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| Our Second Steelhead Primer – Mid-Summer Steel |
Oregonians can lay claim to
possess some of the best steelhead fly fishing in the world.
Of the many steelhead waters in Oregon, several are notable
for their historical significance to the history and evolution
of steelhead angling, as well as their stable run sizes, challenging
angling and explosive fish.
North Fork of the Umpqua
The North Fork of the Umpqua River is one of the world's most
noted steelhead waters. Primarily known for its aggressive summer
run fish, the river also harbors a winter run of steelhead,
spring and fall King salmon, Silver Salmon and a variety of
resident trout. Fly anglers from all corners of the globe make
the pilgrimage to the North Umpqua from June to November to
ply their skills for this river's tremendous strain of summer
steelhead.
The North Umpqua contains both hatchery and wild summer steelhead.
Anglers will find the hatchery fish in these waters extremely
strong fighters. The wild fish, well...it goes without question.
Most fish range from 7 - 12 pounds and will be residents of
the river from time of entry until kelted fish leave in the
spring. Commonly known for being some of the most receptive
fish in the world to a skated fly, North Umpqua steelhead are
pursued by all anglers from dry fly purists to contemporary
sink tip users and by every manner in between.
 The headwaters for the North Umpqua are high in the Cascades
with the true origin at Maidu Lake nearly 6000 feet about sea
level. As a result, the North Umpqua maintains a steady cool
flow throughout the summer with ideal conditions for anadramous
fish. The entire Umpqua system travels more than 200 miles to
the Oregon coast and its outflow into Winchester Bay. The river
is widely regarded to have one of the most stable and consistently
populated runs of fish in the Northwest.
In 1988, the US Congress designated 33 miles of the North Umpqua
River as a National Wild and Scenic River and this section of
the river exists today as the more commonly known "fly-water".
While fishing for summer steelhead in this section, flies with
lead in any manner are not allowed and all flies must be fished
single hooked and barbless. You may however fish with sinking
lines should you choose to do so. Below the deadline at Rock
Creek, you may fish with any style of fly, lure or bait.
You'll find the lion's share of fishermen and fishing holes
above Rock Creek deadline, and within this 33 miles of incredible
water, nearly every type of steelhead water you can imagine.
It is entirely possible to fish a classic head, run and tail
over a freestone bed and simply turn the corner and encounter
a slow moving hole filled with basalt ledges and a myriad of
holds, but with very few spots from which to negotiate a cast.
Creativity and imagination are keys to success here. Meshing
the knowledge acquired from researching the river with the experiences
gained on all steelhead waters will help you to decipher potential
lies and travel patterns. There is potential in almost every
piece of water you'll see.
The most popular section of the river is the storied Camp Water
above and below the mouth of Steamboat Creek. In this particular
stretch you will find over 20 different storied runs, each an
embodiment of this dynamic river. This is certainly the most
heavily fished portion of the river and with good reason. Habitat
is abundant and Steamboat Creek marks the natural haven for
these fish. A word of note, Steamboat Creek is off limits to
all forms of angling to protect wild fish. However, it would
be narrow-minded to ignore the miles and miles of amazing fishing
up and down river from Camp Water.
In the Camp Water section of the river and a great deal of the
remaining "fly-only" water, the river can be accessed
from both sides. The south bank will require the more adventurous
angler to negotiate miles of the North Umpqua Trail from a variety
of access points. Some careful study will allow you to access
certain pools under shade in the highest sun of the day. Anglers
taking the more accessible route will find nearly the entire
"fly-only" water accessible from State Highway 138
which stays primarily to the north bank of the river.
Fly and tackle selection here is a subject of much discussion
and there are many patterns with proven success, however I suspect
summer steelhead may be taken here on a plethora of different
flies. What certainly seems most important on this river is
those who fish hard, diligently and with optimism will find
results.
The North Fork of the Umpqua is an amazing resource for all
anglers. Time spent on this river can in many ways rise beyond
the simple pleasures of rod, line, fly and fish. The abundance
of history, geographic and hydrologic structure, wildlife and
promise for good times make this river one of the true gems
of the Northwest.
Lower Deschutes River
 Flowing
in a long J-hook pattern from north to south and back to the
north again, Central Oregon's Deschutes River has received
an amazing amount of attention over the course of the last decade.
Long regarded as one of North America's premier wild rainbow
trout rivers, the Deschutes' reputation as a summer run
steelhead paradise has arguably eclipsed its resident fishery.
The Deschutes River also boasts an additional Fall Chinook (king)
salmon run.
The Deschutes River originates from Little Lava Lake (4,740
feet) in the central portion of the state. Coursing over 250
miles up through the state to its junction with the west slope's
largest tributary the Columbia River, the Deschutes is one of
the West's great canyon rivers. In many sections of the
lower river, canyon walls extend over 2,200 feet above water's
edge. Anadramous fish runs in the Deschutes are entirely a property
of what is commonly referred to as the Lower Deschutes, a section
of the river originating from the outflow of Pelton Dam and
travelling nearly 100 miles to the mouth.
Summer steelhead enter the mouth of the river midway through
June and continue to arrive through the midpoint of November.
The fishery itself will continue to produce through Christmas.
Fish arriving in the Deschutes are a mixture of Deschutes River
natives, hatchery returnees and strays from other Columbia drainages.
Biologists have reported observing upwards of 7 strains within
the river on a given year. According to Oregon Department of
Fish and Wildlife regulations, any fish measuring larger than
24" is a legal steelhead in the Deschutes River.  The
average Deschutes returnee steelhead falls in the 6 to 8 pound
range, with a fair percentage ranging upwards to 10 pounds from
there. There are smatterings of fish in the 10 + range here
as well, consider yourself charmed should you land one of these
fish.
In a typical year, best fishing moves upward from the mouth
slowly through the fall. Steelhead spawn throughout the lower
section of the year and best fishing is regarded to be below
Sherar's Falls through September with increasingly good fishing
occurring above the Falls from that point forward till winter.
The Deschutes boasts a reputation for very good fly angling
for summer fish on a floating line. As a large powerful river,
spey rod anglers and long casting single-handers hold some advantage
here in terms of covering potentially productive waters. Trout
fisherman will find incidental hookups with Deschutes fish likely
toward fall as many steelheads seem to revert to freshwater
behavior and insect ingestion. Surface fly skaters and wet flies
are certainly the preferred method for fishing Deschutes fish,
and typically mornings and evenings are best for this style
of fishing. Anglers looking to make a day out of it in the heat
will need to put on a sink tip and avoid fishing runs directly
in the path of the sun.
Access on the Lower Deschutes is plentiful. Anglers have public
access to nearly _ of the river's east bank and nearly half
of its west bank. In addition, boat ramps are plentiful and
provide much access to water fished with less regularity. Anglers
are reminded, fishing from a floating craft is not allowed on
the Lower Deschutes and angling on the reservation half of the
river is closed above and below Dry Creek to Trout Creek. All
fishing within the aforementioned section must be done with
a valid reservation permit.
The height of steelhead season will find many anglers on the
water. Whether in a boat or wading from shore, be mindful of
other anglers. Common steelhead courtesy requires you inquire
with an angler before proceeding into water below them. When
in doubt, always ask.
The Lower Deschutes is arguably one of the most fantastic settings
on earth in which to angle for steelhead. Its hundred miles
offers countless holds and lies within its traditional and not-so
traditional runs. Like all steelhead fishing, those with perseverance
will always find the most success, but all anglers should fish
with confidence here. A 50 foot handshake with these fish in
this setting will set any angler afire for more.
For more information on specific patterns we favor on the N.
Umpqua and/or Lower Deschutes, as well as tips and tactics and
sled schedules, please give us a call at 503.639.6400
or drop a line to mitchell@kman.com. |
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