Special Reg Fly Fishing Inquiry

[lukereif06]

Hi all,

I'm a student at OSU coming out from the east coast for my second year, majoring in fisheries and wildlife. The scene out in Oregon is a bit different and I thought I'd reach out to see if anyone had recommended pieces of water or sub watersheds geared toward special reg fly fishing. I'll be wet waiting with a 3 or 5 wt. I've had some luck in the upper Deschutes and on some small creeks in the coastal range. There's just a lot more water in the rivers out here then I'm used to back home in the Appalachians, making it a bit tricky to wet wade. Obviously I'm not asking for everyone to give up their favorite water, but any general advice would be super helpful.

Additionally, I was surprised by the increased flows from ~Nov. - ~April, making it just about impossible to trout fish on the west side of the cascades via wet wade. Do any water sheds in the high desert/east side of cascades stay relatively low during the winter months?

Thanks a lot,

Luke

 

[CaddisCrew]

Try the Fall River, open year-round, easy wading with almost no current in a lot of the river, and it is a spring creek, so it fishes year-round. The gin clear water calls for 6x and tiny 22 zebras or small dries, 18-20 caddis, 16-18 Griffiths gnat, and 18-22 caddis nymphs. The summertime through fall fishes well with 14-8 hoppers down to 20-24 zebras or 16-20 san jaun or squirmy wormy; eggs can fish well as well. Swinging or stripping small streamers like leeches or small buggers can work too. Fish the hatchery or campground for your first trip as they both offer great water that holds semi-eager fish. There is a trail to explore and more than a few parking areas along the trail. Your 3wt or 5wt will both work, but the fish are on the bigger side above the falls, so be aware of that. It's a great river to explore, and it is in beautiful country, not too far from the upper D.

CC

 

[Snopro]

Additionally, I was surprised by the increased flows from ~Nov. - ~April, making it just about impossible to trout fish on the west side of the cascades via wet wade. Do any water sheds in the high desert/east side of cascades stay relatively low during the winter months?

Maybe this is different in the East? In the PNW "wet wading" means just that. You're getting wet, as in no waders. Something you wouldn't want to do Nov-April. If you have good waders I'd add the Crooked and Metolius to your Winter options.

The Fall and Metolius are both cold Spring creeks and I wouldn't wet wade any season.

 

[lukereif06]

Try the Fall River, open year-round, easy wading with almost no current in a lot of the river, and it is a spring creek, so it fishes year-round. The gin clear water calls for 6x and tiny 22 zebras or small dries, 18-20 caddis, 16-18 Griffiths gnat, and 18-22 caddis nymphs. The summertime through fall fishes well with 14-8 hoppers down to 20-24 zebras or 16-20 san jaun or squirmy wormy; eggs can fish well as well. Swinging or stripping small streamers like leeches or small buggers can work too. Fish the hatchery or campground for your first trip as they both offer great water that holds semi-eager fish. There is a trail to explore and more than a few parking areas along the trail. Your 3wt or 5wt will both work, but the fish are on the bigger side above the falls, so be aware of that. It's a great river to explore, and it is in beautiful country, not too far from the upper D.

CC

Great, thank you

 

[lukereif06]

Maybe this is different in the East? In the PNW "wet wading" means just that. You're getting wet, as in no waders. Something you wouldn't want to do Nov-April. If you have good waders I'd add the Crooked and Metolius to your Winter options.

The Fall and Metolius are both cold Spring creeks and I wouldn't wet wade any season.

Oops, I didn't mean to say wet wading. Thanks for the information

 

[StillCreekSam]

Hey there, Luke. I know Corvallis area rivers and streams well. Recent OSU Masters student.

Some details below on year-round trout fisheries near Corvallis. Not special-reg fly-fish only, but worthwhile:

You’re not far from some great year-round trout fishing options, but be prepared for slow, cold, and undeniably wet days. Many of the rivers and creeks that originate in the Coast Range and flow east towards the Willamette are open for year-round trout-fishing. They’re mainly catch-and-release after Halloween. Make sure the check the regs, open a map, and have fun.

The Luckiamute and the Little Luckiamute (neither of which are secrets around here) are good places to start. Some nice little cutthroat live in those streams and can be brought to hand 12 months out of the year. Be careful when fishing out in that country in the winter. Tell a friend where you’re going (or better yet, bring a pal).

If you’re up for a bit of a longer drive, try fishing the North Fork of the Santiam above Detroit Reservoir (not below), Salmon Creek (near Oakridge), the North/ Middle Forks of the Willamette (above Oakridge), and the upper McKenzie (off the McKenzie trail). All good wade-fishing options year-round. Each one has its own special regs, though. Read up and make a day of it.

I really don’t bother with east side fisheries like the Deschutes or Crooked. Sure, they’ve got nice fish, but way too many Bend-area anglers, plus too much good water nearby. Our local rivers will require special techniques in the rainy season (think, big bright stonefly patterns and streamers), but you can catch some surprisingly robust trout in muddy, high water here. Plus you’ll have most rivers to yourself when everybody’s out on the Fall or Crooked.

A little secret that’s not really a secret: the mainstem of the Willamette hosts a population of big, mobile, hard-to-find cutthroat that move around (a lot). Don’t shy away from bank-fishing the Willamette in the middle of the winter. That’s all I can say.

Have fun. Stay safe. Go Beavs!

 

[lukereif06]

Hey there, Luke. I know Corvallis area rivers and streams well. Recent OSU Masters student.

Some details below on year-round trout fisheries near Corvallis. Not special-reg fly-fish only, but worthwhile:

You’re not far from some great year-round trout fishing options, but be prepared for slow, cold, and undeniably wet days. Many of the rivers and creeks that originate in the Coast Range and flow east towards the Willamette are open for year-round trout-fishing. They’re mainly catch-and-release after Halloween. Make sure the check the regs, open a map, and have fun.

The Luckiamute and the Little Luckiamute (neither of which are secrets around here) are good places to start. Some nice little cutthroat live in those streams and can be brought to hand 12 months out of the year. Be careful when fishing out in that country in the winter. Tell a friend where you’re going (or better yet, bring a pal).

If you’re up for a bit of a longer drive, try fishing the North Fork of the Santiam above Detroit Reservoir (not below), Salmon Creek (near Oakridge), the North/ Middle Forks of the Willamette (above Oakridge), and the upper McKenzie (off the McKenzie trail). All good wade-fishing options year-round. Each one has its own special regs, though. Read up and make a day of it.

I really don’t bother with east side fisheries like the Deschutes or Crooked. Sure, they’ve got nice fish, but way too many Bend-area anglers, plus too much good water nearby. Our local rivers will require special techniques in the rainy season (think, big bright stonefly patterns and streamers), but you can catch some surprisingly robust trout in muddy, high water here. Plus you’ll have most rivers to yourself when everybody’s out on the Fall or Crooked.

A little secret that’s not really a secret: the mainstem of the Willamette hosts a population of big, mobile, hard-to-find cutthroat that move around (a lot). Don’t shy away from bank-fishing the Willamette in the middle of the winter. That’s all I can say.

Have fun. Stay safe. Go Beavs!

Thanks a lot for the advice! Definitely going to get out near Oakridge this weekend.