Advice for English visitor

[Richard M]

Hello,

Am hoping to visit Oregon next fall. Can anyone recommend a nice fly fishing river for steelhead ? Needs to be within up to 8 hrs drive of the state airports eg Redmond, Medford, Portland or Eugene. Will be in hire car, so looking to access walk and wade fishing from road. Will also need cheap accomodation for a week, so any local towns that would make a good base ?

Thanks

 

[joesnuffy]

Welcome to the Board.
You could get almost anywhere within the state in 8 hrs. Are you just wanting to fish for Steelhead or do you have other species in mind?

 

[beaverfan]

Wait your coming next fall? Pretty much the entire state is within 8 hours of one of those airports. You coming early in the fall or late in the fall, it will make a big difference.

 

[Richard M]

Thanks gents,

Probably late September / Early October to visit. Would also spin for Coho / Chinook if available, but prefer steelhead on fly. Have fished Trinity and Klamath last couple of years, driving from San Fran airport, so willing to make an effort to drive some distance to fish.

 

[JT653]

At the time you are coming, the Deschutes is probably your best bet. Maupin, OR is a small town on the river that has some accomodations. It is beautiful and there is lots of bank fishing areas. There will be a lot of fisherman in the area at that time so make reservations early. Plus the resident trout fishing will be good as well. That is beautiful country and only about 2 to 2.5 hours from Portland airport. There are a couple of fly shops in town and guides as well if you want them. Good luck!!

 

[DirectDrive]

Hello,

Am hoping to visit Oregon next fall. Can anyone recommend a nice fly fishing river for steelhead ? Needs to be within up to 8 hrs drive of the state airports eg Redmond, Medford, Portland or Eugene. Will be in hire car, so looking to access walk and wade fishing from road. Will also need cheap accomodation for a week, so any local towns that would make a good base ?

Thanks

At that time of the year you need only remember these two words....Deschutes River.
There is no other fishery on the planet like it. These fish are very aggressive and very willing to attack a feathered hook. I fish the lower 15 miles only.
I love the structure and the bigness that is unique to that part of the river.
When catalog-shopping rods and the caption says "for large western rivers" this is what they mean

The terrain features alders in the riparian zone and sage on the slopes....she's a beauty....the Desert Queen.

The lower 24 miles are "roadless". Access is via jetboat, driftboat/raft, MTB, or on foot. I would highly recommend a jetboat or driftboat guided trip.
In my experience, peak is September 15 in this part of the river.

Edit:
If you want to fish my beat, the blindfold goes on at the Dalles

 

[The Nothing]

I'll second that. I'd definitely suggest Descutes.

Might also be worth checking out coastal rivers like the Trask, Alsea, Rogue, and others

 

[Richard M]

Thank you American friends, for your advice, it's just what I was after. Should you ever visit the UK, i'll be happy to show you our sea trout rivers in Lancashire and Wales.

Cheers chaps

 

[Richard M]

Thank you very much - i'd be interested in details of your beat and guides / driftboats. drop me a line at: unitedroad@hotmail.co.uk

Cheers

Richard

 

[beaverfan]

I would love a chance to go after Sea Trout,(sea-run brown) if only we had them here on the west coast. I've heard the east coast has some. Hopefully someday!

 

[Richard M]

I would love a chance to go after Sea Trout,(sea-run brown) if only we had them here on the west coast. I've heard the east coast has some. Hopefully someday!

Yes, you're right Beaverfan, the east coast English rivers ( the Tyne, Wear and Coquet are very prolific. Also the home of Hardy rods at Alnwick Castle.

I fish on the West coast Ribble ( Lancashire ) and the Teifi in Wales. We fly fish at night, using floating lines and small flies ( a bit like Silver Hiltons) , fishing across and down. It's heartstopping when something hits the fly and rips 20 yards of line out of hand in the dark, not to mention the wading !!

We have to fish at night, they are too spooky in the day. That's why we love your steelhead, you can do it in the day.

Have to say too - the fishermen we've met in Northern California are all as friendly as you folks. It's been one of the pleasures of my life fishing in the US and I very much hope to visit your river next year.

Tight Lines

Richard

 

[loubob]

I'll second that. I'd definitely suggest Descutes.

Might also be worth checking out coastal rivers like the Trask, Alsea, Rogue, and others

+3. lots of 'local' guides.
Easy river just walk up to fishy water and start casting.
Most I know walk it. there and at Maupin.
Maupin is a small town S of the mouth.
Google it, Ceilo State Park and Maupin. Lots of info.

 

[Mad dog]

Richard,

You might try the North Umpqua, 34 miles of Crystal clear fly only water closely paralleled by highway 138. Lot's of classic fly water, spey rods and fishing the swing! Late sept./early oct. is an excellent time for sight fishing as well! Nothing better than seeing about 8-10 of them laying on the tailout your getting ready to fish! :clap:
I can give you more info if you like.

 

[cchinook]

richard m

richard m

I have 2 words for you -- Bonniville Dam - big nooks - bring your #4 spinners
that is the perfect time of year - nothing against trout our steel but they are kind of puny -

 

[mlw]

North Umpqua or Deschutes, tough choice.

a few links on each:
Creeks
The North Umpqua Foundation - The River & Its History
North umpqua - Great Rivers
Fishing with Frank Moore

Deschutes Steelhead
Dechutes Gunmetal
Some nice photos (guide site, I don't know these folks)

If like most of us, you are on a tight budget, a lot has been written about both rivers, online, and in print. Scott Richmond (westfly.com) has an excellent book on fishing the Deschutes, including detail on bank access, etc. The river series of books by Frank Amato publishers has a book on each river. For more on steelhead fishing, seach OFF, for more fly fishing for steelhead info, try the westfly oregon forum.

I'd have to flip a coin on that choice. Maybe the best idea is to keep your options open and choose the river that is fishing best when you are here - (river height, etc)
regards,
Michael

 

[Richard M]

Richard,

You might try the North Umpqua, 34 miles of Crystal clear fly only water closely paralleled by highway 138. Lot's of classic fly water, spey rods and fishing the swing! Late sept./early oct. is an excellent time for sight fishing as well! Nothing better than seeing about 8-10 of them laying on the tailout your getting ready to fish! :clap:
I can give you more info if you like.

Thank you - that sounds fantastic !! You can pm me at : unitedroad@hotmail.co.uk

Cheers

Richard

 

[Richard M]

North Umpqua or Deschutes, tough choice.

a few links on each:
Creeks
The North Umpqua Foundation - The River & Its History
North umpqua - Great Rivers
Fishing with Frank Moore

Deschutes Steelhead
Dechutes Gunmetal
Some nice photos (guide site, I don't know these folks)

If like most of us, you are on a tight budget, a lot has been written about both rivers, online, and in print. Scott Richmond (westfly.com) has an excellent book on fishing the Deschutes, including detail on bank access, etc. The river series of books by Frank Amato publishers has a book on each river. For more on steelhead fishing, seach OFF, for more fly fishing for steelhead info, try the westfly oregon forum.

I'd have to flip a coin on that choice. Maybe the best idea is to keep your options open and choose the river that is fishing best when you are here - (river height, etc)
regards,
Michael

Michael - that's really helpful - i'll get some research done ! Thank you so much.

Richard

 

[Richard M]

I have 2 words for you -- Bonniville Dam - big nooks - bring your #4 spinners
that is the perfect time of year - nothing against trout our steel but they are kind of puny -

Many thanks ! Not telling my fishing buddy - he loves those Chinooks I'll never see a steelhead !!

Cheers

Richard

 

[Galego]

Hi Richard

I am Portuguese, from Lisbon. At the end of last August I had some business in San Francisco, and afterwards took two weeks of holidays. Fished the Rogue (6 days), the Deschutes (5 days) and the north Umpqua (1 evening), exclusively for steelhead with a DH rod. If you are interested I can give you some information regarding fishing those rivers.

On the other hand I am be very interested about your fishing adventures on the Klamath and Trinity.

My email is JPPCF@oninet.pt

Paulo