GOING, GOING, GONE

Well the Sandy River went from to low to fish or float to 18,000+.

I was hoping for some rain to start our winter season on the Sandy but I think this is a little to much.

Well I guess I will tie more flies and wait for it to drop.

WHEN YOU THINK ALL HOPE IS LOST

 This is one of those fishing stories that ends with a happy ending. On our last camp trip on the John Day  I was Guiding for Marty Sheppard of Little Creek Outfitters we had some great fishing. On day 3 of a 5 day trip camp trip one of my clients was having a epic day, I think he hooked 7 or 8 fish. The last fish of the day is where the story begins. Bob was fishing through this big boulder run, I was standing high on the bank watching the fly, I just told Bob he was getting to good area with a big pile of rocks I could see from my high vantage point. The fly finally reach the rocks and wham fish on, the fish hit hard and ran directly toward the rocks on the far bank. Before we knew it the fish was wrapped up in the rocks.
I told Bob to move down stream to see if we could get it off the rocks, we tried all the tricks none of them worked. I figured the fish was gone by now and some how I needed to get to the other side and untangle this mess. So I walked up stream to the raft and rowed across to get the line back, before I untangled the line I thought I would take a picture to show Bob how we had no chance of landing this fish. After the photos I started to untangle the line from the rocks when I got to the leader I noticed the steelhead was still on the end. I have the raft in one hand and pile of line around me with a big steelhead on the other end. So I yell to Bob to strip line in the fish is still on and about ready to take off again.
Bob might say I was yelling at the top of my lungs Strip Bob, Strip faster, Strip, Strip, F ing Strip.
Bob finally reconnected to the fish and the fight was back on, I rowed across and help land the biggest fish I saw all season. I have been guided for over 20yrs and have seen this happen before but it never ends well, it fills good to have one of those crazy stories to end with photos of the fish.

DESCHUTES STEELHEAD REPORT OCTOBER

Well we are getting to the end of Oct and fishing has been good the last few days with alot of big fish.
Been out the last 12 days and been getting fish everyday on floating lines and dark natural flies.
Flies that have been working well are Steelhead Coachman #4, Doc Spratley #6, Lady Caroline #4
I think the fish by now have seen every purple fly available so try dark and drabby.
If the weather stays good the fishing should stay good till mid November.
So get out there and catch some!!

DESCHUTES STEELHEAD REPORT SEPTEMBER

Moving camp Hillbilly style

My new shinny boat

Its hard to believe that Sept is already over, we just finished are last camp trip for the year.
Sept had some tough steelhead weather with temps in the Mid 90's, a lot of trips felt more like Aug.
We still had a great time with all our customers and even found a few fish.
Now it day trips through the first of November.

DESCHUTES STEELHEAD REPORT

Its been a while since my last post , steelhead season on the Deschutes is in full swing and have been guiding the last 3 weeks solid.
Fishing has been good when the weather is not to hot, on the hotter days the mornings have been best.
My best flies so far have been #6 Night Dancer, #6 Muddler, #4 Red Neck Revenge, The darker more natural patterns seem to be better right now.
We have also caught a few in the mid-day with sink-tips and a small Black and Blue Tandem Tube.
With some cooler weather fishing should get even better.