Trout Spey Revolution and Southern Oregon!

There have to be a few instances when you can't spey for Trout, but I can't think of any...ok well maybe up stream dries. 

Join the Revolution!

The Trout Spey Revolution has begun and for good reason, it is deadly effective. With more and more Manufactures jumping on the trout spey revolution the fishing possibilities are endless. Companies like Airflo, OPST, Echo, and LTS all make tactical spey gear for both double and single handed fly rods. 

With todays short fat skagits I can throw mini intruders, monster zonkers, and huge meaty flies that I never could before. This has taken my Williamson river fishing to a whole other level. I was finding traditional skagits to long for some of the runs I fished before as they didn't leave me much room to strip. The Williamson is a fishery where the strip is an essential as those large Predatory Redbands like to see movement. With Todays shorter skagits, and switch lines you will have plenty of running line to strip after your swing. Beyond their "stripability" these short bruisers make it easy to cover all of the water column. all I have to do is carry a Skagit and tips. I fish from a light Polly intermediate to a 6' chunk of T7 with my 220 grn Commando Head, try doing that with at regular 6wt weighted forward. just think of the possibilities that a chunk of t7 will bring to your favorite trout stream...To the Williamson its been a revolution. 

If skagits and stripping aren't your thing, you can still join the revolution. Companies like LTS are making triple density scandis that turn over like butter and land so gently that they wont be noticed by even the wariest of trout. the cool thing about these type of heads is that they swing strait. there is no heavy back taper that swings lower than the fly. They also come in several different sink rates. from the FHI to the 135, they will cover any water you'll find. 


Its a brave new world, the Trout Spey Revolution has begun, those who have become part of its movement are growing their trout game exponentially, the sky seems the limit as to what new presentations we can come up with. With all these new tools at hand, you'll be able to open up areas you previously thought were out of your reach. More importantly, you'll rediscover the fun. Only one question remains...will you join the revolution?

My favorite Williamson River Damsel Fly Pattern Video is now on YouTube.

P.B.F.E is my go to fly on the Williamson when the fish are looking at damsels. In this video you will find the materials you will need to tie it along with tying instructions. I hope you try it on your home water.

PBFE  a top Williamson River Damsel Fly Pattern 

Not a bad problem to have ... a Rogue, Williamson, Wood rivers, and Klamath Lake Report.

#SouthernOregonFlyfishing

This time of year is a hard time of year for me as its hard to choose between the Rogue, Williamson, Wood Rivers and the Klamath Lake. I guess we could have worse problems.

The Rogue is the go to, when we are talking about new fishermen. With the prospects of catching a ton of fish on dries it's a great way to introduce people to the sport of flyfishing. if you are looking to get a wife or one of your children hooked, the Rogue is a great option

Rogue River Cutty!

The Williamson is fishing well, but the best is yet to come. All the fish we have been catching are clean as a whistle, meaning they don't have any of the license on them from the lake. This is a sure indicator that the big push of fish lake fish haven't hit the cool waters of the Williamson. As the lake warms expect more and more fish to show up. As it is we are catching quite a few fish a day.

Williamson River Redband

Williamson Slab!

The Wood is in the same boat as the Williamson, but fish are already moving into the estuary. Fish from the wetlands bridge down. Watch for fish early in the morning and late in the evenings. Swing soft hackles across rising fish.

The Tranquil Wood River


 

The Locals

The Klamath/Agency  is fishing amazingly  well. Look for fish staging at the cool water. With the heat they are going to start pushing up the rivers. Strip leaches and emergers across rolling fish. Look for the foam lines along the mixing of the warm and cool waters.

The Klamath/Agency Lake is a consistent producer!

There you have it! If Southern Oregon isn't on your bucket list it should be. It has the water to match whatever skill level, and gives you the potential to catch the largest, meanest trout of your life. 

Southern Oregon Is on Fire-- Rogue River Holy Water, and Williamson River Report.

Rogue River Salmonfly Hatch

 

Bob hit the dry fly world with a storm. It took him a couple of fish before one came to the bank, but it didn't take him long before he was able to see a beautiful trout up close and personal.  Good job Bob, your fishing like a pro. The Rogue River Salmon Fly Hatch continues to impress.

 

 

Williamson River Report

From Good Friend and Great Guide Brent Hublitz

"Wow! What an opening weekend on the Williamson. The water is low, clear, and the fishing is better than fantastic. I ran trips the last three days and there are more than enough fish to have some fun (large one’s too.) Swinging leech patterns on a slow sinking intermediate line has been the most productive technique. I will post some pictures of this weekend in the next day or two, but for now it’s time to go get some rest."

 

Is it the tug, or the fight?

I am around big fish a lot, but I still enjoy the tug of the small ones. Maybe its all about my roots, or just that connection with the wild. We have a small lake close to our house that is full with warm water game-fish. When the boys(my Labs) give me that, I gotta swim look, we run off to this small lake. I whip out the 3wt and just have a ball! Seems funny to all my friends that I would enjoy such small fish, but these fish always take me back to the time when I was a kid- a simpler time when didn't have to catch the biggest fish in the river. A time when every tug was a gift, and it was more important to enjoy the water and all her depths hold. As a Guide its my Job to get my clients into the big ones, but I hope I provide more than that, I hope I pass on the same reverence for the tug that I felt as a kid. Regardless of the size, or numbers of fish, fishing should be fun, and if it takes little pan fish to remind me of that fact so be it.

Small Lake, Small Rod

Just like a Kid!

What a fight, almost slipped the drag!

Guppy Candy

Can I get Him Dad?

Being a part of peoples memories!

The best part of my job is the smiles. I get to be a part of peoples memories. It is absolutely the best when families get together, and use me as a vehicle for memories. I got into guiding to help people catch fish, and promote the appreciation of wild rivers and the fish that lurk in their depths, but I have gained so much more. I am allowed to be a part of peoples memories, their lives,  a responsibility I don't take lightly. This is about way more than fishing, its about memories or even new lifestyles that are gained. I get to see people who have never held a fly rod, get bit by the fly fishing bug at their first tug. I've witnessed family bonds tighten with each released fish. No sir, this is way more important than fishing--this is life in one of its simplest forms. Man and nature--its good for the Soul. I am honored and privileged to be able to be a part of these memories. Here are some pictures from last weeks memories.


Fish Slime ...Naw! She had a ball!

He got good on the switch rod!

The smiles are what it's all about!

Bringing smiles gets addictive!

He's getting real good!

We may have came up with the ultimate Trout swinging line.

Swinging flies has to be one of the most exhilarating ways to catch Fish, and Double handers are the best tool for such a job, especially on rivers where fish become boat shy. I have found the I can reach out, way past the disturbance of my boat and oar strokes, with a switch rod, but a floating line with tips didn't provide the right angle to present the fly properly to fish holding mid depth. Guide's wouldn't be caught dead without their clear, or camo intermediate lines for these situations, but they don't cast well as a spey line. This is where I ran into problems, There are no Clear Spey type lines out there. I had tried throwing Skagits with clear Polly Leaders but I pulled the anchor and had a hard time trying to get the high floating thick Skagit to fish right. Sure they work great for the wide swings that steelhead like, but for the Williamson, and Wood River trout's preferred narrow swing they were nearly impossible. Thanks to Steve Godshall, I think we have overcame some of the obstacles that kept us from using our switch rods on these waters.  The line Steve built is a complete intermediate, with the first 19' a clear mono-core head that's subtle enough to lay on still waters without spooking fish, yet large enough to turn over large water soaked leaches. This head is driven by a short, Skagit style head that provides enough power to easily shoot line 70' or 80', which provides plenty of distance to get away from the boat. The line does take a little getting use to as its a complete 27 foot intermediate head on a 11'  4wt  rod but once you adjust its easy. The line is 295 grains and loads the rod well. As good as it cast, it fishes even better, exactly what I was looking for! Although we only had a couple hours to fish we managed to swing up a few fish--something that would have been hard to do just fishing tips. I love this line and can't wait to have one built for my 6wt. Steve Godshall is the Einstein of fly lines. After a some brainstorming we came up with a line that swings for weary Fish in some of the hardest places, Steve made my ultimate line come true--thanks Steve.

The Line Loads Well

On the Swing

Little guy

That's more like it

Best Place on Earth

      

The Ultimate Line

As I have stated before, swinging flies for Rogue River Steelhead and Trophy Redband Trout is my passion. Swinging, and two handed rods go hand in hand, but there is a huge lack of good switch lines when it comes swinging for trout. I love the castability of the Skagit, but don't care for the way it floats so high, and the hinging effect of when swinging with tips, a presentation that in my opinion lacks, the fishy movement that Williamson, and Wood River RedBands like. The other side of the coin is the fishy, slick, CLEAR, intermediate weight forward lines that is a super stealthy necessity when we are talking the Basin, but they detract from the long cast and fishiness of the best swinging tool known to Man--the Switch rod.  If I could design the perfect tool for trout swinging it would be a clear intermediate Skagit head with intermediate running line. Such a head would combine the best of both worlds. You could still get the supper swimming effect of a intermediate, that would allow you to cast to fish that are beyond the average single hander. Come on someone come out with a clear intermediate Skagit. Until then Ill just have to keep using the ole floating Skagit.




Wood River--Two Hands!



The Tug!

The Hecklers

Slick Line Scores



They eat Swung Flies!

Intermediate D loops just aren't the same!



The perfect line would bring more of these!

The Williamson River, Wood River, and Klamath Redband Report

With the barometer falling the fishing slowed on the Williamson River, but we were able to connect with a few. I am positive, without some of Brent’s closed swinging methods, I would have never caught any fish. The river is clearing and getting cooler, making it the ultimate destination for swinging for trophy trout. There have been several over 25” caught in the last couple of weeks and it’s bound to get better with the promise of the Hex hatch and warmer weather. The Wood River is fishing well with several double digit days. It is still stained making it a good bet for swinging big flies. If you can get the chance to fish The Klamath Basin you should take it, June is a great time of the year to experience its riches!



A Rogue River Boat on the Wood River



Fresh out of the Lake (notice the Lice)

 

This Small Trout thought it was a Steelhead, I love the way the Williamson, Wood, and Klamath Basin Redbands fight this time of year!

 

The Williamson River an old Friend!

Brent at the office.

The fish of the evening. 

I grew up fishing this river and always did well, but last night was better than I have ever seen it. A large part of that was due to Brent Hublitz of Trophy Troutfitters. He fishes the Williamson different than I ever have, which added some tools to my box. Brent clearly out fished me, even to the point of talking to a potential client on the phone while fighting a fish. Thank goodness I landed the biggest fish of the night or I would have to listen to how bad he out fished me  until I get him on the Rogue later this fall. Not really-we had a great time.

Awesome River