Anyone interested in hitting the Clackamas this Thursday 3/28? I just had a client cancel and would love to fill the spot! Please give me a call before 5:00pm tonight if you're interested in a jet boat trip on the Clack. (541) 490-9446
Thanks!
TL
Looking through the fly boxes of my steelhead clients, I'm always surprised I don't see more red flies. Fact is, red or combinations like red & black, red & purple and red & orange are deadly combinations for steelhead in moderate stain or clear water.
After a long dry spell, our local winter steelhead rivers finally have some decent water conditions. Get it while the getting is good though... Looks like we're headed into another week with little to no precipitation.
The past few weeks have given us cold weather and low, clear water on the Sandy & Clackamas. That means the winter steelhead move out of the traditional swing water and into the deep slots. While some of these spots can be reached from a wade position, swinging from a drift boat opens new possibilities.
Orange is one of my favorite colors for winter steelhead. However, like all colors it has its time and place. Here's a few situations when an orange fly really shines.
1. Fresh fish. -New fish in the crick respond well to orange, much better than stale fish.
2. Dirty water with the sun shining. -No color works better.
3. Near the ocean. -Regardless of water conditions, orange rocks when fishing coastal rivers.
My winter & spring steelhead schedule is filling up quickly for 2013! As usual I’ll be guiding the Clackamas River until early May. However, this season I’m also guiding float trips on the lower Sandy River. It’s a unique trip because you can swing from the boat as well as wade fish. I started playing with the boat technique last season and it has opened the door to fishing productive water that we couldn’t fish in the past.
Winter steelhead season is upon us… Is your fly box ready? I rely on only a few patterns for finding winter fish. My fly choice is based on the type of water I want to fish for the given conditions. Here are a few you should have in your box for this winter.
Marabous
The passing of Thanksgiving marks the beginning of winter steelhead season on the Clackamas & Sandy rivers. Our rivers typically see a good push of early wild fish in December. With water temperatures in the 40's and fish fresh from the ocean, early season fishing can be really good.
While January can bring unpredictable weather and water conditions, watch for dropping streamflows after mid-winter storms for the best fishing.
As the steelhead rivers rise with spring run-off, you need to adjust your game plan to be successful. Here are a few things to remember when the water is high.
1. Look for the soft water –In high flows, most of the usual runs are moving way too fast for steelhead to hold. Look for the soft “inside” water that isn’t raging fast.
2. Wade shallow –Steelhead will rest in extremely shallow water in run-off. Don’t wade deeper than your knees so your fly can swing into the shallows.