Rogue River 2019 Winter Steelhead Fly Fishing Report

There are a bunch of fish and the flows are amazing...espicially if you want to swing! if you want to swing flies for Rogue winter steelhead you better be thinking about the next couple weeks. The weather looks super inviting and will probably help the winter water temps which in my experience brings on the bite.

there are fish in the whole system but as the season matures I would look at the upper Applegate  and Upper Rogue.

I like to swing the riffles with these flows, it seems like the sun penetrates and warms the fish faster in these sections. I also choose big meaty flies for this time of year.

Of course nymphs and egg flies are still as deadly as ever. Break that Cabin Fever and get out after those winter steelhead!

Time to swing flies for those Rogue River Steelhead!

Swing Big for Rogue River Winter Steelhead!

Spey Fishing outside the box....Who made the box anyhow?

From the very beginning of my fly fishing I learned how to get the perfect drift. There are days when the steelhead wont move to a swung fly, or when you have to get the fly down to their level before you induce the swing. I have found this technique to come in handy for such days. Don't let the hardcore swingers out there give you to much heart burn if you decide to try this technique...after all its fishing.... enjoy the River.

LTS Fly Fishing is at the forefront of innovation!

I can’t say how happy I am that I asked Donna O’Sullivan of fishon-sports  to test one of the LTS rods last year.  I was so taken in by the LTS 8126-4 explosive that I knew I had to have one. When she offered me a prostaff spot I was ecstatic as I could tell that LTS was on the cutting edge of graphite and taper innovation. Their “Secret Squirrel,” Graphite has produced a ultra-light rod that’s full of power with the right amount of dampening—making LTS one of the most efficient sticks I have ever laid my hands on!

Innovation continues, as the 2015 LTS lineup is absolutely amazing! I recently got to play with a special prototype rod that I wish I could have kept—even know it was in its naked Prototype form. It is a 6/7126-4. That’s right, 6/7 weight that encompasses all the Explosive characteristics of its bigger brothers, (all pun intended). It feels like the 8126 Explosive, with the catapult tip and all, but is a tad softer in the butt to please casters that like their rods to flex more to the grip. The 6/7 is a versatile tool that masters  all forms of Spey casting and fishing. It loves the LTS 6 IIIs Scandi FHI (also new for 2015) as well as all the 6wt Skagit’s we put on it. I am extremely excited for this rod to come out as it’s the perfect all around Summer Stick for the Pacific Northwest. If you want to see the 6/7126 and other innovative LTS rods in action checkout the video below. If you haven’t casted any of LTS’s stuff yet you owe it to yourself to do so. Contact Donna or I and we’ll let you play with some of the most innovative rods out there…You’ll be glad you did!

Why fish wired flies?

 

The slight tug told me there was a fish in the emerald depths, but the abrupt slack left me burning for a better setup. I was around 14 at the time, and just as enthused about steelhead as I am today, but the fish came way harder back then then they do now. Just the gear alone made a day on the river exhausting to a 120lb 14 year old. Spending the day throwing a honey yellow 9wt Lamiglas was enough to tear off anyone’s arm, but add some mono and lead core and your just asking for trouble. Standing in the river was just as bad in those days--I could never afford the fancy new neoprene waders so I was stuck with the good ole heat sapping latex Sealdri's. To lose a steelhead back then proved to be far more disappointing than today to say the least. We never caught many, so to lose one meant weeks’ worth of work, and more than 1000 cast. I almost gave the sport up completely until a good friend of mine introduced me to a book titled Dry Line Steelhead and Other Subjects written by Bill McMillan. This book was a revelation for me, and my buddy Jim Newton, as we were looking for any way to stop throwing the old chuck and duck. It just made sense to use a floating line, long leader, and heavy fly, but the hooks we relied on to plunge feathered offering through the chilled currents were so thick and dull that hooksets became a major issue; So much so, that I searched for another way.  

The Wired Flies became the answer to my epic fly journey. I could fish a regular wired hook, taking advantages of its sharp needle like point, yet maintain the weight and profile I knew would induce a strike. I tried the whole dubbing and chenille over led wire bit, but I lost the profile I was used to—so back to the drawing board. The search for the Holy Grail of patterns, ended for me when I started making my bodies out of wire. I discovered it by accident. I had run out of lead wire, so I wrapped the biggest copper wire I could find on the hook then decided it looked too good to cover. I almost forgot about the fly until a boat in front of me was saying fish on copper colored hot shots. As luck would have it the wired copper fly I had tied that spring was the only fly I had of that color, so I tied it on halfheartedly, and fished it.  Within a few minutes I was hooked up.

I was only after the weight inducing aspect of the wire, but after using them for years I found wired body flies to have a several qualities that I never banked on.

1.       They allowed me to fish several different depths. With one fly, I could cover the whole run from top to bottom. Half hitch the head and the fly would skate, throw a couple of mends on top of it and it will dead drift the bottom.  Throw less aggressive mends and you can swim it through your favorite mid strata lie.

2.       They are extremely durable, a property that comes in handy when you have hit the mother load, or have been bouncing your offering across the stone ridden steelhead seams.  

3.       With all the wire colors out there you can cover any fishing condition known to man.

The next time you sit down to tie some steelhead patterns, whip out some Uni and give it a try, I bet you ask yourself why you didn’t fish wired flies before.

Great profile with all the weight you need

My wired flies have progressed a long ways from the first copper that hit my box.

Fish are a bit easier to come by nowadays.

Rogue River Steelhead are coming out to play!

The Rogue Is fishing well if your willing to get your flies down. Other than a few shallow runs, I have switched to skagits. The river is in its annual cooling stage and the fish are becoming more and more like winter steelhead. Of course Nymphs are fishing well. Stick to stoneflies up front, and match the hatch behind. Don't be afraid to throw the small stuff. 

Swinging is becoming more technical, you have to hit the slots and keep your fly in the fishes face as long as you can. I like fishing big flies this time of year, mostly blue and black.  I continue to use these techniques until the river starts to rage again in the spring, but don't be afraid to throw the scandi back on when the sun warms a run enough that you to see fish activity. Even with the colder water, I have caught several fish in the top half of the water column when conditions are right. 

If you're close to the Rogue, get out there! There are a ton of fish!   

Steve's first Steelhead ever!

Tammy with a freshy

Tammy is a fish Magnet!

Another nice fish!

Bob getting into the action!

Pile of LTS Rods! what a great time testing some new

Fishing with Ard and Nancy Stetts...what a great time!

I had the pleasure of fishing with Ard, his wife Nancy, and their dog Boss yesterday.  We had a great time on the river and touched a few fish, but the true fun was listening to their stories about fishing and their Alaskan life style. For those of you who don't know, Ard is the owner and operator of Life on the Line out of South Central Alaska. He carries the smooth stature of a seasoned Alaskan, something I found to be a breath of fresh air as people like the Stett's are a rare commodity in the lower 48. I always thought it would be fun to hire Ard as a guide, but now a trip with him has moved into my bucket list. Thanks for coming down guys and thanks for spending the day with me on The Rogue.

Ard swinging Takelma

Nancy and Boss takin a break

Best Sight in the world....Boat full of Speys!

Spey Fishing for Rogue River Kings!

Beauty

The Rogue Valley is looking at a record dry year, which has the Army Corps  of Engineers lowering the River Flows in hope of stretching the water from Lost Creek Reservoir over the summer. As I write flows are at 2270, which is less than years past. The drought is something that none of us are looking for, but there is some silver lining in the impending cloud. With the suspected lower than normal flows we, as fly fishermen have one of the best years for catching a Rogue King on Spey/Fly gear on tap.

I have only caught a few of these upriver brutes on fly gear, but The ones I have caught were well worth the time and work to get them. Here is one of the typical places and methods I have used to catch them.




The Slow Fish...King Candy

 

 

LTS Fits In!



 

The Slow Fish, not to be confused with the lure Kwickfish!



Big Stick Casting Clinic Was a Blast!

Their are a few more spey casters in the world now thanks to Big Stick Fly Fishing Forum and all the Great Sponsors of the First Annual Big Stick Casting Clinic. Here are a few pictures of what went down in Southern Oregon this weekend. I'll post more pictures and some videos as we get them processed. Thank you, Fishon! Sports—Us Distributor of LTS Fly Fishing—Donna O’Sullivan, Loop USA--James Park, R.B. Miser Rods—Bob Meiser,Vision Fly Fishing USA—Monte Ward,Anderson Custom Rods—Gary Anderson, Native Fish Society, and Siskiyou Aviary! I would also like to thank the other  the presenters Donna O’Sullivan, Monte Ward, and Charles Gehr. I can't wait to do it agian next year.

Big Stick Making a splash in Southern Oregon

Donna Showing the guys how its done, what a insane caster!

The Better Half of On The Fly Guide Service...Misty Bailey

Representing Fish-on Sports, and LTS...Donna and Nate

Fun Teaching some Winter Presantations with a boat load of LTS rods!

Monte Ward of Vision Flyfishing going over the basics.

Monte and The Native Fish Society!

Donna of Fish-on Sports/ LTS and Derek Bachmann owner of Big Stick Fly Fishing Forum.

The Single Handed Spey!

Stay tuned for more pictures to come!

Jonesing For Trout Season! You don't have to with the Rogue River Holy Water!

I love standing knee deep in the middle of the a winter swept river swinging huge flies, but all the dredging it takes to get winter steel makes me day dream about warmer days and more delicate presentations. Luckily,  I don't have to wait on the Rogue River! The Holy Water, as its called, is open to flyfishing year around. It also houses some of the largest Trout in Southwestern Oregon. These fish came from the Cole River Hatchery, but have had many years of wild spawning making them act like wild fish. They readily come to a well presented fly. Many say that the best time of year is late April to May, when the salmon flies come off, but I like to fish them this time of year when their is hardly any pressure. As the spring flows warm you can swing soft hackles or dead drift nymphs with success. So if cabin fever has you beat, get out! The Holy Water will welcome you!

Mini spey strikes agian on the Rogue River Holy Water!

Kandace showing Mark and I how its done! Waders, only boys need waders!

Kandace with a nice Rogue River Holy Water Trout. Bet her feet are cold.

LTS 9126-4 X1 Review

The folks at Fish! On let me play with the LTS 9126 Explosive's brother the LTS X1. The LTS team tried to make a high performance rod that would fit anyone's style, and I think they have done quite well. Check out my Video report on this fun Rod!

X1 Black Beauty

Rogue Up River Kings

Ok, if any of you have followed me for a while you know that I have a passion that I haven't filled yet. After 43 years on God's green earth, I have yet to hook and land a up river, Rogue River Springer on a fly. I have hooked them, mostly by accident,  but I haven't even came close to landing one yet. Part of the reason for this is that I haven't had enough practice.  Part of the reason I haven't had enough practice is that my average hook up, to year, ratio is .0008 to one. Part of the reason for such a low hook up rate is that I think my fly is fishing where the salmon hold, about .053 seconds out of every 8 hours on the river, due to the high spring run off associated to these jems of the northwest.

This year is different,  2014 will be the year this passion will be filled, because I have came up secret weapon number 57.  With olé 57 I have a hypothesis to prove, but if I learned anything from 2 to 56, and kindergarten, it's that you have to keep your fly down...maybe I have the kindergarten lesson backwards...anyhow if you are going to catch a Chinook you have to be on the bottom. That's where olé 57 comes into the picture.  Olé 57 is a fly I would like to call Slowfish...kinda named after the lure with the exact opposite name...The Slowfish will get down.

The Slowfish is as big as my hand and made out of materials that allows it to be casted with something slightly less than a crane, but I guarantee it will get down.

Like all my other secret weapons I have yet ti iron all the details out--like will graphite hold up to the strain of  a Mack truck, as studies have shown that is the equivalent resistance that this fly will place on any rod: And if so how much of the river will it take with it. I am also a bit leery of packing the rod that this beast will require, as I'm afraid that much graphite whipping around in the atmosphere might alter the signals from the GPS satellites, sending our Air Force to attack Fiji instead Afghanistan- I kinda like Fiji!

Anyhow wish me luck, and don't let this secret leak to any of the Chinooks you know....Nate

What's that? You want to know about secret weapon number 1. Oh we don't talk about that around here. It's mere mention, creates hate and discontent around my house, as we haven't been able to handle our house cat since...even to wash the Chartreuse dye out.

So,  go ahead and copy this pattern if your man enough. 

Secret No.57 the Fly Known as Slowfish!

As Promised, 8126-4 LTS Explosive Review

Thanks to Donna at Fish On! Sports I got to test out two different LTS rods. The Explosive and the X1. I have completed a video review on the Explosive, which is below, But before you get into the Video I want to comment on the components and finish of both Rods. LTS has Premium Cork, the likes of what you find on custom rods, where the rings are hand picked. The reel-seats are cool, European Styled, and beefy--but light. Both Rods are as Light as a Feather, and precisely wrapped. In short, the appearance of these rods are easy on the eyes, but their performance will capture your attention. 

I hope you enjoy the Review, and stay tuned for the X1, and LTS line reviews.  

LTS Explosive is a real attention getter!

 

AirFlo Rage Give Away!

We are just 250 visits away from Giving away a Airflo Rage (in the weight you request). So if you haven't  done so yet, go to my  website and use the link to my email and send me a message. I will put your message into a raffle. If you visit the site, make sure you get credit for it and send me a email. I will not use the emails for a mass email, or sell them to anyone, and I will delete the folder they are in after the drawing. If you like to keep up with whats going on, on the Rogue, Williamson, and other Southern Oregon waters you can follow  My Blog , just click on the "follow me" button on the top right and you will get a notification when my blog updates. If you want a Rage line, take the few seconds and shoot me a email...you never know you might be the winner.

Go with the Flo

Could Be Yours




 

December is still producing!

The Rogue amazes me! We started catching summer steelhead in July and continue to get them into February. That's 7 Months, ya 7 Months. The end of March brings Winters into the upper system so there are virtually fish in the river most of the year. What other River produces such runs? I didn't get out today but here are a couple Rogue Summer Runs that one of the local fish smacker hit today. Good job Jordan!

Run & Gun!

Wild Hen (Summer Run !?!)

Snow, Christmas Lights, Rogue River Steelhead, and the Jacket that Keeps me in the game.

The Rogue Valley has been covered with the most snow that I have seen in years. It caused a cancellation of a trip on Friday as my clients tried to get back North before the bulk of the weather hit. I can't blame them as the news was calling for 2-5 inches of snow on the valley floor. 6-8 inches was more like it. The day off provided some time for some Christmas shopping (yuk), much needed time with Misty, and a snowball fight with the boys!  But, after the way swinging flies on the Rogue has been, I was itching to get on the River--its not very often you can fish the Rogue with snow on its banks.  First though,  I had honey do's to get done. Ya that's right, even guides have honey do's that need to be done before they can go fishing.

After some online Christmas shopping and getting the Christmas lights hung, the dogs and I were off to the river. We made it through the gate and noticed that there were only one set of tracks to the river bar, and they looked like a some from a kid that was playing around, so I had the river all to myself. I needed all the help I could get, when I got to the river I noticed steam rising from its emerald waters. I started at the top and swung my way through the three buckets the Modoc contains. I spent a good couple hours making my way through the buckets, spending the majority of the time in the second as its the top producer for me. No dice, and it was starting to get dark so I moved down river to the last little bucket. The ice in my guides made it nearly impossible to cast, but I managed to keep my fly in fishy water. I about gave up hope when sudden pause came into my swing then a light tug. I almost wrote it off as bottom, but I knew there was no way it was as I have swung hundreds of flies, at all different river levels, and have never have touched
 the bottom. I stripped in the Skagit Intermediate head and re-casted, making sure to get the exact same drift. The line paused again, but this time I felt the heft of a fish. I dropped my tip, paused a second, then pulled strait back. The rod came to a stop against angry, Rogue Steel! Weight turned to Powerful throbs, then to drag ripping fury! I was taken by surprise as it has been over ten hookups since I connected with a Native Rogue fish. I let the beast run until it hit the tailout leading to ledges below. I knew that if the fish made it over the riffle there was no way I could wade to it from my side of the river so I applied some pressure to the the palming rim, but it was more than the 10 lb fluorocarbon tippet could handle as it parted like a rifle shot. This fish made a couple congratulatory jumps, and returned to the emerald depths.

The sun went to bed, I loaded the dogs and we enjoyed the beauty of the snow as we made our way home. As I unloaded the dogs and the gear my neighbor made a comment to the loss sanity that was involved to wade hip deep in the middle of a river and swing flies on a day such as this. I smiled and put the rod and waders away. I thought to myself, there is no way I could have stayed out that long without my wool base layer and down jacket.

I spent several months researching the perfect insulating outerwear for fishing and hunting. I wanted the packable lite weight of down, but was afraid of it around the water. Down is only insulating when it is fluffy and dry as that's how it holds air. Once it gets wet it loses it's loft, and all of its insulating qualities--this could spell disaster on the river as I am around rain and water all winter long. Sometimes miles away from the warmth of the pickup. I thought I would have to live with the heft and bulk of pirma-loaf until I ran across a company that specializes in light weight extreme weather clothing Kuiu.  Kuiu ultralight cloathing allows me to stay warm on the river, with peace of mind, through their innovative product: Supper Down.

Kuiu Super Down Jacket

This Jacket is light weight, packable, and safe. It isn't your normal down jacket as its down has been treated with a special loft keeping, molecular waterproofing. This waterproofing has worked great. Although the jacket is considered as a insulating layer and is meant to be worn under a shell in wet weather, I have found its water resistant properties to be a asset when I dunk a arm releasing fish or retrieving the occasional fly. Check out Super Down in the Video below.

I have found this Jacket to do all that's claimed. If your looking for a down jacket that can give you a little peace of mind check out Kuiu. Here are some pictures of me testing mine and the beauty if the Rogue in winter dress.

Down Touvelle Rd.

One track and I!

Getting to the River!

Putting Kuiu through its paces!

Swinging the Second Bucket.

That fly has accounted for the last ten hookups for us.

Steam coming off the River! I guess it does that at 20 degrees.

The Lights are up! Still Have to fix the cross!