of fun out there.
Rogue River Wild Steelhead, June
I do my best to keep thing relatively up to date here. But I admit I am not the best. When fishing is good, I find it hard to prioritize a few paragraphs at the screen.
Summer steelhead have been in greater abundance early this year. Usually good fishing is a month or so later. Now, I have a theory as to why Summer fish seem to be arriving a few weeks earlier each of the last five years, but I have no proof. Just my guiding and fishing observations.
Five years ago, Gold Ray dam near gold hill was removed. It was a major obstacle, with poor fish passage and which also created a thermal barrier down stream. With the dam removed, there is no thermal barrier allowing early summer steelhead to quickly ascend to the upper most river and mill around.
Personal fishing and other reports have the River producing good fishing and good fish. I have been fishing a variety of techniques and all have gotten attention. More grabs than gook ups over all, but a few to the dry as well.
Early Rogue Steelheading consists of warm weather, pleasant evenings and mornings where we employ all methods of Spey and swing angling. There is a place for a popped skater to a dredged dumbbell eye fly in each day. July only gets better.
It's early mornings and hot coffee. There's a slight chill we know will quickly burn off, but hopefully not before we get into our casting groove. The first tail out is promising, but the not so subtle waking fly is not. At least not here, for this fish. But each run is a new opportunity to match your fly to the fish and make it grab. This is the run where the fish feels metal, your reel sings, the rod bends and the net plunges.
Here is a shot that is burned into the back of your eyes but it was only a split second, a small portion of the experience.
It's summer steelhead season now. Wet wading, light lines, long casts and great jumps.
Join Brandon Worthington, Jon Hazlett and Steve Eadie for three days guided steelhead fishing on the Upper Rogue River, Oregon.
This trip will focus on all things steelhead and Spey with an evening presentation and a full immersion of spey knowledge. Come learn from the Pros!
I recently took my first Summer Steelhead scouting trip to get a feel for what was in the river and where. Over the last few weeks I've been roaming far and wide, searching for fish. My most recent trips have taken me to the Willamette, just a few hours north of the Rogue Valley. I also sampled a day on the North Umpqua in a section I spent a few winters guiding for winter steelhead. In one of the same pools I consistently found fish when the water was big and green I found a player willing to rise twice to my skater on two different attempts. After this, I'm happy there are just a few more weeks of trout fishing for me before my brain and time shifts back to swinging flies for steelhead full time.
Summers First Chrome
A fine Native Rogue River Cutthroat
Its raining hamburgers for the trout
Mr. Time Sexy loops throwing on the North Umpqua
A little adventurous streamer fishing never hurt anyone
It looks to be the start of my summer steelhead season. Give me a call at 760-424-9682 or e-mail worthingtonflyfishing@gmail.com to get your day!
With the warmer weather this week in the valley we have seen the Upper Rogue River turn on and the fishing is great! Numerous "smolt" keep the action going and the larger native Cutties are punctuating the daily catch.
The one's that keep you in the game
Scoop!
Leopard Cuttroat trout
Working a riser on the Rogue River
Still a few weeks of good fishing if you want to get out with the dry fly. Shoot me an e-mail or call to schedule your shot.
Worthingtonflyfishing@gmail.com
760-424-9682
There is a time each season to turn the page. But at least for me it's just a few pages. Fresh Summer Steelhead will be back in two months on the Rogue, and I can't wait!
Trout season is vamping up in the state of Jefferson with many options for fishing. Locally, the Salmon flies and Golden Stones are working their way up river on the Rogue. While the main stem is still closed for another week, the Holy Water is open and fishing well. Farther south, folks are getting in their casts on rivers like Hat Creek, and Sacramento among others.
Recently I headed north to fish a river I had only wet a line in many years ago. The Mckenzie is what all the guide books say it is. Beautiful, clear, cold and productive. The native Redband trout here are as pretty as anywhere I've seen. They're also incredibly strong for their size.
Mckenzie Redband Trout
Craig Nielsen with one of dozens
But even with the all the Trout fishing to be done, never discount the Klamath for a nice day out swinging flies for steelhead. Bevan, all the way from Tasmania wanted to swing flies and is pretty darn accomplished for not having any native salmonids to target! We had a really productive day with four good fish hooked and several other yanks. The Klamath never ceases to amaze.
Bevin from Australia for some late spring chrome on the Klamath
Bevin BENT with some late Spring Chrome!
Third Sunday Spey put on by The Ashland Fly Shop
Third Sunday Spey, put on by the Ashland Fly Shop this Sunday was a success too. A few guys showed up and got tuned up. This is really one of the coolest things a shop can do to keep people stoked on getting out on the river with the long rod.
Ashland Fly Shop Delivery Service
Just around the corner, the upper Rogue River opens for general trout fishing. I'm booked opening weekend but have some dates scattered through out the last of May and early June if you are interested in a float trip. Awesome fun!
760-424-9682
Each year the Upper Rogue and Klamath Rivers host one of the most prolific Salmon Fly and Golden Stone hatches in the west. Enjoy Montana style dry fly fishing from the boat for plentiful and eager rainbow trout. Search for a trophy Coastal Cutthroat trout over 20 inches!
There is little more fun in fly fishing than this. It's basic, simple, light hearted and affords the new or developing fly angler a positive first or formative fly fishing experience you won't soon forget!
This hatch is fast and furious so my openings are limited. The best dates are May 22-June 15.
For a short window each year, I put chasing Steelhead on the back burner and search out the best Trout fishing I can find.
Having started out as a trout guide on rivers like the Williamson, Wood, and multiple sections of the Oregon Klamath, my backdrop of rivers required rods from the dainty 3wt to the powerful 8wt. But my work horse is the 9' 5wt, the quintessential trout rod.
For me, a 9' 5wt needs to be able to perform the three major techniques of trout fishing. It must cast tightly and accurately with the dry; It must lift, look and lob the bob; and lastly, it must handle the deep load of a double sculpin rig without you needing to duck (flinching is okay).
I recently picked up a new rod that I hoped would be capable of the tasks. Here's my review. Enter the Sage Pulse 590-4.
Putting the Pulse through the paces
This rod looks pretty cool. With interesting olive oil green blanks, it's not too flashy in the sun, but it's still a head turner. It has a simple look which I like, but my favorite feature is the full wells grip. I just love a little extra purchase for my thumb when I'm really cranking into a cast.
I put pressure on this rod right away. The particular river I fished for two days requires diverse tactics. I made this rod do it all. It hucked streamers, gracefully grunted through tandem streamer duty, lobbed the bob and swung soft hackles.
I like fast action rods. But I also have lost too many fish on stiff rods when a big fish bounces on the line and there isn't enough flex in the blank to absorb it. I would definitely put the Pulse in a fast action rod category, but it's more crisp than stiff and has a smooth flex you can feel all the way down to the cork.
It's really smooth with a small fly like a soft hackle or dry. When you start to load it up though, It didn't strike me as a rod with the most reserve power. I have fished other five weights with the same rigs and a few rods come to mind that handled the upper end of what you should do with a 5wt better. (Orvis H2, Sage One) Even though it flagged under a really heavy package, I really appreciated the flex for more normal fishing situations.
Crisp. Responsive. Twangy. Quick. Agile.
I have fished three different lines on this model; The Scientific Anglers GPX Sharkskin, an Orvis Hydros Textured trout line and the new Rio Single Hand Spey Line. (I love textured fly lines.) The only real difference between the first two lines is that the GPX taper is a half-line size heavy, so it will load a rod a little more.
As I mentioned before, I found this rod to be more crisp than stiff, so I ended up liking the hydros textured line over the GPX. This rods has a nice personality, so I didn't need to bog it down too much with a heavier line. And the Single Hand Spey line? Well, thats just fun. . .
I like it. The rod has grown on me, and if you fish it in it sweet spot with a single dry fly or soft hackle, a moderate nymph rig or a single streamer, it's sweet. Really, thats a pretty diverse set of fishing scenarios, so it passes the test for me. This rod gets it done. And, it's also only $450.
A hefty Redband bent the Pulse to the cork
P.S. Trout fishing in Southern Oregon is a blast. If you're interested the waters this rod was tested, learn more.
Tight Lines
The classiest ride around
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...
one of the good ones
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
Lights out bright
probing the pool
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 .
A Klamath Krusher
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.
Searching
Drying off but ready for more
Snap it
760-424-9682
Chase the good water
It's officially Winter. El Nino is official. And it's raining like a sunofabitch. I'm glued to the flows as often as possible. Checking, re checking, comparing forecasts with other forecasts, and hoping it all lines up.
This is the stuff that cuts the fat off the casual Steelhead Fly angler and chisels the die hard. The conditions aren't perfect. In fact, they've been marginal at times. But you still go. Because the fish are there. And they're here, and they will keep coming. Only you would never know if you stayed at home and hoped for the flows to drop into what the conventional wisdom states is "Go" time.
In a winter like this, don't wait for the report. Because by the time you do, it's already over. The water bumped, or the fish moved. I'm finding windows, because there are always windows. Fish like you mean it, and you might just be surprised.
Yeah Buddy! That's a lot of water in the background.
It's more than just the fish we're after
Stuart Swung one up from the milk shake
There was a fish on that inside edge...
D-Loops for days
February is around the corner. It's one of my favorite months to chase Winter Fish. Give me a call or e-mail if you want to join me on the hunt!
760-424-9682
Worthingtonflyfishing@gmail.com
Smile for the camera. Maybe the last Fall Buck I will see until next year
Lots of ups and down with the holiday season. With the weather and fishing that is! Flows bumped, and bumped, and bumped, receding nicely. Winter fish are on the move, still a bit lower in the systems. But there coming, sooner than we think. Iv'e been on the South Coast a few days here and there...
Flows are perfect now, and fishing is good! It's only the start of the season, and it will hold through April. They're around, just follow them up.
Pure Gold
We have had some nice days bouncing back and forth between the Klamath and Rogue the last several weeks. Before the most recent set of rains, both the Klamath and the Rogue were consistently offering up a few nice fish each day. Paying attention to the flows has allowed me to find continued success recently even though large swaths of river have been blown out.
The above hen was a gorgeous Klamath Fish. A really nice late push of fish like these kept our focus for a few weeks.
A morning session on Thanksgiving before the feast produced one spunky wild hen and an encounter with a zombie...
No tail Tuesday, Bob Anderson with a late season Rogue Egg wagon
Another beautiful Klamath hen. Shiny and fresh
The last week and a half have seen real changes in weather patterns. Many of the Southern Oregon rivers approached flood stage making finding good water difficult. Even high up in the systems there was still quite a lot of color.
Looking back on the Siskiyou Mountains. That's the most Snow iv'e seen in a while...
Ted Sadlowski fished with me a day on the Klamath and the Rogue. Each day produced some quality, late season fish.
Hardly even off the boat.
It's holiday time now. It's raining, the rivers are up a bit but when they drop back in.... We'll see you out there!
Here's a brief slideshow of my last month, spent mostly on The Klamath River. I have to admit, I was a little spoiled. Being run out of the Scott River Lodge, a five-star accommodation with Chef's cooking allowed me to focus on the best parts of being a Steelhead Guide. Thanks to all the fine folks I had the pleasure of fishing with, Tailwalker Fly Fishing, Mike Folden of Freedom on the Fly, and Craig Nielsen of Shasta Trout.
The more time I spend on a river, the more it seeps into my core. Like when it rains on a cotton sweater, at first the drops bead up, temporarily warded. But as the mist continues, the drops coalesce and become larger before sinking into the fabric leaving a dark trace of where they had rested, just above the surface.
The more time I wade a river and feel its tug behind and around my legs, the more memories and fondness I have for it. After these last four weeks on the Klamath River, I am more drawn there than ever before.
Georgeous Klamath River Hen. I got a kiss on the Cheek for this one.
Rivers have many sides, as complex as any personality. At times, the river had a predictable steady mood. In others, secretive, key thrown out of reach and lost.
Though I'm more inclined to think it was this family of otters...
Art's First Steelhead on the Swing
Deep Breath
Who says you can't swing flies from the boat?
Hey Derek, I think the term is "Corked!"
Mike Folden with a Freedom on the Fly Klamath Buck. Check out his awesome lodge on the Scott River, The Fin & Horn Lodge.
It was this big!
Well, maybe this big
When you seek Steelhead, no matter the river, there is always an element of variability. I have come to expect and look forward to it. It's what makes Steelhead angling so satisfying. That you can't walk up to a piece of water and say, "there's a big one here, eating zebra midges that lives behind that rock," may not be for everyone. But for those that like surprise encounters with something new, because each Steelhead we find is almost always a new face, it's the promise your fishing will never be stale, and each opportunity you get with these magical creatures will be memorable.
Another one of Brad's beautiful Wild Steelhead
There have been some really good days and some tough days. Here's an analogy for swinging flies for steelhead: You're in a room with a cat and you have a string. You start wiggling the string at your feet and the cat bounds across the room to take a swipe at it. Translation? A good day for swinging flies. Not alot of thought to it, just get it out there, come tight and let it rip. We dream of those days.
Now sometimes, you start wiggling the string and the cat just stares at you...
You move a little closer, and it still just stares. Finally, you wiggle that thing in front of its paws and it finally becomes a player. Translation? A tough day swinging flies where the fish are hunkered down and you have to plant your fly in their face for a second.
These are some of the hardest fish for the average swing angler. It means slowing down, fishing deeper and really understanding on each swing what your fly is doing down there. If you don't, well, I suppose that's where I come in. There are hopers and hunters.
Brad tight on #3
The last month went from Indian summer, 80 degrees and stale to a new pattern of Fall weather. A bit of rain this week really helped the fishing. Make sure you pay attention to stay in the game...
Here's a Tip: think about your mend. And think about how much your mend and rod movement, moves your fly.
Pretty damn good for day one!
Brad just got it done...
Jim Carter: first Steelhead, first time swinging flies
True admiration
Teal, the days boat captian
Secret weapons are good to have on hand
I suppose that's enough photos for you to get the idea. I had several days with guys with out photos. Those were some good ones..
I think I'm about done on the Rogue for the Fall. Maybe a few days later in November once this next batch of fish pushes in. For now though, I'm down to the Klamath. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday look good. Rain in the forecast too.Sweet! Tight Lines.
Paul and Ken, fishing bros, firing them out there by day two
It's safe to say it's Steelhead season on the Rogue and Klamath. And man, it's been a FUN couple of weeks too. Here are a bunch of photos, in some what sequential order of lately. Many of them are first Steelhead, first Steelhead On The Swing and first Rogue River Steelhead...
Getting it dialed
Fish the green
Tug is the Drug
Little ripper in fast water
Yeah, that's another one
Just have to add, Paul got six fish in three casts. Insane.
Ken Too, AM Hen
Dennis, bent after a morning of searching
The annual fundraising dinner was super fun and successful. I am really pleased to have had a trip to offer to their silent auction. Amazing local food and many great folks, organizations and businesses volunteering their time, services or trips to help an organizations that ensures we have wild places in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Check them out if you haven't. kswild.org
My mind is creeping a bit. The Klamath is clearer than I have ever seen right now, just gorgeous. The Salmon are surging up, still fresh, not on their reds quite now and the Chrome is just behind... It's only going to get better, and you don't have to fish T-14 right now either. Sweet.
Looking back up on the Klamath
The glassy tail-outs are filling in. After jockeying, rolling, and jumping, many of the Fall Salmon are doing what they came here to do now. They travel 150 miles to spawn and die in the same gravel that they emerged from. I make a point to stand up and observe each flat as we drift down to our next run. The Salmon's timeless ritual never gets old to me. Each day, more and more of these ever darkening torpedoes drop down from the safety of the deeper pools for one final dance.
But not all of them!
Dylan maxing out a 7wt.
There are still some pretty damn snappy fish out there. This big guy took an intruder right on the hang down. He didn't want to move at first but eventually he came in.
Sure looks good in that http://www.pnwlandingnets.com/
Rogue Chinook
We may have also gotten completely burned by a hot Steelhead a bit earlier in the day, but since that fish was having nothing to do with staying on a hook...
Beautiful Scenery Around Every Bend
Is an absoloutly fantastic time to be out on the river. The Oregon Ash along the banks are just beginning to show their receding color. A deep green, slowly loosing its depth, not yet fall colors, but soon. The air is crisp in the morning, the surface of the water dances in the first rays of sun. It's quiet too. The Salmon crowds have left, no more 0 dark thirty hustle and bustle at the ramps, just a slow trickle of the quiet side of angling.
Bright Mornings, Brighter Fish.
The Steelhead are here. You have to want them, as they are never an easy fish. This isn't Trout fishing in Montana. Stay focused, because each cast, each swing, each drift could be the one that makes a slow day become your most memorable.
Leonardo Didn't Think it was Gonna Happen...
The water is on the drop again, the Chin-Hooks are dropping down on their Redds. It looks like it might be time for one last hoorah with the Scandi lines. Maybe even a Skater.
One final note: There are a lot of things happening in the Rogue Valley right now. First, if you value clean water, and pristine natural places, attend the public meeting in Grants Pass, wear blue, and stand up against nickle strip mining in our headwater streams. http://smithriveralliance.org/action-alerts/
You may have also noticed if you are out there much, the Discovery Tours operator out of Touvelle Park is quite disrespectful to the common fisherman, and other recreational users. Comments of your experiences and interactions would be greatly appreciated on this matter too. (541) 582-1118 Ex. 22 or http://www.oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=parkPage.dsp_parkFeedback&parkId=72
One last cool note. Rogue On the Fly! Check it out! http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/rogue-on-the-fly/
Jami Montesi, barefoot, with a great Rogue River Wild Buck
September 1st is a significant day to me for a couple of reasons. For one thing, the Upper Rogue is now under fly only regulations, and I couldn't be happier. It's nice to know if you get out early, that there is a very strong chance your fly will be THE FIRST thing that fish sees that day that interests it. It's not some sardine wrapped plug, or a gob of roe and yarn. Just a clean, hopefully personally tied attempt to catch that fishes attention, elicit a curious response, and awaken the predator. YANK!
September 1st is also the date that, for the last two years running I found my first hatchery Steelhead. Now, I shouldn't take all the credit for this one, as I was just the one on the sticks, making sure we could get with in casting range. But since I had the pleasure of of removing this fin-clipped prowler from the system, I'll take the tally mark.
Another Wild Fish of the Week.
The flows are still up a bit, so this week getting flies down a bit has been helpful. More salmon have moved into the system too. Today we saw the first few (just a few) lower down in the tailouts staging. I bet they're gonna fill in fast over the next few weeks. Cheers!
Fish Counts: 1054 Water Temp: 61
Fishing on the Upper Rogue River has been quite good as of late. A few weeks back I noticed fish seemed to be kegged up in a few likely spots. Flows were low, temps were higher (but still acceptable) and more than a few people new where to look.
Case and Point. Keith with a standout!
With a bump in the flows to encourage Fall Chinook Salmon to begin their migration, I took a recon trip out to the coast with Kellen Igou (who knows more than a few things spey) http://www.ashlandflyshop.com/blog/fly-fishing-gear-conservation-news/kellens-bugged-out-brindle-bug/
While time and place didn't come together for us on that trip, nothing beats 2am starts and mid day naps. Yawn.
Back up river however the flows have shaken the fish up and dropped the water temps a bit. Fly only is a week away, the Fall Chinook have arrived and we are finding these...
What More do you Need?