S
SWriverstone
SWriverstone;n597959 said:I have a VERY rare free weekend (from the family) coming up (August 20-21) and want to spend it flyfishing! But I'm suffering from "analysis paralysis" trying to figure out where to go to get the most from the weekend. I live in Eugene, so that's my starting point.
As always, it's got to be a balance between driving and fishing. I can leave Friday after work and don't mind driving a few hours.
And as a steelhead newbie who has yet to catch my first steelhead, trying for 2 days straight is an option (though I realize that might mean 2 days without catching a single fish).
But 2 days of excellent trout fishing would be fine too. Or smallmouth fishing.
And no ponds or lakes—with respect to stillwater fishermen, I'm a moving water guy.Rivers and streams only for me.
Ideas welcome!
Scott
PS - I have a canoe and am an expert whitewater canoeist...but since I'll likely be alone, I'd have to figure out a shuttle somehow if I use it.
SWriverstone;n597986 said:Thanks for the replies! Troutski, I've scouted out parts of the Upper Middle Fork Willamette above Hills Creek—it's a beautiful stretch of river, but I've never been sure how many fish are up there? (There isn't a whole lot about that section online that I can find.) And the section between Westfir and Lookout is a good option.
I was wondering about the Deschutes——I've never fished it, and don't know much about it. Any recommendations on good places to go fish on foot? I'm willing to bike/hike a good distance if needed. (I've heard for example that going to the mouth of the Deschutes and then biking/hiking upstream from there is a good option—would that be worthwhile?)
Thanks,
Scott
SWriverstone;n597986 said:Thanks for the replies! Troutski, I've scouted out parts of the Upper Middle Fork Willamette above Hills Creek—it's a beautiful stretch of river, but I've never been sure how many fish are up there? (There isn't a whole lot about that section online that I can find.) And the section between Westfir and Lookout is a good option.
I was wondering about the Deschutes——I've never fished it, and don't know much about it. Any recommendations on good places to go fish on foot? I'm willing to bike/hike a good distance if needed. (I've heard for example that going to the mouth of the Deschutes and then biking/hiking upstream from there is a good option—would that be worthwhile?)
Thanks,
Scott
SWriverstone;n598050 said:I dunno. It's Friday evening and I still don't know where to go tomorrow morning. (Obviously my hesitation prevented me from getting anywhere tonight!) The heat is intimidating. I keep reading about all the steelhead at the mouth of the Deschutes...but then I think "It's 3.5hrs to get there, and the only good fishing is from 6-9am and 6-9pm. What the hell am I going to do in the desert all day in 95-degree heat?" LOL
I guess that's the problem everywhere this time of year. Very limited fishing (a few hours in the early morning and evening). Nah, I'm not one to drag a sinktip across the bottom of deep pools in the middle of a 95-degree day. Leave the fish alone for chrissakes!
@Troutski--—if I thought Gold Lake would be any cooler I'd give it a try...but it's supposed to be 90 degrees even up there! Maybe I'm too much of a softie...but somehow beating on the fish when it's this hot just seems mean.
I'll probably go down to the North Umpqua—just because it's relatively close...
Scott