On the Rogue again

Katie and I decided to take an early three day weekend and head down to Medford to see the parents. The girls spend the days doing “crafts” and I got to head back onto the water were I started this obsession with fly fishing, the Rogue. It is always a blast getting to go fishing with my dad and even more so on a river where you can fish for steelhead and in the same drift dry fly fish for trout.

The day started much differently than what I am used to, it started at 8:30am instead of my normal 6:00am. We were on the water by 9:30am and fishing shortly after with no other boats in sight, it was already turning out to be a good day with no boats and a bit more sleep. As we made our way down river we had to pick our slots a bit more than normal since the river was running a bit lower than usual. Once submerged rocks are now sticking out of the water and many troughs and tail outs were a bit shallower than we would have liked, but it makes for a challenging day on the Rogue. Right at noon and about halfway through the drift with no fished hooked, a very nice hatch of what seemed to be a cross of a bwo and an emerger started and would last the rest of the float. After watching the hatch get swallowed by some feisty trout and eating some lunch we were back after the big fish.

We came to the last riffle of the drift that could have the chance of holding some steel. After making 2 or 3 passes with me fishing we decided to switch rolls and I would man the oars and my dad would fish. Now I don’t know if it is luck, skill, or a combination but sure as a frog has water proof ears my dad lands this nice native fish.

After he posed with the fish it was returned back in the water unharmed and a bit wiser not to eat everything it sees, I took my dad back upstream and fished the run once more. Nothing happened this time, which leads me to believe it was luck. He offered to take me back upstream once more before moving on, and I am glad he did. Nearly at the very end of the run I landed this mixture of a steelhead trout. It was not big enough to be a full steelhead but it was one of the larger trout I have seen on the Rogue, so for the sake of the season I am calling it a steelhead, small but a steelhead.

There you have it, the first day of a three day weekend in Medford. Oh, I almost forgot to mention my meeting of the Rogue legend, Odus. Odus is a 90 year old man who dry fly fish’s right around 350 days out of the year, this guy is the creator of some of the deadliest flies on the Rogue. LTD

Whammy!

Water level, 5.3ft.
Weather Forecast, Rain.
Overall Steelhead conditions, Perfect.

6:30am, truck is gassed up, loaded and I am off. After dropping the key off at the shuttle place I am on the water and fishing. Well trying to fish, in the first 30 minutes of being on the water I lost 6 flies. Yea 6, that is a lot of time out of the water and missing some good fish. Once I finally got some rhythm it was game time. The water was great, the color and clarity were right on the mark. I made my was down to the boulder garden and went to work. Started dead drifting my slots with the 2 fly setup. Whammy! 4 or 5 casts in it happened, a big take on the trailing fly and then the fight began. A big run back towards the boat then a jump and turn down river. After a few more small runs this nice 25 incher came in.

After the excitement of my first winter steelhead of the season the rest of the day was a victory lap it seemed like. Making my way down river I got one more tug on the line but no other fish to hand. The weather held up fairly decent, with only a few sprinkles here and there the majority of the day was just overcast skies.

With a great day on the water complete I found yet another reason why I love my Tundra. While another boater was taking out of the water I was cleaning up my boat. After 3 or 4 attempts from the fellow fisherman at making it back up the slippery boat ramp I offered to pull him out. So with the cable connected to the front of the guys truck and front of mine, I put the Tundra into reverse and with no hesitation on the truck's part it just pulls the other right up the ramp as if it was nothing. So with everything that went on it was a day that will not be forgotten.

Having some Fun

Over the past couple of weeks while trying to figure out some life decisions we have taken some time out for fun as well. We got away and spent 3 nights up in the snow near Willamette Pass. There wasn’t any fresh snow but there was enough to go and have some adventures. One of our favorite things to do while up there is go on snowshoe hikes, Charlie loves them and we love that she sleeps like a log after.

The next day I decided to take a snowmobile ride and see how the snow was further up the mountain. I set up the GoPro and was off. I was the only one on the mountain and it was probably the last time of the year that I will be the one making first tracks.

After our relaxing mini vacation it was back to Salem. Katie went back to work and I went back to fishing. Once the flood stage waters cleared the Nestucca was looking good. I decided to go further up the river and float the more technical section. If there is one thing I was trying to do that day it was to make it down safely. Not to catch fish but to see if I could row a section in which I had never seen before and read the water correctly to make it down. With my last bit of local knowledge from the shuttle guy I was off. Looking back on it I freaked myself out more than I needed to. I had heard so much talk how technical it is and how you really have to be on your toes, but really I just had to be smart. That is something that I will give credit to my dad for, always look for trouble and point your boat at it. Thanks Dad! All in all it was a great day, one fish hooked with some exciting jumps and a new section under my belt. 

LTD

Family

Over the past few months Katie and I’s families have been a huge support to us. They have given us a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen to, and a loving smile to pick us up. Here is a few photos from over the months.

                                                                          "Sisters"  

                                                                  "Grandson/Grandma"

                                                                       "Bath Time"

                                                                         "The Gang" 

Thank you, we love you all!

Bead Head Jimmy John

This fly is a must have in your Steelhead Box. It is the go to fly for any dead drifting type water. Trail a second fly behind it and this thing is sure for a grab.

Thread    Black Uni 6/0
Body       Speck Crystal Chen. Rainbow Medium
Legs        Medium TarantuLeggs White
Head       Pink or Orange Bead
Lead        .035 weight
Hook       Daiichi 1730 Size 4

Steelhead

So with all of my fishing adventures on how I have been eluded by the winter steelhead it is almost like I am setting the scene for this epic day where the fish are just throwing themselves at my fly. Well by now the story should have played out and I should start telling you about the fish I catch every time from here on out, that is not the case. Once again the story goes like this:

                Wake up at 5:25am, try not to wake the wife

                Get my eyes in

                Make coffee

                Get packed

                Drink coffee

                Leave at 6:00am

                Get on the water 7:45am

                “Fish”

                Get off the water 2:00pm with no fish at hand

                Get home and unpack

                Tell the wife you should have seen the fish, but the camera didn’t work

                Wife laughs

                Eat dinner

                Watch TV

                Go to bed

This is my story for everyday that I have gone fishing this winter season. Things change in the story, such as the type of coffee made, the laugh I get when I tell my wife no fish or what I watch on TV. One thing that always remains the same, No Fish.

I have taken the job, No the duty, No the honor of searching out and catching one of those great winter steelhead’s in the next couple of months. I know that people can go a long time without bringing one of these creatures to hand, but it is going to be one great season trying to do it.

Friday's Fly

During my years at Oregon State I took several Fly Fishing classes, all by Michael Gorman. He is one of the most respected Fly Fishers in the Valley and Pacific NW. The Fly for this Friday is one that he created for the winter steelhead season in the NW. 

 The Gorman Cabellero Egg

Thread	Danville Shell 6/0
Butt	Chartreuse Micro ultra Chenille
Body	Medium Shell Shock Ultra Chenille
Veil	Champagne Glo Bug Yarn
Bead	5/32” Brass Brite Bead

Go Beavers!