Winter Steelhead

Last week the sunshine and East winds gave way to a more typical coastal weather pattern of clouds and showers... ideal winter steelheading conditions.  Here are some photos from the past week.

Dave Hyser loads his Beulah Platinum 13' 2" seven weight.

Brian Zeigler (NJ) was snapping some river shots when this eagle soared by.

Travis Trautman lives in BC, but travels to Oregon for steelhead.

Brian Zeigler has caught many steelhead from the Skeena system. Here is his first Oregon fish.

This steelhead was likely still in the Pacific when Dave Hess (PA) landed at PDX.

Thanks for checking in,

Chris

Northwest Oregon Winter Steelhead Report

The rivers went out last night but are on the mend.  Fishing high water is not so bad.  Steelhead are on the move, and fresh fish are good biters.

A few photos from guides Ben Hedberg and Nick Rowell...

Thanks for checking in!

Chris

Sea Run Cutthroat

Wow!  Lots of chunky sea run cutthroat trout in the North Oregon coastal rivers right now.  The other day we found about a dozen 12 to 16 inch sea run cutties while swinging for winter steelhead.  These little gems hit hard and put a little bend in our 13' 2" seven weight spey rods.  Coastal cutthroat aren't about the fight... they are the most beautiful fish that swim!  Glad to see them any day.  Also connected with three steelhead between four anglers, but none to hand.  Coastal rivers are in great shape... game on!

Thanks for checking in!

Chris

Winter Steelhead Report

Here it is... your first fishing report of 2012 from River Runner Outfitters.

Mid to late November brought a light wave of winter steelhead into the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers near Portland, Oregon.  Although our window of ideal river levels was narrow, guide Nick Rowell managed to tie into steelhead on both river systems.

A long dry spell caused most Northwest steelhead rivers to drop to unfishable levels for most of December.

Drought never lasts too long in Northwest Oregon, and over Christmas the rivers swelled over their banks.  Some of our favorite coastal rivers dropped into shape over the past few days, and we didn't waste any time getting out there.

Nick Rowell found a super hot steelhead with a pink intruder tied the day before.  The fish came unpinned after about fifteen seconds.  Thought I would pass along the news!

Chris

Deschutes River Fall Steelhead Report

My favorite photo of the season, taken by Nick Rowell this fall on the Lower Deschutes River.  For a collection of photos from our 2011 steelhead guiding season, check out our facebook photo album "Deschutes Steelhead 2011".

Our fall steelhead guiding season in Central Oregon is slowing down.  Here is a quick recap of the past month of steelhead fishing...

Most recently fishing has been really tough.  We have had 0 fish days, then a six fish day, then nothing again.  Typical steelheading!  This fall has been slower than normal though.  I found myself looking more closely at the details of each fish we brought to hand.  Each one was so special!  I will not take good fishing for granted in the future.

We did have some amazing flurries of action in mid to late October, but they seemed to coincide with some odd weather patterns more than anything else.  Very inconsistent.  If you got into some great fishing this fall, consider yourself fortunate.

River temps have been hovering between 48 and 50 degrees.  On that note, floating lines have produced very sluggish takes, resulting lost fish.  Sink tips have clearly been the tool of choice.  Exact length and sink rate just needs to be matched to the water you're fishing.  10 feet of T11 and  10 feet of T14, along with a variety of weighted and unweighted flies, covers all the water I like to fish.

Slow fishing aside, I have had a heck of a time being out there with my crew and clients... what I consider family when we are on the river and at camp.  Thanks to my crew, Nick, Nate, Cairn and Michael for busting your butts for me this year.

To everyone who fished with us this year, trout or steelhead, day or camp, I appreciate it so much.  Thank you.

Chris