Reports.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Moving on to Spring

Steelhead fishing has been pretty solid on the coast and pretty spotty around here. The average outing is one or none. Summer steelhead are on the way and given the local interest (including myself) in Spring Chinook fishing, the rivers will become markedly less crowded.

Steelhead Outfitters menu:

Spring Steelhead on the Clackamas and Sandy Rivers April, May and maybe June depending on river levels. The best and only game "in town".
Deschutes Trout opener is April 26th Pelton to the Reservation deadline. The Salmonfly Hatch should start taking off mid may and last into June. We are running trips Warm Springs to Trout Creek, Trout Creek to Harpham, and as usual Jet Boat trips into the deserted lower river.
Deschutes Steelhead July 4! Yes, July! My favorite month to swing flies for steelhead. Don't buy into the "hype" about how bad the fishing has gottern in July, it simply isn't true. The weather, lack of crowds, and average hook ups per day...a couple, better odds than winter steelhead, and much more enjoyable. The best part is getting to do a little wet wading.

If you are looking for some new trout rods I'd check out the Winston BIIIX. I picked a couple up for this trout season and they are incredible tools. I lined the 590 and 690 with the new Airflow Exceed lines and they are really workable lines.

We really are blessed to live somewhere where you can catch all these in a 14 day window. Enjoy!

Nice Owyhee Brown next to my new BIIIX

My pal Joe Riter with a birthday steelhead on the Sandy River

Sandy River Steelhead

Columbia River Spring Chinook.

Tight lines everyone, see you soon!

Sam

Thursday, March 6, 2014

In Like A Lion, Out Like A Lamb?

This year has been the toughest I can remember. That said there was a nice little window a week ago and lot's of fish got caught locally. I missed due to my annual trip to the Olympic Penninsula... a trade I'll take any time. Currently every river in the state is out due to torrential rainfall and 60 degree temperatures. Fear not, we have a solid two months of winter steelheading left and I predict we should have fishable rivers by next week. March, "In like a lion and out like a lamb", let's hope so.

A couple shots from my OP Trip. Wish we could have landed as many as we lost. Insane fish up there.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

2014 Unpredictable!

This season has been an up and down of river levels with drasticly long period without measurable precipitation. So we go a week or so with no rain, get blown out, then get two or three days of good levels...repeat cycle. January can be like that, the weather should become less volitile in the coming months, but until then be flexible if you actually want to catch one.

Last week we stumbled into one the day before the flood. This one seems to be lost on the Clackamas. Confusion is on a short list for his poor choice in choosing to eat or not eat;) I think he was looking for the drainage to the east but we were glad to have him. This was the only grab of the day and we had the river to ourselves..it only takes one!

Remember, we are still booking for Deschutes Camp Trips during the Salmonfly Hatch.
Check it out here!

Call me anytime,

Sam Sickles
541-521-9054

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Happy New Year!

Winter Steelhead

Cold and dry! Those two things mean travelling big distances to find wiliing fish. That said there was a nice push of fish into the Sandy over the last couple weeks. We came in on the tail end and found multiple fish, as did others. The long term forcast looks dry so we take what we can get. We have some days available so call me if you feel like coming out and collecting some Chrome!

Upcoming Events/Salmon Fly Hatch May 2014

We are currently filling our schedule for 3-5 day drift boat trips down the Deschutes River this spring. You can find the details here; https://app.theflybook.com/api/campaigns/_html/?c=302ECDCD-D918-41CB-AFCC-86C577FDB21F

We hope everyone has a great 2014!

Call me with any questions,

Sam Sickles

541-521-9054